“Are they gone?” James asked from Ria’s back while munching on the last of the fish cutlets they’d bought from a peddler on the highway to Shillang.
“Yes, they’re over a mile away,” Arjun informed him from beside the slowly plodding mare.
His own horse had bolted in the encounter with the Troopers, and since James hadn’t yet recovered from his wounds and riding meant he couldn’t use his earth senses to track potential Troopers, Guards or Cleric patrols, Arjun had insisted on walking while James rode on Ria.
A thunderstorm in the morning had caught them by surprise. As a result, they were both thoroughly drenched and absolutely miserable. At least the downpour had ensured they weren’t sweating like pigs. Undertaking a long journey during the Monsoon was utterly exhausting. When it didn’t rain, it was as hot and humid as in the summer months. Of course, during the Monsoon it rained a lot, especially in the foothills of Kailash. Even now, dark clouds hid the sky, promising more rain to come tomorrow, though hopefully, well before then, increase in altitude would negate the heat. According to James, they had quite a climb ahead of them, the thought of which made Arjun giddy. Unfortunately, all his excitement remained as dampened as his clothes because the layer upon layer of dark clouds cascading down from the north-eastern mountaintops concealed more than just the relentless suns. Arjun was willing to brave the merciless rays of the twinsuns for a single glimpse of the legendary snow-capped peaks of Kailash.
Suddenly, hope blossomed as a thought struck. “How far is Shillang from here?”
“I recognize that grove of teak trees. We are almost to the outskirts of Shillang. The powercar depot should be just beyond that cluster of teak.”
Arjun’s feet staggered as hope withered.
“Kailash spans half the length of Gaia. It’d be a miracle if you don’t get a glimpse before reaching the Arunian Central Plains,” James supplied.
Arjun glanced up at the Cleric and gave a dejected nod, noting with interest that James had gotten some color back in his cheeks. When he’d collapsed after the battle, Arjun had feared the worst. But after almost one week of eating twice as much as his norm, he’d managed to Heal himself. Arjun was no hunter, having grown up in cities or towns all his life. And so with James still not fit enough to hunt, they’d run out of supplies, leaving them with no choice but to head for the nearest town or city, which happened to be Shillang.
“What about the City Guards? Will we have trouble getting in?”
“There’s usually only a single Cleric and one squad of Guards in the South gate. They are more concerned about people leaving the city than those entering it.” He glanced up at the overcast sky. “We’re just about on time.” Turning to a frowning Arjun, he added, “And while inside, stick close to me. There are sure to be Cleric patrols about. Remember, if asked, I’m a retired member of the Order, and you’re my gifted but somewhat slow assistant, who I’m sponsoring for the Acolyte test.”
Arjun gave a nod of assent. They’d been over the story countless times before. After his initial bout of reluctance – mainly concerning the ‘slow’ part – Arjun had gotten into the spirit of acting, going so far as to invent a backstory for his character – Subolin.
“Worse comes to worse, we’ll distract them long enough to slip past the net.”
“Got it.” While on the topic of acting, Arjun remembered a vague feeling that he’d disregarded in the heat of the moment. “By the way, what’s the Tome of Time?” He’d been meaning to ask the Cleric about it for a while now, and even though he anticipated James’ refusal, he at least had to try.
“What?”
“The Cleric. He asked you about something called the Tome of Time. He wasn’t talking about the hidden Artifact, was he? I thought those were myths.”
“Ah, so you heard that,” James said, voice heavy with regret.
“So what is it? Did you steal it? Is that why the High Priest sent not just one but two Clerics?” Arjun vented all the pent-up queries and frustrations that had been plaguing him since he’d applied his limited skills as a Healer to resuscitate James who’d then been able to complete the Healing process himself. This was after incapacitating the remaining squad of Troopers, one of whom had slipped into coma despite his best efforts. The need to flee while guarding James meant he had no idea if the man still lived, though given the extent of his injuries, it seemed unlikely. Another soul sent to the Eternal Halls by him.
“I deserve to know the dangers we face,” he pressed, sensing James’ usual reluctance about discussing sensitive and secret topics. “We’re traveling together. The perils you invite affect me just as much.”
After a long couple of blinks of consideration, the Cleric relented. “They’re hunting you for a different reason altogether. For some reason they want to capture you alive. Did you happen to notice that the Troopers didn’t use any lethal force against you, even when I was distracted by the Cleric?”
Arjun thought back to the encounter. None of three Troopers he’d initially faced had wielded a sword, preferring baton or truncheon. A disturbing fact.
“Why do you suppose they did that?”
“If I have to hazard a guess, I’d say they wanted to incapacitate, not kill you. For some nefarious plot of BrightHeart, undoubtedly.”
“And you know, but can’t tell me what this nefarious plot is, I suppose.” A sigh of frustration escaped as a plan started to form in his Crown. In their limited time together, James had become fond of him, Arjun sensed. At least, he didn’t dislike him.
So against his better judgment, Arjun began. “While this knowledge is probably sensitive and even dangerous, perhaps it was the hand of the unfathomable Dualgods themselves that led you to Agnipur in the course of your escape from wherever you escaped from,” Arjun said, hoping his intentions weren’t as obviously manipulative as the words made them out to be. In his head, it had sounded infinitely better. “The Lore teaches us that the Dualgods affect the lives of ordinary men through innocuous, apparently inconsequential events. Numerous minor everyday phenomena, which are insignificant in themselves, occurring over many years, lead to one momentous event which changes the course of history.” He ended his well-rehearsed speech with a flourish of his arms, an act that prompted nothing more than a grunt of amusement. Then, a hint of a smile spread across James’ whole visage.
“Some people are born politicians, able to convince a king that selling the kingdom was his own idea.”
Arjun beamed.
“You’re no politician.”
Arjun’s face fell.
“Having said that, there’s some truth to what you said. And surmised.” His keen inquisitive gaze indicated he’d very much like to know how he’d deduced this much. So would Arjun. His talent was more instinctive than anything.
In the intervening silence that lasted several blinks, a thoughtful frown appeared on the Cleric’s face. “BrightHeart could be doing biological experiments. Creating hybrids.”
“Hybrids?”
“Interbreeding of humans and aditarus to create a being capable of both Manipulation and Enfolding.”
“Creator save us!!” Arjun whispered, staggered at the audacity of the High Priest. This was more than sacrilegious, trespassing on the domain of Allfather. This was simply evil. Then, a thought occurred.
“Never could find out from books what happens when a child is born of a human Manipulator and an aditarun Enfolder. Born naturally, I mean.”
“He or she grows up to be a Manipulator, or an Enfolder, if lucky. Rarely both.”
“How rarely?”
“Very. There have been less than a dozen known exceptions. In over three millennia. Only a couple of them died of old age, as people – influential people – tend to be wary of someone so potentially powerful.”
Arjun gave a nod, eyes wide. That’s rare alright. Almost as rare as Ascendants.
“Their physical appearance is always indicative of their Enfolding or Manipulating capabilities as well. If they look half-aditarun, which is the overwhelming majority, then almost always they’re born mundane. All attempts to force the issue have resulted in stillborn babes. Principal Hamilton, if he decides it judicious, will tell you more.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“There’s more?”
James remained silent, though Arjun detected a hint of an emotion he’d never felt from the Cleric before.
Apprehension.
As a result, Arjun was so engrossed in his thoughts that he almost neglected the fact that James had never answered his original question, about the Tome of Time, supposedly the most powerful Artifact of Atma out of the seven.
They rounded a bend in the highway, one of the busiest in the country from all the powercars they’d seen, and the outer city came into view.
It was large and heavily congested, with narrow dirty streets that seemed to have been built without any plan of any sort, though the hilly nature ensured it was far cleaner than most cities in the Flatland.
As James had predicted, there were no Guards at the gate, although there was a guardhouse. Upon entering, Arjun realized that there was a solitary Guard on duty, but he was quietly snoring while reclining in a chair. More importantly, no Clerics could be seen anywhere in the immediate vicinity of the gate. Somehow, Arjun doubted it was a matter of simple chance.
“Come on, this way.” James turned Ria to the left and Arjun followed, trying to take in all the sights and sounds.
The last time he’d been in a city of this size was five years ago when he’d visited Ajoygar with his parents. Unlike the metropolis in the Flatland, Shillang seemed to have a more culturally and racially diverse population. He noticed more people with fairer skin and brown hair, with Arunian blood in their ancestry. A comparatively cooler climate and proximity to the freezing heights of the Kailash Mountains meant there were more stonehorns also, mostly traders and craftsmen – to apply the term loosely. Even their mortal enemies would acknowledge the fact that stonehorns were peerless in those two fields.
Also, the staggering number of wooden houses left Arjun grinning ear to ear with excitement. A few of the towns in eastern Aiminia, near the Shadow Forest, also used wood as the primary raw material for construction, but Shillang was no mere town. It was the largest city within a couple of hundred miles on either side of Kailash. Indeed, it was the fourth-largest metropolis in all of Aiminia, home to over a million people.
After taking a circuitous route through some of the rougher neighborhoods of the city, a gawking Arjun and an impatient Cleric entered the stable of an inn called The Tipsy Traveler. Judging by the size of the stable and its lackluster state, it was a moderately prosperous inn, though its glory days were well past indeed.
Upon hearing the snort of Ria, a young boy with light-brown hair came rushing out. “Can I take your horse, sir?” asked he in an accent that sounded harsh to Arjun’s ears.
James gingerly dismounted from the exhausted horse and flipped a copper. “Take good care of Ria here, and there will be an additional copper waiting for you.”
The shaggy-haired boy plucked it out of the air with an effortless grace that Arjun couldn’t help but envy.
“Yes, sir.” The kid bobbed his head, gave Arjun a broad smile, then led Ria away. This, most definitely, was not James’ first visit here, as the boy wasn’t the least bit surprised by the generous tip.
After gathering their packs, as they were about to enter through the side door of the inn, Arjun paused. “Have you stayed here before?”
James turned a questioning eye toward him.
“The ostler kid knows you.”
“What gave you that impression?” James seemed to be genuinely curious, though it was mixed with a fair amount of wariness.
Expecting trust without giving it seemed unfair, so after a moment’s consideration, Arjun followed his gut.
“I… I don’t know. I’ve always been able to sense, at least to a certain extent, what other people around me are feeling. Even more so if I’m in direct physical contact with that person.” He tried to express the sense he’d gotten while the boy had been talking to James, and as always, failed. Words were simply inadequate to explain that particular feeling. “He remembers you.” He finally managed to articulate. “Fondly.”
“Hmm.” James frowned, then just as quickly, suppressed his facial expressions.
Arjun thought he was concerned for some reason, but couldn’t fathom why. Perhaps he thinks I’m telling tall tales. He also wondered if he should’ve kept his rather unique talent hidden from James, as he had from everyone else. Only his parents knew about it, and neither they nor Arjun had even the slightest idea how he was able to sense emotions. But for some inexplicable reason, a reason he found hard to explain even to himself, Arjun felt that James needed to know. There were too many secrets in his life as it was.
The inside of the inn was tidy, well-maintained, and all but deserted. A large man with a potbelly, wearing trousers, shirt and what Arjun thought must be a symbol of office for pub owners and innkeepers – an apron – hobbled toward them. His left leg was slightly shorter than the right due to what looked to be an old wound.
“So, you finally decided to turn up.” A reserved smile followed the statement.
“Unforeseen circumstances,” replied James.
Shooting a lightning-quick glance at Arjun, the fat innkeeper with flint gray eyes assessed him quickly, then turned to the Cleric, his right eyebrow raised. “Who’s the boy?”
“The son of an old friend. Conversation can wait.” Preferably forever, his tone indicated. “We both need a hot meal, Kevin. A large hot meal.”
Placing the bags on the floor, James slumped down into a chair. Arjun pretty much collapsed into the seat opposite. He’d forgotten what sitting in one felt like.
Analyzing the odd feeling at the back of his mind, Arjun realized he didn’t sense any camaraderie or kinship from Kevin, only a deep-seated sense of gratitude toward James. Puzzled by this unusual dynamic between the two, Arjun once more regretted the fact that the Cleric was so close-mouthed, as he smelled a good story, and perhaps even an adventure, in their past, though his gut told him the shared history wasn’t as straight-forward as that.
“Seems like you’ve been through one heck of a battle,” the innkeeper said in a conversational tone.
Arjun sat up straighter. The man was too perceptive for his liking.
James gave an eloquent grunt, which could’ve meant pretty much anything under the twinsuns. Even Arjun had a hard time deciphering what it meant. Lack of other patrons meant that the question, though unwelcome, wasn’t prohibited. Still, seeing that the taciturn Cleric wasn’t going to be forthcoming with any more information, Kevin shrugged. “Lunch will be here soon. You want ale?” When the Cleric nodded, he went to the bar, poured two large glasses from the tap and placed it on the table.
James took a few long relishing gulps. “There seems to be more Guards and Clerics than usual. Anything I should be aware of?”
Arjun tentatively followed the Battle Cleric’s example. It wasn’t perhaps the best ale he’d ever tasted – too light even for his liking – but after over a week trudging through the wilderness during Monsoon, he wasn’t about to complain.
Kevin glanced toward Arjun meaningfully, and after a slight, almost imperceptible nod from James, continued. “Not sure. But nothing good. Started about a year ago. Has been building up slowly but steadily. Number of Clerics and soldiers increasing. Fortifications cropping up all over Shillang, not just the Keep.” He seemed worried, although he was doing an admirable job of hiding it. “They’ve started scrutinizing the documents of anyone leaving or entering the North gate, far more intense scrutiny than before. How do you plan on leaving? Our usual channels won’t work.”
“Don’t know yet.”
Although his face was impassive, Arjun realized James was deeply troubled by the news. But, before further discussion could take place, a middle-aged woman wearing an apron over a beautiful green-and-blue patterned saree entered through the door leading to the kitchen, as suggested by the delicious aromas emanating from that direction, and carefully placed two plates on the table.
Contents of the plates left Arjun salivating.
“Been a while. Tell me if you need anything else.”
The smile she gave James held a heartfelt familiarity that surprised Arjun, though not as much as the fact that her Plexus Chakra was dense enough for her to be eligible for the Order twice over. Also, the adoration in Kevin’s eyes as he looked at who must be his wife or consort provided another answer.
The debt that he felt James was owed – it was only so because she shared the same sentiment, but many times over. The large scar on her upper left chest, peeking through the saree, also hinted that the adventure Arjun had envisioned involved not the husband, but the Cleric in hiding. Or at least a Journeyman. She had as many as five opened or Awakened Chakras. Indeed, the exact same ones as Arjun himself except the dormant Stomach. He fervently hoped it won’t Awaken in front of unfriendly eyes. Or people of dubious loyalties. If it did, half the Clerics of Shillang would be on their tail.
Steaming rice, rohu fish curry prepared using curd, roti slathered generously with ghee, and mutton korma. Then, dessert consisting of sweet curd, and rasogolla, a spherical sweet made from a special kind of cheese called chhana which is found only in certain parts of Gaia. And a large glass of mango lassi to top it all off.
For the next half a bell Arjun forgot about all his anxieties, worries, and fears. The distinctive spicy cuisine of Shillang, famed world over, didn’t disappoint. From the very first bite to the last, it was a journey of exploration and discovery. The sheer variety of flavor left him ruing the fact that he wasn’t a native of this amazing metropolis – aptly named the Spice Capital of Gaia. But all journeys must eventually end.
When finished, he glanced up and saw that a few patrons had started trickling in. As a result, the creator of such delicious treats was nowhere to be found. Arjun also belatedly realized why the inn wasn’t as prosperous as it should be, given the location, tidiness, and most importantly, quality of food. It would be unfortunate if a Cleric from the Order wandered in here while she, or one of their clandestine clients, was dining out in the open. Some Clerics could sense another from as far as ten feet away even when the other party is engaged in no act of active Manipulation. Arjun himself could do so from about seven feet. His father had made sure of it.
Arjun’s eyes wandered over to Kevin, hard at work polishing pewter wares, his calculating gray eyes constantly assessing everyone entering the inn.
The price one must pay for true love!!! Hopefully, that same love would be strong enough to keep his lips sealed, which James apparently believed to be the case.
“What’s your plan now?” Arjun asked after coming back from the washroom.
“I’ll be gone for about two bells. Our rooms are on the second floor, in case you’re tired. Try not to get into too much trouble while I’m away. This city is wound tighter than a Viskian rope.” With that ominous piece of advice, the Battle Cleric left, deep in thought.
After half a bell of observing the various patrons frequenting the place, boredom gained a firm foothold as Arjun realized, much to his own surprise, that he wasn’t the least bit tired. What he was, however, was extremely curious about the city he’d heard, and read, so much about. A good quarter of all the protagonists in the Historica began their journey in Shillang, before venturing off into the frozen higher passes of the Kailash. So, despite the Cleric’s warning, after depositing the luggage in his room, Arjun decided to brave the city. An opportunity like this won’t come too often, if at all. And, while James had mentioned the room, he hadn’t specifically ordered Arjun to remain sequestered inside the inn.
Had he?