With a start, Valon realized Anna had spoken to him.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Valon asked, looking at Anna walking beside him.
“I was asking about a creature we saw in the swamp,” Anna replied.
“Oh. It wasn’t a tree creature was it?” Valon asked, wondering if the mysterious Arboreals were on the move.
“A tree creature?” Anna asked, almost laughing at the absurdity.
“Oh, er, never mind then. What did it look like?” Valon asked, knowing many things lived in the swamp.
“It was aggressive, had tentacles, and tried dragging one of our warriors into the water,” Anna replied.
“Ah, the swamp beasts? Did you not have a torch on you?” Valon asked, not even considering the cowardly animals a real threat.
“We didn’t,” Anna answered.
“That explains it. They’re not very brave and are absolutely terrified of fire for some reason. The light we conjure from our magic is usually enough to do it. We always have conjured light anyway so we can see the boardwalks,” Valon replied nonchalantly.
“So that’s how you can see them! We were lucky Goreth somehow spotted enough of a shimmer to go on, otherwise we wouldn’t have found you,” Anna said frustratedly.
“Oh my, I didn’t even think of that,” Valon said, feeling almost embarrassed at his lack of foresight.
He wasn’t used to being around those who didn’t know how to use magic. Not having it was like missing a primary sense, for it allowed one to operate in a whole different sort of way. Valon couldn’t imagine his life without it.
“Yes, it was strange,” Anna replied, shaking her head.
“But you made it without our help, just as you should have,” Seer Mordou said from in front of them, before turning back to his conversation with Elder Matkon.
“Does he really see the future?” Anna quietly asked Valon.
Valon nodded, not knowing how much detail to go into. Normally, he wouldn't bother wasting time telling a non-mage about magic. It would be like trying to explain sight to someone who couldn’t see. Surely it would interest them, but since they didn’t have the sense it would be impossible for them to grasp it. However, times had changed, and Valon wondered if Anna would be interested in learning the very basics of magic.
“He does, using a sort of spell or ability called farsight. Someday soon, I will be given that power and will become the next Seer of the Ancient Clan,” Valon replied.
“That’s … Wow. It’s hard to believe, but so far, he’s been right. But I don’t understand, if he can just see what happens, why not just tell everyone or do it?” Anna asked skeptically.
“Ah, because it doesn’t work quite like that from what he tells me. You see, the future itself has many possibilities based on the actions we take. It takes time and focus to see your path, and even then, it is foggy, muddled in a myriad of branches and paths. But he is skilled enough to see our path, and prominent points, as it were. These points are things such as your arrival to our village, our uniting with your clan, and more. That, and he can see great distances away in our current time,” Valon explained, finding it difficult to come up with the correct words.
“I think I understand … Somewhat. It sounds like a gift from the gods themselves,” Anna replied.
“It really does,” Valon agreed.
Valon wasn’t sure if the gods existed anymore. He had always been skeptical, especially since he had never met someone who had ever had a godly encounter. However, after hearing that beings called elves had once existed here and that one was named Ty’roel, the same as a supposed god, Valon couldn't help but wonder about it all. Suddenly, they heard loud yelling from just ahead.
“What was that?” Anna asked, clenching the pommel of one of her swords.
“It sounded like someone ahead,” Elder Matkon replied, looking at Anna.
“Come, we should see what is happening,” Seer Mordou said, beginning to jog ahead.
They quickly followed him, leaving the rest of the group. The yelling continued, and they weaved through the forest to find a small field. In the middle of the grassy field’s path was a large wagon being pulled by a now-deceased ox lying dead in a pool of its own blood. Three men and a middle-aged woman stood around the cart, surrounded by a few other creatures that Valon couldn’t quite make out, as they were small and covered by tall grass.
“Hold on!” Elder Matkon yelled to the frightened people.
As they neared, Valon sensed something strange about the creatures in the grass. Unlike most of the animals of their realm, these ones contained a strange magic. In fact, it seemed like the magic from the farsight ritual that had transformed their fellow mage.
“Horrors. They’re smaller, perhaps scouts,” Anna said as she unsheathed her swords.
As the Horrors noticed them, two nearby stood on their hind legs. Valon quietly gasped at the site of their grotesque features. They had four legs like a wolf, but that was the end of the similarity. Their skin was purple, gnarled and coated with growths of all sorts. Their claws and teeth were sharp and vicious. Their heads barely had skinny elongated necks that came off their asymmetrical bodies. Their entire form looked like a sickly killing machine.
“Try to take one alive if you can!” Seer Mordou shouted to everyone.
Valon readied himself, looking to see a dozen more Horror scouts standing to assess the group. Their nasty form made it hard to even look at them, and their magic essence almost made Valon feel sick. It seemed even their souls were infected.
The Horrors dove back into the long grass, obscuring them from view. Valon watched as his master let loose a burst of magic energy towards some moving grass, hitting the Horror hard and sending it into the air a few feet. Next to him Anna had already managed to find one and had engaged it in combat.
Valon continued over to the people and quickly noticed they were adorned in yellow. Between that and the cart full of goods, he knew they were from the Linta Clan. The Linta weren’t known for their fighting skill, and the three men looked noticeably afraid of the Horrors. However, it was the Linta woman that looked the fiercest. She stood ready with a bow, staring into the grass.
“Are you all alright?” Valon asked as he walked between the four of them, his eyes constantly searching for the still-prowling Horrors.
“We were ambushed!” one of the Linta Clan fighters replied.
“We’re fine but are glad you’re here to help with whatever these beasts are,” the Linta woman answered, letting loose an arrow and striking a nearby Horror.
“Except our ox is dead! That and our cart is stuck in a patch of mud,” another Linta fighter added.
Valon suddenly felt a presence behind him and turned to see a Horror jumping in midair at him. Valon barely dodged it in time, and the wily creature landed in the tall grass in front of him. Valon extended his arm and let loose a burst of magic energy, a streak of harsh blue light going forth and hitting the Horror in the head. The creature toppled over but managed to survive the magic blast and quickly squirmed its away from Valon.
“They’re retreating!” Goreth yelled as his sword just barely missed a running Horror.
“Valon! Catch that one!” Seer Mordou yelled, pointing to a patch of moving grass nearby.
Valon looked to see a wounded Horror hobbling as fast as it could through the tall green grass, an arrow sticking into its harsh skin. It noticed Valon and tried to change course, but it was too close, and Valon began to focus his power.
A moment later, the Horror rose into the air, its legs frantically searching for ground. It realized what was happening and screeched loudly, flailing its body violently. Valon and the others slowly approached it, finally able to see one up close.
“Magic. You’re the Ancient Clan then?” the Linta woman asked, looking at the others around them.
“Not all of us. My name is Anna, I am from the Narsho Clan,” Anna greeted, extending to shake the woman’s hand.
“I see.
That’s curious. My name is Becca. I am a Linta trader, and these three terrified men were my guards,” Becca greeted, shaking Anna’s hand.
“Our apologies, my lady. We aren’t used to fighting … those,” one of the fighters said shakily.
Valon thought it was interesting they referred to her in such a way. He did recall hearing once of a Becca Yarmot, a relative of the Linta Chieftain Richard Yarmot. He wondered if this could be the same person, but it was not information he would reveal. He would leave it up to her, when the time was right.
“I am Seer Mordou of the Ancient Clan. We’re fortunate we were close. In fact, we were heading to your village to speak to your chieftain,” Seer Mordou said, smiling at Becca.
“Oh? The Ancient and Narsho Clans are working together? That’s very curious … What are you speaking with our chieftain about?” Becca asked, looking almost suspicious
“About those,” Seer Mordou said, pointing toward the still hovering Horror.
“What are they? Some sort of wild beast?” Becca asked, her brown eyes wide with a mix of fear and interest as she stared at the Horror.
“Much worse. This is by far the smallest I’ve seen. There are likely hundreds of them, if not more in the Cursed Lands. This is what Seer Mordou warned our clans about,” Anna replied.
Becca looked at Anna, then back at Seer Mordou. It took a moment, but suddenly her memory came back. She shook her head, surprised she hadn’t recognized him.
“I remember when you came to our village, Seer Mordou. We didn’t believe a word you said, but now it’s as plain as day with it here before us. If there are hundreds of them, what can we do?” Becca asked the group.
“We can stand together as one and fight,” Anna replied.
“Well, then we should get back to our village. I don’t know how we’ll get the cart free,” Becca said, looking at her stuck, heavy cart.
“We could try pushing it again,” one of the Linta fighters offered.
“No, no. We can handle it. Valon, dispose of that beast,” Seer Mordou ordered.
Valon nodded and imploded the magical force on the Horror. Its body crumpled and leaked black ooze as he dropped it to the ground. It seemed that sort of concentrated magic worked well on the creature. He wasn’t sure if it was a certain part of it that needed to be killed, but normal attacks were not as effective.
“Good. Now, let’s get that wagon out,” Seer Mordou continued.
Valon nodded and the two of them lifted the cart using their magic enough to break it free from the mud pit and moved it close to them onto dry ground. Valon already knew what his master would suggest next, and it was an easy solution.
“We will have our clan use their power to push it. With so many of us, none will tire themselves from the magic, and we can get it back to your village,” Seer Mordou offered. “If you’d allow us.”
“That’s very generous. Thank you, Seer Mordou. Thank all of you. Our chieftain will be told of your kindness,” Becca thanked, shaking the Seer’s hand.
Valon followed his master and brought their following clan over to the field. Given there were hundreds of them, all able to use basic magic, keeping the cart moving was easy. After all, basic levitation wasn’t a difficult spell.
Two at a time would levitate the cart as they traveled to the Linta village. As soon as they felt any sign of fatigue, two more would step forward and move the cart. At one-point, Valon’s parents took their turn, their magic strong as ever despite their aging bodies. Valon was proud of them and his entire clan; they had never harbored the negative emotions other clans held for them.
Valon chuckled to himself at the amazement of the non-mages. Anna, Goreth, Elder Matkon, Becca, and the other Linta and Narsho warriors were equally stunned and kept their eyes on the hovering cart almost the whole trip. Out of all of them, he could tell Anna was the most interested. He didn’t want to approach her first, but he hoped she’d ask about using magic. Given how powerful and helpful magic was as a tool, he’d love the chance to teach other clans about it.
Fortunately for them, the trip to the Linta Clan village was quick and without conflict. Valon hadn’t ever been to this village but had been told it was the largest of all the clans, given their focus on trading instead of war.
Surrounding the large village were large, rolling fields of wheat and other crops. It was far different from any of the other villages Valon had seen, and he noticed how peaceful it felt standing here. They followed the single path through the fields toward the village. As they neared, Valon was most surprised at the lack of walls surrounding the village, though he supposed it made sense, as they had no enemies, and there didn’t seem to be any nasty wildlife in the area.
In fact, the surrounding valley was nothing but peaceful. It was far different from the dark, chaotic Ancient Swamp. Valon smiled as he gently ran his hand through the wheat of the field as he passed. His smile slowly vanished as he remembered Distichum’s warning. If the Arboreal was correct, the Linta would have to leave their beautiful valley. Valon wasn’t sure if it would come to that. For now, they’d have to at least talk the Linta into coming to the Narsho village, as it was the furthest from the Cursed Lands.
“Valon,” Seer Mordou said, looking behind him.
“Yes, Master?” Valon answered.
“Speak with me a moment,” Seer Mordou continued.
Valon quickly walked ahead of the others to his master, who was a few paces in front of everyone else. He wasn’t sure what his master wanted to talk about, but obviously wanted privacy.
“Yes?” Valon asked, walking next to his master up the dirt path towards the village.
“That Linta woman, Becca, she is one of the people I saw at the ruins,” Seer Mordou said quietly.
“Oh? That could make sense. I believe she is Becca Yarmot, a relative to Chieftain Yarmot,” Valon replied, trying to put the puzzle together in his head.
He instinctively turned to see Becca speaking with Goreth. It was a surprising sight, as the Forud Champion was a quiet, simple man. It seemed she was able to open him up, and for the first time since Valon had briefly known Goreth, he saw the Forud man was smiling. It seemed they had a connection, which added to the mystery.
“I believe you are right, apprentice. She is most likely the very same. This is a good thing, as she can vouch for the situation now. Say nothing to her about my vision yet. I will wait until we arrive at the Narsho village before I have that conversation,” Seer Mordou explained.
“Of course,” Valon replied, knowing it would undoubtedly be a strange conversation.
Valon knew that despite everything, there was likely still skepticism about magic from the other clans. It would not be easy to convince the others they had to leave their people just before a great battle to pursue ancient ruins that may not even exist. Still, Valon had faith his master’s plan would work out. For if it didn’t, everything could be lost.
“Here, let me lead you in. My people will be surprised to see such a great mass coming and we don’t want to alarm them,” Becca said, stepping past Valon and Seer Mordou.
“Of course. I will instruct the rest to wait here, as only a few of us would like to speak with Chieftain Yarmot,” Seer Mordou agreed.
Moments later, only a small group approached the village’s outskirts. Valon followed his master alongside Elder Matkon, Anna, Becca, Goreth, and the Linta fighters. The remaining Narsho warriors waited behind with the rest of the Ancient Clan.
Without a gate, Valon wondered how they kept track of who went in and out of the village. It looked as if three roads led into the sprawling, messy looking village. The fourth side was on the ocean, and Valon could just barely make out what he assumed were tall masts from some of their ships.
As they walked by some of the homes, Valon was surprised to see how casual the Linta clanspeople were; they all smiled and waved, not worried about the random group of ragtag foreigners walking down the center of their village. Not only that, but they were all dress
ed vibrantly, and seemed to have a sort of personal wealth Valon hadn’t noticed in other clans. Between the size and shape of the village, it was apparent that the Linta Clan were doing relatively better than all the others.
“This is much different from our home, isn’t it, Anna?” Elder Matkon asked.
“It is. I’m surprised at the lack of guards, walls, and other defensive positions. This would be an easy village to capture,” Anna replied, her eyes darting from building to building.
“True, but who would want to attack such a peaceful place that would openly trade with you”? Elder Matkon asked.
“The Horrors would,” Anna replied darkly.
“Unfortunately, she is right. This is why it’s imperative we are able to convince Chieftain Yarmot of the threat,” Seer Mordou added.
Valon saw Becca looking noticeably worried. It was understandable, as her home was not set up in a way where they could defend against any sort of invader. She had just looked the enemy in the eyes, and it was as real to her as anyone else who had encountered them. And like Anna said, they were the smallest she had seen.
The group followed Becca through winding streets, the center of the village crowded with jovial Linta clanspeople. As they noticed them, a fair amount waved to Becca. Some even addressed her with the same sort of formality that the fighters did, confirming Valon’s suspicions.
Finally, after walking for what seemed fifteen minutes through the massive village, they came to an impressively large two-story building. It was like nothing Valon had seen before architecturally. Besides the Seer’s Tower, all the Ancient Clan buildings were one floor only. It wasn’t easy to build such a building, let alone one so large.
“Please, wait out here a moment, I’ll make sure our chieftain can speak to you,” Becca said before walking through the large front double doors.
“Well, I certainly hope he can,” Seer Mordou laughed, looking at the others.
“I hope so too. These people are at risk. Without walls or a proper guard, they will be easily overrun,” Elder Matkon agreed, looking far more somber.
Rise of the Champions Page 16