Oh, how undeniably boring it was getting for Gloriana. The sitting. The waiting. Ugh. How droll this all was. Having to play the games of cultists. Of fanatics, who had no clue what the world was like. But rather thought they could change everything, and who thought that they were the voice of purification chosen by the founders of modern otter society...Hmph. It was rather ridiculous, really. Gloriana then snorted softly, as she perked up her small ears, to listen to what these robed fools were saying. The administrator of civic well-being and humanitarian needs, then heard something about 'her absence being the key to collapse of the festival. And that the leader of their faction would be here shortly, to rally everyone.
Hmm.
Gloriana suddenly was intrigued, as she overheard this. A Covenant faction leader, arriving here? This would be interesting. She knew that faction leaders rarely came out of the shadows. That they operated in plainclothes, and that they could be hard to finger, because they often were in positions of power and never spoke their dissenting opinions in public. The otter, unaware that there was even a party out there, trying to execute her rescue, waited a bit impatiently as the minutes seemed to pass like hours. The energy of the cultists slowly getting more animated, showed anticipation on their part as well. Until the moment came, when a figure with far more regal robes than any of the others made his appearance amidst the crowd.
"My faction!" the figure announced in a pompous yet familiar voice, which Gloriana couldn't quite place. She knew for sure, she'd heard it somewhere, as the faction leader continued saying, "Today, we finally achieve that which has been denied to us, for decades. The Pentarchy in their corrupt opulence, seek only one thing. What is that?"
"Power!"
"And what do we seek?"
"To purify! To return to values of the prophet twins!"
"Yes! And today, we will achieve that! For two of our brave brethren, have done what no other might dare to do! They have brought us Gloriana! She without whom the sun festival, the Otter Empire's greatest spiritual festival turned into a bacchanalia of commercial promotion; will crumble and fail! And once it does, faith in the Pentarchy's strength will fall as well! That is when, we the covenant will swoop in to rebuild and reconstruct the Empire as it was meant to be. That is when the Empire will look to me, to be one of their new high leaders!"
Gloriana gasped, as the faction leader then threw his hood back. "Sheldton!" She exclaimed, as she looked in shock and disgust at seeing the familiar face of her cousin. The man, who was in charge of security and military matters, within the Solmani Empire. "Y-You lead the local faction of these...fanatics!?"
"Mmm-hmm. Surprised?"
"Uh...What do you think!?" Gloriana exclaimed, coming quite close to losing her cool, as Sheldton merely smirked before he strode up to where the cultists had tied Gloriana to an eroding pillar. The male otter then cupped his cousin's chin in between his thumb and second and third fingers, as he made a disappointed sound of "Tsk, tsk, tsk," by clicking his tongue. And stated to Gloriana, as she jerked her chin out of his hand in disgust, "You know, my dear, I really thought I knew you better. I mean, of all the people who work in the Pentarchy, you work the closest to the people. You are amidst them more than any other member of our government, as far I know. So for you to stand there, even if it's against your will, and to say you are surprised and that you have no clue why I would side with Covenant...ha! My dear cousin, I must thank you. For you see, you just gave me a wonderful gift. You just gave me, what is probably the biggest laugh, I have ever received. And you know why? Because I realize now, even though you work closer to the people than any other member of the Pentarchy, you are still blind to what the people want! You are a hypocrite, dear cousin, like all our other cousins who rule over the people. And you know why? Because you can't see that there are people in Empire who see through the Pentarchy's empty words and promises. They see what it has become. A pillar to the elite and to the commercially powerful. A place where self-proclaimed gods, trade tradition for the comfort of keeping up with others. And where instead of following our roots of keeping the otter civilization strong and pure, from other civilizations, we have...have members of the Pentarchy like you, who would support allowing outsiders, to partake in the Sun Festival!"
Gloriana scoffed. "Really?" She replied. "That's what this is about? My deciding vote to allow outsiders to partake in the Festival?" She rolled her eyes. "Sheldton, please. The Empire was crumbling into financial ruin, due to the isolationist views of the Otterian people. We had to do something. The Sun Festival, was losing popularity, even without the vote. The way most of the others saw it, it not only boosted our economy, but it boosted interest in Otterian culture, as well. Listen, I know there are those like you, who want to keep things as they've always been. But that doesn't work anymore. Not since the Agatan Disciplist Groundhogs forged a trade alliance with the Monitors. Ever since that day, we've been playing catch up, because we refuse to do anything unless it's all on our own. And you know what? In my honest opinion, I think there's going to come a day, when that will hurt our people far more than it will help them. It's why I supported changing the structure of the Sun Festival. And if the Groundhogs or any other race offers a solid offer of trade, It's why I candidly would support working with them. Because this is no longer our ancestors world, Sheldton. It just cannot work that way anymore!"
Sheldton simply turned from his cousin and sighed. "And to think," he murmured as he glanced over his shoulder while he began to walk off, "I actually thought you could be made to see reason. Too bad. I always sort of liked you, Gloriana. You were level-headed, but yet showed more empathy than any of the others, for the people of our Empire. I thought, maybe that empathy would help you to see reason here. That maybe, I could have use for you, and could convince the other faction leaders you were worth being spared, when the time to bring about the new Solmani Empire came."
The male otter clicked his tongue. "Oh well," he stated. "What is, is. I guess we'll have to go ahead and move ahead with the operation with out you, won't we? Sorry about this. No hard feelings. Just...this is a 'for those on board only,' type of deal. You get that right?"
Gloriana's fur color paled, and her eyes widened. "Sheldton," she said solemnly. "For Dells sake, will you please tell me what you're going on about? Operation? Wh-What operation? What are you talking about? What are you...what is the Covenant planning!?"
Sheldton smirked. "Oh, all in good time," he replied with a chuckle, besides, can't rush perfection, now, can we? What if we made a mistake? All that hard work, that plotting and planning..."
"Sheldton!"
The chief of security and military matters turned faction leader rolled his eyes. "Fine, Fine," he stated with a snort. "Don't blow a gasket. Good Prophet Twins. I'll tell you. By the river, if only to shut you up." he snarled, baring his teeth, intimidating Gloriana just a little, as she fell silent and listened to what her cousin had to say. He who dusted off his robes and exclaimed, "Now, there. That's a little better. Now that you finally stopped talking, I'll explain a little what we plan to do. First though, a little trivia question. Tell me, what my dear, do you know about these ruins where you are currently being hosted as our guest?"
"You mean where I'm being tied to a pillar as your hostage?"
"Details, details. Just answer the blasted question. What do you know?"
"Uh...well..." Gloriana took a cursory glance around. "Judging by the style of architecture, I'd say it's early Otterian. I don't see any signs of shrines dedicate to the Triune three, or to the Prophet twins, so I'm going to assume it predates the great Journey. I do see markings on some of the pillars referencing Ohtar, the great androgynous celestial otter, who in the old faith, stories said was a being that removed a portion of their essence from themselves, split it in two, and infused it into clay dolls formed from the Sourcewaters of the first river. The legends say, that is how the first male and female otter were formed. And some legends go so far as to say, that Ana and Tan, the prophet twins were descendants of those first otters. But in any case, Ohtar has not been revered since the fall of Musteladonia. So given that reference, I'd say this is one of the last sites dedicated to him. Probably between the tree cycles 600 and 700? Somewhere in there?"
Sheldton's smile widened. "I see you still know your history," he stated smugly. "And yes, that is correct. Our historical experts, date it to around the same time frame you did. Around 600 T.C. and 700 T.C. The time when Musteladonia fell, and when a certain traveling cleric known for spreading the word of the deity we all now know as Balan, was coming to the end of his journeys with his six companions."
"What...no...no...you can't mean..."
"I do. Just on accident of course, when we were scouting out this site for a base, one of my men, the poor soul, stumbled across a hidden cave which was hidden behind the Ana's Tears waterfalls, which are located nearby."
"And...I assume you found something?"
Sheldton nodded. "We did." He replied. "Deep inside the cavern, there is a a huge grotto where at some point in ancient times, the roof caved in. I would assume, due to erosion. Though, that is not the point."
"Then what is the point?"
"The point," Sheldton declared, "Is what we found growing there as an effect of this hollowed out ceiling. Because light and water come pouring in, unrestricted, there is a huge tree, growing in the center of the grotto. This is why, no one has ever found the tomb of Aloysius St. Abbot. He wasn't buried beneath a tree, above ground."
"He was buried beneath a tree...below ground," Gloriana stated with a gasp, she suddenly realizing as well, why so many adventurers had searched for so long, and yet so many had always come up short. Because the tomb was in such an unexpected place, A tree that grew below ground, it would be the last place on Mintara, anyone would think to look.
Gloriana sighed and shook her head. "Okay," she murmured, "Okay...I will concede. That is an impressive find. Still...what of the traps that were supposedly left, so only the worthy could get to the treasure? And what of me? What use could I have in any of your plans, aside from your petty revenge and your desire to sabotage the Sun Festival?"
"Sabotage...is that all you think me capable of?" Sheldton laughed. "Don't make a joke of this!" He exclaimed. "Why do you think the Covenant came after me? Because unlike most of their small-time agents, I think big! I think on a scale, you cannot even imagine. No, I do not wish to solely sabotage, your precious festival. Or even to exact revenge, for whatever simple reason you may think I have in mind. No...while it's true I still have to get past those traps; it will all be worth it, once I get to the treasure. For you see my dear...hehe...I managed to get my hands on a very rare copy, of Aloysius St. Abbot's last journal. It records, not only his final days with his companions, but also a mention of what was to be buried with him, when he gave his instructions to the six who followed him everywhere he went."
"You...know what's down there?"
Sheldton nodded. "It's not gold," he replied. "Nor is it rubies or diamonds. No...he is buried with something much more incredible. A gift from Balan himself, he writes how Balan came to him in a vision and said that as a reward for being a more trusted and loyal disciple, than he the great creator could even have imagined, he thus was entrusting to his protection the gauntlets with which Balan created this very universe."
"And that's what's buried here?"
"Yes."
"The Genesis Gauntlets along with the Eden Stones... they are buried here!?"
How many times do I have to say it? Yes. That's why the covenant has worked so hard to guard this site. With them, we cannot fail. We will remake time and re-shape space with their power, carving reality so that this time, we are the rulers of the Solmani Empire and not you corrupt pretenders, who think that rulership is justified, simply because of your bloodline!"
"Sheldton, you are mad!"
"Maybe, but sometimes it takes a little madness for people to see the truth!"
"I..."
"RAAGH! CRASH!" Sheldton spun around at the sudden roaring sound, which was followed by the sound of steel crashing against steel. "What...What in blazes?" he exclaimed, as one of the upper echelon cultists came running with a report. "Sir!" He said. "We aren't sure what happened. One moment everything was fine, the next a red flare was seen soaring up into the air, and after that it was chaos. Fifteen dead, in minutes under the assault of one groundhog's axe. The other She just walked into our compound and took out twenty more. They looked like either dart or arrow wounds, but none of our brother cultists who survived, reported seeing the woman even draw a bow. As strange as it sounds, they said it felt like there was a discharge of energy in the air. Some said the intensity felt, like she attacked them with her mind."
"Attacked with..."
Sheldton turned sharply to Gloriana, a distraught look on his face, as she stared back at him smugly. The female otter expressing a soft smile toward him as she stated. "Apparently, the cavalry is here. Must be Kysandra and Gemma, by the sounds of it. Hmm...they sound focused, too. Fifteen, taken down by Gemma and twenty by Kysandra? Heh. They're being merciful. Sounds like they want to give whoever is in charge of this operation a chance to surrender peacefully. What do you think, Shelly? You want to give up while you can? Or do you want to face Gemma's axe? Or maybe Kysandra when she finds out you betrayed her mother and her people, simply because you were tired of the state of things..."
"...OH, SHUT UP!" Sheldton shouted, pulling a dagger, and waving it a Gloriana. "Just...Just shut up, alright? I-I need to think. I cannot let it end like this. Ugh...come on."
"Huh?"
"I said come on!" Sheldton exclaimed cutting Gloriana loose, then grabbing her by the wrist before she could run. "You're coming with me. We're going to the falls, and you are going to use that big brain of yours to solve those tests for me. Otherwise, something will happen to your daughter, to make you want to change history as well. You got that?"
Gloriana gasped and bit Sheldton's hand, which gave her a moment in which she broke free. "Ah!" he snarled. "You ungrateful spawn of Shadi! I'll get you for that!"
Gloriana as she ran as hard as she could, hollered back, "The same to you, you traitorous water-rat! I pray the Prophet twins forget your name for attempting such blasphemies against nature, and that when you die, your soul wanders the rivers-of-the-Abyss forever, never returning to the Source water from whence all otters came! A curse on you and your lodge!" Gloriana having swore at Sheldton and having said her piece, then ran as hard as she could away from the cultists. She ran to the nearest empty place on the estate. The courtyard, where she managed to spot Colin and some kind of red weasel that was in his company. Both apparently looking for her. A fact, which she couldn't help but be grateful for. For if anyone would know what to do about this predicament, it would be her old friend, the prairie dog cleric.
"Colin!" Gloriana called. "Oh, by the Twins, Colin!" She hollered, as Colin and Donovan turned in the same instant. A look of relief appearing on the face of the prairie dog, as he was only too glad to see, the otter was alright.
"Gloriana," he said embracing her tightly, as she came running toward him. "Oh, Thank Balan, Calypso and Gaiamor. Ah' was worried somethin' terrible had happened to yeh'. Ah'm so glad tah' see yer' alright. This is Donovan, by the way."
"Hello, Donovan."
The otter politely nodded to Donovan. "I take it, you two gentlemen were on your way to rescue me as well? That, that was the point of firing off the red flares? To let the ones who weren't nearby, know where to go?"
Colin nodded. "Aye." he replied. "And aye, to the other question as well. Though given the flames and the chaos goin' on in the distance, Ah' take it Gemma and Kysandra did not heed my instructions in where ah' told 'em tah' wait, did they?"
Gloriana looked back for a moment at the chaos occurring behind her. "Uh...no," she replied, with a soft, nervous chuckle. "Though, I'll admit, I probably wouldn't be alive if they had. So honestly, I'm kind of glad they made the judgment call to come charging in, instead of waiting for you two to arrive. Besides, we have more important things to worry about right now, other than dwelling on whether or not Kysandra and Gemma should've followed the letter of your instructions."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, the Anaton Covenant," Gloriana replied, as she turned back to face Colin and Donovan. "The faction leader for this region. I saw him. He revealed himself to me. It's my cousin, Sheldton Tan."
"Wha...Sheldton!?"
"Yes." Gloriana nodded in solemn affirmation, at she saw the shock expressed on Colin's face, after having heard this revelation.
"B-But why...?" The prairie dog declared to the otter. "Fer' what reason would he..."
"Betray his own people?" Gloriana shrugged. "In his mind, he doesn't see it as a betrayal. He claims it was the Pentarchy rather, who betrayed their own. That we have become so mired in our own political quibbling, and our own desperate need to hold onto the power that comes with our station, we are willing to sacrifice everything, even the very core of what it means to be an otter, to achieve that. He told me, I for example, was corrupting and forgoing longstanding traditions, when I supported a re-environment of the sun festival. One that was of a more secular stance, and which embraced members of all races to take part in our culture."
"And...he has a plan to which end, he thinks he can remedy this?"
Gloriana nodded. "The tomb of Aloysius St. Abbot," she replied, as she motioned for Colin and Donovan to follow her as she departed toward the sound of a roaring waterfall. The otter, as they drew nearer and as the roaring grew louder, hollered, "The covenant found it quite on accident! According to what Sheldton said, they were scouting this place as a base camp, and one of his lower ranked scouts fell through the falls and discovered a cave on the other side. Apparently, this city was built, dwelled in, and abandoned, around the same time that the journeys and life of St. Abbot, were coming to and end. My cousin said the reason, no one has ever found the tree beneath which St. Abbot is buried, is because they were looking in the wrong place the whole time. He said that while exploring the cavern system behind the falls, they found a large cavern with a caved in roof and a massive tree, growing at the center of the cavern."
Colin paused as they came to foot of the falls. "They truly found a tree underground?" he stated his voice indicating pure astonishment as he turned and reached out to Donovan. The marten expressing a smile of gratitude on his face, as the prairie dog helped him to cross a path of slippery rocks.
"Labyrinthine way," muttered Colin, as he turned back toward Gloriana, once Donovan had caught up. "No wonder no one has ever found the tomb. Even Ah' would never have thought to look here of all places. Ah' mean, underground...Balan, Gaiamor and Calypso, that's clever. Gah, okay. So, yeh've said Sheldton found the tree. Does that mean he found the tomb and the treasure as well?"
Gloriana nodded, as she allowed Colin and Donovan to lead the way through the waterfall. "It's why I was in a hurry to get here ahead of him," she exclaimed. "He indicated he had found the treasure but did not know how to deactivate the three traps, left by St. Abbot's disciples. An opportunity, I felt we should then immediately capitalize on, since he told me what the treasure buried here is."
"What is it?"
Gloriana sighed, as water dripped slowly and steadily from the stalactites above her. "The treasure," she stated quietly, "is the Genesis Gauntlets. They were buried here, alongside the Eden Stones, at request of Balan himself to Aloysius St. Abbot. He apparently, saw St. Abbot as his most loyal disciple, and bid him to hide and protect them, no matter what.
"Hence the need for a triple layer of security, should intruders ever find this place. Three is a holy number, in the Balanic faith. He wanted to ensure that whoever found it, truly would be worthy, and that they would understand the gravity of what they were dealing with."
The prairie dog stroked his beard as they walked. "Also make sense," he murmured, as he led the way with a torch that he'd taken from near the entrance, "that Aloysius St. Abbot would have his disciples of all people set up the traps. If he truly intended to be buried with such a powerful artifact, then he of course would want only his closest allies to be the architects for the traps that guard his tomb. In fact, knowing his dedication to Balan, it's prob'ly fair to say that the traps themselves, will test us based on the three most basic tenets by which a devotee to Balan is expected to live."
"Faith, hope, and charity?"
Colin nodded. "Aye," he murmured in response to Gloriana, as she completed his thought. "All we have to do, is keep these tenets in mind, as we're tested, and we should be fine. Just everyone stay close and...oh, glory day!"
Gloriana quickly pulled Colin back as he stepped on a stone, and was almost skewered by a dart that shot forth from the wall. The prairie dog after realizing how close he'd come to a brush with death, dusted himself off, and turned to Gloriana, and gave her a grateful nod.
"Ah' thank ye' lass," he murmured. "One more second, I would've been in a right mess, pinned up on the other side of the room there. Hmm...seems your typical dart trap. Glori, Donovan, help me look if yeh' would, and let's see if we can find a way to shut this off. There's got to be a trigger or a mechanism or somethin'..."
"Colin."
"Huh?"
"I think I have something," Donovan stated, as he nodded for both Gloriana and the prairie dog to join him. "I'm not sure, but there's writing over here. It looks ancient, but from what I can read, it seems to be some kind of parable, or riddle or something mystical sounding."
Colin widened his eyes, as he looked over the text. "Boy," he murmured. "You can read this? Ah' mean, not that ah'm not glad fer' it, but Great Balan, How? Ah' mean, the weasel languages of Mintara, they have evolved much since the fall of Musteladonia. Yer' tellin' me, yeh' can read what is probably one of the last preserved examples, of a text from that era?"
Donovan shrugged. "It's not that different from reading the Martenjvic language," he replied. "Sure there's a few spelling differences and a few differences in syntax, but it's pretty similar. Enough so, that I can read it, without much trouble."
Gloriana stepped forward and rested her paw on Donovan's shoulder. "Of course," she replied. "I think I understand. The martens...they strove to preserve who they were, after the fall of Musteladonia. Their culture, their identity, their language. They changed a little over time, for sure. But for the most part, they've remained the same as to who they were, before Musteladonia's fall. By the prophet twins, it's no wonder Donovan can read this. To him, it truly isn't a dead language. It's just a linguistic cousin, to his own natural tongue. Right, Donovan?"
"Uh...if you say so." The marten shrugged. "Honestly, I've never seen Musteladonian writing, so I couldn't tell you one way or the other. All I can say, is what this writing here says. It starts with three letters. "REF," followed by, I think this is a "13..." and...
"Reflections, chapter thirteen verse seven," Colin suddenly confidently. "And Lo, let the one who darest to approach," he said, walking back slowly toward the dart trap. "Do so not in the confidence of approachin' me in full erectness where they may meet eye to eye. For let it be known that I am Balan. The creator and law above all. I am the judge who decides what shall be forgiven and what shall be retained. Those who approach and know me shall do so in humility. They shall prostrate themselves before me!" Colin exclaimed, as he quickly flattened himself to the floor, before another dart shot out of the wall.
"C'mon!" He hollered motioning for Gloriana and Donovan, to do the same. "The trigger must be on the other side, We're gonna have to crawl on our stomachs, tah' get to it!"
"What!? But my dress..."
"Glori!"
"Fine, fine..." The otter sighed, as he reluctantly got on her stomach, and worked her way across the floor, behind Donovan and Colin. Arrows firing overhead the whole time, until finally, they made it to a pillar on the other side.
"Donovan," Colin called to the marten as they all made it to this pillar. "There's markings here. They look numerical, lad. Ah' think this is how we shut off the trap. We need tah' find the chapter and verse number associated with this trap. That'll be the Musteladonian symbol for thirteen and then for seven in that order. Got it, lad?"
Donovan nodded. "Got it," he replied scanning the pillar. "Here," he pressed in one stone. "That's Decatre, the number thirteen," he stated. "Now...here's the number seven,Hepte!" The arrows immediately stopped firing, as Donovan pushed in the second stone. Colin and Gloriana with elated expressions turned to face Donovan.
"Ah," Donovan exclaimed. "That was great work, lad. Great work! Now we won't have to go through the trap of faith again, on our way back."
"That...was the trap of faith?"
Colin nodded, "Aye," he replied. "Book of Fortitude, Chapter three, verse three. "Let those who fear the loosed arrows of the enemy, travel beneath the safety of my cloak, and in the security of knowin, that faith in me shall not bring them tah' harm." Honestly, that was dells awful clever of St. Abbot's disciples, double layerin' the symbolism behind their trap. I think this pretty much confirms, we're gonna have tah' be on our guard for the next two, if they're gonna be this sneaky."
Gloriana chuckled as they continued on. "I'd call it being cautious," she said. "I mean the gauntlets and gems which were used to forge the universe, and which could be used to reshape the universe to a person's personal design? Prophet twins, you don't want that falling into the wrong person's hands. You said that yourself Colin, did you not?"
Colin nodded, "Aye, that I did," he replied. "Ah' guess ah'm just nervous about the next trap. We got past the first one. But we still have hope and Charity to get through. And those just...seem a little more ambiguous, than faith does."
"Well...at least we have someone who can practically read Musteladonian Era writing, so it's not like we're walking into this blind, right?"
Colin nodded. "True," he replied. "And we have Gemma and Kysandra holding things outside. So ah' suppose it'll be okay."
"It will. And speaking of those two, I was surprised to see them fighting together and in sync. How in dells did that happen?"
"Oh..." Colin rolled his eyes. "It's a bit of a long story," he murmured. "Honestly, it has more to do with Donovan, than with me. Would yeh' believe he got them workin' together after he beat them at the festival axe-throwing competition?"
"Him? Really?"
"Aye. He grew tired of the petty fighting. So he beat them both and put them on even footing by making them both losers. Heh. You'd think they'd be upset, but instead they realized how silly this fight between the groundhogs and the otters is. Mostly, because they have common ground on the issue as you know."
"Colin..."
Colin paused. "It was unfair and yeh' know it."
"I couldn't stand against her..."
"Why because she's the bloody Lod'zhak?" Colin turned towards Gloriana, his face bright red. "Listen tah' me." he snarled. "Ah' have stood by you on many issues. Many. But the banishment of Lexyana by Premiana...simply because she dared to love one from a race that otters are taught to despise for the pettiest of reasons..." Colin sighed. "I just...I can't believe you stood there and said nothing..." he growled. "You, whose job it is to look out fer' the welfare of every otter in this empire. Whether it be old or young. Noble or commoner...Yeh' can just stand there and tell me, that you sleep well at night, after standing silent on that issue?"
Mariana smirked. "I do it, because I must." she replied. "You think it's easy, doing what I do? Bearing the burden of trying to maintain healthy productive lives for every person in the Empire? Sometimes...I make sacrifices. Yes, I admit. Maybe it seems cowardly, to not have spoken out. Maybe I admit, I should've spoken my mind in her favor. But then what would it have achieved? Think Colin. All I would've done; was I would've undermined the authority of the Lod'zhak. I may be in charge of the welfare of the people, yes. But by remaining silent, I was thinking of the welfare as a whole. I was thinking, what would happen if I spoke my mind? It would create division and discord. You would have neighbor fighting neighbor, over the matter. We would have fallen into economic disarray, because we would no longer have been functioning as one, productive, efficient empire. So do I sleep well over the matter itself. No. I do not, Colin. I will live with that guilt for the rest of my life. But it is a guilt I can bear, if I know that the people I love are living safe, happy, productive lives."
"Ah' see..."
Colin fell silent for a moment, before he heard a whistle from Donovan who'd gone on ahead. "Hey!" Donovan called to the others. "You guys coming? You need to see this. I think I found the next test." Colin and Gloriana at these words, then joined Donovan in a new chamber. A rather curious chamber, indeed, as it seemed there was a doorway on the other side. There simply was no way to reach it, as there was no bridge or stairs, that could be seen. And the ledge where this doorway was located, was higher up than the ledge on which the three companions were standing.
"How...?" Gloriana murmured at the sight of this. The otter while looking for a way across, waited for Donovan to try and find writing that was similar to the kind, which had been found at the site of the last test. An inscription, which Donovan did finally locate. It was just inside the doorway, with the inscription written high up on the ceiling. "It...uh, says..." Donovan murmured, as he tried to translate the text.
"It says...INSP...34...21?"
"Inspirations, Chapter 34, verse 21," Colin affirmed. "And so in the darkest hour of desperation and despair, fear not. For if you have hope, I shall but lift you up to higher places on great wings."
"Wait, wings?"
Donovan disappeared for a second and then returned. "That must be what these are," he said. "I saw these on the way, here. Didn't know what they were. You think that's what the verse means, we're supposed to literally fly up to that other doorway?"
"I'd say more like glide," Colin murmured, as he examined the ancient devices, with a rather impressed look on his face. "My daughter showed me a design she came up with once. Very similar. It came from old human blueprints that she came across from what the humans called the 'renaissance era.'
Given what she told me, these devices should still be workable. That strong wind we felt coming in here, she said is called an updraft. We can ride it, with these gliders. However, to hit that next ledge, timing will have to be everything. Hmm...Ah' tell yeh' what'. Ah'll go first. Take that first, leap of faith, if yeh' will. If ah' make it, ah'll be able to guide you and Gloriana, how's that?"
Donovan shrugged anxiously. "I guess so..." he said. "Just...you're sure you know how to operate one of these?"
Colin nodded. "I think so," he said. "Let's see, at the tail, ah' got mah' elevators. They move me up and down, Ah' got these aileron flaps on the wings, which controls the roll of mah' wing movements, and finally Ah' got mah' rudder, which moves the nose left or right. Ah' think that's about it."
"Okay."
Donovan looked up to the flowing air current. "Just...be careful, okay?"
Colin saluted. "Ah' will." he said, as he took a deep breath, exhaled, and then went running with the glider for the edge. The prairie dog, for a moment scaring himself, as he started to fall, before he composed, himself, adjusted the ailerons and rudder and tilted the elevator so that he flew up and around and into the pillar of wind, at the last minute. The air burst then carried him high into the air. The prairie dog while rising higher and higher, found himself in awe at the beauty of the cavern. He felt like a bird, the way he soared above everything, the way Gloriana and Donovan looked so small, as they waved to him from below. Dells, he never imagined he'd ever get to experience something like this. Even if it only lasted for a moment, Colin savored the moment while it lasted, before his glider came to be at the same height as the ledge and the second doorway.
He let the glider go just a little higher, before he ejected from the updraft, and glided for a gentle landing, down onto the ledge.
"Come on up!" He hollered over the ledge to the others, after he had landed and after he'd dismounted from the glider. "Just watch that first step!" the prairie dog warned. "If yeh' don't hit that updraft right off, it's gonna make fer' one bowfin ride, believe me that!"
"We believe you!" Donovan as he hollered this back, then got a glider for himself, and took off straight into the updraft just as Colin had advised. The marten, once having rode to the same height which he'd seen Colin ride to, also ejected from the updraft, and landed safely on the ledge. Gloriana, who followed, then did much the same. And landed also in the same fashion as the other two, seemingly glad, that this test, was over as well.
"First darts," She exclaimed, as they continued deeper into the darkness, "then gliders. What's next, walking through fire?" The otter with disgust, then rolled her eyes and sighed, just before she, Donovan and Colin arrived at the entrance of the third company of the third chamber. A room filled with three unique and somewhat grotesque statues. One couldn't help but wonder, what the purpose of this trial was, as the first of these statues, was carved in the image of a person who hadn't eaten in weeks. Meanwhile, the second looked almost entirely nude, except for a few meager garments, and the third was kneeling with hands held out, and tongue stuck out. A sour expression as if the person were parched.
Were they supposed to do something with the statues? Donovan wondered this, as he noticed a table in front of the statuary. On it, a series of three items. A cloak, a piece of bread, and a goblet of wine. Hmm. Three statues three items. They had passed the tests of Hope and Faith. This had to be charity. So, could providing the correct items to the correct statues, Donovan pondered, be what was required to pass the test?
Donovan turned toward Colin as this weighed on his mind. "Colin," the marten murmured to the prairie dog, who was pondering the matter as well. "I um...I have an idea. There are three statues and three items on the table, right? Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but...what if it's so simple as putting the correct three items with the correct three statues?"
Colin just smiled, as he stroked his beard. "Aye," he replied. "Ah' was wonderin' if yeh' would come up with that same idea, lad," he murmured. "And aye, ah' think that is the gist of what we're supposed tah' do. The thing is, figurin' out which item goes with which statue. Yeh' know? Ah' mean, unlike the other rooms, there's no writin' on the wall, so tah' speak. So we have no Balantomia reference off which to work."
"But...what if we do?"
"What do yeh' mean?"
"Colin...this may just be a wild stab in the dark, but how many lessons regarding charity in the Balantomia, depict this particular scene?"
"Uh..." Colin blinked. "There's but one," he murmured, astonished he didn't think of it sooner. "Good Balan. The writin' on the wall, is here. St. Abbot's followers just put it in the form of an image instead of text, to see who was a true devotee and who was a well-schooled tomb raider. Good work, lad. Aye, there is but one lesson in the whole Balantomia that depicts this scene. Its Conversations 13:2. 'And so, before Balan departed his people of Mintara for the realm above which he'd long ago prepared for himself, it was asked of him, how they would recognize his presence even if he was so physically distant. And he replied, Ah' am here, in every act of charity yeh' perform. Ah am here...when you feed those who are hungry."
Colin approached took the bread and laid it in the palms of the statue who appeared starved. A mystical glow appearing about it, as it morphed into a happy, full and satisfied figure, before crumbling away, revealing a key, that had been locked away inside the stone. A key, which Colin picked up with a smile, glad to see they had made the right decision, as he continued on.
"Ah am' here," he continued, "When you clothe those who have nothin' tah' wear," the prairie dog taking the cloak and wrapping it around the barely clothed statue. This statue too crumbled away, and Colin same as before, took a second key, from the remains.
"And ah' am here, whenever you give drink tah' those who thirst." Colin as he made this last statement, took the glass of wine, and poured it down the open mouth of the last statue. The face of the statue upon receiving this drink of wine, instantly morphed to have an alleviated and refreshed look about it moments before it too shattered. A third key, Colin then took from the remains.
"Three keys," Colin stated, "Three locks." He nodded to a door on the far side of the room. "This has to be why Sheldton couldn't get to the tomb from above. The barrier wards St. Abbot's disciples put up, probably can't be breached from there. They wanted to make sure, that anyone tryin' tah' get to the treasure would have tah' access it through one way, and one way only."
"By passage of the tests." A slow round of applause, and the sound of a sly voice, made Donovan, Colin and Gloriana turn around instantly.
"Sheldton!" Gloriana snapped, as she saw her cousin approach confidently. "How the dells did you get down here? And this far, for that matter? Those tests were meant for the worthy, and for people with in-depth knowledge about Balan and his teachings. No way, you got this far without help."
Sheldton chuckled. "Oh, I didn't," he replied calmly. "You're right. I mean, I knew there had to be an entrance, since there certainly was no way to break those dells-forsaken barrier wards. But to think, the three of you, would be smart enough to solve the puzzles, and then be stupid enough to deactivate them afterwards, Oh! It was almost like you wanted me to follow you! Oh, and Colin, I must congratulate you and the boy, on this last one. Solving what lesson on Charity was referenced, when it was depicted in imagery? Bravo, boys! Bravo indeed! Now, down to business. Go on, open the door. Open it Colin, or I let my cultist friends sacrifice one of your little companions.
The otter grabbed Donovan and held a knife to his throat. "What's it going to be Colin? Gloriana? You going to open that door like I ask or do you wanna see what color a marten's blood is!?"
Gloriana started to say something, but Colin held her back, and shook his head. "We'll open the door," he murmured, not wanting any harm to come to Donovan, as he approached the door and placed each of the three keys in one of the three locks.
Colin then turned the keys, and pulled open the heavy stone door, revealing a room filled with beryl, gold, opal, rubies, sapphires, and all kinds of precious jewels and metals. A trove, with at its center, was a great silver sarcophagus standing upright. The figure etched into it, having to be that of Aloysius St. Abbot. The long dead cleric in this image, appeared to have a trimmed beard and mustache that connected and wrapped around his face. He had a serene yet determined visage. And he appeared to be...no. It couldn't be. He...was a marten?"
This fact left Donovan in shock, as he approached and reverently traced a paw, over the sarcophagus. "I...I can't believe it," the marten whispered, as Sheldton meanwhile, was in the background fervently searching for the famed Genesis Gauntlets and the Eden stones which were said to have been buried here.
"All this time...and I wasn't the first marten to leave Jutfaang? Aloysius St. Abbot...he was a marten too? He...was like me?"
Colin approached. "It would seem so," he murmured as he rested a paw on Donovan's shoulder. "Though...why such a fact was never recorded in the histories, I do not know. Perhaps, we'll get a chance to investigate later. Right now, we have more important matters to attend to. Matters such as finding those stones and gauntlets before Sheldton does, hmm?"
"Oh, right!"
Donovan no longer distracted turned to see Sheldton had metal glove in hand forged from mail that shimmered like golden fish scales. "Found one!" He exclaimed triumphantly, just before Gloriana called out, "And I've got the other!" She then held up the gauntlet's twin, a sight, at which Sheldton widened his eyes.
"You...give me that!" He snarled, as he started chasing Gloriana about the room, trying to get his hands on her gauntlet. This game of otter-chase-otter, was then interrupted, as what appeared to be one of the cultist lieutenants poked their head into the room, to see what was going on. Probably one of the bodyguards who Donovan and Colin believed must've come along to ensure their faction leaders safety. The figure remaining silent, only entered the room, as Sheldton called out, "You! Help me! She has the other gauntlet! Get it from her!" This figure's response, they then did seem to approach Gloriana. However, much to Donovan and Colin and even Gloriana's surprise, the figure then walked right past the female otter. And before Sheldton could complain, took the butt of a concealed tonfa and whacked it over the male otter's head, knocking him out.
It was then, as Sheldton crumpled over in an unconscious heap, that an even bigger surprise came. This surmised lieutentant, removed their mask and lowered their hood, allowing a ponytail of blond hair to flow free as a soft smile was provided specifically to Donovan.
"Hello brother," declared the figure who'd revealed themselves to be Valorisa. "Been awhile, hasn't it?"