Path of the Specialist Read online

  “Outside the realm?” Erika asked in surprise.

  “Of course. The study materials I gave you cover Norghana’s wildlife, but in addition you need to study the wildlife of other regions. Knowledge of that is very valuable for the King and his army.”

  “In case we invade another nation?” Axe asked.

  “Or they invade us. How much do you know about the animals the Nocean Empire uses? How much do you know about their horses, camels and dromedaries?”

  “Not much,” Axe admitted.

  “Well, it’s important. It might save your life. Just like knowing about the magnificent Rogdonian coursers their Lancers use, or the pinto horses of the Masig of the Prairies. Or the Giant Birds of the Usik.”

  “Giant Birds?” Erika was very interested.

  “It’s said – although it’s just a rumor – that in the unfathomable forests of the Usik there are giant birds the size of an ox-cart. More than that, some say they answer to the command of the green-skinned savages.”

  “Is that true?” asked Axe, who did not altogether believe this.

  “There are places in Tremia where there are unbelievable races and animals. Hidden places, difficult to get to – but they exist. Never forget that.”

  “We won’t,” said Lasgol, who was thoughtful. There must be a place in the Frozen Continent where Camu originally came from... Could there be more like him? Who was his mother? Could she still be alive? These questions left him feeling restless. Someday, perhaps, he ought to go back to the Frozen Continent and search for the answers. It might be helpful for Camu. But this was not the right time, given their situation and the war. He would have to think about it carefully.

  “Studying the wildlife around you is fundamental. Knowing about some of the wildlife of other regions of Tremia is mandatory for a Beast Master.”

  Erika snorted in despair. “But the tomes I have already are gigantic, so I’m not going to have time even to study the Norghanians.”

  “What do you do at night?”

  “Sleep?”

  “Then use the time to study.”

  “So, when do I sleep?”

  “You’d be surprised by how much you can learn if you use your time well. Every moment of the day and night when you’re not training, I want you studying those tomes.”

  Erika’s eyes widened and she gave another despairing snort.

  “I will, Master...”

  “I wasn’t expecting any less,” Gisli said. The look he gave her was stern but understanding.

  They went on until they reached a rocky wall with two huge snow-capped mountains behind it, one stretching to the east, the other to the west. Lasgol swallowed. If they had to climb one of those, it would take them days and they would have to make a tremendous effort.

  “Do we have to climb?” Axe asked dubiously.

  “You ought to be looking forward to climbing those mountains. In my youth, if I saw a mountain, I climbed it. Not many things can compare with the feeling of conquering the summit of a mountain. The fight against the rocky wall, the risk, the cold, the incomparable view from the top... Ahhh, what wonderful memories. And now I’m condemned to train Wildlife specialists.”

  “Is that a punishment?” Luca asked in surprise.

  There was nostalgia in Gisli’s eyes. “No, not really. But there are days like today when I really miss my adventures of yesteryear. I too was young like you, you know, a long time ago, full of dreams, goals and hopes.” He smiled happily at them.

  “And were those dreams fulfilled, Master?” Lasgol asked.

  “Yes, many of them were, and others unfortunately were not. And I still have some to fulfill.”

  “Still?” Axe asked, as if at the Elder’s age no-one could possibly have dreams anymore.

  “Yes. To make good Wildlife Specialists out of you is one of them.”

  “Oh...” Axe said, sounding rather embarrassed.

  “And no, we’re not going to climb the mountain. Follow me.”

  The Master went up the last slope and followed the rocky wall to the east, with the four following him in line. Suddenly the Elder took a left turn and disappeared into the mountain wall. Lasgol, who was immediately behind him, stopped and instinctively reached for the knife and axe at his waist.

  “What is it?” Luca asked from behind him.

  Lasgol’s eyes were narrowed, searching for any danger. “The Master’s vanished.”

  “Be careful,” Erika said from behind them both.

  The next moment Gisli’s hand appeared between the rocks and beckoned them on. Lasgol obeyed, puzzled by the strange situation. He reached the point in the wall where the Master had vanished and found a cave. “Aha,” he said. It was set into the wall and half sunk in the ground, so that it was not visible from either side.

  When Lasgol went into the cave he saw Master Gisli at the far end, holding a lighted torch. He joined him and felt more at ease. The others followed.

  “There’s very little light here,” Gisli said. “We’ll need the torch.”

  He went on along a narrow passage of rock. For a long time, they went on through caves and along natural tunnels of grey rock. Lasgol had the feeling that they were heading north and covering a considerable distance. He had no idea where they were going, nor how long it would be before they resurfaced again, but he felt that they were crossing the mountains they had just seen.

  Finally, they saw a trace of light at the end of a huge cave. Gisli led them to it, and when they reached it he put out the torch and left it on a rock to be used again later. The light was coming from outside, and when they went out they found themselves looking at an enormous valley. The brilliance of the sun blinded them for a moment, and it took their eyes some time to get used to it. A beech forest to the south and an oak wood to the north were the first things they saw.

  Gisli gestured by way of introduction. “Welcome to the Lost Valley.”

  “Is that the only way of getting here?” Luca asked.

  “That’s right.”

  “Then I can understand now why it’s called the Lost Valley.”

  “It’s a special place. One of those special and utterly unknown corners of Tremia. Follow me.”

  Gisli led them on between the two forests to a stream of transparent water. The valley was full of life. Lasgol could hear birds singing, and he caught glimpses of moose among the beeches. He breathed deeply and filled his lungs with the scent of the valley, which smelt of nature and summer. When they reached the stream, they saw several unknown animals drinking, and he was taken aback. Their build and their antlers resembled those of reindeer, but unlike them their fleece was long, more like that of sheep. Their eyes and muzzles too were different, more like those of a goat.

  Erika was fascinated. “What... what animal is that?”

  “That’s a Norej, and it’s only present in a few spots in the north of Tremia. This valley is one of them. They’ve been grazing and living here for over a thousand years.”

  “I’d never heard of them,” Erika said.

  “That’s because few people know of their existence,” Gisli said. He pointed further to the north, where a large group of Norej were grazing peacefully.

  Lasgol was staring around him, deeply intrigued. He saw two large birds with black and white plumage fly overhead, and they too were unfamiliar. There was a whole range of unknown wildlife here, and he began to feel uneasy.

  “Don’t frighten them and follow me.” Gisli said. He crossed the stream to go north as far as another forest, this time of ash trees, which they crossed in turn. Lasgol saw that here there were squirrels and foxes, and he even thought he could glimpse a couple of wolves: typical Norghanian wildlife. But as they came out of the forest, he had another surprise. In a vast prairie several animals were grazing in groups of a dozen or so. They were huge, and resembled the bison of the Masig prairies, except that they were not the same. They had horns like those of rams and long white coats which came to the ground.

  �
��Those aren’t bison,” Erika said. “Or anything we have in the north.”

  “They’re Kolyads. They’re peaceful grazers, but if you attack them or make them nervous you’ll be charged – and I can assure you that with those huge horns they can bring down a stone wall. I’ve seen it.”

  Axe was open-mouthed. “They’re enormous...”

  “A lot bigger than a Norghanian ox,” Luca added.

  “Their size is extraordinary. Here they have almost no natural enemies. Wolves and other feline predators don’t dare hunt them, unless it’s a young one that’s been left behind alone.”

  “There are amazing creatures in this valley,” Lasgol murmured.

  “I’ll show you one more today. The most amazing of all, and one which actually hunts Kolyads.”

  They looked at one another. Who would dare hunt those enormous animals with their formidable horns? Gisli led them along for some time, crossing dips and ascending hills until they came to a rocky wall where they could see several caves. He raised his fist in a signal to stop.

  “Everyone down,” he ordered, and the four of them obeyed him uneasily.

  “Watch,” he said. He put his finger to his lips, then pointed to the caves. They were about three hundred paces away, but they could easily see the massive rocky entrances.

  They waited with bated breath, but nothing happened. Lasgol wondered what they were waiting for. The valley was strange, the wildlife even stranger. He guessed that if Gisli did not want them to go near the caves it was because there was danger there, and serious danger at that, otherwise the Master would be careful to avoid it. The thought made him uneasy.

  Suddenly two beings came out of one of the caves. For a moment, as Lasgol narrowed his eyes, he thought they were semi-giants of the Frozen Continent wearing long woolen coats and armed with spears.

  “By all the ice gods!” cried Axe, and Gisli put his hand over his mouth to shut him up.

  The beings moved forward, so that Lasgol was able to see them more clearly. They were around the same height as the semi-giants and had the same massive build. Despite this, they were different: the skin of their face and hands was white, not bluish, and what he had taken for woolen coats was really their own coat of hair. Their faces were human, albeit rather grotesque, as if out of proportion, and the hair on their heads merged with that on their bodies. They did not seem to be wearing clothes.

  Erika’s jaw had dropped.

  “Who are they?” Lasgol whispered.

  “They’re the Djoti,” Gisli replied very softly. “They have very bad eyesight, but keen hearing, so no noise. The five of us wouldn’t stand a chance beside those two. Their strength is brutal and their hide’s extremely tough.”

  “Are they human?” Luca whispered.

  “Almost human. They’re an ancient race, very primitive. At some point humans and Djoti went their separate ways and they each evolved differently. We don’t know for sure, but we believe they’re related to us Norghanians. Or at least, to our ancestors. They live by hunting; their favorite prey are the Norej and the Kolyads. Now they’re setting out in search of some meat.”

  The two beings passed by them with long strides, covering a considerable distance with each step, without seeing the group. Lasgol did not even breathe as they went by. They were more terrifying than the Semi-Giants of the Ice. There was no doubt that their appearance was more primitive and brutal.

  “Are there more like them?” Erika asked. She could not conceal her fascination.

  “There’s quite a big community in this valley. They live in three groups of caves: the ones you saw here, one to the east and another one further north. They’re not very friendly... you need to keep away from them. For some reason they hate humans.”

  “I wonder why,” Axe said.

  “Knowing ourselves,” Luca suggested, “I guess we must have hunted them or tried to exterminate them, or something like that.”

  “You’re not mistaken. Those are the reasons. They’re primitive, but they don’t either forget or forgive. Remember. Never go near the Djoti.”

  “We won’t,” said Axe.

  “Has anybody tried to study them?” Erika asked.

  “That’s the spirit I like in a Beast Master,” Gisli said. “Yes, it’s been attempted, but it turned out badly. In the wild state, all the attempts ended with the scholars getting killed. In captivity, with all the Djoti dead. We gave up a long time ago. At least in Norghana. Elsewhere, I have no idea.”

  “Elsewhere?” Erika asked eagerly.

  “Yes. There are more groups of Djoti in the north, and in the eastern mountains too. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were more in the far south.”

  “Unbelievable.”

  “Tremia is full of mysteries, many of which the majority haven’t even heard of. There are fascinating creatures which hide from humans, others that eat them... from tiny ones to gigantic. There’s a lot of wildlife that’s barely known in Tremia, as you’ve just seen for yourselves.”

  “I’d like to be able to get to know them and study them,” said Erika.

  Axe tried to dissuade her. “It sounds dangerous.”

  “Make sure you go in good company,” Luca added.

  “I’ll try.”

  “I like that,” Gisli said, and gave her a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Now let’s go back, and I’ll show you some other fabulous animals that live in this forgotten valley which are barely known.”

  Erika was delighted. “Wonderful!”

  “Be careful not to scare them off. It’s going to be a most interesting lesson, I can assure you.”

  Lasgol was sure it would be. And what was better, he would enjoy it immensely. He decided to relax and learn as much as he could from the Master’s explanations before he left that unique and fascinating place. One idea had left its mark on his mind: Tremia was full of unexplored corners where there were undiscovered creatures and monsters. How many adventures were still waiting…

  Chapter 5

  The next morning Sigrid assembled them at the Cavern of Runes. She had something to tell them, and it was not exactly going to make their lives more pleasant. As if the physical training was not hard enough already, the Leader of the Shelter had decided to develop it further.

  “Today we’re going to change the physical training, to make it a little more enjoyable and effective,” she announced with a sarcastic smile.

  At once they all began to protest in whispers, as they could see that what was coming was going to be extremely unwelcome.

  “Protests? But you don’t even know what it’s about.”

  Viggo shook his head. “Oh we’re sure to be delighted,” he muttered to his friends.

  “A bit of variety’s always welcome,” Ingrid said encouragingly.

  “This is going to hurt.”

  “Don’t be so pessimistic.”

  “I’m a realist, not a pessimist.”

  “It’ll be interesting, for sure,” Molak said.

  Sigrid shook her head. “Look higher. Physical training is extremely important. How do you expect to survive in the natural world in the middle of a winter storm if you’re not prepared? How do you think you’ll cross the high forests of Norghana without stopping or fainting? How will you keep up a chase for days and fight off enemies when you’re tired, sleepless and hungry? Because this is what you’ll be required to do. You must train mind and body, always both. I know you believe you’re fit enough already, but Mother Nature will show you how wrong you are. No-one’s ever well enough prepared. Today I’m going to show you that, and in the process you’ll strengthen those muscles a little.”

  “Mine are pretty strong already,” whispered Viggo.

  “You’ve still got a long way to go,” Astrid said. She squeezed his biceps hard.

  Viggo’s face took on an expression of suffering.

  Erika nodded. “Yeah, a long way, not to mention his mind,” she said, and laughed.

  Viggo waved his arm in an offended gesture
. “Very funny.”

  Lasgol smiled. The fact was that they would need all the training, and more, if they were to gain one of the Elite Specialties. Thanks to the fact that now he could rest at night, since he no longer had to search for Camu, he felt far stronger, and was even looking forward to facing the always-demanding effort of the physical training. The fact that today it was going to be different stimulated him. Everything was sure to go well, and in the end, even if it was hard, they would enjoy the effort.

  “We’re going to the Frozen Peak,” Sigrid announced.

  “This is starting wonderfully,” Viggo grumbled. “We’re visiting the Dragon.”

  “It’s not a Dragon,” said Ingrid.

  “Tell me that when it wakes up.”

  “I don’t think it’s a dragon either,” Molak said.

  “What a surprise that you think the same as she does...”

  “I have my own opinion.”

  “I’m sure you do. When Ingrid isn’t around, you can tell us what it is.”

  “You shouldn’t be so rude to your teammates,” Molak said. The comment sounded half-advice, half-warning.

  Viggo did not flinch. “And you shouldn’t try to be Captain Perfect all the time either,” he shot back.

  “Suppose we stop arguing and listen to the Mother Specialist,” Erika said, doing her best to make peace.

  Sigrid was already saying: “… you’ll go as fast as you can at my signal, until you arrive at the wall of the Peak. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

  “She’ll be waiting for us?” Luca said in puzzlement.

  They watched, intrigued, as the Mother Specialist put two fingers to her lips and gave two long whistles. From the trees there emerged a magnificent white steed.