The Keeper of Tales

by Jonathon Mast

  Korah stood. “I’ll do my part. To rescue the world.”

  Jayan shook his head. “No. I’ve lost you once already. I’m not losing you again. You already got to be a hero. We will send another.”

  Yolian held up a hand. “That may not be possible.” He looked around the room. “The stories are wild now, but the world still operates under certain rules. Down is still down. And if this story began with certain people coming together, it needs to end that way if we want to end this story.” He looked at me. “I wasn’t here at the start of the story, but I became one of your elves. It would be an honor to end this story with you.”

  Korah grinned. “So, it’s settled then. I’m going.”

  Galatea stood next to him. “Not without me. But we’re getting married first.”

  Korah turned his grin to her. “That’s the plan.”

  Lazul guffawed. “I already gave a leg. Why not my life? Never let it be said that the Chief of the Jaed backed away from his duties!”

  Abani nodded. “I dedicated my life to fighting darkness long ago. That darkness may no longer be Garethen, but I will still fight until the end.”

  Daragen hopped up. “Obviously, I’m there.”

  Kae’A bowed his head. “And we will bear you where you must go.”

  Badron took my hand. “Where you lead, I will go. Where you go, I will be.”

  Karen Cordolis put her hands on her hips. “You are all a bunch of fools! Go fight, but why not win and come back alive?”

  Lazul nodded at her. “We’ll do our best.”

  Gayala whispered in my ear, “I like her.”

  “You would,” I answered.

  Chapter Eighty-Five

  Spiremen weddings are loud.

  Jayan kept shaking his head. “His mother is going to kill me. We should be doing this in the Spires with all of his family.”

  I clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sure they won’t fight getting married again up there.” The truth was, if they were to be married before we enacted our plan, if we were all going to attend and celebrate with them, it had to be tonight. We had spent what remained of the previous day helping the army get settled, finding everyone a place to stay among my people. Then, of course there was the task of gathering supplies for the next step of our journey. I think we all slept well last night. Tomorrow, we all went our separate ways.

  But today, today was a day for celebration!

  And so, the Spiremen who were with us took over our greatest hall and decorated it as best they could in the Spireman style.

  Karen Cordolis kept asking Galatea, “Are you sure? You should be bending him to your will already, you know. You let him have the wedding his way, he’ll expect the marriage to go his way, too!”

  Galatea laughed. “I was married in Garrenda already. I wouldn’t mind doing something different!”

  Gayala took her away to find a dress for her. Karen Cordolis went with them. They probably laughed a lot. It’s probably good I wasn’t with them.

  I stood with Daragen, surveying the work the Spiremen had done on my hall. Korah arranged some of the furs.

  “Now, you treat her right!” Daragen ordered.

  Korah grinned. “I’ll treat her better than you did.”

  “Hey, that’s not fair. I did exactly what I was supposed to.”

  “And you think I won’t?” Korah said. “I’m a Spireman. I’ll treat her with honor.” He paused. “I just hope that’s enough.”

  Daragen tilted his head.

  Korah shrugged. “She was married before. I know she loved him, and he was, you know, enough for her. I hope I’m enough for her.”

  And Daragen laughed. “Oh, Korah! She chose you, right?”

  “Yes!”

  “Then you’re enough for her. She’s a Garendai woman. You’ve won her heart. And as a people, we’re like water. Give her a port to call home, and she’ll be happy with you.” He clapped Korah on the back. “There’s just one thing you’ll need to watch out for.” He winked.

  Korah’s eyebrows drew together in a question.

  “You said you’d treat her with honor, but she’s a Garendai woman. She’ll need more than honor.”

  Korah blinked.

  “She’ll need some fun, too.”

  Korah looked uneasy.

  Daragen rolled his eyes. “Clearly you need some instruction. Come with me.” The two walked away, Daragen outlining some Garendai wedding night tricks. It was probably good I didn’t stay to listen.

  As the sun set, a crowd gathered outside the great hall. Galatea stood in our midst. She wore a dress as white as the snow that flew around the Spires. She cradled a bundle of stalks of grain. She smiled like no one I had seen in many, many years.

  Jayan stood before the closed doors. “Long ago, Aerda stood alone. He built a great hall, but it was empty. He placed the furs of those he had hunted around it, but it was still empty. He filled it with as much mirth as he could muster, but it was still empty.”

  Two of Jayan’s Spiremen swung open the doors. Inside, furs donated by the Spiremen and many others lined the floor and walls. Torches lit the space with warm flickering light. And in the middle of the hall stood Korah, a harpoon in his hand, his white fur cloak around his shoulders. He looked far more confident than he had this afternoon.

  Jayan continued, his voice bursting with pride. “Aerda wished to fill his hall, but no matter what he placed inside, it was empty. So, he strode from the hall in search of something that would fill it with laughter and song. And as he strode the land, he found a creature like him, but not like him. This being had no beard, but had the same flaxen hair. This being was shorter than he was, but no less strong. She was Draena, the first woman, born of frost and fire.”

  Korah paced from the center of the hall to the doors and out into our midst, until he faced Galatea.

  Jayan said, “And when he found her, he could not speak for three days and three nights. Her beauty captured him, and his ferocity captured her. Finally, he made her a promise.”

  And Korah took Galatea’s hand and spoke in a loud, clear voice, “Come to my hall. Fill it with laughter, and I will give you the stars. Fill it with warmth, and I will give you the moon. Fill it, and I will be empty no longer.”

  Jayan’s smile seemed to be bigger than his face. “And Draena answered him.”

  Galatea was crying, but her smile rivaled Jayan’s. “I do not need the stars nor the moon. Give me your heart, and I will fill your hall with love.”

  At least, I think that’s what she said. It was hard to understand through her tears. That’s how the traditional Spireman wedding vows went, though.

  And then somehow her smile grew broader. “But first, you will have to catch me!”

  Galatea spun and dashed into the crowd. It swallowed her up. The Spiremen cheered. Those who had never been to such a wedding were confused, but I just grinned. Korah bounced on the balls of his feet, waiting, waiting.

  Jayan didn’t say anything.

  Korah shot him a distressed look.

  “Oh, am I supposed to say something here?” The Spireman king laughed. “So Draena ran through the fields and mountains and valleys. And.” Jayan paused.

  Korah almost fell over himself as he started running and stopped all at once.

  “And!” Jayan roared.

  Korah gave an exasperated look.

  “And Aerda gave chase!”

  Korah shot into the crowd searching for Galatea. Spiremen who knew the game refused to get out of his way. They started tapping the butts of their harpoons on the ground, creating a staccato rhythm. Laughter filled the courtyard. The crowd encouraged Korah and Galatea to keep running, keep running! Galatea dashed into view for a moment and was gone again. Soon Korah passed by as well.

  Gayala held my arm. She leaned over and kissed my cheek.

  The crowd cheered them on.

  “Hurry up, Korah! She’s going to get away!”

  “Galatea, come on! This way!”
/>   “If you can’t catch her now, how will you keep up with her once you’re married?”

  The tempo of the tapping increased. Faster. Faster. Galatea slipped out of the crowd again and dashed into the hall. Jayan roared with mirth. Korah shoved his way out of the crowd, heaving for breath, sweat on his forehead. Inside the hall, Galatea spun and grinned at him.

  Jayan stepped between them. “Galatea, do you choose Korah? Will you make sure his hall is never empty?”

  “Yes!” she shouted between breaths.

  “Korah! Do you choose Galatea? Do you give her your heart?”

  “Yes!” he shouted.

  “Then get into the hall, would you?” Jayan shouted.

  Korah ran past his father, past all of us. He fell into Galatea’s embrace. The Spiremen shut the doors to the hall. They would have the night, this one night, together.

  Perhaps it would be their last.

  Chapter Eighty-Six

  Those of us outside the hall cheered as the doors swung shut. The tapping of harpoons on the ground ceased. Flutes and deep horns appeared, and music began. Whatever noise they made inside the hall, we’d be making more outside as we all enjoyed the night. Men and women of the nations danced to our music.

  Dwarves drew near to the music makers to argue about how to make the music better. Some of them had brought drums, and soon a thrumming beat accompanied our music.

  Elves were also drawn to the music. Soon they added their voices to the melodies.

  I had never heard the races join together like that. It was stunning. It was as if all music I heard before had been incomplete. And now finally, on the eve of the last actions that would determine their fate, the races had finally come together to make one last night of song.

  Gayala hugged my arm. “I recognize that look.”

  “What look?”

  “Go do what you have to do. But you had better find me before the music ends.”

  I shook my head. “How did I ever find a woman like you?”

  “You didn’t. I found you.” She kissed me on the tip of my nose again before allowing herself to be swallowed by the crowd.

  I looked around. Old, old friends danced with new. Men of nations drank our beer together, arguing, laughing, singing. Counselors who had advised me for so long gathered under the flickering flames with their children and grandchildren. Elves and dwarves examined the construction of our buildings.

  It was like Chariis, the way it should have been. Full of people enjoying stories and making new ones at the same time.

  And then Daragen was beside me. He handed me a tankard. “Thank you,” I said.

  He nodded.

  “And thank you for giving Korah permission.”

  Daragen looked up at me and smiled. “Well, the boy needed it. At least one of us should get a happy ending. Also, he needed some tips. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a green man when it came to such matters.”

  I laughed. “Spiremen may be a bit more, well, restrained when it comes to such things. Compared to sailors.”

  “Hey now, we sailors are a moral lot!”

  “Except when it comes to women.”

  “Well, I don’t exactly consider that a failing.” Daragen drank deeply. “Then again, some of us have been faithful. Not every sailor is the same.”

  “Are you ready to go back to Habrin?”

  “Yes. Oh, yes. Even after all that’s happened, I still want to save her. And all of them. That’s still my home. The one I’ll return to if it’s still there. If I’m still here after our plan.”

  We stood for a while, surveying the party.

  Daragen took another drink. “What I said before is real, by the way. I don’t think I’ve ever known an old man like you before, but I’d follow you again. I’d follow you all the way to the Floodgates now, if you asked.”

  “Thank you.” My voice was thick.

  “It’s a good thing you’ve got the best sailor in your little group, though, to help prepare for the Deluge.”

  “Everyone has value in our group.”

  He winked. We stood there silently for a few moments, drinking our ale and watching the festivities swirl around us. “Well, I suppose I’m free again. Free to find someone and dance tonight. I was faithful all those years, but she’s flowed past me now.”

  “She’s married?”

  “She’s married.”

  I pointed. “Do you see that woman there? She’s wearing that red blouse. When I left, she was very single. She could dance like no one else, though. If someone with a sailor’s agility danced with her, she might be impressed. Her name’s Amannah.”

  Daragen grinned. “Well. Maybe it’s time for Amannah to be impressed, then.”

  I laughed. “It might be.”

  “Thank you. Make sure you have a good night, too, all right?”

  “I plan on it.” I paused for a moment. “Daragen? Make sure you don’t leave someone else lonely, all right?”

  “I’ll play nice with your citizens, King.” He winked and waded into the crowd. Soon enough he was dancing.

  I wandered the throng. I embraced many of my people. I found Davin, a baker from whom I had purchased bread so many times. There was Charisse, who had hemmed many of Gayala’s dresses. Porvata, who had healed so many of our horses of injuries, laughing with a contingent of Cassuni archers.

  And then Abani marched past me, scowling. I followed in her wake, calling out after her. She spun, fire in her eyes. “Must every man think I am available?”

  “I’m sorry. I think it’s the way of things. Many people think they will die soon. They want the comfort of arms to hold.”

  She spat. “I have no need of another husband.”

  “I know, Abani.” I refrained from asking forgiveness for my men. Instead I simply waited. Abani held herself to a strict code, but she didn’t lack understanding for those outside her code.

  I stepped close. “Thank you for coming with me into Ban Maraseth. You protected me. You watched me when I bore Garethen’s ashes. I don’t know if I ever thanked you.”

  “I was only doing what was necessary.”

  “You honored me. Thank you.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “A king does not thank his servant.”

  “But he does thank his friend.”

  She sighed. “Very well.”

  We stood silent for a moment. I finally asked, “Are there too many people here for you?”

  “I am more accustomed to quiet places.”

  “Would you like to camp tonight in the fields outside the walls?”

  She had a faraway look on her face. “Yes. I think so.”

  “Go. We will gather at dawn as we agreed.”

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  “You are very welcome.”

  And with that, she vanished into the darkness. It would be the first night she had spent without others in what felt like a long, long time. She needed that space.

  “You humans. You always do everything halfway.” Lazul hobbled up next to me. “Your music has only half the drums you need. You have half the stone you need in your city. And when someone mourns, they only do it halfway, so they never finish.” He shook his head.

  “And you dwarves never know when to stop!” I answered.

  Lazul laughed. “Well, perhaps if you brewed beer that was thicker than water, you’d be able to keep up with us!” He shoved a tankard at me.

  I punched him in the shoulder as I accepted the gift.

  “Another thing you only do halfway! If a dwarf punched me, I would fall over! Well, no, that’s not entirely correct. I can stand up to any dwarf, even on only one foot!”

  I punched him again.

  “I think Galatea is getting to you!”

  “Well, even an old man can learn from the young people around him.”

  Lazul nodded. “A wise thing for a king to say.” He tipped his mug to his mouth and took it in a single swallow. “Adal, I wanted to thank you. For bringing back Karen Cordo
lis. I know it was dangerous.”

  “She is dear to me, too, Lazul.”

  “I know. But it was a risk, wasn’t it? You weren’t just fighting off a story. You weren’t just saving our lives. You saved hers, too.”

  “It was a risk, yes.”

  “Thank you. Tor was right when he named you Keeper of Tales. He chose someone who loved them. Who knew how to tell them. And how to keep them, I think. Yes, Adal, I know, I know. You wanted to burn them all, too. And I don’t blame you. Every relationship reaches that point, doesn’t it? I know there was more than one time I wanted to fling my wife into an abyss. But we always calmed down and loved each other again.” He huffed a short laugh, a sidewise smile on his face.

  I joined his laugh. “Gayala and I have those moments.”

  “So why would it be any different with anything else you love?” He looked into his empty mug. “But I wanted to say thank you. Before we leave tomorrow.”

  “Will you be able to travel? With your leg?”

  He glared at me. “Never patronize a dwarf.”

  I held up my hands. “All right! No patronizing. You’ll do it all, and twice as well as any man.”

  “And four times as well as any elf!” He grinned. “But I need to drink twice the amount of your beer to get what I want out of it. So, excuse me, I’ll go get more.” And with that he hobbled off.

  “Is that everyone?”

  “Nearly.” I turned to see Yolian.

  “You know what this is, don’t you?”

  “The last night before the great sacrifice. Everyone says goodbye to everyone else. All the plot threads wrap up, except for the final battle.” Yolian sighed. “It doesn’t look good for anyone coming out of this alive.”

  “Except.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Except the prince didn’t die. Korah’s sacrifice was canceled. And Karen Cordolis is back as well.” I shook my head. “The rules are breaking. The stories are wild now. Who knows what new story we create tomorrow?”

  “But in every story, there is a sacrifice. And the greater the victory, the greater the sacrifice. These are the rules all stories play by.”