The three travelers are alone once again. The time spent with Barros and his caravan was pleasant and mostly passed without incident. Now, they are headed to Keyon and Maria’s original destination. While the caravan continues north on the main road, the three of them leave the path and make their way closer to the base of the mountains.
“What is it you are on your way to see again?” Bao is slightly out of breath. The last several days he has been traveling on level ground. As they get closer to the mountains, the ground is getting steeper.
“There was a report of some ruins being discovered several weeks ago not far from here. My older brother loves that kind of thing so when he heard about it, he just had to see them. I decided to tag along because it sounded fun. It turned out to be an ancient library. I forgot something when we left, an amulet, so me and Keyon are trying to get it.”
Bao examines the route they are taking more closely. It does look like it has been traveled before. It reminds him a little of back home and how some of the less used paths between hamlets could still be traveled even if they were overgrown in a few places. In that respect, Bao is more accustomed to this hike than Keyon and Maria.
In the past, Keyon had always been behind the group, presumably so he could watch over Maria. This time he is taking the lead in the front, hacking and clearing some of the larger obstacles so she can walk safely behind him. Bao and Keyon are both healthy and fit, but trekking into a mountain is something you need to prepare yourself for. All three of them are breathing a little heavier now.
About halfway through the day the group reaches a clearing at the base of the mountain. Here, the side of the mountain juts upward nearly vertical. There is no safe place to climb up from here. Thankfully, the three of them have reached their destination. Carved out of the side of the mountain is a large stone entryway with intricate carvings chiseled into the side. On either side of the entryway stands a row of stone pillars guiding any would-be visitors. The pillars are outside, they don’t hold anything up, but they are impressive none the less.
“This is a library?” Bao asks as the three of them approach the pillars. He runs a hand across the carvings on one of the columns.
Maria is a little more timid in her answer now, “That’s right. We have no idea how old it is but there are lots of old books, charts, and artifacts inside. I think some of them might even be magical.”
When they approach the large stone entrance into the mountain, Keyon turns to Bao, “I hate to ask this of you Bao, but could you stay here at the entrance and keep watch? The princess only needs to grab her amulet, we won’t be long.”
That is a little disappointing but by now, Bao isn’t surprised by Keyon’s overly cautious and skeptic nature, “uh- yeah, sure, that’s not a problem.”
“Sorry Bao,” Maria apologizes with a smile on her face. Her golden hair is glowing as the sunlight shines through the clearing, “I promise we’ll only be a few minutes.”
Bao walks with the others to the large passage leading into the stone library. The ground in front of the entrance is chiseled stone flooring. Instead of walking directly into the mountain, there are wide stone steps leading downward before vanishing into a dark hallway. If there is a door, it can’t be seen from the outside.
As Keyon and Maria step into the hallway and into the ancient library, they slowly fade from view, “Maybe bring me back something cool?” Bao’s voice echoes into the darkness.
The princess and her guard walk side by side down the cold dark passage, “He didn’t need to stay behind Keyon, I think Bao is a good person. We can trust him,” she speaks silently as if trying not to stir the darkness more than their presence already has.
“Sorry princess, but right now it’s only the two of us and I can’t take any chances. He seems innocent but I don’t trust him yet,” they walk silently for a moment before Keyon continues, “Your highness, I know you can’t sense it, but his spear is evil. It’s bathed in the blood of a magical beast and radiates intense death magic.”
This is the first time Keyon has spoken about Bao’s spear. Maria took note of it when they first met, but back then Bao had only said it was an heirloom, “It does make me a little uneasy, but I know you are more in tune with magic than I am. That doesn’t mean Bao is evil though, I don’t think he has any idea what he is holding.”
The two of them approach a pair of double wooden doors. Maria turns to Keyon before they pass through, “Could you turn on some light?”
“Of course,” he holds out his hand and speaks softly, “Sol,” the brief incantation manifests an orb of gentle light that radiates brightly.
The two of them open the doors and enter a large room. The light from Keyon’s orb fills the room and reveals a large chamber. On all sides are shelves filled with old books caked in dust. They ignore the books and move into the center of the room. There is a short staircase leading to a lower section of the room. Here, tables are lined across the sides as if ready to accommodate dozens of eager scholars. Still the princess and her guard ignore everything here and continue to the very center of the chamber.
Laying prominently in this impressive library is a large rectangular case. It is covered in a thick layer of dust. Maria approaches and wipes her hand across the case. She reveals that it is made entirely of glass. Keyon stands behind her.
“This is the place?” he asks, “Is it still there?”
The case is large enough for a human to lay inside. It looks like a sarcophagus. When Maria clears off the dust, there is no body inside and no evidence that there ever was one. Instead, the bottom of the case is fitted with an exquisite red felt. Resting perfectly in the center of the case is a beautiful ornate amulet with an azurite stone inlaid inside.
“Yes,” Maria replies, “This should be able to get my brother back to normal. Keyon, is it safe to open the case?”
Keyon steps forward and holds his hand above the jeweled amulet, the orb of light shines brightly into the case. The glass case has kept out all the dust from centuries of buildup and the red lining within hasn’t lost any of its color or splendor.
“I can sense traces of magic inside the case but whatever was affecting the amulet is gone. I don’t recognize the type of magic though. Regardless, it should be safe to open.”
“I see...” Maria is relieved but still has many thoughts on her mind. She tugs at the case, and it opens without much trouble. The glass swings open, immediately betraying its age-long duty as dust breaks loose and falls into the case. Maria reaches inside and takes the amulet from its resting place, placing it into her bag.
“This is all we needed. Let's get out of here and go back to Tab.”
The two of them turn to the old doors they had come from and begin to leave the ancient library. The books will remain unread. Keyon turns back to the case for a moment and considers something. Dust continues to fall from its resting place on the glass while landing on the case’s beautiful interior. He returns to where Maria had stood and gently closes the glass case. It is a simple gesture he hopes will honor the original people of this place and preserve the beauty within for a little longer.
Outside, Bao is not conducting himself in the manner a proper guard or watchmen should. Unsurprising since “Keep watch” for someone like Keyon is not taken nearly as seriously for Bao. The area is quiet. Only the songs of the birds among the trees and the distance howling of wind above the mountain can be heard. The day is sunny, beautiful, and perfect.
Bao tries to make out the carvings on the pillars, but they are old and centuries of exposure to the elements has worn much of them down. The bright sun makes things a little easier to see and he is able to make out some of the designs.
Each of the columns appear to repeat the same motifs with various moons, eyes, and stars etched into them. Bao isn’t an expert on languages, but he gets the impression that these symbols are more for aesthetic rather than having any directly discernible meaning. Above the entrance to the library, these symbols are also displayed. An eye is carved into the center of the frame, with a smaller moon and star on either side.
Stolen novel; please report.
As Bao examines the designs etched into the mountain, he begins to admire the mountain in its entirety. He has always known the mountains here existed. For his entire life he has understood the rest of the world by their relationship with the mountains. His jungle is to the south, the rivers and delta that he has grown up with all come from the mountains. Another river flows opposite of that in the north. The great plains are east of the mountain range, and the rest of the world is west. Yet for all their importance he has never taken the chance to see them himself until recently. He never dreamed he would be this close.
Leaving the presence of the ancient library, Bao walks to the edge of the tree line hoping to commit this majestic view to memory. They had walked uphill all day and yet clearly had not come close to entering what would be considered the mountain proper. Looking along the cliff, plants and trees are growing wherever they can find a break in the rocks. Eventually, objects become too distant to make out. Before details fade and melt into the clouds, the highest points that can be seen are all covered in a thick blanket of snow.
Bao leans against a tree while trying to comprehend the incredible distance it must take for a sunny and beautiful day like this to turn into one where snow can manifest. He closes his eyes and begins to daydream, thinking about the future and what it would be like to trek through the cold jagged peaks of the mountains. In this vision, he is always learning, always victorious, always persevering, and always kind. Listening to the birds sing, and with the warm sun on his face, Bao begins to sleep.
Someone unaccustomed to life in nature might have remained sleeping for hours in similar circumstances, but not Bao. Something happened while he was sleeping that his unconscious mind noticed and jolted him awake. The birds. They’re silent. That only happens when they have noticed something new. Bao had already been there long enough for them to begin singing again, which means something else had entered the area. How long have they been silent? It doesn't matter, the fact that Bao woke up at all gives him a chance to act.
He jumps from the tree he had been leaning on and draws the crimson spear from his back. Running to the center of the clearing he first scans the area immediately around library, he is a guard after all. Nothing appears out of the ordinary. He turns around to face the forest where he had fallen asleep. He finds the cause for the silence. In front of him, alarmingly close to where he had been sleeping, another human stands.
Bao cautiously approaches the figure, his spear at the ready. The man has no apparent weapons, but it’s difficult to judge because he is draped in a red cloak with gold trimmings on the edges. Bao always tries to be a trusting and good person, but this man doesn’t seem to warrant the same level he has shown others in the past. His face is covered with a mask that looks as if it is made from a skull. The top of the face is exposed but from the cheekbones to the chin, the bone plate is held against his face by some cords wrapping around to the back of his head.
For Bao, even speaking the name of a deceased person is disrespectful. The thought of wearing a skull, even if by chance it was ceramic, is an unprecedented form of disrespect. The man removes his hood, but the mask remains. At first, he looks a little like Keyon. The man’s face is pale white and has Keyon’s bright red hair color, but that is where the similarities end.
“Greetings Sosun,” the man’s voice is hoars, “Can I assume the princess and her lapdog have you in their service?”
Bao wasn’t expecting any level of formality from this man, but he speaks almost as if this was a business transaction, “I’ve been with Maria for several days now. When we are done here, I’m traveling with her to Tab,” they are speaking together but Bao hasn’t loosened his grip on the spear. Similarly, the man’s posture hasn’t changed.
“I see. And there’s no way you would change your mind?” what a ridiculous question.
“No.”
“I thought as much. Still, I thought it would be best to at least extend the offer to someone as special as yourself. Death affinity is rare, we’re a rare breed you and I.”
Bao has no idea what the man is talking about. The Sosuns of the jungle don’t explore the gods or magic so by process of elimination, the man must be talking about something related to that. Bao has nothing to say to the man and he remains silent.
The man snickers at Bao’s silence, “Yes, we don’t need words. Today the princess will die, you and I will worship Su with our blades, and if Crow should take notice in us, surely, we can die satisfied,” as the man finishes speaking, his attention is directed away from Bao to something behind him. Bao turns around to face the mountain and see whatever the man is looking at.
His friends have returned from their venture into the ruins. He first sees Keyon, his sword is drawn, and he is ready for a fight. He doesn’t need to listen to the man like Bao did, he knows exactly what is happening. His face no longer has the stern or serious look Bao has grown used to seeing. Instead, it is a face of anger. A face of rage. This is the face of a man no longer concerned with words. This is what all his attention, caution, and suspicion have been preparing him for and there is no longer any need to think. He is ready.
Behind him, Maria stands frightened, but she doesn’t appear to be surprised. Instead, like Keyon, she has been preparing for this. She has accepted that this event is unavoidable. Her only fear now is the outcome. She is afraid but places her trust in Keyon to see them through. Bao is another she had hoped to put her faith in. But now, seeing him speaking to a man who is clearly her enemy, she isn’t sure anymore. Remembering Keyon’s warnings about Boa’s spear, and the death magic surrounding it, she looks at Bao with fear, confusion, and pain in her tearing eyes.
“...Bao?...”
Before anyone else can speak, the cloaked man dashed past Bao and makes his way straight for Maria.
“Princess! Get inside!” Keyon shouts. He stands his ground, only moving slightly to break the line between Maria and the man.
Bao starts to chase after the man but when he does, half a dozen similar assassins dart out from the trees. Some step in the way and prevent him from aiding his friends.
The first man turns to his new companions, “Someone get the others!” he shouts, “The princess is here, we don’t need them following the caravan anymore!”
Three men join their boss to engage Keyon, one leaves to follow orders, and the last two approach Bao.
“Nothing person man, it’s just business,” why are these people still talking to him as if he is some kind of compatriot?
Bao remembers when he first joined Keyon and Maria. He told them that he understood what it meant to defend himself, even if he had never taken a life before. Those were easy words at the time but now it was time to steel himself. He wasn’t the only one in danger. Keyon was up against four people who wanted blood.
They weren’t fighting Bolbians, or Sulfuges, these were Sosuns. Humans that Bao understood to be capable of love and kindness. How were they now so vile and cruel. His hesitation is seen as an opening for the assassins and one of them moves in.
The assassin tries to close the distance to Bao. He draws a short sword from his side and begins lunging and slashing. Darting in and out, looking for an opening, the man is fast. He has done this before. Bao’s spear is longer though, he has the advantage. He can keep the man at bay for as long as he needs to. But this isn’t about attrition. His friends are in more danger than he is. Bao clenches his spear and readies a thrust. For a moment it feels the same as fighting a wild beast.
“Steady. Breathe. Attack.”
A powerful thrust catches the cloaked man off guard but ultimately only his cloak is damaged. This is progress, in that thrust, Boa fully expected to see what always happens when you injure an animal, it bleeds, it cries, and eventually, it dies. He didn’t see it this time, but his mind is ready.
Just as Bao is about to go on the offensive, a metal bolt shoots out from the trees. He is moving a lot now, so it misses but he doesn’t want to take that chance again.
“Cover. I need cover... The trees.”
Bao dives into the tree line. The other assassin is somewhere here. These men are experts at abusing cover to attack or escape. In a city or among a large crowd of people, they wouldn't have any trouble taking care of Bao. However, this isn’t a city. This is a forest. This is nature. Although this isn’t the jungle terrain he is accustomed to, he still moves easily among the trees and brush of this untamed land. Earlier today, he was matching the pace of Keyon and Maria moving uphill. Now, he moves faster and more easily than his opponents.
It only takes Bao a few moments to find where the man who shot at him was hiding. He approaches from behind and makes himself know with a shout. Startled, the man aims to fire another bolt. Bao is fast and his spear has a long reach. He strikes the crossbow, breaking and knocking it out of the man’s arms. Without hesitation, he reaches for his side to draw a weapon. He doesn't get the chance. Bao stabs the man in the chest and inflicts a deadly blow. There is blood and the man lets out a sharp cry. Soon he will die.
As the blood begins to pool around the spear, the other assassin makes his way to the scene. He charges at Bao again. This time, he is already much closer. Bao doesn’t have the time or space to prepare for a full powered strike. Rather than pull the spear from the first man, he pivots around and rips the spear out sideways making it all part of one attack. It isn’t clean.
“I don’t think so!”
He blocks the strike from the short sword, setting the man off balance. Outside the trees, the man would have backed off and prepared for another lunge. There is no room here. Before the man can focus on a second strike, Bao slices him across the chest. From the shoulder down to his side. He stands there dazed for a moment looking at Bao. When the red begins to show from the wound, he collapses to his knees and then again to the ground. Bao has won.