Previous chapter of BloodInTheSands, IntoTheMountains

The flight over the valley and the lake was inspiring; I now know why the Ashani insist that we return to this land. This is paradise and home to our ancestors. We took the entire twenty-seventh day of our journey to reach the mountains on the other side. Both Cira and Telal were sore from the day’s journey as they assumed the forms of the Eagle and the Owl.

While flying the next day we chose to hunt as well as travel because we had run out of food. Both Cira and Telal were successful, but as the Eagle Cira was able to bring down a deer, although she eat half of the animal before she returned to human form. We were able to salvage the rest for our journey. With full stomachs the next day’s flight was easy. I am constantly aware of the pull of the Sand, steadily pulling me southeast towards the broken lands. Cira and Telal do not feel the pull while they are flying; they have a taste of freedom each day.

On the thirtieth day of our journey we came across a hidden paradise high in the mountains. While we were flying over a mountain peak the wind buffeted both Telal and Cira, initially it seemed as we would have to move around the peak, but they made it through. As they made it through the wind currents we saw that mountain peak was a large crater with a lake in the middle. The sky was filled with birds, the sides of the mountain were terraced and an orchard filled the bottom area around the lake. Telal swooped down low and saw sheep as well as Kurdrun working in the fields. Hunger must have lead Telal to hunt sheep, or perhaps the Ashani inspired him. Once the sheep were in his talons and he was flying up again the Kurdrun scattered and Telal and Cira began to experience difficulty with flying. Although both tried to escape they were pulled down into the crater. Telal fell into the lake and Cira landed in a terrace of corn. Cira, in human form again, hung back and I walked down to meet Telal. We decided to wait for our hosts, we claimed the sheep from the lake and did our best to appear friendly and non-threatening. Although we explored the area it appeared that there would be no easy exit from this place. Our hosts were very patient and did not come out to meet us until the stars had claimed the sky.

As we prepared to go, a door opened in the alcove and out stepped three Kurdrun, a clanmother and her guards. She asked if I was here to invoke the treaty and one of her guards held out a spear identical to the one I carried. When I declined she seemed surprised that I did not know what the treaty was. I told her where I found it and that I was going to give the Stone Spear to the Orzan so that he could decide what to do. She seemed to be pleased that I believed that this Orzan was true. She told me that residing in the Spear were Ashani, whose role it was to remember the treaty and to honour it. The Clanmother also said that if the Orzan was ready to invoke the treaty that I would be welcome to bring the Spear to her here. I thanked her and she left.

I am honoured that the Ashani have entrusted me to find the Treaty Spear and be its messenger of hope.

I did not remember much of the rest of that day, as I silently wept for the Ashani to have endured solitude for so long.

Two days later both Cira and Telal were unable to sleep; they either meditated or stretched for two watches. Apparently both saw visions of the Awakened One and were as well rested as if they had sleep the entire night.

On the 35th day of our journey the pull became stronger and more focused. It seemed as if we were getting closer to our prey. The down side was that we had less room to maneuver, as the corridor leading to Kagnoi was getting narrower. So the hunt is on, the sooner we are finished the sooner the Treaty Spear can be in the hands of the Orzan

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