Another Path (WT)

Plains of Never.

"The Dark Valley is forbidden to residents of To," Samantha explained. "The main way to get there is a road through the mountains, through a pass, which is blocked by His Grace's orders. Not even I could get through there."

"Shit." Josh scratched his chin. "Wait, you said the main way, is there another?"

"Well, yes and no."

"Now you're just being cryptic."

"Fine." Samantha sighed. "In theory it's on the other side of the Plain of Never."

"Sounds a little ominous."

"That's because no one who sets out over it ever comes back."

"And there's no getting over these mountains?"

"They're very steep, icy cold and inhabited by creatures who eat people. So, no, not really."

"Yet your contact is there?"

"He was exiled, a long time ago now. His Grace used to use the Dark Valley as somewhere to send prisoners."

"A kind of Australia, I see. And what changed?"

Samantha shrugged. "It was a long time ago. I think perhaps he's more confident in his power these days. Now he just executes people. Easier and cheaper."

"Throws them to the carrots, eh? Yeah. Okay, well, what's your suggestion then?"

"I've told you already, go to His Grace."

"Not happening. Damn." Josh scowled. "How far is this Never place?"

oOo

It was two days later. Two days of hard travelling by carriage.

They dropped off the driver at an outpost early on, and then Samantha had taught Josh how to drive the thing. After that they took turns travelling along a series of roads and paths, some smooth, broad and well paved, others muddy tracks barely wide enough to get the vehicle down.

Josh also discovered that the sun in To rose from different directions, and sometimes veered 'off course' during the day. It made things very confusing.

"You get used to it," Samantha said, at one point, when they had pulled over in a grassy area for something to eat. The carriage had several days' worth of white blocks, with the consistency of fudge, tightly wrapped in waxed brown paper. Army provisions, she called them.

They weren't unpleasant to eat, and came in various, random, flavours, none of which Josh could identify.

"How can anyone tell the direction they're travelling in though?" he asked, biting down on a block and chewing thoughtfully. It tasted a little like banana mixed with bacon.

"The stars, at night," she replied, eating a block of her own. "They are always the same. You line them up with some landmark and then head in that direction during the day. Or you can use a compass." Putting down her food, she rummaged around in a pouch on her belt for a second, finally pulling out a small round device, attached to a chain, which she handed to Josh.

It looked like fairly normal, old fashioned, compass, except the quarters were marked with four symbols he didn't recognise. One was red. There was a small button on the side as well. He raised an eyebrow at Samantha.

"You press and hold the button, and aim the red glyph in the direction you wish to go. The needle will slowly align to it. When it does, you release the button, and from then on, the needle will point in the direction you have chosen." She took another, large, bite of her block, and chewed industriously.