5.Death of Chaos
CXVIII
AS WE CLIMBED out of the early morning shadows and reached the top of the hill and the road broadened into the beginning of the High Road that ran from Land's End to Nylan, we passed the four black buildings surrounded by emerald grass that comprised the Black Holding of the Founders where the Council sometimes met.
“It's hard to believe that's where it all started,” I said to Krystal. The black mare skittered slightly, as if reacting to the ages of order that seeped from the structures. “They say that Creslin built most of it with his own hands.”
A huge, nearly perfect oak dwarfed the buildings.
“Do you really believe that he planted that tree?” Tamra's voice was light.
“Of course,” I answered, just to annoy her. Besides, he probably did.
Krystal grinned and shook her head.
“Who was Creslin?” asked Weldein.
“One of the founders of Recluce,” Tamra answered. “Supposedly, he was the greatest weather wizard ever. He changed Recluce from a desert isle into the pleasant place it is now and destroyed who knows how many fleets, including two belonging to Hamor. He was also a Westwind-trained blade who slashed his way across Candar, charming women along the way with his singing. In his later years, he was a stonemason, developed the famous green brandy, and generally served as the local equivalent of the angels.” Tamra turned in the saddle. “Did I miss anything, Krystal?”
“Well... you forgot Megaera. She was nearly as great a storm wizard and blade as he was, and after he went blind, she took up his blade. She almost died in childbirth, though, and they only had one child.”
A moment after Krystal finished, we looked at each other, suddenly cold inside. At that, Tamra gave us a puzzled look.
“Is that all?” mock-complained Weldein. “You mean he didn't destroy the white wizards single-handedly?”
“No,” said Tamra. “Justen did that-somewhat later.”
The blond guard raised his eyebrows.
“He did,” confirmed Krystal.
“Justen's around two centuries old,” I added.
“Didn't you realize what you were getting yourself into?” asked Tamra.
Weldein shifted in his saddle and tried to contain a swallow.
Ahead, I could hear my mother's clear voice. “The cherries were early this year, but very firm, and the pearapples and apples are just coming in now...”
Before too long we reached the kaystone that offered an arrow to the right and the name “Extina.”
“Do you want to stop?”
“No. There's no reason to, none at all.” Krystal's voice was remote, almost detached.
I reached out and touched her arm.“You don't have to. The past is past, and it ought to stay there.”
“I hope so.” She looked ahead at the even paving stones of the High Road that seemed to stretch forever. “Thank you.”
“No one on this road...” said Dercas.
“Not yet. This used to be the most populated end of Recluce, but people have shifted south, especially around the Feyn River. The land is better there, and more timber is grown here now. Timber and black-wooled sheep.”
Timber and black-wooled sheep... and legends that were hard to live up to and harder to live down.