Edryon (Book 1 of Edryon Trilogy)

by Luis Oselieri

  Three skeleton fairies passed by him flying swiftly near an inn, until to aproach near Thelron, which now seemed to be looking good.

  “So? What did you find?”, Thelron asked, while biting an apple.

  “Kordius is going to the Forest of the Spirits.”, said one of the fairies.

  “But what is he supposed to do? The grimoire is not in the forest.”

  “What are you doing here alone with these demons?”, Urentir asked Thelron, as he approached holding his magic sword.

  “That’s none of your account. Go away and take care of your defeated army.”

  Immediately the druid has come forward with his magic sword toward the Thelron’s neck, but Edryon came flying from the top, defending his brother with his war spear.

  “What are you doing? What is this madness?”, shouted Edryon, mounted on Snow, who was now surrounded by four restless crows.

  “You can not protect him all the time, Edryon. Your brother do not deserve to live. He’s on the Kordius’s side.”, Urentir seemed increasingly out of control, because the last few days he departed from reason, giving rise to a desire to avenge the death of his elvish warriors.

  “I’m not really came here to protect you.”, Edryon said, then pointed toward the three skeleton fairies.

  The four crows flew quickly approaching the little winged creatures. When the fairies were preparing to flee, they received violent pecking in their fragile bodies, tearing their zombified flesh, scattering pieces of wings, small arms and legs in the middle of the road. Realizing that it was useless to continue arguing, Thelron ran up until to turn quickly into a dark alley.

  After walking for half an hour, he arrived in front of his house and looked surprised for a skeleton fairy that was flying near the front door.

  “What are you doing here?”, said Thelron, very angry.

  “I’m afraid… the wild men, they want to end our people.”, said the fairy, revealing a look of pity.

  “That’s not my problem. Go away.”

  “Wait, do you not need any help?”

  “Okay, okay… if you really want to help me, please.”, Thelron replied, wiping the sweat from his face.

  “What a beautiful house! Do you leave here alone?”, asked the fairy skeleton, very curious.

  “None of your account. Here, take this piece of cloth and help me in my bath.”

  Thelron then threw his dirty clothes next to his bed, and then entered into a wooden bowl filled with water. The fairy came softly as and watched him, curiously.

  “Why do you have all these scars on your back?”, she asked as stucking the piece of cloth in the midst of the waters.

  “I killed some little devils who tried to suck my blood. And if you keep talking, you may be the next to leave this world.”

  The next day, Thelron woke up, feeling a strong headache, he heard a strange noise that increased in intensity until becoming an insistent cry. He looked around but did not discover from whence came the voice.

  “Come on, get up. Do not stand there all day sleeping.”

  For a moment Thelron thought he might be going crazy, but after a while he remembered that he had slept near the skeleton fairy. He shook his head and tried to walk, but then heard a voice saying:

  “Do not even try to expel me. Now I’ll be with you all your life.”

  Walking around one of the temples which was rebuilt after the invasion of the necromancers, Urentir felt disturbed to remember that the druids have not wanted Edryon to continue in Hanneris. He observed by far the gray elf, who was standing beside a cart, talking with Agmar. So he decided it was best that they understood that Edryon was not guilty for the destruction of the city. After Agmar left over from his wagon, Urentir came walking slowly near the elf and said:

  “Edryon, I see that you have evolved considerably since the day you asked me to teach the magic of nature.”

  The elf looked at the druid, and then his mind was filled with thoughts that were mixed into a big confusion.

  “But I have not killed Tharonnak yet, and I have not destroyed Kordius… I do not understand. Urentir, I am not able to help the world as I wanted.”

  “Everything has its time. You evolved, not only because you did not get the results you wanted, does not mean you did not struggled. I also acted impulsively when I lost my army.”

  Edryon realized that Urentir now showed a weariness that showed in his face marked by war. As they walked near the main square, the gray elf looked sadly at a group of seven druids, of skeletal appearance, shackled and carrying huge stones. To his astonishment, Edryon looked at one, and immediately remembered that he was one of the men who had beaten him in the middle of the road.

  “Urentir, these men are dying. We can not let them suffer in this place. Let’s take them to one of the temples, it will be safer.”

  The druid, on hearing the words of the gray elf, remained silent, as if he had not heard, and after a while said:

  “I want you to remember that Edryon was not guilty for the invasion.”

  Urentir then remembered the terrible battle against the mutant elves, he felt that he was not completely guilty by the defeat of his army. The creatures were becoming more numerous, and although his warriors have fought with courage and honor, they did not endure so many attacks. Edryon had not guilt, and the druids should recognize and forgive the gray elf, even if they still had their doubts. If Hanz was still alive, maybe he could make the city to remember the great victories of Edryon in the past.

  After a few minutes and many blows of pick, Urentir destroyed the chains and freed all the druids, who regarded him with looks of pity.

  “It’s not me who should forgive them. Edryon, the elf who once saved this city of the dragons, it is him, to say which is the destination for you.”

  “They need food, they’re starving. Wait for me here, Urentir. I’ll see if I find something that can help them.”

  Despite having been humiliated by the druids, Edryon could not be angry at the weak men who stood before him.

  After four days of important negotiations in the Council of the Leaves, Ornell and the bards have decided that the druids still could continue with their work, but they should pay more taxes as a form of punishment for their destructive actions. Urentir also approved the decision of the bards and Edryon preferred not to interfere in any of the meetings that have been made within the Council. The elf knew that he would not be so accepted by the citizens, but he felt that they still had a bit of confidence that he would still be a good dragon slayer.

  Slowly, houses, squares and various other buildings were being reformed, Kordius seemed far away from Hanneris, though still looking for the grimoire. Realizing that the Council of the Leaves was now being led by three bards, Edryon felt satisfied and proud, he then approached Ornell and said:

  “Ornell, you’re doing a good job, and I want you to know that I’m thankful for having helped me in the fight against Tharonnak.”

  The bard stood up from a luxurious chair, from inside one of the great halls of the Council and answered, smiling:

  “It was nothing, but next time do not be so selfish in wanting to destroy all the enemies alone.”

  From inside the magnificent training rooms of the Mage Guild, Agmar watched carefully for a group of young apprentice magician who unsuccessfully tried to invoke a water elemental. Then he remembered with pride the days when he went with Urentir, his son, to visit ancient temples and to show him magic runes and enchanted scrolls. He wanted Urentir to become the best and most powerful wizard in the Hanneris’s city, but his son never liked to follow him in his travels.

  One of the apprentices summoned an elemental rather small, the size of a pony, then Agmar approached him and said:

  “Listen, this is not what it should to do, to create a magical being. He could have attacked you. Next time, focus more on the environment around you.”

  The young apprentice, listening to the words of the sorcerer shaman, responded aggressively:
>
  “You’re not my master. I should not listen the advices from an old fool.”

  When the young man turned to continue the training, the small water elemental attacked his left leg, causing the learner immediately to fall on the floor, feeling great pain.

  “I am very ashamed to see kids who could be someone in life. I’m disappointed with all this, you could be the best magicians. But unfortunately you don’t listen to the elders. And you will never understand the voice of wisdom.”, said Agmar, pulling out of the room, but at the same time he felt that the youth might have learned a lesson.

  Then he filled his leather bag with various magic scrolls, Agmar found that a group of soldiers entered the room quickly, wielding swords and shouting slogans. He felt that something strange was happening because the guild had never been invaded in this way. Beside the fifty soldiers, the King William II remarked tuned for some learners, and then shouted:

  “Stop the trainings now, stop with the spells, no one here has received permission to use these rituals, you do not have permission to stay here!”

  The learners listened to the words of the King, just finished their rituals, and remained silent, waiting for some decision.

  “Your Majesty, you should not do this. They are the future of our mages, without them the city would lose much of their magical defenses.”, Agmar answered the king and then realized that his expression was different, as if something serious had changed his personality.

  “Go away, old fool, get out of here now, you’ll never use your useless magic. I do not want you to do more magic rituals, are you listening? Got what I said?”, said the king.

  Agmar felt that it will not be useful to stay in the Guild, then left the place very nervous. He thought to look for Edryon, but did not know what the elf could be doing, the last few days were strange, maybe it would be better to meet with Urentir, and talk for hours trying to reconciliate with his son. He stared at the road when he saw some soldiers carrying magic books, and throwing them in a big bonfire.

  The king could not have done something so thoughtless, Agmar felt that this time it was his worst decision of his reign, but at the same time he did not understand the reason for his expulsion from the guild. More than a few dozen soldiers had left the place, pushing out the apprentices, who then protested, inconformed with the attitude of King William II. If spells were actually banned in Hanneris then necromancers could have planned something Agmar not knew yet. The druid looked with sadness for the apprentices, being kicked from the guild as if they were wild animals.

  “From today, the Guild is closed. Sgnilliv… where’s that goblin?”, the king said, while playing two books on the bonfire.

  “Your majesty, you can not do it. Sgnilliv always helped our city. He does not deserve to suffer once again!”, said one woman, approaching with his face full of tears.

  After more than three hours of protests, arguments and confrontations, the soldiers closed the main entrance of the Mage Guild. A brown war horse approached the local, and then Gulinnar, the paladin, got down the animal and said:

  “Your majesty, I am glad you ordered to shut this filthy and profane place.”

  14

  Two Brothers

  Red stained waters ran at speeds by the creek of the

  Forest of the Spirits. Sgnilliv kept sinking the feet in the midstream, as feeling a great sense of freshness. Suddenly, something with the size of a small tree, was near the goblin, floating on the choppy waters. When he rubbed his eyes with his hands, trying to understand what it was this, that had crossed the creek, he also saw an arm, which floated in the middle of some pieces of branches.

  Then he pulled his feet back onto the grass, and stood up. He looked again to the creek, the waters brought new bodies… dozens of them. There appeared to be human, but had almost the same height, so Sgnilliv wondered who might be elves or some similar race. As he prepared to pull on his leather boots on his feet, a elf’s head came in the midstream. Sgnilliv then remembered that Urentir had entered the forest with his army to destroy and expel the mutant elves, that every day invaded the region in droves ever more numerous.

  Urentir’s elven warriors were brave, but now they could no longer defend their families, not even help their kingdoms. The goblin stood with difficulty, then remembered when he was still studying his fire spells, he felt that his father had done something he would never forgive him. Sgnilliv could not see anything else on his mind, just an almost infinite urge, to find Shiiv and to destroy his life. He discovered that his father was a coward, so he should show him that Sgnilliv was not useless, as he said.

  Then he looked in wonder at the small trees that were still growing. It would take several years to attain the size of a mature tree, Sgnilliv had never noticed these small details. He now felt that his perception of the world might have been further improved. A flock of birds flew quickly over some grass huts that were further away, in a clearing. The goblin had wanted to have the freedom he had before, being free as eagles, vultures and drakes. He threw a stone into the creek and heard the pleasant noise of waters.

  He was walking slowly, trying to forget the countless tragedies. He remembered the good times he spent with Ellen, for the past six months. Sgnilliv wished he could find her again without going through the shame and humiliation of not having two arms, being able to hold her, to caress her and kissing her lips gently. She always believed that one day they could have children, despite being of different races. A goblin and a human, was not well accepted by society because most men have always considered the goblins as racially inferior and less intelligent. Cruel questions invaded his thoughts, he was not sure if she would accept his new condition.

  He continued walking until getting close to his tribe, he realized that something strange might be happening because a black smoke coming out of a gap, filling the sky. Horrible cries of goblins echoed throughout the forest, Sgnilliv thought about doing some magic, but his arm incapacitated warned him that it would be impossible now. He was no longer a magician, and should accept his new situation, even if it was so sad and humiliating. He hid behind a tree, watching carefully some straw huts. They were all destroyed, but to his amazement, he saw dozens of dead goblins, scattered amid the grass soaked in blood.

  Sgnilliv ran among the huts in the hope of finding survivors, heard some requests for help, but he was sad because he could not help everyone. He realized that the goblins were killed by some kind of piercing weapon, as most of the bodies were bored with deep holes in their skins. The goblin desperately knelt near a goblin woman dying, she had lost her legs, and no longer had the strength to even pronounce any word. Sgnilliv had no choice, went with his dagger into the neck of the young goblin, sacrificing her.

  When he walked a little further from the path of destruction and burning houses, he heard a frightening howl that made Sgnilliv more alert, holding his silver dagger firmly. A huge white wolf appeared from behind some bushes, and upon it was Kordius, the evil sorcerer that once betrayed his own friend and master of Sgnilliv: Rasputin. The magician was holding a magic trident, covered by a greenish aura that made his body to become even stronger and more resilient. Sgnilliv knew it was impossible to fight against the sorcerer, because now he no longer had any magic.

  The goblin, very frightened by the presence of Kordius, ran in the middle of the flames, screaming to see if there were any survivors.

  “It does not matter, it is useless to waste energy with the dead.”, said the sorcerer.

  “You… why did you do this?”

  “I had no choice, the bastards, they were here in my way… They only bring trouble, the forest is now clean. These races that only bring losses! If you do not want to die now, walk away! Do not tell anyone what happened.”

  Upon learning that the Hanneris’s city had been completely rebuilt, Urentir felt more relaxed, and then rode slowly approaching near twelve druids. Satisfied with the new leadership of the Council of the Leaves, they now was discussing what would be th
e best way to combat the skeleton fairies. The horrible creatures were still everywhere, and every passing day, people were more frightened by the blood lust of the little monsters.

  “Listen, I’m sorry. I know I failed in the battle of the forest. The mutant elves, they were killed. But our warriors did not stand… I’m sorry.”

  A druid approached Urentir, while looking very suspicious, and said:

  “Why are you still here? You’re not a commander! You’re not working for our king.”

  “You are wrong! It was our majesty that sent me. And soon, Ornell, and Heng Lawf and Kimiru, they will be the best druids… our king has ordered me to start training them.”

  The druids were silent for some time, until one of them, who looked much more older, said:

  “Urentir is right. He can help us, the fairies must be fighted.”

  “No, that’s impossible! He is the Agmar’s son, the mad! He only brings problems. The city can not be destroyed. We must not let him, he is a loser, and will guide us until death.”, shouted a druid quite angry, holding a scythe.

  “Okay. If you think even that, I will warn the king. He’ll make the right decision.”, Urentir responded coldly, and turned away from the group, walking towards the city gates.

  The druid and former commander of the elven warriors felt that it would be no good, trying to help them, they demonstrated an intolerance that would be difficult to overcome. When he left town, he looked at the road and realized that there were dozens of skeleton fairies dying, their bodies weakened. Urentir was in doubt if they had suffered some kind of attack, but they had no injuries. He stared at the sky, which was covered with spirits who wandered aimlessly, and then disappeared into the clouds. The druid then remembered that the fairies were evil creations of Kordius.