“What are you waiting on, Lith?” Timms seemed winded. Something Klain had never witnessed before while the man trained. “You going to play with that thing, or are you going to hit me for once?”
Lith reached up, wiped away the sweat from his brow and grinned. “You are getting old, Timms. I have never lasted this long against you.”
Whipping his sword in like a snake, Timms smacked it on Lith’s spinning blade, though the other man retained his grip. “Mayhaps I am toying with you. Trying to build up your confidence. The gods know you need it.”
This inspired a few chuckles from the spectators. Narn paled when he glanced over his shoulder and saw Klain approaching. Reaching out, Klain clamped a paw to the man’s shoulder and bared his fangs in his best interpretation of a Human smile. “Narn. It is always good to get a paw on you.” Extending his claws, he let them penetrate the man’s cloth shirt. He stopped short of breaking the skin, however. Though Klain never held a grudge to the man for his involvement in his betrayal—the man had been following orders after all—it pleased Klain that Narn feared him more than ever.
The small man dipped his shoulder trying to remove Klain’s sharp claws from his flesh. “Hail, M—Master Klain.”
The man stank of fear, and Klain’s smile broadened. A loud clang drew everyone’s attention to the men in the circle. Lith had lunged in, no doubt hoping to use Klain’s arrival as a distraction. Timms batted the other man’s blunt blade to the side, spun behind him, and locked his own blade across Lith’s neck. “It seems I am not as old as you believe.” Placing a boot on the man’s back, Timms kicked him sprawling into the dust.
Before Lith could regain his footing, Klain stepped forward. “Timms! I will have a moment of your time.”
Looking as if he would rather be somewhere else, Timms stood up straight and tossed his practice sword to Narn, who fumbled with it before it fell to the ground. “You men continue. I will return when I can.” Brushing the dust from his pants, he stepped toward Klain. “Where do you wish to speak?”
“We can walk.” Without waiting for the Human, Klain headed off down the path that led away from the villa. Timms did not immediately join him. This was not surprising, given the Human’s mistrust. However, Klain had left his Mi’nathe blade in his room to help ease some of the man’s anxiety.
Not that I need a sword to kill a lone Human!
Before Klain had reached the edge of the barn, Timms walked along next to him. “All right, Master Klain. What seems to be on your furry mind?”
The slight against his mane did not go unnoticed, though Klain decided to let it slide. He had other concerns at the moment. “I did not come out here to banter quips with you, Timms. I came to discuss this Expedition, as everyone calls it.”
Chuckling, the man reached down and picked up a round stone that lay in their path. “I figured a big scary beast like you would not be afraid of some old bard’s tale.”
As antagonistic as ever, Klain realized he would not get what he wanted if he let Timms set his anger on edge. He had to think—not one of his strongest abilities. “You were arguing with Master Vimith about this trip. Why?”
The man bounced the stone in his hands as they walked. Snatching it out of the air, he grinned at Klain. “You do not know, do you?”
“Why would I ask if I knew?” His anger rose. “For that matter, why would I even speak to you if I did not have cause?” Controlling his breathing like Charver had taught him, he forced himself to relax. Stopping, he reached out and grabbed Timms by the shoulder. “I need to know what dangers lay ahead if I am to protect the boy.” He was proud of himself for keeping his tone even. He really did want to gut this man and watch him die in pain.
Timms stared at him for several long moments, bouncing the stone in his palm once more. Finally, he shrugged and tossed the stone into the grass next to the path. “Fine. In that one thing, you and I have a common goal. So I will tell you.” He turned and started walking once more, forcing Klain to catch him up.
“Many stories tell of an ancient city lost in a vast jungle. Sar’Xanthia. The stories all revolve around treasure. Some of gold and silver or mayhaps gems and jewelry. Others focus on strange artifacts of an age long forgotten. Artifacts with powers and abilities unheard of.” Plucking a length of grass, he stuck it in his mouth and chewed. “I know of several who have gone looking for this place, though I know of none who have returned.”
This made no sense. “Why does Rohann wish to find this Sar’Xanthia? He seems to have all the treasure he needs.”
This caused Timms to stop and hold Klain in his gaze. “Some men want more than wealth. They want adventure. They want to leave their names for historians to write about. They want…” Sighing, he pulled the grass stalk from his mouth. “Men want to feel like they have accomplished something while they still walk this Plane.”
“You sound as if you are looking forward to going.”
“Oh, I am!” Timms stuck the grass back into his mouth and smiled. “This promises to be the adventure of a lifetime.”
Klain did not understand. “Then why were you so upset with Rohann?”
“Two reasons.” Timms paused. “The biggest for me is that Rohann has not shown me this map he claims to have. As far as I know, none exist.” He waved a hand in front of his face to shoo off a bug. “Oh, sure. Every other merchant in the Bazaar claims to have a map that will lead you to the riches of the lost city. Yet, they are all fake. At best, you will lose your coin for purchasing one of them. At worst, you will follow it to your death.”
“And the second?”
“The boy! The reason you came to me to have this discussion! I have tried to get Rohann to leave the boy behind. This Expedition is no place for a child. Whether or not Rohann has a map—which I feel he is lying about—many who leave with us will not return.” Pulling the grass from his mouth, he flicked it to the ground. “Look. I will admit that I was wrong about you when you first arrived. It is hard to have a…” He snorted a laugh. “…a beast, to compete with. You threatened my position. I figured it would be easier to have you out of the way. I see now that you are good for the boy. He is less of an annoyance, that is for certain. Still, I do not think even your great strength will be enough to protect him where we are headed.”
The sincerity in the man’s voice took Klain by surprise. He had not expected such an honest, heartfelt answer. It also created a greater fear for the boy’s safety. “How can we put an end to this, then?”
Laughing, Timms shook his head. “You are the boy’s protector, not his father. If Rohann wants the boy to go, then the boy will be going.” Brushing past Klain, he started to walk back toward the villa. “It will be a matter of you and I ensuring that the boy survives.”
Klain stood in the early morn sun, enjoying the cooling breeze blowing across his fur. He watched the bald man disappear around the barn at the edge of the compound. He had gleaned some answers from the Human, and added some questions. Still, if Timms had accepted the fact that the path ahead had been chosen for them, who was he to think he could change it.
I will just have to ensure that the boy-cub is never more than a paw length away.
Lying awake and staring up at the patterns carved into the wooden beams of the ceiling, Arderi Cor listened to the wind gently rattle the windows of his room. For a tenday, he had haunted the halls surrounding his rooms in Bin’Satsu, exploring. Larith Rine had visited him only sporadically, and never for long. For the most part, he had been left to himself. Much of that time he spent in his rooms, recuperating. This eve, after Mir’am Yhan had brought him lastmeal, Arderi sat in one of the plush armchairs in the sitting room and watched the fire, thinking of all that had happened to him. A Mah’Sukai who could destroy the entire Plane, Traveling thousands of leagues from home with just a step, a man with wings—all these and more churned through his mind until he could no longer keep his eyes
open. However, once he stripped down and climbed into the large four-post bed in the adjacent room, he could not fall asleep. Pulling the fluffy blanket up to his chin—he had never felt a quilt so wonderfully soft—he rolled over to his side and tried to regulate his breathing. He lay like this for the better part of an aurn, then in a huff, threw the blankets off and sat up on the edge of the bed.
After the warmth beneath the covers, the chill air of the room licked up goosepimples on his bare skin. Standing, he crossed to the chair holding his clothes and dressed. Upon leaving the bedroom, it surprised him to see Mir’am Yhan enter the sitting room from the outside hall. A pang of fear spread through him. “Is everything well?”
The old man smiled, hobbling near. “Aye, Aye. I am sorry if I woke you.”
Shaking his head, Arderi crossed to meet the man in the center of the room. “Nix, Mir’am Yhan. I find that I am unable to sleep. I thought to take a look around the Citadel.”
“It seems you have a kindred spirit then, young man.” The old man turned and walked to the far door once more. Looking over his shoulder, he smiled. “Young Rinear is waiting in the hall. She asked me to come in and see if you would walk with her for a bit.”
At the man’s words, fear struck him for true. He had always been nervous with girls and the thought that she waited for him made him anxious beyond words. When he made no move to follow, the old man put a hand upon his hip and tapped a foot. “Well, come on, young man. She will not bite you.”
A forced laugh escaped Arderi and he moved to catch the old man up. Exiting the doors together, Arderi’s mouth went dry at the sight of Rinear.
She is beautiful.
Her blond hair, now curled at the ends, glowed with a light of its own. It was tied back with a red ribbon, highlighting the smooth skin of her cheeks. She wore a blue dress trimmed with white lace at hem and cuffs. A white sash tied at her waist accentuated her thin hips. In the dim light of the lantern she carried, her white skin appeared almost ghostlike. He was not sure how long he stood there staring at her, yet, eventually Mir’am Yhan cleared his throat.
“If you two will excuse me, my wife is waiting.” Bowing his head first to Arderi then to Rinear, the elderly man left them alone.
Looking into Rinear’s blue eyes, Arderi felt the fool. He knew he should say something. Unfortunately, that was the only thing he could think of—that he should say something. The ‘what’ to say escaped him, and an uncomfortable silence soon fell between them.
Finally, Rinear giggled and reached out, taking him by the hand. “Come. I have something I wish to show you.”
Leading the way, she pulled him at a brisk pace through the Citadel. They headed up, and he saw much the same as when he had followed Larith. The building did not have much in the way of décor. He also noted that with the sun down, the temperature in the halls had fallen. If they were not walking so fast he could have seen his breath. They climbed several stairwells before taking a hall that headed back in the direction of Arderi’s room. At the end of this hall, they entered a door that led to one of the spire towers. The small round room held one staircase that spiraled up farther than Arderi could see. Giving him a brief smile and a small squeeze, Rinear let go of his hand and ran up the skinny stairwell.
With no railing, Arderi hugged the outer wall and refused to look down as he ascended. Up and up he followed his guide until the stairs ended on a tiny platform no more than a few spans across. He came to a stop with just his head and shoulders sticking out onto the platform. No matter what direction he cast his gaze, he saw nothing of the rest of the Citadel. In fact, he could see nothing at all save a vast darkness that stretched off into the distance. It was as if the rest of the Plane had disappeared and this small platform was all that remained. Looking to his right, his heart leapt to his throat at the sight of Rinear sitting on the edge of the roof with her feet dangling over the side.
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled, patting a spot next to her. “Come, sit. The view is breathtaking.” A gust of wind sprang up, blowing one of her curls over her eyes.
Arderi could not move. He knew he could not. This was insane! They must be a hundred paces above the roof of the Citadel. And there was nothing around them.
Nothing except empty air!
A wicked grin filled Rinear’s lips and she raised her hand to cover it. Lowering her eyes—Arderi knew she was laughing at him—she leaned back on her elbows, almost laying on her back. “You do not have to sit on the edge if you do not wish. Here…” She indicated a spot next to her shoulder a half a pace from the edge. “…sit down. You will be safe enough.”
Looking down at his hands, he realized that they were white from gripping the edge of the top stair. Forcing himself to relax, he took a deep breath to quell his fears. “I am not used to being this high.” Even as he said it, it sounded stupid. Still, it was the truth. The highest he had ever been off the ground—other than his trip into the Nektine, and that entire trip had been one long bout with terror—was to climb the occasional tree. After another deep breath, he willed one foot, then the other, to climb the last few steps.
The view is amazing!
The tiny moon, Treynor, had long passed its zenith. It cast its pale yellow light back in their direction, making some of the clouds moving across the night sky take on a burnt look. Sainor had risen several spans into the sky and cast its bright silvery light across the tops of the clouds that lay like a woolen blanket, broken here or there by the occasional rocky mountain peak. The stars shown so bright, so close, Arderi imagined he could reach up and pluck them from the velvet blackness of the sky. “I have never seen anything so wondrous.”
“You may want to sit now.”
Her words brought him back to where he stood. Looking around, he peered down the tops of steeples and spires in every direction, like being surrounded by giant spikes. Between them ran the sharp peaks of the roofs of the many wings that radiated out at odd angles from the central building. Feeling lightheaded, he sat where Rinear indicated.
Turning her head back to the view, she sighed. “This is one of my favorite places. It may very well be the highest place on the Plane.”
Joining her in her silent survey of the area, Arderi had to agree that there was nothing in sight that was taller. Though, thinking back to his time in the Nektine, an odd thought struck him. “I do not think so. I think the Nektine are higher.”
She laughed. “Is that so? Tell me, oh great scholar, how it is you come by such wisdom?”
With her eyes focused on him, all thoughts vacated him once more. Tearing his gaze away from her, he looked back at the billowy clouds that stretched to the horizon. “When I traveled into the Nektine, we did a lot of climbing. The higher we went, the harder it was to breath. The man I journeyed with, Clytus Rillion—”
“I knew Master Rillion.” Her interruption caused him to glance at her. “He would bring me gifts from Mocley when he visited.” A sadness crept into her voice at the end.
“I am sorry. I knew Master Rillion for only a few moons. Still, I came to know him as a good man.”
She nodded. “He was.” Smiling up at him, she waved a hand. “You were saying?”
It took a moment for him to remember what he was saying for he had once again become trapped in her eyes. “Master Rillion told me that when you were high in the mountains, the air became thin, and thin air is very difficult to breath. When we were up in the Nektine, it felt like I had ran a race even sitting still. It was very strange.” He rotated a hand in a circle around them. “This air here tastes fresh. Crisp and clean. Yet, it is not hard to breathe like it was in the Nektine. So, I think they are taller mountains.”
“That is very fascinating.” She did not sound fascinated. Crossing her arms, she looked out over the cloud cover. “However, from where I am sitting, it looks as if I am on the top of the Plane. And I do not see any Nektine Mountains around h
ere.”
He had to agree. Sitting next to her and glancing around, it did seem like they sat at the pinnacle of all that existed. Who was he to say they were not? It did not matter which way he looked, for as far as he could see, there was nothing above them. “I think you are right. This could be the highest spot on the entire Plane.”
For some reason this made her grin at him and he could not help except smile back. Reaching out, she brushed away the lock of hair that had blown into her face. “You have cute dimples.”
His face caught fire. He had never been very good around girls. Well, except for Mag. She did not count, however. They had grown up together in the same public house, and even though everyone had thought they would marry, Mag felt more like a friend. Still, he had to admit to himself that he would have been happy with her as a wife.
A wife! Since when did I start thinking of marriage?
Looking into Rinear’s big blue eyes, he knew the answer to that. Once more, whatever he was going to say fled from his mind, and he found himself staring at her for longer than he thought appropriate. When he realized this, he cleared his throat and looked back down at the Citadel. “How long have you been in Bin’Satsu?”
Rinear sat up, and even though Arderi was sitting cross-legged a half a pace from the edge, the way she leaned over and looked directly down made him queasy to the stomach. “I have been here my whole life, since just after my parents died when I was a babe.”
“Wait. I thought Larith was your father.” Arderi felt sure he had heard the man make that claim.
Rinear laughed until a gust of wind whipped up and she turned her head to avoid the brunt of it. “He has been since I was brought here. Yet, no, he is not my birth father.”
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