Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands (13 page)

9

THE
LONELY PROVINCE

The morning was cold. Mist submerged the valley. The nearby
vegetation was still and white; covered in fine crystals of frozen dew. At this
elevation winter was already tightening its grip over the tender land.

When Aldrick had woken, Télia was absent and her bed left neat. He
had found her in the stable, accompanied by Sinin and Aru. The three of them
were readying their horses in silence.

“Good morning,” he said, greeting none of them in particular.

“Hello, Al,” said Sinin dully. “Promise me something, will you?
Never drink as much as I did last night.” He groaned and rubbed his forehead.
“I feel like there is an axe lodged in my skull.”

Aldrick laughed. “Very well—I promise, but only because I don’t
think I could if I tried.”

Télia shot Sinin a disapproving glance. “You’re a drunk, you know
that don’t you? You need help.”

Sinin frowned. “I am not a drunk. A drunk is someone who is always
drunk. I am a drank. I drank last night and am paying the price today.”

“Well it’s a fair price. Don’t whine about it.”

“Did you say wine?”

Télia shook her head and tried not to grin. “You’re a lost cause.”

Aldrick found himself downcast by the way the two spoke to each
other—as though they were overly familiar with one another. He wondered how
close they had been in the past. Realising it was a foolish and immature thing
to dwell on he tried to push it from his mind.

“Aldrick, are you ready to ride?” Aru asked, ignoring them as they
continued to squabble.

“Not so much, no. I’ll head back inside and get my things.”

“Yes, do that.”

When he re-entered the house Jon was walking down the stairs clutching
a sizable assortment of things in his arms. He wore his grand wielding robes
once more.

“Good morning Aldrick,” he said brightly. “I hope it has greeted
you well.”

“And you,” Aldrick replied. “Can I help you carry any of that?”

“No, no, I am quite fine, thank you. Just let me put this down. I
have something for you.” Jon rested his load by the door then took a small book
from the top of the pile and handed it to Aldrick. “Here. This belongs to you.
I have kept it for many years. It was your father’s arcane journal, something
scholars of Delthendra are given to write an account of their experiences with
the world of wielding. I found it within the ruins of this place. Your mother
must have kept it with her after he passed.”

Aldrick took the journal in surprise and wonder. It was leather
bound. On the cover was a faded symbol that appeared as a globe with a number
of curving lines originating from the centre and weaving around the edge, like
crawling vines. Beneath this were his father’s initials, G A, inscribed in a
bold font. He carefully opened the journal to a random page. It was singed at
the edges and much of it had been browned and cracked by heat. In one place an
entry of messy writing scribed with a fine quill was discernible, though
exactly what it read was not.

“Thank you for this, Jon,” Aldrick said, closing the journal
equally as carefully.

Jon smiled. “Not a problem, my boy. I had completely forgotten
about it until now. I thought it might offer you some insight into your
father’s life, and perhaps also some valuable teachings, that is, if you are
able to read any of it.”

“Hopefully. I will look through it when I can. I ought to pack
now. I won’t be long.”

“Very good. I’ll meet you by the stable. Take all the time you
need and remember to close the door behind you. The others have no need to
return.” Jon picked up his things and exited.

Aldrick took very little time. Much of his gear had been untouched
since the journey here. After fetching some fruit and bread he found left in
the kitchen, he carried everything, including the weighty longsword Télia had
bought him in Farguard, out to the stable. The others had already mounted their
horses and trotted about in the frosty grass nearby.

When Aldrick’s gear was all loaded on, he patted his loyal steed
on the neck.

“Looks like we’re off again, chum,” he said. Tame neighed heartily
and flicked his head excitedly. Aldrick mounted and joined the others.

“Are you ready?” asked Télia, bringing De’ama to a standstill at
his side.

He took a breath. “Yes.”

“Well then, let us be off!” Jon prompted his chestnut mare forward
with a firm pat on the neck and their quest was commenced.

Aldrick’s heart pounded. This was it. It had been but a small step
leaving his home and coming this far. Now, they were truly venturing into the unknown.
There would be no more safe havens to stop at. No more familiar faces to greet
along the way. He wished to see his family one last time and say goodbye, but
it was far too late for that. Perhaps if they came upon a village he could send
them a letter by wing—tell them why he was doing this, tell them not to worry
and bid them farewell in the most fitting way he was able with a quill. If not,
he could only hope that there would be a return journey.

Jon led them through the clearing, whereupon they met the mountain
path and followed it northward. The land soon began to slope gently and the
trees closed in around them. Though the mist thinned beneath their branches,
the way darkened. Until it fully lifted from the valley basin the morning light
would not reach them.

While they traversed the cold and the shade, Aldrick found comfort
in knowing Télia was near. There were moments when he was certain he smelt the
faint summery aroma of her hair upon the still air. It soothed his nerves.

Hours had passed before the mist finally subsided. The forest
lightened and dazzling rays of sunlight began to flood the ground, transforming
dewdrops into rising spirals of steamy vapour which lingered only momentarily
before dispersing. Above them, the canopy had become alive with the chatter of
birds. A few, including a black fantail that looked identical to the one that
had shown Aldrick the path to his mother’s grave, followed them, flitting
happily between the lower branches. At times the birds would dart across the
path in front of them and chirp loudly, as if to boast of their courage.

Shortly after noon the company came upon a steep bank, down which
the path wound two and fro to meet a stream. Aldrick could see over the tops of
the trees and on down the valley. It continued a fair distance before the
mountains gradually arced eastward.

“We shan’t be going that way,” Jon said. “It leads you too far
from your destination. Though I wish to reach Galdrem as soon as I can, I will
accompany you to Blackbed first. We leave the mountains here.” He turned his
horse left to follow a muddy track Aldrick had failed to notice.

“Where does this lead?” asked Sinin.

“It is a shortcut that will take us into the Lonely Province,” Jon
replied over his shoulder, “an old hunter’s passage which leads between the
peaks.”

Soon enough they were deep within a narrow ravine which had, over
the ages, been carved through earth and stone between the mountains. Its walls
were covered in green moss, except for along their bases where floodwater
passed frequently enough to prevent anything living from claiming a permanent
hold. Here, veins of a dull golden mineral could be seen running through stone.
Aldrick put out his hand and picked at some, only to find it was surprisingly
flaky and turned into a fine paste when pressed.

“No, it’s not gold, sadly,” Jon informed Télia, who was also
examining it keenly. “It is called mica—very common in the highlands.”

Télia looked rather disappointed and continued on. Aldrick smiled
to himself, watching her ride away. She was… inexpressibly faultless. Her
emotions shone from her with ease, yet there was rarely a moment when he could
tell exactly what she was thinking. Perhaps this was one reason she lingered in
his mind so often.

In time the walls of the ravine receded and they found themselves
surrounded by foliage once more. The sun had followed them to this side of the
mountains and eyed them through the branches ahead. Fortunately, the track
wound down the slope in a northward direction and they were spared from its
glare.

When they emerged from the trees, a breathtaking view greeted
them. Aldrick had envisioned the Lonely Province as a dull and solemn place.
However, it was quite the contrary. Gentle hills, painted in vibrant green long
grass rolled far into the distance. Between these hills, shady meadows
flourished and streams trickled, searching for lower lands. In the north, a
great river meandered toward the western coast—a silver grass snake in the
afternoon sun.

Télia gasped. “Beautiful.”

Jon also gazed on in marvel. “Isn’t it? A place of serenity,
though that is an illusion severed by a knowledge of its past. Great battles
were waged in these lands. We may very well find ourselves treading upon some
of the battlefields.”

“This was during the civil wars?” Aldrick asked.

Jon nodded. “Yes. They were the bloodiest times in our history.”

“So far,” said Aru, speaking for the first time since morning.
“Let us not forget why we are here.”

“I’m quite sure none of us have,” Sinin said dismissively. “There
is no reason not to enjoy this journey while we’re on it. I just wish we had
thought to bring the rest of the wine along with us.”

Télia hit him hard on the shoulder.

“Ouch,” he said in barefaced sarcasm.

Jon dismounted and stretched his back. “Well, we may have no wine
but we do have food and water. Come—let us refresh ourselves before continuing.
We will ride with haste for the remainder of the afternoon.”

They spoke little as they rested. As well as the beautiful view,
thoughts of the road ahead kept their minds occupied. Aldrick was thinking on Jon’s
forthcoming departure and wishing it didn’t have to be so. He knew the Blackbed
Plains weren’t far away. The distant north-western horizon was draped in a
murky haze—a foreshadowing of the dark terrain below. Did they stand a chance
in such a place without Jon’s wisdom and wizardry? Only time would tell.

A strong breeze, heard first as a wave of rustling branches
travelling down the mountainside, swept past them and transformed the fields
beyond into a rippling ocean of green.

“We had best continue on,” said Jon after admiring the display for
a while.

They stood and summoned their horses. Télia, Sinin and Aru
whistled to theirs in a way Aldrick had never heard. It was high pitched,
though achieved without using one’s fingers. Their horses quickly responded,
bolting back at a gallop. De’ama seemed particularly driven and won their
imaginary race. When she reached Télia, the mare pranced around in circles,
singing her own praises.

“The wind excites her,” said Télia, patting her softly on the
neck. “It gives her wings.”

Without warning Sinin had a sword drawn and was facing the forest
behind them.

Jon strode to him. “What is it, Sinin?”

“We have a follower.”

As swiftly as Sinin had drawn his sword, Télia and Aru had
crossbows in hand. Télia grabbed Aldrick’s arm and pulled him sideways to the
cover of a solitary boulder. Turning back, he saw Jon seize his staff and drop
down into the grass by his horse. Aldrick drew a knife from his belt and rested
his back against the boulder. Télia crouched and readied her crossbow beside
him.

“We’re in a bad position here,” she said, distressed. “Our visitor
has the forest as cover.”

Aldrick listened for the sound of movement within the trees but
the rush of the wind through their leaves drowned out all else—another disadvantage.
With any hope, whoever approached was not yet aware they had been compromised.

Looking sideways, Aldrick saw Sinin and Aru stooped in the grass
alongside Jon, using the slant of the hill as cover. They were motionless,
attention fixed upon the treeline. He lifted his head slightly and peered in
the same direction.

After a nervous wait, a figure on horseback emerged from the
trees. No sooner had it done so than Jon was on his feet, his staff raised in
hand. There was a cry and the figure lifted from the horse and dangled upside
down in mid-air with arms and cloak reaching for the ground.

Suddenly Aldrick realised who it was.

“Jon, put him down!” he shouted urgently, jumping out from cover.
“That’s Kaal, you fool!”

Jon stared at him in shock. “What?”

“It’s my brother! Put him down!”

Jon’s staff fell and so did Kaal, rather violently, to the ground.

Aldrick sprinted to him. “Kaal, bloody hell, Kaal, what are you
doing here?” He heaved his brother to his feet and brushed him off.

“What… there… just… happened to me…?” Kaal stammered. “Aldrick, is
that you?” He pushed back his mess of black hair and stared at Aldrick in total
bewilderment.