Call of Descent
Chapter Thirteen

Malikhad had food bought up for them and he and Reniko talked until well into theevening. Twilight turned to dusk and dusk to black night and Reniko began tofeel weary from the long journey she had endured. Covering her face with herhand, she tried to hold back a yawn as Malik continued drilling her on theevents of the past four months.

“Sorry,it’s late and you probably want to wash up before you head off to bed.”

“Thatdoes sound wonderful.”

“Idon’t want to burden the innkeeper with having to haul water up to our rooms sowould you mind if we went to the public wash house?”

“Public?I didn’t know there was such a thing.”

“Theyhave hot running water there at all hours of the day, much more refreshing thanwashing in your room.”

“Soundsfine. Oh, before we go I have something I need to give you,” Reniko saidgetting up from the pillow she was seated on and moving over to the lone chairin the corner of the room where she had set her things. She picked up hercloak, gently folded it and tried to hand it to Malik.

“Whatare you doing?” he asked.

“I’mreturning this to you. Milla told me how valuable it is and I just can’t keepit.”

“Wellyou’ll just have to. I’m not taking it back. I gave it to you in Cabitorabecause I wanted to, not because I needed to. It was mine to give and so Ihave.”

“What’sit like in Tordaskar? Not many people knew much about it in Savonly. They saidthat’s where you got this cloak and that the people there fight openly againstthe Rük.”

“Iguess in a way they do. Tordaskar is out of the Rük’s reach, so there is noreason for those who live there to hide their distaste for them. They, however,do not fight against the Rük as is rumored, only taunt them.”

“Isee.”

“Iguess in a way they are hiding.”

“Hiding?”

“Yes,you see Tordaskar is in a place behind what we call the Ocean’s Wall. There isa place on Mo’an Delar where all the rivers meet and drop into a vast expanse.This expanse encircles an island that rises as high as the waterfalls thatsurround it and also runs as far down. Tordaskar is completely surrounded bywater and a seemingly endless abyss. Rük cannot fly, and they hunt the dragons,so therefore they cannot reach those who lie behind the Ocean’s wall.”

“Icould never believe such a place existed.”

“Iguess it is something you would have to see with your own eyes,” Malik glancedaway distractedly. “Well, enough of that I’ll take you to the wash house.”

Renikonodded, suddenly uneasy in Malik’s presence. She had so many more questionsabout this extraordinary place but she felt that Malik had a certain dislikefor the subject. She decided against pursuing the idea and instead securedImako to her back and wrapped the cloak around her shoulders. Malik was nearlyout of sight when she was finally ready to join him and she ran after him downthe silent hallway and out into the deserted street.

“Maybethis isn’t such a good idea. The guard at the entrance to town mentionedsomething about a curfew,” Reniko said.

“Iknow.”

“What’swith you? You tell me not to seek out danger and you go ahead and invite it toyourself without question.”

“Ifyou keep your voice down, we won’t be inviting danger, as you put it. I knowthis city well and I know when and where patrols will be.”

Renikosighed, which Malik took to mean she had given up and the two of them walkedsilently down the twisting streets until the washhouse came into view.

“Ididn’t want to take you here during the day since it’s usually packed withpeople and since humans are not supposed to have weapons on them that may havebeen a problem in our case.”

“Goodidea,” Reniko said as they stopped in front of the entrance to the washhouse.

“Womenon the left, men on the right. I’ll meet you out here in half of an hour, isthat long enough?”

Renikonodded. “See you then.”

Malikpaused, “Still... watch your back, okay?”

“Ofcourse,” Reniko said as she slid from view and entered the confines of thewashhouse.

Theinside reminded her of a swimming pool. There was a large length of water thatstretched from one side of the room to the other. It looked no deeper than kneedepth. A cascade of water fell from the back wall, the source of which washidden from Reniko’s view. There was a large area to her left where belongingscould be kept, also a place to disrobe and wash yourself before you headed intothe steaming pool. She headed to this area and began stripping off the layersof dusty clothing that she was wearing, thinking to herself that tomorrow shewould have to purchase at least one more set of clothes for the rest of hertravels. Her skin rippled with goose pimples from the cold air. It reminded herof Savonly being here and that reminded her of how far she had come. And how far I still have to go.

Afterwashing she stepped into the steaming pool and the chill was purged from herbody. She was glad that Malik had suggested coming here. This was so muchbetter than bathing at the Inn. She waded over to the falling water and turnedher face up so the water fell onto it in sheets. She put her head down forbreath and smoothed back her hair, completely submerging herself in the moment.She let the water run over her for a quarter of an hour before she opened hereyes and her ears back to the world around her, only to be startled by thesilhouette of a woman standing by the water’s edge. Reniko felt suddenlyself-conscious and backed out of the low lighting that the room was bathed in.As she stepped into the shadows, the woman stepped into the light and waterreflections danced on her face, causing her skin to have a slight bluish tint.The woman’s hair was auburn, long and dizzyingly curly. Her eyes were a steelyblue and pierced the shadow that Reniko was trying to conceal herself in.

“Well,what do we have here?” the woman called out over the water which caused herwords to echo ominously in the room. “With a weapon nonetheless. I shouldreport you to the Rük straight away.”

Reniko’sgaze fell from the woman’s face to the woman’s hand and realized that she washolding Imako precariously in her hand.

“I’dsay you are the one that is armed now,” Reniko said stepping out of the shadowsand coming closer to the woman. As she neared she realized that the woman wasnot a woman at all but a girl barely past the age of sixteen. She, however,looked as dangerous as before, despite her age.

Thegirl looked to her hand and with a quick movement drew the sword up into bothhands level with her eyes. Slowly she unsheathed the sword. When she had theblade halfway exposed she snapped it quickly to her side fully exposing theblade and making Imako’s song echo through the washhouse. “Yes it does lookthat way doesn’t it?”

Renikostopped her forward movement when the girl unsheathed Imako and instead watchedas the ripples she sent through the pool lapped over the girl’s feet.

“Whoare you?” Reniko asked feeling uneasy.

“Doyou really think you’re in a position to be asking questions right now? I meanyou are cold, wet and naked and I do have the sword.”

“Okay,”Reniko said. Where did this girl comefrom? What does she want?

“Thisdoes seem to be an awkward situation, does it not?” The girl was looking overImako’s blade, her finger gliding across the underside at the same speed as hereyes traveled over it. Reniko did not respond.

Thegirl looked up from the blade and her icy eyes looked straight into Reniko’s,her face hard she again began to fill the silence. “You should be more carefulin the future. You never know who could come walking in through an open door.”The girl slid Imako back into its sheath, laid it gently by the water’s edge,and turned to the wash house’s entrance. Reniko stood watching her.

“Mymaster always told me never to turn your back on an enemy, and to neverunderestimate them, no matter what advantage you feel you have over them.”

Thegirl stopped in her tracks and turned back to face Reniko, a bemused grinspread on her face. “My name is Rimca.” And with that final statement, the redheaded vixen disappeared into the street, ending Reniko’s shower.

Shestepped back out into the cool night air before Malik emerged and stood staringdown the street wondering after the strange girl. I think of all the things I have encountered on Vespen, Rimca is thestrangest.

Malikcame up to her with a worried look on his face. “Are you all right?”

Renikolooked in his direction and smiled. “Fine, a little tired is all. The washhouse was definitely a good idea.”

“I’mglad you thought so. Well, we better get back to the Inn, follow me.” Reniko,who had been leaning against the wall of the building, got up and saunteredafter Malik her thoughts still lingering on her encounter with the strangegirl, Rimca. I have a feeling I’ll beseeing her again.

Ithad been a little harder to get back to the Inn than it had been to leave. Manyof the Rük that had been inside drinking as well as tormenting each other orhumans were now roaming the streets, most of them in a drunken stupor.Nevertheless, had they seen Reniko and Malik even in that state they would nothave hesitated to put them to a swift end. Therefore Malik had resorted to theback alleys where darkness was more readily available to conceal them. Thissneaking back made the trip to the Inn double in time and by the time they hadarrived at the entrance Reniko was exhausted. With no more adrenaline to spurher on she dragged herself up the steps of the entrance. Malik was only stepsbehind her and in not much better condition. As Reniko reached for the doorhandle she paused, tense. Since coming into view of the Inn she had heard asteady amount of cursing and hissing coming from the Rük that roamed the streetsbut suddenly it all seemed to die away. She felt suddenly very exposed and feltan urgent voice cry in her head to quickly put herself in the safety of theInn, but she hesitated. She heard a slight whistle in the sudden silence, adistinct sound of something moving through dead air at a momentous speed.Turning sharply she jumped down the few steps she had traveled up and landedneatly beside Malik. She shot her hand toward his neck and snatched the causeof the whistling before it could embed itself into the soft flesh of Malik’sexposed neck. All this happened in a mere few seconds, but even so as Renikolooked to the source of the deadly projectile all she saw was a retreatingshadow. Malik looked stunned.

Helooked intently at Reniko’s hand and watched as a few beads of blood drippedfrom her clenched palm onto the dusty ground.

“Whatjust happened? By the goddess... were you hurt?” he asked reaching out to touchReniko’s hand. Reniko’s hand shook slightly.

“Idon’t believe so, just aggravated some old wounds.” She lowered her hand andopened her palm to show the water soaked wounds that were seeping blood.“Bathing must have loosened the calluses.”

Renikolooked at the small metal dart she held in her hand and looked up at Malik. “Itlooks as though someone is trying to kill you.”

Maliknodded his head. “Let’s get into the Inn. We shouldn’t stay exposed like this.”

“Weshould probably leave tonight. Whoever this assassin is, he knows where we arestaying and that is never a good thing,” Reniko said as she ran back up thestairs and pulled open the door.

“Iwas afraid this would happen. I knew there was someone on my trail; I justdidn’t realize they were so close.”

“Malik,”Reniko said stopping as they reached Malik’s closed door, “I’m sorry.”

Maliklooked at Reniko, “There’s nothing to be sorry for. You didn’t choose all ofthis. I on the other hand choose to help you, chose to, rather. Thank-you, bythe way. You saved my life.”

Renikohad no words left and instead sheepishly nodded her head and hurried to herroom where her few belongings waited. When she had re-emerged, Malik stood withhis own assortment of goods.

“I’mlow on provisions. I don’t think it would be wise to leave town withoutobtaining some of the things I need. I have a friend in town that can help usout. We’ll head there, unnoticed if we can and figure out our next move fromthere.”

“Soundsbetter than what I had.”

“Whatwas your plan?”

Renikolooked up at Malik and grinned. “Wing it.”

Despitethe seriousness of their situation Malik and Reniko gave soft chuckles beforeheading to the back door of the Inn, where they gained access to the stables.

Renikohad nearly forgotten the beauty that she had ridden atop the day that Malik hadfound her. She was glad to become reacquainted with the beautiful Arabianhorse, only wishing she had more time to get to know the animal. It was astrange for her to not be able to talk with the beast. After spending so muchtime with Penumbra that absence of speech from the gentle horse distanced herfrom him.

Malikwhispered soft words into the horse’s ear, instructions that no doubt he wouldfollow and set the horse loose into the deepening night. Reniko watched as heslipped into the darkness, his silky rich brown hide only blemished by thewhite patch that covered his back left leg like a sock. His raven black tailswished silently as the outside air hit him and with one glance back at hismaster he disappeared into the night, leaving Reniko with the image of thewhite diamond that he bore regally on his forehead.

“He’sbeautiful,” Reniko said to Malik as they escaped out the opposite side of thestables and stumbled blindly down the unlit back alley.

“He’sa great friend, loyal and fiery,” Malik replied. He fell silent hoping thatReniko would do the same.

Thewhole situation felt like a mere passing dream to Reniko. Malik’s silence againclued her in to the danger that this night held for her, but it still feltsurreal. She felt almost untouchable and as this thought graced her mind sheknew she was in even more danger. It was when you felt invincible that you werethe most susceptible to death--Dertrik had taught her that. A warning to neverbecome overconfident, for it was a weakness that your opponent could see openlyand expose. She corrected her outlook and followed Malik in a cautious silence,fully aware of the danger.

WhenMalik knocked fiercely at the solid wooden door for the second time, Renikobegan to feel uneasy. She felt exposed and the harsh discordance that theknocking sent through the night broke the weary silence, making made her feelas if every person in the town knew they were standing before that door. Shewas relieved when a light flickered on inside and the shadow of a short portlyfellow filled the frame where the solid door had been only moments before.

Theywere not far from the inn and Reniko felt that this was a poor place to take upresidence. The further they fled the better chance they had of puttingthemselves out of harm’s way. Malik on the other hand obviously did not have thesame view. Having the feeling that he had been in a situation like this before,she trusted his judgment and after Malik had exchanged a few words with thehome’s occupant she stepped into the softly lit room. They didn’t stay long inthis room and before Reniko had enough time to survey her surroundings Malikwas ushering her down a long corridor and into the cramped passageway thatserved as an entrance to an underground storage facility.

Theportly fellow soon followed after he had made sure the passageway entrance wassecurely closed. He gave Malik a hearty welcome when he knew they were safe inthis underground asylum.

“Malikol’ friend, Marnie an’ I thought you had returned to Mo’an Delar for sure. Wehaven’t seen you for almos’ a year now. What have ya been up to? Obviouslyquite a lot o’ mischief as usual, seeing the urgency you are in at the moment.”

“Abus,good to see you as always. Marnie’s doing well?”

“Asgood a’ can be expected. She’s havin’ a hard time trying to keep the Rük offour back though. They’ve become rather suspicious of us these days. Had a loto’ late night visitors an’ all.”

Malikcocked his head slightly in puzzlement. “Who?”

“Alot of Tordaskans actually. Why’s I thought you had headed back to Mo’an Delar–” Abus stopped as he caught sight of Reniko who was listening intently to theconversation between the two men. “Who might you be, lass?”

“RenikoDorsalin,” Reniko said, nodding her head slightly as she set down the pack shehad carried from the inn.

“Strangesort o’ name. Where do ya come from, Miss Reniko Dorsalin?”

“Aquestion for another time Abus, right now we are in quite a hurry. We need toleave town immediately and I was wondering if we could buy some wares fromyou,” Malik interrupted.

“Asalways my friend. Be sure an’ tell me what’s going on when ya get the chancewon’t ya?”

Maliknodded. “I’ll look around and replace what I need, if you will please see toReniko. She’ll need a pair of gloves at the least.”

Renikonodded, “Your countryside hasn’t been very kind to my hands.”

Abusjoined Reniko and led her to a bench that was set with an assortment of gloves.She scanned the piles and finally pulled out a pair to her liking. She slidthem on careful of her reopened wounds and was pleased with the results.

“Doyou have a more open space that I can try these out in?” Reniko asked glancingaround the cluttered room.

Abuslooked quite baffled by her request.

Malikheard her request and spoke from across the room. “She knows the Art, Abus,” hesaid still glancing at various items on the tables.

Abuslooked more intently at Reniko his eyes wide with surprise. “Ya know Rumeum’antra?”

“I’mnot familiar with that word,” Reniko said looking at Malik as she spoke, hopingfor an explanation to his outburst.

Maliklooked up at her and lifted his brow in confusion. “You don’t know the name ofyour art form?”

Renikogazed back at Malik, “Dertrik, my master, always just called it the Blade. Ididn’t know you had something similar in style here on Vespen.”

“Hadis right. No one practices it anymore, it’s forbidden to use any sort of weaponon Vespen. I told you that, right?” Reniko nodded.

“Thereare a few of us that defy the law. I know how to handle a sword in my ownrespects, but the ancient arts were lost decades ago along with the Levanith.Rumeum’antrawas the oldest as far as I know. We call it the Art now.You’re the first I’ve seen that had even compared to the elegance of the Art.”

“I’mreally lost now,” Abus interjected. “Here on Vespen? Where are ya fromlass?”

“I’mnot entirely sure if Malik would want me to tell you or not.”

“Ohtell him, he’ll spread worse rumors if you don’t. Just try not to let the wholeworld know about it all right, Abus. What she is could get her killed, orworse.”

Renikofroze at those words. What is worse than death? She had a feeling shedidn’t want that thought to be followed to its conclusion and instead focusedback on Abus.

“I’mfrom Terra if you must know. Though I’m not entirely sure I know how I gothere.”

Abusgrinned. “Ya must be the woman that everyone’s been talking about, the Rükslayer.”

Itwas Malik’s turn to freeze. “Oh by the goddess! My wicked tongue.”

“Whatare ya talking about lad?” Abus asked.

“Thatwas my slip up. I told the shopkeeper about Reniko just before I stopped herfrom killing herself.”

“Nothingcan be done now, Malik,” Reniko said stung by Malik’s comment.

“Anyway,let me show you to a more spacious room, Reniko,” Abus said gesturing to aclosed door. Reniko moved around the cluttered tables and opened the door.Inside it was dark as pitch. Abus grabbed a flame from near the door and wentaround the room lighting the sconces that bordered the walls. A small squareroom came into view, a perfect place for practicing.

“Thisis where I keep my armoury when I have a supply. Thought it might be a littletoo dangerous just now to keep weapons what with the Rük snooping around andall. So for now it’s empty.”

Renikonodded her thanks and removed her cloak which she let fall to the ground by thedoor. As she moved into the centre of the room she reached over her shoulderand withdrew Imako from its scabbard. Abus watched with silent awe and Malikjoined him in the frame of the door ready to watch a master at work.

Andmaster she was, she danced around the room with a grace unseen by theinhabitants of this world for nearly a millennium. Her style was not just thatof a choppy wielder defending herself without direction, but that of a gracefultactician with every move planned and every thought on her body and her sword.She showed fighting as the art it had been, in a state that few knew of andeven fewer had mastered.

Shefinished silently, suddenly, and turned to Abus, Malik standing at his back.“These will work fine. I’ve never fought with gloves before.” She said as sheslid Imako back into its sheath.

Abussaid nothing, just nodded. Malik furrowed his brow. Reniko made no sense to himat all. How could she have learned to fight and never used gloves? Hebrushed aside the question and the peculiarity for another time, a quieter timewhen he could talk to her about where she came from more thoroughly.

WhenReniko came and stood by the door waiting for the two of them to move from herpath she suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“You’vereally never seen anyone fight like that?” she asked.

“LikeI said, the arts were lost decades ago.”

“It’sso strange here. So suffocating and hopeless,” Reniko mumbled to herself. Malikhad a feeling she had not meant to say those words aloud and as Abus went tocounter her words he gave him a nudge warning against it. When Reniko had madeher way across the room to examine the goods on the tables Malik whisperedsoftly into Abus’s ear.

“Shehas some things she has to figure out. Don’t pester her too much. I have afeeling life on Vespen is a lot different from the life she led on Terra.”

Abusnodded. “I’ll set out some fresh bedding for ya in the amour. When ya’re donecollecting the things ya need ya can spend the night. Get a fresh start in themornin’.”

“ThanksAbus, we do have some things to discuss before we head out. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Timeto repay ol’ debts,” Abus said as he slunk up the stairway leaving Malik andReniko alone.

Theywandered around the room in silence. Abus came down with the bedding alsowithout a word, and when he left Reniko sidled over to the room and, gatheringup the things she needed, took a corner and began repacking her backpack. Malikcame not long after and broke the silence.

“CouldI take a look at that map of yours? If that’s where we are headed, we betterfigure out the best way to get there.”

Renikostopped packing and instead pulled out the leathery parchment that Rillan hadcopied the map onto. Malik took it from Reniko’s outstretched hands and laid iton the floor between them. The map showed the entirety of Edonal Eclith withthe added location of Reflaydun.

“Noone has ever known the locations of the ancient capitals and here one is markedso plainly on a map. No wonder no one had ever found it. It’s located in thedepths of hell.”

“Whatdo you mean?” Reniko said peering at the map. “From what I can tell itshouldn’t be much different from Savonly.”

Maliklooked at the map. Savonly and Reflaydun were the same latitude on the map butSavonly was sheltered by the mountains whereas the country that surroundedReflaydun was a cold barren landscape pitted with never ending cliffs of jaggedrocks. No one had scaled them and he didn’t see how he and Reniko would.

“Seethis surrounding area here? Just past Mistfall?” Malik asked as he showedReniko the city that stood at the northwestern corner of Radalean Lake, thelarge inland sea that made up the centre of the Edonal Eclith continent.

“Yes,looks like plains.”

“Nothe map is inaccurate. This is all shale and rock cliffs. They’re impossible topass.”

Renikolooked at the map more intently. “So you’re saying that there is no way to getto Reflaydun?”

“Wellwe could try venturing across the land bridge that leads through Radalean Lake.If we make it to Porsshash we could possibly rent a boat and sale to theMistfall caverns on the north side of the lake. I heard there are undergroundtunnels in there that make pathways past the shale cliffs.”

“Landbridge? Is that what that is?” Reniko said pointing to the road that leddirectly through the centre of Radalean Lake splitting the lake length wise,creating a north and south to the large body of water. Porsshash stood near thecentre of the lake, and by what Reniko could tell from the map it was suspendedover the water, in ways unknown to her.

“Itis a dangerous route to take. The waters are violent and wash over the landbridge constantly. Also a section of the land bridge has been worn away; allthat is left there is a bridge built by the ancients. Porsshash is prettyisolated though, Rük don’t venture out over the land bridge. They are not fondof water. If we did take that route we could lose our pursuer.”

“Porsshash…Too bad Orric isn’t with you. If he was here we could just fly over the cliffsto Reflaydun.”

Maliknodded. “But he’s not and we still have a decision to make.”

“Wellwe don’t really have a decision do we. Unless we can get to Mistfall and get aboat to take us to the caverns from there.”

“That’san idea.”

“MalikI do have to ask you. Why are you coming with me? You can leave now, back towherever you came from. When I get to Reflaydun I’m just going to be leavinganyway, it’s not like you have any loyalty to me at all.”

“Idon’t know. My life is in danger and it seems logical that if it’s in danger Ishould at least have a reason for it to be that way. If I leave you here andhead to Mo’an Delar I will still be hunted. At least this way, I can see alittle of what I have been searching for, for my entire life.”

“Searchingfor?”

“Answers,Reniko. You may replace your way home at Reflaydun, but I may replace a way to saveVespen, or at least replace an accurate history of how we came to be like this andwhat it was like before the Rük left. I may be able to replace out who theLevanith were and why –” Malik’s voice fell silent and he looked away fromReniko anger clenching his soul.

“Whywhat?”

“Nevermind, it’s not your concern really. I have my reasons for going, that’s all.”

Renikonodded. “Another time, maybe.”

Malikjust turned his attention back to the map. “I think you are right aboutMistfall. It is the safer route of the two.”

“Insome respects. The Rük will still give chase if we head to Mistfall. We may beable to lose him if we head to Porsshash,” Reniko said.

“Idon’t know what to do. The dangers are intense either way.”

“I’mnot afraid to fight,” Reniko said.

“ToMistfall then?” Malik asked.

“Iknow it sounds foolish but I would rather fight the Rük than nature. The Rükcan be predictable, or at least tactical. I feel I have some control in thatsituation, but fighting against the planet is another matter. There is no controlexcept what it holds over us. I think we have a better chance if we head toMistfall than to Porsshash.”

“Iagree. We’ll head to Mistfall, but for now, let’s gather our strength for thejourney ahead.”

Renikonodded and fell into the soft blankets that were arranged on the floor. Insidethem she felt warmth but no comfort. When she heard Malik’s breathing turn tothe steady rhythm of sleep she sat up and opened her eyes. Surrounded by theunrelenting darkness she felt the weight of her thoughts descend upon her.

“Youknow nothing about me, why do you trust that I will make the right decision?”she whispered in the dark.

“IfMilla trusts you, there is not a doubt in my mind that I can trust you aswell.”

Renikogasped in surprise.

“Sorry,I thought you knew I was awake,” Malik said turning to face Reniko. Renikogazed in his direction unable to place where he lay.

“It’sall right. Thank you again, for everything, especially for your trust.”

Malikdid not respond and Reniko was glad of it. When she finally laid her head downagain and fell asleep it was with less unease.