Road To Shandara (Book One of The Safanarion Order) (34 page)

Sarah joined them taking his hand, silently scanning the city ahead. Zeus stood to his other side still favoring one of his legs. He felt the energy within the rune caved staff surge and flash, sending another beam of light towards the center of the city where a space beyond sight was illuminated briefly until the beam melted away. Someone from the wheelhouse must have seen the beam and course corrected the ship to head in that direction. There was a great expanse of wide paved roads leading to the city that at one time must have been well kept, but had fallen into disrepair. Aaron looked on, impressed by the amount of traffic the roads must have been able to accommodate.

“For a while there I didn’t think we were going to make it," Sarik said joining them.

“There are forces at work here beyond any of us," Garret said as he and Vaughn joined them.

“You truly are touched by Ferasdiam," Vaughn said. “I believed whole heartedly that you were the grandson of Reymius....but....”

Aaron slowly nodded, “Does any of this look familiar to you?” he asked.

“It was ages ago when I was here... as a young man. Don’t look so surprised Verona, I too was young once," Vaughn said quickly, “You would be pleased to know that it was one place in the world where the legends did not do it justice. The Alenzar’seth’s believed in the gathering and sharing of knowledge. There were colleges here where people could learn and more. Gardens were planted throughout the city and to see it like this...so ruined.”

“I never thought I would see the towers again," Garret said with slow tears brimming his misty gray eyes. The rest of the group traded glances at the older men with the burned out shell of a city looming before them whispering hints of a gloried past.
 

C
HAPTER
29

WHAT SLEEPS MUST AWAKEN

A LOUD EXPLOSION rocked the ship causing it to list to one side. Orders were shouted for the engine pods to be retracted back into the wings for repairs where some had taken damage during the Ryakul attack. The crackling of damaged crystals could be heard from within the pods and the ship began to lose altitude.

Sailors scurried around the deck making repairs and gesturing towards the balloon that held the ship aloft. There would be no escaping the Ryakuls a third time when they caught up. They needed to land the ship and make repairs within the confines of the city if they were to have a chance.

“Do you think we’ll make it to the city?” Aaron asked.

“It’s going to be close,” Verona answered as the great city loomed before them like a sleeping giant.

“We need to be ready to drop into the city heading towards that tower, but I’m thinking that perhaps some should stay behind to help guard the ship,” Aaron began.

“With all due respect, none of us are going to stay behind with the ship,” Braden said, his deep voice resonating with his icy glare.

“They have a job to do,” Verona said gesturing towards the sailors, “And so do we, so let’s be about it. We’re the real targets here.”

Aaron surveyed the group all of which calmly, but defiantly, returned his gaze with the exception of Sarah who looked slightly amused. He knew she had no intention of staying behind.

“Nathaniel will have things well in hand. The good captain did serve in the military which is why the Prince selected him for this voyage,” Vaughn said. “And most of these sailors have served as members of the guard.”

There was a soft clearing of the throat and Aaron turned to see Jopher standing behind him. Jopher had his swords and travel pack at his feet and he wore the common garb of a sailor. His notorious princely arrogance was clearly absent in his sincere gaze. A small group of sailors swung down from the higher observation decks and a bucket of tools overturned spilling its contents on deck. Jopher immediately squatted down helping the sailor retrieve his tools.
Prince Jopher Zamaridian had learned a touch of humility it seems.

Jopher slowly turned back toward Aaron, “Please allow this son of Zsensibar to aid your journey to Shandara,” he asked with his hand across his heart in a mild voice that was neither soft nor commanding in tone.

“He’s earned it,” Sarik said quietly and Aaron could sense the general consensus from the others who were either indifferent or leaned toward allowing the boy prince to come.

Had a month on board the Raven truly changed the boy prince Aaron wondered? “Okay, you can come, but you follow my lead and take orders when given,” Aaron said. Jopher nodded eagerly and began strapping on his weapons.

The immense city walls rose before them. Their smooth surface were made of a light colored stone, but there were no creases. How could any army hope to breach these walls? The others gasped their surprise at the sheer size and thickness echoing Aaron’s thoughts. Between what remained of the towers, were massive carved reliefs depicting the Alenzar’seth coat of arms, a dragon cradling a single rose patterned with a tree above. He studied the damaged sections and noted how the debris dotted the landscape outside of the wall.

“This city fell from within,” Aaron noted, “Whatever took this city couldn’t come through the walls, but how did they get inside?” Just beyond the walls the burned out bones of the city stretched before him. How many must have died trying to escape what happened here? The mere thought sickened him.

“Could they’ve used travel crystals to get in?” Aaron asked.

“Only small groups, but there were no travel crystals around during the fall of Shandara,” Sarah answered.

The Raven drew steadily closer to the ground unable to hold its altitude any longer. Aaron scanned the roadways and from the corners of his eyes the shadows seemed to move, but when he looked nothing was out of place. The chill in the air seeped through his clothes and he shivered. Whatever this place had been, it was now a place of death. A tomb from an earlier time. Though it was the middle of the day, the only light in the area came from the center of the city. Zeus whined, sniffing the air then let out a low growl while pacing the deck. The wolf still favored one side, but otherwise looked alert.

Captain Morgan set the Raven down near the Dragon Hall, a large octagonal building in the center of a complex of other buildings. The architecture of the buildings were ornately carved to complement the gardens that were part of the structure. Everything appeared functional, but beautiful all at the same time, and the pride of craftsmanship radiated to the smallest detail. Shandara made Rexel look like a small country town in comparison. Aaron couldn’t shake the feeling that the capital city of Shandara was modern by any measurement back on Earth. What really had him perplexed was how they achieved these marvels. The ship landed heaving its bulk to the ground in a final thud and a lone howl echoed in the distance.

“I’ve delivered you to Shandara as promised,” Captain Nathaniel Morgan spoke coming on deck with an officer behind him.

“As good as your word, thank you,” Aaron said. “How long will it take to make repairs?” He asked. It wasn’t a question of whether the repairs could be made, but when.

The Captain surveyed the workings of his crew as they moved about the deck, “How long do you need?” He countered.

“As much time as you can give me,” Aaron answered. “If you have any tricks up your sleeve we’ll need those as well. We’re not alone here.”

Nathaniel nodded, “Good hunting,” the Captain said and went off to supervise the repairs.

Aaron and the others descended the gangplank to the surface. Large cracks ran down the walkways with some extending to the rubbled remains where a building once stood. They moved as quick as they dared coming out of the complex leaving the Dragon Hall with its gaping roof behind.

The musky dry air became more apparent the deeper they moved into the city. Deep fissures scarred the roadway and for all the scorched remnants down to the tiniest pebble there were no signs of life. The streets were empty without a single blade of grass coming to reclaim what had been once made by man. There was a stillness to the air that was only disturbed with each echoing footstep they took. Faint Ryakul howls could be heard far off in the distance. They drew steadily on not speaking as if an unspoken agreement had descended upon them to make their way to the towers as quietly as possible.

Seeing the land and the city of Shandara, Aaron wondered if he would have ever been able to make this journey without the help of his friends...
His friends
...Somewhere along the way they had become more than companions traveling toward a common goal. He looked at Verona whom Colind had tasked with finding and helping him. He wouldn’t be standing here right now if it weren’t for Verona. He had hoped that Colind would reach out to him once he was closer to Shandara, but so far he had not.

They turned down another street with a massive tower a short walk away. Aaron gripped the rune carved staff in his hand and kept scanning the area. So much destruction. Seeing the burned out buildings that collapsed on themselves reminded him of his own home burning. The acrid smoke stinging his nose, while holding his sister as she wept on his shoulders. The fires burning away what he failed to protect. Watching as the firefighters gave up trying to stop the blazing inferno that consumed his home. The same thing must have happened here in Shandara, but with considerably more destruction. Some of the fissures ran deep into the earth and Aaron shuddered to think of what escaping from this place must have been like and all those who perished as their world came to ruin around them.

How could his grandfather let this happen and then just leave?

He knew that the past haunted his grandfather, but he had no idea just how deep those scars really were. To lose your wife and the home you labored to protect in so short a time. Part of him understood his grandfather’s need to protect the one remaining person who was wholly dependent upon him. Now that he thought of it, his mother hadn’t escaped Shandara entirely unscathed. Something had wiped her memories of this place. Something, or someone, Aaron corrected himself. The stale air of decay invaded his nostrils and the dark side of anger roiled beneath the surface feeding his thirst for vengeance. So many lives lost for other men’s greed and he was thrust into the middle of their war. Seeing the state of Shandara, how could he not want to fight against all those who were responsible for this? Vengeance in and of itself was not enough anymore. What he wanted was a reckoning and the two were completely different in his mind. This place was out of balance and spiraling toward destruction. He could feel the unrest crawl through his skin. The air felt energized as if a storm were about to break out at any moment.

Eric stopped in his tracks motioning for the others to halt. He stepped through the doorway of a building left mostly intact. Braden was peering through the doorway when Eric returned with a broad smile carrying two metal rods about two feet in length. Eric tossed one to his brother. Each rod had a handled cross section just off center. Eric grasped the handle triggering a mechanism that sent small bands across his forearm and the rod extended, then fanned out forming a golden shield. The shield was adorned with an etched carving of a tree. Braden triggered his shield which formed in the blink of an eye.

Aaron walked up to Eric and ran his hands along the shield. Each interlocking pieces disappeared along the smooth surface feeling cool and solid beneath his finger tips.

“The shield of the De’anjard,” Erik said proudly.

Aaron nodded grasping his shoulder. They collapsed the shields, which returned to its original form just as quick, and silent leaving Aaron slightly in awe of the craftsmanship used to construct such a thing.

“Aaron,” Verona whispered. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the calm reprieve from people trying to kill us, but isn’t this a little too easy?”

“He’s right Aaron, I would have thought we’d have seen something by now,” Garret said.

The Elitesmen were here, they just hadn’t showed themselves yet. A dark shape swooped over head and they scattered out of sight. The Ryakuls couldn’t have caught up to them that quickly.

“We have to keep moving,” Aaron said and continued towards the tower.

The others followed silently and both Sarik and Verona had arrows ready to be drawn quickly if needed. The rest had their swords drawn with the exception of Sarah, which didn’t fool Aaron in the slightest as she was amongst the quickest of them. They rounded the corner of the gateway passing underneath the tower heading towards the interior courtyard.

Aaron stopped in his tracks. Beyond the tower the scarred landscape gave way to a grove of trees and the smell of fresh pine penetrated the stale air. The runes in the staff started to pulse and he could feel a slight pull tugging at his core drawing him into the grove. Aaron focused himself and tried to reach out for Colind, but he couldn’t sense him. Zeus whined slightly, perking his ears with all his attention on the grove. A gentle hand touched his shoulder.

“Are you alright?” Sarah whispered.

Aaron nodded and stepped purposefully forward and the others quickened their step to catch up.

Come on Colind give me a sign.

The gnarled trees of the grove stood tall lining an otherwise straight path where a white glow radiated. Aaron began to jog to its source. The grove gave way to a clearing where a lone white tree stood solitary and majestic, glowing from its own luminance. A border of light surrounded the tree. Zeus pushed ahead limping passed the border where he seemed to phase out becoming transparent. A soft rush of air blew back through Aaron as Zeus passed through the border and the wolf halfbreed came to a stop at the tree, wagging his tail. He stood straighter, not favoring his injured side anymore, but something was off. Extreme coldness rolled through Aaron like something had been cut from him. He reached out with his senses toward Zeus, but there was nothing but an expanse of cold.

Sarah caught his arm reaching towards the barrier shaking her head, “Death lies beyond that barrier I can feel it can’t you?”

“Zeus,” Aaron called not bothering to keep quiet reaching his hand out, but was careful not to touch the barrier. Zeus turned to look at him and started to come, but something else grabbed his attention like he was being called back.