Trials (24 page)

Haradin opened the book in the middle, smoothing out the gold pages filled with symbols and runes that were incomprehensible to human eyes. Or almost all human eyes… Only a few scholars, and he himself, were capable of deciphering and interpreting fragments of the unintelligible Ilenian language. Haradin had studied that book day and night for years. At first he had been unsuccessful but then, after consulting with other scholars in the matter and with their help he had begun to understand the great puzzle formed by the runes. It was then that something finally happened which would mark his life forever. His mind began to glimpse the meaning of what his eyes saw.

That first, fragmentary understanding of the Ilenian scripture brought about a mysterious process which filled him with wonder. His magic, his inner energy and the book began to act jointly. Without knowing how, as if the book was using his own inner energy and magic to transmit the contents of those pages to his mind, the hieroglyphs began to reveal their meaning at last. And it was that strange unheard-of link that allowed him to understand what was coming, what he was now so afraid of. Haradin turned the pages carefully until he reached the point he was looking for. With his forefinger he followed the symbols and read in his mind the meaning of each hieroglyph, of each Ilenian rune.

And he found what he feared.

Three thousand years… my fear was well-founded; the fateful moment is near
.

A few hours later, Haradin left his bedroom and went down to the basement of the Western Tower. An oil lamp on an old table lit the gloomy circular room. This was dug out from the very bowels of the earth, and it held the weight of the whole tower adjoining the Royal Palace of Rilentor. A winding stair on one side of the wall led from the basement to the first floor of the tower. The door to the basement was firmly locked from inside. No one, under any circumstances, could enter. The meeting had to take place in utter secrecy. Haradin had made sure of this, although perhaps it had been unnecessary given that nobody would ever dare enter his tower without first asking for an audience. Only a fool would venture to disturb a Mage in his most personal domain: his tower. And of course the King’s Guard watched it at all times, so that a dozen guards were always stationed at the entrance to ensure Haradin’s safety. There was a war on and King Solin did not want to take any risks concerning the Mage’s personal safety.

Three muffled, short, dry raps, followed by two others, longer and more widely-spaced ones, caught the Mage’s attention. He turned immediately, recognizing the agreed call. It came from underground, below his feet. He took a step back and stared at the heavy, rectangular slabs of solid rock which formed the floor.

“Don’t fail me now. I need to let them in.”

He concentrated and summoned his Gift, his inner power. He began to utter a spell. The magical energy began to flow and Haradin smiled. The spell was beginning to take shape. His mind ruled the magic, the symbiosis seemed to hold. But the spell failed. He could not finish it.

Haradin swore furiously and waved his arms, trying to calm the fury he felt at this new setback. His problem did not seem to be growing less with time ̶ the healing process was not progressing, and this worried him. Frustration and fear were beginning to build up

The secret call came again. He had to open the way for them, but without magic it was impossible to move those slabs. He concentrated again, seeking to empty himself, avoiding any thought but that of absolute nothingness. His mind found balance, a state of almost perfect harmony. Haradin inhaled and exhaled very slowly, then began to utter the spell once more. He used a Spell of Air to invoke a strong gust of wind over one of the slabs, and this started to rise from the floor where it had been fitted. Guiding the gust of wind to one side, he laid the slab on the floor. Where there had been a solid stone floor there was now a square opening.

A cowl appeared through the hole, and from its folds a pair of clear eyes looked at Haradin with uncertainty and reserve.

“Come on in, Brother. All is well,” said Haradin, opening his arms to welcome the guest.

The man greeted Haradin with a nod, climbed through nimbly and stood in front of the Mage. Four other men followed the first. They were all dressed in dark blue, almost black, hooded cloaks.

“Allow me to see your faces,” Haradin said as he looked at the five men standing in line in front of him.

They all pulled their cowls back for the Mage. Their faces were those of brave, weathered men, somewhat pale, and their eyes shone with unfailing determination. Under the cloak they all wore robes of indigo blue and riding boots. At their waists they wore a wide belt of the same color, and they each carried two short swords.

“Truly, I am very happy to see my Brothers again,” said Haradin.

They all bowed their heads in acknowledgement and greeting.

“It has been too long. Duty calls once more, my Brothers,” said Haradin. He looked at the five, one by one. “You have answered promptly, although I expected no less. Your devotion and loyalty have always been true.”

“We hurried to the call of the Master,” said the tallest of the five.

Haradin looked into his eyes and smiled. He knew that this man would give his life without blinking to defend the sacred duty he had taken a blood-oath to carry out, an oath which bound them for life, as well as their children and their children’s children.

“Who are we?” Haradin asked in a solemn voice.

“The Keepers of the Enigma,” they all answered at once, looking straight ahead.

“What do we protect?”

“The Ilenian Enigma.”

“Since when?”

“Since the time of the first men. Generation after generation. From father to son, until the end of time.”

Haradin bowed in approval.

“Show me the badges.”

The five opened their cloaks proudly to reveal the badges embroidered at heart level. They formed an intricate Ilenian symbol: the Ilenian rune of the Warden.

“Brothers, Keepers of the Enigma, the time is near. What we fear is close. All the omens tell us so. The terrible end approaches. That is the reason why we must fight without rest, without losing courage, pouring our souls into the goal, or else evil will drown us and we shall all perish forever. All Tremia will perish.”

“We will, Master,” they replied. There was no trace of doubt or fear in their voices.

“I have been absent for a long time, and many vital events have taken place without my being able to intervene. I should never have profaned the Temple of Earth… I was able to discover its location at last after many countless efforts… The temptation to get hold of one of the Ilenian medallions was too great for my tormented soul, and I could not help myself. It was a stupid mistake, and I nearly paid for it with my life. I fell into the Guardian’s trap and remained a prisoner. Even now I am still paying the effects of that treacherous trap, and my powers fail me without my being able to find a remedy.”

“We feared the worst, Master… but you had insisted that we did not intervene,” said the keeper in the middle of the line.

“True. You did the right thing, otherwise you would have died and there would be no one to protect the Enigma. Now I must ask you about the Chosen.”

“We have watched from the shadows, in secrecy, without ever being seen, without meddling in their crucial destinies,” the five recited together.

Haradin looked straight ahead and asked: “What is there to say about the Chosen Komir?”

The man in the middle stepped forward: “His destiny is beginning to manifest, Master. He is in possession of the Medallion of Ether, the one which will rule them all.”

“Is that true? Have they found the Temple of Ether?”

“Yes, Master. They broke into the Temple of Ether, overcame the Ilenian Guard and got hold of the medallion.”

“Where… where is it located?” Haradin’s voice was fraught with anxiety.

“Under the Egia Lighthouse on the cliffs, North of Ocorum, Master.”

“The Egia Lighthouse…” mused the Mage. He turned away from his disciples while he pondered about the discovery.

“One of the destroyed monoliths stood there… Yes, I believe so… I must study it, if…” Still pondering, turned to face the five.

“Where is Komir now?”

“We left them on the way to Nocean territory, near the mouth of the Nerfir River.”

“We left them?” said Haradin with surprise, looking at the other Keepers.

“Two other Chosen are with him, Master.”

“But… how is that possible?” He said, looking from one to the other of the five.

“That we do not know, Master. But three already walk together the same path.”

“Unheard of!” cried Haradin. “This can only mean that matters are coming to a head.”

“Yet only two carry a medallion, Master.”

“Komir and Aliana, am I right?”

“Yes, Master, you are.”

“I understand they are the carriers of the medallions of Ether and Earth. What about the third Chosen?”

“The third is not aware of being a Chosen.”

“All right. That will change in due course, I’m afraid…” said Haradin, thoughtfully.

“They are heading towards Nocean territory. The medallions are guiding them.”

“Fascinating. What about the other two Chosen?”

The warden of the far left stepped forward: “The young Masig is under her tribe’s protection. She has the medallion of Water with her, yet she is unaware of her destiny, Master.”

“I see… The medallion of Water has been discovered… unbelievable… Where is the Temple of Water?”

“In the Fountain of Life, at its summit, in the heart of Masig territory.”

“Fascinating, I would never have guessed,” said Haradin. “Several generations of Keepers have been searching unsuccessfully for the Sacred Temples. And now, in a short time, the Chosen have found one after another. Destiny or fate cannot be beaten at its own game, no matter how hard we try. The Chosen are meant to find the location of the ancient Ilenian Temples, unfortunately we are not. No matter how many years of tireless study we have spent in order to find them. Since the moment my path crossed that of Gelmos, Grand Master of the Keepers and my predecessor, and the truth was revealed to me, all those years ago, I have tried in vain to find the Temples, since the medallions are the key to the Enigma. Wise Gelmos warned me that it would be useless to fight against Ilenian magic, too powerful to be stopped by mere mortals. But it is our duty as Keepers. How I miss Gelmos! His wise advice… all the knowledge he accumulated during all those years of vigilance and understanding.”

“The last of the Chosen is not aware of the destiny which awaits,” said the Keeper to the right.

“It will come… in due course…” said Haradin. He stroked his chin and gazed at the ceiling.

“What are we to do, Master?” asked the Keeper in the middle.

Haradin looked at his disciples again. Calmly he said: “What we have always done, watch over the Chosen…”

“Do we not intervene, Master?” the shortest of the five wanted to know.

“We do not, my Brothers. We shall let destiny play out its designs. We are not gods, we are just Keepers with a sacred duty we have sworn to carry out.”

“And if they come close to discovering the Enigma?”

“In that case, we shall do our sacred duty. We shall protect the Enigma, we shall protect Tremia. We shall intervene.”

A relentless, scorching sun fell like a hammer on the long caravan crossing the desert in single file beneath a cloudless sky. The camels were heading westwards, guided by riders on colorful saddles carrying bags filled with exotic goods. They ambled rhythmically over the golden dunes. Komir sat high on his camel looking at the landscape around them, wondering whether it was possible for anything to live in that burnt-out environment. Everything around was inhospitable desert. Wherever he looked, there was only sand, and more sand. The dunes around them lost themselves on the horizon, an infinite sea of sand, a lifeless sea.

“Damn this scorching sun!” complained Hartz bitterly.

He was dressed in Nocean style and unrecognizable: long brown robe with decorations in black that covered his body and a badly-rolled, faded blue turban which fell to one side of his head and wobbled with the camel’s ambling.

“Stop moaning!” said Kayti who was riding beside him. “However much you complain, you won’t make this infernal sun any more benevolent. Or haven’t you realized we’re in the middle of a huge desert?”

“I’m aware I’m not as knowledgeable as you, Carrot-top, and nor will I ever be,” he replied, winking at her, “and I know nothing about these lands, but I do realize there’s nothing more than blasted sand, sand and more sand all around us. It’s as if we’re traveling across an ocean that some vengeful god had drunk dry. It’s awful. I’m sandy all over and my throat is so parched I can’t even swallow my own saliva. And don’t get me started on this insufferable sun. Whenever I forget about it, it burns another part of me!” He looked at the back of his hands, which were as red as his nose.

“Cover your head properly with the turban, it’s not tied well and it’s going to fall off. You have to wind the cloth tight so it doesn’t move, then put it over your face like a veil, the way the guides showed us, or else you’ll burn again,” said Kayti, pointing at the big man’s forehead.

“By the three goddesses! This thing is several feet long! How am I supposed to wind it around my head! When they did it, it looked so simple. But as soon as I think I’ve got it done, it unwinds!”

“Kendas and Komir don’t seem to have any problem with it, theirs are perfectly wound and only their eyes are visible. With the brown robes they’re wearing nobody could say they’re not Nocean.” Katy nodded towards them. “But you stand out miles away. You couldn’t look more foreign to these parts! We’re going into the great deserts, from here on it’s only going to be scorching sun and sand, so stop moaning and save your saliva. You’re going to need it.”

“If at least we didn’t have to travel on these stinking devils of the desert… Why the heck can’t we travel on horseback like normal people?”

“Don’t be such an idiot, Hartz. Horses wouldn’t stand up to such a long journey in this kind of arid, waterless terrain, in these high temperatures. Camels on the other hand, are perfectly acclimatized to these harsh conditions, they’re the perfect means of transport through this land. Besides, they don’t need so much water to survive. According to the caravan guides, they can go up to ten days without a drop of water. Their endurance is astonishing,” explained Kayti as she stroked her camel’s neck.

“Well, as far as I’m concerned these humpbacked beasts are the ugliest I’ve seen, and they’re very bad tempered. What’s more, sitting between their humps is killing my back. What on earth have they got in these humps, anyway? The water they drink?”

“Treat the poor beast well and it won’t give you any trouble.”

“He started it, he tried to bite me.”

She rolled her eyes, swore through her teeth, looked at Hartz in annoyance and said: “Every day I find it harder to explain to myself what it is I see in you.”

Hearing the reproach in her voice, Hartz sat up straight in the saddle and replied: “Strength? Poise? Charisma? Daring?”

Kayti covered her face with a black veil. With disbelief in her eyes, she tried not to look at the big Norriel as she spurred her camel past him.

Komir watched the scene between his friend and the redhead with amusement. Aliana brought her mount to his side.

“I see your friend isn’t enjoying the trip too much,” she said with a roguish grin.

At the sound of the Healer’s voice Komir felt a knot in his stomach and his heart skipped a beat. He looked at her and marveled once more at her beauty. She was dressed in the style of the desert women: indigo robe with silver threading, and a black cloth with a golden border wrapped around her head and face like a turban with a veil. Several Nocean amulets were hanging over her forehead: the caravan women had told them they served both as decoration and protection against evil spirits. It all made her even more beautiful in Komir’s eyes. He felt at peace just looking at her. Then a more intense feeling, something more basic: desire. He wanted to be with her, have her in his arms, touch her, kiss her. Komir fought against the feeling.

He cleared his throat and tried to hide the growing fascination she exerted on him.

“It’s just natural. We’ve been traveling across this infernal desert more than a week, and Hartz, who isn’t fond of either too much heat or too demanding trips, is beginning to lose his cool. But don’t worry, as they say in my land: “
wolf that howls too much does not bite
”. He loves to play the martyr and complain, but all he’ll really do is moan and let off steam.”

“I’m glad that’s the case. He really is a character,” said Aliana with a smile, looking at the big Norriel.

“Are you sure you’re in a good enough state to go through with this journey?” Komir asked. He was still worried about the Healer’s health, after the scare she had given them all when she had fainted on the ship a few days back.

“Yes, thank you, Komir. I just needed some rest. I overexerted myself in the healing on the ship after the pirates’ attack. I allowed myself to get carried away by the suffering and pain of all those people, and I nearly lost my life because of it. Don’t misunderstand me, I did it from my heart, and if I’d died I would have gone with my spirit fulfilled because I’d helped those in need, the way I’ve always wanted to do, the way I always will. I’m not sorry, I’d do it again without thinking.”

Komir shook his head.

“You mustn’t let yourself go that far, you should not cross the line of your boundaries. I don’t want to… we don’t want to lose you. You were unconscious for three whole days and we were beginning to think you’d never wake up. When we reached the port of the Nocean city of Stambus and docked, we had to hide you in the hold. The Nocean soldiers searched the ship twice, looking for spies and contraband. Luckily Captain Albatross was true to his word and never forgot what we’d done for him. It’s strange to see how certain men can change under a debt of gratitude and act in ways you’d never expected of them. He helped us without thinking, he risked his neck for us, which actually saved our lives. If the soldiers had found us they would have hanged us. To be honest, I didn’t expect so much from Albatross.”

“Even the darkest man is capable of good if his heart so tells him… How did he hide us? What happened?”

“The truth is, Albatross had a perfect ace up his sleeve. He hid us in the huge barrels of perfumed water. When the Nocean soldiers searched the barrels, we submerged and they didn’t suspect anything. We had to hide you among the dead bodies because we couldn’t wake you up. Captain Albatross came up with the hiding places, then explained to us what to do, I’m pretty sure this wasn’t the first time the rascal had transported people who were wanted.”

“I’m sorry for the burden I’ve been, and for having endangered you all,” said Aliana, and bowed her head.

“You’re no burden, you’re a blessing… Don’t you worry, in the end we’re alive to tell the story and that’s what counts. Now we’re on our way, crossing the desert and nearing our destination day by day.”

“We were lucky to find a caravan that’s headed for the Irisban Oasis. If we’ve calculated correctly, the oasis is near the place we’re going to. Although to be honest I’m having doubts, because the visions from the medallions aren’t at all clear and we don’t know these lands at all. I fear that crossing endless deserts, guided by unpredictable visions, is something that might turn very dangerous, even deadly, if we don’t proceed with extreme caution. Hartz is quite right, this desert is infernal: the scorching sun, the thirst, the exhaustion… they all make it inhuman. If we’d had to cross it by ourselves it would have been reckless. Without the help of the local guides and this caravan of weathered merchants we simply couldn’t have done it.”

“You’re right. Besides, we would have drawn the attention of the Nocean soldiers if we had traveled alone. In the midst of this caravan, dressed like the locals, we go unnoticed. Well, as long as Hartz doesn’t complain too loudly, you can hear his voice miles away.”

Aliana smiled as she looked at the big Norriel.

“Your friend draws attention, even if he doesn’t say a word.”

“Yes… there’s only one of him, that’s for sure!”

Aliana, staring east, remained thoughtful. At last she sighed and said: “Don’t worry, Komir. We’ll find it.”

“I wish I had your confidence, Aliana. But I look around at this place, forgotten by the goddesses, and it gives me the creeps.”

“I’m sure we’ll find it. We’re the bearers, the medallions want us to go to a forgotten place and I’m positive we’ll get there.” She put her hand in the collar of her robe and brought out the Medallion of Earth, then held it and stared at it for an instant. “Something important awaits us, Komir, I can feel it. Call it intuition, or perhaps it’s the medallion itself that’s filling me with trust, but I have no doubt we’ll reach this mysterious place. What’s more, I feel certain that something really important will be revealed to us.”

“I think so too. Somehow it’s linked to my parents’ death, and whatever happens I’m going to find out who killed them and why.”

Hearing this, Aliana’s gaze turned into one of pity, of worry.

“Let’s hope you find your justice!”

“Let’s hope…”

“Don’t let revenge consume your soul though…”

“I owe them…”

“It saddens me to see you suffer like this… your soul is tormented… if you’d let me help you…”

“Thank you… I appreciate your kindness.”

Aliana lowered her head, and when she raised it again she looked straight into his eyes. Komir felt the balm of the Healer’s blue gaze of sincere concern. And something else, something more intense which he did not know how to interpret.

The journey went on at a mournful pace. At dawn ten days later, the group of adventurers left the protection of the merchant caravan. They said goodbye to their guides and turned south, deeper into the desert. Komir and Kendas had given the Noceans gold coins in exchange for advice on the best route to follow. The guides had insisted on the madness of going south, away from the caravan routes. They tried to convince Komir to continue with them until they reached the Irisban Oasis, a safe haven where they could get supplies and rest a while. But that would take them away from the path indicated by the medallions. They had to go on southwards, into the burning, deadly desert. The Nocean guides called them fools and finally gave up on them. They ranted on about something in their own language. Komir had not understood the words, but he had certainly been able to grasp the general meaning.

They were heading to certain death.

The caravan leader came up to Komir and solemnly handed him a rolled-up parchment. He bowed his head and spurred his camel away.

Aliana looked at the document with surprise. “What is it?”

Komir turned to her and smiled. “More proof that life is a truly strange business, full of coincidences and surprises.”

Aliana looked on without understanding.

“It’s a safe-conduct,” explained Kendas. “It allows us to travel through this territory. We also need it to buy goods and services. The caravan wouldn’t have taken us if we hadn’t had it, the same as the dealers who sold us the clothes and food for the journey.”

Aliana was even more surprised.

“We got it while you were unconscious,” said Komir.

“A Nocean safe-conduct… but how?” she asked in confusion.

“We owe it to Hartz and his foolish heroism,” said Kayti.

The big man grinned, “Bah! It was nothing, just a nice swim with a few unwanted guests.”

Komir smiled.

“The young woman we saved from the crocodiles: she was the daughter of a powerful nobleman of Stambus. She was traveling with her uncle…”

“The richly-dressed man?”

“Exactly. A little before we reached port, with the city already in sight, he came up to us and introduced himself. He wanted to thank us for our help. Using Albatross as a translator and mediator he offered us gold, but Kendas, very skillfully, asked him whether he could get a safe-conduct for us by using his influence.” Komir, smiled in the direction of the Lancer.

“And that same evening, a messenger brought it to us on the ship, with the nobleman’s gratitude,” said Kayti.

Aliana nodded in understanding.

“Yes, fate never ceases to surprise us. People we meet casually, paths which cross by chance with those of people who are so different and at the same time so united by the fates of their lives… Unbelievable, it makes you wonder… One good action… fortuitous… and its repercussions…”