On the Other Side. The Fall. Janet Norton
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the unruffled calm in Raniero’s green eyes, though Alistar himself was not so calm. Looking anxiously at the Aryas, Alistar also waited, not daring to utter a single word aloud until suddenly the temple guard parted, and the tallest Arya walked out into the open area in front of the temple.
He had no armor, as if this Arya wanted to show off his powerful physique and to demonstrate his fearlessness, given the number of scars on his dark skin. He wore a long red loincloth covered with a wide belt that was decorated with stones. In his hands the stranger held a heavy, curved sword. Raniero raised his chin proudly, took a few steps forward, and stopped at a respectful distance from the Aryas who had risen their weapons. The soldiers behind Raniero did the same, but they did not have to do anything. Raniero gestured, forbidding any aggressive reaction to the Aryas, and then defiantly and quietly laid his hands behind his back.
“I’m Commander Raniero. We brought what you asked for,” he said in an Arya dialect. “Release the captive and you will get the elixirs.”
“I did not expect to see the commander of the bats who hide in the mountains from us,” the tall Arya warrior said in the Eferya language. The soldiers behind Raniero murmured and began to move in anger over the insult. But Raniero, after thinking for a while, grinned unexpectedly at his subordinates. He understood that he was speaking with one of the Arya military leaders and therefore could not allow too much light to be shed, nor could he make fool of himself in front of his opponents and his own soldiers.
“It’s better than commanding field mice,” Raniero continued with a sigh, mockingly glancing around at the Aryas. “It’s a blessing they are not in our mountain, no matter how hard they try to get in…”
The Arya warrior appreciated Raniero’s words and suddenly laughed loudly.
“My name is Abaur!” he introduced himself, stuck out his chest and then demanded in a powerful voice, “Put the elixirs here! We’ll release the captive once we see the medicines.”
Raniero slowly turned to Alistar and with a single glance requested the box with the elixirs of life and mana, which the guards had brought with them from the Thunder Fort. Alistar responded to the commander’s silent order with an angry glance, but he still obeyed, putting the box in front of the captive along with one of the soldiers. After opening the lid, Alistar took his place behind Raniero and found himself staring at the dark-haired female Arya warrior from Abaur’s group, who approached the box following his silent order. Upon checking the elixir containers, she nodded to Abaur and looked at Alistar, who had kept close watch on her. Straightening herself, the Arya stared threateningly at Alistar with her piercing dark brown eyes, and Alistar suddenly became embarrassed by the fact that he was admiring the stranger.
“Release the captive,” Raniero demanded sternly. Abaur nodded for his soldiers to release the gray-haired Eferya. The Arya lifted the prisoner to his feet and removed the magic fetters from his hands. Wiping his wrists, the released Ena ran to the Thunder Fort guards. Raniero planned to speak to him after returning to the fortress and so did not even smile in reply to his grateful babble.
“Thank you, Commander!” the rescued Ena exclaimed in a voice that was husky with excitement.
Raniero said nothing and did not even look at the released captive. Alistar’s displeased voice came from behind his back.
“You always cause problems, Todor!” Alistar growled quietly with an evil flicker in his blue eyes and led Todor a little further from the Aryas towards the Eferya guards awaiting them.
“Return to the fort!” Raniero ordered, and as his subordinates began to show their wings behind their backs to take off with the ransomed Todor, Abaur suddenly spoke again.
“So, it is you who defeated Izdubar?” Abaur asked, examining Raniero with an appraising look.
Raniero instinctively lingered on the spot, turning to Abaur. The battle near the Thunder Fort was a turning point in Raniero’s life. The Arya were led by chief Izdubar against the old Eferya commander Ferox, and had nearly captured the fortress. It was then he had taken up Ferox’s post and prevented the Aryas from crossing the Basileya border. Despite his victory in that battle and subsequent promotion, Raniero became more serious and even embittered when he heard the old name of his fallen opponent.
“I hope this will be our last meeting,” Raniero said coldly, nodding to Abaur before soaring up into the sky behind the Eferya soldiers.
Noticing that Raniero was behind the group, Alistar fell back with him in flight, keeping an eye on the Aryas who still guarded the temple. Abaur, looking after the Eferya soldiers, disappeared into the temple with his people including the female Arya warrior. After a moment of thought, Alistar shook his head slightly and looked attentively at Raniero.
“What did Abaur say?” Alistar asked.
“That the Arya have not forgotten their prior grievances and we may soon be attacked again,” Raniero replied without looking at Alistar and then flew to the head of the column to lead the procession.
After returning to the Thunder Fort, Raniero decided to deal with Todor first. The scientist-healer had caused them to risk their lives in the enemy’s territory, and he had nearly died by leaving the fort without permission. So as soon as Todor landed on the observation deck, Raniero went after him, grabbing his mantle by the collar.
“When I said I didn’t mind your experiments, that didn’t mean taking sallies into the southern forest!” Raniero fumed, shaking the terrified Todor so that the gray-haired doctor nearly fell.
“Commander, I was looking for some rare herbs,” Todor tried to justify himself. “They are the basis for a new potion! I didn’t think I could be caught so close to the fort!”
“No special potions are needed to cure the soldiers! And I don’t need any extra problems!” Raniero pushed Todor and waved his hand, ordering the guards to grab the healer. “Working in the mine will help you gather your thoughts and remind you of your direct responsibilities! You can join those sentinels who let you go without my knowledge!”
Watching the guards take Todor away, flying towards the northern part of the fort, Raniero did not immediately notice that Alistar had stopped nearby.
“If there is a threat that the fort will be attacked, we must warn the general,” Alistar said confidently, but quietly, so that they would not be overheard by the soldiers heading to their posts.
Raniero gritted his teeth and headed through the exit from the take-off and landing tower inside the fortress, swiftly traversing the stairs and corridors that led deep into the fort. Alistar kept pace with him, following Raniero right through the massive doors which he himself closed as soon as Raniero had entered the spacious office. At the head of the office was a desk, lit with spyros. The perimeter of the room was lined with cluttered cabinets and chests with military trophies, maps and weapons. As soon as Raniero approached the desk, a small scroll appeared in the bright glow of the mailbox to his right side. Noticing the royal seal, Raniero rolled his eyes.
“You finally reported me, didn’t you?” he grumbled, throwing a displeased look at Alistar.
“If I had really reported you, I would have given you the document to sign before sending it,” Alistar smirked, removing his helmet from his head and straightening his short blond hair. “And to whom, Light in my eye, could I report you? To your friend General Vitelius, who appointed you?”
Taking the scroll in his hands, Raniero broke the seal and opened the message. While reading he walked slowly behind the desk. Suddenly Raniero’s face changed and he lowered the scroll.
“If any captains or soldiers reported you, I will send a letter to the castle to dispute their claims…” Alistar said cautiously after noticing the changes in Raniero’s mood and tensely anticipating what he would say next.
“They’ve called me to the Heart of Basileya,” Raniero said hesitatingly, still unsure what to think about the message. He removed his helmet