When The Moons And Mirrors Rise

Chapter 52

Andasi organised a feast and a bonfire out in the fields under the double full moon for the last day of the year, which was both a celebration and a farewell to us – like last year at Orsilnon, only this time without the secrecy. And yes all the similarities between events were tiring, but they were also brimming with the anticipation of finding ways to make things ok again and forging life again out of ashes.

So in the morning we set out. Ink landed suddenly on my shoulder one afternoon, pleased to see us again but disinclined to say why he left without a word. We reached Eltrin in mid-Unexa, where the Vagabond waited for us, and, since Ris had already begun her journey, we steered towards Tezynnaro in hurried pursuit. Argenti was just starting to round out when we landed at Skysalt.

"Promise? Tanarook, arms wide – hello again, welcome," Karidil said when he saw us resting in the shade. "Corinew in a canaben, Mirika, hands spread, eyes open? You seem like you're waiting for something, what are you looking for?"
"We're trying to find Ris."
"She met with Mallekari and is going with the Jaquillu tribe northwards. I asked where you all were and how the quest went, but she gave no answer. Mirika..." He sighed and paused, struggling to find the right words. "Tanarook, cheeks wet. Tanarook and howling winds ...She was wretchedly miserable, I think, but her smile was content." My breath caught in my throat, blocking any words I tried to conjure up.
"She's headed for the Hollow Tree," said Kyrell. She can't, she can't, please, and I can't block out the dread of what if she does.
"The Hollow Tree?!" Karidil stared at us before torrentially thinking aloud. "There are no tribes here at the moment yet you must have a guide. The Worattle tribe usually arrives in about a week, that's too long. There's a few people living here who could take you but they're old, and the younger people don't have experience. That leaves me. Jirrel, face painted with Tekynorree colours, Narrabilli with Molliberra – we shall be a small tribe together and I will take us. Molliberra standing atop the Withered cliffs – this is a serious journey ahead. We can leave by mid-afternoon." I nodded, grateful for his help.

The first part of our journey was much like when we went to Ka-Sill Karst – apart from it now being spring, so we became crepuscular rather than nocturnal. And being apart from Ris, separated for months on end. During the hours when my friends slept, I often sparred with Kyrell to keep myself at bay and protect the others. I dared not go out wandering, lest I get lost. Now more than ever did I need my friends and to be held in company.

The second part took us northward along the snaking Moonstone River through the Withered Canyon, whose rugged walls steeply rose high up around us and whose dusty, rocky soil gave little hold to the scraggly bushes that huddled thirstily on the riverbanks. When the winds rushed around us, it whistled through the dry grasses and howled against the cliffs like a dog scratching at the door.

We marched through that valley for a long week and a half, before reaching the deafening Moonstone Cascades where the river hurled itself headlong into the canyon from above and sprayed a sparkling mist that caught the sunlight in just the right way to cast a rainbow over our heads. Mosses stretched over the boulders and crept upwards to meet the small, brave ferns clinging to the dripping rock face. Ink spread his wings and caught a thermal, soaring higher and higher, enjoying the stunning view, then dove through the waterfall and swooped back down to us and landed on a rock.

"Argh, all wet now. Soggy soggy soggy," he croaked, and shook himself as best he could, holding his wings half out exactly like an unsuspecting person who's just had a bucket poured over them and is now in shock and thoroughly soaked.
"Well what did you think would happen?" I laughed.
"Not be so hot and sticky?" He flapped his wings again. "It worked, but forgot crow not waterproof like ducks."

"How do we get out of the Withered?" Kestrel asked.
"There is a staircase in the cliff face there," Karidil said, pointing to a shadowed cavity behind the cascade on the left-hand side. "It will be dim and dank – Kestrel, will you kindly hold a light and lead the way?" She nodded and lit a bright flame in her hand, and we began our ascent of the stone staircase. It was wide enough for two abreast, and thankfully not musty or slimy – although Ink occasionally squawked at a critter scittering out of our way. Suspended dust motes gleamed in the narrow sunbeams let in through slits looking out across the Withered on the outer sections of the zig-zagging passage.

When we came back out into daylight again at the top, we found ourselves at the foothills of a mountain range. We ate lunch, then continued on instead of stopping for a nap to avoid the midday heat – the stairway had been cool and the mountains would shelter us too, and anything was better than silence.