Deathless

Deathless Chapter Seven: Risselyn

Chapter Seven: Risselyn

 The hulking marble towers of Ninquelen glistened in the early morning sun as the orange beams of light snaked across the land, bringing light to the land of Arlenia for yet another day.

Lindale wondered what was in store for them today as he gazed towards their destination: the front gates of the city. At the gates awaited Commander Rowlec, head of the Eagles, scouting division of the Battalion. Apparently, he was to brief them for the mission to Morsar.

Lindale still couldn’t help but think that this was all just one giant hoax. The dead coming to life just shouldn’t be possible, not scientifically, not logically. And yet... and yet, he knew this was something more. Something beyond their comprehension. Or was it?

Lindale still wasn’t sure. In a way, he was rather curious about this entire affair. As he had always been. Since he was a child, he had always been curious about the world around him. He’d read every single book he could get his hands on. He’d particularly enjoyed reading about the history of Arlenia, about the courageous explorers of old who discovered the rich, thriving land of Arlenia and scoured the island, seeking riches and fame.

That was one of the things that helped keep him going during his long confinement in the coal mine. Many times he’d wanted to die, to just give up on life. He knew that he still had something to do in this world yet. But he still didn’t quite know what that was.

Even though his years in the coal mine had left him cold hearted and ruthless, it had made him strong. It had molded him into the man he needed to be for the days ahead. For what was to come.

But as they approached the towering wooden gates of the City of Roses, Lindale began to feel a sort of dread set upon him. The consequences of Vanya’s decision the day before were just beginning to set in. And they were terrifying. They were going south, a land none dared travel if they could help it. The rebels held that any that crossed the border from the North was Imperial scum. And scum needed to be exterminated.Commander Rowlec, of the Eagles division stood at the gates, a man of medium height, with an angled face and a pointed chin. Only mere traces of a beard lay on his chin, and upper lip, owing to the fact that Rowlec shaved it everyday. His eyes glowed an intimidating ice-blue, that seemed to stare directly into one’s soul. He was built lithe and lanky, with a small, muscular torso, and lightly muscled arms. His legs were long and tough, and were used to exhausting work.

Beside him stood Captain Risselyn, of the Sixth Legion. On the other hand, the son of a high-ranking official in the Battalion was tall and muscular, though not nearly as tall as Lindale, with broad shoulders and well-muscled arms. He had a tall, angled face with high-arching eyebrows with eyes the color of freshly tilled soil. His thick lips rested on a flat line across his face that seemed to be constantly on the verge of a grin.

A map of the island of Arlenia was spread out before them. Rowlec was the first to notice them, and nodded curtly as he saw them. Risselyn didn’t seem to think them important enough to give them that courtesy. He scoffed when they stood around the map. Lindale decided to let it slide. After all, this brute was to travel with them to Morsar. They needed the captain to think well of them.

“Morning,” Vanya muttered as she glanced over the map of Arlenia. A couple of pins were stuck in the wood at several destinations, one of which was at Ninquelen, in the far north of the island, and another was on Morsar, in the southeast reaches of the southern half of Arlenia.

“Morning,” said Rowlec. He glanced at each one of them in turn, then began. “I suppose there’s no point in waiting. You’d best be off as soon as possible, so I shan’t delay you.”