Trials

by Pedro Urvi

  “The last of the Chosen is not aware of the destiny which awaits,” said the Keeper to the right.

  “It will come… in due course…” said Haradin. He stroked his chin and gazed at the ceiling.

  “What are we to do, Master?” asked the Keeper in the middle.

  Haradin looked at his disciples again. Calmly he said: “What we have always done, watch over the Chosen…”

  “Do we not intervene, Master?” the shortest of the five wanted to know.

  “We do not, my Brothers. We shall let destiny play out its designs. We are not gods, we are just Keepers with a sacred duty we have sworn to carry out.”

  “And if they come close to discovering the Enigma?”

  “In that case, we shall do our sacred duty. We shall protect the Enigma, we shall protect Tremia. We shall intervene.”

  Extreme Desert

  A relentless, scorching sun fell like a hammer on the long caravan crossing the desert in single file beneath a cloudless sky. The camels were heading westwards, guided by riders on colorful saddles carrying bags filled with exotic goods. They ambled rhythmically over the golden dunes. Komir sat high on his camel looking at the landscape around them, wondering whether it was possible for anything to live in that burnt-out environment. Everything around was inhospitable desert. Wherever he looked, there was only sand, and more sand. The dunes around them lost themselves on the horizon, an infinite sea of sand, a lifeless sea.

  “Damn this scorching sun!” complained Hartz bitterly.

  He was dressed in Nocean style and unrecognizable: long brown robe with decorations in black that covered his body and a badly-rolled, faded blue turban which fell to one side of his head and wobbled with the camel’s ambling.

  “Stop moaning!” said Kayti who was riding beside him. “However much you complain, you won’t make this infernal sun any more benevolent. Or haven’t you realized we’re in the middle of a huge desert?”

  “I’m aware I’m not as knowledgeable as you, Carrot-top, and nor will I ever be,” he replied, winking at her, “and I know nothing about these lands, but I do realize there’s nothing more than blasted sand, sand and more sand all around us. It’s as if we’re traveling across an ocean that some vengeful god had drunk dry. It’s awful. I’m sandy all over and my throat is so parched I can’t even swallow my own saliva. And don’t get me started on this insufferable sun. Whenever I forget about it, it burns another part of me!” He looked at the back of his hands, which were as red as his nose.

  “Cover your head properly with the turban, it’s not tied well and it’s going to fall off. You have to wind the cloth tight so it doesn’t move, then put it over your face like a veil, the way the guides showed us, or else you’ll burn again,” said Kayti, pointing at the big man’s forehead.

  “By the three goddesses! This thing is several feet long! How am I supposed to wind it around my head! When they did it, it looked so simple. But as soon as I think I’ve got it done, it unwinds!”

  “Kendas and Komir don’t seem to have any problem with it, theirs are perfectly wound and only their eyes are visible. With the brown robes they’re wearing nobody could say they’re not Nocean.” Katy nodded towards them. “But you stand out miles away. You couldn’t look more foreign to these parts! We’re going into the great deserts, from here on it’s only going to be scorching sun and sand, so stop moaning and save your saliva. You’re going to need it.”

  “If at least we didn’t have to travel on these stinking devils of the desert… Why the heck can’t we travel on horseback like normal people?”

  “Don’t be such an idiot, Hartz. Horses wouldn’t stand up to such a long journey in this kind of arid, waterless terrain, in these high temperatures. Camels on the other hand, are perfectly acclimatized to these harsh conditions, they’re the perfect means of transport through this land. Besides, they don’t need so much water to survive. According to the caravan guides, they can go up to ten days without a drop of water. Their endurance is astonishing,” explained Kayti as she stroked her camel’s neck.

  “Well, as far as I’m concerned these humpbacked beasts are the ugliest I’ve seen, and they’re very bad tempered. What’s more, sitting between their humps is killing my back. What on earth have they got in these humps, anyway? The water they drink?”

  “Treat the poor beast well and it won’t give you any trouble.”

  “He started it, he tried to bite me.”

  She rolled her eyes, swore through her teeth, looked at Hartz in annoyance and said: “Every day I find it harder to explain to myself what it is I see in you.”

  Hearing the reproach in her voice, Hartz sat up straight in the saddle and replied: “Strength? Poise? Charisma? Daring?”

  Kayti covered her face with a black veil. With disbelief in her eyes, she tried not to look at the big Norriel as she spurred her camel past him.

  Komir watched the scene between his friend and the redhead with amusement. Aliana brought her mount to his side.

  “I see your friend isn’t enjoying the trip too much,” she said with a roguish grin.

  At the sound of the Healer’s voice Komir felt a knot in his stomach and his heart skipped a beat. He looked at her and marveled once more at her beauty. She was dressed in the style of the desert women: indigo robe with silver threading, and a black cloth with a golden border wrapped around her head and face like a turban with a veil. Several Nocean amulets were hanging over her forehead: the caravan women had told them they served both as decoration and protection against evil spirits. It all made her even more beautiful in Komir’s eyes. He felt at peace just looking at her. Then a more intense feeling, something more basic: desire. He wanted to be with her, have her in his arms, touch her, kiss her. Komir fought against the feeling.

  He cleared his throat and tried to hide the growing fascination she exerted on him.

  “It’s just natural. We’ve been traveling across this infernal desert more than a week, and Hartz, who isn’t fond of either too much heat or too demanding trips, is beginning to lose his cool. But don’t worry, as they say in my land: “wolf that howls too much does not bite”. He loves to play the martyr and complain, but all he’ll really do is moan and let off steam.”

  “I’m glad that’s the case. He really is a character,” said Aliana with a smile, looking at the big Norriel.

  “Are you sure you’re in a good enough state to go through with this journey?” Komir asked. He was still worried about the Healer’s health, after the scare she had given them all when she had fainted on the ship a few days back.

  “Yes, thank you, Komir. I just needed some rest. I overexerted myself in the healing on the ship after the pirates’ attack. I allowed myself to get carried away by the suffering and pain of all those people, and I nearly lost my life because of it. Don’t misunderstand me, I did it from my heart, and if I’d died I would have gone with my spirit fulfilled because I’d helped those in need, the way I’ve always wanted to do, the way I always will. I’m not sorry, I’d do it again without thinking.”

  Komir shook his head.

  “You mustn’t let yourself go that far, you should not cross the line of your boundaries. I don’t want to… we don’t want to lose you. You were unconscious for three whole days and we were beginning to think you’d never wake up. When we reached the port of the Nocean city of Stambus and docked, we had to hide you in the hold. The Nocean soldiers searched the ship twice, looking for spies and contraband. Luckily Captain Albatross was true to his word and never forgot what we’d done for him. It’s strange to see how certain men can change under a debt of gratitude and act in ways you’d never expected of them. He helped us without thinking, he risked his neck for us, which actually saved our lives. If the soldiers had found us they would have hanged us. To be honest, I didn’t expect so much from Albatross.”

  “Even the darkest man is capable of good if his heart so tells him… How did he hide us? What happened?”

  “The truth is, Albatross
had a perfect ace up his sleeve. He hid us in the huge barrels of perfumed water. When the Nocean soldiers searched the barrels, we submerged and they didn’t suspect anything. We had to hide you among the dead bodies because we couldn’t wake you up. Captain Albatross came up with the hiding places, then explained to us what to do, I’m pretty sure this wasn’t the first time the rascal had transported people who were wanted.”

  “I’m sorry for the burden I’ve been, and for having endangered you all,” said Aliana, and bowed her head.

  “You’re no burden, you’re a blessing… Don’t you worry, in the end we’re alive to tell the story and that’s what counts. Now we’re on our way, crossing the desert and nearing our destination day by day.”

  “We were lucky to find a caravan that’s headed for the Irisban Oasis. If we’ve calculated correctly, the oasis is near the place we’re going to. Although to be honest I’m having doubts, because the visions from the medallions aren’t at all clear and we don’t know these lands at all. I fear that crossing endless deserts, guided by unpredictable visions, is something that might turn very dangerous, even deadly, if we don’t proceed with extreme caution. Hartz is quite right, this desert is infernal: the scorching sun, the thirst, the exhaustion… they all make it inhuman. If we’d had to cross it by ourselves it would have been reckless. Without the help of the local guides and this caravan of weathered merchants we simply couldn’t have done it.”

  “You’re right. Besides, we would have drawn the attention of the Nocean soldiers if we had traveled alone. In the midst of this caravan, dressed like the locals, we go unnoticed. Well, as long as Hartz doesn’t complain too loudly, you can hear his voice miles away.”

  Aliana smiled as she looked at the big Norriel.

  “Your friend draws attention, even if he doesn’t say a word.”

  “Yes… there’s only one of him, that’s for sure!”

  Aliana, staring east, remained thoughtful. At last she sighed and said: “Don’t worry, Komir. We’ll find it.”

  “I wish I had your confidence, Aliana. But I look around at this place, forgotten by the goddesses, and it gives me the creeps.”

  “I’m sure we’ll find it. We’re the bearers, the medallions want us to go to a forgotten place and I’m positive we’ll get there.” She put her hand in the collar of her robe and brought out the Medallion of Earth, then held it and stared at it for an instant. “Something important awaits us, Komir, I can feel it. Call it intuition, or perhaps it’s the medallion itself that’s filling me with trust, but I have no doubt we’ll reach this mysterious place. What’s more, I feel certain that something really important will be revealed to us.”

  “I think so too. Somehow it’s linked to my parents’ death, and whatever happens I’m going to find out who killed them and why.”

  Hearing this, Aliana’s gaze turned into one of pity, of worry.

  “Let’s hope you find your justice!”

  “Let’s hope…”

  “Don’t let revenge consume your soul though…”

  “I owe them…”

  “It saddens me to see you suffer like this… your soul is tormented… if you’d let me help you…”

  “Thank you… I appreciate your kindness.”

  Aliana lowered her head, and when she raised it again she looked straight into his eyes. Komir felt the balm of the Healer’s blue gaze of sincere concern. And something else, something more intense which he did not know how to interpret.

  The journey went on at a mournful pace. At dawn ten days later, the group of adventurers left the protection of the merchant caravan. They said goodbye to their guides and turned south, deeper into the desert. Komir and Kendas had given the Noceans gold coins in exchange for advice on the best route to follow. The guides had insisted on the madness of going south, away from the caravan routes. They tried to convince Komir to continue with them until they reached the Irisban Oasis, a safe haven where they could get supplies and rest a while. But that would take them away from the path indicated by the medallions. They had to go on southwards, into the burning, deadly desert. The Nocean guides called them fools and finally gave up on them. They ranted on about something in their own language. Komir had not understood the words, but he had certainly been able to grasp the general meaning.

  They were heading to certain death.

  The caravan leader came up to Komir and solemnly handed him a rolled-up parchment. He bowed his head and spurred his camel away.

  Aliana looked at the document with surprise. “What is it?”

  Komir turned to her and smiled. “More proof that life is a truly strange business, full of coincidences and surprises.”

  Aliana looked on without understanding.

  “It’s a safe-conduct,” explained Kendas. “It allows us to travel through this territory. We also need it to buy goods and services. The caravan wouldn’t have taken us if we hadn’t had it, the same as the dealers who sold us the clothes and food for the journey.”

  Aliana was even more surprised.

  “We got it while you were unconscious,” said Komir.

  “A Nocean safe-conduct… but how?” she asked in confusion.

  “We owe it to Hartz and his foolish heroism,” said Kayti.

  The big man grinned, “Bah! It was nothing, just a nice swim with a few unwanted guests.”

  Komir smiled.

  “The young woman we saved from the crocodiles: she was the daughter of a powerful nobleman of Stambus. She was traveling with her uncle…”

  “The richly-dressed man?”

  “Exactly. A little before we reached port, with the city already in sight, he came up to us and introduced himself. He wanted to thank us for our help. Using Albatross as a translator and mediator he offered us gold, but Kendas, very skillfully, asked him whether he could get a safe-conduct for us by using his influence.” Komir, smiled in the direction of the Lancer.

  “And that same evening, a messenger brought it to us on the ship, with the nobleman’s gratitude,” said Kayti.

  Aliana nodded in understanding.

  “Yes, fate never ceases to surprise us. People we meet casually, paths which cross by chance with those of people who are so different and at the same time so united by the fates of their lives… Unbelievable, it makes you wonder… One good action… fortuitous… and its repercussions…”

  “Maybe it’s just coincidence,” said Kayti, “but I’d say this is something more.”

  The group remained silent, pondering, each wrapped in his own thoughts.

  When the last of the camels of the long caravan had disappeared behind the dunes, Komir called them to assess their situation.

  “The time has come to consult the medallions.”

  The young healer nodded and got hers out, letting it hang from her neck. Komir brought his out in turn and prepared himself. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate in spite of the scorching sun. Drops of sweat ran down his cheeks from under the black cloth that covered his head and face. The rest of the group watched in silence. They were aware that Ilenian magic was going to manifest any moment, conjured once more by the two youngsters.

  Komir felt the sweet, now-familiar tingle and concentrated on his inner energy. Recently he had seemed to connect with it more easily. He realized now that it had always been there, even if he had not been aware of it. This inner energy, his Gift had always been a part of him, and as such he understood it now and accepted it. From the moment that knowledge had sunk into his soul, the use of the medallion had turned into something far easier, more natural and harmonious. Komir opened his eyes and looked into Aliana’s. He saw that the healer was ready, and began what was coming to be their ritual:

  He lowered his eyelids and murmured:

  “Show me the way, the place I must go to.”

  Aliana repeated the words.

  He asked using both his voice and inner energy at the same time, and as he did so the medallion awoke from its lethargy. With a crystalline flash, it a
nnounced its awakening, and began to send strange Ilenian symbols into Komir’s mind. Aliana’s medallion flashed too, coming to life with a brown sparkle. A beam of light burst from both medallions and merged into one another. Komir guessed that similar symbols were dancing around the healer’s mind too. Both beams turned a bright gold and showed the path they must follow, crossing the dunes in front of them to the South. They all looked towards where the golden beam lost itself in the distance. They could just see desert, and more desert, as far as the very horizon.

  Hartz shook his head. “I don’t like this at all,” he protested. “We’ll roast if we go on that way. We’ll end up turning into cockroaches or scorpions. They’re the only things that survive around here.”

  Komir stopped the projection of the beam with the order “Enough”, which his mind sent to the medallion. This was something he had learnt to do recently. It gave him the false feeling he had some slight control over the Ilenian jewel, but he knew he was deluding himself. It was the medallion, once it was activated, which really controlled the situation.

  “It’s pointing south, just as we’d expected,” said Kayti.

  A lock of red hair was falling over her forehead, slipping out of the turban that covered it. Without her white armor, which she carried in the camel’s saddlebags, Kayti looked much younger.