Chapter 46
The darkness moved and turned. The being that was General Nawg stood in the flickering light of the chamber’s single torch. His cloak didn’t reflect the light but seemed to absorb it. Every room he entered was somehow darker because of his presence.
Lashed to a stone table lay the Weasel, trembling in fear.
Nawg moved to his victim. Leaning in, he said, “Now let us resume our negotiations.”
Chapter 47
Daniel was shoved roughly through a door and tumbled to the floor. He jumped to his feet. “Hey!” He shouted as the door slammed in his face.
Daniel surveyed the room. It was a large stone hall: High vaulted ceiling, timbers, massive fireplace. It was then that Daniel realized he wasn’t alone. At first, he thought they were statues. Standing ensconced along the walls were guards. They seemed to pay him no mind. These were not Shadow warriors but human men it seemed. Their bodies still draped in dark cloaks, and their chests emblazoned with the red symbol of Darcon, a circular crimson serpent writhing on an ebony background.
Daniel turned from the guards to study an ornate tapestry hanging on the wall of the great dining chamber.
The tapestry covered the whole south wall. It began at the far left in light, beautiful hues portraying green forests, floral fields, and a bright sun beaming down on peasant adults and children playing in communal joy.
Then, as it went to the right, it proceeded to darken in both colors and content, gradually digressing from the pastoral to scenes of war, pillage, and deep anguish.
“You find it disturbing?” Darcon’s voice echoed in the massive hall.
Daniel turned to see the dark lord approach—as usual, wearing his dark cloak, with a hood he kept raised to hide his face. A blood-red cape draped from his neck.
Daniel considered the lord’s question for only a moment. “Yes. I do find it disturbing.”
Darcon motioned at the scenes of war, “But it represents the truth of ‘civilization,’ always poised on the precipice of destruction. The weak ever needing the strong to show them the way. I find it invigorating.”
Daniel pointed at the tapestry’s anguished figures. “And how do they feel?”
Darcon said nothing in response, but Daniel chilled as he registered that under his hood, Darcon was smiling—if you could call it that.
Even though his lips curved upward, it was a dead, cold reaction. And he finally said, with a sneer in his voice, “My dear professor, without death there would be no life, progress, by its very nature, must always move forward. And you must move with it, or be crushed.”
He paused, letting that last statement sink in. Then he clapped his hands and said, “Let’s eat!”
Chapter 48
Darcon and Daniel faced each other over the long wooden dining table. Darcon continued to keep his hood on. That, and the flicker of the fire casting shadows, never allowed Daniel to really see his host’s face. It was disconcerting to try and converse with someone when you couldn’t see their eyes.
Darcon had finished his meal. He sat patiently as Daniel finished what looked like a large piece of grilled sirloin. It was all he could do not to pick up the piece and tear into it like a hungry dog. He was starving. He hadn’t had meat in over a week.
“More wine,” Darcon spoke barely over a whisper. A servant appeared instantly and filled Darcon’s goblet.
Then the servant quietly came around behind Daniel and to his left. He extended the wine decanter and started to fill his glass. Daniel didn’t realize the servant was there; he shifted in his seat and accidentally bumped the man’s elbow. The decanter sloshed, and despite the servant’s best effort, a single drop of wine fell to the table.
The servant paralyzed, watched in horror as the red wine seeped into the white tablecloth, slowly growing a burgundy-red stain. Daniel, embarrassed, looked up to apologize.
But he froze when he locked eyes with the servant’s and saw he was filled with absolute terror.
Darcon noticed the exchange.
“Really, it’s only a drop of wine; there’s plenty more where that came from. Do you require anything else, professor?”
“I’m fine.”
“That will be all, man,” Darcon said and dismissed him with a wave before turning back to his guest.
The servant breathed again. Then after one quick glance at Daniel, he rapidly departed.
“Dr. Colson, how is your research coming along?”
Daniel put his fork down. “I don’t know how to go back through the door if that is what you mean?”
“If I can assist you in any way, please let me know.”
Daniel considered the offer. “I would like to go outside for a walk or see the countryside. I must see the night sky to observe the constellations.”
“That is out of the question, Dr. Colson.” Darcon stood. “There are those who desire to do us harm. They roam the hills like vermin, attacking any of my people that are found alone. Remember that is what happened before we found you? You are fortunate we were there in time to save you.”
Uneasy, Daniel shifted in his chair.
“I hate to think what would happen to you if you were ever out of your room alone.”
The statement hung in the air. Daniel cleared his throat.
“You mean cell,” he responded.
Darcon ignored the jab. “Dr. Colson, I need to know how to open the door.”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I’ve told Mordis for the last month. I don’t know how to open it!”
Just then, an older male servant hurried in. He bent and whispered in Darcon’s ear, and the man stiffened. Darcon dismissed the servant and stood.
“I am sorry. I have an important matter that requires my attention. Please excuse me. The servants will attend to your needs.” Darcon paused. “And the guards will see you make it safely back to your room. Good night.”
Daniel stood and watched Darcon leave. At least he was out of the cell for a while and had an actual meal. Daniel reached over and grabbed another hunk of bread off the table and a piece of fruit and shoved it in his jacket pocket just as the guards stepped forward and escorted Daniel toward the exit.
He surveyed the tapestry as he walked beside it. At the darkest end, the tapestry depicted the brutal aftermath of war: dozens of people crucified, and hundreds more lying slain on a full battlefield.
And standing on a hill, overseeing the slaughter, was an unmistakable representation of Daniel’s host, Darcon.
Chapter 49
Darcon walked quickly down the passage, his cloak whipping behind him. He came to General Nawg, who stood silently at an intersection of the passages.
“General Nawg?”
“We have it, my lord. We know the location of their stronghold,” said Nawg.
A wicked smile spread across Darcon’s face.
And in a flurry of dark cloaks, they turned and continued down the passageway.
Chapter 50
The canyon floor was ablaze with torches and bonfires. The sounds of bagpipe-like instruments and fiddle-playing filled the night air with happy music. Thomas took another bite of the largest drumstick he had ever seen, then turned his attention back to the celebration.
It reminded him of the Renaissance Faire his family attended once, back in the States. Here, long tables formed a vast circle, around which a reveling congregation enjoyed a bounteous feast: steaming mounds of various meats and potatoes, and piles of fruits and vegetables.
Inside the circle of tables, men, women, and children engaged in a communal dance; it reminded Thomas of square-dancing.
“What do you think?” a deep male voice said.
Thomas turned to see Loren, who settled beside him.
“This is great!” Thomas exclaimed, watching the dance.
Deacon danced with a beautiful brunette partner. They joined hands with the rest of the merrymakers, and skipped in a joyous circle, then spun and skipped in the other direction. Then the circle broke,
and Thomas couldn’t help but laugh as he watched Deacon and his dancing partner spinning together.
“Deacon!” Thomas called, waving madly.
Hearing his name over the din, Deacon and the girl came dancing toward Thomas.
“Hello, Thomas!” Deacon called as they floated past. “Having fun?”
Thomas nodded crazily, causing Loren to laugh at the boy’s joy.
“I wish I could dance like that!” exclaimed Thomas.
“You can,” responded Loren with a smile. He then turned toward the dancers and called, “Ellie!”
Ellie wound her way through the dancers to Thomas and her father. Seeing her out of breath and glowing with joy, Thomas was struck by her beauty. He could only stammer, “No, I was just kidding.”
“Ellie, our young guest would like to dance.”
“No, no... I...”
Ignoring Thomas’s protest, Ellie took his hand and dragged him into the circle.
“I don’t dance,” Thomas said as Ellie led him. “Well, not really, I sometimes jump around to music in my room by myself. But never,” he gulped, “with a girl!”
Ellie smiled warmly at Thomas and pulled him to their starting place.
They joined hands with the rest of the dancers, as they formed another giant circle. The music started, and they all skipped to the right. Thomas was jerked awkwardly along by Ellie. As Thomas and Ellie came around to Loren, they saw Deacon and his dark-haired partner sitting that dance out. They laughed and waved to Thomas.
“Help!” Thomas mouthed, beseeching Deacon.
Deacon laughed, “You’re doing great, boy!”
The circle reversed, and the whole happy throng skipped in the other direction.
Despite himself, Thomas laughed as he was pulled along by the circle and the beautiful redhead.
Chapter 51
Miles away, a huge storm brewed. Angry thunderheads built, and lightning arced from the rolling black clouds. And out of those black clouds surged a spreading stream of shadow warriors, astride their iron-clad dragons prepared for battle.
Chapter 52
Back in the fortress valley, Deacon smiled as he watched Ellie and Thomas dance. The circle broke, and couples spun off into their own orbits, still trying to hold close as they whirled and skipped and laughed.
Even as she led Thomas through the dance, Ellie felt someone watching her. She glanced in Deacon’s direction, and sure enough, it was him. Their eyes locked for an awkward moment… then Ellie looked away despite herself.
Meanwhile, Thomas had utterly forgotten about his embarrassment. He was having a blast, dancing with a beautiful young woman! Thomas smiled at Ellie, relishing the moments until that song came to an end.
And almost immediately, Thomas felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see an eager young man looking past him at the young redhead.
“Pardon me, sir, may I cut in?”
“Sure, okay,” Thomas replied reluctantly.
Ellie turned to her young dancing partner, and with a curtsy, said, “Thank you, Thomas, for the dance. It was lovely.” And a new song started.
Before Thomas could reply, she was swept away.
Thomas watched them go, then turned and walked out of the dancing circle. Every few steps, he did a little jig.
“Thank you, Thomas,” he echoed Ellie, “the dance was lovely.” Pretty pleased with himself, Thomas was. He scanned the rejoicing crowd, and something he saw froze him in his tracks. A woman in her thirties, and her son, about Thomas’s age.
The sounds of the feast faded away. It could have been Thomas and his mother. The two looked through the crowd with delight. They were joined by a man who was obviously the boy’s father. The father scooped up the boy and threw him over his shoulder, even though the boy felt he was too old for that.
Reality flooded back over Thomas. He stood stone-faced, oblivious to the merrymaking around him. Then he moved away from the dance to one of the bonfires at the edge of the gathering.
He stood there, staring into the flames until the tears came. Then he thought: What am I doing? I came searching for my father. All this is a distraction. He reached up and angrily wiped his tear-stained cheeks and turned with determination.
“Where is Deacon? He’s got to help me.”
Chapter 53
“No!” Deacon insisted, pushing through the crowd even as Thomas dogged him.
“But—”
“I said no.” Deacon continued striding.
“You know where he is!” Thomas protested, running to catch up.
“It’s dangerous.”
“I don’t care!”
Deacon froze, then turned in exasperation.
“Did you hear me?” Deacon shouted. “I said, no!”
Thomas, shocked by Deacon’s harsh treatment, responded with an almost-whisper: “Deacon... please.”
Deacon knelt. Taking Thomas by the shoulders, he spoke softly to the boy.
“Thomas, do you know what’s going on here? We are only one step ahead of Darcon... if he...”
Deacon struggled for words, then: “People are dying. People just like Loren and Ellie. Don’t be fooled by this feast, boy. These people are clinging to hope, yes, but amid great oppression. We are determined to hold to joy, despite our mighty suffering and many losses. There is hope. But we can’t go in there now. We can’t risk it, the timing is not yet right. Thomas, do you understand?”
Thomas glared at the ground, then wrenched away in hurt and anger.
“I understand. I understand you don’t care if I ever find my dad. You don’t care if we never get home!” he spat, then turned and fled into the darkness.
“Thomas!” Deacon called after him helplessly.
Chapter 54
The full moon glowed in the night sky, illuminating a lone sentry, sitting in his brown dragon’s saddle and perched high on a cliff. He was on the far outer edge of the Home’s boundary. He felt a little sorry for himself as he remembered this was the night of the big feast.
The rider scanned the horizon then stopped and squinted at a single point in the distance. There was a darkness on the horizon. It looked like a thunderstorm brewing, but not quite. Something was not right. The darkness grew.
“Shadow warriors!”
He put his battle horn to his lips. But before he could sound the warning blast, a black arrow pierced his chest, and he tumbled over the cliff and into the chasm of darkness.
Chapter 55
“Dad, where are you? I want to go home.” Thomas moaned into the pile of hay where he lay. After he left Deacon, he had just run. Where? He had no idea. He ran till he was exhausted, and his tired legs would carry him no longer.
He had heard the familiar growl of a dragon and, following it, had made his way to this hewn-out rock stable in the dragon hold. There he had found his giant friend, Thorn.
Thorn sensed Thomas’s anguish. He extended his long neck and gently nuzzled the boy with his nose.
Thomas rolled over. “Hey, Thorn.”
Thorn rumbled in response.
“Sorry, I flunked dragonese.”
Thorn grunted.
“Thanks for the effort.”
“Thomas?” A female voice called from the darkness.
Thomas turned to see Ellie.
“I saw you leave the feast. You’re not having fun?”
“No,” Thomas hesitated. “No, it’s not that... It’s just, I miss my dad, and I want to go home. But I can’t go back without my dad. And if I can’t find him, then I’m stuck... I’m not even sure how I got here, really.”
Ellie sat beside Thomas in the hay.
“There’s a reason Deacon won’t take you.”
“Yeah, he just keeps telling me it’s dangerous. Darcon, Schmarkon! I’m not afraid of him! Why I—”
“You should be afraid!” Ellie leaned in to cut Thomas off. “Darcon’s troops killed three of my brothers, and took Deacon’s...” She paused, unsure of saying more, then forged ahead: “Deacon lo
st his wife and son. They were all killed by Darcon... Thomas, he can’t let that happen to you.”
Chapter 56
John plopped two mugs of ale down on the table in front of a melancholy Deacon, then sat in the chair beside him.“You look like you could use this.”
“Thanks,” Deacon responded half-heartedly.
“What’s with the doom and gloom, man?”
“Thomas doesn’t understand what’s going on here. He hates me for not taking him to his father.”
“So why don’t you help him understand?”
“How?”
John frowned at Deacon. “Well, for starters, you could admit your real motives for not taking him.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Deacon growled.
“Come on, brother. The riding jacket Thomas wears looks strangely like the one you gave Aiden.”
Deacon stared at John, then responded flatly: “I know Thomas is not my son.”
“But the same thing could happen to him...”
Deacon’s head dropped.
“You won’t take him to his father because you can’t bear the loss.”
All the loss, all the hurt, welled up in Deacon as the scar was reopened.
“I failed. I was not there for my family when they needed me most.” Deacon stared into his ale. “How do I deal with that?”
John knew the pain all too well.
“You’re asking me?” And with tears leaking, he reached over and pulled Deacon into an embrace, as the two macho men shared the agony of losing both their families.
OTHERLANDER: A Long Way From Home Page 9