The Jewel of Orlegon

Chapter 17: Agathil

The group of novices seemed to have welcomed Alteria as if she had been part of it from the beginning. So much so that the young woman was invited to ride with them rather than with their elders as they resumed their journey in the early morning. Initially, she politely declined, held back by a form of loyalty towards her two protectors with whom she had already spent so much time. Nanthamo then sent her back to her peers, laughing, arguing that secret discussions were necessary among the older members. Thus, she and Boreas joined the somewhat disorganized column that was struggling to navigate the rugged road that wound its way through the mountains.

Despite the sun beginning to illuminate the white peaks with its golden rays, indicating the presence of ice, the morning temperatures were chilly, and Alteria tried to stay bundled up in her cloak without falling off her horse. Others in the group seemed to be affected by the morning cold, particularly Zao'wi, who shivered discreetly while wrapping a large colorful fabric around herself. Intrigued, Alteria urged her horse to move alongside the novice who was shivering and pointed at one of the patterns.

"Is that a horse?" she asked, indicating the animal, her finger brushing the fabric that felt softer than anything she had ever known.

"Sorry?" Zao'wi replied, startled.

"I apologize if I surprised you. I was just looking at the designs on this garment. Are those horses depicted?"

The novice stared at Alteria for a moment with her brown pupils before turning her attention to the cloth that barely covered her. Alteria perceived a mix of sorrow and tenderness in Zao'wi's eyes as she looked at the pattern for a moment before answering.

"No," she murmured with a faint smile, "it's not a horse. It's an animal from my homeland, in the desert."

"Oh," Alteria responded with interest, leaning in to get a better look at the design, "and what do you call these animals?"

"They're cheetahs," Zao'wi answered, spreading the fabric so her companion could admire the pattern, "they're very large desert cats."

"How big are they?"

"They're about as tall as an adult's hip."

"Have you seen them before?"

"Yes, they're a royal animal in our culture. The king had several in his menagerie. They're very skilled hunters when properly trained."

"And are they red like on your fabric?"

"No," the novice answered with a small laugh, "we draw the pattern in various colors, but they're the color of sand with darker spots."

The strange image of a large, long-legged, spotted cat struggled to form in Alteria's mind when sounds of excitement from further up the column began to reach them. When they inquired about the source of this commotion, Tendral, who was ahead of them in the column, informed them that the first members of the caravan were beginning to catch sight of their destination. After one final turn, the passage between the mountains suddenly opened up to reveal a sight like nothing Alteria had ever seen before.

The stone road led to a large, almost circular amphitheater, bordered by towering mountains with steep sides that resembled an immense stone wall. The road that had brought them there continued alongside a wide mountain torrent with foaming waters cascading down from higher up the amphitheater, forming a vast plain that sloped gently upwards. The plain was covered in tall grass swaying in the wind, creating a mesmerizing dance of green patterns, resembling the fur of a magnificent animal shivering in the summer breeze. Further away, nestled in the farthest recess of the amphitheater, lay Agathil, still partially in the shadow of the mountains that shielded it.