Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 35
As the three solemnly advanced into the unknown portion of the city's bowels, Finyat spoke in hushed and terrified whispers.
"Let us leave this accursed place. There are others to see and hear and feel. Let us depart Sekali. Uther, help me persuade him, or come with me."
Uther ignored Finyat and stalked forward, also bent on battle. As Finyat glanced quickly at Sekali, he was met with a cold, black scrutiny that plainly stated, “Coward.”
Sekali hissed loudly, not caring who or what now heard him. "The wealth of dragons . . . riches untold. Is this not what your heart desires? Go back alone, coward Shallant."
Finyat blanched, shaking his head, and said no more. Uther grunted and raised a thick arm, as if he had seen something in the tunnel ahead of them.
“I see shadows moving. Maybe nothing more than recent memories playing games with me.” Uther shuddered at the recollection.
Sekali peered forward and shook his head. “I see nothing, Dwarf. You battle with yourself.” Uther gave Sekali a dark glance, as if warning him not to push. Finyat lagged a little, keeping his distance just in case the two went to blows.
As they noisily marched forth, Finyat cringed. “You make a beacon for all enemies to see us. Be quieter!”
At the same time, Sekali and Uther said one word in unison: “Good!” And they did not whisper.
Throwing his hands in the air, Finyat let out an exasperated sigh of frustration.
After rounding to the left two times, and descending three flights of crumbling stairs, Sekali hissed out a warning and pointed.
Ahead of them, in the shadow-light of their torches stood a knee-high little half-man with strangely darkened skin. At the first sign of the creature being noticed, it laughed and sped toward the three with such speed that they could not gain an angle to strike. It passed through them, mocking their clumsiness.
“Fools, and fools of fools! My master bids you come and join him for dinner. What say you?”
Finyat launched himself at the little creature, tasting the stone and dust of the floor as the creature sidestepped, unconcerned. It had the appearance of a small elf. Now that it was under their torchlight, they saw that it had forest-green skin. Its sharply slanted eyes were bright and cheerful as it mocked them.
“What say you? Do you dine with my master, or not?”
Sekali turned and stood motionless, observing this creature which carried no weapon. He thought of the Herald being within this place, and thought it inconsistent that Mabuhi should have fallen here. This place, he decided, was the work of Ryagg, the Jahtha of Chaos, and he hated it.
Uther snarled and attacked. But try as he would, he could not strike the creature, so sure was its balance and footing. Finyat helped, but soon both were leaning on the walls catching their breath. The creature looked at the both of them and snickered.
“Out of shape, eh? Well, this will have done you some good then. Too much drink I wager. And from the smell of you both, kohakk.”
Uther snorted, and even smiled briefly, but did not speak. He was too involved in the catching of his breath. Finyat narrowed his eyes at the thing before him and spat.
Sekali smirked, and would have been amused had it not been for the death of Mabuhi. The little green man turned upon him. Within a heartbeat, the creature leapt, perching atop his shoulder grinning.
“Elf, think something is amusing?”
Sekali tensed, nodded, and snatched for . . . thin air. It was far too fast to be caught by hand. If they had nets . . .
“It would do you no good, black-skin. You would tangle yourselves up, and I would have to rescue you. And to what thanks?” It made a sad face.
Sekali’s eyes widened in amazement. It had read his thoughts. The little, green, pointy-eared creature smirked and waved his hand into the darkness.
“Come. My master awaits you. He wishes to have you for dinner,” he snickered mischievously.
Sekali sheathed his blade, not trusting the creature, especially his choice of words, but seeing no other way of getting to the bottom of this encounter. “Gladly. Lead the way.”
He heard the curses from his companions behind him, and ignored their warnings as he proceeded down the ancient tunnel. After a few moments, his two companions caught up, falling grudgingly to either side of him. The creature smiled gleefully and led the way, speaking all the while of things that meant nothing.
The creature led them through a maze of twists and turns, down stairs and through tunnels. Sekali and his companions became hopelessly lost as they continued on. Finyat had a look on his face that plainly stated, I sense a trap.
In time they turned down a passageway that dead-ended with a large, sturdy-looking door before them. Finyat was the first to notice their guide was missing. Uther was the first to notice a large reptilian humanoid blocking their way back out. Sekali was the first to attack.
The battle lasted but a few short, vicious, seconds. Finyat was wounded, slashed across the face by wicked talons. Uther was unharmed, as was Sekali. The dwarf had gone berserk, as he did the time when Goblins fell upon them.
The lizardlike humanoid lay under the point of Sekali’s blade, held firmly into its throat and pinned to the filthy floor of the tunnel. Uther stepped up beside it and raised his axe with a growl. But Sekali stopped Uther from beheading the creature just then.
“Uther, wait, don’t kill it.”
He did not know why he stopped Uther, but he did, sparing its life. Uther snarled at Sekali and stomped over to Finyat who was taking his cloak and pressing it into the side of his face where his skin was torn.
As Uther tended to Finyat, Sekali tended to the monster, bandaging its wounds and placing healing salves upon its hurts. He could not explain why he helped an enemy so, and did not attempt to justify his actions. He finished the wrappings, testing them, making sure they were properly dressed.
At that instant, the little green creature showed up, fear overwhelming it.
“How have you bested my master when none other has? Please, I shall show you to his treasure hoard, if you will please forgive my behavior.” With a modest smile, it waited for a response.
Finyat was the first to accept its offer. “I thank you for your diplomacy, good sir. And I accept your offer kindly. Lead on.” Uther grunted and tested the edge of his axe with his thumb, glaring at the little green man, and then at Sekali. Sekali stood and cleaned his blade upon the reptile’s cloak. Then he turned to the creature and glared at it.
“You tricked this creature, and now you attempt to trick us. How many lives do you play with, wicked thing? You should die!”
The creature shrugged. “You have played my little game, and have won. I will take you to your reward, if you will but let me. This door holds the wealth of that thing you defeated. If you wish it, you may have it. If not, there will be others.”
“Like the Druid? Curse you to death and darkness, she was pure and innocent! For her fall, I will find a way to bring these walls down upon your head. This will be your tomb. I have spoken, fiend.” Sekali’s words flowed like venom from his lips. His passion for the death of this creature wracked him with pain and anger. It was obvious that he held Mabuhi in high regard. Indeed, over the short time he had escorted her, they had become friends.
The little creature suddenly grew serious, biting its lip. “Sardakk, do you really think you can?”
Sekali froze, glaring at the creature. “I make a blood-oath now: I will succeed, or I will die.” The little creature lowered its head and mumbled something. Then, just as quickly, perked up and slapped its hands together.
“Nevertheless, you all have earned the reward within.”
With that it pulled out a key and unlocked the door. As it noisily swung inward, Finyat whistled in delightful surprise. Within lay much gold scattered all over the floor of a large chamber, gleaming in the torchlight. Armors, shields, and weapons were also scattered throughout the thick bed of wealth. With a dejected look, the little creature entered.
“It took so long to collect it all. But, you have bested me, and that is my game. It is your honorable right.”
Finyat entered and began exploring through it all. Sekali did not move and refused to enter the room; he did not wish it. Uther shot Sekali a sarcastic smile and entered, mumbling to himself that this was earned by fair combat . . . why not take it. Sekali leaned against the doorframe shaking in rage.
“And you both care not for that woman lying dead back there? In greed, you will carry the heaviness of these riches out, and yet not her precious body to be buried within her forest in honor? Take your wealth, glut yourselves upon it. I will bear the Elf Maiden to her lonely grave myself.” With that, Sekali took one handful of precious gold and flung it at the two, who flinched at his words.
He left the doorway and began the search for Mabuhi. He did not care how long it would take to find her. He would search forever. As he began to search his way out, to his surprise, Finyat and Uther fell into step beside him, shamefaced.
Uther spoke for them both. “Let us find your Maiden, Sekali of the Wastelands. We will bury her in honor within her forest. Then we will come back.”
Finyat nodded, his eyes brightening. Sekali placed a hand on Finyat’s shoulder, and then his other on Uther’s, nodding.
“She is precious. I wish I had not left her. I am to blame.”
Suddenly, the green creature was before them. But this time its face held no signs of mockery. The three stopped, witnessing, to their astonishment, the creature beginning to shift and change. Light first blazed from its eyes as it grew. Its skin became white as snow, and wings stretched out from behind it. It lifted from off the ground as it took the shape of the white lady they had seen earlier. As the transformation completed, she drew forth her blade.
“I hope we may call a truce, Sekali? I know the Sardakk oath of honor, and it is broken only by its completion, or by thy death.”
Sekali slammed his blade back into his sheath and knelt before her, shielding his eyes from her searing brilliance. He forced words through clenched teeth, his voice quivering with controlled anger.
“My lady, please forgive me. It is only the Elfin Maiden I would champion. Her death is a grievous blow to me.”
Finyat and Uther only stared on, enchanted by the power of The Lady as fear gripped them, rendering them unmoving. The Lady nodded and put up her sword.
“Fear not, for she is not dead, but safely sleeps, even now, within her forest abode.
“The reptilian thou didst heal was the Test of Mercy. The treasure thou didst forsake was the Test of Greed. The Leprechaun, thy Test of Forbearance. I have tested thee and thy companions for a wise purpose which shall hereafter be made known unto thee. `Twas requisite to discern the purity of thy hearts. Sekali, I find thee a most fascinating creature. I judge thee, and I find thy heart pure, though thou art ignorant of many things. Finyat, control thy lust for wealth and power, for this may someday be thy ruin. Uther, thou dost lack proper judgement, a quality sought by many kings. Find that in thyself, and thou shalt be great, like the Dwarfish heroes of old. Find it not, and thou shalt ever find thyself at the beginning -- on and on shall be thy days, unchanging.” These were her last words before she faded into the brilliance of her own light. Then, slowly, the brilliance receded into itself and vanished.
Sekali immediately leapt to his feet and darted up the passage, disappearing into the darkness ahead, frantically turning down corridors and sprinting up ancient staircases. His mind reeled in desperate hope at her words. She said that Mabuhi lived; she was sleeping safely in her forest abode. He found the heavy gloom lifting from his mind. She lived!
Slipping on some debris, Sekali lost his footing and crashed to the floor, sliding up hard against a stone wall hard. No sooner than he stopped, he leapt to his feet and rushed onward. Far back he heard the dwarf bellow after him, but ignored him as he leapt across a gap that was suddenly before him. He knew this was the wrong way, but continued as fast as he could compel his body to move.
The corridors, alcoves, stairways and tunnels seemed endless. As he ran, weighted in his plated armor, Sekali’s eyes began to see only what lay before him, his thoughts only upon exiting this vast maze. He did not wonder how he would find the tunnel where this had begun. He only thought of when. On he spurred himself, faster and faster, daring the tortuous ruins in his search.
After an eternity of running, he found what he sought; a familiar passageway. This was it. Now he would know for sure if she had spoken truthfully. He slowed to a walk, panting heavily, heart beating nearly out of his chest. He wiped sweat and dirt from his face as he neared the spot where Mabuhi had been. Her body was absent. In her place was a scroll, wrapped with a royal-blue ribbon. For a while he just stared at it, catching his breath. Again he wiped sweat from his face and picked up the scroll. As he pulled the ribbon from it and unrolled it, he blanched. At that moment, four words upon the scroll taught him a great lesson; a lesson he would never forget. In flowing, golden script, he read the words: Never doubt a Herald. Ashamed, he reverently rolled the parchment and tied the ribbon around it. Gently he placed the scroll in a sidepouch all in wonder.
With an awe-like conviction, he whispered, “I will never doubt you again, fair Lady – I swear it.”
Sekali heard the two coming long before he spotted them. Uther was guiding the Shallant as their torches had long since burned out. Sekali stopped and spent just enough time to retrieve a torch from his pack and light it. When they saw the light of the torch Sekali ignited for them, they both hurried to where he stood. Finyat looked soberly up at Sekali.
“What say you? Let us leave this place. I yearn for the sun on my face.” Uther looked at him and frowned, but nodded in agreement.
“There will be treasure enough elsewhere. We should depart.” Sekali studied the two intently. There was a change in them; there was a change in him. He had come into the Living World to learn and to increase his knowledge. This was something he had not expected. Mabuhi was something that had been unlooked for. He wished he could spend some time learning from her, the ways of his Aldarian cousins. She had allowed the seed of friendship to grow, and ever would he do anything to secure that friendship.
“Yes. We should be away from this sacred place. I feel not worthy to stand upon these grounds. Come, let us . . .”
”Come with me.”
The softness of her voice penetrated their hearts once again. But the weight of her words did not bind their limbs so that they could not move. The suddenness of her appearance caused the three to whirl about in shocked astonishment. Without another word, the Lady turned and glided through many passageways and tunnels, up many flights of stairs, she knew this place well. They followed her, mesmerized by her radiant gracefulness. She guided them through alcoves scribed with strange runes and glyphs. As they passed beneath these, the three felt power touch and probe them.
Eventually, she departed from them, leaving them standing at the beginning of a Labyrinth Library, shelves filled with a thousand times a thousand books. It took them long as they followed this great vault of knowledge to its center. As they passed among the great shelves of manuscripts, scrolls, leather-backed and strangely bound books, they felt as if the sun had passed over them many times. It was to their astonishment that these tomes and scrolls and writs had no sign of aging, nor did the dilapidating hand of atrophy seem to have sway upon them. Even the very dust of the earth seemed to flee this massive and endless library of tomes.
As they traveled, they fell into a trance, not knowing how long walked. They did not sleep, for sleep did not set upon them either. At long last they entered into a wide-open space in which at one side they noticed a great hearth where a warm fire crackled and danced gracefully.
Before the fire, in a long-backed seat rested an elderly man with a book across his lap. Sekali was the first to venture to the left side of where the man sat, for he did not acknowledge them.