WaySide Ch.2

After the first missile wave hit, General Coulter sat on his horse, nearly dumbfounded. The shockwave hit him hard, almost knocking him from his mount. A full quarter of his army had been wiped out in an instant. The ‘Haraq’s’ had learned their lesson well, using long range weapons keeping the bulk of the Remnant from attacking in force, which would have ended the war quickly, the enemy were cowards in battle, and the Remnant forces were a well trained group with more than just physical strength behind them. But the Haraquin had developed ways to circumvent a hand to hand fight, though their cowardly missile attack showed a weakness the General would exploit and soon end the war. He knew he would have victory, he had it on the Highest Authority.
Shutting away the thoughts of the attack that had left so many of his men and women dead, he leaned forward and spoke to his horse. “To Forward Command, Stago.” The horse immediately sprang into a full gallop and carried him to the large landship at the head of the lines. It was a magnificent vehicle stretching a full fifty meters in length and covered in guns. The Landships were the backbone of the fleet of vehicles the Remnant used. They’d begun the battle with twelve, but had lost three in the missile attack.
The Lieutenant General saw him coming and dropped a lift for him. Armored all in white like him, but with a matching helmet with an integrated communication device built into it for quick orders.
“The cowards have shown their colors.” She told him. “We shall not let it happen again.”
He shook his head. “No. Ready all Landships and Skyfighters, we will shoot down every missile they throw at us.” The order went out and the Fighters mobilized into flights hovering above the army giving them a perfect field of fire to protect the soldiers below. The Landships moved into their defensive positions as well. “Hold relative positions, but advance at mark three.” He ordered and all soldiers and craft moved together slowly. He would take the enemy’s long range advantage away from them and with this fight.
The enemy fired several more missiles all of which were safely shot down before any damage was done. Then darkness filled the sky above the enemy. It took the General no time to realize they must have thrown everything they had all at once in hopes of utterly decimating the Remnant.
“All ahead, maximum speed.” He turned to his second in command, the Lieutenant General, “They will overshoot us, most of them, some will be shot down, but we will lose many.”
“They have already lost, General.” She replied. “We will have the victory; the Haraquin will never see their plan’s end. You know this.”
He nodded and silently thanked her for her faith and wisdom.


Jared was still mostly in shock when Benjamin pinned him with a stare. “You are of age and you have been taught everything you need to know about leadership. That was the Covenant of the Officers, that the necessary knowledge be passed from generation to generation. Do not be afraid Jared, you have within you the strength to do more than win a war.”
Was all this true? Jared asked himself. How could it be true? He was just a student of Vale! Anything more than a small adventure and a chance to see Esther again was more than he had bargained for. Yet even now, he was recalling things he’d been taught like the exercises from childhood which had turned out to be a sword fighting style, and many of the things he remembered from his many teachings in the later years he suddenly realized had other purposes as well. Troop movements, strategy, it was all there, somehow hidden in the guise of a normal lesson. He saw it all in his mind and when he came to himself, he felt considerably more confident.
Benjamin could see the change in him. “You see it then?” he asked, hope in his voice.
Jared smiled. “I see it.” Then suddenly he became very serious. “We must get back to Vale! We must see if anyone survived!”
The Leader of the Southerners took a step forward. “If you go you will take one of us with you.”
Jared bowed his head. “Thank you.” He paused. “Sergeant Major.” He added suddenly realizing he wore that insignia.
The Leader called out. “Gideon, son of Amos, you will join the Captain northward.”
A young man, easily head and shoulders taller than Jared and a good deal broader, stepped forward and knelt down. “My honor is to serve the Captain.” Jared recognized him as the man who had spoken to him as they were guided through the town.
The Sergeant Major spoke again. “Gideon is the strongest of our youth, he would be our greatest warrior in time. And it is time for him to be tested. He will serve you well.”
“I have no wish to be served; I welcome him as a brother.” Jared replied and a murmur went out among the gathering.
Gideon stood. “You honor me tenfold, Captain.”
Jared looked up at the big man, smiling. “Call me Jared.” And he held his hand to him. This time he heard several shocked whispers.
Gideon’s face was full of wonder as his massive hand engulfed Jared’s. Apparently no camaraderie was expected in such an exchange. That’ll change if I’m to be the leader. Jared thought to himself.

Soon they had Gideon fitted into an armor suit not unlike Jared’s own, though obviously meant for much harder fighting and instead of a shining white, it was a glossy dark blue. The spear he’d carried all along was still with him as well as a large double edged sword slung across his great back. He carried no energy pistol as Jared did. However, integrated into the armor on the right forearm was a projectile thrower of sorts, Gideon test fired it and it appeared to be some kind of magnetic accelerator weapon that fired small metal projectiles at great speed and there was an apparently endless supply of these projectiles.
And again displaying no hesitation, and perhaps an eagerness for the northerners to leave, the Sergeant Major sent them on their way. Jared was eager to return to Vale to see if his parents were okay and they made good time on the return trip to Vale.
The evening before the last leg of their journey, Gideon, who had remained largely silent so far, knelt down beside Jared and stared into the small fire they had made. “We are followed, Captain.” His expression showed no anxiety, but Jared could tell there was uneasiness in his movements.
“Jared.” He reminded the big man. “Where are they?”
“Camped on the other side of the ridge.” He pointed in the direction from which they had come. “That direction.”
“He’s right.” Benjamin piped up. He held a small flat device which apparently showed him many things for he was almost always looking at it. “I’m showing a single life sign, one kilometer south southwest of us.” The older man looked up at Gideon. “How did you know?”
“I read the signs. Does your…thing tell you anything else?” Gideon asked slyly.
“No, at this range, I can’t get many details.” Benjamin replied.
“There are three, two men and one woman.”
“Impossible, I only see one on the scanner.”
“Your thing is inaccurate, you will see.” Gideon looked at Jared. “They are the enemy.”
“Are you certain of this?” Jared asked him.
“I am certain. You will stand and fight them?’
“I will stand.” Jared replied. “But only fight if absolutely necessary.”
Gideon nodded and promptly set about fortifying the camp. They had camped on a high point of the mountain, a position Gideon had chosen, which was easily defensible on all sides.


When morning came, they settled in to wait for the enemy. But they didn’t have to wait long. “Someone’s coming up the trail.” Esther, who was looking through a small telescope, told Jared. “I can see her, it’s a woman.” She paused. “Just one.” She added dryly.
Jared looked over to see Gideon’s reaction, but the big man had vanished without a sound. He shrugged and turned his gaze back down to the trail where a woman was stepping out into a small clearing. The woman, clad in all black, looked up at them and drew what appeared to be a sword of some kind and laid it on the ground at her feet. “I come peace full!” She shouted at them.
She had a strange accent, as though the language she was speaking had been hastily and incompletely learned. “Come, then!” Jared shouted back at her. She hesitated several long moments, but eventually stepped over her sword without picking it up and approached their camp.
As she drew nearer, Jared could see her plainly. She was young, like them, but almost painfully thin and pale. Her dark eyes and darker hair contrasted with her white complexion and gave her a slightly ghostly appearance. However, that she was healthy, he had no doubt, a leanness that at first appeared to be unnatural, upon closer inspection showed her to be quite athletic in build. She bore an expression more of curiosity than anything else. “You are Remnants?” She spoke haltingly with her odd accent.
Jared nodded. “Yes, we are.” He replied. “And you are Haraquin?”
She gave him a quizzical glance and smiled. “Yes!” She nodded enthusiastically. “I am explore this mountains, my people want friendship.”
Jared was at a loss for words. The Haraquin had just bombed Vale with a long range missile and here was one woman, a girl really, exploring and seeking friendship with the Remnant. Just then, Gideon came back dragging two black clad men by their collars.
The haraquin girl looked as though someone had run her through. “Why do this? I come with peace!”
“They’re not dead, just out cold.” Gideon replied, defensively. “I knew you didn’t want a fight, but they were flanking our position.”
Jared looked from the unconscious men to the girl and back at Gideon who simply shrugged. “I am sorry for my brother, he only knows battle. Yours will be okay.” He reassured her.
She still seemed a bit shaken, but nodded and went to her men. Gideon stepped away and went, quietly, to the other side of the camp. Jared looked to Benjamin. “What do you make of all this?”
“It would seem that there are two different factions within the ranks of the surviving Haraquin.” He replied. “One of them still warlike, and one peaceful, and each sending their emissaries.”
“Do you think she knows anything about the missile attack on Vale?”
“I don’t know, but she was headed in that direction…”
Jared nodded and looked at the girl tending to her men. Everything in him told him that she was honestly just exploring. He glanced at Gideon, he was squatting down on the far side of the camp and watching the girl intently. He seemed to be thinking something he did not like. There was something uncertain in his expression. Jared remembered how suddenly the big man had become defensive when the girl confronted him. He’d never heard him speak in that tone before.
Esther touched his arm and he looked at her questioningly. “What are we going to do? We can’t take them with us into Vale.”
“I don’t know.” He replied. “I’ll go speak to her, find out what her intentions are.”
“Okay.” She said, sounding rather dubious.
“Don’t worry.” He assured her. “Everything’s going to be fine.” He went over to the girl and knelt beside her as she applied some sort of cloth on her men’s foreheads. “Will they be awake soon?” Jared asked.
“Yes, soon, I am treat wounds.” She lifted her gaze. “You are Remnant Leader?”
“Sort of.” He replied.
“Sort….of….?” She repeated, obviously not understanding.
“Almost.” He tried again.
“Hm.” She nodded slowly. “My name Shanay is.”
“I am Jared, this is Benjamin, Esther and Gideon.” He pointed them each out to her.
“Koulen and Bakil.” She said pointing to the two sleeping men. “My brothers. They go ahead of me. They not know you here. Me…I not know you here, but I see you when I come out of trees.”
“What are you going to do, when your brothers are awake?”
“We go with you?” She asked. “You Leader…make peace with you, make peace with all?”
He smiled to himself. “Perhaps, we will see.” He told her. “Do you know of the missile attack? We are going to help.”
Her eyes widened. “Missile! They attack you!” She stood abruptly and went off in her own language. He didn’t understand the words, but he could tell she was furious clear through. She finished with an incoherent yell and sat back down in a huff. “They make hard my work.” She said coldly.
Jared sympathized. “They are others of your people?”
“No my people.” She replied. “Others. We want peace. They want war.”
“But many of my people may not see the difference. You are both from the West.”
She seemed about to cry, but just then one of her brothers, Bakil, Jared thought woke up with a start. There was a moment of confusion while Shanay informed him of the situation in their language and then things settled down. Koulen woke next but he seemed a bit calmer. “Why have you captured us?”
Jared was surprised to hear him speak normally, though still with the odd accent. “You are not prisoners, but guests. There was a misunderstanding. I am sorry.”
Koulen nodded. “I accept your apology. We want peace, as my sister has no doubt tried to tell you.”
“Soopha!” Shanay told him, pouting.
“Ka’an Soophei.” He replied, good naturedly. “We heard the explosion and came to investigate; we have reason to believe that another of the Haraquin states is attempting to make war on you. We came to offer you peace and show you that all Haraquin are not hateful and warlike.”
“So, you came across the Dead Valley?” Esther asked him.
“Yes, even as you see us. As we traveled we saw a great tree growing from the black ground. We took it as a sign of hope for our peoples.”
“I would like to see this tree.” Jared said.
“You may have reason to journey west soon.” Koulen told him. “We would journey with you if you will allow it. We are close to where the explosion was, I think.”
“Yes.” Jared replied. “It was my city that was attacked.” He paused. “You are welcome to travel with us, but they may not welcome you in Vale. If there is anyone left.”
“We will follow you.” Koulen replied.

And so it was that they all journeyed together. Such a gathering had never been seen, not even before the ancient war, Haraquin and Remant together. It was not long before Jared saw the familiar layout of his home city…miraculously untouched since the last time he saw it. Everyone had heard the explosion for kilometers. Jared could barely keep from running the rest of the way to the south gate which was, of course, closed.
“You there!” A familiar sounding voice addressed them. “State your business!”
“It’s me! Jared Coulter sir! I have returned!”
“Returned, is it? Well, we shall roll the carpet for you!” The voice became sarcastic.
“Speak to the leaders and my parents! I must see them!”
“Wait there.” The voice told him. It was several hours before they came back. Jared was becoming impatient by the time the man appeared with several others and his parents in tow.
He was happy to see his parents unhurt. “What happened? We heard the explosion.” He asked through the gate.
“More northerners came with a skycraft and took it away. They must have detonated it at a safe distance.” His mother told him. He looked at Benjamin and Esther, then back at his parents.
“Will they let us in?” Jared asked.
A man stepped forward and Jared recognized him as a Council leader. “First state the names and business of those with you.”
“These are Benjamin and Esther, messengers from the North. This is Gideon, a warrior and friend from the South. And these are Koulen, Shanay, and Bakil. They are explorers and strangers in this land.”
The Council leader sized up the three explorers. “They have an odd look about them, these explorers. Where are they from?”
“They come from the west, but they are not our enemies.”
The man laughed. “No one comes from the west! It is a barren wasteland! Surely they have lied to you. But no matter, it seems our borders are open to all these days, you may enter. Open the gate.”
The gate swung open and they walked into Vale. Jared’s parents put them all up in rooms in their own house and his mother seemed pleased for the company. His father, however, appeared apathetic. Dinner was an interesting affair. The Haraquin explorers were amazed by the abundance of food at the table, their eyes moving from one item to the next in wonder.
“Do you not have food like this in your land?” Jared’s mother asked them.
“Like this.” Koulen replied with his strange accent. “But a fraction of the amount, food does not grow easily in our land.”
“This why we explore here.” Shanay told them.
Koulen nodded. “Our abilities for growing food have been dwindling of late. Many go hungry, some starve. Our mission is to procure peace with your land so that a trade agreement can be made. However, compared to this.” He swept his arm at the food on the table. “We have very little to offer. But an effort must be made.”
“But what about the missile, it came from your people.” Jared’s father asked, warily.
“There are two states in our land, what is left of the Haraquin Empire. One has remained bitter and vengeful against the Eastern peoples and only recently have they been able to strike against you with weapons. They seek to take your land by force so that their people will not starve. It is they who sent the missile.” He paused. “They believe the Haraquin Empire will rise again and destroy all who oppose it, but they are a small people, they number in the mere hundreds. They are much worse off than our state, they have lost many to starvation and are quite desperate.”
“But you also call yourselves Haraquin, and the Haraquin have always been our enemies.” His father persisted.
“It is only a name. The Old Haraquin Empire is gone, destroyed in the Last Battle, everything it stood for was annihilated. My people do not even know why the Battle was fought. Though we do know that at one point the Haraquin threatened world domination through force, but we do not know why.”
“But if the other state is so desperate, why don’t you help them?” Jared’s father asked.
“Their land is unsuitable for growing food, so we cannot show them our techniques. Our own land only just barely allows us to survive, so we cannot ask them to come and join us. Nor can we share what we have with them, neither of us would last a decade.”
“Wait, you are here to make peace with us and to trade for our food, which will probably go to those who have attacked us?” Jared’s father asked incredulously.
“Perhaps we can use that to advance the situation. If those who have attacked you had food enough, they would not need to attack you again.”
Jared’s father’s eyes grew dark. “That could be considered a threat.”
“Father, please.” Jared spoke up. “These people are here for our help, not to threaten us. They do not deserve to be accused like that.”
“I have a question.” Benjamin said. “How do you know our language?”
“All of the hopes of my people rest on the success of our mission, I was taught by several of our teachers, and they have kept this knowledge since the Battle. I am what you might say fluent in your language, Shanay only knows a little, and Bakil understands it but does not speak it.”
The rest of the evening continued in kind, with Jared’s father picking out every little detail of Koulen’s story. But eventually everyone went to bed and in the morning Jared’s father took Koulen aside.
“I will speak for you to the leaders, I doubt they will hear your words and it is imperative that they hear and understand the situation. They will hear me, I’m a Coulter.”
Koulen’s eyes became wide. “Then Jared…”
“Yes.”
“I see, these are indeed dire times, then.”
“They are. Which makes it all the more important that the leaders of Vale make first peace with those of the West who desire it. The others will fall into line behind us, it is the way.”
“Very well.” Koulen said. “Shall we join you?”
“No, I will go alone.”
Jared’s father left and was gone most of the day. It was well into evening when he came back. “The leaders have agreed to a peace. It will be formalized tomorrow, we are all expected to be present as the leaders announce to all of Vale that peace with the westerners has been agreed upon. And you, Jared, will be given a document to take to the north and the south calling for unity of the three cities.” Jared’s father turned to Benjamin. “Speed will be essential for him.”
Benjamin nodded. “I understand.”


So the next day, all in Vale were present as the westerners were introduced and the peace with their people was announced in a ceremony of trust and cooperation. But no sooner had the ceremony finished than everyone heard a low rumbling accompanied by a high pitched whine nearing them from the north. All eyes looked up to see an oblong shape pointed at the front and rear descending out of the air. It oriented itself safely away from the crowd and a blast of warm air radiated out from it as it settled to the ground on three delicate looking struts. A ramp extended from the front, or bow rather, for it closely resembled a seagoing vessel of the far ancient times.
Benjamin stepped forward and gestured for Esther, Jared and Gideon to follow. “You three will travel to the north and the south with the Unification Document. This skyship will take you there.”
Shanay came up to them. “Please, I go too?”
“It’s up to Jared.” Benjamin told her.
She looked at him and Jared nodded. “Yes, you can come. We might need you with us.” He smiled at her.
She quickly went back to her brothers and bade them both farewell then rejoined the group and they went up the ramp into the skyship. Esther apparently knew everything there was to know about the ship including how to fly it. When Jared questioned her about how it got here unmanned, she informed him that the thing’s computer flew the ship from Syere to Vale homing in on Benjamin’s position. Jared had many questions about the skyship and Esther was happy to oblige.
This particular skyship was an Epiphany-class medium transport with a length of twenty meters and a width of six meters. It had a top speed of one hundred and sixty kilometers an hour and could carry up to three tons of cargo. It had an enclosed control station at the rear of the top deck, the remainder of which was open with railing along the edges. The second deck included the galley, quarters, and a converted cargo bay that appeared to be a lounge. The third and bottom deck held the foot stores and power generators. It was propelled by two low slung turbine engines at the rear and was held aloft by an ingenious hot air system which projected hundreds of miniscule cones of plasma underneath the ship into which hot air was injected. The effect was very much the same as a hot air balloon of the far ancient times.
Esther took the controls and the ship lifted off the ground. Shanay and Gideon were looking over the rail, watching the ground fall away from them. They both seemed to be holding on for dear life. Jared smiled as he felt the acceleration. He went to the front and stood there, watching the mountains pass beneath them. They were headed north to Syere, from this altitude Jared could see for kilometers in every direction. He saw the taller mountains to the east, covered in ice and snow and the vast green forest stretching on until it disappeared in the distance north and south of them. He then turned his gaze to the west. The land was black, but he saw many large craters at the base of the near foothills and still more ancient wreckage from the Last Battle. He saw the range of hills on the far side of the valley clearly. He imagined the Haraquin living there, all thin and pale like Shanay and her brothers. He wanted to help them.
Sooner than he expected, they arrived at Syere. Jared saw it from far away, shining in the morning sun. Its buildings were taller than anything Jared had ever seen, not made of wood and stone like Vale and the south city, these were of metal, tall and slender. There were many different skycraft flying about as well, some smaller and some larger than the transport they were on. Esther guided the ship to a dock on the side of the largest building in the city. She came out and stood beside Jared.
“What do you think?” She asked him, regarding the city around them.
“It’s amazing. I would never have imagined.” He told her, looking around at the buildings and the craft flying past.
“Are you ready to meet the Chief?”
“The Chief?” Jared repeated.
“Our leader.”
“I suppose I am.” He looked over to Gideon and Shanay, they both seemed a bit worse for the wear. “Are you all right?”
“I will be happier when I am back on the ground.” Gideon told him.
“I too.” Shanay said a little shakily.
“Well, this shouldn’t take too long. All we have to do is show the Chief this document and we’ll be back in no time.” He reassured them.
“Before we go, I need to change into something more official.” Esther told him. “Shanay should come too.”
Jared nodded. “We will wait here for you.”
The two young women left, leaving Jared and Gideon alone. “Esther has eyes for you.” Gideon told him.
Jared simply nodded. “You feel for Shanay…”
The big man winced and frowned. “She is the enemy.”
“Haraquin she may be, but she is no enemy.”
“It is the same, I cannot feel for her.”
“But you do.”
Gideon turned away. “I do not wish to talk about this.”
“Very well.” Jared replied. He saw that it troubled Gideon greatly.
The remainder of their wait was silent. When Esther and Shanay returned Jared was surprised to see them wearing armor similar to what he and Gideon wore, though it appeared lighter in construction than Jared’s own. Esther wore a suit of dark crimson red and Shanay sported a flat black. When Jared inquired, Esther told him about their armor.
“It is both more and less advanced than your own.” She told him. “It achieves the same strength and speed effects with motorized joints rather than the much more advanced biomechanical enhancing system of yours and Gideon’s. These suits, however, incorporate a shielding unit which can deflect almost any attack. Mine is a standard suit, but Shanay’s is a stealth model which includes a sound dampening system.” She smiled. “She chose it for the color.”
“Are we all ready then?” Jared asked.
“Not quite.” Esther replied. “I’m afraid your shimmersword will be the only weapon allowed in the Chief’s audience chamber.” She turned to Gideon. “I’m sorry, but you will have to leave your spear and your sword.”
The big man gave her a stone cold look and slowly put his weapons away. Jared untied his energy pistol holster and set it aside as well.
“Now we are ready.” She said. “Follow me.” As she led them through corridor after corridor, Jared noted the cleanliness of the place. Vale seemed a dirty, dingy place next to Syere. They finally entered the Chief’s audience chamber, the largest room Jared had ever seen, and approached the Chief who seemed to have a slight resemblance to Benjamin. He was seated behind a table and was waiting calmly as they neared.
Esther announced them. “Chief, this is Jared Coulter of Vale, Gideon son of Amos of the South, and Shanay, a good Haraquin of the West.”
The Chief seemed amused at best, but nodded. “Welcome to Syere.”
Esther motioned for Jared to step forward, he did so and bowed slightly. “Chief, I have been sent by the Council of Vale with a document calling for unity of the three cities.”
The Chief who merely smiled as though he already knew all this, replied. “Show me this document, then.”
Jared handed it to him and the Chief opened it and read it through carefully. “So be it. A bit unexpected, but we of Syere will comply. Your job is finished here.” The Chief leaned forward. “I am happy to live in a time when a Coulter leads once more.”
Jared smiled. “I will try not to disappoint anyone.”
“You will not, I can assure you of that.”
“Thank you Chief.”
“It is now time to outfit you all properly for your journey to the Southern City. We were able to bring you here with one of our transports, but unfortunately that will be impossible. The Southerners will have no high technology on their land, they have forbidden it. However, there is a way to bring you there faster than walking by foot. The old tunnels used by the Remnant Army for transporting troops and supplies between the three Camps during the War and the Last Battle. In those days there was a train that ran the length of the tunnels, but it fell into disrepair and now only a few know of its existence. But we have developed a small transport that runs on the old track in the tunnels, it will get you there as fast as one of our skyships.
“But we must first get you supplies, for I believe your journey will not end at the Southern City.” The Chief handed the document back to Jared. “Engineer Healy here knows all that you will need.” He regarded Esther.
She nodded. “We shall depart when you are ready.” She told Jared.
“I believe we are ready.” He replied.
Once they were all properly outfitted with all the supplies they would need, Jared went up to Esther. “You are an Engineer?”
She nodded and smiled. “One of many, it is a simple title given to anyone who has earned it.” She paused. “I know much of what there is to know of the mechanical systems we of Syere use. But I specialize in robotics.”
“Robotics? You mean, mechanical men?”
She laughed. “More or less.”
“So, what next?” He asked.
“Next, we go to the armory.” She told him. “I feel left out since you three are carrying weapons of your own.”
“Ah, well, after you.” They followed her to the armory where Esther picked out two brand new energy pistols of a different configuration that the one Jared had and she holstered them one on each hip. She also slung an energy rifle on her shoulder. Finally, she attached a dagger to her lower right leg. “All done.”
“Let’s go to the tunnels.”


The tunnels were cut out of the rock under the mountains, but their walls were smooth as glass. They reflected the small lights of the rail car and gave them good visibility, not that they could see very much except for the endless cylinder of the tunnel ahead. There were periodic breaks in the sides of the tunnel, smaller side tunnels which Jared could only guess where they led. The railcar was small and speedy, though there wasn’t really any way to tell how fast they were going except for the frequency of the side tunnels, but those seemed to be randomly placed. Likewise there was no way to tell how long the trip took. But they soon came upon a massive cavern, it appeared to be a hub of some sort, several rail tracks came together and went off in different directions into different tunnels.
“We must be underneath Vale…” Esther murmured.
Jared could only look at the roof of the cavern, a hundred meters above him, and wonder about his family and friends.
The car took them into a tunnel on the far side of the cavern and toward the south. The rest of the ride was muck like the previous tunnel, however, the shining walls were replaced by rough cut stone, possibly an older route, or simply less well maintained. The ride seemed a bit rougher too. The car eventually stopped at a side tunnel and Jared supposed that this was their destination.
They shouldered their packs and went up into the side tunnel. It led them in a spiral up through the rock, and soon they saw natural light ahead of them. They emerged, blinking, into midday and Gideon was immediately in his element. With merely a casual glance at his surroundings he informed them that they were very close to his city. The north entrance and the old trail was a short distance away. He led them to the trail and it was only minutes to the northern entrance.
Gideon approached first. “We will enter!” He announced.
“We will open for you!” A voice replied.
The gate opened and the same captain from before greeted them. “You return so soon?”
“We bring a Document of Unity to the Sergeant Major.” Gideon told him.
The captain came up short, duly surprised. “I see. I will take you to him, then.”
They were led through the city again, however this time, all of the people seemed to be indoors as they saw no one as they made their circuitous way to the center of the city. All four of them were allowed to stand together in front of the council as the Sergeant Major read the document through. They all seemed extremely displeased at the prospect of peace, but nonetheless were bound to their duty. The Sergeant Major stepped forward.
“We will follow, and agree to this peace. Though we do so only out of our duty, not because we wish it or because we trust the bloody Haraq’s.” He glanced at Shanay coldly, and she looked down at the floor sadly.
Jared stepped up to him. “I don’t expect you to change your opinion. The important part is that you do as your duty calls you.”
“As our duty calls us, so be it then. There will be peace. We will send our Councilors to Vale. You will return now?”
“Yes, we have transportation back north.”
The Sergeant Major’s eyes became hard. “You brought a sky-thing here?”
“We did not violate your territory, we know your laws.” Jared told him.
The older man nodded once. “You may leave now, then.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Jared thought he saw the man’s eyebrow rise, but he nodded.
They were led back out of the city and returned to the darkness of the cave. The rail car started back the way they came and Jared thought that they were about halfway back to Vale or so when a massive crashing sound reverberated through the tunnel. The car shuddered but stayed on the track. Then there was another and the tunnel ahead of them collapsed and the car immediately stopped almost throwing them out. There was the hollow sound of another collapse behind them Clouds of dust rushed at them from ahead and behind disorienting them and dissipating their lights.
“We’re trapped!” Esther said in a hushed tone.
Jared was thinking though, trying to figure out a solution. “There was a side tunnel not too far back. It will take us to the surface.”
“But where? It could take us kilometers away from where we need to be. These tunnels were dug all over these mountains.” Esther remarked.
“You would rather remain trapped here?” Gideon said, dryly.
“At least we know where we are, and so would others if they were to rescue us.” Esther replied.
“Those might been more attack missile from others.” Shanay said, fearfully.
Jared nodded. “She’s right. We may not be able to count on a rescue. We have to get out of here ourselves.”
“These tunnels are obviously not stable. We can’t wait here for it to cave in on top of us.” Gideon said.
“We take the side tunnel then. It was on the east side of the main tunnel so it could take us to the higher mountains or it could just be another spiral lift to the surface. Either way we have to try it, and we need to stay together.” Jared said. “It’s a good thing your Chief had us take supplies. We may need them.” They shouldered their packs and headed back down the tunnel on foot. One of the items in their packs was a hand light which proved quite useful. Their light played on the rock walls and down the endless black tunnel. They came upon their first obstacle, a large pile of boulders, not far from where the car stopped.
They were able to move over the rocks and on down the cave, but they soon came to an impassable cave-in before they saw any side tunnels.
“That’s that, then.” Esther said.
“Wait.” Gideon said as he focused his light on the side of the tunnel. “There is a side tunnel here, behind this stone.”
“How do we get to it?” Jared asked.
“Allow me!” Gideon replied and handed Jared his hand light. The big man took a grip on the rock and Jared could see that he was putting nearly all his effort into it.
“Maybe we…” Esther began to speak but was cut off by the grinding sound of rock against rock. Gideon was rolling the massive stone away! With one final grunt he heaved and the stone moved clear of the tunnel entrance.
Gideon straightened up, grinning. “I like this armor.” He remarked.
“It certainly has its benefits.” Jared said. But then there was a rumble and the moved stone began rolling back into place. “Quick! Into the side tunnel!”
They all rushed into the darkness of the side tunnel as the stone cut off their exit. “Even I won’t be able to move it from this side.” Gideon told them.
They shone their lights up the side tunnel. It rose sharply in a staircase cut into the rock. The steps were wide and they could walk shoulder to shoulder. They went on and on up the stairs with no hint of an end to them. There was no change but the sense of altitude as at one point their ears popped. After hours and hours of the steps, they almost fell on their faces as the tunnel finally and suddenly flattened out. But there was still no indication of an end to the tunnel. They kept walking and they came to a large metal door that seemed quite out of place.
There was a panel in the rock to the right side of the door. “I can get it open.” Esther told them. She went over to the panel and pressed several buttons on it and there was a hiss of air as the doors opened. Light shone through the doors but it was not sunlight. They entered into a room clean as could be. There were benches and crates all over the place.
“A cache! I thought all these were found!” Esther said excitedly. She went to a nearby crate and opened it. She made soft exclamations over each object she discovered.
“There is another door.” Gideon remarked, looking at the far end of the room. “That may be our exit.”
“We should get moving.” Jared said. He stopped short when Esther gave him a horrified look. “When we’re ready.” He amended.
“There may be some useful things here.” Esther told him. “We should see what we can use.”
“Okay.” Jared said. “Let’s look around.”
Esther went from crate to crate stuffing her pack with as many useful items as she could fit. Jared found a book of some kind and opened it. He read a little of it and it was filled with some odd writings, some kind of story about some people of some forgotten time. Having always been interested in what happened in times past, he put it into his pack. Gideon found a baldric with several blades sheathed on it and put it on. Esther saw him. “Those are shimmer blades like Jared’s sword.”
Gideon took one in his hand and sure enough it hummed and shimmered. “Nice.”
Jared wasn’t sure how long they stayed there, sifting through the various ancient items which were still quite useable. When Esther had gathered all she could she told Jared she was ready. The cache’s exit led to a level tunnel which turned sharply to the left. There was still no sign of daylight and the tunnel, as the steps behind, seemed to go on forever.
However, unexpectedly, they came across an area of the tunnel into which sunlight seemed to be shining. Jared saw a small hole on the floor of the tunnel and he called Esther over to investigate. Sure enough there was light coming up out of the hole. Jared leant forward to see closer and the floor of the tunnel went out beneath him. He heard his name being cried out, but he slipped through the widening hole.