by P R Glazier
Chapter 39. The Islands Secret
On one fishing trip they found they had crossed the width of the isle of Pigs and come across the far western coast. This side the island was much rockier. Tall cliffs led down to the sea and here and there small inlets and coves with small sandy beaches could be found. Most of these could only be accessed down steep cliff paths. One such cove was at the foot of such a steep incline, Nar’Allia wondered at the path, for this one looked quite regularly used, not often but the soil had definitely been eroded into a gully by the passage of something. Even from the top she could see that in many places tree roots lay exposed where the soil had been pushed off them, especially in the steeper places. Nar’Allia smiled for here and there teeth marks were evident on these exposed roots. More tell-tale signs left by the isle’s residents no less. She decided to go down.
As they descended they could hear the sound of a waterfall but could not as yet see the source of the noise. Only when the path levelled off and they found themselves upon a small shingle beach could they see that a deeply eroded fissure in the cliff channelled water from an unseen source down vertical falls to a small but deep clear pond at the foot of the cliffs. A rivulet then ran out and tumbled down to the beach and out into the sea. Jonas stood by the small pond at the foot of the cliff and pronounced the water sweet and quite drinkable so they refilled their water canteens with the cool refreshing liquid. Jonas then said that the pond would be the perfect place to catch some freshwater crayfish, so he went over to try. Amndo followed him, he always seemed intrigued by Jonas’s various methods of catching different water creatures and he was interested in finding out what crayfish were and how they were caught.
Nar’Allia however, could not see the fascination in fishing, she preferred to explore. She wondered off down the beach kicking pebbles as she went. It was whilst doing this that she saw out of the corner of her eye a figure, at least she thought it was a figure, a woman, yes a woman all in white, yet when she turned to look directly at the person they had disappeared. She walked over to where she was sure she had seen the figure, yet no evidence of the person could be found, but what she did find was a well-trodden path leading away from where they stood. The path was well camouflaged; she would not have found it if she had not wandered over to investigate.
The narrow path seemed to lead through the dense waist high growth of bushes at the foot of the cliff. Something about the path, the way it was hidden, the way it was constructed to blend in with the surrounding flora reminded her of her T’Iea home and the place of her people, so after telling her companions of her intentions, she followed it. She found it wound its way around the base of the cliff rising slightly to go around a small rocky outcrop that stuck out from the tall cliff face above, obviously a rock fall, then it led down into yet another cove. This cove played host to a sandy beach. To her surprise a rock quay had been constructed out into the sea from the beach, driftwood had been lain across the top; to make a stable walkway. She walked out along the quay and coming to the end looked down into the sea as it lapped gently against the boulders. The water here was a few metres deep, well able to provide a safe mooring for the draft of quite a sizable ship. There were rusting metal rings set into the rock. Someone had taken a great deal of trouble to provide a permanent landing here. The water was a translucent blue, fish and other marine life swam around the clear waters. Corals and anemones and other aquatic life festooned the rocks underwater. She was thinking this would be a perfect spot from which to fish. She was about to stand and return to where she left her companions, when suddenly she heard that voice again.
“Nar’Allia, Nar’Allia, do not turn your back on me.” Startled, she looked back towards the island but could see no one. But the voice spoke clearly once again, “come to me Nar’Allia, come to me.”
She shivered, she felt a little unnerved, perhaps she was going mad? She turned at the sound of rustling; one of the small pigs ran out from the undergrowth, took one look at Nar’Allia and ran back the way it had come. She followed it through the bushes where it had gone, brushing aside some tall fern-like leaves she gasped. There in front of her was a small clearing at the base of the cliff. The floor of the clearing was compacted sand, the foliage around the clearing was full of colourful flowering plants and fruit bearing trees, it looked to Nar’Allia to be the remnants perhaps of some cultivated garden. Someone had planted these intentionally, and had carefully chosen which plants to place here, there was no way that if the selecting process had been left to nature, that these plants would have been seeded in such patterns and in this way. Curious she walked forward. To her surprise a door was set into the cliff face, not any door, a portal of intricate carving and artistic working. What surprised her most was that the carvings were very much T’Iea designs, carvings of the great forest, trees and flowers and fruits adorned its cracked wooden exterior. The door itself looked to be very ancient. She went closer. The wood from which the door was made was dark, almost black. She fingered the black bow, for the wood reminded her of the wood from which the bow was made. She compared the two. Yes, she was sure of it, the same wood. An inscription in a very old T’Iea dialect adorned the arched top of the door frame. She rubbed at the sand that had stuck to the surface, brushing the coarse grains from out of the carved letters.
De’Et’Nial’De’Noun’e’Alle’Weh’ngrune’Ser’ngrune’entr’haaneun’juuone.
She whispered the T’Iea words, translating them into the common tongue as closely as she could - To live, to serve. Brethren, Sistren take welcome sanctuary within.
A tingle went down Nar’Allia’s spine. Sanctuary! She thought for a while, then she turned her attention back to the door itself but could see no handle, at least not on this side so she raised her hand to the door, as her hand touched the wood the door seemed to vibrate, but to her disappointment nothing happened. She ran her hand over the surface but could feel nothing that felt like a hidden handle of button that may operate a hidden mechanism. Bah, how on earth could she take sanctuary within when she couldn’t even gain access? The wood still seemed to vibrate beneath her touch; she was reminded of the bow slung across her back. It too seemed to vibrate at her touch. She stepped back and unslung the bow and held it in front of her. She stepped forward and touched the bow to the door. She gasped for as she looked the door seemed to glow anew, its appearance of age seamed to fall away until the very wood glowed not only with a warm white light but with physical warmth as well. The other surprising thing was that her bow, Serinae’s old bow also took on a similar glow, it was no longer black, yet it had always been black. But now it glowed, ethereal white it shone, the runes etched upon it shone out as if rejuvenated in some way and there were a lot more of them than could normally be seen. It was astonishing. A gentle click sounded, Nar’Allia looked up towards the door to find that it had swung inwards. She peered into the dark interior.
Before she was conscious of it, she found her feet walking her inside. Beyond the door she found there was a reasonably large cave, dry and warm. T’Iea style furniture stood around although of a style more common in times long gone, a large table, several chairs, cots, chests and other furniture lay in alcoves around the perimeter of the room. A water barrel stood near the centre, Nar’Allia walked across and lifted the lid, a cool aroma arose, yet no water could be seen within. A dresser stood along one wall laden with pots and pans, plates and bowls, cups and jugs. Everything in here was immaculately kept, not a speck of dust or dirt to be seen anywhere. The whole place looked although the people who lived here had just stepped out for a while to hunt or to gather. But then there were no soft furnishings here, it was obvious that whoever frequented this cave left all the hard wood furnishing permanently and must have brought with them the trappings of comfort and of home. She shrugged and looked back at the dresser, several drawers were set within, she looked into each in turn. One contained knives and forks for eating, another a few old personal effects, a pack of playing cards as used in the game
of Clastitor, some beads, a sowing kit. Another two drawers held tools, most she recognised for use in the fletching of arrows, also coiled in one far corner of the drawer were several spare strings for a long bow. In the other corner a couple of dry stones of the type carried by T’Iea warriors for sharpening knives and swords. A further drawer held a single item within; Nar’Allia reached in and looked at what was now in her hand. It was some kind of animal claw, from a sizable beast too, but of course she knew exactly which beast for it was, for the same kind of claws hung from silver clasps around the rim of Serinae’s quiver. A shiver ran down Nar’Allia’s spine as she remembered the Itahl’Q’Thjilee crossing the sand spit, they exhibited such a claw on each of their feet. A third draw had some parchment within, most was blank but one had a verse or two of a poem, or perhaps a song written in a neat T’Iea hand using the same ancient dialect as the words upon the door frame outside. Some liquid had been spilt onto the paper and most of the ink had run and become illegible but some remained clear to read:
…… need a sturdy mast
With this precious bow and blade
Practiced and hard-learnt skill
Spend my life’s blood abroad
To thwart many an ill
The lost I am to find
And bring to ……..
This left Nar’Allia in no doubt, her people, the brothers and sisters of the rangers guild had been here. She was astounded, why would they be here, the cave had an air of permanence about it, no doubt some form of arcane ward protected the place, for it looked as good as the day it was made, yet she felt that no one had stayed here for many hundreds of years, maybe longer than that. Why it should have become abandoned she could not think. The place reminded her of home, she found she was thinking of Minervar, she wondered about her step mother, where she may be and in what conditions, that was if she was even still alive. The thought made her look up through the open door, but the door was no longer open, it had closed soundlessly. Nar’Allia stepped backwards her mouth open, for there in front of the door stood a T’Iea woman. She wore plain T’Iea clothes of doe skin. The woman’s eyes were jade green they seemed to pierce deep within Nar’Allia as they looked. Her hair cascaded around her face down to her waist, it was interlaced with dried flowers and herbs, it reminded her of the way that her own people dressed their hair on occasions, although it remained a fashion for the older generations. The woman was beautiful and Nar’Allia knew immediately who it was stood there in front of her smiling.
The woman greeted her with a traditional saying. “Haaneun’juuone’Nar’allia - haaneun’juuone.”
“Serinae,” was all Nar’Allia could say.
The T’Iea nodded at her as if in acknowledgment of something. “Hello Narny, my you have grown since we last met.”
Something tugged at Nar’Allia, she felt lost, she felt devoid of feeling, she felt like that little girl once more, there back in Tent Town. She thought of the warmth that two T’Iea women had brought to her, warmth she had forgotten. She ran towards Serinae and went to hug her, but her hands just met with the hard wood of the wall. The soft warm embrace she desired was not forthcoming. Nar’Allia stood back a look of great disappointment mixed with confusion on her face.
“I’m sorry Narny, this is the best I can do for the time being, I only have a few moments before my strength shall fail and I will lose the link, I still have to master this, but it is easier here within this sanctuary in which you stand, the old arcane energy present within it is very deep, it aids me greatly, gives me added strength from your side as well as from mine.”
Nar’Allia went to speak but Serinae raised her hand and said, “no please listen carefully.” Serinae strode further into the room. Strangely she seemed to walk around things that weren’t there, and walk straight through things that were. “I don’t have much time.” Serinae stared at something in front of her, she seemed to stretch out her hand, it disappeared as if she reached inside a cupboard or something. “I must save them Narny, save every one of them, I need your help. Please know this, Minervar is there with them, she is …… confused, I am doing my best to see that she is not taken, but it is difficult. The intelligence, the entity within the Rift is gaining strength, they will all be lost soon if we don’t stop it. You must look to Teouso’s people Narny, seek a sage that is there, she knows the way. Go into the wild, seek Teouso’s clan, the sage may have the answers.”
Serinae walked back towards the door, she seemed to flicker like a candle flame as she passed right through the water barrel. “I will aid you when I can Narny, I am trying to learn, but there is so much here, so much to take in. I am trying to use the great city as they all did once and explore the voids beyond.” Serinae giggled, she seemed very excited. “Oh Narny, you wouldn’t believe what is here, our lives were so different once, I am still amazed by it all. It’s nothing like we thought, were we came from, were we once lived, but this place holds all the secrets.” She seemed to take in a deep breath whilst she looked all around her smiling. “I am with the R’Alacry Fer’Def Narny.” Then with even greater excitement and a broad smile, Serinae said, “I know who they are Narny, who they really are, I know who we really are! But I have so much to take in. I am learning though.” She walked forward with extended hands.
Nar’Allia raised her own as if to grasp Serinae’s, she thought for a moment she felt the soft warm skin, but looking down she saw that Serinae’s hands waivered around hers, their fingers did not actually meet.
“Don’t fear Narny.” Serinae flickered again, almost disappearing altogether. “I wish I had more time, more time to tell you about the discoveries I have made, but I must go, must rest, I’m sorry Narny, go seek the easterners and listen for me in amongst the feat……..”
Nar’Allia cried out in alarm, Serinae disappeared, cut off before she could finish her sentence.
Nar’Allia sat heavily on a chair, her mouth felt dry. Serinae? Minervar was with them? Who? Serinae had mentioned Teouso’s people. Was that where Minervar could be found? She stood and ran from the cave, raced back along the path, back to where she had left Jonas and Amndo. They were still sitting by the side of the pool chatting.
“Jonas turned and said, “that was quick! We thought you had gone exploring!”
Nar’Allia looked at him. “Quick? But I must have been gone at least an hour?”
Jonas looked at her quizzically, “an hour? You’ve been gone less than a couple of minutes, we haven’t even had the time to catch anything yet!”
Amndo stroked his chin and looked sideways at Nar’Allia. “Where exactly have you been for the last - hour?”
Nar’Allia explained everything she had seen. They remained silent until Amndo said, “you know Nar’Allia, it is possible that Serinae resides in the voids somewhere. She had experience, some training from the guilds in the cross manifestations that can occur between such places. Remember that quiver of hers, she constructed it did she not? She must have been instructed therefore in some arcane knowledge able to bridge the voids. Perhaps she has realised those skills further, perhaps she is learning all the time, perhaps wherever she is she has found help. It is easier to bridge between places that you have, or had a strong affiliation to. She must have spent some time in that cave you visited; she obviously drew you there because of her strong connection to that place. The place itself sounds like it may be connected to another, time obviously passes differently in that sanctuary of which you speak.”
As they walked back across the island to where the Leviathan was. Nar’Allia was mulling over all that she had witnessed in the T’Iea sanctuary. Then it occurred to Nar’Allia, that cave, the reason it was there, the rangers guild and their final trial, set for their students to get the components for those quivers. Yes, this is the island, or close by the island where the claws and feathers may be harvested, perhaps the only place on earth to collect such coveted items. Serinae must have been here with others to undertake that final trial, T’Iea rangers must have been
coming here for many thousands of years to do just that.
Back in her cabin Nar’Allia felt drowsy, she was just dropping off to sleep when she heard Serinae’s voice, “you will find a way Nar’Allia, do not fear. Together we will find a way.” Nar’Allia looked up at the quiver hanging on the wall of her cabin. In the semi-darkness a faint glow emanated from within. She almost accepted the voice now, she knew it was Serinae who spoke to her, with that acceptance she just wished that she could have a longer two-way conversation with the ranger. She wanted to know more; just these cryptic comments drove her mad. She wanted to know where exactly Serinae was, she had mentioned a great city, but which city? She knew the quiver had the ability to bridge the gap in time and space between her world and some other place, what Nar’Allia wanted to know was where that other place might be.
Nar’Allia sighed. “I admire your optimism Seri.” That was all she could think to say.