Malcor's Story

by Eric K. Barnum

  Shield, Fire, The Wall, The Tower, and then someone asked if there is a dragon order. “No, there is not. The orders are elemental first, and then by function next. There are no dragon orders. Our friends to the north do that. The Order of the Gold Dragon or whatever nonsense. Their names get pretentious. They bore me. Order of Fire though, impressive. Who said that and how do you know?”

  Calvin raised his hand. “A student and friend of mine was promoted to that order some weeks ago.”

  The captain thought for a moment, “A girl right? Seline, from the Dutchy?”

  Calvin nodded. “Excellent!” the captain said. “Excellent, so tell me what you know!”

  “Well, I don’t know much. Seline was promoted mid-class. She had volunteered and a Dar priestess promoted her during the class. I never really saw her again. We fought in a sparring match and she beat me. I saw her the other day. Her eyes and lips glow red though and she has a feeling about her, of heat. I don’t know how to describe it. Her armor too. Actually all of her gear, it seems – um, it makes the nicest stuff we have here look drab by comparison. I feel like she has moved to a completely different level.”

  The instructor nodded and agreed enthusiastically. “The Order of Fire is sponsored by the emperor’s son Blaze. Think of them as the assault team. The front line fighters. The do or die spitfires you can count on to fight like dragons and demoralize our enemies by smashing their strongest to ash. What’s your name?”

  “Calvin, of Klenna.”

  He paused in thought and looked around and asked, “So, you had a friend taken into another order too right? Do you know which one?” Calvin shook his head.

  “Fair enough. Lets talk about the elemental orders. I’ve told you about Fire. There are three other elements. Of the three, which is the strongest? Form into four groups.” He pointed and assigned an element to each.

  While they talked about the relative merits of each element, the major would briefly listen and ask probing questions like, “Earth isn’t just mud, volcanoes, landslides, mines, and construction. It’s our home. What we stand on. It supports our crops, carries our water. Without earth what are we?” Calvin ended up in a group with Ayden and they talked about Water.

  “What a stupid order. Water,” Calvin said. “Water is weak. This must be the group that makes everything more difficult than it should be or cleans up afterwards.”

  About half their group disagreed and half agreed. When the captain came to them, he corrected them, “Without water, there is no life. Nothing. Not us, not anything. Even the most ferocious monster needs water. As such, change your perceptions of weakness to water as either the ultimate foundation of life or the greatest weakness of any living thing. By the way, Water is the strongest order. I can tell by your expressions that you don’t believe me. But teacher,” he imitated a whiny child, “we’ve never heard of the Order of Water! There are no legends of the Order! They’re all wet!”

  “Water is the strongest. Think about it.”

  Chapter Sixty Nine - Respite

  It took many days but eventually, the healers restored the fallen and they recovered in Ori. Kendra quickly returned to command though was careful to not exert herself beyond the wounds she had suffered before petrification. Dar Kell tended to her personally as only he had the clout to enforce her healing time. For the most part, the Imperics left them alone except for when Sir Allen’s group restored the souls of the taken. The vitality, as it returned to the daimo and his family, triggered citywide celebrations that lasted for days. It would be many more days before the caravans returned with the captured treasure of the mountain. Sir Allen’s group and then only the top-ranking members of Morbatten were invited to the parties, which sat just fine with the Order of Water.

  Malcor heard voices and tried to open his eyes. His face felt heavy and impossible to control. He fell back asleep. “How long has he been like this Tembri?” Kendra asked with concern.

  “Dar Kendra, after we returned, I tended to him properly but he is exhausted worse than his Rite of Pain. I have had to use combat interventions to restore his heart many times.” Malcor felt Tembri's rough hands touch his forehead. "I have had to ward his dreams as well. They are dark and I often have had to restrain him."

  Kendra stroked his face. “This is bad. I feel responsible.”

  Then Malcor heard Kell's voice approaching. Part of him, from the darkness, rose up feeling welcome and happy. The darkness within the dark watched and was aware of Kell. Kell touched her arm and said, “You know better than most how things change with the hounds, shadows, and the sceptre involved. By itself, that Malcor confronted and fought the Wand satisfies the second rite. Retrieving the soul gem even more so. It is the stuff of legends. That he fought for almost a month to get there and the foes he encountered along the way, surely this must be a new record even for your Order dear sister. He is listening to us.”

  Malcor tried to say something but Kell cut him off, “Don’t. Save your strength record-setter. Let me summarize. The regeneration ring you emptied, it heals you as an accelerated form of natural healing. It leaves scars. Normally, we would heal over those after inflicting far greater surgical wounds. You are too weak for that and will be for too long. You will bear these scars forever sir. We also had to restore you from the encounter that withered you, when the lich touched you. A lesser man would have been soul-sucked.

  "On top of that is the dragon mark. You have been through a lot Malcor. Your goal to face a mighty enemy… you faced a god, in the form of that ogre possessed by the Jade God’s sceptre. You then tried to attack the sceptre-possessed lich, which is like attacking a hellhound or even the dragon emperor.

  "The worms. The lich. You did it. You also channeled Tembri’s divination prayer to find the soul gem. Because of you, the empire has won a great victory where normally we would have won just a new member to our Order. The soul gem kicks it up a notch. So, rest. Relax. Remember your second rite and how long it took to feel normal again.”

  Kendra said, “Kell, this is my fault. The plans to help him encounter the lich…”

  “Changed. Forever. The River has moved past it.”

  “No, not for me. Daryx made me a liar.”

  “I do not think the emperor will allow a challenge amongst members of the Circle.”

  “Then I will leave the Circle.”

  “Daryx would have had no way of knowing the Jade God would get involved. That he found out at all and effectively countered it, is miraculous. If anything the Jade God made you a liar.”

  “Daryx’s job is contingencies against the Jade God. When the lich’s eldar nature was confirmed – “

  “You were immediately counselled. You could have pulled the mission. Let it go. Many others have sought to take Daryx down, and have failed. The Queen favors him even though he is an infidel. She may not allow you.”

  “The Queen will allow a righteous challenge. I see it. I will resign from the Circle.”

  “And what of him?”

  “Tembri will watch over him. You will too.” Tembri grunted in agreement.

  “I will Kendra, but I will not allow my sister to stand against Daryx alone. I will stand with you sister. Plus, the Circle must learn that the Temple and the Order of Water stand united, always. Cor’tanos must see it so.”

  Malcor only heard bits and pieces of this talk but later, when he finally opened his eyes, he found his room dark. Light edged in around a door and slatted window frame. He heard the sounds of a celebration and tried to stand up but fell back to the bed. Unconsciousness took him again.

  Time passed and again Malcor opened his eyes. Tembri sat by his bed. Back behind him, Sako and Noboyuki both looked up and smiled. Sako rushed to his bed, “Malcor! You’re finally awake! Guess what? You’re going to be tested to join the paladins! Isn’t that more than what you wanted?”

  Her intensity hurt his ears and his head began to throb. Tembri pulled her back. “Malcor, you have made some friends it seems. Here,” he he
lped Malcor drink some tea. It tasted good and he gulped it down. It hit him, how profoundly hungry he felt.

  “More,” he gasped. Sako and Noboyuki began laughing saying they had seen that look several times before during their adventures.

  “Malcor, you are so very lucky to have a mighty priest like this help you!” Sako laughed.

  Malcor listened to them talk and at some point, the two Imperics took their leave saying they’d be back. Tembri helped him eat until he felt like he would burst. He signed to ask if they were alone and when Tembri nodded, he asked, “Tell me Tembri, what happened to the party, the Order, I want to know everything.”

  “You are very tired and recovering from very serious wounds Malcor. There is much to tell. I’ll share a very high level overview of the high points. We won. You accomplished your rite with golden ribbons and bonuses for overachieving. While the lich was the initial goal, your confronting and standing against the Wand of the Jade God transcends “a mighty foe”. The Wand is considered a minor deity. You also broke the record for youngest/greenest paladin to successfully commune with the Goddess; that you did so and recovered the lich’s soul gem made this overall adventure a rousing success for Morbatten. It was also, might I add, very profitable for everyone involved.”

  Malcor smiled, “So I did my second rite?” He tried to sound happy but it came out as a whispered yawn as he fell back into a deep sleep. By the third day, he was back to where he had felt he was after the Rite of Pain. Sako came and visited often. There was a huge ceremony where the Imperic Royal family thanked Sir Allen and the people of Morbatten for aid in both restoring the taken souls and the nation’s treasury. Sir Allen made a speech that just when it started to upset the Tanians, the dread lord Blade stepped forward and removed him from speaking.

  Blade’s speech, full of victory, glory, passion of combat, great deeds, and self-sacrifice for the greater cause of Ori’s national identity struck a chord with the people and roused by dragon-incensed emotions became a raucous din. While Sir Allen fumed in the background, the crowd chanted “Ori! Ori! Ori!” and when the daimo rose to speak it was minutes before things quieted enough for the old man to speak. He held up a written speech and then smiled broadly. “After that rousing speech, I throw this away! The truth is that Ori came under attack. Thanks to the mettle of you my people, the blessings of Imperius and the servants of the gods we call our allies, we have won! Ori shall never fall!”

  Sako and Noboyuki were brought forward and then Tembri smacked Malcor on the back and propelled him to the podium. “You’re not formally a knight until you take your oaths sir, enjoy yourself!” he said. Looking out over the see of spectators, Malcor felt every eye stare at him. He followed Sako and the priest in bowing to the people and then to the daimo. A medallion graced with the Imperic letter for Commitment was placed around his neck.

  When the cheering stopped, the daimo rose and congratulated them. He then eulogized the fallen members of both their party and other parties who did not return. “A monument shall be built at the southern gate so that all who pass through to the wilds may remember the brave heroes who fought for our freedom! Malcor, step forward.” The daimo bowed very low and very formally and then the entire plaza did. “You came to us from far away seeking fame, glory, and wealth. In doing so, you saved my people. You recovered my soul and my wife and my good friends. I understand from honored cleric Noboyuki that you fought with the courage of samurai, the mastery of kensai, the fury of sumo, and the honor of Imperius. You shall forever be a friend to the people of Ori!”

  Similar speeches followed for Sako and Noboyuki though it was very confusing when Sir Allen stepped forward and was congratulated for liberating Ori’s wealth and returning the stolen souls. Malcor tried to keep his face impassively stern like Sako’s, but when the Queen of Ori approached him later on and asked about it he knew he had betrayed his true feelings. “I have no issue with Sir Allen’s claim. It’s only that we fought so hard and I don’t remember hearing or seeing them, ever.”

  She empathized with him and said, “When evil and magic combine, it is sometimes hard to know the truth. Sir Allen is a friend of Ori’s and his honor is beyond question. May I suggest you bring it up with your own people? Here, let me help you.” She waved a gorgeous dancing girl over and put her hand in Malcor’s hand. The old lady winked at him. “She will teach you our dances and ensure you have a partner. When it is my turn to dance with you young man, I will have high expectations!”

  Just a few seconds of dancing and Malcor grew dizzy to the point that Tembri intervened. The girl bowed graciously and offered instead of dancing, “Would a massage help?”

  They walked off to a side room and by the time that Tembri laid Malcor down, Mal had fallen asleep. The girl gasped looking at the many wounds, scars, burn marks, welts, and eroded damage to Malcor’s skin. Tembri pointed to a few and told what had happened. “I’m sure he’ll sleep for hours, but as a healer, I know a massage is always welcome.”

  Chapter Seventy - From Ori to Tania

  Malcor continued to recover, gaining in strength and recovering his mental awareness. One day, Tembri grabbed him and said they had to go to a meeting of the Order. It was the first time he had seen them all. The mood was jubilant. The group smiled and more than a few broke into big smiles when they met Malcor’s eyes. Kendra stood forward and said, “C’mon everyone, you’re acting like I’m a statue or something!” referring to her petrification. “We won! We knew we would. We did not know the path our victory would take. Like a river, our path meandered, even changed several times. We have business to attend to and then happier things for all of us. First the business.

  “The Wand remains secured by my sword and under our watch. A ship docked here today that will take it back to Tania. Lord Blade and two other ships will escort. Besides Malcor, I have asked Verit to attend to the Wand’s security on the ship. I will be with dread lord Blade in the air. The rest of you will either be on the escort ships or will gate back to Tania with the Apprentice. Malcor and Verit, you will attend us after this meeting for more instruction.

  “Malcor, Sir Malcor, please stand and come join me here.” As Malcor walked up to her and bowed, Kendra spoke to the group. “The original parameters of our mission were to help Malcor fight the lich. The Order would weaken the lich and create a fair fight for our newest member to actually kill the lich. That did not happen, and while we all share some blame in that, I am most to blame and will take it up with the Circle and the emperor and Daryx specifically. The odds quickly became impossible when Malcor found himself alone, cut off from us, cut off from the motherland. But, like a knight, like a dragon, he fought on and on and on, past the breaking point, past the point where even paladins despair and angels cry out for release.

  “He fought on and when, alone, he found a far greater foe than the lich. He found the Jade God's sceptre. He did us proud. He called on his battle priest for assistance and fearlessly challenged the great evil of the Wand of the Jade God. And when the wand called to the lich and got so close to becoming a hellhound, Malcor continued to fight, and was stricken, withered; his very life withered.

  “In that moment, no amount of training, no dream, no destiny could have prepared Malcor to face the Goddess. Stripped of everything even his very life force, he succeeded in asking and understanding how to obtain the soul gem. And, because of this, we won!” She held the bracer with the soul gem out. “Here! This is the foe Malcor vanquished. We, the Order of Water, we proud and mighty few, we may have destroyed the lich’s body and captured the Wand, but Malcor faced the Wand first and delivered to us the key to winning this battle! All hail Malcor!”

  The Order, amidst much armor smashing, cheering, and congratulations, cried out their approval. When it faded down, Kendra said, “We will hold this soul gem, but Malcor, when you get back to Morbatten, you have one last task before you. You must ascend the emperor’s mountain. You will take him the soul gem as your trophy. The emperor has asked that y
ou take your oaths with him, witnessed by our Order. Having completed your second rite, you will then prepare for your Bloodstone Campaign. You ride at first snowfall, with the king Dar Rojo, to Bloodstone!”

  Cheering erupted again and amidst it all, Malcor felt a dizzy sense of elation that had been completely absent when he had fought against the Wand. He turned and looked around at the Order, his band of brothers and sisters. Smiles, no envy, only glorious anticipation met him on all sides. Suddenly, Tembri embraced him and he realized the battle priest had tears in his eyes. “We’re going to Bloodstone SIR Malcor! You are exactly what I have prayed to the Goddess for – a worthy knight to fight with! Thank you Goddess!”

  The trip back to Morbatten passed uneventfully. With dragons escorting and the Mage’s Guild assisting weather and travel, they made record time with no issues. Most surprising of all to Malcor was, when leaving, both Sako and Noboyuki sought him out and met him at the docks. Both gave him gifts. Sako gave him a delicate and gorgeous silk folding fan on which the character language of the Imperics she had written the word for “valor”. Noboyuki gave Malcor a bottle of their famous rice wine sake. After presenting him these gifts, Noboyuki bowed very low and said, “Your priest friend Tembri, he says you are to fight in Bloodstone. If true, will you accept us in your squad? We wish to see and fight in this place!”

  Sako added, “Ori feels so small now that I have fought outside of it. Though not as mighty as you, I have no doubt that our skills will serve your cause!”

  Taken aback, Malcor looked at Tembri. “I have heard of Bloodstone but do not yet know what rules there are – “

  “As a paladin-to-be Malcor, you will be a squad commander for your first tour. A squad may be as small as seven and as large as twenty. Having fought with your Imperic friends, I see they will be assets to you. The only thing to bear in mind is that Bloodstone is deadly, and also very profitable. Even a single bloodstone ruby is priceless. Squad members share what the squad finds.”