The queen sat down. She gave Turi a piercing look and he shifted nervously in his seat.
Ushka rose and said something in his guttural language. Jochopepa stood up beside him to translate the message. “As the representative of the Dakatak, it will be an honor and a privilege to choose to help the queen who granted us our freedom. The Dakatak will rebuild your palace.”
This said, Ushka and Jochopepa sat down again.
Mérdmerén was about to speak but was interrupted by the leader of Moragald’Burg. “I have something to add,” Othus said as he stood up. “I propose that the next meetings take place in Moragald’Burg. The land of stone and iron would be proud to host the Interworld Assembly. We can’t always be traveling to you, your Highness of Mandrake. And although I admire the halls of Háztatlon, it will not always be convenient for me to attend these meetings when to do so I have to travel for several weeks on the open seas.”
Düll Donn stood up, unmistakably challenging the leader of Moragald’Burg. “I propose that they take place in Doolm-Ondor,, the city of mines, mushrooms and precious stones,” he said. “There’s nothing like our volcanoes for impressing guests.”
Haziiz Farçia had also risen to his feet. “The Divine Providence is your house as well. My marble palaces and my ten thousand servants will make your stay most enjoyable.” The mention of ten thousand servants was not well received by Meromérila, who had just abolished slavery in her nation.
“Grizna is at your disposal whenever you wish to use it for these meetings,” Empress Sokomonoko added, although she was the only one to remain seated.
I knew this was going to happen. It’s a mess and it’s happening when the Interworld Assembly is still small. I can just imagine what it’ll be like when there are twenty leaders of nations and worlds, each one vying to play host to the others. The problem is that most of the leaders are like Othus or Düll Donn, who just want to impress and don’t stop to consider matters like safety and issues like that.
“Kings, queens, leaders, and rulers,” Mérdmerén said. “Please be seated. For the moment we’ve discussed this and agreed that for reasons of security, the meetings will take place here.”
“Don’t you trust our lands?” Othus said sharply, refusing to sit down.
“There is no doubt that the castles between the mountains of Doolm-Ondor are safer than anywhere else. The castle is practically impregnable and my custodians are excellent. Allow me to be your host for the next meeting, we’ll prepare for you the most delicate foods and arrange entertainment of all kinds—”
“Enough!” Balthazar shouted. The Wild Man leaped to his feet. His size, white hair, sapphire eyes, and golden skin left a deep impression. “Sit down, all of you! Although each empire may entertain its guests and serve them the best food, we’re not in a position to waste time impressing each other. The pressure of time weighs heavy on us. The seconds are ticking by and with every one that passes, Mórgomiel grows stronger. Don’t be vain and frivolous, leaders of other nations. If you don’t put aside this desire to impress each other, soon we’ll all be dead and the effort of creating the Assembly will have been futile. The meetings will take place here.”
Balthazar’s glare soothed each of the leaders. Mérdmerén was smiling to himself. The shaman was the only one who could establish order, the only one nobody would challenge.
“And now it’s time to talk about one of the most important issues of this meeting,” Balthazar said as he sat down. “The committee that will cross the Portal must be decided once and for all and they will need to set out on their mission as soon as possible. We have to hurry. Name the members of the committee right now.”
Mérdmerén had never seen the enigmatic Balthazar so harried and so worried about the terrors to come.
“What have you seen?” he asked.
Balthazar pierced him with his glare and said, “I have seen legions of races dead for millennia resurgent once again. I have seen whole planets reduced to ashes for withholding their alliance with the God of Chaos. The Times of Chaos have returned. Chaos is being mercilessly unleashed with nobody to oppose it.”
They were all left speechless.
“Our soldiers will not fail,” Othus declared. “My armies are growing in number even as we speak.”
“And our legions are getting ready,” Düll Donn assured them. ”We are assembling the greatest number of soldiers ever seen in Doolm-Ondor.”
“The Dukes of Mandrake assure us that they are training their armies,” said Leandro Deathslayer. “Gendor, Duke of Omen, has certified that the Imperial Army is being strengthened. The Council of Mages supports us.”
“That is wonderful,” Balthazar said. “But it will mean nothing if we fail to gather together at least a million soldiers.”
“A million! You must be insane!” cried Othus.
“One million or a hundred thousand million,” the shaman said. “That is the minimum. With a million, we will barely manage to defend ourselves when Mórgomiel is amassing a hundred thousand million!”
Othus paled. “A hundred thousand million!?” cried the leader of Moragald’Burg, unable to believe there was even such a thing as that number. The others too had turned pale.
“He is right,” Sokomonoko said. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Mórgomiel has a hundred thousand million. It is an awesome number.”
“We’re going to need a dragon,” Mérdmerén said with a deep sigh.
Balthazar looked closely at him and said, “Everything in its own time. Choose the Interworld Committee.”
Mérdmerén turned to look at Gáramond. The philosopher realized the time had come to read out the names of the chosen. He got up with difficulty, rubbing his beard while he studied the list of names on the scroll he was unrolling.
“Turi the Esquire of Mandrake, Elgahar Üdessa of Mandrake, Ushka the Dakatak, Chirllrp of Gardak, Unna of Devnóngaron, Khad’Un of Doolm-Ondor, Merkas of Moragald’Burg, Amon Ras of the Divine Providence, Funia of the Dungeon of Thieves, and lastly, I believe Empress Sokomonoko was about to confirm whether she sent someone.”
The Empress of Grizna and Balthazar turned at the same time. One look was enough. Balthazar reached for the satchel that hung at his waist and took out a tiny mesh of roots. He opened this compartment, which resembled a walnut, and out of it flew something luminous and beautiful which floated above the center of the oval table.
“And Tenchi of Allündel,” Balthazar declared with a smile. His eyes were lost in wonder at the seraph.
“Tenchi is a Naevas Aedán with the ability to communicate from mind to mind without the impediments of spoken language. She will be your translator during your journey so that you can communicate with all the new species you will come across. Remember, my friends, that the committee will grow as you visit new planets since part of the plan is that each species that decides to join us must add a representative to the committee. The purpose is that you should be multi-cultural and inspire union among nations.”
I owe you one, Tenchi. Balthazar thought. Thank you for joining the effort.
I hope to be useful during this journey to other worlds. I hope I will not be faint-hearted…
You will not be. You are an independent Naevas Aedán and you work only of your own free will, which makes your alliance with our group a powerful one.
Thank you, Balthazar, the seraph said. I will do everything I can.
“Then that’s decided, and it shall be written down,” Mérdmerén said. “Tomorrow evening you’ll leave for the first world. May luck and the Light be with you.”
“Before this happens,” Gáramond said. “You must mobilize Meromérila’s people, who are already very close to the Portal of the Worlds. If Elgahar brings a new army tomorrow, we will need to welcome them with plenty of space, and the Fields of Flora are still crammed with the people of Gardak.”
“The philosopher is right,” said Balthazar.
“My people will begin the migration north today,” Meromérila s
aid. “With the ships ready in Merromer, my legions will begin their journey to the Old World.”
“Let’s talk about the safety of the Portal,” Mérdmerén said, calming the whispering among the leaders. “The vortex doesn’t exclude anybody, and anyone could get access to the Portal. This raises the possibility of a massive threat and besides that, the possibility that curious people might want to cross it. To prevent this, we’ve prepared a defense that will guard the site day and night. Troikar and Landos Üdessa are the two mages who will defend the site with their magic. In addition to them, each participating empire will provide a thousand of their best soldiers. Sokomonoko will provide several Torok to patrol the area.
“Nobody will be able to cross the portal without the explicit permission of Elgahar and Balthazar, who will be in command of the Portal. All who cross it must bring a coin like this one.” Mérdmerén showed his own to the audience. “It’s a simple coin made of copper. It has two sides, both showing tails. Whoever you summon, Elgahar, you must give their commander this coin so that the custodians will allow them into the Fields of Flora. Anyone who crosses the Portal without this coin will be considered an intruder and will be immediately eliminated. Do you agree? Leaders?”
“Will I be the right one to welcome the travelers?” Sokomonoko asked.
“Ah. Of course, you will. I almost forgot to add this, thanks for the reminder. The guests who present this coin will be welcomed by Empress Sokomonoko, who will be staying in a camp near the Portal. The aim, my friends, is that the armies of other cultures should be welcomed respectfully and openly.” Mérdmerén was grateful that the empress had volunteered to carry out the task.
“And with that said, the first meeting is over,” the King of Mandrake added. “I trust the comforts of Háztatlon will please you.”
Those attending this first meeting of the Assembly stood up and began to leave the chamber. The double doors opened, pushed by a soldier on each side, and the representatives went out into the corridors of the Imperial Palace. Turi was the last to leave. He was overwhelmed by the state of his heart, entangled in an incomprehensible love.
“Mérdmerén,” Balthazar said. The king was still seated, analyzing the details of this first meeting.
“Innominatus,” Mérdmerén said, recalling worse days. The way Balthazar had changed over time seemed truly impressive to him. From a banished Wild Man, he had become a farmer and from that, he had become a powerful shaman. The Wild Man had always been an enigma and he had always performed sorcery but since he had gone back to Devnóngaron, his appearance had changed so much. Those sky-blue eyes of his looked like sapphires and radiated energy. His hair was white. His body seemed to have renewed itself and showed no signs of age. And the tattoo, it seemed to shine with an energy of its own.
“You mentioned that it would be good to have a dragon,” the Wild Man said
“It was really wishful thinking, more than a real wish. I know the dragons were decimated during the failed Summoning or at least, that’s what you said.”
“You forget that I also said that there are more dragons. You forget that the Empress of Grizna herself suggested that one of your artifacts had been manufactured from the scales of a dragon.”
Mérdmerén did not know how he could have forgotten that exchange with the empress. He was aware that so many details involving the politics of the city were vying for his attention and keeping him busier than ever.
“That’s true…”
Weapons were not allowed in the meeting chamber and he had had to leave his knife in the custody of his guard.
“The Dagger of Stern,” Balthazar said.
Mérdmerén’s eyes shone.
“Could this mean you’re putting another bloody adventure into my head?” the sovereign said with a smile.
Chapter XIII — Flóregund
The sun was shining above them as if a gigantic oven were on at full blast. The damp subsoil of the Great Mesh had brought them into an unfriendly mud, where Mojak had to bruise the skulls of several lizards of considerable size that tried to catch Luchy. The huge Wild Man broke one of them in half with his hands, showing his impressive strength.
That evening, they dined on the meat of the lizards. It was a kind of meat Luchy refused to try at first, but when she understood that Mother’s fruits ought not to be wasted, she took her first bite and found that it tasted like chicken.
The sun was beginning to go down and the shadows lengthening as the day advanced.
That same evening, they arrived at an unmistakable change in the terrain when they came up against a wall of wild plants with huge flowers that kept their petals open and from which emanated a fruity scent. It did not take much observation to notice several skeletons of birds littered around them and Luchy even saw a flower in the process of devouring a large, blue bird. The process was not a quick one, but on the other hand, it did not seem to be painful since the bird was either dead or paralyzed by some poison.
Mojak guided her around those murderous flowers, never disturbing their busy palates. They passed what seemed to be a dense population of the flowers, a mesh of branches and creepers that were strangling one or two trees. Those unfortunate trees were killed by the parasite that had conquered them. That was what nature was like, Luchy concluded.
In the distance, they heard the croaking of a wyvern. Unknowingly, Luchy was witnessing the great battle that would be Mother’s highest test in her training of the Wild Men. Someone screamed. There came the sound of rending flesh. A man cloven in two fell off a steep mountain, dead.
Mojak went over to him and examined him, closing the dead man’s eyes. He did not bury him—not for lack of respect, but to honor Mother’s wishes. This Beta Male had succumbed to Mother’s test and failed in his attempt to kill a ruthya and use its hide. Because of his mistake, he had died and with his death, his elements would be recycled. Some reptiles no more than a foot high, toothed and walking on two legs, wasted no time in eating the dying man’s body, taking advantage of the fresh carrion.
Luchy and Mojak had now entered the wildest, most untamed, and most dangerous part of the Great Mesh, the Lands of El Malush. This region was known for its inhabitants: wyverns of enormous size, impressively agile reptiles, furious deer, powerful wild boar, and other famed creatures that stayed hidden among the dense foliage of the untamed forest.
The scent in the air had changed. It was denser, invaded by a mysterious fog that was neither steam nor smoke, but a mist that did not allow visibility beyond a couple of strides. Mojak, Luchy noticed, kept his mace at hand at all times; his eyes were now alive, glancing from side to side as if he were waiting for something.
A guttural braying came from a clump of bushes. Great claws followed the leap of a powerful mountain lion which had come out with the urge to add Luchy to its diet. Mojak’s speed left a greater impression on the lion than it did on the girl when the mace caught it in the back and shattered its backbone. The lion was left paralyzed and groaning with pain.
Mojak gave it the coup de grâce with a tremendous blow to the head, which turned its brain to a pulp.
They dined on the lion during their break. Luchy did not make faces that evening and accepted Mother’s offering. She noticed the wildness of the place they were in and the fragility of life there. Mojak did not eat. He spent the time skinning the giant mountain lion and collected the precious claws. He made a necklace and a large cloak which he rolled up and took for future use. The meat turned out to be stiff and without much taste. The guts decorated the soil with their stench. Luchy noticed that several of the tiny reptiles wanted to come near to eat the carrion, but Mojak’s presence seemed to scare away all animals. Perhaps the big Wild Man, having killed the mountain lion, had shown himself to be a great hunter and thus commanded the respect of the beasts all around.
***
Mojak had woken Luchy at an early hour. They left before the sun had risen, and began a steep descent down a precipitous cliff. Thanks to several tre
es and their roots, the descent was made a little easier.
When the mist cleared, the deep blue of the moorland gradually gave way to a diluted purple. It was then that Luchy realized the depth of the precipice. There seemed to be nothing in front of her as if she were looking toward infinity. A distant echo came from the deep.
Mojak stopped to hand out the meat that was cured with mountain salts. The stiff meat was unpleasant, but thanks to the salts, which made her mouth water, she was able to chew it and swallow one of the long strips. There was no lack of water in this area. There were springs all around, and sometimes Mojak seemed to be listening to the murmur of the water, digging no more than a foot deep to reach one of the mountain’s veins.
The descent was reckless, particularly when she realized that she was becoming hypnotized for moments on end by the apparent void—a purple sheen that did not allow her to see beyond.
The sun was setting. From the depths of the precipice came a gust of air followed by a flock of blue birds. They were beautiful but seemed to be fleeing from something. A red wyvern shot up and captured one of the birds, tearing it apart in mid-flight and eating it whole.
The sun hid completely and the travelers stopped to rest. Strange dreams filled the girl’s mind. She imagined her mother at the foot of the cliff with her brains shattered. She imagined Manchego trapped in an eternal slumber, far from the warmth of his family.
Once again, Mojak woke her before dawn. It was clear that they were making haste as if they had to arrive at a specific time or else they would miss some important meeting which so far Luchy knew nothing about.
Her knees, legs, arms, hands, fingers and fingertips, boots, everything was wearing away with this exposure to the elements. Her thighs were in pain, but that was nothing to the constant fear of being hypnotized by the perennial sheen that confronted her as if the infinite might open right there in front of her nose.
Necromancer’s Sorrow: (Series Finale) Page 10