The Gate Run: Legends of Shadear (Shri Moongale Book 1)

  Legends of Shadear

  Shri Moongale

  Book 1

  THE

  GATE RUN

  ELINA VALE

  Copyright © 2018 Elina Vale

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-952-69108-0-2 (PRINT)

  ISBN: 978-952-69108-1-9 (EPUB)

  Cover by: Elina Vale

  Editing: Seth Feldman

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  The Gate Run (Shri Moongale, #1)

  Prologue

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  To my family:

  Thank you for believing in me and tolerating my absent-minded hovering during my inspirational moments. Thank you for believing in this story and letting me chase my dream!

  Prologue

  HIS STORIES ALWAYS began the same way.

  “The world doesn’t end at the desert. Did you girls know that? Yes, if you look over the Iron Wall, you would see only sand. But it’s been told to me that there’s an amazing world outside these walls. Beyond, there’s so much more.”

  Shri sat on the floor, staring at her father. She loved Merrilon’s stories. It was the last day of the week and, as was customary, Shri would sit at his feet and listen to a tale of the outside world.

  She curled her little toes and wiggled them to shake the dried sand away. Her skinny legs had scratches and cuts, as though she had been climbing.

  She smiled at the girl beside her. Summerhaze, who everyone called Susu, was her best friend. Shri clasped Susu’s hand and turned her eyes back toward Merrilon, focusing again on her father’s tale. Though she had heard his stories many times before, she loved to listen to them over and over again.

  “And it’s been said that there are seas,” he continued. “Waters so big that this whole city would fit underneath them! And that there are many, many creatures living in the water—fish so big that they could eat you whole! Little girls like you would only be a snack for a beast like that.”

  Shri’s eyes shone with excitement. “When will I see the sea, Papa? And the beasts?”

  Her father frowned and cleared his throat. “Well, we’ve got our life here in the Pit. But who knows, maybe someday you might—”

  Susu crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t believe you, Uncle Merrilon.” She shook her head. “No one I know has ever seen those things. Not really.”

  Shri’s father pretended to be shocked. “Why, Summerhaze Longhail, do you know all the people? Didn’t realize you did! You should tell me more ‘bout them.”

  Susu’s pretty face scrunched up, but when Merrilon tickled her under the chin, she let loose a bubbly laugh.

  Shri was happy to see her friend laughing. Ever since Susu’s parents had died in the fire six months ago, she had been living with the Moongales. Shri had begun to regard her as a big sister. It was good to hear her laugh; lately, not much had made her smile.

  Shri wanted to know more about the world beyond the walls, just as she wanted to know more about the tall, dark tower in the center of the city. She looked at her father’s relaxed features and the smile on his face. Biting her lip, she squeezed her hands into her lap and took a deep breath.

  “Papa, tell us ‘bout the Spike!” Heat climbed through her cheeks, her hands becoming clammy.

  Shri’s father sighed and rubbed his face. “You know I don’t like talkin’ about that thing.”

  “Pleeease?” Shri and Susu pleaded in their most compelling voices.

  He watched them with narrowed eyes, but his expression softened. “You’re impossible to say no to.” He glanced outside through the open door, then began talking. “In the center of the city is the tower Spike. It’s home to the senatai and the drokashai. You know, the magic users and their warriors.”

  “What’s inside the tower, Uncle Merrilon?” Susu whispered.

  “No one knows! The rumors say that there are glorious treasures, unbelievable things of magic. But not all of it is wonderful. The senatai are—”

  “Why can’t we go there and see it?” Shri wondered, bouncing up on her skinny legs. “I wanna see it! I wanna do magic and I wanna go on adventures!” Her hands made circles in the air, mimicking what she thought would be a senatai casting magical spells. “I wanna be a senatai!”

  Susu laughed. “Shri, it’s not your place! We belong here, silly.”

  Shri let her hands fall to her sides. “Why not? Why are we kept here, Papa? Why can’t we see what’s behind the walls?”

  Merrilon laid his soothing hand on Shri’s head. “The walls are for our protection. The senatai and their magic might sound exciting, but they’re not all good people. We must always do as they say to stay safe.”

  Shri sat back down. “What do you mean?”

  “Their magic is wild and dangerous. They had to create these walls to protect us from it, and from the winds that arrive with every monsoon season. But the senatai fight all the vicious monsters in the world. They protect the land, and we have an important part to help keep the tower up and running and—”

  “But why can’t we see what’s behind that wall? What’s it like in the Fourth Ring? Or in the Third Ring? Is the sea there? Or the forest, the one with trees and birds?” Shri babbled, glancing at the open door towards the wall that separated the Pit from the Fourth Ring.

  “No, the sea and the forest are outside of Ironflare, beyond the desert. The other rings just hold separate parts of the city.”

  “Are they different form the Pit?”

  “Girls, I know it’s hard to understand—”

  A familiar boy’s head popped through the doorway, cutting Merrilon off. He was the same age as Summerhaze, four years older than Shri. His black hair was messy, his face dirty, as always. His trousers had holes and were far too short for him. The sleeves on his stained brown shirt rose to his elbows. He was out of breath, but his brown eyes twinkled.

  “What?” Dago said, spreading his arms. “You’re still here? Come on, the Gate Run is starting! I wanna get a good spot so I can see the runners!”

  “Papa, can we please go? Pleeaase?” Shri grabbed his big hands. She tried her best cute-eyed look on him, hoping he would allow her to see the opening ceremonies of the Gate Run. During the previous Gate Run, she had been too little to comprehend what was happening. But she understood it now. She did! She was almost seven years old.

  “I don’t like the Gate Run.” Merrilon sh
ook his head. “All those poor men getting themselves killed.”

  “But if they win, they’ll get away from here, to adventures!” Shri’s face lit up, but then she frowned. “Why can’t we go and see?” Tears obscured her eyes. She wanted to see the brave men with their weapons. Better yet, a real senatai would be there, someone who could actually do magic! Shri had never seen a senatai.

  Merrilon shook his head. “No, Shri. You’re too little to go there. Susu, you can go with Dago if you want to.”

  Susu frowned and bit her lip. “If Shri can’t go, then I won’t go.”

  Dago waited in the doorway, looking disappointed. “You’re not coming? It’s the Gate Run!” He glared at Merrilon. “Everyone who’s not working is gonna go.”

  Susu shook her head and clasped Shri’s hand. “I’ll stay with Shri.”

  “No, you can go, Susu,” Shri said, though her bottom lip shook. “Tell me all about it after.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Shru hugged her. “Mm-hmm.”

  Susu walked to the door, giving one uncertain glimpse over her shoulder. Shri smiled at her, but soon as Susu had vanished, the little girl’s eyes watered up. Her father grabbed her into his arms and wiped the tears away.

  “Shri, my sweet girl, you’ll get to see it one day. You’re six years old, eh? Almost seven. I’ll take you to the Iron Forge with me tomorrow. You’ll start as a coal girl. Earn some marks for the family.”

  “Yes, Papa,” she muttered, hanging her head. She didn’t really want to be a coal girl. The job was dirty and boring. She would have to clean the fire pits, take the ashes and coals away, and sweep the floors of the Iron Forge. Merrilon was a smith at the Forge, where all the weapons for the drokashai and the senatai of the city were created. Those who worked there were paid in marks, which were pieces of iron stamped with the symbol of the Spike. Iron marks were currency in the Pit. They allowed people to buy food and other items from the carts that delivered amenities.

  Merrilon lifted Shri’s chin and looked into her eyes. His gaze was comforting, but tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

  “The Gate Run is not an exciting game, or a way to adventures,” he said, his expression growing darker. “It’s a wicked trap, a way to lure people to their deaths by letting them believe they’ll get inside that tower. But no one survives it. They die in there, in the Gate Run. I don’t know why the senatai want it like that... to see them dead.” His last words were so quiet that Shri barely heard them.

  Her eyes rounded. “Dead? Like for good? They’ll take the last trip to the Rivers of the Underworld? They’ll sail with their demons?”

  Merrilon pulled her closer and tightened his grip. “Yes, little one.”

  Shri laid her head onto his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. She didn’t understand. “Then why do they go? Do they want to die?”

  Merrilon sighed. “Maybe some of them do. Some really think they can survive to become a senatai. Surely, some have. The strongest, the bravest ones. But most who enter only hope to get away from here. They think it’s the only way.”

  Shri was quiet for some time. “Will we ever get away, Papa?”

  He kissed her head. “I hope so. I’ve been savin’ our marks for some time. One day we might have enough...” His voice withered down.

  “Enough what, Papa?”

  “Enough to get the stamps on our wrists and move to the Fourth Ring.”

  Shri lifted her head from his chest, her eyes shining with hope. “Really?”

  “That’s the proper way, Shri. That’s our way out. Nothing like the foolish Gate Run. Your Mama and I, we will get us to the next ring. I promise you that I’ll do everything I can for you and for Susu. I wanna see you happy and I wanna give you the chance to have a better life. In the Fourth Ring, you could do that.”

  “I could?”

  “Here,” he said, placing a half-mark on her palm. Folding her fingers around it, he stared into her eyes and smiled. “You’re a big girl now, almost seven. You know the way to the market area and back home, eh? Go buy us bread, as fresh as you can find. You’ll have it for supper.” Pinching Shri on her cheek, he stood up. “I’ve to get to the Iron Forge, little one. My shift is starting. Your Mama’s coming home later.”

  “But Papa... Won’t you eat with us?”

  “Not tonight, Shri. Run along now.”

  With the freshly bought bread in her hands, Shri walked the streets back to her home. She was proud that she’d been allowed to buy bread all by herself. She lifted her little chin higher. Her father’s happy news, about the marks and the Fourth Ring, didn’t quite wipe away the anger over missing the Gate Run. She still wanted to see the opening ceremonies with her own eyes. What did the senatai look like? Did he have a beard? Or was it a woman? Would she do some magic? Shri would have to wait to hear Susu and Dago’s stories.

  She squeezed the bread, her stomach rumbling. She’d have to wait for the others, for the bread was all they had for supper tonight. It smelled wonderful. It wasn’t fresh, though. All the fresh loaves had been taken, the advocate in the fine clothes had said. But it was food nevertheless.

  Shri’s mind wandered back to her father’s tales. What would it be like to see the big waters, the seas? She tried to imagine it, but it was awfully hard. All she had ever seen were the small muddy puddles during monsoon season. But a water so big that a whole city could fit under it? She had a hard time imagining that. And the creatures... She wanted to see those. Her little lips pressed tightly together. If she would just ask the gatekeepers nicely, maybe they would—

  Shri lifted her head, frowning as she gazed around.

  This wasn’t her home street.

  She couldn’t see the Rag Tower, the Iron Forge, or the marketplace. The housing boxes rose high above her, and the people were unfamiliar. Had she turned in the wrong direction?

  Shri bit her lip. No need to get scared. She would just find someone who could tell her the way home. Taking a deep breath, she continued walking. The people passing her by looked angry and frightening. They glared at her and her bread with narrowed eyes, causing her to squeeze it closer to her chest. She didn’t want to talk to them, but how could she find her way home if she was too afraid to ask?

  Something dark flashed on the edge of her sight. Was it the shadow of some monster following her? She winced quietly. There was another one, vanishing behind the corner. She twisted her head from side to side, and her little heart begun to beat like her father’s hammer.

  The streets were narrow here, and the air smelled awful— a mix of urine, blood, and something oddly sweet. Shri scrunched her nose. The housing boxes rose one on top of the other; four boxes high, she counted. Ladders stuck out like legs, and small holes peeped like evil eyes. There were lumps on the ground by the sides of the boxes. People, Shri realized. They coughed and groaned as she passed. With a shiver, she pressed her chin down and hurried away from the scary place.

  A hand grabbed her ankle.

  Shri screamed and tried to yank her leg free. Hollow eyes stared at her from inside of a dark hood. The man’s face was covered with wounds and bloody blisters. His voice was hoarse. “You’ve got bread! Gimme! I’m starving...”

  “No!” Shri wrapped her arms around the bread.

  “Gimme yours bread, girl!” He pulled Shri’s ankle.

  “No! It’s mine!” she cried, yanking her foot free.

  She broke into a run, bumping into people as she fled from the groping vagrants. Clutching her precious bread, she ran until the streets got wider and brighter. When the sunbeams found her again, she stopped with relief, tipping her face to their soothing warmth. All of the shadows were gone, but she was out of breath. It had been so scary...

  Sniffing, she wiped the tears from her cheeks. She had to find her way home.

  Shri glanced around and almost started crying again. Still no familiar places in sight, only weird looking streets, unfamiliar faces...and the Iron Wall. She was very close to it. It
was high and uninviting, darkening her sight. She walked slowly to the wall and laid her tiny hand on its cold surface. Behind it was the Fourth Ring.

  Her eyes fixed on a building attached to the wall nearby: a gate tower leading out of the Pit.

  The Iron Wall separated the Pit from the Fourth Ring. Shri knew there were several gates where food carts were delivered to the Pit, and where all the items made by Pit folk were fetched to be delivered to the other rings. Gatekeepers stood by the gates at all times.

  An angry voice startled her, sending her into the safety of the shadows. There were three men quarreling in the small plaza in front of the gate tower. They shouted and pushed each other around. One punched another, and the third kicked the first. Shri backed toward the wall, leaning against it for support. The gatekeepers, who ensured that only people with the correct markings got through, were laughing at the fight.

  Shri’s eyes drifted toward the gate.

  It was open. Just slightly, but enough for her to fit through. She could reach it in seven heartbeats. Or even six. She was fast.

  She took a shaky breath and bit her lower lip. What if she peeked in? Just a little? It wouldn’t matter at all. She would just have a quick look and then come back. Maybe she could even see a senatai there? Maybe, if she asked, he would do some magic for her. That would be a great story for Susu and Dago! The ceremonies of the Gate Run would be nothing compared to that.

  Shri pressed her back against the high wall, trying to make herself as unnoticeable as possible. She wrapped her scarf around her head to hide her white hair, but the long strands kept escaping from beneath it, forcing her to tuck them in. Placing the bread under her shirt, Shri pursed her lips and tip-toed towards the gate, glaring at the same time over her shoulder for the gatekeepers. She snuck forward, bit by bit, and stopped behind the gate door. There, she waited for a few moments, crouched in the shadows, and then, without a sound, she snuck through the gate.