Chapter 7:3 -Climb every mountain
Ana was of course right. The moon soon shone on them as they made a quick flight to the passage Jagger had talked about. Up ahead Soi could see the narrow cliff. It was a foot narrow and at some places as narrow as his long finger. When they stopped in front of their only way away from the monsters, Soi was a lot more skeptical than he thought he would be.
-Do people really pass here during daylight? He questioned Jagger who nodded her head a little, seemingly skeptical herself.
-I have passed it myself, but it was wider then. You could easily lead a caravan of sheep pass it, it’s a risky business put people do a lot of stupid things to earn some money. I can’t believe it’s this narrow, I passed it last month.
-Someone has tempered with it, Ana pointed out grimly. –Probably someone who don’t want to be followed.
-Perhaps someone with something very valuable, Soi added quietly.
Ana heard him, their eyes met and they both knew that whoever passed here must be in possession of the flute. Soi thought he could hear the soft tones from a flute echoed in the mountains, as if the mountains were alive with the sound of music.
-What do we do now? Jagger asked.
-We’ll pass it.
Ana took the first steps. Soi saw how she forced her tired leg to walk as this was a walk in the park. This was a challenge twice as hard for Ana. Her damaged leg was on the verge of exhaustion, walking upwards all day and not allowed one minute of rest. Sweat made her resolute face shine in the moonlight, but she walked on. Jagger followed in her steps and at last Soi stepped out on the narrow shelf.
He had always had some fear of height since he was a child and it had gotten worse after the death of his father. Cliffs and mountains were things he avoided. But it had improved with his resolution to act as a proper guard. He now realized his initiative fear of height wasn’t gone. He did as he had these last couple of days, he kept his eyes on the red nest of hair in front of him, trying to ignore the spectacular view right at his feet. He swallowed loudly.
They rounded the mountain slowly, and Soi thought it must have been at least an hour since they had first sat their feet on the cliff. And it didn’t look like it would stop for another two hours. It wasn’t just Ana who was exhausted, they all were. Soi couldn’t think straight anymore which was caused by both the lack of rest and the high altitude. The monsters didn’t seem to be following them onto the passage but their roars still frightened Soi, he couldn’t get used to it.
There was no point of stopping so they kept moving with the monsters howling in the background. Soi concentrated on Jagger and Ana in front of him and at times he let some of the view slip in sight. If it wasn’t for the fact that they were stuck high up in a scary mountain, running away from monsters and were tired to death, the view would be stunning. He could almost see the ocean were it lay in the distance shining like silver. The moon was a narrow crescent and the whole world beneath him was dressed in its silver strokes. Soi’s cold and aching fingers reminded him of the reality and just in time to see Jagger loose her grip and fall. Her eyes widen in fear and her mouth fell open but no scream escaped her lips. Soi reached out his hand and gripped her upper arm. And then he fell. There was nothing he could hold onto. So he fell. And then nothing, he and Jagger hung in the air.
Ana had once again stopped him from doing something stupid. Jagger and Soi watched her with surprise. Her face was in agony and sweat dripped down her neck.
-If you could just stop being a hero this would take a lot less energy, she informed Soi with a big wrinkle between her blonde eyebrows.
Slowly the two was lifted upwards and back on the shelf. Soi and Jagger got their balance back and Ana released them both. For awhile the three of them stood there with their hands holding onto the mountain wall and panted. Then they were on the move again, but this time they took great care of keeping each other on the toes. The kept up a conversation were everyone had to talk and participate so they could be sure no one was falling off the cliff.
Sooner than Soi expected, the sun begun to rise and the moon disappeared in the west. A new day beun and they were still nowhere close to the end of the passage. At least that was what it felt like. When the sun begun to burn their skin and breathing became difficult they finally were at the end of the passage. From now on the path sloped downwards and in front of them lay the plains, almost like a desert with its short grass burned brown and yellow by the sun, like the golden sand of the desert. Soi had never seen anything like it but then again the thick forest beyond Sofara had surprised him when he first arrived. Of course there were plains on Spring Island but they were all green like on the first day of spring and they weren’t this big. This plain didn’t have an end, as far as Soi could see. In the east he could see more mountains but they were smaller than the ones dividing the forest and the plains.
-Over there, that’s where Beroal is, Ana pointed at the mountains Soi had his eyes on. Then she moved her hand to the north. Suddenly a strong light was reflected in the distance.
-That’s where we’re going. That’s the Academy.
Suddenly it became clear to Soi how long and difficult their journey would be from now on. So far they had been able to seek comfort among the trees but now there was nowhere they could hide, no trees, no big rocks and, from what Soi could see, no lakes. There was one wide river they had to cross and there had to be other water sources as this was called a plain and not a desert. But the plain seemed endless, just like the narrow passage had just a few minutes ago. It would take days of sun and nights filled with monsters to pass this plain.
-We’ll sleep now, then eat before Jagger take us down this mountain carefully. Then she’ll return back to Mack’s cottage.
Ana emphasized the last sentence and Jagger obediently bobbed her red head up and down like puppet.
They fell like logs to the ground, secure in the sun and none of them cared if a pebble cut into their backs.
When Soi rose again, Ana was already up and the sun stood high in the sky. She threw him an apple which he easily caught. In silence they each chewed on an apple and waited for Jagger to wake up.
-How long does it take to get to the Academy? Soi asked.
-Two weeks.
-When you walked? Did you have a guard with you then?
-No, but Sam was with me.
-Not Sassy of Nibbles?
-They don’t go to the Academy. Not if they can avoid it.
-Wasn’t it the brokens safe haven?
-For the first years, yes.
Ana turned her head away and Soi couldn’t see her expression.
Jagger finally lifted her red head and watched the two through tiny slits. And then she put her head down again, returning to sleep. Soon thereafter an apple came flying through the air and hit the back of Jagger’s head. She glowered at the potential throwe, namely Soi who held up his hands in surrender. Ana threw another apple at Jagger who caught it this time.
-What! She yelled.
-Get up or I’ll leave you here.
To be continued...
By J.L.Frick
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