by John Grover
Blue-purple smoke trickled in the air from urns at the bottom of the stone steps. One of the many doors opened, and Sooth-Malesh appeared. He walked into his chamber and an empty chair slid across the floor to meet him. It nearly tripped the old mage into it.
“Well, what do you mean you believe me?”
“There is a foul taste in the air,” Tolan said. “I feel it deep down in my bones. Something is wrong. Athora itself is in danger, isn’t it?”
The mage nodded.
“Tell me what you have found out so I may go to the King.”
“You may not want to hear it.”
“I must. My friends in the Circle Guard are out there, and more are being sent as we speak. I have troubled over this all night, gaining no sleep at all.”
“Dear boy,” he got out of the chair and went directly to his worktable. Tolan joined his side. “They tried blocking me at first, so I couldn’t see them. But they’re working too much magic in their attacks now to stay hidden.”
“Who?”
“Patience, patience, Lad.” Sooth-Malesh opened his musty book again. “I do not know what they’re called, but they’re more ruthless than anything in our land. Barbaric, relentless, and dark as the abyss.”
Tolan watched with restraint as the old mage thumbed through the pages.
“You know the belief that there is no land on the other side of the mist in the Fifling Sea?”
“Yes, we covered this down below.”
“Yes, yes… well, it’s not true. This race has come through that mist. They broke their way through, and it wasn’t easy.” He stopped on a page with rough drawings and sketches of men with wings. “You know of the legend of the First People.”
“Of course, every child learns about them in school.”
“Yes, yes,” the old man nodded. “Well, do you know the legend of the Grimstone?” He turned the page, and there was another drawing of a grand, shimmering stone, a texture unlike anything Tolan had ever seen. It was a stone with shades of emerald and onyx, with a twinkle to every side of it.
“I know not of this stone.”
“The Grimstone. Long before any of us existed, the First People knew the power of this stone, and the danger it possessed. They could not destroy it, but they separated it. Three pieces were forged and hidden throughout the land. These creatures have one of its pieces. It lent them power; their mages used it to break through the mist and enter our lands. Now they mean to invade us all.”
“They must be stopped.”
“There is very little we know about them.”
“It is time we found out. We must bring the fight to them before they lay waste to our lands. Do they know of the other two pieces or their locations?”
“I do not know. There’s no telling if they’re simply here to plunder, or to find the other pieces. Look.” Sooth-Malesh grabbed a silk bag from his robes. He shook the bag and poured the contents onto the table. Rune stones scattered about, turning onto various sides. “You see?”
“What?”
“Their mark.”
Tolan looked closer and saw that each rune formed one large symbol overall. When the stones were assembled together, the runes connected to form an unfamiliar emblem.
“Each time I shake the runes, they form the same symbol.”
“How do they do this?”
The mage shook his end. “Devil’s hellfire, if I know. Rune magic is very mysterious. But if we can decipher this symbol, we will know their name.”
“Ah,” Tolan had grown weary. “I need to warn the King. We must amass and meet the invaders head-on.”
“Tolan,” Sooth-Malesh grabbed him by the arm. “If they do happen to find the other pieces of the stone, they would be unstoppable. All of Athora will fall.”
Tolan pulled away and rushed outside the spire and down to the inner courtyard.
###
“You cannot enter!” The palace guard blocked Tolan from passing the main doors into the King’s foyer.
“I must see the King; he must know of the danger!”
“Only the High Guardsman may enter. Go see Jorrel.”
“He won’t listen to me! His logic is clouded. The city mage has seen it. We are all in grave danger.”
“The city mage? The man who saw Fire Gods in the sky, and they were nothing but comets? Or the man who saw the spirit of the King’s first wife entering the palace, but it was only fog?”
“This is different. There are signs: there’s thunder in the mist; our comrades have not returned. I’ve seen the runes in our mage’s chambers, myself. Now let me in!”
The guard refused to budge, pointing his lance at Tolan’s chest.
That was the final straw. Tolan’s patience had indeed run out. He grabbed hold of the lance and yanked it out of the guard’s hands. He swung it upside the man’s head and sent him crashing to the ground. Tolan rushed the doors, pushing them open with a clatter.
Servants and musicians ran out of sight. Tolan heard a few cries and gasps. He stormed through the foyer and into the courtyard, but there was no one about. He flew up a flight of stairs to the throne room, and thrust the doors open. The throne was empty.
Tolan spun around and rushed back down the stairs, where the guard charged him. Tolan ducked andsped down a grand hall full of tapestries and chandeliers and sconces, past the kitchen that was filled with the scent of baked bread and bubbling stews. Finally he reached the dining room.
He flung open the doors, and found the rotund King Enrille seated at a table for twenty with only his new wife and two kitchen maids, holding trays of food and wine. He’d just taken a bite out of a huge wild turkey leg when Tolan interrupted.
The King’s eyes widened, but he finished his mouthful before putting the turkey down. “Excuse me, young sir, are you lost?”
“No, sire. I am sorry to disturb you, but I must speak to you about a great danger to our city.”
“Great danger? Would I not have heard of this danger by now? Would you like some turkey with dressing? It is delicious!”
“No, your majesty. This is very important.”
“How about some biscuits and gravy?”
“Begging your pardon, sire. It’s about the mist in the Fifling Sea on the Red Coast. An army has come through the mist and is attacking the land.”
“The mist? There are no lands beyond the mist! There cannot be any army attacking the land! You must be mistaken, young sir.”
Tolan rolled his eyes. “If someone could just listen for a moment!”
Two soldiers rushed Tolan, seizing him and putting chains around his wrists. “Unhand me!”
“Tolan!” Jorrel stormed into the dining room. “You are a disgrace! I can’t believe the audacity of your act! We beg your forgiveness, your majesty.”
The King smiled and nodded, turning his attention to his wife, and tickling her under the chin.
“Come, bring Tolan.” Jorrel ordered the guards, and they dragged him from the palace.
They drew across the city streets to the stockade. Tolan was disarmed and tossed in. It was full of straw and was damp; mold clung to its walls.
“Tolan, why do you make me do this?” Jorrel asked. “You struck a palace guard. Now I have to react, and I don’t want to. You’re my friend.”
Tolan grabbed the bars. “If you are my friend, then listen to me! Sooth-Malesh is right! We are all in danger, all of Athora! Our world will fall if we don’t take action!”
“Tolan,” Jorrel half-smiled. “You’ll see, when the next rotation of the Circle Guard return, you can, at last, relax. You’ll see how silly you’re being. Spend one night in the stockade to clear your head. I’ll let you out in the morning.”
“It’s you who will see. Blast you, Jorrel, you’re condemning us all! If we act now, we can avoid our fate! Jorrel!”
The commander of the High Guard would not listen, and disappeared from his sight.
Up high in the black spires, Sooth-Malesh gazed out of the window and
into the distance at the black smoke trickling on the horizon. He closed his eyes: a vision of the Grimstone appeared. It was whole again.
Chapter 4
Two soldiers rode back through the lush lands surrounding Bhrungach. Trees were covered with moss, grass grew nearly knee-high, and wild fruit dotted the lands with an array of vivid colors.
The soldiers, singed and battle-scarred, struggled past the natural beauty to the wall that surrounded their home city.
One of the men stopped and spit up some blood; the other took the reins of his horse as soot blew off them into the gentle breeze.
Finally, they reached the city gates. “Hark, let us in, for pity’s sake, we beg you!”
There was some resistance. The gate remained closed.
“Please! The men have fallen! A very powerful army draws toward Bhrungach unlike any man has ever seen.”
Olani peered out of her chamber window. She heard the men’s cries even from across the courtyards and citadels. She rushed from her room.
The gates opened, and the men stumbled in.
A host of physicians and guards hurried to the men. Olani entered the courtyard with Nachin directly behind her.
Both men collapsed. Olani’s heart broke. She drew to the men and bent at their heads. “I am sorry for your horror. Can you tell us what happened?”
“Oh, m’lady. Forgive us. Forgive us for fleeing!”
“You deserted your post?” Nachin asked, shocked.
“Forgive us, they are demon spawn!” The soldier put his face in his hands.
“You left Farnus-Tan to his death!” Nachin roared.
Olani stood and glowered at Nachin. “Nachin, let them speak. They are terrified.”
“This army could not be stopped; it devoured us… we never even stood a chance. Dark magic and fire rained down on us. Weapons we have never seen in all of Athora melted flesh and shattered bones. They are otherworldly. Spirits… spirits fought with them.”
“Spirits?” Olani was both frightened and intrigued. She turned to Nachin. “Call the council, they must be told. I must act now to save our people!”
“M’lady, it is nearly dark. The council has retired for the day. They will not be happy with…”
“Call them, please. Our people are in grave danger.”
“I think we do not know the true weight of this danger.”
“I will meet them at the drawing table, please send word.” Olani turned back to the soldiers and oversaw their treatment, concern in her heart, tears welling in her eyes. She prayed that they would live through the night.
She waited for Nachin’s dwindling steps, but didn’t hear them. Looking up, he was still standing there. She began to speak when Nachin shook his head and walked away.
###
“Gentlemen, danger comes to our front door.” Olani stared at a group of seven older men who couldn’t be less interested in what she was saying. “A new, powerful enemy has sacked the Lake Land villages and marches to our gates. They have not been stopped, nor slowed.”
One of the men yawned. Olani glared at him with disdain.
“To continue, we must act now to save our grand city and our beautiful lands. I vote we seek the assistance of Cardoon. They have a vast army, and many resources. They will help us.”
“My dear,” one of the men answered. “Cardoon is the richest of all the cities, and the largest. Our concerns are not their concerns. They would never react to something so trivial.”
“Trivial? This is an unknown enemy from an unknown land! They’ve consumed half of our army!”
“Yes, but remember: we have bested many before them. Our walls have never fallen. Even in our wars with the South, not one southerner breached the walls of our city.”
“This is different. There is magic and spirits about. The enemy wields weapons we’ve never seen. We must seek assistance.”
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to reject your request. Bhrungach will defend its own. I vote for handling our own affairs. All in favor?”
The entire circle lifted their hands.
The speaker looked around and cracked a smile. “The matter is closed.”
Olani watched them get up and vacate the room. She pounded the table with her fists.
###
Nachin had been listening from the halls. He watched Olani leave the room last, and head back to her chambers.
The speaker sidled over to Nachin. “I do not appreciate being disturbed at home.”
“My apologies.” Nachin bowed his head.
“You said you would handle her.”
“I am trying. Do not worry, I am always with her.”
“If you can get her unseated, my dear boy, you would be next in line to be head of the council. Remember that.”
“I have never forgotten.”
###
Olani looked out her window, beyond the walls, where she could see the trees illuminated by the moonlight. A flock of night birds soared in the sky. She wondered how long it would be before this ferocious enemy reached the city. The fate of all of her people weighed heavily on her heart.
She didn’t care what the council said: she was its leader, and she could pull rank during times of conflict, so the laws stated. Throwing on her robe, she opened her chamber door.
On its other side, Nachin stood with a cup of tea. “Do not worry yourself, M’lady. The council knows what they’re doing. They have always been right. You wll see. You are new to all of this.”
“They are old fools, Nachin. They’d rather see the city fall than ask for assistance.”
“It is not our way, M’lady. Now, here, take your tea. It will calm your nerves.”
“Thank you, Nachin. You always know what I need.”
He grinned, watching her sip the brew. “Now get some rest. You know how ill you have been. Do not incite a relapse. The council is just getting used to being led by a woman. It will take some time.”
“Of course,” she said with a polite smile, and took another sip of her tea.
Nachin bowed to her and slipped from her room. Olani listened for his steps to disappear before setting her tea down and exiting her room.
On silent feet, she made her way through the palace and out into the city streets until she reached the orphanage. It was the only place they could think of bringing the boy from Daustra. He had lost his home and family to the scourge. She admired his bravery and selflessness in riding to the city and relaying what he’d witnessed.
She found him sharing a room with several other children. “Boy,” she called to him, “Come to me.”
“Yes, M’lady,” he stood at her attention, eyes wide and full of sadness.
“I need your help. All of Bhrungach does. Do you know the city of Cardoon and its location?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good. I need to you to ride there. Seek their help. Tell them what you have seen, and that I have sent you. Fetch your horse, but use our tunnels below the streets. Do not try for the gates, as they will never allow you to pass. The tunnels will take you out into the wild. Ride through the Wizened Forest and you will be on the path to Cardoon.”
“Yes, M’lady.” He bowed to her.
She tussled his hair, and watched him run. When she stepped from the orphanage, she stumbled, feeling dizzy. Sweat was forming on her brow. A sharp pain gnawed at the pit of her stomach. “I must take to my bed. The sickness returns.”
###
“That we can run on water and leap over trees are just stories, too, aren’t they?” Ono’s words replayed in Pim’s mind. He stared out his window into the darkness. They sky was shrouded in dark clouds. It had been a while since he’d seen clouds that dark and thick.
Sleep would not take him. He layed in bed, just staring at nothing in particular, as he heard Ono’s words again and again. When he got up out of bed and went to his door, he heard his father snoring in the next room.
Pim smirked, then skipped over to his bedroom window, and climbed out
. He ran through the tall, soft grass, damp from dew, but he did not use the fleet. This run was to get rid of his energy, not work it up. He made his way to the village perimeter and circled it, slowing to a walk, watching his bare feet take each step, one by one.
He spotted someone to his left, watching the landscape beyond the village intently. Pim started toward him. It was one of the members of the Warrior Guild on watch. The warrior turned at Pim’s approach, and suddenly drew his sword on him.
“Pim?” Jun said with surprise.
“Your eyes must not be so good,” Pim joked. “How could you not know it was me?”
“Because you shouldn’t be out this late, especially at our boundaries. Besides, the skies are dark; even the moon is hidden.”
“Hmm, a likely story for a warrior.”
“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in bed?” Jun sheathed his sword.
“I couldn’t sleep. Too much energy.”
“Have you been sword fighting again?”
“Just practicing. I’m not overdoing it.”
“Sure, you aren’t. You need to rest the muscles now and again.”
“That isn’t why I cannot sleep. I’m just a bit troubled…”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. Jun, do you know the misty clouds of the Red Coast? In the Fifling Sea?”
“Sure, who doesn’t?”
“What would you do if something came through the clouds to harm our lands?”
“You’ve been hearing the rumors, the ones the traders and gypsies are telling. It isn’t true, Pim.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because they’re just stories to scare people. Everyone knows the land ends at the mist. There is nothing beyond it.”
“There’s land across the Baltha Sea: the Western Isles of Norrow.”
“That’s different. There is no wall of clouds. The clouds signify the end.”
“But what if that’s not true? What if everyone is wrong?”
“The Order of Thet teaches us that it is true. Thet took the water from nothing, and created this land. That is all. The other is just a tall tale.”
“Well, Wivering running on top of water is a tale, too.”