A Paladin's Training Ch. 08

"And I you, lass, for true," Smythe said, returning the sentiment. "How goes your Chapel? It must be feeling a little empty, at present."

Before answering, Elaina looked around at their surroundings. She must have decided they weren't suitable, for she made some adjustments, and soon she and Smythe were sitting side-by-side on a sandy beach, looking out toward the crystal blue ocean.

Smythe preferred his mountain, but let Elaina have her way.

"I miss him," Elaina began as she stared at an approaching wave. The curling water shaped itself into a figure that resembled Aran before it collapsed onto the sand. "And not just because I have to chop my own wood and do my own hunting now."

Smythe chuckled at that. He had felt the same after Elaina left him twenty years ago. "His training finished two days ago, lass. He is out on his own for a time, now."

Elaina's eyebrows rose, and she turned to look at Smythe in surprise. "Really? So quickly? I remember being with you for almost a full year!"

"Aye," Smythe said proudly, puffing his chest out. "With such a great teacher as me, the lad excelled!"

Elaina laughed and hit him on the shoulder. "Oh, stop being so pompous! What really happened?"

"Truthfully, lass, he worked hard and applied himself." After a moment, Smythe added, "and he beat me within three months."

Elaina's jaw dropped. "He beat you? With a sword?"

Smythe grinned ruefully. "Aye."

"Well that's something I didn't expect to hear," Elaina mused, chewing on her lip.

"The strength of his Gift has at least tripled since I met him," Smythe said quietly. "Once he's at his peak, the whole world will surely take notice. There's no doubt in my mind that he's the one, Elaina. He will either save us or destroy us."

Elaina put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We'll be ready for that, Henley. We have to be."

Smythe studied her face, full of compassion and caring. He really was glad she had turned up to visit him. On impulse, he kissed her, and her arms entwined around his neck as she kissed back while climbing into his lap. In seconds, he was inside her, and they were making love on the pristine beach, temporarily forgetting about the world that was waiting for them when they awoke.

***

***ARAN -- The Karvani Mountains***

Aran was awake before dawn broke, the dark sky in the east slowly changing to grey. He scarfed a light repast of more dried meat before gathering his belongings and resuming his climb. The signal had come from low ground, probably in a valley or cave somewhere. The general location was etched in his mind, but he didn't need it as the tugging in his belly pulled him along, growing stronger and more urgent with every step.

For the next several hours, he scrambled up slopes littered with loose rocks that threatened to slip him up, and slid carefully down the downslopes, crossing trenches and valleys only to repeat the process once again. He began to wonder, after the fourth or fifth ascent, if he would ever be able to find his way out of this rocky labyrinth.

He reached yet another crest and took a moment to catch his breath, surveying what he presumed would be yet another deep crevice, with another treacherous incline awaiting him on the other side. Instead, though, at the base of the slope he stood on, the rock was flat and smooth, forming a square, dozens of feet across. The far end of the square met with an equally flat stone wall at a right-angle, a part of the mountain and yet not. Two stone pillars stood just off the wall, reaching high into the air, their tops jagged and broken. The resonance appeared again, far stronger than before, coming from somewhere inside the mountain.

Without warning, the earth began to shake, and he slipped, scrabbling at loose stones and tearing the skin of his hands as he began to slide down the steep incline. 'Of all the times to have a bloody earthquake!' He silently grumbled as his hand finally found purchase on a rocky ledge, stopping his descent. He studied his free hand with a grimace; the skin of his fingers and palms was lacerated in several places, and the other hand didn't feel much better, stinging sharply where he was gripping the ledge.

Not waiting for another tremor, he let go of the ledge and slid toward the square area below, controlling his speed by digging the heels of his boots in. He could feel the fabric of his breeches tearing beneath his bottom, but he was beyond caring; his days of climbing had rendered his clothes tattered and torn already, and a few more rips would make no difference.

He approached the wall, noticing the thick pillars were carved with symbols he didn't recognise. Upon closer inspection, he saw an arch carved into the stone wall, equidistant between the pillars. The arch also bore carvings, most of them weathered beyond recognition. He traced one with a finger, all flowing lines radiating from a circle in the centre.

With a crack, the stone arch depressed inward before sliding to the right, the sound of grinding stone echoing through the small canyon. Darkness greeted Aran from the other side. He had no clue what he was walking into, yet his gut told him he must go in. Taking a deep breath, he strode into the blackness.

***

END OF CHAPTER EIGHT

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