First 50 Days Summary

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Day 50

As he pulled out one of the empty chairs and lowered himself down onto it he said, "So, Caleb, now that your stomach is full, maybe you can tell me what you're doing here?"

Caleb turned to Jarvis and with a certain sadness, said, "We've been friends for a long time. So I hope you'll understand when I say that I can't tell you why we're here."

Jarvis didn't say anything at first, he just stared back at Caleb. Eventually he seemed to make up his mind about something and turned to Kai as he said, "It's not much of a leap to guess your secrecy has something to do with this one here, but I won't pry; friendship has to count for something right?"

Kai was relieved the man seemed to have dropped the inquisition, but he didn't like the look in the man's eyes; as if he was still investigating in his mind.

Caleb answered his friend, "Thank you. I'm afraid I'm going to have to continue to abuse your hospitality." Caleb shifted in his chair uncomfortably before continuing, "I don't suppose you have a spare room we could use for the night?"

Day 49

Thoroughly satisfied, they simply sat and lost themselves in their thoughts.

Kai wondered how it was that Caleb managed to appear so unaffected by his wife's death. Clearly, he had changed somehow, yet he was able to keep a cool head and guide them in their journey; perhaps it was the man's military training?

Caleb watched the strange ambassador stare off into the void, deep in thought. He didn't understand him. At times he seemed the experienced traveler, bravely exploring new lands; other times he seemed like a lost boy just trying to find his way home, trying to prove something to the world.

Jarvis cracked open the door to the small room and and poked his head through; after a quick surveying of the situation he opened the door fully and came into the room.

Day 48

They sat down on old rickety wooden chairs around a dusty table in a room that appeared to not have been used in years.

"Well, we certainly nothing to call anyone's attention in here." said Kai as he looked around.

Caleb seemed jolted out of some deep thought and said, "Jarvis keeps this room looking like this for a reason; don't be fooled by appearances."

Kai's gaze darted across everything in the room and he couldn't see anything special about it. He was about to comment on it when the door opened and two servers brought in a platter of assorted grilled meats, a basket of freshly baked bread and two large mugs of mead.

Both Caleb and Kai were entranced by the smells and all non-food related thoughts vanished. As soon as the platter was set down and perfunctory platitudes exchanged, the both tore into the delicious feast.

Day 47

Caleb screamed so he'd be heard of the din of the common room, "Jarvis!"

The man turned and his smile became even larger as he said, "Caleb! It's been a long time; it's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, old friend." replied Caleb.

"And who's this with you? He looks too young to be a veteran." asked Jarvis as he look Kai over suspiciously.

Kai almost referred to himself as ambassador, but stopped himself in time, "I am Kai, a friend of Caleb's."

Jarvis was silent for a moment as he continued to stare at them, then burst out, "Well then, any friend of Caleb's is a friend of mine!"

Kai and Caleb both let out sigh's of relief as Jarvis continued, "Here, I have a quiet room in the back for you." As he led them towards a nearby closed door, he said, "You look tired, rest here while I have them bring you some food."

Day 46

Caleb stepped on the first of two small stone stairs leading up to the inn's door and stopped. Turning to Kai he said, "Now, try and act normal in there, remember we don't want to call attention to ourselves."

Kai smiled and said, "Why wouldn't I act normal?"

Caleb nodded and grumbled as he pushed open the door, "OK, OK I get it."

They walked into bright light, raucous laughter and the strong smell of the local beer. The inn wasn't overly large, but it seemed to currently be seating a good 50 people, all of which appeared to be engaging in joyous celebration.

Both Kai and Caleb were overwhelmed by the scene and quickly made their way to the innkeeper, dodging servers, patrons and flying mugs alike.

The innkeeper, like most in his profession, was a happy looking man with a beaming smile and a large round belly covered in a stained apron. He was screaming into the kitchen asking for more of something they couldn't make out.

Day 45

"You're right, my apologies. I'm just unsettled by everything that's been going on." responded Kai.

Caleb sympathized, to say the least, and said, "Actually, I happened to have my money pouch in my pocket when we escaped. We probably should get a good night's rest and a solid meal; we never know when we'll have another opportunity."

The sun was almost completely gone by this point and the street lamps were being lit as they walked down the narrow path. Their steps echoed off the cobblestone floor in the almost empty street.

Kai could see a sign hanging off the side of a building at the end of the street. It was dark, but the streetlights allowed him to make out the name, "The Boar's Hoof". He smiled and thought about how in each world he'd visited, inns always had absurd names; it was comforting somehow.

Day 44

Guarding the gate was a lone sentry, who seemed to be more interested in in daydreaming than being on the lookout for trouble. People were just walking in and out of the town without even a cursory glance. Kai supposed there wasn't much in the way of trouble to be had around here anyway.

They walked through the tall wooden gateway and into the town along with another group of travelers who arrived at the same time; no one gave them a second look.

"I remember an inn across town, they'll let you sleep in the barn and provide a hot meal if you ask nicely and help out with some chores." said Caleb as he headed into one of the meandering side streets.

"I do have some gold with me if we need to provide payment, we've found that it is universally accepted as currency, so it is what us ambassadors carry." replied Kai.

"It is best we appear to have nothing for now. We don't know whose watching or listening. Even in a small quiet town like this, trouble has a way of finding you if you're not careful." replied Caleb in a tone resembling that of a teacher lecturing a student.

Now slightly upset, but not wanting to make a scene, Kai said through gritted teeth, "I wasn't suggesting we flaunt it. I've been traveling for a while now you know? All I was suggesting is that we needn't sleep in a barn."

Realizing he'd offended the ambassador, Caleb said, "Fair enough, my apologies. Regardless, I recommend we keep it low key for now, draw as little attention as possible."

Day 43

"I hate to interrupt your enthusiasm; but we've arrived." said Caleb as he extended his arm towards the small town in the shallow valley coming up in front of them.

The town was small by any standard, but it was alive with activity. Smoke rose from chimneys, people busied around in the streets taking care of the day's last errands and merchants closed up their stalls for the day.

In the dwindling evening light, it was difficult to make out too many details, but the town seemed to be a thriving little community, sure to grow in the coming years.

"The man with the disappearing sheep lives there then?" asked Kai, also gesturing towards the town.

"The farm is a few miles north east of the town. We'll stay in town tonight and make our way out there first thing in the morning." said Caleb.

"Have you been here before?" Kai asked as they approached the gate to the town wall.

With the look of a man lost in thought, Caleb answered, "Once before, when I was in the army, we set up camp on the outskirts of the town, during the early days of the northern campaign."

Day 42

Caleb's experience as a soldier had allowed him to travel and see many distant lands, but the idea of different worlds seemed truly amazing to him; enticing somehow.

Kai said, "Our civilization relies on a certain energy found on very few worlds. All of our technology depends on this natural resource which is quickly running out on our world."

Caleb's thoughts were interrupted as Kai continued, "Our mission as ambassadors is to find a new homeland that has the same properties, and bring back proof."

"Is that what the artifact is for?" inquired Caleb.

"Exactly! The artifact is proof that the world I came from, before finding myself here, is a safe and resource-rich homeland for my people."

Curious, Caleb pressed, "Does the artifact possess this, energy, you talk of?"

Kai as smiling excitedly now as he spoke, "A very high concentration actually, the council will be extremely pleased!"

Day 41

Kai continued, "When my city's ambassadors left for our mission, we talked about not interfering in any of the worlds we might find ourselves in. We certainly did not want to be the cause of anything like the disastrous events destroying out world."

Caleb replied, almost to himself, "There are other worlds?" Then he continued, this time directed at his travel companion, "I suppose if there are two worlds, it makes sense there would be more."

Kai smiled, "Astute observation. You may be wondering if there are so many worlds, why we don't just pick one?"

Caleb felt slightly embarrassed, he hadn't really been thinking about anything like that at all; as usual, he was just trying to keep up. In an attempt to not seem like a total idiot, he just nodded.

Kai just moved on, "Well, that's where the differences between my world and yours come in. My world has some very special properties that very few, if any, of the other worlds I've visited have."

Day 40

"This isn't the first time I've found myself in your world." said Kai.

"You've been here before?" inquired Caleb.

"Well not here exactly, and certainly never this involved." Kai replied gesturing with his arms indicating the complex situation they found themselves in.

"So you know for a fact there are other portals? That why you're so eager to go following after a drunken bar rumor." accused Caleb.

"Well yes, I'll admit I've been through other portals; but like said, I was usually much more discreet and just popped out to look around. As such, I have no idea where any of them actually are here in your world." explained Kai.

"So mine is the first life you've ruined then?" asked Caleb sardonically.

Kai stopped walking, he didn't know what to say. He began to babble some apology, but Caleb interrupted him, "That's not fair, I'm sorry. You certainly didn't do any of this on purpose, and you've been nothing but polite, you don't deserve that."

Kai began walking again and said, staring at the ground, "None of this would have happened if it wasn't for me. None of it."

Day 39

They hid behind a thick cluster of lush green shrubbery that concealed them from the two men clad in black walking past. They watched as the two men stopped to look at the markings on the floor and continued onwards.

"It worked!" whispered Kai excitedly.

"Let's just wait until they're gone before we start celebrating." replied Caleb in a tone significantly calmer than that of his companion.

***

A few hours later, once they were sure their pursuers were long gone, Kai and Caleb stood and headed east; the men in black having gone west.

They had been walking for a while when Caleb broke the silence with a question, "So, this world of yours, is it very different from this world; my world?"

Kai answered, "In some ways, it is not so different at all, in others, it is so vastly different it may be difficult for me to explain it to you."

Caleb took it in, then replied, "That's not much of an answer is it?"

Day 38

All throughout the day, they could hear their pursuers in the distance. Even though they never saw them, the evil presence was most certainly felt. The constant pressure kept them moving at a nearly impossible pace.

In the late afternoon, when the sun was low in the sky and the world was flooded in an orange light, Kai and Caleb reached the end of the mountain pass; the shear stone walls giving way to rolling hills and farmland.

Caleb stopped, took a deep breath, and said, "We have make use of our lead on them."

Kai bent over, hands on his knees, and through labored breathing managed to ask, "What can we do? They're relentless. How are we gonna get away?"

Caleb replied, "Alright, so what we're gonna do is this: We'll walk onwards for a while leaving an obvious trail, then we'll double back carefully. Hopefully they'll blast past us, and we can sneak off."

Kai nodded, the plan seemed almost to simple, but since outrunning them was clearly not an option, he supposed this would just have to do.

Day 37

Each footfall echoed off of the high stone cliffs and brought a shiver down Kai's spine. He couldn't shake the feelings that someone was staring at his back. Throughout the day, he repeatedly snapped his head around but saw nothing.

As the sun reached it's zenith, Kai once more thought he heard something from behind. At first he ignored it as paranoia, but eventually the regularity of the disturbances convince him.

"Caleb, I hear something!" Kai whispered through gritted teeth.

"They're about half a day behind us. The pass carries the sound; they are not as close as they seem." replied Caleb as he stopped walking and looked back into their wake.

"How can you be so matter-of-fact about this?" blurted out Kai, finally giving in to the confused frustration over Caleb's massive personality shift.

"We have to keep walking, let's go." began Caleb as he walked on. He continued, "Whilst I had settled as a humble fisherman for the last few years, my life was not always so peaceful. Let's leave it at that for now, we can talk all we want later."

Day 36

Kai wondered how long Caleb would be able to keep up this stony facade; it was as if yesterday's events had never occurred. He'd clearly changed, darker somehow, but given what he'd gone through just the day before, Caleb was most certainly not acting as one would expect.

As they walked quietly through the pass, Kai could see evidence of previous travelers: discarded cart wheels, rusty tools and burnt out fire pits. There was an eerie silence in the cold pass, that somehow felt threatening. Desperate to break the silence, Kai said, "I want to thank you again for everything you've done for me. I really appreciate it, and I'm sorry."

"I did what I had to do, that is all. None of what happened is your fault." replied Caleb in a matter of fact tone.

Kai was worried about Caleb. Worried that something had broken inside the man and would never be the same again. He needed him now, and so he pushed these worries aside. This made him feel vile, but it wasn't the first time he'd had to let the ends justify the means.

Day 35

"Well, with the exception of yesterday, not much strange happens around here." said Caleb.

"If there is another portal to my world, then there would surely be stories of odd happenings in the area. Are you sure you can't think of anything?" asked Kai once more.

Caleb thought a moment then said, "I did hear about a man who complained some of his sheep would suddenly disappear in the night, as if kidnapped by spirits. Jolk down at the tavern told me about it a couple weeks ago. We just laughed it off as some crazy northerner."

"Hmm, that's thin at best, but it's the best we have. North then?" said Kai as he closed his berry stuffed satchel.

"It's just a drunken bar story, you sure you want to travel north through the mountains, on a rumor?" asked Caleb incredulously.

Steely resolve unwavering, Kai answered, "Like I said, it's all I have to go on, and I need to get back home. My people are depending on me."

"Alright..." whispered Caleb as he walked off into cold and narrow mountain pass.

Day 34

"Well, before we do anything else or go anywhere, we need to eat something." said Caleb as he walked out into the sun.

Kai suddenly felt famished; he couldn't remember the last time he ate. He followed Caleb outside and was temporarily blinded by the morning light.

When his vision returned, Kai saw Caleb move towards some vines growing up the mountainside and heard him say, "Since we have no weapons, are being chased and seem to be in a bit of a hurry, I suggest we collect some of these berries and eat as we travel."

"Sounds perfect, thank you." replied Kai before joining Caleb in picking the berries.

Though they were mostly unprepared for traveling, Kai's satchel would do perfectly for carrying a surplus of berries so they could have something to eat later as well.

"The cave portal I passed through to arrive at your doorstep yesterday will surely be guarded by now; so we must find another way back." said Kai as he nibbled on an extremely bitter berry.

Kai spat out a seed from between his two front teeth, then continued, "Have you heard any stories of strange creatures, people disappearing, mysterious travelers?” Things like that?”

Day 33

Caleb nodded; he most certainly didn't understand everything Kai was saying, but he was starting to get an idea of what was going on.

"So, what is your plan, what are you going to do now?" asked Caleb.

"I am going to complete my mission. Only death will stop me from returning with the artifact." Kai stood, then continued as he stretched out the night's knots in his back, "I realize you have done much for me already, but you're going to have to do more."

Caleb raised an eyebrow and said, "What would the ambassador have me do for him?"

Kai blushed, "I apologize. I meant I'm going to have to ask you for more. I need to find a way back to my world, so I can return the artifact."

"And you need me to be your guide here, since you have no idea where's where and what's what?" said Caleb.

"Exactly." replied Kai.

Day 32

The dawn light streamed through the cave mouth, signally the start of the new day. For the first time in years, Caleb had not slept.

Caleb moved to wake Kai, but saw his companion had slept about as much as himself; they shared a grim knowing smile.

"So, why were those men after you. Were the after the artifact, is that what Nali died for?" said Caleb.

"Essentially yes, the artifact is what they were after. Not because they want the artifact itself, but because Morguloth has ordered them to stop me from returning it to my home at all costs." replied Kai.

"Why would he want to stop you from returning the artifact? What would that mean?" asked Caleb.

"The artifact is proof that I have found the mythical new homeland of legend for my people." answered Kai.

"And Morguloth doesn’t want that because?" inquired Caleb.

"He is an evil man, with evil plans. His wealth and power grow on the back of the people's fear. The artifact is a symbol of hope; if the people aren't afraid, they would not submit to his will with such ease." explained Kai.

Day 31

Kai woke to the sound of something scraping on the rock floor. He opened one eye, squinted into the darkness, and saw Caleb walking out of the cave onto the small stone parapet that looked over the valley they had traversed earlier that day.

Kai sat up slowly, careful not to let Caleb know he was awake. He watched as Caleb lowered himself to the ground, sat with his legs hanging over the ledge and looked out into the night.

Caleb's back rose and fell as he took three deep breaths, and then he began to weep.

Kai thought about going out there, thought about trying to console the man, even thought about trying to explain to him the importance of his mission and the safety of the artifact. He knew however, that none of that would help, and sometimes, a man just needs to grieve in solitude; fighting with his inner demons.

Unable to watch Caleb cry alone in the night, Kai laid back down and turned away, trying to fall into the sleep he knew would not come this night.

Day 30

They reached the base of the mountains just as night began to fall. The waning dusk light was still just enough to be able to make out a  vast number of caves peppering the mountain side.

Kai turned to Caleb, still huffing from the day's run, and asked, "So we're gonna hide in one of these caves?"

Caleb just nodded then made his way up the narrow path that wound it's way up the mountainside.

Kai understood why Caleb would be upset, of course, so he didn't dwell on the man's recent silence. However, it did make starting a conversation feel awkward.

When it was clear it was too dark to continue, Caleb turned off the path and went into one of the smaller caves, it's entrance partially hidden by a large boulder.

Caleb sat on a smooth rock near the cave mouth, leaned back against the wall, closed his eyes and said, "We'll spend the night here, tomorrow we can figure out how we go on."

Kai quietly found a relatively comfortable corner of his own, and settled down for what would most assuredly be an unpleasant night.

Day 29

Caleb could simply not process the information. He began to hyperventilate and stood up.

"Listen! I know it hurts." Kai screamed.  He then continued in a softer voice, "I can't imagine how you feel right now, but we have to keep moving. They will not give up, and I can't stress how important it is that we escape; that the artifact is not captured."

"What? How can you...How can I?" whispered Caleb.

Then Kai resorted to emotional manipulation which he wasn't comfortable with, but felt the situation warranted, "Please, we must go on. Do it for Nali, don't let her death be for nothing!"

It worked. A sudden steel came over Caleb. He wiped the tears from his face and turned towards the distant mountains. He turned to Kai and said two words before jogging away, "Follow me."

Day 28

"Morguloth and his minions needs no reason to do evil, it is simply what comes naturally to them." said Kai as he looked away from Caleb, the man's sadness to much to bare. 

Kai stood up and walked over towards Caleb and put his hand on the man's shoulder. Caleb flinched at the unexpected touch, but Kai began talking again, "I'm afraid your wife was simply collateral damage; they were after me and the artifact, and she was simply in the way."

"In the way?" shouted Caleb, tears now streaming down both sides of his face, "She was picking vegetables for dinner! A helpless woman, the most gentle, kindest, most beautiful woman in the world! How was she in the way?"

"As I said, they are the very embodiment of evil, to them her very presence was enough of a justification for what they did." said Kai while looking away, back up towards where they jumped from.

Day 27

"Why?" Caleb whimpered.

"I apologize Caleb, it seems I have brought ruin into your life." Kai said as he sat up and turned towards the man whose life he'd most likely ruined. He continued, "Those were agents of the black legion, they must have followed me through the cave."

Caleb slowly turned his head towards Kai, a deep burning pain clearly seething in his soul. Taking a deep breathe in a desperate attempt to calm himself, he said through gritted teeth, "Why would they do that to her? My dear Nali. Why?"

"The black legion are the elite forces in dark lord Morguloth's army." said Kai, as if that explained everything. When Caleb simply stared back at him, tears streaming down his face, Kai continued, "Morguloth is the very personification of evil, a self-appointed ambassador himself, his only goal is world domination."

"But, why are they here? Why would they do that to her?" cried Caleb, his eyes bloodshot and his hands shaking.

Day 26

Caleb grabbed onto a clump of reeds growing on the shoreline and pulled himself out of the brown water. Other than the area around the waterfall, the lake was mostly stagnant, more of a swamp really.

As soon as he was done picking off the leeches that had attached themselves to his skin during his time in the water, he sat on a dry patch of thin grass, wrapped his arms around his knees and just stared at his feet.

Kai made his way out of the lake by grabbing onto the same reeds Caleb had used, and then collapsed on his back, chest heaving from the exertion. Kai wheezed between breaths, "Thank you for saving my life yet again Caleb; I hope to be able to repay the debt someday."

Caleb sat silent for a few moments, then said, "She's dead."

Day 25

Kai began to edge towards the cliff, but the sound of the two men chasing them crashing through the jungle behind him meant he didn't have a long time to make his decision and it wasn't really very much of a decision at all.

He broke into a sprint and launched himself off the precipice. He'd never been especially athletic growing up, but his time on the road as an ambassador had toughened him up. As he sailed through the air towards the churning maelstrom below, the two armor clad men came out of the jungle and ran to the cliff just in time to watch their quarry fly to safety; there was no way they could make the jump wearing armor.

Kai burst into the water close to were Caleb was waiting for him. The moment he came up for air, his elation was quickly forgotten as he had to make an effort in order to keep up with Caleb who was already swimming towards the shore.

Day 24

Standing on the edge of the cliff, Caleb spread his arms wide open and took a deep breath. He could feel the now cold mountain wind tearing at his face. Before him lay a vista of epic beauty; the clean air providing the perfect playground for the sunlight reflecting and refracting off and through the ice peaks of the distant mountain range.

Taking one last look then closing his eyes, he prepared himself for the jump. One more peak. His back muscles tensed. His legs twitched. One final breath. He bent his knees. Eyes snapped open.

He felt weightless. Then suddenly he was very aware of his mass as he sailed through the air. Stone rushed up on one side of him, the towering waterfall behind. Impending death raced all around him. The cold air cut his skin.

Kai stared at where Caleb had been standing speechless. He was really gonna have to do this wasn't he?

Day 23

Even though they were moving rather quickly, both were trying to make as little noise as possible as they sped along. As such, it wasn't long before Caleb could hear the noise of rushing water in the distance.

To Kai, it sounded as if it came form the very from the belly of the earth, "What's that?", he whispered urgently.

Still running, Caleb replied, "Waterfall. We're gonna have to jump."

At that, Kai stumbled, but he kept running, his mission was paramount; if he had to jump off a mountain, he'd jump.

With every step the rumble grew louder, more insistent, mirroring their increasing tension.

The men in black on their tail continued their relentless pursuit; bloodthirsty predators stalking terrified prey.

Without warning, the thundering waterfall was upon them, the dense jungle giving way to a bare stone cliff edge, a vast lake in the valley below.

Day 22

The foliage slapped Caleb in the face as he trampled through the jungle. He could could hear Kai trying to keep up behind him, but he couldn't afford to look back to check on him.

They broke out of the jungle and burst out into a clearing, the sudden open space felt refreshing, yet incredibly unsafe. 

Behind them in the jungle they could hear the two man making their way towards them, their swords cutting a swath through the vegetation in their way.

The clearing provided a line of sight to the mountain Caleb was heading towards, he pointed and said,"There! There are some caves we can hide in, they'll never find us."

At this point, Kai was completely dependent on Caleb, so it's not like he had much of a choice, but he liked the idea.

Caleb sprinted off back into the jungle on the other side of the clearing, Kai close behind.