The Mountain of the Immortals - Part 3

The winds kept howling all night, gnawing at Evelin’s mind as she tried to salvage any sleep she could. Now the rain had stopped, and the sun had risen, welcoming a fresh day. 

Evelyn had been up since early dawn, sending messages to her fellow scholars of Sanctum. She sat hunched over her desk, scribbling her recollections on a parchment scroll, magically tethered to a copy within the archives of Sanctum. Whoever was watching that second scroll would be able to read her message and add it to the archives. Evelyn had been an archivist once. In her youth, it had seemed like a dull, necessary step that would one day take her out in the field like the other Seekers. Now, she envied the comforts that Sancum archivists enjoyed. 

Normally, it took several lines of text before the ink on the page faded, and she could keep writing from the top. This morning, she wrote with such urgency that she almost filled a whole page before the lines on top could be reused. She had to get everything down with as much detail as possible before it faded in her mind. 

She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she somehow knew last night’s dream was significant. As disturbing as it may have been, she spared no detail in her retelling. Her seeker training had taught her well. In all her years with the organisation, she was used to studying artefacts and other objects in great depth. She had never considered that one day she would become the subject of her own observations. A most disturbing thought indeed. 

Her gaze drifted from the desk to the window, which was opened just enough to let the fresh morning air through. Though the breeze had its bite, the sun was not shy with its rays. A beautiful day, perfect for the road ahead. 

The roosters had already gone quiet. Evelyn wondered what the time was as she moved up from her seat. She did her best to put herself together for the journey, to hide the darkness under her eyes, but last night’s dream weighed heavy on her mind. 

She made a mental note to cut back on the sorghum wine. It didn’t taste good, she had long discovered that, but now she was beginning to suspect it made her dreams worse, too.

Anyway, she thought, not much I can do about that now. 

The town bell rang in the distance*. Evelyn stilled, counting the times it rang. Four. There was even time for breakfast, she thought as she shoved the final book in her satchel. 

She made her way down to the first floor, where Ka’chen was busy mopping up last night’s mess. This early in the morning, there was no one else but the innkeeper here. This was a farm town and farmers didn’t have time to idle away early in the morning. The people of Kantor were probably up and running long before even Evelyn had woken up today. They preferred to do most of their work before the searing sun had made its way above the horizon.

“Ah, Miss Evelyn, you’re up,” the innkeeper exclaimed. Evelyn could have sworn he gave a little bow as he did. “Some breakfast perhaps?” 

“Yes, please. But make it quick, I must be on my way soon.” 

“Off to the mountain with Songhai today? No stopping you, is there?” 

“That’s right. I came here for the mountain. I see no reason to give up now. The sooner I get my research over with, the sooner I can leave. Not that I don’t like it here…” 

“No need to explain yourself, miss.”

“Of course,” Evelyn nodded, returning his smile. 

“I just hope you find yourself up there,” Ka’chen said, throwing his towel over his shoulder and turning toward the kitchen.

“What was that?” she tried to keep the question nonchalant, but her shaky voice gave her away. 

“Find yourself? It’s just an old saying we have here in Yunar,” he waved the thought away as if it was an annoying fly buzzing around his head. 

“What does it mean?” 

“I don’t know exactly, it’s just something I’ve heard. I haven’t been up there myself, of course. All I know is that people say you come down a different person than the one that went up… Oh, but don’t mind me. I should get on with breakfast!” 

“Right…” Evelyn was starting to get tired of this mysticism. What was she supposed to do with that statement? She couldn’t just report some nonsense about spiritual awakening to Sanctum. The Seekers dealt with concrete magical facts. Vague hearsay wasn’t going to cut it. These stories annoyed her and made her all the more determined to get up to the top of that blasted peak and find out what all this was about. 

Moments later, Ka’chen came out with a steaming bowl of zhash**. This far west in Yunar, zhash was a staple breakfast – it was cheap, energising and delicious. Evelyn found her mood soften after the first hot spoonful. It was the food that made all these frustrations of Yunar bearable. At least for a few moments, she could stop thinking about all the nonsense and focus on the bowl in front of her. 

She finished her breakfast and thanked Ka’chen for his hospitality. The innkeeper wrapped a little something for the road and sent her off on her way. Evelyn marched towards the town square with newfound determination that only came after a hearty breakfast. 

Songhai was already there, standing proudly in the middle of the square, eager to get going. He was wearing a comically big backpack on his back. It looked like he was ready to spend half a year on the road, not a couple of days. In his hand, he was holding a rope, and on the end of the rope, there was a… 

“What is that thing?” Evelyin asked with a mix of disgust and amazement in her voice. 

“Good morning to you too!” Songhai said with that infectious grin of his. “What’s the matter? Have you not seen a takin*** before? They’re great for hill treks, you’ll see. Look, he already likes you!”

“The takin was nibbling at Evelyn’s fingers. She pulled her hand away abruptly, which also made the creature stagger back. It had a mesmerising golden-yellow coat, which Evelyn had to admit was quite attractive. What was not attractive was the smell. 

“Where did you get it from anyway?” 

“A friend of mine owed me a favour. Plus, he really needed the silver.” 

“Good to know I’m also sponsoring your friends then.” 

Evelyn couldn’t help but smile at the sincerity with which Songhai spoke. “But I can tell you now, I’m not riding that thing,” she wafted a slack hand towards the takin. 

“Suit yourself, miss. You can just leave your bag with her.”

“Right,” Evelyn nodded, her tone revealing considerable scepticism. But she did throw her satchel over the animal’s back. Though she didn’t outwardly admit it, she was relieved that someone else would carry it for her. 

“Sixth bell is upon us!” Songhai said with pretend theatrics. “We best get a move on, don’t you think?” 

“Lead the way.” Evelyn pushed the air in front of her with widespread arms. “This is how you earn your 10 coins.” 

The road stretched long out of the eastern borders of Kantor. Evelyn followed the muddy path as far ahead as her eyes let her. The fields on both sides of the road were heavy with the water from last night’s storm. She looked up at the sky – a bright blue all across. Yesterday’s dark clouds had dispersed before sunrise. Today was going to be a warm, sunny day without change. 

She turned her attention to the ever-present mountain in the distance. The air was clear enough for her to make out its contours. It stuck out from the landscape like a broken mirror’s jagged edge. It was majestic and frightening at the same time, but Evelyn didn’t avert her eyes this time. There was nowhere to hide, of course – the mountain was staring them right in the face. She had decided she wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t notice it anymore. 

“How far to Thalor do you think?” She asked, her eyes still fixed on the snowy peak. For the past few days, it had seemed as though she hadn’t made any progress. No matter how long she walked, the mountain seemed to stay the same distance away. 

“See that grove over there?” Songhai pointed ahead and off to the left. 

Yes.” Evelyn saw the dark patch of trees he was pointing at.

“Well, the temple is in there. I reckon it would take us about 6 bells to reach that. Provided we can keep up the current pace, that is.” 

“So tomorrow?” 

“Most likely, yes. If we don’t run into any difficulties, of course.” 

“What difficulties do you foresee? We’re walking in a more or less straight path, no real obstacles on the road.” She spread her arms out before her. 

“For now, yes, but once we move into the trees, the terrain will get more difficult. Besides, an outlander heading to Thalor… We’re bound to have something go wrong.” 

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed as she tried to work out whether Songhai was mocking her or not. It sounded like he was dead serious. 

“Oh, come now… You can’t possibly believe that something will go wrong just because I’m foreign.” 

“Strange things happen in those woods, miss. Especially when outlanders are involved. I’ve heard the stories. I know people who have seen the stories. The ancestors are protective of our ways. Particularly with those who wish to uncover them like yourself.” 

Evelyn rolled her eyes and looked at the road ahead. Muddy paths and flat terrain on either side. An easy road as far as she could tell. She was starting to grow tired of all this secrecy. What was it with Yiunari and their superstitions? 

“I  know you think us savage and uncultured,” Songhai filled the silence. “But once in a while, think about what you don’t know, instead of always focusing on what you do.” 

“That is my job as a seeker,” Evelyn snapped, perhaps a little too defensively. We seek the hidden knowledge and shed light on it for all of Vastinia to see.” 

“Then why is it so difficult for you to admit that there are things you don’t know about Yunari and our traditions? If you weren’t so resistant to everything we told you, you might find what you need quicker and be on your way.” 

“Thank you for your considerate comments,” Evelyn pouted, her brows twitching at him. He was right, yet she refused to admit it. Somehow, Songhai’s directness brought out the worst in her. She tried to compose herself, just as her training had taught her. “Now, can we please focus on the road?” 

“As you please.” 

The next few hours they walked in complete silence. The road was flat and uninspiring, and they didn’t have much trouble finding their way into Thalor grove. As they entered the forest, the light of the sun above dimmed. The air, still carrying yesterday’s storm, was damp and heavy. 

The straight, muddy path now twisted between the trees, which all looked the same to Evelyn. It was as if someone had cut out an image of one and multiplied it a thousand times to create this eerie landscape. They kept walking in complete silence through the trees. 

Then Songhai stopped.

“This isn’t right,” he said.

She looked around. Everything looked like everything else.

“I thought you knew the way.”

“I do.”

He turned left, then right, then left again. His brow furrowed.

“The path has changed.” 

“What do you mean, changed?”

“I’ve been here before. This path wasn’t here. That bend—” he pointed, “—should be on the other side.”

“So we’re lost?”

He didn’t answer.

Evelyn looked at him as the silence between them stretched out. The easy, youthful grin was gone. His face was granite cold. She had believed he could do the job. Now, with the trees closing in on all sides, she wasn’t so certain.

Footnotes:

* Bells are used to signify time all across the Yunari Empire. The day is divided into 12 bells, with the sixth bell ringing at noon.

** A sticky sweet porridge made of several different types of grains, mixed with spices and honey.

*** Takins are herd animals that can best be described as a mix between a goat and a yack. Their thick golden coats are rich in oils that keep them insulated from the elements. That makes them ideal for the eastern parts of the Yunari Empire, especially the more mountainous regions.