Chapter 19
The world was dark, Shaol could hear something moving in it. A song sang in the distance but it was not the song he knew. A spark came to life and Raphtune's lantern lit the piles of abandoned goods.
Hassa was on the ground in front of the chair, her leg cut deep, blood pooled on the floor. Raphtune leapt from the stone, put the lantern to the side and ran into the darkness. Shaol jumped from the chair, bent down next to her and pushed the wound closed. Hassa hissed in pain.
"We?" started Shaol.
"Shut it," snapped Hassa.
The song was coming from the edge of the world and found Shaol. It was not chaotic like song he knew, just a low hum of notes that jumped when they where needed, each finding a correct place in calm and controlled melody. There was a beat which was hard and fast that moved without care not married to the soft song in any way. Shaol tried to let the sounds pass as Friend had said he should but he could not help but listen to them and the slow song wove its way through thoughts and took his mind, the hum caused every second tooth in mouth to jump when the notes found their place, the taste of burnt coals filled his mouth.
Raphtune reappeared with some fabric and broken sticks.
"We have to keep moving," said Raphtune as he knelt down starting to form a splint, "the table down here was fixed, there's a way they can reach us."
Shaol coughed and blood filled his mouth, he quickly swallowed before anyone noticed.
"Damn it, you can't kill those things," growled Hassa as Raphtune mended the wound, "I even got one its glass eye and it just kept coming."
"Friend," called Shaol into the darkness.
"I am here," said Friend.
"Where else can the chair take us?"
"Nowhere."
"There was a passage above the red and gold room that led to the top. How do we use that?"
"We can not use that."
"We need a way out," yelled Shaol, "I can not climb and neither can Hassa."
Raphtune pulled the splint tight around Hassa's leg. Hassa hit the floor and threw her head back.
"The temples were not built to be climbed on," growled Friend in frustration.
"Do you know how those things can get down here?" asked Hassa through clenched teeth.
"The temple is sealed from the outside world, they can't get down here."
"Then, who mended the table?" asked Raphtune.
"I don't know."
"You go ahead," said Hassa pulling the half done split away from Raphtune, "I'll finish this and follow."
"I'm?" started Shaol.
"Listen," barked Hassa, "you need to climb, sitting here won't help you."
"I'm not going to leave," growled Shaol.
"Then come back for me," snapped Hassa, "I ain't going anywhere."
Hassa continued to wrap the fabric around her leg sealing the cut.
"A tree from the blood," said Shaol looking at Friend, "like the one you made over Tarlnath. Make another."
"No," said Friend.
"Why not?" cursed Shaol.
"Because it will bring the fortress down on our heads," Friend yelled back.
"Wait, wait," interrupted Raphtune quickly, "we're behind the stairs."
"Yes."
"We can knock a hole in the stairs with the vial," laughed Raphtune at the thought, "no one needs to climb."
"No," yelled Friend, "these temples must stay hidden."
"We do it," said Shaol ignoring Friend, "get the vial."
"Go ahead," said Hassa, "I'll follow when I can."
"We'll leave a trail in the sand," nodded Raphtune.
"Here," said Shaol holding out the stone and chain to Hassa, "take this."
"Shaol, what are you doing?" asked Friend.
"If Hassa doesn't make it, neither do you," said Shaol angrily staring into the burning yellow eyes.
Friend vanished as Hassa took the chain without objection.
"The stairs should be closest behind the temple," said Hassa, "I'll find you there."
Shaol nodded as Raphtune took up the lantern in one hand and the wooden box in the other. Hassa pulled her own lantern forward from her belt.
"Go," she hissed at Shaol, "I don't need you here."
Raphtune was already through the pile of goods. Shaol chased after him, his chest creaked as he moved and the bone throbbed as his pulse quickened. He ignored it, he had the treasure, he would have time to rest the wound soon enough.
The deep hum that emanated from Hassa slowly started to fade as he saw the light thrown upon the red men at the entrance. Raphtune stopped at the tunnel and waited for Shaol. As Shaol reached the boy another cough came, the blood coated his mouth.
"We can move slower once we are clear of this place," said Raphtune flatly, "but for now you have to be quick."
Shaol nodded, another cough came, Shaol pushed away the song and it obeyed him. Raphtune moved ahead and Shaol followed as fast as he could while trying to keep his breath steady, he fought the tightness that grew in throat. The red men with their goods marched against him, still weighed down by goods needed to feed the endless hunger of the city.
Raphtune was at the temple entrance when the tunnel went dark, Raphtune had extinguished the lantern. Shaol was stunned by the lose of light and tripped on his feet, he paused, found his balance and moved forward through the darkness until he found the wall. With his hand pressed against the stone, he guided himself towards the entrance. He could hear a piece of metal tap against the side of the tunnel, Shaol moved forward to find Raphtune.
"We need to move without the light," whispered Raphtune now in front of Shaol.
"Why?"
"Outside and above."
Shaol moved forward, found the end of the tunnel and looked up into the black. High above danced a swarm of orange lights that, somehow, swirled in a clump above them, the small amount of light that was given off allowed him to see pieces of sharp black stone that appeared be rolling around on themselves.
"What is that?"
"Guards," Raphtune whispered back.
"We have to warn Hassa."
"Your friend will tell her, she has a way of knowing these things. We have to keep moving. The plan, Shaol, keep to it."
"We can use the temple to guide us to the stairs."
"Good, I'll be behind you."
Shaol pressed his hand against the rough stone of the tunnel and left the temple. The lights above continued to swim in the black as they push past each other. The hard, uneven stone of road underfoot became the soft dust of the dead lands.
The swarm started to crack and clank over head. Shaol looked up, an orange light was slowly descending from the ceiling. Shaol quickened his pace down the wall trying to put as much distance between him and the thing as possible.
The single orange light stopped a few feet above the ground and then a light of pure white shoot from it body. Shaol could see it now, two large, black legs that held a strange monstrous body like a irregular, broken rock with sharp shards that stuck out at odd places. It had two small, skinny arms in front that came forward and steadied the heavy thing as it lent forward into the entrance of the temple.
Shaol froze in place, Raphtune had done the same. The thing groaned loudly as its heavy body lent back from the entrance. A leg lifted into the air and the body, slowly and awkwardly, twisted on the other as its light swung from the entrance and lit the far side of the temple, lighting the dirt and metal pillars that littered the world, far in the distance, Shaol could see the slope of the steps.
It knew they were there, it was looking for them. Shaol grabbed Raphtune, who was still focused on the thing, and pulled him towards the broken pillars that flanked the road.
The beast started to grown as the leg was lifted again and it hissed as it slowly twisted towards them. The pair threw themselves against the pillar as the brilliant light washed over the side of the temple and Shaol saw his mistake. The pair had left tracks in the soft dust and the tracks now led directly to t
he stone that they crouched behind. The creature kept its light focused on the wall, Shaol held his breath.
Raphtune pulled on Shaol's shirt, Shaol looked down, the boy pulled his bag over his head and pushed it into Shaol's hand. Shaol shook his head.
"I'll find you at the back of the temple," whispered Raphtune, "keep to the plan."
And before Shaol could object Raphtune was out from behind the stone illuminated by the brilliant white, the wooden box firmly in hand. The boy flew down the black road and escaped the light of beast. The cloud above started to crack and scrap as another beam of light shot down from the roof which found Raphtune as he raced down the broken road.
The swarm above began to give chase, Shaol looked up and could now see a handful of black stones of all different sizes rolling over each other as they moved across the space. The one at the tunnel entrance slowly rose into the roof to rejoin the swarm, its legs and arms wrapping around itself as it went, its white beam went out.
Shaol gripped the bag, angrily, he could do nothing but hide and watch Raphtune risk himself. A broken cough bubbled up from his chest, Shaol swallowed and shook his head.
The road became dark as the chattering of the swarm died and the light moved between the two far temples, their yellow stone sparkled in reflected light, Shaol could no longer see Raphtune. With the bag in hand, he stumbled into the dark and found the temple wall again.
A light swept through the air overhead lighting the dust that had been kicked into the air and then it swung away. Shaol spun to see more lights had joined the hunt, all he could do was hope Raphtune had found an escape. He turned away and moved as quickly as he could as his chest continued to tighten and the cough came more frequent than it had before.
The wall vanished from under his hand, he turned with the temple and continued through the darkness. His head started to spin and lights started to dance in darkness, not the white lights, not the orange eyes but spots of red and green. There was something ahead of him.
Shaol pushed forward as the cough came and this time it caused his chest to give an deep thud as blood came up. There was still something ahead, there was someone with him.
Shaol paused and found his breath again, the loose bone did not move when he took short breaths, he pulled himself along the wall. He thought he heard something walking in the darkness, he froze and looked above. There was nothing in the ceiling, no clattering beasts with orange eyes.
The steps, Shaol told himself he had to get to the back wall, he kept moving forward. The sweat was running down his face when his legs buckled from under him. He slipped and fell into the dust and he coughed the blood onto the ground and it sang in the darkness.
The beat was no longer strong, it was still slow and calm but it had lost its force. The melody that sung was so sweet and as Shaol listened it rose and soared away from the city, Shaol wanted to sleep.
But the drum was there with it and even though it was weak it did not want to sleep, it want to move forward in the darkness. The drum had an energy that did not taste of anything like the song, it was a pressure that pushed against his body as he focused on it, it took a shape of the yoke. There was more to be done he could not rest yet. There were pots to be scrubbed and there was water to be pulled.
Shaol felt his body jolt as it was physically pushed through the dirt, blood was running from his mouth, his face was buried in the soft dust. Shaol pulled himself up, the world was still dark, he had no way of know how long he had been asleep, the deep pain was still inside his chest but he had to move, his friends were waiting for him.
The bag was gone.
Shaol swung his hands wildly in dark, the dust flew up around him as he did, then his hand hit the leather and knocked it further away, he grabbed at it desperately and pulled it fiercely into his body. Shaol pulled himself from the dust and continued to let the temple guide him.
The temple gave way again and Shaol let it fall away, he would move forward and find the steps. He coughed again and this time he spat the blood to the ground. He listened to it sing, if he could hear it then so could Friend and she could lead Hassa through the darkness.
Shaol stumbled forward until he collided with a metal pillar in front of him. He worked his way around it and kept moving forward, then he met another and then another, all the while leaving a trail of blood for Friend.
Something shone in the distance, a silver light sat in the distance showing him the metal ropes that tangled between the metal pillars in front. Shaol stopped before he collided into them, the light lit the stone slope of the steps. He looked around for the owner of the light but saw nothing.
Shaol navigated the maze of ropes and pillars until he was at the base of steps. He put his hand up and felt the cold sloping stone. Shaol looked at the silver flame that burnt alone in the dust.
"They cannot see you in the light," came a voice, "it is only for you."
Shaol looked around, something was with him, he saw a heavy shape move between the pillars. He knew what it was and ignored it. Shaol moved between the pillars, away from the light and became tangled in the metal ropes strung between.
"Such struggle," came the voice again.
Something tapped on metal pillars around Shaol, he looked but could not see anything. Shaol coughed and spat the blood to ground. He pushed the song from his mind and again the sounds obeyed him.
Shaol was free of the silver light and in the darkness he found where the stone steps met the earth and placed the powerful vial beneath it, he would light it when his friends were with him.
Shaol sat against a pillar and he looked out at the temple, it had been given an erratic halo as the light beyond continued to chase Raphtune.
"Do you think they will come?" asked the voice.
Shaol did not respond to voice, he sat quietly and waited, as the black mass moved through the pillars, tapping a strange rhythm as it went.
Another silver flame burst alive in front of Shaol casting a strange grey light across the cluster of pillars and cables. But the light was not pure, it was riddled his small, imperfect spots that swam on the surfaces it illuminated, there was no colour, the world of the flame was nothing but grey.
"I do not want your light," snarled Shaol at the thing that tapped as moved amongst the pillars.
"The light is yours, Shaol, send it away if you wish," said the black thing that wandered, "such is the nature of a true gift."
"I will come for you," spat Shaol at the thing.
"Who do you think I am?" asked the voice with an amusement.
"You are the thing that has taken Hassa."
"Hassa is free to do as she wishes," said the thing continuing to tap on the pillars, "but I did ask her to find you."
"I am here now, leave her."
"I told you, Shaol, I do not command anyone, Hassa does as she chooses. Why do you find that so hard to believe? Is it because you have never seen a free man before?"
The thing started to tap a different rhythm on the pillars.
"Then, you will let us walk from this fortress with what we have taken."
"How would I stop you?"
"With your Grey Men."
"Shaol, listen to my song."
The thing started to whistle from beyond the pillars. Shaol went to push the sound that came at him, but he could not stop the song and it sliced straight into his mind, it did not hurt, he knew the song. He had heard it before and many years ago.
The thing kept whistling and in the silver light stood before him alive with colour. They were not fuzzy and distant, they were clear and perfect standing before him as they had been years ago. It was their song. They stood before him, their expressions strong and hard, more real than the madness of the life that had swirled around him since everything was taken.
Mother had her perfectly, straight red hair that fell to her knees and father had his short, ruffled blonde hair. Their bodies both strong and spry, they wore the common clothes that all the farmers wore, a light cotton shirt and s
turdy thick leather pants. The very same he should have worn.
Mother lent forward and kissed Shaol on the forehead. The tears welled in his eyes as he felt her touch for the first time since he was a boy.
"What do I do?" asked Shaol.
Father smiled from behind him.
"What is right," said Father.
"You know what is right," said Mother.
"I must fight for those I love," said Shaol as the thought came from the song, "but I can't save you, you are gone, I can't have it back."
Mother nodded.
"That's right," said Father with a smile.
"You always knew what was right," laughed Mother.
She wiped the tears from his cheek.
"They need you, Shaol, do not forget them as they are."
The song stopped and the visions of colour were gone from the silver light. Shaol tried to see them again as clearly as he just did but the faces would not come, clouded by the time that always choked his mind.
The cough came again.
"What do you want?" asked Shaol suddenly exhausted.
"What is right," said the thing, "just like you."
"I will not bring down the city. I will not listen to your poison thoughts."
"Are they dead yet, Shaol?"
Everything is dead in this land. The poison thought came quicker then he could stop it.
"Find another," growled Shaol.
"You are the only one."
"Then the city will stand," said Shaol, "I won't bring it down on them."
"Why do you resist what is right?"
"I don't."
"You cannot hide from me. There are not enough, Shaol, there will never be enough to make it right."
"No."
"There will never be enough to make you harm them. No prize glorious enough, no promise grand enough. If I gave you back your parents, your farmhouse, your youth and innocence, you would never bring Tarlnath down on them. Cutter, Rag, Jarga, Yor, Hassa, Horsuun."
"No."
"Do you know why you were chosen to fetch the box?"
Shaol was quiet.
"Because you are so easily chained."
"And yet, I defy you."
"Am I the one being defied?" said the thing, "there is still time to do what is right."
The dark mass behind the pillar vanished and the world below the fortress became still. The silver flame continued to burn in front of Shaol.
Shaol coughed again and spat the mix of blood and mucus to the ground and as the song rose he remembered, for the first, he had been able to hear the songs as a boy but then they had only come at strange times.
The sickle had sliced into his brother's arm when it had come loose and fallen off the hook in the barn. When his father had been bitten by the wild dog that had jumped the fence and come at them. When the Master that had taken him, the song had cried high, piercing and without rest. A flat, scarred face appeared in the dark and Shaol jumped in fright, he was a boy in a cage again.
Shaol grabbed at his face, he was going mad. He had to leave this city, he had to go before the thoughts finally took him after so many years. Where were his friends? He had to wait for them.
Shaol's breath still hurt as the bone ached, he tried to find a way to sit that did not hurt but his body could not find peace.
Shaol placed the bag on the silver dirt and searched for the flint and stone inside, knocking the contents aside with hard, angry hands. The book wrapped in leather bumped around among the other things in Raphtune's bag. Shaol wished he could read, Shaol wanted to know the secrets this place, he wanted to know why he had lost it all for these stones to stay buried.
Every moment that passed was another moment he became angrier. What was this book? What was this place? What was the thing that spoke? Why did the blood sing to him? Who was Friend? Why was he chosen to fetch a wooden box? Why did this city have to stand?
Friend had dealt in deals and trade. The thing, Hassa, both had dealt with him with nothing but what he knew and what he had seen in his time in the city and then the question came, as the thoughts of what he had learnt swirled together. If he was different, if only he could end it, if Tarlnath had stood since the times no man remembered, if the thing named Sulla with the power over life and death needed him to bring it down. If Shaol left the city behind him, how long would it stand?
The burning eyes of Friend hovered in the air, her body strangely missing in the silver light.
"Hassa is coming," said Friend.
Shaol found the stone and flint he was looking for and closed the bag. At the edge of the silver light he saw a figure limping through the dust.
"Shaol?" whispered Hassa into the darkness.
"I'm here," he called back.
Hassa's became tangled in the ropes as she struggled forward.
"You both need to be back from the wall," said Friend, "the explosion will be violent."
"Get the lantern," said Shaol, "we need to signal to Raphtune."
"Where is he?" whispered Hassa.
"Leading the guards away," said Shaol.
"That's what they were chasing." said Friend to herself.
"Hold the lantern amongst the pillars," said Shaol, "I'll wait here to light the vial."
"Done," said Hassa, she felt for her lantern and then pulled it in front of her.
The light spewed forth returning colour to word and the silver flame became small and died. Friend was no longer a pair of floating lights, her large wings and strange body had returned.
Around the corner of the temple came the swarm of orange eyes as their beams of white flew this way and that trying to keep with the small figure that darted in and out of their sights.
"Friend, help him," ordered Shaol as he fumbled with the flint and stone.
Friend vanished and sparks filled the air as the flint and stone came together. The wick did not light, Shaol flicked the flint and stone again sparks flew and the wick still refused to light. Shaol struck the flint and stone again and again and again, he became frantic, his mind raced with a hundred curses aimed at the damned stones. Another spark and the wick started to burn.
"Hassa, be ready," he shouted at the shadow holding the lantern high for Raphtune.
Shaol pulled himself away from the space, his body protested each movement, he did not care to listen to it. He darted between the ropes and pillars away from the wall.
The explosion rang through the empty, forgotten world beneath Tarlnath as the dust and stone was thrown away, small pieces of rock struck Shaol hard, stinging his flesh.
Shaol looked back as the dust started to settle around the hole. He ran back towards the orange shafts of light that shot through the clouds of dust. Hassa placed the lantern on the ground and limped forward.
A white circle was suddenly on both of them as the two stumbled towards the broken wall. Shaol found the bricks of the steps, they were badly damaged but were still standing. Fist sized holes had been made in the wall, through them he could see the shacks of the scrap city. Unders looked on with shock at the explosion that had rung out from behind the steps.
Shaol rammed himself against the stone and they moved slightly, some stones came free and tumbled to the ground making the holes slightly larger.
Hassa cursed as she saw what remained of the wall. She ran at it with her full weight, crashing into it, more stones crumbled. Shaol looked back the swarm of orange that was now watching both them and Raphtune and Friend who were dodged in and out of the lights.
And then he heard it from beneath. The low hum that had rattled every second tooth and the notes jumped into mind they wanted his attention. Hassa was still ramming against the wall, her wound had reopened as she used the full force of legs against it. The blood was pooling in the dust.
"Get back," yelled Shaol.
Hassa looked at him confused.
"Get as far back as you," he said as he lost himself to the song from Hassa's blood.
Shaol need to bring its strength t
ogether, strong like a beast that could tear apart a wall, he saw the beast that had toppled the tower as an army watched on with horror. He felt the hum grow and then it was before him a thing with four strong legs, a body with no head just a wild, mass of arms where a neck should be, the thing was made of nothing but the hum that rose from Hassa's blood because Shaol needed it too exist, then the beast did as Shaol commanded and charged at the wall. The stones scattered as the beast slammed itself against the stone, the hole was now large enough for several man to fit through. The shack behind the wall started to fly through the air as the beast continued its stampede.
Friend yelled behind him. There was a flash of something white and hard and Shaol fell to ground, his head rang and, for a moment, the world was gone.
When Shaol returned there was a wide path in front of him, the shacks of the scrap city were thrown aside, hot coals of an exploded oven scattered and burnt in an open square. Hassa was limping down the path made by the beast.
Shaol pulled himself from the ground and ran through the large hole.
"Follow me," she called back to him.
Hassa then limped into the shacks Shaol ran after her through the winding trails.
"Get out of the city," screamed Hassa to the Unders that stood by stunned and confused at what was happening, "get to the fortress."
He saw Hassa grab a young Under.
"No time, you need to do as I say," she barked and started to make hand gestures.
The Under nodded and made some quick gestures back.
"Thank you," nodded Hassa.
The Under darted off through the shacks.
"Come, we need to get clear," said Hassa grabbing Shaol's arm.
The two started to make their way through the scrap city.
Shaol looked back, Raphtune was through the hole with the box in the hand. Moments later, two of large stone beasts leapt from the hole in the steps and crashed into the shacks. Raphtune ran at the Hassa and Shaol, who hobbled as quickly as they could towards the bend in the fortress. There was the sound of more shacks splintering as several smaller beast leapt into the scrap city.
Each one ignited their white lights and started to sweep over the scrap city. One found Raphtune, the boy disappeared into a shack, a barrel of burning waste flew through the air landed on the shack sending flames across the huts.
Shaol stopped, turned and ran back to find his friend. Smoke started to rise from the leather and wood had been piled up. Shaol coughed up his blood and spat it to the side as he made his way back down the path towards the beasts. Raphtune emerged from the black haze, running straight at him.
Raphtune cursed loudly and angrily.
"Go," he screamed.
Shaol nodded and spun around, Raphtune was safe and that was what he needed to know.
The beasts did not move as quickly on the ground as they did along the roof. Awkwardly, the beasts rocked back before jumping forward through the air, huts and barrels crunched and gave way under their heavy bodies. Then, they would steadied themselves and searched again for the four they hunted. Their lights would catch Shaol as he made his way down the twisted path, but then they would fall away as the creature was force to leap forward again.
The lights started to catch him less frequently as the beasts turned their attention to the shacks of scrap city. Their short arms were tearing open shacks and hurling barrels through the air as black smoke started to choke the space and hide the beasts. Soon, the powerful, white beams of light became the only thing that could be seen through the black clouds.
The steps turned and the clear blue light of midmorning streamed through the arch ahead. The scrap city fell away. Shaol found Hassa and Raphtune waiting in the empty space for him. He looked back at the corner of steps, the black smoke was swirling around the top of the steps.
Raphtune was out of breath, he grunted and nodded towards the arch.
"I have a place," said Hassa.
"What about the beasts?" asked Shaol.
"And what can we do about them?" snapped Raphtune between breaths then quickly rose his hand forcefully as Shaol went to speak.
Raphtune took a few more breaths.
"No more, Shaol, we do what we can."
"Come, we need to get back," said Hassa her voice tired.
Hassa led the way through the first arch. As they passed the steps that rose up to the metal forest a dozen Unders scrambled down steps and towards the burning city.
"Be careful," yelled Hassa at them, "get everyone into the fortress."
The Unders nodded at her as they ran through the arch.
Hassa led them back through the other scrap city and Shaol passed the face he had seen not a day ago. He looked into the shack, the face still smiled from the floor given fake life by the shard of glass that reflected the light.
Hassa reached her hut and pulled back the leather door, an Under rushed up a path at her.
"I need bandages, splints, sap and chewing root," she ordered and the Under vanished.
Raphtune pushed past Shaol and found a place by the far wall of the shack.
"There's a lantern in the back," said Hassa quickly, "wait here. I need to find someone."
Hassa handed the chain and stone to Shaol and, as he took it in from her, he looked into her exhausted eyes.
"I will leave with you," she said simply, "I owe you that."
Shaol did not have time to respond, Hassa was gone. Shaol looked into the small space, Raphtune sat in shadows hunting around for the lantern. Shaol coughed and blood swam in his mouth. He ignored the song as he slowly lowered himself into the space and Raphtune placed the lantern between them.
"How's your chest?" asked Raphtune.
"Painful," grunted Shaol.
"Here," said Raphtune pushing the box across the floor, "it's yours now."
Shaol took the bag from around his neck and gave it back to Raphtune.
"Your prize," he said, "you've earned it."
Raphtune took the bag and put the strap around his neck.
"Its not mine, yet," said Raphtune, "your friend was very clear about that."
"Do you fear her?" asked Shaol.
"There's a lot of things to fear this world," shrugged Raphtune.
"What scares you?"
"Power is always a thing to be wary of, your friend may have a lot of it."
"Do you know who she is?"
"No."
Shaol pushed back on the leather wall.
"Why would you risk yourself for a book?" asked Shaol looking into the lantern's flame.
"Because it's unique."
"Tell me what it's about?" yawned Shaol, the fatigue was taking him as the room became to warm.
"Have you ever heard of the Sparkling Isle?" asked Raphtune.
Shaol shook his head lazily, his head was becoming heavy.
"There are so many things I've never heard of, you're very lucky Raphtune."
Shaol felt something run down his cheek. Raphtune was quiet for a moment.
"You should rest while you can," said Raphtune quietly, "I'll keep watch."