“I already know a way to stop him, but it would make me no better than he!” Shuran answered.
“Then there is only one other way,” Mallick said. “You must complete the Zidu’Si, there is a spell to hobble him, make him mundane, but it requires the united force and strength of a full Zidu’Si,” he recalled from the vast knowledge of the library in the Vault.
“What knowledge does the library contain on the Kashshaptu?” Shuran asked, knowing the Zidu’Si would not be required to hobble Vardoran.
Mallick paused while he mentally searched. “Just one book, but it is blocked from me somehow. It is somehow sealed!” he said with confusion.
Shuran reached into the vault to identify any ‘secured’ items. He found a chamber that was meant only for the Shin’Ar.
***
They landed back at Durangug late in the evening, tired and hungry. Dvargan and Grafdrik met them.
“What are you two mimic birds doing here?” Mallick asked.
“We have a message for the Shin’Ar. An envoy from Drakkfoth has contacted the King requesting he arrange a meeting. He says he has information, and a gift,” they spoke in turn.
“Where is this envoy?” Shuran asked looking around. The chamber in the Vault would have to wait.
“We did not bring him here, though he already knew of Durangug, or at least the ruins located here,” they said.
“We are tired and hungry, can this wait?” Avrank asked.
“It may be important, but I could do with a meal and wash before receiving anyone,” Shuran began. “When can this messenger be led here, the ruined tower, to meet?” Shuran asked.
“Rather quickly I would imagine once we send a guinea hawk. He arrived by drakkon!” they said with wide eyes.
“Wash first, then we can receive our guest for a late meal. Send the bird.” Shuran stated then entered the Vault.
Shuran had just completed his ablutions, changed clothing, and stepped outside to setup a table and seating when he heard the heavy beating of massive wings coming in from the East. When his eyes met the sight of his arriving guest, he was breath taken.
The moonlight gleamed off the bright green scales of the massive beast now landing before him with a grace that belied its size.
The beauty before him transfixed Shuran. The drakkon bowed its head in greeting as its rider lithely jumped down and bowed as well.
“Greetings Shuran Shin’Ar, Son of Dalgon and Sulura,” he began. “My name is Gregoran, and I am honored to meet you cousin!” he said.
Shuran bowed his head, and then stopped when the statement registered. “Cousin? Because I share Drakkonian blood, you mean?” Shuran asked.
“In part but more so that my adda is half brother to yours, Dalgon,” he answered.
Shuran had many questions but did not know where to begin.
Gregoran, could sense Shuran’s need for answers. “Let me tell you my tale and what brings me to you. Perhaps this will answer some or more of your questions,” Gregoran said.
“We have been following your progress. The Drakkonian people have known for some time of the prophecy, your mother shared it with us when she conceived. She had a vision of the possible outcomes and that her children would take part.” Gregoran spoke of many things Shuran already knew but he did not interrupt.
“How is it you come to know of my location?” Shuran asked knowing that the area was long forgotten and he could not be scryed without sensing it.
Gregoran knew this as well. “It is far easier for a bloodline to find kin, scrying is not used,” he provided. “The first part of my message is to send your mother’s love and wish to meet.”
Shuran was dizzy with disbelief. “My mother lives?” he stood and began pacing.
Moona stopped puffing her pipe. “Speak dragon boy afore I swallow you up in the ground!” she ordered.
Shuran took her by the shoulders to calm her.
“Where has she been? Why has she not sent word in all this time?” Shuran asked.
“At first she was too weak. She nearly died after… well you know the details. My father sent trusted servants of the barony to retrieve her. They were nearly too late.”
It took many months before Sulura was well enough to awake from a healing sleep, even longer to remember who she was and what had happened. The rest of her decisions are hers alone to explain, but I believe things happened the way that was necessary,” Gregoran said.
“And what else brings you here now?” Shuran asked pointedly.
“The order of Chaos has your friend Bastien.”
“I already discovered this, what I do not understand is how you know any of this.” Shuran began to anger.
“It is through a deceptive alliance of my father Fallon, Baron of Drakkfoth, with the Order that we keep apprised of all the movements of their work. The Order has kept house within our borders for centuries. The Baron is preparing to break ties with them and force them from our land, but he wants you to save your friend while there is time.”
Shuran was feeling even dizzier than before and needed to sit back down.
“Shin’ for brains! Eat something before you pass out!” Mallick said.
A sharp shrill broke through the silence of the night.
“What in DAMKIANNA’S name was that?” Moona shrieked.
“Ah, that would be your gift Shin’Ar,” Gregoran said.
“Shuran, please, you are among friends and apparently family. And what is this gift?” Shuran asked skeptically.
Gregoran let out a whistle and a dark shadow appeared from the trees. Once in the open, the gleaming form of a bright red young drakkon came into view.
“He is yours, a bonded drakkon, friend, and protector,” Gregoran said.
Shuran walked up to the beast that stood half the height of the great green drakkon that carried Gregoran. The young drakkon lowered to the ground in submission. “What is his name?” Shuran asked.
“He will only tell his name first to you, as they are without the gift of open speech or weaving until bonded.” Mallick said. “I just looked it up.” he said with a smile.
Shuran place a hand on the beast’s head and was swallowed in a bath of fire from all around him.
In the flames Shuran just saw himself and the drakkon.
“Greetings Lugaldur, bonded master, Shuran Shin’Ar. I am called Moltar in human tongue, I am at your service,” the drakkon said in Shuran’s mind.
“I accept the honor and welcome you to my Zidu’Si,” Shuran answered somehow knowing the correct way to accept.
Instantly a spark passed between them.
As Shuran gained the strength and endurance of the drakkon, Moltar gained not only the traditional ability to work elemental fire, but all of Shuran’s abilities. He would be the first of his kind to do so, a new breed.
With the new abilities, Moltar raised his head to the skies and roared into the heavens. His bulk increased three fold and he was suddenly larger by far than the green.
To all else assembled, they witnessed Shuran silently touch the beast that suddenly grew immensely.
“It is done, they are bonded and we have witnessed the birth of a new breed!” Gregoran elated.
The Zidu’Si, yet incomplete, also felt the addition of Moltar and his strength, to the collective.
Shuran spent the some time speaking with Gregoran and Moltar about his mother and her state before returning to the table to his ignored family of Zidu’Si. “I apologize for having gotten carried away with all this,” he said.
“Understandable Shuran Shin’Ar, it is not everyday that you find out your mother still lives, and someone gives you a sizable new pet!” Avrank said.
“You are responsible for cleaning up after this thing!” Moona said with a huff as Moltar landed with a large mountain yack in his jaws, end-trails falling everywhere. “That includes messes from both ends!” she finished before taking another puff of her pipe.
“I am afraid we did not bring a saddle, we would no
t have one to fit his size as it is. He is by far, the largest and now mightiest, of all the drakkon,” Gregoran said.
A puffing of pride in Moltar followed the statement, then a slap of the green drakkon’s tail.
“Do not get overly inflated, hatchling!” The green, Jade said.
“I assume you are his mother?” Shuran was answered by a proud smile from her.
“We have the materials required, I am sure the shoe maker here and myself can fashion something befitting Shin’Ar’s mighty friend.” Avrank said looking at Orian, who smiled and sent a shock of electricity into Avrank’s backside.
“Indeed!” Orian responded.
“Now shall we decide what to do about the Order and Vardoran?” Moona, of all, said. “Don’ look at me like that, he is not the sprat I raised. That sweet boy died when touched by the evil that drives what remains!” she added.
Codger remained oddly silent, Shuran noticed. “First we must worry about getting Bastien safely away,” he said.
“Fallon, my adda, plans on moving against them soon, in hopes of casting them from our lands. He hopes you might bring the force of your current Zidu’Si to bolster our forces?” he added.
“Yes, we will of course come, if you stand with us?” Shuran requested. “I would join you with us my cousin, and make you sheesh to the Zidu’Si.”
Gregoran, unable to find words, nodded his acceptance.
“I ain’ cleanin’ up after the green one neither!” Moona yelled from the end of the table.
They all gathered in the Vault for the evening and spoke on plans for the next day. The space would have allowed the bulk of Jade, but Moltar was far too large to enter through the tunnel entrance.
That did not stop him; Shuran used his connection, to transport directly into the vast Vault, though he had few places he could maneuver.
“Well, this is cozy.” Codger said after an evening of silence.
“We leave in the morning for Drakkfoth. I would add to our forces still. Codger, if I provided the crystals, would Aknard and his guild join us?” Shuran asked.
“If you provide him crystals he would follow you into Hell’s Mouth without question. But where will you find the correct type of shard in sufficient quantity?” Codger asked.
“We will stop at the Napalkua falls, Zig’Mada, on the way to Drakkfoth. They exist within a cavern behind the falling waters along with veins of gold and some other power deep in the caverns. With the added energy of the Zudi’Si we can charge enough to power his fleet for some time.”
I will send them here and you can leave for Smuggler’s Cove when they arrive. We will wait one cycle before our siege, no more.” Shuran set out the plan and they went about preparing.
Chapter Twenty One
“What are we to do now, Isten? What is this Shin’Ar, Shuran claims to be?” Salmetu asked. She was a bit on edge, which was unlike her normally calm and deliberate manner.
“It is of no matter. I have found a few histories of a man once calling himself the Shin’Ar, watcher of the lands. It is old tales and that Shin’Ar could not stand against the darkness then. Shuran as Shin’Ar will not stand now!” Vardoran said.
“Our first move will be to bolster your death walkers with the students of the academy.” Vardoran moved to a window and looked out to the night. There was nothing but petrified trees and rock. A lone black bird sat upon a branch in a nearby tree. “With that old witless fool Nagutan disappeared, Penelle can claim the rightful seat of the kashshaptu. Add to her my trusted followers on the council, and we have the numbers needed to take unquestioned control of the academy, and do as we see fit.”
Salmetu grinned at his implied meaning.
“What of the Ogres and Trolls?” Vardoran asked her.
“The ogres have committed to our side. The trolls have yet to respond to any requests.” she said angrily.
“Do not be so easily angered at their silence. Although they are witless creatures, they will answer once they are able to understand the request. Besides, trolls serve the needs of the Kashshaptu above all, as it was the witches of old that created them. I will have Penelle reach out to them,” he added.
Vardoran smiled maniacally as he stood over Salmetu stroking her flowing jet-black hair. “Things are moving along better than I had hoped. Shuran is but a blemish, soon enough cleared up with a well-played move. How is our guest from Birchshire?” he asked.
“He clings to life. I do not understand how, but it will not hinder us.”
***
Vardoran called an emergency meeting of the council the next day. He already had Penelle placed upon the council when Nagutan was not found. Vardoran assumed his paid assassin finally achieved his objective. Now that he controlled the majority of the members, it would be short work to move his plans along.
“Esteemed colleagues, I have called you here so that we may take decisive action against the growing threat to the realm, most importantly New Draven and her surrounding lands!” he started. “We find ourselves in a dire time indeed. Anzillu, they run rampant throughout the lands. They cavort with dwarves and elves. They cause havoc and bring destruction upon the Northern villages.” Vardoran was being purposely over dramatic.
Penelle fought the urge to roll her eyes in frustration.
“What do you suggest we do?” she asked as instructed.
“We need to take control of the situation, for that we need the Academy and all its resources,” he said with authority that found no objection.
The council had only just finished signing the documents authorizing the seizure of the academy including recruiting all students and apprentices into service of the realm, when a knock at the door came.
An inquisitor entered with a parchment baring the seal of Baron Fallon of Drakkfoth.
Vardoran opened the message and read through it a number of times before he let his anger surface. The parchment burst into flames and he howled with anger.
“What is it, Vardoran?” Penelle asked.
“That pompous Baron of the rocks, has declared the council corrupt and withdrawn from service!” It was then that Vardoran finally noticed the vacant seat where the member from Drakkfoth had normally held station. “He will pay for this when we are through here!” he spat in rage.
The Council agreed unanimously to take over the Academy as a military installation. This included all students and their instructors; they would all serve the realm and ultimately the Order of Chaos, unknowingly.
Vardoran and the Council members already in collusion with the Order, made short work of gathering all the occupants of the Academy. They tested their abilities, and loyalty to the realm. Many of the students were found only mediocre based on Vardoran’s standards.
They were sent to the lower levels and placed in cells so that Salmetu could ‘enlist’ them into the death walkers. Weavers sat in huddled groups, terrified as they heard the screams from the cells around them.
Salmetu went from apprentice to next, drawing out their shi to then be replaced with darkness. Those found strong enough, were allowed to retain enough of their spirit to then be possessed by a demon, so they might control the others. Once she completed her task, she transported herself and the new undead back to the secret keep of the Order in Drakkfoth.
Vardoran sent the Inquisitors out again, this time seeking any who had the spark of Essence. Vardoran would require all the power he could muster. Something bothered him about Shuran, though he would not admit it to the others. Outwardly he saw Shuran and his traitorous band of miscreants as nothing more than a minor distraction. Inside, Vardoran was jealous of the upbringing Shuran had with Elvaria.
In private he knew there was something more to him than his up bringing. He also knew decided his mother was in league with the upstart weaver. Did she plan to use the child she stole away from the Altar of Chaos, as a means of enacting revenge?
He felt duality in what happened so long ago, when a spell gone horribly wrong, siphoned the Essence through hi
s mother and into himself. The effect left his mother without ability to weave, but it strengthened his own hobbled abilities. Since that day, the day his parents disowned him, he has only grown stronger. He was not about to let sentimentality get in his way.
***
Shuran presented Gregoran with the ancestral Zidu’Si gug weapon of the Drakkian, the Mi-Ib Ag, before departing the next morning. The sword of fire was a fitting weapon for Gregoran. He accepted it with grace and awe as the powers of the Zidu’Si melded with his own.
By accepting the honor, Gregoran and his drakkon, called Jade, added to the Zidu’si and profited from the exchange of energies. Immediately after the initial shock of joining their Essence wielding abilities, the Zidu’Si went about practicing their new gift.
“Can you imagine the surge when we collect a giant!” Avrank jested. “I still say this will never get old!” Avrank continued as he lit Orian’s pant leg aflame.
“I very much doubt you can expect a growth spurt, TURD!” Orian said dousing his flaming pants.
***
Shuran and his Zidu’Si arrived at Zig’Mada falls late the next day. The size of Moltar allowed him to carry not only Shuran, but Mallick and Avrank as well. Orian rode astride Jade with Gregoran.
They dismounted and as the drakkon drank deeply from the waters, Shuran led the men up to the falls and around to a cavern set behind the raging water that fell from high above.
The falls were formed in great upheaval of the land, hundreds of years past. Superstition and the jagged landscape kept all but the most foolish of adventurers away. Vessels carrying trade goods from the North stopped at a transfer port far before the waters turned rapid and deadly. Goods were then taken by land around the area of the falls to calmer, southern waters where they were loaded back on another vessel to continue on south to various ports of trade.
Inside the cavern, Shuran and his men were met by pitch darkness.
Orian conjured a ball of electric force that he confined to a sphere the size of an average man’s head. The light that resulted illuminated the vast cavern. The group ventured deeper into the tunnel leading down into the ground to find a smaller chamber filled with millions of dancing points of light and swirls of golden brilliance. The walls of the far end of the cavern were covered in veins of gold and the shards of quarts crystal speckled with a multitude of colored minerals.
Chronicles of Aurderia: The Balance Page 26