by Willan Ellis
The Carrier – Episode Two
By Willan Ellis
Copyright 2013 Willan Ellis
Cover Image by Joel Hammond.
Other titles by Willan Ellis
The Carrier – Episode One
THE AAKASH MOUNTAINS – The border of Aelia -Dawn
Crouching, Jacob let the water run through his fingers and smiled as he looked at the flowing stream. Although everything around him was teasing his senses, he felt at peace, like he always did whenever he was around water. His smile faded as he stood and looked behind him to the line of wagons, and people, making their way up the final hill toward the peak of the Aakash Mountains.
It had been almost a week since they left Luia - since he had left Teanne and Chev behind on the sand dunes, so easily, Jacob thought angrily. He should not have allowed what Elder Lin had asked. He should not have allowed the two closest people in his life to do whatever it was they were doing. Returning to look at the deep green foliage and stream, Jacobs’s peace was being quickly replaced by anger. It was not anger at the situation he was facing, but at himself.
You need to start using your head, and make better decisions, he reprimanded himself as he turned and patted his land walker along her neck. She too seemed wary of the new surroundings, as she pushed her nose into his chest.
'What do you think, have I made the right decision bringing everyone to Aelia?,' The land-walker jutted her head up, and Jacob smiled.
'The one law is broken, it matters not.' He recalled the words from Elder Lin, and hoped that she was right. Jacob sighed, and prayed that this first decree as the Commander of Luia was not a mistake.
'Commander?' Jacob turned to watch one of his men weave through the line of people. He stopped and saluted against his chest.
'How far?' Jacob asked softly, hoping his voice would not betray his thoughts.
'Two more weeks and we will be at the pass that leads down onto the plains' the soldier moved to salute again, but Jacob stopped him,
'Mark, you of all people do not need to salute me, understood?' Jacob smiled as Mark lowered his arm uncomfortably, and then quickly moved away. Even Mark had changed – gone was the scrawny pocked face, eager to please boy that had followed Jacob around since childhood. Now, a soldier who had seen more than most walked away from him. So much had changed and so quickly.
Jacob recalled the moment he went from being the Captain of the City Guards to the Commander of Luia. Jacob had argued with the other men, trying to dissuade their decision. It was no use they roared back their approval. They had all made a mistake, he knew this, and he only hoped they would come to their senses soon. Jacob handed the reins of his land-walker to a guard riding past, and moved back toward the stream.
'It is beautiful in these mountains, is it not?' Jacob did not need to turn, to know that Alliva had moved behind him; the familiar shiver that went up his spine was there before she had finished speaking. Jacob stood, pushing his wet hair away from his face; he nodded and smiled politely.
'Yes it is.' Jacob willed for a reason or an excuse to leave, but then scolded himself – Alliva was now one of the people he was responsible for, she had as much right to his time as any. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he looked at her and smiled softly; he saw her cheeks redden.
'How are you Alliva?' a bitter taste ran across his tongue.
'Very well, Commander. And you?' Alliva moved closer, stretching her hand to grasp his arm, Jacob looked around frantically, and took a step back,
'How are you finding the journey so far?' Jacob quickly asked.
Alliva smiled shyly. 'It is fine, considering the situation we are in. I do wish I could ride in a carriage a way though, I find walking wearisome.'
Jacob looked at Alliva bewildered, 'Well I am sure you could ride along with some of the guards if you wished.' Jacob caught the quick look of anger that flashed across her eyes, obviously angry he had missed her subtle suggestion. He hadn't.
'Yes Mark, coming. Will you excuse me Alliva; I need to attend to a few things.'
Jacob could not walk away fast enough, almost tripping on a root sticking out from a large tree. He cursed under his breath. Mark looked at him questionably as he approached, then smirked when he saw Alliva.
'Sister Nai, is looking for you?' Jacob looked at Mark confused, and then realising he was playing along with the lie, smiled appreciatively.
'Sister Nai?' Jacob moved toward the older sister who was resting under a large tree, looking very tired. She looked at Jacob as he approached and grunted a hello under her breath.
'Are you well?' Jacob asked, knowing the answer already.
'Simply splendid, Commander.' Jacob could not help but smile at her sarcastic tone. 'Do you know where we are Jacob?' He shook his head. 'No, I guess you would not. You young folk never pay attention to anything!'
'I am now Sister Nai!' She smiled at his response, and pointed to the furthermost peak of the surrounding mountains, just visible above the low floating clouds.
'It is said that beyond that mountain is a place where nothing exists, it is merely a void, a sacred place some would say... well if you have the blood of the Kale' Sister Nai almost spat out the last word.
'I don't recall those stories, Sister.'
'Of course you don't, no one does... anymore. The first time I heard the tales, was when I was twelve turns, from the first Wanderers that came to Luia.' Sister Nai lowered her head, and sighed 'A lifetime ago.' Looking back at the mountain peak, a small tear ran down her cheek. Sister Nai turned back to Jacob and gestured him to help her stand.
'The sooner we are out of these mountains the better'.
'We are not far' Jacob replied, taking a quick glance at the peak, Sister Nai smoothed down her gown and half smiled up at Jacob,
'Well that is good news isn’t it.' Jacob chuckled and helped the elder back onto the path, walking quietly beside her. He looked back up toward the peak.
After an hour of walking, Jacob had learned much about the place where nothing existed. It was rumoured that during the old war, it was the place where the mother of all had fallen, and from where life as they knew it began. Sister Nai was quick to point out that the tales were all here-say, and that this was thousands of turns ago.
'Whispered stories usually change through time,' Sister Nai muttered often as Jacob listened intently. He found himself in awe of the sister and her knowledge. After a while the sister stopped talking and withdrew into her own thoughts.
Jacob finally excused himself from Sister Nai, the silence starting to deafen him. He found himself lost in thought as he started to process all the sister had told him. Why did he not know any of these stories? He reasoned that it was because he was not a part of the sisterhood; but the way Sister Nai spoke made him wonder if they too were not privy to this tale. He wondered why?
Jacob caught sight of his land-walker, and watched her nervously jolt against the guard trying to control her. He smiled when the guard was almost thrown from his land-walker trying to control her. She was so beautiful contrasted against the greenery surrounding her. Jacob whistled, and she instantly calmed, pricking her ears toward him. He strolled toward her and caught the reins as the guard threw them, pulling himself onto her back.
There were only fifty of these beasts left in the entire world, as far as he knew, and from the tales he learnt as a child, Luia was the only land to have land-walkers. He smiled as she broke into a gallop and weaved her way through the lines of people. Jacob pulled her to a stop as he reached the peak of the mountain pass, and turned to look back from where they had come. The forest surrounding them was breath-taking. It was as if the mother had laid a blanket of green over the world. He shielded his eyes from th
e sun and gazed past the peaks to the dark clouds almost hovering over the place Sister Nai spoke of. Jacob turned his land-walker and slowly pushed across the invisible border that ran the top of the Aakash Mountains, into Aelia.
AELIA – Morning