Book 4: Chapter 48: Goodbyes and Visions |
The next morning they all shared a breakfast of some kind of egg and mushroom dish with a tangy sauce that Michael found invigorating.
“The Chief and I came to an agreement last night,” said Gabriel after swallowing some water. “I’ll start moving my men through the tunnels immediately to get them to Broan and Old Hume. Even if I begin right away, it will take some time to move so many troops though, not to mention supplies. Once I get things organized though, I myself will travel along with some of my best men. We should be able to arrive much sooner than the rest.” He paused for a moment. “Do you think we’ll make it in time?”
Michael frowned. He didn’t need to extend his sense to feel the large rift gathering strength in Old Hume anymore. It was like a wound in the corner of his mind that his awareness could never fully free itself from. It was massive, easily equal to the one that the Emperor had encountered in his vision, and every moment he felt reality around it thinning.
“I’m not sure,” replied Michael. “It seems to be speeding up. I thought we’d have four or five months, but now it may be as little as two or three.”
“Do you still intend to travel through the caves? It may be faster to take my titled steeds. Even if they try to stop you, they likely wouldn’t be able to.”
Michael took a bite of his food for a moment, thinking on it when a voice broke through his thoughts.
~The caves~
The stern voice Michael heard was that of Bruntus, the Lord of Diligence.
“The caves,” he responded. “At least according to divine guidance.”
Michael frowned. “I guess it is.”
They ate the rest of their meal, and the others all said their quick goodbyes to Gabriel. Marcus gave him a firm handshake, Ollie hugged him and whispered something in his ear that made him laugh, and Pyotr simply embraced him and told him to say hi to his grandniece and nephew for him. After that they went with Francesca to meet up with the guide, giving Michael and Gabriel some time.
Michael didn’t hesitate to wrap his son in a bear hug, squeezing him with all of his strength. Gabriel returned the gesture with equivalent force. The power of it could’ve killed a bear, but for them it was just a warm embrace. They held there for a few moments, then released one another.
“I know I’ve already said it,” started Michael, “but I’m proud of you. In spite of what you’ve been through you’re a great husband and father and you did your best with what you were given.”
“Thanks Dad. I’m proud of you too. Proud to call you my father… though I was even before I found out you were slaughtering demons and freeing the oppressed.”
Michael smiled and hugged him one more time.
“Go tell those kids of yours I love them, would ya?”
“I will Dad, but make sure that you get through this so that you can tell them yourself.”
Michael squeezed him one last time. “I will.”
They separated, and Michael wiped some tears from the corner of his eyes away. Gabriel had a bit more control, but his own eyes were misty as well. They smiled at one another and then Michael turned away to catch up with the others.
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He caught up with them at the tunnel exit from the town. The same one they’d travelled down on the way to heal a god. He found all of them standing and talking with Francesca.
“Sorry about that. I had a few last minute logistical things to go over.”
“It’s okay,” remarked Ollie. “She knows.”
“Ah,” remarked Michael, turning to her. “I would’ve told you myself, but it's a lot to explain and we’ve been pretty busy.”
“It’s fine. Given the situation, I understand. Truthfully, it was smart of them to tell me when they did. If you’d only told me what happened to Davi and not why you were working with the kingdom that killed him, it may have caused problems between us.”
“Well, I’m glad I have friends with me who can make up for my many deficiencies.” That provoked a chuckle from the others and he looked around. “So where is our guide?”
“I will be the friend making up for your deficiency on that front,” said Francesca with a smile.
Michael noticed that aside from her usual pack at her side she also had a large backpack as well as a dagger at her waist.
“Well, you’re taller than I expected,” responded Michael.
She humored him with a smile and gestured for them to start moving.
They walked through the long, road-like cavern for several hours. The first stage of the trip was familiar, moving along that same portion of tunnels that they’d traveled through only a day prior. The only major difference was that they were now running into merchants and travellers. It made the trek far more interesting to see dwarves along the road chatting with one another, their carts being pulled by powerful ponies or mules. They slept in large open caverns or near settlements that had places carved for settlers to camp. Michael had to be reminded more than once that he didn’t need to set up his tent. The old habit was hard to forget.
They travelled like this for nearly a week before a chill began to permeate the air and they began to feel a slight breeze.
“We’re near the surface,” said Francesca, “we’re not quite to Broan, but there are a number of openings all along here. This tends to be the most dangerous part of the trek. Wolves, mountain men, goblins, all of them tend to hide out in these areas.”
They shuddered collectively at the thought of goblins. Monstrous green big-headed toddlers with sharp teeth and terrible rage.
They walked for nearly a day, donning heavy cloaks over their armor and gathering around a small sphere of warmth that Ollie summoned for the cooler portions of the trek. When the air was at its coldest, Michael felt a sudden pull toward where he felt a breeze blowing. He turned his attention to it and a vision filled his mind as his Seer title activated.
He saw a crude structure built from harsh stone, more than a hundred men and women gathered below it prostrating themselves, speaking a language he did not recognize. As they worshiped a half-dozen men pulled pigs, goats, and sheep forward, gathering them in a large pen just in front of the stone structure. One of the men stayed behind with the livestock, he peeled the furs from his skin revealing a strange script dyed across his skin in light-blue ink. He was muttering under his breath, his eyes rolled back in his head as if in ecstasy. As the worshippers and the man’s muttering reached a crescendo, the structure moved.
The crude pile of stone drew itself up, snow shaking from it and even beginning to steam along the stones as it reached its full height. A long neck revealed itself, on the end of which sat a long face with rows of sharp teeth and a horned head. It spread massive wings, blocking the sun and shrouding the worshippers in darkness. It let out a great roar, shaking the ground around it and sending anyone still standing to their knees. The dragon lowered its head then and, almost gently, it ate the man screaming in worship in a single bite before it consumed the rest of the offering, the hot blood steaming on its snout as it indulged with the prayers of its faithful being screamed even louder.
“Michael!” yelled Ollie, giving him a shake.
He shook his head, his senses returning to himself.
“Sorry,” he managed as the images he’d just seen replayed in his mind. His memory of the follower of Bruntus, Brunhilde, and his conversation in Broan came to him. She’d been trying to reach the dragon in the mountains that they worshipped.
“Some kind of vision, I assume?” asked Ollie.
Michael nodded, then explained what he’d just seen before reminding them of what Brunhilde had told them while they were on the way to Swandia.
“Well it seems clear, doesn’t it?” asked Marcus.
Michael looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“The gods are warning you not to get involved so that we can avoid the cold and getting eaten alive. Nice that they’re not trying to get us killed for a change.”
Michael chuckled. “If you were actually the one in charge of interpreting this, I’d believe you. Unfortunately I think I need to follow this vision where it takes me.”
“Great,” responded Marcus with a tight smile.
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