Once We Were Kings (Young Adult Fantasy) (The Sojourner Saga) (31 page)

"What is this place?" Branson said, standing on Render's left and gazing at down at the desolate valley.

On Render's right, Ahndien answered.  "The final battleground of the Sojourners.  This is where the last generation of Sojourners made their stand."

"But how did we get here?"  Branson wanted to know.  "It was at least three day's journey."

"By His command," Render said, not even sure how he knew it, but it was true.  "We are to go down into the valley.  And find the ancient shrine."

Branson shuddered visibly.  "Oh, it's dreadful down there.  Just look at all those bones!" 

Beneath the surface of the sand, there were countless ridges and ripples.  Upon a more careful look, Render saw.  Dried bones, skulls, rib cages.  "Yes, I see."

"It is called the Burial Grounds of the Sojourners," Ahndien said, also gazing down into the wide expanse at the foot of the Handaras.

"I see no graves," Branson complained.  "Just a bunch of old, dry bones beneath the surface of the sand!  It gives me a chill just thinking about being down there."

"I don't much care for it myself," said Render.  "But we must go.  It is by His command."

Just then, in the form of a black cat, Greifer scampered into their midst, dashed though a thicket and behind a tree.  A moment later she emerged tall and beautiful, robed in black, her glistening ebony locks flowing over her shoulders.  "Valhandra be praised, I have found thee."

Render's heart leapt.  "But, where have you been?"

"Why, searching for thee, of course."

Ahndien went over to the elegant lady, touched her sleeve.  "How long has it been?"

"From the moment I returned to the Assembly Hall to find you all gone?  Three days.  And three nights have I sought thee by thy scent."

Branson laughed. "I thought you were a cat.  Not a dog."

"A panther's nose is far superior."  She stepped over to Render, put a warm hand softly on his face, and tilted her head as she gazed into his eyes.  "By thy countenance, I can see.  Thou hast changed."

Her touch warmed him to the soul.  "Changed?"

"Thine eyes testify to it."

"To what?"

"Thou hast been called.  By Valhandra."

"How did you know?"

"I know the look, the glowing of the countenance.  It was once common for princes when they came of age and calling.  In thine spirit hath He revealed thy destiny.  Young friends, pray tell me what you saw."

Render explained all he had been shown.  Ahndien and Branson did as well, but it became clear that Valhandra had revealed much more to Render than the other two.  "How are we to defeat an immortal army, much less unite two warring people?"

"I do not know.  But if Valhandra hath so ordained it, you shall prosper indeed." Griefer inclined her head, and kissed the top of his.   "And whatever be thy lot, I shall ne'er leave thy side."

If ever he had imagined what it would have been like to have a mother, this sense of security, her complete belief in and support for him, this far outshone any such notion.

Ahndien took hold of his hand.  "Nor shall I."

Branson grabbed his shoulder and gave it a brisk shake and squeeze.  "I'm with you too."

"Then on to the Ancient Shrine of Valhandra," Greifer said to Render. "Indeed you are ready."

At that moment—and he wished it would last forever—Render felt certain that together, they could overcome any adversary, any force, natural or spiritual.  And he knew what he must do next.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

“Render..."  A distinct warble infused Branson's voice as he stood at the edge of the precipice overlooking the valley.  "I think you should see this."

"What is it?"  Render stared in the direction in which Branson pointed but did not know what he was talking about.  "I don't see—"

"There!"  Ahndien pointed sharply.  "In between those two peaks!"

Well into the distance and coming from the East, a black column of smoke rose into the air.  It moved toward the valley.  Render took a deep breath, then let it out, the tension in his chest palpable.  "Ahndien, what do you make of it?"

"I've seen this before.  It’s the Tianese Imperial troops."

"How far?"

"They'll probably set up camp in the mountains tonight and set their warriors in position."

Branson cleared his throat nervously.  "For what?"

"That."  Render saw it as they spoke.  He turned to the West, where dark clouds cast a black shadow over the woods on the edge of the desert and pointed it out.  "Those lights flickering, a long string of them.  Torches.  Troops.  Horsemen.  By my estimation, there must be at least ten legions.  If I've learned anything about Torian strategy, they must believe they can take the high ground before the Tianese reach Handara."

"Do they not know the tactics of their opponent?" Greifer hissed and began to transform again.

Branson jumped back.  "Would you stop doing that.  It's getting to be more than my nerves can handle!"  The black cat leapt up onto Branson's shoulder, then over to Render's.

"What will we do?" Ahndien said.  "It'll take us till tomorrow to get to the Shrine.  We'll never get there in time."

  "Not on foot, we won't." Render gazed down the cliff, down to the thousands of dry bones, then it caught his eye.  A small door frame carved into the limestone by the hills.  The Ancient Shrine of Valhandra.  "But if we fly..."

"Fly?" Branson and Ahndien said at the same time.

Greifer jumped from Render's shoulder down into his arms.  She then squeezed into the opening of his vest where she rested tight and secure.  Render smiled, put his arms out and wrapped them both around his friends.  "Do you believe?"

"Are you mad?" Branson cried.

"Render, let go!"

An unprecedented boldness surged through him.  A strength that had been instilled by the words of Valhandra—the same unknowable words which he must later invoke to bring about the help needed to defeat the forces of Malakandor.  Render tightened his grip on Ahndien and Branson and leaned over the precipice.  Out of fear, they held onto him all the more tightly.  "I said, do you believe?"

"Render...!"

Before either of them could answer, yes or no, Render pulled them with him. 

Straight over the cliff.

CHAPTER SEVENTY

After a few seconds of screaming and squirming, Branson went limp.  It made it a bit more difficult to hold him under one arm while Render flew over the mountain range.  But for some reason his arms felt stronger during flight, and it made holding him and Ahndien easier than he would have imagined.

"Render, I...This is remarkable!"  Ahndien hugged him tighter as they soared over the snow covered treetops, making a circular descent.

He tilted his head down and found her gazing at him with an expression of awe and anxiety.

// I WON'T LET GO, AHNDIEN. DON'T BE AFRAID //

// I'M NOT //

She smiled and pressed her face against his chest, perhaps to hide her face from the chilling wind, perhaps for another reason.  It didn't matter much right now.  He was flying.  And it felt like something he'd always known he could do.

Greifer remained still in his vest, though her claws gripped through his shirt.  He could sense her confidence in him.  If he weren't so enraptured with this experience, he might have found it odd.  But this was freedom.  Freedom beyond anything he'd dreamed of all his life as a slave.

"You'd better put us down soon," said Branson.  "I think I'm going to be ill."

Render let out a chuckle, as did Ahndien.  Their eyes met.

For some reason, though she smiled, a poignant expression filled her eyes.  Until now, the strongest emotion they'd ever displayed was anger.  But this sadness, mixed with something else, something that seemed to establish a connection between them, made her even more beautiful than Render had bothered to notice.

Something was happening, though.

Even as they came nearer to the foot of the valley, where many a rock jutted from the sides of the hill, and reddish-gold sand rippled like waves in the sea, Render felt something unfamiliar as he held Ahndien's gaze.

When they finally arrived, he made sure to land gently.  First he let go of Branson, who swiftly ran behind a rock and began to throw up from the nausea of flight.

Greifer leapt out of Render's vest and padded over to check on Branson.

But Ahndien remained in his arms.

"What is it?" he asked.  "You have this look in your eyes."

Quickly, she turned away.  Though she'd loosened her grip, she didn't not let go of his arms.  "I don't know what you mean."

"It's like, you know something.  But don't want to say."

Now, she pushed away, but slowly.  "I was just...I was impressed with your ability to fly.  There is so much to this spirit potential it can be overwhelming."

Her eyes glistened with shiny tears.  Ahndien turned and wiped her eye.  She was not telling the truth.  But he did not press the issue.

In human form, Greifer returned with a very pale looking Branson under her arm.  She motioned to a rock.  "Sit, child."  Then to Render she said.  "Since the days of old, every Sojourner prince has been sent from the Council of Elders to the sacred shrine of Valhandra."  Then pointed to the tall opening in the rock face.  The borders of the rectangle opening resembled a large portal, with ornate carvings in borders around it.

"You, Render were to have gone before the council and prepared for the age old tests."

"What tests?"

"I know not.  But this much I do know.  Not every young Sojourner—prince, warrior, oracle—that hath entered returneth alive."  She looked into Render's eyes with concern.  "But you must prevail.  With or without the preparation of the elders.  It has been so ordained."

Render bowed his head.  "I know.  And I am ready."

Ahndien opened her bag and pulled out what appeared to be dried fish.  She offered it to Greifer, who frowned and shook her head.  "Thank you."

Then to Render.  "You'll need your strength.  Eat."

The last thing he could think of was his stomach right now as he stared at the imposing portal to the Ancient Shrine.  "Branson will probably appreciate it more."

"I prefer my food cooked."

From her open palm, the fish in Ahndien's palm lit up in a moderate fire.  The fish sizzled sending up a mouth-watering aroma.  Now Render reconsidered her offer, but she tossed it over to Branson, who bounced it from one hand to the next, back and forth.

"Ooh!  Hot!  Hot!"

Without announcement, Greifer strode past them, over to the archway of the shrine's entrance.  She bowed then for a while spoke in hushed tones such that the only word Render could discern was the name of Valhandra.

A few minutes passed.  Neither Render, nor Ahndien said a word.  They just watched.  Eyes shut, her lips moved as though speaking, Greifer nodded as though listening to someone speak.  Finally, she turned around and let out a long breath.  "Yes, Sire.  I understand," she whispered and opened her eyes.

"What was that?" Render asked.

"It is as I thought."  Greifer approached and place her hands on his shoulders.  "Though the shrine lies in ruins, there shall be no deviation from the past."

"I don't understand."

"Tonight, when the sun falls over the Eastern summits, you shall enter the shrine and do as those before you have."

"And what is that?"

"Free yourself from all that hinders you."

He released Ahndien and stepped over to Greifer.  "Hinders me from what?"

"Your destiny."

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

With the spreading darkness over the valley came a frigid wind that at times howled through the rocks.  Branson sat as close as he could to the fire which Ahndien had started with the dry bush that jutted out from the ground.

He still complained a bit, but not as much as he might have back in Valdshire Tor.  Nevertheless, Render understood his apprehension concerning all the skeletal remains out in the center of the valley.  They too made him uneasy.

"At least they aren't anywhere near this part of the foothills." Ahndien said, trying to cheer the boy.

"Oh...I don't like it.  I don't like it one bit."

The thought of the last Sojourner army, meeting their demise in great numbers did little to inspire Render.  He was but one person.  How could he accomplish what Valhandra had charged him with?

The flames from the bush grew weak. 

Greifer stood and stretched.  "The hour is upon us."

"Yes.  I suppose it is." Render also stood.  But a tug on his hand stopped him from leaving just yet.  It was Ahndien.

"Please be careful, Render." Fire danced in the deep pools that were her eyes.  She was indeed so beautiful that Render almost wanted to forego the entire destiny matter and stay here with her.

"I shall.  Promise."

"Here, take this."  She handed him her sword.  "Now you have the two weapons of war, united."

Following, then walking past Greifer, Render approached the archway which—no matter how much light from the fire lit the inside—looked as black as death inside.  What lay beyond was not revealed to Render.  Only that he must enter and find the written words that matched the unknowable one which Valhandra had set in Render's spirit. 

Words of victory.

He drew nearer to the opening and squinted as he looked inside.  It didn't seem possible, but the void became darker still, with every step forward.

Behind him a deep guttural growl reverberated.  Greifer had once again become a panther.

They arrived at the mouth of the Shrine.

Just as he stepped into the gloom, something repelled him with unexpected might.  It almost knocked him off his feet.

"What was that?"  Without thinking, Render drew his sword.  Bright white energy crackled like lighting from the blade.

He stepped forward again.  Slashed into the darkness.