Chapter Seventeen
They exited the rope bridge cavern. Soon they reached a spiral staircase that led up and down from the level they were on.
"Up we go, to the exit," said Greybeard.
They began to climb.
"Who is Nelestar?" Andrew asked.
"Nelestar is the Elf God of the hunt, Master of the Bow. But you should know, that it is quite rare for a dwarf to use a bow. And rarer still, for him to be skilled with one. And for a dwarf to pray to the Elven Gods is practically unheard of. But I once did a great service for the Elf Lord Hirtez, whose beloved only daughter Minthas was captured by a pack of werewolves. After I returned her to him, I was a guest in his house for a while. There, some of the ways of elves rubbed off on me. Me' father is probably turning over in his grave now, seeing his son use a bow and invoke the Elf Tirengilen."
"Katy was good with a bow," said Andrew, remembering the time when they went to an archery range together. But reminding himself of Katy only opened old wounds anew. Prisoner of Blue. The image of her horrified face, frozen in his mind. Andrew tried to think happier thoughts, before he got lost in despair.
The steps went on and on, on the way out of the deep mines. Periodically they came across a painting of a dwarf, usually decked out in dazzling armor, in a fierce battle pose. Though many were ripped and torn in places.
"They are the old rulers of the Nenwé mines," said Greybeard. "There is Tharus Iron beard. And that's Prince Dulsap the Dumb."
"They called him 'the Dumb'? To his face?" Andrew asked.
"He didn't even know what it meant, and took it as a compliment. The only things that he did know was food, and how to remove a man's head from his shoulders in battle. And at that, he was quite good. We all have our strengths."
Andrew laughed.
At length they reached the top of the stairs, and finally, the exit of the dark, musty mines. A cool breeze hit their faces. It was dark outside. The scant moonlight showed that they were on a walkway that was carved into the side of Nenwé.
"Let's make camp and rest, and tomorrow try to find the Kilon bird," said Andrew.
Greybeard let out a big yawn. "Good idea."
It was exhilarating to have made it through the gloomy mines, but the journey was far from over. Though Andrew did feel some pride over defeating the ulthars go through him. Perhaps it was just luck, but it felt good anyway. Though he didn't allow himself to get overconfident. Pride can be a warriors worst enemy.
They had a meal of dried fruit, and lay on the path to sleep, using their packs as pillows.
"Just a couple of weeks ago, I could only fall asleep in my own comfortable bed. Now, I can sleep anywhere," Andrew reflected.
"Men are adaptable. Good night." And soon, Greybeard's loud snores could be heard echoing through the valley. Andrew closed his eyes, and followed suit.
The next day, Andrew was happy to finally see the glorious shining sun. It bolstered his spirits. It had never looked so good, so beautiful. "Amazing what a little sunlight can do for your mood."
They set off down the path, and soon came to more steps. They climbed them for another couple of thousand feet, where it leveled off once again.
"I think we are on the path to Teltibane now," said Greybeard. "We should be around twenty five hundred feet high by now, on the western side of Nenwé. This will lead to the Kilon that will take you to Teltibane."
The very sound of Teltibane's name boiled Andrew's blood. Murderer.
They walked on, taking in the brilliant view that the five majestic mountains soaring around them afforded. The air was crisp, and a little cool, with a strong mountain breeze. Good weather for a hike.
"Be on your toes," cautioned Greybeard. "There should be obstacles to face. To get to meet Teltibane, you must earn it, with courage and valor."
But they walked for a while without meeting any obstacles of any kind.
Then they rounded a bend, and there before them was a raging fire, blocking the way. They approached it and could feel the heat on their faces.
The flames were at least eight feet high. And there was no visible way around them.
"Maybe Teltibane really is God. To meet him, you must first die," Andrew joked.
"There has to be a way," muttered Greybeard. He stared intently at the fire. "Don't you think it's strange, that there is a strong breeze, yet the flames reach straight up, without wavering in the wind?"
"Okay," said Andrew slowly. He wasn't sure where Greybeard was going with this.
"And even stranger, this fire has no fuel. It burns on bare stone."
"Maybe it's a magical fire, and it doesn't need fuel."
"Perhaps. But I think that this fire is just an illusion, created by sorcery. Yes, I have seen this kind of false fire before."
"So nothing will happen to us if we go through?"
"It will burn like real fire for a few seconds. And then the illusion will be broken. This must be a test of your courage."
"Okay," said Andrew. Whatever Greybeard said, it looked like real fire to him. "Um, since you figured it out, do you want to go first?"
"You must go first, Andrew. The challenges are made for you. If you see me pass through unharmed, now that would hardly be a challenge, would it? And if you don't pass the challenges, you will see nothing in the mist."
"You are absolutely positive that it's an illusion?"
"No. I am merely nearly positive. Of course that is not going to help you, if it turns out that I am wrong. We can turn back, if you want. No one is forcing you to do this."
Andrew looked at the crackling flames. He felt the heat on his skin. He imagined burning to a crisp, here on a mountainside in the middle of the Color Realms, so far from home. His parents would never even get the body. Or he could just turn, just run away from this crazy challenge, this mad journey. Try to get home another way.
"I'll do it," said Andrew. "For Katy."
Andrew steeled himself, and walked right into the raging fire.
The flames engulfed Andrew. It burned, oh did it burn. He felt the pain in every nerve of his body. Excruciating, horrible pain. He couldn't bear it. He screamed, and turned back around, ready to leave it behind, and to give up on the journey entirely.
But no, he couldn't. He had to do this, for Katy. He needed to rescue her from the clutches of King Blue. And he needed to put an end to Teltibane's evil ways.
And then, the pain subsided. Instead of the burning flames of moments ago, there was only a faint tickling sensation on Andrew's skin. So Greybeard was right, thankfully. It was merely an illusion.
Andrew walked another few feet, and turned around. Behind him was the wall of flames, like before. He had made it through. Because of Katy. Katy had given him the courage that he needed, to face down this challenge.
Greybeard emerged from the fire a few seconds later, carrying their packs.
"I nearly gave up," said Andrew. "It was so painful, I was ready to go back."
"And what made you stay?"
"I thought of Katy and her predicament, and she made me stay,"
"Exactly Andrew. Your friends give you courage, and strength. Never forget that. Take it from an ancient dwarf, who has lived more years than he has wrinkles on his skin."
They walked further along the flat, cut, mountainside path, the magnificent Dumvarin Mountains soaring towards the skies all around them.
Forty-five minutes later the path widened considerably. Before them was a great cloudy mist, encompassing the entire path.
"That's funny," said Greybeard. "I thought that there would be many more obstacles before we made it to the end. That's what my friend Lunver told me. Anyway, we need to enter the mist, and you must find the ladder."
They walked into the mist. The thick fog enshrouded them, causing Greybeard to go practically blind. But Andrew, the rightful bearer of the rainbow card, could
still see a bit. They advanced slowly, warily. The fog could be hiding anything.
They had gone about thirty feet, when a tall, shadowy swordsmen appeared in front of Andrew, his outline blurred.
He drew his sword. But Greybeard just kept on walking, right at the swordsman.
"Greybeard, stop!" yelled Andrew. "Can't you see him?"
"See what? I can't see nuthin'." said Greybeard.
"There is a swordsman there, you are walking right into him!"
"Oh. It must be another challenge. I should leave the mist for now, until it's over. Good luck Andrew."
Greybeard left.
The blurred swordsman advanced, and struck. He too wielded a Japanese katana sword, just like Andrew.
Andrew parried. But before he could counter, the figure struck again. And again. Never allowing Andrew any room to go on the offensive.
The swordsman slashed to the left, to the right, back to the left, and back again, forcing him off balance.
Then, after several minutes of fighting, the figure suddenly disappeared into the mist. Andrew breathed a sigh of relief. The fight was over, and the challenge overcome. He was about to call Greybeard when....
Andrew heard the slightest noise behind him. He whirled around just in time to block a deadly overhand strike from the swordsman. So it wasn't over. The fight resumed, with the swordsman's great speed always keeping Andrew on the defensive.
The same thing happened several more times. The swordsman would sink into the mist, only to reappear from another direction. This forced Andrew off balance even more.
Andrew realized that the time between the disappearing and reappearing of the figure was getting shorter and shorter. Soon, it would be impossible to block the his strikes. Reflexes have their limits.
And as the fight went on, Andrew was only getting more and more tired and worn out. Which affected his reaction time adversely.
They fought on. The smoky figure was now in front and to the right of Andrew. Andrew blocked a strike. Then the figure disappeared, and reappeared almost immediately, behind him. By the time Andrew could turn around, the figure's sword would already be most of the way towards his neck.
It was over. The strike was impossible to block.
Andrew prepared to die. 'Good bye, mom and dad. Good bye Phoenix, Jen, and Michelle. I'm sorry Katy. I have failed you. Farewell.'
Then—'Is this what heaven is like? Is it all misty?' Then Andrew recalled that he had already been in the mist before the deadly blow. So he wasn't dead. Which was odd, given the fact that his neck had been cut wide open with a sharp katana blade. Had he come back from the dead? It was quite puzzling. "Can someone please tell me what's happening?"
"You have proven yourself," a deep voice intoned. "You may pass."
The swordsman withdrew his sword and faded into the mist, this time for good. He hadn't wanted to hurt Andrew all along. It was only a test. But a difficult one at that.
"Greybeard! I beat the challenge!" Andrew called.
"Yah did? That's great news." Greybeard came blundering into the mist, his hands stretched out in front of him.
"Hold onto my shoulder. I will lead us to the ladder."
Andrew filled Greybeard in on the fight; how he thought that he had died, but it was really just a test.
"You beat both challenges, and that's good, but we should be wary of more. From all the accounts I have heard, getting to Teltibane should not be that easy."
They walked, with Andrew leading, and Greybeard stumbling behind him, deeper into the mist.
Andrew spied a rope ladder about two feet over his head. He jumped up and grabbed it. It came tumbling down. "I found the ladder."
"Great. Lead me to it please."
Andrew guided Greybeard to the ladder, and he ascended. Andrew followed. Andrew was relieved to have overcome the harrowing challenges of the path of Nenwé. He hoped that the dangerous trials of this world would soon be over, and that he would soon be home again, safe and sound.