After their meal, they continued their journey, the forest growing darker and more foreboding as the rain intensified. The compass remained steady, its needle pointing unwaveringly ahead. It was late afternoon when they reached a clearing, the sudden openness startling after hours of navigating the dense woods.
At the clearing’s centre stood a monolith, its surface slick with rain. The stone was ancient, its surface weathered but still imposing. As they approached, they noticed the carvings: intricate patterns of vines and flowers on the front, and on the back, a massive face, its features exaggerated and grotesque. The mouth, carved open, led into a dark cave.
Newt stopped in his tracks, his expression a mix of awe and fear. “This isn’t on the route,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We avoid this place.”
Joy frowned, stepping closer to the monolith. “Why? What is it?”
“It’s old,” Newt replied, his voice heavy with reverence.
Shei approached the monolith cautiously, their gaze lingering on the carved face. “It’s eerie,” they said, their voice uncharacteristically quiet. “Like it’s watching us.”
Makaira stepped forward, his movements deliberate. He ran his fingers over the carvings, feeling the grooves and ridges beneath his touch. “It’s well-crafted,” he remarked, more to himself than to the others. “The work of master stonemasons. But it’s not magical. Not directly.”
Joy glanced at the compass, its needle unwavering in its direction. “Do we go through?” she asked, her voice tinged with both excitement and trepidation.
Makaira hesitated, his gaze fixed on the dark mouth of the cave. The forest was silent around them, the rain muffled by the thick canopy above. The monolith loomed, its presence oppressive yet strangely compelling.
“We proceed,” he said finally, his voice firm.
Newt shifted uncomfortably but nodded, his resolve outweighing his fear. The group gathered their courage and stepped toward the monolith, its shadow swallowing them as they entered the darkness beyond.
TALKING TO DRAGONS, the novel, which is book 1 of TALES OF DISTANT LANDS, is being released on my Patreon. You can read a lot more about the world and about the novel there.