Chapter 44

The sign of the Three Rings

- Teleportation? An impossible feat, they said -

At the foot of the bridge stood a large statue.

It was in the likeness of a man with a pointed beard, wearing a plumed helmet with a visor. His stone eyes could be seen within his visor, staring out into the world, with a penetrating gaze. His lips were pursed together with a slight hint of a smile. He stood with one hand pressed forward as if indicating that all halt before him. His other hand was raised, pointing in the direction of the bridge and into the mists that obscured the bridge’s destination. As Thonavar examined the statue, he found more detail that further impressed him. The stone man seemed to be wearing a strange piece of glove that covered his stone knuckles. By his left side was a long thin blade of stone that had been plunged into the ground. As Thonavar studied the statue, he became aware of small daggers along with a quiver of arrows lining the stone man’s belt. Under his right arm hung a giant bow. The tip of a giant staff could be seen poking out from behind, strapped to his back. At his feet were long stone coils of chains that wound round and round. The stone man stood tall and proud radiating strength and defiance. Carved into a nearby rock were the words: HavenGuardean.

"Who is this?" asked Thonavar, who could not take his eyes off the powerful statue of the man before him.

"Who knows?" shrugged Chaeron. "A mighty warrior of ancient renown, perhaps. This is probably a statue built to pay homage to his mighty deeds."

Chaeron walked past Thonavar who was still staring at the massive statue. He moved to stand before the fantastical bridge with Lyla who stood looking out at the bridge with a faraway look in her eye.

"Incredible," whispered Chaeron as he too gazed at the bridge. "This is surely the bridge to Sanctum."

Thonavar tore his eyes off the statue and followed Chaeron to the foot of the bridge. As much as he too was swept away by the fantastical setting and sheer magnitude of the unearthly bridge before him, his mind lingered on the stone man and his arsenal of weapons.

Chaeron and Lyla were about to cross the bridge when Thonavar stopped them. "Wait," he said, putting up a head.

He looked at Chaeron and took the first step onto the bridge. The floor of the bridge was made of many interlocking metal-like sheets. Whenever the bridge swayed slightly in the wind, the interlocking sheets of metal would shift into each other, allowing the bridge flexibility and fluidity. At the foot of the bridge, two small globes of light could be seen at each side, seemingly embedded within the first metal sheet. Taking a closer look, Thonavar saw that a small fire burned within a transparent globe made from some material. Peering ahead, Thonavar saw many similar globes of light lined up upon the sides of the bridge, stretching far out in the distance, illuminating the pathway forward up and into the clouds. Moving out onto the floor of the bridge, Thonavar found that it was surprisingly stable. The metal also had a rough edge which provided for friction between his shoes and the floor.

"The surface is warm," said Lyla as she too knelt down to feel the floor of the bridge. "The snow does not settle," she observed. "It melts as soon as it falls upon the heated floor."

Thonavar moved onto the bridge. He felt it rock slightly. He grabbed onto the thick black coil that served as a railing. It felt strong and stable in his grip. He turned back to Lyla and Chaeron and nodded. Lyla and Chaeron moved slowly onto the bridge behind him.

"Careful now. The bridge is strong but we best be alert for the unexpected. We do not know what awaits us in the clouds," warned Thonavar as he moved further up the bridge where the mist was thicker. The mists curled around the thick black coils and wisped around in the air as the wind blew.

"Thonavar," called out Chaeron.

"What is it," replied Thonavar immediately, his eyes wide with concern.

"Look," said Chaeron, grinning mischievously, pointing out over the railings. "Are you afraid of heights?"

As the mist parted, Thonavar’s eyes widened and he took a step back. The bridge spanned across thin air, into the thick clouds, over mountains. The earth seemed formless and shapeless below. They were above the earth and all those below.

Vertigo gripped him and for a moment a struggled for balance. Looking up ahead, Thonavar caught a glimpse of the bridge leading up to the mountain peak.

That is probably where our journey must end.

"The moon comes out," observed Thonavar, pointing at the pale crescent shape in the sky. "We have but a few hours left till last light. We must hurry."

Suddenly, a voice in the wind!

"Ha! We have caught up with them!" shouted an all-too familiar voice.

"Gargan!" shouted Chaeron, a look of horror on his face.

"We have wasted our lead. They have caught up with us," Thonavar confirmed in a hushed whisper. "Quickly now. Make for the peak!"

The trio moved swiftly up the bridge, using the railings to pull themselves up for at times the bridge became steep and it was difficult to travel. The cries behind them became louder and the trio picked up the pace.

Chaeron was first to break into a run, running past Thonavar, throwing all cares to the wind.

Fear has lent him wings, he mused.

Lyla followed after Chaeron, shooting him a glance as she ran past.

Thonavar shook his head disapprovingly but followed suit.

The bridge rocked gently as the trio raced across it. The mists enveloped them but using the railings for support as a guide, Chaeron, Lyla and Thonavar found themselves slowly nearing the peak of the tallest mountain where the bridge came to an end. They ran as though being chased by demons. Though the voices behind them died in the mists, they ran on till at last, the felt rock, earth and stone beneath their feet again. Chaeron collapsed to the floor with his tongue sticking out, while Thonavar and Lyla were bent over with hands on their knees, panting heavily.

"We have lost them," said Lyla, as Chaeron gave a sigh of relief, nodding vigorously, still panting. Thonavar turned to look back, along with Chaeron and Lyla, across the bridge searching for signs of Gargan and the other two boys that followed him. But the mists swirled and curled, obscuring whatever was hidden in its depths.

"Where now do we go?" asked Chaeron, still panting slightly. "The mist hides the path."

A gentle breeze blew, ruffling Thonavar’s hair and he closed his eyes. He wanted to rest. He wanted to return to his family. He was tired of running. He was tired of the journey.

But as the wind blew, the mist dissipated.

Thonavar’s eyes narrowed. The horizon stretched into the distance and he saw the shimmering haze of the iron curtain curving downwards, marking the end of the human world and the beginning of beyond. But there was nothing else.

"What is this," began Chaeron. "Where are we? There is no entrance to Sanctum."

For roughly ten paces from where they stood was the edge of a sheer drop to the world below.

"What is this…," muttered Chaeron in disbelief, as he came to stand beside Thonavar.

The trio walked right up to the edge and stared out at the land below through the passing clouds. The earth stretched as far and wide as the eye could see.

But where were they supposed to go?

The trio spread out and examined their surroundings. They stood upon a flat plateau of a towering mountain peak that had sprung from a vast mountain range below.

"Did we take the wrong path?" asked Lyla, anxiety flashing across her pale features. "There is nowhere else to go."

Turning back, Thonavar stared at the bridge. It swayed gently, globes of warm pulsating light lining its sides, hidden from time to time by passing clouds and swirling mists. It had brought and led them to this point – one of the tallest peaks in the mountains.

But for what purpose?

Thonavar was weary and so he sat upon the ground. But Chaeron still stood at the edge staring out. He turned his head to look downward, wanting to see if there was a way down.

"Varu. Lyla. Come here!" whispered Chaeron urgently. Thonavar sprang from his seat on the ground and came to Chaeron’s side. Lyla too came to stand beside him.

"Look," said Chaeron, pointing downwards, his face nervous.

A giant horizontal-facing ring of silver hovered in the air, partially obscured by passing clouds below, spinning slowly. Below the massive ring, some distance below, were two other rings of the same kind. But each ring was not aligned with its neighbor above but hovered at differing heights. In relation to where they stood, the first ring was located slightly toward the center but the second ring was on the far left and the third was on the far right. Yet there was no equidistance between any of the rings. Neither was there any pattern or symmetry. Just beyond the last ring, was what looked like a stretch of ground leading up to a structure that was carved into the rock face of another mountainside.

Warp rings.

Lyla stared at Chaeron and the two turned to look at Thonavar who in turn shook his head with a grimace.

"Those are warp rings," said Chaeron in disbelief.

"I know," replied Thonavar.

"Which means…," said Chaeron, falling silent, still looking down past the edge.

Which means we have to pass through them.

"It is a long way down," said Lyla, her eyes darting from the spinning rings to the stretch of ground.

"That stretch of ground there," observed Thonavar, pointing down. "That is surely meant to be our landing area."

The trio were silent. Each taking in the monumental task before them. Thonavar was first to speak.

"Come now. We must go on. This is yet another test," he said. "A test of courage."

"Wait," said Chaeron, his eyes fearful. "Are we entirely sure that this is way we are intended to take?"

"Yes," said Thonavar. "The overseer told us to look out for the sign of the three circles. They would guide us home to Sanctum’s gates."

"The sign of the three circles," whispered Lyla. "Yes, this must be the way. We must decide. It will not be long before Gargan or the others catch up to us."

The trio walked up to the edge once more.

"We must time our jump from the cliff and our free-fall into the first ring. If we miss the second ring or the third, we will fall to our deaths," whispered Thonavar.

"Yes," said Lyla, studying the rings below. "We will have to guide our bodies to the second and third rings. The distance from the second and third rings will be the most difficult to coordinate, each being on the opposite end of the other."

"Do you think Marubelline and Marallene made the jump?" asked Chaeron, his voice quivering slightly.

"They must have," said Lyla, a touch of sympathy in her voice. "I too am frightened. What is required of us here is very difficult. There will be many who will not dare to make the jump below."

"Yes," agreed Thonavar. A feeling of anticipation was building in his stomach. A bead of sweat trickled from the side of his head. His jaw tightened and he clenched his fists in determination. "But it will not be us. We have come this far and we are so close. The finishing point lies below and Sanctum’s gates await us. Come Chaeron, we will make the jump together."

"I…I cannot," said Chaeron softly, his shoulders slumped. He took another look at the sheer drop below and shook his head. "This is…this is…beyond me."

"Char.." began Lyla but Chaeron interrupted.

"No," he said, shaking his head again, this time looking away. "You two go on without me. You deserve to make it to Sanctum’s gates. You both are far stronger than I am. You both are from city below. I am just a spoiled wealthy child from a wealth family. I am weak."

A menacing voice snarled from the mists and the trio spun around.

"I cannot help but agree more. You are weak and pathetic for not being able to outrun me. You should have made the most of your lead. But I knew we would eventually catch up to the three of you."

The mists parted and the hulking figure of Gargan emerged from the mists, grinning from ear to ear. His two cronies, spiky-haired and blond-haired, emerged behind him.

"Now is definitely a good time to consider jumping," whispered Lyla to the two boys. Thonavar’s hands curled into fists and he assumed a fighting stance. But Chaeron stood frozen, staring at Gargan, paralysed with fear.

"Now this is a sight to behold. The three of you thought you had outsmarted us. I am going to break all your bones. Starting with you," said Gargan, pointing at Chaeron, flexing his fists and cracking his knuckles. A sickening triumphant smile was etched on his face.

Suddenly, without warning, Chaeron spun around and with a savage cry, raced to the edge of the cliff arms flailing madly before leaping off the edge before anyone could say another word. Lyla stared at the point from where Chaeron had leapt in utter disbelief. Thonavar, momentarily astonished, found it in him to smile. Chaeron had done it!

"What? Has he killed himself?" said Gargan, hesitantly, a look of incredulity on his face. Spiky-haired began blinking rapidly while blond-haired began muttering something under his breath, a look of shock on his face.

Thonavar and Lyla exchanged a look. Thonavar’s heart was beating fast now Thonavar nodded at Lyla who nodded back. She understood. The two of them turned to face the edge of the cliff before taking several steps back. Then, shouting at the top of their lungs, Thonavar and Lyla raced to the edge of the cliff. A surge of energy filled his body. Thonavar felt his right foot leave the edge of the cliff as his body was propelled into the air but for a single moment. Then he dropped like a stone toward the earth below.