Valley of the Black Dragon

by B A Fleming

“This is ancient tongue that Monks of Moung know. The story of your eyes reveal more than appearance, my lord,” suggested Aryz Coun.

  “Why do you call me a lord when you have just met me?” replied Casperi.

  “It is easy to see. Not by your clothes, but your manner, that you are more than mere peasant. Your blade marks you noble one, not from this land, as does color of your skin.”

  “Yes, I am Prince Casperi of Catheridge of the Kingdom of the Valley.”

  “Hardular?” wondered Aryz Coun.

  “What is Hardular?” queried Casperi.

  “Monks of Moung speak of your land, but so few claim have been there,” Aryz Coun considered this as the others sat, listening. He translated for the others for a few moments, and then continued.

  “Most that try to find your people are eaten by the worms that protect caves. Others climbed up into the high mountains where Ice Giants and Gols reside only to be killed, or return with stories of an incredible glacier, and a black dragon that protects it.”

  Casperi processes the conversation for a moment, still light headed from the past few days.

  “Who are these monks that you speak of?”

  “Prince Casperi, my other companions do not speak your tongue. I do as well, though not as clearly as Aryz Coun. I am Temar of the Angol Tribes, and our ancient ones speak your tongue of broken words. You are now in Imuhagh Dominion. Our Queen Emba rules of five summers in succession her father. Aryz Coun and mysoul are what you call outerdominion at presence and are in this habitation in search our place in the Imuhagh. Monks of Moung have been kind to us in the presence, and now we sit with these men to as your saying may be, ‘create our fortune’, before returning to the society.”

  Casperi nodded. Although he didn’t understand all of the words Temar had spoken, he had the general idea of what was being said.

  “Monks of Moung are ancient ones themselves, from distant land. They teach many things that I learning for my first. They would know much more than can be explained by Aryz Coun or mysoul, he indicated before continuing.

  “We have good riches in this moment and hoped that we would return to them in days coming, if you would to join us?”

  “I thank you Temar,” acknowledged Casperi. “I too have some riches which may add to your fortune. I need to return to my lands as quickly as possible, so to leave sooner rather than later would be better for me if you or Aryz Coun would be my guide. I have a mission that I seek to fulfil.”

  Although Casperi was pleased with this development he thought it unwise to reveal too much of his reasoning for arriving in this situation. Maler handed him a cup of hot brown liquid. He had seen the man mix some powder in it and took a sip. He screwed his face up, although felt much better for the first mouthful.

  “What is this?” he said, genuinely surprised. “Its taste is awful, but I feel so much better for drinking it.”

  They all laughed.

  “We call this café, my lord,” acknowledged Aryz Coun. “If we Yaks’ milk with, the taste would be sweeter, but cold days keep us from exploring rockiness outside.”

  Aryz Coun and Temar fell into discussion for a few minutes as Casperi savored the taste of the new liquid. He looked forward to sampling it again, with yak milk.

  “We will take you down to Imuhagh City as this our destination for these treasures. If we create understanding that is mutual good before we will continue together, otherwhere there we will part ways,” suggested Aryz Coun. “But first, we must call to make praise with the monks. Monks may know of a path themselves through to your valley, besides, people of the high valley have been kind to us, and the journey to Imuhagh City is far and unsafe.”

  “What will we find in this Imuhagh city?” asked Casperi.

  “The Imuhagh City holds many questions and maybe some answers, directions, buyers of our stones.”

  All five men had been discussing their haul since Casperi had awoken. Temar mentioned veins of gold-bearing quartz, but also many types of rock and colored stones and patches of black slate.

  He didn’t wish to mention the collection of gems that he

  had discovered, all much larger in size than the hand-picked rough shapes that the miners were excitedly displaying to each other. He got up and ventured to the cave opening.

  Casperi came out into the light slowly and blinked. The fire had helped him to regain much of his vision although the natural light of the day was still much brighter than anything he had experienced recently. He twisted his back and then swatted his arms in alternating circles as if slicing with two blades. His arm and legs had felt much better with a long sleep on Temars’ bedroll, but he would need one of his own as his remained back at the sight of the battle. He looked out along the high valley seeing a familiar prospect of steep cliffs ringed by mountains as they flowed down either side of this thin valley. The surrounding landscape had its first cover of winter snow, although patches of green could be seen in the immediate area below before a giant waterfall fell off into a large sandy region where the valley widened almost five leagues away.

  He thought of his sister and hoped that she knew that he was safe. He could sense her being and discerned that although scared at present, she was unhurt.

  *****

  “Another problem,” reported Curran. “An encampment at the top of the pass.”

  “Do they know we’re coming?” queried Nathe. Veer and Gameard looked on as the last of the others made their way up the trail behind them.

  “It doesn’t look like it. Seems that snow storm covered our arrival. Either way, they are a small band that we should be able to easily take down.”

  “How many men do we need?”

  “Five should do it, if we rush them. The others can rest and wait to be called upon if needed.”

  Curran pulled out two arrows. Clenching one in his teeth, cocked the bow, slowed his breath and let it fly, repeating the process with the second.

  Both had struck their targets in the chest and the guards sagged to the ground. He quickly dropped his bow and pulled out his sword, silently sneaking up the last twenty steps towards the camp for a quick ambush before they had noticed their fallen comrades. Veer, Gameard, Dralan and Soze came with him whilst the others waited as backup if needed.

  The remaining Ice Gols sat around a small fire, the carcass of a yak nearby. Two reacted to the attack as three were taken down without even drawing their swords. They stood back to back considering the intruders. After a minute one jumped forward as his nearest attacker leaving his companion unguarded who turned. This was a mistake as the second Ice Gol was run through. The last attacked at the older man, considering that this was his best chance of escape. Veer blocked the strike and countered by removing its head with his blade. Several of the men smiled as they looked around considering the camp. Soze called out the all clear and the others came up.

  “Okay you men, let’s clear these bodies into a shallow pile so that when the snow falls on them they will look like an outcrop,” indicated Veer to the other mercenaries.

  “Thais and Dralan,” directed Nathe, “check through the supplies and see if there is anything edible. I’ll gather the weapons to see what we can use. Curran and Dwane, check for scouts. Edgar and Orate, man the guard.”

  Chapter 12

  “Young prince, understand that the size of ones’ world depends on as far as you think you can see. For these people, these villagers that live outside the walls of this monastery, as simple as their life is, their world is nothing more than this valley and the distant city that rules it,” observed the monk referred to as Master Shang. His spoken words were clear and without accent. The small man was darker than Casperi but not as dark as his two new companions. If anything, Master Shang more resembled Dralan than any other he had met.

  The group of Casperi, Aryz Coun and Temar had made the half day trek down to the Monastery of Moung, although in the process Aryz Coun had badly twisted his ankle and now rested whilst the monk spoke with the other
s of recent events over refreshments.

  The Monastery of Moung sat against a cliff wall with an expansive view directly down the valley. The various floors branched out deeper and thicker with each level so that a sort of half pyramid was made by the main building, with courtyards and a half square of buildings in front of it. A great verandah extended from the upper level as enormous internal arches and wide corridors allowed light to flow in to even the deepest rooms. The valley itself consisted of a small but lush undulating area where two villages of less than a hundred people lived. The soils of this small microcosm were fertile and the year round water supply from the surrounding mountains gave a beautiful, temperate environment to grow crops and raise Gozioxy.

  Casperi sat with Master Shang, feeling the sunshine upon his face. He had not taken the opportunity to sit and feel it since his childhood.

  “But why does that matter?” queried Casperi.

  “Because just like we need to understand and respect our own view of the world, we need to understand and respect theirs. If they see a shadow that is normally not there then a shadow it is. If their world is filled entirely with only people they know then a stranger will be a threat to them

  far more than the likes of you and me,” he paused, to allow Casperi to take in this concept before continuing. “You will see things on your journey young prince beyond the possibility of your current world. Just as sometimes you will be fearful and disbelieving, these people are so to. Be kind to them in their fear, be kind to yourself in yours.”

  Casperi was fascinated with the views of the world that Master Shang shared with him and they talked for hours. The Monk had a very good command of the ‘old language’, as if he had been raised with it.

  “You speak my language very well Master Shang. Have you lived in Hardular?” asked Casperi.

  “I have dwelt in many places Prince Casperi, but that is not where I learnt your language. There are other places that speak your tongue.”

  “So, you have travelled then Master Shang?”

  “I have travelled far, as you shall. You say that you wish to return to your homeland but your path is not the way you came. You must understand that when you return to your homeland you will not be the person who left. You cannot return the way you came because already that person no longer exists inside you.”

  Casperi thought about this for a few moments.

  “I can see that you have not yet fully recovered from your ordeal young prince. Rest now, as more will be revealed to you in time.”

  Casperi had only his breastplate and gauntlets to clean. His helmet had been lost in the battle before the caves, and his hooded tunic had served him well enough although offered no protection in an actual battle. He had purchased some oil from the miners and sat now removing the corrosion from his sword then his breastplate and lastly his gauntlets. After an hour, he found that all his metalwork shined. He removed each boot in kind and shined the buckles to match his armor.

  “You will need more than weapons to survive these lands young lord,” mentioned Temar, entering Casperi’s room. “Master Shang has lessons for us.”

  They made their way down from their rooms to a large area with a balcony and sweeping view of the valley.

  The novices had gathered and were standing around. Casperi walked over to the stone balcony railing and stared out at the view. Temar joined him.

  “Some of the monks say that Master Shang was an old man who taught their grandfathers when they were young. They say he is immortal,” mentioned Temar.

  “Bah!,” whispered Master Shang with a smile from thirty paces away, “Mere fairy tales to scare their fledglings, nothing more.”

  The two men looked at each other.

  “Now you will practice kata,” called out Master Shang as he turned to his guests whilst the others commenced. “Not because I expect you to but because you will need it. Besides, it will get you off your ass whilst you eat all of my food.”

  He turned, walked a few paces from them and took up a stance with feet apart and knees bent.

  “But….” started Casperi

  “Stand with your feet apart, and bend at the knees, like this....” commenced the monk.

  By the third day both men found the exercises amazing for being able to center their thoughts. Casperi had discovered he was now able to move faster and more accurately with his sword than ever before, and he came out of the kata sessions feeling energized and ready for more. He was sleeping better than he could remember, and unsurprisingly to Master Shang, eating more.

  *****

  Veer led the party across the snow covered plain above Indramur Pass. The going was slowest near the edge, where the storms seemed to accumulate and camp was ordered as they made their way along a valley in search of somewhere warmer to rest for the evening. They happened upon a cave and made camp and a fire with the wood they had gathered from the Ice Gols encampment.

  Within the hour, a blizzard, accompanied by thunder and lightning rolled in. They had chosen wisely as they watched the storm approach from their refuge in the neat

  shallow hollow, made more generous by the overhanging rocks.

  The loud thunderstorm with lightning exploded near them sending freezing air into the cave as the snow started to thicken. Even if they had sought to venture further, the clouds now smothered them into a fog and they were only able to see a few paces in each direction.

  The flat area of cave enabled them to stare out at the amazing sunrise and the clear sky revealed a variety of colors. This was something they hadn’t been able to see before. A few hours earlier the guards had glanced up at a multitude more stars in the night and considered the number to be far more than any of them had seen before.

  With the clear night came the cold and most had slept poorly in the chill air.

  Thais had spent the hour before breakfast practicing the lessons that her mother had taught her. She had become less self-conscious of her skills as the days past since the battle, and now almost freely played with her magic as she sat by the fire. The conditions above the pass were hard and she wanted to try to perfect some spells that could be useful to the party.

  “I’ll never get this,” she muttered frustrated, as Dralan sat watching. He sidled up beside her.

  “You know, when I was little, my mother used to practice some witch craft, and she taught me some tricks before she died. She said the trick is to visualize what it looks like,” he said as he turned his hand over and a small flame appeared, dancing above it.

  “Oh, my god, you’re a wizard too?” she looked at him in shock.

  “I can make a fire, but my sorcery doesn’t extend much more than that,” he laughed.

  Thais stared at him in wonder.

  “You really have some trickeries about you, don’t you?”

  He looked her up and down and smiled.

  “We seem to have pinned our hopes on this old lost hermit. There are limits to these sages, for although he may possess knowledge that others do not, he will not be

  the savior you may expect him to be,” offered Daak.

  Most of the party had tired of the journey. They had rested the night in a rocky cave not far from the campsite that they had taken.

  They were far enough away, and hidden enough to be easily missed. They could keep a watchful eye on those arriving at the top of the pass, or looking to head down. When they had left it, a thick fog was laid out across the valley and extended up over the crest of the pass. This made the Ice Gols campsite look as if it had been abandoned.

  “To live without expectation, is to have faith in ones’ own journey, Daak,” mused Veer philosophically. “Besides, the bearer of your gold still walks amongst us, and whilst she is with us, so is your fortune.”

  The others smirked at this. The conditions were difficult but certainly survivable. They had seen no more Ice Gols since taking the camp at the top of the pass. In the thin air that seemed to drain the energy out of every step, all had finally slept a few more ho
urs after breakfast as three men per watch were posted to ensure that at least one would be awake during their stint.

  They moved out in the clearing weather, and the trail moved along the gently undulating high plateau in between a small set of dividing ranges and the drop-off to the lower slopes. As the group turned west, they walked headlong into the icy winds that howled along the valley from the distant glacier, battering them, open skin turning instantly cold. They briefly turned back and made their way to the cover of the ridge for a few minutes. Every piece of clothing was removed from packs and wrapped around their faces, as spare layers crammed into chests to keep their body heat up for as long as possible.

  They drew their cloaks in around them as they rounded the protection of the rock face and marched up the stony, snow covered path head long into a blazing gale. Light snow now mixed in with this torment and the feeling of being struck by small shards of ice which left everyone staring at their footsteps.

  Had it not been for the occasional small glacial lake, the best description of this place was desolate.

  The forest had quickly given way to shrub and then desolation as they had climbed the pass. Within a day of the pass the landscape was nothing but snow and grey and mostly frozen stone. It seemed that the endless track marched between distant cliffs that would eventually rise up into mountains. After almost an hour in the intense wind, the trail then turned north again as more protection was offered by western peaks.

  As the afternoon wore on, small bushes started to appear as several trails had headed westwards between small, protected valleys. The party kept their line heading north. In one small valley they could make out an incredible plain in the distance beyond. They descended into the third valley, which Veer knew to hold a glacier that fed into the same plain as the one they could vaguely see upon the distant horizon.

  This was the first time that most of the party had entertained any thought that there were lands beyond their own. Even though they had realized that a large number of Ice Gols lived above their homeland, the thought that the creatures would live anything more than a meagre life seemed somewhat bizarre to them. Now this immense plain that disappeared into valley mists beyond the harshness of the snow and ice started to take form. Herds of Gozioxy and yak could be barely made out along the lower plains to the west in what had to be some semblance of a grassy plateau.