by Bob Blink
They did find several volumes of interest that they set aside for later study, since they didn’t appear to deal directly with the task at hand. One appeared to be a volume written about the mages’ language. Unfortunately it was written in the old tongue, and none of them knew more than a couple of words of that. There were only a couple of scholars in the Settled Lands that knew even a portion of the whole language, so it would be years before it might be translated, and then only if someone felt it a priority.
The inhabitants of the city had been technically far more advanced than the people of the present era, and Jolan found a variety of scientific texts that demonstrated the fact. He allowed himself one hour each morning to look through such books, a break from the more tedious searching they were all engaged in. The last few days he had been looking through a text that showed the city’s inhabitants had understood some aspects of nuclear science, but in some areas their knowledge seemed very incomplete.
“I think we found it,” Nerila said, interrupting his thoughts and placing a small map annotated with a bit of text on the table where he sat.
“Tilano?” Jolan asked eagerly.
She nodded.
“Where was it?”
“These weren’t out in the main area at all. I was sitting in one of the side rooms, the larger one that looks like it might have been an office. There is a small selection of books in there as well, maybe a few hundred. Most of them seem to be records of some sort, but I was just idly scanning one after another and stumbled onto this one. There isn’t a lot about the city, but it is pretty clear where it is supposed to be located.
By now everyone had caught on to the fact Nerila seemed to have found something and they were gathering around the table to look at what it was.
“Where is it?” asked Luzoke, echoing the question Jolan had meant which Nerila had misinterpreted. “Not out here in the desert, I hope.”
“This says it is in the mountains, up by the great lake a few days outside of Trailways.”
“That’s in territory that Ale’ald now controls,” said Ronoran.
“I’ve never seen a city there, and I’ve been most of the way around the lake,” said Asari when he was certain she was talking about the same lake.
Jolan had been there also, and there hadn’t been any sign of a city. There had been one of the portal towers there however.
“It’s supposed to be hidden,” explained Nerila, which caused a couple of groans among the group. “Not like Ygooro which was buried by accident or time. It says the City of the Mages was hidden on purpose to keep it safe. Unfortunately it doesn’t say how.”
“Is it supposed to be buried like this one,” asked Asari. “I can’t see how you could bury a city in those mountains.”
“It sounds a bit like the city might have been built to be hidden. Maybe there is some kind of glamour spell that masks it from sight unless you know exactly where to look. All I have found so far is that to open the city requires some kind of a key.”
“The key to the lost City of the Mages,” said Ronoran.
Something in his voice caused everyone to look his way. He flushed, but explained.
“There was a story at the College that you don’t hear much anymore. Many years ago there was supposedly a senior level mage that apparently took the “key” to unlock the lost city from the same sealed area we broke into and disappeared from Cobalo. The Council of Mages has searched for him for years hoping to recover it, but the stories say they have never found him. Supposedly they are still looking, unless the story is a bunk, or they found him and that’s why you don’t hear the stories much anymore.”
“Altz,” said Jolan softly.
“Yeah,” agreed Ronoran. “I think that was the name I heard, or something like that. How’d you know?”
“I met him,” explained Jolan. “When Asari and I were traveling to Cobalo from the wilderness, I ran into him. He gave me some advice, and told me that he wasn’t in favor at the College. He never would say why. This must be the reason.”
“Well, if this is correct, you’re going to need to find him again. If he has the key, it might be the only way you are going to get access to the city. Are you really sure this is what we are after?”
Jolan was certain. As soon as Nerila had shown him the map and he’d heard the name of the city again, he felt the same familiar tugging in the back of his mind. They’d found the clue that had brought them here. There was more that could be done here, but it would have to wait. The immediate task had now shifted elsewhere, and despite the fact it was located behind the enemy lines, they would have to find a way to get there and search. A search would have to be initiated for Altz as well, and he knew that was something he personally would have to handle. If word reached Altz that a group of mages was looking for him he would conclude that the Council had located him and he would disappear once again. If Jolan were to approach him, he was sure they would have a chance to talk. The group also owed it to their friends in Cobalo to bring back news of the portals. It sounded like they would have to split their efforts to get everything underway before the winter months set in.
Nerila and Rifod spent the rest of the day looking through books in the small office trying to find additional information, but moving that quickly they didn’t have time to be careful. The quick search failed to yield additional clues. Jolan, Luzoke, Ronoran, and Asari sat off to one side and started planning how to approach the tasks that needed to be done, all seemingly at the same time. They initially planned to send Nerila and Rifod back to Cobalo with the information on the portals, but were surprised when they indicated they would be staying in Ygooro when the others left.
“There’s more here,” insisted Nerila. “Rifod and I talked about it. It’ll take you weeks to get anywhere, and during that time we can continue searching. By the time you get where you can open a portal, we may have found the answers. With the portal open, we can then join you.”
“What if the portal doesn’t work like we expect?” asked Luzoke. “You’d be stuck here for the winter.”
“If you haven’t opened a portal and winter is getting too close, we can always make our way out. Actually, I suspect we could survive the winter here just fine. On this side of the mountains there isn’t snow, and in the oasis I’d guess the weather wouldn’t be too bad.”
“I don’t like the idea of them having to try and travel alone,” said Ronoran.
“”Bauto is only three weeks,” Asari reminded them. “Don’t forget, Rifod made his way through this country once before, so he’s not a novice.”
“The portals are going to work,” insisted Nerila. “We all believe that. I have a feeling our staying is going to result in our finding something.”
Jolan didn’t like it either, but they’d gone along with his “feelings.” Asari insisted they would be fine if they left by a certain date if the portals didn’t open a simple way home for them.
“I think they just like the idea of a long honeymoon alone in the oasis,” said Asari when he and Jolan were walking alone a bit later. “They certainly haven’t had much time to themselves since they started off with us.”
The group spent the next day working through possible variations and finally came to an agreement on how to approach the problem. As requested, Rifod and Nerila would stay here. The remaining four would travel together to Bauto. There they would split the party once again. Asari and Luzoke would travel into the mountains to the lake. Luzoke was strong with shields and beams, and Asari was the only one of their group who knew his way around the area, including a back way into the lake. Ale’ald troops would be focused northward toward Kimlelm and Seret, and wouldn’t be interested in exploring the wilderness. They didn’t expect any problems so long as they avoided trails that might be patrolled coming into the area. Once they reached the lake, they could activate the portal there, allowing contact back to Ygooro and any portals that Jolan and Ronoran opened. Jolan wasn’t at all happy about splitting away from Asari,
but they couldn’t find another combination that worked as well, or would allow them any chance of completing the needed tasks before the winter set in, ending progress for many months. If they had the portals open to the Lake, they could pop in at will, but trying to get there from Angon in the middle of winter would be a formidable task.
Jolan would be the one to return to Cobalo and explain what they had found, even though he’d been asked to leave. He also needed to go to Seret and find Altz. Ronoran would come with him. To speed up activities, they would travel to Burar after splitting with Asari and Luzoke. There Ronoran would travel through the tunnel into Seret and go on to Carta where he would look up Tomas. Jolan would provide Ronoran with a letter explaining he wanted Tomas to give Ronoran access to the portal Tomas had said existed on his property. They’d talked about it one day while Jolan and Asari were still living there.
When Ronoran went on to Carta, Jolan would turn north to Cobalo, where he could hopefully once again gain an audience and explain what they had found. Opening the portal on the College grounds would be a quick way to tie everything together. He’d bring the book of portal maps with him, so he could show the extent of the system. If Lonid wouldn’t see him, he was sure he could get in touch with either Dibon or Ward. Once they understood what he had found, the Council would want to meet with him. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to tell them about Tilano just yet.
Plans made, they spent a few days getting ready to depart. Asari and Luzoke spent two days hunting, and brought back a large supply of meat that they laid out to cure so the two librarians would have a large reserve. Rifod complained that he could hunt, and that game was plentiful, but the four departing travelers were still a bit uncomfortable leaving their friends behind. Finally the day came to depart, and the six of them gathered for the last time around the pool near the waterfall. Somewhat at a loss for words, Jolan finally mounted his horse, waved at the two friends standing off to the side, and followed Asari and the others along the small river and out into the desert where they would pick up the trail.
* * * *
They traveled quickly, arriving at the southern edge of Bauto in just over two weeks. Now it was time to split again.
“How long do you think it will take you to get to the lake?” asked Jolan.
“Probably three weeks. It will depend on how many troops Ale’ald has patrolling the area. We should have the portal open by the time you get to Cobalo.”
Jolan sighed. He hated the necessity to split up, but they’d talked this through in Ygooro and again as they rode. It was the best plan they’d been able to come up with.
“Here,” said Jolan, as he handed something to Luzoke.
“Your ring?” said Luzoke, looking at the magic ring with the purple stone. “I can’t take that.”
“For now at least,” urged Jolan. “You are already strong with beams, and that will boost them even further. You two are going into danger. Ronoran and I aren’t. I’d feel better knowing you have power that essentially no known mage can resist.”
Looking a bit uncomfortable with the gift, Luzoke slid the ring onto his finger. Both he and Jolan noted the slight glow in the stone showing the ring had accepted Luzoke as a valid bearer.
“A month at most,” Jolan promised as he pulled Asari into an embrace. “And damnit, be careful.”
Chapter 89
The country between Bauto and Tialer was mostly farmland, and with fall having arrived the farmers were all busy bringing in the crops. Every field seemed to have been planted, and as Jolan and Ronoran rode through the area they passed wagon after wagon heavily loaded with the result of an exceptional growing season being carried in from the fields. Many of the wagons were headed the same direction as they were, off to Burar. The demand for food was one of the first signs they’d had that the war effort was still in full bloom. Jolan was curious to know how things were progressing, but suspected that any news he was able to get out here in the country would be dated and half rumor. When they arrived in Burar, he knew they would be able to get dependable information, for it was the city in Angon that was most involved in shipping goods to the war fronts of Seret and Kimlelm. He knew people there who would have a good idea of the situation. In Burar there was also a telegraph line, so news from the front would be received daily.
The roads east of Bauto had changed from the dirt trails they had been used to for so long, back into stone for the main route. It was a sign that they were coming back into mainland Angon, which had long prided itself on the quality of its highways. It made good sense, given the amount of traffic this area saw, and would allow the farmers to transport their harvest even if the weather was bad by eliminating the muddy trails Jolan remembered from his trip from the wilderness with Asari. In addition to the string of large farms, there were several small villages along the way. Nothing larger than a couple of hundred residents, but no longer was it simply a scattering of lone homesteads dotting the countryside. Children played along the side of the road, and they became accustomed to being barked at by the dogs that played with them as they passed through these small communities.
Three days ride after splitting from their friends, Jolan and Ronoran rode into the western limits of Tialer. Tialer was still on the edge of farm country, but had a growing manufacturing district as well. It was also the highway junction for many cities in the area, as well as the inland route that came down from Cobalo, so the number of travelers on the road swelled considerably as the various roads merged travelers into the main route heading east.
“We’d best find a place early I think,” suggested Ronoran as they realized how many travelers would be competing for the few rooms that would be available in the inns. Stopping early would waste a half a day’s travel, but they had talked about taking a short break in Tialer. They’d been on the road for weeks and could use a change of diet. Besides all of their clothes were in desperate need of being properly washed and cleaned, and in some cases repaired.
An hour later they had found a place for the night, the Done Inn, and were having a drink in the common room before taking care of their errands.
“I’ve missed that a lot,” said Ronoran with enthusiasm as he downed half his tankard of ale in one long swallow. It was the first drink either of them had had in several months, and the pale cool liquid went down smoothly with just the right amount of bite to it.
“That just might be the best tankard of ale I’ve ever had.”
“I suspect your standards might have slipped a notch after so long,” suggested Jolan, but he had to admit the quality of the drink seemed high to him as well. Perhaps being here in farm country where the ingredients were grown had something to do with the quality they were seeing. “I think a second round is in order, and then we should see about getting things taken care of. We want to be able to leave early in the morning.”
It was far too early to be thinking about dinner, but based on the fine aromas coming from the back room and the quality of service they’d seen here, they’d be back later. For now he signaled the serving girl and made good on his call for another drink for each of them.
At the adjacent table Jolan couldn’t help overhearing three men talking about the war, and decided to see what the local rumors were.
“Poorly,” answered the white bearded man that was closest to Jolan. “Where have you been that you don’t know? It’s not like it’s new news. The wizards in Ale’ald have been gradually moving the line forward for months now. Half of Kimlelm has fallen behind their lines now, including Yermo the capital. Most figure they will have taken the whole country before winter sets in. That’ll leave ‘em free to lock things down tight there over the winter months, and make them ready to attack Seret come the spring.”
“I’m surprised they have moved so quickly. I thought the armies were more evenly matched than that suggests.”
“Dragondamned wizards,” said another of the men at the table. “They seem to have an uncommon number of them supporting the troops. The
y must have been preparing this for years, grooming every man or woman that has any ability with the power. The wizards have turned many a loss into a win for them from what I’ve heard.”
The men supplied details of the current location of the battle lines, although there was obvious disagreement among the three as to just where the line might be in several areas. Jolan realized that Ronoran had become quiet during the discussion, and remembering that his family was from somewhere in Kimlelm decided it best to end the current conversation.
Jolan hadn’t been sure whether he should ask about Ronoran’s family or not. His friend had seldom talked about home, and Jolan knew he had been essentially turned away by his family, yet he appeared to have taken the account of the fighting hard. The next morning as they rode away from Tialer it was Ronoran who finally brought the subject up.
“I hope the folks are okay,” he said simply, indicating to Jolan that he was willing to discuss the matter.
“They live in the area that Ale’ald has taken, don’t they?” asked Jolan.
Ronoran nodded. “A small town, village actually, south of Davo. You won’t find it on many maps. The family has been there for generations. I remember my grandpa saying he wanted to be close to the border so he’d have the first chance at any Ale’ald bastards that tried to take Kimlelm.”
“He still alive?”
“Nah. He died more then ten years ago. Wonder what he’d think now?”
“Are your family farmers?”