"Doon; what do you know of pain? You've never been in a battle. You've always had everything handed to you on a silver platter."
"I know more then you know Kephiyr. But that was just an attempt at writing something like you used to."
"Sounded like a big pity party, woe is me crap. You know nothing proper. You embrace the pain like that; you become the pain. And that pain will drive you to do unspeakable things; just like your father. Do you wanna be your father?"
Doon looked blankly across the hall at Kephiyr in silence. Just looking at him Kephiyr could see the gears turning in his head. He could tell he had struck a nerve and at the same time showed him another angle of vision. Doon trembled slightly.
"No."
"Then choose a different route, you don't have to be like him. Life, is what you make it. Choose your perspective, don't let your perspective choose you."
"Well how do you perceive life? You've been through a lot, how do you not see life that way?"
"Life's too short. So run til you can't run no more. Smile like it's going out of style. Laugh so hard both sides hurt. Be sure to enjoy the little things in life. And drink in the moments that take your breathe away. Jump up and down on a mountain top, even if that mountain is a hill four feet tall. Shout at the top of your lungs until you loose your voice. Dance around in circles til you get too dizzy to stand. Find the first star of the night and make a wish, even if you don't believe it. Grab a puffball and blow it across the landscape, then watch them dance like fairies in the wind. Skip stones across the river, and be sure to find one big rock to make a splash. Run and dance through the rain, when it's done jump in every puddle. Live life to its fullest, enjoy every moment of it. There are a lot of things to think about, but nothing to worry about. Because worrying doesn't change a thing. It only makes you miserable, and sick. There will be times that it's hard to enjoy life. But that's when you suck it up and keep going. Choose to be happy it doesn't always come easy. And if you ever feel unworthy; remember God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."
At that moment the door to the throne room opened and Eloff and Airidel rejoined them. Kephiyr gave Eloff a questioning glance. He just shrugged his shoulders and said we'll see. Not at all what Kephiyr wanted to hear.
"Well the good news is since it's so early we should be able to get halfway to Wolden by days end." Airidel said.
By now they were starting to get sick of the road, but there was only one way to go. And so they descended and passed through Farmell's middle gate back into the Iren Fields. This section of the fields had many ruins. Half standing walls and a few full but rundown buildings.
"I thought the ruins of Ceth and Corth were a little more East?" Kephiyr asked.
"They are, these are other smaller villages whose names have passed into history. Ruins of the old Pelishty nation, it spanned as far as the Kodesh Mountains. Tukor was also once part of the Pelishty nation, though it had a different name."
"It was quite large, that's like four times the size of Farmell."
"Yes it was, and Farmell was once part of it as well. It was the powerhouse of it's day. Probably still would be had it not imploded." Eloff replied.
"It's so quiet here, and think families used to live in these houses. This used to be civilized, it had roads and markets. Now it's empty and silent." Doon said.
"Yes, but such is the end of countries as cruel as Pelishty. Sad really, not everyone in it was cruel, but they were made to pay for the faults of others." Eloff replied.
"Elohiym wouldn't do that." Kephiyr argued.
"No, He wouldn't; but man would and you know that. Remember even Elohiym doesn't get His way always. In fact I would argue He rarely does. If He had His way, you'd have no use for that sword you're carrying and there would be no need for hospitals or guards. Until He comes, you know who the god of this world is."
Their trek lead them Northeast up the Iren Fields, keeping the Kodesh Mountains on their right side. Up ahead they could barely glimpse lake Gawleel like a shimmering jewel at the tip of the Kodesh Mountains. Around lunch time they crossed over the Corth River on a small wooden bridge. The ruins of Corth were much closer now, and they could barely make out the mountain road. Corth had many towers that were still standing. And somewhat of a wall ran through it though it had several holes. Many of the buildings were only half buildings and some had only the foundation.
"It still pretty defendable with a sizable force." Doon said.
Kephiyr and Eloff just laughed. They proceeded heading Northeast just adjacent to the Kodesh Mountains. More and more patches of forest sprang up here and there among the quiet landscape. What wildlife there was seen them coming a mile off and avoided them. By sunset they had reached the Southern end of Lake Gawleel. The northernmost tip of the Kodesh Mountains loomed ominously above them shrouded in mist. They pitched tent for the night and Airidel scooped up some water from the lake to boil for dinner time. Doon came up beside her.
"What is that?" Doon asked pointing out on the lake. She looked up to see a dancing rainbow that would vanish momentarily. But as soon as it vanished it would rise again and dance in a wavey sort of way for ten feet or so.
"Those are called Luchen, they're an aquatic lizard. Their base color is blue but their appendages are multicolored."
"How big are they?"
"Oh about the size of your palm. When they do that pretty dance, they're actually just catching bugs. If you know how the flying fish glides it's the same basic concept. But the Luchen have legs and breathe air. Pretty little things too."
"I'll say, the dancing rainbow is unlike anything I've ever seen."
"Wait til tonight; this lake is gorgeous after dark. Like a billion sparkling diamonds, or maybe like stars trapped in water."
"What makes it like that?"
"Nobody knows, and it only happens at night."
They sat down to a meal of fried potatoes as the sun set. And as the stars began to come out the lake came alive with sparkling stars of it's own. Waves crashing and spreading the stars onto the beach which would soon vanish. However it wasn't like reflecting the stars for these moved with the water. As Doon stared at the lake he turned to Airidel.
"Could you possibly give us another song before bed?"
"What are you five?" She laughed. "I don't know if I can." She looked at Eloff.
"Oh I suppose, it is the last one we'll be able to do on this trip anyway."
"Last one? I thought you would accompany us home."
"No, we will accompany you to Melton. But after this we will be in wilder land and can't risk music." Eloff said and produced his pipe and began to play while Airidel sang.
"Down by the River Jordan the trees grow tall. Like a man who feeds his soul on Your Word. I look in the water, I can see the stars fall. Here the fires crackle and the crickets chirp. And there were bluffs on the banks of the Cordonion, where I can see the sunrise from a world away. I can see the marvelous things that You have done. The beautiful world that You have made. In the winter it's white in the summer it's green. In the fall it's orange, and red, and gold. Then it comes to life in the rights of spring, when the rivers thaw and the flowers unfold. And there beads of dew on a spiders web. There are moats of dust in these beams of light. We who are bone, and spittle, and muscle, and sweat. We live together in a world, where it's good to be alive. Cause it flutters and floats, it falls and it climbs. It spins and sputters and spurts. You filled this world with wonders around every turn. It buzzes and beeps, it shimmers and shines. It rattles and patters and purrs. You filled this world with wonders and I'm filled with the wonder of Your world. If there's a better world and a brighter day. Even brighter then the one we're in. We'd all be fools to think that it could be made, by the wills and the hands of foolish men. So Lord to you we give our deepest praise. And to You we sing our loudest songs. While we live in the world that You have made. We here it whisper of a world, of the world that is to come."
As Airidel finished Kephiyr checked to see if Doon was asleep.
"Good, I've been wanting to ask this all day... what did Melek and Lileth say?"
"They said if Elcor joins the dwarves they will join also."
"So everything hinges on a vote of the council?"
"Afraid so. But outnumbered or not I will meet them in battle. Because that is the right thing to do."
"Why are you so secretive around Doon?" Bear interrupted nuzzling up to Kephiyr.
"Because he is the son of the man we are up against."
"Then why bring him with you?"
"Because he is also my friend. I just fear what he may tell his father."
"Humans are so complex. In my world you're either friend or foe, never both."
"In a perfect world it would be. Even I don't really understand it."
"You; you mean you're a human who doesn't understand humans?" Kephiyr laughed.
"I don't even understand myself sometimes Bear. I think the only thing I do get is you."
"I get you Kephiyr; you're a good man who'll stand up for what he believes in, even to death."
"I hope so, but one never really knows what is truly in his heart. The heart is deceptive; who can fully understand it? And all the other little things in life stack up and make it complicated. Until you sometimes do things you don't even fully understand."
"You mean like why you say goodnight to a woman who isn't here?"
"You heard that? Well honestly I don't even know how she is, I haven't seen her in years."
"That's sad, but an easier answer, you love her."
"Yeah." Kephiyr teared up a bit and pulled Bear close to his chest. "You're a great companion Bear, and I love you too."
"Me too. Well goodnight." Bear yawned and stretched out on her back taking up most of his blanket. Kephiyr laughed.
"By the way you're obligated by dog law now not to move. Because I'm comfortable and you love me too much to disturb me."
Kephiyr laughed and shimmeyed into a semi comfortable position and fell asleep. He awoke early to Bear's tongue in his face.
"Good morning, Eloff made coffee and caught fish for breakfast. I ate a colorful frog and now I can taste colors." She never stopped likcking him the entire time.
"Okay, okay I'm up; what about tasting colors?"
"Ah nothin' don't worry about it, I love you and I... squirrel! Nah, just another hallucination."
"You're hyper this morning, go run it off."
"What a great idea, I love to run. Do you love to run? Psh stupid question of course you do, who doesn't." Bear immediately ran out of the tent running zig zags chasing various insects.
"Should I be worried about Bear?" Kephiyr said tapping Eloff, he laughed.
"No, she ate a hallucinogenic frog; she'll be wired and tipsy but she'll be alright."
They packed up their belongings heading Northeast toward the Cordonion River which flows into Lake Gawleel. Bear had to constantly be reminded to keep up, as she would chase after every little critter. Not long after they passed by the lake they entered much rougher terrain. Hills sloped this way and that. Some having many rough rocks, some just steep grassy hills. Forested areas began to get thicker and more frequent. They chose to follow a little creek that ran a mile adjacent from the Cordonion River.
"Following this creek will lead us straight to Wolden." Eloff said.
"Is there not a road that cuts through these hills?" Doon asked.
"There is, if you want to waste a days journey trekking nearly fifty miles North of here. Not to mention there are several hills between us and the road. The creek is fairly level ground and offers fresh water at any time we wish."
"Creek it is then." Doon said with a sigh.
"Be on your guard, especially in forested areas. There are beasts here that may consider you prey."
"Like what?" Doon said clearly shaken.
"Great snakes, cats, and bears."
"Wouldn't the road be safer then?" Doon asked.
"No need to fret Doon. You're surrounded by able bodied warriors, we'll protect you."
Bear lead the way, still slightly feeling the effects of the frog. However, her instincts had kicked in telling her this was hostile territory.
"I don't much care for this place. I'm okay, but I can't protect all you soft skins." Bear said.
"Don't worry, we're pretty capable ourselves." He handed her some jerky and they passed forward slowly. They noticed several very large snakes making their home up in the trees.
"That thing must be a hundred feet long." Doon shuddered while looking at a huge red and black striped snake.
"Likely is, keep your distance hopefully it won't try to take us all on." Airidel whispered.
Not long later they came across a leopard basking in the sun on a rock near the creek. The leopard sized them up but chose to retreat. They also seen gazelle and big horn sheep and one Bear, but luckily the trip was uneventful. It was slow as the thickets in some areas by the creek made their progress seem to be a snails pace. Yet they still made it to Wolden by nightfall. Currently they were in the town called Fenil. This town as all the towns in Wolden was made completely out of wood, many large pine trees were close at hand. Unlike Zolon and Farmell, Wolden didn't have a wall protecting it's border. Wolden was inhabited mostly by skin changers, their concept was that only weaklings need a wall. The humans who shared the land weren't exactly in agreement, but they were sojourners and had no say. The somewhat hypocrisy was that Forn the main city had a wooden wall between it and the Forest of Illusions. This was said to be simply so the wildlife stayed where it belonged. The houses were all two story and nearly all had a large covered porch. From which, several seven plus foot tall skin changers eyed the new comers while smoking and drinking.
"A friendly lot, once they get to know you. But keep your wits about you, and don't pry into anyone's business." Eloff said as they headed toward the Inn.
"I expected to see more humanoid animals or something." Doon said.
"They rarely take on their animal forms, mainly only during battle." Airidel said.
"Do they all have one form or many?" Doon asked.
"Many, do you see the tokens around their necks? Those tokens help channel their power and identify them when in animal form."
Doon looked and noticed each wearing a silver chain with a token having their family crest on it.
"Passed down from generation to generation, the tokens don't provide their power. However, with them they possess knowledge from their ancestors. And the tokens help channel their inner power into many different forms."
"So like at the same time? Like strength and protection, like a lion and a turtle?"
"Don't be ridiculous, one or the other as far as I am aware. But the very experienced ones can rapidly change and it's always a humanoid form."
They found the Inn and checked in for the night. All of them fell asleep quickly, except Kephiyr. Kephiyr stayed sitting on the porch petting Bear and smoking well into the night.
"What do you think of this cozy little place Bear? I feel most at home here, then I have for a long time. Not really sure why."
"It is a comfortable little niche in the woods that's for sure. They seem like my kind of people, down to earth."
"That they do. They're skeptical of new comers but are very kind it seems. They somehow remind me of Bren, no wonder he decided to live here."
Bear didn't answer she had fallen asleep. Kephiyr smirked and carried her into the room. The next morning Bear woke him up with a gentle nuzzle.
"Time to get up sleepy head, everyone else has already finished their breakfast."
"Well, good morning Bear. Why'd you let me sleep so late?"
"Well it was well after midnight when I fell asleep and you stayed awake longer. Thank you for carrying me in by the way. This place is interesting, lots of little creatures to chase."
"Well I'm glad, let me eat a quick breakfast and we'll be on our way. What time is it?"
"About eight I should think." He rubbed his face, yawned and headed to get food and coffee.
"Just out of curiosity, how do you know that it's eight?"
"Built in clock, you have one too, you just rely on a mechanical one more."
"Right that was kind of a dumb question."
"Yep, it was, can we go now?"
"Here in a minute smartass."
"Better then being a dumbass."
Kephiyr ate and they set out for Forn, a fairly long journey but not so long that they'd be traveling all day. Wolden wasn't densely populated, though it had a population that rivaled Zolon. Close to three thousand small cities dotted the landscape. The biggest gap being about fifty miles apart. In between was largely untouched forest, usually with the most two roads leading through. The cities had populations ranging from around nine hundred to twenty thousand. All the cities seemed almost incorporated into the surrounding forests. Outside of Farmell it was the greenest country in the world.
Once they reached Forn Kephiyr was shocked at the palace. He had expected something big and elaborate like Zolon or Farmell. Wolden's palace was rather simple. It was a tall was a tall wooden building with roughly six rooms. It was most certainly the most beautifully carved building they'd seen. But despite being twenty feet tall it was yet humble. Or perhaps it only looked small compared to the enormous tree behind it. It was known by the locals as the tree of the world and for good reason. The trunk was about fifteen yards wide and the tree itself was estimated at five hundred feet tall. Local myth said the skinchangers drew their strength from the tree, as their ancestors used it as a gate between worlds. Their tokens all had wood from the tree in them as well. As they entered the palace Faren and his madam greeted them.
His madame name was Silvia. She had long red hair and and goldfish brown eyes with the slitted pupil of the skinchangers. She wore a long silk dress that was white with red trim and a silver crown with the tree imprinted on it.
"Greetings Kephiyr wraith slayer. Our gift may not have the legacy of others, however the function of it will rival their legacy. As I'm sure you're aware our culture has made great strides in magic. That is our gift." Faren snapped his fingers and a chubby little man came round the corner. The man had multilens glasses on that made his eyes look enormous, and he had freckles all over his chubby little face. He was carrying a beaker filled with a blue glowing liquid, and he seemed rather flustered at being interrupted.
"Yes, your grace? Forgive me I was in the middle of an experiment."
"Our guest of honor has arrived Bren, bring the talismen."
"Oh couldn't wait til after lunch eh. Very well, I'll be right back."
Doon poked Kephiyr excitedly to which he nodded to indicate he was aware.
"Here it is, already tested it as I'm required to." Bren shuddered at that as if some things he'd rather not test.
"This talisman will give you the abilities of a skinchanger. It will take some time to hone your skills in it, just like any skill. Now if you'll excuse me."
Bren began to walk away but Kephiyr caught him by the sleeve.
"Bren do you not recognize me?"
Bren looked a little and then an awestruck look of realization crossed his face.
"Doon and Syphon, I never thought I'd see you again. Especially you Syphon, when did you change your name to Kephiyr?"
"Not long after you left, I saved this little runt from goblins." He said giving Doon a nuggy.
"Fancy that, never would've guessed you were the wraith killer. I seem to remember you being the punching bag and Feldor being the muscle."
"You remember correctly; I got bigger and trained a lot."
"Apparently, well I don't really drink anymorr... but if you stick around til the evening I'll kick back a few with you guys."
"We actually had it planned to stay the night in Forn I believe. So we might take you up on that."
Later that evening they met Bren at an Inn and had a few drinks and played pool. Something Bren had obviously not done in a long time as he was a cheap drunk and lost four games of pool in a row. Then they hugged eachother goodbye and turned in for the night.
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