For the next several hours, while Rah’Na slept, Kieran put himself through the paces. He took turns doing practice combos with his sword and Last Breath, using the latter both in dagger-form and with the ‘Death’s Arm’ skill. By the time the first rays of sunlight peeked through the hideout’s windows, he felt much more comfortable with the weight of both weapons.
Of course, this meant little in the way of actual combat experience, but it was a nice confidence boost.
Just as Kieran sheathed his blades and took a seat at one of the tables, the side room door creaked open. Rah’Na entered, moving with her usual grace and presence as she leaned her spear against the wall.
“Dawn’s greeting, Kieran.” The wolf sat across from him, speaking in a low, friendly growl. “No trouble on the watch?”
Kieran paused for a moment, caught off-guard by the old wolf’s opening words. “Dawn’s greeting… haven’t heard that before. I like it. No, no trouble on the watch.”
“Good. There shouldn’t be any trouble, on the mountain at least. Now that Broken Tusk is dead.”
“Oh? Was he one of the nine monster commanders you mentioned?” Kieran asked, drawing a deep chuckle from Rah’Na.
“Far from it. Compared to the commanders, he was just a common soldier.”
Kieran arched an eyebrow. He tried to imagine fighting a creature that much more powerful than the boar-man. If defeating Broken Tusk had unlocked such growth for him, what might be gained from battling a commander?
Rah’Na’s voice cut off his thoughts as she continued: “No, Broken Tusk was a loose cannon. He brought monsters onto this mountain, a place that has always been a safe haven through the invasions of the past. Thank you again for killing him. Eon’s Peak will serve as a refuge once more.”
Kieran looked quickly at her. “I take it you intend to bring survivors here, then?”
“As I have in the past, yes.” Rah’Na nodded solemnly. “The mountain was safe until Broken Tusk arrived. When you showed up, I was preparing to pay his camp a visit myself.”
Kieran could hear a hint of anger in Rah’Na’s usually measured voice. She didn’t have to tell him what she felt about Broken Tusk and his warband threatening the safety of Eon’s Peak.
“How do you plan to get the word out about this safe haven?” he asked.
Rah’Na chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “I forget you’re not from Lyruna. Eon’s Peak is a place of legend. It is where Eon himself made his hideout during the first invasion, and where all the folk of past ages gathered to stay safe. Exceptions such as Broken Tusk aside, monsters know to steer clear of this mountain, and regular folk know to come to it for protection. They will flock here. We need only keep it safe for them.”
“Sounds like the perfect base of operations.”
“And you are free to stay and use it as such, Kieran.” Rah’Na gave him a wolfish smile. “You have more than earned it, as far as I am concerned. Although I certainly would not mind if you helped with keeping it as secure as possible.”
“Of course. That is a given.” Kieran glanced at the dawn light pouring through the windows. “When are we going to head to the actual hideout?”
“We can go immediately, if you are ready.” Rah’Na stood, retrieving her spear from its place against the wall. “But I must warn you, it will be a long climb to our destination.”
Kieran gave her an affirmative nod and rose. He lifted his pack from the floor and swung it onto his back, grimacing as the weight settled onto his shoulders. After all the fighting and travelling he’d done, Kieran had expected the pack to feel lighter, but it was still as uncomfortable on his back as ever.
Rah’Na was already outside. Without further delay, Kieran joined her, and they departed for the next stage of their journey.
—
Rah’Na led Kieran along a narrow trail that wound its way up the mountain at a steady, but slight, incline. At first, the trail was only just wide enough to fit the two walking side by side. Always preferring to err on the side of caution, Kieran opted to walk behind the old wolf instead.
After about an hour, though, the trail widened into more of a road. Braziers lined the way, long extinguished. On one side were benches, seemingly carved from the mountain itself. On the other was a stone railing.
Beyond the railing, a breathtaking view caught Kieran’s eye. He could see the forest surrounding the mountain. Grassy plains stretched far past the sea of green. And there, in the distance, stood the massive walls of a city.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Even from his place on the mountainside, Kieran could see clear signs of damage on the city walls. Bits of rampart missing here, a collapsed roof on a guard tower there. Was the place still occupied? If so, were the inhabitants monsters or survivors?
“King’s Watch.” Rah’Na’s voice snapped Kieran out of his wonderings. “A place near and dear to my heart.”
The old wolf walked up to the stone railing, placing her hands lightly on it and gazing at the distant walls.
“Used to be, pilgrims from the city would come to Eon’s Peak every few months. They would bring supplies and recruits for me to train. But it has been in ruin for a few decades now.”
Her tone was mournful. Kieran let the silence hang for a few moments, then asked, “So, you live here on the mountain now?”
“I have since my second invasion.” Leaning against the railing with one elbow, Rah’Na turned towards him. “It’s a quiet place. Peaceful. Far from the usual troubles of a prosperous society.”
“I can understand why you would want to stay here.”
Kieran’s voice remained as even as ever, echoing none of the wolf’s sorrow. Still, out of nowhere, a strange sense of melancholy crept into his heart.
He smothered it as quickly as it appeared. Sentimentality had no place, in this or any world. Perhaps the mountain’s atmosphere was affecting him.
“What about you Kieran?” Rah’Na asked suddenly. “What was your home become Vahr’Khul plucked you from your world?”
“A morgue, mostly.”
Rah’Na tilted her head slightly to the side, clearly confused.
“Oh, a morgue is… storage for dead bodies,” Kieran explained. “Where I come from.”
The wolf raised a curious eyebrow. “It sounds like you were quite close to death, even before being chosen by it.”
“Yeah…” Kieran felt a rare, genuine smile spread over his face. “You could say my entire life revolved around it, from very early on.”
The pair settled into a comfortable silence, broken only by the gentle breeze blowing past. Kieran found himself savoring each moment. The sense of peace was even more startling than that sudden spike of melancholy. He rarely, if ever, felt so at ease in the company of others.
He gave his head a slight shake. The mountain really is affecting me.
Out of the corner of his eye, he studied his companion. Rah’Na was leaning forward over the railing now, staring out at the city with an indefinable expression on her face. Sunlight glinted off the gem on her bracelet.
A gem shaped like a nine-pointed star…
Kieran hesitated for one more moment. Then he gave his head another shake and began digging through his pack.
Rah’Na was leading him to her main hideout, after all. It was time to share one of his own secrets.
“By the way,” he began, “Vahr’Khul had me retrieve something, shortly before we met. I think it would be better in your hands.”
Rah’Na watched closely as Kieran dug through his pack. He had made no effort to organize the mess of supplies within, so it took him a few minutes to find the ring.
When he pulled it out, the platinum band caught the morning light and reflected it in a beautiful manner. The glow was almost mesmerizing, even to Kieran.
Rah’Na, however, gasped audibly. She pushed away from the railing, one hand reaching almost automatically towards the ring. But when Kieran offered it to her, she drew back.
“Where did you find this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“The ruined cathedral between… wherever I arrived, and the mountain,” Kieran explained, still holding out the ring. “I noticed it had the same imagery as your bracelet, so I thought it would be better off with you.”
Rah’Na shook her head lightly and smiled. Then, gingerly, she took the band, cradling it in her palm. “You have no idea how much this ring means to me, Kieran.”
“Oh?” Kieran leaned back onto the railing. “Is it a story you are willing to tell?”
“Not today.” Rah’Na raised the ring to the sky, turning it slightly as she gazed at it with reverence. The ring looked so tiny in her hands. “But… eventually, yes. Thank you kindly, Kieran.”
Kieran simply bowed his head before returning his attention to the horizon.
The comfortable silence fell again between the two. Each enjoyed it in their own way. After only a few minutes, though, Rah’Na stepped back from the railing.
“Come, we should continue our ascent.”
Half an hour or so later, the road widened even further. More benches and other furniture stood on either side, carved from stone. The place looked like a stately promenade, but the lack of people made it feel rather eerie.
Looking at Rah’Na, Kieran saw what he thought was deep sorrow on her face. The more time he spent with her, the better he learned how to distinguish emotions on her wolfish features, but he was still far from being certain.
“Was this some sort of gathering place?” he asked.
“Of a sort, yes. We now walk the Queen’s Promenade.” Rah’Na slowed her pace to a sedate stroll, and Kieran matched her. “One of three promenades lording over the mountain’s halfway point. This was where the Queen’s Guard recruits would rest and recover between training sessions.”
Kieran scanned their surroundings. “You mentioned you used to train recruits here, before the invasion. I assume that was the Queen’s Guard?”
“Yes. The Queen’s Guard, the King’s Guard, the Hands of Eon…” Rah’Na listed off names of what Kieran assumed to be contingents. “Any troops that would serve the people and royals on a higher level were mine to train, and I trained them well.”
The wolf paused, sighing heavily.
“Not that it helped them any when the invasion came. They were experienced. They fought well for a long time. But eventually… the invasion triumphed. Whether through sheer numbers or some new dirty tricks, the invasion always triumphs.
“The monsters drained our armies steadily through a war of attrition. Then, when Eon’s forces were exhausted and reduced, the invasion commanders showed themselves to finish us off. It is always the same old story, and no one wants to listen.”
Rah’Na’s voice was rising steadily, its usually measured tones harsh with anger. Kieran wouldn’t have dared to interrupt her, even if he wanted to.
“They refuse to read the history books. They refuse to listen to their elders. And it always plays out the same. Arrogant nobles overthrown, the common folk left to their own devices until the gods deign to choose their Contenders…”
The rant ended in another heavy sigh.
“No matter now.” Rah’Na shook her head. “The die was cast, and it landed in our enemy’s favor, as ever. All we can do now is turn the tide. As it was decided, so it shall be.”
Kieran looked sharply at Rah’Na. He remembered Vahr’Khul using those same words during their first meeting. But the wolf’s attention was fixed on some point ahead.
“We are almost to the hideout. Come, let us speed our step, Kieran.”