The Light Bringer: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Novel (The Dragon Gate Series Book 2)

by Randy Ellefson

  Ryan bowed his head. “Our apologies, Your Majesty. We hope we are not too late to help.”

  “No, just too late to restore the peace of my home these last few years, but I suppose I should be grateful. You are about to do me a service worthy of earning a fiefdom. I should re-knight you just for giving me hope.”

  “I would be honored,” replied Ryan.

  “Yes, everyone is always honored.”

  Looking caught between amusement and embarrassment, the Prime Minister said in a conciliatory tone, “As you can likely tell, our matter is not urgent, though needed all the same. We will make preparations for a banquet in your honor this evening and a more proper welcome. We were not entirely sure you would arrive, given the number of kingdoms whose needs have waited while you were absent. We are thrilled that you have returned, both for our small matter and all the great ones in your future.”

  “Fine speech,” King Varrun said with sarcasm. “If that’s what it takes to earn power, then I’m glad I was born into mine and am spared the humiliation.” He turned to a fidgeting man who was dressed in blue and green, the symbol of a bird of prey on his breast. He snapped, “Oh, stop shuffling your feet. It’s like you have to pee or something. Show some dignity. And do it elsewhere. Othor take our guests and our restless friend away to tell them what is expected.”

  Prime Minister Othor bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  The fidgeting man bowed and said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I merely share your excitement.”

  The king snorted. “Well, Your Majesty,” he sneered, “one day you’ll learn that being king means not being so polite about everything. Now get out. Of my castle, and my kingdom. I have long looked forward to your departure from both.”

  Anna cocked an eyebrow. Was King Varrun just being snide or was this other man another king? He didn’t wear a crown, but then she wasn’t sure how that worked. It wasn’t like royalty always wore one. She was glad to be leaving the curmudgeon’s presence and didn’t want to speak with him personally.

  “Lords and ladies,” began a smiling Othor, “please accompany me.”

  They filed out of the room behind him, several of the nobles coming along but the rest remaining behind. Passing through a short hall, they turned into a meeting room with a large oval table surrounded by high-cushioned chairs, a large map spread across it. Several youths were hastily laying out plates and goblets. Another stood ready to help beside a small table filled with pastries and crystal decanters, each filled with different color liquids. Anna wondered what time of day it was, but saw the sunlight coming in at an angle that suggested either mid-morning or late afternoon. They needed a list of things to ask about every time they arrived somewhere. As if expecting that, one young girl curtsied and handed her a scroll, presumably with gods in it.

  They were shown to their places as the door closed, and everyone remained standing as Prime Minister Othor looked at them apologetically from across the table. “The king is used to speaking his mind, as is his right. Ironically, it is here without him that we can do the same. He is a good man but still smarting from our change decades ago into a constitutional monarchy where he no longer has the power he once held. And he quite chafes at all displays of ceremony. It is all worsened because he has been host for some years now to an absolute monarch, as he was once, but he enjoys pointing out that he, at least, still has a kingdom to rule over.”

  Othor turned to the man who had been fidgeting earlier. He was no older than them, tall, well-built, and confident. He wore a waist-length cloak similar to Othor but of different colors and style, being more ostentatious. His tailored tunic was embroidered, and he wore multiple rings on each hand along with a ceremonial dagger on one hip. Something about his brows and intelligent black eyes reminded Anna of a hawk, like the symbol on his breast. The pointed jaw and thin nose helped, as did the air of proud regality that shone from his bearing and mannerisms. And yet he seemed somehow uncomfortable, as if out of place or unsure what level of authority he held.

  “Ellorians,” began the Prime Minister, “this is His Majesty, King Sondin of Kingdom Aker. It is at his behest that we have summoned you, and as the quest is his, I will leave to him to lead our discussion.”

  King Sondin smiled graciously and with more genuineness than anyone so far. “I am so very grateful that you have come. Please be seated and be comfortable.” Everyone did as he asked before he gestured to the young woman in the seat beside him. “This is my sister, Princess Miara. We have other members of our family here in Thiat, which has been gracious enough to host us for several years, but we’re hoping you can put an end to the need for this.”

  As a servant put a plate of pastries before him, Eric asked, “What do you need us to do? Your Majesty.”

  The king waved that off. “We can be informal here in this room. I need you to restore us to our rightful place in Aker. I must assume the throne.”

  The champions exchanged a glance and Anna asked, “May I ask, why are you not there now?”

  He gestured for goblets to be filled and indicated the map on the table. “This explanation will be thirsty work, but let us begin. Here we are in Thiat, across the Pumian River to the west. Beyond it, all this land you see is the Kingdom of Aker, a human power, though we have fair numbers of halfings, some elves, and a few dwarves. The river is our western border with Thiat, down to the ocean in the south, north to the mountains, and to near the eastern forests. That is where the dark elf Kingdom of Kiarven stands to our northeast. Years ago, the dark elf king broke a longstanding peace treaty and attacked Aker. I am sad to say we lost the unexpected war, and now all of Aker stands under dark elf control. However, we are still considered sovereign. No one recognizes Kiarven’s claim to our lands.”

  Map of the Kingdom of Aker, on the world of Eridos

  Anna wasn’t sure what that meant but suspected Eriana would be expected to, so she chose her words carefully. “This can be different across worlds, so we want to be sure we understand. Are you saying you are still seen as the King of Aker?”

  King Sondin nodded. “I was a prince. My father, the king, died a month ago here in Thiat, and I have since become king.”

  “I am sorry for your loss. May I ask how it happened?”

  “A tragic accident.”

  A petulant Princess Miara added, “He never should’ve been on a horse at his age, but I, for one, am glad it happened. Now perhaps we can go home.” She had sorrowful brown eyes and a dreamy quality about her, as if she entertained romantic fantasies that had recently suffered a blow. Her freckles accentuated her youth, as did the braided hairstyle that exposed her round face and its remaining baby fat. She might have barely been twenty and gave the impression of impetuous emotion, whether born of immaturity, status, or frustration. Anna sensed the princess was restraining herself while silent, but then she spoke and said things she should not have, which she seemed to realize and then find herself caught between embarrassment and defiance about it.

  “To an answer your question,” began the king, laying a gentle hand on his sister’s arm, which she pulled away, “other kingdoms must recognize sovereignty. While Kiarven is long recognized, their possession of Aker is not. We have found our kingdom to be contested territory, but there are no kingdoms who recognize Kiarven’s claimed right to Aker. It is still seen as Aker, and I am the rightful king, living here in absentia and unable to return to my people, or to free them. As for my sister’s remarks, our father wanted us to return but did not see it as possible. He has been content to wait for an opportunity, but my sister and I were more adamant about creating such a chance, which is why we have summoned you now that I am king. We should not wait longer to restore peace due to the conditions in which our people continue to suffer.”

  Fingering the food, Eric asked, “The dark elves are not peaceful rulers, I assume.”

  “Not to humans, no. They have plundered what they can of Aker. Our people have been enslaved. Terror rules them. It is not safe for any bu
t dark elves to live there. Other powers have pledged their aid, including Thiat, in exchange for the peace and stability that comes with the restoration. There are trading and other issues that have arisen since the dark elf incursion. Others would also like this to stop.”

  Anna sipped at her drink to be polite. It was a little early for wine. Or maybe it wasn’t. What time was it? “Does that mean you have an army?”

  “No longer does Aker have one. But a force of others will drive the dark elves back. They await word from me and have recently begun more serious preparations now that I am king. I intend to invade.”

  Ryan asked, “What do these other powers get in return? What is to stop them from assuming control?”

  King Sondin sighed. “I have conceded power. Kingdom Aker will no longer be an absolute monarchy, but a constitutional one with a Prime Minister as head of state. This is believed to give more governance to the people. I must admit that they have earned it after what they have been through.”

  “Why do these other powers want this?” Ryan asked before biting into a cream-filled treat.

  Anna wasn’t sure if they should munch on things to be polite or avoid it, since their hosts weren’t eating, but once Ryan had done this, the princess nibbled on something. Were they waiting? She really wanted to understand protocol to avoid mistakes. Did Ryan know, or was he just clueless?

  “Thiat has such a government. Nearby lands are similar or a democracy. We have been the remaining absolute monarchy, aside from Kiarven. Call it political vision. They would like to share one with us. Absolute monarchies are a dying breed in this region of Eridos.”

  The knight asked, “Are you waiting for us to do something before your invasion?”

  King Sondin nodded. “I would prefer you to succeed first, but the assault happens regardless. When Kiarven conquered our lands, they put to death many of our royal family. Others fled here, but the rest were captured and remain prisoners. We are not sure of their whereabouts. I believe this to be on purpose. The dark elves use them to keep us from acting. We have long suspected this and recent events have proven it true.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A previous attempt at summoning you from the Quest Ring, that time in Aker, failed. We received the head of the Duke of Surros, my uncle, shortly thereafter.”

  Anna’s heart had been sinking on hearing all of this because it sounded like they could be here for weeks, if not months. How do you restore an exiled king quickly? You didn’t. She leaned forward. “You will risk the lives of the royal family?”

  “No more than necessary. That is why you are here.”

  Eric asked, “What exactly is it you want us to do?”

  “The quest is to restore us to power. How you achieve this is your decision. But my desire is for you to destroy the dark elf leadership so that they are more easily defeated. This would be one of two things, preferably both. Prince Kammer of the dark elves must be removed from power in Aker. He is the eldest son of King Erods and a ruthless tyrant like his father, who we would also like removed from power in Kiarven.”

  Trying to find a middle ground between being disapproving—of a king!—and polite, Anna asked, “Do you mean killing them?”

  King Sondin pursed his lips. “As a king, I would not lightly condone the assassination of another sovereign.”

  “And we are not assassins,” Eric observed coolly, and Anna tried not to look too approvingly at him. She would thank him for that later. Eric as Andier was the one who could get away with saying things like that to a king. Oddly, it was Eric’s personality to do that very thing.

  “Of course. But you have a long history of, well, stopping hateful regimes from continuing to inflict harm on a large scale. And from my understanding, this is often done by removing the leadership responsible. You need not kill King Erods or the prince. We would settle for capturing them, and a trial in either Akers or Thiat, where they can be made to answer for their war crimes. If the penalty is death, then so be it, but we do not seek their death.”

  “Speak for yourself,” interrupted Miara.

  “Sister…”

  “No! They must hear this.” Impassioned, she leaned toward Anna, appealing to the only other woman present. “My Gian was the one who tried to summon you. He did it for me. For us. We were to be… He went to Aker, to the Quest Ring. He was a wizard, a skilled one, and brave. We don’t know what happened. All we know…” She turned angry eyes on her brother. “All we know is that it was not only our uncle’s head that was returned to us!”

  A moment of tense silence followed, Anna watching the princess with genuine sympathy. The girl’s accusing glare at her brother hardly softened when looking elsewhere around the room. She clearly wanted a reaction from someone else, so Anna gave her one meant to calm her as her brother hid behind his goblet.

  “I’m so sorry. That was very brave of him.”

  The Prime Minister spoke with some compassion as he observed, “Gian was a wizard of Thiat. He did not have the blessing of either king to reach the other Quest Ring and summon you. His action took place days after King Sondin was crowned. Discussions about the invasion and the need to somehow recover the royal family were underway when Gian took matters into his own hands. We assume for love. That can account for his… foolishness.”

  “Speak no evil of the dead!” Princess Miara demanded, eyes ablaze.

  “I meant no disrespect.”

  Hoping to change the subject away from ones that upset the princess, Anna asked, “Why does Kiarven claim a right to Aker? Simply because they now occupy it?”

  King Sondin lowered his goblet. “No. Many thousands of years ago, the forest spread to the river that borders Aker and Thiat, and that land belonged to them, so they say. We do not doubt it. There are still sometimes ancient buildings or relics of dark elf origin discovered within our borders. Kiarven extended beyond the river into Thiat, possibly all the way to the sea, and they are believed to want this territory back as well. King Varrun is unconcerned about this threat, however, as the dark elves have made no further moves. I suspect that they realize they will meet greater resistance now that multiple lands are on heightened alert regarding their activities. Also, while Aker still has forest, Thiat is less suited to their liking. I understand that not all dark elves have an interest in these lands anymore, and in fact, we are hoping a defeat will further sour them on the idea.”

  Eric asked put his own goblet down and asked, “These dark elves prefer the trees like all elves, I assume. How widespread are they?

  “Not very. Before the war, they were in their lands, occasionally seen elsewhere in tiny groups. They cause distrust. Since the attack, they have largely withdrawn from all such places, so the conquest of Aker has increased their territory and yet shrunk how welcome they are elsewhere. We believe many among them are not happy about this and do not support further expansion or even holding on to Aker.”

  “And you believe removing the king and his son will cause a retreat?”

  “That is our hope. If we are wrong, your quest is still done and you can return.”

  “The dark elf king is in Kiarven?”

  The king replied, “We are not sure, as his whereabouts change, but yes. He is the lesser priority. You must eliminate Prince Kammer. He is in Aker at the capitol, Rivina.”

  Dreading the answer, Anna asked, “How far is that?”

  “From here it is nearly a week by horseback, but with Soliander’s powers, you should be able to cast yourselves there.”

  Anna stifled a frown. Matt didn’t know how to do that. How were they to explain that? The idea frightened her anyway, unless he had a lot of practice. What if they showed up inside a wall? Instant death. Were there any safeguards against that? She had to admit, if Matt could master that spell, it would save them all sorts of time. Maybe it was time to practice, like casting himself ten feet away. Or did the distance not change how hard it was?

  Eric asked, “Do you have a plan in mind for how we ca
n reach and deal with the prince?”

  The king nodded and talked turned to details on city layouts and suspected locations of royal prisoners. What stood out to Anna was the guesswork. They had few solid leads on where anyone might be, and she knew her friends were thinking the same thing. So did their hosts. Princess Miara excused herself in irritation early on, and the champions tried to be polite with King Sondin and Prime Minister Othor, who finally admitted that they only had rough ideas because they had felt certain that the champions would need to devise their own plans based on the information provided. This was true and Eric more than Ryan took the lead in assuring them they were right and not to worry. But he did say they really need to gather more information first. They agreed to provide various maps or anything or anyone else who could help give ideas. After several hours of this, they were shown to a suite of rooms and told what time they would be escorted to dinner.

  Finally, they were alone together, ornate white couches and divans embroidered in elegant finery, numerous mirrors on the walls, thick curtains open to let the sunlight in onto the hardwood floors. The place reminded her of pictures of palaces in France. The sitting room had three suites adjoining them. But they would look it all over later. Right now, they all converged on Anna.

  Eric asked her, “Okay, you seem fine, but are you absolutely sure?”

  She put a hand on his shoulder. “Yes. I feel normal. Really, it’s like a miracle, what the Quest Rings can do. I’m very grateful. Jack could only tell me a little about your talks with Eriana. I really need to get caught up. And read this scroll to find a god. Then we need a plan because these people don’t have one.”

  “I know,” he admitted, turning to sit in a chair that he seemed to think was uncomfortable from the way he kept repositioning himself. “One thing Eriana told us that you need to know is about your amulet. You can use it to find a god more easily. We didn’t quite get into how. While the scroll and all of that will help, this is how she did it quickly, especially if that kind of info wasn’t available.”