Everflame: The Complete Series

by Dylan Lee Peters

  “I don’t know, Callderwallder. What if it doesn’t work? What if the people remain angry with me?”

  “Trust me, Sister. This plan cannot fail.”

  Faedra allowed for a small smile and her eyes brightened. “You do have a wicked mind, don’t you, Brother.”

  “At your service, my Queen.”

  • • •

  The very next day, Faedra gave her apology to the Kingdom of Nefas over a chorus of boos and hisses. The crowd shouted obscenities at her and Faedra almost lost her nerve. She looked back at Callderwallder and he urged her onward. When Faedra introduced her brother, the booing grew in intensity. Callderwallder was proved right that being tied to his sister was dangerous. The people would need to be won over. He swallowed hard and began to speak of the elections.

  As he detailed the changes Nefas would undergo, some of the booing stopped and most of it quieted. They’re at least intrigued, he thought hopefully. Before long, he had detailed his plan and the purpose of his position and it truly seemed as though the people of Nefas were listening. The public announcement ended without incident, the people dispersed peaceably, and Callderwallder turned to see his sister beaming at him.

  “It worked,” she said in excited but hushed tones as her guards ushered her and Callderwallder back to the palace.

  “So far,” replied Callderwallder.

  “After the elections, I will act solemn in my acceptance of the punishment decided, and Nefas will soften. They will all forgive me once I have bent to the will of the people. This is brilliant.”

  Callderwallder couldn’t help but smile.

  • • •

  The elections that were held in the following days went quite smoothly. Each citizen of Nefas was asked to make their way to the High Courtroom and cast a vote for their representative. After three days of vote casting, the Royal Clerk and the Royal Judge tallied all of the votes and another public assembly was called to announce the new representatives of Nefas.

  Faedra again took the stage, this time feeling a great deal more confident. She had decided to wear an opulent gown of crushed, red velvet and had painted her lips to match. Her hair was like strands of silk as it lay out over her shoulders, and her crown sparkled in the sunlight. She was like a wildflower in an otherwise empty field. Let them see the beauty they will be without while I am exiled, thought Faedra as a smile crossed her red lips. Then she began to read the names of those who had won their election.

  “From Southern Nefas, Robbin Florence.” Southern Nefas was where the richest and most well-to-do citizens lived. Lovely mansions tracing the shoreline, always hosting galas and parties so decadent that other citizens of Nefas joked that the southerners could be heard all the way in Felaqua. The choice of Robbin Florence had not been a surprise, a very successful actress of the stage for many years. She was a treasure to all the citizens of Nefas. She bowed to cheers from the people after she had taken the stage and then stood off to the side, next to Callderwallder. The Queen continued.

  “From Western Nefas, Elvemin Lox.” The West was the industrial district and Elvemin Lox was its pride. Rich enough to live in the South, Lox had gained everyone’s favor by staying in the West, where he made his money with a flourishing textile business. The West is where I get my gold, the West is where I’ll lay my head, is what Elvemin would tell anyone who would listen. He took the stage and blew kisses to the crowd.

  “Next, we have the East and Barnaby Withers,” announced Faedra. The East was the agricultural center of Nefas, and Barnaby Withers was a man large and strong enough to plow a field by himself. He was often seen at market with a smile on his face and his young daughter perched atop his massive neck muscles. The crowd cheered for Barnaby as he climbed the stage and Faedra smiled at the man before continuing.

  “For the North… Tyra Lane,” the words pained Faedra to say but she made herself utter them unwavering. The North was home to the poor and common, but Tyra Lane was in no way common. In fact, Tyra had been in direct competition for the throne, against Faedra in her youth. Faedra had claimed her slim victory was due to her surpassing beauty, but the citizens of Nefas knew that it was due to her family ties. It bothered Faedra deeply that the North had chosen Lane, but she refused to let it show and greeted the woman with a very warm smile. When Tyra Lane had taken her place next to the other three, Callderwallder stood next to his sister and addressed the crowd.

  “Ladies, gentlemen; citizens of Nefas, I present your elected representatives. As their first order of business, your representatives have been asked to find a fitting punishment for our Queen Faedra and they have come to a decision; your decision.”

  Faedra looked at her brother surprised. “Won’t that seem too quick a decision, Brother,” she whispered through her teeth. “I didn’t even know they had been given their direction yet.”

  “Don’t worry, Sister,” said Callderwallder smiling. “I’ve taken the liberty of preparing them.”

  Faedra kept her smile and returned her eyes to the crowd. These simple fools, she thought as she gazed upon Nefas. My brother has all of you in the palm of his hand.

  Callderwallder again addressed the crowd. “Now, if we could have a moment of silence, Ms. Lane will relate the decision of our representatives.” Callderwallder looked back and Tyra Lane made her way to the front of the stage.

  “Thank you, Nefas,” began Tyra. “We four representatives are honored by our election and promise to stand by you through all issues. Now, in regard to the Queen and her transgression, we have decided that the appropriate punishment will be beheading.”

  Beheading, the word echoed in Faedra’s head like the voice of a stranger. Beheading. She looked at Tyra Lane, confused, and the woman smiled back at her. The crowd cheered the sentencing and Faedra looked at her brother in terror. The plan has backfired, she thought. Do something, Callderwallder, do something.

  “Do something, Callderwallder!” the Queen shouted at her brother. “Your plan didn’t work, you idiot!”

  Callderwallder just looked back up at his sister with an innocent smile. “Didn’t it?”

  Suddenly, metal hands clamped themselves around Faedra’s arms, and all at once, she knew she had been played. She grit her teeth and her eyes went bloodshot in anger.

  “Callderwallder!!” she screamed and tried to break free from the metal men, but there was no use. Men of Nefas carried a large guillotine onto the stage, set it up and let the blade fall in a trial run. The crowd cheered as it fell and Faedra screamed again in terror. “Callderwallder! I’m your sister! I’m your blood!” The metal men carried Faedra to the guillotine and lowered her head onto the block. “No!” she screamed over and over. “How could you do this to me?!”

  Callderwallder bent low and growled in his sister’s ear. “I never needed them to love us, Faedra. I merely needed them to love me.” Callderwallder raised himself up and backed away with a smile.

  “You’re an evil little toad, Callderwallder. You are evil!”

  “But, Sister,” said the little man with sarcasm, “it is the will of the people.”

  With that, Callderwallder signaled to the men and the blade came down upon Queen Faedra. The crowd cheered their approval and for the first time, they were able to enjoy the true beauty of Faedra’s wonderful red dress.

  Chapter 14: Evil Tyrants Should Beware

  The warmth Densa could feel flowing through his body left him calm and serene. He was lying upon his back, his eyes closed, a gentle breeze in his ears and the sense of someone close. He knew she was near, floating above him, gently brushing his arms as they lay folded over his chest. He inhaled the air and it was fragrant and invigorating. He felt Iolana’s hair brush his face and then her lips, soft against his.

  Open your eyes, the voice beckoned him. He obeyed… and then she was gone.

  Densa sat up to find himself on a warm patch of grass, staring at a crystal-blue waterfall. Its sound seemed muted and gentle, so soft that he could still hear the sound of so
ngbirds and his own breathing. The waterfall emptied into a crystal pool, tranquil and undisturbed. Densa knew this scene was unnatural and mystic. He looked over to his left and found Evercloud a few meters away, sitting up from his own peaceful dream.

  “Where are we?” asked Evercloud, staring at the strange and beautiful landscape before him.

  Densa merely shook his head, indicating that he did not know. The men looked back to the gentle, blue waterfall and suddenly, a light could be seen behind it, blue and pulsing, and then a voice.

  “You are here with me,” came the warm words of a woman. “I have been waiting for you. We have much to discuss.”

  Densa and Evercloud had no words. What could they say? They were in the presence of Earth. The very being that nurtured the world in which they lived was before them, about to give them all the information they wished for, all the answers to their questions. They stared at the waterfall and both men felt a weight fall from their shoulders, as if they were children in the arms of their mother. The strange, blue light continued to pulse softly and Earth spoke again.

  “The feather has brought you to my core, the place where I am my truest self, a place where we can be alone and free and safe, a place where we can speak of the first man and other things. First, I wish to thank you for enduring the tests I had laid before you. I understand that my approach was quite indirect, but I do not think it unnecessary. I needed to know that the two of you were ready for my help, and that those you have chosen to involve in your quest are full of integrity and virtue. Especially you, Densa.”

  The words hit Densa like a slap in the face, yet he knew that he deserved them.

  “I know that I have done wrong, and I am sorry for that.”

  “It was not my responsibility to take you from your mother, so long ago. I did it as a kindness. You have not returned this kindness, Densa. You have made me regret my decisions.”

  Again, Earth disarmed Densa with her words. “I am truly sorry. I wish that I could take back all that I have done.”

  “But you cannot, Densa. You cannot take back the making of the first man. You cannot take back the dark beasts that you created and unleashed upon this world. You cannot take back the pain you have caused to many creatures, large and small.”

  “I wish to atone for these misdeeds.”

  “You shall have your chance to prove yourself soon… However… I must also apologize to you.”

  Densa’s head hurt already and he had not been in Earth’s presence for long. His immense guilt was now replaced with confusion and he found it hard to vocalize his thoughts.

  “What? Apologize?”

  “Yes, Densa. I once made a promise to your mother to protect you, as I’m sure you well know. But I allowed my anger with you to soften my resolve and then I allowed another to sway my judgment. I, as well, am guilty of unleashing evil upon this world.”

  “You resurrected the Tyrant,” said Evercloud. “You brought him back to life and gave him power… Why?”

  “To destroy Densa.”

  Densa closed his eyes and hung his head, unable to speak. Evercloud’s jaw slung low in shock as he looked back and forth between the waterfall and Densa.

  “I don’t understand,” said Evercloud.

  “I was wrong. I see that now. I am not infallible. I have made mistakes that I wish to atone for, and that is why the two of you are here now. After the botched creation of the first man, the Farsiders, and Densa’s mistreatment of humans, I became enraged at him. I wanted a way to wreak vengeance on him; I wished to punish him like a spoiled child. In my wrath, I allowed myself to be plied by another, and then I made the mistake of resurrecting the first man and giving him use of great power. This was done so that the first man would rid the world of Densa. I am sorry. Please forgive my mistake.”

  Densa looked up at the pulsing light of the falls and spoke. “You never need to ask forgiveness from me. You have done more for me than any other. You, who have cared for me like a son. It is I who ask forgiveness from you, Mother Earth. I will do all that I can to rid you of the first man; rid you of this tyrant. It is all that I can do for you, for your daughter who I love, for the humans I have created and wronged so many times. But I wish to know… who convinced you to resurrect the first man? Who convinced you to do this to destroy me?”

  “You know the answer to that, Densa.”

  “The Skyfather,” uttered Densa, seething with animosity.

  “But the prophecy,” interjected Evercloud. “It was given by the Skyfather. The prophecy states that Densa and I will be the end of the Tyrant. We are the unlikely pair. If the Skyfather wanted Densa dead, why is he helping us to destroy the Tyrant?”

  “This is why I have brought the two of you to see me,” said Earth. “You do not completely understand what you speak of. You do not grasp the complete meaning of this prophecy. I will explain. You see, I had pleaded with the Skyfather, for many years, to reverse the actions we had taken with the first man. He had grown too powerful and he was a danger to all. I wished to stop him on my own, but I could not. The Skyfather and I combined our powers and gave him new life. I knew it would take the pair of us to stop him. I couldn’t hope to achieve it alone.

  “Finally, after a long time, the Skyfather conceded to give his gifts to the group you know as the Wind and to give the prophecy. Only he and I know the prophecy’s true meaning, his meaning.”

  “Please, Mother Earth,” said Densa. “What does the Skyfather mean to have happen?”

  Earth continued to explain:

  “In the world’s most desperate hour of need, earthly elements shall be set free, and evil tyrants should beware the coming of an unlikely pair. The meaning of this bit, I believe, is mostly easy to comprehend. The two of you are the unlikely pair, and when you face the first man in battle, earthly elements shall be set free. It is the Skyfather’s plan that when said battle begins, he and I will interject and strip earthly elements from the fight. This would leave the first man without the power of lightning. It would also strip many of your powers, but you would still have the power of the moon, Densa, and you would still have the power of the sun, Evercloud. And most importantly, you will still have the four gifts he has given.”

  “That is good, right? We would then have the advantage.” Evercloud wasn’t sure what he was missing.

  “There is a subtlety that you are not acknowledging within the first part of the prophecy. Note the use of the word tyrants. It states, evil tyrants should beware.”

  “There is another evil tyrant?” asked Evercloud, unable to see the hidden meaning.

  “It means me,” said Densa.

  “I’m afraid so,” admitted Earth. “The Skyfather was willing to lose the first man, but not willing to lose the prize he had fought for: Densa’s death.”

  Now realization hit Evercloud fully. “That’s why I’m here, isn’t it. After the Tyrant is dead, the Skyfather wants me to kill Densa.”

  “That’s the true meaning of the prophecy,” confirmed Earth. “But as you well know, that’s not where the prophecy ends. Behold the golden fires of hope that curse and grace the lives of man. Yet one cannot in life exist, if two won’t find the strength to stand.”

  “I thought that part was simple enough,” said Evercloud. One is hope and two is man. Hope cannot in life exist, if man won’t find the strength to stand.”

  “Yes, Evercloud. But again, you are missing the subtlety. It has been the Skyfather’s opinion, for some time, that all of the problems this world faces are because powerful beings exact their will upon the world apart from him, and without his consent. He sees the only way for hope to exist is if humans find the strength to stand… alone. Now, I understand you and Densa often refer to yourselves as men, but–”

  “But we are not truly humans,” said Densa shaking his head.

  “No, you are not.”

  “So that means,” Evercloud began, “after the Tyrant is destroyed, after Densa is destroyed…”

  “The
Skyfather will destroy all beings more powerful than humans, save me and himself.”

  “Even his own son?” asked Evercloud.

  “Especially you, Evercloud. I don’t think you realize how powerful you really are.”

  “So that’s it then. We are here to end the Tyrant and then we will die.”

  “I don’t believe it has to be that way, Densa. If the two of you never meet the first man in battle at the same time, the Skyfather will continue to wait to enact his prophecy. I believe I can stop him.”

  “Why would you help us?” asked Densa. “You have nothing to gain in helping us.”

  “Densa, whatever you may think of me, and however mad at you I may have been, I shall always think of you as my son. I made the mistake of jeopardizing you once. I shall not do it again. I’ve been trying to help all of you for some time.”

  “With the tests,” said Evercloud.

  “In part, but also with dreams.”

  “Aunt Autumn’s dreams,” wondered Evercloud.

  “It is one of the few ways that I can communicate with the creatures of this planet. I’ve been trying to do what I can to help.”

  Evercloud was amazed. If only we had known this all along, he thought.

  “So, are these dreams part of the plan?” asked Densa.

  “No, not necessarily. This is what I think you should do.”

  And with that, Earth began to lay a plan before Evercloud and Densa, a plan in the hope of saving their lives.

  Chapter 15: Overcome by Darkness

  “If I had not seen Riverpaw with my own eyes, I would never believe your story, Ben.”

  Tiber Allahnder moved across the garden to a table where an opaque-white, water pitcher stood and poured the liquid into a glass. The glass sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. It had been hours since the last rains in the Gen D’hisi Mountains, so Tiber had moved he and Ben’s conversation to a marble table that sat in the palace garden, directly under a willow tree. The breeze blew through the tree and gave reprieve from the hot sun that hung in the sky.