We left Fred’s Bait shop pretty early, making our journey south around the Salton Sea. I told my dream story to Snake and he scoffed.
I didn’t understand it. He didn’t have to agree to go with me. After a few hours I realized his annoyance was over my obsession with Vala.
“I have a feeling things aren’t gonna turn out like you think.”
“See, I don’t get that,” I said. “I was the one who thought bad of Vala for leaving.’
“Oh, I don’t think badly of Vala. I just think things have changed.”
We continued on, stopping only twice. I knew we’d get in the vicinity of the Straits before sundown.
We didn’t know much about the Straits at all, just that the beginning was marked with gatekeepers and guards and the Straits were made up of a bunch of little villages. Farms, so to speak, for the Sybaris.
I knew we had arrived when just beyond a barn, I saw four Sybaris soldiers holding a post. They weren’t the demonic looking gatekeepers I expected to see.
We asked for passage and were told that only the gatekeepers could grant it, so obviously these weren’t the gatekeepers. Apparently they didn’t emerge until nightfall.
We retreated to the barn to wait.
“I told you we should just walk up to the front door,” Snake said and pulled out a map. He made a marking. “This is where we are. I say, come morning, we head out, go south and come into the Strait that way.”
“Why do you have a problem with us going to the gatekeepers?”
“They aren’t gonna let us in. They want blood. Hell, Tanner, they may kill us. Ever think of that?”
“I did. And I…” I paused when I heard the familiar squawk. “Did you hear that?”
It happened again. A squeal.
“I hear it. Our Savage buddies.” Snake looked to the roof of the barn. “This isn’t gonna hold them.”
“They’re flying over us.”
Snake grunted. “There you go again, thinking you know them.”
“No, Snake, they aren’t even honing in on us. We aren’t what they want.”
“Then what do they want?”
I walked over to the barn door and peeked out the crevice. My eyes widened. “Holy cow.”
“What?”
I rushed over to my stuff and grabbed my crossbow, placed it behind my back, then grabbed my weapon, checking to make sure it was fully loaded. “There’s about thirty.”
“And you’re doing what?”
“Grab your weapons.”
“What the hell for?”
“We can take out thirty.”
“Why are we doing this?”
I grinned. “Our rite of passage. They’re attacking the gatekeepers.”
With Snake right behind me, I slowly opened the barn door. A hundred feet away, the circle of torches lit the area of the gatekeepers and gave enough light for us to see the Savage attack.
They’d swoop down, miss, and try again.
The Savages circled the gatekeepers like vultures over a dead carcass.
The gatekeepers were at a disadvantage and didn’t have the skills to fight. They were supposed to be these almighty beings that kept everyone safe, but they looked pathetic with no weapons and only their hands to swat them off.
It wouldn’t take long, I figured, before the Savages got the best of them. I worried less about the gatekeepers than I did the people of the Straits. If the Savages made it this far, they were headed toward the villagers.
Snake and I moved closer and took aim. We had to be fast and accurate.
Once we started shooting, we were able to take half of them out before they turned and came for us, flying fast, screaming at us with their war cries.
“This is not how I wanted to die!” Snake screamed while shooting as best and as fast as he could.
Staying focused, we were able to hit them. I ran out of ammunition with only a couple of them remaining and I drew my bow.
The loud cries and screams of the Savages faded to silence, their dead remains scattered about.
I went back to the barn to retrieve our things, figuring it was a good time to ask for entrance into the Straits.
When I came from the barn, one of the gatekeepers stood before Snake.
He was a large being, carrying a torch, and wore a hood that masked his face. His voice was deep and resonating.
“No human has ever come to our aid. For that we are grateful. What is it that you seek at our gates?”
“In,” I said simply.
*
It was easier than I thought. Well, with the exception of having to take out the Savages.
I told the gatekeeper where I needed to go, and he instructed, “Follow the road.”
Easy enough.
Then he said. “You won’t like what you find there.”
“Maybe you should have told him why we are coming here,” Snake said as we walked. “I mean, we saved them. I’m thinking we could have gotten more out of them than just in.”
“We didn’t need to tell them any more.”
“He said we won’t like what we see.”
“Probably because it’s only a village, nothing fancy.”
“I don’t think that’s what he meant.”
Snake was right.
We came in from the back and the moon lit the way. We passed empty barns and animal pens. The field looked picked through and when we arrived at the village, it not only was empty, it was destroyed.
There were rows of houses with some that centered a town court. That court contained a mound of burned remains.
It was evident by the destruction of the houses and dried blood what had occurred.
“Savages,” Snake said. “They hit here.”
“Yeah, but when?” I asked. “It had to be recent. Right? Vala didn’t say anything.”
“You said she didn’t have time.” Snake moved to the mound of burnt bodies. “This is cold. It’s old.”
“Where is she?” Just as I asked that question, feeling the slam of defeat, I saw the gatekeeper again. “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping watch?”
“Human male,” he said, moving toward me, almost floating, “you have found good favor with us for your heroics. As stated, no human has ever helped us. For that you are owed. Not just by me, but by the Ancients. You did not seek only the village of Akana, you sought a person. Who is it you wish to find?”
I peered at Snake to see what he thought. “Might as well tell him,” he said.
I faced the gatekeeper. “I’m looking for my friend. I don’t mean harm to anyone, I want her to come back with us.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Vala.”
“The Mare,” he stated.
I nodded, fearful of what he’d say.
“She is not here. She is in La Sveg As. City of the Ancients.”
“Is there a way there?”
“She has been chosen, she cannot leave.”
“Fine. Fine. I need to speak to her,” I pleaded.
“Because of what you have done, I will assure you passage there tomorrow and provide transportation for you and your companion. I will grant you access and notify the king of your arrival. Bear in mind we cannot guarantee your return home or what will become of you there.”
“Fine,” I said. “Just get me to Vala. Please.”
The gatekeeper nodded, turned, and then moved from the village square.
“You heard what he said, right?” Snake asked. “He said he’s notifying the king, and he can’t guarantee our safety. That means we walking into a trap.”
“We’re fine. We’re heroes. We’ll be fine,” I said nonchalantly. “We go there, see Vala, and leave. She’ll come with us.”
“Glad you’re so optimistic.”
“Dude, seriously, how long have you guys been looking for the City of the Ancients? Huh? Years. And all we had to do was take out a few Savages and we’re in. We’re in. We’ll have Vala and we find out where the City of the Ancients is.” I held up my hand to him.
Snake looked at it. “Why are you holding that up?”
“Give me a high five.”
“No.”
“Come on, man, high five.” I slapped his hand and he hit back halfheartedly. “We’re going to the City of the Ancients.”
Snake grumbled.
Although it sounded like a good thing, I wasn’t sure it actually was. That remained to be seen.