Origin Scroll

by Richard S. Tuttle

  Larc came over and talked to Alex. Larc had decided to stay in Bordon. His mother was the only family he had and Oscar had offered him a job with Dalek Shipping. Alex was glad for Larc, but sad at the thought of not having Larc by his side. He had grown very fond of Larc. In fact, Alex was going to miss Oscar and Fram, as well.

  As the festival went into the evening, the boys helped Oscar assemble the two wagons. Oscar, Fram, Jerrick and Larc would be leaving for Balfour before sun up. They wanted to get the wagons out of town before Tulek saw them. Tulek would eventually learn of his new competition, but Oscar would rather have it be later. Alex and the villagers would be leaving at dawn on their final leg of the journey started so long ago. Larc had donated his caravan pay to the village to help buy livestock when they got closer to the village site.

  The full fury of winter was only a month away and the villagers had a good two-week trek in front of them. The boys would have their hands full providing shelter from the weather for the villagers. Alex and Laman decided that when they arrived at the site they would build one large building for all to share. When each of the villagers finally had their own home, the large building would be converted into a barn for Lenor and Marga. It was going to be hard on the villagers with no men and too few boys around for the heavy jobs, but Alex’s admiration for these women and children was not unfounded. They would not only survive, but they would handle it well.

  The valley that they were headed for had been given to Pitor’s father for service to the Crown. Pitor’s father had saved King Olweg’s life in the last Cordonian War. The King was reviewing the battlefield when a band of enemy archers got behind the Targan lines. One archer spotted the king and hoped for a quick and easy end to the conflict. Alex’s grandfather, Gandy, was a runner and found himself in the position of throwing his body in front of the king. The move saved King Olweg, but cost Gandy his arm.

  When Gandy returned home from the war, he was a hero and wore his disability like a medal. Several times he had taken Pitor to see his valley. After several years though, Gandy could no longer cope with his useless arm and began drinking heavily. Pitor had been handling the felling of the trees alone and had been doing fairly well. He tried to console his father but was unable to. One night his drunken father threw the deed into the fire, alternately laughing and crying about the grant of a wooded valley to a one-armed lumberman. Several days later they found his body in a stream. Pitor had loaded the body into the carpenter’s cart and, along with his son Alex, had transported the body to his father’s valley to be buried. It was the only time Alex had ever been to the Gandy Valley.

  It was a brisk winter’s morn when they entered Gandy Valley. The valley was heavily wooded, as were the slopes of the hills surrounding it. Alex led the party to a large clearing at the north end of the valley and declared that this would be the site of the village. There was a stream that led through the valley and Alex wanted the village to be upstream of the farms and timbering. On a little knoll at the edge of the clearing he found his grandfather’s marker and spent a few moments in prayer.

  Alex held a village meeting to lay out his plan and get input from the villagers. Eddie volunteered to be Alex’s assistant felling trees. Tora made a motion to name the village at this time. The motion passed and the village was named Lavinda in memory of Alex’s mother.

  Each villager found a task to do in setting up the new village. Within a week they had the barn roofed and were working on the inner partitions. Alex and Eddie were already working on clearing the edges of the village. Eddie had been sleeping well this last week. He was not muscular like Larc and at first had difficulty performing the tasks that Alex set out for him. Everyone worked from before dawn until after dusk. Eddie was constantly in pain but never complained. Alex admired him for that and was determined to make a woodsman out of him.

  Nolan, who was already skilled at painting, was learning carpentry from Laman. Kyle and Marga had teamed up to obtain whatever provisions the villagers would need to get through the winter. Tora and Kara had created a drawing of the village and families were allowed to select their desired location for a home.

  When the first heavy snows came, the village of Lavinda was ready.

  Chapter 6

  Sarac

  Sarac stormed into the laboratory. Mordac was peering into a crystal ball that was clamped in the skeletal jawbone of a long deceased Yaki. “Have you detected his presence yet?” demanded Sarac.

  “Not yet,” replied Sarac’s young assistant. Mordac stood and straightened his long, black robe. He removed his black pointed cap and brushed his fingers through his curly brown hair. “The Yaki attacks covered the entire Gordo Region. Most of the villages in the region no longer exist. Are you sure that his hidden laboratory is in that region?”

  Sarac laid his long, wooden staff on the table and eased his tall, slender body into one of the chairs. “No, not really. It is where I last sensed Egam’s presence though.” Sarac’s black sunken eyes looked weary. For years he had been searching for the library of his old master. The library, he was sure, that contained the references he needed to find the Origin Scroll. He threw his black cape on the table and tossed his long black hair over the chair back. “Perhaps, he didn’t think the Yaki were a significant threat to the kingdom. Possibly, he is so well hidden that he wasn’t even aware of the Yaki invasion.”

  “Maybe,” began Mordac, “we should spread the Yaki attacks to surrounding regions.”

  “No,” stated Sarac, twirling his long, black mustache. “I think the Yaki attacks may have gone unnoticed outside the Gordo Region. What we need is something so outrageous that the entire kingdom will be alarmed. Something that will force Egam to show his hand.”

  “What about melting the snow on the Boulder Mountains?” asked Mordac. “That would cause tremendous flooding on both sides of the mountains.”

  “That might cause a lot of deaths, but it would not force the kingdom to mobilize their entire army. No,” answered Sarac, “we need something that will threaten the very existence of the kingdom. Only something so severe will guarantee that Egam comes out of hiding. His love for the kingdom would force him to put himself in peril to save the day.”

  “Okay,” Mordac countered, “suppose we gather all your masters and assistants together and stage an attack at each of the kingdom’s garrisons?”

  “A waste of my resources,” replied Sarac. “Some of my magicians would be killed and there would be no long term tangible threat for the kingdom to rally against.” Sarac rose and walked to the window of the ancient castle. The castle in the Disputed Area had been in great decay when Sarac found it. Now it was a veritable fortress. His gaze moved to one of the towers where a pair of his goblin archers were changing watch. The goblins were a ferocious race, if somewhat lacking in intelligence. Perhaps he could convince Guldar, the king of the goblins, to begin harassing the kingdom. He would have to offer Guldar something tangible in return. Guldar, while not the smartest person around, was very intelligent for a goblin. He would realize that the goblin losses would be great. Sarac would have to find something that the goblins greatly yearned for.

  “Mordac,” commanded Sarac, “I think we will have the goblins help the Yaki attack the kingdom. The threat of goblins would demand the attention of King Eugene. I want you to set up a meeting with Guldar. Tell him that I want to discuss a matter of great importance to both of us. Then I want you to hang around his camp for a while. See if you can gain some insight into something that would cause the goblins to die while attacking the kingdom.”

  “When do you want this meeting?” asked Mordac.

  “I want the meeting set for sometime after you have gained the information that we need to ally him,” answered Sarac. “Tell him six months from now. If you have not found the information by then, make some excuse to delay the meeting another six months. Do not give Guldar any clue as to what the meeting will be about. I do not want to rush the attack this time. If Egam realizes that we ar
e using these attacks to flush him out, he will purposely stay hidden. I would rather wait and guarantee that we can find Egam, than rush it and foil another attempt. I will be spending some time in Lanoir. I have heard through one of our Black Devils that there is a large library at one of the temples down there. I will gain admittance somehow and peruse their volumes. If you need to contact me, send the message via our Black Devils unless it is urgent. Remember, the use of mind speak over such distances would expose us to detection.”

  “Your will, Master,” submitted Mordac.

  Sarac had a long journey before him. He could not use magical means for this trip without certain detection by Egam. Very few magicians had developed their powers to that extent and he was sure that Egam would take notice of such an event. Still he would be free to use many spells that could be detected only by someone within the general vicinity of the caster. Sarac grabbed his cape and staff and went to the stables.

  It had been a while since Sarac had been on a long trip with Cauldron, his great black horse. Cauldron was a Sordoan stallion, the finest available anywhere. Sarac dug his heels into Cauldron and set off for the coast. His first sizable town would be Bordon on the border with Cordonia. There he would have to start disguising himself. Not only did Egam have spies everywhere, but he didn’t want to be recognized by any of his own Black Devils, lest they inadvertently give him away. He would check with some of his Black Devils along the way, but only those who were considered the most reliable.

  About a week into his journey, Sarac ran across a band of Yaki scavenging for food. The Yaki had simple minds and were easy to control, but these Yaki were starving. They would not be controlled. Their minds had shut out what little thought they were capable of and raw instinct for survival had taken over. Sarac blasted the first few with simple fireballs and lashed Cauldron with his staff. Cauldron took off at a gallop. The Yaki might out sprint the stallion, but they would never be able to maintain the pace. Sarac looked back and cast a couple of Tree Mines. The Tree Mines hit their target and two giant trees exploded in a mist of wood slivers. The slivers sliced into the ranks of the Yaki. Those that weren’t immediately torn to shreds hesitated long enough to ensure Sarac’s lead. Sarac mused that it would be in poor taste to be eaten by the very Yaki he had unleashed.

  On approaching Bordon, Sarac chose his first disguise. He chose the bright green tunic of a Cordonian courier and rode into town. He looked forward to a fine meal and decent bed for the night. He dismounted in front of the Wagon Wheel Inn as it was the most gaily painted building in town and looked fairly new. He was not interested in sleeping in an old musty room. He tossed the reins to a small boy outside the inn and told the boy to feed and stable the horse. Sarac went into the inn and ordered a meal and a room. The meal was satisfying and Sarac lay in bed feeling elated. It actually felt good to be off traveling the land for a change, not studying or reading old scrolls. Sarac contentedly drifted off to sleep.

  In the morning, Sarac left the inn and went to the stables to retrieve Cauldron, but the stallion was not in the stables. The stable hand had never received the horse from the small boy. Sarac was furious and went in search of the little boy. Sarac found the boy playing in the alley alongside the butcher shop and demanded to know where his horse was.

  “I tied him up to the post at the inn,” said the little boy.

  “I told you to take him to the stables,” asserted Sarac.

  “My father doesn’t allow me to go to the stables,” whimpered the boy. “He says it’s too dangerous being by those big horses.”

  “Well, you are going to find my horse,” demanded Sarac, “or I will turn you into a toad.”

  The little boy started crying loudly and Sarac did not want the attention the boy’s crying would bring, yet the boy must be punished. Sarac walked to the end of the alley, then turned and hurled a fireball at the youngster. A smoldering pile of ashes was all that was left of the little boy. With a smile of satisfaction, Sarac started searching the town for his horse. Sarac soon found that there were only two places in town with horses besides the stables -- Tulek’s Shipping and the Dalek Shipping Company. He tried Dalek’s first and did not find his black stallion. A sandy-haired boy offered to let him look around and Sarac satisfied himself that the horse was not there. He walked up the road and entered Tulek’s Shipping. Ramor was quite rude to the stranger and denied knowing anything about the horse. He also refused to allow Sarac to look for himself. Sarac was not in a mood to be treated rudely and thought about frying Ramor on the spot, but decided he should be more subtle and stepped outside to plan his attack.

  Just then, three wagons stopped outside Tulek’s Shipping. The sandy- haired boy he had spoken to before asked if he had found his horse.

  “No,” replied Sarac trying to remain calm. “I have searched everywhere, so whoever stole him has hidden him.”

  “Well,” said the sandy-haired boy, “we’re heading south as far as Balfour and you’re welcome to ride with us if you wish.”

  “I really need to find my horse,” Sarac replied.

  “Suit yourself,” stated the boy, “but we’re the only ones heading south for a week and you won’t even be able to buy a horse in this town.”

  “Wait,” shouted Sarac, “I do believe that I will take your kind offer.” He would have to find his horse on the return trip.

  “Hop up,” said the boy. “I am Oscar. Welcome to our caravan.”

  “Thank you, Oscar. My name is Carson,” stated Sarac.

  “My pleasure, Carson,” replied Oscar. “You will be able to buy a horse in Balfour. It’s a larger town than Bordon.”

  Just outside of town, the caravan met up with six armored horsemen and Sarac steeled himself for an attack. Oscar sensed the tautness of his passenger and said, “It’s okay, Carson. They’re with us. There have been too many robberies in these parts and Ramor has been itching to get at me, so we have our own security force. Sometimes they travel along side us, so that bandits know what they’re here for. Sometimes they are nowhere to be seen, which keeps the bandits guessing. It’s worked out pretty good so far.”

  Oscar was pleasant company for Sarac and he actually enjoyed riding with the caravan even if it had cost him some time. One night Oscar got to talking about his hometown, Bordon, and how nice the people were. Sarac sneered when mention of the town brought back memories of his stolen horse, but he also realized that if Oscar lived in Bordon, he might be able to retrieve his horse. “Oscar,” he said, “if you can find my horse, I will give you something of great value.”

  Oscar laughed, “Carson, that is not necessary, I know where your horse is.”

  Sarac was incensed. “Why didn’t you tell me then?”

  Oscar answered, “Carson, there is only one person in that town who would steal your horse and that is Ramor. Your horse is up at his master’s house, the stone house on the hill. I didn’t tell you while we were in town, because I didn’t want to see you killed. Tulek has armed guards at his house and he wouldn’t have let you in anyway. I am heading back to Bordon as soon as I load my cargo. I promise you that I will get a detachment from the garrison to fetch your horse and it will be waiting for you on your return from Balfour.”

  Sarac considered Oscar’s statement. He wasn’t coming back for some time and when he did, he wouldn’t look like Carson. “Oscar,” he said, “I have a longer journey than just to Balfour, but I want my horse safe. If you will retrieve my horse and keep him at the stables of this Dalek Shipping Company for me, I will send a friend to pick him up.”

  “No problem,” replied Oscar, “but how will I know your friend when he comes?”

  “Do you see this ring upon my finger?” ask Sarac.

  “Yes,” answered Oscar, “it is very unique indeed.”

  “Good,” stated Sarac, “my friend will give you this ring in exchange for my horse.”

  “Showing me the ring will be good enough,” said Oscar.

  “No, my friend,” demanded Sarac,
“you have done me two good deeds and I wish not to be indebted. This ring is more than gold. It is a magical ring that I found many years ago. It warms your finger when someone is lying to you. That’s why I knew this Ramor was lying to me, but I still did not know where my horse was. No, Oscar I wish you to have it and my debt to you will be paid.”

  “A magical ring, I cannot refuse,” said Oscar. “If I can be of further assistance, Carson, please do not hesitate.”

  Sarac departed the group on the outskirts of Balfour. After the caravan was out of sight he changed into the red and black outfit of a Sordoan emissary. His hair was now short like the typical Sordoan and he looked like he had gained twenty pounds. His skin was wrinkled and his temples were starting to gray. Carson was gone and Abdul was here.

  Sarac smiled when he thought about Oscar’s delight over the ring. It was merely an inexpensive ring with a spell cast upon it. He would purchase another ring in Balfour for himself and properly prepare it. Sarac had a trustworthy Black Devil in Balfour named Lagor. He would use Lagor to get the horse and deal with Ramor. He found Lagor’s house and knocked. A young man with short, blond hair answered the door to find an emissary from Sordoa on his doorstep. The emissary gave a familiar hand sign and the young man welcomed the stranger into his home.

  “I am Abdul and I am seeking Lagor,” stated Sarac.

  “Abdul is welcome to the home of Lagor,” replied Lagor. “How may I be of service to the One Above All Others?”

  “He requires your assistance in some trivial aid to this traveler,” Sarac said. “You will supply me with a horse. You will purchase for me a ring from the market. Choose one that is used and ancient looking, but gold. After I leave, you will have a mission. The mission is to travel to Bordon and deal with a problem. You will give this ring that I am wearing to a man named Oscar at Dalek’s Shipping Company. He will be there for only a few hours exactly one week from today. He will give you, in return, a great black stallion. You will bring the horse back here and stable him until someone calls for him. Then you must deal with a man named Ramor at Tulek’s Shipping. Do not be gentle, it should send a message to his master.”