"Chander told me she'd come by to tell you something important and I aim to make sure you listen to her."
"I did, and she's gone. Now get back to work."
"Grandpa, what was the important thing?" asked Elly Picker. She stood next to her mother and smiled at the seated men. Elly was fourteen, the daughter of Aran Picker, adopted by Danni when she married Picker and Colly spared no chance to spoil her. Except for her dark hair she was the image of her step-mother in height and temperament. It was hard to guess they were not blood related.
"Elly! Come out here and talk to your grandpa," said Colly. "Your mom works you too hard. Look Colin, isn't Elly the most beautiful girl in Cresida?"
"Well, I haven't been everywhere in Cresida, but I wager you are right," said Festin.
"I don't work her any harder than you worked me," said Danni.
"Did you hear something, Elly? Sounded like some angry hornet buzzing around."
"It will soon be if it isn't already," giggled Elly. "Mother sent Kerry to Princess Linna."
"You didn't!" said Colly.
"Princess Linna is very fond of Kerry and he needed exercise. I daresay we shall be meeting with the Princess by nightfall."
"We?"
"You, Aran and me. Colin, you are welcome to come to make sure Papa gets the story correct."
"Oh no," said Festin. "I know better than to jump between you two. A nice quiet evening at home is what I need."
"Very well. I do want to thank you for keeping the old man company. Keeps him from talking to himself or flirting with the women walking by. I get so many complaints about him."
"Who complains? Who?"
"I've got work to do. Elly, come along."
"Sometimes I think I am lucky," said Festin. "That I no longer have women in my life."
"You are lucky and never forget it," said Colly, glancing into the tavern.
Festin returned home and Colly spent the remainder of the afternoon in his chair enjoying the fine weather. He saw two figures walking toward him. One was his grandson Kerry; the other was the unmistakable silhouette of Beric Mallon, Duke of Gornst and former Warlord of Cresida. He now served Princess Linna as her second in command. He had fought alongside Colly in the Celaeri War and respected the opinion of the King's Hand. Kerry gave Colly a hug and went inside the tavern. Beric bowed slightly.
"Hello Colly."
"Be welcome, Beric. I see Dani's message reached her highness?"
"Yes and that is why I am here. I want to hear the entire message you received and any thoughts you have regarding it."
"Well, pull up a chair. Would you like something to drink?"
"Thank you, Colly, I don't mind if I do."
"Elly!" Colly called into the tavern. After a few minutes Elly came out and drink was requested. When Beric received his tankard he took a long pull on it and closed his eyes.
"Ah, that is what I needed," said Beric. "I need field work; too much administration smothers the soul. The army was much easier to manage than an entire city. If it weren't for the Princess I would have returned to Andara months ago. But enough of those trials, tell me of our old friends the Celaeri."
"Chander told me she heard tales of creatures in the Black Heath. Some traders were attacked by what they described as Vlakan. Chander has never given false information to me before so I am inclined to truth her words."
"Still very little information to mobilize soldiers."
"I agree. However, we both know that we cannot allow the Celaeri to set their plans in motion before we are ready. They fight too fiercely to start with the advantage. We need scouts to verify that the Black Heath is active again. I believe the Princess should request Brandalay to investigate."
"Excellent idea. His Celaeri wife would be able to confirm the rumors better than anyone." He finished his beer and stood up. "I will convey to the Princess the seriousness of the matter. I will let you know her decision. Thank you for the drink, Colly."
"You're welcome Beric. Drop by anytime."
Beric nodded to Colly and walked back to the castle through the streets of Gornst, his military bearing in contrast to the people in the streets. Colly watched him until he was out of sight. He started; Elly stood next to him.
"Is there going to be a war, Grandpa? I don't want Papa to fight. I don't want him to die."
Colly pulled her close and hugged her. "Neither do I, little one. Neither do I."
Chapter 9
The history of Nantitet is the history of the Arayr family. Weracht de Arayr was the first king of the Zidar and led a portion of the Zidar from the Isle of Cothos to Anavar and they settled in what is now Calendia. Weracht founded Nantitet and built fortifications to protect them in this unknown land. The nomadic Men befriended them and over time the two races intermarried. Weracht's son Mauran was a mighty sorcerer and after the Jungegud Agnaran murdered Weracht, Mauran began to weave his protection around Nantitet and the people who lived there. Over the centuries an Arayr has ruled in Nantitet; some great kings, others not so much. Still, the continuity gives Nantitet and Calendia a history none of the other kingdoms can claim. And to this day it is claimed Mauran de Arayr still watches over his people.
From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.
The guards at the gate to the Nantitet castle bowed to the High Mage as he entered but their wonder was for his companion. Although the long history of Nantitet involved nearly the all races on Landermass it had been many generations since a Daerlan entered its gates. The ageless face and pointed features - ears, nose, and chin - were legends around the fireplace on a long winter night. The duo climbed the wide stone stairs where Mauran de Arayr himself once stepped; the distant voices of the past stirred in greeting by the drafts of the ancient castle. Taina Talos accompanied Artus Endria into the private meeting chamber of High King Armana. The Rose Bishop was already there as were the City Captain Baer Patros and Warlord Nar Tomak. Taina had been waiting for Artus at the Mage Academy when he returned. After hearing her story, Artus sent a messenger to the High King requesting an immediate audience. The breathless messenger returned with the High King's summons.
"Welcome to Calendia, Taina Talos," said Armana. "I was a very young man when we last met but time has not marked you at all."
"Thank you for your welcome, King Armana," said Taina. "You are most distinguished now and in good health I trust. I bring news from Gerrand and the Talos Company."
"Gerrand still lives?" asked the Rose Bishop. "It was said he died over fifty years ago. He would be nearly a thousand years old. Imagine the power to live so long. What other secrets do you keep from the Council Artus?"
"That is enough Aulan," said Armana. "Artus has no secrets from me. We have more important issues to resolve." He glared at Aulan who looked away.
"What news do you bring me?" asked Armana.
"Gerrand has visions of war," said Taina. "He wakes each morning with the images burned into his mind and has seen clues to believe Galamog is behind it."
"Mordyn? That is interesting based on Aulan's reports of unusual activity by the Mordynians. It has been long since Galamog stirred beyond her borders."
"We have sent messengers to our friends who travel often to make note of Mordyn activity," said Taina. "With the Celaeri recent activity, the rising of Mordyn brings on different meaning."
"You believe it is connected?" asked the High King. "Cresida is a long way from Calendia."
"Not where Galamog or the Celaeri are concerned. Gerrand believes there is a connection and Kerreth does too."
"The great Kerreth Veralier," said Aulan. "Now there is a creature to fear. Will he be coming to Calendia?"
"He would be my guest," said the High King. "Aulan, you have not shown your best qualities today."
"As you say, your Highness. May I be excused to start the preparations to ready the Rose Brothers for war? We have little time it seems."
Armana looked at Aulan and neither flinched.
"You are excused," said Ar
mana.
When the Rose Bishop departed Armana spoke again.
"I may have another battle to fight. Aulan does not hide his displeasure easily. He has nearly as many soldiers as I do and he could tie us up here while Mordyn attacks Wierland or Curesia. I need Aulan with me and Artus; I need your War Mages quickly." He turned to the City Captain and Warlord who had stood silent during the discussions.
"Well?"
"I will prepare the city for a siege. My men will mark all the locations of the Rose Brothers," said Baer Patros.
"Be discreet," said Armana. "Although we do not want them to take us by surprise, we may need their help when Galamog's captains come at us."
"My soldiers are ready," said Warlord Nar Tomak. "We can defend the city or take the battle to the enemy but if the Rose Brothers rise against us, we cannot fight two fronts. We just don't have the numbers."
"I can get you more men. I will pull all the farmers and merchants into the army."
"That will help with numbers, sire, but they would be no good as soldiers," said Nar Tomak. "We do not have time to prepare them for warfare. It would weaken our lines to mix them with professional soldiers. There are other things they can do to help the effort."
"Yes, I can use them," said Baer Patros. "I will write up the tasks they could help with and bring it to you, sire. We will need every hand available."
"Very good. Baer see to it. Nar go with Artus and plan a combined attack with War Mages."
"War Mages?" Nar Tomak looked at Artus. "Truly?"
"We are still training them." He resisted a glance at the High King. "I explain their abilities to you while we form the battle plan."
"That is excellent, sire," said Nar Tomak. "I am much relieved."
"Good. That is all gentlemen. Bring me daily reports. Taina, return in an hour. I will have a letter for Kerreth."
The Daerlan and the Men bowed and left the High King alone. He sat at his desk and stared across the room, running his forehead with his thumb.
"War mages. I hope Aulan is wrong about them. Oh Artus, what have I got us into?"
He summoned his secretary to prepare a letter to Kerreth Veralier. After it was dictated Armana requested a scout brought to him. The slender man bowed and stood silent until the High King acknowledged him.
"Ah Althos, I was hoping it would be you." Armana looked directly at the scout.
"Sire, what is my charge?"
"Find Raeind and bring him to me."
Althos bowed and departed. Armana stood at his window until his wife came looking for him in the late evening.
The forest had scared him and he kept to the edge of it; straddling the rocky reaches of the desert terrain and the cooling shade of the trees. A great river once divided the Toraba Forest from the Koberi desert but it dried up centuries ago. The deep river bed allowed for some relief from the heat of the day. Ian kept moving through the rocky river bed, driven by something he couldn't name. He could not remember leaving Peradon; he blacked out several times only to awaken in some new place. He knew he was heading north to the sea but he could not say why.
The forest was dangerous; he could sense the power within it. It watched him; alert and tense. He sensed movement in the forest keeping pace with him and there was power emanating from the presence. Ian wasn't sure how he knew but he sensed it. Whatever was happening to him heightened his senses. It was difficult to remember his children's faces; he told himself it was just his exhaustion but on one level he feared it was more than that. Was it the curse of Celaeri blood; was he turning into a Vlakan?
Had to keep moving, keep going, he told himself. The presence in the woods was dangerous to him and he couldn't stop to give it the opportunity to hurt him. He pushed on.
He focused on the next step and pushed forward. Soon he blacked out again.
Chapter 10
To see Kerreth Veralier in the flesh is a shock; you stop in your tracks, unsure of what to do next in fact incapable of deciding on a course of action. Perhaps not a notion to include in a historical record but it is dry and intellectual exercise to record his description. Kerreth stands six and a half feet tall, nearly four hundred pounds and as quick as a cat. He favored a horned helmet made from the skull of some forgotten creature. But as you look up at him to the braided red beard and long mustache it is the tusks jutting up from his lower lip that jolts you; a feral creature from a forgotten past that reminds you that gods did once walk among us.
From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.
Brevin's wagon bounced over the hardened ruts and rocks on the road west and Davan regretted not running away when the trip was suggested. His tailbone ached and twice he bit his tongue when the wagon wheels found a dip in the road. Each attempt to lose him in the views of the countryside was interrupted by the rough ride. Davan had never traveled more than two days from Peradon and never this far west. His father took him to some of the other free cities but they had no business traveling west. Until the road reached Calendia the closest country was Mordyn and it was not a safe place. It would take a couple days to reach Paglo, the land of the Tuors. The small folk were secretive and did not let Men enter without permission. The Tuors were deadly archers.
Davan tried to grasp the speed of his changing situation. Jaele packed him up in a heartbeat; there were packs ready to go as if she expected the need for a quick getaway someday. She barked orders to the men in the inn and several ran out into town. Marqal, the mercenary leader and a few of his men hurried to the inn and Jaele told them she needed security as only herself and Tara would remain. The men nodded and posted guards around the inn. Brevin directed the extra supplies to be loaded in his wagon and waited for Davan to say his goodbyes. His mother hugged and kissed him and Tara punched him in the arm when he tried to hug her. He walked to the wagon and Tara ran up behind him and hugged his back. She was running back to Jaele by the time he turned around.
"Do you have any children, Brevin?"
"Ha! Why would I want the noisy little things? No. Never married. I'm never in one place very long and most of my time is spent in this wagon. The life suits me."
"You always knew my parents' history, that they were mercenaries?"
"I did. Sometimes I work for the Talos Company, delivering messages, watching for certain people. I was asked to stop in and see your folks every time I was in the area even if I had no business in Peradon. And I have done so many times. I do like Ian's ale and Jaele is awful pretty. It's a good place to stop. Good food and good service. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to leave."
The wagon jolted again and Davan groaned.
"Don't worry," said Brevin. "You'll never get used to it unless your backside is broad and padded like mine."
"Great. I think my insides are all jumbled around. Brevin, I've heard children's stories of the Talos Company all my life. Do you know their real story? How they began and are they as unbeatable in battle as the stories say?"
"Whew! That's a lot to cover and we have only a few days of travel. I'll have to stick to the highlights. The worst part is we don't have any cold ale. I don't like warm ale.
"Altair Talos was asked by King Navir of the Daerlan to put together a squad of fighters that could go anywhere in the world. They were to sever connections to friends and family, traveling in search of the evils of the Jungeguds. Navir had a long-going struggle with the Menaloch, one of the Jungeguds who tried to subvert the Daerlan to his will on several occasions. Anyway, Altair Talos and his brother Gorm began looking for candidates for this squad. Altair's daughter Taina joined, as did a few other Daerlan. Within the year the other Daerlan were killed leaving just the three of them.
"One day they came upon a battle of goblins and a large man in a clearing near the tree line in Calendia. They watched the man easily kill each and every one of his two dozen opponents. He then walked over to them and asked for water. Then he thanked them for not getting in the way. He was very tall and as broad as two men. His beard was braided, as was his hair. T
he helmet on his head was made from a skull of some creature the Daerlan had never seen. But the most unusual aspect of him were the tusks, each about the size of a man's thumb, jutting out from his lower lip. He told them he was part Man, part Zidar but the Daerlan had never known a Zidar with tusks. Altair invited him to join the company and he agreed. After a year Altair turned the leadership over to Kerreth Veralier. Kerreth knew some others who might be worthy of the squad and sent word to them. Several accepted the invitation. Your Uncle Loric was one of them."
"How long ago was this? Navir hasn't been king of the Daerlan for eons."
They were out of the forested areas crossing the arid land sound of Mordyn. The horses kicked up dust and Brevin's throat was drying out. The air warmed considerably.
"I can't say for sure, maybe three thousand years. I believe the Daerlan had left Arda and crossed the sea to Liannest by then. Remember none of the leaders of the Talos Company are Men. Those who may have human blood have very little of it or are sustained by their magic such as Blackthorne. He is very old and human or he once was. The sorcery he uses has changed him over the centuries. Stay away from magic Davan, if you can. The magic of a mage would be safe enough but a mage is no match for a sorcerer or even a wizard."
"I don't want any magic. I just want to find my father."
"Of course you do. And the Talos Company will help. "
"Who are the members now? Do you know?" asked Davan. The wagon jolted again and the pressure in his bladder increased.
"Kerreth and Loric of course. Taina Talos and her daughter Moria Albalen, Hobart Hufflen who is a Tuor, Dvorak Annis who is a wizard and Navir."
"Navir? The king of the Daerlans? He must be five thousand years old!"
"Former king of the Daerlans."
"Is that all? Just the seven of them? I would have thought there were more. The stories named many others."
"Even the Talos Company can die in battle. There were many members over the years that have aged or died or just lost interest and left the company. Do not judge them by their numbers. The company does include human soldiers but they usually aren't part of the stories."
The Vlakan King (Book 3) Page 9