Chapter 11

Up

- And Heaven’s Gates stand smiling wide above the ash of burning skies -

Thonavar turned around but saw nothing. The grip on his arm had been released. Then another hand emerged from the shadows and clasped Thonavar's shoulder. Suddenly, as if the darkness had worn a cloak, a ripple of darkness moved toward his left. A hooded figure enveloped in black swirling robes that floated about him stood before Thonavar. The figure stood there, silent, becoming as still as one of the statues lining the Avenue of Kings. He stood there, a statue that had come to life, raindrops painting a silhouette of a man standing in the rain.

Thonavar blinked rapidly. He saw the hooded figure standing before him but felt slightly uneasy. For such was the stillness of the man within the dark robes that Thonavar felt that if he for but a single moment failed to keep the man standing before him within sight, the man would fast disappear into the surroundings. As he watched, the figure had already started to fade into the surrounding rain-mist, and was already melting into the shadows. It was as though Thonavar needed to have the man visible to his naked eye before he could sense the man's presence.

"It is I", said Felix, pulling back his hood to reveal his face.

Relief swept over Thonavar again and he closed his eyes. He was tired and emotionally drained. But Felix’s tone was short, sharp and urgent.

“We do not have time. Follow me."

He strode toward the entrance of the citadel before Thonavar could ask another question. The tall iron gates of the citadel towered imposingly before them.

What awaits us within? Where is he leading me to? Can I trust him? Could this be a trap? Yet together we walk into the gaping maw of the beast.

"Where are father and mother? Are they here?” Thonavar demanded.

"They are in my custody", said Felix Vanyaga simply. "And most importantly, beyond the reach of the wardens."

“Why only tell me this now?”

“I told you what you needed to know at the time.”

Curse him, thought Thonavar.

“I deserve to know. You will not withhold information about mother and father from me again! I deserve to - .”

“You are in no position to make demands”, interrupted Felix coolly. “As things stand, I do you and your family a great service. You should be grateful.”

At this Thonavar fell silent, brooding as he followed Felix.

“I see you still do not trust me.”

“Trust is earned”, declared Thonavar, folding his arms across his chest. “I want to see mother and father safe.”

“And you shall.”

"How about the charges against me? How will I answer to them?"

"Hush boy, you are full of questions. Now hurry, keep up."

Much to Thonavar's surprise, there was no sign of any security personnel around. No one stopped them or questioned them as they entered the building. But he swallowed all his questions and kept stride with the tall dark figure of Felix Vanyaga, entering the iron gates of the old citadel together. Once they had stepped inside, the iron gates closed with a raspy creak.

Thonavar followed Felix into the inner courtyard, walking around a center fountain which depicted two huge angelic beings in battle. Water spouted out of their spears, pouring into a basin at the bottom. Thonavar snatched a glance and saw small golden coins, glittering and sparkling in the murky depths of the water, catching the pale light of the moon.

Walking past the fountain and leaving it behind, they came to another giant doorway. Thonavar wondered how the builders of such a building could have carved such a long, wide and thick block of wood, fitting it in place to serve as a doorway. But looking past the doorway, Thonavar saw that the structure was partially hidden by a thick cloud of mist and cloud.

"The citadel can be accessed from each level of cityscape", said Felix, catching Thonavar's gaze. “The structure extends into the clouds and beyond. You will see what I mean in a moment.”

Stepping into the giant doorway, a darkened hallway stretched before them. Thonavar looked out and up at the night sky they were leaving behind and took a step into the hallway. The tall form of Felix strode into the darkness, not looking back and already he seemed to be disappearing into the dark. Thonavar stepped inside. The doors closed behind him and for a brief moment, he could not see a thing. He was blind in the utter darkness. He reached out, trying to feel his way but there was nothing. He grasped and clawed at air and empty space.

A hand caught his arm. "Come on boy", said Felix and his voice echoed all around. Thonavar immediately knew he was in a vast space for the echoes bounced as if endlessly, then finally slowly fading into silence. A flare of light! Felix lit a torch which burst into flames.

Thonavar was anxious. He had no idea where Felix was leading him. He could barely see a thing, save perhaps three metres in front of him. But for now, he could only trust that Felix was true to his word about helping him in these circumstances. Nevertheless, the warmth from the torch was strangely comforting and Thonavar stayed closed to Felix's outstretched hand. He found his gaze constantly drawn to the soft flames which licked all around, as if fighting the overbearing darkness. Thonavar followed Felix into a small room which sprang out of the dark, illuminated by the light from the torch. Felix stopped suddenly and Thonavar almost bumped into his back.

“Where are you taking me? Where are we?”

Felix turned to face Thonavar. His face was stern in the firelight. Thonavar was reminded of one of those angry gods that the ancients worshiped in the religious literature he had come across.

"This is an elevator. It will take us to the upper floors of the citadel", said Felix. “You might wish to brace yourself.”

With a whirr, the lights came on and Thonavar was forced to squint in the brightness. Felix pressed a single button on the console panel built into the right wall of the elevator. The elevator started to climb and Thonavar’s stomach lurched.

They stood together in silence for a while. But as the seconds ticked by, Thonavar become uneasy. It had been more than a minute since they had entered the elevator.

“Are we still climbing?”

“Yes”, replied Felix.

Thonavar spoke quickly, "how far up are we?"

Felix, who appeared asleep within the depths of his hood, seemed not to move a muscle but then spoke in a measured tone.

"We have passed city below and city middle. We are now within the realms of city above".

Thonavar wished for the elevator stop climbing but said nothing, swallowing his discomfort. With each second that passed, Thonavar found himself becoming even more restless and uneasy, wishing that Felix would stop the elevator. He had no idea where he was and how far he was from the ground. Further, he was annoyed that Felix was able to remain so calm. Finally, Felix spoke, his tone nonchalant and relaxed.

"We are reaching our destination.”

“That is good.”

“Let me show you something.”

Felix pressed another button on the nearby console and the walls of the elevator suddenly peeled back, becoming completely transparent, with the exception of the doorway which remained opaque. Thonavar gasped in a mix of shock and delight. Felix smiled.

Thonavar’s eyes drank in the sight. The whole of HavenGuarde could be seen, stretching into the horizon, as far as his eye could see. Dawn had just broken and the skies were a light bluish hue.

From such a high vantage point, the city was indeed one large living organism. A vast sprawling system of interconnected ways and buildings, populated with miniature moving vehicles of all shapes and sizes. From city above all the way to city below. Tiny dots moved as a whole and dispersed into smaller dots and Thonavar realised that they were crowded masses of people.

"HavenGuarde. The last city", whispered Thonavar under his breath. He had often wondered what it would be like in up in city above but this was beyond what he had imagined. The elevator was still rising but at a much slower rate as compared to before and Thonavar could sense that they were about to reach their destination. But his worries had all but dissipated as his mind began to process what he was seeing.

He had never been able to see the city like this. He looked to the skies and his heart soared with excitement. Now that the sun was starting to rise, the pink surface of the curtain was easily observable. He had never seen it so closely before. Looking down, he saw past the crystal-clear floor of the elevator, the multi-levels of cityscape. City below lay hidden from view, covered by layers and layers of interlocking buildings and structures.

Then, without warning, morning shafts of sunlight speared out from behind the distant horizon, shooting across the city like golden arrows. Then with a dazzling burst of golden light, the sun emerged victoriously from behind its veil, sending golden arrows of light spearing in every direction. Arrows of light merged and converged, growing and spreading as they travelled across the land, enveloping HavenGuarde in the warm glow of a radiant sun.

How wonderful it is up here in city above, thought Thonavar, mesmerised by all he saw. City below and middle cannot compare.

The elevator came to a smooth halt and the door opened sharply behind him. Tearing his eyes from the glorious sight of the risen sun over the horizon, Thonavar proceeded to exit the elevator. However, Thonavar's legs felt strangely unstable and seemed to be shaking slightly. He tried to find his balance and footing, but to no avail. Stumbling out of the elevator, he fell to his knees, feeling dizzy and nauseous. He looked up and saw to his dismay, yet another long hallway, and at the very end, there seemed to be another doorway. Thonavar tried to judge the distance from where he was and the doorway, but the hallway seemed to elongate, expanding rapidly in distance, pushing the doorway further and further from reach.

"Do not worry. Your body is not used to travelling upwards at such a great speed. What you are feeling is a rush of blood to the head. But you will be fine", said Felix. And with that, he strode toward the doorway in the distance. "Come along boy", boomed Felix, his voice echoing around, and he walked down the hallway, his robes swirling about him.

Thonavar struggled to his feet, fighting the vertigo that he was experiencing, and with a grunt of determination, half-stumbled to walk behind Felix. Slowly, he found his strength returning and with that, he began to step more confidently, regaining his balance as he followed Felix down the hallway.

"You have regained your balance", said Felix, not even turning back to look. And in the dim light of the hallway, Thonavar's face flushed in embarrassment, angry that just moments ago, he had displayed such weakness.

The hallway branched into a maze of other hallways and it did not take long before Thonavar had lost his sense of direction. Felix however walked on purposefully. There seemed to be no one around and they did not meet a single person. Moreover, every hallway had a series of identical doors on each side. Thonavar began to feel uneasy.

At last, they came to the end of a hallway where Felix stopped in front of a identical-looking door, the only difference being a small biometric identification console on the left side. A sudden sense of suspicion gripped Thonavar.

"Wait, where are you taking me? Where are mother and father!"

Felix did not reply but proceeded to place his hand on the biometric reader.

"I said wait!"

But Felix ignored him.

Without warning, the door opened and a blinding light enveloped them. Felix stepped into the light.

Thonavar squinted in the blinding light and gritting his teeth, decided reluctantly to follow suit.