Chapter 22. The Jethrent
The following morning everything was packed up as normal and the column started off. They set a course across the sands that would find moving around the base of the great circular mountain range. But they were no longer alone. Nar’Allia noted on stepping out of the tent that the nomads of the Rifle Brigade clans had been joined by many others of the same clan during the previous night, she gasped at just how many they were now for their numbers had swelled tenfold. The column in which they now travelled stretched before them and behind them like a great serpent winding its way through the desert. A great river of people and beasts flowing in one direction towards the mysterious Mountains of Mornost.
Around mid-morning they came across an even more incredible sight. For there in front of them many nomads travelling in a number of vast columns several times bigger than theirs could be seen, it looked like tens of thousands of people and Duagnuats had massed here at this point. The resulting dust cloud rose high into the air like a red mist. When Nar’Allia looked more closely she could see that the column was congregating around a single paved road that wound up the slopes of sand and ended at the foot of the red rocks forming the mountains. The mass of humanity was like grains of sand all running down to a central point in an hour glass and pouring through the restricted passage between the glass globes. She estimated it would take hours of jostling just to get anywhere near to where they all seemed to be heading. They seemed to be in a sea of moving people and beasts, the waves of which broke upon the island that was the Mountains of Mornost. Quinac was obviously getting a little distressed being boxed between all these other Duagnuats, for on numerous occasions Nar’Allia’s mount decided to take offence at a neighbour and take a bite out of a shoulder, rear leg or other area of a Duagnuats close quartered anatomy. Many times Nar’Allia expressed a verbal apology towards the rider of such an unfortunate beast, but no one it seemed took any notice of this behaviour, and as Quinac was receiving as many bites as giving, she assumed after a while that such antisocial acts were normal for these beasts and she began not to notice these little aggressive outbursts.
The utter chaos continued for numerous hours, but Nar’Allia and her companions found they were offered tea and snacks at regular intervals. Where the hot tea came from she was at a loss to guess until she saw a nomad with a small tray positioned on the saddle holding a curious looking jug that had a silver string attached to it, the string led up a pole and was attached to a flat square plate on the upper end of the pole. The nomad, Nar’Allia noticed, was careful to always face this plate towards the sun. This jug obviously held water for as she watched steam began to rise from the jug, at which point the nomad spooned tea leaves into the jug and proceeded after several minutes to pour the tea into teacups held in outstretched hands. From there the cups were passed around to expectant owners. Nar’Allia later learnt from someone she rode alongside for a while that these jugs had a special device that captured sunlight energy and projected it inside the jug as heat to boil the water, or any other fluid that was placed within. Even meat and vegetables could be cooked in this way.
But now they were closer to the Mountains of Mornost, steady but slow progress was being made. At this closer distance, the mountains appeared eroded, sand blasted over the ages into grotesque vertical shapes. Nar’Allia imagined these as the silhouettes of animals and other recognisable shapes. Two higher columns rose side by side, these looked like the canine teeth within the mouth of a wolf. The road on which they now travelled seemed to rise up the steep slopes of loose debris that lay at the foot of the rocks.
This was plainly the entrance to a valley that seemed to disappear within the mountains themselves. Eventually their column moved out of the main mass and joined behind the narrower but faster moving column that was now pouring through the gap between the two high columns of rock. Progress was easier now that they weren’t trying to get onto the road but were now passing along it. No one was trying to push their way in any longer, all that cacophony was happening behind them. Now they just travelled up the road in a steady column. Many greeting were made, much waving of hands and even some hugs, all the while the loud clicking of all the Duagnuats was ceaseless and so loud at times to be almost deafening. It was not only the humans that seemed to be renewing relationships and meeting old friends it seemed, or perhaps making new ones for a nomads Duagnuats next to Nar’Allia seemed to be taking a great deal of interest in Quinak. Nar’Allia got talking to the nomad on the other attentive beast, his name was Ueury and he was a member of the clan called the Third Paras. He insisted that his beast had taken a fine interest in hers and if Nar’Allia wished he would share half the litter they may have with her. At first Nar’Allia was speechless, but then she did notice that Ueury’s Duagnuats was gently muzzling Quinac in a friendly way and Quinac seemed to be responding in kind. So now she knew at least that Quinac was a female. Ueury laughed out loud when he heard this, for several minutes he couldn’t speak for his laughter. Then in broken sobs and fits of chuckles he explained that actually his Duagnuats was female and hers a male. Nar’Allia blushed and trying to change the subject she asked how many offspring they were likely to produce. Ueury explained that Duagnuats gave birth to many offspring, in fact they laid eggs, large leathery skinned eggs that hatched in the sands after a few months and that the father, here he pointed at her Duagnuats, was the one that cared for the young whilst the female went off, probably never to be seen again. That was it, Nar’Allia refused the kind offer on the basis that she probably would neither have the time for this nursery business and that she probably wouldn’t be around for such an extended period of time.
The great column of the nomads moved all in the same direction probably a fifty or sixty wide now all moving upwards along a gentle slope as the sides of the mountains got steeper and higher on either side. Curiously Nar’Allia could make out some regular patterns in the rocks of the mountains. Although they were weather worn, in certain places where the rock was perhaps a little protected, strange straight lines could be seen. The stranger thing about these lines was that they were all either horizontal or vertical. It seemed to Nar’Allia after a while and the more she looked at these formations that these mountains may have been constructed from giant blocks of stone, stone that was perhaps made from the fusion of particles of the red sand itself. She thought that maybe in times long past these mountains were not mountains at all but great wall of gigantic bricks, obviously very ancient for it had suffered much erosion by the wind of many long forgotten years. Eventually Nar’Allia could see that they would pass beneath a massive archway in the mountain range between the two columns that looked like teeth. She imagined that these may have been towers either side of the entrance in the great wall that this may have been at one time. This arch towered fifty or so metres above them and as she entered beneath. It seemed like they had entered a tunnel delved deep into the mountains. The exit to this tunnel could be clearly seen as a bright circular light that grew in size as they moved along.
But nothing could have prepared her for what she saw within the tunnel itself. Along each wall there was a shelf set into the rock wall at about three meters up on either side, head height when riding on a Duagnuats. Each of the shelves held many skulls. At first Nar’Allia assumed they must be the remains of humans, but couldn’t understand why these individuals were given the privilege to be laid to rest here. But then she realised these skulls were enormous, much larger than any human or T’Iea for that matter. Then one skull in the row was somewhat better preserved than the others, now she knew immediately what the skulls had once belonged to. This particular skull was complete, the lower jaw and teeth were still present. Especially noticeable where the two long canine teeth that protruded up from the lower jaw and extended up over the top lip, well at least when the owner of this skull had a top lip. Nar’Allia gasped, these skulls weren’t human, no these were all that remained of Ognods.
The nomad rider called Ueury was taking a great interest
in Nar’Allia’s as she studied these skulls. He laughed, “do not worry about the ogres, they are long dead.” He indicated towards the skulls with a nod of his head.
Nar’Allia just looked at him.
Ueury shrugged, “they are what is left of a race of giant men. We have never seen one alive, so the stories hold them to be extinct. The story also tells of how long ago our ancestors found the bodies of these ogres lying just outside in the desert. The sun had dried them, mummified them. It is said they wore heavy armour and had weapons about their person. But the bodies were looted long ago, for nothing now remains except these skulls. It is believed to remove them will awaken the ogres once again so that they can wreak havoc upon the world once again. The stories describe how their heads had been removed and placed along the walls here. Perhaps their victorious vanquisher placed them as trophies, a reminder of a long dead enemy.
Nar’Allia nodded, she thought about enlightening Ueury on what these creatures actually were, but she decided against it, she felt it would not help the nomads to know that actually somewhere in the world the race of the Ognods did indeed still live and breathe.
But then suddenly they were out in the open air once more. The sight that was presented to Nar’Allia as they came out of the other end of the tunnel not only made her forget all about the Ognod skulls but also took her breath from her. Nar’Allia gasped, for there before them and a hundred or so metres below lay a vast perfectly circular, wide valley. She was amazed for what she saw was what she least expected. For the valley was green, lush with grassland and flowers of all colours, bobbing their heads across the green swathe. Nomad encampments where being set up around the centre of the valley, obviously the first to arrive had arranged their tents as near to the centre as possible thus leaving room for those behind to enter and set up their own encampments. But although she couldn’t see the reason from here, the dead centre of the valley was kept clear of tents for there appeared to be a great circular area in the centre where no tents had been erected. All around the valley loomed the mountain range, the arch they had passed through seemed to be the only entrance and exit. They rode on into the valley and after an hour or so came to a stop at the outer perimeter of the tents that had already been set up. Here Vaughnal held up his hand and their nomads broke from the column. It was obviously here that they were to make their encampment.
Nar’Allia looked around. Many different clans were here already, judging by the variety of banners that could be seen. People stood around individually or in great numbers. Some music was playing in other areas and people, mostly women could be seen dancing and singing. Several times young men and sometimes older ones rode past on the Duagnuats at great speed, Nar’Allia laughed for never before had she seen these beasts move faster than a leisurely walk. She was amazed at the turn of speed they could muster when required by using their back legs together in a sort of extended jump.
It seemed that everyone, man and beast alike were celebrating being here. A couple of times short figures could be seen amongst the crowds, most of the time these were nomad children laughing and chasing about. But on one occasion JDC put his face mask back on and turned his head away. Nar’Allia thought this curious behaviour, but her eyes rested on a child looking their way and was surprised to see an elderly face, not a child but the features of a fully grown man, a Pnook in fact. She was intrigued that JDC obviously thought it necessary to not risk being recognised.
Vaughnal ordered their own camp to be set up adding to the already large number of tents and thus widening the circular encampment further still with their tents. They seemed to purposefully leave a gap between clan encampments, a sort of recognised breathing space between each one, this of course allowed easy travel and movement around the various clan campsites, but also exhibited a mark of respect.
After a while Nar’Allia gazed around at the scene unfolding before her eyes. Their own tents were being erected, but already other clans had arrived behind them and were putting up their own camps. Where a short while before they had been on the outside of the ring of encampments upon first arriving here, they now seemed to be deep in amongst an ocean of tents. Lost in a sea of colour as a seemingly endless flow of nomad clans entered the valley and added to the already numerous encampments already there. She was reminded of her childhood home in Tent Town, but on a scale vastly bigger.
Vaughnal was walking around ordering banners be placed at their campsite perimeter, often he would stop and be greeted by other nomads of their clan sometimes people of other clans that had set up camp around theirs. Sometimes he would walk out of the perimeter of his camp into the space left between the encampments. He would go and talk to, even embrace another nomad that had just arrived. On one occasion he did this with much enthusiasm, he almost ran to another nomad entering the gap. He embraced this person in a manner Nar’Allia had not seen before and as the two embraced the hood of the other nomad fell back to reveal a woman’s features, she was beautiful with dark eyes and long black hair cascading over her shoulders. Nar’Allia was reminded of similarities to Alicshea’s features. Then she remembered that Alicshea’s mother was due to meet them here at the Jethrent. Nar’Allia smiled as the two nomads remained locked in their fond embrace for some minutes before they held hands and disappeared amongst the tents.
Often nomads would have to walk around clan encampments to reach another clan, but never Nar’Allia noticed, did any set foot within another encampment unless they were invited to do so. Likewise, other nomads coming to greet members of Vaughnal’s clan would stay in the no-man’s land between encampments until they were invited to enter by a wave of Vaughnal’s hand or a nod of recognition. Nar’Allia made a note of this social understanding in case she decided to take a wander around the valley.
All that day and on into the night nomad clans of varying sizes arrived in the deep valley. Nar’Allia was astonished to see how many people there were, all the stories she had heard suggested that the nomads were few in number, what she witnessed here told a very different story. She supposed that their numbers were deceptive as they generally travelled normally in smaller extended family groups and the desert of course was so vast the true numbers of these groups could be easily misinterpreted.
Nar’Allia had noticed that before any tents were set up, an area of the grassland was cut short almost with reverence, a sort of ritual preparation for each tent. She asked Alicshea about this. Alicshea responded with an explanation saying that in this region of the desert the grass only grew here in the valley and it was from this grass that the nomads made the Duager cakes that they fed to their Duagnuats. So it made sense to carefully cut the grass before erecting a tent so that it was not wasted. Although she said that the grass was a very hardy plant and grew back within a day or so of being beneath a tent.
“So,” Nar’Allia enquired, “you seem to suggest that there are other places like this, where the grass grows?”
“Yes, well not always permanent places as is the case here, but there are other places that can be found where the grasses grow as long as you know the signs of where these may be. At one time there must have been many places such as this, valleys set within circular mountains. Yet all these places have been destroyed or are unrecognisable. For the mountains have been flattened and eroded millennia in the past and it is now difficult to locate them. All are now gone, except this one. That is why the Jethrent is held at a different location every turn, we don’t exactly know where until a few weeks prior to the Jethrent. For if a clan finds such a grassy place, then scouts are sent out, word travels fast and the clans meet. However, it is unusual for all the clans to meet at the Jethrent, for at most places the grass will not sustain many. That is why every tenth counting the Jethrent is held here in this special place within the Mountains of Mornost. This is our tradition for here the grass has always grown, never have I seen it fail in any way. This is the reason we only hold the Jethrent here every ten turns, it is to ensure the health of the grasslands.”
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“So, why then is this place so special, how come the grass grows here all the time, it must flourish because there is a source of water?” Suggested Nar’Allia.
“You will see,” was the response from Alicshea, who had a broad smile on her lips.
During the next day the numbers of nomads arriving in the valley dwindled slowly to a halt apart from the odd stragglers that for whatever reason had been separated from their clans, or were travelling alone. Vaughnal explained that these were most probably the scouts that the various clans had sent out to spread the word of the impending Jethrent. Nar’Allia asked about the Pnook she had seen amongst the tents of other clans. Vaughnal just pointed out that it was not unknown for both races of desert dwellers to reside together, although such cohabitation was by no means that common, it did happen especially if there was a mutual benefit. She also asked Vaughnal about the valley they were in, she was told practically the same story that Alicshea had told in that there were a number of such places in the deep desert, but this one was by far the lushest and well preserved, when she asked why, she was told that there was an abundance of water here that kept the valley fresh and the grasses alive all year around. Water? Where then was this water and why was it here, she had always been told that the Rust Desert contained no water, yet she had been told a direct contradiction from two reliable sources. Vaughnal added that he would ask Alicshea to show her at the first opportunity.
Nar’Allia sat chatting to Amndo and Jonas within one of the tents early one morning when Alicshea came in to see Nar’Allia, she said she wanted to go and visit some friends from another clan and invited Nar’Allia, if she so wished, to accompany her. Nar’Allia had become a little bored with tent life, there was only so much fun to be had helping out with household routines and the like, so she jumped at the chance for a guided tour of the valley. The two women stepped outside, it was a bright morning, Nar’Allia drew in a deep breath of the fresh air, the sight that met her eyes still made her wonder, the beauty of this place was breath taking.
The sun was just coming up over the mountains, its strong slightly red light caused long shadows in the valley. The grasslands covered the valley floor, apart from the temporary tent city of course, the green swathe ran right up to the mountains and climbed the lesser slopes until the steepness made it impossible for the water to reach roots and the loose soil stick to the red rock, but even here grass grew sporadically in clumps of varying sizes wherever it found enough level ground to take root. Alicshea also looked slowly around the valley and smiled at Nar’Allia who was still lost in thought at the sights and sounds that surrounded them.
Alicshea stood and looked all around her as if experiencing the sight for the first time, she sighed and said, “my father did say it was a wondrous sight did he not?”
Nar’Allia glanced at Alicshea, “Yes, he did, but I didn’t for one minute imagine anything like this, I didn’t really even take note of his remark, but now I realise it was well said.”
Alicshea took Nar’Allia’s hand and led here away from the tent. They walked through their encampment, it looked much the same as it normally did wherever they had camped at various times out in the desert, apart from the green underfoot instead of the rust red colour that they had become accustomed to. Other than that, walking amongst the tents was nothing new for Nar’Allia, she was immediately reminded once again of the place where she had lived her early years with her father Iolrreas, the ramshackle place in the north lands called rather unimaginatively Tent Town. But there it was always cold and damp, the populace an entirely different cast of peoples. All of a sudden she felt a melancholy sensation, the reminder of her father tugged at her heart, she realised she missed him. She missed all of her family, she wondered if by now they knew of the sudden turn of events, she wondered how the news had been received. But that was partly the reason she was here, for one dear to her had gone missing and her resolve returned, for try to find and rescue Minervar she knew must still be her priority.
The two women walked along the grass thoroughfares, the subtle scent of the flowers tickled their noses and toyed with their sense of smell. Nar’Allia couldn’t help but take several deep breaths every now and again to saver the sweet, rich aroma’s as she passed them by, if she were blind she could have easily mistaken her sense of smell leading her to believe she was in a grassy meadow in the green swath of her homelands. But then she thought she would have to be deaf as well for the general noise and cacophony of the encampment did suggest something other than being alone within open countryside or deep woodlands.
She was brought out of her daydreaming by Alicshea saying, “My friends made camp across the other side of the valley from where we have made our camp, the quickest way to get there is to skirt around the edge of the lake.”
“Lake?” Nar’Allia said questioningly.
“Yes, the lake. It is in the centre of this place, it is the only permanent source of water in the whole desert.”
Well that perhaps would explain the abundance of green here, if there was water in abundance than nature would quickly exploit the opportunity she was sure. Nar’Allia then remembered when they had first entered the valley, she had marvelled at the place, seen the growing city of tents, and fleetingly noticed that the dead centre of the valley remained free of any structure our hint of habitation. She had supposed this was a purposeful act, perhaps to keep an area clear for communal activity in the centre where all the clans could easily get to. But to think that a lake lay there, well that was just astounding and she couldn’t wait to see it.
But another sudden thought occurred to her so she asked Alicshea, “These friends of yours, the ones we go to visit, they don’t include your betrothed by any chance do they?”
Alicshea’s only response was to giggle mischievously.
But any further questions were forgotten as they came across another grass road at right angles to the one they walked. They turned onto this road and Nar’Allia realised they walked a very slight downhill path. Looking further down this road between the tents of the various nomad clans, there could be clearly seen the clear blue waters of the lake. Nar’Allia was astonished, for as they got close the sheer size of the lake could be appreciated, it must have been at least half a kilometre across to the other shore and perhaps more surprising was its shape; it seemed to be perfectly circular.