(Ivan)

Ivan could tell that Rose and Lisa were drained from the battle. Their wounds had been healed, but they looked exhausted. They took some time to rest and eat. William ate just as much as the other two shifters.

As they ate, Ivan peppered William with questions. He wanted to know more about the mental communication of the wolves. He had never heard about that ability. It was fascinating.

“I’m still having a hard time grasping the idea of mental communication,” said Ivan. “It sounds so strange.”

“How can I explain it better?” William replied between bites. “You know, when you’re thinking, and you hear your own voice in your head. Well, this is kind of like that, but you hear other voices too.”

“Did you hear whole sentences?”

“Yeah, I did. Most of the time they shared thoughts with me, but sometimes I could see images and even smell different aromas.”

“Wow, that’s mindboggling. So, what did you see and smell?”

“I saw dozens of headless skinned wolves hanging from a tree. I smelled their rotting flesh.” William’s face paled.

He placed a hand on William’s shoulder. “Sorry, you don’t have to talk about it.”

Ivan sat silently with a grim expression. Everyone had stopped eating after William’s description.

They packed up, mounted up, and resumed their journey, leaving the trampled clearing behind.

The Frozen Mountains loomed ahead. They rose magnificently in the distance with their snow-covered peaks hidden in billows of clouds. They looked exactly like the images Ivan had seen in the Tellurian Almanac. He had longed to explore and see the beauty of the Nature Kingdom. He was finally getting the chance.

“William, did you know that the Frozen Mountains ahead of us are the longest mountain range in any of the kingdoms?” Ivan asked.

“It figures you’d know that one. Let’s go with something harder. Which is the shortest mountain range?”

“Hmm, that should be the Cursed Mountains in the Shadow Lands.”

William tilted his head. “Why do you think they call them the Cursed Mountains?”

“I’m not sure.” Ivan shrugged. “The Shadow Lands don’t allow foreigners within their borders. The information we have about them is scarce and dated.”

“At Pike, I heard that the viscounts of the Shadow Lands ride wicked mounts. Like massive spiders and scorpions. Is that true?”

“Well, I know that the Shadow Queen rides a golden scorpion. I’m not sure about the spiders. Queen Esmeralda is from House Verla, and they’re known for taming exotic beasts.”

The boys continued to discuss famous geographical locations and places of interest.

“I’ve got an idea.” William’s face brightened. “Since we’re heading toward Scar, we should sing Under the Mountain!”

“Yeah, good one.” Ivan gave him a thumbs-up. The boys began to sing.

Beneath the mountains of old,

There lies a city of gold.

Darkness may reign underground,

But there a light can be found.

Its depths can swallow you whole,

Its magic can uplift your soul.

To find it, you must descend,

We always welcome a friend.

Beneath the mountains of old,

There lies a city of gold.

#

(Ivan)

Things had been mostly uneventful over the last eight days. They had made good progress. Ivan noticed that the monotony of the trip had affected his brother. William had been less chatty and at times, he had even started muttering to himself.

His brother’s mood started to improve after they crossed the Elma River. The Elma River was the east branch of the Twin Sisters. The west branch was known as the Willow River. The Twin Sisters merged further south to create the Lonely River.

On the last day of their journey, William became more chatty and cheerful. Ivan knew that his brother was getting really excited about Scar. He even noticed that Rose and his aunt had an extra pep in their step.

After their encounter with the Saberwolves, Ivan had the uneasy feeling of being watched. The occasional howling of a lone wolf in the distance only served to fuel his suspicion. He would not have been surprised to find out that they were being followed by a few Saberwolves. That might also explain why they had not encountered any other predators. William had mentioned to him that the pack had accepted him like they would a stray pup. He wondered if that placed his brother under their protection and, if so, what that meant.

“I’m still amazed that you were able to communicate with the wolves,” Ivan said off handedly.

“I know, right!” William’s eyes lit up. “I mean, I struggle when I’m talking to girls and now, all of a sudden, I can speak to wolves. After this, girls will be a lot less scary.”

In response, Rose shook her mane and snorted.

They bantered back-and-forth for about an hour until the mares slowed down.

William looked up. “What’s that?”

Ivan narrowed his eyes and peered into the distance. “Hmm, it looks like fog, but it’s rising too fast.” The horses stopped and the boys dismounted.

Rose shifted and flapped her arms, snapped her fingers, and flailed her legs. “The equine shift always leaves my arms and legs feeling tingly.”

“Alright.” Lisa rubbed her shoulder. “Let’s get going. We’re almost there.” She turned toward William and added, “I can answer your question as we walk.”

William cocked his head to the side. “Umm… what was my question?”

Lisa smiled. “You were asking about the rising fog in the distance.”

“Oh, yeah… yeah… that question. I had already forgotten that I asked it.”

“First time visitors to Scar often confuse it with smoke or fog,” Lisa explained. “It’s neither. What you’re seeing is rising steam. This phenomenon is caused by the famous Dragon Hot Springs. They’re quite spectacular in the middle of winter when it’s bitterly cold. The hot water vapor rises from the spring as steam. As it rises and hits the wintery air, it crystalizes into snowflakes. The snowflakes fall back down and the whole process starts all over again.”

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“Wow,” William exclaimed. “That’s nippy!” Aunt Lisa smiled.

Ivan looked up at the towering mountains. He felt small and inconsequential, like a grain of sand on a beach. The thought took him back to the shores of Calot. He had been six years old, and he had gone swimming with his parents. His mom had held him as he had splashed around. The endless ocean around him had made him feel the same way that these mountains did.

The vast nature of the world that we live in is awe-inspiring, he mused. I’m but a speck of dust in its domain.

He studied the rising slopes above. They were dotted with many round caves which resembled a honeycomb hive.

“Hey!” William gestured. “Why does the mountain over there look like Scaran cheese?”

“Some of those caves are used for air circulation and others have defensive purposes,” Lisa explained. “There are probably dozens of scouts watching us right now.”

William squinted and stared at the mountain.

(Lisa)

A hot spring was nestled at the base of the mountain. Lisa was filled with memories of her school days. She remembered playing with her friends in the springs.

“We used to play airball every week when I was a kid, right over there.” Lisa pointed to one of the bubbling lakes. “If not for the war, this area would be teeming with kids right now.”

“That’s crazy.” William shook his head. “It’s freezing.”

“Once you jump into the hot water, it feels marvelous.” Lisa’s eyes lit up. “My favorite place is a little past the entrance of the city. It’s near a geyser called the Hissing Snake. The braver kids would swim right over the geyser and wait for it to blast them up into the air.”

William’s eyes widened. “Scraps, we gotta go there. That place sounds amazing!”

“Yeah, that place is amazing,” Lisa agreed. “The effervescent springs send swarms of bubbles toward the surface. When you float in the water you feel a stream of bubbles brushing against your skin. It’s hard to describe. You have to experience it for yourself.”

As they walked, Lisa continued to reminisce about the good old days.

“Hey, we’re finally here,” Rose announced. “This is one of the secret entrances to Scar.” The boys exchanged puzzled looks. They stood in front of a lake. There was nothing remotely resembling a doorway.

“The entrance is hidden and protected by runes,” Lisa explained.

"E' olu' olu e wehe," Rose spoke in a language that Lisa had not heard in over a decade. She smiled. The Sprite language was beautiful and melodious. Some of the more sophisticated runes and enchants that she had encountered over the years were activated by the language of their creators. The water parted as though it had been sliced by a sword. A wall of water formed to either side, creating a pathway. The path revealed a cobblestone ramp, leading directly under the mountain. The ramp was wide enough to allow two oxcarts to pass side by side.

(Ivan)

Ivan examined the wall of water. His eyes followed the rising bubbles, trying to determine their source. He watched William stick his hand into the water and quickly pull it out.

“Ouch, it’s hot!” he yelped.

“If your hands are cold and you place them in very warm water, it feels deceptively hot,” Aunt Lisa said as she reached toward the water and stuck her hand inside.

Just like William, she yelped and snatched her hand back. “Wow, I don’t remember it being that hot.” She inspected her reddened skin. “Still, I’ve been gone for such a long time.”

“Yeah, many of the springs have gotten warmer in the last few years,” Rose commented. “This one is definitely one of the hotter ones. Luckily, some of the others haven’t changed too much. No one knows what’s going on with them.”

“What about the Hissing Snake geyser that Aunt Lisa talked about? The one that shoots you up in the air. Is that one too hot?” William looked alarmed.

“Oh, no,” Rose reassured him. “That one is just fine.”

“Whew, you had me worried for a bit.” William rocked back on his heels and grinned.

"With the state of the war, it might take us some time before we can visit the hot springs outside of the city," said Lisa.

"You can still visit the Belching Dragon geyser within the city," Rose suggested.

"That's right!" Lisa snapped her fingers. "I forgot about that one."

A wide tunnel appeared ahead of them. Inside, it was as bright as a summer day. The tunnel was lined with iridescent snowy marble. Veins of gold and silver wove through the polished walls. Sunstones were inlaid along the top of the ceiling. As they walked, William traced one of the gold veins with his finger.

“I’ve never felt anything this smooth.” William looked at his reflection in the glossy marble and made a silly face. Rose giggled and quickly joined in. She pulled the corners of her mouth wide, stuck her tongue out, and shifted her nose into a pig snout. Their laughter echoed throughout the underground corridor.

Ivan picked up his pace, eager to see what was ahead. He heard William scurrying behind him as he stepped out of the tunnel. He emerged at the edge of a field of colorful and fragrant flowers. His eyes turned to the bright cerulean sky. Puffy white clouds floated like ships across the azure expanse above.

Ivan’s face lit up. “I’ve read so much about this enchanted sky. I can’t believe it’s not the real thing.” He gaped. “I can’t tell the difference between this sky and the one outside. This doesn’t feel like a cavern.”

“I know, right,” his brother exclaimed. “Scraps, it’s just like being outdoors.” William yanked his coat off and tied it around his waist.

“Yeah, the enchanted sky is something else, isn’t it?” their aunt agreed. “The key to this magnificent view is the Resplendent enchantment. It’s a sophisticated array of runes which create the illusion and illumination.”

“Look over there!” William pointed, gawking at something in the distance. “That must be the statue of Alaras. Wow, it’s a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.”

Ivan followed William’s gaze to the colossal brass statue of Alaras that towered in the distance. It stood on top of two projecting towers above the fortified entrance to the city. Like a pillar, the massive sculpture appeared to be supporting the enchanted sky on its shoulders. Its eyes stared in their direction, challenging any intruders to its domain.

“He was the first Scaran king, right?” asked William.

“Yeah, he was,” Ivan replied. “He was known as the Iron Fist with the Silk Tongue. Many centuries ago, he played an integral part in unifying all the different factions in the Nature Kingdom, except for the Tork tribe. The Torkans still maintain their independence.”

The brothers continued to chat as they followed the cobblestone path toward the city gate. As they got closer, the portcullis lifted, and a group of riders raced out to meet them.

“Lady Waterlily,” the lead rider exclaimed and dismounted the moment he reached them. “It’s been too long.”

“Greg Tinbury, it’s so good to see you again.” The two embraced.

Greg stepped back. “Look at you! You haven’t aged a day in the last ten years. You look as radiant as ever.”

Greg Tinbury had a crisp white beard, which split into two braids. Ivan knew that beards were important for the men of Scar. They grew their beards when they got married. As they had children, they added braids. Greg had dark eyes and his nose curved like a hawk’s beak. Ivan guessed that he was in his early fifties, though his trim muscular build showed little signs of aging. The pommel of his sword was finely wrought and inlaid with gems.

Nice sword, he thought. The craftsmanship was exquisite.

“Lady Waterlily,” one of the other horsemen greeted their aunt. “We thought that you’d never return. I can’t believe you left us with Rose as the headmaster of the Tinbury School.” The rider grinned and stroked the single braid on his beard.

“Wait a minute! I am the headmaster of the Tinbury School?” Rose tilted her head and placed a finger on her chin. “Well, that would explain the growing pile of paperwork on top of my desk… that I continue to ignore. Well, as far as I’m concerned, Lisa never left that post and the paperwork is all hers.” Lisa chuckled and shook her head.

“As you can see, Rose hasn’t changed one bit,” the newcomer declared.

Lisa’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Rob Stone!” She beamed. “I can see that your relationship with Lady Summerbreeze has not improved over the years. Get off your high horse and give me a hug,” she demanded.

Ivan knew Rob Stone by reputation as one of the finest swordsmen in the Nature Kingdom. He had first seen him at the capital when he was a kid. People in Pike always mentioned Rob by his fighter’s pseudonym – Swiftblade. The name that he had earned in the dueling pits.

Rob Stone had a brawny build, short curly black hair, and hazel eyes. The Scaran coat of arms was etched on his leather cuirass. The famous emblem of the Hidden City was a silver mining pick crossed by a golden sword.

Ivan’s eyes widened when he saw Rob’s blade. He knew that Rob was one of the few people in the kingdom that owned a Giant Steel sword. The turtle shell guard on the weapon was made of olivine, a clear indication of its origin. He knew the name of the blade.

Final Discord!

“Greg… Rob, these are my nephews,” Lisa said. “They’re Ben and Jassie’s boys, Ivan and William.”

Ivan’s attention snapped back to his aunt after he heard his name. “Boys, I’d like to introduce you to Greg Tinbury and Rob Stone.”

Lisa gestured to Greg. “Greg commands the Scaran city defense and Rob is the Lord Commander of the Nature Kingdom’s army.”

Rob greeted them and looked at William. “You know, when I was about your age, I watched your father in the Spirit Competition. He was an excellent strategist and a gifted caster.” He turned to Ivan.

“Ten years later, I was your dad’s teammate in the 397th Spirit Competition. Even though he fought with magic and I with a sword, I learned a great deal from him. Ivan, you might not remember but we’ve met a few times. You were six or seven the last time I saw you.”

“I remember,” Ivan replied enthusiastically. “I cheered for you on Eel Island!”

“I can’t believe how time flies.” Rob clapped Ivan on the shoulder. “You know, you’re a mirror image of your dad.”

Ivan smiled.

“Yeah, you look just like your old man,” Greg echoed. He turned toward Lisa and added, “Before I go, my brother has extended an invitation for all of you to join us for dinner tonight. Slovan will be pleased to see you and he’ll have many questions. For now, I’ll leave you with Rob. I’ve got pressing matters that require my immediate attention.” Greg mounted his horse, waved goodbye, and rode away.

Rose was the next one to leave the group. “Lisa, we’ll catch up later.” Rose waved, shifted into a Snapwing Falcon, and flew away.

Lisa and the boys were given horses and they rode toward the city.

Ivan gaped at the colossal statue above the gate. His warhorse was smaller than the toes of the statue. He tried to imagine how it was constructed.

It must have taken thousands of craftsmen and artisans, he mused.

He looked up and tried to picture the construction. He envisioned multiple floors of scaffolding, rope ladders, and a swarm of guilders working on it. He tried to remember how long it had taken to finish it.

He guessed that the famous Bell Towers of Pike would only reach up to the giant’s knees.

The massive gateway entrance swallowed them as they entered the sanctuary of Scar. He had finally reached the heart of the resistance.