The paths were oft times narrow and the turns sharp along the road through the Gaia Mountains, but Lieut had little trouble running at top speed along them. Even with a storm coming in and constantly pelting him with snowflakes and icy winds Lieut continued to run on.

As the hours went by sweat began to bead on his face and heavy clouds rolled in obscuring his vision with thick grey walls. But he pushed on relentlessly. If Fairris was to live he needed to get her to the Anduěr Monastery.

He glanced down at the elf in his arms. It seemed that not a patch of her skin was free of a dark bruise or cut. Falix had been merciless in his torture, but there had been something else amiss with her before that. Lieut had noticed something about her as they were coming up the stairs on their escape from the dragon, and now he could see it clearly. There were black lines running up her forearm from dark nail marks on her wrist.

Lieut reasoned that it must be where the drowner had grabbed her, and now the poison from the fiend was seeping into her blood stream. Clenching his teeth Lieut pushed on faster through the snow and sleet, the icy rocks of the path making even his steps slip a bit. The path suddenly cut back on itself, causing him to head straight for the edge of a cliff, but his quick reflexes and fast feet allowed him to turn agilely. Suddenly he lost his footing on the ice and tumbled to the ground where he slid towards the grey abyss.

Thinking quickly he dropped Fairris to the snow just before his feet slid over the edge of the cliff. His fingers dug into the icy rocks in a desperate search for a handhold, but he could not find one as he went over the edge of the cliff. As the grey clouds reached out to swallow him, his fingers found a crack in the rocks, and he latched on desperately. Lieut growled in pain as he felt one of his fingers dislocate, but he held on. Hanging from one arm, with his feet floating in the clouds, Lieut let out a deep breath before swinging himself back up onto the ledge. His other hand found a hold and he pulled himself up alongside Fairris, who, still unconscious, had been oblivious to it all. With a quick realignment of his dislocated finger he pushed away the pain and picked up Fairris before sprinting off into the snowstorm again.

Lieut kept a keen eye out for more hairpin turns as he moved quickly along the road and traversed several wood and rope bridges. Finally he saw a glowing beacon of fire piercing through the clouds, and behind it loomed the shadow of a huge building carved into the side of the mountain. Lieut darted across another wide wooden bridge, past the large burning brazier and up the stone steps that led to the Monastery.

Huge pillars framed the large double doors on which Lieut knocked heavily with his foot. It took several minutes and several more heavy kicks on the wood until he heard a latch click and one of the doors crack open.

“She needs your aid,” Lieut said as he pushed through the doors. “We were attacked along the road.”

“How dreadful,” gasped the elderly monk that had opened the door.

“I believe she has also been poisoned by Drowner venom,” Lieut continued. “You must hurry.”

The monk nodded hastily but suddenly paused and looked closer at Fairris. “She is an elf,” the monk said looking hesitant.

“So? She needs aid,” Lieut pressed.

The old man nodded stiffly. “Anduěr will never turn away anyone, even if they are of a lesser race,” the man recited piously. “Follow me.”

Lieut ignored the man’s attitude as he quickly followed the monk down the long hall and through another wooden door, this one smaller. Down several long hallways they went before moving into a smaller room with a single bed, where Lieut placed Fairris. The monk left the room, but returned quickly in the company of two nuns.
“Come.” The old monk bade him away “The nuns will treat her. Luckily we have seen the Drowner venom before and know how to counter its symptoms.”

Lieut followed the old man from the room, glancing over his shoulder a couple of times until the door was closed.

“You can buy a warm meal at our tavern,” the old man was saying when Lieut turned to regard the man again. “And rent a room. We get quite a few travellers along this road. And don’t worry for your friend, she is in good hands and will be as right as rain in a few days. Then I hope you and her will leave quickly, we do not need people thinking we are sympathetic towards the Elves, you see?”

Lieut nodded to the monk and headed towards the tavern.

Many hours later Lieut stared absently out into the grey abyss of clouds and the drifting white snowflakes. The storm had lessened in the past couple of hours and even as Lieut stood there he could see the clouds beginning to break apart. He was standing out on the balcony that led from the under city, the light flakes of snow falling about him and accumulating on his shoulders and head. The wind had picked up, but he did not feel the cold despite the balcony sitting high up on the side of a cliff.

In the creating of the Monastery the monks had fashioned a magickal field around external areas like the balcony, which nullified the cold. The magicks fields also nullified any use of magicks within the Monastery, similar to the one that was around the Gaia Mountains Penitentiary.

Even though Lieut was looking out into the storm, he was not seeing it. His mind was elsewhere.

Why had he even bothered carrying Fairris to this place? He should not care if she were to die, such was life. But then why did he feel worried for her?

He let out an exasperated sigh, his hot breath causing a cloud of steam to drift into the air.

His mind wandered again to Fairris and how hopeless she had looked when he was carrying her. Lieut growled away the images.

“I should have just left her,” Lieut mumbled, but shook his head. “No, I could not have just walked away. There is no honour in that.”

Lieut rubbed a hand across his face, he was so conflicted and it was because of the damnable Regional Commander shooting down his craft when he had first arrived in Essinendeür. As well as the cursed Fog that for some reason ended up inside him and was the cause of those weird bouts of seizures and tampering with his thoughts about his mission.

“Hurry up Vythe,” Lieut mumbled quietly. “The sooner I get to Port Na’brath the sooner I can meet with my brother and hopefully he can help me.”

“Beautiful view is it not?” commented someone at his side, breaking Lieut’s train of thought.

He slowly turned an annoyed glare towards a priest that stood beside him, similarly looking down at the valley. The snow had stopped falling and the clouds had broken apart revealing an incredible view across the snow-capped mountains and the setting sun.

Lieut did not reply to the monk and he looked back to the view down the valley.

“Just happy to gaze across the mountains I see.” The priest smiled, and Lieut stretched his neck.

“Do you want something?” Lieut finally asked in irritation.

“Perhaps,” the priest replied. “But perhaps it is you that is in search of something. You seem troubled, can I aid you in bringing you enlightenment?”

Lieut scoffed. “Enlightenment?”

“Through the words of Anduěr we will all achieve enlightenment,” the priest said seriously.

“I do not want to hear the words of a false God,” Lieut replied dismissively.

“False?” exclaimed the priest in surprise. “How can any member of The Five be false? How can the words of a deity be false? No traveller, it is your thoughts that can only be considered as false, and if you submit to the will of The Five you will find enlightenment, salvation and understanding.”

“I see more clearly than you do, Priest,” Lieut was quick to reply. “The Sect of Anduěr, along with all religions is a lie designed to control the people. There is no enlightenment, only contradictions wrapped up in pious lectures demanding that the people confess their sins and submit to the church for salvation. Your religion is a vehicle for control, and nothing else.”

Annoyingly the priest smiled at him. “Your ignorant words are similar to my own when first I came through here. But the words of the Gods found me and showed me the way from the darkness. Let me guide you to the light. The church is a holy vessel for the will of The Five, to deny it is damnation.”

“What are these magickal barriers around the Monastery if not a contradiction to what Anduěr teaches?” Lieut rebutted. “By the words of Anduěr in the Prophecy; ‘the magicks of the Fog are for the Gods only. And all mortals that use it shall be condemned to eternal torture in the Abyss’, but yet you use the magicks.”

“It is a necessary evil so that no other magicks shall be used whilst within these holy walls.” The priest dismissed Lieut’s words.

“But why stop your contradictions there, Priest,” Lieut pressed his point. “You and yours condemned the Crythnin religion and massacred its followers for worshiping the Fog over The Five Gods. But yet the Prophecy of The Five states that the Gods were born from the Fog. Why condemn the religion that praises your Gods? Because you want control and any other major religion threatens that control.”

Annoyingly the priest was still smiling at him.

“Your words are those of someone lost in the darkness,” said the priest. “Please let me guide you to the light and moral righteousness.”

“So I can speak the words of a zealot?” Lieut spat. “And tell me, how moral is this monastery, really? You conduct the place like a business selling food, bedding and provision for travellers, all at exorbitant prices. I brought my friend here, near death, and sure the monks and priests are aiding her, but for a price. But what am I paying for? It is not for the restocking of potions or herbs and salves for you do not use any, you use magicks of the Fog stored in Anther crystals just like anyone else. Do not look so surprised.” A nasty smile came to Lieut’s face. “I felt the tingle of magicks the moment I laid her in the bed. So what then do you use the money for? Does it go to the sick and homeless? Of course not. The gold goes straight to the Temple of The Five in Issia to be spent on ornate objects to worship your Gods or to buy political influence with the cities’ lords and control the economy of the realm. You claim that religion is the light and based in moral righteousness, but what I see is darker than the Abyss.”

The priest shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other and glanced around for some sort of aid, but there was none.

“And let us look closer at this Monastery,” Lieut readily continued with his accusations. “I see around me both men and women, but do not expect me to believe that you are all celibate, that none of you have needs and have never shared each other’s beds. Which highlights another contradiction, you need magicks to stop pregnancy, and I see no children running around or pregnant women. But I suppose you are all just following the lead of Anduěr when he fell in love with a mortal woman and fought over her with his twin Antōre. And here I was thinking that Gods would be above the desires of love, anger and jealousy.”

The priest did not reply and continued to look uncomfortable.

“Your religion is a cruel joke,” Lieut continued. “It has swept across this land demanding subservience for salvation, control for enlightenment, and you kill all that disagree or oppose. No Priest. There is no enlightenment here, only the blind leading the blind and all having their strings pulled by the master of puppets that is religion.”

Fires burned in Lieut’s eyes as he left the monk, shocked, standing on the balcony as he moved into the under city in search of another reclusive spot where he could, hopefully, be alone.

Although it was called the under city, it was hardly a city; it did not have very many buildings and only two streets. One leading from the stairs that went up to the actual Monastery and another that ran along the length on the high roofed cavern. Along the main road lined the buildings that housed the monks, priests and travellers alike, as well as two shops and a tavern. At the point where the two roads came together at a junction there stood a huge carving of Anduěr striking a commanding pose. Every inch of the statue had been meticulously carved, from his intricate robes to his stern face that looked down on Lieut as he passed by and headed for the stairs that wound up into the Monastery.

Lieut was still fuming over the priest’s audacity to try and lecture him about religion when he suddenly realised that he had referred to Fairris as his friend. Lieut stopped mid-stride in the middle of the road before continuing on at a faster pace, his hands clenched by his sides.

“Lieut,” came a call ahead of him, making him stop again.

“Are you rested enough Vythe?” Lieut asked hastily.

“It is good to see you made it here well enough, too,” Vythe remarked sarcastically.

“Are you rested enough to teleport me?” Lieut pressed.

“Hardly.” Vythe looked at Lieut in surprise. “I just arrived and was heading to the tavern for a meal and a bed.”

“Here,” Lieut said and he tossed Vythe one of the large bags of coins and gems.

“So the dragon did have a treasure trove after all?” Vythe smile widely and dropped the pouch into one of his smaller satchels that had an extra-dimensional pocket in it. “I feel remiss not to have seen it. What of Fairris?”

“She lives, and heals,” Lieut replied offhandedly. “The monks and priests moved her to one of the rooms at the tavern where you can go and see her.”

“That is good to hear.” Vythe nodded. “I shall head there promptly. What of you, will you linger here?”

“Until you teleport me, yes,” Lieut replied quickly.

“Join me for a meal later?” offered Vythe with a genuine smile.

Lieut half nodded before turning to go. “You will teleport me tomorrow,” he called over his shoulder. “I trust you will be rested by then.”

“Of course,” Lieut heard Vythe call back as he started up the stairs. “But, where are you going?”

“This way,” Lieut replied simply before he disappeared up the stairs.

Wandering aimlessly through the Monastery Lieut headed back to the entrance hall and paused to look at the six stone pillars that held up the ceiling. Two of the pillars were carved into the likeness of the demi-gods that Anduěr created to be his faithful servants. Wooden benches were laid out in rows between the pillars, each facing the back of the hall and the dais where the head priest conducted his sermons. Behind the raised dais was another large stone statue of Anduěr looking just as dour as he had been in the under city. With only a brief recognition to the craftsmanship of the carving he continued on his wandering and was soon ascending up a wide staircase that climbed up into the top of the mountain.

At the top of the stairs he found a small tower where large bells hung in the rafters and a huge beacon fire burnt out on a balcony. Moving past the burning fire Lieut rested his hands on the stone of the terrace railing. It was cold here at the peak of the mountain where the magickal barrier to keep out the chill was weak. For some reason he liked that fact, as if it resembled the failure of the Anduěr Sect.

The clouds had mostly cleared and he could see unhindered across the mountains as Inüer began to drop below the western horizon. Again his mind drifted to the vision he had had when the dragon knocked him unconscious, and again he liked the idea of he and his brothers venturing through the lands with only them deciding what they would do next.

“Is that not what Vythe, Fairris and I are doing now?” Lieut asked the wind, before shaking his head in anger. “No, it is not the same, it cannot be the same. Vythe and Fairris are merely people I have met and would soon leave. They mean nothing to me. Then why did I say Fairris was my friend when I was speaking to the monk?”

Lieut’s frustration boiled over and he slammed his fist into the stone railing, causing it to shudder under the impact.

Lieut subconsciously stretched the stiffness out of his neck as he watched the last rays of Inüer vanish behind the western mountains, leaving the sky in a pink hue. Gradually the sky darkened and another front of heavy clouds rolled over from the north bringing with it thunder, lightning and heavy sleet. Not wanting to get wet Lieut turned from the balcony and began his descent back to the under city. Just as he took the first steps down, a spear of lightning struck the top of the tower sending the thunder rolling deafeningly through the sky.

Lieut heard many more crashes of thunder and the thrum of rain as he made his way back down through the Monastery. It became even louder when he walked into the under city as rain and wind flew in through the open balconies. The magicks around them were only designed to stop the cold, and they did to some degree, but the barriers did not stop anything else.

As he stopped at the tavern a nasty smile came to Lieut’s face when he saw one monk running away from the open cut balcony as the rain came through. The tavern which was situated right on the corner of where the two streets met, and like all the other buildings in the cavern, the tavern was made of stone, and was in fact built halfway into a huge stalagmite which had been hollowed out. He found it hard to believe that the monks carved the building, and over a dozen other similar ones, without the use of magicks. It was more likely that they built the place before denouncing magicks, or perhaps the rumours that the dwarven clan from the Gaia Vale had built the place were true.

Either way Lieut gave it little thought as he pushed through the tavern’s wooden door and into the sparsely furnished and smoke-filled bar. The large room was dimly lit with an orange glow of torches on the walls and a large fireplace to the left of the entrance. Next to the fire and along the left wall stood the bar where the barkeep was wiping an unseen spill and looking bored at the lack of customers.

Throughout the room small round wooden tables sat and at them resided a few travellers, one of which was Vythe. He sat with his feet resting on the table, his chair on only two legs. He had a mug of wine in his hand and was talking to one of the barmaids who was blushing.

Lieut moved over to Vythe’s table and took up the chair opposite him. Vythe stopped flirting with the maid when Lieut sat down.

“Be a dear and bring some water for my friend here,” Vythe said with a charming smile, and the barmaid left.

“Quite a decent establishment,” Vythe remarked, turning to him.

“If you can overlook the fact that it is in a Monastery,” Lieut replied. “Are the owners of this tavern monks as well, I wonder?”

“Most likely.” Vythe shrugged.

“A shame really,” Vythe said as he watched the barmaid return with a pitcher of water and a mug for Lieut.

“I doubt her vows will stop her from jumping in bed with you,” Lieut remarked cynically, to which Vythe laughed aloud.

“Let us not get into a debate about religion, I am too tired.” Vythe smiled, and he took another sip of his dark red wine.

“And too drunk,” said Lieut.

“I am not drunk,” Vythe replied indignantly. “Merely light-headed.”

Vythe laughed again.

“Whatever you call it,” Lieut said with a dull expression, “go lie down before you fall down, so you may get some rest and teleport me in the morning.”

“I wondered why you were being so polite,” Vythe said jokingly, “You just want me to teleport you.”

Lieut swallowed a mouthful of water, but did not reply.

“Why is it you wish to go to Port Na’brath?” asked Vythe, leaning forward on the table. “If I may ask?”

Lieut looked sternly at Vythe but did not reply.

“Come now,” Vythe insisted, “at least tell me why I am teleporting you.”

Lieut looked back at his cup and did not reply.

“Very well,” Vythe said, “I will not teleport you then.”

Lieut’s golden eyes snapped back to Vythe, but Vythe matched his penetrating glare.

“I need to go to the Magi Guild in The Port,” Lieut finally said with an irritated expression.

Vythe cocked his head to the side. “Why?”

“To see the Grand Magi,” Lieut replied evenly.

Vythe’s eyes narrowed and he studied Lieut for a few moments, “For some reason I thought it would not be as simple as that.”

“Much in life is simple,” Lieut replied with a shrug.

“But why all the secrecy?” Vythe had to ask. “If it is that simple why keep it so close?”

“Why does it matter?” Lieut retorted. “My business is my own. I never asked you where you were going and why, honestly I do not care. All I ask is that you return me the same courtesy.”

Vythe slowly took another drink of his wine his dark eyes not leaving Lieut’s.

“I once attended the Magi Guild in The Port,” Vythe remarked offhandedly. “But I was expelled.”

“Vythe, stop,” Lieut cut in. “Stop, before you start telling me your life story.”

“I never was,” Vythe replied indignantly. “Merely trying to create conversation.”

“Don’t bother.”

Vythe shot him a smile. “Very well then, I shall depart for my bed seeing no conversation is to be found.”

“Don’t forget to take the barmaid with you,” Lieut remarked dryly, causing Vythe to laugh.

“Perhaps I will,” Vythe said and he finished his drink before swaggering off towards the stairs next to the bar that led up to the rooms.

Lieut watched Vythe leave, but not before Vythe had made a few comments to the barmaid that made her giggle. Lieut took another drink of his water before he too left, but instead of going to a room he left the tavern and wandered into the under city.

******************************************************

PS - stay tuned to find out what happens next on Lieut's adventure to Port Na'brath. Will Fairris recover?

If you have yet to read the previous chapters you can find them all on my Tablo profile. Or if you cannot wait for the next installment you can buy the whole thing through any good online bookstore in both Kindle or Paperback formats.