Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 37
He awoke to the old man speaking, as if he were far away. It was not at once clear what was being said, but as he listened, Sekali began to come to his senses and understood the words being spoken. He heard Finyat asking questions and also the dwarf, yet Uther seemed to listen more intently, not asking so many questions.
The old man never spoke his name, nor gave an explanation as to who he was, but he did speak of the origin of the Dwarf species, both the Sha’Qual and the Kithrin. He spoke of the separation of the once single and great nation of the dwarves as if it were yet fresh in his mind, and he had been a part of it. He spoke of how they separated, one mining only just below the earth’s surface, the other delving deep down into the roots of the earth in great curiosity.
Sekali fell into a great sleep and dreamed the old man’s words as if he himself had witnessed the Dwarf rift of old. Then the dream concluded and there was only silence and darkness for him to observe.
Again Sekali awakened to the smell of fruits, vegetables, honey and fresh-cooked bread, making him voraciously hungry. Opening his eyes, he saw the three sitting in comfortable chairs eating from a few platters laden with food. Mahkaia’s image focused in his mind, once again germinating that profound sadness he’d tried for so long to lock away. She was everything to him. He knew one day he would follow after her.
Sekali stood and walked over to the others, to an empty chair. The old man politely stood and waved his hand, motioning him to sit.
“Please, eat. You are no doubt hungry, Sekali. You have rested long.”
Sekali looked at the food, deciding which delicacy to enjoy first. Usually he shared his mind and spirit with darkness for only a day or two, but that book had brought him to relive his last watch with Mahkaia, causing him to flee for much longer this time. He sighed sadly, a single tear rolling down his face as he hesitated, looking at his hands.
“Is there water to wash with, sir? I am not fit to touch this food or dine with you at this point.”
The old man nodded and pointed to a basin of water over by the fire. There was a towel folded neatly beside it. After he had cleaned his hands, he took up the bowl of water and the towel, leaving the area. He found a private place amidst some great shelves of books and scrolls and stripped down to wash himself. He then took the towel and did his best to clean his armor, shield and sword. He did not put his armor back on, but retrieved his pack and put on clean traveling clothes, combed out his long hair and braided it quickly. After placing everything neatly by where he had been sleeping, he silently returned and sat down. He felt refreshed and ravenously hungry.
Yet Sekali ate slowly. Of all the types of drinks he was offered by his unusual host, only water did he accept. Finyat accepted some fine wine to drink as Uther enjoyed kohakk, his favorite brew of his homeland people. The old man ate with them in silence for some time. It seemed strange to be eating and drinking with this stranger; time seemed to stand still.
At one point in this endless meal, the old man spoke without words, as his lips never moved but to chew the food eat ate. He told them of this city, The City of Knowledge, they now were in, how they had only been in only a part of the halls and had glimpsed only a small portion of the library before them. This city was once a thriving, living city of trade, industry and growth. All races of people were welcome here. Even when a question about the city would surface within the minds of the three, the old man delivered them a detailed, yet not lengthy discourse on that very subject. The tale went on to tell of a Sister City far away, that was equal to the splendor and might of these now-hallowed, silent, remains of a once-thriving civilization.
Finyat grimaced in confusion and bent all his thought on what was being said. Uther drank deeply from his mug and frowned. Sekali thought of the legend and wondered to himself. He thought of the inhabitants of each city; where could they have gone in all this time? Ages would pass and decay would eventually reduce each city to dust. He looked up at the old man, finding him staring at him intensely, eyes glittering like two small stars, as if a light had been set within his soul. At this point the old man stood and spoke to them as one man speaks to another.
“I am the Knowledge Master. I have read all books within this great library in my lifetime. I know the courses of mankind, the plots and schemes of many kingdoms. I know war and peace. You have been sent to me by the White Lady, for she has requested my aid in solving a great mystery from the age of this world: What has happened to the Sister City? I would investigate this myself, yet, alas, I cannot leave this place. I am compelled to stay and forever guard this library. It has been long since the last and final struggle. But you have come to me and may be of use in this matter, if you be willing.”
Finyat, Uther and Sekali looked at each other and nodded without hesitation. Uther cleared his throat and drew forth his axe. He glided his coarse thumb across the blade. Uther stated reluctantly, “We might be of some help.”
The Knowledge Master nodded, seeing the what’s-in-it-for-us look in Finyat’s eyes. He sighed and stood, swallowing the last bit of liquid in his cup. With a sigh and an unpleased look at his now empty cup, he simply walked away without a word.
The three looked at each other and sat there in silence. Finyat shrugged, as if to say, What did I do?
Within the myriad of shelves where the old man had disappeared, they heard him call to them. “Leave your weapons and armors here in this part of the library and follow me. I have gone ahead a few pages and read your histories past this point. Thus, I have prepared something for you all.”
All three glanced back at the tome on the table by the chair the Knowledge Master had been sitting in. So it was not merely a book of their past and present. The old man had read into their future. Finyat became curious to ask the old man if he could peek into the future pages of the book, but a quick answer came to him.
“Finyat, only I can see the future pages of one’s life, and that is something I have rarely done. It is a dangerous business to search the future.” The Knowledge Master sighed heavily and continued.
“Living your life without the knowledge of what will be will never kill hope, remember that. Hope is what carries us all to our end . . . whatever that may be.”
Finyat nodded regretfully.
They followed the sound of his voice.
Within a few minutes of following certain corridors of solid books, scroll-lined walls and such, they all came to a halt in front of a large door made of the most exquisite wood Uther had even beheld. It was of the purest white, like newly fallen snow. He placed a hand on it in curiosity, feeling the make of the wood, and admiring it as the old man stopped and watched him.
He seemed to understand curiosity; indeed that was the most prevalent characteristic of his makeup. He told Uther it was ivory wood, imported long ago by the people of this city. This type of wood held its strength for many an age if cured properly.
The Knowledge Master opened the door to reveal a chamber within, set with armor, weapons, shields, and items of a curious workmanship (rings, bracelets, earrings, amulets, and many other objects lost to the knowledge of present-day man). They were straightway forbidden to touch anything. Finyat twitched and stamped in impatience, causing the old man to laugh aloud at him. He seemed moved and so picked out for the Shallant a set of hardened and cured leather of remarkable workmanship, two short blades that were etched deeply with runes of enchantment, though the old man did not at this point tell him the nature of the blades. He also produced a cloak and one single ring for him to wear.
“Hold them, but do not yet put them on until I have enlightened you on their properties, my young acquaintance.”
He turned to Uther and picked out a set of plated armor, blackened in color, an axe of workmanship equal to the blades Finyat had just received, and a set of black skin like armor to fit under the plate armor. He also gave Uther a ring and a small blackened-steel shield to place upon his back. These he also instructed Uther to carry and not to adorn himself with as yet.
Sekali looked on a set of chain armor in wonder as the Knowledge Master picked out items for his comrades. Each individual link of the armor had a rune etched into its surface, different from every other on the entire set of mail. His attention was captivated as he studied it. Once again, it seemed to him that time stood still as he pored over every single link, examining each rune. He was amazed to find that some held the written letters of the Sardakk language, while others were of the human language. Some he knew to be Shallant. He supposed that all the symbols that constituted the languages of all the races were etched into this one set of exquisite art. Many runes on the chain mesh armor were faded, but not unreadable. Some runes (not the chain links themselves, for they were whole and strongly intact) were severed or deeply marred by battle, or by the powerful strikes of magical spells upon the whole. It seemed to him that a great weariness fell over him. But he was persistent in studying the entire armor before him. Ten links studied, turned to hundreds, becoming seemingly thousands. But he did not touch it, as he was forbidden – this he did not forget. Soon he was finished and he rose upon from his knees after studying the lowest part of the armor and turned to the old man and smiled wearily.
“Where did you get this? What does it do? What are all the symbols, runes, and curious markings? What is the history behind such a creation? Who wore this armor and when --”
The old man held up his hands. “Hold, hold, hold! Your enquiries are as a volley of arrows upon me. I am pleased you like it. I made that armor myself and only I have ever worn it. It is crafted by my own skills and I placed special care and a great many of my years of life finishing it. One who wears this armor can understand the languages of all man and many creatures of the earth. The wearer can, in like manner, speak with them, and be spoken to, in return. Now I hope you are satisfied at my answer. But this armor is not for you. Here.”
Sekali was handed a set of plated armor, blackened just as Uther’s. It was subtly crested with large symbols and runes softly etched into each piece; runes which could be seen only if one looked at each one directly. He was also given a scabbard which held a long sword. Sekali pulled it from its sheath and instantly knew it, for he had a similar one at one time. But his was shattered when death itself had broken it when he had defended Mahkaia. He was astonished at the steel of the blade though. His other blade had been crafted of Krakkin Steel, a metal hard and durable. This blade was crafted of a curious metal, dark-blue to the eye.
“What form of steel is this, master? Or is it steel at all?”
The old man smiled. “It is called Mystical Steel; the best formed metal known to common mankind. There is better steel, but it is nigh impossible to find, let alone find a master-of-masters blacksmith, and an equally powerful magician, to forge it. This blade is fairly resistant to enchantment and magic cast upon it – not upon the wielder, mind you remember that bit of information. I dare say, my lad, that if you had pierced your enemy with this blade it would not have broken.” The Knowledge Master looked directly at Sekali.
“I am deeply sorry for the loss of Mahkaia, Sekali. She was an asset to the entire nation of the Sardakk Elves. Her loss even reached my attention long ago. You do not know this, but I knew her well, so did many other people outside your wasteland home. It was a grievous blow to many, most of all to you.”
Sekali was stunned, yet suddenly his heart softened and he felt part of a great and terrible burdened shared – not lifted, but somehow shared, lighter, easier.
“Come now, Sekali, here, take this shield as well, it will match the armoring you will need for your journey. We have a bit more to discuss before you and your companions take your leave.”
Without question, Sekali followed the Knowledge Master back to the fire, carrying the items with which he had been gifted.