CHAPTER XVII #5
We’re out of our seats in an instant, grabbing the mugs swiftly as we dart through the crowd. There’s only one thought on our minds as we move outside, and that’s to keep this already good night going until sunrise.
Cal and I stand directly at the bottom of the looming tower.
It’s black in its entirety, wide and circular, jutting so high in the air that we can no longer spot the bell that rests on top.
We’re reading a small plaque that’s nailed into the granite, standing before two large doors made of wood and iron.
“Enter with a full mug,” I read aloud, “and at your own caution.”
“No rules stating only one person can enter at a time,” Cal grins.
“No,” I smirk, the two of us clanking our ales.
Holis and Mana don’t want to join in on the fun and instead tease that they’ll stay at the bottom with Stormfall, awaiting our cries for help.
“You ready, Alex?” Cal turns with a beaming grin.
“You know it,” I reach for the handle of the door, excitement coursing through my whole body as I pull it open to complete darkness.
A thick breeze rushes towards us, the movement cool and old, as if the air has been trapped inside the tower for some time.
Two and a half years, Stormfall sighs from behind.
I laugh at the Bird of Ash and take a nervous step behind Cal, the two of us walking into the dark and cold tower without any light surrounding the walls. Within an instant the large door closes behind us, making us both jump.
“Did you do that?” Cal turns to me.
“No,” I whisper with a small chuckle. The door decided to close on its own.
“I can’t see shit in here,” he grumbles, the outline of his form taking a step into the darkness.
I quickly reach a hand for his arm, pulling him back.
“Do you have your matchbook? Let’s get our bearings before we start trudging forward.”
I can vaguely see Cal reaching into his pants pocket, his other hand extending my way with his mug.
“Here, take my ale. I’ll light up.”
He passes me the drink, striking a match in front of the two of us as the dim glow illuminates the room.
The tower is still massive, black granite walls shining under the soft light as a wide staircase rests a few feet to our right.
Both of our heads turn towards that staircase, the stone steps large and twisting away into unknown depths beyond.
“I don’t know about you, but I feel like we should have our hands ready before we begin that climb,” my voice is quiet, watching the flicker of the flame die as we descend into the darkness again.
“I agree,” he chuckles, taking back his drink. “Tilt?”
“Tilt,” I nod.
“On the count of three,” he says, mug crashing straight into my shoulder.
“Ow!” I cry, moving out of the way. “What’d you do that for?”
“Sorry. I just wanted to cheers.”
“Bastard,” I grumble, “I’ll count. No cheers.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Cal…”
“Okay, okay. Just start counting.”
I roll my eyes and take a steady breath. “One...”
“Two…”
“Three!”
We both begin our hasty drink, mugs tilting upwards as the ale sloshes down our throats. The drink begins to warm my belly, fueling that call to adventure as my body turns hot, ready for whatever greets us onward.
The two of us throw our mugs on the ground at the same time, laughing at each other as Cal’s hand reaches out to wrap around my shoulder.
“My best student yet,” he grins, pulling us towards the stairs. We stop before the first step, our vision now beginning to adjust in the dark as that first stone step waits patiently for us to begin.
“I’m ready,” I look at the winding staircase with determination.
“You buckled?” Cal asks, eyes turning towards mine.
“Both boots and my bicep,” I nod, fingers twitching in anticipation.
“Then let’s do this, Alex,” his smile is wide, planting a foot on the first step, “I want to smoke into the morning.”
“Same,” I take a step with him, the two of us beginning our walk up the tower.
The twisting staircase is old, the stones beneath our feet cracked and looking like they can give way at any moment.
There’s no railing on either side of the black walls surrounding us, and no torches or bottled moonslight gracing the granite to provide any semblance of what might be lurking behind each turn.
The only thing we can see are the steps in front of us, our forms to the side of us, and the vague outline of more stairs twisting above us. It’s a bit daunting.
Nothing greets us as we make two full turns around the tower, our anticipation only growing as we ready ourselves to combat whatever summoning comes our way.
“I expected more,” Cal whispers, mirroring my own thoughts.
We continue our climb at a slow pace, taking our time with each step and testing our weight before moving on to the next.
“At this rate we’ll reach the top after the sun rises,” I huff.
Cal chuckles, nodding his head in agreement and lighting another match as we continue forward, eyes wary of everything around us. We take one more full turn around the tower before the air around us begins to change. It’s damp, thickening with every breath we take and cooling our lungs.
“Is that water dripping?” Cal asks curiously.
Our gazes meet quickly, looking to each other with furrowed brows before we immediately stop in our tracks. There’s a steady drip of a single patter of water falling onto a stone beyond the next curve.
“Where could it come from?” my voice is a whisper, taking a slow step forward.
Cal follows at my side, shaking his head as we climb, his guess as good as mine.
My boot nearly slips when it comes down on a few steps above, walking straight into a puddle of water resting on the stone. I immediately freeze and look around, seeing nothing but the continuous dark outline of more stairs.
But where did the puddle come from?
“What the-?”
I quickly turn towards Cal, watching him wipe the top of his forehead with the back of his hand.
“It landed on me,” he grimaces.
The moment the words leave his lips, I’m graced with my own fat drop that lands straight on the side of my temple. The liquid runs down my cheek, the water icy cold and smelling dank, as if it’s been sitting for ages.
“So help me if we have to tread through that later on…” I scowl.
I look at the staircase above us, anticipating a full waterfall to come crashing down on our heads. Nothing greets us but the twisting stairs above, nothing save the black stones and the next drop of water that lands squarely on my nose.
“We’d properly reek,” Cal chuckles, brushing away another drop.
No body of water greets us at the next full turn, the steps just remain slick and slippery with small puddles littered across their tops.
The heavy drops continue to fall from above with every step we take, a slow drip that leaves me scowling deeper as the full top of my shoulders and hair become drenched.
“Well, this is annoying.”
“But bearable,” Cal nods.
I have to agree.
If the steady onslaught of cold and annoying water is all that’s waiting for us in this tower, then it is indeed bearable. I was able to withstand a chill much worse than this in Red Falls’ library. The cold and dampness here is nothing compared to what I had to endure up in those icy heights.
“Have you heard from Alanna recently?” I ask my friend, the two of us still taking the tower at a slow pace.
“Yes,” his boots clatter on the next step, “she wrote to Holis last night. They’re still moving in and out of Airea and Etter. She thinks they may be close to cornering Callous.”
“Any news on her brother?”
“None,” he shakes his head.
We take the next turn with wide eyes, squinting at a bright light that illuminates the black granite walls in front of us. A single torch lies waiting for our climb, the flames a beacon to warmth and light while simultaneously filling me with unease.
Cal and I move up to the flames carefully, eyeing the torch in suspicion as we let the fire warm our bodies and damp heads.
“It detaches,” my friend reaches a hand for the wood.
“Don’t,” I shake my head sharply, “let’s leave it be. This is too well placed.”
“We’ll have to adjust to the dark again,” he frowns.
“Fine by me,” I give him a shrug, eyes turning back to the darkness ahead of us. “Light a match halfway.”
We continue onwards as the flames begin to retreat at our backs, their warmth disappearing and sending us into another cold shiver. Cal has to stop when he pulls out his next match, our eyes too clouded by the new darkness.
“Damn this water is really getting to me,” he scowls, wiping his hand over his brow once the match burns.
I frown in deep understanding, taking another step forward.
The drips that began as an annoyance before are now quickly turning into their own kind of slow torture, one that follows us with every step.
The water always seems to find a way to splash against our eyes and face, the two of us wiping it away at every turn.
I find myself putting a hand up to my forehead, blocking the drips from my face only to feel them trickle down my hair and neck, somehow knowing exactly where to fall.
“The summoner who did this is just pure evil,” I groan, reaching for the back of my neck.
Cal nods with a scowl. “I need another ale.”
We trudge farther up, letting the water hit us in silence.
“Have you two talked much about what happens after our travels are done?” I ask him timidly.
Cal nods again but remains silent, our steps and the water the only sounds echoing off the walls.
“Alanna wants me to move to Gaumond after we get back from Livyatan,” he finally replies.
“But you don’t?” I ask in surprise.
I thought for sure Cal would enjoy the lifestyle of Warrior. He fits in so easily.
“I’ve been fighting my whole life, Alex,” he shakes his head quietly. “I crave the peace of Knowledge and the Palisades.”
“Plus,” he continues with a shrug, “the distance might do us good. I’ve never wanted Alanna more since she stayed behind in Etter…”
“You miss her.”