Into The Ruins (9 page)

Somehow, years after the function of the device had been explained, a number of young women in the privileged families had gotten their hands on the artifact, and had begun a game among themselves, seeing who would take the highest jump.  They saw it as a test of bravery.  One of Carif’s predecessors had seen a means of using the fad as one more means of manipulating the Families.

Now, the contest had come to be far more important.  No Family member could be considered for a high position of rule without having passed through the “Leap of Faith” ceremony.  In fact, to stay on the list of Hundred Families, at least one member had to successfully complete the ceremony each generation.  The ceremony was said to demonstrate the kind of bravery a leader would need to have, as well as faith in the magic which controlled the future of Sedfair.  The ceremony took place at the edge of the same precipitous drop outside of the village where the first women had tested themselves.  Of course, they were no longer encouraged to leap off the mountain. That would have been viewed as foolhardy, even given the safety provided by the belt.  Instead, a series of walkways, ever narrower and without any handrails extended out over the thousand-foot drop.  At the far end, a small platform provided a jumping off point where the participant would be required to leap to a second small platform, positioned several man heights below and almost one distant.  Walking the paths could easily be performed by anyone had they been laid out on the ground.  Even the leap was nothing that significant, had it not been situated in open air over a frightening drop. 

Of course, there really was no danger.  If the applicant slipped, or missed the jump, the belt would allow them a slow and safe descent.  However, unlike their adventurous counterparts so many years in the past who had experimented with the belt and become confident of its abilities by beginning with relatively safe leaps to see how it worked, the applicants to the formal ceremony never had a chance to test the belt.  They had to accept on faith it would protect them.  It was one thing to intellectually believe the belt would work, but finding oneself standing above an impossible drop to jagged rocks below with nothing but the belt and faith was more frightening than one might expect.  The mind might try and tell the body that everything was fine, but the survival instinct told the mind something else.

A participant was given a single chance at the walk.  They could indicate their decision to quit at any time, at which time the Guild representative would use magic to provide handrails and a safe path back to the land.  If a contestant slipped and fell, or missed the jump, they were disqualified.  It was felt having experienced the belt and how it protected one would have given them an unfair advantage on a second attempt.  Of course, just to add a bit of worry, everyone knew the belt had failed one contestant many, many years ago, resulting in a gruesome death on the rocks far below for the unlucky woman.  It was long enough in the past that the circumstances were poorly recorded, but despite the Guild’s claim it had never happened, everyone knew otherwise, and each participant had to carry that thought with them as they made their way into the open space above the deadly drop.

In fact, the accident hadn’t ever happened.  The belt had never failed, but once again, one of Carif’s predecessors had wanted to add a bit of fear into the ceremony.  The added concern allowed a bit of manipulation.  With the fears each contestant carried with them into the attempt, the results could often be somewhat influenced by enhancing the individual’s fright.  Magic could be used to make the pathways appear narrower, or the jump farther and more difficult than it was.  If the Guild wished a family to be removed from the list, normally there was no other way to do so without fear of a public challenge to the removal.  But causing their delegate to the ceremony to fail provided a foolproof way of eliminating them, at least until someone else in the family was able to make an attempt, which meant three years minimum when they would be out of consideration.  This year there were two families the Saltique wished removed from the list.  They stood high enough in the rankings at the current time that they couldn’t easily be ignored when the selection of one of the five offerings for Queen was made.  But, they hadn’t had a successful contestant in too long, and unless they passed this time, they would drop out of the Hundred.  They were families that were strong supporters of Rosul, and Carif wanted no more like her to deal with.

              *                            *                            *                            *

Later, dressed appropriately, Carif pulled the rope which would trigger the chimes in the rooms of her Specialists, informing them she wished to meet in the private conference room.  The replacement of the Queen wasn’t the only matter the Guild needed to focus on.  The creatures that were crawling out of the Wastelands in ever increasing numbers were taxing the country’s abilities far more severely than anyone had ever expected.  This was an area that Carif had argued with the Queen many times.  Her Casters were not equipped to deal with the problem any more than the soldiers currently assigned to the task.  Certainly skilled Casters could have made short work of the beasts that made it to the border, but to venture into the forsaken lands where magic failed was pointless.  Out there, her strongest Runemasters were less able to protect themselves than the simplest of soldiers who at least had skill and a strong blade against the beasts.  Unfortunately, the number of soldiers required to effectively patrol the long border drained the very forces that were becoming necessary to deal with the increasingly bold Baldari.  She hoped that one of her advisors might be able to offer some idea that would allow an effective use of their magical powers that didn’t entail a dangerous and potentially disastrous trip in those forbidden lands in hopes of finding the source of the creatures.

As for the Baldari attacks, she had lost too many Casters in the past year.  Several had been women she knew personally.  With all their power, Casters could be killed.  Given a sufficiently determined foe, or so many enemies that they couldn’t be dealt with in time, normal blades and arrows would bring down the most powerful Caster.  She also feared that the Baldari might stumble upon the secrets of magic.  If so, the problem would be magnified.  Somehow they had found a way to cross the Wastelands to get here.  If that secret could be discovered, not only would they have a way to pursue the elusive little warriors, but they might have a better means of dealing with the magic capable beasts that were the greater problem at the moment.

Carif knew she needed some kind of insight.  The Guild needed to come up with ideas that might provide solutions for both problems.  Ideally, it would be something she could implement after Rosul was gone, so full credit could go to the Guild for resolving the problems.  Unless something came up, they were going to need an army of Casters, and she had no idea where she would find them.

“What did Mayor Stanner want to tell you?” Garss asked as if the question had been foremost on his mind for days.  Fen had run into him on the way to the Mayor’s office the previous week and had told him that something had come up regarding his expected moving to the capital for training at the SpellCaster’s Guild University.  Garss’s father was a blacksmith and expected Garss to follow in his footsteps, so despite his being barely in his teens Garss was kept busy at the shop most days.  Already Fen’s buddy showed the effects of long days lifting the heavy hammers and pounding desired shapes into metal.  His arms were twice as thick as Fen’s, and his shoulders were broad and powerful.  They hadn’t had a chance to see one another since that chance meeting.  While Fen had spent most of the day shopping, Garss had had to work until just a short time ago.  They had once again met by accident, this time in the village common where there were impromptu shows on this, the freeday at the end of the eight-day week. 

“I’m going to have to leave earlier than I’d planned,” Fen explained to his friend.  “I’ll also have to travel to Talmara to meet the Guild representative instead of his coming here to Slipi.”

“How much earlier?” Garss asked unhappily. 

Fen knew that Garss was conflicted about the situation.  He was more than a little jealous of the opportunity presented to Fen.  At the same time, he wished his lifelong friend well while trying to accept that Fen would no longer be around to share those few days he had free from the chores set by his father.  Once school started, Fen would be gone and Garss would have to suffer the long days of learning without him.

“A full month,” Fen complained.  He was somewhat unhappy about the change in plans himself, but at least it wasn’t a change in policy at the University that would have kept him out.  Despite moving up the departure, this was the better solution.

“Are you certain Stanner knows what he’s talking about?” Garss asked.  “My mom doesn’t like him very much and says he isn’t qualified for the job of Mayor.  Maybe he got it wrong.”

Fen correctly guessed that Garss’s mother didn’t approve of a man filling a woman’s rightful position.  Mayor Stanner had been the consort of the crown appointed mayor who had died of the spotted flu the previous winter.  He had taken over the duties of the position until a replacement might be named, which hadn’t happened as yet.  Fen’s mother, who supported the current mayor believing gender shouldn’t be a factor in filling the position, believed he would probably retain the position for the rest of the term.  His mother’s vocal support was one reason the Mayor had made the personal visit to inform Fen of the change in his plans.  That, and the fact he was pleased to see a male being given recognition by being granted entrance to the prestigious center for magic.

“Did he tell you why the change in plans?” Garss asked, unhappy that he wouldn’t even have the full summer before Fen left the village, probably for good, save an occasional visit to see his family.  Those who became Casters led a different sort of life than the rest of them.

“The Mayor said it was related to the upcoming coronation of the new Queen when Queen Rosul reaches her sixtieth birthday at the end of summer.  They don’t want the entrance ceremonies surrounding the new class affected by the transition.  Mom says there must be a matter of funding as well otherwise they would have simply moved up the schedule, but not required us to meet in Talmara.”

“I wonder what Nals will be like,” Garss wondered jealously.  “I’ve never even been to Talmara, and that is only a week away.”

“Me neither,” Fen admitted, and realized part of him was eager to see the adventure begin.  He found he kept vacillating, jumping from eagerness to begin his journeys, and discomfort leaving the security of the life he’d always known.  “I guess the whole family will be going.”  He kind of hoped it would be just him and his father, as having everyone present in Talmara would make the separation more difficult and he didn’t want to appear weepy and embarrass himself around the other novices who would be gathering there.

“Isn’t that expensive?”

“The family had a bit of good luck, and we have come into some extra money that’ll help,” Fen said without explaining about the crystal he’d brought home.  His mother had sold it for far more than even Fen had expected, bringing in the equivalent of a year and a half the normal income for the family.  As a result, they had funds to spend on a vacation trip to see him off.  His parents had taken him shopping for two sets of new clothes to take when he left rather than the one set that had been planned.  He’d also been given a purse of his own as spending money.  Most he planned to hoard until he arrived at the University, but he’d spent the day shopping for the best pencils and brushes he could find in Slipi.  His mother had suggested he might want to do so as they knew the shopkeepers here and could expect a discount whereas he’d probably have to pay more once he reached the capital.

Fen had also splurged on a supply of high quality colored paper, much like the sheet he had used for the spell that had freed the crystal.  The variety of colors would give him a means of experimenting with certain aspects of a group of spells he had been curious about.  He’d also purchased a new carry pack, one designed to transport his items in a more protected manner.  He wore it on his back at the moment, his purchases stored carefully inside.

“Come on,” Fen urged.  “Let’s go see what shows are being planned for today.  I have my allowance.  We can stop and get something to eat, my treat.”  He didn’t want to talk about his leaving anymore.  The unexpected change in his departure had come as a bit of a blow and he had butterflies in his stomach when he thought too much about it.  It was all a bit overwhelming.  He sometimes worried that he might not be as good as he believed, and that he might find himself outclassed by the mostly female novices who would be his classmates.  He didn’t know how to voice his discomfort, but he knew he was going to miss Garss immensely.

“It’s getting late,” Garss said much later as he cast a glance at the nearly cloudless sky and the sun lower on the western horizon.  It was still too early for the city engineers to be making the rounds and lighting the street lamps that illuminated the main thoroughfare until late in the evening.  Only a few streets had the oil lamps, and then they were only used at the end of each eight-day week when enough people had time to be out late in the evening, but they made the village look different.  They weren’t the fancy magical glow lamps the capital and a few of the larger cities were said to have now, but their presence made the village seem more modern.  The heat of the day was already dissipating and the temperatures returning to a more comfortable level as evening approached, not that it ever was very cool this close to the wastelands with the constant heat coming out of the wilderness.

“You promised your mom you’d be home by dinnertime,” Garss added.

Fen sighed.  They might as well get started.  It was a long walk and the jugglers and acrobats that provided the shows on freedays had already packed up and left.  Most everyone else had wandered off some time ago.

“I guess you’re right,” Fen agreed reluctantly.  While there were still a number of weeks before he was scheduled to leave, he was starting to realize his time with his friend was truly limited.  He wished there were a way to delay the end of their time together today.  There wouldn’t be many more times they would have days like today.  He was looking back toward town wondering if there was somewhere they could spend a little more time before he headed home when he realized belatedly that Garss was tugging on his shirt.

“Did you see that?” Garss asked when he was certain Fen was listening.

“See what?” Fen asked.

“That guy over there,” Garss said, pointing to show Fen where he meant.  A man had appeared out of nowhere wearing the most unusual clothing he had ever seen.  He looked tired and thin, and his clothes were as worn as they were odd.

Fen had just focused on the stranger when Garss said, “There’s more of them.”

Sure enough, three more worn and tired looking individuals stepped out of nowhere into the open meadow of the city park.  Two of the latest arrivals were men, and the third was a black-haired woman with tan colored skin.  The woman was considerably shorter than any of the men.  They all looked about as if confused where they might be.

“They had to have come through a
Doorway
,” Garss said.

“Obviously,” Fen replied.  He still couldn’t create his own, but he knew more about them than Garss ever would.  One of the strangers had to be a Senior Level Caster, but none looked like any Caster he’d ever seen.  Casters with the ability to create
Doorways
were invariably individuals of high position and Fen couldn’t believe they would be dressed as these people were.

As they watched, the first man through the
Doorway
turned their way and spotted them watching.  He turned toward his companions and said something Fen couldn’t hear, then turned back in their direction and shouted an unintelligible question at them.

“Did you understand what he said?” Garss asked.

“Not a word,” Fen responded.  “I’ve never heard any accent like that.  I couldn’t make out a single word.”

Fen shouted back at the strangers, “I didn’t understand what you said.  What do you want?”

The man hesitated then shouted something in their direction again, and after receiving no response, he shook his head and turned back to his companions. 

Fen wasn’t certain they should be getting involved.  These strangers looked to be rough and clearly didn’t belong here. Something unusual and which he didn’t understand was happening.  They should get some adults to deal with this.

“You don’t think they could be Baldari?” Garss asked.

Fen scoffed.  His Dad had told him about the Baldari.  Even though the Mayor had half the town worried about an attack, Fen knew they were more than two days hard ride from the northernmost village that had ever been invaded.  Fen knew that the Army had small squads wandering the perimeter of the village just in case, something his father said was a waste of time.  Also, the Baldari were short and dark.  He looked at the strangers again.  The three men were taller than most villagers, and clearly light-skinned.  The woman could possibly be Baldari he decided, but he didn’t recall if his Dad had said many women were on the raiding parties. 

“Let’s go warn the guard,” Fen suggested to Garss.  “Whoever they are, they don’t look like they belong here.”

Garss shrugged.  It didn’t seem that important, but the Army quarters would be in the direction they were going anyway, so they might as well.  Maybe it was more important than he realized.  Fen seemed more concerned than he would have expected.

Rigo looked at Ash’urn.  “You’re the language expert.  Could you make any sense out of what the boy said?”

Ash’urn looked thoughtful, then shook his head to indicate he was as perplexed as the rest of them.  “I thought I’d at least heard every spoken dialect in the Three Kingdoms.  I couldn’t make out a single word of his grunting.”

“We should head into town,” Orna suggested.  “Those were just kids.  Who knows if they are just playing with us?  We need to find some adults and figure out exactly where we are.  That vision of yours was a risky way to make
Bypass
.  We could be almost anywhere.”

“At least we’re out of the Ruins,” Lorl added.  “Anyplace is better than another day there.  I wish I’d never decided to come with you on this ridiculous adventure.”

Rigo nodded, then pointed toward the village on the far side of the grassy area they had stepped onto as they’d exited the
Bypass
.  “At least we should be able to get some decent food and ale there.  We have enough gold with us to cover expenses for a few days.”

Rigo started off in the lead.  They had only progressed a short distance when Ash’urn suddenly said, “This isn’t going to be as easy as we think.”

They all stopped and stared expectantly at Ash’urn who had been examining the green mountains to the east and the dry arid lands to the west with an orange colored cast they all recognized showing in the distance as they had walked away from the two young men.  He pointed in the direction of the sun. 

“I’m certain it’s late in the day and not early morning, unless we traveled a great deal farther in the
Bypass
than we’ve ever done before.  If that’s the case, then given the direction the sun is setting, we are someplace we’ve never encountered before.  The sun is supposed to rise over the Ruins, not set into them.  I won’t be at all surprised if no one speaks any language we will be able to understand.

Rigo frowned and looked at the distant desert and then back at the sun.  His mind was dulled from the long and arduous time in the Ruins, and he’d stopped thinking when he’d believed them back in civilization once again.  Finally, the full realization of what Ash’urn was suggesting struck him.  “Great Risos!” he swore.