Category: Aralim

Raely was a woman not to be trifled with.  The scars on her forehead and cheeks—from a handful of knife fights and brawls, no doubt—warned Aralim of her Maykren street wisdom.  Unlike her companion, none of her weapons were easily visible, though Aralim was sure she had a knife or two in her boots.  Nalembar stood behind her left shoulder, hands on his hips as his female colleague pulled out a chair from the Iron River Tavern table where Aralim sat.  Nalembar, unlike Raely’s lanky stature, was thick as a barrel and coarsely bearded.  His broken nose and plethora of blade-hilts marked him as a similarly weathered crook. Continue reading Aralim 143

They sought out a proper inn upon their arrival in Maykren, of course.  The last time that Miresh and Aralim had ventured this way, they had stayed in shelters for the city’s homeless or camped at the roadside. While Aralim had little preference between the two, it made more sense to get proper accommodations for Nill, Miresh, and Master Velad’na. They found them at the Shipwright Stead. Continue reading Aralim 142

It took the better part of a week to organize their tour of Numa’nakres—and Aralim heard not a word from the still-pouting Eternal Emperor.  It might have caused him some frustration, but Aralim’s damaged relationship with the Emperor only manifested as a slight distraction while Miresh walked the Path at his side.  Arranged by Master Enarrin, Master Velad’na would accompany Miresh and continue her training as they ventured from city to city.  Of course, Narr would be continuing his vigilant protection of the Grand Mage’s apprentice, while Nill followed, eager to learn more of this new land. Continue reading Aralim 141

It took Hayan a few days to learn the real name of the man known as Soot.  Aralim spent that time eagerly poring over the pages of Devran’s book.  For the most part the chronicler had kept his writing concise, but his religious condescension leaked through to stain the pages nonetheless.  Still, he gave an honest effort to portraying the Path as a valid belief system—and one that was recognized by the Eternal Emperor.  Overall, he had expected worse. Continue reading Aralim 140

Another two weeks crawled past and still no word came from the Emperor.  Aralim had done as he had asked—he had drawn Lord Sunaza’s confession out of the disgraced man—but still no word came from the Iron Palace.  So, as the Moon waned toward the 5^th month, Aralim went, of his own accord, to see his very old friend. Continue reading Aralim 139

On the day of Miresh’s 14^th birthday, Aralim had still not heard from the Emperor.  He gathered with his friends—and hers—in order to celebrate another incredible year, but he found himself distracted while they ate.  He had made Sunaza speak, but still Tag’na had not summoned him.  He couldn’t have been disappointed in the amount the corrupt lord had divulged, could he? Continue reading Aralim 138

The trace of sunlight was stained with smoke from the thousand-fold lights of Rema, casting salmon and orange into muted shades of themselves.  Aralim hoped it was late enough—he hoped that the Emperor, like the mysterious Tarro, would be trapped in his home, withered by the centuries he had endured.  He hoped he might come home to Miresh before he faced the consequences of his journey. Continue reading Aralim 137

Streamlets of clear mountain water dripped down the sides of the moss-caked ravine.  A cave-opening smiled narrowly and widened only for a gathering of the creeks into an underground river.  The waters likely emerged farther down the mountain slopes and joined with the Opal Valley’s lake.  Old stone steps were cut into the southern face of the gorge; an old, greying rope linked a dozen rusty metal posts. Continue reading Aralim 136

Mildly frustrated, Aralim marched up the zigzagging road as it climbed the Opal Valley slope.  Going one way, he looked back toward the Monastery of Illumination—which had been anything but illuminating in his search for the vale’s mysterious “prisoner.”  Going the other way gave Aralim a wide view of the Valley, the distant town of Vagar where he had arrived, the gleaming lake, and a few other landmarks he had not yet reached.  It was a lot of terrain to cover in a search saturated with uncertainty and ignorance. Continue reading Aralim 135

Insects filled the air with buzzing as they zipped by on tiny wings.  Aralim walked along the quiet, mossy brook as he headed toward the Monastery of Illumination, where the Forest Seers held their meditation.  It had been a long day already, but Aralim walked with a spring to his step.  The Emperor’s Aura had not stopped him from exploring the Opal Valley, so it was only a matter of time before he learned more about the Emperor’s Path, or his own. Continue reading Aralim 134