Stillborn 2 - The Fire Within: Chapter 14

 

14.

The atmosphere was oddly sad as Aniceth was putting on his familiar equipment. The armor, weapons, everything he had when he was dragged to the city was returned, even Foregil, the enchanted sword he had carried since it was given to him by Brend, his former trainer. The staff of Garaz was brought in a few hours later than the other equipment. It turned out that the scholars and alchemists of Othrond would have been eager to keep the staff for their studies, but King Barin's order allowed no arguing. The honor of the Darfins was important to him, and thus the staff was returned eventually as well, acompanied by a humble apology.

Daarli watched quietly as Aniceth went through a transformation from a chained prisoner in a worn grey robe to a fully armed warrior, ready to face challenges of the unknown once again. Aladra had not shown herself ever since the trial had reached its final verdict. She was finally mourning the death of her son, and in time, hopefully, she could find her own gentle self again.

”Are you sure what you are doing?” Daarli finally asked, breaking the silence that was hanging over the room like a thick, suffocating cover.

”I have not been sure about anything for the past ten years or so,” he shrugged, ”but I do know that I cannot go back. Everdeep is not a friendly place, and without a trusted companion like Angwar, I would not survive longer than a few days at most.”

”Have you ever been outside?” she then asked with a shade of true concern in her voice.

”No, I have not,” Aniceth answered truthfully and continued. ”All I know about the surface is what I have been taught at Sindh'Morrow, the school of warriors.”

Daarli did not add anything to it, just watched as Aniceth finished his work, and finally picked up the frost-covered sword and sheathed it with smoothly. He was ready for whatever fate was reserved for him.

”I will come with you to the gate,” Daarli said.

”You have done more than enough for me, Daarli, I will find my way,” Aniceth assured, but the healer shook her head.

”I want to do this, Aniceth. The world outside of Everdeep is not so different; you see, there is more space around you, but the surface can be just as deadly as the tunnels where you have lived your life so far. I will try to tell you something about it on our way. I only wish there was more time to prepare you, but I doubt King Barin would allow that.”

Aniceth smiled at her. ”Thank you, Daarli. I would be most grateful for any information I can get. From what I have learned in the classroom, it is quite different in the ways it works.”

”Different it is, and yet so very similar. Come with me, we will talk along the way.”

 

* * *

 

Aniceth was not wearing a robe to hide himself anymore, and for the first time in the history of Othrond, the Darfins saw a fully armed Arathan walking through their streets. There was no need to stay hidden as there was no one who did not know the story of Aniceth and Angwar by now, the already legendary party of an Arathan and a Darfin that fought their way through Everdeep, all the way from the Dark Kingdom to the gates of Othrond. It became a very popular story often shared at the inns of the city, accompanied by a big pint of foamy, dark beer.

Daarli did her best, but she could not really prepare Aniceth for what was waiting for him behind the gates. She gave him a brief description of the northern people, the Hurons, and warned him about their short temper and furious nature. From all the nations living in Falchrest, the Hurons were, without a doubt, the most aggressive bunch out there. She also told him that the things in general were not too well. The darkening that was brought to the world over a hundred years ago, when a Gargoyle lord passed through the aethergate in the distant southern land of Angarath, was slowly consuming all life. It had driven a lot of people into starvation, sickness and deep bitterness that sometimes resulted in mad aggression.

”Do not trust anyone,” Daarli said sharply. ”A dagger stabs swiftly in these times of sorrow and poverty. Many good and decent people have turned into bloodthirsty murderers in their desperation to gain a mere piece of silver or a chunk of dried meat.”

Aniceth listened and nodded as a sign of understanding, or at least as a sign that he had managed to absorb some of the information, but the truth was that he did not know a whole lot. It would be extremely dangerous to enter this new, strange land, and he would need all his skills only to survive. The people who knew about Arathans would be far and few, but that was not necessarily a bad thing. Aniceth would be granted a second chance, a new beginning with the table completely cleared, and that thought was very encouraging.

Daarli led Aniceth through the crowded main street. It was an early morning, but the people were already rushing back and forth around the vast hall. The guards greeted Daarli politely as she was very easily recognized as a healer, and healers were one of the most respected and appreciated groups among the Darfins. Nobody said a word to Aniceth, but he felt the dark glares on his back. Still he was not trusted - even after king's pardon, but he had not really expected anything more than that. The roots of hatred grew deep, and one amusing story of an unlikely and unexpected alliance would not change a thing. Trying his best to ignore it all, he focused on the massive gate that blocked the entire entrance of Othrond. Behind that gate was the surface; a place the teachers of Sindh'Morrow had always warned their students about.

”You may find other Darfin cities on your journey, but do not expect any of them to have their gates open, Aniceth. They all know the Arathans, and they all think the world would be better off without your kind.” Daarli smiled sadly and turned to Aniceth. ”But remember that there are some who know your true nature, and never lose your way.”

”Thank you, Daarli. I am grateful for everything you have done for me. I will never forget.” he spoke with fitful, thick voice full of emotion. He realized that a part of him would always miss everything he was leaving behind. After all, it was a part of him, and no matter where he went or how far he wandered, his origins would always be in the darkness of Everdeep.

Daarli looked deep into his reptilian eyes. ”I do not know the secret behind those eyes, but unlike most of my kin, I do know that is not a common feature on Arathans,” she said, making Aniceth suddenly very nervous. ”But that is not really any of my concern anymore,” she continued, ”and I wish you a better future than your past has been. You, if anyone, have certainly deserved it.”

Aniceth smiled lightly. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat. Daarli placed her finger in front of her mouth as a sign to keep quiet, then she returned the smile.

”Farewell, Aniceth Annarath,” she whispered and walked away, disappearing into the crowd, leaving Aniceth alone with four guards glaring suspiciously at him.

”Are you ready?” One of the men asked roughly.

Aniceth sighed deeply and nodded. ”Yes, I am ready. Open the gates!”

 

* * *

 

Words cannot describe the feeling he felt as the heavy iron gates cracked open with a loud creak. Fortunately there was no sun, so Aniceth did not need to worry about his eyes, even though the mere clarity of the air was nearly blinding for him, but the scenery that opened before him was something he was completely unprepared for.

The gates of Othrond located on a small, rocky mountain ledge. There were a few ruined buildings outside, which seemed like abandoned remnants used a long time ago as a trading outpost. Some Darfin keeps still had similar kind of establishments active, but most of them, like Othrond, had sealed their gates from the outside world and chosen isolation as a way to maintain safety. A narrow road, that had not been used for decades, led down, following the steep side of the mountain. It was twisting and turning among the rocky landscape before disappearing underneath the treetops. The broad sea of evergreens looked both intriguing and intimidating to the Arathan, who had never seen real trees before. Everything looked so enormous and massive that for a while he felt a growing panic inside his heart, but forcing himself to breathe calmly, Aniceth took the first unsure step and forced himself to walk out on the ledge.

The feeling of freedom was overwhelming. There had never been so much open space around him before, and he felt completely exposed with absolutely no place to hide. The iron gates closed behind him with a metallic clank, leaving him standing alone with the ruined buildings grinning at him. Tears were flooding from his eyes as they tried to adjust to the drastic change, and little by little the blurry edges sharpened and his vision cleared enough for him to see properly. The howling wind dried his tears as it swept across the mountain side, soughing the junipers and spruces growing along the path.

After looking around for a while, admiring the majestic beauty that spread all around him, Aniceth took a deep breath and stepped on the wriggling road leading downward. The brisk air felt refreshingly good in his lungs, and little by little, he began to adapt to his new environment. It would take months, even years before he would get used to all the changes, but he was facing this new world with an open mind, ready for the adventure of his life.

Aniceth was ready for the world, but was the world ready for him? There would be many to find his appearance intimidating and threatening, and eventually the hopes and dreams he had could turn into gloom and agony of false freedom that would leave him alone with the darkness of his soul.

The dark figure of a renegade Arathan descended from the mountain and disappeared into the withering woods of Etherion Forest. Using a map he had received from Daarli, he took heading for the coastal town of Meridan, hundreds of miles to the west, then he ran across the rugged landscapes like a mountain deer with nimble feet and solid determination in his eyes.

The slowly dying trees and starving animals watched him go by. No beast dared to cross his path just yet, but sooner or later his skills would be challenged once again. It did not matter though, for this man was ready for whatever this magnificent new world had in store for him.