The two men spurred their horses by encouraging them to ride at full speed into the city, barely able to reach them before their horses collapsed with fatigue.
A groom who saw them enter the citadel ran to help the horses while the wizard and the old paladin ran to the top of the tower to write the information that would be transmitted to King Bérum.
When he had finished, the magician got up from his desk and placed the parchment sheet, on which the seal representing a tower could be seen, on one of the legs of a Dartohn bird, thus sending the message.
The wizard Tohn-Ma then asked his companion to follow him to Artemion's chamber to receive news about his condition.
The door was ajar and you could hear Gerioh laughing out loud, the magician and the paladin entered the great room and the smile lit the face of the first to see that the young warrior was back on his feet.
Artemion saw them and said:
- Magician! It's good to see you back in the citadel!
- "My young friend," replied the white wizard, "I can only rejoice to see that the darkness left your mind and failed to capture your thoughts.
- It is not easy to corrupt me, my Master, Gerioh has told me how it was that I arrived here-
- And that's little compared to what you should know so you are aware of what is happening- exclaimed the old paladin while arranging his cloak.
- I present you to Locklhan - said the magician - is an old paladin who was once in the service of the late King Gan-Tre, and today travels without fixed destination through our lands and beyond the known kingdoms.
- I know you're a paladin- Artemion recalled as he sat on the edge of his bed -We've seen each other before ...-
- Certainly, it was in Ponthal, in fact, and I'm happy to see you alive and healthy - replied the paladin - maybe it's not my business but ... where are your friends?
- According to Gerioh, they left for the Kingdom of North Shore ...
- North Shore you say? - inquired the magician Tohn-Ma, visibly worried about that news.
- Yes, there is a flower that grows only in the frozen kingdom of the Calomnum glaciers. They thought they would do well to bring her here for me.
- How did you know that this flower could be useful for you? - He questioned the magician.
- "Doltha found the recipe for an elixir in one of your grimoires, Master," Gerioh said, glad to be able to share his friend's find.
- Your partner is talented, he manages to master the art of healing techniques, that quality is rare in such a young paladin.-
- We must go after them and reach them before a misfortune happens- suggested Locklhan -we are the guarantors of their destiny-
- You look very impatient to see the Warriors of de Auttum again- the wizard Tohn-Ma said something pensive -I can know what the reason is? -
- It would be too long to explain, but it is essential that I talk to them.
- "Is that what you wanted to talk about in my rooms in Volnum before they interrupted us?" Asked the violet magician.
- It's been too long and winter is here; and it is imperative that I give something to your friends.
- "You are surrounded by mysteries, my friend," said the Magician, "but I am indebted to you for your valuable help in our precipitous flight from the Yellow City, so I will ask no more. We can join the Germans of Auttum in the company of Artemion, and that will be when he can ride a horse, not before.
- I can move - exclaimed the young warrior - imagine what I can do on horseback! -
- Well, so be it, "added the magician as he turned to leave the room but not before saying," We will take Gerioh with us, I can see that he is extremely impatient to meet his friends again. "
- "Thank you, Master," shouted the horseman, who hurried to the corridor in search of his things.
-You must know, before you leave, that a bird brought us a message from King Berum asking that we find the three missing wizards as soon as possible- said the Magus to the young man -It is essential that we do it since without them that close bond that unites us can collapse and our powers would be ineffective-
- You must, therefore, inform your friends as soon as you find them; This will be your new mission-
Meanwhile, the news of the arrival of the magician as well as that of the recovery of Artemión be spread throughout the citadel. Meanwhile, Gerioh was helping his friend prepare for the trip. The old paladin was waiting for them in the main courtyard of the city of Moprem with horses ready to go out.
Now they had to find the Auttum Warriors and Doltha and accompany them to the North Shore kingdom in search of Maléha's flower.
Chapter Ten
The criminal
Abominations and demons gathered around the witches who had created them, the whole citadel was boiling with the arrival of the new representative of darkness, the Black Knight they called Krinhom. Count Nerrum had discovered that an apprentice of magic who lived in the white city of Varnum knew the Sharais and the secrets they guarded jealously. For this reason the Count had summoned the commander of the dark army, to undertake the search for the so-called Ohnaha, a name that had made the fearless Artemion reveal to them after subjecting him to terrible torture and atrocious suffering.
When he returned to the Black Citadel of Shâltara the servant joined Count Nerrum who was standing on the balcony in front of the crowd of Nevrigiens next to the Black Knight, whose metal armor reflected the resplencer of the nearby torches.
As soon as he was before them, he threw the body of the wizard Sháari, who was with his hands tied, covered in blood that flowed copiously from the multiple wounds that the long days of intense walking and hardship had caused him.
The commander stood up and said hoarsely:
- My Master, here is the Shaari that you ordered me to bring to your presence.-
- Good- answered the Count -you can go back to your work, the army below needs you.-
The commander withdrew from the balcony as fast as he had come, Ohnaha could not resist or fight, it was as if a dark and dense magic immobilized him.
Count Nerrum approached with obvious disdain:
- So you're the sorcerer your artélien friend told us about! It was he who gave us your name.
- Ja ... Hum ... - the Shaari tried to speak but the words froze in his throat
- I'll forgive you for not delighting us with long speeches! In return, I will only ask you to tell me what I want to know. If you please me, it is possible that you will not become the food of the black dragons of Bar-Hiddit ...-
- Hum ...-
- Stop moaning! - exclaimed the Count, waving his right hand - tell me just why you have been pointed out. You know well that your people ceased to exist long before my army fell on the Mandrarian lands!
- You ... You ... You will not get ... No ...- The magician tried to speak as he sank into a crazy agony.
- I will not get what? Speak clearly if you want to keep your life! -
Count Nerrum made a single turn with his cane when a bluish light escaped and surrounded the Shâari. He began to levitate and stood up, his legs and arms hanging as if they were dislocated, that magic forced him to speak:
- The ... The Covenant ... The ... The kings ... Protect him ...-
- The pact? - The Count asked - What deal do you speak to me? Answer to me!
- The Covenant unites the ... Magicians ... Their power in ... They depend ...-
- Of course, without that pact they will be vulnerable and easily corruptible - said Count Nerrum - I must find it, where do they hide the parchment? -
- In Auttum ... In the West ... but the kings ... protect ...-
- Not for long, you can be sure - the Count replied
Then the Master of black magic raised his right hand and suddenly closed it with a strong blow, the Shaari's neck broke with a slight crunch. His body fell rigid on the floor as if it were a metal statuette. When the Count left the balcony next to the Black Knight, the wizard's body was beginning to freeze.
&n
bsp; Darkness
Life was in full swing in the white city of Varnum when suddenly the sky darkened, the winds began to blow wildly, it was a storm so violent that the bells of the great tower were shaking madly, this alerted the inhabitants of the city.
In a few seconds the day turned into night, then, suddenly the sun shone again reflecting its rays on the facades of the houses of the white city.
One of the great teachers Shaaris, who was meditating with a large group of disciples fell to the ground in a trance, the disciples approached him to pick him up and he cried out:
- Ohnaha! ¡No! - his eyes shone with a luminous blue, then, returning to himself he said:
- Something terrible has just happened! At the western end of our lands, in the Shaltara citadel, Master Ohnaha has just died. His light suddenly went out! -
There was great excitement among those present there. The disciples were asked to leave the great meditation hall so that the Shaaris could meet. Once reunited, the Shaaris went to the throne room. In the absence of King Hara, one of his advisors took his place
- "My friends," said Ohrana, "we have gathered in this place because something serious has happened, one of our brothers has lost his life in the black citadel, and this augurs terrible events, nothing good can happen after this event.
- The spirits that live in the distant stars they warned us of the pain and departure of our brother Ohnaha darkening the day and convirring it in the night! "
- "What should we do now, my friend?" asked one of the great Shaaris Masters.
- "We must warn King Hara because our magic will be indispensable."
- "We never use magic for our own purposes!" Another great Teacher answered
- "It's not about serving our own purposes, we all know the growing threat that comes from the badlands of the Fourth Dominion." The army that the Necromancer has managed to create and has under his command is one of the most powerful eve , we have never seen another like it and it can reduce our lands and our kingdom to ashes if we do not act immediately!
- "I'm going to go and send a bird to Dartohn Galnor, we still have King Berum's Royal Griffon in Varnum, I'll ask him to prepare it immediately to start the trip and I'll go meet with the Donnhum Magician and the kings who have accepted the call for meetings in the city of arms to personally explain the situation. "
All agreed with what was said by Ohrana, with which the meeting was terminated and all, little by little, were leaving the room. When he was alone, Ohrana hurried to write the note on a somewhat damaged scroll, after the note was finished, he placed the parchment on the leg of the bird. Then, Ohnaha went to meet the servant who was saddling the Royal Gryphon.
The man was no longer young, but he still retained the strength and instincts necessary to dominate the Griffon, whose sharp claws rested on the ground. A long journey awaited the great Master Shaari, but he knew that this Gryphon was the fastest of all kingdoms and he had to get to the city of Galhnor as soon as possibe.
The last advice
The monarchs were alert when a murmur was heard in the west, the drums of war began to sound again and foreshadowed an endless evil: the great war could begin.
A young man, wearing a white shirt over which one could see an embroidery with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Fahl and brown pants that looked like they had been made recently, ran through the great halls of Galnor Castle, his feet they almost did not touch the red marble floor and it could almost be said that more than running he flew, such was his hurry. At last he arrived at the great door of the arms room.
One of the guards posted at the entrance gave him a stop sign as he pushed open the door, the three kings and the Wizard Donnhum turned around only to see that the young man who arrived was carrying in his left hand two rolls of parchment .
- "Sir, this has just arrived, a Dartohn bird brought it for you."
- "Thanks boy," said King Berum, "you can go back to the big tower."
The sovereign took the parchments and broke the seal of the first:
- "This is the brand of the Kingdom of Nord Rivage ...
- "It was time!" exclaimed King Therese, "only his answer was missing."
- For what is written here, Queen Oretalha is not going to join us in the great war. She has a thousand ships and more than ten thousand spears ...
- That would have been a great help in the battle against the Necromancer's army!
- Even if we count the eight thousand spears of the Kingdom of the Sacred Mountain of Mérhidios and the two thousand ships and a thousand horses of the Kingdom of Shol-Garaa, the support of the Piritéen States and their domination of the magic of the yellow sand is indispensable to face to the armies of the Necromancer!
- "Damn it!" exclaimed the rebellious King Hara in a moment of frustration "forgive me my language, but if we can not count on our allies I do not know what we can do or what our destiny will be." What does the second scroll say? He asked curious "I see that it has the seal of my city ..."
The monarch Bérum broke the seal and began to read, his eyes widened in surprise and his hands tensed on the parchment on which was written the terrible announcement
- "The great master Shâari Ohrana tells us that he will join us in Galnor ..."
- "It's a good thing," King Hara added. "His advice is always auspicious and of great wisdom, especially in these moments of darkness.
- "That's not all, a Shari named Ohnaha was taken prisoner by Count Nerrum and he perished under torture! Ohnaha was one of the pillars of the Auttum Covenant, he helped us write it and create the link between the Magi ..."
Wizard Donnhum took a step back from the impression that this terrible announcement caused him. I look at the floor and then look up at the ceiling of the weapons room. That a Shaaris who was one of the creators of the Auttum pact would have died in the citadel of Shaltara could only mean one thing, the Necromancer was going to send his troops to Auttum to break the pact and thereby weaken the Magic Kings.
King Hara broke the silence and said:
- "Let's not waste another minute and send troops to defend Auttum!"
- "I agree," said monarch Galnor "A hundred of our magicians and paladins will go to Auttum accompanied by a legion of warriors, we will be in charge of defending that town while the help of the Kingdom of Piritéen comes to us ..."
- "Do you want to send so many men to defend a small village?" asked King Théris "it is to the West that one must command troops to go and not to the East! It is madness!"
- "You say it's crazy," protested Wizard Donnhum « If the Necromancer manages to destroy our Covenant, none of us will have lands or kingdoms to defend! »
- « It is necessary to send troops to the countryside to counteract the threat that comes from the West. »
- "So be it," sovereign Hara agreed, "I am going to send a bird from Dartohn to Moprem, let us trust the North and the arrival of the troops of Regent Harnam and Magician Tohn-Ma. »
- « The enemy knows the power and strategic location of Galhor. The risk that the North or the South run through the Ocean of Eternity is much greater. »
- « Well » said King Berum «Things are finally moving. I'm going to gather the soldiers out of the citadel and prepare the rest of the men to be ready for the attack, which will take place in less than a moon. We must all be ready! »
The monarch and his first counselor left the room, the other kings and the magician also left, a new task was waiting for them.
Chapter Eleven
The North
The port of Sanma was one of the most precious jewels of the Kingdom of Merhidios, huge boats of different sizes and styles were grouped in the docks of the port to disembark their goods that come from all over the world, this city being the only point where they could get tickets to travel to the Kingdom of the North Shore, in the Calomnum Glaciers.
Kenthaë and Carhâa, accompanied by Doltha, had to travel to that distant place to find the flower of Maléha, a plant that could cure his friend A
rtemion and get him out of his strange dream.
The three young people still did not know that Artemion had already regained consciousness as well as his forces, totally unexpectedly
The three arrived at the port, the houses made of wood and earth reflected the last light of day, the merchants emptied their half-filled stalls and the bells sounded with the announcement of the fall of the night. Carhaa asked that they rest that night to recover strength and leave behind the strange events that she had experienced in this difficult journey
Therefore, the young people looked for an inn near the docks, a favorable place in case of having to leave hastily. Doltha was the first to speak when, sitting at the table, they were ready for dinner
- "Although I am repeating again and again in my mind all the events experienced in our previous stop, I can not understand how the Nevrigiens found us.
- "I do not think it was a simple coincidence"Kenthaë suggested "especially because the troops of the Necromancer come from the North, so it would be much easier to cross the lands Mandrares and destroy first Galnor, which is the strategic point for the artéliens ... "
- "In fact," Carhaa said, sitting down at the table, "I'm sure someone informed them about our presence."
- "Did you notice the behavior of the innkeeper?" said the Lancero " his wife never went to feed the dogs as he said, I think they set a trap, our coat of arms betrayed us. Is it possible that they are offering a reward for information about us? Who knows?"
- "Certainly, but nevrigiens are not in the habit of leaving alive those who are on their way!"
- "It is possible," replied Kenthaë, "it is also possible that the orders came from Count Nerrum or from someone else, so they could have adopted another strategy and they are using the Artéliens against us."
- "What should we do?" Doltha asked timidly, holding her hammer in her hands.
- "For the moment we are going to rest here, it is a great city, we can easily go unnoticed hiding our blazons, we remove the saddles and bags from our horses, we will leave at dawn, the trip to the sea is longer."
The Chronicles of Hissfon Volume 2 - The Black Knight Page 4