A slight fear of what the future held for them plagued Faolan, yet he faithfully followed the wolf guardian as they began their trek northward toward the Tri-Peaks. He wondered if the stranger’s words held truth and if his decision to remain with the group was sound.
Chapter 20
“Fear and Anger”
“The third angel will be an angel who stood at the edge of Hell, a jailer of evil. He was an angel of purity with sword of fire and armor of gold. He was the harbinger and the doom for any demon trying to escape Hell’s Gates. His soul did not go unscathed.”
The Ikalreev Prophecies 6:1–4
It took a few hours for Faolan’s group to reach Dragdun, where the others had stopped the night before. The structures and citizens of Dragdun were much the same as those of Odemar and Ardara. The dwarven warriors in Dragdun wore the same fearsome armor and weaponry as those in the other cities because King Kvaran ruled all the towns surrounding the Scar. They did not stay long in Dragdun as they stopped in the northern dwarven town only to gather a few needed supplies for the journey northwest, as well as some thick blankets for the north road’s cold nights.
There was need of them in the dwarven lands, Caedmon had told Faolan on the way to Dragdun, but the continued threat of dragon attacks on the dwarven cities would not be quelled by their presence. If only one dragon raided the dwarven towns, then perhaps they could stop the threat, but an entire den had been awakened and was now raiding the dwarfs. The dragons were beyond their ability to stop, and they must continue forward with the looming threat of the Initiate and the legendary six seals.
After grabbing the supplies they needed in Dragdun, they traveled northwest. The lands grew greener to the north and west of the Verdunmull Scar as they entered the northeastern edge of the plains of Gathian. The landscape was a mix of tall grass and sparse hardwood trees. A calming breeze was blowing from the southwest as the cool air flowed over the grasslands in pleasant waves.
The Tri-Peaks were a fair distance northwest of Dragdun, and it would take them time to travel to the trials. Both the dwarfs and the forest elves had had their fair share of confrontations with the giants who claimed the Tri-Peaks as their home, although normally the giants were considered peaceful and unaggressive and usually only became dangerous if an outsider caused disruption within their homelands. Neither the dwarfs nor the elves could claim to have left the giants without disturbance, though typically due to dishonest individuals with devious intentions.
Caedmon knew they would need to tread softly in the shadows beneath the Tri-Peaks should they wish to go unnoticed. The giants preferred isolation from the races as the large creatures found the smaller beings to be rather troublesome to their calmer way of life. Their presence near the Tri-Peaks could be unwelcome, and they would have to be careful to not anger the giants.
Kellen and Auvelia were leading the small group on horseback, with Gavina and Treasach close behind. Following them was the creaking wagon where Faolan sat beside Leith on the bench. Aili was in the back of the wagon and tended to Ireli the best she could, though it was not much more than a damp cloth to the forehead in order to keep Ireli cool under the hot sun. Behind the wagon, Caedmon had tied the dwarven horse’s reins to the wagon’s rear. The old wolf walked next to the unconscious dwarf, making sure Ehreion did not fall from the horse’s back.
Caedmon noticed the labored gait of the large horse and went to Ehreion to remove some of his armor, placing the pieces into the back of the wagon near Ireli. The reduced weight on the tired horse’s back produced an immediate response, allowing it to breathe more easily without the excess weight. Caedmon glanced over both Ehreion and Ireli in growing concern as doubts seeped into his thoughts while their slumbering continued.
Aili looked at the old guardian and figured she should share the disturbing vision she’d had near the Scar. She moved to the wagon’s back edge and glanced over her shoulder to see if the others were already occupied or disinterested in her movements. When she was satisfied with their indifference to her, Aili looked back at the old wolf.
“Caedmon, can I talk to you?” she whispered.
The old guardian agreed to her unexpected inquiry and moved closer to her, and then he replied, “Yes, what is on your mind?”
“I had another vision.” Aili spoke softly. “Concerning Faolan.”
“Oh, and when did you observe this new vision?” the wolf inquired quietly.
“I experienced the vision after we crossed the gorge during the dragon attack. The scout’s bridge had collapsed, and Faolan had just saved my life. He caught my arm to keep me from falling into the gorge to my death. Faolan was different this time, and a darker aura surrounded him. His eye was not the same, and he had red thorns on his clothes, but the most disturbing part was he said something to me during the vision. He told me that the first key had been found and that if it pierces the seal, then Verdunmull will bleed.”
Caedmon stared at her in disbelief and astonishment. He paused a moment in stunned recognition before replying. “Are you confident those words are what he spoke?”
“Positive. They carried on the air as all other sounds died away,” she whispered. “I could not even hear the wind.”
The ancient protector was stunned by this new revelation. “What are these visions, and how would he know this to be true?”
Aili shook her head in uncertainty and wondered as well. “I cannot explain it, either, though I am afraid of what I have seen in the visions. I am unable to accurately translate everything I have seen into words for you.”
“You are positive that it was still Faolan you were seeing?”
“What are you saying, Caedmon?”
He was unsure if he should question her further, but he wanted to know, and so he answered, “The person who spoke to you . . . Was it Faolan . . . or was it someone controlling him?”
The healer did not quite understand his insinuation but insisted, “It was Faolan . . . it had to be. He still looked like Faolan. His face and body did not change, though his demeanor was rather abnormal.”
Caedmon speculated about her vision, but his guesswork would not prove anything. The old wolf was unable to provide her with any understanding as he was uncertain what was occurring and why she was receiving these visions, although he thought it rather peculiar that she was having visions much like the Archmages. He considered there might be a connection, but he failed to comprehend any link between his creators and the healer.
The ancient protector might not be able to discover the source of the visions, though one aspect was deeply concerning to him. He was worried about the warning she had received in her latest vision and knew they had no time to waste if the evil beast had truly found the key to the First Seal. The wolf wished they could travel straight to the seal, but he knew that was not possible because they required the full capabilities of the Ikalreev magic if they hoped to actually defeat the Initiate. Besides, there was a very real possibility that neither Ireli nor Ehreion would wake until they had endured the trials.
“Thank you, Aili, for sharing your vision with me. The warning may be real, and we must not take it for granted,” Caedmon told her. “Please inform me if you have another.”
“I will, Caedmon.”
“You may return to caring for the mages. We must continue to the trials for now.”
She did as he instructed and left him to his thoughts and concerns. The healer dampened the cooling cloth again and applied it to Ireli’s forehead.
She inspected both her patients and saw no change in their physical state. Aili was not too concerned about the possibility of abrupt changes in their health. If any dire consequences would have resulted from the Ikalreev magic, then she figured they would have already occurred. The two had remained stable ever since they became unconscious, and little to no change had taken place since then. Only a persistent fever remained as the two mages slumbered.
While Aili and Caedmon were talking, the four on horseback had been
conversing at the front. Past accounts of heroics and interesting events had risen in their conversation, and they were deep in discussion.
“Kellen, please tell us one of your war stories. I am rather curious about your stationing and what you may have seen.” Treasach told the retired general, “I have always yearned for action, but my mother is overprotective and would not allow me to fight on a field of battle . . . that is, until recently. Other than Mor, this is my only expedition outside Lesley.”
Gavina inquired, “This is only your second time outside Lesley?”
The prince denied this. “Well, no, I have been outside Lesley before. I hunt frequently in the woods and fish in King’s River as well as visiting the farms outside town, but this is my second actual mission with a purpose.”
“Explains a lot,” Auvelia chimed in with a thoughtful nod.
Gavina chuckled in agreement with the retired Shadow Guardian’s comment.
Treasach glanced at her with an inquisitive expression. “Explains what?”
“Oh nothing, dear.” Auvelia shifted her glance to her husband. “You should share one of your war stories with him, love. I am sure he will enjoy hearing about your run-in with the troll berserker and hyena huntsman.”
Kellen knew his wife was correct but added, “Or perhaps I should share the time I led a small company into the bowels of Molagav to defeat the ogre chieftain Garagtak.”
“Oh yes, that is a great story,” Auvelia agreed. “Full of daring elves in a hostile environment where it is impossible to retreat due to the haphazard cave systems dug by ogres. A true guts-and-glory type of story.”
Gavina was intrigued by her hype and perked up at the depiction. “That actually does sound like a good story. I might enjoy that one too.”
Treasach nodded eagerly and urged, “Aye, both stories sound fascinating. Do tell, please!”
“Although . . .” Kellen paused with a smile as he gave the prince a hard time by not continuing with either of the previously mentioned tales. “An even better story would be the tale about the giants’ stones.”
Gavina glanced at Kellen inquisitively and questioned, “Giants’ stones?”
“Aye, stones for giants,” the retired general jested.
Treasach was not completely sold on the new story as he quipped, “No, really? I would not have guessed that was what you meant.”
“What is special about these giants’ stones?” the dark-haired general inquired.
“They say the giants’ stones were gifted to the giants of the Tri-Peaks long ago by the Ikalreev. There are four stones, and they are all small enough to be held in a single giant’s hand. Why would the Ikalreev give the giants precious stones?” Kellen paused for suspense. “No one really knows, but there are theories about their purpose.”
Treasach was being drawn into the story by Kellen’s skillful narrative. He became less skeptical and more intrigued as the experienced scout wove the story deeper.
“Close to a century ago, a human of thieving sorts decided to explore the Tri-Peaks because he believed there was a dormant dragon den located between them. He sought treasure from the gold hoarders, though of course no bright individual would ever enter a dragon’s den while thinking rationally.” Kellen breathed. “Instead of finding dragons, the human found giants. The man entered their settlement and scoured it for valuables. After some time searching, the man became frustrated and began to leave the giants’ settlement. As he slunk through the shadows toward its perimeter, the thief saw them.”
“What did he see?” Treasach wondered as he was caught in the scout’s storytelling.
“The giants’ stones.” Kellen paused dramatically. “The thief grabbed the stones and slunk out of the giants’ settlement, but before he escaped, one of the giants saw him and alerted the others. The man ran south out of the Tri-Peaks and into the Mythios Woods, and as he fled, he could hear the giants roaring behind him in the distance as they discovered the stones’ disappearance.
“To make matters worse, the thief made his way into elven lands, which led the giants to believe the elves might have had something to do with the man stealing the stones. The giants made their way to Lesley and attacked the elven capital in anger over their lost stones.
“King Zael hastily requested that the giants have calm talks with him as the giants were quickly devastating the town, which didn’t have the present-day outer and inner walls. Back then, the forest merged seamlessly with the town, and we lived in the massive trees—”
The prince interrupted rudely. “Yes, yes. I know the giants caused us to stop living in the trees because they knocked most of them down in rage, and the two massive walls were built to keep the giants out in the future. When does the story become interesting again?”
Gavina shot a disapproving expression at the prince, and she was surprised the young elf she had mentored had become so disrespectful. “No reason to interrupt him, Treasach. Just let him tell the story. You are acting like a child.”
“A child?” Treasach was offended. “I am your prince. Do not insult me.”
Gavina turned away and lowered her gaze, realizing she had overstepped her bounds in addressing the prince in such a manner. She was beginning to recognize he was not the same young elf she had mentored many years ago. Their common bond of mentor and mentee seemed to have faded some time ago, and she had not come to terms with the disconnection as of yet. She still saw him as the child with a weak sword arm and timid fighting stance.
“My apologies,” she said softly.
Treasach acknowledged her apology and waited for Kellen to continue.
Auvelia gave the general a sympathetic look and felt sorry for her. She felt the prince’s overbearing reaction was uncalled for, seeing as how the general had meant nothing by it.
The retired Shadow Guardian failed to appreciate the status of royals as her past experiences in the guard had opened her eyes to many things, some of which were unforgivable. Such was the way of the Shadow Guardians and was one reason for their emotion-presenting apparel. Several guardians had risen against the throne in the past, though one would be hard pressed to reason which sides had good intentions.
Auvelia was not as unscathed as the king enjoyed boasting in reference to her service; she was just better at adapting to her emotions than others. In addition, she had her loving husband and adoptive son to keep her even minded when presented with unfavorable thoughts. Although, at times, even they were not enough to keep her from experiencing intense emotions when presented with objectionable interactions similar to those in the present.
She breathed deeply and released her unpleasant feelings with a long and relaxing exhale. “Love, you should continue with your story.”
“Very well,” Kellen continued as he was well aware of his wife’s diffusing techniques. “After the giants attacked Lesley, I led a small company in pursuit of the human thief who stole the giants’ stones. We chased him deep into the human lands, and he sought refuge in Cathan Lonaas as we closed in on him. It was not the wisest move he could have made, as less than an hour later, he raced out of Cathan Lonaas with a deathly pale expression on his face.
“It was at that point we apprehended him, though he was talking like a madman. He spoke about whisperings in the castle’s cold air and disturbing noises that seemed to originate just beyond eyesight. I have heard the castle is cursed, and being wiser than the thief, we left the grounds without further hesitation. We dragged the thief back to the giants to apologize in person and beg for his life.
“To this day, I still do not understand the giants’ interest in those small stones. They looked like simple precious gems with faint color, though they were rather odd . . . because they did not shine in the sunlight,” the scout recollected. “And they had a heaviness beyond one’s assumptions. Intriguing little stones they were, though their value and purpose eluded me. It is quite interesting to think those little stones could have caused Lesley to change so drastically.”
“What happened to the thief?” Treasach questioned.
“Well, the giants pounded him into the ground,” Kellen replied grimly.
“Are you serious?” the prince exclaimed in shock.
The scout enjoyed toying with the royal as he smirked. “No, not really. The giants are not unreasonable and bloodthirsty creatures, but they will let you know when you have angered them. The giants released him with a firm understanding that if he should return, they would rip him apart and feed him to the bog lichens.”
“You call that not bloodthirsty?” the royal yelped. “What are those bog creatures?”
“What, lichens?” Kellen remarked with a straight face.
“Yes, they sound hideous,” Treasach admitted.
Auvelia giggled and turned her face away from them, placing a hand over her mouth to stifle the noise.
“Aye, they are quite hideous.” The scout winked at his wife. “They are plants that slowly consume what they grow on, drinking their prey’s blood and eating their flesh for ages to come. Never would he rest if the bog lichens latched onto him.”
Treasach’s eyes expanded wide in fright. “Such a thing lives? We must burn them all!”
Kellen burst out laughing in response to the prince’s reaction. “I am sorry, my prince, but I am teasing you. The lichens are a harmless plant, a food source for animals. ‘Feeding someone to the bog lichens’ is a phrase the giants use to describe throwing someone into the bogs and letting him decay without ceremonial burial.”
The prince calmed down and awkwardly shifted his posture, as he did not know how to react to the scout’s mockery. “Oh well, I suppose it could have been real. How was I supposed to know?”
“No harm in a bit of teasing, sire. I assure you, no disrespect was intended,” Kellen confessed.
Treasach saw the three chuckling companions and tried not to let their mockery bother him. He had realized, albeit with a delayed understanding, that snapping at Gavina shortly before had been disapproved of by his fellow travelers, though it was difficult for him to contain his bitterness as he was not used to this personal type of banter. The royal found it unkind and not to his enjoyment, yet decided to ignore the scout’s teasing at the present. In truth, he was intimidated by the retired general and did not wish to trade unfriendly discourse with him.
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