by Jake Yaniak
There he lay in desperate anguish, not being able to lift his tearful face from the floor. 'That name,' he thought at last, 'Theodysus! Theodysus, that name of names! I am told to surrender my will, but I am will through and through, and I have no power to overcome myself! With the weakest part of me, then, and with what little virtue remains, I plead, slay me, even as you have slain the Conjurer of Coronan, tear me from this life that I may be put to better use! Drive me like a brute, for like a brute I cannot drive myself aright.'
At that instant, a great wind blew across the valley, sweeping the smoke and clouds aside, pushing them into the west. The clear sky revealed a host of stars, the brightest of which was that star the Knarsemen of Titalo named for Theodysus. It's light was so clear and sharp that Leonara could not help but avert her eyes as it shone upon her mirror. It so stunned her eyes that she dropped the mirror to the ground, shattering it upon the stones. A swirl of dust seemed to rise from it, taking, for a moment, the shape of a terrible and regal looking lady. But then a gust of wind rushed through the room, and the dust was carried away through the window.
When all this had settled, Leonara cast her eyes upon the sorry Galvahirne who now lay huddled near her feet in shame and anguish of mind.
She threw herself to the ground and wrapped her arms about his shoulders, her crystal tears falling upon his wounded neck.
The Fall of Evna
In the ancient days there were many lords and ladies among the immortals, all of varying degrees of might and power. One of the greatest of these was she who was called, Evna. It was said that in the days of her ascendancy she was betrayed by a lover, and that ever after she became cold and cruel. She was queen over a vast empire in the easternmost region of Bel Albor, and the might of her kingdom was only rivaled by the lands of Pelas and Agonistes, who at that time ruled as one.
Ere the War of the Dragons, when the immortals were destroyed and the elves exiled from the north, she traveled into the south on a visit to a kingdom now lost to history, but which was said to have been a kingdom of dwarves built deep in Kharku. She never returned from that land, and her kingdom was divided between Pelas and his brother, the greater part of which was granted, at that time, to Morta, the ancient adversary of the Elven Fathers.
The rumor concerning the mirror that bore her name is as follows:
When Xanthur came to lay siege against Dadron, he was withstood for many long years by the brave men of Amlaman. But in the end, when at last he broke through their defenses and came to Falsis, he did so by giving this mirror to the queen of Japhrian as a gift, calling it Evna's Glass and telling her that within it was housed the power of a great fairy. How it eventually came to be known as the Goddess of Desset would be hard to discern. My own theory is that, knowing it to have some distant association with the dwarves, the men of Japhrian looked no further than their own land for its origin, reasoning that in Desset the greater part of these yet lived.
How the mirror became imbued with her spirit or her malice would be impossible to reconstruct from what little is known of her. But I imagine it would be in the same manner that such spirits come to dwell within the flesh and bones of beasts and goblins, swords and other holy objects.
But when at last that mirror was shattered, and its effect obliterated by the light of heaven, the ancient goddess was released at last, and began to take on the form of a woman. Indeed, it is not at all unlikely that she would have taken the opportunity to make her residence within the very heart and soul of the Princess whose mind she had, for all this time imprisoned. But as she took her form, another spirit entered the room and challenged her. To the eyes of the humans, there was naught but a gust of wind and blowing dust, but what truly comes to pass in this world has no duty to conform to things visible and comprehensible. There will always be things that remain hidden from eyes of clay.
Mityai rose up and put herself between the goddess and the Princess, saying, 'Back, leave this mountain and trouble this youth no longer. You have twisted many minds and blinded many hearts in your long reign. It is over. Begone and perhaps you will find some pardon for your evils.'
Evna looked at her with great disgust, 'How you have had the courage to approach the unapproachable I will not attempt to discover. But tell me at least, how it is that the frail sprite whose body I broke in this very room should come back arrayed with such pomp!'
'For all your long years, none have refused your interrogations. But no longer shall any satisfaction be given to your curiosity. Everything is shut up to you.'
'What makes you think such trinkets as those you now carry will avail against Evna, the goddess of Bel Albor?'
'It is not my responsibility to ensure that you believe my warnings, but only to give them as best I might. Therefore, prepare yourself! And learn at last that what power you have has been borrowed only.' With those words, Evna shrieked and lifted her arms to the sky. The whole world seemed to darken and all the hidden powers of hell were at her disposal. But Mityai raised her spear and with a charge so swift that no living creature could rival it, she thrust the spear into the heart of Evna, and pushed her to the window. The broken body of the once mighty goddess fell from the window and shattered into dust upon the ground below. The Spear of Paley that Mityai now bore put an end to her immortal life at last, and what remained of her was carried by the winds to be cast into the pit of Abban Don, which lies between the Frozen Sea and the Holy Mountain of Joiken.
Chapter VIII:
Fell Wolf
At the Nunnery
When at last Evna had been destroyed, and the Princess freed from her long torment, Daryas was in such a state of anguish that he fell into a swoon. Over his lifeless body the Princess wept, not knowing whether he was alive or dead. In this state they remained for some time, until at last Leonara heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs to her room. To her horror, her step-brother Volthamir appeared at last, carrying his sword in his hand. 'I have come at last, dear Leonara, to claim that which I have long ago earned the right to possess.'
'You have not the right to anything,' she said, with great sadness in her voice. 'Nor am I anything to claim.'
'Would you refuse me?' Volthamir said without emotion. 'Would you dare refuse the King of Amlaman?'
'The King of Amlaman? What remains of you but the shell of a great man, and the mockery of a tyrant. I will have no part in you.'
With that said, she turned her attention again to the son of Biron, who lay lifeless upon the stone floor. 'Troubled you are, my love,' she whispered, 'and full of many shadows indeed. But there is a spark in thee, that might be kindled to a great flame of light.' she turned her face toward the King and said with disdain, 'But you have within you a dark heart, and a treacherous spirit. For all the love you once professed toward me, you have only bitterness. Do you not know that there is a difference between love and desire? An artisan loves his work, and commits himself to the toil. But you are not an artisan; you are a glutton who knows only how to consume a dainty and cast aside its shell as refuse. So you have treated the land of our fathers, and so you would treat me. I refuse,' she said boldly, though with great emotion, 'for you are not the King of Amlaman!'
After she had spoken thus, the King approached her and struck her face with the back of his hand. Mityai, still being in the room, rushed to her side, but was pushed back, while a black voice spoke to her with words no mortal ear could hear. 'Well done, child, was your work in slaying Evna; but what power she had over this Mountain is no test of my own strength. Do not meddle in things greater than yourself. Be content to have done the god of Weldera such a service.' With that, perceiving Daryas yet to be living, Agonistes commanded a great host of his servants to enter into the son of Biron. 'Bleed him dry, he is as a ripe fruit, ready to fall to the earth - and break upon the stones below.'
With those words a black shadow, entered the room and thousands of devils crawled across the stones toward the body of Daryas. Volthamir snatched up the Princess with e
ase, and carried her away from the Nunnery toward the Temple of Agonistes.
'I now see, oh Agonistes,' Mityai said as she stood between the host of devils and her charge, 'that you have become the lord of all cowards.'
Rahdmus Awakes
Nearly an hour had passed between the time that Daryas departed and the moment that Rahdmus awoke from his slumber. It was not like him to sleep at all, for elves have less need of sleep than do men. For this reason it was his custom to keep watch while his companions rested. But for whatever reason, the elf lord fell into a deep sleep. He came to his senses slowly, seeing before his eyes the glowing face of a small child. 'Durivis!' he said with great emotion. But as he came to his senses, the visage departed, leaving only the stars above in his view.
When he noticed that Daryas had left him, he shook himself awake, and said under his breath, 'So this is how it must be. I pray for your soul, Daryas Galvahirne, for it will be sorely tested this night.' He looked up at the sky and said, 'But even so, if this is how it must be, then so it must be.'
Almost as soon as he was ready to depart, Novai came rushing up to him, almost in a gallop. The great horse stopped just before him and a great fear seemed to lay upon her eyes. 'What is it, noble one?' Rahdmus asked as he patted her neck. Looking to the south, Rahdmus could make out the hill of Daufina. 'I see flame and smoke afar off; we haven't much time!'
He threw his pack upon Novai and left his own horse to wander in the wilderness. 'She will bear me swifter and serve her master better than any other.'
Novai carried him over the hills and through the lands that she had just traversed, coming at last to the top of the burning valley in which the Nunnery was hidden. This he passed with great anxiety, knowing that his own task summoned him to the Temple, and that there was now nothing he could do to help the young son of Biron.
With great speed and with little difficulty, they came at last to the Temple of Agonistes, in which a great multitude of nobles were gathered. There he was accosted by the guard, who said to him with an impatient tone, 'Halt, fool, can you not see that the Temple is not open for peasants today?'
'Nor is it ever,' Rahdmus answered, removing his cloak. The eyes of the guard opened wide for a moment in utter disbelief. When he recovered himself he squinted, saying, 'Is it truly the Lord Havoc who now stands before me? Have you returned at last, to save Amlaman from chaos?'
'One might well say that,' Rahdmus answered sincerely. But now, tell me, where is the Prince of Amlaman?'
'Surely you must have heard, Lord Havoc, how Volthamir is King in his uncle's stead.'
'Indeed I heard that he ruled in his uncle's stead, but whether he is king or not will depend upon the sense in which that term is applied. Power he has at least! This much will be conceded by all. But whether power alone makes a ruler, that is a discussion we must leave for another day. But for now I must be brought before him immediately.'
'Follow me,' the guard said, turning his back to lead him up to the Temple.
Rahdmus sighed, 'You will want to bind my hands behind my back.'
'What? What are you saying?' he asked with great surprise. With a shudder and a chuckle he said, 'Why and how should I bind the mighty Lord Havoc.
'Lest I bring violence to this mountain, and to your master, and shame upon myself,' Rahdmus answered without any hint of insincerity.
The guard looked very uneasy, but nonetheless ordered that Lord Havoc be bound and tied, all the while keeping his eyes fixed upon him.
Rahdmus smiled and said, 'You were less afraid when you were deceived about my intentions, and when my hands were free.'
'Bring him to the Temple,' the guard ordered, now viewing the old knight with great suspicion.
In a short while he was brought into the temple itself, wherein he saw, ascending to the altar, the King of Amlaman, followed by three priests of the temple, in the midst of whom was led Princess Leonara. Though the fires raged in the valley to the north, and though the mountain was closed to regular visitors, there yet remained a considerable number of noblemen, guards, priests and other religious men worshipping in the Temple. These took no heed of Rahdmus as he was led up the center aisle of the Temple toward a small dais that lay directly beneath the stone gaze of the black god. He was placed in the middle of the dais and surrounded on all sides by guards. 'You should know, young men,' Rahdmus said to them, 'that if it were so that I was meant to harm your king, neither bond nor sword would be able to stop me. Be that as it may, however, I am not here to harm your king. Watch me, but rest easy; remain at my side, whatever comes to pass, and you will not be harmed.'
Of this the men made note, though they made no sign that they had heard him.
When Volthamir had ascended, he lifted his arms to the sky before the great black idol. He then took from his side that small knife, which of old he had taken in hand to slay his father's murderer. Then he made a gesture and the Princess was brought before him. She fought and pulled, but the grasp of Volthamir's guards was more than she could hope to resist. Finding herself unable to escape, she ceased her struggle and stood there upon the Altar like a statue.
'Behold, men of Amlaman, men of Ramlos,' the king began, 'Behold how I right the wrongs of our ancestors, and correct the sins of the people of Agonistes. Well did my mother speak when she named me Aganthos, for I shall play that part well, bringing honor to the dark god once again. This seemed to get the attention of every ear in the room, and every eye, in turn, surrendered its attention to the spectacle that now appeared on the Altar of Agonistes.
'The old master of Amlaman, who was unfit for the Dual Crown, was like one who plays in the street, performing petty acts of conjuring for a handful of bread from this one or perhaps for a small silver coin from another. He was a show and a facade, but there was no truth within him. In treachery he wrested the kingdom from my father, and so it was with great justice that I restored the kingdom.'
Many who were yet outside, both guards and worshippers, began to pour into the Temple, to hear what the king had to say.
'Hear, then, the extent to which this old magician Vulcan has deceived and imperiled this land! You know well, o men of Sten Agoni, how the people swore to bring justice upon the head of their ancient enemy Pelas of Dadron, and you know even better how we were utterly driven out from that devil's land! On whose account shall we lay the blame in this failure? Shall we lay it upon Agonistes himself? Or shall we acknowledge our own faults, and seek again to fulfill the word of our god?'
The people, now led to excitement by his bold words, and by the fires that calmly burned upon the altar, answered in unison, 'We will fulfill our vows!'
'Then let this, the daughter of the old Kingdom, the kingdom of false promises and treacherous words, perish first. It is well known in Ramlos, and indeed even in Japhrian, how the perverted priests keep the best girls in the Nunnery, and send peasants and the sickly to be fed to the dark god on the eve of the High Feast. This indeed wins them great attention from those girls, who, according to ritual, ought to become the brides of Agonistes through fire and not the pets of wealthy men. But this practice has lost for Amlaman the favor of our lord and god, who is not so easily fooled as the fat men in silken robes would have us believe.'
At that moment the darkness of the room was illuminated by a great burst of flame from the idol's mouth, and a great groan rent the air. Smoke billowed from the nostrils of the god, and the people stepped away from the Altar. 'Let us satiate him, therefore, with the last of that usurper's kin!'
Intoxicated with the fire, the night, the voice of their king, and a good deal of wine, the people cried out in agreement.
The King turned then to the Princess and said to her in a quiet voice, 'Shall you continue to refuse me, even now?'
She turned her head away from him and said nothing, weeping bitterly. He shook his head and beckoned his guards to lead her to the Altar. Her feet seemed to grow heavier and heavier with each step, until at last she could do nothing but stand in
place. 'Your fate has always been in your own hands, daughter of mud!' he cursed her under his breath. 'You might come with me and have rest and security at last.'
'Nay,' she said weeping, 'My fate has been fixed from the beginning; my soul was not destined for rest or peace. Why should I seek them now, when they have always been false guides to me hence. Cast me into the fire, brother, for death can give me no greater injury than life has already inflicted upon me.' With great anger he turned once more to the crowd.
'Agonistes, will you accept the blood of this woman? Royal blood to recompense you for all the years your false priests have neglected your Altar, giving you peasant blood and worthless girls to possess!'
With that the fires raged and a great voice echoed from the idol, speaking in words both loud and unintelligible.
But as the roar of the fire died away and the rumble of the dark god's voice faded, there arose a great booming laughter that echoed throughout the hall, getting louder and louder until at last it seemed to steal the majesty of the idol itself. Every eye turned toward the Altar and saw upon the dais a strange prisoner laughing almost uncontrollably.
'That laugh,' Volthamir said to himself, feeling his heart sink. 'Lord Havoc!?' he said with great surprise and frustration.
'What an excellent show, o conjuror of conjurors!' Rahdmus laughed, 'You have learned every lesson of mine, and learned perfectly. Here you stand, possessed of the very wisdom and power of Agonistes, and here you stand speaking great and bold words concerning his dominion, yet for all of this I perceive that you believe not a word of it! This is nothing but vengeance! Petty, petty vengeance! O you have learned, Prince, to lie well. A sacrifice! A recompense to your god?' When he finished saying this he began to laugh again. 'And they believe it all too!'
'Lord Havoc,' Volthamir said thoughtfully, ignoring all that his old master had said. 'You return at an inopportune hour.'