The Banished Lands- The Complete Series

by Benjamin Mester

  But something alerted the riders below, for they reared up and drew back, stationing themselves against whatever lay above them in the hillside. Estrien removed her bow, calling it to life and stepping forward from the trees. It was a long shot but she took an arrow and stretched it back as far as she could manage.

  Then letting the arrow sail into the night, they waited for many moments until a death cry erupted from the middle of the pack of horsemen below, sending them into a frenzy. Estrien drew her sword and with a yell, the coalition forces rushed down the steep decline.

  The forward most horsemen stood their ground while those in the rear began to circle out wide to flank them. The horsemen brandished spears against their descent, waiting patiently for the coalition forces to dash against their deadly wall.

  But Estrien unsheathed her throwing dagger, hurling it at the lead rider and striking him squarely in the chest. Stunned, he dropped his spear, and clutched the dagger in both hands, falling to the ground, slain.

  Then, with a mighty crash, the two forces met, spears shattering against the near impenetrable armor. But some found their marks, felling a handful of the coalition troops. The valley floor was a flurry of swinging swords and kicking hooves.

  Estrien ducked a pair of blows and stabbed upward, felling another horseman. Just ahead, she saw a coalition warrior knocked to the ground by the swinging hind quarter of a horse. The rider reared up to crush him underfoot.

  Estrien raised her hand and called her dagger, Drune, back to her. And then, in one fluid motion, just as it reached her palm, it was loose again, spinning through the air and finding the chest of the rider, who pulled his reins tightly at the impact, sending him and his horse backward.

  Just then, a rider bore down on her, swinging powerfully before she was ready, the blow knocking her to the ground. The horse was above her almost immediately, ready to stomp her life away. Estrien rolled and slid, but the horse prevented her from rising.

  The quarters grew closer with the battle raging all around. Estrien rolled toward another horse to escape the first, and the second kicked her in the chest, knocking the wind from her lungs. But she arose, her world spinning and her lungs burning to reclaim their breath.

  Estrien climbed a nearby horse whose rider had been slain, charging the nearest enemy who was little match for the swiftness of her sword and armor. Others in the coalition had done the same and were fighting horse to horse against the cavalry of Corcoran.

  Now that the odds were shifted in their favor, the forces of Corcoran began their retreat. But, glancing about, over a dozen of the coalition warriors had been slain.

  “Take the armor from our fallen comrades,” Estrien commanded. “And hurry.”

  Looking back down the valley, the whole camp of Corcoran was up in arms. Listening as the sound of the retreating horses faded, she thought she heard the faint struggles of battle still on the hillside. Had Drogan and his forces escaped over the ridge wall?

  Windbearers

  A woman in a flowing silken gown walked along the cool stone floor, each step echoing through the palace hall. None others were stirring. She had tossed and turned for an hour fighting it. But she would never sleep, not until she knew her husband was safe.

  So, walking toward the pavilion, she stepped into the open air above the city Eulsiphion. The lone Athel stone lay at the edge of the pavilion, its jagged features stark against the vast horizon. She approached it, her eyes searching for the moon. It was easier to use in sunlight but she only ever seemed to use it by moonlight.

  The moon was only a crescent tonight and low on the horizon, making it difficult. But as she touched the Athel, pulling her nightgown close about her, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her thoughts slowly faded and something was replaced in her mind – an image of another place. But as the image came into focus, something from behind startled her.

  Ariadra awoke in her chamber room, her mind full of the dream and her heart beating quickly. What had it meant? Was Sheyla speaking to her? But they had already fled, joining the dead in peace. It wasn't really Sheyla speaking to her. It was more like the echo of her. Or something her own mind remembered and wanted to tell her?

  But the dream was quickly fading. Ariadra laid back in her pillow, closing her eyes to remember what detail she could. Sheyla had paid special interest to the angle and shape of the moon in the sky. Then it struck her. It wasn't so much the skill of the user. It had more to do with the angle and position of the light source, either the sun or moon.

  Ariadra arose from bed slowly. Was it really that simple? She needed to find out. So, making herself ready, she left her chambers and stepped into the palace hall early that morning just as the first glow of dawn filled the air.

  The palace hall was empty as she entered, and she walked the long space, remembering the dream and how similar it was to her motions now. Arriving at the pavilion, she walked slowly toward the Athel stone, hesitant to touch it, as the sun had yet to appear in the sky. But it would be a good test.

  So, placing her palm on the stone, she relaxed her mind, allowing it to wander. The world seemed to blur into a golden hue but nothing more came to her sight. Reaching up, she grasped the necklace of Sheyla in her hands. The sky blue jewel was beautiful in the early morning, the many facets capturing the mellow rays in a dazzling array. Would it help her find her own husband? Or would it take her to the tomb of King Euthor, which had already been visited by Corcoran?

  Ariadra waited for many long minutes, cradling her arms in the early morning air, pondering as the sun climbed behind the peaks of the Squall Highlands. But she felt the warm sun suddenly on her back and saw the rays clothe the golden veins of the Athel stone.

  Then, reaching out, she placed her palm again on the cool stone. Instantly, the world became almost intensely golden, so much so that she had to lift her palm and cover her eyes. But still she felt what she had before, a pulling toward the southwest. Was that Baron she was being called to or the tomb of King Euthor?

  Ariadra turned away for the moment, pacing about the pavilion as she sought to remember the dream she had just had. Sheyla had been able to use the stone to find her husband. So it could be done. But Ariadra remembered Baron telling her once that the Forthurians didn't know how to use the Athel stone, though they had surely tried over the years. That meant the skill must be difficult. But they also didn't have the seer's jewel now hanging from Ariadra's neck.

  Ariadra came back to the edge of the pavilion, peering outward. The city was just beginning to stir below and soon would be bustling with hundreds of citizens. But things had been hushed and hurried with the army gone – an atmosphere of waiting and worrying drawn about the city.

  Ariadra felt it too. It seemed as though Corcoran had somehow arranged everything in his favor and could strike at any moment. But Ariadra knew her presence changed things – made him more cautious but also more desperate.

  Ariadra watched for a long stretch of time as the city came to full life. Then, peering to the sun which had risen just over the mountains of the Squall Highlands, she placed her palm again on the Athel stone. Immediately a flood of golden light filled the landscape.

  Ariadra tried to navigate herself through it but to no avail. Then, closing her eyes, she grasped the Seer's Necklace in hand and thought of Baron. The landscape began to move, bringing her away from the city, over the open plains and eventually toward a forest.

  But the world grew too bright and she had to take her hand from the stone, rubbing her eyes. Though she hadn't seen Baron, it seemed like she had been slowing down – as though Baron were somewhere within the forest to the southwest. But how could that be? He had set off to the north, to Ogrindal. It greatly troubled her.

  But a commotion inside the palace hall drew her attention. She had already lingered here well into the morning. So, emerging back into the hall, she found it bustling with persons of state, including King Froamb, who was speaking to his attendant. Approaching him, he seemed surpri
sed to see her and he dismissed the man he'd been speaking with.

  “Queen Sheyla,” he said. “Sheabor's been looking for you. He was afraid something happened to you.”

  “I'm perfectly fine,” she said. “I've just been on the pavilion.”

  Then she drew him off to the side to speak more privately.

  “Can you tell me more about the Athel stone?” she asked. “I'm surprised none of your people ever learned how to use it.”

  “Many tried in the early days to unlock its secrets,” he replied. “But the light was so intense that the experimenters either abandoned their quest or went blind before making any real progress.”

  Ariadra nodded slowly. She remembered how bright the light had been, forcing her to turn away after only a few moments. What if she would never learn to use it? How would she find Baron? The thought made her heart race.

  But just then, the doors to the palace hall opened, revealing Sheabor. He walked forward and seemed startled when his eyes fell upon Ariadra.

  “Where have you been?” Sheabor asked. “We've been looking everywhere for you. We thought the worst might have happened.”

  “I think Baron's been captured,” Ariadra declared.

  Sheabor's gaze darted about the room for any others in earshot. Then holding his finger to his lips he escorted Ariadra to a quieter corner with King Froamb.

  “We discussed that this morning,” Sheabor replied in a hushed tone. “The reports came in during the midnight watches. It looks like there was a struggle. We think the Horctura may have him. He might have wandered into a patrol while heading for Thay Iphilus Forest.”

  Ariadra was surprised by his declaration. Turning away, she stared at the stone floor as she sought to understand what the Athel stone was telling her.

  “What is it?” Sheabor asked.

  “I don't know. It's just...I think he's somewhere to the southwest. That's where the necklace keeps pulling me when I touch the Athel stone.”

  “Have you been able to use it?”

  “Not really,” she replied. “When I touch the stone, all I can see is a golden or silvery gleam. But when I use the necklace, my gaze starts to wander toward the southwest, past the plains and into the forest beyond. But it never settles on a specific place.”

  Sheabor's countenance was troubled as he thought for many long moments.

  “Are you sure it's Baron it's bringing you to and not the tomb of King Euthor? It would be somewhere in that direction.”

  “No,” Ariadra said. “I mean, I don't think so.”

  But she hadn't really considered that. What if the necklace only worked with King Euthor's tomb because he was the one who crafted it?

  “Keep at it,” Sheabor encouraged and turned with King Froamb to depart.

  “Wait a minute,” Ariadra demanded. “What's being done about Baron?”

  Sheabor took a step toward her.

  “I promise you we're doing what we can.”

  But his assurances did little to still her worries.

  “I suggest you return to your chambers and get ready.”

  “For what?”

  Sheabor glanced back and forth for spying ears.

  “We're unlocking the powers of the Windbearers. Only a handful know. I want you to be there when we do.”

  Ariadra had only seen a glimpse of Faigean since his arrival the night before. He'd been hurried away to private quarters and his envoy had quickly departed so as not to draw attention. Did Corcoran know of his arrival? Were they trying to keep it a secret?

  Ariadra bowed and departed for her room. But her mind was fixed on Baron. She couldn't think about anything else until she knew he was safe. What was she going to do?

  She had to keep using the Athel stone. With the help of Sheyla's necklace, she knew she could find Baron. But would she find him in time? If Baron really had been captured and it wasn't by the Horctura, then it left few options. What if Corcoran had captured him? Ariadra shuddered at the thought. The things he would force Baron to do...

  But she couldn't abandon herself to despair. Baron would be alright. She just needed more proof to bring to Sheabor. But for now, she was expected in the catacombs. So she banished her restless thoughts and put on the persona of Sheyla, emerging from her chambers as a regal princess. It wasn't how Sheyla really was, Ariadra knew. She had been a simple farm girl and had never really taken to the air of royalty. But it was what the people expected, so Ariadra played the role.

  She was greeted by one of King Froamb's attendants and ushered from the palace hall to the entrance of the catacombs, where Sheabor was waiting.

  “My queen,” Sheabor said with a bow. “Thank you so much for agreeing to meet me.”

  Ariadra nodded.

  “There are parts of the old city we're having trouble accessing,” he said. “I was hoping, since you know this city better than anyone, that you could help us.”

  Ariadra bowed in assent. The people nearby who had stopped to listen seemed to voice their discontent, that Sheabor would ask a queen to roam the dark and dirty depths of the city. But he needed an excuse to get her and the others down to the vault without raising suspicion.

  Ariadra knew how delicate things were, whether or not Corcoran had even learned Faigean had come. Sheabor extended his hand and Ariadra walked through the open door down to the catacombs. The first time she'd been down here, she'd been in a daze, having spent what seemed like a lifetime with King Euthor and Sheyla and not really understanding where she was. But things were clearer now.

  The air grew cold and damp as they descended beneath the city, taking the winding corridors until coming to the smashed wall of Shade Stone. Entering, Ariadra was surprised to see that many were already standing there waiting for them. Aravas was there, standing with a man who looked like his brother. And King Froamb stood amid a handful of his trusted advisers, and Cora came up to greet Sheabor.

  “Faigean and Aravas have been here all night,” Sheabor said. “It was necessary not to draw attention to the gathering.”

  The man Sheabor referred to as Faigean approached her, though his countenance looked troubled.

  “Sheyla, I'm told,” he said, glancing to Aravas who nodded as he extended his hand. “It's been quite a long time.”

  “We're sorry for the deception,” Sheabor said. “But it was necessary.”

  Faigean didn't seem convinced. Turning to Aravas who again nodded his approval, he turned back with a smile.

  “Well, today is proving full of surprises.”

  Then Sheabor walked to the low-lying column that held the orb resting beneath a velvet cloth. Removing it, the darkened sphere appeared, still flashing faintly with an inner light.

  “Once we unlock your powers, you'll still have to pretend like nothing's changed,” Sheabor declared. “If Corcoran finds out, the ruse is up.”

  Aravas and Faigean both nodded.

  “You made a choice long ago,” Sheabor continued. “Now, the peoples of the free world are asking you to undo that choice and return to your rightful positions as caretakers of the world.”

  Then Sheabor unsheathed his hammer from behind him, holding it stationary above the pulsating orb, Aravas and Faigean coming alongside him. Ariadra's heart beat quickly. Never did she consider that she would ever be chosen to take part in such momentous events. This would be a day that would never be forgotten and it struck her in that moment that even once she was dead and gone, people whom she would never meet would talk about what happened this day – the day the Windbearers regained their powers, once more standing with mankind against the tyranny of Corcoran.

  Sheabor seemed to sense it too, for he took in a deep breath, his chest swelling with pride as he glanced to his wife, Cora, who gave him a smile of deep admiration. Sheabor raised the hammer high above his head. Then, coming down hard, he hit the orb with all his might.

  The hammer bounced from its surface, but a loud crack echoed throughout the cavern. For many moments, nothing happened. Then a li
ght began to gleam through the newly formed crack in the orb. Sheabor took a step back as Aravas and Faigean each placed a hand on the orb.

  And as they did, the two halves of the orb flew apart, slamming into the cavern walls amid gasps from those gathered. A ball of lightning hovered in the place where the sphere had been. But it began to pulsate and swirl, breaking into two distinct energies that came to rest above Faigean and Aravas and flowing down and enveloping their entire bodies.

  Lightning flashed from where they stood, striking the cavern walls and crackling with power, and wind from no natural source gusted through the cavern. The watchers cowered low from the intensifying flashes of lightning and wind growing to a deafening roar. Ariadra covered her face and eyes, the dust in the cavern stinging her skin. Cora crawled toward Sheabor, reaching out her hand to his. Ariadra could hear muffled shouting amid the roar.

  And then, in an instant, all was calm. Ariadra hesitated a few moments and took her hands from her ears, opening her eyes and standing to her feet. Two men dressed in white now stood before them, their hair gleaming like the whitest wool and an ethereal brightness emanating from their garments. Sheabor bowed down before them.

  “My Lords,” he said. “The people of the free world once again ask your help against the enemy of old. We ask you to side with the Three Houses in banishing Corcoran once and for all from our world.”

  The rest also slowly took a knee, even King Froamb. For none had ever seen such power displayed. It was an act of trust, not blaming the Windbearers for the splintering of the world, but asking them to help make it whole.

  Armor

  Baron had been working for days, using the ore provided to him to fashion suits of armor. Though a blacksmith by trade, he had surprisingly never seen iron in the rough. In Suriya, he worked with ingots of iron, mined and smelted in the north.

  But the chunks of stone before him were filled with veins of metal, almost reminding him of the Athel stone in Eulsiphion. Perhaps the inventor of that stone had modeled his creation after a piece of ore. What if the Athel stones were so uncommon because they had to be crafted from a large piece of ore containing both silver and gold?