by Joe Jackson
Senkiro’s Solace was reputed to have been the home of a priest some centuries before. Details of whether he was the head of an order or simply a hermit were sketchy, but mostly pointed to the latter. As was common in such circumstances, he’d started to amass a legend of using force to keep people away from his island, even going so far as to summon up hurricanes and maelstroms to keep ships and travelers away. The stories pointed to him being human, so most assumed he was long dead, but the haunted island rumors persisted in keeping folk away.
The captain confirmed most of what Leighandra said. He was satisfied with following the directions of the group for several days, though he remained ignorant to the source. Sure enough, the pull of the seal led them right to the island. When the companions gathered on deck, the captain called them before him. He wasn’t a military captain or overly strict, but the group stood straight in front of the human and showed him the proper respect.
“How long do you plan to be here?” he asked.
“Either a few hours or the rest of eternity,” Starlenia muttered.
“What’s that now?”
Max shrugged. “It is difficult to be certain, Captain. We may face something that proves to be our undoing while on this island. Could we beseech you stay here until at least this time tomorrow?”
“We’re going to lose time cutting across the currents to get to Flora, so a delay that long will make us later than we’d like. Then again, you have paid us well for this diversion, and you seem to be about something important. I can give you until sundown tomorrow, and then we’ll be setting sail again, with or without you.”
“That should suffice. How close can you get us to the island, sir?” Galadon asked.
Delkantar pointed toward the highest point of the island. “Does that look like a temple up there?” he asked.
Yiilu glanced in that direction. “Yes, it does. No doubt that is our destination, though what lies there, who can say?”
The captain turned back to Galadon. “We’ll get to a good anchoring point out of the main currents, and then you can take our rowboats to shore.”
“I’ll get our packs and armor,” Lion offered, dashing to the staircase to the hold without waiting for Max’s answer. The luranar prince smiled but said nothing.
After a short time, the ship sat at anchor, and the captain had his crew get the rowboats ready. Once they were lowered, Max and Galadon set to rowing the two little boats to shore. The island looked much larger as they approached, a high bluff surrounded by sandy beaches. There was a staircase cut into the stone above the closest of the beaches, and they made for that landing point. Once they reached the strand, the men beached the boats and the companions made sure their gear was in order before they took to the stairs.
“Galadon, if this island truly is haunted, perhaps you should have my father’s sword,” Max said, offering the hilt to his friend.
The paladins traded weapons, then let Starlenia and Delkantar take the lead. There wasn’t much in the way of animal noise on the island, and the beach had been devoid of any sort of life – even gulls. The island gave all the immediate indications of being haunted, but neither Max nor Galadon seemed set on edge by anything they could feel. Even Yiilu didn’t seem spooked, though the elf did wear a strange expression for most of the ascent.
At the top of the stone stairs was a wooden pathway, remarkably well-preserved when one considered how long ago Senkiro was rumored to have lived here. The path was overgrown, suggesting no one lived here anymore, but the lack of rot somehow contradicted that. The temple was at the highest point of the island, but that wasn’t so much higher above them now that they’d scaled the cliff stairs.
Leighandra glanced down at the ship waiting at anchor and was surprised by how high they’d ascended. She hoped nothing would chase them, because there was no easy way to get back to the ship without a fatal jump. Turning back, she hurried to catch up to her friends. It took a little while to reach the temple, but not nearly as long as she’d suspected when they first saw the island.
The temple, like the wooden paths leading to it, was still in remarkably good shape despite being overgrown. Gardens had spread far beyond their borders, young trees were coming up through the floors, dirt and leaves had blown into every nook and cranny, and the entire place was generally a mess. The main structure was more an open shrine than a proper temple, an odd symbol and a great bell hanging within. About twenty paces before the main structure stood a pedestal that could have been a podium, though if there had ever been a book upon it, it was long since gone.
Leighandra walked over to the domicile on the west side of the courtyard and slid its door open. An apparition approached her, and she shouted for help as she ducked out of its reach. The chronicler backed up by her companions and drew her saber, preparing her arcane song to set it aflame as they’d done when dealing with the specters in Solaris. After a moment, though, she realized not only was the spirit not attacking, but it didn’t seem to have even noticed their presence.
Regardless, the companions gave the spirit a wide berth. It appeared to be a human, a little like Starlenia in appearance with almond-shaped eyes and smooth features, though it did retain some of the signs of aging even in its post-life state. He was dressed in an ethereal robe of remarkable beauty. He walked first to the podium, where he turned the pages of a book that was no longer there before holding his arms aloft and saying something unintelligible. He then approached the shrine and bowed to the symbol hanging within before he rang the great bell once. The bell itself remained stationary and didn’t emit a sound, but he continued along in his routine.
The spirit looked up toward the sun and then set to work sweeping out the shrine and the courtyard. He took pruners and began to tend to the gardens, and also raked them free of the trees’ castoffs. As he was ethereal, however, he made no progress whatsoever. After nearly half an hour of this, he stretched his back, looked at the sun again, and then spoke in a ghostly voice.
“Never enough time, never enough time.”
“Look around and see if you can find the seal,” Galadon said, gesturing about the area. “This spirit seems completely unaware of our…”
He trailed off when he saw the spirit was looking directly at him. The ghostly man said nothing but went back to his domicile, where he lay down on his pallet and then disappeared.
Yiilu approached the domicile and looked about, but then crossed the yard to another structure. She slid the door open, revealing the old priest’s cleaning implements. Like the other parts of this island temple, they were still in good shape, especially when one considered they sat upon an island surrounded by salt water. The druidess first grabbed up the pruning shears, and she made her way to the north-most garden and began carefully trimming the plants.
“What are you doing?” Delkantar asked. “Aren’t the plants going to get mad that you’re cutting into them?”
“Of course not,” Yiilu said. A contented smile came to her face as she went back to her task. “Think of plants as being a bit like children. They must be tended to and guided. They are full of life and vigor, but they can be overzealous to grow and try to thrive, paying little attention to whether they are harming themselves in the process.”
The ranger let forth a hmph but then nodded. “No kidding. Would’ve never thought of the forests that way when I was back home. Anyway, can’t you just use a bit of druidic magic to get them to do what you want?”
The elf sat back on her haunches and looked up at the sun in much the same way the ghostly priest had. “I could, but that is not why the Earth Mother grants her power to us. Being a steward of nature is not simply about demanding her power and bending her to our will. We are her servants and protectors, and thus we are expected to return her benefits in kind. Though I have no proof that such is the case, I believe simply tending to this temple and setting it and its natural elements back in their proper state may set the spirit at rest. Whether that has anything to do with the seal, I can
not say.”
The ranger looked at the others and shrugged. “Well, let’s get to work then.”
Max shed his armor and shook himself off to get ready to work. Audrei handed out the many gardening implements and set to work with her husband. Lion took up some old rags and wet them, then began cleaning the bell and the lightning-like symbol hanging in the shrine. Leighandra took a broom to sweep out the domicile, and after consulting with Audrei, their medusa companion took up the linens and mats left behind and began shaking them out.
The companions worked for a couple of hours, and Leighandra found contentment in having a purpose, even if she didn’t understand the goal. Soon, the sun began to slide toward the horizon. It was still a few hours from sundown at the elevation and on the coast, but they had all worked up a good sweat – or pant, in the case of the two luranar – and were due for a break and a meal. In the end, though, they had cleaned up the temple and restored it to nearly perfect order, so far as they could tell. When they were finished, Audrei found the priest’s cookware and set it up in preparation to make a soup or stew.
Yiilu approached the stone podium and ran her fingers along a smooth edge. Leighandra wondered where the book had gotten to, whether it had rotted away or perhaps blown away during a storm. Soon enough, however, the elf raised her hands in much the same manner as the ghostly priest, and she began calling out to the Earth Mother in elvish. “Man and nature live in harmony! Behold the fruit of our labor and yours, Earth Mother, as we find synergy. Set the spirit of your servant to rest, that this temple might one day find a new steward.”
She walked toward the shrine then and rang the bell, and its single, deep tolling made Leighandra’s bones vibrate. She, along with all the others, turned toward the domicile when its door slid open and the spirit emerged again. Now, however, he was more distinct, more solid in some fashion, and his eyes fixed on Yiilu. He walked over to the podium and called out a prayer in that language they couldn’t understand, then mimicked her motions but for one thing: Before he rang the bell, he bowed to the symbol hanging in the shrine.
Yiilu smiled and returned to the podium, where she repeated her prayer. She followed in the priest’s footsteps then, bowing to the symbol before she rang the bell once again. This time, the bell’s tolling was less uncomfortable to their ears and bones, and Leighandra felt a calm and contentment settle over the island. The priest walked to a stone halfway between shrine and podium and touched his finger to it.
Yiilu walked over to the stone, and the ghostly priest glanced at her and then bowed stiffly. She returned the gesture. “Rest you well, old friend,” she said. “Know that the Earth Mother yet has her stewards, and your work has not been in vain.”
The spirit smiled, then straightened out and faded away.
Max knelt beside the indicated stone and used his supple claws to hook under its edges and begin to slide it up. Once Galadon could get some purchase, he loaned his strength as well. When the stone was fully up, it proved to be no stone at all, but a container whose end was disguised to appear as one of the stones. The paladins looked at the container but made no protest when Starlenia took it to inspect it. She found the release mechanism without too much trouble but ducked aside when she triggered it, just in case.
There, in the container, was the third jade seal.
“Yet another symbol,” Yiilu commented, showing it to the others. “I wonder what these symbols might mean. Do they say something, or mark some purpose for the stones?”
“We’ll have to ask Karinda when we return to her,” Leighandra said.
“I really have to wonder,” Delkantar said, sitting back on his rump. Everyone looked to him to continue. “Again, we were told the seals were in the possession of powerful entities. I wonder how powerful this priest was when he was alive. If Yiilu is any indication, I’d hate to think what would’ve happened to anyone that came to this island with ill intent.”
“No doubt,” Galadon agreed.
“Good… work.”
Everyone turned to look at Alissiri as she spoke her first words in the common tongue. There were smiles and laughter, and Audrei spoke with the medusa for a time. The luranar woman put the cooking implements away while they spoke.
Leighandra considered the sun and its descent; they were best served returning to the ship before nightfall. There would be plenty of time to eat and speak once they were safely back aboard. “Are you going to have your mentor send someone to tend to this shrine?” she asked the elf as they made their way back toward the cliff stairs.
“I will certainly mention it to Peri, yes,” Yiilu answered. “We of Laeranore are not the sole servants of the Earth Mother, however, and it is possible one of our fellow human servants will want to establish a presence here. We shall see. It is certainly a beautiful place.”
“If it’s not too rude to say so, I’m glad your mentor was busy when the council at Solaris called for the meeting,” Galadon offered, and the druidess laughed.
“Keeta, Vo’rii,” the elf said, calling the playful wolf back to her side. Vo’rii seemed to like the island as well, though there wasn’t anything for her to hunt here. Still, she would duck into the underbrush and cause a ruckus before darting across the path ahead of them, only to repeat this several more times.
Once they returned to the ship, Max approached the captain. “If I may, sir, I have one more request. Would you be willing to drop us off along the coast of the Badlands?”
“In gnoll territory?” the captain blurted.
“Yes, sir. The gnolls are my peoples’ neighbors and we are fairly friendly with them. I should like to take my companions to my homeland, that I may see to something before we continue on our way. There would be no need for you to wait for us, for we shall part ways once you have set us back on the mainland.”
“We could double back slightly to the river, Captain,” the first mate said. “Wouldn’t cost us but a day or so.”
The captain nodded. “Let the pilot know. Very well then, my luranar friend. Whatever it is you’re about, I hope you find success.”
Max bowed his head politely. “Thank you, Captain.”
The companions headed below decks for some chow, and when they had a bit of privacy, Yiilu took the seal in her hands.
“Which way is it pulling?” Starlenia asked.
“Straight north of our position,” the elf answered.
Starlenia eyed Max. “Is this why you want to go back home? Something you maybe want to tell us?”
The luranar paladin shook his head. “No. I have a personal matter I must see to there. It should take us but a few days to reach my home, and then we will only need spend a couple of days there. My people will supply us with horses to speed our return to the north, assuming that is where the seal leads. I will introduce you to my family, and our children, and then we can continue on our way. There is simply something I have neglected to see to as prince, and I cannot ignore it any longer.”
“No need to explain. We’re with you,” the Okonashai woman said and the others agreed.
“Lion,” Max said, gaining the young man’s attention. “Good work today. Please go see to Galrinthor, and then join us for the meal.”
“Yes, sir!” the shakna-rir teen said before dashing off.
Chapter XV – Talvorus
Of all the companions, no one was happier to be back on dry land than Galrinthor. The horse had essentially demanded that Galadon saddle up and take him for a ride, and the knight had done so without hesitation. For the most part, however, he took his charger for runs behind the party, wary of going too far ahead. They were passing through gnoll territory, and though the gnolls were friendly to the luranar, they might not look so kindly on a human knight riding a warhorse through their lands.
Especially when one considers Galadon’s comments about running them down with his sword and lance…
Max and Audrei passed along directions to Delkantar and Lion, letting the two of them guide the party as a whole. The l
uranar valley was between two rivers that eventually joined to form the one they now followed. The land here was fairly arid but still supported plenty of life, especially near the river. It graded upwards in sometimes rocky steps, which was how it got its name for the most part, but the travel wasn’t all that difficult. Even Max was taking it well in his armor, but Leighandra attributed that to being excited to see his home and his daughters again.
Alissiri no longer traveled under the heavy wrappings. Audrei assumed the gnolls wouldn’t bother a group with two luranar, and that they wouldn’t know what to make of the medusa even if they did. Alissiri seemed thankful to be out of the confining garments, her green skin looking lustrous under the strong sun, though that could’ve just been because Leighandra hadn’t really seen it for days. The medusa was picking up more words in the common tongue now and then, but she was still withdrawn, which the chronicler found to be a shame.
Nearly as withdrawn was Starlenia. With Lion helping Delkantar with the scouting and trailblazing, the Okonashai woman spent most of her days following quietly. Just what was going on in that sharp mind? Leighandra always looked forward to Starlenia’s insights, if not her blunt sense of humor. She couldn’t help but wonder what held the woman’s attention.
“Delkantar, lead us to the east for a while,” Max called to the rangers, rousing Leighandra from her thoughts. “There will be a sizeable gnoll village along the riverbank, and we do not want to impose upon them.”
The human waited until the others had caught up to him. “I was just going to ask you about that,” he returned. “Lion and I spotted it a few minutes ago. They won’t bother us if we go off east?”
The luranar prince shook his head. “Their village is on the western bank. They consider that side to be theirs, so they should not bother us if we keep a respectful distance on this side.”