A Tide of Shadows

by Tom Bielawski

  The leader gestured for Carym to come forward. Carym felt the raw power this man commanded and felt compelled to obey him. Deep inside, Carym’s feelings conflicted with what his rational mind knew. Didn’t the druid warn Carym against trusting the leaders of this group? He considered this a moment, with annoyance. The old man was just being paranoid, certainly. But perhaps caution was good advice after all.

  “Carym, it is good to see that you are alive. I am outraged that General Craxis has chosen this course of action. We will see to it that he comes to regret his choice. It is unfortunate that you have been caught up in this as well and I can see that you are not pleased; I do not blame you,” said Eriagabbyn smoothly. “But, you are one of us now, like it or not.”

  “One of you?” Carym asked, looking up, suddenly nervous and seeing the man in a different light. His image began to shift before his eyes, and shadows danced around him. Carym began to feel dizzy, yet he continued to watch the man in wonder. He saw shadows wrapping themselves around him like a cloak, then peel back away from him revealing bluish skin beneath a disguise. An illusion! This is a Frost Elf? He wanted to rub his eyes in disbelief, but dared not. Nothing in the faces of those nearby indicated that anyone else was seeing what Carym saw. He looked down in what he hoped appeared to be deference as he tried to hide his shock. Frost Elves had a very terrifying reputation.

  “An outlaw,” the elf lord explained with a wave of his hand. “The assault on Arnathian forces at Hark’s Point will doubtless be attributed to the Spiders. And, without your capture elsewhere Craxis will connect you to our group. Although you had no choice in the matter, Arnathians do not make such distinctions.”

  Carym looked the man in the eye and saw the coldness that belied the warm and friendly tone of his voice. He was still trying to keep his wits about him but things were moving far too quickly.

  “Spider Apprentice Zach, come forward,” the elf commanded. Zach moved past Carym to the foot of the throne and bowed. “You have served the cause well and your actions have been duly noted. You have reached the end of your apprenticeship and now you must truly prove yourself worthy of advancement in our order.”

  “Apprenticeship?” Carym whispered. “I had no idea you were official!”

  Beaming with pride, Zach stood tall and nodded to his leader. Eriagabbyn stepped down from the great throne and pinned a brown widow-shaped spider brooch on Zach’s collar. “This brooch signifies your transition from Spider Apprentice, to Spider Warrior! Congratulations!” The lord of the Spiders embraced Zach warmly and the two laughed heartily together. Despite his misgivings, Carym was proud of his old friend; even if the nature of his accomplishment was suspect. He shook Zach’s hand with a smile.

  Then the lord turned to the others in the chamber.

  “Apprentice Willam, come forward.” The younger man did as he was bid, and approached his lord with respect, bowing deeply. “Willam has completed a dangerous assignment and earned his promotion.” Eriagabbyn approached Willam and gave him a red spider brooch, a look of shock and surprise on Willam’s face. “Indeed, for completing such an extraordinarily dangerous yet invaluable assignment, you will bypass the rank of Spider Warrior and are now promoted to the rank of Spider Master! Congratulations, young man!”

  Carym saw the enmity in his friend’s eyes as one rival had just beaten another, and he could see his friend straining against the urge to protest.

  Eriagabbyn returned his attention to Zach and Carym. “And now, Warrior. Your excellence has been duly noted and I have a special mission for you!” he said, heartily. “You have served our cause with distinction and the time has come for you to prove your mettle.” Zach seemed mollified that his leader had recognized the man’s worth, though Carym noted that his friend’s earlier enthusiasm was still not present. Carym suspected something more was going on here, yet he could only watch.

  “Our spies have finally discovered the location of the fabled Everpool!”

  Carym gasped and everyone looked at him, hard. Seeing the scrutiny he feigned a coughing fit and placed his hand over his gut, doing his best to look like he wasn’t feeling well. He smiled sheepishly at the others and looked away, pretending indifference.

  After a moment, Eriagabbyn continued. “The Everpool is said to be the source of magical power, its waters extraordinarily enchanted.” He paused to let his words sink in. “I want you to return to me with a vial of that enchanted water. If you do this for me Zach, you will find your place among my most valued lieutenants!” The man glanced slyly at the returning, sensual, figure of Saera and smiled.

  Carym groaned inwardly. What was happening? How did these people know where the Everpool was? He had only just warmed up to the idea of seeking that enchanted place for himself, now these thieves had their own plans for the pool! He wondered desperately how he was going to include himself on Zach’s quest. He hoped Zach wouldn’t leave him behind. And how would he explain to Zach that he too sought the Everpool. Perhaps it was best not to tell him.

  “This will be no easy task, as I’m sure you’ve already deduced. It has been discovered that the Everpool is located across the Brythyn Sea, beyond the northern Cklathlands and is hidden in the Tomb of the Dark Paladin,” the Spider Lord said matter-of-factly.

  Carym fought back the urge to scoff. The Tomb of the Dark Paladin? Was it ever proven that the Dark Paladin had ever truly existed?

  “Forgive me, Lord Eriagabbyn,” he interrupted, he couldn’t hold back. Zach cast him a cautionary glance. “Wasn’t the story of the Dark Paladin a myth? A tale to scare children? And the Everpool, none have ever proved that it even exists!” He hoped this lord of thieves would not think Carym, too, was after his prize.

  The lord of the Spiders eyed Carym for a long moment, a dangerous light in his eyes. “It is no myth, I assure you,” he said with finality. Carym was unnerved by the man’s confidence. “My scouts have correctly deduced the location of the Tomb from an assortment of ancient texts, and verified its location. They await Zach’s arrival in Caelambra, where they will guide him to the Tomb.”

  “How do you know your men haven’t already entered the Tomb and raided its treasures?”

  Eriagabbyn shot a penetrating, and irritating, look at Carym. “Because the Tomb is protected by booby-traps and only I know the sequence necessary to pass them unscathed! And I would kill them if they crossed me!”

  Carym nodded, not liking the sound of things. Then, it occurred to him that the fact this conversation was happening in his presence was not good. He wondered if Eriagabbyn was planning to have him killed, now that he has been to their underground lair. He desperately tried to think of a way out of the situation without giving his away thoughts.

  “My Lord, I thank you for the honor of this quest,” said Zach stiffly. It appeared to Carym that his friend would rather have taken the promotion that Willam received. Was this a suicide mission then? “May I bring my good friend, Carym with me?”

  “I would be honored to accompany Zach on this quest.” Carym was quick to say.

  Eriagabbyn gazed at Carym thoughtfully, weighing him on unseen scales. Perhaps he had now realized the problem that Carym’s presence presented him. Carym gritted his teeth and steeled himself; he would not let his tumultuous emotions best him now. The Spiders were trying to get rid of them both, their failed rescue attempt was certainly not the kind of thing one rewarded with promotion. While Carym didn’t think this would be a suicide mission, he did think that Eriagabbyn didn’t particularly care if Carym and Zach survived their quest.

  “Indeed, if you can bring yourself to seek the subject of a child’s tale,” the elf said cynically. “There is the matter of the debt you now owe us. Help Zach fulfill his quest and you will have repaid the cost of your own rescue.” Seeing the look on Carym’s face Eriagabbyn said, “The only value you now have, Carym of Hyrum, is the bounty placed on your head by General Craxis. I think you will not find Craxis’ hospitality very inviting. You will make the journey togethe
r.” Carym bowed low, fully understanding the implied threat.

  “My Lord, what are the steps to bypass the traps?”

  The elf glanced at Zach with a peculiar look, one which said to Carym that he had no intention of giving any such information to Zach. Then, with an air of indifference Eriagabbyn said, “I shall arrange to have the instructions delivered to you before you depart. Complete this task and you will have proven yourself worthy beyond doubt. Glory awaits you, Zach!” He clapped the man warmly on the shoulder.

  Carym felt his heart beat faster and blood rushed to his face. The Everpool! The druid was right, others were already seeking the pool. What an extraordinary coincidence! Dryume never mentioned anything about the pool’s location being in the Tomb of the Dark Paladin. He wondered what this devious Frost Elf wanted with water from the Everpool, it could not be for any good purpose. Could the Spiders know of the Tome of Sigils as well? No, he decided. Recovering that would have been a requirement for them as well. His heart sank with resignation as the enormity of the task stuck him. At least they didn’t have to search for the Tomb. He decided he must not tell Zach of the druid’s words until they were far from Hybrand and any magical “ears” that might be listening. He wondered if the price of a vial of that enchanted water falling into the hands of the Spiders was worth going to the Everpool in the first place. Could Zach be persuaded to abandon his service to the Spiders? It was clear they were not expected to succeed in any case.

  “Glory awaits the Spiders!” Zach said enthusiastically, raising a fist high. Carym decided it wasn’t likely that Zach would give up this opportunity for power. Zach’s sentiment was echoed loudly by the rest of Spiders in the room. Carym wondered if glory awaited Hybrand, and if the Spiders really cared. The Commander of the Spiders eyed him carefully, then clapped Carym on the shoulder and smiled warmly.

  “Very well, it is settled! You will leave for Dockyard City on the morrow. You will sail to Caelambra and meet our man, Zeerrfann, who will guide you to the Tomb of the Dark Paladin!” Carym sighed as the pair was led away from the throne room. This was getting complicated.

  ***

  Saera gave the men an escort through the maze tunnels that led away from the underground fortress and surfaced in the hills outside of the infamous Dockyard City. Armed with supplies and money for passage across the bay, Carym and Zach embarked on their journey to find the Everpool.

  The moment was bittersweet for Carym. While the road before him was open and full of opportunity and adventure, his home was in ruins and many friends and neighbors were dead; he felt like he was abandoning his home and his people. Yet Zach did not appear conflicted at all. Years of adventuring and facing incredible danger and hardship gave rise to an unspoken rule the men followed: Bury it deep and leave it be. He sighed and tried to leave it be.

  As the oppressive caves and mines of the lair of the Spiders faded away in the distance, Carym began to feel his step become just a little bit lighter. He breathed deeply, enjoying the crisp morning air and the warmth of the sun as it chased the chill from his bones. The refreshing walk to Dockyard City wasn’t a long one, only a few miles, but the apparent beauty of the landscape belied the wild nature of the untamed region. Dockyard City and its outlying holdings were not really part of Hybrand and therefore it was not under Arnathian control. A smattering of small farms and plantations provided agricultural support to the city which thrived on its seafood exports, and a little bit of piracy. The outlying plantations and manor houses were where the “lords” of Dockyard City resided. The lords being those who held sway over a given Guild house or Association with enough power to sway the politics of the city.

  As the road passed close to one particular plantation, Carym was taken by its peaceful appeal. A wide wagon path lined with stout oak trees meandered through a pair of wheat fields bordered by a long stone wall. The large white home was two stories tall with a long sitting porch, not unlike the one on his own small cottage, and cattle and sheep grazed in a pasture on the far side of the estate. What spoiled the moment for Carym was seeing slaves, adults and children alike, working the fields under the watchful eyes of well-armed overseers.

  “Slaves,” he muttered shaking his head in disgust. Since the Arnathians took control of most of the region, slavery had become acceptable to many and was readily embraced by Dockyarders. Zach bore an odd expression, and seemingly had not noticed them until Carym mentioned it. As if seeing the slaves for the first time, Zach peered intently toward them. After only a moment he merely shrugged and sank back into whatever quiet contemplation had hold of him.

  Carym said nothing more as the plantation slipped into the distance behind them. As much as he hated the situation, there was nothing to be done for their plight, not now anyway. Their destination lay no more than ten minutes ahead. In a place like Dockyard City, failing to keep your wits about you could result in failing to keep your head on your shoulders.

  There was no gate here, no city guard to speak of, and no soldiers patrolling the roads. Dockyard City was a vast collection of shabby businesses and dismal inns and piers interconnected with a rickety wooden dock system. Mercenaries, pirates, bounty hunters, and assassins frequented this dirty and dangerous town. But it was also an important minor port town on the periphery of Arnathia and was home to many rugged peoples making their living fishing, farming and selling the fruits of their labors in Dockyard City’s markets. Truth be told, merchants of even modest means fared well enough with a steady stream of wealthy importers from all over Llars making port here. Carym had even heard that the extremely wealthy people of Amberlou and the Free Islands began a business taking passengers aboard their luxurious and massive ships for no other reason than to travel from one port to the next. It was said that these luxury ships were huge and traveled in threes and were manned by large mercenary companies; even pirates dared not attack one of those groups of ships.

  Carym snickered at the idea of foppish lords and bejeweled ladies standing about the weather decks of a large white ship standing alongside dirty Roughneck sailors and Marines and mercenaries. To an old sailor and Roughneck like Carym, the idea was incongruous; the two just did not mix. It was then that he began to realize that if one was enterprising enough, Roughneck officers could be paid well enough to be taught manners and be good company to pampered and spoiled lords who could afford the gold. He dismissed the thought with a shake of his head, it still seemed ridiculous and not worth the bother. And why on Llars come to Dockyard City?

  As the two crossed the official border into Dockyard City, Carym noticed the temperament of the people seemed to fit in with his expectation; dirty, impolite and generally unsociable. As he went on, he noticed that even the children he saw were frowning and unhappy and the adults were intent on getting to their destinations as quickly as possible. Shadows moved among the alleyways, probably thieves awaiting unwary prey. Rumor had it that this town was so violent and dangerous, even Arnathia would not consider invading it. The truth of the matter was that Imperial Arnathia could certainly have taken the city with overwhelming force, but holding the port city after the fact was an entirely different matter. So nefarious and chaotic was it that neither the former Thaynedom of Hybrand nor the Kingdom of Herkenberg would lay claim to the town.

  The men warily made their way farther into the city itself, leaving behind the firm ground of the outer portion for the port area where all the streets were made from wooden docks and none of the buildings stood over solid ground. The city extended far enough out over the water to allow for a network of waterways beneath the city. This was the part of Dockyard City that earned its dismal reputation. Persistent and pesky merchants followed the men as they passed into a section of the city known as Karbander Bazaar. Dozens of small shops and stands lined both sides of the main dock while merchants prodded and poked, yelled and cajoled, and otherwise tried to sell their wares. Each man kept a firm grip on his wallet, knowing full well that any number of thieves would be roaming the crowded docks.


  “I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty,” Carym said as he laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Between walking through all those treacherous tunnels and these streets, I’d like to sit for a few minutes.” Carym led his friend toward a nearby merchant stand who was selling the promise of a cold drink in a stoppered glass bottle.

  “Come, come, my friend!” said the man in a think Karbander accent. “Cold quarim here! Special today just for you, my friend!” The man held up a glass bottle containing a black liquid with a cork stopper in it and offered it to Carym. The glass was misty with cool condensation as Carym eyed the quarim longingly. Quarim was a sweet drink comprised of sugary water and the fruit juices of exotic Karbander trees found nowhere else in the world. It was highly sought after anyplace it was sold.

  Zach laid a restraining hand on his arm and said, “Careful. These men will sell you piss and call it wine!”

  Carym nodded and reached for the glass and the merchant’s face split in a wide grin. Zach laughed at his friend, “I hope you like it, because you just bought it!” Zach pulled up a chair sat down at the small table in front of the merchant’s shop.

  “Very good choice, my friend! Just for you, my friend!” he jabbered excitedly. “Five gold, my friend!”

  Carym almost choked and blew out a spray of the dark colored liquid. “Five gold?!” he exclaimed. “Are you kidding?”

  Zach leaned back in his chair and laughed uproariously. Carym was unfamiliar with Karbander bazaars, unlike Zach who had spent many afternoons roaming Dockyard City with his Spider brethren. “You have to haggle, Carym!” he managed between gasps for breath.

  Carym shifted a reproachful gaze from his friend to the merchant who happily said, “Ok, ok. Just for you! Three gold, sir! Just for you!”

  Carym placed a silver on the man’s counter top and said, “A silver and nothing more.”