“The lost city of Brekaes Noielyna. Finally, I have found it. All these years, and I could never add the location of the rumors to my books.”
“What is this place? It feels…corrupted,” Starlyn nearly whispered.
“It was, though it should be safe now. It is a place of nightmares.”
“Nightmares?” Andron asked, shivering.
“Yes.” Karceoles puffed on his pipe, still staring at the palace.
“Karceoles…for this once, would you please expose the secrets you’re keeping locked in your brain? We need to camp, and I think we’d better know of this place before we settle down,” Searon said.
Karceoles sighed. “Very well. It began over six thousand years ago, or so I’m told.”
Each turned to him with interest and wide eyes. They shivered in turn as a chilling, almost haunting breeze blew across the group. Karceoles puffed on his pipe a few more times before settling it back into his robe pouch and pulling his greasy white hair from his eyes to behind his head.
“The legend tells of another race that existed here well before the humans, kheshlars, draeyks, and even the wizards. They were a race of stone itself. I do not know much about them other than that they were a force to be reckoned with. It is said they were the ones to fight the dragons and bring them into extinction, before they themselves became extinct. They were the first of this land. Rumors say finally, after much fighting, either the humans or the kheshlars finally slew them all, but others tell of them abandoning this land to seek another. Still others claim that one day they disappeared. Not much is known about these people, as not much has been discovered to study, certainly not their city of origin. There are scripts found that seem to be written by them that are dated generations back. Some scripts speak of the city Brekaes Noielyna. It is strange that the kheshlars have never discovered it with how close it seems to be to Sudegam.”
“I have heard small legends of the same, but they are not much spoken of. Most who speak of it are punished by our king,” Starlyn said.
“Most?” Karceoles asked, rubbing his brow before taking his pipe in his mouth once more. “And the rest? Strangely disappeared?”
“Yes,” Starlyn said.
“Most interesting,” Karceoles said with another puff of his pipe.
“Is this place safe?” Searon asked.
“I would assume so, though we should keep one eye open through the night to be sure,” Karceoles answered.
“Good enough for me; let’s explore the city some and settle at that palace where we can keep an eye on it all.”
“Searon…” Karceoles whispered.
“Yes?”
“How did you happen to stumble upon this place?”
“I caught something in the air. It smelled like…granite…and…marble mixed in the air. I found it a strange scent to be in the middle of the forest, and so I followed the scent.”
Starlyn stared at him wide eyed and glanced from him to the wizard awkwardly. Karceoles’s eyebrows simply raised, and he nodded. Andron’s mouth hung open wide, and he had to push it closed before shaking his head.
“The only marble and granite that I can tell is that palace. That is quite the nose you have, Sir Searon; it may continue to prove useful,” Karceoles said.
Searon nodded and tugged the reins of his horse to urge the animal forward. He kept a hardened eye at the buildings as he traveled down the third road from the left. The air was calm besides that of a low twirling breeze low on the ground. There was an unsettling silence as they walked, for none decided to speak. Instead, all gazed their heads about to gather in the sights of the long-abandoned city.
When they reached the end of the main road, both horses stopped, and the warriors stared up at a dark palace that the fading sunlight cast in shadow. It was haunting and disconcerting to them all to be but as a mere grain of sand compared to such a large building. The size seemed to outmatch any palace or castle of men, and the only one that surpassed it was the palace of Sudegam, but only by a fraction. Marble walls rose for leagues of height, and tall pillars of black and tan freckled granite made an entrance at the front with dozens of stone steps.
“Do we dare go inside, or shall we rest outside this night?” Andron asked.
“There is a pit here for a fire. I say we stay outside of this daunting-looking place at night. Perhaps we can get a better look in the morning, but even abandoned there is little comfort to spend inside a place as great as that, without knowing what lurks in the shadows,” Karceoles said.
Starlyn hopped from the saddle behind Searon and stared up at the glorious palace. “This almost looks kheshlarn made.”
“Perhaps it was, though these kinds of kheshlars have not dwelled in this land for many centuries,” Karceoles said.
“Shall I go find food then?” asked Searon.
“Yes, please do, my stomach grumbles at me in such a way, I think it will hinder me if I don’t settle it soon,” Karceoles said.
“May I come with you, Sir Searon?” Andron asked.
“You may.”
Before Searon turned his stallion around, he felt a soft hand graze his forearm. He turned to see Starlyn looking up at him fondly. “If you are to come across fresh fruit or berry.”
He smiled. “If I do, I will not hesitate to fetch them for you.”
With that, they were off into the night, leaving Karceoles and Starlyn to study the exotic palace. Soon, they were faded shadows in the night, next to an already blazing fire that the wizard created. Chills began to run down Searon’s back as they wandered back through the darkness toward the forest.
They traveled a few hundred paces back into the trees with barely a word, for both were observing and listening for any sign of life. The night air was quiet of most sounds, including those of birds and owls. Searon could not smell much because the wind was blowing away from him, and so he could not smell far. At the least he knew there was not scent of any animals from behind. Andron gently tapped on his shoulder, and he bid Stripes to a stop.
Searon turned around to see Andron snatching a leaf from a thick bush to inspect. He held it up to observe and quickly passed it to Searon. With a glance, he noticed a bite mark at the end of the leaf and nodded.
“The bite appears that of a deer, and it is not long old either. Feel with your bare hands, there is still wet saliva near the edges,” Andron said.
Searon shot an eyebrow up but quickly took a leather glove off and felt at it. Indeed the other man was correct, and he wiped his moist finger dry on his reddened leather. Andron leaped from the saddle behind him and began glancing at the ground. Searon followed in short order, but not before Andron seemed to find something.
“Look, Searon, for I have found it.”
Searon stared down to a notice two large teardrop shapes embedded in the ground, side by side, next to a few others. Andron pressed his own foot next to the print and inspected the two of them. He felt the moistness of the dirt of his new print, and that of the deer. Both tracks had edges with a similar sharpness to it, and Andron nodded approvingly.
“Less than an hour ago this track was pressed. Let’s continue forward.”
Searon nodded and leaped onto his horse, followed quickly by Andron. The two set off again at a quickened pace, yet not a full gallop. Stripes could trot for haste and yet still barely make a sound. Searon fingered at his saddle as his horse trotted, and found his longbow.
He was impressed with Andron’s tracking skills, and he realized that he put too much confidence in his smell and sight abilities instead of his knowledge. Andron might not be able to smell or see as far as him, yet he did know what kinds of things to keep an eye out for. Searon had been too accustomed to searching for draeyks, but they made such a rampage through the land that it was impossible to mistake their whereabouts.
Still, he saw the deer well ahead through the trees, even when Andron could not. He pulled an arrow from its quiver and patted Stripes to calm the horse back to a brisk walk. There w
ere dozens of trees between him and his quarry, yet his skill outweighed such an obstacle. The deer stood two hundred paces ahead when he released, and the arrow soared through the air at an incredible speed until it struck the animal’s heart. Such a shot it was that the deer didn’t stagger or cry out in pain. Instead, after a second of shock, it tumbled to the ground.
They galloped up to the animal, and on their way Searon found a tree of peaches and one of plums, some of which he gathered for Starlyn. Searon leaped from his horse and cleaned the bloodied arrow before tying a strong rope to the deer and attaching it to his saddle. Many horses would not be able to travel swiftly with two men in the saddle and a deer tied on top, but he knew Stripes could still gallop in haste, even under the extra weight. After everything was secure, he jumped back onto his horse, and they rode back toward the abandoned city that Searon could still smell in the air.
When they arrived down the empty streets and to the front of the palace, they noticed both Karceoles and Starlyn deep in conversation. As Karceoles noticed them, his eyes widened in surprise, and he fed a few more faggots to the fire that he had brought with him in his saddle. Searon leaped from his horse and detached a long metal pole he kept secure for such a roasting. Searon, Karceoles, and Andron struggled to secure the large deer over the fire.
“Quite the buck you two found; very impressive. This food shall last us a while, and tonight we shall have a feast before the rest of our journey,” Karceoles said.
“Andron is one bloody good tracker,” Searon smiled.
Andron laughed, rubbing his stomach. “Only for food.”
Searon handed a basket of fruit to Starlyn and noticed her eyes were cast down in gloom. No longer were they bright electric blue of serenity and joy, but instead seemed haunted. She looked from Searon to Andron with near disgust forming on her lips before taking a glance at the fire and swiftly casting her eyes aside. Searon was about to ask her what was wrong when she suddenly turned around and walked into the darkness without so much as a thank you for the fruit. He could definitely tell that something was wrong now, for she was too polite a person not to thank him for her meal.
“What is wrong with Starlyn; is she ill?” Andron asked from behind.
“Do not be foolish, boy; kheshlars do not suffer illness as you do,” Karceoles barked.
“I do not know what is wrong with her, but she seems greatly upset,” Searon whispered.
“Go to her then, but beware of the secrets of kheshlars. Do not ask her what it is that troubles her at first. Only show that you have come to listen, and soon her mind will be spoken,” Karceoles said.
Searon nodded, listening to the advice carefully. He then wondered about how right the advice seemed, despite the source from which it came. Perhaps the old man did know a thing or two. He noticed that the stars up above, which only moments ago had shone brighter than even the moon, were dull in comparison. Many of them had vanished into the darkness while even the brightest seemed dull. If not for his keen eyesight, he would have been blind in the darkness.
He walked down the alley, leaving his horse behind, and wondered where it was that Starlyn had fled off to. She didn’t seem to be anywhere it the streets, yet she did not seem to run away the last he saw her. Soon, he found himself staring at the various buildings of different shapes and sizes, now shrinking in order as he walked away from the palace. The shapes were not all too different, as all still seemed to have a rectangular appearance. It was on top of a medium building that he noticed a glint of sparkling steel.
Turning, he walked into a building, what appeared to be a home. The door was pushed open slightly, and he pressed it another span until he was able to fit in himself. Inside, it did appear like a home, but it was not empty as he expected. Cobwebs formed in every area except a direct path to the stairs, but that was not what he found strange. Surrounding the area were wooden chairs and tables, unmoved through time. Nothing appeared to be changed in the slightest, as if it were exactly as the people had left it. Yet nothing seemed taken from place, and even paintings and bowls of food on a kitchen dinner table seemed unmoved. He walked forth, casting spiderwebs from his eyes as he made his way to the kitchen, where he peered into the bowls that sat on the table with silverware. The food inside seemed crusted and hard, but it was still within the bowls. He shivered and backed away to start stepping up the stairs. It seemed as if whoever left had not only walked out, but seemed to do so without provisions or even finishing a meal. That was the best of the thoughts spinning through his head. Surely, these people couldn’t have just plainly vanished. Another shiver came over him, but he cast his thoughts aside and continued up the stairs to the roof.
There, sitting on the ledge with legs dangling into the air below, sat Starlyn. Tears seemed to be glazing her face, causing the few dim stars to make her face sparkle with terror. Searon walked slowly now until he noticed Starlyn turning her head back at him. His movements stopped, and he stared at her.
“Are you all right? What are you doing by that ledge?”
“Do not consider me weak, Searon. I am not some mere depressed human with a fancy of ending my life for the pointlessness of it.”
Searon nodded firmly and took cautioned steps forward. He sat on the ledge next to Starlyn and stared down. The height was well over a hundred paces and a nasty fall had he ever seen one. He looked away from the drop and put his hands behind him to stare up at the night sky.
“I’m sorry…I should not have snapped at you.”
Still, her words tore at his heart, for it was not long ago that his mind was mixed up in thoughts of peril. He often bore thoughts of ending his own life to cease the pain. He would not do so on his own accord of course, for he knew if he did that Victoria would never forgive him. Instead, he sought battle; he sought it more than anything else. He could survive without water or food, but without battle he was lost. Without battle to occupy his mind, it became lost in thought and memory of Victoria, and so he kept himself busy. He continued searching for the draeyks in hope that one day he could forget the number that continued rattling around in his head. Forty-one months, six days, and eighteen hours since he’d buried Victoria and Kellen. He did not count, he refused to, yet still he knew the number, and it sickened him.
“It is the deer. The cruel habit of men slaughtering animals is something I cannot get past,” she finally said.
Searon turned to her and noticed her eyes sinking deep into his. “What of the boar? You did not seem as ill when we fed upon it.”
She turned her face from his gaze and muttered lowly, “This is different.”
“How so?”
“You would not understand.”
“Starlyn, I have come here to listen. I have come to understand. Hunger weakens my body right now, and yet even though the food that I know to be awaiting me is grand, it is not worth the tears of my companion.”
She turned back to meet his gaze, and respect filled her eyes. They seemed to gleam bright electric blue for almost a second before returning to their dull state, and yet they did not seem as dull as they once had. Taking a deep breath, she sighed heavily and brushed her blonde hair from her face.
“For me, it is like you slaying a brother of your dear horse, Stripes.”
Searon looked at her puzzled now with an eyebrow raised. She kept his gaze, and his eyes did not stray.
“Kheshlars are friends of the animals of the forest. No matter what animal it be, we are to treasure it. Whether it be a small pestering mouse that steals our bread or a large cat that we praise. Yet, like you, there are some for which we hold in higher respect. You as a human would not let harm fall upon that of a cat or dog, but above all else, a horse. A horse is a companion that you ride and travel with. One that you trust with your life. There are many animals that will come to us when we call, and of those many there are few that will let us ride them to rest our legs. Of those there are, of course, the wild horses, but also deer, antelope, elk, wolfs, tigers, panthers, and other large
cats.
Deer has always been my second animal of choice to ride beyond that of a large cat. There was one I grew to love beyond any other. Her name was Moonlight, and for years she was my companion of travels. She was with me during the years I fought against Arria and the shadow of the draeyks. I do not know where she has gone in the years since. Either she has disappeared, or perhaps age has taken her. This deer you felled was not Moonlight, but who knows? It could have been her father, her brother, or even her son.”
The stars above became darker until only a few inches could be seen in the cold night. It almost appeared as if every cloud imaginable covered the sky, and yet above was clear and the stars were dim. They flashed a couple of times above until resting on total darkness. Tears streamed down Starlyn’s face as swiftly as a river rapid, and despite her many attempts to swat her tears away, more still fell.
“We cannot survive as you do. You must know that. If only fruit and vegetables we had, we could not gain the meat we need for muscle. Without muscle, we cannot be strong enough to wield a sword.”
“I know; that is why I said nothing, but I had to come get fresh air.”
“What would you have me do?”
“Nothing. Do not be burdened on my part.”
“That is not a compromise. I am here to compromise. Surely, there is something we could work out together that could make all of us happy. How about if I promise to you that as long as we are in your company, from now on, no harm will befall the animals you named by our hands? Instead, we will hunt the smaller game, or those unworthy of the saddle.”
A faint smile pressed her lips now. “You would do that for me?”
“Aye, I do believe all of us would. We do care for your feelings, Starlyn, despite our lack of showing it.”
The Crimson Claymore Page 11