Arka's Return

[Arka]

Part Eight: Bodacher

?I wouldn?t sleep here if I were you.?

Arka opened one eye. It was getting late in the day. She must have been asleep for hours.

?If the guards see you here they?ll take you in,? said the voice.

Arka squinted against the light of the crystal, now shining directly in her eyes. She could make out the silhouette of a young Stonebreaker, 40 or 50 years at the most. He held out his hand and Arka took it.

?Bodacher Saldakam at your service,? he said.

?Saldakam? You are a Saldakam?? said Arka.

?You have heard of me?? Bodacher smiled.

?I know of your family,? said Arka. They are famous. They lived in the mountains and ran the salt works.

?Ahh,? said Bodacher, with a far away look in his eyes, ?I wouldn?t know about that.?

With some effort Arka got to her feet.

?You are hurt,? said Bodacher. He reached into his bag and drew out a phial of violet liquid. ?Here, drink this.?

Arka recognised the liquid as healing potion and took it eagerly. She drew the cork and swallowed the oily, sweet potion.

?Steady, me lady, don?t spill any,? said Bodacher.

Arka felt her strength returning. The warmth spread through her limbs.

?I?m sorry, I don?t have anything?? she began.

?Don?t you worry about that me lady,? said Bodacher with a wink, ?Call it customer service.?

?Customer? You are a trader??

?Anything you need, you come to Bodacher. And, of course, if there?s anything you need to get rid of??

He pressed his finger to the side of his nose and gave a huge wink, ?If you knows what I mean??

Arka started. Here was someone who could help.

?Actually, there is something you can help me with.?

?Fire away, me lady. Bodacher?s here to help.?

Arka told him of her encounter outside the city walls. She described the axes in great detail and that they would be recognisable by the large ?G? runes inlaid in silver on the blades. She also described her assailants as best she could.

?You should talk to the city guard,? suggested Bodacher.

Arka remembered the disdain with which the female guard had greeted her. ?No, I think I?d rather keep this between brethren,? she said.

?Understood,? said Bodacher, with another huge wink, ?If I sees those axes, I shall have them for you, and I?ll get the names of them what?s done this. You see. Now you?ll be needing to sleep off that potion. Can you make it up the stairs??

Arka nodded. With Bodacher on her arm and her rough staff in her right hand, she
climbed the steps towards the Tavern. For the first time in many years, she was beginning to feel like she was home.

[Arka]

Part Nine: Kada-el?s

Walking through the doors of the Tavern was like stepping back in time. The bar was in the corner, as it had been in her youth, and still had the assortment of mugs and tankard hanging from its shelves. There was a huge fire in the grate and a delicious smell wafting down from the kitchens upstairs. The same dusty paintings hung on the walls, with what seemed to Arka to be an extra 90 years of dust.

?Is the Mistress in?? asked Bodacher to the young Menki behind the bar.

?She?s away on business,? he said.

Arka went to sit by the fire as the Dwarf talked to the Barkeeper. The fire was freshly made and she relished the warmth on her skin. The potion had done its work and she was feeling stronger by the minute, although desperately tired.

Bodacher reappeared with a bowl of steaming soup and a mug of ale. ?Here, get these down ye,? he said, kindly.

?But I can?t afford?? began Arka.

?Now don?t you be worrying yoursel? over nothing, me lady. Bodacher?s taking care of it. You?ve a room for the night and a bath?s already being run.?

Arka smiled. After the events of the last two days she was beginning to feel as if the Gods had abandoned her. But here was a complete stranger, taking care of all her needs, and for no reward.

?How can I repay you?? she asked.

?Your smile is the only payment I needs,? replied her host, ?Now eat up and get yourself rested, me lady.?

Arka eat the stew hungrily. It had been a full day since she had eaten and the Tefusang stew was thick and filling. She took a sip from the mug.

?Ole fallin? down!? she cried, ?I thought they?d stopped brewing this!?

Bodacher smiled. ?There?s a new dwarf?s cooperative in East Hydlaa. They?ve revived some old brews. Call it their classic range.?

Arka took a deep draught as memories of long evenings spent in front of this very fire came flooding back. Her favourite spot in her favourite tavern, with a mug of her favourite ale. Things were looking up.

?I?ll leave ye to it me lady,? said Bodacher, ?Got a bit o? business to see to meself. If ye know what I mean.?

He tapped his nose and winked broadly.

?You are so kind?? began Arka.

Bodacher was on his feet and halfway to the door.

?Don?t mention it,? he replied, ?Oh, and Breakfast is included.?

He shot a quick glance at the Barkeeper.

?Make sure ye gets it.?

With that, he was gone. Arka drained the mug and felt more sleepy than ever. The young Menkie arrived and offered to show her to her room. She dragged herself up the two flights of stairs and into a well-furnished bedroom at the top of the Tavern. In the centre of the room was tin bath full of steaming foamy water. A pair of white towels hung on the back of the chair and there was a fire in the grate.

?If you need anything, just call,? said the Menki, bowing and walking backwards out of the door.

?Hmm, service is certainly better than in old Grunwell?s day,? she thought as she peeled off her ragged clothes and slipped under the suds. The water was at exactly the right temperature, and the added herbs soon got to work on her cuts and bruises. She could almost feel herself healing and her joints had stopped aching.

Tomorrow, she would get herself a job. She had to pay Bodacher back for his kindness. She also needed to get herself fit again. She had some serious business to attend to. First she had to find her axes.

Arka stepped out of the bath and dried herself. The towels were thick and soft and smelt of fresh rosemary. She folded her clothes and slipped into the crisp white sheets. Soon, she was lost in a deep, dreamless sleep.

[Arka]

Part Ten: A new dawn

Arka woke to birdsong and clear blue light streaming through the open window. The bath had gone and in its place was a small table, covered with a small white cloth. There was a knock at the door. Arka pulled the sheet around her quickly.

?Come in.?

The door opened and an elderly Ylian entered. He was carrying a tray, which he set down on the table,

?Your breakfast, madam.?

He wrinkled his nose slightly at the smell coming from the shawl in the corner.

?Perhaps madam would like the laundry service?? he suggested.

Arka blushed.

?I er, need to sort things out first,? she stammered, ?But thanks, I?ll let you know.?

?Very well, madam,? said the Ylian, closing the door on his way out.

Arka jumped out of bed and pulled the cover from the tray. Bodacher must have paid well for the room. There were fresh fruit juices, soft white bread and fragrent honey. Arka ate as much as she could manage and wrapped the rest of the bread in a handkerchief. She filled her water bottle with the juice.

In the cupboard, she found a needle and thread, and set to, mending her torn clothes. She could probably wash them at the river later. Most of her spare clothes were dirty from the mud. She took out the best-looking shirt and brushed away the dried mud.

?This will have to do,? she said to herself.

She had finished dressing when the Ylian came back for her tray.

?Will there be anything else, madam,? he asked, eyeing the empty breadbasket.

?No, that will be fine, thankyou.?

He shuffled out, closing the door behind him. Arka folded her clothes and packed them in the shawl. She pulled up the package from its hiding place, under her pillow and placed it carefully on the table. It was carefully wrapped and tied with waxed string. Arka fiddled with the knots. She was anxious to open it but did not want to cut the string. Eventually, the knots fell apart and she spread out the Tefusang skin.

Inside were the parchments and hand-bound notebooks she had hoped to see. And a single sheet of vellum, folded into an envelope and sealed with a blob of red wax. She broke the seal and opened out the paper. It was a letter, written in her mother?s neat and tiny handwriting. A hexa fell out as she opened it.

Keranet Arka,

I hope this letter, with the package, find their way to you. If you are not Arka, please seek her out, my only daughter, and give her this. It is most important. The coin is your reward.

Arka, we have so very little time left I fear, I must be brief. Terrible things are happening. The men are away on the Autumn Hunt. We were busy preparing the feast when some of the Pekertth came running back into the village, screaming. They were hysterical and just clung to their mothers, sobbing. We guessed then that the beasts had been disturbed.

We have lit the fire ring but it is only a matter of time. We are running out of fuel and the fire will only keep them away for so long. It has been such a long time since the beasts have bothered with our village. Only a few of us remember. Something must have upset them. Some of the women are blaming the Rodnertth, but I cannot imagine who would want to do this to us. We have no enemies. Not any more.

Our only hope is that the men see the smoke and come back to help. Even then, I doubt they can defeat the beasts. They are so many and we are so few. Most of the stronger young dwarfs have left the village to live in the city. There are a few young families, but most of us are old now. I know if your father were here he would do his best, but?

I must save what I can. Everything you need is in the chest. Your axes, what little money we have, and my jewels. I thought you would like them. And these. I wanted you to have these papers especially. You must keep this alive, Arka, there are so few of us left now.

I can write no more. They need me to feed the fires. A?Ganta, Arka, A?Ganta!

Garido?,

Embra Garam

Arka felt hot tears pricking her eyes. So that was what had happened! Ulbernauts! But what, or who, had goaded them to do this? This was no work of nature. Rodnertth, decidedly had a hand in this, but who? And to what purpose? Who would want to harm the Dverm? She folded the package together and wrapped the skin around it once more, tying the string tightly. She could not deal with this now.

[Arka]

Part Eleven: The Blacksmith

An hour later and Arka was stood in the Plaza. So much had changed! On the east flank were new buildings; almost a town in itself. There was a new blacksmith?s shop and a tunnel had been hewn though the rock leading to the West. And of course, the Temple! Looking like a strange mechanical being, it squatted at the North end of the Plaza, beautiful and strange in the early morning mists. An avenue of living flame led to the doorway, which was guarded by a huge Ynnwn. Arka wondered if the well was still open, but thought she would wait until she was feeling a little stronger. In any case, she needed a job.

She felt the hexa in her pocket. She would need more than that to get her through the next couple of days. She needed to work.

She noticed a small crowd gathered round the blacksmith shop and wandered over. She was amazed to see how cosmopolitan Hydlaa had become. At one time you would see Ylian and Dwarfs, with the occasional Enkidukai, visiting from Ojaveda, but now there were Xacha, Lemurs and Dermorians, Nolthrir, Ynnwn, even Krans and Diaboli. She had expected things to change while she was away, but she never thought to see so many races living peacefully alongside each other.

The Blacksmith was an aging Ylian. He was quietly sharpening a sword at his grindstone. He worked the wheel skilfully with his foot and a steady stream of sparks flew from the new blade. Arka watched for a while, lost in thought. She was thinking of her apprenticeship with Godwin Thraalson, one of the best weapon smiths of his day. He started her off sharpening blades, but she was soon turning out weapons that even he could not match. Golthart, her father, had been so pleased with her work that he took her on immediately as second smith. But that was so long ago.

She became aware that the smith had put down the sword and was staring at her.

?Well?? he asked.

?Sorry?? said Arka.

?What do you want? I?m a very busy man??

Arka coloured. Not a good start!

?I, um, I wondered if you had any work for an experienced weapon smith.?

The man looked at her closely. Arka could smell drink on his breath, even though it was early morning.

?You don?t look like a smith to me,? he said, finally.

Arka wondered what kind of smith drank so early, but refrained from saying so.

?I can show you??

?I?ve no need of a smith here, for weapons or otherwise. Be off with you! I have work to do.?

He turned his back on Arka and got on with his sharpening.

Arka sloped off, dejected.

?Harnquist giving you a hard time eh?? said a voice behind her.

She turned round. There stood a Menki, smiling at her. Two mugs hung from his belt and he had an air of importance about him. Arka bowed.

?I?m sorry?? she began.

The Menki bowed back, ?I?m Lordbug,? he said, ?Harnquist is never at his best in the morning ? not until he?s had a few drinks inside him.?

Arka found herself staring at the mugs.

?Ahh, err no, they are not what you think,? began Lordbug. He moved closer, his voice turning to a whisper, ?They are ?magic mugs!?

He gave a self-satisfied smile.

?I?m sure they are,? said Arka, backing away. She was beginning to have doubts about whether it had been a good idea to come back to Hydlaa.

?You were looking for a job,? said Lordbug quickly.

?Well, yes but Harnquist was my only hope. I don?t think there?s another forge here, is there??

?There are other things you can do.?

Arka looked closely at the stranger. He had an open face and kind eyes. Maybe she could trust him.

?Such as??

?Well, the sewers here have become overrun with rats. We need a few strong ?uns like you to keep the numbers down. There?s money in it. Harnquist will buy the skins and tails and err, the eyes.? Lordbug hesitated; he too had often wondered what Harnquist did with the rat eyes. He was too polite to ask.

Arka thought this sounded dreadful.

?Does it pay much?? she asked.

?Not a lot, but it will help keep your body and soul together.?

Arka shuddered. She needed the money, that was true, but killing rats! It was not her idea of a good job. Not with her skills. But beggars could not be choosers, as her mother had told her.

Five minutes later, she was standing at the top of the ladder leading down to the sewers. There was a hole in the paving where the roof of the sewer tunnel had collapsed; fetid air blew up from underground and made her heave.

?Down there?? she asked.

Lordbug nodded. ?It?s not so bad, once you get used to it,? he said.

Arka stared into the darkness. She didn?t want to get used to it.

?I?ve nothing to kill them with,? she said.

?Use your boots,? said Lordbug cheerily.

Slowly Arka made her way down the ladder. She noticed her companion was not following. Well, if this was what she had to do to earn a living, so be it.

[zorbels]

HOLY FLYING MONKEYS! I go away from the forums for it seem like one day and you have posted a book. *Grins* I am a true fan of your story writing and I enjoy reading about the events that take place with you character as well as others that I know in the game. My hat is off to you Akra....

/me bows respectfully and claps applauding Akra\'s hard work

[Arka]

Thank you Zorbels - you are so kind.

Coming from you, this is praise indeed!

Here\'s another episode for you.....

[Arka]

Part Twelve: The Sewers

Arka edged down the ladder, trying to hold her breath. The smell was unbearable and the damp air clung to her. She blinked in the darkness and looked around. Behind, the tunnel was blocked with the debris from the collapsed roof and ahead, a metal gate had been forced open. A wide tunnel led into the darkness. She could hear the sound of water dripping.

She edged her way forwards. In the distance a torch spluttered and shed a little light. She had been in some strange places, but this? This was perhaps the worst job she had ever taken. She wondered if this was really a job, or if the Menki had played a joke on her. Maybe she should have checked with Harnquist first. He was so grumpy though, she didn?t want to disturb him a second time.

Maybe she should just kill a few rats and take the skins back to see if Harnquist really would pay for them.

As she turned the corner, she heard a noise that stopped her in her tracks. It sounded like someone with a bad cold, shuffling and wheezing. Then the sound of clawed feet on the stones, a scratching and a splash. Arka froze. These were rats? She peered round the corner. At first she thought the tunnel was empty, but then she saw a movement in the shadows.

Her heart sank. These rats were as big as small dogs. One turned to look at her. With shock she realised that it had only one, huge eye, in the middle of its forehead. Something strange had happened here, to cause this mutation. She had heard of magic pollution, where poorly controlled spells leaked into the environment. Coupled with potions spilled into the drains, could this have caused these monsters to evolve?

Arka backed away, but the rat had seen her. Baring its teeth, it launched itself at her. With no weapons, Arka could only try her best to fight the animal off with her bare fists. Finally she wrestled the rat to the ground and held its head under water with her foot until it stopped struggling. Not an elegant way of killing, but effective.

Now, she needed to skin it. But with no knife, this was impossible. She thought briefly of using her teeth, but quickly decided against it. Then she had an idea. She dragged the rat?s body out of the water and against the tunnel wall. Another rat came round the corner, sniffing and scratching. Arka was ready this time. She jumped on the rat with both feet, sending it spinning into the water. But this one was a lot stronger than its brother. It rounded on Arka, taking a bite out of her leather breeches. Arka swung at it wildly with her boot. Dazed, the rat fell backwards into the water. Arka stood on its head until it stopped fighting. She was covered in scratches, her breeches were torn and her leg was bleeding from the bite.

Now she could skin the rats. She dragged the second rat alongside the first. Taking its paw, she used the razor-sharp claws to rip open the underside of the smaller rat. Once she had made the first cut, she managed to work the claws along the skin and gradually separate the hide from the body. She broke off a paw from this rat and used this to skin the second.

Now for the eyes. Arka found the best way to do this was to prise each eye out with a small bone. She wrapped the tails, eyes and hides together into a parcel and made her way back to the surface.

She arrived at the Blacksmith?s to find him away. A notice stood on the anvil. It read ?Gone for Lunch?. She had spent the whole morning for two hides!

Arka was exhausted, aching and thirsty. She sat down behind the blacksmith?s shop and opened her leather bag. The bread was slightly squashed, but tasted good, washed down with the fruit juice she had saved from breakfast. Refreshed, Arka looked around her. She needed something to stop the bleeding in her leg. It was just a scratch, but she needed to clean and cover this if it was not to get infected.

In a patch of weeds she found what she was looking for; wild lavender and wolf?s bane. She pulled off a few leaves from each plant and rubbed them vigorously between her hands. Then she carefully applied the green paste to the cut on her leg. She winced as the wolf?s bane stung the skin. Soon, the lavender started to warm the wound and soothed the pain. She covered the area with a dock leaf and tied it with a strip of cloth torn from her shirt.

By the time she had finished, Harnquist had returned. Arka lay the hides out on the ground and looked at him expectantly.

?Is that it?? asked the smith gruffly. ?Two hides, two tails, two eyes. 28 trias.?

?28 trias!? said Arka incredulously! ?How much for an axe??

?Cheapest I have is 100,? said Harnquist.

Arka looked at the Smith. This was clearly going to be hard work. ?At least you could lend me a knife.?

?No daggers in stock,? he said.

Arka sighed. She wasn?t getting anywhere. Well, at least she had enough for another night at the Tavern, even if she couldn?t pay Bodacher back. She decided to call it a day. She needed to wash her clothes, and a swim in the river would help to get rid of the smell of the sewers. She picked up her bundle of clothes and set off towards the steps.

When she was a youngster she and her friends would get over the city wall to get to the river. It was a bit risky, but fun. It also meant she wouldn?t have to deal with the guards again. Now she just needed to find the way out between the new buildings?

[Einnol]

I am completely hooked.  What a fantastic story!  :tup: :tup:

Arka is just how I would imagine a female Stonebreaker.  She is tough and determined in the face of adversity, yet still retains her femininity.  She makes me proud to be a Stonebreaker.  I love how you have incorporated the ancient Stonebreaker language as well.

Oh yeah!  I read it to my pet, Niffum, too.  I think he enjoyed it.  His ears really perked up when I got to the part about Arka drinking Dverbarl in the tavern.  

Can\'t wait for more of this epic saga.

[Arka]

Part Thirteen: Cold Water

Arka climbed the steps towards the North gate. But before she reached the guards, she took a right turn and climbed another set of steps. She looked around her. There had been an orchard here, the last time she had seen it, but now the whole area was built up with new houses. She found it hard to get her bearings, but realised that if she followed the line of the wall she would find the gap eventually.

She crossed a broad square that surrounded a fountain. She paused to fill her empty water bottle and took a drink. The water was cold and tasted good. Looking up she saw a narrow passage between two houses on one side of the square. That could be it. She stepped into the dark alleyway and followed it to the end. Sure enough, it connected with an older, rough path that led onto a narrow ledge behind the wall. What looked like a dead end was in fact a gap in the city wall. And it had not been built on. You could get out of the city this way, but not in. Useful when you wanted to avoid the guards. She gave a small, guilty smile to herself, remembering some of the things he had done as a young dwarf.

She squeezed through the gap, taking care not to look down. She was now on the outside of the wall, balanced on a narrow ledge, 50 feet above the ground. She was beginning to wonder if this had been a good idea. She was getting too old for this sort of thing. She edged along the ledge, which seemed much narrower than she remembered, until she finally came to the bank of earth that enclosed the Forest path. Where it met the wall, she could easily jump off.

She threw her bundle of clothes down, sat on the ledge and then dropped off the edge. She was out. Arka grinned to herself.

She gathered her things together and set off along the wall away from the path.

The land fell away from the wall and then rose gently to a rounded hill. From here, Arka would be able to see the river valley. After half an hour?s walk, she reached the top of the hill. She stared in disbelief. The river had gone. Where used to be a lake was now a new section of wall. They had built over the fishing lake! They must have diverted the river to build the new eastern quarter. Now there was a deep chasm. She would not be able to cross here.

Cautiously, she made her way down the steep valley side and followed the course of the old river. They couldn?t have moved it far, she reasoned. The chasm seemed to be bottomless; she assumed it had been made by some powerful magic. It stretched away to the north as far as she could see. There was nothing for it; she would have to go the long way round, over the western pass.

She headed back towards the forest. The trees were so dense here you could cross the forest road by climbing the trees and walking along the interlocking branches. She found a sturdy oak and shinned up the trunk, her bundle of clothes tied to her back. Balanced on a wide branch, she looked down at the road below. As children they used to hide in these branches and throw acorns at the travellers below.

Arka crossed the forest road easily and slid down the trunk of a broad Maple tree on the other side. She reached the West Road around mid afternoon. This was still the dirt track she remembered. It was overgrown in parts and evidently no longer in use. The gates to the city were bolted shut. Crossing the road, she skirted the huge crags that dominated the western flank of the city. It was deserted, but after the hustle and bustle of Hydlaa Plaza, she was happy to be alone.

She paused a while to admire the view of the round lake from the slopes of the pass. It was glinting in the blue light of the afternoon, like a huge jewel. She was tempted to end her journey here, but curiosity drew her on. She climbed away from the lake, and one by one the towers of Hydlaa came back into view. From here she could see the new Temple, and the whole of the Plaza. On the far side, the eastern road stretched into the distance and for the first time she realised how much bigger Hydlaa had become. Where there had once been a wide lake, was now built over with many houses and the wall had been extended all along the Eastern side of the city. She was not sure she could still get down to the river, if it was still there.

Reaching the top of the ridge, Arka realised with a shock that her path was barred. The same chasm that had been formed to the east of the city, swept around the southern flank. Part of the eastern road had also been destroyed. It looked as though some great force had been used to prevent anyone (or anything) leaving or entering the city to the east. The only way into Hydlaa now was by the north gate, or by climbing down the crag.

Returning to the lake, she emptied the shawl of her clothes and set to, bashing the cloth with a large rounded stone. Soon her entire wardrobe was spread out on top of the reeds, drying in the warmth of the crystal. Now for that swim! Arka slipped out of her clothes and into the lake. The water was so cold it took her breath away. Pulling away for the shore with short, powerful strokes she soon began to warm up. She could feel her energy returning.

She was almost at the opposite bank, when she heard a voice that made her stop in mid-stroke.

[Stephen McNaire]

*Nods pleased* You can write indeed. And you do have a very good sense of your race, even to the fact that Stonebreakers seem to be more mellow then Hammerwielders. I\'ve noticed this strange fact in my travels. We hammerwielders like to fool around alot^^.

Keep writing and thanks for some of the ideas I\'m going to incorparate into my tale.

[Arka]

Thanks for the comments, Stephen. I am glad you are enjoying it.

I, too have noticed how people of different races in planeshift seem to adopt different mannerisms. I\'m not sure if people choose a race based on their personality or whether the in game personality becomes modeled on other characters of the same race.

I do think I have a feel for Stonebreakers though.

Arka

[Arka]

Part Fourteen: Bad Company

Arka instantly recognised the voice. It was the same high-pitched whine she had heard the night she was attacked. She edged forward in the water, silently. The rushes hid her from view, but this also meant she couldn?t get a look at the owner of the voice.

?She?s been talking to Bodacher,? the voice said, ?I told him we should?ve finished her, but he said it didn?t matter, she was just a dwarf. Like that didn?t matter!?

Another voice came in, ?So what you gonna do? Has he still got the axes??

?Yeah. I told him they were too recognisable. Too hard to sell. He should get rid of ?em.?

?You could always scrap them.?

Arka blanched. Scrap her axes? She couldn?t bear to think of it.

?Yeah and who?s gonna melt them down? Only one with a furnace is Trasok and he?s another dwarf.?

?That?s true?

?No, we should bury them, maybe throw them in this lake. Keeping them is too risky ? but he won?t have it.?

Arka stirred. Now she had stopped swimming, the water was becoming unbearably cold. Her teeth started to chatter.

?We could handle him ? why don?t we just take them??

?He?ll have hid them somewhere. Killing him?s gonna make no difference.?

?We can?t just leave it.?

?Maybe we have to ? for now.?

?I still think??

Arka suddenly sneezed and immediately dropped under the water. She couldn?t stay here. The two men would soon find her ? she was unarmed and naked, with no chance of fighting back. She set out back across the lake with broad strokes, holding her breath. She needed to stay under water as long as possible. The crystal reflecting off the water?s surface would hide her, she reasoned.

Her lungs were bursting as she surfaced into the reed bed at the far side of the lake. She could see the two men, an Ylian and an elf sweeping the reeds with their swords. After what seemed an age they gave up and headed off towards the forest road.

Arka was frozen to the bone. She pulled herself out of the water and used the shawl to dry herself. Fortunately they hadn?t seen her clothes drying on the reeds. She dressed quickly and quietly, and bundled the rest of her clothes together. She felt it would be best to avoid the forest. In any case, it was getting dark and right now she wanted to be in front of the fire at the tavern. There was nothing for it. She would have to climb down the crags.

[Arka]

Part Fifteen: A narrow escape

Arka walked back up the hill, her legs like lead. She reached the top of the crags as the last of the crystal?s light was shining on the city. The torches had been lit and twinkled in the early evening mist. Smoke curled from each chimney.

Arka rubbed her legs to get the feeling back. She hadn?t climbed the crag since she was in her 30s. She was wiser now, but not as agile. It would be a tough climb down. She looked along the ridge for the first ledge. With the light failing, she was finding it difficult to recognise the path ? after 100 years, her memory was a little hazy. After one or two false starts, she found what she was looking for. The path sloped down the rock face, steeply. The stone was wet and slippery and parts of the path had fallen away. Loose pebbles underfoot made it difficult for Arka to keep on her feet. She kept well away from the edge, not daring to look down. In a couple of places, the path had fallen away completely and Arka had to cling to the rock face, edging along until her feet found solid ground again.

She arrived at last on a broad, grassy platform, high above the Plaza. From here it was easy to scramble down the short earth bank behind the wall that skirted the west flank of the square.

That was close! So whoever had attacked her was now watching her. She cursed herself for falling asleep on the steps to the tavern. So many people would have seen her there and would have seen Bodacher helping her up the steps. She believed that Bodacher himself would not have told them, but could she be sure? No, Bodacher had been good to her, he must be trusted. Still she had to be careful to whom she spoke from now on.

From here it was a quick walk to the tavern. Arka decided to avoid the Plaza itself. She climbed the bank behind the round tower and jumped down over the fence. Hugging the wall she slipped down the alleyway, emerging at the slope that led to the tavern steps. She felt she was being watched, and kept stopping to listen for footsteps, but none came. She ran up the steps and disappeared between the houses to the left. This way she could arrive at the tavern unseen. Crossing the broad pavement to the side of Kada-El?s, she dived behind a barrel, listening for any sound. She could hear music and laughter coming from the tavern window, but all else seemed quiet.

She was just about to make the final dash for the door, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She tried to scream, but no sound came.

?What are you doing here?? said a voice.

[Arka]

Part Sixteen: Among friends

Arka spun round and found herself looking into the eyes of the Menki who had shown her the sewers.

?Lordbug?? she asked, relieved.

?Indeed,? came the reply, ?Hiding from someone??

?I didn?t hear you,? said Arka, then, looking down, she saw that he wore no boots. She had forgotten how quietly Enkidukai could walk.

Lordbug smiled. ?You nearly jumped out of your skin.?

?We can?t talk here,? said Arka, nodding towards the tavern door.

The two walked through the doors and into the tavern. It was quiet tonight; there were a few elves near the fireplace and an Ylian stood at the bar, the young Menki she had seen last night, serving him with ale. Arka held back, preferring to stay in the shadows.

?You are jumpy,? said Lordbug, ?Come and meet my old friend, Gholmyrr. He won?t bite!?

Arka took a deep breath and walked forward. Bowing low she greeted the Ylian, ?Arka Garam, D?voy,? she said, in traditional Stonebreaker fashion.

Gholmyrr looked amused. ?A scholar of the ancient tongues, eh? You won?t find many round here speaking like that.?

Arka coloured. Try as she might, she was finding it very difficult to adjust to this new Hydlaa. Gholmyrr sensed Arka?s discomfort. ?Here, let me buy you a drink. They do a very good dwarfen ale here.?

He gestured to the Menki who poured out an ale for Arka and a mug of milk for Lordbug. Arka took the mug of Dverbarl gratefully. She had not drunk anything since she was at the lake and was thirsty.

After a couple more, she was talking happily with Lordbug and Gholmyrr. She had forgotten her earlier resolve to keep things to herself; as usual, the ale had loosened her tongue. She told them of the ambush, how Ozbi and Bodacher had helped her and the overheard conversation at the lake. Throughout her story, Lordbug and Gholmyrr shot knowing looks at each other, but Arka was oblivious to all this. She did not tell them about her parent?s forge, or her mother?s letter. That was family business, not for the Rodnertth.

Arka suddenly became aware that she had not paid for any of the drinks.

?Oh! I should get you both something,? she said, tipping out the contents of her purse. Lordbug and Golmhyrr looked at the few trias on the bar.

?Not much luck with the rats then?? asked Lordbug.

Arka blushed deep red. ?It was more difficult than I thought, and Harnquist wouldn?t lend me a knife.?

Gholmyrr looked at Lordbug with mock surprise. ?You sent this poor soul down the sewers without a weapon? Shame on you Lordbug!? They both laughed, kindly, and Arka joined in.

?Put your money away, my lady,? said Gholmyrr. He pressed a coin into her hand. ?First thing tomorrow you get down to Harnquist and get yourself a weapon. Understood??

Arka nodded. She glanced at Lorbug and was surprised to see a troubled look on his face. Before she could ask, he quickly recovered and ordered more drinks from the Menki behind the bar.

The evening passed, with more small talk and laughter, and soon Arka found herself yawning. She negotiated a good price on a smaller room, up in the rafters, and after saying ?Garanot?? to everyone in the bar, she dragged herself up the stairs.

The room was small and unheated. Arka quickly undressed and dived under the covers. The shock of the cold linen sobered her up and she thought through the happenings of the day. She was very little further forward, but at least she knew that one of her assailants was either an elf or an Ylian. With that, she fell into a deep sleep.

[Arka]

Part Seventeen: Lost

She woke with a start. The room had disappeared. She was lying on the floor of a cavern, roughly hewn from red stone. Someone, or something else, stirred in the dark corner of the cave. Arka did not stop to find out which; she was on her feet and out of the cave before whatever it was had even noticed she was there.

She found herself running across a metal and stone bridge that spanned a huge dark chasm. This ended in a stone archway and she could see a faint light ahead. Arka ran on through a roughly hewn tunnel and stopped on a narrow ledge, just in time to prevent herself falling headlong into the void below.

She rested a while to get her breath back. Where was she? How did she get here? Her mind swam. She had some drinks last night, with Lordbug and Gholmyrr. She had only drunk ale, and none of the more exotic liquors on sale. She must have been drugged. But who would do this? And why?

She remembered how Lordbug had crept up behind her outside the tavern. He had been following her! He must have seen her coming down the crag. Maybe he was there at the lake. Was he in league with the elf and Ylian? Maybe he was the third assailant. He?d sent her down the sewers without a weapon. It all made sense. That?s why he looked so uncomfortable when Gholmyrr had given her the money for the weapon.

But what about Gholmyrr? Was he the Ylian she had seen at the lake? He could have got back into the city through the West gate and into the tavern before she returned. It had taken a long time for her to get down the crags. He gave her the money to make her less suspicious of him! And the elves around the fire. All of them were in on it!

Arka looked around her. Huge pillars of rock, carved into monstrous shapes grew out of the blackness. Some appeared to float; others appeared as demons, snakes and other monsters. She found a spiral ledge cut into the rock that wound around the rough pillar. She started climbing carefully hugging the rock face. This was no ordinary place; this had been made by some malevolent force.

The ledge led onto a rough stone bridge. An iron ladder led upwards, and Arka started to climb. As her head appeared over the top rung, she was met with the most shocking sight yet. A large winged being hovered over her path. She had seen this creature before. Not in real life, but in a book. This was the Carkarass; she was sure of it. The mythical being that inhabited the Realm of the Dead. Only, this one was not a myth; it was real enough.

A dark cold cloud swept through her body as Arka realised the awful truth; she was dead. She had been murdered in her bed, in the same cowardly way that she had been ambushed two nights earlier. The Menki had followed her upstairs, waited for the drugs to take effect then cut her throat, or smothered her with her pillow, or?

But none of that mattered now. She needed to get past the Carkarass. With no weapon, Arka pressed herself against the iron railings guarding the edge of the stone column she stood on. She watched the Carkarass carefully as it turned in mid air to track her movements. To her right was a gap in the rail that led to a broad bridge. She waited for the right moment then dashed through the gap. The Carkarass lashed out; she saw its teeth flash briefly but made it through the gap unscathed.

Arka ran across this second bridge, hardly caring where it led. She reached the far side, gasping for breath and her legs like jelly. She looked around at the maze of bridges and columns. She had no idea where she was heading or even what she was trying to achieve. What was the point? She was dead.

She sat down on the edge of the bridge and started to sob. She had so much more to do in her life. How could it end like this? Murdered, with no chance of defending herself. What an ignoble way for her life to end. And her mother?s papers. These were now in the hands of that Menki! All that hard work, for nothing.

She had no idea how long she had sat there. She may even have slept awhile, if you could sleep here. Her mind was clouded and she felt thoroughly miserable. Her arms and legs were heavy. Her mind was heavy; everything pressed down on her. She had never felt like this before. Here there was no hope, no joy. She started to hear things, strange singing. Maybe it was the wind blowing through the stone columns. She heard a woman?s voice, calling her. No! A woman?s voice calling her name!