The Other Battle by Derrick Smythe

Author:Derrick Smythe [Smythe, Derrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dorean Press
Published: 2024-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

Sindri

SINDRI FELT AS IF EVERY eye was trained on her as she walked the stairs leading up to the Vak. It was smaller than Magog’s palace in Sire Karth, but the knowledge that this had been constructed thousands of years earlier made it seem all the more impressive in spite of this. The symmetry of the pillars and all of the angles as it worked its way into the sky gave credence to the belief that its construction was in fact inspired by a god.

Of course the same was said of Magog’s palace, but knowing the inter-politicking of contract selections back home made the work feel less inspired, vainer. And while the same may have been true thousands of years earlier, Sindri preferred to imagine a purer, simpler world had once existed. That mankind had not always been so self-interested, so driven by greed and personal aggrandizement.

But whatever it had once been, she was living in this world now. And in this world, she needed to enter an ancient fortress filled with enemy priests and priestesses without being noticed for the fraud she was. This was why she had to do this part alone. She was the only one who could pass for Luguinden, and that was only if she was not inspected closely.

Draped in the purple robes of Kló, hood drawn, she said the words of greeting as instructed. “War and courage in service to Kló, charity and obedience in service to self. Salvation in all things.”

Sindri felt the weight of their collective scrutiny. Four purple-clad guards stood sentry at the entrance of the main stairway into the Vak. The moment hung in the air like a slowly closing trap door. It was all Sindri could do to not turn and run or lash out with the blades she hid beneath her robes. She kept her eyes downcast, knowing she would falter otherwise.

“Kló’s bounty be upon you.”

Sindri spared a glance up as she said, “And you.” He was smiling back and Sindri walked past, hoping the trembling in her legs was less obvious than it felt as she walked. It wasn’t until she had rounded the first corner that she stopped and took in a full breath of air. She leaned her back against the wall and felt her heart beating up into her throat in rapid succession.

After a moment to collect herself, she returned to the task at hand. She needed to determine whether or not the kosmí was in fact being kept here. And if so, whether or not it was possible to abscond with it and live. If it was here, it was likely heavily guarded so they would need a well-thought-out plan. However, there was no reason to use up valuable time planning access to the Vak if the kosmí was elsewhere.

She pulled out the parchment with a sketch of the layout to reassure herself that she was headed in the right direction. The corridor spanned the entire width of the Vak, sunlight from either side streaming in to illuminate the tall passageway.

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