by Jeff Gunzel
Crashing thunder echoed through the desert, its low after-rumble shaking the mountain beneath their feet. A second crash came, this one louder than the first. Raging lightning followed, a blinding storm of white and green. The monks shielded their eyes, unable to even glance towards the brilliant light show in the sky. Then, as suddenly as it started, everything went quiet. Dark. Eric walked up near the mountain’s edge and gazed out over the desert sky.
“And once again the prophesies hold true,” Eric whispered to himself, the winds blowing his hair in all directions. “The time has come.”
Yammon joined him, speechless as he gazed out as well. Not a word was spoken by anyone as the other monks hobbled up to join them. Orange robes whipped around in the stirring wind, each man lost in his own thoughts.
Most of the sky had turned a bright green. There seemed to be a hole hanging high above, a perfect circle as large as a city. It churned in place like a whirlpool, clouds spinning around slowly before being sucked into the vortex. Mini tornadoes hung down like vines, spinning and twisting in place but not quite touching the ground. So this was where Krytoes would enter the human world. The planets had aligned perfectly, providing the gateway he needed. The time had come.
“How long?” Eric asked, his voice steely and calm. For him, there was nothing left to fear. He lived only for this moment. It was the very reason his body drew breath in the first place.
“An hour,” Yammon replied, his voice just as calm. “A month...perhaps. The history books are being written as we speak. Who is to know how such a thing might play out? I doubt even the gods themselves know what is to come.” Reverently, they watched on as nature’s chaotic display of power raged high in the sky.
* * *
Kelus and Jacob gazed off in the distance. There was no doubt as to what this could be. The streets began to fill, women holding their children, men open-jawed and staring in awe. The winds gained strength, blowing like a violent storm.
“So this is it,” said Jacob with a sigh, placing a reassuring hand on Kelus’s shoulder. “Are you ready for this, my friend?”
Kelus took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Even though we’ve spent so much time preparing for this, a part of me wanted to believe it wouldn’t happen at all. I hoped maybe the prophesies would turn out to be nothing more than tales passed down as time went by. Well, that part of me has just died. This is really happening.”
Jacob patted his shoulder one last time. “There is no more time for second-guessing,” he said. “As I’ve stated since the beginning, I will stand by Eric’s side no matter what. Come on now. We must prepare to march. The darkness waits for no one.”
* * *
The streets of The Crimson Empire filled quickly. Panicked shouts filled the air as people pointed out towards the Mountain of Dreams. The vortex in the distance churned slowly, the sky an eerie bright green. Even from here they could see dust and debris being sucked up into the atmosphere.
Men of faith who mostly stayed hidden from the public eye were out in force, screaming out warnings that it was the end of days. They swung lanterns hanging from cords, each giving off thick, colored smoke. Folks who had always done anything they could to avoid these strange men came running, flocking around them and dropping to their knees. The scene was total chaos, but to one onlooker, it was nothing short of poetry. The beautiful reality that had been promised her was coming true.
“I see you, dark lord,” Empress Ilenaya Moki whispered through her window, overlooking the commotion from above. She leaned against the glass, stroking it with her hand. “I’ve given you all that I have. My body, my soul, everything you asked for is yours. Now I pledge my army to fight by your side. Fear not the Gate Keeper. Soon, the world will never know of his existence.”
* * *
Morita stood by Hashiki, watching through his multi-pronged crystal. “It is time, my pet,” she said, stroking his head as he cooed softly. “I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for this moment. Finally, my chance to prove my worth to the dark lord, to show him I am worthy of his gifts.”
She stroked his feathered head once more, then bent down as if to kiss him. Instead, her long forked tongue slithered out, wrapping the underside of his chin. He snuggled against it, cooing as it left a sticky goo around his face and neck. Retracing her tongue, she leaned in close to his ear. “Creatures like you and I no longer have to hide,” she whispered. “ Fight for the dark lord and the world is ours for the taking.” She gestured towards the door. “Hurry now, assemble the army.”
Chapter 14
Leaning heavily on his fine black cane, Lord Andry rested his hand against the thick stained glass window, attempting to see outside. The short, stout man’s face was so close he could feel its coolness against his cheek. In truth, he wasn’t really all that interested in what was happening down below in the busy streets of Taron. Standing alone in this corner was simply more comfortable than sitting at the table, submerged in all the awkward silence.
Alone with his thoughts, he reminisced about the last time he had been asked to do a favor for this city. By orders of the queen, his men assembled the largest, most durable ship his engineers were capable of building. Launching that great ship had caused quite a commotion, as he recalled. That fateful day was the last time he had seen those kids. It seemed like such a long time ago.
But here he was, ready to offer his services once more. News of queen Ilirra’s passing had reached his ears long before that messenger rode into Candrin with a summons to appear in Taron. A summons signed and sealed with the royal stamp! Who would have guessed that young girl was heir to the throne? Although he held the rolled parchment in his hand, he would have to see it with his own eyes.
Now and then he caught himself glancing expectantly over his shoulder towards the door. How long were they going to keep them in here? His eyes flickered briefly towards Lord Corzon Thenalra, representative to the people of Dronin. With his wild hair and tangled beard, this man didn’t look like the sort who would do well in this sort of setting. His distant dark eyes glaring at nothing hinted that he might not want to be here, either.
Still, there was an undeniable aura of confidence about him, an ever-present air of intimidation even though he hadn’t said a word yet. For a moment, the gruff man’s gaze found Lord Andry, who immediately turned back to his window watching, pretending not to notice. Yes, this silence really was awkward indeed.
Lord Primbly, a representative for the city of Athsmin, was the only other outsider to have made an appearance so far. A large man with a dark oiled mustache, he looked to be almost as intimidating as Corzon. Impatiently, he rubbed his fingers along the table’s edge, letting out audible sighs with each passing minute.
“I’m sure the queen will arrive shortly,” Berkeni muttered nervously, trying to break the mounting silence with a touch of small talk. “She is a very busy woman, after all.” Addel’s healings had worked miracles on the old man, and he was feeling much stronger now.
“And I am a busy man!” Lord Primbly protested, doing little to hide his mounting frustration. He shook the crumpled parchment rolled in his hand. “These royal documents assured my city that this meeting was urgent.” He gazed about. “So then, where are the others? And more importantly, where is your queen? Does she think her time is more valuable than ours?”
The door creaked open, pushed in by a fully armored soldier. Jade entered, wearing a long white dress with ruffles at the sleeves and base. Hidden beneath her crown, her hair was tied up with several blue bands. “I think nothing of the sort, Lord Primbly,” she said, her sharp, judging eyes conflicting with the calm in her voice. He withered underneath that intense glare, shoulders slumping as he looked away. “I thank you all for coming, and apologize for keeping you so long.”
“Mind your tongue when speaking of your queen,” came a low, rumbling voice. In walked an enormous man who promptly took a seat right next to Lord Primbly. Morcel leaned back, fingers locked behind his head, lum
inous green eyes locked on the shaken man. Now shrinking away from both gazes, Lord Primbly looked as if he might melt onto the floor.
The door swung open once more and Azek strode in, dressed in his full battle attire, long sword sheathed at his side. He whispered something in Jade’s ear before taking a seat near Berkeni. Seeing they were ready to begin, Lord Andry pulled himself away from the window and took a seat.
“And now to get down to business,” said Jade as she sat at the head of the table. “I only wish this assembly could have been conducted under better circumstances. I will be blunt and get right to the point. My words to you are not a request or a suggestion. My word is law by royal decree. Any who disobey my orders will be deemed a traitor, and dealt with accordingly. Have I made myself clear?”
There was an aura about her none could deny. Lord Andry could hardly recognize the woman seated before him. She was nothing like the girl he remembered the day her ship set sail for lands unknown. A deadly assassin she had always been, but the confident leader before him was unrecognizable.
“Good,” she said, rising from her seat. “I shall address you one at a time, then answer any questions you may have. But be warned, I will not entertain defiance or insubordination of any sort. If any of you is even mildly entertaining the idea of pushing back against my authority, you will leave the room with him,” she motioned towards Morcel just as an ear-to-ear grin split his face, “and won’t be heard from again. Understood?”
Eyes wide, their heads bobbed like toy dolls followed by an echo of, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Then let’s get on with it,” she said, eyes locking onto Lord Primbly. “I understand your military is only serviceable at best, but the knights of Athsmin are nothing short of legend. I require that you pledge their loyalty to me at once.”
“A-all my knights?!” he gasped. “But, my lady—”
“Do you have a question, Lord Primbly?” she hissed, eyes flickering towards Morcel as a subtle reminder.
“Uh...no, Your Highness,” he said dejectedly. “Athsmin’s knights will pledge their allegiance to Taron for whatever duration Your Highness requires.
“Very well.” Her gaze shifted to the man across from him. “Lord Corzon Thenalra,” she addressed the large, dark-skinned man. Other than a slight rise of his eyebrows, his expression changed little as he easily met her hard gaze. “If Dronin is known for anything other than its fur trade, it’s your military might.”
“Are you ordering the allegiance of my army as well?” asked Corzon, his slow, thick Dronin accent apparent with every word.
“Not entirely,” she corrected. “I am aware that your city has more enemies than allies, a byproduct of its reputation for military prowess.”
“Taron being amongst them, as I recall,” he added boldly.
“Indeed,” she agreed hesitantly. “But your isolation from the rest of society has long bred suspicion of your city. That, and the fact that you openly display your tools of war for the whole world to see. Surely you can understand how such behavior breeds skepticism?” He grunted, unable to deny her logic.
“When this is over, I promise you that Taron shall reach out in attempt to help strengthen relations with your city and the rest of Tarmerria. But as of today, I request the allegiance of your special forces. I recognize that Dronin cannot remain completely unguarded, so I ask for nothing further.” She leaned in, hands flat on the table. “Do you have any questions?”
“I do,” he replied, running thick fingers along his tangled beard. He too leaned forward, hands sliding up near hers. The tensions between Dronin and Taron were no secret, and both Azek and Morcel tensed upon witnessing his aggressive movement. If need be they would kill him right here in the war room without a moment’s hesitation. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
His angry glare calmed and his hard eyes softened, suddenly pooling with moisture. “What word of my daughter?” he said, a slight tremor in his voice. “Please, tell me what has become of Athel.”
Jade’s icy mask of calm shattered. For a split second, her expression betrayed her inner feelings as a tiny gasp escaped her lips. Corzon sighed, his body relaxing as he lowered his eyes. That tiny glimpse into her heart revealed more than a thousand words ever could. Whatever the news, it wasn’t good.
“Lord Corzon, I have no sure way of knowing what has become of Athel,” she admitted. Funny how ordering this man to surrender part of his army to her came so easy, but informing him of what happened to Athel was gut-wrenching. On this subject, she would remain as vague as possible. “I’m sure she is fine,” she lied, unable to look him in the eye. He waved off her words dismissively, clearly not fooled by her posturing and stalling.
In a hurry to change subject, she shifted her attention one last time. “Lord Andry,” she said, steeling her voice once more.
“My queen,” he replied with a start, clearly uncomfortable with all of this. He was not a military man and felt his expertise fell squarely outside the boundaries of this meeting.
“I sent word for Candrin to begin building ships immediately. Did you adhere to my request? Has the work begun?”
He slowly pushed back his chair, rising to his feet. “My lady,” he said softly, head down with both hands clasped at his front. “Do you remember the day when we first met?”
“Still your mumbling,” said Azek. “Your queen asked you a direct question which requires a direct answer!”
Jade held up her hand to silence Azek’s protest. “Of course I do,” she said. “As I recall, I judged you to be a fair man of high character. My mother trusted you, therefore I trusted you as well.”
He sniffed, reliving that day in his head. “And I deemed you to be a frightened child who had no idea what she was getting into.” There came a slight rustling as men shifted in their seats uncomfortably.
“Go on,” she replied.
“But frightened or not, you pushed forward into the unknown, just as your friends did. If that’s not courage...well, then, I guess I don’t know what courage is. True, I knew your mother well. I trusted her intelligence, her instincts, and knew that she had an ability to see the big picture when others could not.”
He sighed and raised his head, looking her squarely in the eye. “When Queen Ilirra said this black day was coming, I took her word seriously. My lady, we’ve been building ships since that day.” He dropped into a low bow. “As of today we have dozens that are now at your command, to do with as you see fit. My fleet is your fleet, and they are ready whenever you are.”
Jade released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding as relief washed over her. This man’s forward thinking had saved them weeks, possibly months of preparation. Instantly, she recognized the life’s lesson for what it was. Her mother’s success had come primarily on winning the trust and respect of those around her. Their loyalty ran deep, and many would have happily laid down their lives for the queen. They went above and beyond the call when necessary, and often lent their assistance from beyond the shadows–offering help Ilirra wasn’t even aware she needed. Loyal supporters such as Lord Andry were key to her mother’s long and successful reign.
“I thank you, Lord Andry,” she replied, her voice warm and sincere. “I do not have the ability to repay what you have done for us this day.”
He touched his forehead, then his heart. “Repay, my lady?” he said. “Follow in the ways of your mother. Show respect and kindness to all, no matter their rank or status, and you will have repaid me thousandfold.”
It was hard for her to fight the emotion swelling up inside. To be half the queen her mother had been would more than she could ever hope for, but she would make it her life’s goal to try. She smiled before turning her attention back on everyone.
“Then we are finished here. I trust that I won’t be hunting down deserters before the day is over.” She paused, looking for any revealing looks that might expose a hidden intention. Satisfied, she went on. “I am not here to convince any of you that the prop
hecies are real. A man believes what he wants to believe and no one has the right to question his heart. That said, none of you has seen the things I’ve seen. I know the prophecies are true and I will do whatever is necessary to aid the Gate Keeper, no matter what the cost. Still, I will not tolerate betrayal of my authority because of your personal feelings.
“I would like to think a day will come when I don’t have to abuse my authority for the sake of morality. I wish to live to see a world where our kingdoms are united, our cites allied as one. And in my heart, I believe we shall all see that day and rejoice as one.” Even Corzon nodded as she spoke.
“We shall meet in Candrin in one weeks’ time, so you had all best leave tonight. Farewell, friends, and may the gods smile upon us all.”
* * *
Addel scryed through her frosted pearl, fingertips probing around its smooth surface. She had no taste for politics, and thought it would be more useful to exercise her true skill set, rather than attend a meeting filled with egos and posturing. She scanned the countryside, searching for spikes in energy as she always did. Despite the monotony, she managed to keep her full attention on the task at hand.
Suddenly, her probing fingers stopped moving and she froze. “No,” she gasped, panic swelling up in her chest. Despite doing her job day and night, in her heart she hoped to never actually find what she was looking at this very moment. Her whole body began to tremble.
“No. No,” she repeated. She pushed away, disturbing everything on the table. An ink vial wobbled before shattering against the floor. Hyperventilating, her quick breaths were coming in short, rapid bursts. By the gods! It has begun...
* * *
The city representatives had gone, headed back to their respective districts to prepare for the inevitable. Shantis, Amoshi and Nima now sat at the table in their places.
“You handled yourself very well, my dear,” said Berkeni. “I know this role does not come easy for you. Er...my queen.”
“There is no longer anyone here to impress,” said Jade, slouching down into her chair, cheek resting on her knuckles. She was exhausted and was making no effort to hide it. “I shall not let any of you bore me with your etiquette and proper titles. Not at this time, anyway. For now I sit here amongst friends.”