Revelation, page 20
“I went back to the door and opened it to find what you have just enjoyed. The cavern where this food was stored must have been crafted with the ancient power of preservation that my people once employed. I scavenged what I could. I guess that it was a storehouse for the guards who would come down this path to stand watch at the tower. There is enough food available for us that we should have no problems with provisioning ourselves for the return journey.”
Aaron smiled. “My dear Braden,” he said, “you simply amaze me. I don’t think that I’ve ever had a more resourceful companion on any journey.” Aaron also noticed something different in Braden’s disposition, a new vigor that gushed out of him like water from a brook. It was a far cry from the sullen, dispassionate dwarf that started the adventure. He wielded his weapon with well-honed skill and showed remarkable bravery in the face of danger; Aaron could not imagine Braden ever suffering a lack of courage.
“Well, now,” Aaron said, “I am grateful for the food, but we must continue. I assume it is still a long hike up this trail to the entrance. We have two days if we are not waylaid, so let’s be off.” He clapped Braden on the shoulder, hoisted the satchel onto his shoulder and began walking. Behind him, Braden and Mari followed, with Lorik bringing up the rear.
The hours passed and they made good time for their effort. Midday came upon them with the sun high overhead, warming them and illuminating the many rifts and glaciers that surround their expedition. Fortune seemed to favor the small group as the wind finally gave up. From their vantage point they could see far off into the distance. The mountain range they navigated reflected brightly in the afternoon sun with glimmering snow-packs and illustrious peaks as far as the eye could see.
Aaron knew, somewhere far to the south and well beyond his sight, the city of Celedon sat perched upon a high sea cliff looking down at the massive open waters of the rolling ocean. He longed for the taste of the salt air upon his tongue and the sound of birds fluttering and calling to one another as they hovered on the currents of air. He felt a long way from home and a long way from the life he once knew. Everything had changed that night in North Village. Now, hundreds of leagues from his past, high on a mountain he pressed on toward an ancient city of dwarves with the most unlikely of companions. He looked back to see Braden and Mari steadily walking behind him, seemingly unaffected by the elevation. Lorik was further back, struggling valiantly in the thin atmosphere of the high pass.
Ahead a shimmering field of white crossed their path. It stood nearly five miles away and lay directly before them. The trail widened so that the party could walk two abreast and Braden came to walk alongside Aaron. Glad for the company, Aaron pointed toward the massive field. “What is that ahead of us? It looks like an ocean of snow.”
“Oh,” spoke Braden, his breath sending out a billow of mist, “that, my dear captain, is the Kaedran Glacier! It is the largest glacier on all the Kanton mountain range, perhaps in all of Celedon.”
“Are we going to have to cross it?” Aaron didn’t feel too optimistic.
“Actually,” said Braden, “we are. It’s not as difficult as you might think. The crossing point is fairly level so we should have no difficulty. And, besides,” he continued, “there has never been a reported avalanche on that glacier… it is safe.”
Nothing Braden said made Aaron feel any better about crossing the massive field of snow. He trudged on, adjusting his sword and scratching his beard. “How far is it across?” Aaron asked, to no one in particular.
Mari answered, “It’s more than three miles across. My brother and I crossed it not more than three days ago.”
Aaron’s thoughts rested upon Lorik. He wondered if the sergeant would be able to navigate a slippery slope after taking such a long hike through the mountains. “Very well, then,” Aaron said, “we must cross, and we will. But before we attempt it I want us to be fresh. We will end our day on this side of the glacier. It will be dark in a few hours and we will need to rest for the final leg of the journey.”
“But sir,” Braden interjected, “if I remember right, there is an old lookout on the other side. It was used to watch for intruders that may have tried to invade from the mountain pass. It offers a view of the entire area and would be a better place to camp for the night.”
Aaron looked at Lorik who panted with exhaustion, tired and worn from their day’s travel. “I’ll make it, Captain,” Lorik said with little enthusiasm. “Braden’s right. We would be better off if we took shelter from the elements. A guard house, even a cave, in this climate would do us all a bit of good. If it is only three miles across, we should make it in less than two hours.”
Aaron hesitated, still reluctant to cross the glacier after such a long hike in the mountains, but also eager to be in a place where they could rest without surprise. “All right we cross, but not before we take at least a half-hour to recuperate. I want us all to have a sip of the dwarf drink as well; it does seem to help overcome the altitude.” After the brief respite, the four companions continued their journey along the high mountain pass, its rugged terrain bleak and stark, with nothing but rock and snow surrounding them.
They passed a rather jagged peak on their left when the trail turned slightly south and opened upon a wide, broad expanse of snow… the Kaedran Glacier.
10
Across the Kaedran Glacier
The wind finally decreased to little more than a whisper, yet the gentle breeze still carried the biting sting of the ancient snowpack. The sun had passed over them, making its descent toward the west, with a trail of long shadows in its wake. The fading light reflected off the snow, nearly blinding those who looked upon the vast glacial field. The snow, however, provided no means of protecting them from watching eyes. For all Aaron knew, the tower Braden mentioned was already occupied, spying on the open expanse for any would-be invaders.
The glacier filled an area of the Kanton mountain range with a wide view of the southern regions of Celedon. From their vantage point they looked down at the Great Expanse. Miles and miles of open plains and rolling hills, like a patchwork quilt, lay exposed to their sight. Far to the southwest, a mere pinpoint on the horizon, stood the Inland Sea glimmering in the sunlight. Aaron stared over the distant landscape, dotted with hills and farms, captivated by the panoramic scene afforded by the view.
Aaron fixed his eyes on the vast glacier that silently waited, daring them to cross. It looked menacing, massive, and riddled with danger. Aaron’s mind raced with apprehension, fearing that crossing the expanse would leave them exposed and vulnerable. Every ounce of his being warned him it was foolish to try and cross, that their secrecy would be compromised, their path known, and that such exposure would finish their mission prematurely.
Braden approached him. “Captain,” he said, “We must cross soon. If we wait too much longer we might be caught in the twilight wind that blows across this chasm. It is a difficult hike when it’s calm; it is foolhardy to cross when the wind picks up.”
Looking back, the sun set low upon the mountain peaks. Aaron watched the shadows slowly, steadily grow in the fading light. He looked upon each one of his companions. Aaron never imagined he would lead such a ragtag assortment of adventurers. A slow smile crossed his face. Despite the apparent danger, Aaron found his own heart lighter. For the first time he sensed his life had purpose, a meaning greater than simply living to serve the empire. Aaron took the first step onto the Kaedran Glacier.
The temperature dropped drastically the moment they moved away from the edge of the rock wall and into the massive ice field. He moved like a plow through the heavy drifts of snow, his companions following close behind him. His winter boots quickly became caked in white. The snow deepened the farther they traveled so that they had to maneuver through drifts nearly waste high.
For a moment Aaron looked back toward the cliffs behind him, watching the sun fall lower upon the peaks. He was grateful the first part of the glacier proved to be flat and wide, with only deep snow to hinder their progress. It took just over an hour to cross half the distance.
The sun vanished behind the western peaks of the Kanton Mountains, igniting the cliffs and spires with a brilliant orange and red aura. Moments later a breeze began to caress the landscape, gentle at first, but increasing its fury as they continued across. An army of ice specks pecked at their skin like needles. The wind whipped across the glacier and sent a flurry of snow swirling around them like a cloud. Even Braden began to despair of ever reaching the eastern edge. They had nothing left to do but press on, anxious to reach the shelter on the other side. Aaron led the way, his body carving a channel through the mounting snowdrifts nearly to his shoulders.
They made slow progress across the frozen terrain, but nearer to the eastern side, the winds were less prominent and the depth of the snow decreased enough so they could see rock beneath their feet. However, now the landscape appeared set against them. The slope of the glacier took a decidedly steeper angle, and they fought to keep their footing as they trudged up the snowy incline. Absent the deeper drifts of snow, Aaron found the footing untenable.
Without warning he began to slip. He flailed with his arms as he fell, sliding down the face of the glacier. Desperate, he tried to grab the snow with his fingers, leaving long channels as he clawed at the surface to slow down. Panic gripped him as he careened down the frozen slope. Snow rushed passed him, blinding his eyes and stinging his face. His mind raced with the fear that he might fall to his death. He could barely see the bottom edge of the glacier rushing up as he tried to dig his heels into the ice.
Without thinking, Aaron pulled his sword from the scabbard and with a last, desperate effort, plunged the blade into the snow, holding the hilt with all his might. He feared the blade would snap under the strain, but it held. He gasped as he realized that he slid nearly half-way down the glacier and faced an impossible climb to regain the path. His sword stuck hilt-deep in the snowpack and his arms began to tire from the strain. Only a bit of icy land separated him from a sheer cliff and a fatal end.
Digging his feet into the snow, he carved out some footholds. Once his feet were secure he took the risk and pulled out the blade, plunging it ahead of him. It held. Slowly Aaron climbed back toward the others. Another step and he crept closer, digging out footholds, stabbing the snow, crawling up the face of the mountain. Aaron only hoped his strength would hold. He gasped in shock as Mari started to climb down after him. Using her daggers like ice picks, she navigated the glacier with amazing agility.
She stopped just above him, hanging onto her daggers in the snow and smiled. “I see you might need a hand?”
“Not at all,” Aaron said as he tried to sound calm. “I just wanted to get a better view of the glacier before we left it.” Aaron tried to force the humor, but the tone of his voice trembled with exhaustion.
“Grab my legs,” Mari commanded, “and I will help you back to the top.” By that time she had descended far enough for him to easily reach her foot. With one hand he held her ankle, and with the other he used his own sword to pick his way back to the top. Hand over hand she began climbing, using her daggers to stab into the snow and pull herself forward. Like ants, scratching and clawing, Aaron and Mari slowly ascended the treacherous glacier, finally reaching the ancient dwarf pass. Braden reached down and took Mari’s hand, helping her to her feet as Lorik came to Aaron’s aide.
“Next… time… Sergeant,” said Aaron, panting for each breath. “We bring a rope.”
Lorik smiled as he helped Aaron to his feet. “Absolutely, sir.”
Far to the west the sun gave its last gasp of light as it fell below the horizon, leaving the world shrouded in darkness. Only the silvery light of the stars provided illumination. Aaron looked toward their destination. The eastern peak of the Kaedran glacier loomed ahead of them like a giant shadow in the midst of lesser ones.
A massive rock formation of marble and granite, the peak stood like a towering obelisk reaching toward the sky, its desolate, jagged heights defying wind and rain. At the base of the eastern pinnacle a small, stone tower stood almost invisible against the rock face, a mirror image of the Kanton tower but much smaller. Built directly from the stones of the mountain, the guard tower could house a group of ten to fifteen dwarves. Like eyes carved into the granite keep, narrow window slits watched the pass.
As his band approached the tower, high overhead a voice on the air, almost hidden in the howling gusts of wind, reached Aaron’s ears. A large winged creature flew directly toward them, moving swiftly. Immediately, he knew what approached and shouted, “Run!”
They raced as fast as the snow drifts would allow. Aaron drew his sword and immediately the pommel stone radiated a pale green light, surrounding the captain and reflecting off the snow and stone. He momentarily stumbled, surprised at the sword’s illumination. When he glanced at Braden and Mari, they both returned a puzzled look while Lorik’s eyes widened with wonder.
Unable to outrace the winged beast, they prepared to stand against it when it soared overhead and continued east, beyond their sight. Its unrelenting cry echoed against the mountain as it passed, flying so close that they could hear the creature’s wings.
Aaron sighed. “That was fortunate.” He sheathed his weapon and turned to the others. “Don’t stop. We must get to that shelter, we don’t know if that creature will return.” He hurried their pace until they reached the guard tower. On the far side of the circular building, an archway sat open to them and they entered. Each one quickly went to a window to look for the deladrin’s return. They watched for several minutes, staring into the darkness and listening for other sounds. Only the wind offered any voice to the night as the pale sheen of the Kaedran Glacier glimmered in the starlight. Aaron, with the others, let out a sigh of relief.
The tower itself was not much more than a broken remnant of a time long ago. The antiquated walls showed countless signs of cracking as stress fractures ran along almost every stone. The entire ceiling had collapsed with the weight of hundreds of snowfalls, leaving the interior exposed to the sky. Only a small location against the wall and under the stairs provided any shelter from the elements. The stairs themselves were built directly into the wall, made of the same stone, winding up to a parapet along the upper wall. It was far too fractured to venture a climb, as Braden discovered when he put his weight on the first step. There was nothing else of value in the tower, only the bits and pieces of ancient chairs and the wooden planks that had once formed the ceiling.
The four of them huddled next to each other under the stair to try and stay warm, “It’s going to be a long, cold night… let’s try to get some rest,” said Aaron. “Braden, take out the stone so we can have a bit of light.”
The illumine stone shone with its faint, white light, encircling the small band of adventurers.
Lorik looked at Mari. “You don’t have the power to light us a fire, do you?”
“No, I’m sorry,” Mari replied. “The gifts of the High-Born are only with all things living. I have no power to bring forth fire.” She looked at Braden with a questioning glance. “You, however… do you not know the ancient skills of your own people?”
Braden shook his head. “No, my lady. Those secrets have been forbidden to my people for many centuries and are almost forgotten now. There are few who practice the ancient arts, and those who do are usually considered rebels.”
Mari seemed genuinely disappointed. “That is a loss. My father taught me the gifts given to us by the true King were supposed to be learned and taught to others. Why have your people left the ancient ways behind?”
Braden was unsure how to answer. “I don’t know. There are some who think that the ancient ways are long gone, and that a new era for the dwarves is at hand. Others think that we should simply forget the ancient truths and fashion for ourselves a new course… to leave behind the old hope.” He paused as he thought about the answer. “For me…I’ve never actually been taught the old ways. What young dwarves are taught are the skills of weaponry and the art of delving. Some become farmers and tradesman, but most have never heard the ancient truths. Some few, our Lord Dunstan is one, keep alive the hope of restoration… but that restoration is now more about the dwarves taking a prominent place among the peoples of the world.”
Mari nodded in understanding, and then looked over to Aaron. “They call you captain?”
“Yes,” Aaron said, “I once served in the Royal Guard of Celedon and led the division of the third order. Many of my men were lost several months ago in the Shattered Hills. Lorik and I are the only survivors from our expedition, except one who has left us.”
“But I was taught that your entire race was deceived into darkness and lost under the power of the Usurper,” Mari said. “How is it that you are here seeking the Book of Aleth?”
Aaron looked at the ground. “Lorik and I have learned that we have been taught many things that are untrue. Our history teaches that a millennia ago the people of Celedon rose up against a tyrannical king and deposed him, setting instead an emperor who would lead Celedon into a new era of peaceful cooperation. The knowledge of elves and dwarves became nothing more than legend and myth. By the time I was old enough to be educated in the imperial schools, all I knew about the other races were merely found in children’s stories.
“Months ago our emperor sent me and my men on a mission to recover the Book of Aleth and to return it to the royal archives in the capital. My mission, still, is to recover the book… but not for the emperor, for me.”
“What will you do with it?” Mari asked.
“My hope is to learn from it. Since we’ve been on this journey, I have encountered things and people that I would never have guessed existed, circumstances that I never dreamt were possible. Much has happened to change my understanding of the world around me and it all centers on this book.” Aaron paused, thoughtful. “I’m tired of being lied to,” he said. “With all that has occurred, I must discover the real truth. And,” he continued, “if the emperor wants to hide it and others want to exploit it, I intend to protect it.” Aaron shivered in the cold. Wanting to change the subject, he drew his sword and held the hilt out to Mari. “Can you tell me anything about these markings?”
