It was still a bit dim when they finally made it out of the canyon. Dawn wasn’t far behind, biting at their heels. The ascent was swift and surprisingly easy. It wasn’t the first time the Millionth and Fifth had made the climb, leaping from rock to rock with the ease of a rabbit crossing a meadow. They’d each visited the Eastern Monument at least once before as part of some kind of Torchbearer rite of passage or something. Maybe that’s how they got their powers? Would he want flight or invisibility? Heck, was that even how it worked?
Avana insisted they weren’t super-powers. To be fair, she only said she couldn’t turn them on and off at will; not that they weren’t super-powers. What else did you call the ability to sing away evil spirits? Sounded like a super-power to him!
They were bent low to the ground amidst a forest of long grass, staring up towards a wooded, blue-green hill; blanketed by mist. He’d finally figured it out; how the vegetation got water. Every night, mist covered the ground, watering the plants. He reckoned moisture evaporated from the waters above and made its way down to Underland by the time darkness descended. Some of it must have settled on top of the dragon blood trees before falling to the ground as waterfalls, feeding the various streams and rivers.
Several paces ahead, Jonas crept through the grass, nearing a stone flanked path that wound its way up to the cusp of the hill. Halfway between him and the group crouched Zahara.
At the summit, an ethereal figure stood blocking the way. It looked like a person; a girl in fact, with flowing white robes, staring up at the sky. A cool blue glow enveloped her almost translucent form like a ‘Force Ghost.’
Jonas signed imperceptibly to Zahara who signalled to the group with a ‘time out.’
Kai, a few steps ahead of the rest, whispered back.
“TnT.”
“As in a bomb?” hissed Keon.
“Travellers ‘n’ Trespassers,” said Dawit. “People who enter Underland unsolicited either through dreams or—by other means. From a distance, it’s hard to tell which is which, so we try to avoid them.”
“It’s just chilling there. What’s it doing?”
“Travellers? They’re just dreaming. Passing through. They wouldn’t even know you’re there. But Trespassers—they’re always lingering around, looking for something—”
“Like a Codex,” said Keon.
Dawit nodded with a smile. He was starting to catch on, “Exactly.”
Jonas signalled to the group. He’d found a way around. Further explanations would have to wait.
* * *
Singed spires of wood jutted out of the ground at various angles, forming something like the skeletal remains of a burnt-out tee-pee. Dawit trudged with delicate care towards the charred remnants of the campfire.
Shem was stooping down to pick something up out of the dirt. A golden mustard seed. He’d definitely been here. He let the seed slip through his fingers, looking around for any other signs of Wellworn’s presence.
Keon stood on the edges of a small stream. Having refilled his canteen, he was standing with his back turned, admiring his reflection over his shoulder. Kai eyed him warily from a few paces down, crouching to refill his own water supply.
“You should cut that out, bro.”
“What?”
“Staring at yourself like an idiot.”
Keon looked side-to-side for an explanation.
“Why? What’s the problem?”
“Focus on yourself too much and you might just attract your Mirror. They can travel through reflections.”
Keon’s face scrunched in scepticism.
“How’s that work?”
“I dunno, but it does.”
Kai snapped his canteen shut and took his leave. Keon took one last look at himself and slung his shawl over his chest, his fun spoilt.
Arms swinging at his sides, he came up behind Dawit who was staring at the campfire.
“He didn’t cover his tracks. He wanted us to know he was here,” he said. “He must’ve left us something. A message.”
He began poking through the charred sticks.
“In—the campfire?” asked Keon.
“In a place where no one else would think to look.”
He gasped in triumph and practically dived into the charcoal-like remains. Between his finger and thumb, he held up a long, blackened stick with flattened edges. Turning it over, he showed the etchings on one side, within which mustard seeds had been pushed into the gaps at various intervals.
“What’s with him and the mustard seeds?” asked Keon.
“Apparently, they remind him of home…”
“Oh yeah? Where’s that exactly?”
Dawit’s expression of elation quickly turned grave as he deciphered the message.
“We have a problem.”
One by one, the Millionth and Fifth emerged from their various activities. Jonas from checking his supplies. Shem from scrawling something into his Codex. Zahara watching the perimeter.
“He wants us at the Eastern Monument in twenty days, but there’s a conflict breaking out in the south. We’ll have to pass through Midnah-Dogu.”
“Seriously?” said Kai, arms behind his head, “We can’t just wait it out?”
Avana motioned with her chin, “What kind of conflict?”
“The King’s Guard and the Prince of Putaya.”
A collective groan reverberated throughout the group.
“What? What’s that mean?” asked Keon.
“It’s a Morningstar fight. You don’t wanna be anywhere near a Morningstar fight, mate,” said Shem.
Keon swallowed.
“Underland is divided into seventy provinces called Principalities, each one controlled by a Prince; a Morningstar who’s declared himself king. You enter that region; you’re entering their territory, and they don’t like us much,” said Dawit.
“And Midnah-Dogu? What’s that?”
“A Moonlamp Stronghold. To reach the Eastern Monument, we’ll have to pass through it,” said Shem, arms crossed beneath his chin.
“When the Morningstars took control of the Lowlands, the Torchbearers split into various factions. The Moonlamps are one of them,” said Dawit.
“They bear a different seal and pledge allegiance to another king,” added Zahara. “In this case, Helel ibn Shakar. Prince of Meshech.”
Keon’s eyes narrowed.
“I thought Morningstars enslaved Torchbearers? You’re saying people serve them willingly?”
“Most of them don’t know,” said Zahara. “As far as Moonlamps are concerned, they serve the same King we do.”
“Why would they think that?”
“Morningstars control the Strongholds. As long as you live within those walls, you’ll believe whatever they want you to believe,” added Kai.
Keon rubbed his eyes with both palms.
“This is so complicated…”
“That’s the problem with passing through Midnah-Dogu. If Helel finds out we’re there, he won’t be able to resist. He’ll hunt us down and throw everything he has at us,” said Dawit.
“Bottom line, we don’t take that route unless we absolutely have to,” said Shem.
Keon crossed his arms, “Alright, so what do we do?”
Shem’s eyes twinkled with bravado.
“We walk through it, of course.”
Avana exhaled, rolling her eyes as she paced.
“Our best bet is to slip in disguised as Wayfinders,” added Dawit.
“Uh oh…” said Zahara.
Keon glanced around, unfazed, “What’s that mean?”
“Wayfinders are rogue Torchbearers with no allegiance to any king,” replied Avana. “And Moonlamps are as likely to pounce on them as they are a Torchbearer.”
“But Helel won’t, and he controls the Moonlamps. We’ll just have to try not antagonise them, won’t we, Avana?” said Shem, casting a smirk in her direction. In what must have been a first, she didn’t have a comeback. “Moonlamps may not be fond of Wayfinders, but they despise Torchbearers. At the very least, it’ll buy us some time.”
“And you guys have done this before, yeah?” said Keon.
Shem and Dawit exchanged grins.
“Heyyy…” said Kai, suddenly alert.
“A few years ago, we were escorting this young rookie through the Stronghold,” smirked Shem, “We probably would’ve made it too if he hadn’t messed it up.”
Keon’s gaping stare swung back and forth between them and a scowling Kai.
“Are you serious? What makes you so sure it’s gonna work this time?!”
Shem popped his shoulders in a shrug.
“I’m not,” he said. “But, we made it out once. If things go south, we’ll just have to do it again…”
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