“And let’s not tell the girls,” he said out loud, ignoring Tresten.
“Why not? What has gotten into you?”
“A healthy dose of your paranoia,” Rylek said as he began to climb up the long staircase. “Besides, what good will it do to tell them? They would just be furious we snuck off without them. And what would happen if we needed to go off just the two of us again and they knew we had already done it once before? You know they’ll probably trade shifts through the night to make sure we don’t do it again, especially since we’ve already injured ourselves.” He took a quick glance at Tresten’s hands again. “I don’t think it’ll do any good to tell them.”
Tresten was silent for awhile, though Rylek could tell he was not particularly pleased with him. However, he was a little concerned that the Oathbinder had made its presence known, and was trying to figure out why he was somehow bound to not speak of his and Tresten’s actions. This was the second time it had acted with unclear connections to the Whispered Wheel meeting. Was there something in the room he was supposed to have figured out from what Caenar and Faltir had told him? Or did the answer lie within the crystalline orb?
“Promise me you won’t tell anyone,” he said.
“Alright, I promise,” Tresten said. “For the record I do not necessarily agree with you, but I will play along. If you want it secret, it will stay secret.”
***
They continued climbing until their legs felt like they were going to give out, so they sat down for a few minutes on the cold stone stairs.
“I doubt it will come as a surprise for you to learn that I am insanely thirsty,” Tresten said.
Rylek gestured in a vague direction. “There’s plenty of water in the waterfall room,” he said. “Maybe you can take a plunge when we get back.”
“Don’t talk about what we need and don’t have,” Tresten grumbled. “It only makes it worse. Besides, this air is so cold and dry, it sucks all the moisture from my mouth.”
“We can’t be too much further from the top,” Rylek said. “Think we can finish it now?”
“Better to try now than to die of thirst,” Tresten said, standing back up.
“There he is!” Rylek said, smiling and punching him lightly on the shoulder. “You haven’t been the old dour you for awhile. I kind of missed it.”
“Shut up,” Tresten said.
They walked on for a couple of minutes in silence. Rylek was in the middle of thinking how nice the sleeping mat and blankets were going to feel when Tresten finally spoke.
“You know, I’ve been thinking,” he said, “and I wonder if that winged monster was a sick representation of the Aesids’ ancestors.”
“Why do you say that?” Rylek asked.
“They’re both winged,” Tresten said. “And we both know the Aesid we’ve met so far do not like to talk about their history, as though they were guilty of blowing up Mira or something. Maybe those statues, or whatever they are, were created by them to keep record of their dark deeds in order to remind them of what they were. As I am sure you are well aware of, many times an artist will grossly exaggerate physical appearances of his subject in order to convey an internal anomaly to the observer. We both know the Aesid obviously enjoy tormenting themselves with memories, so why not keep their darkest memories locked up down in their basement?”
“I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired or what, but that actually makes some form of sense to me,” Rylek said. “But here’s the one thing I can’t figure out: if that’s the case, why did one of the statues start moving towards us?”
“That is a puzzler,” Tresten said. “We may never know.” He paused. “You’re going to ask Caenar when we get back, aren’t you?”
“Why do you say that?”
Tresten shrugged. “It just seems like the two of you have been spending a lot of time together recently. Surely those times are not wasted discussing unimportant things.”
“Like baths?”
“I am claiming ignorance on the matter.”
“It’s not what you think,” Rylek said, laughing. “And no, I don’t plan on asking him. I like and respect the man, but he is a bit of a busybody. Contrary to what you might think, he does get on my nerves at times. He always has to be in everybody’s business.”
“There’s hope for you yet,” Tresten said.
“Don’t give up on me,” Rylek said. He meant it to sound like he was joking, but it was a feeble attempt as it instead came across as an authentic plea. Tresten gave him a funny look. But Rylek was saved as they had come upon the door. They were surprised when it automatically opened for them and then closed after they crossed into the main corridor. They then continued down into the waterfall room, where they both quenched their thirst in a fountain from the river.
“This water is so crisp and clear,” Tresten said as it dripped from his chin.
It was not long before they had made their way back into their room. They were careful not to make any noises as they entered, and were relieved to see the girls still asleep. Without so much as a whisper, they crawled under their respective blankets and settled into their soft sleeping mats. Rylek felt exhausted but wondered if he would be able to sleep. His mind was a swirling mass of questions and images. Instinctively his fingers reached for the pocketed crystalline orb.
No, not now, he thought to himself. I’ll know when the time is right.
He rolled over onto his other side so he could look at the other three. Lana was on her back, her face turned away from him; Selenor was on her side facing him; but when his eyes came upon Tresten, he saw that he was looking back at him. Their eyes locked for awhile, as Rylek tried to read the other’s face. When he shrugged at him because he could think of nothing else to do, Tresten replied by shrugging back and then rolling onto his other side, turning his back on him. Rylek took it as a silent and intentional gesture.
I don’t blame him though. I’d feel the same way, he thought. But I have to carry this burden alone. It was given to me, though I never asked for it. It’s for his own good. He spent the next hour or so trying to convince himself of the validity of this last thought before he fell asleep.
Chapter Eleven:
The Twilight Gate
In the morning the four shared a table with Andulibar and Altan for breakfast. They were dressed in their own clothes again, which were freshly laundered by Kelsereid for their forthcoming journey. No one else was around, and the early morning sun was already shining golden down the ceiling shafts. Butterflies flitted among the flowers that surrounded their table, and a few birds were chatting with each other in a nearby tree. Having not slept for a large part of the night, Rylek felt exhausted but anxious for the coming events of the day. Tresten looked moody, which Rylek knew was normal. Selenor and Lana, however, appeared to be excited and energetic. So rested and so naïve, he thought to himself, jealous of their full night’s sleep.
“So where exactly is this Khragzul?” Lana asked in between mouthfuls of dried fruit and bread. “I’ve never heard of it before.”
Andulibar’s chin sank deep into his chest.
Altan took a drink from a silver mug that was all that sat in front of him; once again he ate no food. “Far to the north,” he said, “leagues upon leagues from here.”
“But I thought there was nothing but the ocean north of here,” Selenor said. “Does Calabranda jut out farther to the north somewhere else?”
“I never said it was in Calabranda,” Altan said.
“Do you mean to tell us there are actually other places in Mira besides Calabranda?” Lana asked.
“Oh yes,” Altan said. “Many other places with their own histories and tragedies. The world is resplendent with tragedy.”
Rylek caught the sorrowful note in his voice and wondered again at who this person was and what mysteries lay hidden within his heart and mind.
Andulibar stirred uneasily in his chair. “Dark conversations early in the day accomplish nothing save bringing ill mo
ods all the day,” he said. “Altan, I can see you are set to needlessly take these four children on your fool’s errand. Please refrain from discussing it until you are out of our home. Perdeisolen needs no additional shadows to haunt its corners.”
Rylek and Tresten exchanged quick glances.
Altan closed his eyes and sighed. “As you wish,” he said. “But nothing I do is needless, Andulibar. Such wisdom that has been granted to me guides and directs my decisions. Nothing but good for all concerned will come of this.”
“How do you know?” Rylek asked. There was a moment’s silence as everyone’s eyes were turned to him. “I mean, I don’t want to sound like I don’t believe you, because that’s not it at all. I desperately want to believe you. But how can you be so sure?”
Altan looked him directly in the eye and held him there. “When one does what he knows beyond any doubt to be right, what harm can truly come upon him?” he asked.
No one had an answer for him.
After a long silence, Altan smiled. “But Andulibar does have a point. The sun is shining warmly, the birds are singly merrily, and I am sure that on the surface the wind is dancing freely. So let us talk of other matters for now.” He then engaged the girls in a conversation about the flowers surrounding their table.
But Tresten had caught Rylek’s eye again with a look that meant We’d better be on our guard. Rylek dropped his gaze to his plate and thought about what Altan had said to him. His appetite was gone.
***
After breakfast was through, the four walked back to their borrowed dwelling place. They needed to gather their belongings and say farewell to Ryaskoreid and Kelsereid. The girls put their birthday presents from Clarina back on; they had not worn them since they arrived in Perdeisolen. The Dawnstone shone from around Lana’s neck, and the Twilightstone radiated from Selenor’s right hand. Tresten slipped Silran and its scabbard over his shoulder.
“It feels good to have this equipped again,” he said to Rylek. “We need to be practicing, you know.”
Rylek looked grim. “Let’s just hope that practice is the only use they’ll get for the foreseeable future,” he said quietly.
Tresten stepped over to his side. “It certainly would not take a genius to feel the hesitation we are exhibiting.” he said softly. “But I cannot help but think it is simply leftover from last night.”
“I don’t know,” Rylek said. “There’s this small nagging voice in the back of my head. I hope it’s wrong, but it keeps telling me something terrible is in Khragzul.”
“Do you mean like the somethings terrible we saw last night?”
Rylek shivered. He could not decide what was more terrifying: the dark giant creature or the cloaked figure that slowly chased them as they fled the secret room. “I have no idea,” he said. “Maybe it’s not an actual physical thing. Maybe it’s just knowledge we’re going to learn while we’re there. But I can’t shake the feeling that some form of doom awaits us.”
“What are you guys whispering about?” Selenor suddenly asked.
They both looked up and saw the girls watching them with curious faces. “Nothing important,” Tresten said. “Just guy-talk.”
Selenor laughed.
Lana groaned, and then tapped her on the shoulder. “Come, my dear,” she said, putting on airs, “let us remove ourselves from their apparent uncouth speech and instead speak of lady-like things.”
As the girls turned away laughing, Tresten leaned in close to Rylek. “There is peace in ignorance,” he said.
Rylek did not know quite how to respond.
***
Not long afterwards Ryaskoreid and Kelsereid joined them. Kelsereid had supplied them with several days’ worth of water and food: dried fruits, small loaves, and something she called pahrish. “It is an ancient recipe among our people,” she explained, “and perfect for travelers. Just spread it on some of this bread for a meal.”
Tresten looked at it questioningly. “What exactly is it?” he asked.
“A paste consisting of ground faroll roots, butternuts, dried fish, and certain spices,” she explained.
“I can’t wait,” he said, glancing quickly at Rylek with raised eyebrows.
Lana gave him an angry look, elbowed him in the ribs, cleared her throat, and then smiled at Kelsereid. “Thank you so much for all of your work,” she said. “It was very kind of you to prepare and pack food for us.”
Kelsereid bowed her head slightly. “It was my honorable pleasure,” she said. “I only wish we could do more for you.”
“If I had my wish, I would stop you from going on this journey,” Ryaskoreid said.
“Do you not trust Altan?” Selenor asked.
“You misunderstand me,” he said. “I believe there are things worth remembering, and other things best left forgotten. It is not for the people of Mira to be reminded of the sins of our fathers - we bear their burden enough as it is. The rocks and trees whisper of them to the streams, the ocean carries them to the sky. The Aenosh over time have forgotten how to listen to creation, and so have allowed time to erase history from their minds. I consider this a blessing beyond words.”
He paused and the four did not know how to take this last statement. “To me it seems fruitless to go to Khragzul,” he continued. “However, I will not argue with Altan. He has his reasons, whatever they may be. But I am also saddened that you are leaving us and our home. Though I am sorry for how things came about, I am not sorry they occurred; for I have made four new friends.”
“Do come visit us again whenever you may,” Kelsereid said.
“But please bring no one with you,” Ryaskoreid was quick to add.
“Hopefully we will get a chance to come back here for a little bit after we return from Khragzul,” Lana said. “It can’t be that far out of the way, can it?”
Ryaskoreid shook his head. “I cannot say, for I have never been,” he said. “It is far to the north from here, leagues across the sea. How Altan plans to take you there and back again so quickly is beyond my most imaginative guess. Even the swiftest ship aided by the strongest wind would possibly take weeks.”
“When we find out, we’ll let you know,” Selenor said.
He shook his head again. “Thank you, but no,” he said. “I have no desire within my heart to know the way to the shame of my forefathers.”
***
After saying their final farewells, they stepped outside of their temporary dwelling place. Altan and Andulibar were not far off, approaching them at a leisurely pace while talking quietly. When they saw the four waiting, they stopped their private conversation.
“I see you are prepared,” Altan said, smiling kindly at them. “If you would like, we can depart whenever you are ready.”
The four looked at each other. “I guess we’re as ready as we’ll ever be,” Lana said.
“Wondrous!” Altan said. He then turned towards Andulibar. “Then with your leave, we will depart for our history lesson,” he said.
“Reluctantly do I give it,” Andulibar said. “But before you leave, I ask of you only this, my Aenosh children: please do not think too harshly of my people here in Perdeisolen when you discover the truth about our past. If there were any way in which we could sponge our darkness from us, we would pursue it to death’s end. As it is, I understand perfectly if you wish to never return here. Beauty and joy dwell elsewhere, far from our haunted earthen carvings.”
Tresten sighed audibly.
Rylek knew he was getting tired of the self-deprecating talk of the Aesid. “On the contrary, I am sure we will recognize just how honorable and compassionate you and your people have been to us,” he said. “You most certainly have done us no wrong.” But even as he said the words aloud, the same doubts began to voice themselves in his mind again. To the best of my knowledge anyway, he thought to himself.
Altan tilted his head slightly with a curious look in his eyes as he watched Rylek.
Andulibar merely lowered his head. “Your words are k
ind and gracious,” he said sadly. “But do not make rash vows before the truth is made wholly known to you. Farewell, children of the Aenosh.” He bowed his head low and walked away.
“Can it be so bad?” Selenor asked Altan.
“We will not speak of it here,” he said. “Come, let us leave this place.”
He led them across the Great Room, over sloping gardens, under flowering orchards, across the river, till they reached a corridor they had not yet explored. The entrance was wide and tall, and a grand staircase carried them up flight after flight closer to the surface. It was not long before the stairs ended and the corridor’s end was covered thickly by green vines. Sunlight peaked through in little gaps.
“Bid farewell to Perdeisolen,” Altan said, pulling aside the vines.
Their eyes were greeted by the last thing they expected to see. They were in a small, deep ravine, surrounded by rock walls and dark shrubs and vines. Not much sunlight reached down between the sides. It was chilly, and the air was still, though deliciously fresh. As they walked, the ravine slowly wound its way ever downward, until the rock wall on their right subsided and the horizon opened up to a view of sheer mountain cliffs on their left and sweeping meadows on their right. The sky was clear and blue, a cool salty breeze was blowing, and the cries of gulls carried on the wind.
“Perdeisolen is nice and all, but it sure feels good to be back out in the open again,” Lana said, breathing in deeply.
“Enjoy it while you can,” Altan said. “Our destination is not nearly so pleasant on the senses. But as for today, I aim to merely reach my dwelling, which is not far from here. However, I fear a storm may happen upon us sooner than later, so I would like to arrive before it does. We should make it before nightfall.”
They followed his quick pace. He offered little conversation, and the four suddenly found themselves shy of asking the many questions that were burning in their minds.
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