Games of the Powerful

by William E Samela

  ~~~~

  Leadyl and Mitch had gotten an early start and pushed harder than before to reach the Dragons Bane River by late afternoon. Legends said the river got its name centuries ago from the elves, living alongside of it. The elves would ply this river in small boats and trade with people that lived farther south on the plains. The river had its origins deep under a mountain far to the north. A dark and twisted dragon lived in a cave near the top of the mountain permeating the mountain and underground river with very powerful and evil power. Ancient writings and drawings depict two competing dragons vying for the right to claim the mountain but others said that the dragons fought to the death good against evil. They fought an epic battle of dragons so fierce it sundered the side of a mountain creating a sheer cliff on one side. When the mountain was shattered the poisonous river was freed of its confines flowing southward in a rush poisoning the land on either side of it with its dark waters. In ancient tomes it is written any who drank from it went mad to die a horrible death their bodies blackened dark as the flowing river. As time passed, the river changed for the better nourishing the area with its clean water and fish.

  Walking through the forest t enjoying each other's company they spent most of the day talking and learning the other’s ways. Mitch's stories about his childhood and the advanced technology that he took for granted amazed Leadyl. Much of what he told her she could not fathom and she knew he felt the same with her world and all the intricacies of magic that it held. He was overwhelmed with questions and he had to be very frustrated the answers were not forthcoming.

  By late afternoon, they came upon the river. Walking up to the river's edge, they could smell the honeysuckle vines growing alongside of the river mingling with the nearby trees their vines snaking languidly up their sides overhanging the tree branches. At this location, the river is waist deep with a smooth sandy bottom. Cupping the cold clear water in his hands Mitch took a long slow drink watching the river flow lazily between the trees hanging over the river their limbs sometimes touching the water. Seeing the big fat speckled trout gently flicking their fins to stay in place with the flow of the river teased him greatly. Watching the trout for a moment Mitch yearned for his fishing equipment thinking about how much his dad would love to be fishing here with him. Sighing he stood and followed Leadyl north along the river for a short distance, until they found a small wooden walk bridge spanning the river, crossing there they headed northeast.

  “Lea, how did you know to look for me when you did,” he inquired looking around the forest admiring its natural beauty.

  “I woke that morning and felt something tugging at me urging me to go to the glade where I take my ease. Walking to the glade, I was puzzled someone or something was trying to communicate with me. I knew whoever was trying to direct me to the glade was not evil just by the feel of it but I still kept my mind closed to intrusion. With skill and training, you will be able to prevent the sort of contact like when I sent an image to you but keep in mind it does not have to be images it can be in the form of voices too. At the time I did not know who or what was trying to communicate with me but I would say now that it could have been the guardians of the light,” pausing she studied the forest around them playing close attention to their back trail as if there still might be pursuers. Every time she did this, it made Mitch nervous knowing there could be danger lurking anywhere.

  “So these guardians of the light sent you a message so you could save me to be a tool for them to use and that is why everybody on the other side wants me dead," he said cynically.

  “Well since you portray it so succinctly and with such surety, I would not dare to contradict you in such matters,” she replied with a touch of humor in her voice trying to lighten the conversation some because she could understand what he was going through and she did not want to upset him. “As I was saying we have the power once we are taught to not allow simply anyone to enter our minds as I did with you. Tentatively at first, I made sure whoever was touching at the edges of my mind was not malevolent before I let them in. When you relaxed, I could send you the image giving you a focal point in which to cast the spell creating the threshold. I do not have the skill or power to create one for others or myself. Once I let them contact me voices told me one would come from another realm that would exude a great imagination and I must bring them to our realm,” she paused to let him consider what she told him.

  “Would you say the guardians of the light created the threshold that brought my ship here?”

  “That would be my guess, because I do not know of anyone that could do such a powerful and costly feat of magic but them,” Leadyl answered as honestly as she could.

  “So you did not have a clear image of me nor did you know what to expect?”

  “Correct you could have been anything other than who you are but thankfully you turned out to be modestly handsome and appealing,” she replied mischievously.

  “Why thank you for the complement you are too kind to imply that I am modestly handsome and I have even a small measure of a chance to receive your favor,” he quipped laughing lightheartedly before continuing on a serious note. “How does someone attack your mind and how do you tell they are either good or evil?”

  By late afternoon, they were hungry and tired. The forest is quieting for the evening the birds and squirrels going to wherever they go to sleep and the nightbirds beginning to stir. The cool breeze from the north kept the midge away bringing with it the scent of pine but also a smell of cooking rabbit from a nearby fire wafting through the trees. Nocking an arrow, Leadyl silently as a ghost lead the way among the trees and thick underbrush. Turning she gave Mitch a stern expression that meant he had better be quiet. Chagrined he vowed he would be equally silent as she when moving through the forest.

  Moving silently through the trees staying close to the shadows cast by the lowering sunlight they crept closer to the campsite. The delicious smell the meat cooking made their mouths water and their stomachs loudly growl in excitement so much so someone could hear them from a furlong away. Suddenly, freezing in place at the sound their stomachs made they crouched behind a clump of honeysuckle growing predominantly in the area and the bough of a tall pine.

  “Truly it is not wise to sneak up on someone when your bellies are empty. Come Leadyl bring your loud friend into camp and share my fire.” The voice is quiet but deep and strong like a bear coming from a giant of a man sitting on a log with his back to them turning a spit full of cooking meat over the fire.

  Looking at each other with shocked expressions on their faces they could understand that their stomachs gave them away but how did he know who is hiding directly behind him? Standing with his hand on his sword Mitch walked toward the big man with Leadyl following and to one side. Drawing nearer to the clearing they realized how massive this man is, he wore a black mantle with a hood covering most of his body as it draped over his head and back. “Come loud one take your hand off the hilt of that little pig sticker of a sword and sit by the fire. I am as hungry as you are.”

  Seeing a log conveniently placed directly across from the one the big man is sitting on, both took their seats getting a better look at him. The full beard on his face did not completely cover its craggy visage and although not an ugly face it is not a face that would appeal to Leadyl. His sunken eyes with dark circles under them were the brightest white that she had ever seen, not the white of blindness but something else. She could not distinguish any evil or good from his eyes while he equally appraised her seeming to know everything about her. Making it even more disconcerting is the lack of emotion or malevolence in them, nothing but two tunnels of light that went on forever. Leadyl could not sense any evil intent or goodness either, he is an enigma and she did not like it one bit.

  “I see that you have found the loud one. He is not what I expected but we do not get to choose who we get I expect,” the big man mused.

  “Why are you calling him the loud one? I know he is not woods wise but he certainl
y is not deserved to be called the loud one,” she objected putting her hand on Mitch’s leg. She knew he was fast becoming angry enough to confront the big man in front of them.

  “I thought you to be more adept than this Leadyl. His imagination is so loud I could hear it when he arrived here, as can others. How do you think it possible for you to hear him in the first place?" he asked indifferently as if he did not care if he got an answer.

  Placing his hand quickly on Leadyl's leg, trying to prevent her from doing anything rash, he knew the man was baiting them, but he was not sure why unless he was gauging their reactions to his derisive nature. The big man reached under his cloak with his right hand causing Mitch to tense for action. From under his cloak, he brought out a foot long hunting knife and began carving the meat putting it on tin plates. When he was done, he reached across the fire handing them the food. The meat is delicious far better than they thought it would be, with seasoning on it unlike they have had before giving it a farm raised taste instead of a gamy wild taste. They remained silent through the meal each in their thoughts.

  When they had finished eating Cormyr started speaking, “my name is Cormyr and I come from the south below the southern mountain range from a city called Riannon. It is a beautiful city were King Vanderghast lives with thousands of others. The outer walls are made of the famed Dwalur Granite as is the palace and the noble’s homes. They are one-hundred feet high and thirty feet thick with the main gates made of the same granite as the walls but perfectly balanced so they swing open and closed easily with two men. Dwalur was a dwarf miner in the mountains near the city. He was mining for gold and stumbled on the granite. He was amazed at the beauty of the stone with its rich reds, greens, and blue colors. Not long after he had dug enough of it out to build his house on the side of the mountain he realized this stone would make a magnificent wall for a city,” Cormyr paused while he mused. Mitch and Lea sat as still as stone not daring to interrupt him with questions.

  “Dwalur knew gold could be made if he could persuade the Lisundal to come off the plains and help build a city at the base of a mountain he had in mind. The Lisundal were a mixed race of elves and humans that roamed the plains on horseback herding cattle and hunting plains animals for food and furs. His plan was to get them to help build this magnificent city made of all granite where it would be the centerpiece of the world. An underground river flows south out of the base of the mountain then on to the Nerida Sea. He knew if they built docks and barges the granite, cattle and furs would then have a way southward to Tordar and sold at the auctions. He met with a Lisundal clan leader by the name of Riannon to propose his innovative plans. To make this very old long story a mite shorter the city was built and named for Riannon the first King and the mountain range, and river was named for Dwalur,” he paused reaching into his very large backpack and took out a wine-skin and proceeded to pull the cork taking a drink from it.

  Sighing with pleasure, he put the stopper back tossing the skin to Mitch who looked at it wondering what if anything he was to do with it. “Drink it is sweet red wine from the vineyards of Galindel a city northeast of Riannon and south of the Southern Mountain range known for its soil for growing grapes. Drink it is the last of it so I would partake of it lest I finish it,” Cormyr warned them. Mitch took a drink from the wineskin a smile slowly spreading across his face at the unexpected taste of such a fine wine. Quickly taking a sip of the wine Leadyl could not help but smile in appreciation at the wonderful taste of the sweet full wine.

  “I presume you are wondering what I am doing here and how I know who you are. You have to know it is not by mischance that I am. The guardians of the light sent me to safeguard you both and bring you to Castle Qenildor to see Bilgrammus a great wizard in his own right. You are in grave danger for it has been foretold that you both will have a part to play in this game of power we find ourselves in.”

  “I do not consider this a game so from this point on, I am asking the questions and I expect answers to them furthermore, I have a name it is Mitch,” he growled directing his anger toward Cormyr who appeared not to notice. Mitch calmed himself before he turned to Lea and said, “Earlier, I asked you how I would know whether someone meant me harm when trying to link with me through our minds. Please explain to me how to tell the difference and how to defend myself against such attacks.”

  “To show you firsthand is much easier than trying to explain to you what it feels like to have contact with another that does not have any evil intent against you. Your imagination is your power so imagine I am knocking on the cabin door to your mind and you must sense what my intent is. What you must do is make sure whoever is knocking at your cabin door is there as a friend or an enemy before you choose to let them in. You must make your cabin door very stout like our new friend here he has a portcullis guarding his mind." Cormyr did not seem to notice her reference of him but she knew he was listening intently. "I do not foresee you having a problem telling the difference. One way to do so is to express your feelings for someone into your imagination or letting your goodness shine forth. Those who mean you harm cannot hide their evil intent so they will attack your mind with force that is why you must make your cabin door very stout. Let's try this Mitch so you may better understand what it is I am trying to explain to you,” she concluded taking his hand in hers.

  With practiced ease, Leadyl found her imagination the source of her power, gently reaching out as she had done the previous time they had made contact. She is astonished at how his power had grown in such a short time. Her imagination suddenly ran away with her imagining herself surrounded by four children three girls and a boy. They were standing in the yard in front of her cabin next to a garden watching an older Mitch working it. Farther to the right of the garden, off to one side sat a larger home built similar to her cabin, chickens pecking the ground in front and to one side was a pen with a milk cow eating the hay.

  When she turned and looked back toward Mitch, he saw her looking at him and smiled. She knew then they were imagining this as one and a sense of happiness overwhelmed her both falling deeper into what they were beginning to think as real. Walking out of the garden his youngest ran to him flying into his arms, scooping her up he could smell the lilacs in her hair when she hugged him. The boy his oldest was more reserved and looked more like him in both build and the way he walked toward his father. Happier than they could ever have imagined, their love had grown; with four beautiful children and a quiet life they cherished.

  Suddenly, a menacing giant of a figure in a black cape with huge broad shoulders appeared among them with outstretched hands and an angry face shattering the moment. The children screamed in fear and shock at the apparition suddenly before them. “Stop this now,” it yelled in anger.

  Mitch and Leadyl felt themselves torn apart, separated from the reality they had created. Mitch reached out with one hand while dearly holding his youngest trying to grab Leadyl’s hand but it slipped from his grasp. A searing flash of white light split them asunder bringing them back to reality. They sat on the log still holding each other’s hand with the giant specter of Cormyr standing across from them glaring down at them in anger. With tears in their eyes, they remembered what they had lost, the pain and grief nearly overwhelming them but as the moments passed they began to realize what they had accomplished.

  “Do you truly understand what happened? Do you not know if not for me interfering when I did you would have never could return?” Cormyr admonished. “You both have much to learn,” he continued in a softer voice.

  “Cormyr did we see a portent of what is to come? Did we foresee our real children?” Leadyl asked plaintively realizing now how powerful Cormyr is far more powerful than he lets on.

  “I cannot say, you imagined what you wanted to see but the future is not fixed you know that you may have dissimilar children but your offspring will carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and their roles are predestined. The future is ever changing though your destinies are intert
wined and if one of you prematurely dies it will assuredly alter the future, profoundly changing the others destiny. If that happened chances are the enemies of the light will have won this battle if not the war for this realm. Now you must sleep for we have a long and arduous journey before us. Oh, and Mitch your training starts tomorrow,” he said as an afterthought. With that, he banked the fire and lay down next to his backpack promptly going to sleep.

  Leadyl and Mitch removed their packs and weapons arranging their bedrolls so they would be intimately close to each other. When they got as comfortable as the ground would allow Leadyl whispered, “Mitch do you think that what we foresaw was real?”

  He lay there thinking for a moment grappling with his thoughts, “I am not sure Lea but what I do know we will have beautiful children. She snuggled closer to him putting her head in the crook of his shoulder and sliding one leg across his body.

  “What of our children, what peril are we dooming them to by giving them birth?”

  “The same as all other children born here I think. If the encroaching evil, were to gain this realm their lives would be forfeit.”

  “True but they will be our offspring that will be in the forefront of the battle.”

  “I know Lea and that frightens me but they will not be alone there will be others ready to fight for the right to live in peace and prosper.”

  “It does not make it any easier knowing that.”

  “We will not stop loving each other and when the time is right we will love each other as man and wife and have our children. We will teach them everything we know to help them survive any challenges they may face,” he avowed squeezing her tightly.