CHAPTER 64 – HEADING NORTH


    Mitakahn did not mind paddling even as his wounds finished healing. The river was soothing to him. The Woodlands had given him renewed strength. Although the current was against them, the winds were in their favor, and after they got some distance away from the waterfalls the current softened.


    Riding the water was a good break for them. They could pretend, for a good part of the day, that there was no impending doom or dire path upon them. Orion was definitely among those who cherished the experience. He laid in front of Excelsior’s kayak, on his belly with his paws and head hanging over the boat, staring at his reflection in the running water. Excelsior felt the warmth of the Solaris Energas against his chest. It hung directly on top of his heart, keeping his core warm. It felt like constant fuel rushing his system. Excelsior paddled his boat alone with his big furry dog sprawled out on it, and despite the added weight still managed to keep the kayak in front of the others, without showing any signs of fatigue.


    Humbler rowed without care along with Kunezar lost in his key. Kunezar was still obsessing over his gift, the mysterious key. When would be the right time to use it? There was nothing in Kunezar’s life right now that he needed to unlock. Nothing material, that is.


    Tron paddled along with Bridger in their kayak. They had decided splitting the trip up, so they were both paddling the entire time at half the effort was the fairest way to go about sharing the trip.


    Anilithion helped Mitakahn row them up the river. Although he could feel the wound on his shoulder with each stroke of the paddle, Mitakahn forced himself to paddle the entire trip. Right now, he was too preoccupied with more pressing issues like, whether or not they were too late, or what they would do once they got there. Mitakahn had to snap himself out of it. He tried meditation to calm his worries, setting his mind on more simple matters like appreciating the beauty of the river.


    Mitakahn saw Anilithion’s head keep tilting toward his new whip. He finally told his younger cousin to take a break from paddling. He immediately went for the whip as Mitakahn chuckled, the burn of his wound reminding him he was not out of the woods yet. Anilithion held his whip in his hand.


    After a short while of inspecting it, he stood up and began to practice cracking the whip on the boat. He balanced himself on the kayak, standing up straight and cracking the whip out across the water. The first time he tried it, Anilithion lost his balance and fell into the water. Mitakahn, rowing behind him, quickly grabbed his cousin, and lifted him back into the boat before the current spirited him away. The rest of the group had a short laugh at Anilithion’s na?veté, even Mitakahn couldn’t help but join in.


    Later on in the day, when the prince was dry again and after much practice, Anilithion could crack the whip while maintaining his balance. Towards the end of the nautical journey, Anilithion had almost mastered the whip. He could crack water off the surface of the river and then split a drop in half, mid-air, all in two fluent cracks. It was uncanny. Mitakahn respected his younger cousin’s commitment to getting good. Maybe it was to get the last laugh or maybe he was always a natural at it. The truth remained, Anilithion was becoming a force to be reckoned with.


    It was the Phoenix Kingdom’s landmark that they would be traveling to next. Mount Fire was far up in the Northeastern point and the highest peak in the Burning Mountains Range. The river had taken them parallel with the road north until the water got too hot to travel in.


    The warriors docked their kayaks and continued on foot until they reached the edge of the Burning Mountain Range and Mount Fire. A long trail would still stand in front of them of narrowing and never-ending slopes that involved persistence and dedication. That is why only the truly committed (and those with wings) have made it all the way to the top to walk throughout the ancient civilization, which hides in the clouds. So the troop would rest and camp for the night. They would make for the summit in the morning.


    As Mitakahn stared at the bonfire the whole group went into production around him creating a camp. He tended to the fire, trying to predict what would happen in the days to come. Mitakahn did not want to think of anything. He was trying not to let his sorrow get the best of him. Orion sat by the fire opposite Mitakahn, watching him intently. The dog walked over, laid under the prince’s hanging hand, and pushed his giant furry head up against his open palm.


    Mitakahn’s hand twitched against the meadow shepherd’s fur, and he realized he was not alone. He patted the pup’s head. Orion sat up, now towering over Mitakahn. The boy looked up at the dog. He was overcome by the animal’s remarkable perception. Mitakahn pressed his face headfirst into his chest, in full embrace. Something about the warmth and the comfort of the moment made Mitakahn lose his guarded exterior. The giant hound sat stern by the fire and let the tired prince release his grief and anguish into his fur. Tears ran down the brown and black canine hairs, dropping off, and evaporating before they hit the ground near the fire.


    Excelsior walked up to the fire and unloaded the logs he had just rounded up, “Be careful Mitakahn, he’ll let you do that all night. He’s a sucker for affection. Contrary to legendary belief, my dog is a sap.”


    Mitakahn composed himself and mumbled, “He knows not how much it means.”Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    “Oh, I think he has some idea. You bear too much on your shoulders, prince.”


    “I know deep in my heart that I am too late, that everything we are doing right now is in vain. The Pride has fallen. And yet we sit here and wait. I can’t take this anymore, Excelsior…” Mitakahn leaned forward past Orion and dried his eyes by the fireside. Excelsior took a seat next to the sunken prince.


    “You hold power inside of you like no other, I can feel it. You cannot fall to despair now. That is just your demons escaping, so you can clear your head. To have great power in feeling is to fall victim to embracing emotion, but you must control your passion. You are a warrior of the Greyden Clan! A knight of the Silver Institute. You know that it is not yet over. We still have more trails to walk and battles to win. You know this. You can feel it…we still have purpose, we still walk for meaning.”


    “You are wise, dear friend, wiser than I ever hope to be. It is a true blessing to have you by my side-”


    “And I will always be. No matter what happens, I will be with you to the very end. And don’t you forget, unlike the other ones who might make the same claim, I come with a bonus, the loyalty of two, wanderer and shepherd.”


    “You sell yourself short. You also can make an impressive argument over anything. I do not know what I would do without you, without all of you. I am truly blessed by the gods,” Mitakahn confessed to his entourage as they all gathered around the fire.


    “Father would send riders if anything were to happen, Mitakahn. They would find us,” consoled Anilithion.


    “I tell you one thing, once this is all over…I can’t wait to get back to Wilder Heights and enjoy a real meal,” Humbler announced.


    “One of these days, Humbler, you must come to my city, where the cuisine is better than any other kingdom.”


    “How do you know that?” Excelsior argued, being the only one who has been across MagnaThora and tasted all the custom cuisines of the kingdom.


    “I know because unlike you, vagabond, I do not need to travel the world to taste regional food. Crucifire is such a big place. Every kingdom has at least one place to enjoy the rich diversity of tribal cuisine.”


    “Sounds amazing,” Humbler licked his lips.


    “I don’t know about you guys, but the food at Compis was better than anything I’ve ever eaten at Metuchen or the Pride,” Anilithion admitted.


    “The fish from Metuchen, the roast boar from Wilder, it’s all found in the Crucifire markets.”


    “Enough. Tron, you are making me despise our rations…”


    “Humbler’s right, we should talk about something else.”


    “We must get to sleep, gang. The road is unforgiving from now on,” recommended Kunezar.


    “If only everyone could be as fortunate as Humbler, we could all fall asleep the moment we hit the floor,” joked Tron.


    “Don’t be so quick to judge, it looks as though our royal company has seen the busiest of days and are now feeling the effects.” Humbler makes his case, pointing out Mitakahn and Bridger who were already fast asleep.


    Anilithion smiled being the last prince standing.


    “Well then, I think we should all follow suit,” said Kunezar as he got comfortable.


    “I shall take the first shift,” said Excelsior, “Anilithion, I will wake you halfway through the night to keep watch.”


    “Be gentle,” said Anilithion, who then gave him a grave look with a weird smirk.


    Bridger had to think twice. The brave fraternity slept another night in the wilderness.


    It was just after daybreak. They awoke and without much delay, packed their camp up and began the ascent on Mount Fire. What was even more impressive than being able to climb it in the first place, was the sole fact that a stone trail was made to guide the way. The mountainside trail quickly turned into a mountain climber’s delight, a true test of physical prowess. Crawling straight up on all fours was the only way to get higher. Short but wide stairs were engraved into the stone for footings and grips.


    Soon the company was so high up in the air, if they were to slip and fall, they would splatter like a bug on impact. The higher they got the more treacherous the path became. To the point where even the stairs disappeared. The only way to keep climbing was to risk grabbing onto little nubs and knots created by the mountainside itself. Mitakahn, in his wariness tried to compare the trip up to the Temple of Virtue but was too tired to successfully concentrate. Instead, he focused on the climb.


    When the way became completely vertical, and nearly impossible, when it seemed like it would not be possible to go any further, and they would have to turn back… Bridger, leading the climb, would make a jump high enough to find the hold of a step. Grabbing Anilithion like he weighed nothing, he pulled them both up over the edge.


    They looked up to reveal a long, gradually sloped stone staircase as far as the eye could see toward the top of the peak. And at the top of that peak was the home of the ancient Phoenix Kingdom. The two helped Orion up, and the three together gathered to pull a rope while the remaining adventurers still hung on for dear life on the other side. Mitakahn was the last to grab a hold and get lifted over the ledge.


    The final leg of the journey was truly at hand now. A glimmer of hope rekindled in all their hearts. The entire company marveled at the prospect ahead of them, a slow sloping pathway with steps few and far between. Humbler turned around to gather the rope when he felt a tug, and they heard a scream yelp out from where they just were, over the cliff.


    “Hey!” A woman yelled at him. “I was using that!”