by James Dale
“Tell me about the Highswords,” Braedan asked one evening.
“The Highswords? Where are you from kinsman that you have never heard of Yhswyndyr, Dragonslayer and the rest?” Alnordel asked curiously.
“I don’t think you will find Maine on any of your maps,” Jack replied hesitantly.
“Far away indeed, if you know nothing of the Highswords of Yh’Adan,” Alnordel remarked.
“So…” Jack prompted.
“The Highswords were…given to the kings of the Whesguard by Yh’Adan during the Second War of the Stones,” Alnordel began.
“I’ve been meaning to ask about the dark King and his Bloodstone…and the Second War of the Stones,” Jack said. “If there was a Second War of the Stones, when was the first?”
“Surely you jest, kinsman?” Alnordel scoffed. “You know nothing of this?”
“For argument’s sake, pretend I grew up in a place that was so far away from here, no one has ever heard any of this stuff,” Jack replied. “Start from the beginning,”
“From the beginning?” Alnordel sighed. “That is a daunting task. But it is obvious history is a subject not taught in your Maine. From the beginning you say? Very well. Before time was measured, before time itself, was Yh. It was Yh, the Spirit of Truth, who called the heavens and the earthe into existence with a Word. Under Yh was His Holy Son Yh ‘Adan, and under Him were the Hosts of Heaven. First among them was the Archangel Yh'gar. Yh’gar commanded the Host, angels of great beauty and power. Mikael was his Chief Captain and Hae’adan his Prince Lieutenant. Some angels dwelled in Heaven ministering unto Yh, while others dwelled on the earthe, which was newly made. Now the Lord Yh was pleased with the earthe and all its immeasurable forests, plains, mountains, oceans and deserts. But He was not content, for His creation was without life.
So the Creator opened His mouth and at His Word the skies were filled with all manner of birds, great and small, and the seas, rivers, and lakes were filled with fish of all shapes and sizes. In the fields, forests and plains, every manner of beast roamed free and without fear. But still His creation was not complete. So, the Lord Yh made for the earthe masters, beings who would rejoice in its beauty and would nurture the life He had given the land.
So, the Lord created the Ailfar, the First Children, people of the forests who loved the trees and the wood. With Yh’Adan His son, He created Man, the tillers of the soil and sailors of the seas. Yh'gar, grew jealous seeing Ailfar and Man, and sought to please the Lord and bring praise upon Himself, so alone and unaided he created the Hiru, delvers in the mountains, and lovers of iron and stone.
Seeing this, Yh was angered with Yh'gar, for it was not his place to create life with his own hands. His creation, the Hiru, were flawed as Yh’gar was not true in Spirit and he made them in jealously, and Yh knew after a time there they would grow to have little love for the Ailfar or for Men. But Yh’Adan cooled His Father's wrath and the Creator took the Hiru into His bosom as His own children, reasoning His love would cover their imperfections.
Now to honor Yh’Adan and Yh'gar and to show their greatness before the inhabitants of the earthe, the Yh fashioned jewels of unsurpassed beauty from the fabric of Creation for them to wear upon their brows. For Yh’Adan, He made a stone of the purest white that burned with a brilliance to shame the stars of Heaven. Sunheart it was called. For Yh'gar, He formed a stone of the deepest crimson that burned with a light to rival the fires that raged in the center of the earthe. Bloodstone it was named. But Yh'gar imagined in his heart the stone of Yh’Adan was the greater, and secretly His jealousy grew and His thoughts toward the Holy Son grew darker still. But hatred was not yet in Him.
Now on earthe, the Ailfar, Men and Hiru lived happily with each other, mastering their own domains and being taught by the angels the workings of stone, wood, clay and metal. Yh’Adan and Yh'gar walked upon the earthe, and the people marveled at their majesty, singing praises to Yh, and He loved them all the more. Long did Yh'gar tarry upon the earthe, even after Yh’Adan had returned unto His Father in Heaven. Yh'gar walked among the inhabitants of the land but greatly did he favor the Hiru and they grew strong and did prospered. For He was deep in wisdom and lore and taught them many mysteries concerning the metals and stones hidden deep within the bowels of the earthe. Many angels did He also cause to look upon himself alone for strength and guidance and they, along with the many of Yh's children, began to openly worship Yh'gar.
Now the Lord Yh at last saw Yh'gar's vanity and pride, and the Creator was no longer constrained by His love. Yh'gar's pettiness was displeasing to the Lord and He was wrathful and sought to chastise, but Yh'gar fled from the Lord, taking refuge in the center of the earthe where its flames kindled His hatred. Apart from the Glory of the Lord, Yh'gar's heart grew darker, and his pride swelled, and he began to think himself greater than the Creator. He plotted to overthrow Him and rule the Heavens.
But Yh’Adan, being perfect and without pride or jealousy, beseeched the Lord to let Him go to the Archangel and call him to repentance. This the Most High granted, and Yh’Adan left straight way for the earthe, but the heavens were now divided and troubled.
Yh'gar, who now seethed with hatred for Yh’Adan, had prepared for war against the Holy Son and immediately attacked Yh’Adan, with all the angels He had led astray, which was about a third of their number. The two forces did fight for the dominion of the earthe. And the races of the world hid their faces in fear for the battle was between the Son of the Most High and His mightiest Archangel.
For a millennium they fought with neither side gaining advantage and much of the earthe was laid to waste. Seeing there would be no end to the fighting and that the earthe, the Ailfar, Men, Hiru, and all creatures would soon perish, Yh’Adan offered Himself up willingly as a sacrifice to Yh'gar to end the struggle and redeem the earthe.
Then Yh'gar took the Holy Son and nailed him with great iron spikes to Illios, the First Tree. He fashioned a crown of thorns for Yh’Adan's head and a robe of purple did he lay upon His shoulders. And he mocked Yh’Adan, Son of the Most High, now brought low and powerless by His sacrifice.
Yet Yh’Adan was not without power, and laid a curse upon Yh'gar, declaring him ArchAngel no longer. And he named him Gol'gar, "The Cursed One," which men now name the Sa'tan, Enemy of Heaven. Then Yh’Adan's spirit left him.
After three days, Yh raised Yh’Adan from his sleep-in death, sat Him upon a throne at His right hand and named Him Immael, Prince of Peace and King of Kings. And the Host of Heaven fell down and worshiped Him, naming Him the Savior, for He had willingly given his life to protect Ailfar, Men, and Hiru from the evil of Gol'gar. Then Yh’Adan spoke a Word and the Sa'tan was imprisoned in the center of the earthe, bound with chains. And the angels who had followed him, did Yh’Adan cast into the fires of Ul’gogrond, and their beauty was burned away from them and they became the demons.
“Thus, ended the First War of the Stones,” Alnordel concluded.
“I have heard this tale,” Jack admitted. “Sort of anyway. Though in my…home, the names are different and many of the details are changed, but the spirit of the story is the same. The conflict however, has not been…settled?”
“I did not say it was settled,” Alnordel replied. “That is but the First War of the Stones. Shall I continue?”
“Is this the part with the dark King and the Highswords?” Braedan asked.
“It is indeed,” his friend nodded.
“Then by all means,” Jack replied. “Continue.”
“That’s enough for tonight,” Kaiddra sighed. “We’re going to bed.”
“Kay, this is…interesting,” Jack countered, “I’d like to….”
“We…are and go to bed,” she repeated.
“I shall finish this another time then,” Alnordel smiled. “Speaking of the dark King is best done in the light of day, anyway.”
This same routine went on for a month. Braedan would practice the raid with the Seawolf from sunrise to midday, then give Heath an hour or two
of fencing lessons, then he, Alnordel, Dorad, Kaiddra and often Tarsus, would retire to the villa's large stateroom or the library with a couple of bottles of wine and talk late into the night. It had been three weeks since Alnordel’s tale of First War of the Stones before the Ailfar asked if Jack was ready for the story to continue.
“If you are willing,” Jack nodded. In truth, he had been growing quite anxious that Alnordel hadn’t brought it up sooner. A feeling had been growing over him in the last few days that much of what he needed to know about Aralon, and more importantly, what purpose he might have for being here, was in the second part of this tale.
“Then let us finish it before the night grows dark,” the Ailfar replied. “It is a grim one indeed, though not given to speculation as the Tale of Creation and the First War. This part begins only eight hundred years ago. There are Ailfar still living who bore witness to the rise of the Bloodstone and the battle that ensued. Cilidon An’Mera of Ail’ithirain was a young in his kingship, barely one hundred and fifty, when he was given Grimblade.”
“So, he is what, almost a thousand years old now?” asked Jack, trying to keep the disbelief from his voice. Braedan supposed it might be possible. Methuselah of the Bible had lived almost that long. He certainly wasn’t a practicing believer, but he never really doubted those stories. Then a thought suddenly occurred to him. “Alnordel…”
“How old am I?” the Ailfar grinned.
“Alnordel is still young by the standards of his race,” Dorad laughed. “He hasn’t even reached his prime. What are you now? Five hundred twenty?”
“Five hundred and nineteen,” Kaiddra corrected. “You were terribly drunk during his name day celebration last year young princeling, so you are forgiven.”
“I was at his naming day celebration?” Dorad asked. He said it with such a straight face, Braedan couldn’t tell if he was truthful or not.
“Five hundred nineteen,” Alnordel nodded. “I grew of age in Elvendale. I have seen Grimblade. Why I left two hundred years ago will be a tale for another night, when we have something stronger than wine in our hands. When I say my account of the Second War of the Stones is accurate beyond a doubt, trust me Jack Braedan, for I have heard it recounted by some who were witness to the events. My father was there. At the fall of the Iron Tower. Dorad will be able to verify parts of it. The House of Ellgereth has a Highsword. Siegebreaker. But I am getting ahead of myself. So, where were we?”
“Yh’Adan had thrown Satan into prison and ended the war,” Jack prompted him.
“Ah, yes,” Alnordel sighed. "For many years after Gol'gar's imprisonment, the earthe was barren and desolate. Those few of Yh's children who had survived the destruction caused by the war were scattered, hiding deep in what was left of the great forests or cowering below the earthe in caves. Seeing the earthe's need, Yh’Adan chose the angel Mikael to replace Yh'gar as the Arch Angel and commanded him to take others of the Heavenly Host to search the four corners of the earthe for children of Yh of character and strength. Mikael gathered together a number of Ailfar, Men and Hiru, and fashioned for them staffs of power from the living wood of Illios, the First Tree, for it had been empowered by Yh’Adan’s shed blood flowing into its roots. And they were taught the lore and wisdom necessary to heal and protect the earthe. From among their number, an Ailfar maid was selected as their leader, and she was given the greatest staff, called the Staff of Mikael. And thus, did Kara become the First of the Staffclave, and the others came to be called Lords, for they were now the protectors of all the earthe.
Under their guidance, the earthe began to heal. The Children of Yh multiplied. Families became clans. Clans grew into tribes. Tribes grew to become nations. And there was also a new race of giants that walked upon the face of the earthe, who were the offspring of Yh'gar's rebel angels who had lain with women of the earthe. They are the Jahrkirin, "Outcast' in the Common Tongue, and they lived far to the north, beyond the Glacial Flows, shunned by the other races for the evil done by their fathers in the name of Yh'gar. But that is another tale entirely,” Alnordel informed Braedan. “One that we will leave for another time.”
“Yes please,” Kaiddra shuddered, and took Jack’s arm for comfort.
“Skip the giants for now then,” Jack nodded. If the story of the Jahrkirin frightened the Queen of the Seas, it must be chilling indeed.
“Where was I?” Alnordel asked, refilling his glass.
Braedan doubted the Ailfar needed prompting. As far as he had seen over the last month, Alnordel had a sharp mind and never seemed to forget anything. But a flare for the dramatic? That was a different matter.
“Families became clans, so forth and so on,” Tarsus sighed, taking the bottle from Alnordel to top off his own glass.
“Yes,” the Ailfar smiled. “So, at the time of the Bloodstone’s rising, these were the kings of Aralon, the greatest continent on the earthe; of the race of men was Tha’laen Th’nar of Brydium, Muriel Ankara of Annoth, Ellnad Ellgereth of Doridan, Dorad’s great-great-great…and several more greats, grandfather. Urgiss the First, of Adelad, Mansour ad’Jhen, Great Khan of Kadin, Uriel Haed of Denelad, cousin of Urgiss, Philon Aerus of Arkhand, and last but not least, the Storm King, Tars Aernin of Amar,” he finished, looking pointedly at Tarsus.
The Amarian shifted uncomfortably, and took a heavy draft of his wine before Alnordel continued. “Of the Ailfar, there was the aforementioned Cilidon An’Mera of Ail’itharain, Arahil Galad’drion of Ailsantain, also called the White Prince and Star of the Dawn. Lastly, there was Ail’luvial An’Cilliar, Queen of the Silverwood. Of the Hiru Kings…I will not speak their names,” he said, his countenance growing dark, “but the chief Hiru kingdoms were Gothgor, Garhon, Mormar, and Gogard. High King of all was of course Ljmarn Bra’Adan, who ruled from the White Throne in the Imperial city Immer, Crossroads of Aralon. There was also High Lord Thomas Aerilus of Arkand. First of the Staffclave and wielder of Staff of Mikal. Though not a king, he was perhaps only below Ljmarn Bra’Adan in power.
“These great kings, hearing troubling news of evil disturbances in the lands of the Gogard Mountains, beseeched Ljmarn and High Lord Thomas to send one of the Staffclave to investigate. A powerful Hiru Lord, Graith Son of Halbar, who lived in the same lands, was selected for the task. Lord Graith bravely accepted the task and after traveling many days, found an evil smoke covering the land, a vile reek that made the eyes water and blood run from the nose. Traveling further into the stricken land, he encountered Hiru fleeing, and was informed of a volcano that had formed in six violent days of earthquakes and eruptions. But Lord Graith was fearless, and traveled without hesitation into the heart of the desolation, into an area of shifting slag heaps, poisonous pools, and shattered earthe. There he found a peak that already reached six thousand feet. At the base of the mountain, on the edge of river of molten rock, Graith found a glowing red stone about the size of a small child’s fist. Not knowing his danger, the Lord took the stone and returned to Immer.
“It was the Bloodstone, wasn’t it?” asked Braedan.
“It was,” Alnordel nodded. “Lord Graith returned to Immer and presented the stone to the Staffclave. High Lord Thomas could immediately sense the evil in the stone and guessed it was Gol’gar’s jewel. He decreed it should be destroyed and the combined might of the Staffclave attempted the task. Although the power they threw at the stone could have leveled a mountain, the Bloodstone suffered not so much as a blemish. Failing to destroy the Bloodstone and not wishing any land to be contaminated by its evil, High King Ljmarn commanded the stone to be taken far out into Aeralnen Widewater and hurled into the depth of the sea.
But Lord Graith was already corrupted by the Bloodstone, and stealing it, he fled the council, slaying two Lords in his escape. The Staffclave pursued Graith, but the power of the Bloodstone opened itself to him and he grew in power, slaying three more Lords when they caught him in the Ruwe Mountains. Graith fled, riding twenty days to Mount Mormar and the underground city of Ghrana. During hi
s flight, he became filled by the power of the stone, transforming into a being more powerful than any under Heaven. The Hiru of Ghrana, seeing Graith transformed, bowed to him and the Bloodstone. Graith summoned the force of the stone and proclaimed them grim’Hiru and they were likewise transformed, but into beast-men, a savage and cruel shadow of their former selves. Those who did not bow to Graith were set upon by their former brethren and slaughtered. Thus did the Hiru begin their fall from grace and were no longer Children of Yh but servants of the Sa’tan.
As his power grew, Graith traveled the lands of Aralon east of the River Io, now called the Whesguard by men, and the Hiru flocked to his banner. Kadin betrayed its oath to the High King and pledged to Graith, naming him the dark King. In Eriden, Norgarth and Denelad swore oaths to him and the cousin kings became his faithful slaves. Only Amar and Arkhand stood firm, refusing his emissaries entrance to their lands. Graith vowed to punish their defiance and return with an army to wipe them from the face of the earthe.
As the west prepared for war. Graith set about increasing his power, nurturing his strength, and gathering his armies. He formed his own Staffclave, teaching evil men and untransformed Hiru dark arts learned from the Bloodstone and they became Sorcerers of the Sa’tan. Graith traveled in spirit to Ul’gogrond, and with great power, overcame the Word imprisoning seven of the mightiest fallen angels. Freed from their chains, they swore service to the dark King, becoming the Seven Dukes of Hell and the commanders of his armies. All manner of fell beasts Graith brought under his power, dragons, wolves, na’Ghomari, and Krayga and monsters so foul that they are not named by men. He raised up mountains from the earthe to mark the borders of his land, and through dark arts, built himself a stronghold. Agash Thugar, the Iron Tower.
A year and a day after fleeing the council of the Staffclave with the Bloodstone, the fears of the west were realized as Graith unleased his armies. Led by his demon-generals, the transformed grim’Hiru and the traitorous easterners, joined by barbarians of Forhein, and hard men from Duinlor and Minbrad, his armies swarmed out of the east like a plague of locust, destroying all in their path. Hordes of desert warriors from Kadin, led by the demon Morgamaal, stormed into Brydium, and laid siege to the capital Brythond. Abmongaryon the Destroyer, lead the combined armies of Norgarth and Denelad and the grim’Hiru of Mormar into Arkhand. Urioch led the armies of Forhein and Duinlor, with grim’Hiru from Gorgar, laying siege to Amar. All along the border of western Aralon, Graith’ armies struck.