by D Leon D.
- There are two ways to get there from here, sir.
- Are there more of you outside the library? –Cornelium asked.
- Yes, sir, some are waiting at the basement of the pits –Cornelium looked at Ramsil, who had a pensive air.
- Have you come up with something, Ramsil?
- Yes, where do you think Ycze and Onevin are at this moment?
CHAPTER 30
They had just exited the coat of the council wearing their robes, Ycze looked at Onevin and they nodded to confirm mutually that they remembered the plan: getting into the temple, finding Windark, put him in safety and wait for the signal. They walked cautiously towards the main entrance, the guards were still doing their respective rounds, they managed to enter the temple and once inside everything seemed more agitated.
- Surely they have already been released –Onevin told Ycze in a low voice, she nodded.
- I don’t know where Windark can be, let’s….
A roar interrupted the phrase, followed by some minor tremors, the chandelier that was hanging on the top of the hall started to swing just like everything inside the temple –at least in that hall– some guards exchanged looks, they wielded their long swords and another few some sort of crossbow with arrows that had five tips, one longer than the others in the middle, but none of them kept their eyes steady, they all tried to see something to aim at, the tremors were becoming harder.
- Do we separate? –Onevin asked when he noticed that Ycze didn’t decide where to go.
- No, we can’t until…
At that moment an Aruter went through the middle of the hall, Ycze and Onevin had to throw themselves to a side so that it wouldn’t go over them, several guards realized of Ycze’s presence, because when she fell her face was uncovered and they were going to attack her, the beast went through the exit and kept running until it was lost out of sight.
- Onevin! Help! –She said in a hurry, Onevin without standing up must have listened to her, not much passed when the room was left in darkness, almost completely, the torches had been put out.
- Well done –Ycze continued getting Onevin up and starting to run, the riot had begun.
- Now, where?
- Where that Aruter came.
Ycze must have done a great job memorizing the maps, sometimes she counted the steps with a panting voice before turning to the left or right, although sometimes she stumbled upon some debris she didn’t expect, Onevin followed her up close with the palm of his hand in front of him, he kept the tips of his fingers glowing, ready to use his Feider if something came up. They reached a hallway that had some torches and these had a blue fire, Onevin tried, but he couldn’t put them out, they knew Sonyei was close.
- It’s not fire –Ycze whispered putting her hand close to one of the flames with her Feider activated.
- I can’t put it out; if someone goes through here it’s almost a fact that they’re going to see us.
They managed to hear the rest of a conversation through one of the doors of that same hallway, although they couldn’t distinguish the words, the voice was recognizable for everyone who had been at the temple for one phase of the moon, it was Sonyei.
- Hide –Ycze asked Onevin with an alarming voice.
They both hid sticking their bodies as much as they could to the wall to each side of the hallway, a small embedded pillar, which held the torches, would serve to hide them partially from sight, they didn’t know from which door Sonyei was coming out, but Ycze knew that he would come out at any second, because she started feeling the vibrations on the floor, she remembered at that moment that when she saw the pit, there were three Aruters, so Sonyei must be accompanied by two of them. In a few moments their doubts were cleared, Sonyei was going out of the second door in front of them and walked away to the other side of the hallway, Onevin could see the golden suit, if Sonyei’s intention was to intimidate by only being seen: he was succeeding, Onevin felt a little dizzy, but then he realized he wasn’t dizzy, two beasts left after Sonyei, Ycze saw that Onevin had the intention of killing them, but she gestured him not to do it, it wasn’t the right moment to prove the reach of Onevin, if something went wrong, their lives would be in danger.
When Sonyei left with his new escorts, Ycze waited for a little bit until she felt he was far enough to move forward to the door through which Sonyei had come outside, it was wide, wide enough for the Aruters to go out without a problem, behind the door, on the other side of the room there was another exit completely destroyed, almost covered in debris, and where Onevin had just entered, was a little pit that seemed like an empty pool: Windark bleeding through some enormous scratches on the chest which ripped almost his entire robe, his face was pretty beat up too, the same for his legs, just next to him, on the floor, was a big hole and several floors down Ycze was able to see the pit where the Aruters had been.
- This is where they climbed up.
- Can you heal him? –Onevin consulted her referring to Windark.
- Yes, but it’ll take me some time –Ycze answered Onevin, kneeling in front of the old man.
- This room, Darrell talked to me about it, I recognize it, it’s used only in rituals of much complexity.
- Is there something we can use?
- Mmm… no, I don’t see anything I can use – Onevin answered after checking with his eyes, but when he saw that Ycze was still kneeling next to the monk he started looking more carefully.
After walking almost the entire room and putting aside layers of dust he saw a big book, which he started to scan without much interest, all this while Ycze focused on regenerating Windark’s wounds, outside of the room you could hear the sound of voices, behind the wall of debris, which had served as an exit to the beast they saw running until it was lost out of sight.
- This book has your name written on several pages.
- Onevin –Ycze said without paying attention– I can’t.
- I will go outside to give you time, will it help?
- Maybe, if you see something I should know about, come inside immediately.
Onevin left the room through the same door he had entered, he glanced at both sides, everything was dark again, the torches of blue flames had been put out, he stood in front of the closed door and then he heard a racket which had to come from the upstairs floor, the frenzied steps indicated that the guards were running aimlessly, on the way to the end of the hallway and he saw the next room lighted up by a radiant and blinding light, he rushed back to the room where Ycze was, opened the door and quickly entered.
- It’s Cornelium; he’s already in the temple, in the upstairs floor.
- Shit, we must carry him then –She started to raise Windark, who was still passed out, although noticeably less wounded, he still had a grave injure on his chest– Help me, we have to get there.
Onevin rushed to her and between them both they carried Windark half dragging to the top floor, they covered themselves with the robe, through the one the light didn’t pierce so strongly, but Onevin’s eyes burned if he opened them, Ycze on the other hand regenerated them as much as she could to keep them open, however she could she focused her vision and saw the mess, Cornelium had his staff –Which she hadn’t seen again– and with this one he was hitting the guards who were trying to attack him, because some of them were on the floor covering their faces completely and others where running aimlessly.
- Go back, Onevin, I can take it from here –Cornelium seemed to be able to see her perfectly and was coming closer.
- Is he Ok? –He asked Ycze, who had to close her eyes when he came close.
- Still wounded.
- Go now, quickly.
- Where’s Ramsil?
- He has just entered the library, I’m going to meet him –Cornelium took Windark and dragging him took him to the door of the library, when he opened it Windark fell inside.
Ycze went back running and climbed down the stairs in a rush, Onevin was at the bottom of these waiting for her, the intense light f
aded, he assumed Cornelium had gotten inside of the library.
- Everything Ok?
- Yes, they’re already inside.
- And now, where do we have to go?
- We’ll find the other loyal allies.
- They must be in the library, remember.
- Not the guards, Onevin, the monks.
CHAPTER 31
- They should be about to look for the students to be monks –Cornelium answered to Ramsil.
- Sir –Interrupted a guard– The section of the monks was evacuated, Windark ordered it.
- What? Why?
- Sir, he thought they’d be vulnerable if something went wrong, he commented that they weren’t ready.
- Do we have a way to reunite with them? –Ramsil asked.
- No, sir, by now they must be outside of the temple, they left through some secret tunnels, we don’t know where they are.
- And, now what?
Ramsil took a moment to analyze the situation, but by having so little knowledge of the temple, he didn’t have an idea of how to react to the change of plans, he wanted desperately to reunite with his friends, but maybe it would not be possible at that moment.
- You said we had two ways of getting to Sonyei from here –Ramsil started telling the guard who had been talking to him– what are they?
- Here are two exits from this library, one of them reaches the floor under the one we think Sonyei is, a series of hallways are behind that shelf over there –He pointed out one of the shelves in that room–. The other way is to go out where you came in, get to the end of the hall and climb the stairs, there are five floors, and they are of course heavily guarded.
- We’ll take both options and a third one –Ramsil answered after thinking about it a little– I’ll go downstairs alone, to the basements to meet with the rest of the guards, you try to get to Sonyei without him seeing you, go through the hallways of the shelf.
- Ramsil, that’s not safe –Cornelium intervened– I’ll go with you.
- No, stay with him until he wakes up, maybe he has something important to say, it’s possible that he’ll also be disoriented when he wakes up –He said, pointing to Windark, who was found unconscious.
- I insist on going, Ramsil, I’ll be back soon and it will be easier if we are all together.
- How will I know that you’re Ok? –Ramsil asked looking into his eyes worried.
- I don’t know, I suppose you’ll know soon.
Without waiting for confirmation, Cornelium went out of the library, the hall was practically alone by that moment, then he knew that Darrell had done his part; otherwise the guards would have tried to enter the library as soon as the door had been closed. Cornelium kept on walking having special care at the corners, he didn’t know the temple well, but he still got to the balcony from which you could see the main hall, trying to recreate the maps he studied carefully, he looked at all the doors remembering what they had behind them, he also noticed that the floor of that hall had cracks that seemed like footprints, one of the beasts had left through there, where was it headed?, he went down the stairs and went into one the doors and little by little he was recognizing the path he had to follow until reaching the door which had to be opened with a special key, but at that moment it was open, because Sonyei’s best kept secret was already walking with him, he entered the room and saw the guards, these didn’t have the uniform white-gold, they were using the other two kinds of uniforms, which would be useful to them if they were outside, but inside the temple they would be recognized immediately, because they weren’t supposed to be in that place with those uniforms.
- I’m Cornelium –He said when he just entered and allowed the sleeves of his robe to show his arms, in which they could see a tattoo that when he united the arms complemented each other, it was a complex circular design and detailed in black ink, the guards must have recognized it, because they didn’t ask any questions– What are your orders? – He asked referring to the orders Windark had given them before sending them to the basement.
- We must wait for the carriers to enter the temple and…
- The carriers are already in the temple –Cornelium said with urgency.
- The order is to attack the guards to make their access easy to as many areas as possible, after that, Sonyei will know something’s up at the temple and we must act quickly, sir.
- That gives me an idea, how many of you are there?
- Twenty, sir.
- Ten will go out of the temple and attack the guards outside, and ten will go up in a rush doing the same with the ones you see on the way, I will have the ones in the library help you with the guards on the top floors and down, once that’s done, everyone exit the temple through the main entrance, don’t let anybody else go out.
- Right now, sir?
- No, I will go back to the library and give the order, wait just the time it would take you to reach the library and leave.
- Yes, sir.
Following the same path, Cornelium went back in a hurry to the library, just before going inside he heard the screams and the metallic sounds which indicated him that the guards at the basement were already doing what they were told, he entered without further delay.
- Guards, at full speed go up the hidden hallways and begin to go down the floors attacking the guards; you have help, go, go!
The guards gave a demonstration of their training, without asking questions they vanished through one hallway behind the shelf that had been moved during Cornelium’s absence.
- How is he? –He asked Ramsil, referring to Windark who was still passed out.
- It seems like he’ll soon wake up, I’ll give him my robe. Do you know anything from Ycze and Onevin?
- No, Ramsil, but…
His phrase was interrupted by a new tremor inside the temple, in fact it was more than one, they were continuous and they seemed to come from the upper floors, Cornelium looked at Ramsil and made him a sign so that he would go out through the door and the monk of the council separated and started going up through the hidden passages, through the ones the guards had gone up. Ramsil removed his robe quickly and put it on Windark, on top of the one he already had, he got closer to the door and took a peek in the hall to check that he could go outside carrying the monk, when he turned his back, Windark had already woken up and was already standing up.
- It’s the Aruters, Ramsil. Sonyei already knows that you are attacking the temple and he has surely ordered the Aruters to protect him.
- How do you know my name?
- That’s not everything I know about you… –He finished talking just went he stood up completely and remained in silence looking at Ramsil, into his eyes.
CHAPTER 32
After leaving Windark in the room for the ritual of the beasts, Sonyei walked solemnly through the temple, he felt fulfilled, he had already sent one of the beasts to the village –Vicnelia–, although he assumed that by that time that wouldn’t be necessary and it would even be a waste of time, anyway he only sent one of them, after all it was what he had obtained from the phrase when he had that powerful vision, it seemed so distant with all the power that now flowed through his body, like his blood, although in a certain way he knew that wasn’t his own power, it was something that was inexorably connected to him and his three Aruters, he felt comfortable and safe, but it was just the beginning.
The temple had a strange calmness that could not be explained; he walked by the hallways that should be heavily guarded and didn’t see more than four guards in them, that awoke his attention, but he didn’t panic. He got to the Agatha room, he went inside by himself, because the beasts couldn’t fit through the narrow door and he didn’t want to damage the temple, what happened before, he thought, had been a result of the rage that Windark’s treason had produced in him, inside the room he looked for the book of the visions, it wasn’t there, that was prophetic in a certain way.
When he didn’t find it, he went out, his beasts were still in the same pl
ace where he had left them, he came close to one of them and pet it, his little hand was almost the size of the eye of the Aruter. The beast –although tranquil– seemed uncomfortable with that caress, Sonyei noticed it and dropped it, he wasn’t sure until what point he had linked with them. Decided to find out he opened his way to the upper floors followed by the beasts, some guards were shocked when they saw them pass by, Sonyei didn’t look at them, he had nothing to explain, besides he felt distrusting after Windark’s treason, was someone there who was loyal to him?, when he remembered it he felt rage again and noticed that the beasts seemed to be upset too, their respiration became heavier.
They reached the highest floor of the temple, it was a big tower: tall, but not wide. You could barely see a spiral staircase which ascended an endless amount of floors, through the ones the beasts moved forward with some difficulty, once they got to the end of the stairs, they were in a space that was some kind of viewpoint with a high roof and some elaborate pillars, but without walls, he came closer to see how far the beast sent to Vicnelia ran, he saw it and just when he was about to go into the exile of crystals, «I want to know what you know and see what you see», he thought, at that moment he felt he would soon lose his sight, and then he believed he was falling on his back, but no, what happened was that his vision combined with the one of the beast that ran in the exile of crystals, their eyes were just one pair, the link was complete, he released a loud and evil laugh, amazed with that discovery, he felt the power of the strong legs running through the exile and then with a sudden movement the creature stopped, what it had in front Sonyei already knew, a dozen of the bodies of his own army at the entrance of a mine, he struck the closest pillar while his Aruter threw a loud growl and the other two –at his back– panted strongly.
- You are going to pay for this, all of you–He said with rage, interrupting the shared vision and ordering the beast with his mind to get to Vicnelia.