Chapter Twenty-One

They rode for days across the open steppe, stopping to sleep at night. They lit no fires and few men slept well. There was silence among the men, or as close to silence as Dryden had ever heard. Usually, they were jovial and full of laughter, even after a battle or on campaign. They only grew sombre the day before a battle, when they feared to die. All had now heard where they were going and knew the strangeness of the place they went. The rank and file were typically a superstitious lot, but going to Dau put them on edge. Few had heard of it. Those that had whispered tales by the fireside. Dryden heard a man tell what he had heard from a caravan merchant in Andaban, that it was a place that bent the flesh of the living in strange ways. Another man had heard from a sepoy from Ghinai that it was where the nightmares of the gods spilt over into the world. The few who had heard of it feared it greatly. Dryden had heard of it from Kal’kuris, of course, but he had been told little, only to seek it, and that it was where Aisa had gained her great power. He knew not what that meant. Only Ugruz claimed to have been there himself, and he, a man who seemed to fear little, feared it most of all.

“I did not tell you about the men I travelled with to Dau,” Ugruz said as they rode on the fifth day out of Unkabi.

“What of them?” Dryden asked in reply.

“There were eight. We came over from the east. We had heard tales, some terrible, some wondrous. The Kizil is a vast land, Major, but as soon as we reached it, the strangeness began. Things I have never seen in all my days except while riding to Dau.”

“We have ridden for five days. I have seen nothing strange,” Dryden commented dryly.

“What did you see?” Mar asked, more curious than his commander.

“We saw a river that ran uphill. We had terrible dreams. On the third day, we saw something like a demon flying in the distance.”

“I must admit, my dreams have been darker since we left Unkabi,” Mar replied.

Dryden found himself skeptical, “I have not dreamed, myself. I have seen terrible sights these past months, but my mind has been quiet since we entered the Kizil. Is it not possible that you saw only what you expected to see?”

Ugruz smiled faintly, “You will see.”

“How is it that Aisa gained knowledge in this place if it is so terrible?” Dryden asked.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“I have read that there are demons in the east who hoard memories as a dragon does gold,” Mar answered, “I had thought it the fancy of authors who had never been east of Gant. Perhaps there is a grain of truth to their writing. We wizards cannot cast our sorceries without strong memories.”

“Can memories be taken and traded like coins?” Dryden asked, his voice full of doubt.

“I admit I do not know,” Mar answered with a shrug, “You told me yourself that Kal’kuris said she came here and found power. Either he is wrong, a liar, or what he told you is true. Do you think the man a liar? Do you think him ill-informed?”

“I think him neither,” Dryden answered, “I do not discount his words fully. I have seen many strange things since coming to Vurun, your sorcery chief among them. I do not discount anything fully now, but how strange a thing it would be if this city is as Ugruz tells it.”

“Indeed, yet the world is full of strangeness. I would not discount these stories without having seen the place for myself,” Mar added.

“Only a fool would take a man at his word about such things,” Ugruz said, “If I had not seen them, I would not believe.”

It was on the evening of the 6th day, the day before their arrival, that they did finally see. In the distance, up against the mountains of the Shan. The city lay before them in the distance, the setting sun behind it. Its towering twisted buildings lay dark against the mountains. Below, a plain of indigo flowers rolled away before them and a river of dark red twisted its way down from the mountains and across the plain. Above the city, something dark, huge and winged, circled in the air. Dryden’s breath caught in his throat.

“You see now,” Ugruz commented.

Dryden said nothing. Rosie whinnied and shifted under him. He patted her neck, his eyes transfixed on the strange creature that flew and wheeled slowly about in the dusk above the city. A cold wind blew down from the east as the sun set below the Shan. They made camp in the shelter of a rocky outcrop on a hill overlooking that dark city. They lit no fires again that night. There were no clouds, and the moon gave them some light. All eyes and ears were directed to the night, men did not sleep, they watched for any sign of danger, whether demon, man, or otherwise.

“We will find Aisa on the ‘morrow,” Dryden told his officers as they sat in silence, “We must find her, and not the other way ‘round. I want your eyes sharp, and your wits about you, do not let fear of this place cloud your judgement. Hold your nerve. We are men and soldiers of Vastrum. I expect you to keep discipline as you would against any enemy.”

“What is that thing flying over the city, sir?” Albans asked.

“I do not know, Mr Albans,” Dryden replied, “I would not speculate on it, and I suppose we are likely to find out tomorrow. Mar, do you know anything about it?”

Silence was the only reply.

“Mar?” Dryden asked a little more loudly.

There was still nothing.

“Does anyone know where Mar went?” He asked a little louder, “Sergeant Steele, find the sentries, ask them if anyone has seen Mar.”

Dryden and the sergeants went through the whole camp. None had seen the wizard leave. Dryden found Ugruz, “Where would the wizard have gone at night?”

“We will find out tomorrow, I think,” Was the man’s reply.

They did not sleep the rest of the night. At first light, they decamped. The twisted black city against the mountain lay like the rotting body of a city of old. With the light, Dryden had men sweep the area, Mar was indeed gone. He mounted Rosie, and the 13th rode down from the hill, and into the shadowed ruins of Dau.