Chapter 86: High Valley
Our travel continued without rest for several days, skirting along the foothills northward. Once we were out of the mountains, the going became easier, yet the monotony of the endless trees soon grew old. Even Soltair and Trithe soon ran out of things to talk about, so I turned my thoughts inward and worked on my soul. Mana control had become second nature to me, yet I still found myself unable to work with it internally. I could roughly guide it around my body, yet beyond simple practices like fighting the basilisk’s curse, it was futile. If I could observe the basilisk a few more times, then perhaps I’d learn something, but I could only give in to my frustrations and admit defeat.
In the evening of the third day, we crested a small ridge overlooking the town of High Valley. Unlike the many small villages we’d passed through, High Valley was an epicenter of trade in the region, with low wooden walls and several thousand houses. It was nothing compared to the sprawling city of Roann, but still more people than I’d seen the last week combined.
A wide river flowed through the center of the town, with several tributaries cutting around the outskirts. Countless barges traced their way up and down its waters, the distance reducing them to small bugs on a path. The headwaters were some ways up into the mountains, and countless regional villages sent their goods to High Valley. Roann and several other cities waited further downstream, providing an ample market for the minerals, wood, and grains of the mountains.
"Let’s get moving," Trithe said, her eager eyes locked on the town below. "I can’t wait for a bath."
Soltair nodded, wiping the grime from his face. "You able to keep going?" he asked me.
I hesitated, only now catching my breath, but a sharp look from Trithe had me in agreement. "If there’s a bath waiting, then how could I say no?"
Despite our urgency, it took us an hour to pick our way down the slope, and that only got us half. Eventually, Soltair and Trithe shared a look and nodded.
"Hold on," Soltair said, appearing by my side. Before I could react, he swooped me up in his arms.
I screamed as he kicked off the ground, the sheer acceleration dragging moisture from my eyes. After forcing my eyes apart, I quickly screwed them shut. No way. We couldn’t possibly be this high. The rush of wind roared in my ears and ripped my voice from my throat. Suddenly, moments before impact, a blinding light soaked through my eyelids and my skin grew hot. The thunderous crash of the wind went quiet, and we drifted the final dozen feet to the ground. I collapsed the instant Soltair placed my feet on the ground, hugging him.
Trithe giggled, landing softly beside us. "Not bad, hero. You actually beat me this time."
"And no worse for the wear, right?" he asked, nudging me.