ACoL Part 2 - Chapter 11: The Shard

(This chapter has a scene which I've been thinking about for years. I hope you guys enjoy it.)

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Vincent was in agony. The bruises and rashes on his chest protested against Glimmer's grip. But the Shaydos were no longer fleeing from an object of pure terror and so, their flight was gentler, it was more graceful. He was sailing above the world and riding the air with them. He had spent the last few days wondering if he was going to die…or worse. He never realized how incredible seeing Admoran from above was. It was a view he did not deserve. For a while, the land below remained soft and hilly. However, the hills gave way to more mountains. They rose from the land like waves that had been frozen in stone, caught moments before they were about to crash in on themselves. Their faces were hollowed out and concave, with their peaks curling over. There were no mountains like these on Earth. Vincent could not think of any tectonic action that could create such formations.

The air was growing cooler and thinner the further they flew. Down below, he could see roads weaving between the mountains, filled with travelers. Villages dotted the mountainsides.

They took a brief respite that evening in an alcove surrounded by a veins of crystal. A few disembodied whispers of schizophrenia manifested in the air. The others stretched and massaged their shoulders. Sperloc, glowering, chewed on unspoken expletives. There was a beating of wings against air as Madeen joined them. She walked over to Glimmer, ducked her head and closed her eyes. She kept them closed for a second before opening again. Glimmer returned the gesture. Then she began to tap out a rhythm on the ground, a series of clicks and scratches. Madeen responded in kind. It was a language, there was no doubt about that. But Vincent's translation ability was only able to translate a few words. "Tunnel." "Draft." "Breath." It was the first time his mysterious ability struggled with a language. Perhaps it was because it wasn't spoken word? Kirlon turned back to them.

Vincent was finding it increasingly difficult to focus. Menik was saying something, talking to Madeen. Yet Vincent could not concentrate on the words. Tuls put a wing over his shoulder.

"Vincent," he whispered, "you should cure yourself."

"Huh? What?" Vincent asked.

"The Triasat, Brother," Tuls said.

"I…I shouldn't…" Vincent looked around. He was fighting to remain lucid. But he didn't want to waste the…what was it he didn't want to waste?

"Cordell," Madrian said, "cure yourself. You will not want to miss this."

Vincent shook his head. Then he reluctantly took the Triasat vial from his pocket and dosed himself. After the gagging and coughing was finished, his mind was cleared. He could think. The bottle was not transparent, so he could not see how much of it was left, but he could feel it getting lighter. In many ways, the boons of this world were cruel. It gave him a taste of true lucidity…but it was temporary. He would run out one day.

"You said I didn't want to miss something," Vincent said, stowing the Triasat.

"Indeed," Madrian said, "Were you not listening?"

"No, I wasn't. I couldn't."

"We are going to be riding Admoran's Breath," Sperloc grumbled, "Weaverfire…I am too old for this shit…"

"Riding Admoran's Breath and flying through the South Gate Sper," Menik said.

"Oh!" Tuls exclaimed, perking up "The wind tunnels! I have heard of them!"

"Admoran's Breath?" Vincent said, "What is that?"

"There are vast tunnels and cavernous systems around Gullreach," Menik said, "They are constantly filled with warm winds. Nobody know where they are coming from, right Sper?"

"Yes, yes, they come from deep within the damn ground," Sperloc said, "Nobody knows from where. The wind is called 'Admoran's Breath' by the locals. The zerok sometimes use these tunnels as shortcuts because the winds aid their flight."

"We will ride it to Gullreach," Menik said, "The zerok think it will be faster and it will be more discreet."

The flight to one of these tunnels was not long. In fact, it could not have taken more than twenty minutes to reach one. The opening to the cave was dark and vast, like a maw yawning from the mountainside. It was wide enough to accommodate three zerok side by side. When they reached it, Vincent, Menik, and the others had to walk into it on foot, followed closely by their zerok escorts. The beasts footsteps echoed off the cavern walls. Vincent heard a distance rush of air and felt wind at his back, as if cave was sucking them in. Somebody ignited a spark and sent it ahead of them.

"We will not need that," Sperloc said.

"I do not have a zerok's sight, Sper," Madrian countered, "I cannot see where I am going."

"I am aware of that, I am just saying you will not need that when we reach the current. In fact, you will lose it if you try to wield it."

"You sound like you have ridden one of these, Sper." Menik said.

"That is because I have…once." Sperloc did not elaborate. "To everybody who was stuffing their snouts this morning…fold your wings and beseech the Weaver, that you do not spew your meal all over your chest."

Glimmer walked behind Vincent, his trio of channeler-eyes bobbed in the darkness. As they traveled deeper into the cave, it began to widen. It opened up into a cavern that more than rivaled Carlsbad with its scale. Vincent's ears popped as he heard the distant wind grow louder. Eventually, they came upon a massive drop, a gargantuan pit that fell for a hundred feet and disappeared into darkness. It was from here that the air rushed. He now understood why some would call it "Admoran's Breath". It was warm and it was filled with dampness. There was a smell in it too, a subtle scent not unlike broken earth. It rushed up at them like an endless squall, a never-ending hurricane, causing the caverns to reverberate and groan. It disappeared into a tunnel directly above them. The sound was nearly deafening. The wind caught Vincent's wings and knocked him backward, but. Glimmer caught him in his beak and steadied him upright.

"Thank you," Vincent tried to say, but he couldn't hear his own words. He couldn't even hear his own thoughts. The idea of flying off into the darkness was a terrifying one. There were a few worn out banners tied to posts that were driven into the ledge. They flapped wildly in the air current. There were words on the banners, but Vincent could not read them. His mastery of languages did not extend to the written word. Menik stepped forward and looked over the ledge. Then he looked back at his escort, nodded and raised his arms. The zerok picked him up, spread its wings and leapt into the wind. To Vincent's disbelief and terror, they were swept right up.

Sperloc was next, followed by Madrian, who held onto his still-lit spark. Vincent felt Glimmer nudge his back. Swearing to himself, he spread his arms and allowed himself to be picked up. Glimmer took him and leapt into the current. They were sucked up into a large winding tunnel that burrowed through the mountain's stone. It rose, it dived, then it rose again. The tunnel turned right, then it turned left. Sometimes it split, but Glimmer banked and followed the others. Madrian's distant sparked chased shadows along the walls, creating dazzling displays as they passed by columns of crystal and minerals. There were no stalactites. No water that seeped through the stones was allowed to hang. Instead, it was blasted away. Deposits raced along the walls, creating wind-blasted striations of calcite that followed the direction of the current. They made the tunnels resemble molten candle wax.

Vincent held his breath as they rushed through the darkness. Glimmer rarely flapped his wings. He did not need to. He simply rode the air current. Sometimes they would come upon another channel that was blowing more of the warm damp air, and they would get caught in conflicting eddies at the confluence. But the zerok were masters of this system. They knew exactly where to go, where to duck and weave. Vincent kept worrying that the tunnels, which always remained at least seventy or so feet wide, would narrow, that the zerok would find themselves smashed against stone. But this never happened. Admoran's Breath was like a surge, a wave upon which the fliers of Gullreach surfed. It propelled them onward eagerly.

They rode Admoran's Breath for several hours, traveling at unbelievable speeds. The journey was rough and the g-forces Vincent was subjected at times, tested him. But there was no stopping. The zerok were travelling too fast. They could not break or slow down on their own. There were short reprieves where the caverns widened and the wind slowed. Sometimes the air escaped into unseen passages and the pressure lowered. Then, they had to walk until they found another channel and caught another stream. In fact, Tuls and the shandan fell over laughing with glee at the first of these interludes.

But for the most part, they were at the mercy of Admoran's Breath and its howling passages. Vincent wondered if they would be trapped down here forever, rushing through this endless labyrinth of wailing wind. Eventually, they found another lapse in the air current that forced them to walk. Vincent was tempted to ask his hosts to take a break. But he bit his tongue.

"Madeen," Menik said as they walked to the next air stream, "I heard Gullreach is being overwhelmed by refugees. They are pouring through the South Gate?"

True. Devastation. Unhomed. Death increases.

Vincent could barely see Madeen in the darkness.

"Death increases?" he repeated what he thought she projected. Often times the zerok mind speak was not literal. Rather, they tried to convey meanings, it seemed.

"The stormspawn ravaged more villages than we ever could have imagined," Menik explained, "that's what they were saying back at the High Channeler's caravan. Every day we are learning about the true scale of the Puppeteer's destruction."

"And now we have zeffyrs," Jeris said, "What was Jalhara thinking?!"

"Cordell," Menik said, "I believe you are the first person in history to survive a zeffyr attack."

Vincent didn't say anything. He felt so numb and so tired. He just wanted it all to end, he just wanted a break. He kept expecting that thing to burst through the walls and consume him in its fiery maw.

"Vincent," Tuls said, "are you well?"

"I'll be fine," Vincent said.

"Endure, friend. I do not believe we will be down here much longer."

Eventually, they found another air stream and took flight. Tuls prediction turned out to be prescient. Without much warning, the wind shot them back up to the surface. They left the howling caves behind and took to the air. After spending so long riding the damp, yet lukewarm currents, the sudden chill was a shock to the system. They found themselves at the bottom of a pass. A large highway followed its curves and it was filled with lantern lights from caravans and travelers.

Stars glinted in the night sky and yet, the mountain tops gleamed. Something illuminated their peaks, a light source Vincent could not see. Moonlight perhaps? No…Falius had no moon. It had Niftel and Tarn, the planets. And their light was Purple and Crimson, not white. Yet something illuminated the mountains. In the distance, the highway began to rise as it followed the pass. It was a steep ascent and it rose for hundreds, perhaps even a thousand feet. Vincent could not judge scale very well.

At its apex, a narrow gap between two mountains, there was an enormous arch carved from stone. It had to be at least a two hundred feet in diameter. It rose from one side of the road, curved over, and came down the other side, nearly forming a ring. A statue of a zerok stood on top of the parabola, posing proud on its talons with wings spread. Its backside was illuminated by the same source of light that illuminated the mountaintops, creating penumbras in the fog from its shadow. The light poured through the arch's center as if beckoning the travelers forward, making them look like wayward souls with their lanterns bobbing, trying to find their way to the afterlife.

Glimmer was climbing toward the arch, flying to its light. The travelers looked up in curiosity. Some pointed and stared. Vincent caught some of their haunted snouts in the ambience. It was only a glimpse, but he could see that some of their wagons were disheveled, wheels on the verge of falling apart. Glimmer and the Shaydos soared above them, their shadows elongating in the fog as they neared the threshold. When they passed through the arch, Vincent felt his jaw part. The wave-like mountains abruptly flattened, as if hesitant to encroach upon the vast land that stood before them. They gave way to soft hills and rolling meadows that frolicked before them. Vincent could see lights from a city winking. But it was the feature in the middle of this vast expanse that left him breathless.

If one were to record a water droplet in slow motion and freeze frame the moment where it splashes into a bigger body of water, they would see that at the moment of contact, the splash blooms outward, The water buckles, a singular ripple rises in a circular wall around the droplet. That is what the land was doing. It was frozen in mid-splash. Cliffs suddenly rose upward and outward, circling a towering spire of white crystal, as if it were the drop itself. The crystal was far taller than the cliffs were, taller than the mountains themselves. It stabbed upwards with thousands and thousands of columns toward the sky. All of them tapered toward a single point. The spire dominated the vista and glimmered with a warm white ambience. This could only be Gullreach…and it stood before them, proud and welcoming. Shimmering lakes and wide rivers reflected its majesty.

As the Shaydos flew toward it, the spire sparkled and threw out rays. Vincent could not take his eyes off of it. The closer they got, the sheer scale of the shard left him reeling. And to his continued amazement, he saw vines hugging the cliffs, each as thick as an interstice thread . Branches sprung forth from them, extending outward from the cliff face. These vines crawled outward from the base of the spire, extending into a city, which laid spread out across the land surrounding, the spire almost like an afterthought. It was scattered along lesser upheavals, which also rose like concentric circles around the base of the mountain. Thousands of zerok filled the air, flying to and from the cliffs, perching on the massive branches.

The Shaydos began their descent, but they did not head toward the spire. Rather, they headed toward the city at its base. Unlike Meldohv Syredel, whose architecture resembled a cross between Persian and Celtic influence, Gullreach's buildings were reminiscent of Asian design, yet with Greek sensibilities. It harmonized with the land. It stood like an extension of the sand-colored upheavals it found itself built upon. The structures favored bilateral symmetry and repeating patterns. There were plenty of zerok perches scattered throughout the city, similar to the dome-shaped cages Vincent saw back in Meldohv Syredel. The Shaydos circled a large complex that resided on top of a cliff. Resembling a palace, the structure was built from white stone. It had a large rectangular courtyard the size of a football field.

The Shaydos hovered over the courtyard, beat their wings and held themselves aloft while releasing Vincent and the others. He stumbled forward and massaged his arms. He looked around in awe. Lining the courtyard were impressive stone and crystal depictions of zerok and groundwalker living in harmony. Groundwalker children and zerok young ones pawed at each other curiously. In another, three groundwalkers treated a zerok's wounded wing. There were several more busts like this, depicting both conflict and friendship.

The courtyard had several trees planted in it whose shape resembled cherry blossoms. Yet they looked almost barren. Instead of leaves, they had these strange, curled-up buds. The grass was the same way. It looked nothing like the grass Vincent was used to. Its blades were folded into themselves lengthwise, making them resemble a bunch of tubes. And they were black instead of green. There were some flowers in a vase. They too, shared the strange curled up leaves. Nearly all the vegetation Vincent saw was this way.

Somebody opened the door at the far end of the courtyard and headed toward them. This newcomer was the fluffiest groundwalker Vincent had seen yet. Very few of the dragonoids he had met had fur or manes. Most of them simply looked reptilian. So it was a bit of a shock to see one walking toward him. His snout was narrow and his scales were white and had the sheen of pearls. A long, silvery mane ran over the top of his snout like a horse's mane and it licked at his shoulders. Two small, fleshy whiskers not unlike Thal'rin's hang from the side of his nostrils and a goatee adorned his chin. His horns, though covered by a black horn guard, curled upward and outward like Ezrai's. His tail, trailing behind him, also had the same silvery fur striping the top of its length. He was flanked by several guards.

"Greetings, shandan," he said. His voice, filled with calm confidence, was also light and airy. "My name is Gelani. I welcome you to Gullreach."

He folded his wings in front of him. Then he looked around at the battered soldiers, his thin yellow eyes emoting no surprise. Though he paused on Vincent for a second or two.

Vincent expected Menik to respond. Instead, the response came from Sperloc.

"Gelani, son of Entalagon," he said, "tender of the Wounded Wings."

Gelani raised a brow. "Impressive," he said, "the fact that you know of my father and my lineage…you must be Sperloc?"

"That I am," Sperloc rasped.

"I have heard that you were accompanying the expedition to Crefield and that you were in this cabras, " Gelani said, "As a lover of history, I am an admirer of your work. I would love to hear your stories, if there is ever time."

There was a calming effect to Gelani's diction. His poise was eloquent and his words, light as feathers, trickled from him.

"Is this the Embassy of Atla?" Tuls asked in disbelief.

"Indeed, it is," Gelani confirmed, "We have been expecting your arrival for several days now."

Menik laughed to himself.

"Unbelievable. Who is paying for this?" Madrian asked.

Now it was Gelani's turn to chuckle, "I am afraid I do not know the details. But I am certain both Gullreach and Meldohv Syredel are your benefactors. The heroes of Crefield deserve to rest."

Madeen stepped forward and made eye contact with him. His ears twitched as he listened to her mind speak.

"I see. Very well, and thank you," he said. After this, Madeen took flight.

Then Glimmer stepped forward and tapped the ground with his talons.

"Ah…yes," Gelani said, "we will take care of them from here."

The Shaydos turned around and they prepared to take to the air.

"Wait," Vincent said. Glimmer stopped and looked at him. Vincent didn't know what to say at first so for a few seconds, he chewed on his words. "Thank you…for everything."

Glimmer responded by lowering his head and nudging Vincent lightly with his beak. Then he opened his wings and took flight. The others followed.

"Now, if you follow me, I will lead you to your rooms," Gelani said, "tomorrow, I will give you a tour but for tonight, I imagine you all are tired and you need rest."

"And a bath," Sperloc added, "Is this the first time the embassy has been visited by the stench of sweat and grime?"

"It is not," Gelani chuckled, "There are quite a few diplomats who had…interesting scents. All of your needs will be attended to. As I am sure you know, Sperloc, the embassy was built around a hot spring. Hot water will be delivered to your rooms. And if you wish to visit the spring itself tomorrow, that is well too."

Gelani led them through decorated hallways. Vincent noticed how the guards, though they remained silent, kept keen eyes on all of them.

"Have you heard what happened to us, Gelani?" Menik asked, "has word from the chain reached this far?"

"I am afraid I have only heard whispers of devastation," he said, maintaining is calm, airy prose. "The zerok are chattering. All I have been told is that you are escorting an important guest. Beyond that, I am afraid I know very little. I assume this guest is the charismatic?"

He looked sideways at Vincent.

"You were quick to pick that up," Sperloc said.

"I am also a charismatic," Gelani said, "but I assume you already knew this too?

"Yes," Sperloc said, "as was your father. You come from a family of charismatics."

Vincent had been told he had a "charisma", though to the Falians, the word meant something different than merely being charming or inspiring devotion. In their language, charismatics had a "pull" that others lacked. The personality of the charismatic did not matter. No matter what they were doing, they always drew attention. And now that Gelani mentioned it, Vincent did feel…something. Gelani was different. He had a subtle gravity, a presence that set him apart.

"I rarely meet other charismatics," Gelani said, speaking to Vincent. "I should like to talk to you sometime…what is your name again?"

"Vincent," Vincent said. He didn't know what to think of Gelani. There was nothing sinister about their host. He was graceful, eloquent, and yet the pull bothered Vincent.

Gelani showed each of them the rooms they would be staying in. They were not very large, being not much bigger than college dorms. But considering that Vincent and the shandan had been roughing it for weeks, they looked luxurious. They had actual beds, and though the beds were circular like nests, they had linens. There was a small bathing chamber attached to each room, with a tub and a commode in it. There was a heavy wooden door leading to a balcony on the outside. The spire's light poured through its seams. There was also a circular window in which Vincent could see hills covered with the same kind of bizarre trees and plants. Every single one of them looked barren like those in the courtyard. Or if not barren, at least stuck in pre-bloom, as if they were trapped in early spring.

After Gelani shut the door, Vincent stood still, listening to the silence. It had been the first time he had been alone in a long time. Later, he heard something rushing in the bath chamber. Hot water poured from a spigot. They must have been pumping it. Moments later, a platter with oils and a bowl with trylics was delivered to his room. They gave him some fresh clothes and a robe too. Vincent stared at the bowl of trylics. They were mollusks that some groundwalkers used to clean themselves. They fed on grime. Vincent had seen them in Teramin, but he has been too disgusted. When the tub was finished filling, he removed his clothes and sank himself into the hot water, with wings spread.

"Oh man…" He let out an audible groan of relaxation as the warmth loosened his muscles. Then he began to scrub himself. Weeks of filth rose to the surface. Out of curiosity, he plucked a trylic from the bowl. Noodly white appendages wriggled forth from the softball-sized slug. Vincent cringed a little, but because he was curious, he put it on his arm. At first, he quelled from the sudden scraping, tickling sensation. It felt like he was being scoured by velcro tentacles as they wrapped around his arm. But if he closed his eyes, he found that it was an oddly pleasant sensation. As disgusting as it was to have a feeder eating one's grime, he could see why Falian nobility would use them.

As the trylic crawled along his arm, causing him to shudder and twitch, it left his scaly skin feeling fresh and exfoliated. Grabbing the other one, he put it on his neck. The sensation left him shuddering with equal parts delight and disgust. It felt like a mop head, embedded with sand, had come to life and was now spreading over his shoulders and back. It was a very odd experience. And yet wherever the trylics cleaned, he felt completely scoured and refreshed. The air felt cooler to his skin. Still, he could only take so much of it. So after they cleaned his arms and upper chest, he plucked them off and put them back in the bowl.

After he was done bathing, he drained the water, put on the new clothes, which hang loosely. He drew curtains around the window so that the spire's light would not keep him awake. Then he curled up inside the bed. He gripped its softness with pleasure and quickly fell asleep.

***

The next morning, he was awoken by conversation coming from the balcony. Getting up, he looked out the window and saw the shandan leaning against the railing, talking. They held in their hands steaming mugs of…something. Vincent opened the door and stepped out onto the balcony. The balcony, wrapping around the embassy, was connected to the other dorms. It was a little chilly outside, so he pulled his robe tighter. It was still dark out…dark save for the light coming from the spire. But he saw the skyline brightening.

"It is too soft," Menik was saying, as he tugged on his clothes, "I can hardly feel it. I feel naked."

"You look dead, Vincent," Tuls said.

Vincent grumbled something. He was still waking up. Somebody placed a steaming mug in his hand. Curious, he gave it a sniff. His eyes immediately lit up. The scent was not unlike hot apple cider, though it had a more citrusy tang. The mug, designed for Falian mouths, had a long spout. He tipped it into his mouth and had a taste. The drink was fruity, but not overly sweet. It had hints of spices in it too. There was a tray filled with skewers. He grabbed a couple and ate. The drink must have had a stimulant in it because he could feel himself waking up.

"I trust you have slept well, Vincent," an airy voice said. He turned to find Gelani standing there. "I hope we did not wake you. Is there anything you need?"

"No…thanks," Vincent said. Gelani folded his wings in respect and walked off to address the others.

"You awoke just in time," Sperloc rasped. His demeanor seemed softer than it had been the past few days. Though there was still a hint of distrust in his voice.

"In time for what?" Vincent asked.

"You will see."

It did not take very long for Vincent to see what Sperloc was talking about. Slivers of sunlight peaked over the mountains. The rays hit some potted plants which hang from the ceiling. Like all the other plants he had seen, their leaves were curled into themselves. But to his alarm, when the sunlight hit them, they began to twitch. The leaves unfurled as if Vincent were watching a time lapse of a flower blooming. As the sun continued to rise, it began to illuminate more of the scenery. All of the plants it hit underwent a similar metamorphosis. The previously barren trees came alive.

What Vincent thought were buds on the trees opened up, revealing leaves the color of fire. Oranges and reds began to paint their branches. The tubular grass Vincent had seen unfolded, exposing their greenery to the sun's light. Wherever the sunlight hit, the color spread across the vista, transforming it. The massive limbs on the vines began to yield sky blue flowers when it hit them. Gullreach was like an unfinished tapestry that was being finished before their very eyes. The air was filled with rustling and groaning. Color came like brush strokes, juxtaposing blues against greens and reds.

"What…what is happening?" Vincent asked, filled with amazement.

"The awakening," Sperloc said, "Happens every morning in Gullreach. These plants are the only ones that thrive in The Shard's vicinity. All others will die unless they are sheltered from the light."

"I see."

It was incredible! It must have been an evolutionary mutation. Vincent was not a biologist, but he knew that too much light was bad for all plants. They needed the night cycle. These plants must have evolved in such a way, that they were able to shut off their photosynthesis. Whether they had a means of sensing natural sunlight, or if they were simply on a time cycle, it would explain why they closed all of their leaves and blooms at night. They needed to block Gullreach's light.

When Gelani came around again, Sperloc pulled him aside.

"We need privacy," he said, "from groundwalker ears and zerok alike."

"This can be arranged," Gelani did not ask any more questions. "When you are ready, there is a meeting room you can use."

"What was that about, Sper?" Menik asked after Gelani left.

Sperloc was glaring at Vincent. "The La'ark promised to tell you all the truth about Cordell. She is not here. So I am going to do it for her."