A Dream of Mortals

CHAPTER TWELVE

Gwendolyn took a long drink from the sack of water, this time handed to her by one of the knights, who bent over her, his armor shining in the sun. He gave her more to drink than those nomads had, and she drank greedily, gulping until it ran down her cheeks.

Coughing, Gwen sat up for the first time, feeling energized. She opened her eyes, squinting into the sun, raising one hand, and realized she was on a boat, a long, narrow boat. On it were a half-dozen of these knights, accompanying her, and sprawled out were all her men, all spilled out in various positions of recovery, all being handed sacks of water. They glided calmly on the bluest waters she’d ever seen, and ever her long trek through the arid desert, this all felt like a dream.

Gwen was filled with relief to see they were all alive, all recovering, some of them even eating small morsels of bread. She looked up to see a knight handing her a piece of bread, and she took a small bite, she felt her strength returning. The knight, squatting beside her, also held out a small plate of honey, and as she dipped the bread in the honey and tasted it, it was the greatest thing she’d ever eaten. She felt her spirits coming back to her.

Gwen heard whining, and she looked down to see Krohn curled up in her lap, and she immediately remembered him, feeling guilty. she held out the rest of her bread to him, and he snatched it up, gulping it down and whining for more. He licked the honey off her fingers.

Gwen wanted to thank the knight as he got up to leave, but she was still too exhausted, her throat too parched, for the words to come out. She wondered if she would ever speak again.

As the knight left and went about attending the others, Gwen, stroking Krohn’s head, looked out at the vista before her. Gentle lake breezes caressed her face as they glided through the lake, as big as an ocean, the boat gently rocking. The knights rowed in harmony, and as they went, the lake shimmered, the most beautiful color blue she’d ever seen. Even more shocking was what lay on the horizon: a land overflowing with bounty, a green so lush it put the waters to shame. It didn’t seem possible.

Gwen was even more surprised to see so many sailboats in the water, close to the far shore, so many people living an idle life of leisure, of joy, sailing in harmony and security. Life in the Ring had been bountiful, yet always on guard, hardened by combat, by threats; here, there appeared to be no threats. It discombobulated her to see such freedom in the midst of a hostile Empire, and such bounty in the midst of a cruel, lifeless desert. Gwen could tell at a glance that this society, whatever it was, was clearly rich, clearly well-established, safe and secure behind the ridge which framed it, stretching in a massive circle around it, on the horizon, in much the same way the Canyon had framed the Ring. And yet this land, with all its bounty, put even the Ring to shame.

Gwendolyn wanted desperately to talk, to know more. So many questions raced through her mind. She reached out and grabbed the arm of a knight passing by, and he kneeled turned and looked at her. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out; she became exhausted from the effort.

“Rest now,” he said gently. “You need it.”

He left, and Gwen tried to look out, to see more; yet the calm water breezes, heavy with moisture, lulled her to sleep, made her feel relaxed, utterly at ease, for the first time in she did not know how long, and despite her efforts, in no time she was fast asleep.

Gwendolyn slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the brightness, sat up, and could hardly believe what she saw. It at first appeared to be an illusion. She looked up at two immense golden statues, each a hundred feet high, arms raised high in an odd salute and crossed with each other. One was a statue of a knight, torso muscular, exposed, and the other was of a woman, smaller, but equally muscular. They each held out swords, and as Gwen looked down, she saw that beneath them was a huge arch, through which the water ran between their legs, heralding the entrance to the land and flowing into a massive harbor. Light reflected off of them and shined down onto everything, making the harbor’s waters shimmer as if they were alive.

As their boat passed through Gwen sat up straighter, taking in her surroundings, rapt with attention. She had expected to find a quiet, forested lonely place and she was amazed to find them entering a sophisticated, bustling city harbor, filled with tall ships, with all sorts of masts and sails, its shores lined with storefronts, houses, streets of a smooth, well-worn cobblestone and bustling with horses, carriages, and people. The facades all looked well-established, and it was clear at a glance that this society had been here for centuries. Traffic crisscrossed the harbor in every direction, and the place oozed wealth and luxury. She wondered if all this could be real.

The others, too, began to rouse as they soon touched down at a dock, coming to a gentle stop; they had barely docked when the knights accompanying them hurried to help each one, taking Gwen’s arms, helping her up and toward the pier. It was the first time Gwen had walked since the ordeal, and it felt good to be on her feet again, though a bit unsteady. She needed the help as she took her first steps. She felt a rubbing at her leg and was reassured to look down and see that Krohn was still there, beside her.

Gwen was elated to see Kendrick, Steffen, and all the others walking, too, and as she reached the pier, Kendrick and Steffen each took an arm and helped her up onto dry land. They each looked as if they’d been through an ordeal, much more gaunt than they had been, and yet they each smiled back warmly; she could tell they were, as was she, relieved to have a second chance at life.

The knights led them all down the pier and toward a gleaming golden open-air carriage, large enough to hold them all. She let the others pass first, and she watched with relief as she saw all of her people—Illepra and the baby, Stara, Kendrick, Sandara, Steffen, Aberthol, Brandt, Atme, and a half dozen Silver—board. Gwen was thrilled to see Argon still alive, too, carried by the knights, in a weakened state, still unconscious, yet alive all the same. He was placed on the cart gingerly, and she prayed that they could find a cure for him here in this place.

At least she had salvaged some of the Ring, and at least she had gotten them this far.

One of the knights helped her up the three golden steps, and as he turned to go, Gwen reached out and grabbed his wrist.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

The knight looked at her, surprised.

“Why, to the castle, my lady,” he replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “To meet our King. It will be in his right to decide what shall become of you, whether he shall let you stay.”

Gwen felt a flush of fear.

“What sort of King is he?” she asked.

The knight smiled.

“A good and fair King. A wise King. I pray he allows you to stay.”

There came the crack of a whip, and the horses—four gorgeous white mares, with long flowing hair, the most beautiful she had ever seen—suddenly broke into action. They took off at a fast walk, and Gwen was surprised to feel no bumps. She looked down and saw the carriage was of a superior construction, one she had never seen, and the roads were so smooth, it was like riding on air. She was impressed, once again, by these people, whoever they were.

They passed through immaculate streets as they traversed the harbor town, filled with people dressed in elaborate outfits. The streets were overflowing with people peddling wares, sampling foods, walking about in a hurry, all walking about freely with no sense of danger. Gwen was amazed by all the fashions, the brightly colored outfits cut in unusual designs on all the women, and by the hairstyles of the men; they all seemed to have shaved heads and bright blond beards. It appeared to be the custom here.

All the people seemed relaxed and friendly, many leaning back and laughing aloud good-naturedly. They appeared to be an open and friendly people, quick to laugh, the men and women tall and broad-shouldered, well-tanned and relaxed, children running and giggling at their feet. It reminded her of King’s Court in its heyday.

Gwen studied the buildings for any sign of a castle, taking in this whole place with fascination, and saw no sight of it. The roads, in fact, soon twisted and turned their way out of the town, and before her she saw it leading to open country and sky, leading to gently rolling green hills. She was surprised to see they were leaving the city.

The castle, she realized, must be someplace else—perhaps more inland.

Gwen leaned forward, closer to the cart driver, who was holding the horses’ reins, his back to her.

“Where is the castle?” Gwen asked him.

He looked back over his shoulder good-naturedly and shook his head.

“Not for quite a while, my dear,” he said. “It’s on the far end of the Ridge. Could take most of the day to get there. Just sit back and relax and enjoy our land.”

The road led to another road as one land shifted to another, more rural, lush trees lining the path. They traveled up and down smooth, rolling hills, gently twisting and turning, birds singing, passing orchards and vineyards and farms the likes of which she’d never seen. Gwen saw entire fields filled with glowing red fruits, dripping juice. She saw other fields filled with blueberries the size of her hand. She saw vineyards heavy with grapes, saw happy farmers pushing carts, whistling; she saw lush grass fields and an entire horizon filled with cattle, horses, and goats grazing freely beneath the glowing suns, which were a softer orange here.

This was a land of splendor.

“Have you ever seen anything like it?” came a voice beside her.

She saw Kendrick sitting beside her, looking at it all, as were the others, equally amazed.

Gwen shook her head.

“I almost don’t think it’s real,” said Illepra, sitting on her other side, still holding the baby, who, Gwen was elated to see, looked well again.

“And what if this King should not allow us to stay?” Steffen asked.

It was the very questions burning on Gwen’s mind.

“We have been graced with a second chance at life,” she said. “Whatever god brings us, that we shall accept.”

Gwen turned to Aberthol, who studied the land with his meaningful eyes.

“Is this the Second Ring?” she asked him.

He sighed.

“I cannot say for sure, my lady,” he said. “If the second ring exists, surely this must be it.”

Gwendolyn turned and looked at Argon, dying for answers. She was burning more than ever to ask him, for him to tell her everything about this place, about their destiny, about what would be. Yet he still lay there, breathing but unconscious.

There were passed around sacks water, left for them by the knights, and Gwen felt one placed in her hand by Steffen, nice and cold. She drank and it was a sweet taste, perhaps mixed with honey, and she felt a wave of relief. She also felt sleepy.

The gentle breezes of this place got to her, and she lay back, despite herself, and found herself closing her eyes, each step of the horse lulling her more and more deeply to sleep.

When Gwen finally opened her eyes again, she did not know how many hours later, she saw the two suns low in the sky, a soft reddish glow cast over the lands. She looked around and saw the others were all fast asleep as well. She slowly shook her dreams from her mind, dreams of Thorgrin, of Guwayne, both of them reaching out to her on some faraway sea. A heaviness sat in her heart as she thought of them. She felt consumed by sadness as she looked all around, searching for them, wishing more than anything that they were here now, by her side.

Gwendolyn heard a whine, looked down, and stroked Krohn’s head in her lap. She looked out and saw the carriage still moving, and realized they’d been traveling all day. How big was this land? she wondered. She marveled at how it never seemed to end, at how such abundance could cover such a broad area.

Gwen looked up, the only one awake, as the carriage slowly crested a hill and then came to a stop at its peak. As they rounded it, Gwen leaned forward, stunned at the sight before her: there, on the horizon, lay the most beautiful city she had ever seen, everything built of silver, shiny silver spires rising high into the sky, reflected in the late sun of the afternoon. It all sparkled, and looked positively magical. It was the most beautiful place she had ever seen.

The city, sprawling forever, was ringed by low, stone walls, by a series of moats with bridges spanning them, and interspersed with grazing meadows and fields. And at its center, rising above it all, was a gleaming silver castle, replete with spires, parapets, a drawbridge, and hundreds of knights standing guard.

Her heart beat faster as she took it all in. Who were these people? she wondered. Would they find a new home here?

“My lady,” the driver said, turning to her as he came to a stop. “Allow me to be the first to welcome you to Ridge Castle.”