Pet'r entered the canyon in the early morning, the sun hadn't reached this passage and darkness still ruled. He slowed now to only a fast walk as he slipped into the darkness and began to feel his way with his feet as he walked.
He didn't slow his pace because he couldn't see, the path seemed clear to him and he never faltered.
Once he came upon the site of what must have been a terrible fight, lying all around were men killed by a mighty sword, there may have been as many as dozen, or more.
Pet'r didn't delay his pace to observe the scene, he just noted someone, and he thought it was probably Rab'k, wrought the disaster there.
Pet'r knew Rab'k was to be an enemy. He didn't know why and when, but he knew it was to be, just as he knew Rab'k's whereabouts at that moment.
He sensed Rab'k leaving the encampment in the desert on horseback, traveling quickly in his direction. Pet'r didn't really concern himself with the information; something else was controlling his thoughts and actions. Something seemed to pulse with his heart and made him forge ahead more quickly.
He burst through the canyon narrows, but he was only aware of the urgency he felt. Strangely, he thought of his friends, Geth’n and Anisah, as he pushed himself into even greater haste and began running again. He knew they too were on a journey in search of him.
There was a moment when he felt he could talk to Geth’n over the miles, but he realized he had a more important objective today.
As he traveled, he began to feel somehow he recognized this place, it seemed he was here before. But more clearly, Pet’r knew he hadn't.
The sun rose above him now. He passed the great peaks at the summit and descended into the 'flatlands'. He was soon about halfway down the mountain and had traveled through the night at a relentless pace.
Suddenly he knew to turn to the west. He could see no clear passage in that direction, so he leaped on top of a large boulder, near the road, some six times the height of a man to see farther into the region; a leap no common man could have made so easily.
Through the gorges below him, he sensed a pattern. No, he knew there was pattern and he felt he'd traveled it before. Beyond the gorges, there was a small plateau shimmering with an aura rising above it as though, in time, something was to happen there but Pet'r didn't know what, nor cared at the moment.
Now obsessed with his journey, he jumped from the boulder and immediately into the gorges. He wasn't being cautious, nor making any attempt to conceal his passing. He plunged into the twisting and winding canyons, weaving his way without concern.
After pushing onward for about half of the journey, he felt another presence.
Voravia? Has she sensed me so quickly? Possibly our first meeting gave her impetus to always be aware of the signals I know I am projecting; perhaps she is receiving some help.
Geth’n, Geth’n, are you coming? Anisah, I have thought of you so often since we parted, you too?
He hadn't sensed Rab'k as yet but he was certain to be south of the mountains soon. Pet'r increased his pace dramatically. He traveled as quickly as any man could have and more. No mortal could have maintained this for so long, but, at this moment, Pet'r was something much more.
He suddenly stopped, checked about him for the familiar, saw what he needed, walked to a wall, spoke an incantation from a deeper memory, and stood quietly, waiting.
There was a loud creaking from the face of the bluff; the ground trembled as though stirred by some quake deep within the earth's bowels. Then almost quietly, the face of the bluff began to slide away as though it was silently disappearing.
Pet'r stepped through the opening, and the great wall closed noisily behind him. The outer face returned to its previous appearance, and there was no way for others to know there was a cavern behind.
The size of the chamber was overwhelming, the ceilings reached to cathedral pinnacles, a small sparkling stream ran across the center clearing, glowing stones provided a low light. There were no sounds but those from the stream trickling lightly as its waters passed.
Beyond the stream, there was a small alcove carved into the cavern wall. The recess seemed natural. On closer inspection, changes were evident. Its purpose seemed obvious. There was a glow emanating from the opening, shimmering as though light reflected from rippling water.
Pet'r had been here before with Kalbr'an. He waded through the stream slowly to disturb the stones as little as possible, stepped onto the far bank and walked slowly to the alcove.
He turned the corner and met a sudden surge of intense light only he, and the gods, could have endured.
Pet’r suddenly felt at home. Warmed by the glow surrounding him, he bathed in the luxuriant wonder he felt as the light tenderly embraced him. The hours passed and he wished to stay in this place forever. The old world was no longer with him. He found a oneness with the overwhelming sensations he felt, this wonderful embodiment of all that was good.
He couldn’t sense who he was; he couldn’t sense what there was. There was no then or now; there was no why nor how.
And there was only peace.
HIDDEN FOREVER