CHAPTER 2

QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWER

It was a normal day in Cobalt Bay; everyone was busy in the salt trade. Some men were collecting the salt at the shore. A little distance away a girl lay unconscious on the golden sand of the shore, swept off by a tide. Her gown was torn, stained with blood and sand. Her sword lay by her side, rusted.

Aerien opened her eyes to the bright sunlight falling on her. Her whole body was filled with pain. She tried to get up. She noticed her sword was coated with rust, damaged just like her. It was not safe to move around without any form of protection, so she decided to find some shelter. Her eyes scanned the whole area until she noticed a cave. It was covered with wild plants, but she could see it. She felt a strong urge to go there.

Aerien cautiously moved along the moss covered path into the cave. The cave was dark and cold, devoid of any presence. She noticed a stone slab on the cave floor. The slab was plain; there was nothing fancy about it. Still Aerien removed the slab to find a sword encased in a dark brown sheath. She removed the sword from the sheath and found that it was plain but useful. As she found nothing else, she moved out of the cave.

Her head was throbbing with pain. She felt weak and hungry. Her first instinct was to find some food. Her eyes scanned the shore until she spotted a cartload of fruits. She sneaked up to the cart, unseen by the workers.

She ate to her fill and felt as if she had not had any morsel of food for years. After eating, a strong sense of fatigue fell over her. So, she closed her eyes darkness took over her.

She woke up from her dreamless sleep to the sound of murmurings around her. It was too bright for her eyes. Her eyes adjusted to the bright light to find people crowded around her looking at her curiously. She noticed that she was in a market place. She clutched the hilt of her sword defensively, but that seemed to scare them away and they retreated to a distance. But one of them stood to his ground. He had short, straight black hair, fair skin and hazel eyes. He was dressed in grey and black. He looked as if he was in his mid-twenties. Somehow, he reminded Aerien of her brother. She closed her eyes at that painful memory and got out of the cart.

"Who are you? What were you doing the cart?"He asked.

But for Aerien his voice seemed to come from a far place. He repeated the question again but Aerien stood there dumb and emotionless.

He drew his sword and pointed it towards her threatening, which brought her back to reality.

She drew her own sword reflexively. For the first time, she noticed that her sword did not just have a plain blade. It had spiral designs like newborn leaves and some ancient runes were inscribed on it. The hilt was decorated with precious gems. She also noticed that one side was darker than the other. Their swords clashed together and she was reminded of another bitter memory. A tall, grim, man clad in black, with his nasty sword which resulted in her mother's death and she was filled with sudden anger. She attacked ferociously and her opponent tried to deflect her attacks, but Aerien had the upper hand from years of training. She remembered her mother lying lifeless and her anger clouded her wits .She swung her sword forward with a skillful stroke and passed it right through him.

The sword literally passed through him without doing any harm. She was taken aback confused.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her left arm. She examined her arm to find a dart pierced in her skin. She recognized it to be a sleeping dart before she passed out.

"You should not have attacked her." Imhril scolded her brother.

"I didn't and I am sorry. I had asked her who she was, but she didn't reply anything." Idril reasoned. He regretted threatening her and attacking her without any reason. But he had to admit that the girl was very skilled and knew a very ancient type of swordsmanship.

"We should see if she is awake now." Imhril said and went to check on girl. Idril followed her.

The girl was awake now. Idril saw that she must be of 15 or 16 in age. She had light brown hair and tanned skin. Her sea green eyes were now wide with alert. They had to take her to the Chief's mansion since she passed out. She still looked quite weak but better than what she looked like in the market.

"How are you feeling?" Imhril asked.

"I feel fine. "

Just then Idril entered the room and the girl's eyes narrowed at him.

Imhril nudged her brother. "Apologize" she whispered.

"I…uh….I am really sorry for the attack." He forced out an apology.

The girl nodded.

"I am Imhril and this is my brother Idril. Our father is the chief of this village. What is your name?" Imhril asked.

The girl's eyes seemed thoughtful for a while and then "Aerien" she answered.

"Welcome to the village of Culia, Aerien. You must be hungry and tired. The food is ready, why don't you join us?"

"Here are some clothes if you would like to change into them." She added.

"Thank you for thy help and service. I am really grateful to thee," She thanked her. "And I shouldn't have tried to kill thee." She said apologetically.

Idril nodded but noticed that the girl spoke a different style of language but he didn't say anything.

After sometime, everyone sat around the table for the dinner. The dinner hall was large but without much carvings. The table was laid lavishly with bread, butter, meat and many other items for which Aerien had no name. The Chief sat at the head of the table where the dinner was served. Imhril sat next to Aerien and Idril sat beside the chief. Aerien noticed a younger girl, who looked about 18 years sitting away from her. She had similar straight black hair, fair skin and hazel eyes as of her brother and sister. She introduced herself as Ithil and did not speak anything else.

Idril noticed that the girl, Aerien, looked quite relaxed now. He was glad she didn't feel insecure around them.

For some time, they talked about the world in general, but Idril noted that she was often outdated about the updates. After sometime, she let Imhril to do the talking while she listened. But whenever Imrahil asked her some questions, she seemed to answer about another world, or another time.

"So, Aerien where are you from?" Imhril finally asked.

"I am from Othohon." She replied.

"Othohon, that's a quite ancient city." Idril said." It was destroyed years ago. Now it is inhabited."

Aerien looked shocked.

"Well, how did you get here?" Imhril asked.

She hesitated for a moment but then she told them her painful story.

"Why was the marriage held in a ship?" Imhril asked.

"It is our tradition. All rich people do that." Aerien answered.

"They did, some centuries ago they did but now they don't." Imhril said.

"There must be some mistake. What thou say is impossible."

"And the incident you tell us, the men clad in black attacked a marriage party in the middle of Cobalt, it is a story very similar to what happened to the ship 'The Voyage of Elenmist'. It happened long time ago, the ship was plundered and all those who were abroad were murdered."

"But...that was our ship!"

The siblings conversed while the Chief just listened quietly.

Idril noticed her style was quite ancient. He felt a little suspicious.

"Which year is it Aerien?" he asked curiously.

"Year…. Why do you want to know the year Idril? Don't you know?" Imhril asked.

"It was in the twenties of the Third Age. Why do thou want it?" Aerien asked confused.

Imhril gasped.

"Because it is the Fourth Age." He replied.

"Is it?" she asked unsure. "But it can't be possible..I...I..."

"Your sword looked quite ancient too, it had runes on it." He remembered. "And it seemed to pass through me without harming me."

"I found it in a cave near the shore where I had taken shelter. Near the beach." She said.

The Chief looked up at that statement.

"Will you please show me your sword?" the Chief asked, speaking for the first time.

"Um….certainly." she answered.

"Now" He insisted.

"Can't it wait till the morning..."

"I have waited for long. Show me now."

Idril thought it to be rather strange. His father was generally a very patient man. Why was he in such a hurry to see a sword?

Aerien looked uncertain but she got up and took them to her room where she had kept the sword.

The Chief inspected the sword closely and said "It can't be possible but it sure is."

"What isn't possible, father?" Imhril asked.

"It was something long awaited and long foretold." He answered.

Idril was quite surprised and confused.

"I need to talk to you about something Imhril. Meet me in study after sometime."

"Okay, father."

"And as for you my child, Aerien, you must rest now. No one knows what the fate has in store for you."

In the morning, Aerien woke up from her dreamless sleep. She liked the people in the mansion. She felt like she had a family. But what Idril had said earlier also troubled her. Could it be possible that he was telling the truth? She looked at her arm where the sword had cut her. It was healed. How could it be? The wound was deep; there was no way that it was healed in a few days.

A knock at the door broke her from her thoughts.

Imhril entered the room. Her face looked quite tired and grim.

"I talked with father yesterday." She paused "We think you should go to Zhiel to know more about your situation. There dwell the wisest and most learned men. They will be able to answer all your questions."

Aerien nodded.

"The Chief has decided that Idril and Ithil, my two younger brother and sister will accompany you." She informed.

"But do thou know nothing about what is happening to me." Aerien asked.

But she only replied, "We can only guess."

"When are we leaving?" Aerien asked instead, realizing that she won't get any more out of her.

"In a few hours. You may roam around if you want. And um…try to use 'you' and 'your'."

Aerien nodded but said nothing. She stood up and walked towards the door.

The village was small but beautiful. On the ground, the green grass spread like a carpet and all around there were lush green trees laden with the season's fruits. Children were climbing up these trees and swung on the branches. Aerien thought it to be dangerous but the adults passed that way as if there was nothing wrong. She considered warning them but noticing the stare others gave her, she quickly moved away. The market place was worse. The people looked at her as if she was from a different species. Probably a fight with the chief's son had made her a talk of the village. Aerien felt awkward and instead of wandering further, she returned back.

"Why do I have to go?" Ithil cried.

"Because I must take care of our father and Aerien needs companions." Imhril explained.

"But I don't want to go." Ithil argued.

"Now dear, why are you so unwilling? You are always so friendly with others."

"I just…don't trust her."

"It's okay dear. It is a matter of just a few days. The scholars at Zhiel will decide what to do with her. And you know how important she is. You just need to accompany her."

"Can't you send anyone else?"

"Father says you are the one to be trusted with and I agree with him. You will do it won't you?"

Ithil sighed but agreed. As much as she hated to go on this trip, she couldn't refuse her father's wish.

"It's just a trip for few days. We will come back soon." Ithil reassured herself as she sat on her brown horse, ready to leave her village. She cast a hasty glance at Aerien who also sat upon her steed almost mechanically, perhaps trying to ignore the stares and murmurings of the people. The siblings wore green travelling outfits while Aerien wore an orange outfit, which matched well with her hair. They each carried a bag with them which was packed with food, drinking water and extra clothes for their journey. They were also provided with some money.

"Idril knows the way to Zhiel, he will guide you. And take care of yourself." Imhril told them. She bade them farewell in their fashion and watched them go. There were tears in her eyes for she loved her brother and sister dearly.

"Have a safe journey." She whispered as the three disappeared into the horizon.