Chapter 39

Ascent

- High above the world, he looked and saw the glory of heaven -

"A stairway is carved into the ice," said Thonavar.

"Yes, and it is cunningly disguised so that it blends into the ice wall of the mountain," said Lyla. "Only a penetrating study would reveal it."

"What is more," piped in Chaeron, "to the casual observer, the wall is a towering and unscalable block of ice, peppered with protruding icicles. Ingenious!"

"How do you think they managed to carve this stairway into the mountain?" Lyla asked. Thonavar shrugged.

"It must have been a feat. But we have another problem," said Thonavar, pacing to and fro, trying to get a good angle from which to observe the stairway. "The mouth to the stairway is located some way above. It is about the height of two grown men."

"That is high. How shall we climb up?" said Lyla to Thonavar, with hands on her hips, looking up the wall. Chaeron, who could now see the stair, was still staring at it in wonder.

"We could throw someone up there. But the person thrown has to be light," replied Thonavar, deep in thought. "A few months back, while being chased by a group of boys, I was thrown up into a small hole in the ceiling by two other boys who had sought to help me."

"That would be easy. It would be me, for I am the lightest among the three of us," said Lyla. "But what then?"

"Yes, how do both of us get up there as well?" joined in Chaeron, scratching his head, still looking at the mouth of the stairway in bewilderment.

"I have a plan," said Thonavar and he looked at Lyla, "but you may not like it Lyla."

At this Lyla’s eyes narrowed. "I shall decide if I like it or not. Tell it to me," she said with a frown.

"Well, this is what I suggest," began Thonavar, uneasily. And he told her.

Moments later, Thonavar aligned himself with the mouth of the stairway opening and stood with his back to the wall of ice. The wall was bitingly cold. However, he did not lean completely flat against it but positioned himself at an angle. He signaled that he was ready and Chaeron proceeded to climb onto Thonavar’s shoulders. Thonavar clenched his teeth and strained in effort as Chaeron climbed atop his shoulders. Thonavar held Chaeron’s legs steady. As Chaeron stood on Thonavar, he stretched out to hug the wall to gain stability. They were just about half-a man short of the mouth.

"Hurry Chaeron!" Thonavar shouted

"Aye!" Chaeron shouted back. Chaeron got into position before signaling to Lyla.

"Now Lyla!"

Lyla was positioned a few paces back observing the whole situation and as soon she heard Chaeron’s cry, she ran at full speed toward them. Upon reaching Thonavar, she slowed and jumped, gripping Chaeron’s legs with her hands, her feet climbing upon Thonavar’s shoulders.

With a grunt of effort, she quickly moved to climb onto Chaeron’s back and then onto his shoulders as well. Lyla was lithe, agile and light of foot, and she ascended her human ladder with relative ease. Chaeron then cupped his hands, making them into the shape of small footholds and brought his hands together. Lyla placed with one foot in each and Chaeron lifted her up slowly. Thonavar heard Chaeron grunt as he pushed Lyla upwards. Though, she was light in weight, it was still difficult to lift Lyla given Chaeron’s awkward position against the wall.

However, Lyla’s fingers scrapped the edges of the stair but she could not find a firm grip.

"I cannot grip it," she said in frustration.

"Hurry Lyla, I cannot hold both your weights for much longer," said Thonavar from below. His knees were shaking slightly and his arms, starting to tremble. "You have to make a jump for it," said Thonavar through clenched teeth.

She looked back at Chaeron who stared up at her ashen-faced, his face straining with the tension.

"Well go on then! What are you waiting for? Jump!" shouted Chaeron.

Lyla felt Chaeron’s arms sag beneath her, bringing her lower, as he lost strength momentarily. Lyla crouched low and as she made the leap upwards, Thonavar surged up as well.

Two things happened. The force of Thonavar’s upward movement caused him to fall backward, tumbling into the snow-laced ground. Chaeron also fell from atop Thonavar’s shoulders to the ground. The second thing that happened was that Lyla’s leap into the air somehow propelled her onto the second step of the stairway.

"She made it!" Thonavar shouted. Chaeron punched the air in celebration.

However, as Lyla struggled to her feet, Thonavar saw her slip back onto the first step, cutting her knee on the sharp edge of a step of ice. Lyla cried out in pain and scrambled to ensure she did not fall over the edge back down to the ground.

"Steady yourself Lyla," called out Thonavar from below. "Do not make any sudden moves. You stand upon thick ice."

"What do you see up there?" Chaeron called out.

Managing to stabilise herself, Lyla stood to her feet and peered over the edge of the stairway at the two of them below. She risked a wave before turning to look up at the stairway.

"The stairway goes up into the mountain," said Lyla. "But there is a small rock formation here as you said. It seems deliberately placed."

"It is," said Thonavar. "Are you able to fit yourself upon it? Wedge your feet between the two rocks for support."

"I am in position," Lyla confirmed.

Upon hearing this, Thonavar allowed himself a sigh of relief.

"That was a mighty jump," said Chaeron, and Lyla grinned down at them.

"No time for celebrations. This is not over yet. We still have to climb up. Be careful now Lyla. If you fall back down, all our efforts would amount to nothing," said Thonavar, anxiously. "Now, remember what we talked about?"

Lyla’s smile disappeared as Chaeron stifled a chuckle.

"Aye," she shouted. In the space of the small rock area, Lyla began to strip herself of her top and bottom pieces of dark clothing that the Order had provided for her, leaving her undergarments on. "Just give me a minute to tie the knots."

Although she was not fully naked, the effect was the same had she been naked. For she realised that the clothing the Order had provided had been made of a truly special material to trap heat and warmth. She shivered as she tied the long end of her leggings to that of her top in small but strong knots that she would later remove with surprising speed. After finishing tying the knots, she lowered down the long piece of clothing that would now serve as a short rope for Chaeron to pull himself up. However, before doing so, she coiled the rope of clothing several times along the length of her arm.

Lyla lay on her stomach, with her feet and body wedged firmly between the rocks. She lowered her body flat against the cold stone and curled her feet round two strong protruding rocks. Then once she was sure she was in a strong and firm position she called out for Thonavar and Chaeron to ready themselves.

"Are you ready? By the Almin, it is cold," she swore loudly.

"Ready!" Thonavar and Chaeron shouted in unison.

Lyla proceeded to lower the rope of clothing from the edge of the stair. At the sight of the lowering rope, the two boys moved swiftly into position. Thonavar leaned with his back against the ice wall once more and Chaeron climbed atop his shoulders. Chaeron then stretched out and caught the rope in his hands. Lyla stared down at him.

"Come up Chaeron," encouraged Lyla. "Pull yourself up!"

Chaeron, standing on Thonavar’s shoulders, placed a foot on the wall and tried to pull himself upward. However, he slipped and dangled in the air and tried all sorts of positions in order to pull himself up before landing on the ground, shaking his head.

"I cannot. I lack the strength. The ice is slippery. My arms are not strong enough," he said, embarrassingly. His frustration and disappointment was apparent.

"Fear not Chaeron. I will go up before you then," said Thonavar gently. "Lyla and I will pull you up. We will not leave you for long."

Chaeron nodded and managed sigh of relief.

"Aye," he managed. "Though I would not blame either of you if you left me behind."

"I promise. I will not leave you. But this time let me stand on your shoulder," said Thonavar.

Thonavar climbed onto Chaeron’s shoulder and leapt upwards. He caught the rope and placed his two feet against the wall. The ice was slippery where it was smooth but where there were crevices and rough patches, Thonavar placed his feet firmly and found his balance. He crouched low and walked up the wall, slowly and carefully, pulling himself along with the help of the rope of clothing which seemed to elongate and stretch to a length impossible.

Suddenly, Thonavar felt the rope sag slightly.

"Tighten your grip on the rope Lyla!" Thonavar shouted. "Curl your feet around the rocks. Use them to anchor your weight."

"Aye!" Lyla shouted back. "Do not tear my clothes now. Or I will have nothing to wear!"

With a final grunt of effort, Thonavar climbed to the edge of the stairway and wriggled chest-first onto the first step before rolling to where Lyla was settled in the rock formation.

I made it!

Exultation filled him.

"That was exhausting! Now, let us help Chaeron," said Thonavar.

He helped Lyla to her feet and averted his eyes, trying his best not to look at her in her undergarments. Lyla felt him avert his gaze and her face became flushed. Then Thonavar also undressed, removing his leggings and top. Like Lyla, he was left in his under garments. He passed his clothing to Lyla, who in the blink of an eye, tied a few quick knots, lengthening the rope with the additional clothing.

"We are now lowering the rope. We added a bit more length to it. Get ready Chaeron," Lyla called out from above.

Thonavar coiled the rope around the length of his arm and Lyla showed him where she had wedged herself. Thonavar got into the exact position that Lyla had managed to get into and also curled his legs around the protruding rocks. However, he had an added source of strength and security, as Lyla was there to assist him. Thonavar imagined a nervous Chaeron pacing below.

"Chaeron, grab onto the rope. Thonavar will pull you up," said Lyla, as she helped Thonavar lower the extended rope to Chaeron.

Thonavar felt the rope become taut.

"He is climbing up," said Lyla as she peered over the edge. Thonavar was lying flat and could not see. He had to depend on Lyla to shout instructions.

"Do not let go no matter what!" she shouted to Chaeron below.

"I cannot!" A desperate cry issued from beyond the egde of the stairway. "I cannot!"

Chaeron clung fiercely to the rope as he dangled in the air and Thonavar pulled hard. However, the rope barely moved. Lyla grabbed onto the rope and shot Thonavar a meaningful look.

"He will not make it unless I help," she said.

Thonavar nodded. Already his knuckles were turning white.

"On every third count, we pull," said Thonavar simply. Lyla nodded.

"One, two, pull!" he shouted. "One, two, pull!"

With the combined synchronised efforts of the two, Chaeron began to rise into the air as the rope pulled him upwards. With each bit of rope gained, Thonavar wound it round his arm. The coils tightened painfully around his arm but he ignored the pain, focusing on the task before him.

"One, two, pull," shouted Lyla. "One, two, pull! One, two, pull! One, two, pull!" Eventually, they fell into a feverish rhythm of economic effort and shouting.

The two did not stop until they saw Chaeron’s arms pull himself up to safety. He pushed himself onto the rocky ledge beside the stairway of ice. Thonavar and Lyla did not move. Both panted, gasping for breath. Lyla managed to turn herself over but continued to lie there gasping for breath. Thonavar felt utterly exhausted.

Chaeron gently helped both of them to their feet, averting his eyes at their lack of garments.

"You best put your clothes back on lest you fall ill," said Chaeron quietly, his tone betraying considerable gratitude.

After Chaeron had helped them up, Thonavar and Lyla sat around the rock ledge, gathering their strength, as they dressed slowly. Lyla, still panting, untied the knots, while Thonavar massaged his hands which were striped white and red from the coils of the rope.

"What now," muttered Chaeron, looking up the stairway of ice. "The path ahead looks dark and dangerous."

The three of them stared at the stairway of ice. It was a stairway passage leading up into the mountain. It was just large enough for a fully-grown man. They could not see where it led to past a certain point for it seemed to stretch into the darkness above. Nevertheless, in their minds, they were sure this was the way into the mountain as the overseer had said.

Thonavar rose to his feet, and studied the path before them. "Come. Let us go," he said. "I think Lyla must go first. She has a sharp eye and light feet. She will scout ahead for us. What say you Lyla?"

"I shall do that. But all of us should stand not more and not less than four steps at each time away from the other. This is so that if someone falls, there is warning and we all will not be swept away, down the stairway," said Lyla wisely. "Remember the steps will be made of ice and it will be easy to slip and lose one’s footing."

"Agreed. We shall do as you say. It is a good plan. I will take the rear and Chaeron you will take the middle," said Thonavar. At this, Chaeron looked away embarrassed. Thonavar knew why.

He knows too well that Lyla and I are only trying to look out for him by positioning him between us. Thus, if Chaeron slipped or fell, I, who would be behind him would be ready and could assist him instead of being dragged downwards by the momentum of the fall.

"Aye. I will stand in the middle," said Chaeron, still looking downcast.

"Do not worry Chaeron," said Lyla, managing a smile. "You will train hard at Sanctum and be the best pupil of your class there! I am sure of this," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

At this Chaeron managed a smile. He turned to her.

"I see you have finally grown fond of me," he observed, a grin forming on his features. Lyla’s hand snapped back and her face became stern. Chaeron took a step back, unsure of what to say as Lyla folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. Lyla however broke into a smile and then started to laugh. Her laughter was high-pitched and clear. This was the first time Thonavar or Chaeron had heard her laugh. Chaeron too started to laugh. Thonavar smiled and then he too began to chuckle. They did not know what they were laughing about but it lifted their spirits.

"It has been a while since there was anything to laugh about," said Lyla, with a gleam in her eyes. She cleared her throat and flicked back her long blonde hair. Chaeron grinned at her.

Suddenly, Thonavar’s eyes pricked up and his skin tingled.

"Quiet! Now!" Thonavar whispered harshly, placing a finger to his lips. Lyla and Chaeron immediately fell silent and their faces grew pale.

Seconds later, voices could be heard beyond the edge from below.

"Do you hear that? I think there is someone laughing up there but I cannot see where!"

"Up there? But how do we get up there?"

"You think it could be those small brats? You have a score to settle with them do you not?"

"Hmmm," came the reply, a deep and menacing voice. "There is one with whom I have a score to settle."

The trio fell silent immediately and huddled together, exchanging looks. A sense of dread fell on them as they recognised the voices.

"It is him," whispered Chaeron, his eyes becoming fearful.

"Aye," said Thonavar. "It is Gargan."