"I don't know," spoke Tulinda as she ran her hand along the ground feeling each grain of cold dirt moving beneath her palm. "I was told that I had always been a powerful geomancer, hence how I was able to become Duvold's protege, however after my last reincarnation just a few years ago, I drastically changed apparently."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know honestly; I’ve received conflicting views as to what my personality used to be like. Apparently, my personality used to be more aggressive, but beyond that I just don't know. I do know that from the second I regained consciousness I could feel everything around me. The ground itself was not really something for me to control, I felt as if it was a part of me. It wasn't even just that, while I have the strongest link to stone and dirt, I feel as if I'm connected somehow to water, air and fire. While I have not learned to control the other three elements, my power over Vesnian soil is, for lack of a better word, absolute."
"I had long considered myself the most powerful spell caster," stated Thelais. "However, after meeting you and sensing the depth of your power, I realize that I was mistaken. You give me something to aspire to." Thelais said her words not with any hint of anger or jealousy, but rather sincerity and great respect.
"If I was able to, I would gladly explain to you what I did to become the way I am," said Tulinda through a faint smile. "Sadly, the source of my tremendous power is a mystery even to me. Maybe, and I hate saying this because it is a cliche and used by those with simpler minds, but perhaps I was chosen by the Three."
Thelais frowned slightly, casting a quick glance to her husband sleeping peacefully next to her. She couldn't tell if Tulinda's remark was an insult aimed at Lorne. "Maybe we were all chosen by the Three," remarked Thelais quietly. "Do you mind if I ask another question of you Tulinda?"
The geomancer nodded her head to the pyromancer's request. "What do you dream of Tulinda? I wonder if perhaps your dreams may be a clue as to your power."
The small Tormos female took in a short breath and pulled the hood back over her head masking her face in shadows. All joviality vanished from the geomancer's demeanor. "I do not speak of my dreams, not to anyone."
Thelais was caught off guard, she had no idea the geomancer would take such an affront to the question. As she was about to apologize to her Tormos companion, a large figured appeared from the shadows coalescing into the form of Gowinda. For a second time Thelais jumped from the sudden appearance. Tulinda didn't even move though, as if she was aware of him coming from far away.
"You two get some sleep, I'll take watch now," said the champion briskly.
Thelais was not tired, but she realized she had to try to get some rest as they would be moving again in just a few hours. Before Thelais could say anything, Tulinda stood and walked off into the shadows disappearing into the night. The pyromancer frowned at the sudden change in Tulinda but figured the geomancer most likely just needed some time to calm down. Thelais lay down in her furs, pressing up close to her husband and trying to feel his body heat in the dark and cold night.
* * *
"It's eerily beautiful is it not?" Sielan turned to look at the source of the voice coming from behind her to see the priest Vuurbin standing close to her.
"It is, especially when you consider the history of the place," responded Sielan watching the priest of the flesh.
The group stood on the very edge of the Dallion Forest which abruptly sprang up from the ground into a thick entanglement of trees. There was no slow buildup of woodlands, rather the endless expanse of the tundra and then suddenly a dense dark forest out of nowhere. So abrupt were the woodlands that one might speculate that the forest was dropped from the very heavens by the hand of Lunara.
The expedition had arrived at the Dallion Forest just an hour after sunrise giving them a full day to traverse the forbidden forest. Shortly after arriving Zeranidul had set their horses free as they would be of no further use and instructed the group to wait at the forest edge while he scouted ahead alone to ensure there were no immediate dangers. Tulinda and Thelais were off by themselves quietly chatting, Gowinda as always remained close to the geomancer. Lorne and Corvul meanwhile stalked the very edge of the forest talking and peering into the darkness. Sielan had been sitting on a small rock on the tundra scribbling on her pieces of parchment. As she had been doing the whole trip, she was mapping and taking notes on everything she saw, not letting the historic opportunity of exploring Juxton slip away from her. She had not been paying attention to her surroundings when the quiet priest of the flesh had snuck up from behind her.
"Those were indeed dark times for us Tormos," quietly remarked Vuurbin.
Sielan went back to scribbling on her parchment as the priest quietly shuffled around to stand in front of her. "I must admit," continued Vuurbin, "I was quite impressed with you during the meeting in Armistan. As you may know, there are not many highly educated women in Tormos society."
Sielan quickly glanced up; Vuurbin was staring off into the distance watching Corvul and Lorne as they stalked the forest edge. "So I have heard, my talks with Tulinda have been very interesting," stated Sielan returning her gaze to her paperwork.
"If you don't mind me asking historian, are you married?"
Sielan stopped writing for a second and cast her gaze upwards again; Vuurbin was now staring directly at her. "I don't see what relevance that question has, but if you must know, no I have never married." Sielan suddenly felt uneasy around the priest and his very personal question. She had noticed on several occasions during their journey that he stared in her direction, but initially she didn't think anything of it.
"Why not?" Vuurbin casually strolled closer to the historian with a smile on his face that suddenly made Sielan's skin crawl. "Surely a brilliant and beautiful Phlebos such as you would have had many male suitors."
Sielan put her pencil down and returned the gaze of the prodding priest. "I am too busy to be tied to a normal life. Most male Phlebos are unable to keep up with the pressure and demands of my duties. I imagine you likewise would be unable to keep up. Now if you don't mind, I need to get back to my writing."
Vuurbin continued to smile, un-phased by Sielan's words and pressed the conversation. "You would be quite amazed at exactly what I could keep up with my dear. Perhaps when this ordeal is over, I can show you. I would love to exchange some ideas and notes with you."
Sielan sat up straight and rested her hands on her hips. Beneath her animal furs where her right hand rested was a hidden dagger. "I'm sure we would have nothing meaningful to exchange. While we may both be from the educated upper class, you read only religious texts. I'm more concerned with exploration and documentation."
Vuurbin took a step forward, Sielan's body tensing up beneath her voluminous furs. "I think exploring things with you would be very exciting my dear," calmly stated the priest of the flesh.
Sielan slipped her right hand into the folds of her clothing and took ahold of the hidden dagger as safe measure. "While it has been nice chatting with you Vuurbin, I believe it best if I get back to my work."
The priest took another step forward, so close was Vuurbin that he was within striking distance of Sielan's dagger. "You know historian, you remind me of someone who I'm close to. She's a research assistant of mine I have back in Juxon City, she's a beautiful thing named Alturbin. I also had the pleasure of meeting a girl named Shervold in Deep Ridge who reminds me a lot of you. Do you mind if I ask you another question historian?"
Sielan had never previously been in a fight, but the adrenaline pumping through her body was intense. "Yes, I do mind Vuurbin, now please leave me."
Vuurbin opened his mouth to speak but stopped when they both heard ground crunching under foot.
Sielan glanced out of the corner of her eye and noticed that Corvul and Lorne were quickly making their way over to Sielan and Vuurbin. Both men had their eyes on the holy man. She glanced back to the priest whose gaze had still not left her. She noticed that his eyes had quickly dart
ed to her chest which perplexed her as her body was fully and completely covered and obscured under the mounds of fur.
"Your behavior and questions are highly unbecoming of a priest of the flesh." Through the corner of her vision Sielan could see Lorne and Corvul coming closer and closer. "I'm asking you one last time to leave me in peace."
The priest smiled, "I apologize for apparently making you so uncomfortable. I suppose I was just enraptured with your beauty is all."
Sielan's heart was pounding in her chest. "I have never known a man of the cloth to be so intrigued with beauty, especially amongst a sect that preaches celibacy for its members."
"Why I'm insulted my dear, what makes you think I would be implying anything like that? I am sworn to the Three; however, I respect the beauty of all their creations. Some," Vuurbin took a step forward and placed his hand on her shoulder, "are more beautiful than others."
A hand, one with a firm iron grip, landed on Vuurbin's shoulder. The priest of the flesh quickly let go of Sielan's shoulder and in turn Sielan's grip on her dagger loosened. Vuurbin turned and beheld Lorne, glaring at Vuurbin with fury in his eyes. Several feet behind the high commander was Corvul, likewise eyeing the priest.
"Greetings gentlemen," began the priest of the flesh. "How wonderful is it that we are finally here at the Dallion Forest?"
"What are you doing?" Lorne asked his question in a tone that was as cold and harsh as the northern Juxton winds.
"I was merely chatting with Sielan," said Vuurbin smoothly through a friendly smile. "We both share a common interest in books."
Lorne cast a glance at Sielan who returned his gaze. She faintly, almost imperceptibly, shook her head in the negative. Lorne returned his gaze to Vuurbin and stepped close, so close that he could feel the body heat of the priest of the flesh. The high commander leaned in so that their faces were next to each other and, while looking into Sielan's eyes, quietly whispered. "If I ever see you touch her again you barbaric piece of pig shit, I'll cripple you for the rest of your time on this world in more ways than one."
Vuurbin leaned back to look into Lorne's eyes. Hatred radiated between the two of them. Corvul's hand went to the swords on his belt and Sielan's hand returned to the blade hidden in her furs so tense was the situation. Suddenly a whistle echoed across the tundra.
All of them looked back towards the forest edge to see Zeranidul. The chieftain had returned from his scouting mission and was waving everyone into the forest. Lorne released his grip on Vuurbin and stepped away. Sielan quickly packed up her belongings and moved behind the two Phlebos warriors who quietly walked away from Vuurbin. When the three Phlebos had decent distance from the priest of the flesh, Lorne put his arm around Sielan and held her close as they walked. The high commander spoke calmly and with compassion to the historian. "I'm sorry that happened to you; but you need to tell me everything he said to you." As the group passed into the Dallion Forest Sielan nodded and began recounting the conversation between her and the priest.
Once the southerners were obscured by the dense trees of the forest Vuurbin quickly collected himself and marched off in pursuit of the group, a thin smile of pleasure gracing his face.
CHAPTER 10
Parts Unknown
The cave was unimpressive for the most part. Deep within the Dallion Forest resided an inauspicious hole in the ground. The opening was only ten feet deep and then sloped down at a gradual angle. The tunnel itself had a diameter of only about eight feet which forced the larger male Vesnians, Lorne and Zeranidul, to stoop slightly while walking to ensure their heads didn't brush against the ceiling. After traveling the sloped pathway for fifty feet the group came upon a relic of Juxton's past - the barrier of rocks and boulders that Gunvold had erected eighteen hundred years ago.
Lorne, Corvul, and Zeranidul all stood a few feet from the obstacle blocking their path. Close to them were Thelais and Sielan. Vuurbin stood aloof from the group while Tulinda ran her hands along one of the larger boulders obstructing the way. The geomancer for a moment took in the enormity of what lay in front of her, a key piece in Tormos history, something which she had never laid eyes on. This was the first of the collapsed tunnels across the Dallion Forest. Here was where Gunvold's successful strategy of imprisoning the undead hordes began. Beyond this wall lay a maze of unknown depth and length that had never been fully explored or charted. Supposedly, when the undead menace first came to be known, some legions of troops were led into the cavernous depths. When the true size of the tunnels began to take root, Gunvold quickly realized that actively going on the offense and trying to eradicate the undead threat was a futile effort. Gunvold could spend a hundred lifetimes and still never kill off every undead, so deep and unknown were these caverns.
Lorne had come to the opposite conclusion in Aunia, and the result had been almost two thousand years of warfare and meaningless Phlebos dead. Gunvold, for everything he was not, and despite everything he had become, had a brilliant military mind. Tulinda shook her head to clear her thoughts. She tried to focus on the rocks before her, now was not the time to think of Gunvold. She would deal with that problem when she returned from this mission with the Heaven's Light.
"I believe this is the part where you do something," said Corvul in an annoyed tone.
Tulinda, from the shadows of her robe, cast the officer a nasty look even though she knew he couldn't see well in the darkness of the tunnel. She saw Thelais lean close to Corvul though and mouth: "Shut up you idiot."
The master of the geomancer guild closed her eyes and focused on feeling everything around her. Every inch of rock and every individual pebble was known to her. She felt safe and warm here. She imagined this was what it would be like for a baby in a mother's womb. Tulinda gently stepped back and moved both of her arms slowly in a downward arc. As her arms descended every rock and boulder in their path lost all consistency and melted into a pool of liquefied stone. When Tulinda opened her eyes, the liquid was gone having seeped into all the cracks and crevices of the cave mouth. The passage once blocked by boulders was now completely open.
Tulinda stepped out of the way and motioned with her hands towards the new opening. "The path is clear; may I welcome you to the cavernous depths." Her eyes fixated on Corvul, "I believe this is the part where you do something."
Corvul smirked at the geomancer as the group passed through, Vuurbin and Tulinda bringing up the rear. Once everyone was through the opening, Tulinda closed her eyes and raised her hands slowly. The liquefied stones began bubbling up through the cracks and, against the laws of physics, the melted boulders rose high into the air until they touched the ceiling. Once the tunnel was completely blocked the liquid rock re-solidified, this time forming a perfectly smooth wall in contrast the piles of rocks and boulders that barred the way before.
When the barrier finished closing the Phlebos were cast into a sea of darkness. Lorne wondered if this was what Nua experienced when she was all by herself in the time before time. Suddenly a small sphere of light popped into existence from Thelais' outstretched hand. The sphere slowly lifted off her palm and hovered in the air casting a gentle white glow on their surrounding area.
"What are you doing?" Zeranidul scoffed at the pyromancer. "With that light you'll attract any undead that see it!"
"We can't see in pitch dark, not like you brutes who are used to living in filthy holes in the ground!" Corvul responded in indignation.
"Enough," stated Tulinda, the bickering ceasing at her forceful command.
"We will be fine with my spell," said Thelais into the silence. "We have studied the undead more than you Tormos have, we know they do not perceive their surroundings by sight. None of them have eyes anymore with which to see."
"How do you they know what's going on around them then?" Gowinda proposed the question in honest curiosity.
"We don't know," spoke Lorne, "but we've done numerous tests and they definitely do not possess sight as we know it. We believe they may be able to sense heat; however, w
e've never been able to confirm it."
"Don't worry about my spell either. It gives off no heat, only light, so even if the human corpses do perceive warmth, they won't see my spell. We do need to potentially worry about them seeing our body heat though as down in this cold darkness we'll stand out like the White Watcher on a clear Nua evening," stated Thelais.
"That's good enough for me then," responded Tulinda affirmatively. "Let us begin, everyone make sure to be aware your surroundings. I know at the moment we're all crammed together in this tight claustrophobic tunnel, but the area will open soon. If anyone hears or sees anything suspicious alert everyone else. At this point Zeranidul's expertise has come to an end. Since this is uncharted territory, Lorne and Corvul, would you two like the honor of taking point?"
"It would be our pleasure," Lorne said while straightening his back and puffing out his chest.
As Lorne and Corvul moved ahead of the group Gowinda reached out and grabbed Lorne's arm. The Phlebos turned to look at the short and brawny Tormos who had an inquisitive look on his face. "How did you find out so much about the undead? How do you know they don't see like we do?"
Lorne scowled and shook loose the Tormos' grip. "You don't want to know," coldly stated the high commander as he and Corvul brushed past the champion and headed further down into the darkness.
* * *
To say that time had no meaning in the cavernous depths would be an understatement in Sielan's opinion. For untold hours they marched in total silence. Very rarely were any words spoken except in a few circumstances where someone believed they saw or heard something in the darkness. Upon investigation it always ended up being a rat or simply their imagination. No undead or even traces of the undead were discovered at all. At first Sielan was giddy with excitement at being able to explore new and uncharted territory, as if there was one thing Sielan loved, it was being a trail blazer. The excitement soon began to wane though as the monotony of the journey began to wear on her. Nothing of interest was to be found in the cavernous depths, just endless stretches of duplicative dull tunnels that even she found hard to keep track of or remember. So deep had they gone that Sielan doubted she would be able to find her way out alone even when using the notes she had been taking.
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