Gray skies hovered overhead as night came, and the group stopped. Midori counted her blessings, for they had made good progress this day, and it had passed without incident. She cheered up but not until long after she lay down to sleep and well after her shift at watch. Sleep finally came to her just as she considered the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she was at a crossing, a time when there could be two who were first to the Mother. She recalled despondently the fact that not long ago she had been only the fourth to the Mother; and even with Jasmine and Catrin’s demise there was another who by all accounts should have progressed to the highest position before her.
It was Calyin who awoke Midori some hours later by shaking her softly. Calyin had held the final watch and she awoke her sister before waking the others. “We must talk,” Calyin said quietly, pointing to a place away from the others.
Midori nodded and followed Calyin into the darkness.
“The men are divided,” Calyin whispered when they were a safe distance away from the camp. “My lord husband wishes to escape to the north. Geoffrey and the captain wish to rouse the garrisons of High Road and Solntse, then return to Imtal. They say Great Kingdom has not fallen, that only Imtal has fallen. What does the Mother tell you?”
Midori wanted to tell Calyin that the Mother told her she was not the true first and that the Mother was so distant from her that it seemed she was alone. Those things were not exactly the truth, however, and she held her tongue saying instead what was safest. “Imtal has fallen, the Kingdom lives on.”
“What of the Great Houses? What of the garrisons? Can you sense anything?”
“She senses,” said Lord Serant approaching out of the darkness, “the great change is upon us.”
“My lord husband,” Calyin said formerly turning to face Edwar Serant.
“You speak now behind my back?” he asked her.
Calyin lowered her eyes momentarily, then looked directly at him. “She is my sister. We are Alders, despite what she thinks. We do not run and hide.”
Lord Serant spat openly. “You think I run willingly? You are my wife. You who should know me better than any.”
“My lord husband, I never met to imply cowardice. I seek only answers. The Delinna I once knew was strong and resolute. Even in the face of our father, she stood to her convictions.”
Lord Serant beaded his eyes and said louder than the previous whispers, “Are you saying I lack conviction?”
Midori thrust herself between the two. “I am right here,” she said. “Don’t speak of me as if I am lost. I made my choices and I have no regrets.”
Calyin whirled around to face Midori. “Shall we then get it all out in the open?” Her voice was full of venom as she spoke. “I hated you for what you did. I hated you for your choices. But I respected you for your choices as well. You had only to speak his name and father would have had him swinging from the rope. It would have satisfied all, would it not have?”
“No,” said Midori emphatically, tears in her eyes. “It would not have satisfied anything. Don’t you see that it was about power? He couldn’t have cared less about honor and the word bond of our father.”
“He?” cut in Lord Serant.
The strong words had by now roused Geoffrey Solntse and Captain Ansh Brodst. Both were standing not far off. “They speak of King Jarom,” said Captain Brodst knowingly.
“Stay out of this,” said Midori and Calyin at the same time. Calyin added, “You’ve done quite enough already.”
“Just what’s that supposed to mean?” asked Midori. “Ansh could no more have held back than I could have.”
Afraid the two sisters were about to come to blows, Lord Serant gripped Calyin’s wrists. “We must return to the road.”
Calyin held firm. “No, not until we’ve said what must be said.”
“Agreed,” Midori said, returning her sister’s glare.
“Say it,” demanded Calyin. “Say that father was wrong. Say that you were wrong. Say that you are an Alder by blood and by blood you hold.”
“I will say no such thing, Calyin. You will never know how hard it was for me to walk away. To leave Imtal. To leave all that I knew. To leave him. You may think the Priestesses of the Mother are beyond the affairs of the Kingdoms and hold true to none, but this is not so. Our duty, our first duty, is to the peoples of Ruin Mist. I did what I must because the Mother showed me the paths. Marrying Jarom Tyr’anth would have only hastened the path of destruction. Surely you know this—you must know this.”
Calyin was trembling. Serant released his grip on her wrists and embraced her. “Enough,” he said. “You are sisters by blood, and by blood you hold. I can see it if you do not. We must return to the road now or all will be lost.”
Like thieves in the night, they began anew. Lord Serant assumed the lead and Geoffrey took the rear. Captain Brodst rode beside Midori and Calyin. Several hours of veiled sky remained before dawn and they were going to put this time to good use. Until just before first light, they maintained the road, and shortly afterwards they moved far to its outskirts.
The land had gentle, gradual slopes going downhill. In the distance they could now see the ridges that marked the Borderlands, and beyond them the snow-capped mountains of the north. Geoffrey knew this region the best as it was within the area patrolled by his fellows. In his youth, he had been on many patrols in this area himself. The closest garrison of the kingdom lay where the borders of the Barrens, the Borderlands, and the Great Kingdom met; and now they had just moved beyond its grasp.
They still thought it queer that they should attempt to avoid the very ones who should by all means be their confederates, but they would still follow caution and hope it was folly when they reached Solntse. As afternoon came upon them, they saw several patrols pass along the road at a distance, and an ever-increasing amount of traffic. This was not odd at all. They saw groups of wagons, riders, and even people on foot. Sometimes the passersby traveled in mixed groups but always they had some sort of armed company with them, usually an escort of two to three men heavily equipped, who probably required higher fees than would the rogues who could have found them.
An attack by outlaws was now Lord Serant’s primary concern also, for they had not much to offer in the way of monetary gain. They stayed close together with eyes constantly on guard and hands always at the ready. Serant gave heavy consideration to moving beyond the kingdom borders and into the borderlands. He didn’t believe all the tales he had heard about the place; but if so many believed them, it would surely be a good place to be. The rain that had held off in previous days found them at first morning light as a drizzle but it quickly turned into a downpour. They sought cover or, possibly, to outrun it. Unbeknownst to them as they raced to escape the storm, their course turned northerly; and before they knew it, the land had turned to rock and crag. However, they did not stop, nor did they heed their own instincts.
Lightning crackled in the air around them, sending sparks of energy through the air, and growing ever nearer. Their steeds turned of their own accord as the brilliant bolts struck within a few feet of horse and rider, and all the riders could do was to hold on and pray they could maintain their mounts. The sound of thunder suddenly swallowed all sound, and a split second later a flash lit the sky to their immediate left. Midori fell on the hard rock as her horse reared.
As she fell to the ground, she rolled away from the horse’s feet, which were seeking unintentionally to stomp her life away. Both Lord Serant and Captain Brodst saw her fall, but only the captain could turn his mount around to offer her a quick hand. The reins stung as they bit into his hand, but he did not release his right grip. He grasped her arm at the elbow and was able to pull her to safety.
Midori rubbed the sore spot on her head only for a moment before she locked both arms around Brodst’s waist. She wasn’t going to fall again if she could help it. She searched for her horse, but it was now long gone, lost among the ridges and the many turns in the path. A spot of white caught her eye; it almost looked as if a clear area lay in front of them, but she wasn’t quite sure.
Suddenly, they broke past the clouds, the rain stopped, the lightning receded, and the setting sun filled their field of vision. Captain Brodst reined his horse to a sudden halt. Directly in front of him, the path fell away into a very steep downward slope. As he gazed, he saw that they were on the very edge of an enormous valley—more a ravine than a valley. As he looked, he changed his mind. It was definitely a canyon, narrow and deep, winding like a great serpent through the rock.
“Downward—” whispered Midori.
Geoffrey didn’t like the looks of the place; his choice was to wait until the storms passed and turn back toward Solntse. “We must go to the garrison; only then will we know.”
Captain Brodst had heard Midori’s faint murmur. She had whispered almost directly into his ear. He gave weight to both Geoffrey’s and Midori’s words. “I say we follow Geoffrey to Solntse,” stated Brodst.
“I say,” started Serant, “that we continue along our current path and see where it takes us.”
Calyin was the only one who had not spoken her mind, and the other four turned toward her to hear her opinion. She wasn’t as quick to make a judgment as the others and she returned Midori’s wry look to her. Midori thanked Captain Brodst and dismounted.
“I believe we should continue; there is much at hand that we do not understand, and it is best to follow when led, to see where the path takes us.”
“Three to two,” spoke Geoffrey sadly. He shrugged his shoulders, shedding the sense of foreboding he perceived, and urged his mount onward at a cautious pace. After Midori mounted behind Calyin, the rest followed his lead; and as they journeyed down into the depths of the canyon, the darkness of night seemed to come immediately over them or at least its shadows did. The sky overhead was still a washed-out blue.
The descent was extremely drawn-out since they had to follow a staggered path crisscrossing the wall of the canyon many times. By the time they found the canyon floor, it was too dark to continue. The rush of water led them on for a time until they came to the edge of a river, where they made camp. They did manage to find enough scrub brush in the immediate area to get a blazing fire burning, giving no heed to precaution.
Lord Serant clapped a hand to Geoffrey’s back in response to his far-off stare during their evening meal. “It isn’t that bad, my friend. Soon you will be home with nothing but time on your hands, and all this will be far behind you, behind all of us.”
“I hope so,” responded Geoffrey weakly, “I hope so.”
The captain, who had wandered off in search of more wood, returned. His eyes were almost as distant as Geoffrey’s as he sat next to Serant. He looked to Midori and Calyin who quietly watched the flames, and then to Geoffrey and Serant. “Do you really think so?” asked Brodst.
“It is the desire of my heart, yes.”
“Lord Serant, I mean no disrespect when I say, this—I have been thinking very carefully—”
“Don’t—” whispered Midori.
“I must go to Solntse. We are only a full day’s ride away—we cannot turn away. What of the garrison troops there in full company? Tomorrow, I will go alone if need be, but to Solntse, I will go.”
Captain Brodst spoke the words that had been on the tip of Geoffrey’s tongue, and Geoffrey was quick to add his opinion, which was to go to Solntse. “We’ll take the capital back by force. We’ll round the garrisons from the whole of the kingdom! And we’ll march on Imtal and drive Jarom back to his lands as we would a mad dog!” Two pairs of eyes fell to Lord Serant, and wondered why he held his thoughts in check, and why he would continue along this path, which was completely against his nature.
“Do not say your thoughts!” announced Serant. “Or I’ll cut out your tongues myself. I thought we gave this great consideration before we began this journey. Our path is fated—” As Lord Serant continued to speak at length, Geoffrey understood Lord Serant’s reasoning even though the captain did not, for he understood the superstitious nature of those of the Territories and the captain did not. Honor took second place to beliefs, which were very strongly based. Geoffrey also saw the hatred Lord Serant held for Midori, not because he disliked her personally but because she had the power to hold his fears over him and show them to him.
The night was calm with the gentle sound of the river lulling their thoughts for a time. Lord Serant opted for the first watch, and he remained on guard all through the night, waking no one to replace him. The stars appeared so very far off as he stared at them; they did not bring answers to his questions, for he did not seek the answers. The blackness of night slowly dissipated replaced by morning light, but no sun.
Geoffrey and Captain Brodst parted from the others as morning came; the three who sat around the fire watched them retreat without saying a word. Lord Serant, Calyin and Midori would continue on their own. The canyon floor proved to be very rough and strewn with boulders, making it extremely difficult to traverse. With only two horses to bear the burden of three, they would walk this day.
Their thoughts were with the two who went to Solntse. They did not fear for their own safety. Three could survive as easily as could five and three could possibly remain more invisible than five. Before, they would have retreated from any force and that had not changed. A fight was not what they sought, so they would not confront a hostile force. They continued on through the rains and sleet, downward, inward, outward, upward, wherever their feet led them.