Eranithia: The Cave of Truth: Chapter 13

Chapter 13


Arnath was rudely interrupted by the pounding on his chamber doors. He swore at the top of his lungs at the one calling him.
  “You stay here,” he said to the young girl in his bed. When he reached the door he grabbed the key hanging on the wall. “Better yet,” he said showing her the key.
He threw open his door to find a servant on his knees, trembling in fear.
“What is it?!” he roared at the young boy.
The boy didn't look up as he said, “Engard sent me to call you, sire.”
Arnath kicked the boy in the ribs then slammed his door shut, locking it before he left.
“Watch this door, if you let anyone out it will be your neck, understood?”
“Yes, sire,” he said lying on the floor where he had fallen from Arnath's kick.
Arnath walked away with heavy, angry steps echoing off of the stone walls. When he entered the Throne Room, Engard stood before the throne wearing his long black robe.
“Sire, I apologize for the late hour.”
“What is it?” Arnath growled, knowing the apology was a farce.
He didn't bother sitting on the throne. Instead he paced back and forth in front of Engard.
“Your men you sent after Garandol have either been killed or have scattered over the land in fear of you.”
“And what of Margus?”
“Dead.”
Arnath roared in anger. Why is he telling me this now? He couldn't have waited till morning?
“I have a suggestion, sire.”
Arnath paused and looked at him. Something about the way Engard spoke told him he was hoping for this all along. Engard was up to something and Arnath was falling right into his scheme. At this point Arnath didn't care. All he wanted was results.
“What is it?” he asked, trying not to show his desperation.
As Arnath began pacing once again, Engard continued, “You know that war is on its way. Seth is gaining support from the Elves, Centaurs, and the Takor.”
“The giants in the south are on his side?” Arnath spat. He hadn't expected to hear this piece of news.
“Yes.”
“What of the dwarfs?”
“They will go with the Centaurs if they are swayed to Seth's side.”
“Then what are we to do?” Arnath asked in a desperate rage. He thought of killing Engard, but he knew that it would take his own life if he did. Engard was filled with too much dark power, only a wizard of equal or greater power could destroy him and survive.
“Send a messenger to the men across the sea.”
Arnath stopped and gawked at Engard.
“The Cathians? You are out of your mind.”
“If you want to hold onto this kingdom you will need their help. Them and the Geoth.”
Arnath's eyes widened and his chin dropped. He hadn't heard or seen any sign of the Geoth in years.
“The Geoth?!” Arnath thought he might die of a heart attack if Engard dropped anymore crazy ideas on him.
“They have the Takor, you will need giants on your side to defeat theirs.”
“Do the Geoth even exist?”
“They do. They have been silent for many years, but they're still there. If you send me with a messenger to them I can convince them to join us.”
“They will want land. Them and the Cathians.”
“Then offer them Kushen and Ashenland.”
“But what will that do for me? I wish to rule those lands as well.”
“Create a map with new borders of each country. Then offer them the land with the new borderlines.”
Arnath smiled evilly at the plan, rubbing the thin beard on his chin. It wasn't as much as he had hoped, but it was still more. Also, with the Geoth and the Cathians nearby, he would never have issues with those who claim to be loyal to Sol. Sol. Who still believed in him anyway? That bedtime story the people try to use to explain the creation of the world. Everybody knows that there was no magical being that created the world. It grew from something small and simple, and over time the globe became what it is now.
“How many Geoth are still alive?” he asked curiously, his anger subsiding.
“About a hundred.”
“Excellent. Call two messengers here.”
Engard bowed and left the Throne Room. A few minutes later he returned with one messenger and two scribes.
“Two soldiers are being summoned to escort a messenger to Cathia. I will go to Geoth myself.”
“Good.”
Arnath dictated the letter to the scribes. Within a few minutes the letters were ready, then, when the soldiers arrived, they were sent with orders for a ship to take the messenger immediately to Cathia. Engard left for Geotha at the same time. When Arnath returned to his room his mind buzzed with his plans for war, he never noticed that the servant girl had slipped out through a secret passage earlier.

Garandol held up a hand to stop them and looked around in the silence.
“What is it, Garandol?” Mark asked, stepping up next to him, hand on the hilt of his sword. The sun was casting such long shadows that, although it was beautiful, it made it difficult to see through some of the trees.
“We're here.”
Mark looked around for any sign of a living being. When after a few minutes nothing emerged from the forest, he began to doubt the wizard's sense of direction. But before he could say something, two Centaurs stepped out from a tall thicket of bushes with arrows ready to fly from their bows. He watched Garandol raise his right hand and place his left fist over his heart and bow.
“La paz sea con ustedes. Garandol, estoy aqui para hablar con Thern, su Rey.”
Jennifer stepped up behind Mark and whispered, “He just spoke in Spanish. I may be able to communicate with them in their own language.”
Mark smiled at her then watched the Centaurs as they lowered their bows and bowed to Garandol with their right arms across their stomachs.
“Welcome, Garandol,” the chestnut colored Centaur with the tanned torso of a man said. He had auburn hair to match the color of the horse body. “Thern will be pleased to see you have arrived safely.”
“Well, if it wasn't for our Takor friends, we never would have made it at all,” Garandol said, gesturing to the giants behind them.
The Centaurs bowed to Timberfoot and Terkk. The giants pounded their right fists against their chests three times to return the gesture.
Garandol turned to the giants and said, “Wait for us here. I don't want to cause any alarm to Thern.”
“We will watch the border and wait for your return,” Timberfoot said.
Garandol nodded his thanks and turned back to the Centaurs. Both Centaurs stuck their arms out to show the way. Garandol, Broc and the twins followed them deeper into the forest. Mark's curiosity grew as they traveled with the Centaurs. He tried to refrain from asking too many questions, but he found it too difficult of a task.
I could at least ask their names, he thought.
“May I ask your names?” Mark blurted out.
They both glanced back with stern looks then at each other with grins.
“I am, Gaith,” the chestnut one said.
“And I am Hiln,” the black one said. The skin of his man's torso matched the horse color perfectly.
Mark grinned stupidly in awe of the Centaurs. Mark couldn't find the words to best describe them. They were majestic, but that word seemed more suiting for Sol. They were certainly powerful, but it still didn't do them justice. Awesome was the only word to really come to mind. But not awesome in the slang used in his home world, but awesome in the true sense of the word.
The Centaurs were patient with Mark's constant questioning. He finally ran out of questions for them by the time the sun set that night.
“We'll stop and get some rest here tonight,” Gaith said.
“How far are we from Cabavir?” Jennifer asked with a yawn.
“Not far. But I think we're all a little worn out from the day,” Hiln said.
Everybody looked at Mark. His head shrank down between his shoulders in embarrassment. Gaith and Hiln both laughed. Deep laughs from within their horse stomachs. Mark's face felt hot as everybody else joined in laughing at him.
Jennifer hugged him with one arm from the side and said, “Don't be embarrassed, Mark. You know we love you.”
He smiled sheepishly as he dropped his pack and pulled out his bedding. Jennifer squatted down next to him and began pulling out her bedding as well.
“You okay?” she asked with a hint of laughter in her voice.
“I'm fine,” he said.
“You weren't too embarrassed were you?”
He looked at her with a smile then said, “So what if I was? I ask questions. It's what I do.”
“Well, as long as you're not too embarrassed. It was all in fun.”
“I know, don't worry about it. I'm fine.”
“Good.”
Gaith and Hiln both told stories of the history of Kushen as they sat around the fire after their meal. Then one by one the conversations began to drift off into snores and the deep breathing of sleep.

Mark sat high up on a mountain peak. From the view he had, he could see all of Eranithia before him. Directly across from him was the Aontacht Forest; to his right, the King's Castle and the Great Marshes leading up to the Stone Step Mountains; to his left, the Blood Mountains. He knew he was at the highest peak of the Gar Mountains.
“Hello, Mark,” said the voice of a man behind him.
Mark turned and saw a young man, not much older than Seth, walking towards him. He seemed to glide on the air more than walk. His face was full of kindness and love, which radiated from his welcoming smile.
“Do you enjoy the view of my creation?” he asked.
“Sol?” he asked, but somehow he felt like he already knew it was him.
“Yes.”
Mark fell to his knees, lowering his face to the ground. Strong hands grabbed him by the arms and lifted him back up.
“I appreciate your humbleness and love for me, but I want to show you something.”
Sol pointed at the land and asked, “You see all of this?”
Mark nodded.
“This is in place for Seth and Serina to rule, not Arnath. He rejected me at an early age. This is what you are helping Seth win.”
Mark just stared, taking in the land. Eranithia was such a small country, but it was so beautiful. It was its beauty that attracted so many. But its beauty didn't seem to have any affect on Mark. His thoughts strayed back to his sister and what she'd seen in the Cave of Truth. Mark sat on the ground resting his arms on his knees.
“You're not asking any questions,” Sol said. He almost sounded surprised, but Mark knew this was impossible. Sol was never surprised about anything. He was only trying to get Mark to open up to him.
“I'm sorry.”
“What's troubling you?” Sol asked, sitting down next to him.
Mark looked at Sol, then said, “You already know don't you?”
“I do, but I like to converse with my children.”
Mark looked back at the colorful cliffs in Ashenland. A light breeze blew his hair into his eyes, but he ignored it.
“It's Jennifer. She has to give up her life doesn't she?” he asked.
“I ask that all give up their life to me.”
“That's not what I mean.”
“I know it's not, but when I ask someone to give me their life it means in every way possible. Spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically.”
Mark waited a long time before asking his next question. He feared the answer more than he did asking.
“Is she going to die?”
“That is for me to know. All I want you to do is trust me.”
“I just have this feeling something really bad is going to happen.”
Sol sighed and placed his hand on the back of Mark's neck. Mark dropped his head, allowing his emotions to overtake him for the moment.
“Mark, do you believe I am with you always?”
“Yes,” he said through his falling tears.
“Through good times and bad?”
“Yes.”
“Then why can't you trust me with your sister's life? I will never leave nor forsake her, or you, or anyone who loves me.”
“I know,” Mark admitted sadly. It was hard hearing the truths of Sol, especially from Sol himself.
“But you don't believe it fully.”
“I just don't want anything bad to happen to my sister!” Mark cried, tears flowing down his cheeks like rivers. 
Sol let Mark cry for a moment, then said, “Mark, I know you love your sister, but you must love me more. The more you love me, the more that love will overflow into your love for others. Then it will be a true love.”
Mark looked into Sol's eyes. Those gentle, golden eyes. They were almost the same golden color as his sword. Sol smiled at Mark, knowing his thoughts.
“What makes your sword it's color?” Sol asked.
“Arland and Seth said it was because of my heart.”
“Exactly. Tell me, what is the color of Seth's sword?”
“Red.”
“Why?” Sol asked excitedly.
Mark was amused at Sol's excitement. He grinned as he said, “Because he is passionate. That's what he said anyway.”
“It's true. He has such a strong passion for the gifts I give him. The love he has for his sister is the same as your love for Jennifer. Do you know why yours is gold?”
“They told me because I'm willing to give myself for others, that I have a heart of gold.”
“Yes, you have a heart after mine. That's why your sword matches my eyes.”
Mark was speechless. To be told such a thing by Sol was such an honor but very humbling at the same time. How could Sol hold him at such a high esteem to say he has a heart after his own? Mark felt so small but so loved all at once.
“Mark, there will come a time when you will have to make a hard decision. I know you will make the right choice.”
“How will I know?”
“If you stay true to me, I will show you. Can you do that, Mark? Can you stay true to me?”
He opened his mouth but he couldn't speak. If he promised and didn't stay true to Sol, he would fail him, but if he said he couldn't then he showed lack of faith.
“Just answer honestly.”
“I want to stay true to you, I just don't know if I have the strength to.”
Sol looked at Mark with a big toothy grin, then said, “That's exactly it! You don't! But in me you do! You are learning, Mark! You are learning so much!” Sol showed so much excitement in Mark's answer, Mark wasn't sure how to respond. 
Sol laughed as he helped Mark to his feet then wrapped him in a tight embrace. Sol disappeared but Mark could still feel him there...

Mark woke up and looked around. It was the first time in a long time he had woken up without being startled from his dream. He felt a peace from within him. Then he remembered his dream. His conversation with Sol. He could still feel Sol with him. From then on Mark knew, Sol was always with him. Sometimes he wondered if his experience at the top of the mountain was real or just a dream. Eventually he decided it didn't matter. All that mattered were the words Sol spoke to him. The truth he'd learned on that mountain top.