Arcana: A recollection
Chapter 4 – Bitter Snow
REFRESHED AFTER A DEEP SLEEP, Jacques slowly raises from his rough straw bed. Despite his older age, he healed quickly and effectively due to his magic. Nearly all of his injuries from his skirmish with the wild people are gone. He knows that he cannot afford to be injured while travelling along the Giant’s Spine. It is one of the most dangerous locations for travellers in all of Harkon. Regardless of its various hazards, it is still a heavily used trade route, because travelling along the base of the mountain chain takes much, much longer than using the treacherous roads that cut through them. Jacques is unsure how Isaac, living the soft life he has, will handle the howling cold and destructive whims of the mountains. Still though, he knows that he cannot afford for Isaac to die now, since they had worked so hard on his chronicle. The idea of his life being laid bare in the form of paper did not appeal to Jacques at first, but the idea grew on him as he recalled his life. He is not sure about what value it has, or why it is even worth doing, but none the less, the idea highly appeals to him. His plan hasn’t changed despite this, and he holds high hopes for what his plan might be able to do for the future of both Arcanians and Harkonians.
While distributing thick overcoats of fur to his troops, Brahm takes a moment to look up at the frosty peaks of the Giant’s Spine. After the few times he had travelled through those mountains, Brahm had always thought to himself that they seem more like vicious teeth than the bony nodes of a spine. Teeth also made more sense, since they so hungrily claimed the lives of many travellers who had risked everything to get through them. A safer trading route had been impossible to find, since the Giant’s Spine spanned from one end of the kingdom to another. The only other options available to merchants are to travel through Arcana or along the coastline, both of which weren’t that much safer. It was obvious why that was the case with Arcana, but the coastline’s main problem comes from pirates from overseas nations. These pirates had essentially taken up permanent residence along the coasts of Harkon, and their ships were way too fast to be caught by the heavy and slow galleons of the Harkon navy. So, the Giant’s Spine was the lesser of three evils for merchants and travellers, though it wasn’t that much of a lesser evil. Deciding to get back to the task at hand, Brahm reserves two overcoats for Isaac and Jacques. Sure enough, the pair come walking up to the caravan.
'Good to see you've joined us. Now Jacques, we need to talk. Isaac, would you excuse us?' Nodding politely, Isaac leaves the pair to their own private matters.
'Jacques, I've been thinking... We were helpless before those sorcerers before. My men were immobilised by fear. I think, as much as the idea sends chills down my spine, we might have to learn magic, so we may keep ourselves safe.'
'And you want me to teach you, correct?'
'Well, I don't see anyone else who knows about magic in this caravan. We will worry about it when we get to my brother’s castle, however. I know you are cunning, Jacques, but I doubt you've seen anything like these mountains before.'
'Then I will rise to the challenge, as I usually do.'
'It is nice to see you haven't lost your usual bravado. I am telling you now though, these mountains are just as likely to break you as any of us. Also, I think you’re starting to rub off on Isaac. He’s not quite as timid as the boy we took from that village.’
‘I am noticing it myself. He seems more confident. I do not know why.’
‘Well, just be careful. Despite his skill with a pen, he’s still young. Don’t let him do anything foolish. Anyway, you and Isaac should get some warmer clothing. We're heading off in a few minutes.' Having further business among his troops, Brahm heads off. Isaac wanders back, carrying his backpack filled with his recorded notes and writing utensils. He already has obtained a thick, furry overcoat.
'Well Jacques, ready for some trailblazing?'
'Shouldn't I be asking you that? We have to remember who is the seasoned adventurer here...' Isaac lets out some hearty laughter.
'Where I lack in experience, I shall make up for in courage. That's what you did in your adventures, right?'
'Yeah, but you don't strike me as an adventurer yourself. Leave the dangerous work to Brahm's soldiers. We are leaving the carriage and its horses in the care of some trusted stable keepers here, so be prepared for some walking.’ After a quick nod, Isaac keeps marching forward. Knowing Brahm as a man of sound observations, Jacques is not surprised to see he is right about Isaac’s change in personality. The major difference between Jacques and Isaac is that Jacques had magic to tip the scales in his favour. Isaac may not be so lucky if his new found confidence leads him into danger.
As expected by Brahm, their start in the Giant's Spine Mountains was met with poor fortune. Several troops had already been killed by falling stones and slipping on the icy ledges of the mountain trail. Harkonians, forever superstitious, believe the mountains to be cursed. The sudden deaths of their comrades unnerved the remaining soldiers, despite Brahm’s best attempts to calm them down. Brahm’s carriage is now empty, since it was far more dangerous being inside it along the slippery terrain. While normally stoic, Jacques finds the cold conditions almost crippling. He wrapped himself in multiple layers of clothing but still felt the bitter cold. On the other hand, Brahm seems largely unaffected by the frosty conditions.
‘How amusing. The Arcanian who can slay wild mages can’t handle a little cold!’ Each jest is followed by hearty laughter from him and his troops, but Jacques is far from a laughing mood. Still though, at the expense of Jacques’ pride, Brahm found a way to help calm his soldiers. Through chattering teeth, Jacques curses his tormentors though his words are lost to the howling winds. This only causes Brahm to become even more amused. Meanwhile, Isaac is finding the climb difficult. He stumbles constantly in the snow, and the weight of his backpack slows him down considerably. Noticing Isaac’s struggle, Brahm quickly urges some of his guards to keep an eye on the exhausted scholar. He also tries his best to keep his troops inspired.
‘Come on, men! You can make it! We’ve only got to climb for a tiny bit longer until we reach a safe plateau!’ This news brought his men renewed stamina, and they continue marching steadily along.
‘Why is it the wind only howls when I wish to curse Brahm, and not when he encourages his troops?’ A frustrated Jacques mutters to himself. Jacques is not used to being at anything less than his best and the cold severely restricts his movements, regardless of the use of magic. Brahm and his soldiers had travelled through the Giant’s Spine before, and seem to be much better tempered against the cold. Brahm takes a moment to slip back to Jacques to talk.
‘I’m sorry for the jests, but my men need something to lighten the mood around these mountains. It always seems adventurers have new hazards to face regardless of where their travels take them, doesn’t it?’
‘Yes, there is always something new to see. However, that does not necessarily make it enjoyable.’
‘You must remember that you can’t always be prepared Jacques, as much as that vexes you.’ Deciding it would be best to leave Jacques alone, Brahm returns to the front of the caravan. With a sense of collective relief, the first haven appears before them in the form of a gigantic cave.
‘Finally. We can stay here for a while and rest. We will move out tomorrow.’
Upon entering the cave, Jacques spends a good hour scrapping the ice from his thick clothing, muttering to himself the whole time. Isaac quietly approaches him with his writing tools, as though he is approaching a moody and savage animal.
‘You seem to be agitated. Still though, would you like to continue with our work?’
‘Not now, Isaac. We can do that when we’re somewhere warmer, not these forsaken mountains.’
‘Haven’t you ever been somewhere this cold in your adventures?’
‘Yes, I have. It’s just that I hate the cold. It reminds me of that night I spent running in the Arcanian wilderness as a child. You may not think much of it since I recall it
with such ease, but having reminders like this weighs on my mind.’ Taking a moment to pause, Jacques lets out a long and weary sigh, looking on into the darkness of the caverns’ expansive tunnels.
‘Caves like this also make me nervous. You never know what’s made a home out of these damned places. The systems can be far larger than you can suspect from a glace too. There’s nothing trustworthy about a cave.’ Turning away from the tunnels, Jacques stares directly at Isaac.
‘I’ve been wondering, how is it that you’ve never heard of Arcana before? You live on the borderlands, of all places. Surely you’ve been raided before?’
‘Nope. My town hasn’t been raided since my birth. My father was always too drunk to teach me anything other than how to work the inn, and like we’ve discussed before, any records of Arcana have been long destroyed in Harkon.’
‘He seemed aware of Arcana though. Surely in his less sober moments, he would’ve mentioned something about it?’
‘I didn’t stay around to listen to him when he was that drunk. He tended to become violent.’
‘Oh. Well, I guess we should leave that subject then. Anyway, I have often wondered to myself why Harkon and Arcana hate each other. Was it some sort of ancient dispute between neighbours, or difference in ideals?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine.’ Isaac states with a shrug.
‘It’s largely irrelevant now, however. Both nations have larger issues at hand, such as fighting each other.’ Bored of his surroundings, Jacques stands up to his full height, stretching out his wiry frame.
‘Oh, damn it Isaac… I suppose we can continue our chronicle. I would like a distraction from my paranoia.’