The Secret of the Pela Ataur Mounts – Part I

I'm on the surface in the company of strangers. Each day we face death, as we make the perilous journey to the immortal strongholds on Dereth. It is an uncomfortable alliance, fraught with more evil, than innocence and good. There is little camaraderie here, and if I face my demise, it will be alone. Will anyone think to send word back to the family I left waiting for my return and their deliverance? I think not.

The immortals have fought back the insurgence in many areas, meting out revenge for generations passed. I am not here for vengeance. My father died an honorable death trying to make a homestead for his family in the outlands - the only free soil available on the surface for the poor. Nine years after his death, I am here to pursue his dream of seeing his family emerge from the oppressive darkness and confinement of the shelters. And his daughters take their place as enchanters and warriors for the Order of Dereth.

Saylah of Thistledown
Apprentice Enchanter
Dark tides hail from dark eyes. Let your soul be a blinding light.

The Secret of the Pela Mounts - Part I

They gathered together shortly after the harvest moon was visible in the evening sky. Saylah's armor glowed from a recent polishing. She was fully armed except for her helmet, which was balanced between her right hip and the crook of her arm. Her thick mass of wavy red hair was braided in two loops that swung from the back of her head as she moved.

A steady breeze was blowing from the west, bringing with it a welcomed respite from the inland heat. Dark green foliage surrounded the trio. Saylah leaned against the trunk of Adler tree; its large almond shaped leaves branched out on either side of her, masking her from behind. Saylah watched without seeing, as her companions made final adjustments to their armor. Her grumbling stomach reminded her that they were missing the evening meal. She wondered what her mother and sister were doing at this very moment. She imagined her sister turning the flat bread for the last time in the oven, while her mother added finishing spices to her brown rabbit stew. Kerdwic was probably on his way with firewood, and water that was freshly drawn from the common well. Perspiring in the stagnant heat, Saylah longed for the cool comfort of home and the relative safety of the shelter.

With a questioning eye Makenya asked, "Are you listening Saylah?"

Saylah's bronze cheeks were hot with embarrassment when she replied, "Pardon?" She wondered how long Makenya had been speaking to her.

"I was asking about the best route."

"Oh that again?" Saylah replied somewhat exasperated. "I've scribed the best route. Of that I'm certain. Doesn't mean that what we seek will be found there." Pulling herself up and shifting her helmet to her left hip she continued, "The more pressing question is should I be going?"

Turning to the tall and silent Harbinger, Makenya said, "See, I told you she didn't want to go!" Like most Tumeroks, Makenya's voice was high and nasal. Seemingly agitated, she began to fidget. She bobbed up and down on her bowed legs, and kicked the sand at her feet.

In her own defense Saylah quickly replied, "It's not that I don't want to go - it's that I shouldn't go. There's a lot a stake and I can ill afford to make a misstep."

As was his habit, Harbinger cleared his voice before he spoke. "I agree Saylah. For Mak and me, we can assume the risk. Little will befall us if we fail."

"We could die!" Makeyna interrupted.

"True, but that's a personal risk. Should the worse happen, you'll resurrect at the nearest Life Stone. When we return to camp a skilled healer can mend your wounds. Done correctly, you'll be your old self again - eventually."

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right," Harbinger said with a smile. "But my point is that there's no retribution for our failure. As well you know. Being part of the Forward Guard, we can come and go as we please when not on duty." Towering above his female companions in his black lord's armor, he continued to think aloud. "Saylah's a good archer but her rank is only apprentice Lower Ranger, she shouldn't leave camp without her patron's leave."

Saylah nodded her head in agreement. "But I can't ask for leave without lying about why. And I dare not do that."

The group fell quiet, each contemplating Saylah's dilemma. Harbinger and Makenya needed the map that Saylah had painstakingly scribed. The map indicated a location on the Shinoko islands, where Saylah believed enchantment could be used to capture the essence of the powerful Pela mounts. Neither of them were familiar with cartography symbols, so borrowing the map wasn't an option.

The map that Saylah had created was comprised of known lore, old legend and the tales she'd heard from her father. The old Maps of Enchantment which showed land-based locations that contained powerful magic inducements, were lost in the Great Devastation, as were the long line of enchanters, sorcerers and mages, through which such knowledge was passed down from one generation to the next. Gone were the maps of Knowing, Temple Portals and Halls of Lore. Having recently returned to the surface, the immortals were embroiled in a battle for survival, freedom and sovereignty. There was precious little time to spare for recapturing the knowledge and secrets of the past.

Saylah, Makenya and Harbinger were all member of the Ikaru Allegiance. They were charged with helping to fight back the incursion in Ikeras and its surrounding outposts. When time allowed, they sent forth historians, scribes and cartographers to survey the land, in an effort to fortify their knowledge of a world in which immortals had not lived on the surface for several hundred years.

Makenya's voice broke the silence. "If you're right Saylah, this could win you huge favor with your patron and help you advance more quickly. Surely, you'll be rewarded for bringing him the magic to summon mounts for his mightiest warriors."

"Yes, I've thought of that. I could return home and bring my family out from the shelter sooner." In a far-way and wistful voice she said, "Kyshal could grow up in a protected city on the surface. My mother could work in a tanning shop and Kerdwic for a smithy."

"See - you could all be together much sooner."

Looking to Harbinger for direction she asked, "But if we fail, or I'm caught -- then what?"

His deep voice carried further than he expected when he replied, "Probably disowned, stripped of your armor and cast out of the allegiance."

"No," Makenya replied stomping her foot in disagreement. "Not that severe."

"It's possible. Discipline must be maintained and orders followed. She could be used as an example for other new recruits."

"You may be right," Makenya conceded.

Saylah looked at her companions, then past them to the dirt road that would take them to the nearest portal. She was pledged to forty moons of service, of which she'd only served eight. Every day that she was away from her family felt like an eternity. Time had lessened the agonizing pain of separation - somewhat. She could think of them now without her eyes flooding with tears, and her breath catching in her throat. Yet the constant worrying lingered. At night when she laid alone in her tent trying to sleep, her mind churned endlessly with concern for her their well being, as well as unspoken desires and wishes for herself. She needed to do good service and rise in rank. If she could progress to the rank of Paragon Ranger, she would have the opportunity to specialize in the magic arts. With rangering and magic skills at her disposal, she could hire herself out as a mercenary when her time of service was fulfilled. After a short time, she would have the gold needed to settle her family in a protected city on the surface of Dereth. But these things - these wishes, were still very far away and much toil lay ahead of them. The idea of serving another thirty-eight months before she would be free to earn a living and begin saving, seemed unbearable.

A full harvest moon glowed in the darkening sky, casting a pale white light on the jungle of Ikeras. Night creatures were stirring; their howls, guttural bellows and roars could be heard in the distance. As night descended, mortals rose from their lairs bringing new dangers. It was a much riskier undertaking to embark on this adventure after sunset but they had little choice, as they were tied to their allegiance duties by day.

Saylah looked at the sky and judged there would be sufficient light for their journey. Makenya and Harbinger were still strangers to Saylah, and their reasons for taking this risk were their own. Inhaling deeply, she placed her helmet firmly on her head and said, "Let's go my friends."

To be continued...