Secret of the Sunstones, Part 1: The Wanton Kingdom

Chapter LVI : Exposure

Lateday of Tertius, Eleventh Day of Autumnmoon

Józef turned his gaze north. With his troupe following behind, he reached an important milestone in his journey across Mount Abakai: the Glacial Crossing. The trail ran along the northern-most tip of the continent, overlooking the great Glacial Ocean. The young king watched ships as they sailed past. From such a vantage point, thousands of spans in elevation, he imagined them as tiny ants, marching across a deep blue picnic blanket.

He knew a lot about this ocean. It provided a direct route between all the commercial sectors of the Northern Continent. Any merchant brave enough to sail its deadly torrents gained a sizable advantage over their competition, as no other thoroughfare provided a more expedient transport of the world’s most popular merchandise. It took only two and a half months for a vessel to circumnavigate the continent, hit all major ports, and return home with a hull full of gold.

The downside was an increase in pirating. To protect their riches, merchants turned to nautical accessorizing. Engineering guilds produced advanced weaponry, smithies forged hardened defenses, and mercenaries provided raw muscle. An entire ecosystem evolved, and on any clear day, a person looking north from Mount Abakai’s Glacial Crossing could see these ships, decked with battle gear, enroute to their destinations.

Józef shivered. He had never felt so cold in his life. The slushy ground sucked the warmth from his boots, leaving his feet wet and frostbitten. His sorcerers periodically provided the group with healing, but their manna neared depletion, and they reeled from both mental and physical strain. Rosa helped, but even her powerful sorcery had limits.

Expelling and applying manna were considered exclusive tasks, which meant they couldn’t be done simultaneously. This included summoning the manna to heal and then applying that magic to one’s own body. There were ways around it for certain spells. Sorcerers projected their voice by casting magic on the sound waves leaving their mouths, and they levitated by changing the pressure of the air around them. But for healing in particular, there were no exceptions. Sorcerers had to rely on their brethren to mend their wounds and ailments. And the more time they spent keeping each other healthy and refreshed, the less manna was available for everyone else.

Józef’s hand went to his empty stomach, which protested with an audible rumble. He had refused hunger enchantments so his sorcerers could save on manna. But he hadn’t eaten a thing since breakfast, and even then it was just a few pieces of dried fruit. Bram urged the group to hike through the day. The Glacial Crossing was dangerous, and lingering too long in one area made them vulnerable to mountain trolls, which were known to inhabit the area. Especially after dark.

Worse, the trail was thin, and the northern edge was a steep, vertical drop all the way to the ocean. One wrong step, and a person would plummet to their death. Not even magic could save them. Even if a miracle spell were to save a person from the impact, they would hit turbulent, ice-cold waters, which would freeze and drown them before crushing them against the cliffs. The trail was only a few spans wide between edge and cliffside, making it necessary to hike in the cold shade closer to the cliff.

This year, conditions made hiking even more difficult. Hot, unseasonal temperatures combined with cold northerly winds melted and refroze the layers of ice closest to the edge. Anyone walking too close could slip and careen over. The trail was sure to get worse after sunset.

Despite the chill, slush, and dangerous conditions, the procession continued their painful march, hoping to finish before dark. They hiked for hours, until an impasse forced them to stop. One of Mount Abakai’s many glaciers had created an ice melt that froze the trail completely over. It was so thick, steep, and slippery that it was impossible to cross safely.

Rosa pulled the two sorcerers aside to huddle for a solution. They were already weak from all their healing, not to mention that sorcery was poorly suited for the problem. Wizards could have melted the ice with fire, or broken it into pieces with thunder. But three manna-depleted sorcerers didn’t have much hope.

Meanwhile, morale plummeted. The group had gone too far to turn back, and the trail wasn’t wide or safe enough to set up camp. Józef rested on a nearby boulder, thinking of what he could do to help. His eyes wandered to the child, Yuri, who hopped and skipped through the snow, as if completely immune to the cold.

He recalled his sorcerers’ warning. “I can’t explain it, but there is more power in that child than I have ever sensed in a single person. Fully developed, such a scholar could bless armies … or level mountains.”

The fear and speculation had amplified since the spectacle between Yuri and Rosa. Everyone saw the flash of light that resulted in Rosa unconscious on the ground. Watching Bram pretend nothing happened made it all the more suspicious.

The Knight might have earned some respect since leaving Rungholt, but to most Kitezhians, he was still a Gnostic. And they didn’t always trust that he protected their interests. The crew wanted answers, which put Józef in an uncomfortable position. He didn’t want to force an explanation from the Knight, but he couldn’t let rumors spread among his followers, either. It was clearly time for a private conversation with Bram.

After all, the sorcerers weren’t making any progress. If Yuri’s powers could help, there was no reason not to ask. Józef needed to understand why Bram kept their powers so hidden. He stood next to Rosa and the other sorcerers, arms crossed, and face rigid. The young king waved to get his attention.

“Eh, Bram … do you have a moment?”

The Knight broke his cold façade and put on what looked like a forced smile. Józef could tell he was worn out. “How can I help?”

The young king tried his best to employ tact. “I was hoping to have an honest conversation about Yuri.”

The Knight’s eyes flared, but only for a moment. He took Józef aside to a part of the trail where others couldn’t overhear and kept his voice low. Even so, it contained a certain severity.

“Listen. I know your men saw what happened earlier, and I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. But what I’m about to tell you is sensitive information, and I’d like you to keep it between us.”

Józef nodded. “Of course. You can trust me to keep it confidential.”

Bram took a deep breath. “I’ve already told you that Angkor was responsible for attacking Yuri’s village, murdering everyone and leaving Yuri as the sole survivor. But I never told you the reason.”

He paused again, clearly torn at the last moment whether he should divulge the truth. But it seemed he made his choice. “Yuri is from a race of Ancient Gaians, which have the power to call forth spirits of the planet, known as aeons. This makes Yuri a target for anyone looking to further their own ambitions. Including us. They’ve already suffered enough. That’s why I can’t ask them to use their powers. Not if we can find another way.”

Józef was fascinated. Aeons were the subject of countless tales, from poetry to bard’s ballads. To think a child was capable of summoning these creatures of legend was astounding! No wonder Bram kept their secret hidden.

The prince forcefully tempered down his enthusiasm. “Thank you for telling me, Bram. I understand now why you’ve employed such discretion. You should know that I would never seek to exploit Yuri’s powers, but we face a serious problem. One which is already causing us to waste precious daylight. There might not be a better option.”

Bram looked unconvinced. “We don’t know that, yet. Give Rosa a chance. She’ll find a way.”

To Józef, it sounded more like wishful thinking. “Can’t you see the desperation on their faces, Bram? My men need rest. So do you and Rosa. If we ask my sorcerers to keep on spending manna like this, they could end up burning out.”

He was worried, because he knew what happened when manna-depleted scholars continued to cast magic. Normally, manna recovers naturally with rest. But when scholars push too hard after their manna reserves run low, the recovery takes longer. It might take extra days or even weeks, and when pushed far enough, scholars could even lose their manna production permanently. People called it, “burning out.”

Scholars understood these risks. Nevertheless, if their liege was in trouble and they saw no other choice, Józef supposed his sorcerers might put themselves at risk. He didn’t want them to lose their abilities, especially when he was sure to need them later. And he was sure Bram felt the same way about Rosa.

It was clear the Knight was torn. Between taking a risk on Rosa’s wellbeing and keeping Yuri under a low profile, there was no easy way to have both.

Józef believed he could convince the Knight to see the larger picture. “Bram, the way you look after and protect Yuri is admirable. It reminds me of my own father. But, I’m sure you know you can’t keep their powers a secret forever. Should Angkor someday discover an Ancient Gaian had survived, you will need to prepare Yuri to defend themselves. And to do that, they will need to practice and hone their skills. What better time, than in the company of people you trust. You do trust us, don’t you?”

Bram might have been a stubborn man, but in that moment, Józef saw his defenses crumble. His lips were pressed tight, his brows furrowed, and his nose scrunched. But then, he sighed, and his features relaxed.

“Alright.”

Józef was almost surprised to hear it.

“Let me talk it over with Rosa. She can speak with Yuri telepathically and set some guidelines for safety.”

Bram returned to Rosa’s side to explain the situation. Judging by the body language, the sorceress seemed just as hesitant as her Knight. But eventually, she relented, too. Bram called out to Yuri, and the child skipped over happily. Rosa took them by the hand, closed her eyes, and wore a look of intense concentration. Jozef approached, eager to hear the results.

“What did Yuri say?”

By now, the other Kitezhians realized something was happening. They gathered around, and he heard murmurs in the native Kitezhian tongue. They were concerned what other curses might come from the mysterious tribal child. He hoped Bram, Rosa, and Yuri would soon prove them wrong.

Rosa looked concerned with the crowd, but she didn’t ask them to leave. Instead, she answered Józef’s question. “Yuri’s form of telepathy is quite fluid and nearly beyond my comprehension. The only part I understood was that they intended to perform some kind of ritual, called the Song of Spring.”

Józef couldn’t help but smile. He usually didn’t think of magic in terms of performances, but he was excited to see anything involving song or dance.

Bram asked the crowd to back up and give the child room. Józef took a few steps back as well, anxious with anticipation.

Yuri folded their hands, as if in prayer. A golden hue surrounded their skin, and they stepped onto the ice sheet—the same slippery surface leading straight off the side of the cliff!

Bram reached out, instinctively, but Rosa scolded him. “No, Bram. Don’t interrupt the spell. Trust that Yuri knows what they’re doing.”

Józef found himself fighting his own nerves. Anyone else would have slid to their death, but Yuri’s feet barely touched the surface. The child advanced brazenly toward the center, arms outstretched, fingers moving in intricate patterns, like weaving on a loom. Meanwhile, their legs had the form and grace of a ballerina. They spun, leaping and gliding like a circus performer. Józef was enthralled.

One of the sorcerers turned to the other. “Do you just see that?”

“Gold manna!” the other exclaimed, excitedly.

Even Rosa was full of starry-eyed wonder. She spoke under her breath, eyes glistening. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

Józef was quite pleased with himself. If nothing else, the dance was a rare treat. But he was caught off guard when someone behind him shouted a warning.

“Spawn!”

The Kitezhians readied their swords as a giant creature slowly crawled over the rock face. It looked like a gecko, or at least a close cousin. Although, its head was oversized and out of proportion. It was gold in color, flat in shape, and zigzagged across the icesheet with sticky webbed feet to hold it steady.

Bram acted quickly to halt the aggression. “Józef, ask your men to stand down. Please. This creature isn’t hostile. It’s here to help. Remember what I told you.”

Józef quickly backed Bram up. “Sheathe your swords and don’t interfere.”

The soldiers obeyed, but they looked nervous. He was worried, too, as the creature approached the child until its mammoth maw was only a few spans away. Józef cringed when the creature’s mouth opened. But, instead of rows of teeth like he expected, he found a mouth full of hundreds of smaller geckos. He had heard of certain species known to carry their eggs in their mouth, but never anything like this. Even more bizarre, the geckos started to sing!

And their sound … was beautiful! It was like choirs of children singing angelic hymns. His heart was moved. And as they sung, the temperature rose. Józef was reminded of springtime in southern Kitezh, where warm desert air from Saladin blew across the countryside, and crocuses tunneled through snow.

At his feet, the snow melted, first pooling into shallow puddles, then pouring in rills over the cliff’s edge. The ice grew thinner until it disappeared, and a field of wildflowers burst from the rocky earth.

The crowd oohed and awed, gasping in unison. It was beyond anything he could have imagined. A performance for the ages! None of the ice remained. Not even a hint of snow or slush within a hundred spans. The transformation was marvelous!

Bram went to Yuri’s side, beaming with pride. “Thank you, Yuri. You did it.”

Rosa joined, placing her hand on the child’s shoulder and no doubt sending telepathic praise. Józef was moved. The three almost looked like a family.

The young king knew he would need to address his followers. They would certainly be tempted to ask for more of Yuri’s abilities, and he had to set some respectable boundaries. Nevertheless, there would be time for that later in the evening. With the blockage now clear, it was time to press onward.

“Let’s go,” he ordered. “We must find shelter before dark.”

Due to the danger of spawn, they would need to camp without a fire, which meant less to eat and harsher nighttime temperatures. He expected his sorcerers to recover some of their manna by then, so at least they could shield the area from harsh winds. He wanted his group to fend for themselves, so Yuri wouldn’t be seen as a crutch.

There was still another day of hiking, before they crossed into Koba and could return to lower elevations. The journey was far from over.