Tallia held the heavy book in her hands and gazed at it in wonder. “Thank you, thank you so much.”
“I am sorry, but I can’t let you take it away, but you are very welcome to read it here,” the priest said.
Tallia sat on the floor crossed legged with the book in front of her. The priest laughed, “I didn’t mean right here I meant in the church. Come on let's find you somewhere more comfortable.”
Tallia blushed, got up and followed him up into the church and into a small room with two high windows. There was also a desk and chair in the middle of the room. “You won’t be disturbed in here it’s my private study. Just leave the book on the desk when you have finished and close the door behind you when you leave.”
Tallia looked up at him, smiled and nodded. “This is going to take a long time Macaque,” she said. “Why don’t you go keep Poriya company today?”
Oh great I get to choose between boredom or humiliation Macaque thought.
“Be nice Macaque.”
Macaque bared her teeth at Tallia in defiance and ran out the door to go back to the inn.
As the priest left and closed the door behind him, Tallia opened the book and began to read. The book was the story she knew so well about the legend of the gods and the war they raged against each other.
Skaldoz, Skicedez & Skasdiz are brothers and created the land together. Larknoz, the sister of the three brothers, filled the area around the land with water and made this her sole domain.
Skicedez created people that were tall, large and hairy in the north of the land. Skaldoz created people who had dark skins and were small in the south of the land. Skasdiz created people who had light brown skin and were kind and gentle and put them in the middle of the land.
They created seasons so the ice would spread south in the winter and when summer came the ice was driven away and all the land became hot. The people of the north and south complained to the gods as they suffered half the year from a climate not suitable to them. For the people in the middle it was either too hot or too cold and suffered all year round but did not complain.
The three brothers began to argue over the seasons and the plight of the people they created. Unable to settle their differences they began to fight. The people began to complain even more at the fighting gods and Skicedez and Skaldoz turned their anger towards the people of Zantalth.
Skasdiz loved his people and wanted to protect them so he placed his lips on the earth and blew. The rock around his lips fizzed and grew up to make a massive mountain with a flat top. He placed his creations on top and told them to dig into the ground to hide. The rock was firm but soft enough to dig so the people dug caves into the rock and hid.
Skaldoz & Skicedez could not find their brothers people to destroy them and were so angered they struck the earth together causing the ground to split open from one coast to the other. The seas began to pour into the split that was so deep that it would swallow all the water. Larknoz on seeing this was enraged at what her foolish brothers had done. She sealed either end of the split to stop the seas from draining away and being the older and the stronger she warned them if they did not stop fighting she will pull them down into the waters and drown them.
The three brothers were so frightened they made an agreement to divide the land into three with mountain ranges between them so big that no one or anything can pass not even the seasons.
And so it was Skicedez had the north and the winter season, Skaldoz the south and the hot summer season and Skasdiz had the middle that was a permanent spring season, not hot nor cold but perfect for his beloved people.
The crack was so deep that all the gods together could not pull it back together or fill the vast void and it remains splitting the mid-lands. It is believed to be bottomless and anyone falling into the crack are believed to fall for all eternity.
Tallia had no idea of how long she had been sat there reading before she found the first mention of Amalia Beastwalker. “So it’s true, she exists,” Tallia whispered to herself before reading on. She read how Larknoz had created her to protect the land and the beasts from her brothers and to watch them. As she read on, the story told of how Amalia began to age as the gods withdrew and became less interested in their creation, leaving Zantalth alone to fend for itself.
The final page of the book told of how in her old age Amalia hid herself to wait for something, but it did not say what, in a cave in the northern mountains. But the northern mountains are vast Tallia thought how can I find a hidden cave. As she was closing the book feeling exhilarated and despondent at the same time she noticed that the paper on the last page was not properly stuck to the back of the book. She carefully peeled the page away and found a scrap of paper behind it. She removed it and unfolded the paper. Written on it was.
Caves of despair.
Behind the twins the entrance will be found.
Tallia carefully folded the paper up and returned it to the book and closed it before rushing out the church and heading for the inn. She stopped suddenly and looked back towards the docks. She turned and ran to the boat she had found the priest on.
“Well hello there. Judging by your face I would say you found what you were looking for,” the priest said.
“Yes,” she panted, “Well mostly. Have you heard of the Caves of Despair?”
“They don’t sound very nice. But no sorry I have not.”
“What about the twins?” Tallia asked
“No sorry, where are they supposed to be?”
“I believe they are in the northern mountains.”
The face of the priest turned very grave. “I do hope not. That place is cursed and has many dangerous and frightening beasts in it.”
“So I have been told. Thanks for your help I must go now.” Tallia turned and ran back to the Inn to tell the others what she had found.
“I demand to know why I have been dragged here like a criminal,” Merek boomed as he charged into elder Digast’s rooms without knocking. Elder Digast looked up, and a brief flash of anger crossed his face at being spoken to that way. He quickly regained his composure and said, “Ah, Merek, so glad you could make it.”
“Like I had a choice.”
“Now now Merek, calm down. You will understand the urgency when I explain.”
“Explain what?”
“Well, you remember that girl you sent to us?”
“Tallia yes, why? What has she done?”
“It’s not a case of what she has done. It’s a case of what she is going to do.”
Merek narrowed his eyes as he looked suspiciously at the elder.
“Please sit down Merek.”
Merek sat down, and elder Digast told him all about the dark prophesies in the ancient book he found on the library floor. The more he told Merek, the more the colour drained from his already pale face.
After the elder had finished Merek said, “So what has all this got to do with me?”
“Well, Merek, we have decided that it’s all down to you that you didn’t deal with this girl in the first place while she could not defend herself.”
“That’s not fair. I did try to.” Then suddenly stopped as he realised he was about to say too much and his dubious use of magic.
“Yes Merek, I know all about the pendant and what you have been up to.”
Merek gulped.
“I am going to give you one last chance Merek to deal with her yourself.”
“But what can I do? I don’t even know where she is.”
“I have read a report from the guard, and she was last seen staying at some inn at Kargell Landing, Sargent Halthor has the details. I want you to go find her and kill her and those with her as well if necessary.”
“Surely that is the job of the guard?”
“Normally yes. You have seen what she can do, and anyway, this is your mess. You can clean it up.”
“What chance do I have?”
“Better than the guard. She knows you and probably will trust you. Also, y
ou have some magical knowledge.”
“Nothing like hers.”
“No, but she doesn’t know what she is doing. Anyway, I am going to get Elder Stakron to cast one of his magic protection spells on you to stop her using magic on you.”
Merek shoulders slumped, and he let out a loud sigh as he realised he was going to have to do this.
“Good, “ Elder Digast said, “Your to leave immediately as time is not on your side. Go and find Sargent Halthor and he will take you to Kargell Landing himself. Let’s just hope you can catch up before she finds that old witch.”
“Oh great,” Merek sighed as he rolled his eyes.
Chapter XIX
Two days later Tallia and the others all met early for breakfast before departing for the northern mountains. They had decided they would start at the most easterly point of the range where it met the sea. The quickest way was to take one of the fishing boats down towards the mouth of the river on the other side and follow the coast up until they reach the mountains. They had secured passage on one of the boats heading out to sea that morning. What none of them had noticed as they sat talking about the journey ahead was the table in the corner was now empty.
They said their goodbyes to Bledros who did not want Jeb to go as the Guard and Pike was now the most popular tavern in the city with the abundant fresh meat Jeb had been supplying.
No sooner had they boarded the boat the crew cast off, and they headed out into the river turning to travel downstream towards the sea. They all sat on the deck watching the docks slowly slip away. Except for Macaque who was having great fun climbing up the mast and swinging around on the ropes.
“Tallia,” Jeb said. “I don’t feel very well.” Tallia and Poriya looked at Jeb who’s face had taken on a green colour. He suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth and ran to the side throwing up very noisily over the side. Tallia felt sorry for him, but Poriya was highly amused. It wasn’t much longer before Poriya had joined Jeb on the side of the boat heaving noisily and looking very sorry for himself. “Sorry I laughed,” Poriya said.
“Normally I would say serves you right, but I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” Jeb replied. “HUUUURGGEHH”
“I know what you mean. HUUUURGGEHH“
Tallia rolled her eyes and decided to leave them to it and walked up into the wheelhouse to talk to the captain.
“You okay?” the captain said as she walked in. “Where're your friends?”
Tallia looked over her shoulder at the two side by side leaning over the side. The captain looked in that direction then roared with laughter. “Their first time on a boat eh?”
“And mine. How did you know?”
“Get’s people like that. ‘Tis called seasickness. Don’t worry lass they will get used to it.”
“How come I am not sick?”
“Affects people in different ways, some never get it, some are really sick,” he said looking back at the two hanging over the side. “And every shade in between. Also depends on how rough it is.”
“Rough?”
The captain roared with laughter. “You really are landies aren’t you. When the weather is bad, the waves can get real, real big and throw this old tub around quite a bit. Sometimes makes even the oldest of sea dogs feel unwell. Anyway, you need not worry about that we shall be there soon enough and the weather ain’t gonna change much before we get there. Why don’t you pop down below and have a word with cook? He will give you something for them to quiet their bellies down a bit.”
“Thank you, captain,” Tallia said.
It was well after the midpoint of the day before they arrived at their drop off point. The foul tasting liquid Jeb and Poriya drunk had stopped them being sick, and some of the colour had returned to their cheeks, but they both still felt unwell, and they were very grateful for setting foot on dry land. They said their goodbyes to the captain and began to walk north towards the snow-capped mountains in the distance.
“Isn’t travelling by boat fun? I enjoyed that.” Tallia said without thinking. Jeb and Poriya stopped and stared at her with the look of total disbelief on their faces.
I enjoyed it Macaque thought.
She stopped and looked from one to the other. “What?”
Poriya slowly shook his head and walked on.
“You’re unbelievable,” Jeb said and followed Poriya.
“So you got a little sick,” Tallia said.
“A little?” Poriya exclaimed. “I thought I was going to die.”
“Did you see us?” Jeb asked.
“Yeah, you two did look funny turning green,” Tallia said.
Macaque curled her lips back and bounced up and down as her way of laughing.
“Shut up Tallia,” Poriya said and glared at Macaque.
“Yeah shut up,” Jeb said.
“The captain did say it gets better the more ti...” Tallia started to say.
“Never again.” Poriya interrupted.
“Ever,” added Jeb.
Wusses Macaque thought.
Tallia stifled a laugh.
They made camp before it got too dark and settled down for the night with the sound of the surf crashing against the rocks. “Don’t see how anyone can get any sleep with that noise,” Jeb said and immediately started to snore. Tallia grinned to herself and slipped into sleep quickly as well him leaving Poriya to take the first watch.
As the first light of the new day began lighting the sky, they ate breakfast and broke camp. “We should be at the foot of the mountains by lunchtime,” Poriya said.
“Why are the tops of the mountains white?” Jeb asked.
“No idea,” Poriya answered.
“We might be able to tell better when we get closer,” Tallia said.
“Maybe,” Poriya said. “Either way we need to be on our guard. I have heard there are terrible and dangerous beasts in them.”
“Will we need to go into the mountains?” Jeb said looking very concerned.
“I don’t know Jeb. Probably a little way,” Tallia said.
As they got closer and closer, all three were amazed just how big the mountains were. They were much higher than the plateau of Skasdiz. They were so high they seemed to touch the sky.
They decided to stop for lunch at the bottom of a steep slope that rose sharply. They could see it carried on up and up until the grass gave way to bare rock and still it continued upwards.
“I guess this is the edge of the mountains,” Jeb said.
“Looks that way lad,” Poriya said.
Tallia looked up and across to the west along the mountain range and wondered if or how they were going to spot the twins, whatever that meant. She then spotted a large bird, larger than she had ever seen, seemingly hanging in the air with its massive wings outstretched as it glided in the wind high up. She focused on the bird making a connection with it and closed her eyes. The view from the bird's eyes came clearly into focus, and she watched as it glided watching the rough rocky ground below for prey to catch.
She softly desired to fly west along the edge of the mountain range, and the bird followed her will. She flew along a long way before turning back but further in towards the mountains all the while looking for the twins. She had almost got back to where she had started, “Come on Tallia wake up,” Jeb said. “We can’t stay here all day.”
The connection with the bird was broken, and Tallia opened her eyes and glared at Jeb. “I wasn't asleep. I was having a look round.”
“What with your eyes closed?” Jeb laughed.
Tallia pointed to the bird that had returned to its hunting.
“Oh,” Jeb said, “sorry.”
“Never mind. Let’s get going I couldn’t see anything for quite some way.”
“Might be worth you keep doing that,” Poriya said.
“That’s what I was thinking. Means we can look some way into the mountains without actually having to go any closer.”
“I like that idea,” Jeb said. “I don’t like the look of them at al
l.”
“I just wish I knew exactly what I was looking for,” Tallia said more to herself than the others.
“I thought you said the twins,” Jeb said.
“Yes I did, but what exactly is that, them? It’s not as if it is going to be baby twins in a perambulator is it?”
Jeb stared at her for a moment while he thought about it. He suddenly burst out laughing. Tallia and Poriya looked at each other in bemusement.
“I can just see it,” Jeb said as he calmed his laughing. “Out here, in the middle of nowhere, we come across a perambulator all on its own with two....,” he starts to laugh, “babies..... in .... it.” He collapses on the ground with tears rolling down his face. The sight of Jeb makes Tallia begin to laugh and as she thinks about what he finds so funny also laughs more. Even Poriya is unable to stop himself from smiling at them and gives a little chuckle.
Once over their mirth, they walked west next to the mountains for two days stopping three or four times a day so Tallia could take over one of the large birds that they often spotted circling high over them to look ahead and further up the slopes.
It was late when Sargent Halthor and Merek entered the Guard & Pike Inn.
“Sorry but I am just closing up,” Bledros began to say, “Halthor, my friend, good to see you. It’s been too long.”
As they embraced, patting each other loudly on the back Halthor said, “my old friend. Yes, it’s been far too long.”
They broke off their hugging as Beldros said, “Bit late for a visit, guess something is going on.”
“Yes, my friend there is. I have brought his eminence Merek with me. We hope you can help him.”
“Of course, of course, come let's get some ale and sit.”
Beldros poured out three jugs of ale, and as they sat around a table, he said, “So your eminence how can I help.”
“I believe you know of a girl called Tallia. Is she still lodging here?”
“Indeed I do know her, but she left a few days ago. Why do you seek her?”
“Nothing to worry about, just have some urgent news from her home. I promised her mother I would track her down. Do you know where she has gone?”
Zantalth: The magic is returning Page 14