Sekali, "The Sister City"

 

                                Chapter 92

 

     They made their way down to the water’s edge easily enough. The wind slowed to a steady breeze down by the seashore. It was yet cold, but at least they were out of that constant frigid torrent of wind plaguing the uplands of the plateau.
     Turning due north, they followed the shoreline. As far as the eye could see, a mountain range followed the coastline. They had to follow the shoreline, but stayed a bit to the slopes of the high and jagged snow-covered peaks, out of sight, for they knew the Veleighen were also searching for the entrance to the Sister City.
     Steadily and carefully, they made their way along the northeastern border of the North Lands, searching for the inland sea spoken of by Grisham. Following the coastline through a more penetrating cold, Sekali noticed the wind was not blowing as hard as it had up on the plateau. They pulled out extra cloaks and put them on to stay as dry and warm as they could. At times storms would roll in, striking the coastline with heavy blankets of snow, making their travels more difficult. Even with the layers of protection they wore, they shivered from the damp cold.
     One mid-afternoon as they were making their way up the coastline, just outside the wall of the forested mountains that rose up, as if defiant to all who sailed near that land, they all heard something in the waters just offshore up ahead. They had taken to hiding themselves at all times during their travels the best they could, for they knew they were not far from their destination, and their enemy was also somewhere in the region, though they knew not where. A sudden bubbling in the waters offshore set them all into a crouch, hiding, half-buried in the snow, giving them excellent cover as they watched the waters of the sea apprehensively.
     Slowly, up from the water arose what appeared to be a half-wolf, half-dragon creature. Its snow-white coat of thick fur was beautiful and its eyes shimmered like amethysts as it swam to shore and shook from head to tail, ridding itself of the freezing water that weighed it down. It stretched out fully as it yawned and began to groom itself. Its length was close to a train of ten fully grown horses. Just the distant presence of this creature was intimidating, causing Sekali’s heart to beat heavily within his chest.
     Aria took her hand and patted down a section of snow in the middle of them. Taking her finger, she wrote two words: Dreganox Wolf. Sekali nodded slowly and then watched the great beast as it shook once again, relieving itself of as much of the sea as possible.
     As they watched it stalk up the shore, they saw it freeze and lower itself into the snow, crouching very still. Had they not seen it set itself before them, they might well have been caught in its trap. Riders appearing suddenly on snow-white cats as large as fully grown war horses, however, were not so lucky. They were Veleighen; their serrated lances gave away their identity.
     Sekali saw them first, moving up the coastline. The foremost thought that came to his mind was that the Veleighen were a mighty race of warlike people, yet unwise and arrogant. To traverse the coastline in great numbers, such as was the case, was brave, yet today a foolish thing. He guessed they did not know the region any more than he did. There were ten of them making their way up to the shore in single file, right into the path of the Dreganox Wolf. Sekali touched his companions and pointed as the beast sniffed and slowly turned its head toward the Veleighen. Finyat’s eyes narrowed and he grinned widely as he watched what was about to happen.
     As they neared the area where the Dreganox Wolf lay in wait, the great cats the Veleighen rode became nervous, and two of them snarled and readied themselves for battle. The foremost leader of the Veleighen company held up one hand, the other jerking the chain-link reins, attempting to subdue his cat, which was crouching and making a terrible racket. Instantly the beast from the sea launched itself at them in silence.
     The first two leading their group were cut down by its vicious and swift attack, both man and cat torn asunder with blinding speed, but the others did not flee. The Veleighen spurred their great cats into action, engaging the massive beast as one. Sekali was not allowed to watch as Aria punched each of them and pointed to the woods.
     “Let’s go!” she hissed, leading them nearly crawling into the forest on their hands and feet, pushing the snow aside as they broke into the trees for cover.
     Once into the forest, Aria stood and shook all the snow from herself. Sekali suddenly realized they were upwind from the battle. He looked at Aria, and she nodded as if she read his thoughts.
     “We had better get away from this place.” Sekali warned.
     Aria shook her head, looking back through the trees as the sound of distant battle raged. The death-screams of the Veleighen and their cats were terrible to bear, even if they were the enemy.
     “We will be tracked by this thing, or I’m a fool. We should run for it now before . . .”
     ”Wait!” Finyat cut in sharply as he removed a pouch from an inner pocket, opening it quickly. He fell to his knees, looking intently at each vial of scent, an expression of “Aha!” crossing his face as he found what he was looking for. He put the vial between his teeth and put up his pouch. Taking the vial from his teeth he quickly stood.
     “Hold out your hands.” They each did as they were told, even as the last cry of death split the air. The dreganox wolf could be heard screaming in triumph, as Finyat prepared to pour the greenish liquid into the palms of their hands. The Shallant’s hands shook slightly as he focused on giving each of them an equal amount.
     “You’d think I’d get used to this.” He whispered and then began patting himself all over, especially his feet. Then he licked his hands and swallowed the bitter tasting liquid residue and gagged once. His companions followed his example, not enjoying the taste any more than Finyat had. Finyat winked at Aria.
     “Don’t you love me?”
     Aria grinned and turned, making her way into the forest in a northwest direction. Finyat preceded her, slowing their flight considerably, whispering to them; teaching them to mimic his movements and speed. He warned them that they could still be visually tracked, and that if the Dreganox Wolf had any brains, it would do just that.
     Aria looked at Finyat, as she caught his eye and winked. “Impressive.” She whispered as he motioned her to follow him; he would get them safely out of the area if at all possible.
     From the look on Uther’s face, Sekali felt hope rising within him.
     They followed Finyat in silence, angling their flight back northward through the trees. After about an hour of traveling, they heard a distant roar to the southeast behind them. Finyat stopped and turned.

     “It has brains. We must move quickly now.”
     Sekali waited for them to take the lead along the gentle slope of the foothills, taking the rear as he drew his blade and followed. Uther drew out his axe, his eyes changing to a solid black as they always did just before a fight.
     Swiftly their flight took them along the mountain’s slopes, through a thickening forest of massive pines and cedars painted white by recent snowfall and frosty winds. At times they could see the waters of the Northern Sea below as they slipped and slid downward toward the shore once again.
     On they fled along the shoreline, not daring to lose track of the sea as clouds began to darken above them, moving in from the west and the north. As they traveled, two great storms met, clashing above the company, sending winds and new snowfall in every direction.
     As they ran, they rounded the coastline to discover a great inland sea. They could not see the other side because of the storm. They had found the inland sea spoken of by Grisham! Their hopes and fears rose as they turned northward up the shoreline, staying just within the forest’s cover, for out upon the waters there was anchored a warship.
     Scores of lifeboats were being loaded with armored men and great cats. Sekali cursed vehemently as they broke into a full sprint through the trees, Aria now leading the way for them. If they were seen, a second pursuit would hinder the finding of their goal, or worse. It was at this point that Sekali found a place in his heart just for the Veleighen; he hated them.
     As they steadily moved along, they all kept their eyes sharp for a cave which would mark the entrance into the last leg of their journey. They had to find the cave quickly, or all could very easily be lost.
     As they searched, the snowfall intensified, beginning to blanket the land once again, even as the vicious howl of the Dreganox Wolf broke the silence of the woodlands not far behind them.

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