Sixth to Eighth Months of 1,266
- Jianya arrived after breakfast. It was decided she would ride with me and lead the way to where our loyalty would be tested somehow.
- Valenth was outfitted with a heraldic breastplate, blue above and green below, with a black chevron dividing the two colors and a golden sun with rays on top of it. Jianya explained it was to say that we were someone’s guest to those who might see us.
- We were going from the lands of the Zai Dynasty of Modaisa (“Crown of Clouds”) Fortress to the lands of the Bohran Dynasty of Nochibo (“Stone Heart”) Fortress.
- Jianya informed us that we were bound for the Garden of Wisdom, which was located outside Zusha in Bohran territory, ruled by Duke Bartek.
- We were able to easily see the borders from the air – there were giant banners on big, heavy poles. We were leaving Zai lands, depicted by a green tree, and heading to Bohran lands, with a black swirl as its symbol.
- As we flew, we gained altitude and were able to see the beautiful land below. We saw a series of impressive roads going up to the top of a plateau. It was covered by greenery, which seemed common there from what I’d seen, and the terrain was very landscaped.
- Large symbols were carved into a stone plateau, visible from the air. At the center was the swirl symbol. There was also a striped, bulky feline, a flower with nine petals, a tree, a very ornate bell, a strange bird with large head feathers going back behind it, and a few others. It was clearly a place for dragons to land and since we’d come from Zai lands, we landed near the tree symbol.
- We observed many bald, young men in robes near the main building. Most were either tending to the garden or meditating.
- Jianya explained that we must go into the garden and choose the wisdom we most valued – that which represented our morality. We had to do this before we could meet anyone of importance.
- She pointed towards Tai-zon and said she would keep an eye out for dragons while we were in the garden and warn us if she saw anything.
- The Wing walked into the garden together and looked around. I saw twelve stone pillars spread around the area, with foot paths leading up to each of them. There was text carved into each pillar but no icons.
- A somewhat plump, bald man in earthy brown robes with a silver mirror pendant hanging to mid-chest approached us. He introduced himself as Keeper of the Garden Chuachai, and thankfully, he spoke all languages. He informed us the others wouldn’t talk until they were confident they would speak only truth and wisdom.
- Chuachai asked if we’d brought our own parchment. Upon answering negatively, he brought out enough for all, along with black wax sticks. He explained we were to make a rubbing of the pillar that had the wisdom we valued most, and to keep it with us so we could reflect on it. After K’brin asked, he explained the meaning of various phrases on the pillars.
- “Friends are like the stars; they are always there, but you only see their true brightness at the darkest times.”
- “Hold the days of life in your hands for they are known; the days of death are not.”
- “Knowledge is never free; something is always paid in the gaining of it.”
- “A young one’s heart is light enough to carry them off.”
- “The face that can gaze upon the sun has never existed.”
- “He whose strength is mightiest was born in the wilderness.”
- “An idiot and a moron can give clear advice to each other.”
- “An hour may destroy what an age was building.”
- “At high tide, fish eat ants; at low tide, ants eat fish.”
- “Place your gold leaf at the back of the temple”.
- “When the water rises, hurry to get some.”
- “Every peasant is proud of the pond in his village because from it he measures the sea.”
- I chose “Place your gold leaf at the back of the temple”, which means to do something good without seeking attention or praise. You don’t make a show of your deeds, you simply do them. It just instantly felt right once Chuachai explained its meaning, and I didn’t spend long deliberating my choice compared to some of my wingmates.
- K’brin made sure it was okay for him to help M’din, since we were supposed to do this on our own. He explained to our guide that M’din’s mind was injured.
- As the last of the Wing were finishing their rubbings, we received images from our dragons of Jianya frantically pointing towards Tai-zon, where a dark cloud was approaching.
- It became clear very shortly that it was a patrol of dragons, led by a bronze.
- The Wing mounted up quickly, with Jianya on Selenath again. We were in a holding pattern, wondering about the patrol’s intentions. When I asked Jianya what she thought, should we flee or fight, she answered, “There is no honor in blood.”
- The patrol came in fast and ‘Mala reported that she saw them chewing firestone. I noticed their gear bearing the black swirl symbol as they got closer. K’brin gave orders for us to peel off, while he made Valenth look like the most appealing target to chase, which appeared to succeed. I told Selenath to keep an eye on him and she informed me that they were forcing Valenth to the ground, which sent cold fear shooting through me.
- I made L’nos aware of this development, who told me to ask Jianya where her Fortress was. She gestured in a direction. Almost at the same time, a green rider from the patrol broke away and went between. Assuming the green was gathering reinforcements, we made haste for the Zai fortress.
- Dragonriders in black and orange flame heraldry appeared from between, and Valenth sharply dove backwards out of the way with a dexterousness not often seen from larger dragons. K’brin later reported that the patrol had told him to evade.
- The new arrivals engaged the patrol that had been chasing us, as Valenth and K’brin rejoined the Wing, leaving carnage and death behind them.