by Ronald Craft
Chapter 16
Kane's foot sunk into the snow once more. The muscles in his legs and back screamed with each step. The rope around his waist burned into his side.
Chaerok had been little more than dead weight these past two days. If he hadn't been pulling the man along, they'd both more than likely have been food for the denizens of the mountain by now.
The mountains loomed around them, seemingly intent on slowing their progress with an endless amount of snow and ice. Clouds blocked the light since they began their journey up the mountain, and showed no signs of breaking any time soon. Despite this, Kane found himself looking to the sky in the hopes of seeing even a glimmer of the sun.
He dropped his pack and sat down on an ice-covered boulder. Chaerok scrambled up onto a rock of his own and flopped onto his back. The air was thinner up here and both men had found breathing more difficult. He silently thanked himself for slowing down his consumption of ale over the past few years.
“Kane,” Chaerok fell into a coughing fit, “how much further?”
Kane pulled the map out from under his clothes and unrolled it. “Well, according to this,” he turned the map towards Chaerok and tapped a spot with his finger, “We should be just about there. The only problem is, I'm not exactly sure where the entrance is at.”
That wasn't the only issue Kane faced. Chaerok was the other problem. He grew tired of carrying the man around. About the only thing Chaerok was good for was keeping him alive.
Kane grumbled to himself. I'm glad my wife isn't around to see the situation I'd gotten myself into. She'd probably kill me. Again.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and took a swig of water from his flask. Most of the water was frozen, but he kept the flask close enough to his body for some of it to remain drinkable. A lot of people that traversed the mountains in the winter died due to lack of water and fire. He didn't intend on making that same mistake.
Chaerok shook his flask over his mouth, but nothing came out.
Kane sighed. “Here, drink some of mine.” Kane tossed his flask to Chaerok, which he accepted with a faint smile and a nod of his head.
The wind picked up and sent chills down his spine. Kane held the map with both hands and studied it.
Haring said the entrance was around here, but I'm not sure how I'm supposed to find it with all this snow. Everything looks the same.
He folded the map and shoved it back inside his coat. They'd just have to keep combing the mountain side until they found the entrance.
Kane threw his pack over his shoulder and grabbed his flask from Chaerok. He'd drain it dry if Kane let him.
“Kane, I think—”
“You think what?” Kane couldn't restrain the harshness in his voice.
Chaerok pointed past Kane. “I think we found them.”
“Huh?” Kane turned to see a number of masked, white clad figures behind them. Several had arrows trained on them, while the rest bore spears wrapped in a snow-white material.
Kane couldn't help but admire the quality of their outfits. The hue matched the snow almost perfectly. They could hide anywhere on the mountain in the winter and be practically invisible.
“What are you doing here?” a raspy voice called down to them.
Kane raised his hands above his head. “We seek a way to cross the mountains.”
The man that spoke walked closer to them and lowered his mask. His breath misted in the air. “How did you find out about this place?”
Chaerok spoke before Kane could silence him. “We were told the Oreios had a flying device and were given a map to get here. Please, let us—”
Kane elbowed Chaerok in the chest. Chaerok gasped for air and fell into a coughing fit.
“Speak the name of the one who gave you this map.” The man narrowed his eyes. “You had best choose your next words wisely.”
Kane took a deep breath. I hope the Captain was well favored by these people.
“Captain Haring of the Pineview guardsmen.”
The man studied him, his gaze sliding from Kane to Chaerok. His lips pressed together into a thin line and fat fingers remained wrapped firmly around his spear.
Finally, he signaled to his men and they lowered their weapons. “Captain Haring and his father are well known and respected amongst my people. It's because of their timber that we're able to live as well as we do. A friend of the Captain is a friend of the Oreios. Come with me.” He raised his mask and turned away from them.
Kane eyed Chaerok, who shrugged in response.
This is easier than I thought it'd be...
Kane followed the group to a small crack in the mountain side, with Chaerok puffing along behind him. The entrance was indiscernible from a distance, tucked safely behind a shadow of the rock cliff above it.
Kane I'd have never found it, even with the map. It'd have been nice if the good Captain had mentioned that the entrance was almost impossible to find.
The group walked single file through the caves, guards both in front and behind Kane and Chaerok.
I guess they don't trust us as much as I thought.
Kane had been trying to keep track of which way they'd come in case he needed to make a quick escape, but he found the effort futile. Everything twisted and turned so much that he wasn't sure which way lead to the surface anymore.
Chaerok seemed even more lost than him. He stumbled along behind Kane, and they had to stop several times while Chaerok picked himself up off the rocks.
Light from the surface had long ago faded and they traveled by the glow of some underground moss. The lower they went into the mountain, the warmer it became. The moss seemed to thrive in this environment. It emitted a green glow, which provided ample light for them to navigate the caverns.
Ahead of them, the cavern opened up and sounds reverberated back to them. The buzz of people's voices, tools clanging and the many other noises that all blended together in a busy city.
The leader stopped and turned to face them. “Welcome to Tor, the home of the Oreios.”
“Gonuro, are you sure about this?” one of the guards whispered. “They're outsiders.”
Kane answered for him. “Gonuro, is it? We really don't mean any harm. If there was another way through the mountains, we'd have gone elsewhere.”
Gonuro nodded. “If I had thought you were anything but truthful you wouldn't be here right now.” He turned to the guard who had spoken. “Neus, if you feel that my decision is wrong, you're welcome to challenge me. Friend or not, I will not hold back.”
Neus lowered his head. “You have my apologies, Gonuro.”
Kane and Chaerok followed Gonuro and his men across a wooden bridge suspended by ropes. The cave opened up into a huge cavern with smoothed walls, so vast that most of it was lost in shadow. Kane shed his coat and tossed it over his shoulder.
There were buildings of all shapes and sizes carved from the rocks themselves. A complicated network of bridges ran between and around them. Most of the light was provided by a huge mass of the moss at the top of the cavern. Kane stared at it in wonder.
“Chlôropoios.” Gonuro pointed at the moss. “This plant grows all over these caves, especially in warm places and provides us a light source and some of our food.”
“It truly is remarkable. I've never seen anything like it before.” Kane stopped at a nearby rock and touched some of the moss. His fingers glowed a pale green for a moment before it fading away.
He followed Gonuro past some kind of smithy. There were tools and instruments hanging from the wall that Kane was unable to identify. The familiar smell of charcoal and the sounds of hammer on steel brought back many fond memories.
Those days are gone. I'll never temper metal, or feel the heat of the forge on my face again. I am dead to this world.
They arrived at the largest building in the cavern, carved in the likeness of a temple. There were a number of columns on either side and the entrance was guarded by
a pair of stone serpents, coiled and ready to strike. Kane marveled at the amount of time and effort it must have taken to carve such a thing out of the mountain itself.
The entrance led into another cave that was circular in shape. An empty throne pulsed with a green light all its own. To either side of it stood two guards in outfits that matched the hue of the rocks around them.
Kane eyed the empty throne with interest.
Where was the leader of their people? What kind of man could lead a people that lived their lives entirely underground?
Chaerok bumped into Kane and mumbled an apology.
“Watch where you're going,” Kane grunted. His voice echoed around the chamber, and he felt his face redden as everyone eyed him.
Kane coughed. “Anyway, what are we doing here, Gonuro?”
Gonuro walked over to the throne and plopped down into the seat. “I wanted to formally welcome you to my city, Tor.” He grinned.
Chaerok stuttered, trying to mutter something unintelligible.
Kane gathered his wits from the shock, and found his voice. “What's the leader of a city doing romping around in the mountains?”
Gonuro shrugged. “My people are different than most. Here, it is my duty to personally lead my people to greatness. I have always found it odd that your people lead from the throne while others do the work for them.”
Kane nodded. “I can't fault your reasoning, there.”
Gonuro looked at the other men and dismissed them with a nod of his head. Only the three of them remained in the chamber. “I'm not a fan of formality, so let's get to the heart of the matter.”
He laid his pack on the ground and seated himself on it. “Aye, let's.”
“You mentioned that you wish to use our flying device.” Gonuro tapped his fingers on the arm rest.
Chaerok and Kane nodded almost in unison.
“So, what do you know about it?”
Chaerok shrugged.
“I know it can fly.” Kane scratched his head. He had a bad feeling about this.
Gonuro jumped out of his seat. “All right, come with me. It's easier if I just show you.” He moved towards the back of the room.
They struggled to match his pace. Gonuro stopped at a large wall and pulled a stone from around his neck. He placed it in a hole in the wall and the entire cavern began to shake. The solid wall in front of them split in two and revealed a large, circular chamber. In the center of it was a device like none Kane had ever seen before.
It shimmered an eerie pale silver in the dim light. There was a large basket with a round disc mounted above it. A large, flexible material attached to the basket by ropes flapped around the chamber.
Chaerok was the first to speak. “This thing can fly? How is that even possible?”
“This is... what is it?” Kane walked into the chamber and looked up. Several rays of light peeking in through a hole in the top of the cavern. It was far too high for them to climb out.
Gonuro stuck his hand out and pointed at the device. “We call it the Nephelizô. It's a device my ancestors created that allows us to travel the mountains with relative ease thanks to the technology of your people.” He walked over to the Nephelizô, and from a bag inside of it, palmed something. Gonuro climbed onto the device and dumped the contents of his hand into the round disc with a loud rattle. He jumped down and turned a valve along the side of the Nephelizô. There was a loud boom and heat radiated from the center of the device and throughout the chamber.
Kane's eyes widened. The material around the basket rose and expanded into the shape of the paper balloons that children played with during the summer festivals. The basket lifted off the ground and pulled the ropes holding it down taut.
“This'll get you across the mountains.”
Kane blinked and returned his attention to Gonuro. “Is this thing safe to fly in?”
Gonuro patted the basket. “Flown in it many times, myself. These are expensive to make, so we take good care of it.”
It was Chaerok that popped the question. “So, what's the catch?”
Gonuro eyed Chaerok. “I'm glad you asked. I can't just give you such a device without receiving something in return.”
“And what might that be?” Kane asked.
Gonuro smirked. “I'm going to need one of you to stay behind and work off the debt.”
Kane groaned.
I knew this was a bad idea.