by Sean Clark
Kensley offered up his wrist, and the animal jumped down with a wave of its wings. He stared into the unblinking eyes before pushing aside the hanging fur blocking off the building’s entrance and stepping inside. The animal instantly hopped down and drifted to a spot by the fire pit. With a shake to shed the moisture off its feathers, it returned to its relaxed state.
“What do we have here?” General Edrian remarked, sitting up from his bed.
“The thing suddenly came our way.” Kensley offered himself forward. “It’s bearing a message it seems.”
Chin groaned raspily as he sat up from his cushion, pipe in hand. “I can only imagine.”
The lanky man scuttled across the floor and crouched down next to the owl, who had begun picking at its feathers with its beak. Chin pulled at the piece of string holding the note to its leg and retrieved the piece of paper.
“If it says anything other than good news, burn it.” Edrian growled.
“We can’t be so picky.” Chin shot back. His eyes scanned the wrinkly paper intently. “This one was sent by Arkyan. Seems… it is a summons.”
“A summons?” The general confirmed. “Why now, of all times?”
Kensley waited at the door patiently, listening to the conversation.
Chin folded the paper in his hands and shoved in his waistband. “It’s from the Arcanus.”
“The who?” Edrian asked with a grunt.
“The head mage of The Order. They’ve received word that one of own has reason to be tried for violating our code.”
“Violating your code?” Edrian rolled his eyes. “How exactly? Does it have to do with the treaty?”
“You’re mistaken, sir.” Chin jeered. “The treaty is an agreement between our people and yours. It is the reason why I’m here stuck with you and not out on the battlefield. On the other hand, we of magical blood have our own in-rules. Often regarding things you would not care to hear.”
The general ground his teeth and turned away. “What does that mean for you, then?”
“Like I said, it is a summons. They are requesting my presence in Arkyan.”
“I shall not have you cross over into Tuleforian territory at a time like this.” Edrian stated.
“Allow me to remind you that both your King Halmalch and the Emperor of Tulefore have ratified this treaty. If either side interferes with matters like this, The Order has a right to intervene.”
“My king you say.” Edrian sneered. “Yet your powers are also sworn to him. Or am I wrong?”
“My birthplace is Xiandol. I would hardly want to see it fall into ruin. However, allegiance to a land is one of many choices. Since the creation of the treaty and the formation of The Order, we are expected to act in accordance with the Order’s teachings and rules, or risk exile. Possibly worse.”
"Worse as in how?" Edrian leaned forward, arms on his knees.
Chin scuffled around the room before collapsing back down on his cushion. "Not in any way you would care to know about. In this current age, you should know by now with whom I keep my loyalties, and why. In any case, Arkyan is a neutral zone. Regardless of who steps foot there, anything concerning the war shall be shed at the gate.”
“Mr. Kensley.” Edrian called out. The lieutenant had been standing at the door, listening silently. “Do you believe any of this?”
“Are ordering me to choose a side?” Kensley jabbed.
“I can’t perturb you, can I?” The general huffed. “Chin, is there no way you can delay your travel until after the storm?”
“I must leave at once. My powers will allow me and my horse to weather the storm, you may not worry yourself.”
“Worry about you specifically is the last thing I would do.” Edrian shot back. “Just return before the storm lets up and I am forced to make a move without you.”
“It will take at least a day and a half on horseback to go over the pass in all this snow.” The mage estimated.
“And then you may sit for days waiting for some sort of judgment to be made, no doubt. I request you bring one of Kensley’s men with you. It will keep you honest to Xiandol.”
“As you wish.” Chin endured.
“Why one of us?” Kensley stepped forward. “Why not send one of the men who came with Boughlin?”
“Mr. Kensley!” Edrian barked. “Allow me to assume you are simply curious and not attempting to question my orders. That unit is a team, and they are training as one. Being one short would be irredeemable.”
“Understood.” Kensley backed down. “Then allow me to go.”
“Have you lost your head, Kensley?” The general continued loudly. “I need your faultless… expertise, leadership qualities… here. Send Bently.”
Kensley bowed his head and held back his response.
“See to it that two horses and enough supplies are prepared for the first break of morning.” Edrian concluded.
Chapter Sixteen: Tallest Trees of the Land
“Keep moving.” Shiloh grumbled, his patience wearing thin. The mountain trail wavered back and forth, following the curvature of the rocky hills and crumbling outcroppings. The frozen snow crunched loudly under the heavy tread of the horses as they trudged slowly onward.
Zethurus slumped forwards against the mane of the animal. The rope bonds wrapped around his wrists had been tied down to the saddle, with one end trailing off for Shiloh ahead of him to hold onto. The mage’s horse moved as if reacting to the rider’s own apathy.
“Excuse me if I’m not eager to head so quickly to my incarceration, and likely worse.” Zethurus sneered. “Do you have any idea what they’ll do to me here?”
“Not a clue.” Shiloh mumbled, keeping the rope just taught enough for the horse behind his own to stay at attention.
“That makes two of us.” The mage grumbled. “But it can’t be good. Are you willing to bear the weight of your guilt after having brought me to some horrible fate?”
“Me, I’m following orders. It’s you who sealed your fate long before we set out. Why take up dark magic if you know the consequences will be so dire?”
“Like I’ve told you and the commander, I have no memory of my actions.”
Shiloh sighed and tapped at the side of his horse to speed up its gait. “Feigning ignorance will not save you. I assume your… Arcanus, you called them, will know how to respond to your wordplay.”
In the distance, the sharp, triangular shaped canopies of towering timbers began to come into view. Arkyan was a small city, wedged in between the northern stretches of the Sing mountain range to the west and the sea to the east. In this part of the province of Tulefore, the trees grew like no other; bark rugged and thick, surrounding trunks that were as wide as wagon wheels or greater. It was deep in the forest where the city had been built atop the Mudan river that flowed down from the North.
The path met with another in a fork that continued under the wide canopies and eventually towards the city, where the group of two horses and two men were headed. Under the shelter of the thick intertwining branches, the ground had escaped the thick deposits of snow.
On the opposite side of the mountain, there laid a small pass through the peaks, unfortunately now buried in snow. Chin guided his horse on ahead, leaving deep ruts where the animal fought against the thick powdery drifts. The storm, though mostly abated, had already deposited much of the cold precipitation from the dark clouds above. Bently watched as the engorged flakes stopped and tumbled away from the spherical invisible aura that the mage had cast around himself. Bently remained warm himself inside the protective enchantment of the armor, but the reins in his hands had become encased in brittle shards of ice. The horse below him trudged on in the fresh tracks made by the first.
The slope continued upward, leading the men along a gap between a group of two rocky peaks stretching even higher into the sky. “Be careful.” The mage gave a brief warning. “Your horse may spook when we begin our descent back down the slope. They don’t much like the sensation of slipping downw
ard.”
Bently gripped the reins more tightly and wiggled his feet deeper into the stirrups. “I’ll keep that in mind. If this trip takes as long as you say it should, I must assume you have a location where we will set down for the night.”
“Yes.” Chin nodded. “The opposite side of the mountain is steep. There are many switchbacks that cannot be avoided. We’ll make camp sooner than later so that the horses may rest and be ready to take on the worst of it. But soon enough you will be able to see our destination, the forest.”
“I take it you’ve made this trip before, then?”
“Several times. Never in such snow, but… it cannot be avoided right now.” Chin sighed. “After the creation of the treaty, we took it upon ourselves to organize the Order into what it is today. It was no easy feat. But it exists now, for the better.”
Bently tugged at the reigns slightly to keep the horse attentive and moving, despite the cold.
Chapter Seventeen: The Arcanus
The sound of the horseshoes hitting the wooden deck of a bridge was enough to snap Shiloh out of his daze, his eyes fixed to where the next few steps the horse would take him. He quickly shot a glance behind him to confirm Zethurus still atop the horse. The guard assuredly turned his gaze downward to the man-made structure underneath him.
The bridge was wide enough to carry at least a wagon with a horse alongside. It was in a short arch over the stream running below. The water trickled effortlessly with an icy gleam. The road on ahead twisted in meandering curves around the thick trunks of the trees. Any sign of snow had disappeared, but the cold wind continued to blow, sending shivers up Shiloh’s spine. In the distance, he could make out a few small buildings perched at the bases of several trees.
“Get to attention, mage.” He yelled back.
“I’m rather attentive, Mr. Shiloh. Nothing like the ropes rubbing my wrists raw to keep one’s mind focused.” Zethurus mumbled back drearily. “Not to mention how I’ve been thinking about the words I should say when the guard comes to pick me up and throw me in some cell to await my judgment.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re ready to repent for your wrongdoing.”
Zethurus scoffed and leaned back against his reins limply.
The horse stumbled for a brief moment as it crossed from the bridge and onto the hard, dark dirt of the path. The ground was littered with long wavy green and brown needles from the trees above. Shiloh stared back at the trunks, harboring thick layers of moss pointing them in the direction of their destination.
A loud flapping entered Shiloh’s left ear. He recoiled from the sound, pulling his horse to the side. He looked up just in time to see the gray and white owl fluttering back away from him. “Spooked you?” Zethurus snickered. “The Arkadian Owl. They’re native to this forest specifically. The magi consider them good luck, even having some of them tamed.”
Shiloh glanced up to see the bird eagerly disappearing into the treetops in a flash of gray feathers. “Luck is nice, but I think you’re out of it if you hope that any wishful thinking will help you.”
“I don’t see how Kiaren can think of you so highly, being such a sourpuss as you are.” Zethurus taunted.
Shiloh bit his lip and continued to look on ahead. The first thing to catch his eye were the paved stones embedded in the approaching section of road. Next was the sound of a distant river, roaring more loudly than the stream before. The guard blinked his eyes slowly to distract himself what seemed like an illusion, turning out to be the structures of a city among the trees.
The deep reddish brown of the buildings nearly seamlessly blended in with the surrounding forest. The structures seemed effortlessly intertwined with the natural features, furnished from the same materials. Many were built in multiple tiers that decreased in size with each level, but allowed for them to span higher into the trees. The roofs were of the same reddish wood, divided up neatly into uniform-looking shingles that draped just over the edges of the structures.
The main entrance of the city was surrounded by a low cobbled-stone wall that rose up to a level only slightly taller than a man. The road led between two trees, forming a natural gateway that welcomed them to the dreamy looking city, illuminated by the dimming sunlight cascading through the canopy above. Two watchmen in thin leather garb perked up as Shiloh and Zethurus approached.
Shiloh brought his horse to a stop and slid off the side before they had a chance to approach. “State your name, your business.”
“Shiloh of Tulefore.” He announced. With a tug at the rope in his hand, Zethurus’ horse trotted a few steps forward. The mage struggled to stay upright, avoiding eye contact with the watchmen.
“Good, from the Tuleforian mining camp.” The first man nodded at him and looked up at the mage perched atop the horse. “We’ve been expecting you.”
“He didn’t give too much of a fight coming here.” Shiloh said, looking listlessly back at Zethurus.
The second man held out his hand to grab the length of rope away from the guard, before pacing back to the horse. “C’mon, get down.” He ordered brashly.
The mage slid down lazily off the horse, trying to balance himself with limited use of his hands. The first man’s eyes followed the two as Zethurus was tugged off through the wide entrance, before turning back to Shiloh and waving his arm in the direction of the city. “We’ll handle him for now. Head inside, you can stable the horses in the little place to the right, down this way.”
“And for me to stay the night?” Shiloh raised his eyebrows. Looking up, he could see the light filtering through the tree branches starting to slowly disappear.
The watchman rubbed at the back of his neck and looked back at the city. “Forgive me, our preparations are lacking thus far. I have not received word as to where our visitors are to take up residence for the night.”
With a sigh, Shiloh scuffled his feet back against the stone pathway and grabbed the loose rein of the second horse. With the animals on either side of him, he dragged them past the gate and down to where the guard had pointed.
A few ill-smelling horses peered up at Shiloh as he guided his own mounts under the roofed enclosure. The dry hay crumpled under his feet while he searched for a free post to tie up the animals to. His tired legs dragged as he began to head out of the stable, when another individual stepped in his path.
Shiloh’s gaze scaled the folds of the long lapis robe before the green eyes met with his own. The woman had shoulder length blond hair, and a stern smile that greeted him. “Welcome to Arkyan, traveler.”
“Can I help you?” Shiloh took a half step back.
“I sensed your arrival.” She nodded. Her hands grasped one another on front of her waist while she peered of down towards the gate where Shiloh had entered. “Rather, your mage.”
“And you are?”
“Forgive me.” The woman announced, shoving her hands behind her back. “Penelope Charlstine. I serve The Order as Arcanus.”
Shiloh took another small step back and bowed his head towards the ground. “Arcanus, I had no idea…”
The woman draped her fingers across her lips and let escape a small laugh. “We do not bow to each other here, especially if one has no obligation to our kind.”
Shiloh shot back up and attempted to make eye contact with her once again. “I apologize, in particular for making you come down to meet me. I am Shiloh of Tulefore.”
“Nonsense.” She was quick to stop him. “I was on my evening walk. It was purely by chance that I’ve ran into you. Though, I think I caught word that our guest was not furnished with proper lodgings for the night. Please, follow me.”
The woman strolled out of the entranceway to the stable. The long robe made it seem as if she were floating across the hard paving stones beneath. Shiloh followed a few steps behind, looking around at the tall trees and matching buildings. “You said just now… you felt the present of our mage?”
Charlstine nodded carefully, her gaze still ahead of her. “Those of magical bloo
d have a sort of attunement to magical forces, including one another.” She answered quickly.
“And what do you sense of that wretch’s?”
Charlstine gave a momentary shake of her hand and peeked back at Shiloh. “I beg you to keep such words to yourself at the moment. I must not make up my mind before we get a chance to examine all the details at the tribunal. Alas, we are still awaiting the arrival of another. Tell me, what do you think of our city here so far?” The subject quickly changed.
Shiloh bit his tongue and shuffled the thoughts in his brain in an attempt to respond. “It’s… beautiful, serene. In all my days living in Tulefore, I have never once come this way.”
“We chose this location because it is secluded, sheltered. It feels safe, does it not?”
“Indeed.” Shiloh nodded slowly before peering out towards the dense forest behind him. “Any army attempting to invade would be hard pressed to remain organized within this dense forest.”
“Tell me, how does Tulefore fair?”
“In the war, you mean?” Shiloh increased his pace to attempt to catch up with the woman.
She tutted loudly and looked over at him. “I see it is nothing but battle you have on your mind. It has been a long time since I, as well as others here, have given any thought to the wars of…” She paused, causing her even stride to falter. “To war, period. It is simply my home of which I ask.”
“You’re Tuleforian, then?” Shiloh perked up. “I apologize, I know not much of you or The Order. Other than the guidelines of the treaty we are expected to follow.”
“It is a shame you are here under such circumstances.” The woman sighed and continued walking. The sound of the gushing river returned to Shiloh’s ears. The path of the waterway curved back around, curling through the town and heading off towards the dense timbers to the east. “The last time I visited Tulefore city was almost four years now, when I traveled to meet with Manek to… request that he ratify the treaty that we now live by. I wish it could have been on different terms, myself, too. Unfortunately, these things must be done.”
