Authors: Stephen Zimmer
The steps had been cut for the much larger Unguhur, and as such each was a very high step for a human. As the feet of the Unguhur were so much longer than were those of a human, the steps were likewise extremely deep. The height and depth of each step combined for quite a challenge, one that was imbued with awkwardness as Lee and his companions labored up the steep incline.
“It will make you stronger, and more balanced in your step,” Gunther remarked, with an amused look at Erin’s pouting expression.
The Jaghuns bounded up nimbly beside Gunther, and even the smallest of them had little trouble navigating the staircase. Lee envied their dexterity and balance, wishing he had a couple more legs to work with himself.
By the time they had reached the stone platform at the top, only Gunther still breathed steadily among the five humans. First to reach the landing, he looked back towards the other four as they strained to climb up the last few steps. He shook his head slowly, as if disappointed, before turning away and striding forward along the stone face of the upper platform.
Erin scowled at one of the Jaghuns, which was sitting back on its haunches, watching her as she surmounted the final step. She paused for a moment to catch her breath, and glared hotly at the relaxed-looking creature. Lee chuckled quietly at the sight of her extreme annoyance, contrasted so sharply with the utterly mellow posture of the quadruped.
“Give me four legs, and then we can talk about it,” she snapped curtly to the beast. “Until then, you have no room to talk.”
“I’m sure he understood you clearly,” Ryan remarked, drawing a momentary glower from her.
“Okay, I know I am out of condition. … No denying it,” Lee commented to Lynn, between large, deep breaths, as he surmounted the final step.
“No disagreement here,” Lynn replied between gasps of her own.
Lee stared towards the massive, rounded edifice that crowned the summit. Its surfacing was filled with what looked to be a great mural of small figures and scenes, ordered into general lines that wrapped around the semi-circular facing. Lee had no doubts that the figures and scenes that had been carved were of great significance to the Unguhur, whether historic, religious, or perhaps both.
The lofty vantage also gave Lee a tremendous view of the terrace-sections to either side of the central structure. Turning his head and looking back over his shoulder, he paused as he beheld an extraordinary overview of the lake.
“Time enough for seeing Oranim’s sights later,” Gunther said gently at Lee’s side, bringing his attention back around.
A broad entryway was set in the middle of the rounded structure. Towards the entrance of the tall chamber, a small cluster of warriors was gathered. The armed warriors parted at the sight of Eranthus, two of them moving swiftly to separate two great hides that were draped over the opening into the chamber.
Gunther commanded the Jaghuns to remain outside. The creatures dutifully grouped together several feet to the right side of the entrance. The warriors that had been escorting them also held back, as only Eranthus and the humans moved forward, continuing on to the beckoning entrance.
“Stay close to me,” Gunther said in a low voice to the four humans, as they passed into the opening behind Eranthus.
Some voluminous patches of the glowing algae-substance lighted the interior of the stone structure, placed at frequent intervals along the inner walls of the capacious chamber. A number of considerably older Unguhur were arrayed upon benches that had been carved out of the stone wall ringing the chamber’s outer edge. They rested upon some manner of mats or padding set underneath them, providing cushioning against the unforgiving stone surface.
From what Lee could tell, most of the Unguhur in the chamber were attired in a manner similar to Eranthus, in extended, robe-like garments. Many likewise had armbands, or necklaces strung with an array of large, sharp teeth, though there were some noticeable variations. Some armbands had a furred outer surface, or shiny scales, while distinctly different types of teeth were present upon some of the other necklaces.
In the very center of the chamber was a large, rectangular block of ebony stone, rising up to a height approximate to the midsection of an average male Unguhur. Arranged such that its longer width faced the entrance to the chamber, it had an unmistakable altar-like appearance.
The opposite side of the chamber, directly across from the entrance, held a raised stone platform, accessed by a short flight of stone steps that extended the width of the platorm. Upon the high dais were two great stone seats carved out of the far wall of the chamber. The seats were copiously draped in hides, some fashioned into a manner of cushioning for the apparent thrones. Two Unguhur, one male, and one female, were seated upon the great stone seats.
The male was clad in a knee-length, light-hued tunic, fashioned of a softened hide that lay loosely upon the contours of his considerable girth. The hide was woven with many delicately rendered designs, worked into the material in an abundance of colors. The remarkable tunic was bound snugly about his waist with a stout belt, the scaly surface of which gave evidence to a reptilian origin.
He wore an unusual type of head covering fashioned from some other type of hide, whose surface was covered in a very fine quality of dark fur. The head covering was almost like a cowl, draped about the male’s wide shoulders.
A singular necklace was hung around his broad neck. Huge, spiky teeth were strung all along its length, save for a pair of very wicked-looking, enormous fangs. The latter were paired together at the bottom and center of the necklace, displayed prominently in the middle of his massive chest.
The female of the pair was garbed in the wrap-around style adopted by the other Unguhur females that Lee had seen. Her garment, like the tunic of her male counterpart, was fashioned from a softened, light-colored hide, and was also filled with resplendently fabricated designs of rich colors.
She wore a series of bracelets on both arms, and multiple necklaces were arrayed in a concentric fashion, as they dropped down in their various lengths between her breasts. The components of both the necklaces and the bracelets appeared to be a combination of shiny scales and glistening teeth. Some were composed entirely of one kind of scale or tooth, and others were crafted of an artfully arranged mixture of various types.
In trappings and posture, the pair of Unguhur on the dais were impressive, and undeniably regal, figures. Their expressions did not change as the newcomers were ushered into the chamber, although their large eyes slightly narrowed as they regarded them.
One of the Unguhur among those seated along the bench-line ringing the wall, a male whose wrinkled skin surface and sunken eyes indicated a very advanced age, slowly arose as the group entered the chamber. He ambled with shuffling, ponderous steps over to Eranthus.
The elder spoke with Eranthus for a few moments in their unique, gutteral language, just loud enough for his voice to reach those that Eranthus had brought with him. Lee, and the others, wearing the pendants, could understand the discourse perfectly well.
Eranthus methodically illuminated the elder Unguhur, to the extent of his knowledge, as to the nature of the four humans, and what had transpired from the moment that Gunther had sought the Unguhur out in the cavern-forest. The elderly Unguhur listened in pensive silence, with a rigid, unreadable expression, until Eranthus had finished. The elder Unguhur slowly nodded, giving no comment before turning to walk slowly down the middle of the chamber. He came to stand at the bottom of the dais, before the two Unguhur positioned above upon the stone platform.
After another short dialogue, the distance of which prevented Lee and the others from deciphering its particulars, the elder Unguhur tediously returned back to the group.
“Bring them forward,” he said to Eranthus, before moving away to take his seat along the inner curve of the wall once again.
Eranthus turned towards the five humans and said, “Come.”
He led them through the center of the chamber, leading them around the rectangular, altar-like stone, and on up towards the base of the stone platform that held the two prominent Unguhur. Lee could readily feel the heavy weight of the gazes bearing down upon them, coming from the studious eyes of the elder Unguhur situated all around the chamber. The feeling in the chamber was like that of a breath held back in the lungs, willfully restrained, and pressing for release in a liberating exhale.
Eranthus halted a couple of strides before the stone platform, exclaiming, “Treas, Great Khan of the Unguhur, and Vuriant, exalted Khanum of the Unguhur. I humbly come before you, with human guests to the Unguhur Realm. A threat has risen in the world above.”
Eranthus then prostrated himself, knees to the ground first and then bending over with his arms spread out wide. Gunther looked over to the other four humans, nodding to them slightly, as he proceeded to emulate the deferential gesture.
Lee signaled to the others, knowing that Gunther wanted them to follow likewise, before mimicking the movement himself. The others cooperated well enough, even Erin.
After the prostration, an action that felt very awkward to Lee, the female Unguhur upon the stone throne above inquired, “A threat, Eranthus? A threat has come to the Unguhur Realm?”
“The Unifier comes,” Eranthus replied in a low tone, which Lee took to be one of respectful deference. “The Hill-Dweller warns us. A great army is coming. They attack the kingdom of humans above us.”
“The kingdom above has never harmed the Unguhur Realm,” the male on the stone seat declared in a very deep, sonorous tone. He paused for a moment, and looked over the four others with Gunther. His face seemed impassive, as he appraised them. “I would like to talk with the new people, and the Hill-Dweller. Speak for them, and speak to them.”
Eranthus nodded, but appeared suddenly hesitant. After a moment, he ventured, “They have a Wizard Gift. It is a gift that lets them speak, and understand our words well.”
A tense silence took hold almost instantly within the great chamber at the revelation.
“How possible?” asked the exalted male, with evident concern. “A Wizard gift? Tell us of this gift.”
Eranthus looked over to Gunther. He nodded to the woodsman. “Tell them, Hill-Dweller.”
After a short pause, Gunther responded to the request with his eyes lowered towards the ground, his voice also very deferential in tone. “Great Khan and Khanum of the Unguhur of Oranim, the gift was from the Wanderer, in the forests above. Given to these four.”
Lee noted an almost immediate relaxation in the posture of the enthroned pair of Unguhur at the open mention of the Wanderer. Gunther continued to relate to the two Unguhur rulers the story of the acquisition of the pendants, at last prompting Lee to tell more concerning their arrival into Ave.
Though Lee was highly nervous, he did his part to explain how they were from another world, had been engulfed in a great mist, and had found themselves lost within an entirely new world. When Lee was finished, at Gunther’s insistence, the group pulled their pendants out for the Unguhur to see.
The lengthy tale ignited some instantaneous excitement among the ranks of the onlooking elders and the two rulers. Whispers and low voices came from all directions, as those seated along the outer wall talked spiritedly amongst themselves. Even the pair upon the dais leaned in towards each other, sharing a few low comments.
“It is a great magic. We know it is good, if it came from the Wanderer. He has always served the Creator,” Khan Treas exclaimed, as he leaned back in his throne, peering with great interest at the amulets held out by Lee and the others. “Let us talk further. What names do you have?”
“I am called Lee,” Lee said, bowing again, though he felt somewhat awkward at the brevity of his name and lack of any lofty title. The formality of the audience with the Unguhur rulers seemed to demand something more fancy.
The other three followed in turn with their own introductions, all sounding hesitant and nervous.
“Welcome, Lee, Lynn, Erin, Ryan … of the humans of the above world,” Treas stated, carefully pronouncing each of their names.
“Welcome to our realm, and to Oranim,” Vuriant added.
The khanum’s voice was decidedly smoother and more melodious than that of the males, and her lips spread apart in a facial gesture that Lee took to be a smile. He could not help but notice the huge canines that were displayed as her lips pulled back, slightly offsetting the warmth in the expression.
Lee and the others bowed, inclining their heads at the extended welcome.
“Thank you, Khan Treas and Khanum Vuriant,” Gunther stated.
“Belief of story is hard. Hard to think of other worlds. But the Creator has great power. Can do more than we can ever think of, Unguhur or human,” Khan Treas said. “It could be as you say.”
The remark by the Unguhur ruler reflected a child-like trust in whatever deity their kind served. While not appearing absolutely convinced of the story, it was clear that the khan was not rooted in inflexibility, and was willing to leave some room for the possible veracity of the tale.
“You are here in Unguhur Realm and world … for a reason,” Vuriant added, further evidencing the simple trust that Lee had perceived. “The Unguhur Realm will protect you.”
She then looked toward her regal companion.
“We must help the surface kingdom,” she said to Khan Treas. “Enemy of the surface kingdom is the Unguhur’s enemy. Is enemy to all.”
The Unguhur Khan remained very quiet for several moments before finally replying. He turned his gaze towards Gunther, with a look that Lee interpreted as grave concern.
“Why does the enemy come to lands above?” the underworld khan asked the surface-dwelling woodsman.
“The above kingdom will not accept the rule of the Unifier,” Gunther answered steadfastly. “The Unifier is trying to conquer the entire world. The Unifier wants every land under His dominion.”
“Unguhur Realm is in this world, as is above kingdom. Both not accept Unifier,” the khanum interjected firmly as she looked to Khan Treas, letting the obvious implications hang in the air.