The Three Charms

by Brian Spielbauer

  “Father!” the familiar chipper voice yanked him from his beautiful trance. A new focus gripped him as he turned to see Jedrek running toward him. The sight of his son swept away his worries as Tegan picked him up, holding him high against the background of the evening sky.

  “Have you had a great day?” Tegan loved for Jedrek to take him to the world his son lived in, one of fantastic beasts and warriors. One where good always won over evil and the larger cares of the real world never intruded.

  “Father, I have learned so much! First, my uncle showed me how to attack fat, stinky, goblins.” Jedrek squirmed loose to show his dad his new skills. “He also showed me just where to strike with the sword! Then, this afternoon, I went down to the farms and helped with the hay crop for our herds. The only bad part is that Lizzy made me bath three times.” Jedrek wrinkled his face, showing his disdain for the time he wasted bathing when he could have been playing.

  “And now it is time for you to go to bed,” Lizzy interrupted. Jedrek playfully hid behind his father, who was too tired to help or hinder the game. Lizzy smiled at Tegan, she also was tired from her day of watching Jedrek, along with her own children. She did so ever since the day Jedrek was born. Hamar, their son, was born not long after. Sydandra, a beautiful princess, soon followed.

  “Thank you for watching Jedrek all these days. Please, take the evening and spend it with your own family. I will put Jedrek to bed.” Tegan felt bad for the time Lizzy spent with his family instead of hers, more so since their daughter was born just a few months prior.

  “It is no problem and the least I could do,” Lizzy answered. She tried to reassure Tegan for the thousandth time, as she would to do anything she could for them.

  Tegan stood before Lizzy as his son ran off in play. “Please, it is not your job to be Jedrek’s mother. You have your own family to take care of. We will be fine.”

  “I will stand in for Jedrek’s mother until Milan is returned. She asked me to help with Jedrek and I will do that,” Lizzy explained sternly. It was not the first time she explained herself and probably not the last.

  “Thank you again. You do a marvelous job and Jedrek adores you. For tonight at least, I will take him,” Tegan insisted.

  “I will go then, but I will be back in the morning before he wakes. Enjoy your evening and please tell Jedrek goodnight form me,” Lizzy allowed and then left Tegan and his son. She hurried home to her family, happy for the extra time to spend with them.

  After she left, Tegan took Jedrek back to their home. He prepared his exhausted son for bed and laid him down for the evening. Jedrek was fighting the fatigue that permeated his body. “Father, can I see the light?” Jedrek asked, losing the battle to keep his eyes open. Tegan expected the question, as he received it every evening.

  “Of course,” he answered. He quickly slipped out to get his axe, which he always kept above his bed in his room. He quickly returned, carrying the axe in its leather casing. He sat next to Jedrek and uncovered it. The glow from the red diamond was dull but it did not waiver. Tegan then lay back next to Jedrek, as together they watched the diamond in silence. Both of their thoughts quickly went to Milan.

  “Your mother lives. Soon, I will go to get her,” Tegan assured, pulling him close.

  “Will you leave tomorrow father? Can I go too?” Jedrek asked hopefully.

  “No son, not tomorrow. I do not know where she is being held. But when I do, I will free her. My hope is that it is soon and that you will still be too young to go.” It was difficult for Tegan to talk with Jedrek of such things, but he couldn’t blame his son for asking the questions.

  Tegan tucked Jedrek in and then put his axe back by his bed. He sat down at his table after calling for Jaric.

  “Have we any word from Skyler?” Tegan asked the veteran soldier.

  “No, none as of yet,” Jaric answered, knowing Tegan was worried.

  Skyler was gone over a month, with no communication. Tegan ordered him to try to locate Milan. With each passing day, Tegan grew more fearful the enemy captured Skyler too.

  Telon soon entered, “Busy place this evening. Is everything all right?”

  “Right as it ever is,” Tegan chortled. Telon pulled up a seat at the table before pouring Jaric and himself a drink. “Would you like one too,” he asked of Tegan. Tegan’s look told Telon he was foolish to ask. Telon poured him one.

  “You sent Lizzy home early, I just wanted to make sure you were good,” Telon asked, taking a sip from the drink. It was Tegan’s special beer brew, of which Telon was particularly fond.

  Tegan looked to his brother, “Lizzy has her own family. She can’t spend her life taking care of mine. Let me hire another girl to take her place so she can take care of your family properly.”

  “Lizzy is fine and so are we. I have another girl, her cousin, who helps with Hamar and Sydandra in the evening. Lizzy swore to Milan she would take care of Jedrek. You could not pry her away.” Telon studied his brother. He noticed the dark areas that clung underneath his eyes, giving away his fatigue. Telon knew what it was like to bear that level exhaustion, having endured his own bout of depression. He worried for Tegan’s well-being.

  Tegan gave up on the subject, taking a deep drink. He turned his attention to Skyler, “The boys should be back by now.”

  “Skyler and his men will be back soon enough. It takes a long time to travel to the far north of Calonia. It has only been a few days longer than last time and we would have expected them to go further,” Jaric reassured Tegan.

  “Men? A bit of a stretch, don’t you think?” Tegan asked, regretting the missions he sent them on.

  “We were younger than them when we started representing the King on errands. Were we any more men than they are? They are strong warriors and the perfect group to send on these duties. Until they find Milan, we can’t go. When she is located, our entire might will fall upon that sad place and we will set her free,” Telon again comforted Tegan, who was more fidgety this evening than usual. Telon took another large drink, emptying his glass. Tegan quickly filled it, intent to empty the bottle before the evening ended.

  Telon’s concern for his brother grew, “Are you still wearing mother’s necklace?”

  “Of course. It has not left my neck since you first gave it to me.”

  Jaric grimaced at the mention of Deyanira, who he both pitied and hated. He thought her passing was good for Tegan and Telon. Of course, he would never voice that thought.

  “I am glad. It brought me much comfort through my tough times. I hope it does the same for you.” Telon replied. Jaric scoffed again as he took a drink.

  Tegan looked to the general, “Do you have something to say?”

  Jaric smiled for a second and then replied, “So you believe that ugly stone given to you by your mother, may she rest in peace, brings good luck? From what I can tell, it would be better to throw that trinket away.”

  The brothers both ignored the dwarf’s comments, knowing he hated her. The feeling was quite mutual.

  “I dare not take it off. But know this, the only thing that brings hope is the axe given me by Milan. As long as the diamond glows, I am confident we will be together again. Should it go out, I do not know if I could go on,” Tegan conceded to Telon and Jaric as he played with the empty glass before him.

  “Milan is strong brother. The evil will not touch her. Please, do not let Jedrek know of your despair. As for Skyler, I will send a party north to search for him in the morning. This time we are close, I know it in my heart. Stay strong brother, we will soon go to get her, together,” Telon compelled Tegan.

  Tegan appreciated the gesture, “Thank you Telon. Please, do send the group early in the morning. As for me, like I said, as long as the axe glows my will is strong. My son will only know my hope and never my worry.” He tried to put on a good face for Telon and Jaric, but both knew him far too well to believe his words. They needed Milan found soon.

  “I will, but promise me you will go to sleep. You are wo
rn,” Telon pleaded.

  Telon and Jaric left Tegan alone and he quickly went to lay down and rest. He pulled out his axe and looked to the light, as he did every night. While later than usual, he did fall asleep. It was a restless sleep with terrible dreams. He woke in the morning as though he never slept a moment, utterly exhausted from the start. He worried it would always be so.

  Δ

  Tegan went to breakfast the next morning, after Lizzy took Jedrek for the day. He found Gulac sitting at his table alone. He seemed to be mumbling to himself, which sadly was not unusual for the old dwarf. Since Telon freed Gulac from the Demon’s Chamber, his father’s brother had improved much. It was an unintended victory during the battle, as no one suspected he was there. Most dwarves of Tunder Bin either forgot about him, or never knew of him altogether. Moro and Deyanira never spoke to their sons of Gulac, which both brothers thought strange. Tegan enjoyed seeing Gulac around the city and was glad to know he was growing stronger. If Gulac was able to endure Herrog’s dungeon and survive, so could Milan.

  “Gulac, good to see you today,” Tegan announced as he sat on the wooden bench next to the old dwarf.

  In truth, the improvements for Gulac were mainly physical. His health improved, with his strength and endurance quickly recovering as the dwarves provided proper nourishment and living areas. Less quick to recover was his mental capabilities. Often, Gulac would enter a conversation and quickly be unable to finish his thoughts. On his worst days, the old dwarf only sat by the fire, warming himself and muttering inaudibly as if in a deep conversation.

  “Well, you did ask me here, didn’t you?” Gulac asked, quite unsure. He leaned back to study Tegan, as if looking at him for the first time. Gulac’s confused look was all too common.

  “No, I did not. But, I would not be more pleased to share my morning meal with anyone else.”

  Gulac looked around the room, as if searching for something to say. He then wandered back to Tegan. “Your wife, she is gone, or taken? Is that right?” Gulac never asked before of Milan, not to Tegan at least.

  Tegan’s attention stirred, and he replied, “That is correct. Do you know something of her? Was she spoken of, during your captivity?”

  Gulac stared at Tegan for a long moment. He then winced as the pain of the memory pierced him. His eyes teared, his voice distant and course, “I have no memory of then. Only feelings. Those are mostly of pain. I try not to think of them!”

  “Rest Gulac. You have no need to endure them again.” Tegan only wanted peace for his uncle and hated to see him struggle. The two ate their meal with little more talk. Tegan said goodbye to Gulac when their breakfast was over, before going to work for the day. Another day of work and another chance to earn enough fatigue to sleep through the night, lay ahead.

  Chapter 3: The Banished Escape

  Skyler stealthily stalked the Tolltier, the one who vandalized his camp and stole his food. Through the vast forest, fighting the bugs and vines on the endless march, he ceaselessly tracked the vicious beast. Even to the eerie rocky steps that lead to the haunted back entrance to the Demon’s Chamber, he trailed the monster, focused on taking revenge over his enemy. The humid heat from the dank forest caused a thick sweat from which there was no reprieve, which only served to make the journey all the more miserable. His skill as a tracker allowed him to follow the Tolltier’s trail, that and the rancid smell from the creature.

  From the darkness behind him, a hand covered his face unexpectedly, commanding his silence. Skyler’s fear ran wild, his attacker unknown. He fought to no avail to free himself of the hand that smothered his breath, realizing he was pinned to the ground as the vines of the forest covered him like a blanket.

  Suddenly he jolted awake, confused as he broke away from his dream. Even roused from the slumber, he quickly realized the hand over his face remained. Before him, a little finger in the early morning darkness hushed him to remain quiet. The only light in the room was from the smallest of candles, which was little more than a match.

  “Not a word and you may yet live,” came an urgent whisper from Philomena. The look in her determined eyes more than sufficient to keep him quiet.

  Skyler nodded his agreement, but his mind raced at what was to come next as a bead of sweat raced across his forehead. Philomena lowered her hushing finger but quickly replaced it with the sharpened dagger that she laid on the bed before waking him. Skyler stirred to protest, but the point on the blade to his throat reminded him of his promise, his position tenuous.

  “There are things out there looking for you, things we haven’t seen before.” The terror dripped from her voice and her shaking body. The small reflection of light from the candle danced in her glassy eyes, “The elders are talking with Rufus and Argus, they want to slay you and lay you out as an offering before the beasts. If you want to live, you need to get your friends and leave immediately. Argus is trying to stall them, so you can escape.”

  “We can take them, my men are mighty…” Skyler began to explain, trying to sit up. The increased pressure to his throat stopped him short.

  “You misunderstand me, dwarf! I do not want you to die, but you matter little compared to my family and people. We will not to be used by you in your quest, only leaving us to be slaughtered when they come back long after you are gone.”

  Skyler had given little thought to what could happen to the elves after they left but he knew she was right.

  “You will leave now, immediately, with no delay.” Her stern voice left no room for discussion.

  “We will gather our things and be gone, leaving no trace. After we get back to the cave, we will make it look as though we left from there. You have my word.”

  Philomena collapsed on Skyler, embracing him. She could not have been more relieved at his agreeance, “Thank you, I have left food and drink in your pouches. Please, leave before the elders come back for you. Argus can only hold them off for so long.”

  Her quick victory meant she needed to move to the next phase of her plan. She left the room as Skyler woke the others. He quickly gave them the orders with an insufficient explanation. Within moments, the five were grumbling but ready to depart with their unanswered questions. Philomena hurriedly re-entered. She was still grasping the tiniest of candles, which had only grown smaller with each passing minute. It now threatened to burn her skin, the flame ever so close to her tight grip. Her hushing finger already in place, denying the open-mouthed dwarves even one question. She quickly shooed them to the back door. It was a little used chute where they discarded food for the dogs once a day.

  “Before we go, please, do you know where the wizard’s hold is?” Skyler pressed, unwilling to leave without finding out all he could.

  Philomena had no interest in a debate. Irritation filled her sharp voice and she offered swiftly, “No, none of us do. We survive because we are small and because we give him no concern for us. We do not look for him, so we don’t know where he lives. This is his realm and we have merely been allowed to live here.”

  Skyler and his friends heard the sounds of the elders approaching at the front door. The entire village must have come along to defeat the dwarves. Skyler could see the worry in her eyes and the risk she took by waking them. Philomena pulled him down, kissing him on the forehead, as if he was her own child. “Go, please. Take care,” she wished and then hurried them through the chute.

  Skyler jumped down, landing hard on the frozen ground below. As the boys scurried away, they heard the confusion upstairs in Philomena’s voice, “What do you mean they aren’t there? The tricksters must have made for the lower mountain, we must get them!” She lied to buy them time, leading them away from the boys’ retreat.

  “What was all that about?” Taylor risked as they made it into the quiet cold of the forest, the crisp evening made the ground and snow crack beneath their fleeing feet. They soon made it under the trees, walking in silence on the soft needles so they could travel unchecked.

  “We put her people at risk. T
hey were going to offer us to whatever is out here stalking them. Herrog’s beasts will be out here also looking for us. They are afraid the monsters will soon discover we were at the village. It is a risk they aren’t willing to take.” Skyler explained to his friends.

  “We must be close to the fortress then, we can’t go back now!” Shalkar insisted. “As much as I am ready to go, we will only be sent back again. I want to get it over with now.”

  “The King will be disappointed to know we came back empty handed again,” Balthar added.

  Skyler ended the discussion abruptly, “We have learned all we need to. We know we are close to Milan. Even if we knew exactly where the castle was, we could do little more than we have done already. It is time to go back, not only for us but also for the good of the elves. We are going to make it look as though we were never here but had only reached the cave and returned from there. The risk of going farther with our small group is too high, especially with the Tolltier milling around looking for us.”

  “Thank goodness,” a tired and relieved Meril added. Then he quickly became agitated, “Wait! Are we going back to the cave? Do you not remember the sloth that lives there?”

  “Yes,” Skyler answered, “but this time we will make sure it is empty. Also, Herrog’s slugs will know the sloth lives there and hopefully will be slow to go there. It may be our only chance.”

  The boys trudged up the hill, which was unbelievably long and steep. Taylor and Skyler hid their tracks when necessary, just as Skyler said he would. The extra duty slowed their advance. The snowfall that seemed to never end greatly aided their task. The elves gave little more chase to the dwarves, quickly being relieved of what they considered a nuisance. Philomena hoped the boys would be safe but doubted she had seen the last of them.

  The boys were happy to reach the cave where they first hid. After thoroughly searching the cave for the sloths and finding it empty, Skyler allowed a brief rest. After a fireless cold meal, they began the long journey back to Tunder Bin. Just the idea of going home made their trek easier and their mood lighter. The rising sun also raised their hopes.