Revelation (23 page)

Aaron wished for a campfire, knowing that the cold, frosty air would bite them and make it difficult to endure the harsh mountain pass. Braden rummaged through the satchel and retrieved one of the bottles of the dwarf draught and passed it around to Aaron. He drank deeply, and the warm, soothing liquid sent a pulse of heat to the very extremities, then handed it to Lorik. The chill air seemed of little concern, then, as the three of them sat close.

With the night upon them, Aaron retrieved the illumine stone and set it between them so that they could see one another. He looked to Braden. “So, now that we’re here, how far is it to the entrance that you spoke of?”

“Perhaps a week,” said the dwarf. “It is a hard journey in these mountains. Unlike the Shadow Mountains, these are a range of rugged cliffs and jagged peaks. The path that we’re on has not been used in over a hundred years, as far as I know, and I’m sure the many bridges are going to prove dangerous, if not altogether missing.”

“What can we expect to meet?” Lorik asked.

“I don’t know. Our history speaks of many dangers that exist in these mountains, not the least of which are the gremellaks.” Braden paused as if in thought. He looked at Aaron and Lorik with a determined seriousness. “It is also said that there exists in these mountains a race of giants. The ancient stories say that they protect the mountains. I don’t know if I believe it, I’ve never seen anything of the sort, and I was raised in these mountains.”

Lorik chuckled. “The way things have gone so far, I think we should expect the unexpected. Is there anything else?”

“Just the deladrin,” said Braden. “Other than that, we shouldn’t have any trouble.”

“Great… mountain giants, miniature monsters, or flaming enemies,” Lorik quipped. “Sounds too easy.”

Aaron listened to his companions as they continued a mindless barrage of antics for some time, but finally chimed in, “I think we should get some rest. Braden, take the first watch. Wake me in three hours, and I will relieve you.” With that, the other two settled down and Braden took a position where he could observe both his companions and the path.

When they woke to the first light of dawn breaking over the eastern horizon, all three discovered their garments possessed qualities that prevented the cold from penetrating to their bodies, keeping them warm through the night.

Aaron rose, stretching the night’s sleep from his joints and wishing he had something more to eat than the meager scraps that remained in their pack. However, he received the small scrap of food with gratitude. He also drank some of the restorative from the opened bottle, passing it to his companions. The warming draught brought vitality to his aching muscles, and he felt a much needed surge of energy. Strapping his sword to his side and scratching his growing beard, Aaron set out again on the trail with Braden and Lorik close behind.

Except for a stray bird fluttering overhead or an occasional creature scampering across the path, the days passed with little excitement. At first their passage appeared as a flat plateau but proved to be a slow, steady incline. Coming near the western edge it was apparent that the mountain peaks were far nearer than when they began the long trek across the open expanse. The jagged cliffs that rose up in massive outcroppings now loomed ominously close. And the peaks, once soaring over their heads were much closer, if not less menacing. Trudging through snow drifts and across barren rock, they came to a large projection of stone, looking as if it had been quarried many years past. Aaron gazed at the cliffs ahead of them as the trail meandered upwards through a narrow canyon between two mighty peaks. Perhaps it was his years as a soldier, or simply their recent experiences, but he sensed a great danger looming ahead of them.

“This is a perfect place for an ambush,” Lorik said. “I could imagine a horde of gremellaks nesting in the crags and crevices of the canyon walls, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting travelers.”

“You’re right,” said Braden. “When my people finally evacuated the ancient halls, we were attacked right here. Many didn’t escape, I was carried away from the battle and brought to Brekken Dahl, but many fought to their bitter end. The gremellaks seemed to conjure themselves from thin air.”

Aaron looked over terrain. “Is their any way around this pass? Can we avoid what looks like an obvious place for an attack?”

“No, the mountains are too treacherous for those not adapted to the environment. Dwarves are mountain dwellers and are suited to that life. I feel very much at home in this land, but even I would not try to venture around the pass. Our only way to regain the Book of Aleth is to find the old guard entrance. And the road goes right through the pass ahead of us.” Braden spoke with apprehension, though from the look in his eyes he did not want to face what might lay before them.

Taking a deep breath, Aaron stepped out and continued to follow the path that led to the canyon entrance. It stood a mile off, and the closer they walked, the more ominous the passage appeared. His mind conjured images of a hundred eyes watching him but he steeled himself, drew his sword, and continued.
One thing
, he thought,
at least I won’t be taken by surprise.
Behind him, Lorik and Braden loosed their weapons in preparation for any encounter.

9

Mari

With Lorik and Braden behind him, Aaron neared the cliffs that marked the passage to the ancient dwarf realm. He held his weapon, not sure what he would encounter, and entered with caution. Massive stone walls rose above him on either side of the path. Chiseled out of solid granite, worn smooth from centuries of travelers crossing over the rugged terrain, Aaron found the passage far easier than expected. Through the azure sky the sun blazed down into the canyon and helped to dispel any shadows that would hide potential attackers.

For Aaron and Lorik the thin air made traveling more difficult. They each took a sip from the open bottle of the dwarf curative, boosting their stamina in the rarefied atmosphere. They had run out of food a day before, and were now living completely on whatever vegetation Braden could scare up and the draught which they tried to use sparingly. Slowly they climbed. The passage proved to be steeper than it originally looked. Braden took the lead, his keen eyes and ears more adept to the rocky landscape and more capable of discovering any who would try to waylay them.

They navigated the climb, moving their way along, sometimes by hands and feet, until they reached a small ledge halfway up. It was a narrow landing, flat enough to rest on without fear of tumbling back down the mountain. The thin, cold air bit at and chilled their lungs as they panted. Their breath froze into a vaporous mist when they exhaled, and left their beards covered in a white frost. The pinnacle peered down at them like a lofty king, as if it forbade them from climbing higher, and Aaron wondered if they would ever reach the top.

Braden spoke, unaffected by the laborious climb. “Captain, when we reach the top, we will come to a long stretch that follows the upper levels of the mountains. It is a narrow, dangerous ledge, but one that does not have any further ascent.”

Aaron was going to respond when a small cascade of stones tumbled down from above his head. He looked up and thought he saw the shadow of some creature dart behind a rocky outcropping. Cautiously, Aaron peered into the shadows that hung above his head, looking for any movement. There was nothing, no motion or any other indication of a presence. “I think we ought to move on.”

The way seemed precarious, more so than at first, so that even Braden found the stretch of road difficult. But they climbed; hand over hand they inched their way up like insects on a wall. Aaron, however, did not forget the brief appearance of the shadow on the cliff, and feared they were being followed. He wasn’t sure, but he assumed it was a gremellak scouting their movements.

“Lorik, Braden…” the two stopped in mid climb to listen to Aaron. “I can’t be certain, but I believe we’re being watched.”

Braden looked around, scouting the rugged terrain with his eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t see or hear anything.”

“Yes,” Aaron replied. “When we stopped, I saw a figure moving about the rocks just above us. It was shadowed, but there was definitely movement. Keep your wits about you; I am convinced that we will find trouble waiting for us.”

“Captain,” Braden said, “even a gremellak would have difficulty fighting on this steep climb. If anything, they will be waiting for us at the top. And, Captain, if they are there, we will find a lot of them.”

Lorik grimaced at the idea as he peered down into the canyon beneath them. “I don’t think that I like this situation. Trying to fend off a horde of those creatures at this altitude is… well… is not something I’m looking forward to.”

“I can’t say that I disagree with you,” Aaron said. He loosened his sword in its sheath and continued climbing through the high canyon to the top level. “Just be prepared for anything.”

They arrived at the heights. Aaron was breathless when he gazed out over the massive crater that waited before them. He waited upon a small landing, with enough room for the three of them to safely stand. The massive hollow looked as if it had been scooped right out of the mountain. Sheer cliff walls fell thousands of feet beneath them, like the inner surface of a massive bowl. The pass followed the northern edge of the glacial crater, winding around the top of the rim rock to disappear through more cliffs on the other side.

“Captain!” Lorik shouted.

Aaron looked to where he pointed. Between them and the path crouched a score of gremellaks. They snarled with their cruel intentions, their vaporous breath looking like smoke from their nostrils.

Lorik and Aaron drew their swords in unison, sending the ringing sound of metal echoing against the canyon wall. Aaron was glad, now, for the mail armor that he wore, and equally glad that they had discovered the cache of weapons. Braden hoisted his battle-axe, looking every much the part of an ancient warrior in his raiment, standing between Aaron and Lorik.

The gremellaks growled and rushed at once against the three warriors. They moved across the rugged terrain with surprising agility. But with lightning quickness, Aaron dispatched two gremellaks as his sword slashed through the horde. Lorik quickly lunged forward into the fray, hacking at the advancing beasts. Braden twirled with his axe, amazing Lorik with his skill as four enemies fell at the dwarf’s feet. The three companions were surrounded by the dozen gremellaks that remained. The creatures snarled and scratched at the ground, but kept their distance for the moment. Then, as one, with claws and fangs bared, the horde rushed forward.

Aaron and Lorik stood back to back, their blades singing in the air as they fought against their assailants. Aaron moved with the skill of a master swordsman, while his sword radiated with a pale green glow, growing brighter from the stone fixed in the pommel. Braden was separated from the two as they desperately defended themselves against the attack. The dwarf fought valiantly as he hacked at the gremellaks, but against six of the creatures he soon fell to the ground. Lorik fought his way to Braden and dispatched two creatures closest to the dwarf then turned to press his advantage.

A momentary break in the attack gave Braden the chance to stand. Aaron now had six creatures around him. He moved with fluid precision as his sword gleamed in dazzling brilliance. It seemed that nothing could enter into the circle of defense Aaron had established. Whether from in front or behind him, Aaron appeared to know instinctively where the next attack would come, and soon dispatched two more. The four remaining gremellaks turned in terror, dashing back up the cliff face, leaving the three companions alone on the mountain.

Aaron panted, out of breath as he leaned on the hilt of his weapon.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Lorik said to Braden. “He is the best sword-master in all of Celedon.” Lorik looked at the bewildered dwarf, a faint smile crossing the sergeant’s face.

“It’s a wonder that he was taken captive at all by the guard!” Braden exclaimed.

The sword no longer glowed with the green, pale light but showed no signs of wear from the attack. Its edge was still sharply honed and, aside from the stains of blood, there were no other marks at all. Both Lorik and Braden’s weapons exhibited the same sturdiness. Not even a chip could be found on either blade.

“It’s getting late,” Braden said. “We must not try to navigate around this pass until daylight. It’s dangerous when we can see clearly, at night this passage will be deadly.”

Aaron didn’t pay heed to Braden’s warning as he wiped off his blade on the tattered garment of a fallen gremellak, sheathed his sword and began walking along the path. Lorik and Braden followed as the wind began to stir with greater intensity, whipping up snow and dust and hindering their pace.

Aaron turned to Braden who walked close behind him. “How far is it around this ledge?” The captain nearly shouted to be heard over the roar of the wind gusting through the ravine.

“Not more than six miles!” Braden shouted, his cloak buffeting against him in the wind.

Aaron nodded and turned again to follow the narrow path. Darkness slowly fell upon the terrain as the sun disappeared beyond their sight. Long shadows cast an eerie gloom across the landscape. Aaron took out the illumine stone to better see the trail. Close behind him, Braden and Lorik navigated the treacherous path. Aaron sensed a strange, unnerving familiarity with the high pass. It gave him an uneasy, desperate feeling, thinking that he should recognize the trail. But it was a path he had never walked before.

With the wind howling though the giant crevasse, deafening them to any other sound, they were taken by surprise when they turned a corner and saw, a hundred yards ahead of them, the figure of a woman. Silhouetted in the fading light, she was huddled down against the wind, her long raven hair whipped about her face. They drew closer and saw her shouting something into the darkness below though they couldn’t hear any sound.