The Banished Lands- The Complete Series

by Benjamin Mester

  “A small matter,” he said, waving away Baron's comments.

  Then he stepped forward, more closely examining the work Baron and his dozen laborers had accomplished. After another minute, he turned and looked Baron in the eyes.

  “I'm suspending all other projects,” he declared. “Whatever you need, it's all at your disposal. We'll follow along behind you and complete the structures with the rest of the necessaries.”

  Though Baron was flattered by his enthusiasm, his inclination was to decline. The thought of being in the limelight of all of Suriya was loathsome. The old Baron would have leaped at such a chance but the new Baron just wanted to do his work in quiet. The pleasures of an adoring public seemed petty now, and powerless to fill the gaping hole that ached within his heart.

  Baron was suddenly struck by the fact that he'd now achieved everything he'd ever wanted as a younger man – to be someone important, someone admired. But now having tasted it, he wanted nothing of it. He only wanted what he couldn't have – Ariadra.

  But the representative was beaming and Baron didn't have the heart to stifle him. The people of Forthura had been through so much and they deserved some hope, something they could really get behind and throw their entire effort into. Baron shouldn't rob them of a vision they could fight for. So he agreed with a nod. The representative plopped his hand down on Baron's shoulder.

  “Then I'll see you at dawn,” the representative said, heading off.

  Baron smiled. What had he gotten himself into? The laborers dispersed, leaving Baron alone. The sun was descending over the plains in the west and Baron watched it for many minutes dip toward the bounds of Thob Forest. Then he turned his gaze northward, to the places beyond this forgotten fishing village at the bottom of the world.

  And for the first time, he felt a streak of guilt. What was he doing here? He'd told Sheabor he was going to investigate an important matter in Eulsiphion and had never even come within a dozen leagues of the city. He was one of only two Builders in the entire kingdom, and he was here mending cottages for fishermen. He should go back to the alliance city. The forces of Corcoran could land at any time.

  But Baron couldn't leave. He didn't have the heart to. In Suriya, he could find a measure of peace – could live out his days among his family until the darkness finally came to find them. For the first time in his life, he wished he was simply ordinary. Then it wouldn't matter what he did or what he chose. He hated knowing his actions might actually mean something to the fate of the rest of the world. He just wanted to disappear.

  Baron turned away and back toward Suriya, the mellow glow of fires greeting him from many windows. He ambled forward, seeking his family home. But as he traveled, he heard a familiar sound. It was the sound of singing and he knew just the spot from whence it sprang.

  Baron smiled and changed his course. Within minutes, he was standing outside his old stomping grounds, Walloway's Tavern, where he, Durian and Blair had begun their incredible adventure. He hovered there a moment, his heart beating quickly. It was as if in those moments, he was called to decide what kind of man he wanted to be. But Baron was tired of being strong, of being the one people relied upon to get the job done. So he entered through the door. The tavern was alive with merrymaking, familiar tunes sung by familiar voices. Baron smiled as he stepped forward into their midst.

  “Aye, Baron!” shouted a nearby voice.

  Baron turned to find Jaden walking toward him.

  “A drink for the builder of Suriya!” Jaden yelled to the crowd who hollered their approval.

  Baron grew suddenly embarrassed but nodded with a smile and the bartender, who happened to be the grandson of the original Walloway, handed Jaden a drink for Baron. A shout went up from the townsfolk as they raised their mugs with Jaden and Baron in a toast. The two laughed as they clanked their glasses together, and Jaden insisted Baron join him at his table.

  Jaden's table was full already but they made room for the new addition. Another young man and two young women were already seated there. One of the two women was quite beautiful, with sandy blonde hair and a bright smile. Jaden and Baron stood before them and Jaden made the introductions.

  “Baron, these are my friends Jaimus and Henna from Echlin,” he said of the two at the far end of the table.

  Baron nodded to them with a wave and a smile and then turned to the fourth member of their party, the beautiful young girl, who smiled at Baron, waiting for Jaden to introduce them. But Jaden turned instead and grabbed a chair for Baron, inviting him to sit. The girl shook her head and rolled her eyes with an exasperated smile, slapping Jaden in the arm.

  “Oh, right,” Jaden said, finally acknowledging her. “This is my sister, Shay.”

  Baron and the others couldn't help but laugh and smile at the playful relationship Jaden had with his sister, which was actually quite similar to how Baron had often treated Blair.

  “Shay,” Baron said. “Like the river.”

  “You're a quick one,” she remarked, which drew another round of laughter.

  “As you've probably guessed,” Jaden began. “Our parents were over-fond of that tepid stream fouling up our eastern border.”

  Shay was horrified at the remark and elbowed her brother in the side as the rest laughed. Shay was a good sport, and Baron continued to marvel how similar Jaden's relationship with her was to his own relationship with Blair. They would make quick friends, he was sure.

  “So you're the one everyone's been talking about,” said the young man named Jaimus.

  Baron gave him an intrigued look but didn't reply. Jaimus leaned in as though to reveal a secret.

  “Some say you're a sorcerer, here to trick us.”

  “I'm a blacksmith from Suriya,” Baron laughed. “I've had more pints in this tavern than the lot of you combined.”

  Though it was a joke, Baron got the impression the town believed he was keeping something from them. It made him smile. Since Baron didn't fully understand his own ability, how could he explain it to others? But they took it as secrecy on Baron's part.

  “Forgive us all for being skeptical,” Jaden broke in. “But blacksmiths from Suriya can't do what we all saw you do today.”

  Baron opened his mouth for a quick-witted reply but stifled it, cocking his head to the side and shrugging sheepishly.

  “It's difficult to explain,” Baron said. “I'm not even sure I understand it all myself.”

  Baron could see that his cryptic remarks did little to satisfy their curiosity, but he honestly didn't know where to begin. Baron smiled to himself how, in Thob Forest, when he, Blair and Durian had first met Sheabor and Straiah, Sheabor had had the same speechless manner, not knowing where to begin with three simple villagers. In the end, Sheabor had only asked a simple question and that seemed like as good a place as any to start.

  “What do you know of the old world?” Baron asked.

  The four listeners glanced at each other in intrigue but shook their heads. Knowledge of ancient history wasn't common in places like Suriya and Echlin.

  “In the old world, there were people like me and my brother, who could manipulate stone with their hands. They were called Builders and at that time, they ruled from our capital city, Eulsiphion, during the First Age before Forthura claimed it. They've been trapped on the Banished Lands for over a dozen centuries, since the time of the Great War.”

  Baron paused, seeing a mixed response in their eyes. They didn't have the context for the places and events he was speaking about, but he could see his words were striking a chord in their memories. Regardless, they were enamored nonetheless by a mysterious world that stretched far beyond the southern peninsula of Forthura. Echlin was probably the furthest north any of them had ever been.

  Baron continued his story and the four listeners ate up every word he said, listening for an hour without interruption. Baron told them of tales of the mysterious Soul Stone, which had awakened his gift and of the Banished Lands, upon which the dark tyrant, Corcoran, ruled and
the lost House of Cavanah lived in hiding.

  Baron finished his tale and smiled at his astonished listeners. He felt the best he had in weeks, seeing the amazement in his listeners' eyes, and remembering what it was like to have the admiration of a beautiful girl. For the first time since Ariadra met him in the forest, he actually felt some semblance of happiness, which drew a sudden guilt and the flooding remembrance of Ariadra.

  “I should be getting home,” Baron said. “I've got to be up at dawn.”

  “But we've so many questions,” Jaden complained.

  Baron chuckled but was unrelenting. Jaden and Shay arose with him and accompanied him to the door.

  “Will we see you again?” Shay asked.

  Jaden wore a wide smile. Baron wanted to return it, but he only found himself nodding.

  “Yeah,” he assured at length.

  Then he departed into cool night air. It was late and his parents would probably be worried for him. Though the old Baron was often out late making merry with his fellows, the new Baron was loathe to do so. So he hurried home. Entering quietly, he was surprised to find his mother still up, sitting pensively in a chair and knitting something from wool. Seeing him, she laid it down and stood to her feet.

  “I'm sorry to keep you up,” Baron said as he turned round and closed the door gently behind him.

  He lingered there a moment, reluctant to turn around, not knowing what the countenance of his mother held for him. But she walked over to him, placing a hand on his arm.

  “It really is wonderful to have you home,” she said.

  Baron turned and smiled politely, then took a few steps toward the fire, gazing into it.

  “The hardest thing for a parent is to let their child out into the world, not knowing what difficult and hurtful things await them.”

  Baron didn't know what to say to such a declaration.

  “Right when you first walked through the door, all I saw was a man seeking peace. You might find it here. But we both know you have a greater destiny than Suriya can fulfill.”

  Baron didn't turn his gaze from the fire but nodded slowly to her statements. During his time at the alliance city, everything he'd done had been for love of Ariadra. He'd wanted to impress her...work hard for her. But now he didn't know who he was anymore or what he had to fight for.

  “Whatever you choose to do with your life, just know your father and I will support you. You're welcome here for as long as you want.”

  Baron turned to her with a smile. He hadn't yet let himself think about the future and being home gave him a peace he greatly treasured. It was good to be among his own people, useful and respected. The alliance city didn't really need him anyway. They had Blair, and he was more powerful a Builder than Baron would ever be. At least for the time being, Baron was right where he wanted to be.

  The Trap

  Estrien wandered the lonely streets of the alliance city, lost in thought. Everything was set and the scouts had reported that Durian would arrive by nightfall. She'd thought long and hard of another way to trap Corcoran but to no avail. And the silence of Aravas confirmed it. She knew now for certain that neither she nor Durian would live to see tomorrow.

  Blair had gone to visit Ariadra the same day Estrien had. The next morning and quite unexpectedly, Ariadra took a horse and left the alliance city, without scarcely a word. Estrien had half a mind to send out riders after her and bring her back, but the healers had said that Ariadra had recovered quite quickly once she'd taken enough of their revitalizing elixir. If Ariadra wanted to go to Eulsiphion and search for Baron, that was her choice. But if she didn't find him there, Estrien worried her grief might drive her to do something foolish.

  But Estrien would be long dead by then. And Blair was the one she was most concerned for. He was already eaten up with the knowledge that his best friend, Durian, was about to be killed by a trap of his own making. And soon he would learn that Estrien also meant to be in the room with Durian when the trap was sprung.

  How tragic it would be if the trap failed. Their lives would be wasted needlessly. It was almost enough to make her reconsider. But they couldn't forego such an opportunity. Two lives in exchange for stopping a war before it started. But poor Blair, who had to live on wondering if he'd killed his friends in vain. They wouldn't know it immediately, perhaps not even for months and years. But if Corcoran escaped, Blair would know it eventually as Corcoran's invasion began and the guilt of it could destroy him.

  Estrien felt so badly for the position Blair was in. If only they could leave a way out...signal to Blair somehow if the trap failed. But so much could go wrong. What if the spirit of Corcoran overtook Estrien as he'd done with Durian, forcing her to signal Blair? Or what if Corcoran fled Durian's body and pretended to escape, lurking in some corner, hoping she'd value her own life enough to break free?

  There were too many variables and the plan was already so tenuous. She wouldn't risk it failing just to save herself. She needed Blair to understand that before setting foot into the room with Durian. So she made for the interior of the city, knowing that Blair would be busy double and triple checking his work. But she walked slowly and breathed in deep, not wanting to speed through her final day in the world.

  She approached the building and entered. Blair was inside, smoothing out the walls with a layer of normal stone, which hid the Shade Stone interior. The chest of writings from the monastery of Kester had been brought and placed at the far end. Estrien had a plan and needed the documents to lure Durian into the building. She wished it wasn't so, for if there was anything more in the writings of King Euthor to aid them, they'd be lost forever. Blair saw Estrien approach and gave her his attention with a sigh of sorrow.

  “How's it coming along?”

  He nodded slowly, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Do you think it will work?” she asked.

  “I think so. I've tested it against everything but Sheabor's hammer. It seems quite sound.”

  “Good,” she said, running her hand along the smooth surface.

  Then she looked Blair in the eyes.

  “I'm going to be inside with Durian when you seal the room.”

  “What!”

  “Someone has to be with him or he'll surely suspect the trap,” she said. “If we put him in a room alone and close the door, he'll know something's wrong.”

  “So now it's two innocent lives on my conscience instead of one!”

  Blair turned away from her and walked the small room toward the far wall and the chest of documents, hunching over on his knees in great despair. Estrien said nothing, but gave him time to process the news. At length, he returned to her.

  “How are you going to signal me if the trap fails?” he asked.

  Estrien's eyes filled with compassion but she said nothing. Blair took a step toward her, his countenance betraying his confusion at first.

  “No!” Blair declared as the realization set it.

  “Blair, it's the only way. If Corcoran leaves Durian and overtakes me, he'll use me to escape.”

  Blair leaned against the wall and beat it with his hand. The shock sent a spiderweb fracture radiating outward and Estrien saw the dark, translucent Shade Stone underneath. It looked just like the stone of Sheabor's hammer. At length, Blair turned to Estrien, his eyes pleading.

  “Estrien, abandon this plan. We can still defeat Corcoran in the field.”

  But she shook her head.

  “We have the chance to stop this war and save thousands of lives.”

  “You can't ask me to have this on my conscience – to live out the rest of my days wondering if I had needlessly killed my friends.”

  “I'm so sorry, Blair,” she said, her eyes glistening with tears. “I can't imagine what a burden you're feeling. If there was any other way, I'd take it. If we don't follow through with our plan, we'd have to kill Durian anyway. We can't risk him finding out that you have the means to construct Shade Stone. And Corcoran won't just leave Durian without a fight. I'm s
orry, Blair. But your friend Durian died the moment Corcoran entered him. And I'm a warrior. I'm proud to give up my life to save countless others.”

  Blair's eyes glazed over as the truth of her words set it. He wiped his eyes with the cuff of his shirt and stared down at the floor in abject defeat.

  “Just make sure this room is sealed as tightly as can be,” she said.

  Blair nodded. Estrien waited a moment and then departed. Once outside, her emotion overtook her and she broke down in tears. This was so awful. She had been strong for Blair, but couldn't contain her feelings any longer. For long minutes, she let her emotion flow, wandering toward the lonely mountain until finally taking a deep breath.

  She needed to find Aravas. The morning was transforming into day and Estrien was anxious to get everything done that needed to get done. Durian could be here by evening. So approaching his tent, she found him outside, gazing off to the distant hills and sweeping plains of Kester.

  “Please reconsider letting me go inside with Durian,” he said. “I'm an old man and I've lived more than a full life. Pallin and Faigean can see that this world returns to the beauty it once held.”

  But Estrien only shook her head slowly.

  “We don't even know that Pallin's alive. One Windbearer can't be caretaker of the whole world.”

  “Then perhaps Sheabor would consider stepping in. After his loss, he might welcome the chance.”

  “We don't know that Cora is dead for certain. Everything Durian told us may have been a lie. Sheabor is a better leader than I'll ever be. He's Lord of the House, Cavanah. I'm only a simple warrior.”

  “You're much more than that,” he replied. “This world owes you a debt that can never be paid. And I will see to it that for as long as I live your deeds this day will be remembered and honored.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly. “Please, when you see Straiah, tell him...”

  “I will,” he assured.

  Then he stepped forward and embraced Estrien tightly. She felt a rush of emotion. How heartbroken Straiah would be. But he was a warrior. He knew the cost of war and had lost friends and family to the forces of Corcoran. This would be different, but he would manage in time.