“The doors of the library are closed!”, Ornell yelled, “Let’s try to recover the fallen grimoires.”
“Rest assured, everything is under control.”, a strange man said, appearing outside the entrance of the place and next to him there was a group of twenty druids.
Ornell looked closely at the man, who wore a gray hood and a wooden staff in his left hand. His face looked familiar and when he uncovered his head, throwing back the hood of his robe, the leader of the bards knew the man was Agmar, the Urentir’s father.
“They have been captured. Now we must find a way to protect the guild, to prevent further invasions.”, Agmar said, pointing with his staff to an enormous magical field of energy, which held tens of skeletons fairies.
23
The Return Of The Betrayer
The choppy waters of the sea from the mainland of
Ravellis, waters that made Sgnilliv to hold the helm more firmly, seemed to show that the goblin still needed a better control of the ship. Showing the right direction was the point of his compass, the certainty he could reach the land seemed ever closer, but Sgnilliv felt he should carefully observe the dark clouds that heralded a major storm.
Sgnilliv continued to turn the rudder to the right, hoping that the winds continued to bring new signals, and to wait was not part of his personality, he did not want not be disappointed with any misfortune. He wished to look at the sky, being able to perceive the light clouds covering the stars of the night, realizing that the storm was now just a little illusion. The storm seemed almost certain, seemed to bring a concern to the goblin so huge, invading his mind, mingling with past events, the tragedies of his life. Tragedies were impossible to be tolerated by a normal human, impossible for ordinary men to continue their ways, but Sgnilliv was a goblin, and goblins should be strong until the end.
Sgnilliv should tolerate even the turning of a night at the sea, to tolerate the heavy rain that was punishing without mercy on the second day of travel through the sea of Ravellis. According to the map, with the signs indicated by small knife marks, tracing a path that went up to the Island of the Gnomes, this was the last day, and Sgnilliv was already beginning to think of Ellen. Sgnilliv looked at the burnt trees, also looked toward some wild animals, dead on the side of the island, and realized that maybe Kordius had invaded the region with his army of necromancers.
He did not want to go through other terrible moments, and an almost limitless hatred had dominated him, with the image of Kordius invading his mind every moment, disturbing him and bringing a huge suffering. Sgnilliv could not continue living without hope, without fighting for the things that he still believed. Sgnilliv felt he still had forces to fight against the powerful sorcerer of the elementals.
“What happened? You was quiet throughout the journey.”, Edryon asked as he stared at the trees, eager to find some fruits.
“I was thinking… Ellen, she would not like to see me like that. I wish I could resolve it all. Kordius… that bastard will pay for all the tragedies that he brought to this world.”
Rasputin looked proudly at Sgnilliv, and said:
“Just now you noticed this? You’re young, you should not be worrying about the past. Live the present, feel the life force that you seems for long time forgotten it.”
This time Edryon felt great confidence in the eyes of the goblin, who seemed more determined to confront his problems. Immediately, the gray elf also remembered horrific moments ago, and then Sarah, his wife, broke into his thoughts, coming home, walking with a happy expression on her face.
Her long golden hair swaying against the breeze, she always returned the tower of magic trainings with a basket in her hands, for she liked to pick flowers along the way, and also took the opportunity to donate scrolls of healing and protection for the wounded who were found on the roads of the Hanneris’s city.
When Rasputin looked at his laboratory still complet, despite the constant invasions of reptants that had happened in recent days, the magician was surprised, and then decided to approach cautiously from the entrance. He looked into the laboratory through the windows, everything seemed in order, since his magical protections had not been activated. After a few moments, the three travelers were already assembled, sitting around a table covered with old books, maps and red candles lit. Rasputin opened a map and pointed to a place very far, showing it to the gray elf and the goblin, who still seemed bewildered, not understanding what the wizard wanted to explain.
“Ever heard of Solarinn, is not it?”, Rasputin asked in an anxious way.
Edryon scratched his head, and while trying to rise from his chair, said:
“You mean, the kingdom of the twelve wizards?”
“Yes, that realm is a place that not all wizards and clerics know. Hidden from most of the civilizations, the elephons went their own ways.”
Sgnilliv looked so curious to Rasputin, and said:
“I don’t understand. Why do you say about this realm? We have no obligation to them, and we don’t need to worry about their problems.”
“If we activate the runes of portals that lead to this dimension, seeking the support of the people, even though we may have to stay there awhile.”, the magician answered, then looked at one of his magical grimoires.
“But the runes have never brought any positive results. Remember when you had tried to enter the kingdom of reptants, two years ago? Two portals exploded, and dozens of towns have been invaded by demons.”, Edryon said.
“Don’t worry about it. I confess that I did not have a good experience with portals that time, but now it will be different. I hope you trust me.”
Sgnilliv, remembering that long ago he had not thought to going back to do spells, felt a little disappointed, because we also wanted to show Rasputin and and the Hanneris’s city that he was still capable of being a sorcerer.
The goblin opened his right hand, and then red flames appeared on his palm.
“It’s strange. I never thought that I would do this again. But I fell it would not be so bad to learn new spells.”
“That’s why you should stop being without hope.”, Rasputin said, looking out for the goblin.
The magician, seeing that the flames seemed to grow stronger, prepared his magic staff and tried to concentrate. Edryon departed as strong winds were circulating on the clearing, destroying trees and swaying branches.
“So do you really want to learn magic, goblin?”, Rasputin raised his staff and made some gestures with his left hand.
“Come on, we can not stay here all day.”, said the gray elf, who seemed quite annoyed.
Sgnilliv knelt on the ground, while looking for strange symbols of fire that formed in the air. After a few minutes, a wall of magical energy was formed before the incredulous eyes of the goblin.
“Can you cross the wall?”, the magician said, and continued with the staff prepared in his hands.
“What are you doing?”, Edryon shouted, “He may die if he go through the energy field!”
Rasputin pointed his staff to the elf, who immediately stayed silent. The goblin looked at the wall, and began walking toward it. When he prepared to enter the field of energy, giant plants came under the ground and arrested the Sgnilliv’s arms.
“You passed the test, goblin. Has proved you have courage, who will not give up your way.”
“Are you saying that all of this was a test? I don’t believe I lost my time just watching a magic show.”, Edryon said.
The magician, seeing that the gray elf looked increasingly nervous, smiled and sat down near the plants that held the goblin. After some time, Sgnilliv loosened from the roots, but suddenly began to scream violently.
“Calm down. You don’t need new spells. Still do not understand this, goblin? You’re already a wizard, and must learn to trust your grimoire.”
Four days passed, and after intensive discussions and planning about what would be the best decision to use the runes of portals, Rasputin seemed pleased with the outcome. The Island
of the Gnomes remained peaceful during the whole period, but the mage felt that he should reform his laboratoy.
“This place is not completely secure. So I think it would not be a good idea to activate the runes here.”, the magician said.
“Do not worry, I’ll be out there and if I see something suspicious, I will tell you.”, Edryon said as he looked to his laminated left arm.
After the gray elf left the laboratory, Rasputin opened a small wooden chest that stood beside a table filled with books, and took some stones with strange symbols. Sgnilliv looked suspiciously at the magician, and then approached him and began to laugh repeatedly.
“Why are you laughing, goblin?”
“It’s nothing, when I see all these books, scrolls, potions and candles, I remember how stupid I was, to think of abandoning the path of a magician.”
Rasputin has extended a red carpet on the floor, and after the runes spread over him, pointed to Sgnilliv and gestured for him to sit next to the stones. The goblin obeyed, but at the same time seemed restless and confused.
“When the summoning of elephons is finished, we will carry out the energy created. It will be risky, but we have no other choice.”, the wizard said, while trying to order the runes on the red carpet.
“Do you really think it will work? I remember very well the last time… demons and strange creatures.”
Rasputin closed the face, showing great irritation with Sgnilliv, but hr felt that the goblin was right, because often their magical experiences had not been successful. The magician then handed some runes for him, and began to analyze the symbols of the stones, saying words in the language of the Nultari.
“This time we will succed, sure. Anacron… Hiakin… Opstetis…”
“Anacron… Hiakin… Opstetis…”, Sgnilliv repeated carefully every word uttered by Rasputin.
After two hours of grueling rituals and hundreds of small magical procedures, the runes that were on the carpet started to float through the air, forming a large circle. Amid the ruins, a big ball of energy appeared, and then Rasputin shouted:
“Help me to control the gate!”
The goblin immediately got up from the carpet and closed his eyes, trying to concentrate. Strong winds have formed within the laboratory, knocking the books, so after they managed to control the magical energy, taking it off-site, the magician stared for a legion of creatures that came close to the sea.
“We have succeded, the Nultari crossed the portal, they left Solarinn to help us out.”, shouted Rasputin as he looked proudly at hundreds of elephant men, wielding huge hammers of combat.
“These weapons seems destructive and efficient, is not it?”, the goblin asked, and began walking toward the creatures.
The Nultari remained standing at the edge of the Island of the Gnomes, as if waiting for orders. The magician knew they still did not know why they were raised, but he should warn them.
“Maybe they need food. Create something good for elephants, Rasputin.”, Edryon said so excited, but was interrupted angrily by the magician.
“Stop talking about useless things, elf. We have to tell them we need their help, we must say them the reason for the invocation of their people.”, Rasputin said and then lifted his staff up high, waiting for some response from the Nultari.
The elephant men remained standing, and then one of them, who seemed to be the leader, wore a suit of armor better enforced, and with war symbols, walked a few steps. Rasputin looked proudly at the Nultari, who seemed anxious, waiting for an answer.
“Why are they so thin? I’m sure they need food. We can not let them die of hunger.”, Edryon said quite anxious, but Sgnilliv approached the elf and shouted:
“Edryon, you are losing you mind, is not it? They don’t need to eat anything! These creatures may well face an entire army for months, and still will not stop for any rest!”
Rasputin also realized that the hammers of fighting of the Nultari seemed powerful and efficient, so he looked carefully at the strongest warriors of the gigantic army. He should select the best to put them further behind, while the Nultari who carried staffs could cast spells of protection or reinforcement.
“If they all went through the portal, leaving Solarinn and leaving behind their roots and traditions, we should welcome them as best as possible. I will talk to the leader, wait!”, the magician said firmly.
“This time we can!”, Edryon screamed and rolled up his laminated left arm.
Rasputin walked carefully near the sea waves that lapped against the rocks, and noticed that the Nultari did not seemed as friendly as he thought. The huge creatures showed in their elephant faces a great irritation and impatience.
“I want to talk to your leader!”, the magician shouted and showed a smile, as he lifted his staff up high in a sign of peace.
“No talking! Why you has brought us here?”, the leader asked quite nervous.
“We want the support of your people!”, Edryon ran, screaming toward the Nultari.
Two days of intense discussions on how the attack would be made against the necromancers did not made the leader of the elephant men to approve any decision. On the third day Tenarkis sat next to Rasputin and said:
“You know very well I want the best for my army. So it’s not fair that we do not have a reward up to this war.”
“Stay calm, I know that you’re a good leader, and also I do not want you to stay at any disadvantage. The druids of Hanneris will help with everything you need.”, said the magician in a determined and energetic way, while hundreds of necromancers crossed the road in the city, as if they were ready to destroy any enemy.
“They are many, we can not beat them.”, Sgnilliv said with a concerned expression on his face.
Tenarkis withdrew from his war belt a scroll wrapped in a green ribbon, and said:
“We must prepare the protective spells, the weapons also need new enchantments.”
Immediately, memories of the old time of the first war against the necromancers entered the mind of Rasputin at a great speed. He knew Kordius had been responsible for creating the skeleton fairies, so he felt more hopeless than that same race could be wiped out by the world of Fynge. The Grimoire of Eternity was still in the hands of the sorcerer of the elementals, and each day that passed, the world became more dangerous and strange. It would have to act, even if it meant the last and most destructive war of Fynge.
“All these tragedies… it is very sad to know that our people was still enslaved for all these years of unfair combats.”, Rasputin said, a little disheartened by the recent events.
“You’re right, Sgnilliv, they are many. But that will not cause us to abandon our hopes, is not it?”, asked Edryon excited, then pointed to five warships full of warriors, who came majestically in the distance between the strong waves.
After a few hours the human commanders threw their anchors at the edge of the Island of the Gnomes and in the last ship was Salur, the cleric. The men wore silver armor, glowing against the sun’s rays.
“I don’t know what these elephants decided, but I will not keep standing here!”, shouted Edryon, exalted, as he lifted to the top the blade of his left arm.
“So what will you do, elf? Salur will not help us. He was never concerned with the problems of Hanneris.”, Rasputin responded angrily.
Five days following with attention the Salur’s army caused Edryon to start thinking of some way to get the cleric to change his plans. The warriors appeared anxious but scared at the same time, when faced with a sudden surprise attack that left the top. Edryon did not know if it was the right decision to leave the Nultari and Rasputin, but now he should help Salur to attack the necromancers, who was rising fast as demons.
“You may not need my help, but since I’m here, you can count on my services.”, the gray elf said to the cleric, as was crossing his blade against the chest of one of the evil men.
“Edryon, you should be in Hanneris! The island is also being invaded, but the druids would not want to know t
hat you abandoned them!”, Salur screamed and tried to hit his broadsword of steel on a necromancer, but fell in the middle of the sand with a large wound in his right leg.
The necromancer attacked the cleric again with his bloody sword and received a blow from behind by Edryon, causing his head to separate away from the body.
After intense discussions about how to be prepared to defend the Hanneris’s city, Rasputin approached slowly Tenarkis, the leader of the Nultari, and said:
“I’m glad we arrived at a decision. The weapons are already enchanted?”
“Yes. My warriors are ready for war!”, Tenarkis screamed and raised his huge magical hammer of combat.
Further away, among dozens of palm trees and destroyed strand huts, hundreds of men dressed in black robes approached furious spinning with ability the blades of their bloody swords. They appeared to be normal humans, so Rasputin selected, through a magic circle that formed in the air, a group with the strongest Nultari warriors he could find.
“When they will cross the region surrounded by trees, I want you to prepare the hammers, because the battle will not be easy.”, the wizard said, very worried, as he conferred in his grimoire if there was any useful spell at the moment.
“Now… attack!”, Tenarkis screamed and then hundreds of enraged Nultari ran, raising their weapons in the air, hitting with violence heads and arms of necromancers that appeared in increasing numbers.
Suddenly, when dozens of men were found dead in the middle of the sand full of bodies, the battle seemed won by Rasputin and his allies, then a white wolf came from between the necromancers who were still fighting as fierce as wild animals. Kordius giggled uncontrollably as he looked to the army of Nultari, which looked increasingly dejected and defeated, because the sorcerer of the elementals had managed to dispel most of the magic that enchanted weapons and armors of the elephant men.
“We are lost. Edryon abandoned us and now Kordius will not rest until to destroy them all. Tenarkis, we’ll retreat, we can not stay here losing our warriors.”, Rasputin said, revealing an expression of despair and frustration.
Edryon (Book 1 of Edryon Trilogy) Page 21