Arion chose Thym because she felt comfortable with one of Ferrol’s faithful, having grown up among that tribe. After two thousand years, Arion recognized almost everyone living in Estramnadon, and Thym was no different. Still, he had been just a face and a name. And although she’d probably met him before, she couldn’t recall any conversations. Thym was in the process of preparing for his yearly trip west when she explained about the fane sending her to Alon Rhist, and she asked if he would act as her escort to the frontier. He replied with a stiff smile and a dutiful nod, then introduced her to the horse she would ride.
Arion had never ridden a horse; few sane Fhrey had. The skittish animals were known to bolt or throw their riders. Ferrol had blessed the Fhrey with three thousand years of life, and given that falls often resulted in permanent injury or death, the idea of getting on the back of even the most docile animal was reason for concern.
“Can’t we walk?” she had asked when meeting the horse for the first time.
“It’s nearly a hundred miles over rough terrain to Alon Rhist,” Thym replied. “And forgive me, Your Eminence, but you don’t look like you do much hiking.”
She conceded, accepting the logic that there was little point in obtaining a Green Field Guide’s services if she didn’t take his advice. And that’s how Arion came to be precariously perched on the back of an extremely tall white horse named Naraspur when she and her guide reached the edge of the Harwood. The long tunnel of trees ended, and Arion beheld a wondrous sight. Leaving the forest, she discovered they were at a great height, on a ridge that afforded a breathtaking view. Having lived her entire life under Erivan’s canopy, Arion was amazed.
So this is the sky!
The entirety of it was so broad and deep, it appeared endless. There were inexplicable white wisps floating above them, and a brilliant light. Previously, she’d experienced the sun only filtered through layers of leaves and needles. Looking straight out, Arion saw her first horizon. She could see for forever. Hills rose and fell in blue ridges. Even more impressive was the monstrous mountain that towered over them. Cone-shaped, it appeared to challenge the vast blue of the sky for dominance, its peak a brilliant white. From it flowed a river, which snaked below them, glistening silver. But not even the mountain could rival the awe-inspiring sight of the sky.
Thym waited patiently, his horse’s tail swishing. The Umalyn were a patient lot, but he also must have known the effect of that bend in the road. She imagined that everyone he traveled with paused in that exact spot.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
“From here on, you’ll need to travel with your hood up to guard against the sun. Cover your skin except during early morning or late afternoon. Otherwise you’ll burn.”
“Burn?”
Thym nodded. “If you limit your exposure, your skin will gradually darken. Then you won’t have to worry. A lot of sun too quickly will burn you.” He patted the top of his head with the flat of his palm. The priest had a full head of curly brown hair, so full and buoyant that he might have been wearing a furry hat. “My hair protects me, but you won’t fare so well, so do as I say and keep your hood up.” Thym urged his horse onward.
Arion did as he said, but sneaked tentative peeks skyward from under the lip of her garment. She wondered if Thym was lying to make a fool of her. That marvelous sense of freedom that had come with such a wide view was lost within the confines of the hood, but she followed Thym’s advice. Her guide hadn’t spoken much, and she didn’t think he’d break his silence if the danger wasn’t real.
“How far are we?”
“Still a few days out, but you’ll be able to see it once we reach the top of that next ridge.”
“Really?” she said skeptically. “I’ll be able to see the distance of more than one day’s ride?”
He laughed and caught himself with a hand over his mouth. “Forgive me, that wasn’t very respectful, Your Eminence.”
“I told you to call me Arion.”
“Of course, Your Eminence, but do understand that not all Miralyith are as nonchalant as you. Should I fall into the habit of familiarity, I might find it a habit hard to break. If I slipped up with someone else, someone less inclined to dispense with the honors of your tribe’s station…well…I don’t even want to consider what could happen.”
She sighed. “Fine. But I’m curious, why did you laugh?”
He looked down, embarrassed. “Please forgive me. That was rude.”
“But why did you do it?”
Thym’s eyes came up, and a bit of his smile lingered. He pointed to the rows of hills. “You already see more than a day’s ride. Those distant peaks are the Fendal and Adendal Durat, mountain ranges that cross the west side of Avrlyn and are easily a hundred, maybe a hundred fifty miles away.” He pointed at the mountain looming over them. “Just to reach the peak of Mount Mador would take you days.”
Arion gazed out amazed. “But it looks so close.”
“Distances are deceiving, especially when climbing is involved.”
The two followed a constricting path that twisted back on itself, descending the ridge into a shallow valley.
“And all of this is uninhabited?” she asked.
“Of course not.” Thym had moved ahead as the path narrowed, and she couldn’t see his face any longer. “These hills are filled with all manner of creatures.”
“Rhunes?”
“No.” Thym shook his head. “Down there, over that river is the High Spear Valley; that’s the farthest north we allow the Rhunes to travel. Most live in Rhulyn, that big area beyond. Over there”—he pointed to mountains in the far north—“are where the Grenmorians live, and there are all manner of goblins, of course. They live everywhere: hills, swamps, forests, even the sea. There are other things as well. These lands run deep, and no one has explored it all.”
“What about the Dherg?”
Thym shook his hairy head. “The Dherg live underground in the far south. Extremely rare to see one of them.”
Arion peered southwest, where he had indicated Rhulyn was. “How many Rhunes are there?”
“No one knows. When they were nomadic, their numbers were small. Parents could only carry so many children, you see. Once they entered Rhulyn, they must have finally eluded the goblins that had been driving them, and they started settlements. They spread out in villages, and that’s when their population exploded. We deny them the land across the Bern River to keep them from encroaching farther into the west.”
“I heard a single mother can have fourteen offspring. Is that true?”
“I imagine more than that, but I’m no expert on the Rhunes. All I know is what I’ve gleaned from listening to the Instarya’s stories. They do have such wonderful tales. Life out here isn’t like life in Estramnadon.” He looked at the valley below. “This isn’t a tame world. The Instarya patrol it, watch the roads, and ferret out the threats. They live lives of high adventure, and they’re riveting to listen to.”
“Or maybe they’re just good at making up stories.”
Thym looked back. “Of course. But it’s different for you, isn’t it? All of this.” He waved at their surroundings. “You’re not concerned at all, are you?”