The twins were not allowed to talk to each other before Feldspar's trial; The younger would not give aid to the older. That was fine with Feldspar.
However, there was nothing to say he couldn't use the past to help him.
So, after he exchanged a hand-to-tusk farewell with Beryl, the rest of the occupants atop the hill were surprised to see him leave at a trot over the back of the hill, in the same place his brother had appeared. Topaz and Gypsum were not allowed to be present until Feldspar was ten minutes gone.
Feldspar easily followed his brother's trail from the hill back to the cave he'd used for sleeping. Feldspar used that space to don his armor. He also picked up the now cold torch he found on the floor of the cave.
Gypsum had swept clear his trail leading from the city exit to the cave, but Feldspar could read the marks of the trail sweep; it was something he and his brother had been taught.
Vigilantly he entered the city, still following the clear footprints of his brother's trail.
Obviously, this was a deserted section of the city. There were no other prints.
He came to the large flat rock Gypsum had stood upon to survey his surroundings before exiting the city. Feldspar saw that the trail went down the stairs. It would be dark down there, even though it was early morning sunshine where he stood.
He lit the torch and held it, unconsciously, in his right hand in the same position and with the same pose as his brother had done the evening of his trial. He saw the mountains, the spires and chimneys, and the near buildings.
His sharp eyes and ears revealed no danger. He turned sharply, without hesitation, and plunged down the stairs. Again, he proceeded more rapidly than his brother had been able to when he unintentionally broke the trail Feldspar now followed.
Well before he reached the end of the tunnel, his torch sputtered and died. His progress from that point slowed.
A faint light eventually became visible and soon Feldspar entered a large but empty room, with light from the morning sun filtering through an open trap door in the roof. The footprints on the floor told him that his brother had descended on the metal rungs leading to the roof.
He took another look around and saw that a closed door offered an exit. He lit one of the torches offered on the wall and walked over to investigate.
The door was barred from the inside and had a handle to pull it open. There were no footprints.
Feldspar might choose to use this door as his exit. He would have to see the roof first. He could not be sure if this building held the spire that bore the flag, or if there was more to do to get to it.
When he reached the roof after his careful ascent he was delighted to find the flag hanging loosely on the spire above. He could have torn it down, but he did not want to ruin it.
He took out a short length of rope and secured himself to the spire, then ascended carefully and unhooked the flag. He got back on the roof and looked at the ground around the building. His activities had attracted two observers.
He could, of course, go back the way he'd come. But that felt like cheating. He would have to make his way back out to New City the hard way.
He looked across the city's rooftops and could see the group on the hill. He waved, then descended back in the interior of the building.
He folded the flag carefully and attached it to his cape as Gypsum had done. Then he inspected that door. He would have to open it, arm himself, and bolt out all in a matter of seconds.
He took his sword from the sheath and prepared to raise the bar.
However, there was nothing to say he couldn't use the past to help him.
So, after he exchanged a hand-to-tusk farewell with Beryl, the rest of the occupants atop the hill were surprised to see him leave at a trot over the back of the hill, in the same place his brother had appeared. Topaz and Gypsum were not allowed to be present until Feldspar was ten minutes gone.
Feldspar easily followed his brother's trail from the hill back to the cave he'd used for sleeping. Feldspar used that space to don his armor. He also picked up the now cold torch he found on the floor of the cave.
Gypsum had swept clear his trail leading from the city exit to the cave, but Feldspar could read the marks of the trail sweep; it was something he and his brother had been taught.
Vigilantly he entered the city, still following the clear footprints of his brother's trail.
Obviously, this was a deserted section of the city. There were no other prints.
He came to the large flat rock Gypsum had stood upon to survey his surroundings before exiting the city. Feldspar saw that the trail went down the stairs. It would be dark down there, even though it was early morning sunshine where he stood.
He lit the torch and held it, unconsciously, in his right hand in the same position and with the same pose as his brother had done the evening of his trial. He saw the mountains, the spires and chimneys, and the near buildings.
His sharp eyes and ears revealed no danger. He turned sharply, without hesitation, and plunged down the stairs. Again, he proceeded more rapidly than his brother had been able to when he unintentionally broke the trail Feldspar now followed.
Well before he reached the end of the tunnel, his torch sputtered and died. His progress from that point slowed.
A faint light eventually became visible and soon Feldspar entered a large but empty room, with light from the morning sun filtering through an open trap door in the roof. The footprints on the floor told him that his brother had descended on the metal rungs leading to the roof.
He took another look around and saw that a closed door offered an exit. He lit one of the torches offered on the wall and walked over to investigate.
The door was barred from the inside and had a handle to pull it open. There were no footprints.
Feldspar might choose to use this door as his exit. He would have to see the roof first. He could not be sure if this building held the spire that bore the flag, or if there was more to do to get to it.
When he reached the roof after his careful ascent he was delighted to find the flag hanging loosely on the spire above. He could have torn it down, but he did not want to ruin it.
He took out a short length of rope and secured himself to the spire, then ascended carefully and unhooked the flag. He got back on the roof and looked at the ground around the building. His activities had attracted two observers.
He could, of course, go back the way he'd come. But that felt like cheating. He would have to make his way back out to New City the hard way.
He looked across the city's rooftops and could see the group on the hill. He waved, then descended back in the interior of the building.
He folded the flag carefully and attached it to his cape as Gypsum had done. Then he inspected that door. He would have to open it, arm himself, and bolt out all in a matter of seconds.
He took his sword from the sheath and prepared to raise the bar.