A change in course

The Fishermen’s Guild, located at the unharmed side of the harbor, offered two hundred blankets to aid the already exhausted healers, who had spent the entire night gathering the wounded and tending to the casualties, as well as their families.
With the assistance of some children who refused to go to bed and insisted on helping their neighbors and friends, Terevalis and his cousins moved the blankets to the Temple of Wal-wuir, the Elven shrine dedicated to the shores and the sea, where many waited for some tending or comfort.
Aware of the children’s example, all that could stand and help did so. They could not do without the healers so there was no complaint when all healers that were available organized themselves into four groups of different turns so that as many people as possible could be taken care of.

Taking care of their neighbors was not new to Terevalis, Sylvia or Brian. There had been other raids before, but never had they been so bold or numerous. Amongst the people in the halls, the recurring subjects of conversation were how well the Triadin Forces were doing in Snullkrag or how strong were the defenses by the borders.

Terevalis was still excited about having somehow contributed to the favorable result in the conflict, but even more so about the fact that a golden dragon, Maekrix of all of them, had come all the way to Reanor to defend its people. The dragon had even spoken with him…

- It is time to turn in, cousin. –Terevalis was startled by Brian, woken from his reverie – but that certainly is a sight to behold.

Brian had caught his cousin gripping the hilt of one of the family blades while staring at the dragon that was sleeping by the harbor and gleaming under the setting moonlight. They had all fought hard and bravely, but both him and Sylvia had noticed and been surprised at how quickly Terevalis had adapted to the sword.

- Is there any task left for us to do? - asked Terevalis.

- Sylvia said that we should only stay if we were to join the nightly prayers for the wounded and the departed; but she also said that we probably need our own rest and our mothers also need to know we’re safe.

- Then we’d better be off… - stated Terevalis, fighting off a yawn. – Is Sylvia staying at the temple then? – He asked as they walked alongside the candlelit nave.

- She is no Noiram, the Priestess, but she has some healing power. She is taking her rest here and joining the morning turn with the morning healers.

- I would still see her and thank her for everything today.

- Yet she has already retired and I am afraid, cousin, that if we don’t do the same soon, I will wake up tomorrow with a backache at any step in town.

The two young men allowed themselves a little chuckle and moved out of the temple, shivering against an unexpected chill outside the Elven temple.

________________ ___________________ ___________________

Treading along the barren road of Soarmer (Soh ahr mehr), Zack finally saw the woods of Silovain on the hills below the majestic peaks of the coutry of Awengoil. The mountains rarely showed themselves clear of clouds or mist and few have any idea of what their tops look like.
The contrast between the lands to the west and the lands to the East was as abrupt as black hair and white hair. To the East, there were the desert like planes of Rapsengor, and to the West, the lush hills and mountains of Triade and the country of Awengoil.
Zack had managed to escape two blue Tramplers, wild Rapsengorians; beasts with a mind to destroy and a nomadic lifestyle that makes their groups whereabouts nearly unpredictable. He also managed to the road to make way towards Snullkrag in Gohruir.

Seeing the mysterious woods was a relief, because it represented just a little over two days of relatively safe paths until he would be able to show his Navangorian Warrior token at the Tower of Elespine, in the Tri-State border.
What he had seen on his way from the North, though, had made him wonder whether Rapsengor was as chaotic a country as it had been fabled to be.
The raided caravans of Gohruirin refugees were a revolting sight. Dismembered bodies, children dragged along the gravel to their deaths, as well as carriages burnt down with people in them had haunted Zack’s trip since Aor’s Bend. A deep sense of foreboding would creep up on him every time he would walk across one of those caravans. After having counted sixty four dead, including women and children, he realized that the situation in the South might be direr than he’d been told. To what extent were the Rapsengorians taking advantage of the weakened borders throughout, or even establishing unlikely alliances with the Marzolk, Zack would only be able to ascertain once he met with welcoming forces in the coming days.

Lady Ishingle had given him the choice between joining her personal guard in her county or taking a Warrior’s token with an Eastern Navangorian letter of honor to gain ranks and wisdom in the battles down South. He had always wanted to see the world, especially because there hadn’t been a family to tell him about it.
Zack chose what he had always chosen before – his own path.

He had learnt early that being a rogue ranger was fine in Eastern Navangor so long as the rules of the Land were upheld. Knowing this allowed him to live in Ishingle’s county without losing his sense of freedom.
Zack’s reputation as an effective border ranger grew while he defended the region from Rapsengorian warg riders in the Snowless Winter, three years prior.
Now, on the brink of coming to the lands where the “Cursed War” had been taking place for three seasons, Zack felt like his destiny might not lie in either kingdom.

When your conviction is shaken the first thing you should do, if you can, is to take a good rest and meditate. – His tutor had said.
Silovain’s outer woods could offer him some safe cover, as he did need to take care of his over trodden feet.

By the time he made he made it to the first trees, Zack looked back at the northern side of the road and spotted the Tramplers, giving thanks for their aversion to trees. He still didn’t feel safe enough and moved deeper into the forest. He knew he was in no fighting shape today.

Having left Longfang in Navangor had been painful and he, who had the wolf for his only friend now missed her company terribly. She would not survive the southern weather, so he left her at the care lady Ishingle, whom the wolf was fond of.
The harsh winds from the road seemed to have been quieted down, which allowed him to relax earlier than he thought he could. Walking a little further into the woods, in search of firewood, Zack noticed a slab of stone amidst a pile of pine cones. It seemed so different from all the green and golden around it and still it felt like it belonged nowhere else.
The seemingly rugged surface looked beautiful as no rough rock had ever looked before, drawing him near. He collected some of the pinecones into his pocket and marveled at the exotic stone.
Although it had looked rugged from a distance, Zack realized that it was covered in profusely intertwined patterns, which resembled veins and plants at the same time. As his gaze lingered upon the stone he noticed something oddly familiar. He couldn’t quite recall how or when he had learnt it, but he could read the engravings he had found.

On yum mroth, On yum aroth

Üveileth ïig am grulaum

Dern vagh yu mieer

Am Lüm.

(Open from within, open from without

Welcome me in safety

Lock this place

In peace.)

For a breath not even crickets made a sound.
Then the unmistakable heavy breath of the Tramplers sounded clearly behind him.
Zack slowly turned around as he tried to stand back up, stepping behind the slab. There they stood, ready to charge at him, with their sharp and heavy spikes protruding menacingly out of their massive shoulders. Their husks tapped the ground, making it shudder underneath Zack’s feet. For a split second he just stared in amazement at how the behemoths had managed to squeeze through the trees and even survive the allergic shock their bodies ought to be going through.
As they motioned to attack him, the very sight of them abruptly became distant and small, far out from the woods that had welcomed Zack not three moments before. Zack did not see what pulled him; he did not see the ground opening and swallowing the two Tramplers whole. He did not see anything else for his senses were shut out from him…

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

Terevalis and Brian arrived to a quiet home.
The gates were sealed so they both had to climb through windows in a nearby building, in order to jump on to one of the terraces where Sylvia would grow grapevines. With a few scratches from the rough landing, the two young men made their way into the house through Brian’s open bedroom window, below the other side of Sylvia’s terrace.

Brian took his boots off and placed them outside his bedroom and bade Terevalis good night. Throwing himself on the bed he instantly became oblivious to the world around him.
Terevalis was tired as well but he hadn’t forgotten that his mother and aunt might be concerned about their whereabouts, so he decided to look for them at the dining hall, where the family would always come together. Walking down the stairs he noticed a few torches were still lighting the hallway and muffled voices could be heard from behind the main dining room door. He could discern his mother’s voice, and she sounded upset.

- I don’t even know if my son survived today’s attack, captain Meralos! How do you expect me to know when or whether he will be here to open the council’s letter?

Terevalis felt like his stomach had been punched, again. He had kept the thought of leaving Triade away because it had always sprouted much pain in his heart – as much as he longed to see other mountains and planes, his father, uncles, brother and cousins again – hearing an official Triadinma envoy at their house that late at night shook the balance out of him.
Still, he couldn’t bear to hear his mother’s distress, especially after all that had happened to their land that day. He gathered his strength and made his way inside.

- Brian and I are safe and sound at home, mother, though too many of our neighbors either died or were injured because our defenses have been lowered since we joined the Gohruirin War. – Terevalis sent a sharp gaze at the man in uniform across the room.

- You’d better bite your tongue, boy, before you’d speak ill of Triadin’s defenses.

- It was me and my kin who defended Triade today, not our army. You’d better learn some manners, sir, before coming to my house and tell me how to talk to someone who hasn’t introduced themselves to me.

Captain Meralos clenched his teeth and asked:

- Are you Terevalis Silverchyme? – Clearly he had no intention of pursuing an argument.

- If he who asks shall say who he is and what he comes for.

- As you may see, sir- the officer impatiently patted his left shoulder where his high rank insignias had been embroidered with silver and golden thread – I have come by direct orders of our Council to deliver this letter to the one Terevalis Silverchyme; not knowing the contents of this urgent letter all I know is I must take a valid reply as soon as the letter is read.

Terevalis settled down at this and, as the weight of the entire day lay heavy on his body and mind, he turned to his mother with an apologetic bow and asked:

- Mother, can we host the officer as our guest for the night? Not only have we not had an opportunity to appease your distress tonight, as both Brian and I both need much rest after today’s battle.

Annesta snapped her left hand fingers and the echo travelled through the walls of the house. Soon after and drowsy yet ready maiden knocked on the door and motioned towards her mistress. Annesta whispered in her ears and turned towards Terevalis, approaching him holding his hands, reassuring herself that he was indeed there with her.

- What of Sylvia? – Aunt Mag’s anxious voice sounded from behind a large fireplace seat, across the room.

- Dear aunt, Sylvia is fine, but she chose to take her rest at the temple of Wal-wuir, so she can aid our neighbors with her healing skills. – Aunt Mag shed quiet tears of relief and sent quiet thanks with a smile toward her nephew.

- Sir, you must read this letter as soon as possible. – The captain insisted.

- And I will. – Terevalis gestured for the letter, which captain Meralos handed out to him. - Tomorrow.

While the officer sighed with exasperation, he took a moment to look at the official wax seal on it. The emblem was the same as Triade’s flag; an elf woman standing on the left and a human child standing on the right, both under the protective wings of a dragon. He then looked back at the captain with a more congenial attitude.

- Thank you for your troubles, sir, I bid you a good night and pray for a good rest. May the morning bring us renewed strength to our limbs and freshness of spirit…

They both bowed politely at each other and Terevalis made for his bedroom after kissing his mother’s forehead and giving his aunt a gentle rub on her shoulders.

- … We’ll all need it tomorrow.

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

Shoulders, elbows and wrists aching behind his back, while his feet dragged below, Zack came to amidst the footsteps of many.

- He’s awake. – A female voice said.

The march halted, he was pushed and tied to the base of a large tree and his head was uncovered while several rangers menacingly stood around him. Their garments were quite different from the ones he knew in the North, but he could clearly tell by their weapons and poise that they were rangers and not any other kind of folk. The woods were thick there, yet there was a pervading light which allowed him to see these people without hurting his eyes.

- How have you come into these lands? – asked another ranger, ready to strike Zack with brass-knuckles.

- I came by foot; I am ranger from Navangor, on my way to Gohruir.

- You are far from either. How do we know you’re not a spy? – asked the first ranger, putting her dagger’s blade by his jugular.

- If you would reach for my back pouch you would find a letter of honor from East Navangor and my Warrior’s token.

A third ranger approached the tree and reached for the pouch Zack had mentioned. He then took it to the male ranger who seemed to be the leader. He ripped the royal seal at which Zack’s heart sank, and read the letter.
After a moment, he looked back at Zack with a raised brow and put the scroll back in the pouch.

- It will be a long while until you will be able to go to Gohruir lands, Zacharya, and for the time being you will be our guest here, until we can ascertain what can be done with you.

Zack lowered is head, feeling like his choices had been removed, his freedom terminated and his will made absolutely irrelevant.

The rangers set up camp around the tree, with several bonfires around the large tree where he’d been tied to. A few of them were sent out to scout the area and others were sent out on some sort of mission.
Being drained of strength and resistance Zack fell into an unstable sleep, filled with nightmares populated with monsters, chases and cages…