Enigma lay in his bed, with his little red book in arms, pondering what he had done in the previous months. He had escaped slavery successfully, built a house with great scenery, and settled in with a very nice young woman, all in the one year. An unusual vibration startled his hand, making him jump a little. He ignored it. It happened again. The hand that grasped the book vibrated slightly, this time more intensely. Enigma, again, thought nothing of it. But once more, the same quiver sensation ran vigorously over his hand. ‘Something’s not right.’ Enigma murmured, examining his hand closely. There was nothing really strange there. ‘The book.’ he said, flicking through carefully, once again, making sure not to rip up the delicate pages. ‘What’s this?’ A new passage had appeared. Softly, he read it aloud, ‘“Two visitors and an erstwhile drudge shall travel through generations to the present. Their alight shall be within an ancient facility. Their presence shall be seen as the other, although their astuteness shall only be half. The contingency complete except for the seductress.”’ Giving up on the passages elusiveness, he soon closed it, and went to sleep. Enigma and his partner, Sly, experienced a long awaited holiday from all their worries, lazily sitting back doing nothing and now and then, an odd chore around the house. Together, they prettied up the house with the construction of a fence and a garden in the front. ‘We don’t want to get to relaxed.’ Enigma said one afternoon as they worked on the yard, ‘Or else we’ll become to lazy to do anything.’ ‘Some holiday it’s been, hasn’t it?’ she said, sowing another seed into the ground. She designed her garden with a path way up the middle, leading to the stairs from the front gate. ‘How long have we been away from civilisation?’ Enigma asked, driving a man made nail into the almost finished fence with the but of his axe. ‘It’s been nine full moons since we got away from the Sanctuary, so I guess that it’s been about nine months.’ she replied, gathering water from the river for her freshly planted seeds. ‘But it still won’t be totally safe for us to travel amongst other people, will it?’ ‘Most likely. We’ll have to watch our backs at every moment. If we have to do that, life won’t be very fun.’ ‘After a while, we should be right. For the first couple of years though, a disguise wouldn’t hurt.’ ‘Like what?’ ‘I’m not sure.’ Sly shrugged, ‘Maybe it would be best if we posed as a married couple.’ ‘Is that all you can think about?’ Enigma asked ruefully. She sighed depressingly, ‘Well, it’s a big thing for me. Since I was born, my life has been totally upside down. My Father fell of a cliff when I was a year old, my brother ran off with his girlfriend when I was about six and not long after that, my older sister was killed by the Revolution. ‘Who are the Revolution?’ Enigma interrupted. ‘They’re a cult of sorts. They worship the God Thanatos and they go around killing and sacrificing all who oppose him. Anyway, I was left with my mother. Eventually, we began running out of money. My mother gambled everything we had. She was trying to win money by putting our property on the line. Then we were out on the streets. To survive, we sold our bodies to men for a night. It was sickening and dangerous, but it was our only form of income. Eventually, my mother died one night out on the street.’ ‘That’s awful.’ Enigma said sympathetically. Her eyes began to water. ‘Then I was found and made a slave. Eventually, the Enemy bought me, and I was held hostage at the Sanctuary ever since.’ Her sorrow burst into a sob, her face buried in her hands. ‘It’s okay.’ Enigma said, embarrassing her in his extra large arms. ‘No. It’s not okay. I’m bad luck.’ ‘Your not bad luck.’ He protested. ‘You’ve just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Your with me now. We’ve built a house, we’ve got away from slavery, you’re home free. You’re life’s going to change.’ Her cry’s ceased, but her sniffles continued. ‘I hope so.’ she said. Their many improvements around the house were all miss-judged - they could have taken up much more space around them than they actually did. The yard that they fenced could have been twice as big, even thrice as big, as well as the garden. Sly’s flower bed flourished a bright and attractive range of colours. Most of her plants, remarkably, had blossomed out of season. Roses and daisies dominated the garden, their healthy faces lifted with pride, showing off their brilliance to the fertile world. The fish supply that the river produced seemed endless, Enigma receiving a fair catch each afternoon. He sat on the banks of the clean Revai River, one morning, with pole in hand. ‘Caught anything yet?’ Sly asked, walking up behind him. ‘Nothing yet, and it doesn’t look like I will. I’ve been sitting here for almost two hours now.’ he replied. ‘Try again this afternoon.’ she suggested in her most convincing voice. ‘Any new passages turn up?’ ‘Just one.’ he said, pulling in his line and casting it out again. ‘It doesn’t really help me.’ ‘What’s it say?’ she asked, trying her luck. Enigma thought about it for a while, ‘Well, I suppose I can trust you.’ He repeated the passage that had recently appeared, looking around on occasions to make sure they were alone. ‘Do you understand it yet?’ She sat down beside him. ‘Nope.’ Enigma confessed, ‘I still don’t even understand the first one fully.’ he viciously jerked the rod out of the water, a shiny silver fish hooked on to the end of it. ‘Catch of the day.’ Sly smiled. A long day deserved a long nights sleep. In Enigma’s case however, a short day deserved a long nights sleep. After a morning of fishing, he began collecting fire wood for the winter that was to come. It was a tiring job, but it had to be done. ‘I’m off to bed.’ he told Sly, at the end of the day. ‘Good night,’ she replied. A message had been forming in his book for the past three weeks now, but it was yet to flourish it’s fullest. Why it was elongated, he did not know. ‘I wonder how long this peace is going to last for.’ he wondered, getting in the bed. Hopefully, we’ll never have any more troubles from any one. But it’s obvious that that’s never going to happen, or else I wouldn’t have met Aiviam and that first old guy with out a legitimate reason. Anything could happen at any second if you think about it.’ ‘Yes, anything could happen.’ A voice said. Enigma opened his eyes sharply. ‘Thanks for the book.’ the voice said with a shrill laugh. Enigma sat up quickly to see the end of a dark navy cape disappear out the door. ‘Stop!’ he yelled, quickly following. Sly was already wrestling with the person outside as Enigma ran down the steps of the veranda. She was picked up and thrown heavily on to the ground, taking with her the person’s garb. ‘Hey, come back here!’ Enigma yelled, helping Sly up. ‘Come on, lets go after him.’ ‘Wait a minute.’ Sly halted, ‘Let me just get a few things.’ Enigma waited anxiously as he watch the person run off into the distance with the one thing he was supposed to protect with his life. As she returned, she quickly closed the door behind her carrying a lit torch, a dagger in her belt and the cape that she pulled off the criminal. ‘Lets go.’ he commanded. They sprinted off in pursuit of the formally hood man, moving their legs faster than they first thought they could. ‘What made you decide to try tackle that person yourself?’ Enigma asked, dodging trees as they came. ‘I saw the person come into the house.’ Sly answered. ‘I was in the kitchen putting my empty goblet away when I saw him come into the house. Then I just waited for my chance to pounce.’ she hurdled a bush. ‘Here, hold on to our torch.’ She handed the torch over, ‘I’ll see if I can find anything useful in this cape.’ Her hands dove into the cape like a dolphin in water. It looked awkward but Sly somehow managed to continue her fast pace. ‘Find anything?’ Enigma questioned. ‘Only one thing.’ she said, her hands emerging from the shiny navy silk. ‘What is it?’ Enigma moved their torch a little more closer. ‘It’s a piece of paper.’ She said, huffing and puffing, ‘It’s got "The Falls of Gardna" written on it.’ ‘She must be headed there then.’ ‘Shall I discard the cape?’ she then asked. ‘No.’ he replied. ‘Hold on to it if you can. It might come in handy later on.’ ‘Okay.’ she replied. ‘How far is it to the Falls of Gardna, then?’ ‘About a two day non stop gallop on a horse.’ ‘We won’t be able to keep this up for much longer you know.’ ‘We’re just going to have to catch him as quickly as we can then - which means we’re going to have to push our selves even harder.’ Enigma said, out of breath. The chase went on, even into the early hours of the morning, their stamina, absolutely phenomenal. The criminal seemed to be following the shape of the river, the pursuit, right beside it. During the whole hunt, they never got any closer to capturing the criminal, nor did they ever begin to lose him. ‘I can’t go on.’ Sly admitted, gasping noisily for air. ‘What’s the matter?’ Enigma examined her, concerned. ‘What do you think is wrong?’ she complained. ‘We’ve been running without a break almost since night fall.’ ‘But we can’t let this guy get away.’ he replied, trying to urge Sly on. ‘You go on ahead.’ Sly gestured, ‘I’m stopping here.’ She began to slow down, letting her legs drag behind her, tripping over a rock protruding out of the ground in the process. ‘Are you all right.’ Enigma asked, coming to her aid. ‘To be quite honest, I’m stuffed.’ she said breathing heavily. ‘We can stop running now.’ Enigma said, ‘I just wanted to keep up with him as far as possible. At least we know where he’s headed.’ he watched as the single flame they were following grew distant. ‘How can you be so sure.’ Sly asked, taking a swig of water from a sac she had brought along. ‘It’s just a guess.’ he replied. ‘Or else everything wouldn’t point in its direction. It wouldn’t have been printed on the scrap of parchment you found, plus the general direction wouldn’t have been mentioned in the Epoch Apocalypse.’ ‘Are we still in the Great Mountains?’ ‘Yes, just. We’re in the last peaks. Soon it’ll be all down hill.’ ‘Then, if my memory serves me right, there should be a tiny village at the bottom. We’ll be able to buy a couple of stallions to help us along.’ ‘You brought some money along?’ Enigma asked She nodded. ‘How long do you think it will take to walk down to the bottom of the mountain?’ ‘At least four or five hours.’ Enigma responded. ‘Why?’ ‘Because there’s no way that I’m running the rest of the way.’ Soon, their pursuit of the sinful man started going down hill, literally. The sun had finally awoken from it’s slumber, providing eye shattering light once again, pronouncing the new day. Their ears popped and their heads collapsed in on itself as their altitude declined at a assiduous rate. The forest terrain gradually disappeared, more rock emerging out of the ground, creating hazards for their tired minds. The small village that Sly talked of soon came into sight. A chimney breathed smoke, the air currents distorting the exhausts smooth rise into the atmosphere. ‘When you said tiny, I didn’t think you meant tiny, as in three house and a black - smith.’ Enigma murmured, peering down on the village from their point on the side of the mountain. ‘I wouldn’t have said "small town", if it wasn’t barely three house.’ she said, defending herself. ‘These people are supposed to sell horses?’ he asked doubtfully. ‘Last time I passed by here they did.’ she replied. ‘When was that?’ he questioned. ‘When I was about five.’ Sly answered. ‘I’ll never forget those horses.’ They lazily jogged the rest of the way down. Grazing cattle scattered in fear as the pair ran straight through the middle of them, interrupting some sheep and horses at the same time. Laughter came from a small group of farming children, playing blissfully with an energetic little puppy, their eyes wide with delight as they peered upon the baby animal. They took turns throwing a stick for the pup, letting it retrieve it for them after it had finished mauling it. ‘Can I help you sir, ma’am?’ a jolly, chubby, black - smith asked, emerging from his work shop. His bald head looked as if it had been submerged in water - salty sweat streamed down his face. ‘Do you still sell horses?’ Sly asked, searching through a pouch she had brought along for some coins. ‘We do.’ the red faced man answered. ‘We breed and sell horses for all purposes.’ ‘What’s your price?’ Enigma asked, looking over the vast paddock. ‘Depends on the horse.’ he replied, taking his apron off. ‘Do you want to by animals with speed?’ ‘Yes. Your fastest and strongest ones.’ Sly said, putting her pouch away. ‘Then I suggest that one there and that one there.’ the merry man said, pointing to a chestnut Clydesdale and a grey - white Sheer. ‘How could a sheer and a Clydesdale be of your fastest horses?’ Sly asked in vein. The jolly man laughed, ‘Big legs, big strides. Plerman, fetch me the Clydesdale and the Sheer.’ ‘Yes Aio.’ a young farming boy obeyed, ceasing his foolish, yet joyous play, running off in the direction of the already saddled horses. Sly watched as the cattle separated for the young boy, stampeding off in all directions, ‘How much is this going to cost.’ The fat man closed his eyes, calculating the price in his head, ‘All together - three solid gold coins.’ Sly’s eyebrows raised, startled, ‘That’s it? Three solid gold coins?’ ‘That’s it.’ Plerman came jogging back holding the two giant horses by the reins. ‘I hope these are to your liking.’ the obese man said, sincerely. ‘You deliver a great bargain.’ Sly smiled, handing over the money. Enigma stared deep into the cold, steel eyes of the tremendous sheer, ‘Did you by any chance see or hear of a stranger passing by your village in the direction of the Falls of Gardna?’ ‘I didn’t.’ The chubby man said, thinking back a bit, ‘One of the children did though, just before dawn. He was milking one of the cows when a person sprinted across the field towards that direction. She was stark naked too. Is she some kind of nut?’ ‘A woman?’ Enigma asked, shocked. ‘Yes.’ the black - smith nodded. ‘Did the child by any chance see what she was carrying?’ ‘He told me that all she had was a stick of light. A torch in other words. We never use torches, only candles. They’re to dangerous to use with all the hay and grass around us.’ ‘Thanks for your trouble.’ Enigma acknowledged, mounting the overly grown sheer. ‘Hey, who say’s that you get to ride the sheer?’ Sly protested. ‘I’m sorry,’ Enigma apologised, ‘Do you want to ride him?’ ‘No.’ she smiled, ‘I’m just trying to be difficult.’ Muscles rippled like crashing waves underneath them, veins exemplifying their intensely toned bodies. Their iron - clad hooves kicked up the dry dust of the water baron earth. Wide eyed and nervous, they unco - operatively moved at a brisk walk to start with, allowing both horse and rider to get used to one another. Once again, familiar grey clouds rolled in over the mountain peaks behind them, the scent of a storm plucked from the salt, stained air. The previously settled trees swayed to and fro amongst the on coming air currents that usually came with an accumulating storm. The rush of the river beside them hastened, engulfing the natural built banks by the mouthful. ‘Looks like were in for a bit of rain.’ Sly noted, stating the obvious. ‘It’s coming in from the east.’ Enigma murmured. ‘What are you going to call your horse?’ Sly asked, pulling the question out of the blue. ‘I haven’t had time to think about it.’ Enigma stroked his sheer’s full mane. ‘I’m going to call my horse Aroht.’ she said proudly. ‘Who’s that named after?’ Enigma smirked. ‘No one in particular.’ she said, moving around in her saddle uncomfortably. She hadn’t ridden before. ‘It means "protector of the goddess."’ Enigma laughed, ‘Your no goddess.’ Sly glared at the hysterical teenager, infuriated with his insult. ‘I may not be a goddess by blood, but I surely have the looks of one.’ Enigma cackled even harder. ‘Have you decided what your going to call yours yet?’ she questioned, letting his indignity lie. Enigma rubbed his jaw in thought, ‘How about Hcrib.’ ‘What’s that mean?’ ‘It stands for "the ultimate warrior".’ ‘Good choice.’ Sly congratulated, not lowering herself to Enigma’s level. ‘I think we should try a gallop now. Maybe we can get to the Falls of Gardna before the rain does. We should get there in a full day if we force our selves.’ A slight tap in the ribs of the gentle giants didn’t suit to well with them. They followed their orders nonetheless. Their heads bobbed up and down, their legs extended to their limit. The long multi coloured hairs on the back of their necks, fluttered in the on coming wind annoyingly, interrupting the riders grip on the controls. A beat was played on the wet earth below, every step melodically in time with the other. The country side rolled slowly passed, as they raced on against the forming clouds above them. The wind behind them kicked them along a little faster. Tall grass whipped across their breasts, stinging them like a bee or the prick of a needle. Wild animals that withdrew to the long grass for cover were sprung as the giant mass pounded either around them or over them. Enigma’s back and hind still hadn’t gotten used to the awkward shape of the hard leather saddle that separated human from beast. He had ridden horse back before, but he knew it best that one should really grow up on horse back to be used to it.’ We should be there any minute now!’ he informed his partner. ‘How can you tell?’ she asked, bobbing up and down in her seat. ‘The river has widened and the currents have become more rough!’ he yelled back. The waters pace was something not to be taken lightly. Poor, water creatures caught in it’s mighty grasp were visibly trying to swim back up stream - but to no avail. The raging torrent was over taken with fresh water from the overcast skies further East. A watery mist had settled over the top of the swollen river, the crystal waters disappearing over the cliff edge. Finally, they had made it to the falls. ‘And it looks like we beat the storm.’ Sly said, dismounting at the water’s edge. ‘Poor horses.’ Enigma said as he watching his sheer lap up as much liquid as possible. Sly tied the reins of her horse to a near by tree. ‘What now?’ ‘I’m not sure.’ Enigma answered, tying Hcrib next to Aroht. I remember something from the passage. It said, “Travelling towards the west, they shall meet a dyad that shall be your company through out your following journeys, behind the tumbling water, the gate through an illusion.” - or something like that.’ ‘Well, we travelled towards the west.’ Sly said, stretching her legs, shrugging off the stiffness from her joints. Enigma agreed, ‘And the tumbling water has to be the actual waterfall. So there must be something behind the water fall.’ ‘But how do we get actually get inside it?’ Sly asked, dunking her sweaty head in the river. Enigma took a quick glimpse over the edge, estimating it’s falling distance, ‘We’re just going to have to look for it then.’