The Column Racer

by Jeffrey Johnson

  Does he have rocks in here? thought Areli, looking at the bulky saddle bags that were on either side. She knew the only way she was going to remove the saddle was if the weight from the bags was no more. She tried to wipe the blood off the leather as best she could, then peered inside.

  It is rocks! she thought as the bags were full of medium sized purple rocks. She grabbed one, and then realized they weren’t rocks at all. Instead, they were purple sacks, tied shut with gold thread. She looked around, suddenly aware of her surroundings. She rushed to a table and fumbled with the tie, but out of frustration, she resorted to grabbing a knife and cutting it open.

  Her heart skipped a beat when the contents came spilling out. Gold coins. She was speechless, breathless, and overwhelmed by emotion. Her knees turned to mashed potatoes, and she slumped down to the floor, knowing now just how important the boy really was. He was a messenger. A messenger of Degendhard.

  Areli continued to think about that night as they traveled past the borders of Sector D into Sector C. In the distance, she could see the smoke billowing from the burning of small towns and villages. If no one was going to tell the Emperor where Degendhard was, then he was going to burn down everything in his path. And there was nothing they could do about it. There was nothing anybody could do about it.

  Areli constantly asked Talon why Degendhard didn’t turn himself in. Why did he allow the torment to continue? The torment of the people he worked so hard to protect? Talon was patient with her anger. She felt sorry for him now that she thought about it, wondering if he ever thought that she might turn him in. But they both knew that if she had, no one in her former home would have seen another day.

  Talon told her that Degendhard the Great wasn’t someone who had been around for just a couple of years. In actuality, he had been protecting the poor and working class for the past four decades. Areli’s mouth became unhinged when she heard this.

  “He couldn’t of!” said Areli.

  “Oh, but he has,” said Talon.

  “Well, then he’s an idiot.”

  “An idiot? For striving to keep people from being killed for the Emperor’s enjoyment, to be entertainment on the weekends and before the races?”

  “An idiot for being caught,” said Areli, “how can a man who has survived as nothing but a shadow for the past thirty-nine years be exposed? Does he have any idea of how many lives he’s destroyed?”

  “He feels their pain,” said Talon sullenly, “more than you’ll ever believe.”

  “Then why doesn’t he turn himself in and be done with it?” asked Areli frustrated and angry.

  “Because,” said Talon “because the people won’t let him.” This was only one of the heated confrontations Areli had with Talon. In the end, he would constantly tell her that the people saw Degendhard as their Emperor, not Ailesh.

  “How can you serve someone that doesn’t have a crown?” asked Areli with a bitter undertone.

  “Their allegiance,” said Talon, “resides with the one who feeds them, the one who has saved the lives of their parents and themselves.”

  “Allegiance is easily broken,” said Areli, “especially now, when it’s their child’s life being threatened.” This quieted Talon considerably.

  Their carriage, trailer, and guards moved swiftly through the lands, only stopping to give the horse’s breaks or the men rest. When they entered into Sector B, it was night, and the sky in the distance was red. Even though they were a lengthy distance away, Areli could hear the screams of woman and children and the clanking of men’s swords, which were frivolous and useless actions, as battle dragons would descend upon them, taking away their livelihood with a simple breath.

  Past the fires and dismal screams of pain, Sector B was beautiful. It was occupied by vast green forest and large blue lakes. When they stopped at one, the sand beneath Areli’s toes was a welcome feeling as she walked along the beach with Kaia and her parents. They had spent a month on the private roads, and they still had a considerable distance left. But the walk was good . . . especially for her father.

  He was getting fidgety. He was used to working almost every day and for many hours. And he had the most annoying habits when he was restless. Whether it be his constant biting of his fingertips, or his legs doing some weird jittery dance, or the constant drumming on his sketch pads. With all of these things, Areli had to constantly tell him to stop. And he would . . . for a while – and then he would start up again. It got so bad that Areli would sometimes ride up front with the driver. However, despite Areli’s agitations, her mother was grateful. Even though he always had made time for her, she appreciated his extended presence in the passing weeks.

  After they left the beach, the commander told them that there would be no more stops until the Desert of Abhirn, which was halfway into Sector A, and the final natural obstacle until the Mountains of Abhi. Areli occupied her time by looking outside her window or sitting in peace at the front. She found it pleasing to look at the trees which came in many different shades. Bark ranging from dark browns, to greys, to luminescent whites.

  The journey was made more difficult the more time Areli spent in the cab. She found it harder and harder to look at her parents. She was still ruminating on her last conversation with Talon, and quite frankly, it had made her bitter towards love. Even the love her parents had for one another pained her immensely. It sickened her, as her father read his books, and her mother curled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. Things she so desperately wanted but couldn’t have. She would grit her teeth at love. Why must others be happy, but not her? It was killing her to think about it. She found herself spending more and more time at the front as Talon seemed to crowd every thought in her brain. You’re better off without him, Areli, she told herself, but it made her tear up every time she said it. Her family saved him. They talked every day since he opened his eyes. They had argued, yes, but they had also laughed. She also sang him a song that she now deeply regrets doing so. She had to distract herself. She kept her eyes diverted into the thickness of woods, disgracefully wishing that the trees didn’t mask the pain and suffering that were going on beyond them. Just to remind her that she didn’t have it as bad as others.

  Areli was asleep when their carriage came to its final stop before crossing the desert. Her father gently shook her awake, and together, they walked to the edge of the forest. It looked exactly the way Talon had described it to her. Even though she knew what to expect, Areli still thought it odd to have all this abundance of green and brown behind her, and in front of her, nothing but sand and desolation leading to an empty horizon. There was a roar above them. Areli looked up. It was a battle dragon. Going home after a day of slaughter. It was the size of a giant cloud, shading them from the presence of the sun. Then it was gone. Disappearing into the emptiness and into the direction of Abhi.

  “It will be a week’s journey,” said the commander, his eyes still in the direction of the battle dragon, “my men are gathering as much water as they can. We’re going to need it.”

  “And then we’re in Abhi?” asked her mother, already knowing the answer.

  “We’ll be at the mountains,” said the commander, “and then in the tunnel.” He was then called away by one of his men, leaving Areli and her family to look across the yellow and gold grains of sand. Areli couldn’t help but wonder about the other missions the commander had to endure. If he could have been involved in the murdering and raping of an entire village, or if he searched the homes of those suspected as followers of Degendhard, leaving nothing but the family’s entrails behind when they left. It killed her to think about it. The commander was a nice man. She liked to think that only the nice ones got the unexciting tasks, such as the transport of a rider.

  When the men were well rested, well fed, and well hydrated, they set off across the treacherous landscape that gave no inclination that there were mountains behind it. Areli found herself sleeping a lot, as the heat seemed to drain the strength from her body. The
terrain was easily traveled, but the openness of the land, its lack of vegetation and water, and its unnatural heat, made it a suitable and advantageous defensive barrier between the center of the world and the rest of the empire.

  To further protect the Emperor and the Valley of Abhi were the high mountains that seemed to touch the tips of the stars. And what was not surrounded by sand, was protected by thrashing waves of unnatural ocean currents that were too violent for any ship to maneuver and too imposing for even the most advanced swimmer. It was the perfect home for the Emperor and his dragons.

  After just four days, they were already starting to ration water. Everyone was irritable, even Kaia was starting to feel the effects of the heat and dehydration. Both her parents modified their clothes to suit the weather. Her father cut up a pair of his least favorite trousers, taking off most of the legs. He also took scissors to one of his beloved collard shirts, cutting off the sleeves.

  Her mother cut up one of her summer dresses, along with one of Areli’s, taking off as much fabric as she could, while still making sure they were respectable looking. Her father also handed the guards a heavy thick cream to assist in the sun’s burns . . . strictly experimental, but at least the soldiers weren’t petulant about the itch.

  When the mountains finally did come into view, everyone, especially the horses, were too exhausted and tired to cheer. The commander called the carriage to a halt, and allowed Areli and her parents to step out and look at the mountains from a distance. At first, Areli wasn’t impressed. All she saw was a thick line of black across the blue of the horizon, resting just above the grains of sand. However, as they got closer, the black line grew and grew, until eventually, all she saw was black.

  When they got to the base of the mountain, guards slid out of the cracks. They talked to the commander, asking for his orders, and then asked Areli and her parents for their papers, as well as the papers for her dragon. Her parents had everything ready, as they already underwent the same treatment at the borders of the other sectors.

  Satisfied, the guards called forth the servants, who carried with them canteens of water and fresh fruits. The horses and men were allowed to rest. Areli and her family spent most of their time with Kaia, watching her carefully so she didn’t get sick by drinking too much water. That night, they ate well, were given a chance to bathe, and were allowed to sleep on something that Areli had been missing dearly for the past month . . . a proper bed.

  The next morning, just as the sky started to turn blue, Areli and all in her company were awoken, fed breakfast, and allowed to go on their way. Before they continued, the commander was sure to suggest Areli and her family dress warmly, as the tunnel could sometimes get very cold. Her mother took out their fur coats and blankets, and each family member was bundled as if to experience temperatures a million degrees below freezing.

  Areli walked over to her dragon, who also had a quilted fur blanket around her. She fed Kaia thoughts of warmth and courage to calm her before they entered the tunnel. It will be okay, Kaia, thought Areli, we will be on the other side before you know it. When Areli got back into the carriage, she smiled to each one of her parents, and then she heard the cues from the driver and felt the lurch of the wheels as they fought against the horses. Then they moved forward.

  The tunnel was well-lit and wide enough to allow guards to ride on both sides of the carriage and trailer, and also large enough for someone coming from the other side to pass. Areli wondered to herself if this is what it felt like traveling amongst the stars, as the entire tunnel was covered with lanterns filled with dragon’s oil to keep from fading out.

  The commander told them that the base of the mountain was very large, and that it would be a full day’s travel until they would reach the other side. Areli looked out the windows for a while, mesmerized by the beauty of the lanterns. They were as captivating as Talon said they would be. A grim smile came to her face as her mind went back to him. Why couldn’t she just forget about him?

  “Areli?” said her mother, lifting her head from her father’s shoulder, “is something bothering you?”

  “No,” said Areli, putting on her fakest smile, “I’m just tired is all. I think I’ll try and get some rest. But could you wake me up before we get to the other side?” Her mother nodded, and Areli stuffed a fur pillow into the corner of the cab and slept, hoping to find a way to extract Talon from her thoughts.

  Areli awoke to the shaking of her mother, and her gentle voice telling her that they were nearly there. The walls were the sign. Lanterns didn’t have their usual undisturbed darkness around them, but were painted by the presence of light.

  Areli kept looking over her shoulder, as it got brighter and brighter. She had a wry smile on her face, not the excitement she should have had. This was the first time she would be in the Valley of Abhi, and yet Talon had ruined this for her as well. Even though most of her knowledge on the Valley came from the stories her father told her since birth and anything she learned in school and from books, she had learned from Talon as well . . . in a more intimate way. She would have him describe to her what the Valley was like. She would visit him before bed and plead with him until he would agree. She wanted to know everything. She wanted his voice to fill into all of her senses. She would close her eyes as she would listen to his words, and she would visualize everything he was saying, conjuring up sounds and smells to match his descriptions.

  “Where do I begin?” asked Talon.

  “Start with the tunnel,” said Areli, “and you’re just getting to the bridge for the first time.” He would smile, and then bite his finger as he does sometimes.

  “What?” asked Areli with a smile.

  “I’m just thinking,” said Talon, “I want this to be perfect.”

  “It will,” pleaded Areli, “just tell me anything you can think about.”

  “Okay,” said Talon, looking her lovingly in the eyes. She would always lose her breath when he did this. His eyes were so beautiful; it was hard not to get flustered when he looked at her. He would then take in a deep breath, and then close his eyes. Trying to relive the moment. She would smile and then close her eyes as well, always feeling like she had just entered into the Valley with him.

  “The first thing is the brightness,” said Talon, “you’ve been in the tunnel so long, that you need a moment or two for your eyes to re-adjust. When you walk to the bridge, you’re in a world you never knew could exist. A world of liquid and sky. You have endured the desert and the tunnel. But now in front of you is nothing but water. But not the murky brown waters of Sector D. But water so blue, it can quench a man’s thirst just by looking at it. It carries the reflection of the mountains and snow caps that surround it, and if you look to your left and right, you’ll see the waterfalls cascading into a lake the size of an ocean.

  “You’ll be able to hear them from where you are. It will be like a soft thundering sound, nothing harsh like in a storm, but something peaceful like wind blowing through overgrown grass. In front of you will be the bridge. Made of travertine and gold. If you walk up to the sides you’ll see that it has been graced by the most talented of hands, as depictions of dragons will lead you all the way to the other side . . . to the actual earth of Abhi.”

  Areli would sometimes open her eyes when he would speak. She loved looking at his face as he spoke. It was intoxicating, as he rendered the place with so much passion and feeling. She knew this is when she fell for him. She might not have known if it was love when she last spoke to him. But now she knew. She loved him. And even though she hated him right now, she still wished he was here. She wished she could share this moment with him. Not in a secret room in Oroin, but in the actual Valley.

  After their papers were certified by bridge guards, the commander allowed Areli and her family a chance to walk about while his men replenished their supplies. After Areli’s eyes adjusted themselves to the brilliance of the sun, she witnessed everything that Talon had mentioned to her. She saw the beautifully blue waters th
at reflected the blackness of the mountain and the whites of their peaks. Areli walked out onto the bridge to take in the fresh air, which was like sniffing in snow in the middle of Spring.

  She walked to one of the sides of the bridge and ran her fingers across the handcrafted protrusions of dragons. She had to wipe the tears stinging her eyes, as they were as elaborate and life-like as Talon had said they would be. She then looked across the water to the distant waterfalls that fed into the sapphire blue water. She closed her eyes as tears started to streak down her face. Knock it off, Areli, she scolded herself, he doesn’t love you. And he never will.

  After everything was ready, Areli and her parents climbed into the carriage again, and they started off across the bridge. It would take another full day’s time to make it to the other side.

  As they got closer and closer to the land on the other side of the bridge, Areli saw the Columns of Abhi. From their distance, they looked like mountains, but Areli knew that soon, clarity would give shape to form.

  After a while, Areli looked back out the windows at the massive large rock structures that were as tall as mountains, but instead of snow covering their tops, they were inhabited by trees.

  As their carriage exited the bridge, they were surrounded by forest and the enormous rock structures that rose from the floor. There were millions of them, and as night fell upon them, each seemed to be a pathway to an individual star. Areli had to fight with herself to keep her eyes open, but it was a battle she could not win, as her body was aching from exhaustion.

  When she opened them again, curiosity struck her eyes. Outside, the road was bordered with the largest trees she had ever seen. They had just entered into the third layer of the Valley.

  “Abhiraja’s forest,” said her father, nodding his head at one of the trees, “it is told that the trees grew to match the heart of the Emperor.” Areli smiled at him, and then she looked back out the window with wonder. Then thoughts of Talon came funneling back to her. She closed her eyes as she thought of him. She hated how everything seemed to keep the memory of him alive. She wished she could easily forget him. She wished her father wouldn’t have found him half-dead on his horse when he was coming back from his medical facility. She wished she hadn’t told him she loved him.