by Chris Ward
They stood there frustrated as the early excitement passed and now another problem had arisen, and one which had defeated all in ages past. But Rayven was of the Wisden and she knew she had the answer. She stood for long and looked upon the door and the others sat and waited and could do nothing.
‘It leads further underground,’ Gravyn whispered to himself, ‘how could this be a way to...to...’ and he wondered why he could not find the words. He scratched his head and waited. And Rema watched Rayven and saw that she was lost in deepest thought as though her mind was going back to think on all that might reveal what was the key. Germayne thought then of Andes and his mighty fight and how she missed him and wondered what might have been...
And then after a long time, Rayven nodded, and then again as if the thought became more clear. She turned to them and said in quiet triumph.
‘It is the Shadow Blade.’ And she drew it out and looked upon it.
‘But Rayven you said it was tried many times before,’ Rema sat confused.
‘But then it would not work. But now I see it, the Shadow Blade was always partnered with the Royal Sceptre. That was its true sheath, and when together, they gave great power and other things to Revelyn, not least the authority to acclaim a new Queen upon the throne.’ She paused and gathered her thoughts.
‘And while Revelyn remained and the Royal Sceptre was its anointed sheath the Shadow Blade could not unlock this door because the time was not right.’ And Rema saw something of it then...
‘But Gryfnor stole the Royal Sceptre...’
‘Yes,’ Rayven said. ‘he stole it thinking it would lead to our ruin, but in that act he inadvertently saved us... after a fashion, for now the Shadow Blade is without its anointed sheath and there is only one remaining to take its place,’ and she turned and pointed to the slot in the door where the word above it...Sonder, had stood ever since Revelyn was born.
‘That is it,’ Rayven continued. ‘The Shadow Blade is the key. It alone will open this door. We have found the way.’
‘Shall we try it?’ Germayne breathed quietly.
‘No,’ Rayven replied firmly. We will not. It will likely work the once and we must be ready to pass through. We have seven hundred, the remnant of Revelyn’s true ones, and they must be prepared, before the door is opened.’
‘And what if you are wrong?’ Gravyn said tentatively not wishing to stand against the words which Rayven had spoken so forcefully.
‘I am not wrong,’ Rayven said with great conviction, ‘now let us go back up, for there is much to be done. Germayne gather the people in the great hall. It will soon be under water and it is the only place I can address them all.’ And so they climbed back up in excitement, but with the knowledge that now everything rested upon the great faith that Rayven had in her belief.
Rayven stood on a stone balcony above the great hall and looked down upon the seven hundred. Rema and Germayne and Gravyn stood by her side and waited for her to speak.
‘My friends,’ she said when all fell quiet, and her voice carried clearly to them all. ‘You have come to the Palace hoping for safety and deliverance from what has come to pass in Revelyn. My name is Rayven, and I am the daughter of the White Queen who is dead.’ A great murmur went through the assembly at this news, and Rayven wisely let it be. She waited and then raised her hand. ‘Revelyn has fallen,’ she went on. ‘It has fallen into evil and at the same time has been overcome by other things. I have to tell you, there is no possibility that the water will retreat. Its encroachment on the land has nothing to do with what you have been told by evil men such as Gryfnor who has long sought to steal the minds of the people. You have stood against this and the evil sacrifice which you have been falsely taught would save you. This has been lies and I can tell you today that Gryfnor has been slain and Zydor too who in the north worked also for the destruction of our land.’ The seven hundred listened now without a murmur.
‘Some of you are fearful that you are now trapped in this place, and indeed there is no way to safely flee from here...and to what? Revelyn is lost. But I will lead you to a better place.’ At this the people murmured once again, but this time Rayven went on.
‘Long ago the mountain trolls passed from this land, but their passing was not death. To some it is appointed that they shall also follow in the same manner. I have the Wisden blood in me, and I have seen things which you have not. I need you to trust me.’ She paused and waited till she had their complete attention.
‘When the water reaches this place on which I stand it will flow through into the Palace and down into the tunnels beneath. Nothing can hold it back. We have a day. On the morrow I will show where we go. I cannot say more but I need you to trust me. You came here in trust. I will lead you to safety. This I promise, but you can take nothing with you save the clothes you wear. I think this will be allowed, but nothing more. Take off your jewellery, and your rings, cut them off if you must, only in your clothes will you pass from this land. I have read this in the writings of the Wisden. You will ask me, to where do we go? And I will say that I do not know, only that it is a better place, and a place that words cannot describe.’
Rayven fell silent and let the people talk awhile before once more raising her hand.
‘I cannot say more, and I cannot answer all your fears and questions. You have come this far, do not fall at the last step. Stay the course. If any do not wish to follow they are free to remain but in perhaps seven days this Palace will be submerged and there will be no means to save you then. Prepare now and I will send the Nephilim to gather you, but come when called and do not be afraid for you will soon be safe.’
And with that Rayven turned and led her companions back into the Palace. Down in the great hall a voice cried out,
‘The water, it has reached us,’ and sure enough beneath the sealed doors which opened the great hall into the city, the water came.
Rayven sat at a table and wrote in tiny script a message to Reigin in AlGiron.
Find a passage beneath AlGiron.
A stone door upon which the word Sonder will be carved.
Your sword Anderwyn will open it when you are ready.
But it will be once only
Take care and we will meet again in a place which words cannot describe.
Rayven
She took the message herself and alone ensured the bird was prepared and the capsule was secure upon it. She whispered to it gently.
‘You are the final hope for a great people little bird. Fly straight and true and may the perils of the sky be blind to your path.’ And the bird seemed eager for it knew it was to be allowed to fly. Rayven carried it up the steps onto the platform on the north wall and kissed it softly on its head. She tossed it high and the carriave rose on powerful wings and circled twice, gaining height with every beat, and then it turned east and north and went straight and fast for AlGiron.
Rayven looked down upon the north side of the city and beyond the wall. The water stretched many leagues now to the drier land in that direction but it lay deep in many places and as she watched the land shook once more, and she shivered at what it meant.
‘Oh kindma,’ she cried, in sorrow, ‘how you would weep that it has come to this. Why do people choose what they do? Why does the land sink into the sea? It is beyond me kindma but I will do what must be done.’ And for the last time she looked out over what remained of Revelyn.
‘What of KingsLoss?’ Rema asked when Rayven told of her sending the message to AlGiron. I saw the same door there and Sonder clear upon it, but how will they know what to do. They too had tried to open it, and failed. Tyron told Reigin and I that clear enough.’ Rayven thought and then shrugged a little.
‘How did we find out here in Ramos, a boat, a kind man...?’
‘You mean it will be shown to them?’ Germayne whispered.
‘I do not know,’ Rayven replied, ‘but why should we be so special that only we are shown the way?’ And her words seemed true enough. And then they sat and pl
anned how best to get seven hundred people, including the Nephilim and three huge horses down into the passage and through the door. And when that was done Rayven went to Germayne and embraced her.
‘You have been so true in all that has come to pass. I thank you but I know our friendship will survive the morrow and many times yet to be.’ And Germayne smiled back.
‘I have not quite your faith in this Rayven,’ she said, ‘but I pray that it is so, and if not, then I have done what is right, I feel that true enough.’ And Germayne then embraced Rema.
‘You gave Sylvion such hope Rema. She told me things which you will never know, but all good, and it has been a wonderful thing to have known you here in Revelyn.’
To this Rema struggled to find the words to express himself and so he held the tall and graceful woman close and kissed her on the cheek. ‘You are wonderful, and Sylvion would have been so very proud of all you did here without her,’ and that was all he trusted himself to say.
And then Germayne went to supervise what plans they had made and Rayven and Rema were left alone, for Gravyn too had gone off to speak with his elderly kindma and his sister.
They went and stood on the balcony and looked down once more into the sinking city. The market was now submerged and the water half way to the small fort where Rema remembered being so frustrated with the soldiers as he tried in vain to seek audience with Sylvion...and now here he stood where she had stood.... and with her daughter whom he loved, and he found it hard to believe.
‘What happens to all the people?’ Rema asked, half to himself; but it worried him.
‘They will perish,’ Rayven said sadly, ‘some perhaps will find a boat and some will no doubt find ways to another land in that manner, but look, the port is empty.’ And they fell silent for a time.
‘But Gryfnor’s way blinded them to truth,’ she continued, ‘and so they made a choice which even with the water rising daily, they would not turn from. We did all we could short of forcing them, and that of course was impossible.’ At that moment Rema saw a boat put off from the roof of a sunken building to the east.
‘Look!’ he cried, ‘there is one now, a boat,’ and he wished he had the King’s Eye but he had left it somewhere on the road to Sheldon. And then he was glad he did not for it was a small boat and well filled but not well managed, and it seemed that such a tiny vessel could not survive the sea into which it set out. They watched it row out further, and rock in the swells which now came steadily in to make waves which rolled in upon the city.
‘Do you notice Rema,’ Rayven said quietly as they watched the fragile boat, ‘ do you see where they head, out into the ocean where likely they will founder, but here we are right by them and if they turned about and signalled us we might yet save them. This is what I do not understand.’ And Rema too marvelled at the sense in what Rayven said.
‘That is why it is impossible with so many,’ Rayven said.
And so the water came. It was relentless and they watched it for a long time, and as the night fell a great moon rose over the sea to the south and it seemed so beautiful.
‘We have till the morning I think,’ Rayven said. ‘I will see that watches are set so that if we need to act we can do so without delay.’
‘Why not go now,’ Rema asked. Why delay to the last moment Rayven?’ and she smiled at him.
‘There is a selfishness in me Rema which you do not see, I do not know where we go tomorrow but this night our love will have its time,’ and she looked at him and he marvelled at her for she was so sure of herself, and boldly so, and he smiled and did not think her selfish in the least.
Rayven went and gave the orders to those who would watch and there were many happy to do this simple task, and then she returned and took Rema to her chambers and there they loved each other and felt no guilt, for it was right.
When day dawned the water had risen to the gates of the Palace and the great hall was almost submerged. The land shook often and the end was near. The Nephilim arranged the seven hundred, reminding them to take nothing save the clothes they wore. They were taken down in a seemingly endless line to the top of the final steps that led down to the stone door on which the single word Sonder bore testimony to a place beyond words.
There was no order to the line. No place for those who felt important over any other. People took a place and stood to wait, and at the last it was ordered that the Nephilim would come and lead the three horses down and through. It would be tight but the passage would not prevent any, not even the Nephilim.
And Rayven stood with Rema and Germayne upon the balcony and gazed out for a final time upon the last of the city. They saw people now in boats and sitting like statues upon the rooves, some swimming to a higher place and calling voices came faintly to them. Rayven shed a tear and then said firmly.
‘We must go. The time has come. All has been done.’
And so they left and went down deep into the earth below the White Palace. They encountered the line of the people already assembled, and passed by with many words of encouragement for there was fear upon the faces and yet a calm hung over most.
A voice called out to Rayven in one place, ‘Miss you remember me?’ and Rayven looked more closely and recognised the woman.
‘You are Lydia,’ she said, ‘from Sheldon. Welcome, I am so glad you came. Do not fear we will be safe very soon.’ And they passed on and paused at the top of the final flight of steps where Rayven spoke to those at the head of the line.
‘I will call you in a moment. Do not hesitate to come, but do not rush for there is time.’
And then with Rema and Germayne but not Gravyn, for he chose to stand with his kindma and sister in the line, she went on down and stood at last before the stone door. Once there Rema felt a tightening of his throat for he was suddenly conflicted by what they did.
What if this is wrong he thought, what then? But Rayven whispered to him.
‘This is the way Rema you will see.’
And so she drew out the Shadow Blade and stood before the door. She wore only a thin tunic and nothing more. She cast aside the belt and the war sheath that had carried the blade for so long; it was a thing which changed from ruler to ruler and did not hold the power that the Royal Sceptre had, or the slot in the wall below the word.
Sonder.
Rema and Germayne watched in awe. Rayven took the Shadow Blade and inserted it into the slot right up to the hilt. Nothing happened but Rayven stood in faith and held the hilt and then with a crack the hilt parted from the shaft and Rayven stood back with just that part in her hand.
And without a sound the stone door swung back and opened fully.
The three were amazed. A wonderful golden light enfolded them; it was gentle and not overpowering, although they could not see past it; but then the smells and colours came and the most intense feelings that drew them to it. They stood for a moment and felt such peace, and tried to find words to...
But it was beyond such things.
And then Rayven turned to Germayne with a smile. ‘You lead us through Germayne for you are the last queen of Revelyn, not I,’ and Germayne smiled and walked through the door.
‘Come now,’ Rayven called and so the line began to move, and as the people drew close they lost all fear and passed happily from the land.
Rayven and Rema went back up and stood upon the landing half way down to the final passage and waited, allowing room for those to pass. High above the water flooded over the final barrier and into the Palace and began to find its way through halls and passages and rooms and then down into the lower reaches where the seven hundred moved slowly on in single file.
One man had failed to stay in the line. He was a wily man who had worked hard all his life, and yet riches had not come his way. He felt aggrieved that others who had not slaved as he had found rest and wealth without deserving. He had wandered in the Palace from the time he had arrived with wife and child and sought out the great treasure room in which the mighty things of Revelyn w
ere kept with two Nephilim as guards. But now the room was open and he judged the moment and left the line and went back and found it so. He walked in freely and stood in awe at the gold and many other precious things which rested there. He lost himself in holding and touching and imagining what it would be like to have had such things during his life.
The water flowed relentlessly in and down and the sound of it came more clearly all the time. The seven hundred went on and without mishap they passed one at a time through the door, and each knew at the threshold that they had chosen well and embraced what was to come.
The wily man lost track of time and in the line his wife and child fretted for him to come but they did not step out and look for him for they wanted to be safe and there was one hope for this which burned in their hearts.
At last the Nephilim were on the move and they filled the passages with their bulk and the three great horses came after and they had no trouble following a man in a tunnel. The water now was around their hooves but the Nephilim ahead called them and so they came. At the final set of steps the Nephilim paused and then descended. They struggled now for the passage was not built for such as they, but slowly they went on and passed by Rayven and Rema on the landing who smiled and gave encouragement, and then the horses passed, and Rema patted each of them with joy for he was glad that they would pass from the land and not perish. And then they were the last, and Rayven cast the hilt of the shadow Blade upon the ground.
‘The days of Revelyn are come to an end,’ she said, ‘and the Shadow Blade has played its part.’ She turned to Rema with a smile of love, ‘Come, we shall go,’ and they went down and stood before the open stone door and felt a new realm call them on; and at the last Rema said to Rayven.
‘Do you think that we can love each other in this place?’ and Rayven held his hand and replied.