Yspaddaden - Chapter 26

 Kady followed Yspaddaden across the desert unquestioningly, trusting in his world-wise judgement that he knew what he was doing. He jogged steadily, fast but not too quick so she could keep up, and made sure to stay to the side of her so he could see her in his peripheral vision. She had seen nothing of the supposed danger that he had on the horizon, but she knew there was something there. This place gave her an unsettling feeling and she wished they had not needed to travel this way. She was much more comfortable in the city, or at least in a forrest where she could imagine the tall trees as buildings on all sides. But out here, with nothing at all taller than the mounds of dust that accumulated in their wake, there was nothing. No landmarks, the only way of determining direction the angle of the sun. And because of the reflective nature of the dust, it sometimes appeared there to be two or more suns in the sky. Kady trusted Yspa's judgement that he knew which was which. Sometimes she wondered at why she trusted him so much. But she just did. The interesting thing about trust was that it was never true. There would always be a hint of uncertainty between them. That's why trust was so important a choice. It kept decisions true, it made them stick together, no matter what. Even in a place like this.

Yspa stopped and Kady came up to his side, breathing heavily from the exertion of running for several minutes. He seemed hardly winded at all. Kady wondered if he had stopped for her sake or not. He kept his eyes trained on the land in front of them as she bent over, hands on her knees, trying to keep her breathing steady and true. The dust swirled up around them and settled slowly, covering them both from head to foot. It was disgusting how it got everywhere, made its way into every crevice of her body. She wished so badly to reach civilization again so she could take a bath and wash the filth from herself. Yspa pointed with one finger and spoke softly to her.

"There. You see that?"

Kady glanced in the direction he pointed and squinted in the sunlight. Either his eyes were very sharp or his hight made a huge difference. She could see nothing. She needn't have said anything for he wasn't looking her way. His voice remained at a low volume as he explained what it was he was looking at.

"It looks like…like a cloud or…or a swarm of some sorts. Yes it's moving, changing shape. I think it must be a swarm of insects. Maybe locusts?"

Kady nodded. She could just make out the shape on the horizon now, a black spot that changed and shifted, growing in mass as it grew closer to them. As she watched she grew more convinced that it was quite a large swarm, whatever it was. The cloud grew larger and closer, yet the bottom was still hidden by the curve of the earth. As the dark form moved ever closer to the pair, she could hear the sounds of their wings. The only way she could describe it was a combination of metal scraping bone and the low growl that a dog in heat makes. It was a disturbing noise and it unsettled her greatly. She laid a hand on Yspaddaden's arm as he spoke.

"We need to find shelter. There must be something around these parts that could provide us with at least a bit of protection."

Kady glanced around them and could see nothing. The land stretched out in all directions, ending at the curve of the earth. She turned around herself, trying to see anything that could suffice. There was literally nothing. And now she had lost the direction in which they had been traveling. She glanced up at the sky and noticed the sun directly overhead, giving no indication as to direction. She put her hand to Yspa again and asked him about it. He pointed with certainty without taking his eyes off the swarm of insects that grew larger with every passing moment. Kady could now just make out the cloud of dust that traveled with them, buffeted up from the ground by the air circulation their wings made. She did not even want to know what sort of creatures these were, but if they were caught in the middle of that, they could suffocate easily. Yspa grasped her hand and pulled her after him.

"Come. We have to keep moving. If we keep going the way we were, maybe they will pass straight by us. Come."

She obeyed, running behind him, two of her footfalls landing for every one of his long strides. They ran like that for quite a while, until Kady was breathing more heavily than she even thought possible. Yspa again must have sensed her discomfort for he stopped and glanced backwards. Kady regained her composure and followed his eyesight. The swarm was even larger than before. They had changed directions and were heading straight toward the pair. They were also close enough now that Kady could see details of the creatures. They were no ordinary bugs. They had to be at least four feet in length, a wingspan of ten feet. Their front pair of legs ended in pincers and large tusks exploded from their mouths, dripping with some sort of dark, vile liquid. And they still had no place to retreat to.

Just as Kady was about to sit in the dust and accept her fate, Yspaddaden gave her a tug on her dress. He jerked her toward him and she looked at where he was pointing. A shelf of stone several hundred feet away. She knew what he was thinking. If it was a connection with the large caverns that lay underneath this land, there was a possibility that a tunnel could be accessed and shelter found underground. She nodded without having to speak and he led the way, running at top speed. The insects gathered in force behind them and flew faster, racing toward them rapidly. Kady and Yspa reached the stone first easily enough. But could they find shelter?

Yspa stuck his hand out and grabbed Kady by the arm, preventing her from running out onto the stone shelf. The bugs were a mere hundred feet behind them, and flying fast. He stuck his leg out and tested the rock, applying pressure to the stone and making sure it wouldn't crumble underneath the weight. It appeared to by sturdy. He motioned for Kady to continue.

"Go. Be careful. If you feel the ground give way at all, let me know immediately."

Kady nodded and stepped lightly onto the stone, glancing behind her to see where the bugs were. She noticed Yspaddaden had unsheathed his sword and stood guard, standing with his back to her. She yelled at him to follow her, but he paid her no mind. Her attention was focused on him as she stepped again and didn't notice the differently coloured patch of stone that crackled and gave free, enveloping her foot, then leg, then entire body in a dark pit. Her scream echoed across the desert as she groped frantically at the edge of the pit, trying to find something to hold onto as she fell.

Yspaddaden

Yspa heard the scream and spun around. His scream mingled with Kady's as he watched in vain as she fell into the void, hands grasping at air. He had not a moment to spare her though, for the first wave of the giant bugs hit him from behind and he was knocked to the side. He swung his sword and connected with one of them, drawing a dark blue blood that splattered and stained the dust. It didn't seem to absorb the blood, rather the blood beaded up and started to run, going every which way. Yspaddaden accidentally stepped on a globule of it and found his foot sliding with the lack of friction. He tried to keep his fighting stance, but as he swung and hit more of the bugs, his feet gave way at every turn. It helped him in some regard, for whenever he might have been keeled over by a large beast ready to take his head off with the giant tusks, blood would trip him up and he would fall out of the way, out of harms way. His mind was racing, trying to focus on the fight, and yet distraught as to the fate of Kady. He felt a tear or two come to his eyes, which did not help the swing of his sword. The bugs rained down upon him, buffeting him with their wings, screeching at him through their tusks, snapping at his face with their large pincers. He kept swinging, hitting most, killing all he hit, but there were some who got by his defenses and attacked him to his face, knocking him to the dust. He was on the verge of giving up, running full tilt at the stone shelf and hoping that it would swallow him whole as it had Kady. But then something curious happened. One particularly large bug was flying straight at his head, murder intent in its heart, when it suddenly swerved to the side, giving a frightened screech that echoed across the desert. Yspa dropped to his knees, watching as the rest of the swarm funneled upward, flying to a safe distance away from the ground, circling above him and crying out their protests. It wasn't until a voice spoke up behind Yspa that his heart soared and he turned around, to see Kady standing on the edge of the stone shelf.

"Sorry about that. I got a little lost." She grinned at him to show that she was alright.

Yspaddaden leapt to his feet and ran to Kady, enveloping her in his arms, hugging her tight. He pulled away and felt something slimy and sticky on himself. Kady winced at his repulsed reaction and appologised.

"I caught onto a solid lip of the hole I created and hung there, lying against the side of the rock. There's some kind of mushroom down there, growing in the dark. I could see down into the pit and find where the walls were, for the mushrooms glowed blue. I must have smeared a goodly portion of their juices on myself as I crawled out." She glanced up at the sky and the hovering, circling bugs. "And I take it they don't like to look or smell of it for some reason."

Yspaddaden smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead.

"Well, not to be too rude about it, but you do smell something awful."

Kady could only laugh at his statement. The sound echoed across the desert and seemed to make the bugs even angrier at them.

Kadyriath

After reaching a shelf of stone that tested sturdy, Yspa pitched two small tents while Kady took out a ration of meat and water for the two of them. They needed no fire for the meat was already cooked and the heat of the desert remained with them even at night. Kady's job was finished quickly, but instead of trying to help out Yspaddaden with the tents, she sat back and slyly watched him struggle with it. He hated putting up the tents, they never seemed to do what he wanted them to. But she enjoyed watching him, seeing how he dealt with the material. Sometimes it made him so frustrated that he almost gave up, but he never did. He battled through the task and eventually erected them. It was fun for her to see the annoyed faces he made. He even at times muttered under his breath, talking to and cursing the tents. It made her smile.

He eventually got the tents to a solid, standing position, and came over to where Kady was to partake in their meal. She handed him a chunk of meat and the canteen they shared. He smiled at her in thanks and took a chunk of the meat off with his teeth, chewing it thoughtfully as he washed it down with the water. They ate in silence, Yspaddaden looking out across the desert and Kady looking at Yspa. She had always though him very handsome, a certain rugged quality about him, but it had only been in the past few days that she had been seeing him in a whole new light. Even now, as his silhouette sat outlined against the setting sun, she gazed at his large body, tracing his muscles with her eyes. His profile was sturdy, his jaw set, his eyes squinted against the half-sunlight. He looked so handsome, sitting there as he was. She thought back over the times they had been together, mentally blocking out the rough times and highlighting the good. He had been so good to her, so kind and caring, loving even. They had grown to be quite good friends and Kady was confident that he harbored a few secret feelings toward her. As soon as that thought crossed her mind, she felt her body grow warmer with emotion. She breathed out, hoping that her face wasn't too flushed. Strange how that had come about so suddenly. She knew what lust was, but this was different, deeper, stranger. This was true affection. Men had come and gone in her life, and she had felt a certain friendship to the males who had resided in the compound, but never before had she truly had a male friend, someone she could talk to, share with. She felt she really could do that with Yspa.

Throwing caution to the wind, she decided to let these feelings overtake her. As she arose and crossed the short distance toward him, she felt the emotions rising in her, penetrating her deeper. She honestly could not understand what all she was feeling toward him right now. At the base there was the raw sexual urges, but on top of that lay a trusting, compliant willingness. She felt safe with him. She wanted him, not just his body, but him, his mind and his nature. She wanted his trust. She wanted her feelings reciprocated. Could that be possible?

All these thoughts raced through her mind within seconds as she sat down next to him. Her emotions almost made her freeze in time out of fear, but she had been trained all her life for situations like this, so she took his arm and snaked hers through, hooking them at the elbows. He allowed the intrusion, smiling at her and repositioning himself so that she could lean up against his side. She laid her head on his shoulder and they both looked out over the horizon at all four suns and watched them fall gently toward the earth. Neither of them spoke for a while, they just sat and enjoyed each others presence. She didn't even notice when she had begun, but her hand ended up inside his and their fingers entwined. She felt the heat rushing through her, and couldn't help but glance down at Yspa to see if his emotions were responding the same way hers were. She wasn't disappointed. She was glad she wasn't a man. Their bodies betrayed their feelings so much.

She looked up at his face. He looked down at her. Was it the glow of the suns, or was it blush that made his face red? She hoped for the latter. Again her feelings almost made her freeze in fear, but she forced her way past them and acted, following through, trying to recall all the training she had received at the compound over the years. No words were needed as she leaned in closer to him, her right hand resting on his thigh and her mouth rising to meet his. He said not a word as she leaned in toward him and even wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her in closer, not roughly, but gently. She kissed him with all the skill and passion she had, bringing her hand up to his face to hold him there. She stroked his cheek as they kissed and her eyes closed as her emotions went wild, tossing her all about. But he seemed to welcome the intrusion and kissed her back, the heat from his breath filling her up. She didn't even know how long it was until they broke apart, but when they did she panted, trying to regain the air that had been lost in time. Their eyes locked and she found herself staring into his tender brown eyes, and made sure she displayed all the passion she felt in her own blue ones. The waning sunlight sparkled in his, accentuating the moment. She realized that no words had been spoken between them for a while, and she sort of wished that they never had to speak again. All communication that was needed was being transversed right here, in the gaze that held steady. His hand began to stroke her back. She smiled and traced his jaw with her fingers. He smiled back, rubbing her neck from behind and again drawing her in close for another kiss. Her heart soared at his actions and she almost cried, yet she knew not why. He was just a man. A kind, gentle and good man, but a male none-the-less. Why had she never felt these things before? And what was it she felt? Fear? Guilt? Joy? Unworthiness? Love?

Again she pushed everything rational from her mind and simply let the emotions take control, relying on her training. It was a schooling that had let her rise to the top of her profession, giving her all the freedom and prestige that could be allowed one such as her. She drew on everything that had ever been taught her now, relying on that time spent in the compound to guide her.

She gently and gradually lowered her hand to his knee again, slowly rubbing his leg as they kissed. She moved her hand up his thigh in a gentle progress, taking her time. She hoped so much that he would not reject her, yet in the back of her mind she half knew what his response was going to be. Yet that did not stop her. She had to try. It had been so long.

Her hand traveled up his leg, her mouth distracting the movement. Eventually she reached a point that gave him no illusion as to her intentions. For a second he allowed the invasion, distracted as he was by the kiss and no doubt not thinking with his mind at the moment. But she felt something in his resolve snap and he shook himself awake, pulling away from her. She smiled at him and grabbed his neck, trying to pull him back into the kiss. But he would not allow it. She almost cried again as he gently but firmly pushed her away, his face showing all the feelings she did not want to see, fear, regret, loathing. She tried one last time to draw him back in, laying a hand on his bicep and squeezing hard, trying to portray all the vulnerability and longing and passion in her eyes that she could. But he would have none of it. He just shook his head sadly and stood up, walking a few paces away to compose himself before turning back to her.

"I can't do that Kady. Not now. Not ever."

Her scowl burned through the air as she eyed him with disdain and disappointment. This made no sense. Had she not shown her emotions to him? Had she not detected the same emotions flowing from him? Had they not just now shared a kiss? What was the block? Why did he not want this?

"Do you think me that undesirable? Am I that ugly that you would even wish to sleep with me?"

"Kady, it has nothing to do with you!"

"I see, so I do not matter, is that what you're saying? If I don't matter why do you not want this? Am I so low that even that does not entice you to me?"

Yspa shook his head emphatically.

"That's not what I meant. I cannot do what you want of me to. Yes, you are desirable, yes you are lovely beyond compare. I feel things for you that I have never felt toward a woman before. In another time and place I wish we had met, for then we could have become what you want. But it cannot happen. Not like this."

"Why not? What is so wrong with me that you do not find me worthy of your time? And we have plenty of time. We're in the middle of a vuzhong desert!"

"Kady, there's nothing wrong with you! See, that's places like your compound teach, that if you are not desirable by a man, you are not worthy of anything. But you are Kadyriath, I know so. I have spent these few months in your presence, and I can truthfully say that I wish I had the rest of eternity to spend with you. But I cannot do this act. I have sworn it away."

She looked at him curiously.

"You are no monk. You are no man of god. You make no sense."

He smiled gently at her, not out of laughter, but out of sadness.

"People like me must seem that way to you. You have spent your entire life living as one person, spending all your time only as what someone else sees as opposed to becoming who you truly are. I have seen the true you on this quest Kady. And I love her. But please don't ask me to do this with you, because I can't stand the look on your face when I deny you. It makes me feel as if you are dying."

Kady folded her arms and stalked away, her response wafting up behind her.

"Now you have a small taste of how I feel."

Hrodlious

Finngal, Nazhuu.

Hrodlious stood outside the doorway to her kings hut and growled, signaling her presence. Othurk had no need to ask who was at his door, he merely grunted a response in answer. Hrodlious waited patiently as the movements inside abated, then disappeared. It was only a few seconds after that a young female emerged from her husbands bedchamber and nodded a good night to the sorceress. Hrodlious ignored the girl and entered, facing Othurk with all the intensity she could muster. The smells in the hut were overwhelming and it drove her mad with lust and ecstasy. Othurk still lay in bed, naked. Perfect. Hrodlious stomped over to the bed and threw herself down on the sheets.

"Time will tell. Time will call. Time brings all. Little becomes large, over time, after time, through time. Creation is essential, and work is to be done."

At that she reached up and took ahold of the sleeves to her dress, ripping the sewing at the seams, giving him no illusion as to what was about to take place. Othurk said not a word of protest as his wife lay down on top of him.

King and Queen.

Yspaddaden - Chapter 25

 Ynwfn, Stone Tent.

"That, is the Stone Tent."

Yspaddaden pointed out the vast desert to Kady as they stood on the edge of the wasteland. The treeline ended behind them and the orange Tent stretched out in front. The sun was just rising over the horizon, casting strange shadows and an amazing orange glow over the entire landscape. They both stood in awe at the sight. The last month had seen them traversing the dangerous Preservation and nothing but trees and tall grass as far as the eye could see. Now they gazed at nothing. The dirt that covered the ground was brown and course and nothing grew there. But Yspa had to admit, it was beautiful. He turned to his equally beautiful companion.

"How much water do we have?"

He waited as she checked the levels. She held up a large canteen full of liquid and shook it. Water sloshed around in it.

"Maybe half. How long until we reach the other side?"

Yspaddaden grimaced at her assessment. At that rate they would be dead in just a few days.

"I reckon it should take at least a month to reach a place where we can become comfortable once again. Ten days doesn't seem like much, but if we run out of water, we're dead. We wont last more than two days, maybe three, without water. What we have might last three, if we're careful. I guess we just have to chance it."

"Why can't we travel along the treeline? Stay close enough to go back into the forrest for water if we need to?"

Yspaddaden shook his head.

"It won't work. The Tent is even more dangerous closer to the trees. If we want to be safe, we have to travel out into the open. I've come this way before so it should be alright. We just need to travel fast." He looked back over his shoulder at the forrest. "We can retreat back to that river we passed about an hour back, refill the canteens, maybe find some meat to cook and take with us. Then we head out again at midday. That should put us in a safe zone by nightfall."

Kady nodded and replaced the canteen in the large sack she had been carrying. She looked out over the landscape again.

"There's no fence here."

Yspaddaden turned at her question. She pointed.

"The fence that bites. It isn't built here. Do not the Dinas escape here and roam free?"

Yspaddaden shook his head.

"No, there's no need for the fence here. The Dinas are frightened of this place and do not go near it. None of the animals in the Preservation pass by this point. It's only us foolhardy humans that are dumb enough to travel this way." He smiled at her but it did not seem to placate her mood. She gave a quick, nervous smile back and glanced moodily at the place they would be traveling soon. She hefted the large sack again and turned back to the forrest.

"Then let us head back. The sooner we get this part of the journey over with, the happier I'll be."

Yspaddaden nodded and followed her back toward the trees. He took one last look behind him as they entered the forrest. He did not relish the thought of returning.

Kadyriath

The sun beat down heavily on Kady, making her sweat profusely. She had long given up on trying to keep her dress clean and groomed, but this was one time she felt particular distress over it. Her sweat stained the dress to unsightly proportions, the dust stuck to it like leeches and the sunlight would not be kind to the pigments. There seemed to be absolutely no wind in this place, and with every footfall the dust swirled upward and settled slowly, getting tossed around by the currents their bodies made. She had hours before torn the hem from her dress, holding the piece of cloth to her mouth as she walked, trying to filter the dust from her mouth and nose. Her sacrifice meant that her dress now sat quite high on her legs, just at mid thigh. It did not bother her, she had worn much less material in her lifetime and felt comfortable. But for some reason her thoughts went to Yspaddaden. She hoped it wasn't making him uncomfortable. But at the same time she enjoyed the thought of him inspecting her. Maybe just the one inch hadn't been enough? Ah well, he could look all he wanted to.

Yspaddaden followed her a few feet behind, his boots stomping through the dust without a care. He seemed un-afflicted by the cloud of dirt that swarmed up. Perhaps he was too tall for it to affect him. Kady glanced back at him and gave a small smile to let him know she was alright. He had told her of the dangers they might come across as he cooked the deer he caught in the forrest.

"Most of the Tent is covered in a fine dust that sits on top of the ground. If you ever come across a patch of ground that appears to be stone, tread carefully. Sometimes it is stone and can be walked across safely. But most often the 'stone' will crackle and decay, causing you to fall into a bottomless pit. There is no water there either, but sometimes it may appear as such. Sometimes you might see a patch of trees on the horizon and a lake, but do not believe your eyes. The still air and heat make your mind go crazy and see visions."

"So I'm to dismiss all I see with my eyes as nothing more then hoax?"

Yspaddaden had shaken his head firmly.

"Absolutely not. The trees you may see, and the water also, will not move, they will remain still. If you ever see movement out on the Tent, pay close attention. It is most likely one of the many creatures that live there. No one knows how anything survives in the wasteland, but they do. Have you ever heard of the wedgeworms of Idris?"

"Yes. Large worms sliding quickly over the ground, sometimes over ten feet tall."

"Something like that has been reported to be seen in the Tent. But much larger. Much more dangerous. It has never been confirmed, but there have been rumours. But the Callah Birds. Those are real. And very poisonous."

Kady thought back to that conversation and tried to shiver, but the heat of the desert made it impossible. Yspa had not told her exactly what a Callah Bird was, but she had no desire to find out. Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.

Kady drifted back to fall into step with Yspa. She wanted to reach out and grab his hand with hers, but she knew it would be a bad idea. She still had one hand holding the piece of cloth to her mouth, so she simply wrapped the other arm around her torso. She spoke through the cloth to him.

"What are your plans once we reach Finngal? I hope you have some idea as to how we are to find this Aszkastone. If it is as rare and mystical as you say it is, then even the populace of the minotaurs will not know of its existence. Do you know where you might go first to inquire of it?"

Yspaddaden was quiet for a moment before speaking. The dust he threw up with his large feet almost seeped through her makeshift filter and she pressed her torn dress harder to her mouth.

"I do have some idea. There are a few contacts that I want to follow up on once we reach the border and enter the country. The first stop I want to make is Tegarp. It's a new settlement and supposedly one where a lot of minotaur historians and scholars are traveling to live. It was founded on top of a ruin that was discovered a few years ago, no one knows exactly what it once was. It's a place we could more easily pass as mere travelers and tourists. I don't want to attract too much attention to ourselves. The minotaurs are not aware of our quest, as far as I know, but I don't want to raise any suspicions."

"Is there someone specific you need to talk to there?"

Again Yspaddaden was quiet for a moment before he spoke. He seemed to not want to tell her of his plans.

"Remember Yspa, we agreed to share everything about this quest. Who are we going to see?"

Yspaddaden turned to her then without breaking stride and looked down at her face. His grin made her leap inside with some unknown emotion. It made her feel good.

"A friend of Joyills. One who might know of the whereabouts of the Stone, or at least will be able to point us in the right direction. She gave me instructions before she died on who to talk to in Tegarp. She had a pretty good rapport with most people, but the minotaurs she seemed to enjoy the company of the most. Many would be the time I would visit her hut and find her entertaining a bull or three with her magic. Minotaurs generally don't believe in magical objects. They think them to be merely tricks and illusions. And to be honest, most of Joyills 'magic' was mere trick. She had a few rare artifacts, but nothing of real power that I knew of."

Kady smiled but then had a thought. She grabbed his arm and immediately regretted it. He glanced down at her hand in amusement for a second, then back at the endless desert. She lowered her hand quickly but continued on with her thought.

"What about that paper? The one with Popor's name on it? If we had that, we could have the third word translated by the minotaurs. Do you remember how the word went? You said you saw the parchment. Can you replicate it?"

Yspaddaden smiled down at her and started laughing slightly, chuckling to himself. Kady glared at him.

"What? Don't do that! What is it?"

Yspa reached to his side and put his hands into the folds of his shirt. He pulled out a small case, just large enough to hold a ring or piece of iron. He handed the tiny box to Kady and gestured.

"Go ahead. Open it."

She looked at him curiously, but did as he said. She opened the lid to the small box and took out a piece of parchment, folded up, seemingly very old. As soon as she saw it, she knew what it was. Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open.

"AethelKil gave it to you?! You had the parchment all along?"

She stopped in the middle of the desert, ignoring the beating heat, and gently unfolded it. Once she did, she could see three words, forming a triangle across the parchment. One she could read, the name Popor in the human script. The other two she could not read, but recognized as elvish and minotaur scripts. She marveled at it for a moment, then replaced the parchment back in the case, which she then handed back to Yspa.

"Why didn't you tell me you had this?"

"I didn't want anyone to know I had it."

Kady gave him an accusing look.

"Are you saying you didn't trust me?"

"No that's not it at all! I didn't want AethelBald's soldiers to learn of it from you. To be honest Kady, you've been in the hands of his men a few times now. If they had ever decided to try and torture you for information, I didn't want you to know anything that would be valuable to the quest."

"Is that why you hid the purpose from me in the beginning? So they wouldn't find out?"

Yspaddaden gave her a look and she smiled at him to tell him she wasn't angry.

"I'm sorry. I've already forgiven you for that, so I'm going to let it go. But that's good! Now we can translate it once we get to Finngal. You said that village is full of scholars? I'm sure we could find someone who knows what this says. We would have to be careful not to show them the real parchment obviously, but I'm sure we can transcribe this word on another parchment and…what is it?"

Yspaddaden had gazed off toward the horizon and stopped moving. He held up a hand for Kady to be quite. She knew that look so fell still, trying to see what it was he was seeing. He was so much taller though, she might not be able to. After a second, Yspa turned back to her very slowly, whispering as he did so.

"We need to find shelter."

Kady looked around the desert and could see nothing as far as her eyes let her. She gave a gesture.

"Shelter? The Stone Tent is a terrible name for this place. There's nothing around for miles! Why, what is it?"

Yspa looked around in obvious agitation and nodded.

"You're right, there's nothing. Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"We have to find the caverns. The decaying stone I told you about. Most people who find them fall through and are dashed to pieces at the bottom. There has to be a bottom. Maybe there's some back way in."

Kady followed him as he began to jog across the ground, raising a cloud of dust that made her cough.

"But what is it? What did you see?"

He didn't even stop as he answered.

"I don't know. I've only ever been across the Tent once. But I know that any movement out here is dangerous. We have to find shelter."

Kady knew better than to ask questions. She simply followed.

Yspaddaden - Chapter 24

 Finngal, Nazhuu.

With a giant roar that pierced the ears of all who watched and echoed off the stone walls that surrounded the arena, Ko'Othuraka bellowed himself into a rage and threw himself at his opponent. Rasimon screamed his own war cry in answer and ran the several feet that separated the two foes, balling his hands into large fists. As they neared, the young ones around them held their breath in anticipation. The old ones looked on with envy. And the women's eyes held attraction.

Othurk and Rasimon collided with a resounding crash that could be heard even over the high walls that surrounded the crowd. Their hands beat against each others chests and stomachs, their horns clashed and cracked, sending sounds reverberating across the arena. Othurk gained the upper hand quickly, being slightly younger than Rasimon and more skilled. He grabbed the older minotaurs left horn and wrenched his head to the side, an action that would have severed a lesser beings neck instantly. Rasimon, however, rolled with the jerk and pulled Othurk down to the ground on top of him. Once lying in the dirt, Othurk stamped down with his knee, connecting with Rasimons belly. The crowd heard the connection and gave a roar in agreement. There were at least a hundred gathered, to watch the display that Othurk had called them to. Most were soldiers and fighters, men and women who Othurk had told only this morning of the army that marched their way. Each one of them had responded with joy and hunger for war. The country of Finngal had not seen a war or even a small skirmish for quite some time and most of them were becoming very restless. Othurk knew his people, but more importantly, he knew minotaurs and how they behaved. They could not simply sit around for too much longer without seeing some kind of battle, without expressing their stress in some way. Othurk himself had been cautious to bring war to the humans or the elves. Their alliances with the Dragons of late had grown quite strong, and while the Kind still adamantly denied any rumours of prejudice, every minotaur over the age of three knew the truth. No Dragon had ever Picked a minotaur, there were no nesting sites in all the country of Finngal. The Dragons did not even fly overhead. If they needed to get from Ynwfn to Epona, they would more likely take a long route, over the Southern Sea. They said it was because they did not want to incite anger and dissension among the more zealous of the Hull, the ones who really were prejudiced. But Othurk did not believe them. The Dragons and their Riders steered clear of the Hull. They did not like them. And the minotaurs were happy with that.

The crowd erupted again when Rasimon took Othurk by the body and lifted him up over his head, roaring in triumph. From this position, Rasimon could easily break Othurk's back against his knee in one fell swoop. It was a move that they taught their young very early on. But Othurk simply reached down and grasped the ring that sat in the large bulls nose. Rasimons eyes went red with fury as soon as he knew what was about to happen, but he hadn't the time to do anything about it. Othurk pulled upward, the iron ring jerking painfully against the soft inner part of his nostrils. His head jerked straight backward and Rasimon howled in pain and anger as he let go of Othurk and brought his hands to Othurk's, trying to pry them from the ring. But Othurk did not let go, even as he fell toward the sand. He landed on his two hooves and one hand, still gripping the ring in the other hand. Rasimon was on his hands and knees now, bending toward the king. He grunted and snorted in derision. Othurk slowly stood, raising the older minotaurs head upward to look at him. He stared into Rasimon's eyes, willing him to calm down and accept his defeat. When Rasimon did not, gripping the sand roughly, Othurk nodded, patted him on the cheek, and let go of the ring. He then turned to the crowd and spoke.

"This is what a soldier of the Hull is to be! Never backing down, never accepting defeat, fighting until he draws his last breath! Only a weak man would die in his bed, calmly, of a disease. A man of the Hull dies on the battlefield, cursing and praising the soul who murders him!" The crowd cheered. Othurk felt the movement behind him and turned, his fist outstretched, to connect solidly with the chest of Rasimon, who had risen from his position and attacked the king once more. The crowd booed Rasimon, but Othurk calmed them down with a raised hand. He turned back to Rasimon and offered a hand to his fallen foe. Rasimon declined and leapt to his feet, ready to continue the brawl. Othurk shook his head, a final command to back off and rejoin the crowd. Rasimon hated him in that moment, but obeyed his king. Othurk stared at the minotaurs gathered before him, men and women alike.

"Ynwfn marches against us even as we speak. Their king, AethelBald the Coward, does not ride with them. Instead he sends a woman in his stead!" The people around him booed again, and he could even hear a few of them scratching at their horns to show their true hatred of the man. "I do not doubt the courage and fortitude of any woman here, you are no less than any man. But when one sends another to fight for him, instead of strapping on armour and coming to meet his demise with courage, that is true cowardice, and I will not abide by it!" The crowd grew even more restless as he spoke. It was perhaps one of the longest speeches he had ever made in public. "We will meet them on the battlefield, we will fight like minotaurs, and we will kill every last one of them! And I will not send someone else in my place, I will lead you to your victory!"

He raised a fist in emotion and the crowd did likewise, copying his motions in a rallying cheer. He looked around at them and saw many who's eyes had turned red with bloodlust. That meant they were ready. They were ready for the war.

"I came into this world kicking and screaming, covered in someone else's blood.  And that is the way I want to leave it!"

The crowd could barely contain themselves. For a moment, Ko'Othuraka grew afraid. In this state, they would go into a rage and kill each other before waiting for the human army!

Hrodlious

Hrodlious strode confidently through the halls of the temple, carrying an incense candle with her. The train of her long, regal-looking robe dragged on the ground. It was black, studded with red rubies around the neck and wrists. The low-cut robe sat perfectly on her form, flowing with her movements as she walked toward her destination. She swung the candle on the string as she walked. Her hooves echoed in the massive halls, reverberating off the pillars and statues. The marble floor glistened her reflection back at her. Her ceremonial hood attached to her robe sat upon her horns, covering her head in subjection. Her nose ring made of pure iron hung heavily in her nostril. Her eyes glimmered as the firelight from the torches that hung along the hallway flickered in the dim-lit place. The hallways stretched far, extending all along the temple, straight down the middle. The sanctuaries and offices, sacrifice and veneration rooms sat off to either side, attached to the main hall by large wooden doors. As the sorcerous walked, she could hear the worship of the congregation all throughout the building. It was a haunting and exhilarating sound.

Hrodlious loved this building. She had built it up from nothing over the past cycles and it was her crowning glory, her finest achievement. Most places of worship in this country were small, one roomed, comparable to the huts that most minotaurs lived in. They were a simple folk. Why did they need a complicated religion? But that was not who Hrodlious was. She still counted herself fully a minotaur, but also something different, something more. She had power. She could do things that most could not. And she owed it all to her god.

The large cathedral sat high on a rocky hill, overlooking the city of Nazhuu. When at night, the lights from the place of worship could be seen for miles, shinning bright in the darkness. And the constant black smoke that poured from the large chimney could be seen even further away. That was where she was heading even now. The only room that didn't branch off to the side, but sat at the end of the long hallway. The Minstauthak. Place of Death. Where only the most holy of sacrifices took place.

Hrodlious felt her anticipation grow as she approached the Minstauthak. She could smell the smoke, feel the heat, hear the chanting that had already begun. Her hands gripped the incense candle harder, trying not to let it shake in anticipation. Her hooves clumped methodically as they carried her closer to the large room. The armies of Ynwfn were to arrive within the year and the proper measures must take place. The sacrifice must be made. Amen-Ra must be appeased.

She reached the door and a young female acolyte pressed against the large door and swung it open to reveal the ornate room. The stadium seating that sat in a circle around the center of the room was filled with the young, the old, the devout. Females all, they chanted in the ancient language that few now knew. The sounds were haunting and beautiful, rising and falling as the voices called out the prayers to the god they all served. As soon as she entered, everyone present stood and turned toward the door, never breaking the flow of the chanting. Hrodlious stopped inside the entrance and waited as the acolyte approached her from behind and grasped the cloak, pulling the hood from her head. The young girl reached around Hrodlious's shoulders and undid the clasp that sat on her chest. She then pulled the entire robe off her body and let it fall to the floor. Only then did Hrodlious continue.

She stepped forth and into the firelight. The giant flame that sat in the middle of the room was the only source of light in the sanctuary and it glowed ominously on the faces of all who were there. Their shadows bounced on the walls and ceiling, making the room feel more filled with people then it really was. Hrodlious looked around the room in joy. This is what she had worked for all her life, this is the dream she had strived to see fulfilled. Her, the leader of her own religion and surrounded by devout followers. It was a great feeling.

She came to the steps and started to climb up them. The steps led to a stone platform that sat just above the licking flames of fire. The platform could be accessed at four different points of stairs around the circle. The people around her climaxed in their chanting and sang beautifully as she rose toward the dais. Her hairy skin heated up quickly and started to singe slightly as the warmth from the fire tried to attack her. She rose confidently, never looking to either side, keeping her gaze steady on her destination. She had counted the steps many times and paused ever so slightly on number thirty-nine before rising and setting her hoof down on the top of the platform. As soon as she did, the chanting quit immediately. The rom went silent. The only sounds were the crackle of the fire and the breathing of the victim.

Hrodlious strode forth, the incense candle still held firm in her hand. She circled once around the raised stone that sat in the middle of the platform and set the candle on the edge near the hooves. The girl that lay there stared at the sorcerous with determination and fear. Her eyes glistened with held back tears and her hands were clenched in solid fists. No ropes held her in place, none were needed. She would not budge an inch, never wavering in her devotion to her god. Sweat poured down her face and splashed on the stone, evaporating quickly with the heat. Her breath came in quick gasps that she tried to hide. Hrodlious did not begrudge her her weakness. It would be hard for anyone to keep one's breathing in check, once put in this particular situation. Hrodlious looked down into the girls face and smiled at her, reaching a hand out and stroking her cheek ever so slightly. The girl tried to smile back but failed. She was so scared.

Hrodlious raised her hands and motioned for the crowd to be seated. Everyone was in a position to gaze upon the ceremony and no one said a word to anyone. No one wanted to miss it. After they had sat down, Hrodlious began her speech. Sweat poured off her face as well, as the heat tried to suck every bit of moisture from her body. But she would not budge.

"Tonight, we achieve a dream greater than any I have ever had! Many has been the time you have witnessed a sacrifice made upon this alter, many has been the body of cow and sheep slaughtered. Many has been the time that blood has dripped down these stones and fallen into the fire of our lord and king! Many has been the exaltation poured from your lips! But never have we witnessed such devotion, such love for our god as we will see here today! You, the women of our kind, the humble servants of Amenakalota, will witness love as you have never known possible! One of our own, our dear sister, will give herself and her life for our cause, to appease our lord and to visit his kingdom to ask him to bless our armies in this war we shall see soon! She has volunteered to go to the unknown, to look upon the face of him who murders, and to dare speak her voice into his ears! We send our blessings with her, and wish her the most speedy journey! Raise your voices with me, sisters, as we send our own on the final voyage, as we send her off into the unknown, to kneel in the presence of Amen-Ra, LORD OF THE NIGHT!"

They erupted in chanting and prayers, screams and curses. Everyone gathered themselves into a fury as Hrodlious reached for the leather bound hilt of the long bladed knife that sat nearby. She touched the blade with her finger and cursed as the heat of the metal bit her. She set her hands on the stone and ignored the heat coming from it. She stared into the face of the girl, a young follower not yet fifteen, and smiled once more. This time she smiled back. Hrodlious gripped her hand in hers. The screams around them seemed to become blotted out as she leaned in closer to the girl.

"What is your name young one?"

The girl had to gulp back her fear before answering.

"Neveen. I am here to do my lords will."

"And so you shall. Never before have we asked so much of one of our own. You shall become the first, Neveenek, to travel to the deepest pits of the kingdom of Him Who Angers. Trust in yourself, follow your head strongly, and do not fail us. We must not fail our god."

Neveen nodded.

"I shall. This war will be won. I promise you that."

Hrodlious smiled sweetly and leaned in even closer so that her lips brushed against Neveen's ear.

"Curse the war. Machinations of silly men. Meet our god, young one. Do that much for me. Someday I will follow and join you in his presence. Then will the plans become clear to you."

Neveen looked at her curiously, but Hrodlious did not let her reply.

"Hulaka sto malikenta. Ko mik do. Relokastauthak."

With those final, parting words, Hrodlious stood up straight and raised the stone knife above her head. The light from the flames glistened off the sweat that had gathered all over her naked body. The chants rose into a resounding crescendo. Hrodlious gave one last echoing cry.

"KulataRa!"

The knife slid smoothly into Neveenek's belly. Her eyes went wide and her hands grasped at the empty air. She grunted as she strove to stay alive, pumping blood for as long as she could survive. The blood poured out as Hrodlious had hoped. She pulled the knife out and it slid again smoothly. Neveenek arched her back and she cried out as the blood spurted up into the air, falling on the stone, on the sorcerous, and into the fire. Then she went limp and her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. The remaining blood gushed for a moment more, then slowly abated as the dead body died and the heart stopped pumping. The blood that lay on the stone table slowly dripped downward, gathering in the grooves that had been cut into the marble, flowing out and dripping into the flames. Hrodlious looked all around her as the females that filled the arena went into a wild dance, letting their bodies become overwhelmed. A few of them fainted from the exertion. Hrodlious took the knife that had cut the life from Neveenek and pressed the blade against her wrist. Her own blood dripped down slowly, mixing with the blood from Neveenek. She whispered a small prayer to her god.

"Take my sacrifice as well, Holy Ra. I will follow soon."