The Phoenix Tree

Part 2: The Journey

Mountains began to slope across the land as the group continued their journey to the most desolate part of Martsuin. Holding the amulet in hand Auroln, the leader, gazed at the horizon. The words on his hand stung, but they were a constant reminder of Laryast’s evil and what his responsibility now was. Sometimes, Auroln thought he heard the phoenix whispering to him through the amulet and in this way he learned where safe passage was and guided his tired men through thick forests and to the northeast.

The men’s feet were sore from the many callouses burdening them and their supplies were running out, but no one dared complain. They relied on each other’s hunting skills for the next meal. Mouths were dry from scant water rations and legs were weak from endless trekking. They had become determined men on a righteous mission.

Only one found absolute pleasure in the task, Etron, the surveyor and mapper. A young man and son of a former lord who buried himself in his studies every night when the group stopped to rest. He named the various streams, mountains and forests they came across with limitless curiosity. The grim ways of everyone around him did nothing to stop Etron from carefully creating a map that would later be used by everyone in Martsuin.

They continued on until trees became less frequent and the ground they trod on was stone. The mountains disappeared, except for one, which stood in ominous silence on the men’s skyline and was completely bare of any life. If the trees were the rulers of the rest of Martsuin this solitary peak was surely the lord of the northeast. 

It was all dark rock and a grey air hung around. No other mounts were near and the perilously steep and craggy sides made any climb nearly impossible. Etron named it Shadow’s Peak and that treacherous mount was were they had to hide the amulet. 

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