Through the Sacred Mountasns

I woke up and sat up on the bed with a jerk, running my hands over my face. It was the same dream, again. It had happened so long ago, but I couldn't forget it. I got up, poured some wine into the gold goblet decorated with rubies and drank it in one gulp. Then I went to the window and opened the curtain. 

Night fell over the world, the moonlight turning the bright-colored sands to silver, and high in the sky was the incredibly beautiful moon. I had seen Kainos before, but it enchanted me again. I watched and watched, unable to take my eyes off the moon, almost forgetting who I was and where I was. There was only the moon with three rings around it: beautiful, enticing, calling...

"You shouldn't look at the moon for too long," a voice behind me said. "Its light can drive you crazy."

I turned to see Sahara standing two paces from me. 

"Are you satisfied with everything, brave knight?" the goddess murmured. 

The tone of her voice made me speechless, so I just nodded. 

Sahara walked past me and closed the curtains. 

"Much better," she said smiling and poured the wine into the goblets, handing one to me. "I've heard about you, Arthur. Have you really done all the things that have been attributed to you?"

I spread my arms. "If all those rumors were true, I wouldn't even have time to eat."

"I know, they always exaggerate. But Leah's story is true, and Hallydarian snow dragons aren't fiction either," she remarked with a smile.

I laughed. "I've heard how this story is told in the Lace. Not a word of truth!"

"That's what all legends are," she agreed. "So what is it like to be a living legend?"

I waved my hand carelessly. "I really don't know. Not many people know me by sight, so that's not the problem. Actually, I'm not the guy they're talking about."

"I think you are," Sahara pointed to Helyswort, "this blade is the proof."

"Yes, but..." I began.

She pressed her finger to my lips. 

"Any blade, even if given by the gods, is only a weapon that obeys the warrior," she said. "The sword of Oel has chosen you, which means you have the potential to fulfill the mission. But a sword is not what makes history. You never know which deeds or words will be the most important along your way, and which of them will be the last...  Do you have the lady of your heart, my knight?" 

I shook my head negatively. 

"Haven't you met her yet?" she asked in surprise. 

 "Unfortunately," I sighed. I didn't want to spoil this beautiful evening with painful memories. 

"That's not good," the goddess said sternly. "A knight should perform feats in the name of his fair lady, otherwise there's no legend."

"I really don't care what they say about me tomorrow. What matters to me is the result of what I'm doing now."

"You're showing off," she objected. "A man of your profession can't help but think of glory. Why else would you risk your life every day?"

"Maybe I just like adventure?"

"Maybe," she agreed. "But there must be something else!"

"The money? The power?"

She laughed.

"Not for you!"

"Then this is the realization of my suicidal tendencies. When life has lost its meaning and pride won't let you kill yourself."

That was true some years ago. I lost my faith then, I couldn't get rid of the pain and guilt. I went to Hallydar in search of death and was truly disappointed when I missed it by a hair's breadth. I chased death, but it kept running away from me. It wasn't until I met Leah that I regained hope and the will to live. But I didn't tell Sahara. A hero must not think about such things. So the goddess didn't believe my words. 

"You are too cautious to be a suicide," she said. 

I threw up my hands in defeat. 

"You're right! It's all about glory. I always dreamed of someone singing songs about me!"

"You see," Sahara saluted with her goblet. "To glory!"

"To luck, perhaps?"

"No! Just to glory!"

And we drank the wine. 

She put her goblet aside and took a step toward me. Her feline eyes were right opposite mine. Her hair smelled wonderful and her skin was hot, I could feel it even through our clothes. 

"The knight cannot be without a lady of his heart," Sahara whispered conspiratorially and put her hands on my shoulders. 

I hugged her, feeling a little dazed and euphoric. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find a word.

"One day," Sahara said sadly, her fingers were stroking my neck and my shoulders, making it hard for me to understand her words. "One day you will meet a woman. A woman for whose sake you will not only want to do heroic deeds, but also want to give them up, preferring a quiet and peaceful life with her alone."

I wanted to object, but Sahara didn't let me say a word. 

"One day it will happen, and she will be the best reward for all your trials and tribulations ."

I opened my mouth to speak, but it was shut with a kiss. This kiss was so hot, so intoxicating, that I forgot all women except the one I was holding in my arms. 

"Promise me that your next feat will be in the name of the beautiful Sahara," she whispered, pulling away slightly.

"I promise!" I exhaled. 

"May my blessings be upon you!"

We fell onto the fluffy carpet, and there, among the cushions and flower petals, I learned what the blessing of the Goddess of the Desert Winds was.

***

For the next three days we climbed the rocky ridge. I could have said we were ascending, but let’s call things by their proper names: climbing, clambering, crawling, inch by inch. I began to hate rocks as much as I hated caves! Damn them all!

Thanks to Sahara, we started our journey well rested and with a large supply of food. Moreover, the goddess took us to the mountains in her chariot, so we didn't have to cross the desert on foot. Unfortunately, she had no power beyond the borders of the desert. 

 The southern slope of the mountains turned out to be a devilish place, steep and seemingly lifeless, but inhabited by a lot of crawling and flying creatures, extremely aggressive against all kinds of aliens. Alex said they couldn't hurt us, but I wasn't so sure of his words. I wished I could fly.

 When we finally reached the top, I was so exhausted that I just fell onto the bare, frozen rocks and lay there, feeling neither wind nor cold.

Alex didn't let me lie there for long. He helped me to get up and led me to the quiet place between the rocks where the fire was already burning.

"The rest of the way will be easier," he said, sitting down with his back against the rock so that he could see the entrance to our shelter.

I nodded and sat down by the fire. I didn't ask my companion where he had gotten the wood, it was clear: the magic.

In my backpack I found the magic thermos, poured the tea into the mugs and added some whiskey from the flask Doro had given me. 

"The mountains are indeed an unusual place," Alex began as he took the mug from me, "Many strange things happen here. But if we stay on the trail, there's a chance we'll get through."

"Oh, you've calmed me down," I snorted, "I hope you know where this trail is." 

"Well, actually," Alex said hesitantly, peering through the steam over his mug, "it changes location from day to day. The locals try to avoid unwanted visitors this way. I'll ask the dryads when we get lower." 

I wanted to ask another question, but there was no time. 

A loud roar was heard from behind the rocks. I jumped to my feet and drew my sword from its sheath. Alex did the same in a moment.

The roar sounded again, closer this time, and the next moment we saw who it was. A huge, bright red dragon's head appeared in the gap between the rocks.

The dragon, it seemed, was as surprised as we were, and just in case, it spat out a long jet of flame that scorched rocks a few feet from us.

"You missed!" Alex burst out laughing and turned his sword in his hand. Then he asked me in a low voice, "Hey, dragonfighter! What can we do with it?"

"Spit on its tail," I replied. "Cut off its head, what else?"

The dragon sighed.

"It's always the same!" it grumbled. "Cut off someone’s head first! Are all heroes that stupid?"

Metal clanked against the stones to my left: Alex dropped his sword in surprise.

"Wow! You can talk!" he exclaimed, bending down to pick up his sword while keeping an eye on the dragon.

"Who cares?" the dragon complained. "Everyone just wants to poke me with some kind of iron thing or spit on my tail like he said," the dragon’s head turned to me. "By the way, I am allergic to human saliva! After such idiots, my tail was abscessed and itched for months!"

"Oh, sorry, I really didn't know!" I said. "I won't do it again, I promise. By the way, what are you doing here?"

"I'm talking to you, don't you see? But if you're asking in general, I live here and guard the entrance to the Royal Treasury. So if you want to steal the treasure, I'll have to eat you, I beg your pardon."

"What was the reason for hiding treasures so far away from home?" I remarked, looking at Alex.

"I know nothing about treasures!" Alex denied. "Besides, there have been no dragons in this area for ages!"

 The dragon coughed hoarsely: these sounds seemed to indicate laughter.

"Of course not! This is not the climate for us," he explained. "I am the only one. Yurhek brought me here to guard the treasure. By the way, who are you two?"

"Why do you ask?" I clarified, and joked nervously, "Do you need our names for a menu?"

"I don't eat wizards," the dragon spat. "They give me heartburn."

"Just great!" I rejoiced. "You won't eat us and we won't steal your treasure. Deal?"

"Deal," the dragon nodded. "Oh, would you mind telling me what's going on in the world? I've lived here for a thousand years and haven't seen a human being. Dwarves don’t visit either, and even goblins are afraid of me. I can't understand why."

"Really," I snorted, "why is everyone afraid of dragons? They're not scary at all."

"It's all evil tongues!" Alex interjected. "There are a lot of bad things said about us wizards, too. Come close, warm yourself by the fire."

The dragon approached, and I could finally make out its size: about sixty feet long and fifteen feet high. A mighty crest on its head and back stretched between its folded leathery wings, and large scales on its sides and belly were quite worn: it was obviously about to shed them.

Alex began to tell the dragon various stories about what was going on in the world, and I prayed that he wouldn't tell it about my Hallydarian deeds. This guard might just as well take offense at killing its distant dragon kin, who knows.

"Oh, how many interesting things have happened!" the dragon sighed. "I'd love to see them all!"

"So why don't you?" I asked. "Yurhek died a long time ago, and no one is trying to steal your treasure. Fly and see."

The dragon sighed even heavier. "Do you think it's so easy? I am under a spell that makes me stay here and guard the treasure."

"What is the treasure?" I asked.

"Yurhek didn't show it to me," the dragon sighed again. "Well, I must go now."

The dragon retreated cautiously, made an awkward turn, and disappeared from sight. I breathed a sigh of relief. 

Alex scratched his head. "Yurhek, Yurhek... I wonder what the grandson of the Great Master has hidden?" 

He looked at me questioningly, but I just spread my hands: "How should I know? This is the first time I've heard of him."

"Yurhek is the tamer of the Great Shadow," Alex explained.

"The Shadow?" Now it was my turn to be surprised. "But it was the Great Master who tamed it, right?"

"That's exactly the kind of story they tell all over the Lace," Alex nodded, "and in Oeldiv they sincerely believe in it: the second coming of the Great Master and all that... But it was different. When those idiots in the center, those Children of Light, played with their Tower until the Shadow appeared, the mages of the Edge offered to help them, but..." Alex spread his hands, "there was a conflict between Oeldiv and Irrat at the time, and those pious men refused our help. The Shadow was growing, and they couldn't handle the problem, and there was a threat to the Lace. Yurhek had nothing to do but pretend to be the Great Master. Unfortunately, he believed it himself, but after all he had done, no one tried to reassure him. It was said that he went mad before he died."

"It happens," I agreed.

"And now the question is – what does the dragon guard?"

"That depends on when Yurhek hid that thing. It could be anything from one of the Master's Keys to a worthless piece of wood that the old madman believed to be a fabulous treasure."

"I wish there was a Key," Alex remarked.

"Better not. I don't want to fight this dragon. He's cute."

"That depends on how it goes," Alex stood up and slung his backpack over his shoulder. "We’ll wait for the Full Moon to find out where the Keys are. Maybe we won't have to fight anyone. Let's go, shall we? There's plenty of time before sunset!"

I groaned and stood up - I didn't feel like going anywhere.

"Why exactly before sunset?" I asked.

"Because Kainos is especially dangerous in the last phase before the full moon and brings all kinds of evil spirits to life," the prince explained. "It’s better to hide during the night."

"As usual," I summarized.

We set out and walked until dark. There was no shelter in sight, so we settled down for the night near another pile of rocks. From my backpack I took the Veil of the Wind, the gift of Sahara. It was a thin, flowing, almost intangible cloak that retained the warmth of the sand and made its wearer invisible.

"A truly divine gift," Alex commented as I explained what it was. "I hope there’s enough room underneath for both of us."

The cloak turned out to be large enough to protect us from prying eyes, if there were any.

"You never told me about this!" Alex remarked.

I shrugged. "I forgot."

"Oh, yeah," he turned on his side and tucked his backpack under his head. "You keep the first watch. Wake me up in two hours."

It was dark, and the pattern of the stars in the sky was unfamiliar. There was silence, even the wind did not blow. I lay down with my hands under my head and looked at the unknown constellations. Each world has its own sky. I'd never lived anywhere long, so the night sky was always a miracle to me.

The strange stars of the strange world were cold and indifferent. I didn't really need their sympathy. If you live long enough, you begin to think philosophically about everything. When I caught myself in such thoughts, I laughed silently: thirty-three was not such an old age. But sometimes I felt as old as that dragon.

The sky brightened and the moon rose. Kainos with its three rings floated between the clouds, haunting the world with ghosts and riddles. They surrounded me, looming over me, trying to say something. All those I had known before, both enemies and friends, those I had failed to save and others who had fallen by my hand. They were screaming, crying, laughing, praying and threatening me. I saw them all together and each of them separately. There was only one face I couldn't find among them, no matter how hard I tried. "Why, Gemma?" I thought. "Have you completely abandoned me?" 

When I couldn’t bear to look at the ghosts any longer, and the madness that had been driven into the deepest recesses of my brain tried to break through, I closed my eyes and plugged my ears; but there was no relief. 

We spent half of the next day clambering down slopes made up entirely of rocks and landslides. We ate lunch on the riverbank and finally reached the forest in an hour. 

"Wait here," Alex said, stepping under the crowns of the oaks. After a moment's thought, he put his hands on the trunk and began to sing in a strange, rustling dialect that I'd never heard before. 

I sat down on the stone and watched. 

At first it was only Alex singing, then other voices joined in - soft and enveloping, not quite human. It took me a while to understand: the voices belonged to the trees themselves. This went on for a long time, and then there was silence.

Alex waved his hand. "Let's go!"

So we walked along the path that miraculously unwound right under our feet.

"I have received the blessing of the local guardians," Alex said. "The path will lead us to Otrana. We will be there in five days."

For three days of our journey we encountered nothing dangerous. I even relaxed.

On the fourth morning, I woke up because I felt that someone was looking at me. Since we were sleeping under the Veil of the Wind, no one could see us, but...

I opened my eyes and looked around. There seemed to be nothing suspicious, but in the crown of the nearest tree I saw a piece of whitish mist. I nudged Alex and when he opened his eyes, I pointed to this phenomenon.

Alex exhaled sharply and sat up, pulling the cloak off me.

"It’s the banshee!" he exclaimed.

"Oh, yes, Your Highness!" said an otherworldly voice. "I am the banshee, the harbinger of trouble..."

I swallowed and stood up.

"Have you come to wail for us?" Alex asked.

"No, my prince. I have come to warn you."

"I am listening."

"The Faceless knows of you and is preparing to meet you," the banshee said, "If you go to Otrana, you will die."

"Is the Prophetess on his side?" I asked in surprise.

"Haighwerg has killed everyone who stood in his way. Otrana is bait for you, that's the only reason she is still alive."

Alex lowered his head and fell silent. 

"Why did you warn us?" he finally asked the banshee.

"My race never interferes in human affairs," was the answer. "We are too different. But the ancient prophecies say that the hour will come when we will unite against a common enemy. That time is coming. Now we stand ready to help you in any way we can."

"Thank you," Alex said.

"Oh, we need your help right now," I broke into their conversation.

"This is Arthur Corney, the warrior knight and owner of Helyswort," Alex introduced me.

"My race knows you, oh knight," the banshee replied in a rustling voice.

"That's great! Would you mind answering a few questions?"

"I'm listening."

"It seems that your race knows everything that goes on here. So tell us about the traps of the Faceless One."

"All the forces of evil are ready to stand against you," the banshee replied. "Monsters, elements, illusions, anything that a servant of the Formless who has gotten his hands on Irr's sword can summon to life. The power of the Faceless is growing, and soon he will rule all of Irrat.  There’s no way you can achieve your goal."

"Oh, thank you, you gave me hope!" I snorted. It was all drama and nothing concrete. "What do you offer?"

"Leave Irrat before it's too late."

"No way," Alex said. "But answer one more question. What happened to my wife?"

 "I did not see Lady Victoria among the dead, but she was not among the survivors either," the banshee whispered and vanished into thin air. There was nothing left on the tree but purple leaves.