Rise to Glory (Day 93)

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Try though he might, Aisen could not glimpse anything beyond a few feet into the tunnel before him. He held the flickering flame out as far as he could, but its light was engulfed by the darkness within. The Strander had been gone for some time now and he was worried. He had called up to him only a few minutes before but there had been no answer. Of course--that didn't necessarily mean anything. The oppressive walls of the cavern had a way of muting the sound of his voice. He might be perfectly safe and just had not heard.

Was he calling down to him now? Had he traveled too far down the tunnel and gotten stuck somehow? Aisen was mortified for a moment when he realized that his companion could be calling for help and he just wasn't able to hear. He strained his ears to listen for muted yells, but there was nothing. He was growing more restless by the second waiting at the tunnel's opening.

"I should go after him," he whispered to himself, although he scarcely believed his own words.

Just traveling through the narrow corridors on the way to that cavern had made him intensely uncomfortable. Although he'd spent plenty of time outdoors, he'd never been much for tromping through dark and mysterious caves. He'd sensed there was something important here--or else he would have never dared to venture inside. He imagined the walls of the cave collapsing violently in on him just about every moment. It was a startling phobia that he very much wished he could dismiss.

He longed for the wide open spaces and warm climate of Danatha and wondered momentarily if he would ever see it again. He harbored no resentment toward the Strander for what he had done--it was clear it had been accidental. He was afraid of what wonderful things he could accomplish. Aisen could only speculate, but he imagined whatever society the poor man belonged to must frown on communing with the Strand. Still, it was an exceedingly strange location for a planar stone. Many societies were built around locations containing them--but here, there was not a living thing in sight.

Time was stretching on, and still no sounds came from the tunnel. Why was he waiting here? Clearly Terakiel had not found a dead end or he would have turned back long ago. It made the most logical sense to dismiss his irrational fears and climb up through that hole. It made a lot of sense. But he still did not want to do it in the slightest.

Holding the ghostly flame aloft, Aisen examined the perimeter of the cavern. It was possible there was another route that was somewhat less terrifying. The only other opening in the entire room was indeed larger--but it was blocked off by tightly packed rock formations. Given enough agility, a man might be able to wriggle his way through to the passage, but it would mean crossing the river, a feat they'd both been avoiding for some time. It was a lot of effort to go through and it there was no guarantee that it connected to the other passage--and even if he did try it, Terakiel might return while he was gone.

That really only left Aisen with one reasonable option. He had to conquer his fear and climb up through that hole. If Terakiel had found something then he would have to do it anyway. Why not get a head start and save some time? He couldn't turn back now--he had no idea where he was and little enough idea how to survive in the wilderness. Despite Aisen's healthy supply of akser berries, Terakiel seemed to have a better idea of how to brave the wilds. After all, he'd been doing it long before Aisen came along.

"Well. . ." Aisen inhaled. "I suppose there's no avoiding this."

He hesitated. How easily would he be able to crawl through the tunnel holding the Strander's flame? Terakiel had somehow made his way through that dark passageway without light, but Aisen wasn't sure his stomach could handle that. Sighing profoundly, he dismissed his concerns and flung the ball of fire a few feet up into the tunnel, where it came to rest soundlessly, seemingly having no effect on the terrain beneath it.

Steeling his resolve, Aisen pulled himself up into the mouth of the tunnel, taking care not to snag his piriol cloak on any of the rocks jutting out of the surrounding walls. He crawled his way a few feet forward and snagged the flame. He swallowed. I cannot believe I am doing this.