The Fires of Cerran

Chapter Thirty-Six

Deep ravines cut through the lands of the South. Rivers, streams, and estuaries ran like veins and gathered in small lakes and pools along the way to the coasts. The riders came down a steep, well-trodden embankment and dropped into the shallow stream which slithered through the valley, with boulders and fallen elms gathered amongst the waters, until at last they could see their destination clearly. Tharandal, High Lord of Sera, looked along the ridge of the mountainside until his eyes fell upon the place. It was a magnificent site, built deep into the mountainside and overhung with charred grey granite, now streaked with copper tributaries as the salts ran along its surface in the summer sun. Beside him, the Sister Nemara rode her mare, a speckled white Caspian of great size. They had abandoned Tharandal's men and caravan a few miles south of Arisen and would meet with them later in the evening.

Looking upon the ancient chapel, Tharandal found his lips curving into a vicious smile. The soft scent of the sea, not five miles South of them, hung on the spring breeze and about the cry of distant gulls echoed amongst the cliffs above.

'I told you of its beauty.' Nemara remarked as she came beside the Lord.

'Indeed, you did, but I never thought your words so true.' The Lord returned; his gaze unmoved as they set off again along the shallow waters.

They came, eventually, to the bank of the stream and the beginning of the large curving road that led up the cliffside to the mouth of the chapel. It was a narrow road, large white slabs laid carefully along certain sections and with two crumbling ruins which seemed to have once been guarded gates.

'Who built this place?' Tharandal asked, looking forward to see the Sister riding before him. They were at a light trot now, nothing more than walking pace.

'That I am not too sure of, the scriptures say little of the acolytes that came before the conquest.'

'You mean to say that this is Elder Folk lore?' Tharandal answered sceptically.

'No, the faith of The Sister runs as the water below us, from the depths of the Earth and through the mountains. It has always been.' Nemara returned softly. And as they climbed higher the Lord saw the cliffside had been carved away at certain points, and in these crevices sat small relics made of that very same stone. Most were small statues of one kind or another, showing a figure in a flowing gown. On the wall itself were etched runes, their ravines thick with moss now, but they appeared in a language he had never seen before. It was neither Elder tongue nor Dark Tongue, and certainly not something even the Maesters had ever come across.

'You have many questions.' Nemara said as they came to the top of the place, the mouth of the chapel dark and unnerving. It swallowed all light, and the winds rattled about it and made it moan. Nemara dismounted and looked about the place, Tharandal knew not for what reason.

'Yes, indeed I do. But I imagine you cannot answer them.' Tharandal returned, unmounting his own ride, and straightening his cloaks. Looking out, the entire valley below seemed a distant memory, vague visions of streams and lands that now appeared as minute as a bug on a tapestry. Tharandal shivered slightly as a breeze lifted his cloaks, and here the smell of the sea was greater than he had anticipated. But he heard no gulls, nor the sounds of the stream or the cries of any animal about the place. The silence, save only for the cries of the shadowed opening, was deafening.

A few moments passed, in which both riders marvelled in the sites about them. Soon after, and Nemara removed her riding cloak, letting it fly away into the valley below them. She took a long, deep breath and began to remove her robes.

'What is this?' Tharandal said, shocked as the woman came towards him in nude.

'This place is Arathac, Home and Temple of the true Goddess, The Sister. This place requires all those who come here to remove themselves from the bonds of the life they knew before. The Sister was natural, and so should we be.' Nemara returned, smiling at the Lord, and waiting.