by Chris Ward
‘You ask of the future,’ Rayven said with a sad smile, ‘it is always thus that we seek to know it. I cannot answer what you ask save to say that provision will be made. Of this I am sure. Provision will be made.’ And her words gave great comfort but none understood just what she meant and when asked Rayven just smiled and shook her head.
‘I do not know,’ she said, ‘but I believe it to be true, that provision will be made.’
That night Sylvion felt the cold of the Shadow Blade come upon her once more and as she slept she remembered more of her dream which had held her captive in the tomb in the Valley of the Kings. She woke in fear and knew that the mighty El-Arathor had come to her then when sleeping for four seasons end on end. I cannot wield this Blade as I have she thought, holding it up before her in the moonlight. She stood now upon a stone balcony high up in the fortress of KingsLoss and she looked out to the south over the foaming river, the sound of the mighty falls to the west a reminder of all that lay beyond her ability to control. ‘And I have sought to control many things,’ she continued in a whisper. ‘With this Blade I have fought and slain and brought justice to Revelyn, but my heart is cold from the bearing of it.’ She looked out toward Revelyn and once more knew it. ‘The time has come,’ she whispered through many tears and then a great warmth and peace seemed to surround her and she felt at peace for she knew what she felt was true. ‘Give me strength,’ she whispered into the night, the Shadow Blade held high, ‘El-Arathor wherever you are give me strength to take one last step.’
There was no reply to her simple prayer, but Sylvion the great White Queen of Revelyn went once more to her bed and slept without distress until woken by a maid just before the dawn.
They stood in the early light surrounded by a great crowd who had come to see them off. From within the walls of the fortress on the eastern side where the river was deep but calm and the current no more than a gentle swirling, two huge gates were opened and the boat emerged.
‘It is an unwieldy craft but flat bottomed and will carry a heavy load, Tyron explained. ‘We have long used it to cross the river but it takes two days to get back for it has to be poled up the river against the current. But when we have needed it has always given safe passage to the south.’
And so with their horses, the mighty ones which had carried them so faithfully over many leagues, they went aboard, and to the sound of good will and fading cheers they crossed the mighty river, drifting some great distance down with the current as many men on two great sculling oars at the stern propelled them forward and around whatever dangers rose to meet them from the rapids. They did not linger long upon the far shore but with a quick farewell they rode south into the forest and by the late afternoon the following day had reached the borders of Revelyn, breaking out of the seemingly endless forest onto the grasslands of the most northern parts of the realm, and leaving the mountains of Skodalun to the east they entered the land of the Lakes, a place of uncountable waterways and endless lakes. Or so they thought this to be.
Sylvion consulted her map and declared them at last in Revelyn. ‘We should be able to travel almost directly south,’ she said, ‘but we will encounters lakes which will divert us, but we can ride around them and in two days perhaps put them behind us. If we make for the east road from Farview to Wildwood then we will be in reach of the main road to Sheldon and then on to Ramos.’
‘Only there is no Farview,’ Rema said quietly, thinking upon his beloved Highlands, and his words brought a sombre reminder to them all that they returned to a land in great travail.
They encountered the first lake by the evening and refreshed with a swim and a wash followed by the welcome warmth of a roaring fire which was easily made for dry wood was plentiful and of the sort which seemed to give a great heat. They camped there that night and were once more untroubled by any wolves or wild animals, in the same manner as they had found in their journey through the forest. Reigin’s observation had proved true enough...the danger in the mighty forest since the fall of Zydor had diminished and so passage had been without fear or great threat.
‘Which way do we travel Sylvion?’ Rema asked as they prepared to sleep that night, ‘it seems to the west the lake recedes more southerly, I think this the best way to go.’ And Sylvion agreed.
‘We will take whatever path leads us south,’ she said, but in the morning they found this to be impossible. The further they rode the lake shore travelled on to the west.
‘We should have left this lake by now,’ Sylvion said at the noon, ‘but it seems like it travels on forever,’ and once more she consulted her map and they all looked upon it and saw that the land was covered in many small lakes but with much dry ground between.
‘Perhaps by nightfall we will find a way around,’ Reigin said scratching his head, ‘but indeed this is strange...unless the map is in error.’
‘No, the map is true,’ Sylvion replied firmly, ‘I made sure Revelyn was well mapped. I spent a fortune on this over two lifetimes... no, there is change here, we can do nothing but ride on to the west.’
But by nightfall the lake remained as it had been throughout the day; too wide to see the far side and always the shore went west and never south more than a little, and then north again. They camped, greatly frustrated that they could not turn south and yet without any option but to continue. To turn back meant a great waste of time and no promise that the lake would not travel as far east as it had in forcing them west.
‘What is that?’ Gravyn asked pointing further west as the sun finally set and the first stars began to appear. They all followed his direction and sure enough on the far horizon silhouetted against a clear sky there had appeared what seemed like a tall tower. Sylvion went once more to her map.
‘That is the Watchtower,’ she said quietly, nodding her head in recognition. ‘It stands at the eastern end of the central Highlands. It is as old as Revelyn, and made by the first King who wanted to see out over the Lakelands which was a barrier to the Ravalin from the north. It is a mighty weathered rock which was once part of the Upthrust but now stands alone some league apart. I have never visited it, and it has not been used since the days of King Frederic who preceded the Lord Petros as he once called himself.’ She paused and then smiled, before continuing. ‘One thing I can say is that the lake cannot travel further west than the Watchtower. On the morrow we will see the Great Upthrust...’
‘Home,’ Rema whispered and Sylvion heard and smiled.
‘Yes Rema and a place I knew too... remember. The Safeness, Farview, these places were close to my heart as well.’
And they looked at each other and shared something which none of the others were able. And as they did the land began to suddenly vibrate and they all felt the trembling and knew it was an awful omen.
In the morning they went on again... to the west, the lake shore unwavering in the manner it made them travel. As the day progressed the Watchtower loomed ever high above them and the bulk of the Central Upthrust which comprised the Highlands of Revelyn filled in the horizon behind the mighty rock and to the south. Twice the land shook and they stopped each time and comforted the horses for this was something the great steeds did not understand and it frightened them greatly. The lake was still too wide to see the far shore until as they finally drew close the huge Watchtower, Reigin who was tallest in the saddle, stood in his stirrups and gave a cry.
‘I see the other side, I see trees and open ground,’ and shortly after the others too could see that finally the lake had a limit and was drawing to an end, but it continued on, right to the base of the mighty Tower, which rose more than a thousand cubits in the air. They made camp in the shelter it offered which was great indeed for at its base it was two hundred cubits wide and had weathered in an almost circular fashion although all its sides were rough and fractured from long exposure to the elements. A low ridge of rock rose to the west behind it, the last connection of the Watchtower to the mighty bulk of the Central Upthrust which stood a league or more west
, and rose to similar height, and it was easy to see how once they had been one. Now the mighty pillar or rock stood as a lonely sentinel, a marker to the ceaseless work which wind and rain and storm might achieve over the ages. The sun was low when Rema urged they find the door to the stairs which climbed to the top, and see what view they might get, but Sylvion stood against him.
‘No Rema, we need to rest. In the morning we can see what can be found but now in the dark is not the time, and without torches, what can be achieved?’ And Rema saw the sense of it and so they made a fire and cooked the game which they had taken that day; both Gravyn and Rema had had success as they travelled, for the animals in the north saw few humans and were easily felled. As they ate the ground shook again and this time for longer. It was no more than a gentle vibration and did not make any movement difficult although it tricked the ear and Rayven found her sense of balance somewhat disturbed while it lasted...but that was all.
Reigin however stood looking up at the mighty Watchtower above them and cried out for the second time that day.
‘Look up!’ and they did, and were horrified to see the top of the Watchtower swaying from side to side.
‘It is solid rock and yet it moves,’ Gravyn growled in awe, ‘what fell thing is this?’
When the land was once more calm they finished their meal and found the best beds they could, but the ground was rocky and did not offer such comfort as the grasses by the lake shore; so all spent a fitful night and woke to a grey dawn which seemed to bide no good. They ate quickly of some cold meat from the night before and Sylvion allowed that they should at least find the door to the Watchtower steps, but she was keen to move on and refused that they might delay and climb to the top. In the daylight it was not a difficult search and on the south side of the tower they came across a small stone-walled compound which held the remains of stables and some dwellings. All the rooves were long gone and offered no protection from the rains, but they all thought they might have spent a more comfortable night had they known such shelter was close by. The door to the Watchtower was discovered within the compound but its door was of iron and the mighty padlock upon it had long ago rusted shut and they carried no tools to break it.
‘Well that seems to put an end to that,’ Sylvion said and none could argue with her. They returned to their camp and were saddling their horses when once more the land shook. This time it seemed more powerful than before and they stood and braced themselves as the ground moved. Some rocks from the Watchtower walls dislodged and fell dangerously, crashing to the ground not far from where they stood, and suddenly Reigin knew they were in great peril. Looking up he saw the tower swaying alarmingly...
‘Quick bring the horses!’ he cried and they obeyed without pause for it seemed to all that they might be crushed by rocks if they remained where they stood. Within a short time they had removed themselves to a point some two hundred paces north and watched as large rocks broke away from the tower and plummeted down upon their camp site.
‘Well done Reigin,’ Sylvion said. We would not all have made it if...’ but she never got to finish her words for there was a sudden crack as if a lightning bolt has struck the ground at their feet. The horses jumped in fear and pulled at the reins and then for a moment there was quiet.
‘Oh no,’ Reigin whispered hoarsely, ‘the Watchtower... it falls.’ In horror they looked up and sure enough the tower seemed to separate near the base and in a motion which seemed as if under the control of the Shadow Blade it began to topple slowly... They were all frozen to the spot, for in that moment none knew which way it fell.
‘It falls east,’ Rema said, the first to ascertain its direction, ‘into the lake...’
‘But we are not safe,’ Sylvion cried, ‘ we must get further away, and so as the huge tower continued its graceful soundless arc of destruction the five companions frantically led their horses further back and higher up to the north.
And then the Watchtower hit the lake and its sheer weight crashed it through to the bottom sending a massive sheet of water spraying out on either side. It came at the watchers like a hail of arrows, yet faster, and this was followed by a great wall of water as the whole lake was dislodged up and out. They had no time to react save to hold their horses and hope. The ground shuddered under the massive weight of the crushing fall of rock and a ripple of movement through the soil swayed their feet even before the water drenched them, and then the wave swept up the land and floated all, both horse and rider further back until by good fortune they regained firm footing as the lake receded in a muddy sucking torrent. A great cloud of dust drifted high into the air above where the Watchtower had stood and as the spray settled they saw a huge wave travelling fast and east down the lake and spreading out onto the shore as it went, sweeping away all things in an instant. They stood in shock and trembled for it had been a close thing indeed.
No one spoke for quite some time, but instead they calmed the horses which were greatly agitated by what they had experienced. Finally Sylvion spoke and gave voice to all their thoughts.
‘And so Revelyn falls,’ she said quietly, ‘unless we can find a way to stop the evil,’ but even then they all had doubts that anything could now save the land.
They led their horses quietly around the base of the watchtower and over the ridge of rock, which like a spine, joined the broken stump of the Watchtower to the Upthrust a league to the west. At the walled compound which stood desolate and would now never be used again Rema saw that the mighty iron door to the stairs had been dislodged and cast aside by the Watchtower’s fall.
‘Look!’ he cried, ‘it is open, perhaps we can climb to the top of the broken base...’ and without waiting for the others he let his horse free within the compound and went to the stairs.
‘No Rema,’ Sylvion cried, but then she saw that Rayven went with him. She shook her head angrily, but Reigin took her arm.
‘Come Sylvion,’ he said with a smile, ‘there is no harm in this. I too would like to see what we might from up there.’ And so with a shrug Sylvion agreed. They set their horses loose and followed Rema and Rayven up the stairs. They went up easily enough for there was no damage at all to the shaft in which they had been hewn, and within a span they came out upon the stump of the Watchtower which remained, still some two hundred cubits above the land and there before them was a mighty view all about, for even from that greatly reduced height it was unhindered in all directions save to the west where the Central Upthrust stood like a mighty wall.
‘You see to the east Sylvion,’ Rema said, ‘there is only one lake. They have all joined into the one. The land has changed.’ And sure enough below them and stretching far off to the east the vast lake stretched away before them right to the horizon ever widening as it went. Looking down they could see the remains of the fallen Watchtower as a line of shattered rock which stretched away into the lake, and for the most part it was above the water for the lake was not deep.
‘Over there is the forest of Wildwood,’ Sylvion whispered to Reigin, and pointing to the south east... ‘My home.’ And the great man came and stood with her and they remembered what had taken place there so long ago and how they had first met in her home and what had come to pass from that day on.
‘I count myself as fortunate to have met you, even though the circumstances were so terrible,’ the great Edenwhood said softly.
‘And I you, Reigin,’ Sylvion replied and took his arm. ‘It was a terrible time but I gained a great friend then.’ And at these words Reign wept silently for he was overcome by the memory and the great journey they had embarked upon together then; one which was not just of distance, but of great change and direction deep within.
‘Will you ever visit there again?’ Reigin asked quietly and Sylvion tensed and took in a breath for his words came like a revelation to her, and once more she knew that the last step lay close upon her.
‘Perhaps,’ she said. And no more.
They rode south beneath the mighty sheer walls of the U
pthrust until Sylvion directed that they travel more easterly.
‘I do not wish to come upon the fallen remains of Farview which lie ahead,’ she said. And in this they were all in agreement for the escarpment which had fallen with the town had claimed many lives and the sight would be too painful to look upon. And so they headed southeast and after a day’s hard ride they camped in the open that night by a small stream and slept under a wonderful sky where the stars were close enough to touch for the moon did not rise till they were asleep. The creatures all around were lively and gave their music to the night, calling and chirping, and to the five companions there seemed no ill in Revelyn.
Sylvion took Reigin aside and spoke to him for a time after they had eaten, and when they returned the look upon the Edenwhood’s face was grave indeed, but he said nothing and took himself off some distance where he slept alone. Sylvion went and sat close with Rayven and they talked intimately long into the night. Gravyn sat by the fire and talked with Rema and for the first time a deeper bond grew between the two, and suddenly Rema felt a new sadness for the loss of his great friend Andes, for they would often sit and talk and laugh as he and Gravyn were now. And Gravyn was grateful for the company and found he was enjoying the reaching out to another.