Despite the mountains, it was not made from dark rock, but rather pale granite not much darker than the snow around them. The walls and battlements themselves were worked into huge, sheer walls of the castle that circled around before settling into the rock of the mountain itself. The walkways atop the buildings and walls were without crenellations, and there were only the occasional walking guardsmen carrying a puny torch. Unlike the city of Terek, this was a lone bastion that did not have any homes or shops around it and only a long, snaking road from its front gate down into the barren valley below.
“Ashrak?” Aiden said, smelling a dark, fetid odor like brackish water.
“I know where we are…” Ashrak almost whispered, “This isn’t a good place, Aiden.”
“But where is it?” Aiden replied, alarmed by the sound of concern in Ashrak’s voice. “Where are we? What is it about this castle that you don’t like?” Aiden could feel Glowby tighten himself around them, trying to project calm.
The smell of rot increased. “It’s one of the outpost castles of Duke Feldar. It’s not his main city, but he has these…special places that he uses to keep control over the mines of his lands. They say they do things there with glimmer stone. Experiments or something? I don’t really know, but even dear Father doesn’t like him.”
Aiden could feel a sense of dread overtaking him, despite Glowby’s warm embrace. Why was he being brought here? He was pretty sure Ashrak was a mistake, but Glowby had to know where he was going, didn’t he? What was going to happen? “I don’t know your father, Ashrak. Why would not liking Duke Feldar be bad? I’m not saying you’re wrong, I just… don’t know.”
There was a smell then, moving from rot to something that smelled like burning sulfur. Aiden had smelled it once when Professor Reivus had done something in his lab. It hadn’t gone away for a month. Finally, Ashrak answered quietly. “My father...He’s bad, Aiden. I wasn’t lying when I said you were lucky you weren’t born in my duchy. He’ll torture people for fun at dinner. Most of the time it’s a prisoner, but sometimes it’s one of the guests who gets his attention. He’ll make all of us watch, and if we don’t laugh along with him, he gets angry. No one wants to see him angry. That’s the kind of person who doesn’t like Duke Feldar.”
They both went quiet as they floated downwards, approaching one of the chimneys that had dark smoke coming from it. As they drew closer, Aiden spoke in a whisper. “I think we should be quiet Ashrak. I don’t know why we’re here like this, without bodies, but it’s got to be for a reason. Every other time, I’ve had to do something. But without a body? I don’t think I can do anything. Maybe we’re just being shown something?”
“I think that might be wise. I agree.” The tone in Ashrak’s voice had gone dead serious. It was strange to hear it, but it made Ashrak sound older. They both went back to being quiet as they entered the covered chimney over the castle. Their sense of dread only growing as they floated down into the building itself.
Wherever they were, Glowby didn’t seem to go far. It was dark at first, but quickly they approached what appeared to be a crackling fire in a fireplace. Aiden experienced a sudden panic as they settled into the fire directly. Fortunately, both of them quickly realized that there was no pain, or feeling of heat from the fire at all. They also realized that they were small, being only the size of a coal, of which there were many under the logs.
For a moment, they stayed deep in the flame surrounded by the orange and red inferno. It was strange to be here, surrounded by something that is usually so dangerous but once they knew it wasn’t going to harm them fear quickly gave way to curiosity.
The fire itself was located against one wall of a large, decadently-adorned study filled with shelves, books, and old paintings of uncomfortable-looking people. In one side of the large room sat an ornate, dark wood desk with a large padded chair behind it. Crouched within it like a wrinkly spider quivered an old man, his pate going bald with white straggly wisps floating down by his ears. Stern-faced and pockmarked, the man’s mouth appeared to be locked into an eternal frown while his eyes sat deep within sunken recesses, staring out at the world around him as if contemplating how best to go about stealing from it.
“It’s the duke himself,” whispered Ashrak softly. Even so, Aiden could feel a faint squeeze from Glowby, cautioning them to be quiet. The gentle pressure made Ashrak go quiet as well.
The old man was writing something into a large book, his face lit not only by the fire but by a blue glow from something set in the desk itself. Aiden briefly wondered if it was something like the floating panels in the Skywitch. He wasn’t sure, but the light reflecting off of the old man’s face flickered as it had on the skimmer. He didn’t seem overly happy with whatever he was watching, as his lips would turn up into a snarl every once in a while and he’d mutter to himself in scratchy, dark words they couldn’t make out from this distance.
The sense of danger began to grow, and before long it was oppressive. Aiden was just about to send a thought to Glowby when he suddenly felt a strange quivering in the air throughout the study. Glowby had become stone, unmoving and forcing the two within to remain still as a crimson figure appeared in a dark corner, gliding forward even though there was not a door in sight. Whoever they were, they were not washed-out like most of the room but appeared in vibrant colors and definition.
He was tall and covered from head to foot in flowing, red silk robes. Even the face was covered by the material, so there was no way to see what or who it might be. Over the robes, which moved with a strange, jerking life of their own, were intricately carved pieces of decorative armor. Even the face was a mask, cut through and carved in elaborate detail with holes for the eyes though there was nothing beneath them but red silk.
What was perhaps most shocking was the mouth, the silk coming down almost like lips and showing teeth of jarring white which presented an almost skull-like appearance. All in all, it was not ugly but startlingly beautiful with the carefully-crafted steel giving definition to an otherwise hidden face. Aiden could somehow tell that the figure was here in the dream realm with them rather than in the real world.
That is why Glowby is sitting in the fireplace, he thought, mulling over the implications. Others could move here and not all of them were ones that Glowby approved of. He thought it odd that he’d never read anything about it before in any of the books by Professor Reivus. Perhaps he needed to find other books?
His mind was brought back to what the robed being was doing as it stalked forward, stopping in front of the large desk though the fat man gave no indication he knew what was standing before him. Aiden wondered if observation was its only goal but watched its color began to fade and match the room around it. The duke gave a startled curse and pushed back with alacrity as his sunken eyes almost popped from his head. For only a moment more did the toad-like man stare, confusion evident on his face before he blinked and his already pale face went white.
At first, it had looked like the duke was going to call for some guards, but instead, he stood and then bowed low, almost smashing his bulbous forehead on the desk in front of him. Aiden could smell the cold sweat smell increase, indicating that maybe Ashrak had realized something. He’d have to ask him later if there was a later, but certainly not now with his own fear rising.
“M.. My lord,” stuttered the duke, his hands coming up onto the desk in front of him even as he kept low in his bow. “W… What brings you here tonight? Have we done something to displease you? Have I done something to fail you? This is not your normal way to communicate with me.”
The visitor didn’t answer but only tilted its head, giving the appearance of studying the gross figure like an insect before speaking. “No, Grimmon,” he half whispered, its voice slow and stately, “But please, do rise. I am not here to chastise nor to punish. I do wish your family would stop passing that story around about your great-grandfather. He brought it on himself, as you well know. No, what brings me here tonight is something else of interest
to us that we require your assistance with, if you please.”
Grimmon rose to a half bow, ready to push his head low again if he thought it was required. His eyes were clearly terrified, transfixed on his visitor like some sort of trapped prey animal. “Of… of course Your Eminence, I am at your service, of course. What could be so weighty that it would require your presence?” The duke froze for a moment, fear crawling across his face as he seemed to realize something. “N…n…not that I am questioning you, of course, not at all.”
The stately figure nodded, seeming to sigh softly before gesturing towards the glowing screen with one of its hands, the fingers also covered in the ornately worked metal and ended in hooked metallic claws. “We have downloaded some files for you to peruse at your convenience, Grimmon. They entail some odd…activity we have become aware of in the City of Terek. As you know, we do not have as much influence there as we would wish, so I need you to put all of your resources into acquiring the transgression for us.”
The clawed hand moved and tapped a metallic fingers on a pile of correspondence that lay on the duke’s desk. Slowly, it pulled one letter out from the pile and slid it over to the duke. Grimmon hesitated as if the hand was a viper before he reached out and tried to pick up the letter.
As the old man’s fingers made contact with the envelope the carved mask pushed to within centimeters of the terrified duke. “All of your resources…including the scratchers,” he hissed. As the word scratchers was said, Grimmon actually started to tremble and the sour fear smell that was coming off of Ashrak intensified.
“The scratchers? They… I… yes, I understand. Is it really so dangerous?” he stammered, obviously battling between fear of his visitor and the thing he had spoken of. “The scratchers are difficult to…control.” The duke’s voice trailed off into a hydrogen squeak.
“Yes. We are quite certain, dear Grimmon. We have reason to believe that there are…other things at work in Terek that could prove difficult to overcome without their unique skills.” The clawed hand released the letter which the sweating duke clutched to his chest as if it could protect him. Turning, the robed man walked gracefully towards the fireplace where the three were hidden. Aiden was transfixed by the silk which seemed to reach out and pull the figure along rather than flowing behind it. Aiden was sure they had been caught. He was just about to yell to Glowby to go when the mask turned slightly back towards his pudgy underling.
“You could defy us, of course. In fact, you could obstruct us outright. You may even stand a small chance of ending our eternal suffering, of stopping us from protecting you all.” The voice had risen slightly at the end, almost hopeful with its last words. “You and your family have pieced together quite a bit about us over the centuries. There are those in the world we suspect would glory in what you keep in this room.”
The dark figure had turned, with the last statement he seemed to almost be seeking a fire in his puppet’s eyes, but all it found there were fear and terror. The duke was shaking his head emphatically, denying even the appearance of being disloyal, which caused the mysterious man to slump.
“Ah...yes, too much to hope for, I suppose. Not after what we did to your grandfather. I understand that you take your children there each year to visit him as a lesson? He’s still conscious you know, even after all of these years. Quite mad, but still he hears everything you say. Such monsters as we are, we even record his mind voice. I don’t…recommend you listen.”
The suddenly diminished entity paced over to a large wing-backed padded chair to the side of the desk. It sat down, suddenly seeming exhausted and almost sick of what it was doing before it waved its metallic clawed hand at the duke.
“Read that missive from Lord Dolgren. It holds information that your contact in Terek has found something he thinks you may like. It’s about a commoner boy that appears to be able to work glimmer steel without the cumbersome steps of higher mathematics. There are other odd things, but the man appears to be trying to acquire this boy for you. Quite proactive of him, I should say, though it always bears watching those that have imagination and foresight. Something I’m sure you will want to squelch, eh?” the robed man finished with a bitter note in its voice.
The trembling man tore open the letter and began to read, looking up periodically as his dark visitor continued to talk, though only halfheartedly. “Be sure to tell him you will be sending help and will pay him handsomely for the boy. Triple whatever he asks, but send your own assets as well. We do not want this boy to slip through our fingers. This Aiden Finn must be stopped.”
Aiden’s soul froze. Him? They wanted him? By the gods, what had he gotten himself into? He began to curse internally and felt himself panicking. This terrifying thing sitting in a room wanted him! And a duke that even a monster like Ashrak’s father despised was not an insignificant addition to the fear that suddenly clawed at his midsection. He could feel Glowby closing up around him, trying to comfort him.
He struggled to get ahold of himself, knowing he was endangering them all and he had to force his mind to think of different things. The images of riding the cutter fish with Skay flashed across his memories, but it was Chari’s face that managed to finally relax him, letting him calm down.
When he came back, he noticed that the man was tilting its head, as if listening. Grimmon had gone quiet, the crumpled piece of paper at his side held stiffly as he watched with wide, terrified eyes toward his guest.
In the end, the duke’s fear of the quiet saved them. Aiden heard him clear his throat before he spoke. “Aiden Finn? Lord Dolgren mentions a boy in his letter, some orphan at their school but he does not give a name? Is… is Aiden Finn the boy’s name?”
“That is what we know, but it is not enough.” His visitor answered. “Again, send all of your resources. The scratchers may not be needed, but have them ready. I suspect…I suspect you will need them.”
Slowly the stranger stood and watched the terrified man before him. “If we find more information, we will send it to you on your desk station. Do not fail, Duke Feldar. This world will not appreciate us taking direct action again.” The duke nodded, bowing low and keeping himself there as his terrifying guest faded from his view.
To the duke, it must have seemed he disappeared, but for Aiden and his two friends the figure just came into starker relief and color. The mysterious presence appeared curious for a moment but whatever its thoughts, turned and walked towards the outer wall of the study instead, disappearing before he reached it.
With the absence of the creature, the duke settled back at his desk, taking a long drink from a crystal glass next to him, and then pouring himself another while still clutching the letter. It was at that point that they felt Glowby begin to move back up the flue and out into the cold dark sky. They moved quickly, more quickly than when they had come in, and Aiden could feel Glowby’s urgency to put distance between the castle and themselves.
After finally coming back above the clouds and almost half an hour deep in thought, Aiden heard Ashrak’s trembling voice. He’d never heard Ashrak so shaken. “By the gods, Aiden. Do you know what that was in that room back there?”
“No,” he answered quietly, still shaken from the encounter himself but noticing that Ashrak hadn’t called him orphan boy or something equally annoying, “No, other than a massive ball of trembling fear. Do you know what it was, Ashrak?”
“I think so… I think,” Ashrak paused, clearly hesitant to speak. “I think that was a Mourning Lord.”
A Mourning Lord? Aiden’s thoughts flashed and tumbled furiously through his mind. They were myths. They didn’t exist. Huge Boogey men a hundred meters tall and made of fire used to scare young children. The school nanny had told stories to frighten them into doing their chores and make their beds, saying that if they didn’t do as they were told, the Mourning Lords would come back to finish what they’d started during the great Cataclysm.
“Those aren’t real, Ashrak,” Aiden felt himself say, disbelief clearly evid
ent in his voice.
“Dear gods, why does it smell like wood chips right now? But really, Aiden, I know that all of you commoners are told that the cataclysm and the time of tears were some fanciful fairy tale, but it wasn’t. There were records, books that Father let me read that said those times were very real and that the Mourning Lords did walk the earth and destroyed everything during that time. It wasn’t a hundred years like the myths say, but only forty days. Forty days. They wrecked almost everything made of glimmer steel. It took us several hundred years after that to recover from the famine and pestilence. That was the time of tears, but the Mourning Lords disappeared before that.”
“But that…thing…wasn’t a hundred meters tall.”
Ashrak snorted. “Aiden, weren’t you on the duke’s skimmer? I heard something happened with a massive blue light that killed a trench serpent? Strange that you were on the skimmer, eh? But that just goes to show you, it doesn’t take something a hundred meters tall to destroy things, right?”
Aiden paused, thinking furiously. Did it matter if he told Ashrak? He knew so much already, but Aiden still didn’t trust him. Even as he was about to answer, he heard Ashrak chuckle softly.
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 20