Fulcrum of Light (Catalyst Book 2) C.J. Aaron (unputdownable books .TXT) 📖

Kaep responded. “The Vigil maintains a permanent watch in and around Vim.”

“Are you and the group that found us the Vigil?” Andr questioned.

“Yes and no,” came her curt reply. “Our responsibilities overlap, but we have different skill sets and primary focus.”

Her explanation stopped short. Andr waited for her to continue as they continued walking upward, the slightly curving staircase seemingly mimicking the contours of the cliffs face. He had hoped for a more in depth explanation, yet was satisfied with every kernel of knowledge he could gleam.

It wasn't long before they caught up with the balance of their party. Andr had lost count of how many steps they’d taken before the staircase flattened out. The path ahead turned abruptly to the right, leading directly into the mountain.

Once around the bend, the pathway widened dramatically, stretching nearly ten meters across. Soaring over his head, the ceiling reached a similar height. Evenly spaced, vertical pillars lined both sides of the walls. Simple lanterns hung from hooks on each one; casting their flickering light across the gaping tunnel. Several hundred meters to the front, a massive wooden gate blocked their passage.

Andr casually resumed his place alongside Ryl as the group made their way toward the gate. Ryl looked shockingly pale; his skin stretched over his bones from the lack of nutrition and strain from their passage across the Outlands.

They were not alone in their use of the passageway. Closer toward the gate several people moved to and fro, seemingly paying them no mind as they approached. Along the side walls, several wooden doors were closed tightly, blocking access to rooms unseen.

Unsurprisingly, the closer they moved toward the gate, the more martial the nature of those who occupied the passageway became. Their clothing was uniform, their dress regimented. Their light, heathered grey tunic and pants matched the colors of the stone walls of the tunnel. The soldiers seemed to blend in with their rock surroundings. All wore some variation of a sword at their hip.

Having served a lifetime in combat, the military hierarchy was plain for Andr to see. He caught the telltale signs of authority and deference in the behavior of the men and women they passed. Peering into the few open doors in the hallway he was rewarded with brief views of what looked to be barracks and mess halls.

The looks in the eyes of those they encountered morphed from recognition to worry at the sight of the unmoving figure on the litter. Their attitudes changed once more, to that of suspicion and fear as their gazes fell on Andr. He was distinctly aware that he was the only one in the group not wearing the matching cloak with single revealed arm covered in elaborate tattoos. Without exception all within his party still wore their hoods up, covering their faces in deep shadow.

Kaep had moved to the front of their group as they reached the edge of the gate. A pair of guards with long pikes stood blocking their passage to the other side. The thick wooden double gates were disturbingly similar in construction to the Pining Gate that separated The Stocks from Cadsae Proper and the free world beyond.

Andr heard none of the brief conversation as Kaep spoke with the soldiers at the entrance. The disparaging looks that were cast in his direction and the occasional pointed finger spoke loudly enough. Outsiders were obviously a rarity here and one handled with a great degree of distrust.

The group held at the gate while the conversation continued. Andr stuck close to Ryl's side, clearly aware of the contingent of armed soldiers quickly massing at their rear. His senses were on alert as Kaep stalked back to his position.

“I'll need your blade,” she commanded.

Andr glared at her momentarily. He opened his mouth to argue, closing it again before the words could pass his lips.

“Understand, strangers are unheard of here,” she whispered. “I'll see to it this gets returned to you.”

Andr nodded his head in acceptance.

Or was it defeat?

Both mentally and physically his body was far beyond the point of exhaustion. Sluggishly he removed his sheathed blade and handed it to the waiting phrenic.

“You have my thanks,” she nodded, as a small smile tugged up on her lips. “Let's get your friend to the mender.”

Handing the sword to Kaep had worked as the sign the guards at the gate had been waiting for. The one to the right hammered out a staccato pattern on the massive door with the butt of his pike. The grating sounds of wood scraping on stone returned the call. The mighty door shook as the right-hand section swung inward.

As the door opened, a great breath of air flowed into the hall, blowing his hair, billowing out the cloaks of his secretive companions. The air was refreshing, having blown off all but a minuscule taste of the smoke from the torches and lanterns that illuminated the interior.

The party, with a contingent of guards in tow, moved as soon as the gate opened wide enough to permit their entrance. Kaep fell behind him as they continued on through the opening. Andr felt the eyes of the soldiers glaring at him with suspicion and scorn as he passed. His eyes were focused straight ahead, watching for action with his peripheral vision.

The gate closed behind them with a resounding thump.

Once through the gate, the tunnel became far more elaborately decorated than the earlier passage. The evenly spaced pillars were adorned with masterful carvings of leaves and vines that wrapped upward to where they met the ceiling. The designs looked so lifelike, he resisted the urge to touch them as his mind struggled for clarity.

He could see the end of the tunnel ahead of him; two massive pillars framed the exit. The day was in the final transition to night, and the silhouettes of sharp mountain peaks in the distance stood out in the fading light. Why did the mountains now seem so far away?

He wouldn’t have long to wait for his answer.

The tunnel stretched