The Curse of Credesar, Part 1

by Robert E. Keller

  ***

  Over the next few days, dark clouds rolled in across the plains, bringing rain showers, wind, and fog. Kelden hated the fog, for it offered concealment to his would-be assassin. The heavy mist closed like walls around them, until they could hardly see more than a few yards in any direction. The tall figures of the Galds slipped in and out of the mist, always watching for danger, always hunting--offering Kelden at least a little peace of mind. But nevertheless his back always felt exposed, and his chest ached at the thought of cold metal piercing his flesh. It seemed like he was being driven mad with torment thinking about it.

  But Kelden's worst fear was that he was losing his very soul to the monsters inside him. His nightmares had become so disturbing that Dameon made him take a concoction made from mushrooms and roots each night that would keep him silent in his sleep. Yet Kelden felt strangled by the potion and often thought he was dying or that Dameon was choking him in his sleep. It left his throat sore and his voice hoarse during the day. He strongly questioned the vision he'd experienced when attached to the fire cable in the Gald village. It wasn't too late to go to Frindagan and save himself as the seers had intended. Fear of Dameon's wrath had kept him quiet about it for a while, but he'd reached the point where he no longer cared.

  "I'm thinking I'm going to Frindagan," Kelden told Dameon, as they trudged along the muddy, fog-shrouded road. He waited for the explosion of anger that was sure to result, his hands poised to protect his neck. A steady rain was falling, and they were all soaked to the skin and sullen.

  "Understandable," said Dameon, in a calm tone. "But ill-advised. You cannot ignore your vision, Kelden. At the time, it was powerful and you knew what you had to do. Don't be fooled now by your own fears. You know the truth."

  "I don't know anything," said Kelden. "I was somehow hooked to a machine and shown something that could have all been a dream of my own making--or a trick. The Galds are capable of anything. If we don't go to Frindagan, and the seers were right, then Credesar will destroy me. I'll be dead and the land could be in peril from that demon. We don't know that Credesar is actually honorable. He may be up to his own tricks. How can I ignore these dangers?"

  Dameon sighed. "You cannot--and should not--ignore them. But the seers have been wrong about many things. I should know, for I was one of them once. I would trust your vision over the seers' judgment. That great metal hulk was alive, Kelden. You must have been able to sense it. It's a magnificent being, wise and ancient beyond even the eldest seer. I find it hard to believe such a being would ever lead us astray. It instructed you because it sensed the power within you. You were the one it had been waiting centuries for. How can you ignore that?"

  Kelden threw up his hands in frustration. "I can't ignore either scenario. That's my problem, Dameon. If I make the wrong choice, it will be a disaster. Right now I'm thinking we can go to Frindagan first, and then to the lonely tower."

  "Impossible," said Dameon. "By then the mind soothe could be destroyed or bent to some evil purpose by Jarvin. You must trust your vision, Kelden. I know in my heart it was the truth. Deep inside, you know it as well."

  Kelden considered this, but shook his head. "I really don't know, Dameon. But I'm fairly sure I must get to Frindagan. I can't live like this. It's driving me insane."

  "I agree," said Theodus. "My master bears too great a burden, Dameon. And the Blue World sorcerer continues to hunt him. If Credesar isn't separated from him, he'll surely perish. And I do not intend to let that happen!"

  "We should at least speak to the seers," said Kelden. "As much as you hate them, they might have the answers we seek."

  "They have no answers, Kelden," said Dameon. "They want whatever serves them best. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool."

  "I've made up my mind," said Kelden. "We're going to Frindagan first. You're too willing to believe anything, Dameon. You see only what you want to see."

  "I face up to the truth," said Dameon, his voice taking on a cold tone. "I do not hide from it, no matter how strange, unpleasant, or unlikely it seems."

  "Enough," said Kelden. "I don't want to hear another word about that vision. I can't believe I ever even considered changing course over this. I feel like a fool--but now it's done with. I'm heading for Frindagan first."

  For an instant Dameon's face darkened, and Kelden shrank back, certain the former seer was about to seize his neck with his huge hands. But then Dameon's expression relaxed. "I have another idea, Kelden. Tower Road will take us to the underground city of Murakan. I know a former Thelaran keeper who lives there. She turned her back on the order, but refused to take her life in spite of keeper law and now profits from her knowledge. She has become an oracle, and for a fee, she will reveal that which is yet to come. She is seldom wrong in her predictions. Her name is Ellistar. Have you heard of her, Kelden? And if so, would you trust her?"

  Kelden had indeed heard of her. As far as trusting her, he wasn't sure. "We don't have any money. The seers didn't give me so much as a coin. They didn't want me to visit any towns--and probably for a good reason, if you know what I mean."

  "She'll help us for free," said Dameon. "For my sake. I was once a good friend of hers, long ago, when we were both at Valganleer. Actually, we were lovers at one time. She still harbors feelings for me. I'm sure of it!"

  "Like you were sure the Galds wouldn't harm us?" said Thayan, daring to mock the former seer yet again.

  "No, more sure than that!" Dameon growled. "I know her well. And there's no risk involved in speaking with her. What do you say, Kelden? We may be able to steal some money and buy Altan bulls to ride. Or maybe we could steal the bulls themselves. Remember--we need those bulls once we get deep into the Tembros plains."

  "That's true about the bulls," said Kelden, sighing. "We do need them." Usually only seers or very rich men rode Altan bulls. They would have to steal a lot of money to buy even one. It would be less risky to sell one or two of his precious items, and Kelden was none too fond of stealing, even for a worthy cause.

  "Many rich folks live in Murakan," said Dameon. "With our skills, we could steal all the money we care to. We could each have our own bull. Imagine how fast we would travel on the backs of Altan bulls!"

  "Let's do it!" Thayan said excitedly. "I'd love to steal. We'll rob that city blind. I can't wait to put my new sorcery to use."

  "I, for one, won't steal anything," said Theodus. The Dar fiend shook his head in dismay. "And I shudder to think I might be in the company of thieves."

  "So what do you say?" Dameon asked Kelden, ignoring the Dar fiend. "If you want to get to Frindagan, we have to go that route regardless. I say let's visit Murakan and then decide from there. At least we can get the Altan bulls."

  "Not unless we work and pay for them," said Theodus.

  Dameon shot Theodus an annoyed glance. "We're on a very important mission, Dar fiend. Your master's life may depend on how swiftly we travel. If we must steal for the greater good, so be it."

  Theodus didn't answer but gazed at the ground, looking conflicted.

  "I'll probably just sell something," said Kelden. "I don't like this whole stealing business you've come up with, Dameon. I'm not sure I should go near any towns, though. What if something terrible happens?"

  "Credesar could have destroyed the entire Gald village," said Dameon. "Instead, he chose to help us. He's clearly not the killer of legend."

  "And don't forget," added Theodus, "that we spoke with the Blue World sorcerer. He told us that Credesar had betrayed Jarvin and had come here seeking Jarvin's destruction. That's why the sorcerer is trying to kill you, and if he succeeds, Credesar will be destroyed and will no longer be a threat to Jarvin. Otherwise, why is the assassin bothering to try to kill you?"

  Thayan laughed mockingly. "Not confusing at all, right? Do we really understand a thing that's going on here?"

  "Maybe he's trying to kill me," said Kelden, "so Credesar will be freed from me to go serve Jarvin like he used to. That's what the seers believ
e--that my death could free the demon and he will then become Jarvin's link again."

  Dameon shook his head. "I now tend to believe your death wouldn't free Credesar, but would destroy his physical form--his fiend body--thus leaving him as a relatively harmless wild demon once again. He's bonded with you so strongly that he shares your body, and there has to be dire consequences to such a sudden separation of two beings. That's the way life works. For whatever reason, the seers got this completely wrong. I'm certain of it."

  "Never mind--we'll visit the city," said Kelden, wanting to sink into the earth like the coward he believed himself to be. "I can't take any more of this. I need to do something soon, or I'm going to lose my mind. But what about our nine warriors? I doubt the people of Murakan would take kindly to a group of Galds."

  "They certainly would not," Dameon agreed. "The Galds will have to find a suitable place to camp outside the city. Murakan is defended by Gelshad fighters, who would kill any Gald on sight. Moreover, we would draw great suspicion to ourselves if we were even seen in the company of the savages." Dameon smiled and patted Kelden on the shoulder. "You won't regret this decision."

  Kelden looked away, unconvinced.

  Later that same afternoon, as they sat down for dinner amidst some boulders, Dameon announced they would camp there for the night.

  "But we have no tent," said Thayan. "And the rain isn't letting up. We'll be miserable without at least tree branches overhead to offer shelter."

  "I'll persuade the Galds to build us a shelter," said Dameon. "They'll gather wood and bark quickly from whatever trees they can find and make a fine hut for us to sleep in, and not a raindrop will touch us."

  "What about a bit of training?" said Thayan. "I'm up for it."

  "Tonight we rest," said Dameon. "My legs hurt." He cleared his throat. "I've got strange spots on them that itch and ache. I think I picked up a disease, when I stepped in a mud hole during our journey. I knew something was wrong, because the reddish muck burned my skin."

  Thayan looked away to hide the troubled look on his face. "Don't go dying on me, Dameon. At least not until you've taught me everything you know."

  "I have no plans to die," said Dameon. "Not with so much at stake. Right now I'm just experiencing some pain and discomfort. We'll continue the training tomorrow." He groaned and rubbed his thigh.

  "Sure," said Thayan, gazing at Dameon's legs. "Get some sleep. If you lose your legs, I'm not carrying you. You're too fat."

  "Get some sleep yourself, boy," Dameon said gruffly. "Don't be concerned about it. I've faced a lot of hazards in my lifetime, and I'm still walking tall." But Dameon's face was darkened with a shadow of worry.