The Holtur Enigma (The Holtur Trilogy)

by Cameron Wayne Smith

  “Hmm…” The apothecary seemed unamused at the sarcasm towards her deity, but she didn’t seem interested in starting an argument either. She reached towards his wound, her hand appearing out from the loose sleeve. “I bring light to the world, as it is her will. Not for glory, not for her praise.” She pressed the wound, and a dim glowing light danced around her hand like smoke.

  The wound absorbed the aura, like the lungs of a desperate smoker inhaling a second hand puff. To Vivian’s surprise—and relief—the pain numbed quite a bit. “Thanks Ralumina,” he repeated himself, speaking with sincerity this time.

  The apothecary nodded and left the room.

  “Definitely best to be grateful of that lot.” Sonja watched the apothecary depart with admiration. “They do an awful lot for us slayers.”

  “Eight suns!” Vivian began to laugh. “You haven’t been watching me for the last eight suns have you Sonja?”

  “What? no!” She appeared flustered for a moment, then regained her composure. “Only checking up on you once a sun. I did bring you into town after all, so you are my responsibility.”

  Vivian grinned. “Awww, thanks Sonja.”

  “Don’t get too ahead of yourself.” She turned to the door. “I can’t help you with Glacious. I will let the others and Kallum know you are alright.”

  “Before you go.” A look of concern appeared over Vivian’s face. “Have you found my assistant? Have you found the b—”

  “Not yet.” Sonja’s facial expression reflected Vivian’s. “But women have been disappearing more and more lately. Taking it out before the frozen suns, is now our highest priority.”

  “Oh…”

  “Don’t you concern yourself with it,” she said bleakly. “A merchant wagon is ready to depart to Silverton after Glacious. Focus on your health, Glacious, then if you survive, worry about your serpents.”

  Especially after hearing what the bargetier had done to some of the families in the past, and to Volk’s mother, Vivian really wanted to help. “If there is anything I can do—”

  “I told you,” Sonja bluntly interrupted, then departed the room. “Good luck.”

  “You too,” he responded, then laid back down. It wasn’t long after closing his eyes, he found himself drifting back into slumber.

  ***

  “It’s time,” a voice interrupted the peace.

  Vivian awoke to find Jansen lifting him up by his good arm. “What’s going on?”

  “Glacious approaches,” he said with purpose. “Get dressed, NOW! You are to go before him, and will pay for your sins against the marked.”

  “Shit,” Vivian mumbled, then began covering his body with what little attire was in the room. He wore minimal clothes when dealing with the Eye of Desecration, but the temperature was far colder right now—as to be expected with the approach of a god named Glacious.

  “Vivian,” the voice of Hilda called from down the hallway. “The Holtz widow brought this over.” She entered the room, fumbling with the large fur coat that belonged to Kaine Bluwahlt.

  Vivian’s eyes lit up. He was unsure if he would survive the sun, but even if Glacious was to spare him, the temperature may not. “Thank you Hilda.”

  “Stop dawdling,” Jansen urged, “we do not have long.”

  Vivian didn’t sense the urgency quite as much as the old man, but tried to hurry all the same. Dropping his limp right arm into the coat sleeve hurt immensely. He slipped his feet into his brown boots, then attempted to tie them with a single hand. “Any chance I could get a hand?”

  “Oh, allow me.” Hilda rushed down to his boots, assisting the disabled man. Jansen gave a disapproving grunt.

  “Apologies, but I’m right handed.” Vivian waved his left hand in the air. “I can’t really do much with this one.”

  “Sure,” Jansen said with bitterness.

  Hilda dusted her hands together and gave a smile. “All good to go now.”

  Vivian slowly stood up. “Now what?”

  “Come on!” Jansen grabbed Vivian’s left arm and pulled him through the building.

  The residence was filled this sun, all with strong men and women, all with that same mark on their forehead. They were staring at Vivian as he was pulled towards the entrance, not so much with anger or discontent, but with curiosity. Jansen opened the wooden door, revealing how unbelievably cold the outside was. After stepping out from the warmth of the building, he looked to the sky. The sun was shining brightly, but it provided no heat. Vivian now understood what a frozen sun felt like.

  They walked around the edge of the house, then out into a large clearing. Jansen faced Vivian to the south and pointed to some enormous, frosted mountains. They were far off in the distance, beyond the pine forest that stretched far from the edge of the kuhvi paddocks.

  “Those mountains look cold,” Vivian said. Despite having difficulty imagining a place much colder than where he stood. He figured those mountains sat in the direction of Glacious’ approach.

  “Indeed.” Clouds formed from condensation on Jansen’s breath. “Glacious will come from that way. When he does, don’t run, don’t try to hide. Glacious will already know of all that has happened. Glacious can already see you, see me talking with you.”

  Vivian couldn’t help but worry. Would Glacious see his perspective and side with him, or was Vivian merely prepared as a light snack? He then wondered if being consumed by a beaked horror assisted by serpents would be less painful than an ice god. It was pointless to worry, this is where he was now.

  “Don’t cower before Glacious,” Jansen advised. “Sensing your bravery may provide enough evidence that the horror needs taking care of.”

  “We can only hope.” Vivian nodded, whether on purpose, or just with the rhythm of his shaking body, he was unsure. “What do you think will happen?”

  “I think that only Glacious knows.” Jansen began to walk back to his residence. “And that the decision has already been made.”

  Vivian hoped that wasn’t an ominous way for him to confess his demise was coming. He turned back to the mountains in the distance, waiting for whatever was making its way towards him.

  It didn’t take long and he felt the presence of something unlike anything he had ever felt. The air temperature dropped even lower, and a thunderous crash, like a mountain slamming into the earth, sounded from beyond. Shocks rumbled through the ground, and a blast of white snow exploded from between the mountain peaks. The sky was now white, filled with powdery snow and shards of ice.

  The snow and ice would not settle, it all just hung in the air in the most impossible manner. It was as though physics were no longer the governing law before him. A thud could be heard, then another, the sound was beyond all comprehension, like the mountains were walking towards him.

  Vivian tried to focus on the almost invisible mountains Jansen had pointed to in the distance. What appeared to be a shadowy claw wrapped around the mountain peak, connecting with another of those thunderous thuds. Visibility was almost non-existent now, but Vivian swore that he could see a reptilian face heave past the claw, followed by another explosion of white into the sky.

  Could Glacious simply be a wyvern? An incredibly large one, but a wyvern none the less? Vivian entertained the thought for a while, watching more powder and ice fill the sky and creep towards him. Whatever it was, it didn’t release a roar, screech, yelp, or any other vocal noise. The only noise it made was with its booming steps, causing the ground beneath him to vibrate, its intensity ever increasing the closer it trod.

  With the shadow in the white reaching the kuhvi paddock, the marked bovine began to whine. They knew what was coming, and that there was no way to stop it, but their fearful moos and lows forced a lump in Vivian’s throat. Those creatures must feel exactly the same as the marked humans of the past.

  The pounding footsteps had ceased. Amidst the whines, a different sound echoed through the valley. The sound of a kuhvi’s last breath, shrill and warped, followed by a single crunch, then s
ilence. Was it taunting Vivian, showing its power with how easily it consumed the kuhvi? Vivian’s heart was racing, pounding harder each time he heard a kuhvi’s life end. He didn’t run, he didn’t move, he just stood completely still, frozen from the impossibly low temperatures, waiting for his turn before the entity.

  The time passed in a most unusual way. Each kuhvi crunch seemed to drag on, but the booming footsteps resumed far sooner than Vivian had hoped. He couldn’t see it, but with the explosions of snow closing in on him, he knew it was making its way towards him. Vivian fought back the fear as best he could. He had to bend his knees to keep balance from the fiercely vibrating ground. It was obvious it was fast approaching, its sights set upon him.

  The temperature fell so low that ice was forming across Vivian’s face. The white cloud had ensconced him, and he couldn’t see a thing in any direction. He moved his left hand in front of his face, realising he could barely focus on it. Moving it away, he noticed a great darkness coming towards him. The shaking ground had come to a halt, and Glacious was right before him. The shadow continued closing in until it was barely centimetres away. Vivian focused on what was before him, it was but a single scale of this great being. A single scale, which was larger than Vivian himself.

  “Glacious?” Vivian questioned. He looked left, right, up, and down, trying to see more of this being, but he couldn’t make out anything beyond this one scale.

  Glacious’ confirmed its presence by breathing a stream of even colder air down from above. Despite all the clothing, Vivian felt the freezing cold through his entire body. His clothes suddenly seemed pointless. The hair, skin, even meat on his bones seemed useless to protect against such an extreme temperature.

  “Glacious,” Vivian spoke again through chittering teeth. “As you know, I sacrificed one of your marked to drive away a great horror. It was consuming beings of Holtur with no regard, and has been returning annually causing more devastation. I don’t know how great such a creature may become, but the people of Holtur are unable to deal with it at this time. I fear if it is not dealt with soon, it may destroy the entirety of Holtur, and perhaps much more of our world. I apologise to gain your attention this way, but if it is not dealt with soon, it may pose a threat to even your great self.”

  Glacious didn’t move, but it was so large that Vivian could feel its brain processing all he had said. He felt something else, another thing he had never felt before. It was like the creature was invading his own brain, as though checking the purity of his words.

  The shadow retracted away from Vivian, back into the cloud of snow and ice. Glacious then sucked air towards itself from all directions. Snow rushed in, while plants and other vegetation uprooted from the ground, and flew towards it. Vivian fell from his feet, clawing at the snow with his left hand in an attempt to avoid being sucked in too. Had his words failed? Was he in the process of being consumed?

  The air promptly blasted back in the opposite direction, and the cloud lifted into the air. Vivian looked up in disbelief. The cloud continued skywards, but it didn’t seem to get any smaller as it ascended. A deep, gurgled groan shot from the cloud towards the ground, repeatedly bouncing as it echoed off the mountains.

  Vivian stood back up, unsure what had just happened. The air became somewhat less cold, but still freezing none the less. He turned towards the building, only to see all of the occupants gathered around, and staring back at him.

  “Well done Vivian.” Jansen smiled. “You are the first to negotiate with Glacious and survive, in a long, long time.”

  “I did?” Vivian mumbled through blue lips, still coming to terms with what had happened.

  “You’re welcome here anytime,” Jansen said with a nod.

  “Oh?” Vivian took a few steps towards them, then collapsed into the snow.

  “Quick! We need to warm the poor thing up,” he heard Hilda cry out before he lost consciousness.

  Chapter 9: Flame Wyverns

  Attempting to twist around in the darkness, Vivian felt restricted, bound down by some force. It was incredibly hot, and his body felt moist, probably from excessive perspiration. He thrust himself around again, this time loosening his bonds, and rediscovering the intense pain in his right shoulder.

  “Vivian’s defrosted!” Hilda cried out from close by.

  “Well, offer him some tea or something to eat,” Jansen responded, a little further away.

  Vivian lay still, unsure exactly what was going on. He began to feel a weight being lifted from over him, as well as the temperature rapidly dropping. Light began to eliminate the darkness, and he got a sense of déjà vu.

  The final blanket lifted from over Vivian’s upper torso, and he was met the kind blue eyes of Hilda’s. “All warmed up now Vivian?” she said with a comforting smile. “Can I get you anything?”

  It was the same bed he had slumbered through many of the recent suns, he was unsure exactly how many now. “Hilda…” Vivian’s voice croaked, he reached for his throat which was rough and dry. “A cup of tea would be really good, maybe a slice of toast. How long was I out? Since Glacious?”

  “Only since last sun,” Hilda confirmed. “Not as bad as last time. I’ll fetch you a nice spicy tea, something that will rejuvenate your body and get you back to your feet!”

  “Thank you Hilda.” He pushed himself up with his good arm. Only one extra sun. Not too bad Vivian, not too bad at all. It wouldn’t be long now until he’d be heading back to Silverton with the Neidos silk, but he couldn’t help but wonder if there was still a chance for Donna.

  “What was Glacious like?” A young man peered through the doorway into the room. He must have been younger than twenty, but he still held a masculine frame. His jaw was strongly chiselled, and between two light-blue eyes, lay the mark of Glacious.

  “Like nothing of this world.” Vivian touched his forehead with his good hand, worried that maybe Glacious would claim him too.

  “You’re not even marked,” the young man said with a smile. He mimicked Vivian’s movements, only his fingers dug into the old scar.

  “Sorry.” Vivian felt a sense of guilt, using the deity while not returning anything.

  “Don’t be, it’s an honour to be chosen as one of Glacious’ divine ones.” The man’s smile never faltered. “He mustn’t have wanted you, that or known you were needed somewhere else.”

  “Yeah…” Vivian had been skeptical about the entity, even after its massive presence pierced through the mountains. It wasn’t until he felt its mind inside his, that he realised the importance of Glacious, accepting the fact it was more than just a hungry monster.

  “Here’s your tea Vivian.” Hilda slipped past the younger man who was standing in the door frame. She hobbled over and presented him a tray, upon it, a large mug and two slices of hot-buttered toast. “Is there anything else you need?”

  The cold air from outside his cocoon of blankets felt like it was freezing his sweat glazed body. “If it’s not asking too much, I could use a nice warm bath.”

  “I’ll prepare that for you now.” Hilda hobbled off. It seemed as though she was enjoying taking care of their visitor a little more after his recent encounter.

  The young man in the doorway had left, and Jansen had appeared in his spot. “So Vivian, ready to return to the big smoke?”

  “Soon,” Vivian said. He then took in a big gulp of warm tea. “I would like to find my assistant first. If she is still alive that is.”

  “Glacious has been, and the frozen suns have commenced,” Jansen said sympathetically. “Unless she has already been found, I’m afraid she might not have much chance.”

  “I understand.” Vivian knew just how cold Glacious could make the land. “But I can still hope and try.”

  “That you can.” A light smile appeared across Jansen’s face. “So, when you return, what will you say of Glacious to your fellow Silverton folk?”

  “I’m not sure…” Vivian put the mug down, grabbed a slice of toast, then thought for a moment. “P
robably just the truth. That it is an immortal entity that brings forth the cold.”

  “A god that brings forth the cold,” Jansen corrected. Vivian nodded in agreement. “They probably won’t believe you though.”

  “They will.”

  “Did you believe us?” Jansen raised an eyebrow. “Would you have believed yourself twenty suns ago?”

  “I guess not…”

  “So it probably doesn’t matter what you say!” Jansen’s smile grew larger. “But it matters what you believe…”

  Vivian didn’t say anything. He just continued to nod as the man left his side, returning back to whatever he was doing beforehand. He reached for the mug of tea, but before he could take a sip Hilda had returned.

  “Your bath is ready Vivian,” she said with a big smile.

  Vivian placed the mug up to his lips, slurping down the last of its contents in a hurry. “Thank you Hilda.” He swung his legs out of the bed to discover he was naked.

  “Your clothes were wet!” Hilda blushed, then threw him a large brown towel. “Third door on your left, that way.” She pointed down the hall.

  ***

  His bath was nice and hot, and along with the tea, was the perfect way to rejuvenate him from his frozen condition. He returned to his room, got dressed, then prepared for a walk back to Holtur.

  The entire collective of Glacious’ divine ones saw Vivian off, all of them smiling and waving. “Remember Vivian.” Jansen gave a toothy grin. “You are always welcome within these walls. It is Glacious’ will.”

  Thick snow had completely covered every inch of lush green grass. The sky was the same colour, covered in vast white clouds. The sunlight seemed to pour through just fine, bouncing off the snow and clouds alike, while creating incredible glare. The kuhvi didn’t seem to mind too much, maybe they were used to it, or maybe they were just happy Glacious was gone for another year.

  Trudging through the thick snow—some parts as high as his waist—Vivian realised the walk back would take a little longer than he had expected. He didn’t mind though, at least it wasn’t raining or windy. He actually found himself starting to enjoy the crisp, cold, clear air of the south. He’d also heard that the frozen suns were a relaxing time for Holtur. The cold weather held back the monsters, horrors, wyverns, and whatever else from attacking the town.