The Summoning (working title)
Chapter Six
The morning dragged for Erick, and even though he and
Ryan rode side by side, neither talked to the other. Shortly after they started
out, Shayla and a couple others left the group to ride on ahead. The Nahuils
traveling with the boys remained silent.
The scenery took on a welcome change as they finally
cleared the forest and traveled over a broad meadow. The sun shone down
unobstructed and felt good after countless hours in the chilly shade. A light
breeze played in Erick’s hair and caused the tall grasses to bend and sway in
rhythmic waves. The course they were on followed the wide river they discovered
a couple days ago.
After a time the forest fell far behind, and the meadow
appeared to drop away suddenly. Erick and Ryan watched the lead riders
disappear over the edge and soon found themselves perched high above a long
narrow valley. They looked down onto a large settlement stretched out along the
valley floor. Hundreds of small buildings stood amidst orchards and gardens. In
the heart of the valley rose a large stone building that looked like a
fortress. Square in shape, with towers at each corner, it had a functional
rather than ornate look. Rising nearly four stories, the keep dwarfed every
nearby building.
A series of long undulating switchbacks led the descent
into the valley. Soon they were able to make out details of the buildings
closest to them. The dwellings all seemed to be made of stone with split
shingle roofs having a central hole. Tendrils of smoke curled from most of the
holes, rising in the calm air. Gardens surrounded each home along with pens
containing strange goat-like creatures with long hair. The scent of blossoms
and fruit from the nearby orchards, and the chattering of birds filled the air.
Erick remembered descriptions of Copper Age and Bronze
Age European villages from his history classes. This setting reminded him of
those villages, but it was so vivid now. Riding through the village, he watched
the Nahuil going about their daily lives. Simple, but laborious, tasks of
gardening, tending the animals, laundry, and splitting wood brought the setting
to life. The shrill laugh of children playing with each other amongst the
dwellings brought on a small smile.
As they passed, the Nahuil glanced up from their tasks.
They stared at the boys, and Erick guessed that, as new as this scene was to
him, he was just as new and strange to them. Reactions were mixed. Some of the
looks came off as friendly and welcoming, others were not. Erick felt like he
was on a parade float passing by a crowd. A crazy urge to wave to the onlookers
went through his mind, but after a time he just stared straight ahead.
Farther into the settlement, the buildings grew larger
and closer together. By the clanging, banging, and rasping sounds emanating
from within, Erick could tell these places were the sites of skilled labor,
although he couldn’t see what was being made. At the end of this road, the keep
loomed ahead.
They stopped in front of the main entrance and he and
Ryan dismounted with two other Nahuil. They followed their escorts through the
massive gate and into a cavernous square entryway. Directly in front of them
loomed another set of large doors that were closed. Off to the left and right,
two immense stairways led to the second floor of the keep.
Erick and Ryan were guided up the wide stone staircase on
their left. They followed a long corridor lined with numerous heavy hewn doors,
the only light provided by numerous candles set into wall sconces on the stone
walls. The hazy air smelled of wax and smoke, like too many birthday candles
snuffed out. A coolness seeped from the stones and crept over Erick. His
perspiration from the warmth of the ride, chilled him and made him shiver. They
came to a stop in front of one of the last doors, which their escort opened soundlessly.
Erick wasn’t sure what he expected, but felt a sense of
relief when the door swung inward, revealing a brightly lit room arranged like
a suite.
“This will be your room while you are staying with us,”
the Nahuil informed them as he ushered them in.
Erick and Ryan entered and studied the layout. On the end
to their right, a bench-like couch stood against the far wall and a couple of
chairs faced it. A low rectangular table stretched between and small side
tables sidled up against each chair. All the furniture was made of hand-crafted
wood, but not upholstered. There were, however, many brightly colored cushions
to provide varying degrees of comfort. Hanging above the seating area, a
wrought iron chandelier supported at least a dozen candles.
On the long wall opposite the door were two large
diamond-paned windows. Measuring nearly six feet across and rising from the
floor to the fifteen foot high beamed ceiling, they flooded the room with
daylight and offered views of the settlement and the lands beyond.
To the left, placed against the wall, were two matching
beds with thick stuffed sack-like mattresses and many brightly colored pillows
and blankets, giving an overall appearance of comfort. A small table divided
the space between the beds, and off to the sides Erick noticed small matching
doors.
“Through those doors …” Their escort indicated the small
ones next to the beds. “You’ll find all the necessary items with which to
bathe. On the beds, you’ll find a set of clean clothes to wear. There is time
to rest before you are summoned to dinner. If you require anything, knock on
the door and we’ll assist you.” He then turned and walked out the door,
shutting it behind him. They both heard a barely audible click.
Ryan walked over to the door and quietly tried the latch.
It was locked. “I guess we’re guests with no option of leaving.” He tilted his
head back, rolling it side to side, stretching his neck. “Cleaning up and a nap
actually sounds pretty good.” He seemed resigned to their situation.
Erick nodded in agreement, noting how Ryan’s slack
posture and the dark circles under his eyes betrayed his carefully controlled
features.
They each headed into their respective bathrooms, taking
the clean sets of clothes with them. The small room had a table with a wash
basin and a basket that held towels, combs, and a brush. Off to the side a
large round stone tub was filled with water.
Erick walked over to the tub, dipped his hand in, and
found the water extremely warm. He closed the door and stripped off his grimy
clothes, leaving them in a pile on the stone floor. There was no mirror in the
room, but based on his clothes, he could imagine what the rest of him looked
like.
Sitting on the wide edge of the tub, he swung his legs
over into the water. He lowered himself in with a sigh and sank until he was
submerged to his ears. He took a deep breath, slid under the water, waited
until his air ran out, then resurfaced.
He wiped the water out of his eyes and saw a small stone
dish on the far edge of the tub filled with a creamy pale pink substance.
Dipping his fingers in, he scooped up a small amount and brought the thick gel
to his nose. The fragrance being mildly floral and the feel led him to believe
this was soap.
He scrubbed himself and his hair with the pink cream,
then settled in to soak, letting the tension of the past two days leach out of
his body and into the warm water. After awhile he caught himself dozing and
decided to get out. He dried himself and examined the clothes the Nahuil had
provided.
The outfit consisted of plain pants and a shirt in a deep
blue. He slipped on the loose fitting pants and found a strip of fabric along
the waist, allowing him to cinch them as tight as he needed. He held up the
shirt and saw it was long with large sleeves and v-necked. Erick refolded the
shirt, and stepped out into the main room.
Ryan was on the far bed, lying on his stomach, his damp
dark hair obscuring his face as he slept. Something caught the light from the
window and glinted between the wet strands of hair.
Not wanting to disturb him, but curious to know what it
was, Erick crawled quietly across his bed and leaned forward to get a better
view. It was a large diamond stud in his ear.
Erick had no doubt it was a diamond. Ryan didn’t seem the
cubic zirconium type, yet by the size of it, Erick knew it had cost a lot of
money. Money a foster kid wouldn’t have.
Another thing puzzling him was why a diamond? It wasn’t
the type of ear piece guys wore. It was, well, kind of girlie. But, then again,
Ryan could dress all in pink and no one would call him on it.
Erick got under the soft covers, and the comfort was
beyond words after sleeping on the ground the last few days. Curling up on his
side, Erick drew the blanket up to his chin. Despite the strangeness of
everything, he felt warm and safe.
He found his thoughts drifting back to the diamond and
sleepily chalked it up to another piece to add to the Ryan mystery.
TO BE CONTINUED...
No comments:
Post a Comment