David shrugged. “With Tiberius, it was just sticks in a room. But you were up against real people. I just can’t see myself that way right now. I can’t … it’s still too much.”
“That’s a fair answer,” Zechariah replied.
They drove in silence again, and David turned Zechariah’s words over in his head. Zechariah had said that the original council put this code into place years ago, and he recalled that Zechariah was once part of the council until he was removed.
“What happened with you and the council?” David asked.
“You haven’t figured that out already?” Zechariah replied.
David nodded. “I know you were kicked off because you took an army to somewhere and found nothing,” David said. “I can assume that you were told not to, and I can guess it happened before and you were probably warned about it.”
Zechariah nodded. “You’re smarter than you’ve been acting,” he said. “The first council consisted of Karian, Jatarua, Ghitish, and me along with three others who have been replaced since then because they died one way or another, including the original Council Head Parashna.
“Parashna died a little over a hundred years ago in what was only explained as a building accident. The Council gave me full authority to investigate, as there was some evidence of possible Tepish involvement. Nothing else ever came to light, and it remained only an accident. Karian succeeded Parashna as Council Head at the time.”
“You didn’t want it?” David asked.
“No, I didn’t,” Zechariah replied with a chuckle. “I told Karian he was welcome to it. Some years later, we started hearing rumors of activity far west of Erim, and several people showed up in Erim who had been changed. I immediately considered the Tepish, but Karian didn’t seem so concerned.
“Then in 1750, one of our scouts at the time came to us with a recently transmutated Fempiror who spoke of a large force he had escaped from in the same area the previous reports had come out of. I immediately petitioned the rest of the council to move what force we had to that area to investigate. They initially denied my request, but persistent as I was, I got my way, and we investigated.”
Zechariah closed his eyes and shook his head. “Nothing,” he sighed. “The entire area was clean. We found absolutely nothing of any kind anywhere. There was some evidence of habitation here and there but nothing conclusive. I wanted to take it further, but they denied me since everyone was so far from home anyway.
“That’s when I was removed from the council. I was obsessed and wanted to stay out west. They felt if I wanted to be away from Erim so much, then the council should find someone more interested in the affairs of its people. I felt that pursuing the Tepish was more important than my position on the council, so I relinquished my position. I moved out to where I live now west of Hauginstown to continue looking. Ten years later, I found several Tepish moving together across the fields, but they put up such a fight, only one survived which was not sufficient to convince the council of anything.
“Trouble was that the talk of the Tepish had made the people worried, and they wanted reassurances that they were safe. The council assured them they were fine, and no reason to believe they wouldn’t be. The Tepish are only interested in changing humanity – existing Fempiror are perfectly safe. All the same, that’s when the council outlawed the use of the term ‘Tepish.’
“When I left the council, Vyrna wasn’t on it, though. He must have replaced Issachar sometime after my visit in 1760. Issachar was a good man, and no doubt, he was as dangerous as they perceived me to be. I had heard that something had happened to him, but never got any real information. I noticed this when we were there, but it slipped my mind until now. I must remember to ask Vladimir if we get a free moment. Perhaps when all this is over.”
David waited for a long moment until he realized Zechariah had finished his story. It did cover some questions for him in that he understood why Zechariah perceived the council to be corrupted. He was doing his job as a Rastem in trying to prevent the transmutation of humanity, and the rest of the council did not see this as important as he did. But surely, they were Rastem as he was. Then again, that was also a long time ago, and people do change.
David looked out across the darkened fields for a while as the silence overwhelmed him. Then he noticed some trees in the distance that he knew. His eyes were well adjusted to the night and the moon still shone brightly enough to let him know that he would soon see Hauginstown. He watched closely as little dark shapes came into view.
He needed no guide here. This had been his only home until a few days ago. To him, the Levi-Cart passed by in slow motion as he made out every detail that he could see from the distance. Even as far away as they were, he could just glimpse the statue of Gerald Haugins through the brief opening on the south end of town. It tugged at his heart, and a tear forced its way out and dropped down his face.
He looked over to find Zechariah looking at him. He was uncertain about the expression on Zechariah’s face, however. It was not anger or determination like David had expected. Nor was it sympathy or regret. It was as if Zechariah saw in David the memory of a long, long time ago when he had perhaps looked upon a little town and wanted more than anything to go back for only a moment to say goodbye.
David looked away from Zechariah and back to the town now fading away behind them. He needed to remember the path from here on just in case he had the chance to slip away.
They continued west for some distance more until they approached a sheer rock face that rose straight up for at least a hundred feet. The sun was starting to rise behind them, and Zechariah slowed to study the landscape. Suddenly, he veered to one side and David saw that they were headed for a small cave opening in the side of the rock.
He stopped the Levi-Cart as far into the cave as possible. The cave went straight into the mountain just far enough that the rear wall was shadowed from the sunlight. There were no turns or other crevices off their short path. The other two Carts pulled in beside Zechariah’s Cart. They all lowered the short support legs, and their Carts rested on the ground as they turned them off.
Zechariah climbed out of the Cart, and David followed his lead. Before they joined the others, Zechariah held the sword that he had taken from the Erim Guard out to David.
“Take this,” Zechariah said.
David shook his head. “I don't want it,” he said, backing away from it.
Zechariah walked toward him, still offering him the weapon. “We don’t know what we’re up against. You may need it,” he insisted.
“I don't know how to use it,” David said, desperately trying to find any excuse not to take it as he backed up against the wall.
“You may have to learn,” Zechariah said. David did not know what to do. He knew they were going into a potentially dangerous situation, but taking that sword would mean he was finally accepting this fight, and he was not prepared to do that yet. Besides, he thought if he tried to use a sword, he would be more dangerous to himself and his newfound friends than he would be to any enemy.
He glanced toward the others. They were watching him and Zechariah, and Zechariah was not moving. He took the sword from Zechariah and held it before him.
“I still don’t—” he began, but Zechariah stopped him.
“I’m only suggesting that it may come in useful,” he said, stepping back to the Cart. He took out two day-travel cloaks, and David noticed the others had already done the same. Zechariah tossed one to David, who caught the cloak in his free hand.
Zechariah walked over to the others, putting his cloak on. David walked to the Cart and with a glance to make sure Zechariah had turned away, placed the sword back behind the seat again. He swung the cloak around his shoulders and joined the others as they walked towards the cave opening where the first rays of the sun were starting to peek in.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Urufdiam Plateau was littered with openings likely carved deliberately by the Dark West Fempiror, as they li
ked to be called, as diversions to travelers who did not belong in their realm. David had never been here, but he had heard of people from Hauginstown coming out to this area, which he only knew as “the mountain” in order to explore the caves. Some of the caves went a fair distance into the mountain, while others seemed to end after a short walk.
His company of six walked briskly from hole to hole, checking each dead end and abandoning each cave entirely before going too far in. David asked why they did not explore them further, but as usual, Zechariah and the others were looking for “something” that David was unaware of.
David also found that there was another good reason for not being out during the daytime. Since they had to wear the sunlight-blocking day-travel cloaks, the sun was unbearably hot. By the time they had reached the seventh hole, he wanted nothing more than to shed the cloak and be safe in the caves out of the sun. Fortunately, his wish was about to come true.
“Ah-ha!” Tiberius exclaimed, pointing out a nearly invisible series of Felletterusk letters on the wall.
Yori leaned in closely to them. She looked at Tiberius. “That’s F-F-R, right? What do they mean?” she asked.
Tiberius smiled. “Very good, Yori. F-F-R would be the letters in your tongue,” he explained, “It most likely stands for Fempiror frenelero rakad, or Fempiror of the Dark West. Just something to tell those who know what to look for where they are, and to keep them hidden from human eyes who wouldn’t know any better.”
David turned to the dead end and looked it over. The rock wall before him appeared to be very flat – almost too flat. If one were not paying attention, he might pass it over as just another dead end, but knowing who was in this place, it looked more like an entrance than a wall.
“Stand back,” Tiberius warned, “We do not know what measures the Dark West employ.” He looked directly at the wall and spoke in Felletterusk. “Naltaka, mingorn Fempiror frenelero rakad. Ka sil Tiberius Erimero. Lew mälina corönskjav eski.”
David looked at Zechariah for a translation, but Zechariah had fixed his gaze on Tiberius and the wall before them. David sighed and hoped that he would at least understand the context until Zechariah could explain later.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Urufdiam Plateau
“Attention, guardian of the Fempiror of the Dark West. I am Tiberius of Erim. We come seeking counsel,” Tiberius announced to the wall. It was a standard greeting among the Fempiror of old, and if these Dark West were the remains of the Elewo, he hoped they would respond to his formality. A low, calm voice responded to his query, also in Felletterusk, and sounded as if it came from all around him.
“What allegiance do you claim?” it asked.
Tiberius took a deep breath. How would be the best way to respond to such a direct question? If they were Elewo, then they might welcome Rastem, as the Rastem were known for their defense of humanity. However, if the Tepish had taken over the Dark West ideals, they might be killed as soon as the door opened. Without any way of knowing for sure, though, he decided the truth was always the best option, and if they died at the hand of the Tepish for it, they would die with their integrity.
“We are warriors of the Order of Rastem,” he replied, continuing only in Felletterusk. He paused only a moment before adding, “We desire knowledge of the Order of Tepish.”
Zechariah drew in a breath of air. Tiberius knew all too well what Zechariah thought of his revealing it all so openly. Despite his recent rashness, Zechariah had always been known for his caution, and Tiberius doubted that Zechariah would have ever given away so much in a single moment.
“The Rastem have always desired the knowledge of the whereabouts of the Tepish,” the deep, rumbling voice responded. “Why should we help you?”
“What do you desire?” Tiberius asked. He was unsure what they would have to bargain with if the unknown voice actually wanted something.
“Possessions mean nothing,” the voice said, its tone never changing. “We desire only wisdom. How many years have you walked?”
“I have walked this world over four hundred years as have two of my companions,” Tiberius replied, relieved that he was likely dealing with the Elewo as this was a normal request for the Elewo ideals he remembered. “Our knowledge may be valuable in trade.”
“We accept,” the voice stated.
With that, the door opened revealing nothing but a hallway behind it. The six companions look at each other for a moment.
“Do we just…go in?” Kaltesh asked.
“Likely,” Vladimir replied. “It’s not uncommon for someone to permit entry to a stranger without showing their face, just in case this stranger is not a friend. I would say they’re still evaluating us.”
“That makes sense,” Zechariah said with a nod. “I believe I would be suspicious of armed Fempiror showing up at my door as well.” The others agreed.
“Will I be able to understand them once we get in?” David asked. Felletterusk was Tiberius’ first language, so he had to remind himself often that he needed to use the common tongue in order for the younger Fempiror to understand him. Kaltesh knew Felletterusk well enough to have understood the exchange at the door, but Yori would have followed less of it, and David had no knowledge of the language at all.
“It’s hard to say, David,” Tiberius said. “They spoke Felletterusk at the door, so I couldn’t predict whether they’ll use the old language or the common tongue. We’ll just have to find out.”
They walked through the opening, Tiberius leading the way followed by Vladimir, then Kaltesh, Yori, David, and Zechariah. As soon as Zechariah passed through the door, it closed slowly of its own accord. Only David seemed surprised by this, as he was still unfamiliar with the ways of the Fempiror. The hallway was completely featureless with a three-way fork directly before them. Dim lights hung from the ceiling, and their eyes adjusted quickly to the gloom.
A Fempiror stepped out of a recess in the hall. He was younger – probably not more a hundred years old at the most, but even through the low lights, they could see he was wearing the red and black armor described by Fertid back in Cerebdim. The image of the bat was emblazoned across the chest in red lines against the black background. He could clearly see the lines of the red mail under the armor meaning that this Fempiror was ready for an attack. He only lacked the helmet Fertid described, but this Fempiror – this clear representation of a Tepish – exactly matched Fertid’s attackers.
“Greetings, guests,” he said politely in the common tongue with a slight smile, but clearly not the voice who had addressed them outside, “I am Pedar. The leader of the Dark West is expecting you. Follow me.” It was far kinder than Tiberius had expected after seeing the armor, and he knew David and Yori would be relieved to hear their native language.
Tiberius wondered if this young red and black clad warrior knew anything of the Tepish name or history. Could the Tepish have recruited these people for a purpose unknown to them? It was curious.
Pedar walked away from them at a brisk pace. They followed closely as he passed down the unmarked and unadorned halls in such a fashion as would lose the most skilled cartographer. Tiberius glanced back to see Yori looking around trying to memorize the layout as well as she could. Her language studies were dubious at best, but she had an enviable memory for floor plans. He suspected that this would give her quite a challenge, however.
“These are some strange hallways,” David said all of a sudden. His was the last voice Tiberius had expected given how intimidating all this must surely seem to him. To his surprise, though, Pedar answered kindly, as though he were giving a tour of the caves.
“It is a defense mechanism,” Pedar said. “A straight path to the heart is a request for death. A difficult path discourages assassins.”
“Makes sense,” David said with a nod. Tiberius looked back and saw Zechariah look over to the newcomer and smile. David shrugged.
Tiberius turned his attention back to the road ahead in time to see the ground drop sharply
to their left and open up to reveal an enormous chamber. Their path followed around one side of the chamber that was so large that the far side disappeared into the darkness.
“That’s quite a room,” Yori commented looking across the empty expanse.
Pedar nodded. “This room serves not only as a massing area for our forces but also for training, which has concluded for today.”
“How many strong are you lately?” Zechariah asked as if it were a casual question. Tiberius thought his timing was perfect in asking, and Pedar would not likely regard it as suspicious in any way, based on the way he had been answering the questions.
“We have force enough to defend ourselves,” Pedar replied, “I am not qualified to divulge any further.”
Tiberius looked back at Zechariah who shrugged, just as David had earlier. Tiberius smiled and turned forward again to find them passing into another enclosed hallway via the center path of another three-way fork, leaving the cavernous room behind them.
* * * * * * * * * *
After a short walk that passed through two more forks in the road, Pedar brought them before a large, wooden door with ornate carvings. He turned to face them, standing between them and the room beyond.
“This is the inner chamber of the Deldral of the Dark West Fempiror,” he said with more than a touch of pride in his voice. “Remember that you have been accepted upon the promises you have made.” He made a shallow bow before them and walked to one side of the door.
Tiberius looked at the door hopefully. He had expected Pedar to open it for them, but now he could only hope for the same situation that had occurred back at the entrance. The door opened inward of its own accord, and the same voice that addressed them outside sounded again, this time from inside the room saying, “Enter.” Without hesitation, Tiberius entered the Hall of the Deldral.
The room was beyond impressive. Tiberius had not seen such decoration since the Felletterusk king had invited Tiberius to his chambers in the early days of the war when the king had given him a commendation for service in battle. Light issued from gaps in the ceiling through what appeared to be a combination of the Fempiror lighting system and indirect natural light from the outside making the room several times brighter than the halls behind them. The floor was carpeted in earthen colors of light brown and green, and tapestries containing images of unarmed Fempiror as well as the Felletterusk country hung on the walls marking a sharp contrast from the rock of the mountain.
The Awakening (The Fempiror Chronicles Book 1) Page 17