When Silnethren and Gilsgard arrived at the outskirts of the heavens they found their path blocked by a great wall of grey sandstone rising to the heights of the sky. Each block was a cube with sides the same length as the height of a man. The sides of each block were smooth save for the one facing outward, which was rough and natural. Upon reaching the wall, Silnethren turned to his traveling companion:
“This was not here when I left the heavens, though that was some time ago,” The God of Death said.
Gilsgard approached the wall, running his hand along it.
“This is old stone, fine and soft. I have often rested in stones like these,” said the earth spirit. Fine grains were in his hand when he withdrew his touch.
Silnethren began to walk along the length of the wall and Gilsgard followed behind him. They went down the length of the wall in silence some way, before Gilsgard spoke.
“Do you feel that tremor in the ground?” He pressed himself against the wall, “It’s regular, though someone is driving something into the wall. Come Quick!”
The pair rushed down the wall, rounding a shallow bend they saw a work crew removing a scaffold. Their overseer stood off to the side, looking away from the wall, a soft white hood covering their face.
“Who builds this wall!? And what purpose does it serve!?!” shouted Silnethren, approaching the hooded figure.
As he reached the figure, they turned, facing the God of Death.
“I do Silnethren, though I wish I did not,” scowled the foreman.
Shock ran across Silnethren’s face, as he was faced with the visage of Ikata, the architect of heaven.
Now, knowing who built the wall, the two travelers sat at the encampment with the architect and her workers, who had pitched small tents in the great field that stretched before the wall. In a tent no different from all the others Ikata sat with Silnethren and Gilsgard.
“We have just laid the final stones into the wall that now seals the heavens from the earth”, explained Ikata.
A pained look crossed Silnethren’s face.
“Fear not Silnethren, you can still reach your crystal halls. If you should like, you can follow the wall to the rising sun. I have built a grand gate as the entrance to your home, of black marble and obsidian, dark and warm and comforting to the dead,” continued Ikata, “I know that is small comfort, for it seems to me that you came seeking the aid of heaven and rest for your companion.” She turned to Gilsgard. “I do not know you but I welcome you here, my temporary home.”
“I am Gilsgard, my lady, and I dwelt under the Mountain Milmota. Until recent days, I called it my home. But then came Tilsitar, the servant of Kilomond. She came and she began to hollow the mountain. It was slow at first and I paid her no mind, for what concern was one tunnel? It was not until her work began to delve down from the center of the mountain that worry entered my mind. Deeper and deeper she dove and I feared she would break the rod Aientas set in the mountain and reach the void. So, I confronted her, telling her that the gods had sealed away a great threat to all mortals under the mountain. I asked her to stop. She refused, saying that her work to reach her master could be stayed by no hand. That she must find her master. I sought to restrain her but I could not. She broke me to pieces, though she could not truly kill me and I pulled myself away to rebuild my body in the rocks. When I went to find her again she was no longer alone. Other former servants of Kilomond had come and she had made a great cavern for them to gather in. I confronted her again and was defeated again. This began a cruel cycle in which I sought to stop her work and she would destroy me. I know not how cycles came to pass.”
Ikata cast a glance at Silnethren, seeming to ask if what the earth spirit said was true, and perhaps hoping that it was not. Silnethren met her gaze, and nodded slowly confirming that he believed what the earth spirit said. Then the god of death spoke.
“I was first drawn to the mountain by many souls that called to me from there. Then I met Colthan on the road and he told me of two fire spirits that passed by bickering about being summoned to Milmota. I found the mountain and the towns surrounding it burned. The scorch marks led to a tunnel where I found many servants of my brother working to dig a great pit ever downward. Shortly after I arrived, Gilsgard began to battle Tilsitar valiantly. I watched, for I knew not what was happening. But I was not the only one who had arrived at the mountain that day.”
Silnethren breathed deeply. Ikata tilted her head, before speaking. “What unsettles you so?”
“Ikata, do you remember Thalachou? My brother’s first and greatest student?”3“
“I do,” replied Ikata, a thin smile crossing her face, “It is hard to forget someone like him. Tall, striking.” She gave a gentle laugh before continuing, “I had much trouble in keeping my own students from losing themselves in his flowing fiery hair… Did he also come to the mountain?”
“Yes… but I did not recognize him at first. I had not seen him since he left the heavens after my brother was cast out. I suppose he did not know where to go when we sealed the great forge… I would not even have known it was him had Tilsitar not greeted him. He has become some horrid thing, a great black mass, like hot tar. He poured himself into the chamber where Gilsgard battled Tilsitar. Tilsitar had already struck a winning blow to our friend here but now Thalachou moved to devour Gilsgard, and so I intervened… and we came here. Hoping to find aid…”
“You will not find it here. As I have said, we have just finished sealing the heavens from the earth,” said Ikata.
“Why?” asked Silnethren, confusion and anger mingling in his voice, “For what purpose? There are many gods and spirits who go back and forth between the heavens and the earth. How will they get back to the heavens?”
“They will not. Aientas has decreed that the heavens shall have nothing to do with the earth and that any who would pass from the heavens to the earth shall not return.” Bitterness filled the architect’s voice. “He has bid this be so for ‘his’ domain, as if he built the works of heaven… It matters not, the spirits follow him. But I would not stand for it. Nor would Myliayar. So, we left. Ewathat came with us as well… I agreed to build him his wall as a last gift, so that he would not hinder us as we left. Some spirits have come with us…”
“And he will not even give those on the earth a chance to reenter…” Said Silnethren, “Why has he done this?”
“He is afraid, and he is old,” said Ikata, “Afraid that someone will come and take what he believes is his.”
“Who? Milyos?” asked Silnethren, “He is too obsessed with his city and his magic to care for the heavens.”
“MY city, though he sees it as his own.” corrected Ikata, “but you have made Aeintas’ point. Why should Milyos not turn his eyes to heaven? Or you? Or your sister? Do you think he could stop her if she set her eyes on heaven? Or if your brother returns, would vengeance not cross his mind?”
Silence filled the tent.
“Why then am I allowed to return to the crystal halls?” asked the God of Death.
“Because I convinced him that he has no right to claim them, and that you are not a threat to his domain. Death is a thing for mortals and he has renounced whatever interest he may have had in them. Why, then, should he seal off a place for the dead? But I could not move him from the rest of his madness,” replied Ikata, her voice angry.
Silnethren sighed. “Thank you, Ikata. I truly mean it. I am sorry that he has cut you off from so many of your greatest works.”
“He has not taken my greatest from me,” the Architect scowled, “nor the skill to surpass what he rules over. Myliayar and I have already made plans for a new home. A new heaven. The spirits who would not live under his rule must live somewhere. Myliayar has already gone to Irrkengrond to ask for Milyos’ aid. I do not know if he will give it.”
“So, there is neither rest nor aid for us here,” said Silnethren, “That grieves me greatly.”
A heavy silence filled the tent. The three sat together for some time before the silence was broken.
“If it is acceptable to you my lady, there may be some rest for me here,” said Gilsgard breaking his long silence, “If it is acceptable to you, I would live in the wall as the spirit of its stones, while I heal. For while Tilsitar would be put to great pains to destroy me, I fear that Thalachou may be able to put me to a swift end.”
“That would please me greatly, Gilsgard. And if any else should come to the wall, welcome them and aid them in building a place to live and call their own,” replied Ikata, “That would bring me some joy out of the foul work I have done here.”
Ikata turned to face Silnethren.
“I wish I could aid you in some way for what is happening in Milmota is greatly concerning. But there are many spirits who left the heavens and wander the earth with nowhere to go and I fear that they will harm the mortals greatly, much as you have concern for what may happen if Kilomond returned. I would find your sister. For I know not who else would aid you or would have the strength to aid you.”
“Very well. Thank you, Ikata, for telling us this and welcoming us into what you have,” said Silnethren.
“You are welcome,” replied Ikata, her face turning dark as she faced Silnethren, “There is one more thing you should know.”
Confusion filled the face of the god of death.
“Your mother, Haulduran, fell into a deep sleep shortly after you and your sister left the heavens… she has not woken since. No one knows if she will ever wake.”
Silnethren nodded silently, grimacing.
“I will take my leave,” said the architect, motioning for Gilsgard to follow her.
And Silnethern wept for his mother.
——————————————————————–
After some time, Silnethren and Ikata went their separate ways. Gilsgard made his home in the walls that split heaven from earth, welcoming in every spirit or mortal who came to that place, and resting himself from his many battles with the bellows woman Tilsitar. Ikata set out to her city, Irrkengrond, to find Myliayar, with hope of finding aid from Milyos. And Silnethren set out again to find his ever wild sister, Kalikel, so that they might stop the machinations of Kilomond’s servants under the mountain, Milmota.
