Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 87
With the wind abated, the snow fell calmly, thick and deep, as they followed the trail the Triclops had created for them. When they came at last to the base of the mountain, they headed northward and traveled down, down into a great valley full of mists and fog. As they descended, the snow slowly turned to rain. Now it was wet, and oftentimes their feet sank into mud, up to their ankles, slowing their trek northward. By nightfall, the temperature dropped, freezing the ground so they could walk on, though, at times they would break through the frozen crust. But as the night wore on, this ceased altogether as the temperature became extremely cold.
Wolves howled in the night afar off, as the clouds above retreated to hover over the mountains in the distance. As the stars appeared, the temperature dropped drastically, forcing them to find a suitable place to camp and pitch a large tent that Aria retrieved from her backpack.
Finyat was in awe as she pulled it from her pack. He gladly helped her set it up, as it gave him time with her, while Sekali and Uther wandered the immediate area in search of firewood. Once the tent was laid out, they found they could not drive stakes into the frozen ground. There was no wind, so rigging the tent between a cluster of trees was possible. As they prepared camp, wolves howled all about them, closer than before, and they sounded strange, with deeper voices that carried fear upon the frigid night air.
The howling was closer, yet Aria seemed unconcerned about the inhuman cries out in the night all about them. Finyat pretended not to take notice as he unrolled his bedroll within the tent, but Uther stalked this way and that, gathering wood among the trees grumbling about unwanted company. Sekali helped him gather even more wood than they would need for two days and built up a good supply, all the while listening to the sounds of what he thought to be giant wolves on the hunt, communicating with each other as he knew their kind did.
As they all did what they could to prepare and secure the campsite, the howls closed in about them. Finyat flinched as a single howl broke a long silence very near to the rear of the tent. Aria’s gentle hand rested on his shoulder. He looked up at her nervously, meeting her gentle gaze.
“Aria, are they hunting us?”
She nodded and smiled warmly at him, “Yes. Do not worry, Finyat, these wolves are not the common sort you may be used to.”
Finyat made a curious face and raised a finger as she smirked and turned away from him, not giving him the attention he always sought from her. She secured the last rope that held the tent in position.
“Well, what does that mean?” He inquired nervously.
He glanced over at Uther, as if seeing him would ease his tension. She watched him intently as he looked at Uther and then frowned, a worried expression playing on her face. She sighed heavily and took a deep breath.
“Uther, Sekali, Finyat, come to me now!”
After all had gathered about her, she stepped into the tent and turned to the three as a howl invaded the area close by. Finyat looked at the back of the tent as if it would suddenly split open and something terrible would attack.
“We are being tracked . . . hunted.” She held up her hands, silencing Uther’s comment even before he verbalized it.
He snapped his mouth closed tightly and narrowed his eyes at Aria. She knew him well enough by now to know he would become offensive the instant the Norst`Kin arrived, for that is what hunted them . . . and they were very close now.
“Uther, hold your comments; I need to tell you all that they who are upon us are only guarding their own lands. They are known as The Pack.”
She looked directly at Sekali. “In your homeland, The Watch.”
Sekali nodded, fully understanding.
Aria looked at Uther. “In your land, The Guard.”
Uther raised his head at her words, but did not take his hand from the handle of his axe. She frowned at him severely. “Uther, do you conspire to fail this mission?”
Instantly he retorted, contempt dripping in his voice. “Are you accusing me . . .”
But Aria cut him off sharply. ”Uther, it would be best if you did nothing. You should go to bed. Maybe the cold has slowed your senses!” Her voice arose to a shout as she finished.
Uther’s face turned red and he set his jaw firmly, but said nothing. They glared stonily at each other for a long while, making the frigid air about Sekali seem warm and inviting. Finally, Uther gave in and lowered his hand from his axe.
“If you have led us into a trap, Aria, I will cut you first.” He opened the tent flap and stalked out into the night.
Aria glared after Uther for a time, and then looked at Finyat and sighed heavily. “Finyat, do you understand the nature of our next encounter?”
He shook his head in silence and relieved himself of all his weapons, putting them carefully within his bedroll and covering them up.
“No, Aria, but I trust you.” He stood up and approached her. He seemed to respect her highly, and it was obvious he liked her.
“I will trust you on this, Aria. I have every reason to have faith in you. I will talk with him.” Without waiting for a reply he slipped out of the tent.
She looked up at Sekali and spoke loudly. “I’m glad Finyat is with us, but Uther needs to curb his stubbornness . . . his temperament. It will be his demise.”
Sekali unbuckled his sword belt and threw it upon his bedroll. He then ridded himself of a dagger and his bow and quiver of arrows. Then he turned to Aria.
“What now?”
She looked to the tent flap. “Would you build a fire, We’re cold and hungry.” He bowed shortly to Aria, and she bowed shortly in return. He went out into the freezing cold. Uther was already preparing tinder to start the fire, mumbling something about ice. Sekali walked over and knelt by the unlit fire as the cold began to penetrate him slowly. He watched Uther strike his axe blade down upon a hand-sized flint rock. The tinder caught the sparks and held their glow as Uther blew slowly upon the sparks. Within seconds the sparks flared up, and wisps of smoke trailed up into the frigid and still air. A flame ignited within the tinder and quickly spread into the fine kindling. Within a short time, a large fire was burning, giving its warmth to the area.
Uther stood by the fire staring into it as Aria came out of the tent shivering. A howl broke the silence, mingled with the crackling wood of the fire as she stepped up close to it, wrapping her arms about herself and looking out into the darkness. Uther did not look at her, but into the flames, lost in thought. Either that, or he was ignoring her; Sekali was not sure.
As they stood warming themselves, Aria began to sing in a language Sekali and his companions could not understand.
She came upon the land apace, Swift predator on prey
Her icy claw, her shadow cast, Nature’s deadly day
Man and Norst`Kin once at war, Now allied with wit and maw
Relying on each other more, Than axe against the claw
But even working side by side, They starved within this strife
Thus drawing lots, who should abide, Or leave and give their life?
In company both Man and Beast, Mastered mood and storm
Secure within for now at least, Safe and well and warm
Time passed on, new cycled life, Hist’ry fading dim
Knowledge severed by time's knife, Truth faded, tales to whim
Man and Beast were free to choose, A path they wished to follow
Without thinking, win or lose, Wisdom becomes hollow
And er the feuds came on at first, Fraying once strong bond
Quickly turning, bloody thirst, Alliance shattered, gone
But Man, more cunning, won the fight, fleeing once-safe light
Into darkness, curse man's might, and safe be frigid night
Weakened, frozen, perished in time, `neath moon upon the land
Howling curses at splend’rous shine, Plot vengeance on all Man.
Ages spent, she stayed her touch, `midst jungle once rich green
Leaving life stilled by her touch, The strong came forth more lean.
To this day Man yet does teach, In arrogance contends
Fierce Norst`Kin stay out of reach, Man biased to the end
When she finished, she turned away from the fire and walked toward the thickest part of the tree line and drew her blade, handle upwards within her grasp. She knelt and placed the blade ever so gently upon the frozen earth, the cutting edge toward her, the hilt closest to the woods beyond. Then came a voice, gentle yet stern, from the trees directly before her.
“It has been years since I have taught you our song. What brings you from your homeland? Do you pursue the Veleighen into our lands?” Aria nodded and smiled, her eyes twinkling like a child’s. “If they be here, would you have allowed me such an honor?” She placed the backside of her right hand upon the ground in front of her, elbow raised, lowering her head slowly.
“No, who are they who travel with you?”
Sekali was baffled. Though the dark of night had no power to hinder his vision, he could not see within the trees Aria faced. A chill cascaded down his neck, and he knew there were more surrounded them at all points, but he could not see into any of the trees about the camp.
Aria turned, holding a hand toward each of them in turn and introduced them.
“Sekali, Sardakk Elf, from the Wastelands; Finyat of the Shallants; and Uther of the Kithrin dwarf nation. All hail from their homeland, the Zurkel Mainland.
“And what is the purpose?”
She shivered. “Grisham, I am starting to get very cold. I swear an oath to you upon the forfeit of my life, they are confederate.”
A deep and sinister chuckle rumbled from the trees. “You would let me take your life?”
She snickered through chattering teeth, mischievously, and made a wry face.
“Yes.” She held up her arms as a figure dashed forth, bursting through the tangle of trees at an incredible speed. Aria was lifted off the ground in the embrace of a creature that had the appearance of a massive timber wolf that walked as a man, its long, thick tail trailing out behind it like a serpent’s. It held Aria tightly as she suddenly laughed, taking her fingers and clawing his long, lynx like ears vigorously as he nuzzled her closely with the side of his large head.
Sekali noticed the knife like talons adorning its long toes. Its coat was a soft brown, lightening at the ends of an almost snow white. He stood easily twice her height. The most unnerving feature was his face, wolf like with a long snout lined with razor-sharp, hand-length fangs. Ice-blue eyes seemed as though they held the heart of a glacier within.
Spinning her around, the creature chuckled and squeezed the breath out of her until she kissed it just under its eye and nuzzled him affectionately.
Then she went limp and whispered playfully. “You squeezed me to death, Grisham.”
Grisham gently let her go and chuckled, deep and sinister. “I’ve missed you. When reports of your scent were discovered, I came quickly.”
Grisham knelt and reached for her blade, but she didn’t allow the opportunity of him getting hold of it before she launched herself into its chest, driving hard into the creature; it tried to spin out of her move, but her technique was perfectly executed. The beast was slammed upon its back, Aria held it down, a hand upon its chest, growling at the lycanthrope viciously, and then warmly whispered, “I missed you, Grisham.”
Grisham seemed taken off guard for a moment and stared at her intensely, his eyes narrowing to two slanted openings. It bared its teeth slightly back at her as her three companions looked on.
Finyat managed a whisper. “She’s dead.”
But then, the lycanthrope ran his talons through her long hair and sat up as she vigorously began scratching under its chin as hard as she could. With a deep chuckle, Grisham slowly regained his feet as she kneaded his chest. Once up, Grisham offered a forepaw to Aria, which she took. Stooping, Grisham picked up her blade and handed it to her, hilt first, point directly inward to his own mid-section. She accepted it as she narrowed her eyes and grinned evilly. Letting go the blade, Grisham closed his eyes as she sheathed her katana, slightly bending toward her and inhaling long through his nostrils, taking in her scent. Once she had put up her blade, Aria nuzzled into him and did the same, inhaling long. She broke the silence that lingered as Sekali, Finyat and Uther watched unmoving.
“I knew you would find us; well, I hoped you would. Did you know a Triclops hunts in your forest? It hails from a mountain cave.”
Grisham sighed, coming to as if awakened from a daydream. “Yes, we let it.”
She bit her lip and closed one eye, narrowing the other at Grisham. “Why?”
Grisham pointed toward the mountains, and with a deep growl replied. “Its presence in the mountain keeps the Veleighen and other unwanteds out of our lands. We have decided to let it be.”
Grisham looked over at Sekali and his companions who were watching them intensely. “Welcome to Norst`Kin Valley,” Grisham darkly whispered. Turning from Aria, he stalked over to the fire on all fours and sat down close to it, enjoying its warmth. He closed his eyes and silently basked in the heat of the flames for a time.
After a while, Grisham sighed, still keeping his eyes shut. “What brings you so far from your packs?”
Aria appeared next to Grisham and nuzzled up under a right shoulder and into his furry side. Grisham pulled her close as she nestled in warmly and sighed without a sound.
Sekali pulled the amulet from under his armor. Looking over at Finyat and Uther, he motioned them to do the same. As all three amulets were revealed, glinting in the dancing flames of the fire, Sekali explained.
“These three amulets are a key to the raising up of the Sister City on the northern sea coastline of this continent. We have come to fight for its rebirth.”
Grisham growled, opening large slanted eyes, narrowly looking upon Sekali. “That land is not due north; it is north and a little east, Sekali of the Wastelands. And if you think you can do this deed, you are more powerful than you smell.” Grisham sniffed.
“It will take a great cunning to get you into that accursed city, and you have chosen well in Aria. I see her robes bear the symbols of your names, and so you may succeed. But know this, there is a Veleighen Warship that has long since left the ports of Valurin. It’s heavily laden with supplies and their accursed Veleighen steeds.” The hackles on Grisham’s neck rose as he looked down to meet a concerned look from Aria.
“Aria, there is one ship that sails out of that port every season to search the land for the cave’s entrance leading into the heart of the sea where lies the Sister City. They search in the wrong areas . . . as of yet, but they are close, very close. They will find it.”
Aria pulled herself free of Grisham and stood, looking at Sekali, then at Finyat, and then long and hard at Uther. She turned to Grisham and leaned against him.
“What is to be done, Grisham, what is the best way . . . the safest?”
Grisham shook and stretched, a few joints cracking in his thick neck as he raised his head to the star-filled sky above.
Sekali was thankful for Aria’s presence. He guessed that the journey would have ended here had she not been their guide.
Grisham whispered in a low rumble, “Are you asking me to help you?”
Aria brightened, gripping the thick fur of his long and muscular arm, shaking her head. “No. I’d never ask anything of you.”
“Liar!” Grisham roared.
Letting go Grisham, Aria’s eyes twinkled as she made two fists and raised them to the stars above. “I dared not hope for any aid. It would be a great honor to run with you again . . . welcome to the pack, my friend!”
Grisham sneezed and lowered to the ground, grooming its talons noisily as it watched Uther intently. Once satisfied that his talons were sufficiently clean, he raised his massive head, ears pricking forward toward the dwarf and sniffed. “Uther, are you ready for a real fight?”
Uther ripped his axe from its resting place and raised it high with both hands. “Yes!” He snarled as Grisham snorted with darkened pleasure.
“Well met then, Uther of Tremor Keep.”
Uther was stunned at Grisham’s statement. “How did you know - ”
“I know your homeland well, Uther. I have been there, though your people did not smell me out, ha!”
Grisham’s baritone laughter, and the gleam in his eyes, gave Sekali chills.
Grisham left quickly to the camp’s edge, raised one paw halfway, inhaling deeply. Raising his head to the heavens, an unnerving howl shattered the silence of the night. The sight of Grisham’s breath hanging like a heavy mist in the air startled Finyat openly. Other howls nearby answered one after the other as Grisham communicated with his pack for a time.
At Aria’s instructions, Sekali and Finyat retrieved their weapons, and all three of them hid their amulets once more beneath their armoring.
As they cooked their dinner, a full moon crested the horizon, joining with a multitude of stars that added their light to the moons brilliance. Grisham pricked up long ears at the rising moon and cocked a head slightly, watching it intensely. Aria nuzzled into Grisham’s side to keep warm as Uther stoked the fire high, watching Grisham intently as he held the moon in his stern gaze until it reached its zenith. Aria watched it in silence within the shelter of its arms seemingly content.
Aria informed Finyat and Uther that within her pack she had stowed away some kohakk, but not to drink too much, for they had an early start in the morning. Without hesitation, the two launched a drinking contest, not heeding Aria’s instructions. She was not surprised. Soon the night was filled with laughter as the two sang songs and laughed, enjoying each others companionship.
Sekali ate a meal of herbs and dried vegetables, which Aria fixed for them all, and then walked over to the edge of camp that faced the mountains they had just come from. The memory of Mahkaia flooded his thoughts as he sat on the ground just within the fire’s light. She was free; he, still a prisoner. Maybe he would find her at the end of his journey. Maybe she would come and take him away, and they could hunt together in the next world.
Tears of regret and longing spilled silently from his eyes throughout the night. Yet in all this, his resolve to finish this mission set hard as stone within him. If the Sister City fell into the hands of the Veleighen, his people would be besieged by yet another danger and threat.
He knelt upon the ground and watched the moon as it slowly descended beyond the mountains. The scene struck peace into his mind as he watched, recalling the song Aria had sung, though he could not remember all the words. Still, it gave him a feeling, drawing him away into the stars and the sky. Filled with resolve to bring safety to his people, to Mabuhi’s forest, and to Aria’s people, he meditated into blackness, feeling its comforting embrace where the cares, the worries of the world would have no sway. He did not stay within that blackened state of meditation for long, for he knew there was work to be done.
As he opened his eyes, coming to awareness, he felt a hand within his, but he did not look. He merely smiled and tightened his own hand within his wife’s, entwining his fingers within hers and watched as the light of day came on.