Likewise, Amaud and Magus returned to fight, and for Amaud's part, he too witnessed and developed a respect for Albatros's hardship. If there remained a glimmer of suspicion left, Albatros's action removed it. He was one of them. Close together now, the troupe fought to push back the enemy. They were winning. After the defeat of their champion and one commander, along with the unexpected arrivals, the enemy host understood they'd lost and began their retreat.
Some of the allied host gave them chase, while others tended to the wounded and reopened Orzo's gates. There were not enough horses to pursue the fleeing army. Dwarfs could run for days, but they were nowhere near as fast as the minotaur much less the drymraith. Although the enemy was not annihilated, a defeat by retreat was more than many had hoped, and exactly what Elzeenor had expected once his other ruses succeeded.
Chapter Eleven
Gathering
Elzeenor and Albatros had been an easy marks when they had marched back before the gates of Orzo. Darius caught sight of them and hurried to greet them, but so had many others. Thus, Darius lost himself in a sea of busy people who were retiring into the caves or celebrating upon the field of battle. Everyone, it seemed, had one of these two ideas in mind. With his faithful dwarf-elf-bandit, Calysto, by his side, the old sage scurried along into the mines of Durturnian, following the crowds hoping to catch Elzeenor Zavon before he vanished into the great city of Orzo. Using his magic to communicate would do the trick, but he preferred they meet his old friend naturally, if possible. Thus, into the caves, he went.
"What be da rush, wizzy? Dey all tired. Dey ain't go'in nowhere," Calysto said as they walked.
"I suppose you are correct. Impatient with anticipation, I remain, nevertheless," Darius answered.
Deeper into the tunnel, they continued with the fellow warriors of the Kaelliakie alliance. Darius may have been eager, but Calysto, curious as ever, lived in the moment. She took pleasure in examining the details of the eastern Durturnian dwarf mines. The very tunnel they journeyed through was ample, as it was tall and shaped in what appeared to be a perfect circle, at least one-hundred yards in circumference and lined with massive stone pillars protruding from its floor to its ceiling. The flickering flames of torches strung throughout the deep pass shed light on the busy folk journeying to refuge. This underpass went on for roughly a mile until it reached Orzo, where the tunnel became a grand stone stairway leading into a deep hole within the mountain where Orzo lie. The city, deep at the bottom of the stone stairway, was as large as Laeluffian, yet rather than shaped like an oval, Orzo was longer than it was wide and rectangular. From above, the city was glorious.
Unlike traditional cities, the homes in Orzo were made of stone with silver and gold shimmering here and there within the underground city. Gilded pillars towered from the ground level of buildings reaching high above to support the ceilings, and the Durturnian dwarfs had used molten gold to paint their roads. If streets of gold were not enough to prove their love of riches, they also took colorful gems and silver and sprinkled them throughout the streets as the gold cooled. By the time the gold set, the roads twinkled with an array of colorful gems dazzling the eye.
The staircase landing led to the main road. Many other streets branched from it, heading this way or that, but the primary pass was broader than any of the others. Since the city was long and narrow, this road traveled the entire length. It led to the end of the town where the castle stood. King Dwaven Van, The Silver King of Durturnian, lived in the castle, which gleamed with the same sparkling effect as the roads. Calysto found the sights remarkable.
Orzo was just one of many cities throughout the long mountains, but it was the home of their king. Of late, it was also home of the Kaelliakie army, the base from which the allies defended the northern lands of Loomis, country of elves. All surrounding the gaping hole in the mountain were countless other tunnels and passages that led for thousands of miles stretching through the earth to other dwarven cities and strongholds, but Orzo was their pride.
Accustomed to the pure mountain life of the Darvane dwarfs, Orzo came as a surprise to Calysto. Where she grew up in Darvane, homes were no more than a hole in a tunnel cut out for that purpose. Given her humble background, the splendor of Orzo was beyond words. The dwarf capital also pleased the Darvane dwarfs who hadn’t seen the city in a long time, if at all.
Darius finally gave up on catching Elzeenor on foot and sent his message mentally. When he did, Elzeenor halted his advance and waited with his company for his old friend, then led the whole group to a private dwarven hall to retire and rejoice in food and cheer. Among this company were Albatros, Magus, and Amaud. And with Darius were Calysto and Pogo. While the company got acquainted, Elzeenor left briefly to attend to other matters before rejoining his friends and honored guests.
"I should've known. The alliance could not have chosen better! No one is more deserving the privilege of commanding," Darius said, after hearing about Elzeenor's accomplishments in the last several months. The two sat in a more private corner within a secluded dining hall where they were served fried fish and potatoes, along with a robust dwarf ale. The room, like a dwarf, was short but stout. Broad enough to accommodate a few hundred for dinner, yet low. Had Calysto jumped within the room, she was bound to hit the stone ceiling and endure a mighty ache upon her head. A dozen tables carved from the same stone found in the foundation of Durturnian were arranged in the hall. In the corner, Darius and Elzeenor had a private discussion until Magus invited himself over, curious to meet Darius after hearing from Calysto some of the things she said he had done.
"Far from over yet. All we've done is prevailed another day. They will be back," Elzeenor said.
"How do they keep coming? We killed so many. Are you sure? We might stampede and reclaim all Gormania lands, can we not?" Magus asked.
"They will return," Elzeenor repeated. "She has not yet revealed her strongest of champions."
"Where is she?" Darius asked.
"Damia? Running scared, probably with that lot we trashed today," Magus said with a smile.
"Quite doubtful. I don't know where Damia is, and that is a concern. These are weaklings compared to her. From what I’ve heard about her, we should all be dead," Elzeenor said. Magus looked to Darius for confirmation, suddenly not so confident. He wasn’t sure how much worse this might get and found it hard to imagine one woman mightier than a foul host of thousands.
"That is troubling. And where are the dragons? She would need none of these if they revealed themselves. I don't understand what she is waiting for," Darius echoed Elzeenor’s concern.
"Dragons?" Magus exclaimed.
"Elemental gods. Their armor is impregnable. Each possesses its own ability. They can scorch you with fire or freeze you with ice. Plague you with poison. Turn people to stone. Each is a master of their element," Darius said, leaving Magus speechless.
Magus slumped back in his chair. How is anyone supposed to face something like that? Magus wondered to himself. How powerful is Damia if that be the case? Aloud he said, "I’d like to know where she is too."
"Nobody knows where she is, Master Magus," said Elzeenor. "We take victory day by day, worrying the same. Will it change anything in the end? What is she doing, and why has she not revealed herself?" Amaud called Magus’s name from across the room and he nodded at Elzeenor to excuse himself and left their company. Darius leaned closer to keep their conversation between the two of them.
"The path I follow may answer some of these questions, or so I hope. I am seeking advice from your Queen. And I guess now the mortal, and Dwarf Kings are likely to be present. Haelleenia is who I beg guidance." Darius could not miss his own deep concern mirrored on Elzeenor’s face.
"I received your messages, and they leave me amazed and wondering what it is you bring, but I hope it's good favor," Elzeenor said.
"I fear I only bring more questions. What I seek is knowledge myself," Darius shrugged and continued, "The condition here is far grimmer than I ima
gined. I would fight with you and your host if I did not sense I'm being led on a more critical path," he explained.
"What do you bring, Darius?" Elzeenor asked, a hint of fear in his voice.
"I dare not speak of it yet," Darius glanced toward Magus and then the rest of the company a short distance away. He would not share his thoughts with everyone. "What I learn from her, you will know too. I am setting off in the morning. Perhaps you can join me if you feel the immediate threat has passed."
"I intended to, regardless. For now, we are safe. They've been beaten and repelled," Elzeenor said. Magus approached them again. Before he could start asking questions, Elzeenor spoke.
"Master Magus, there is a question I must ask you."
"Yes?"
"I would like you to accompany me to meet the trinity rulers of our alliance," Magus's eyes lit up as he was both honored and confused by the invitation.
"Why me and not Amaud?" he asked.
"He will be there with me. He doesn't know it yet, but we are joining Darius in the morning after we've gotten some well-deserved rest." Elzeenor turned his attention to Darius and explained, "He is brother to the King of Cassenneth, Murnia."
"Brother to the King? Where are your forces?" Darius asked the same question on Elzeenor’s mind when he had learned of the young man's worth. Magus sighed and folded his arms.
"Yes. Well," Magus said, "I had already decided to set out myself. I hoped we would be victorious in Orzo, and then I planned to see what I could do. If I could bring help." Magus had been in a silent struggle, but after everything he had seen, he was convinced. Not only had the Head Commander proved himself, but so had the enemy, and now that he understood the enemy would return even stronger than before, Magus realized they needed his brother.
"Oh? When did you plan to tell me you were leaving?" Elzeenor acted surprised, but this had been his plan all along. Assign him work with Amaud to come to this realization on his own and to keep the northerner safe from foolish activities. When that didn't seem to be working at the pace Elzeenor needed it to, he purposely invited Magus to join and see for himself the Head Commander's worth and the enemy they faced.
"Today. And now you know," Magus said. "I will do what I can to get Edward to join the cause. Just know, even getting there, influencing him with the help of my cousin, and then rallying Cassenneth and the highland clans of Pallaecious may take a long time. I can't go there and snap my fingers. Is there time to spare?"
"It is unknown, but to do nothing is folly. We may have a day; we may have years. We are at the mercy of Damia now. Either way, I approve of your decision. It is wise and needed now more than ever." Elzeenor realized he’d played a significant part in coaxing Magus's decision, even if the would-be king did not.
"Well, then it is settled. We set out in the morning. I will announce it to my shadow, as I suspect she may insist on joining me," Darius said as he looked across the way at Calysto.
"The peculiar woman talking to Albatros and Amaud?" Elzeenor asked.
"That is the one. She rarely leaves my side, but Calysto is a delightful companion. I would not fret."
"Oh, that one scares me," Magus said.
"There is no reason to fear Calysto," Darius smiled reassuringly at the young man.
"She is a Tragmont elf?" Elzeenor asked.
"She is a long story." Darius smiled. "I have a sneaking suspicion she will stay close to me for quite a while. But I assure you Calysto is harmless as long as you're not a villain. She is a good person. You could say she is the reason the Darvane dwarfs showed up. Calysto might've even saved me along the way," he finished.
"High praise. She sounds like a grand champion to keep around," Elzeenor agreed.
"Glorious. We go together? "Magus asked.
"Absolutely," Darius said.
"Splendid then. We five will visit the palace together. I cannot see a better fit," Elzeenor agreed. The three of them, along with Amaud and Calysto, would travel tomorrow and meet with the Kings and Queen.
Chapter Twelve
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
Before the deep forest of Lymis, a high wall made of crystal stretched for miles and closed off the forest for all outsiders. Near the center of the wall below an enchanted streaked sky of pink, orange, and purple, sat the wondrous crystal palace of Kaelliakie. The magnificent sparkling palace was of no particular shade but changed colors and glistened through all the hues. Those who entered the lands and gazed upon the palace found its colors would vary as they moved around it, but whatever the color, the palace always shimmered. Its foundation was made of dome-shapes from which three towers protruded and climbed upwards into the sky, slicing the heavens. These towers represented each of the rulers of the Kaelliakie alliance, and inside them was where the rulers dwelled.
In front of the palace, a few scattered trees grew. A narrow stream that wrapped around the keep flowed from a nearby lake only a few hundred yards away. A generous field of flowers in bright colors encompassed the lake and consumed the lands that stretched before the palace. Colorful and healthy, these flowers stretched for miles, coming in all shapes and sizes, giving off welcoming aromas.
Reminiscent of the palace, the surrounding area featured magical crystal-work that glowed in harmonious purity. Behind the wall, lie the vast forests, shielding the free people of the east. The magnificence found at the palace also spread into the trees beyond. These trees changed colors, becoming green, brown, silver, or yellow regardless of the season. Even the grass glowed green, but often changed shades between lime, olive, to jade, to a deep sea-green. The leaves on the trees, like gems of many colors, reflected the elegance of Loomis elf country. People in the east called this place the holy land.
Within the palace, the high lords of the alliance, Dwaven, the Silver King, Haelleenia of Elves, and Lieulundrum, King of the mortal lands, dwelt. Whether their people stayed safe behind their walls or engaged in perilous battle, the leaders remained here, several days from Orzo.
***
A week had passed while Elzeenor, Darius, and the company traveled from Orzo, finally reaching their destination. Once at the palace, they were permitted into the keep and welcomed to the room for counsel. The group strolled in with Darius and Elzeenor in the lead.
Inside the ample dome room, the magical aura was enhanced. The room's walls, floors, and ceiling glowed as color flourished in this space. Massive in both width and height, the place had meager furnishings. Three thrones sat arranged in specific parts of the dome, creating a triangle.
In the center of the room, a pedestal stood on the crystal foyer, and it glimmered with colors too. The odd object coming from the ground coiled upward and formed into a sizable oval platform surface. Three orbs had been placed strategically facing each of the thrones. The sphere of the dwarf lit up in silver, and a thick gray smoke floated around continuously. This globe faced closest to the dwarf throne.
Green, blue, red, and white shimmered from the elf orb, which pumped a light aura different from smoke. The light pulsed a mysterious essence that would form, expand, contract, and diminish from sight, repeating this cycle over and over again. This orb, in the same fashion, stood closest to the elf throne.
Last, the mortal globe which faced the throne of the human King shined in gold. Streaks of black flashed around the sphere, creating a never-ending twirl that intertwined the golden globe as it shined. The spheres’ dynamic display presented a spectacular wonder of its own to the beholder who might view from within these orbs, visions of certain events, and things that had happened in the east. Amaud's scheme to undo the advancing army, Elzeenor's trickery at Yuken's point, and Darius's arrival with the Darvane dwarfs were three such memories revealed when given the account.
The stones were a miraculous ancient wonder belonging to the High Elf Queen Haelleenia of no surname. She acted the keeper of many mysterious yet marvelous tools and wizardly artifacts. Haelleenia had lived here in the palace longer than anyone knew. As strange as the enchantments o
f the castle and her relics, Haelleenia proved the greatest enigma of all.
"Darius, we've been waiting for you. Eager my mind. Elzeenor, brilliant as always. Your mind never ceases to amaze me. Amaud, your feats will not be forgotten," Haelleenia said in greeting. Her soft voice floated through the colorful hollow room, much like music. When she spoke, she moved her hands about, using her body to punctuate her words. "Your questions will each be answered, but first bring your words to counsel, Darius."
Darius nodded as he stepped forward and looked upon the Kings and Queen. He had known Haelleenia for years, as she was far older than even he. Immortality seemed to bless this elf. Dwaven Darius had lived a much shorter time for a dwarf’s life spanned no longer than three hundred years, much like a minotaur. The mortal King he had never met.
Before they had entered, Calysto and Magus had been cautioned to be silent, for their unending curiosities would never allow for a council to commence. Still, both felt they had walked into a realm of dreams. This place was unimaginable, for Murnia had no such thing. Save the mystic fogs of the Forbidden Lands, anything of this nature did not exist. Then again, mysteries had been abundant in recent days. Even Darius’s appearance proved as curious as the menacing threat that had arrived. Both Calysto and Magus looked about their surroundings, trying to take it all in.
Defiled Page 27