Corin opened his eyes. He found himself in his old room in his home in Bothia. He looked outside his window. The sun was beginning to rise.

It took him several seconds to feel up to the task of leaving his comfortable bed. But eventually he found the strength to lift himself off his bed and see what the day might have in store for him.

He wandered out of his room and into the kitchen. He saw no sign of anyone else around. Cyril would always be up before Corin, but just to be sure Corin went to his brother's room. The door was open, which meant most of the time that Cyril was not there. But Corin peeked inside his brother's room just to be sure.

He looked inside the small, tidy, neat room. He could see no sign of his brother.

He stuck his head out of his brother's room. He looked around the house once again.

“Cyril?” Corin shouted.

No response.

Must be out swimming. Maybe he had a bad dream.

Corin thought about what he ought to do.

Should I wait for him?

Normally Corin would just wait for his brother to come back from whatever it was that was preoccupying him, but this time Corin felt as if he should go out and look for his brother. Upon leaving his house Corin made his way to the shore. It did not take him long to get there. Only a minute walk from his house.

As soon as Corin got to the shore he saw his brother's belongings there. His shirt and sandals. Everything but his brother.

He is swimming.

As the sun rose, Corin struggled to look out onto the vast blue expanse as he tried to locate his brother. Cyril loved being in the sea so much that Corin would often call him Cyril the siren.

But try as he might, Corin could not see even the slightest glimpse of his brother. The rising sun did not help, but usually Corin would spot his brother fairly quickly.

Where is he? I should have seen him by now.

He scanned the sea once again. Twice. Thrice. No sign of his Cyril.

His heart rate began to increase.

Am I going to have to wade into the sea? Where would I even start?

Corin, although a proficient swimmer, was nowhere near Cyril's equal in either ability or enthusiasm.

Damn it Cyril.

Corin’s heart rate continued its steady climb. He began to take off his shirt and his sandals.

He should be fine. It's Cyril. He knows his limitations, there is no way he would put himself at risk.

He got into the water. Every couple of steps he would stop to look around and see if he could spot his brother. He stopped when the water was waist high. No sign of him. Chest height. No sign of him. The water was now at Corin's neck. He looked around and still saw no sign of his brother.

Corin's heart was now pounding with maximum intensity. He was no longer under any pretense that his brother was swimming somewhere safe. Something was wrong, Corin knew it.

“Cyril! Cyril!” Shouted Corin.

He started to swim in any direction. He had no idea where he was going but he was hoping to get a glimpse, a sign, anything that might help him find his brother.

“Damn it!” Corin shouted. “Cyril! Answer me!”

He had waded deeper into the sea now, the shore was far and distant in his view.

“Corin!” A familiar voice cried out in response. “I need your help!” Cyril shouted.

Corin turned his head around to where he heard his brother's yell.

In the distance he saw two figures floating in the sea.

Corin started swimming toward his brother's voice.

As he got closer he could see Cyril holding onto someone else.

“Cyril, what is-” Corin began.

“I saw him floating at a distance.” Cyril cut Corin off.

“I think he is still alive, help me get him to the shore.” Cyril ordered his brother.

Corin did not ask any other questions. He listened to his brother and grabbed the limp body on the opposite side of his brother. The two of them struggled as they carried the unconscious person. It was hard enough for Corin sometimes to swim in these waters, but carrying this dense furtive made it even more difficult. Corin could even hear his brother struggling in his breathing, Cyril for whom swimming was as natural as breathing. After struggling for what seemed like ages the brothers were able to pull the furtive back on the land.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

As soon as they landed on the shore and laid down the unconscious furtive both of them collapsed onto the ground. They were so tired and worn out that the only thing they could focus on was gasping for air. The brothers spent several minutes in this state of affairs. Finally Corin and Cyril turned to the unconscious furtive.

Corin had never seen any furtive of this kind. He had many human features but was clearly not one. The first giveaway was the fur that covered his body. His entire body was covered in thick white hair, aside from his face. His nose was flatter and he had no lips. Corin could also see he had a long tail. Corin looked over the strange being when he considered something.

“Is he dead?” Corin asked.

As in response to his question the unconscious furtive coughed up water. That answered his question, but the furtive still lay unconscious.

Corin noticed his clothes. They were all tattered and seemed to be more of a patchwork of different shirts and pants. Corin could see differing clothing styles sewn together, creating unique and puzzling shirt and pants that almost gave Corin a headache just from looking at them.

Corin spotted something that shined near the furtives neck, an almost inconspicuous pendant. The craftsmanship of it was unlike anything Corin had ever seen.

Everything about this creature was foreign to Corin.

“Where do you think he's from?” Corin asked Cyril.

“I don't know.” Cyril said.

Corin had also seen him studying the furtive, it seemed he too was puzzled by the strange creature.

“But let's hope he can answer that himself. Let's get him to our house.” Cyril answered.

***

Corin awoke now. His head ached, it felt as if his brain was pounding the inside of his skull repeatedly.

“What happened?” Corin asked as he struggled to keep his eyes opened. He felt disoriented, and could not seem to get his bearings.

One of the first things Corin saw as he opened his eyes was the same furtive that he and Cyril had rescued over fifteen years ago. He stood over Corin, a sly smile plastered on his face as he looked down upon him.

“You ok there my boy?” Simeon asked Corin.

“My head.” Corin began. “It hurts.”

He began to rub his temples, as he tried to focus on menial tasks such as breathing and keeping his wits about him.

“Was I poisoned?” Corin asked as his brain continued to struggle against his skull. The incessant pounding would not stop.

“Well yes you were!”Simeon replied quickly and with zero concern.

Corin felt alarmed at the news. But that was not even the worst of it, how could Simeon be so nonchalant about this?

“I did tell you alcohol was poisonous didn't I?” Simeon laughed.

Corin’s recollection of the previous night began to slowly work its way back into his memory. Little by little he remembered all of it. The bitter drink that Corin was initially given. Nanaua’s contest of strength. Corin’s second full glass of his bitter drink. His terrible singing and dancing amongst the dwarves. Corin’s third or fourth drink. His improving dance skills. After that the details became less clear, but there were more glasses of the bitter drink. How many Corin would never know exactly.

Simeon approached Corin with a glass in his hand. It was full of a clear liquid.

“No more alcohol.” Corin stated waving Simeon away.

“Hah!” Simeon laughed. “This time it is just water.”

Corin struggled to sit up and grabbed the glass from Simeon. He drank it all in one gulp.

His head still ached. He rubbed his temples. It still felt as if his brain was exacting its revenge on him for his behavior the previous night.

“What a nightmare.” Corin said.

“It will pass.” Simeon replied while he laughed.

“The others?” Corin asked as he rubbed his temples.

“I won't ever have alcohol again.” Zhi replied. She too, was focusing all her energy on rubbing her temples and sitting straight.

Corin saw her sitting on one of the tables. Nanaua and Livia both sat next to her.

Corin looked at the rest of the establishment. Aside from several dwarves that were cleaning up after the previous night there was not much activity going on.

Livia too was rubbing her temples. Nanaua seemed to be her usual composed self.

“I knew that alcohol was no good the second it touched my lips!” Nanaua stated.

Corin slowly got up and went to his wife. He sat next to her, as she slowly raised her head to look at him.

“Maybe next time more dancing and less drinking?” Livia asked Corin.

“I think that sounds like a good idea.” Corin replied.

The couple kissed and embraced each other.

“Well now that you are all awake and well rested we can continue moving. We have a lot of ground to cover.” Simeon announced.

The sudden news helped soothe the misery of the group, they all perked up at Simeon's statement.

“Belaran? Did you find out where he is?” Manaia asked.

“Not quite.” Simeon replied. The group left out a defeated sigh.

“So where are we going?” Asked Zhi. She held her head up by her hands as she kept her eyes barely open. Even the slightest light source gave her a headache.

“Yranto.” Simeon announced with excitement.

The group looked at each other. None of them seemed to have any reaction to his announcement.

“I see.” Simeon said with a slight tinge of disappointment. “I take it that none of you have ever heard of Yranto?”

The group looked at each other, they all shared the same look of confusion.

“I am not too surprised. I had heard of it many years ago when I still lived on the continent. Mostly whispers here and there, but never anything conclusive. I had never met anyone who said they had actually seen it with their eyes. That was of course until yesterday.” Simeon announced excitedly.

“What’s so special about this place?” Nanaua asked. She was the only one who seemed to be intrigued at Simeon’s discovery.

“Well Yranto is known as the furtives greatest city. One who’s splendor might rival anything that could be built by a Titan.” Simeon stated.

“A furtive city?” Livia asked as if she had misheard.

“That is correct.” Simeon replied.

“But how?” She asked.

“The dwarf I spoke to says that it is very well hidden. That is why it is hard for other furtives to find. It is surrounded by many natural barriers and it is easy to get lost while trying to find it. But he says it is the grandest thing ever built by furtive hands. A city so impressive that even a Titan would be in awe of it.” Simeon continued his excitement building.

“But how will this help us find Belaran?” Nanaua asked.

“The legends I have heard tell of Yranto speak of its vast accumulated knowledge.” Simeon said.

“So you are not sure if they know about Belaran, but you hope that they do and we can find information about him there?” Livia asked.

“Yes, but I believe our odds are very good. I asked many dwarves yesterday about Belaran, and the giants that live in this area. These dwarves have lived in this area and its surrounding premises for many generations. They know things about these lands that stretch back millennia, secrets that even the oldest Giants would struggle remembering. They know all the Giants that can be found around here, including the one that our three friends warned us about. Apparently that would not have ended well for us if we had gone down that road. But Belaran is unknown to them.” Simeon said.

“Therefore Yranto is currently our best chance at finding information about Belaran.” Zhi followed up.

“I believe so. If Belaran was nearby the dwarves here would surely know, but that is not the case. I am sure that someone in Yranto will know and will help guide us to where we need to go.” Simeon replied.

“Well there is one important detail that you have yet to divulge about Yranto.” Zhi mentioned as she continued holding her head up by her hands.

“Which is?” Simeon replied.

“How far is it?” Zhi asked.

“Well,” Simeon began. His face betrayed that whatever he said would not be met positively.

“Just say it.” Zhi said burying her head in her hands.

“The combined journey, which some of it will not be on foot. It is expected to take close to a month of travel.” Simeon announced.

“Oh, this is such a cruel fate!” Zhi responded.

Corin who had started to feel the dull ache to fade, felt it hit him full force once again.

“And this is the only way?” Livia asked.

“I'm afraid so. I spoke to many different dwarves yesterday. None of them knew of Belaran. Wherever he is, it is nowhere near here.” Simeon said.

Corin rubbed his temples once again and got up.

“So where do we start?” He asked Simeon.

“Well,” Simeon once again hesitated.

“Just say it.” Livia interjected.

“I hope you don't mind cramped spaces because we will have to go through the mines.” Simeon said.

Zhi groaned even louder this time.