Edryon (Book 1 of Edryon Trilogy)

by Luis Oselieri

  “Look, Ornell. Agmar is yelling with the soldiers at the gates.”, Sgnilliv said, “He’s leaving the town. We can not let him go.”

  “Let him cry for as long as he want.”, the leader of the bard replied, “He wants to find his son alive. Urentir is still stuck in the fortress of Kordius. I just hope that the soldiers are able to rescue him.”

  While some peasants have realized that Agmar had left the city, they shut down their faces, showing a great concern. So Thornak, the dwarf, approached them, holding a sack of flour, and said:

  “Listen, I left my inn to know what is happening. It is difficult to understand that you’re worried. It was you who said several times that Agmar is just a madman who lives in the forest. Take care of your lives!”

  “What you’re saying is… a big lie! We know he just wants to help his son. He will bring back Urentir to Hanneris!”, One very thin woman cried, excited.

  After hours of intense discussions, the caravan of the druids appeared to be well established on the main road, which was close to the steel gates of the city’s entrance. One of them came out of one of the tents that they had assembled, and approached Ornell. The leader of the bards looked surprised to the man, and then firmly gripped his magic grimoire.

  “What are you doing here?”, Ornell asked.

  “We did a reunion, one week ago. The Forest of the Spirits must be controlled because the magic that enchants the trees is completely unbalanced. So we have a proposal to make.”, the man said in an anxious way.

  “What kind of proposal?”

  “We know Hanneris needs a protection against new attacks by necromancers and other enemies. And if we could benefit by some sort of exchange, it would be even better. We want to help you.”, the man said, and then three more druids came next to him.

  “Okay… just tell me what is the proposal.”

  Men and women, children and elderly, they all seemed to be ever greater in number, as they came to know what was the arrival of the druids in the city. The soldiers also came down from their horses, keeping the swords back in their scabbards, very curious, watching the Ornell’s conversation with the men of the Forest of the Spirits.

  “We can create a magical energy field, which will cover all Hanneris’s city. So you will never receive again any kind of physical attacks.”, said the druid, while seven of them held staffs, preparing to create a big circle around the main square of the town.

  “This is crazyness! The magic is still unbalanced, they want to create new tragedies! If this energy field is weaker or fails, it can kills many innocent people.”, an old thin man, with a gray cloak, said forcefully.

  Ornell knew that if he continued arguing with these men, he would end up forgetting his main goals, then he hurled his grimoire with force in the land. The crowd and even the druids looked startled for the attitude of the leader of the Council of the Leaves.

  “We know we were wrong to treat Edryon that way… we thought he was responsible for the invasion of the skeleton fairies. We want you to forgive us for everything.”, said one of the druids.

  “Now that you want the Forest of the Spirits to be controlled, you think you can fool us with false excuses, is not it?”, Ornell asked.

  The leader of the bards felt those druids just wanted to take advantage of the fragile situation of the city, and he should not let those wild men continued mouthing words of hypocrisy. Pigs of the forest… it was this what Ornell thought of them, but at the same time he recognized that they could not come to lose hours and hours with more conflicts.

  “You… will do nothing here in Hanneris. You came here because you’re desperate, you came because you can not solve your own problems!”, an woman of elegant body, but with her face marked by the age, cried out, as if that was the only solution to prevent the druids.

  “It’s a lie, a prostitute like her does not know what she’s saying. Let the important issues to those who have the wisdom.”, one citizen of overweight said, while raising a mug of wine to the top.

  Ornell took back the fallen grimoire in the land, he recalled that he should not have done that, because the magical book was an inheritance from Ernall, his father. The hours seemed increasingly slow, and a willingness to abandon everything crossed the mind of the leader of the Council of the Leaves.

  “Okay, do as you like. If you really want to help our people, then you’ll have a chance to redeem yourselves… all the mistakes of the past. But understand one thing, it will be the last chance.”, Ornell said, after saving the grimoire back to his leather bag.

  “Thank you for your decision, Ornell. And we can assure you that Hanneris will not suffer any encroachment in the future.”, said the leader druid of the Forest of the Spirits.

  The druids, after several hours under the sun that illuminated the weak clearing of the forest, with magical medallions around their necks, forming a large circle, all of them holding their hands, had begun the first part of the ritual of magical protection for the city. The Forest of the Eternity, despite being the subject of ancient legends of attacks from bizarre creatures, was the most appropriate place for the druids, and it was outside of Hannneris. When the circle was already fully formed, causing the earth to shake in its interior with the blue energy that covered the entire area, the druids started to say words of the ancient rituals of protection.

  Suddenly, appearing from behind some bushes and holding a magic staff, with a bright red skull made of ruby at its tip, which emitted bright lights, Rasputin approached the circle of druids and shouted:

  “What are you doing? If you continue with the ritual, you may further unbalance the magic of the world!”

  The druids continued pronoucing the strange words, as if Rasputin did not existed at that moment, as if the only thing that really mattered was finishing the magic ritual and to create the field of protection in Hanneris’s city. Rasputin looked increasingly nervous about the ignorance of those wild men, who had never brought any efficient aid to the people who always sought to humiliate Edryon.

  “When the spell of protection, the same spell that causes you so much worrying, and that will bring the peace Hanneris was expecting, will be complete, covering all sides of the town, you’ll just see that we care just about the more important things…”, said the leader of the druids, pointing upward, toward a gigantic form of radiant energy that formed the walls, near the main entrance.

  “I just hope with all my trust, they are even correct.”, the wizard replied in a hesitant tone, as if still doubting the intentions of that caravan.

  Forms of energy so intense as that meant that the magic ritual of the druids appeared to be working without any obstacles, so Rasputin felt calmer, seeing the city slowly being covered by a sort of giant bubble of yellowish hues. Strange orange sparks of numerous shapes and sizes, have emerged from high above the forest in a huge explosion, joining itself fast, and when the druids saw those sparks were out of their rituals, they were stunned in disbelief at the huge portal that had formed in the sky.

  “It worked… the magic of protection is already complete, but what is that? Portals need any magician or sorcerer skilled enough to create them.”, Rasputin said, and took from his leather satchel some runes of invocation .

  “Since the ritual is done, and we did our part as agreed, we will return to the forest. We hope also that you fulfill your promise.”, the leader of the druids said to the magician, but looking in a curious way to the magic portal .

  Observing strange spells, ignoring it as if they had never been created, this was the druids’s specialty, and Rasputin, although still surprised and frightened by the presence of the portal, he knew that the wild men of the forest would not bother with the consequences, although they were positive. Staves and grimoires were scattered amid the grass, while everyone seemed pleased, but at the same time confused, because most of them kept looking very suspicious to the portal.

  “I know that for you… all of this is just a show… waiting for something to happen, not
knowing if it will be good or bad, but we have to discover the origin of this magic.”, Rasputin said in a firm tone, and walked close to the leader of the druids.

  “We did our part. Magical knowledge are spread throughout the world, but we unknown most of them. We hope you are well protected, as of today.”, the leader replied, then walked to approach the other druids.

  Pieces of green wings began to fall from the top, like a light rain, filling the grass, and immediately Rasputin looked to the sky covered with hundreds of skeleton fairies, leaving at a high speed, through the magic portal. Shrieks echoed throughout the woods, making even squirrels, rabbits and wild boars to run scared into the bushes.

  “They’re invading this place, and you will remain standing here without doing anything?”, Rasputin asked, her hands trembled, after having broken and thrown down a piece of stick.

  Without answering the wizard, and mounted on their horses, the druids followed a trail covered with small wings, across the way to distance themselves from the Forest of the Eternity. Strange thoughts came in Rasputin’s mind, invading his certainty about how would be the future of the world of Fynge.

  Skeleton fairies used to bring problems, but this time they appeared in increasing numbers, and therefore Rasputin felt he should warn Ornell, but when he looked closely again at these creatures, hundreds of them were already streaming toward the Hanneris’s city. Huge holes were formed on the magical energy field created by the druids, and then Rasputin noticed that they seemed to have discovered some effective way to penetrate the large bubble.

  Flying against the strong winds that spread the dried leaves of the forest trees, Yllanys, the skeleton fairy queen, looked suspiciously at the sides, and left quickly, following his army in the midst of the black clouds.

  25

  New Journey

  Ornell sat in one of the stone chairs of the table of

  reunions in the Council of the Leaves, and looked pleased to Kimiru and Heng Lawf, who seemed to be waiting for something new or something that would bring them new missions. Around him, druids and elves apprentices watched with curiosity the meeting of the bards in town, because for a long time Hanneris was not receiving good news, but now all seemed quiet and safe.

  “Since we’re here in this place that was once the world’s best Council of Fynge, I must tell you that I’m grateful for everything you did for our people.”, said Ornell, looking admiringly to the bards.

  “Okay, but where’s the food?”, Kimiru asked eagerly, looking at his empty plate.

  After a few minutes, four elven girls very well dressed and elegants, entered the hall, carrying large trays of iron and smiling for the guests. Suddenly, the room was filled with a strange green cloud that covered the ceiling of the place, in a amazing way.

  “What’s happening?”, said Ornell, rising quickly from his chair, and looking for little figures that appeared and passed between the stone pillars of the hall.

  “They are spirits, and look like reptants.”, Heng Lawf said and also stood up, pulling back his magic bow.

  Ornell, realizing that the hall looked increasingly filled with the green cloud, he felt that they could not remain in the Council of the Leaves. Scary screams echoed throughout the room, causing most of the guests to flee from the local.

  “We can not stay here,” Kimiru shouted, “but my ax will expel them!”

  “Stop being idiot, this weapon will not do anything to the spirits. Let’s go out now.”, said Heng Lawf, very angry.

  Kimiru thought for some time, while the spirits was floating, flying over the tables and people lying unconscious on the floor. Ornell then ran to join the bards, and drew his magic sword.

  “I still don’t understand how this infernal cloud broke into the Council. Help the others fainted, let’s try to get out of here before it’s too late.”, Ornell said.

  “How can we do to bring all these people to a safe place?”, Heng Lawf asked.

  Ornell did not have an answer because he felt it was very difficult to confront or to escape from those spirits, without women and other innocent people getting hurt in the midst of the confusion. Suddenly, some of them got up from the floor and shook their bodies as if they were possessed.

  “They become zombies!”, Kimiru shouted, and prepared his double war ax.

  “Calm down, you can not attack anyone without knowing if they are alive or not.”, Lawf Heng said, while trying to control the warrior bard.

  Ornell then began to take some unconscious women, and took them next to the Council’s exit. He prepared to take more of them by the arms, and then he found Thelron.

  “What are you doing here?”, Ornell asked, surprised and scared, still in disbelief that the necromancer had entered the hall.

  “Is not only you who can go around getting into places where is not invited. Do you really think I’ll let you continue doing your idiot missions?”, Thelron said arrogantly.

  Kimiru ran towards the necromancer with the ax in hand, but was stopped quickly by several spirits, which formed a large green wall. The bard was frightened, but kept trying to approach Thelron, who shouted:

  “There’s no point trying anything to get out of this place. You now deserve to suffer all the power that Kordius brought to this world!”

  “Thelron, you can not continue to follow the path of evil. Edryon always wanted the best for you, but it seems you will never understand it, is not it?”, said Ornell.

  The necromancer showed a smile of contempt to the bard, while still standing up and gesturing hands, summoning more spirits. Ornell tried to recall a magical ritual that might help him, and at that same time, strange words came into his mind.

  “What are you doing? Do you think if you stand there you can face my spirits?”, Thelron shouted, and then the wall has become more resilient, forming a circle that held the bard.

  “You have no right to enter the guild. And you can not to continue manipulating the spells of the deads, acting as if you was the best sorcerer in the world. You’ll lose your soul, and then you can’t do anything to save it.”

  Thelron gave a great laugh, while dozens of spirits flew over his head, floating in a disorderly and fast way. When Ornell prepared to do some ritual that would destroy the magical barrier, a man on a white wolf came through the fog that covered the hall of the Mage Guild.

  “You were having fun without me. I ought to know, you’re all traitors, who think only about money. Thelron, why are you here without my permission?”, said Kordius aggressively.

  “I don’t work for you. And though I was by your side, I would not be your slave.”, Thelron replied while still controlling the spirits of the wall.

  Ornell looked around and realized that he could not escape so easily, but he also felt he should not wait for the death, without taking any action. The bard moved forward with the body and felt a great weight on his legs, as he tried to cross the huge magic wall.

  “Let me go out, Thelron. You will not win anything if you keep accepting orders from Kordius.”, Ornell said, and then realized that a man approached the necromancer, with a harp in his hands.

  “I know what you’re looking for. But the Grimoire of the Eternity is not in the guild. You’re wasting your time.” Heng Lawf said, and then placed the harp in the marble floor.

  Kordius leaped from his white war wolf at an incredible speed, and came walking to stop beside Thelron. The sorcerer of the elementals seemed eager to show to the necromancer that he was the most powerful necromancer in the world of Fynge.

  “If you don’t want to tell the truth, I see no sense in even letting him to live.”, Kordius said, while his hands were inflamed with magical blue flames.

  “Thelron, end the magic!”, Ornell shouted, “Come on, get over it! You don’t need powers that will only bring you the death!”

  Heng Lawf then withdrew the magic bow that was stuck on his back, and when he prepared to put an arrow, his arms no more moved. With some difficulties, he tried to open his lips, but it se
emed hard.

  “You asked for it and now you’re paying the price for your… lie!”, Thelron laughed as he watched the skin, equipments and weapons of the bard becoming gray and lifeless.

  “Bastard, you killed Heng Lawf! How could…”, Ornell knelt, screaming in the magical field of energy that imprisoned him.

  The leader of the bards still seemed not to believe that Heng Lawf now was just a stone statue, showing in his face a great pain because he could not to confront Thelron. Ornell knew if there was any chance of saving the life of the bard, it would be out of Hanneris, in some region where he could find some experienced cleric.

  “Salur could heal him.”, Sgnilliv said as he stared at Edryon, “But he will not do anything that does not involve gold coins, is not it?”

  “It’s not the time to stay here!”, Kimiru shouted as he ran with the ax in hands, toward Kordius.

  The warrior bard seemed increasingly furious, but suddenly he dropped his weapon and knelt on the floor, holding his own neck. Ornell knew that any attack Kimiru could do against the sorcerer would be useless, but he is not knew Kimiru would try another way to attack Kordius.

  “I’m surprised… to still be trying to… be better than his fellow idiots. Continue attacking this way, and soon you will find death.”, Kordius said in a calm and coldly way.

  “Edryon, sorry to leave you alone.”, Sgnilliv said and then began to concentrate with closed eyes.

  The goblin magician turned away from the elf and his hands were full of huge red flames. A giant ball of lava emerged quickly in the air and Sgnilliv hurled it against the sorcerer of the elementals. Hundreds of spirits of reptants surrounded Kimiru and then the fireball exploded with violence against the magical wall that held Ornell.

  “The little goblin seems anxious. Do you also will to die like the others?”, Kordius asked and smiled, revealing an evil expression on his face.