The RiverGlow Passage

As Alexander expected a wagon was waiting for the two of them, except it was not a wagon from his family but the foundation.

The foundation’s wagon is made from bamboo from the Elantra forest, said to be the first Forest the gods created. They found the knight dressed in white armor at the helm.

“Cyrus did the cardinal say anything else to you” he asked.

Cyrus thought it over, “No, he just told me to get you stuff to take to the Templar school.”

What is the cardinal playing at, why is he showing me a favor?

Could my father have asked? But why?

The foundation's wagon also differs in the mode of transportation; they are pulled by warhogs.

War-hogs are an ancient piglike beast, they can only be found in the Elentra forest. They are not native to the land but due to their aggressive nature with farmland, they have become instinct from all the forest near human settlements.

However, the foundation has found ways to domesticate them by breeding them with horses. This has caused them to lose much of their piglike shape around their bodies looking more like horses, while the face is more piglike with a wider mouth and long lower fangs.

“They almost look inhumane” Cyrus stated, following Alexander’s line of sight.

“I wouldn’t want to ride one”

Cyrus grinned, “ I don’t think we could our legs are too small”

Alexander shook his head with a chuckle, finding solace in his guard's familiarity.

They went down the monument stairs, Alexander looked around at the empty street and the monument just filled not too long ago.

I must remember this, the shame I felt in the past is just a memory. This time it will be my fuel on my path beyond any nation.

The most important feature of the federations wagon was the long cloth that went over the back of the wagon like a curtain. As they reached the door, they nodded to the mute knight who did so in kind.

Inside the wagon was quite empty besides knitted black and red seat cushions, as well as a carved star on the ceiling.

“Well, I guess if we did not know from the knight, we would have known from the giant star in the ceiling.”

“You should know already that sigils and symbols are important, it’s more like currency than any coin you can get.” As Alexander finished, he felt the wagon begin to pull away.

The most striking difference with war-hog transportation is the feeling, with horses you can tell you are being pulled by an animal with a shaken wagon, or a misstep by the horse from the weight.

War hogs it is different it is like you are flying, you feel as if you are gliding through the street. However, there is difficulty with such easy transportation, the feeling of sickness can quickly overcome your senses. It is important when riding in a wagon such as this to look outside and remind yourself you are moving.

Unfortunately, Alexander could not do this until they left Alverna.

“We are at the south passage sir; I can see the children dancing and hitting their instruments. I will miss shopping while listening to such raw music.”

“I’m sure the school will have music Cyrus, and you may forget all about this when we reach the countryside.”

Cyrus found this ridiculous letting his lord know,

“Nothing can be better than home.”

Five minutes passed when they heard the knight's strong knuckles knock on the wagon letting them know they’d reached the gate.

The gate of Alverna is a huge thirty-foot metal stronghold, watched over by Godt family guards. Each garrison of family guards is led by one rune-master who commands four enhancers.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

They moved the white curtains from the open wagon window. Two guardsmen were at each side of the open gate. Cyrus saluted towards both sides at his father's men, while Alexander looked up towards the direction of the watchtower where the commander stayed.

He did not bother taking off his blindfold as he knew what he’d see. Atop the watch tower is a sigil. The sigil is the family crest of a golden buck with a snake entangled in its antlers.

“I wonder if I will ever wear that on my breastplate again.” He wondered staring in its direction.

Cyrus hearing this wondered the same, but deeper down he felt anger at that sigil. They felt the crisp chill of the twilight air hit their face as they passed through the city gate, into the open air of Lysandra.

The Templar school is the furthest point north in all the human realm, it’s location is on the border of the Black Sea. The Black Sea is the beginning point of the Desolate Lands where the ruined land of the dark race rules.

In the nation of Lysandra, there is only one passage to get to the Templar school, the Riverglow Passage.

To reach the Riverglow passage you need to pass through the Beor Mountains. Currently, the foundation's wagon and its occupants are nearing the bottom of that mountain.

“ I can see my breath.” The familiar voice of Cyrus said as he rubbed his hands together, “and I can see snow at the top, I thought it was summer”

Alexander laughed, “They say there is no such thing as summer on these mountains, just winter and then freezing.”

Whatever Cyrus was going to say was cut off by the sudden incline of the wagon. W

“I guess we can’t be mad we did not get a warning.”

Cyrus looked in confusion, and then recognition when he remembered the driver.

The journey went by quickly, or as fast as you could guess by the measurement of the terrain. When they finally felt the wagon no longer incline or decline, they finally got their first sight of the Beor mountain.

As Cyrus saw earlier when they accented the mountain a slight sheet of snow matted on the dirt road and grass.

Alexander heard the curtains be pulled back from the side opposite of him, getting bitten by the frigid air. He followed suit as he untied his blindfold to see the sight of Beor Mountain.

Cyrus heard Alexander untie his blindfold, as he watched he quickly tried to keep any thoughts out of his mind, still not knowing what his lord's runes did.

When Alexander finally got his blindfold off his senses were met with both a beautiful and unearthly sight.

The grass, trees, and flowers all looked like a spring day. The leaves were still on the trees, they were of vibrant colors from dark green to an apple red.

The flowers were in bloom despite the chill they could feel, there were Apple-weed flowers that were brighter yellow than the sun and the most gorgeous sky blue lycos.

Cyrus stared down at the Lyco flowers passing by, “How could a flower so beautiful be poisonous enough to kill a one-ton bear.”

Alexander looked out the window and could not help but agree. He felt the crispness of the chilled air and the beautiful atmosphere he felt lost for breath. He did not know if it was from the beauty or the altitude of the large mountain.

However, all of this was forgotten when he heard a commotion that sounded like a woman and children in fear.

Both Cyrus and Alexander looked through opposite windows to try and find the location of the sound.

Suddenly a small gate was seen on the dirt road, and they heard the knight knock on the wagon's cabin. The commotion of the people was quite startling, making both young men feel like they were the invaders.

The wagon came to a stop, and neither of the boys left the wagon in fear of a confrontation, suddenly a loud horn blew into the air. The sound of the horn went through the forest and reverberated through the cabin door.

Once the sound of the horn finished, they found the commotion of people were now silent, not even cries from infants could be heard.

Suddenly Alexander retired his blindfold, and five seconds later the gate could be heard opening, as soft footsteps light as a feather could be heard tapping the ground.

The sounds of footsteps stopped, and a soft, flamboyant voice was heard.

“Hmm, what is a knight of the federation doing in our small village.” The voice paused as a foot could be heard tapping the dirt, “Why don’t our guest in your wagon come out so we can speak.”

Alexander and Cyrus relaxed slightly, as they felt no hostility from the voice.

The knight seemed to agree as they heard his loud steps coming towards the wagon door. He opened the door for them as his hand completely covered the handle. The two young men dropped down, Alexander went first feeling his way down.

“Ah, now I see, I’m glad you aren’t a senator sending me off to war”

Alexander could not tell but the speaker sounded happy as he saw them, he imagined the man was smiling.

As Cyrus left the wagon, he found the man standing with a smile ten feet from the wagon just outside the gate. The man was tall and lanky just a couple inches shorter than the white knight.

His hair was long reaching down to his back, and his eyes shown with kindness. He had an almost teardrop-like face, unnervingly gentle.

He wore a deerskin shirt that only covered his right shoulder. Adorned on his right shoulder was a golden star, the same star on the wagon roof

The most striking thing about him was the gray wolf coat he wore with the wolf's mouth over his milk-white face.

As the group walked toward the man once they were a couple of paces away he spoke first, “I can guess your reason for coming here, but I’d be a bad chief if I did not ask you reason”

“ Why do you need to know our business” asked Alexander

He felt eyes on him as he heard the man hum, “Well I am guessing you will need lodging here, and you have not sent a hawk or anything with a seal for passage. I have every right to keep you from passing through”

Alexander pointed behind him, “He is our seal of passage, or do you not trust a knight from the foundation.”

The man was silent for a couple minutes finally responding, “ Is it wrong to feel unsafe from uninvited guests.” Alexander heard tapping again, “No I think not, still you have a point.”

The sound of rustling came from within the gates, along with the chatter of man and woman.

“Come in then, but the beasts stay out here.”