Chapter 32
Xanthia
Alianna felt her vision begin to clear, slowly. She could see a blurry figure above her – a face. Rionan’s. He was staring straight ahead of them.
His arms were wrapped beneath her, supporting her legs and her back. She felt as though she was moving through the air.
Above them, she could see the sky, which was illuminated with the most vibrant sunset she had ever seen. It stole the breath from her lungs.
It was warm here. Balmy.
Alianna tried to sit up, and quickly realised that Rionan was carrying her.
His feet moved silently, with the stealth of a predator. His face was a mask of pure focus, brows knitted together.
“Where are we?” Alianna asked, her voice a whisper.
“You’re awake,” he muttered. He cast his eyes down to her, and they softened for the briefest moment. “I was beginning to worry. We are deep within the mountains on the edge of my territory, which borders the North.”
“Can I stand?” Alianna asked, attempting to lift herself up. This caused her head to begin spinning, and she lowered it down again, nestling herself into Rionan’s chest.
“The jump is not pleasant, even for Xanthians. It is better that you rest. I can carry you as far as we need to go.”
“Did you pass out?” Alianna asked, her words strained and voice sluggish. “Like you did when you arrived in Porthan?”
“No,” Rionan answered, eyes remaining on the path ahead of them.
The pathway was dimly lit, the rock faces around them casting shadows.
Alianna tried to turn her head to look around them, and wondered if Rionan’s vision was any different to her own.
“I fell unconscious when I arrived in your realm, because I had taken in one quarter of the power that flows through Xanthia only moments before. Returning here was much easier.”
“And where are we going?” she asked, groaning as whatever she ate this morning threatened to come back up.
“To find my people. Before I left, I encouraged them to go North. These mountains are remote, wild, and likely the safest place for a host of those wishing not to be found. While some scouts may have gone further North, the rest are here.”
“You know this for certain?”
“I do not know for certain, but I can hope that I am right.”
The night drew in, and the temperature began to drop, although it remained mild.
The stars that shone overhead were brighter than Alianna had ever seen in her own realm, and shooting stars seemed commonplace here, too.
After what felt like an age, but may have only been a few hours, Alianna felt strong enough to stand on her own two feet and walk with Rionan.
He kept an arm around her, steadying her across the rocky footfalls of the mountain paths.
She had not realised how strong he was.
The mountains around them were void of any visible life, although Rionan assured her that a myriad of creatures did live here.
Some wanted to be found, some did not. Some newer creatures that had appeared since the war began, would look for an opportunity to find you.
Alianna shuddered at the visions of terror which manifested in her head.
The rocky pathways and peaks stretched as far as Alianna could see, although a larger mountain range began to define itself on the horizon, it’s silhouette ominous in the dying light.
“That,” Rionan gestured, pointing towards where Alianna looked now. “Is the Alaccaran Mountain Range.”
“The mountains you showed me before,” Alianna recalled, her mind cast back to those wonderful visions that Rionan had shared with her back in Porthan.
“Yes,” he said. “They stretch far along the edge of my territory, bordering the West from the North. From those mountains, you can see into some of my favourite places in the West. You can also descend into the North, if you wish.”
“Is there not a less–steep path to the North?”
“There are several,” Rionan nodded. “Although I am not sure how safe many of them currently are. Many creatures answer to Rannirr, and he has spies planted across Xanthia. Although a gruelling journey awaits anyone who tries to climb down those mountains, you are battling the elements, and less likely to battle anything else.”
Alianna heard a loud sound overhead, and she ducked into Rionan, stilling.
“That is one of the Amassa,” Rionan whispered to her, his body hardening as he sheltered her. She realised that he had also frozen, as if moving would make them easier to detect.
“Amassa?” Alianna asked, peering up into the night sky.
She could make out a winged silhouette gliding through the air, calling out.
It’s strange, eerie call was like nothing she had heard.
It wasn’t like a bird – it was too loud for that.
It wasn’t a roar, either. It was like an ethereal shriek, a soft sound that managed to cut through you.
“The Amassa are creatures of the wilds. They roam free and belong to Xanthia alone. Some dwell in the forests, while some take shelter in caves. There is rarely enough food in the mountains that they come here. You have flying creatures in your human stories, do you not?”
“Yes. Is it a dragon?”
“No, they are not dragons. The Amassa have large feathered wings, but a body like a lizard. Many are peaceful. Some even take Xanthian company and form friendships with certain individuals, who they allow to ride them,” Rionan paused, eyes scanning the sky.
“Unfortunately, when Rannirr grew in power, he was able to sway some of the more…antagonistic of the Amassa to his cause.”
“So they fight for him?” Alianna felt a chill run down her spine.
“Not all of them.”
“How do we know which is which? If that one was good, or if it was not?”
“We don’t. Not at this distance, anyway. We would only be able to see how it behaved towards us should it find us. I am not risking being found by an enemy Amassa out here.”
Rionan sniffed at the air, scanning around them. The sky had again fallen silent, the gentle sound of wing beats no longer audible.
“Come,” Rionan ushered. “Let’s keep moving.”
***************
Rionan and Alianna made their way through the mountain pass.
Rionan explained that they were descending down to the farthest reach of the Western territory, to an area of the mountains that was tucked away from the sight of passing aerial patrols.
Occasionally, Rionan would stop, studying tracks on the ground that Alianna herself could not see.
They seemed to be moving towards fog, which Rionan did not comment on, and did not deter him.
“What should I expect when we arrive?” Alianna asked, leaning against the surrounding stone as Rionan again studied the ground.
He stood slowly, beckoning her onwards. Alianna was not sure how long they had been walking.
Her steps were growing weary. She was acutely aware that they did not have food or water with them, so would need to find this before they bedded down for the night – if they could find suitable shelter, or somewhere that Rionan felt that they’d be safe.
She looked to Rionan, who did not seem to be tiring.
“Truthfully, I am not sure,” Rionan’s eyes were hard. The fog around them was thin enough that she could see his expression, which was drawn, his eyes hard with concern.
Alianna tried to remind herself that the silence of the mountains should be comforting – a sign that nothing was following them, or circling overhead.
“We will need to find somewhere to camp soon,” acknowledged Rionan. He looked to Alianna, and although she had not admitted it, he seemed to know that she was in dire need of water. “There are limited water sources in these mountains, but we will find some. If you tire, I will carry you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, reaching for his hand. Rionan grasped her own tightly, his skin warm. His touch was reassuring amongst the dense night.
Alianna had lost track of how long she and Rionan had been walking before he froze, his eyes on the rocky walls that now pressed in on either side of them.
The pathway had narrowed considerably, and they were just able to walk side by side, their shoulders brushing against each other as they went.
The fog had thickened, and the path ahead was difficult for Aliana to make out.
Rionan had continued holding her hand, leading the way through the pass.
The damp air was leaving a light coating of water across Alianna’s skin.
Her face was clammy, throat tight as she ignored the overwhelming need to search her bag for water that she knew she had not been sensible enough to pack.
“What is it?” she asked quietly, as Rionan reached two fingers towards the rock face. He traced his fingers downwards – what he had seen, Alianna was unsure. He drew his fingers back, bringing them to his nose and inhaling softly.
“Ulreah,” he replied. His voice was gravelly, and Alianna could only just hear the word he had said. She recalled that Ulreah was the name of one of the members of his forces. One of his friends. “Dried blood on the wall, a few days old. Come.”
Rionan pulled her down the pass now, his pace quickening into a half-jog.
She was certain that Rionan was moving more slowly than he was otherwise able to, aware that she might struggle to keep up in her tired state.
As the fog continued to build around them, Rionan came to a sudden stop.
Alianna’s feet skidded on the loose gravel beneath them, whilst Rionan stilled like a predator who had caught up with prey.
“Here,” he motioned, unhooking the bag containing the stone from over his shoulder and passing it to Alianna. She had almost forgotten that he’d been carrying it. “Hold this. Stay flat against the rock face. Wait here.”
Alianna did as she was asked, extending her arms out and taking hold of the bag. She hugged it close, flattening herself as close to the wall behind her as she could, trying her best to still her breathing. Rionan turned and cautiously waded into the fog, out of sight.