The Vlakan King (Book 3)

by Jim Greenfield

  "You are good to him, Faeya. It is rare for such devotion among the immortals."

  "You have Moria."

  "Yes, but she is young. I am eldest. I have my own troubling dreams at times. I have seen most of the centuries of this world and the images run together showing me ghosts together in places they never were in life. It becomes difficult to sort it all out. I am immortal in a limited sense. I may be killed in battle one day. Each day I feel a little less engaged in the world. Once I wondered how Gerrand could shut himself away from all the work he once enjoyed. How the Histories of Landermass no longer called to him. He turned the Mage Academy over to Artus and left it behind. That amazed me for he is so much younger than me. Now, I begin to understand. I can see the changes in the world and know my time is passing."

  "You just need more rest," said Faeya. "Are you eating enough?"

  Kerreth raised an eyebrow and patted his thick middle.

  "Are your eyes failing you little Faeya? You could fit inside my stomach. Ha! I will see to the messages. Oh, and one day you should acknowledge Wynne as your grandmother even if she doesn't acknowledge you."

  "How long have you known?"

  "Does it matter? Years, centuries, I don't know. Since I met you, I guess."

  Kerreth Veralier walked out of the barn leaving the small woman alone with her thoughts.

  Kerreth walked to one of the houses, knocked softly and entered. The interior was dark and still. He went to the single bedroom where the two women slept. He touched one on the shoulder. His massive hand shook her whole body.

  "Taina? Taina? I need you." His low tones rumbled in the silence.

  "Go away, Kerreth. It's my daughter you want. Moria's right next to me."

  "No, I need you to go to Nantitet."

  "What?" She opened one eye. "Not looking for something to get you through the night?"

  He smiled at her and swatted her gently.

  "No. There is trouble coming. Gerrand saw it in a dream. Now get dressed, you need to take a message to Artus Endria."

  "Ohh," she stretched. "Good thing Moria sleeps so soundly. I'd hate to have her think I still cared about you after all these centuries. She'll be a good wife for you."

  "Shut up, Mother," murmured Moria Albalen. "Kerreth doesn't need any advice from you."

  "No, he doesn't. It's been a long time since he needed anything from me." Her voice purred.

  "I'll be outside," said Kerreth, trying not to meet Taina's eyes.

  "Coward!" called Moria. "Now get up Mother, and let me get back to sleep. It sounds like I won't have too many chances for a deep sleep with Gerrand's foretelling."

  "Keep well, daughter," said Taina Talos.

  She found Kerreth saddling her horse.

  "This is serious, isn't it?" asked Taina. Taina's father Altair Talos founded the Talos Company and Taina joined mere months before they found the giant Kerreth Veralier who later became their leader. Kerreth was unlike anyone she had ever seen and he fascinated her. It took many years but eventually they became lovers. That relationship ended an eon ago. Still, Kerreth was singular and even Navir could not guess his origins.

  "Yes and no one rides faster than a Daerlan. Tell Artus that there are two dangers coming; one from the west and the other from the east. Gerrand is certain Galamog comes from the east. Artus needs to get as many mages ready for war as he can."

  "Should I stay or return here?"

  "Return here. We will need everyone together. If a Jungegud goes to war we will be hard pressed in battle."

  "Shall I get Blackthorne? It's on the way."

  "You have no time to be delayed by his arguments. You go to Nantitet and I'll fetch Blackthorne."

  "Keep my daughter safe, old fool."

  "I shall, as always Taina. Keep safe!"

  He watched the Daerlan ride south and remembered their years together. He had enjoyed those years. He couldn't remember the exact argument or the reasons they left one another. But life changes and remains interesting. Years later he had been surprised when Taina gave birth to Moria. He knew Moria wasn't his daughter; it had been a century since he'd lain with Taina when Moria was born. Taina never said who Moria's father was and Kerreth never pursued it although Moria's father was not a Daerlan. Taina did not seem concerned when Moria took an interest in Kerreth and Moria told him Taina was pleased they were together. In all his long years, Kerreth never claimed to understand the female mind. It was that acceptance which made the thousands of years bearable.

  "I heard voices," said Dvorak Annis, walking out of his small house. The fat wizard rubbed his eyes and looked up to Kerreth. Dvorak wore a brown cloak, which appeared slept in, and it was, and his long fuzzy hair threatened to leap from his head.

  "Ah Dvorak, good. I was just going to wake you."

  "Breakfast is ready?"

  Kerreth glared at Dvorak. "Do you actually think I would save any food for you, much less take the time to wake you so you could get fatter?"

  "Oh. Is there trouble?"

  "We can't afford the verbal games right now. I need you to pay attention. Gerrand saw a vision of war with Galamog involved. A major war against Men. Send word to Brevin to scout Mordyn as he makes his rounds. He is to send word to us immediately if he sees any military activity or large movements of people."

  "Brevin would be a long way from here by now. I will need my strength."

  Kerreth grabbed the wizard by the shoulders and lifted him off his feet. Dvorak's eyes bulged.

  "Then hurry and eat something! I want Brevin to receive your message by the time he wakes up." He did not set Dvorak down gently.

  "Okay, I'll hurry." Dvorak hurried off to eat and then prepare his spell.

  Kerreth felt ill at ease and did not know why. Then he noticed Jarius at the corner of Wynne's house watching him. The boy was creepy. Kerreth glared at him and walked back to the barn. The sky was beginning to lighten and the morning songs of birds had begun.

  Chapter 4

  Nantitet was an ancient city and the capital of the kingdom of Calendia. The refugees of a massive volcano eruption on the Isle of Cothos founded the city centuries earlier. The Zidars came ashore on the southern coast of Anavar to find the race of Men, hunters and gatherers, who claimed the land. The king of the Zidar people, Weracht de Arayr negotiated for land for the Zidars to settle and they began to build a city. The Zidars taught many skills to Men and founded the dominant civilization on Landermass for centuries to come. The Zidars intermarried with the Men and still their descendants ruled the southwest of Anavar. The purple towers of the Nantitet castle rose five hundred feet into the air. The secrets of their construction had been lost through the ages and only Castle Moorld on the coast of Calendia remained to rival them. But Moorld was an evil place and best shunned. Nantitet grew to the largest city in the world and its crowded streets were dirty and narrow but the upper levels where the wealthier citizens dwelled were spacious and well kept. The upper levels were the oldest part of the city constructed during its zenith. The white brick streets shone in the sun and never stained from dirt or weather. For the outlying towns and kingdoms Nantitet remained a mythical city founded by Weracht de Arayr and watched over eternally by his son Mauran de Arayr, the Sorcerer.

  From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass

  Three blocks from the castle of the High King sat a low building with a squat tower. It was the home of the Mage Academy. Gerrand founded the Mage's Council and he donated to it the histories he had written on the lands of Landermass, the continents of Amloth and Anavar and the diverse peoples that walked them. Eight hundred years of his own life gave him a certain perspective to record the history of the world. After Gerrand retired to Toraba the High Mage, Artus Endria, transformed the Mage's Council into the Mage Academy for the teaching and understanding of magic in all its forms. By most accounts the focus on scholarly pursuits had produced a great knowledge of magic and the years had been peaceful. However, the Mages, wizards and sorcerers wielded real power an
d much jealousy rose against them despite their vows to be removed from the political process. The Brotherhood of the Rose was the most vocal opposition to the Mage Academy and the Rose Bishop never missed a chance to explain to High King Armana de Arayr that the Mage's were leading Calendia into ruin.

  The Rose Bishop, the High Mage and the Warlord met with the High King in his sitting room weekly to report on the welfare of Calendia. The Rose Bishop often arrived early to gain the king's attention for his own purposes.

  "My High King," said Aulan Brema, Bishop of the Brotherhood of the Rose. "I bring caution regarding dealing with the Mage Academy." The short man stood in the middle of the marble floor. He had a round face with an iron-grey goatee. The High King stood at the window, his back to his guest.

  "Again? I grow tired of your soliloquy," said the High King. "Ever you rail against Artus and his people. They are no threat to me, or to anyone else. They no longer practice battle magic. Scholarly pursuit is their focus."

  "If you can trust his word."

  "I do. Aulan, are you telling me my own mind?" His voice was harder.

  "No, of course not High King. I am merely expressing my concerns of the potential corruption of magic. It comes from the Jungeguds and is not tamed by men. History tells us that magic leads to oppression. Look at Kerthon the Black, Macelan or that miscreant Blackthorne. All of them covet power. Only the path of the Altenguds is without taint."

  "Yes, yes. You have expressed this same concerns many times. I trust Artus Endria and I trust you. Is there more?"

  "Well, yes. My embassies have heard rumors from the east out of Mordyn that they are buying a lot of supplies. Foodstuffs and iron are among the items they are buying in great quantities. Their trading had always been smaller amounts. It is a sudden change in their buying behavior. Not all the supplies are shipped to Mordyn. Some have been sent to Wierland, Curesia and even Calendia. There have not been signs of military activities yet, but the sudden change is alarming."

  "Why do my spies tell me nothing while your spies find many things to tell me?"

  "My lord, I cannot criticize your agents."

  "No, but you can buy them. You have convinced me to ask Artus to check his own agents to discover their true loyalty. I think he will find many do not call him master."

  The Rose Bishop's lips pressed together in a tight line.

  There was a sharp rap on the door and the guard opened it to allow High Mage Artus Endria to enter the room. Artus was tall, his once brown wavy hair and beard mostly grey but still showed a youthful face when he smiled as he did often.

  "Your Majesty," said Artus bending a knee.

  "Welcome Artus," said Armana.

  "Aulan." Artus nodded to the Rose Bishop.

  "Artus."

  "Artus I have news from Aulan that Mordyn is gathering a great many supplies and shipping them around Anavar. Have you heard of this?"

  "No, your Majesty. I do not have the resources of Aulan. Do you suspect war? Or perhaps they are moving to a new land?"

  "They would never move with that creature, Galamog still in her lair," said the Rose Bishop. "It must be war."

  "The fact that the supplies are waiting in the towns or their origin leads me to suspect Mordyn plans to use those supplies instead of packing it with them. An army that moves quickly without the drag of a supply train is a dangerous foe."

  "I see. Well I can have my mages strengthen the walls of the city and prepare healing potions. We can spell the water to keep it fresh and clean. We cannot create the water so a great amount must be stored in the city."

  "I may want more than that from you," said Armana. "We may need your mages to fight."

  "That's the problem, isn't it," said Artus. "We have been forbidden battle magic training in no small part to Aulan's efforts. Now there is a need for it and few who remember the spells. We have the books but it is the interpretation that will cause problems. Untrained magics spouting unfamiliar spells will be worse than no magic."

  "I said it would not be useful," said the Rose Bishop.

  Armana turned sharply.

  "Aulan, this was caused by your people. No, I will not listen to your denials. For years you have been chipping away at the activities of the Mage Academy and it will stop. Artus, the Mage Academy is free to set its own agenda from this date forth. I want you to train your mages for battle. Find whom you need to help. Summon any wizards, mages, even sorcerers who are friendly to Calendia. We must be able to defend ourselves before the Mordyn army is at our doorstep."

  "Your majesty," said the Rose Bishop. "This is madness. Artus has ever wanted this power to hold over your head."

  "Enough! I wish to speak to Artus without you, Aulan. Step outside. I will recall you when I want you."

  Aulan looked into the red face of the High King and made a decision. He bowed to king and departed.

  "Am I wrong to trust you?" asked Armana. "One of my trusted advisors thinks so."

  "No, your Highness. I am a student of Gerrand who raised our art to support the rightful rulers of the land. Gerrand argued that our expertise was in the arts, not ruling kingdoms. He wanted all magicians to place themselves above nationalism and share knowledge to the betterment of all. That is what we do. All magicians share the resources of the Academy and take what they learn back to their home. But none use their magic as a weapon. As for the Mage Academy, it serves the High King and no other."

  "That is what I expect from you. The difference is now I require the Mage Academy to study warfare for the defense of all who pledge alliance to the High King. This request is not for Nantitet alone, nor is it for Calendia alone. Curesia, Wierland and Paglo are all in the path of Galamog. Do you have any students who are more adept at this type of magic?"

  "I have a couple candidates and there are a few wizards and sorcerers on Anavar that we can ask for assistance. There are some areas where our knowledge is weak but overall I think we can provide what you will need. We shall have a few battle mages ready within the month."

  "A month! That is faster than what I would expect based on your earlier comments."

  "Those words were for Aulan's benefit," said Artus. "He can't protest what he doesn't know is happening."

  "I see," said Armana, smiling. "You do fit into this court rather well, Artus. Are you sure you don't want to be a fulltime advisor? I could use you on the High Council."

  "Thank you, your Highness, but I am better suited to be High Mage. I desire pupils who are willing to learn, not stubborn naysayers."

  "Leaving me to deal with them? I thank you for that."

  "You are the High King; behead them if they annoy you."

  "Ha! Don't tempt me!" Armana grinned. "I know who I would start with." To his credit he did not glance at the door.

  "What do you know about Mordyn?" asked Armana. "Even though Aulan's agents spotted the supplies movement I doubt if they could evaluate the potential magic of Mordyn's mages."

  Artus took his time to response, recalling all he had heard and read. Few travelers ever penetrated deeply in to the Mordyn society, dealing only with the gatekeepers, those trained to deflect questions. It had been many generations since the soldiers of Mordyn ventured beyond their borders.

  "There is not much information on Mordyn. They do have magicians. Blackthorne once fought against a Mordyn sorcerer named Berimar but few names are known to the outside world. The magicians tend to be mages or wizards. There are few sorcerers for I believe they are able to see Galamog's true nature and go mad. The sorcerers that exist in Mordyn would be extremely powerful to keep their sanity. The Mage Academy once counted a Mordyn sorcerer among its pupils."

  "What? You allowed one of them within your school?"

  "He was not learning secrets but honing skills he already had. His name was Pashar Bei and he fit in quite well with the other students."

  "Where is he now?"

  "I do not know. He left us five years ago. There are rumors but no facts regarding the current activities o
f Pashar Bei. He was the only sorcerer in Mordyn by his own account. At the time I had no reason to suspect him of lying, but with the recent developments it could be possible he was untruthful."

  "Can you not sense other magicians?" asked Armana.

  "If they are not using their magic, then I can only sense them when they are close by. Even using their magic, it would be a powerful sorcerer for me to sense him from Mordyn. There are few who have such power and even in his prime Gerrand was not one of them."

  "Not Gerrand?"

  "Not for so great a distance. If Gerrand was in Rhath I could sense his magic working. Gerrand may be able to detect magic from a greater distance but it is Blackthorne who wields enough magic to investigate Mordyn from a safe distance."

  "And he wouldn't do that."

  "No, he wouldn't. Blackthorne is a singular creature and will follow his own path. Only one person could convince him to help us and that is Kerreth Veralier."

  "Of the Talos Company? He really exists?"

  "Yes. I met him once in Toraba. Every bit of the stories are true. He is a fearsome creature. He stood a head taller than you and twice as wide. His arms are thickly muscled and he moves faster than a Daerlan. His reddish brown beard is braided and he has two tusks the size of my thumbs jutting upward from his lower lip. He wields two swords and his helmet is made of a skull of a creature that no longer walks on Landermass."

  "Even as the stories say," whispered Armana. "Why haven't I seen him?"

  "He goes where he is needed. He does not seek the company of Men for we are short-lived and pass through his life too quickly. He does not wish to become attached to such heartbreak. The Talos Company members live for hundreds or thousands of years. Although they walk Landermass as we do they are not in our world."

  "Will they aid us if Mordyn goes to war against us?"

  "Perhaps. If Galamog's involvement in the war can be proved, then our chances for their help increase. They tend not to interfere in mere wars, but if it is part of a larger plan and Jungeguds are involved, then they will come."