Alliances

by B. T. Robertson

  Dark brown eyes looked down at Aerinas, who, after regaining his balance, got up slowly. There were burn marks on his left hand, and his head was throbbing. The other backed away, and pulled the hood back over his head.

  "Kruna sent you?” Aerinas asked, rubbing his head and wincing in pain.

  The other smiled, but shook his head. “No, I am not of the Enath- Hudain, nor am I ordained to do their bidding on this Plane."

  "Then, why are you here? I have had quite enough of visitors not of this world."

  "You summoned me when you opened my book, Aerinas of Mynandrias,” the other said. He bent down and picked the book up off the floor, and handed it back to the elf. “Your study of my life's work has brought you to this moment, the moment of clarity for your purpose. Do you understand?"

  Aerinas lowered his head. Sheevos only knows I am not ready to hear this.

  "Sheevos can see and hear all,” the other said. “Even if you believe in your heart that you are not ready, time, unfortunately, is against you. If you believe you do not have a choice, you are mistaken. As always, Sheevos and her Enath-Hudain followers will not, and cannot, interfere with another's freewill. I am here only to inform you of what has passed, what is now, and what will surely come. I did my best to guide you, Aerinas, by the passages in this book you hold."

  Aerinas suddenly realized with whom he was speaking, the stories of Lunathar speeding back to him.

  Ashinon!

  "You are correct, Aerinas. I am Ashinon, first wizard in the Order of Light, the order formed by those who vowed to give their lives in defense of our goddess queen, Sheevos."

  "Why are you telling me all of this?” Aerinas asked, gritting his teeth. “Why does everyone talk to me in riddles and language I can barely comprehend? If there is a quality about me that is so special, please tell me because I cannot see it."

  "I know, young Aerinas,” Ashinon agreed. “You cannot see it because you have been unwilling to accept your fate, rebelling against everything crossing your path. How unfortunate you have turned out this way."

  Aerinas scowled at the other, who was still smiling at him.

  "But, only in my death was I able to finally see the entirety of this world and beyond. Only in death was I able to comprehend the intricate plan that Sheevos, with the aid of the other gods and goddesses, laid out for the Planar realms."

  "But why am I involved in this?” Aerinas asked. “I beg of you, please tell me!"

  "The blood flowing through your veins has not been seen since the ancient days, when magic, wilder than dragons, ran rampant through Vaaluna. The union of your parents was unnatural, an abomination to the races, but the combined strength of the two streams of blood has produced an offspring Sheevos herself could not ignore. She ordered her Enath-Hudain to watch this offspring. You, Aerinas."

  Aerinas’ eyes went wide with shock. “B-b-but, my parents are just elves of Mynandrias. I know my father thinks he is superior to everyone else in Vaaluna, but there is nothing special about them, or about me!” Tears formed in Aerinas’ eyes.

  "Do not despair, Aerinas,” the other said. “Your parents are not to blame for anything, nor am I. Sheevos works her needlepoint the way She sees fit. She possesses the power to spot Her future children. Aerinas, Sheevos believes She has found Vaaluna's savior, despite all of the negativity surrounding you. It is clear to me you have been kept ignorant of your parents’ past and, thus, your own."

  Aerinas shook his head, wiped the wetness from his eyes, and sighed deeply. I am stronger than this, he kept telling himself over and over again, trying to calm down in the presence of Ashinon's ghost, or whatever it was.

  "I know little about my past and less about my parents'. I am sorry to have turned out so disappointing to you. Now you're telling me my parents are abominations in the eyes of Sheevos, but somehow She finds favor in their offspring? None of this makes any sense. Aeligon does nothing but confuse me with his version of the facts."

  "Then why are you here?” the other asked, folding his hands in front of him.

  Aerinas stepped forward and pointed his finger at the specter. “I'll tell you the same thing I told Foran before we left Mynandrias: I have always wanted to leave the Elfin city, my home, for longer than I can remember. I've lived in fear of my father long enough, and grow tired of living in his shadow, and of trying to live up to his unreachable expectations. It has cursed me with a life unrecognizable as my own. I'm here because it's anywhere but Mynandrias. I went to Merchindale, to the most dangerous and forbidden place I could think of, and I found adventure. And, if it weren't for me, we wouldn't even be here on this quest to nothing!"

  "You are correct,” the other agreed. “You would all be dead, or close to death. Fate has seen fit to use your rebellion for the better good of Vaaluna, and perhaps for the good of the entire Planar realms controlled by the Elderon."

  Aerinas waved the other away. “Bah, Elderon and other fairy tales. You didn't even know the Planes truly existed. What are you going to tell me next? You're really a lone traveler from another Plane who took a wrong turn? We have a Grove of Souls where our dead congregate, so rest assured: I'm aware of a spirit world beyond this one. But an intricate web of worlds spun together by some greater force? You'll have to do better, Ashinon."

  Ashinon chose not to reply to Aerinas’ ranting, just gazed at him. Although the wizard had crossed over and, in doing so, possessed the knowledge of the grand design of the Planes and the secret quest of evil to control them, he knew it would take more than words to convince the jaded elf of the importance of his role. Aeligon had tried, Nimoni had tried, Tristandor, in all his harsh ways, tried. No one could get through to Aerinas, not even the book which Ashinon had written with his own hand, containing all of the research on the Planes. A true demonstration of the evidence was needed, or Aerinas would continue on this path until his death, or worse: the complete rejection of his destiny.

  "If I were to offer proof to you of the Planes’ existence, would you be open to the possibility of my having correctly assessed their elaborate design? Should I prove to you that your parents, though they fell from the bosom of Sheevos in their iniquity, together possessed the power to breed a son who would come to save the Planar worlds, would you be open to the possibility you are fated to lead?"

  Aerinas thought long and hard about what the specter was offering. The possibility of a trick made him hesitate. But what would be lost if he didn't, at least, consider the offer? Aerinas thought of a stipulation most advantageous to himself, if, of course, he agreed to entertain the other's offers.

  "If I take you up on your offers, I only have one rule: the rest of the party is going with me."

  "May I ask why?"

  "I ventured off alone once already on this journey, and twice nearly paid for it with my life. I will bring my friends, my father included. That is my rule. We probably aren't going to be here much longer anyway. My job was to read this book, learn what I needed to learn, and move on. Now is as good a time as any."

  "I offer proof to you, and only you will learn of it, so bring whomever you wish,” the other said, stepping back into the shadows a bit more.

  "What am I to do?” Aerinas asked.

  "You must travel to the Lion's Mouth, east of Drameda. There is nothing more for you to find locally. The pirates of this town are gone and will reach Dunandor by way of the sea long before you learn what happened here."

  "What did happen here?"

  "Since it is important you learn of quests other than your own, I will tell you. A Senantor Pirate by the name of Callaway stole the first of the three Elfstone fragments from the city of Lunathar, with the help of the most violent creatures I have ever witnessed in this Plane. He brought it here to Drameda, where his employer, Grummen Lordmont, ordered him to take it east. Even I cannot see all things, but I suspect Dunandor is the land where the third and final fragment of the Elfstone resides."

  "You mentioned only one being stolen, and the third is in Dun
andor,” Aerinas calculated, “so where is the second?"

  "The Lion's Mouth holds your answer. There is nothing more for you here. The town's clergy has been banished, the church burned and pillaged. The sanctity of this town has fallen like so many others in Vaaluna. History is repeating itself, but this time the evil threatens from beyond our sight. Another Plane exists, Aerinas—made by the Elderon to house evil. Yes, evil was banished, but it remains nonetheless."

  "Hydrais,” Aerinas whispered.

  "Hydrais pales in comparison to the greater evil therein, and, should the Planes align at the intended time, the portals and boundaries will shatter. Evil will spill forth unlike any you have ever known. Are you beginning to see? Do you understand the futility of your quibbling?"

  Aerinas was overwhelmed. “Why did this Elderon person make such a Plane?"

  "Balance is only kept when good and evil exist. The Elderon is not a man. It is not even a mortal or sentient being. It exists, like a god. If evil gets loose, good is set forth or created to counter it, but not necessarily on the same Plane. The Elderon balances the entirety of its domain, which encompasses many Planes. I had no idea of the scope until I passed on, but now I am able to see clearly. Here..."

  The other gestured, and the book opened to the exact middle, the pages containing the complex diagram now familiar to Aerinas. A finger materialized and pointed to the places it wanted Aerinas to see. Then, suddenly, the book slammed shut.

  "Time is wasting away. There will be more to teach you on your journey from here on out, but you must keep this book with you."

  "It's so large,” Aerinas pointed out. “How will I conceal it?"

  "This is a book of magic, Aerinas, the kind you possess. I am confident you will find a way."

  Then, in the blink of an eye, the specter was gone.

  Aerinas left the book lying on the bed. He grabbed up his key and locked the door to his room before leaving. He needed to talk to Aeligon again.

  Aerinas found Aeligon sitting alone at the inn's bar, spinning a mug of ale between his index finger and thumb, deep in thought. The elf moved up to the wizard, and took a seat on the stool next to him.

  Aerinas shook his head when the bartender asked him if he wanted anything and nervously toyed with his fingers.

  "Well? What?” Aeligon asked, knowing full well what had transpired while Aerinas was upstairs.

  "You know damn well what,” Aerinas snapped, turning to face the wizard. “More of the same."

  "How do you mean?” Aeligon asked, keeping his questions short and simple to allow Aerinas the leeway to answer the way he wanted to.

  "Having more questions than answers appears to be my lot in this lifetime."

  "At least you believe more lies beyond this life,” Aeligon retorted.

  "Does it matter? All we do is flow through the circle of life that others, whether they be gods or devils, spin for us. Ashinon is a player in this too; he's no different than the rest of them."

  "Ashinon has crossed over into the other side, but his wisdom was far greater than any who came before him,” Aeligon corrected.

  "Why? Because he is walking Planes he so casually theorized about in his book? Seems easy for them to visit when they want to, but they conveniently have little in the way of practical information to offer and do nothing about whoever's trying to kill us."

  Aeligon raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You believe this evil seeks our deaths?"

  Aerinas went silent for a moment, pondering the twist of the question, realizing he'd better have a good answer for the wise mage. “Why else would it have sent another creature to bring a stone golem down upon us? Why else would it have sent Haarath on his never-ending course to pillage and burn every town in his wake? Yes, I believe it does want us dead."

  "Hmmm...” was all Aeligon replied, sipping his ale again.

  "What does that mean?"

  "It means I am considering your answer. However, if this evil was as omnipotent as it appears to be, it could have, and would have, killed us already. It lacks an essential element needed to do real harm."

  "Tell me about the Elfstone fragments, Aeligon."

  "Ah, using your brain instead of your temper. You're making progress.” Aerinas snickered before the wizard continued. “Three fragments make up the perfectly round Elfstone brought here by other-worldly servants of the goddess Sheevos. The legend tells of a world in a state of imbalance, a disproportionate amount of good versus evil. These servants, in an effort to keep Sheevos safe, transferred her essence to the Elfstone, broke it into three equal pieces, and placed them in secret places on Vaaluna, the only Plane protected by the most powerful of barriers."

  "Is this all in Ashinon's book, too?"

  "Portions, but mostly this is all legend passed down through generations of wizards. The fragments are real, which we know, so at least that part of the story is true. And with the theft of the fragment we held at Lunathar, it solidifies the theories even more."

  "So, what happens if these fragments are reassembled? Wouldn't doing so just bring the essence of Sheevos to completeness?"

  "Not exactly. The gods may not enter Vaaluna, which is why I also believe you encountered the servants of Sheevos firsthand at Fenduin Lake. The Enath-Hudain, we believe, are these servants written about in the tomes of the wizard city. If Sheevos’ essence is brought together here in Vaaluna, her spirit will be as one, but powerless. The god of chaos, Wrantha, and his minions, including Hydrais, want nothing more than to get the Elfstone fragments joined. Only then can they use their evil magic to destroy her for good, opening the floodgates of evil into our world and others. Even my knowledge of these legends doesn't provide adequate proof of these Planes’ existence, or, if they do, how many there are and how they are all bound together."

  Aerinas hung his head. “I think Ashinon was trying to show me. He confirmed it to me, and steered me along the path so I could find the rest of the answers myself in his book.

  "The Planes exist, Aeligon,” the elf added. “Ashinon's diagram wasn't complete, but he used some power or magic to change it on the pages for me. I know how it works, but not why. I also don't know what my role in this is."

  "And you don't want to,” Aeligon bluntly stated. The comment set Aerinas back.

  "I didn't say what I wanted!” he blurted out, his voice raised. “What's it to you anyway? Why these one-line comments?"

  "Just testing your thoughts,” the wizard answered calmly. “I meant no harm. Only in asking the tough questions can we truly determine where our hearts lie."

  "Even so, this is all a game to a power beyond me, and I don't know if I want to be a pawn yet. Pawns, after all, are the first to the slaughter."

  "True, but it is the pawn who lays the path for the greater moves, and even a pawn, young Aerinas, can checkmate a king."

  Aeligon let the ancient strategy game analogy hang in the air for Aerinas to digest, finished his ale, and headed outside. “I'm going for a walk. You're welcome to join me."

  Aerinas shook his head. “I'll stay here for a while. I need to think."

  Aeligon nodded, grabbed Pux, and headed out the door.

  The sun had long since sunk below the horizon line melding the mighty Arthean Ocean with the starlit sky above. Most of the ships docked in Drameda were unmanned and secured for the night. Night watchmen casually walked the gangways connecting each quay along the harbor's shoreline, which was illuminated by the full moon. Shooting stars added to the moon's efforts by streaking across the northern expanse at regular intervals.

  Outside the inn, Aerinas found Aeligon, Foran, Lynais, and Ithyllna all talking quietly. However, their whispering and posture betrayed their nervousness.

  "What now?” Aerinas asked. His sudden appearance startled them. He raised his hands in surrender when he saw how fast they moved for their weapons.

  Aeligon was the first to speak. “Our pale friend is back, Aerinas, and I was just telling Ithyllna, Lynais, and Foran here to keep a watch
going around the inn tonight."

  Aerinas looked disgusted at the mention of the unknown visitor, much like the looks he and his companions received from the humans of Drameda. “That thing didn't get what it came for, and it's not going to be satisfied until it does. Aeligon, just give the little trickster, Menishka'dun, back to it. What use would a Lyymhorn be to us anyway except to slow us down? The greatest leg of our journey lies ahead."

  Ithyllna spun on Aerinas, gazing at him hard enough to cause the young elf to rock back on his heels. “Aerinas, will you stop presuming to know everything just this once and let Aeligon do what he feels is best?"

  Aeligon, in an effort to stifle the tension building between the two, put his hand on the former Vrunyn Guard's shoulder. “Arguing amongst ourselves won't change what has happened, nor will it help us in our current task. This creature is very dangerous, and it will work to divide our ranks in an effort to secure its prize. For whatever reason, it wants Menishka'dun, but we need to hold onto the Lyymhorn for his own good. I'm not sure even Menishka'dun knows what's going on."

  The wizard turned to Aerinas. “I am not handing the Lyymie over until we know who it is and why it wants him. Remember, if it weren't for Menishka'dun, we'd still be staring at the cover of that book. His purpose has greatly increased since our first encounter with him and his stone pet."

  Aerinas bit his lip, and his tongue, and silently nodded to the mage, but not before glaring at Ithyllna, who had surprised him greatly the moment before with her rebuke.

  From his perch, Servant carefully watched the band of dangerous elves and the wizard talk amongst themselves. He had drawn attention to himself...again. Twice he'd slipped up on this mission, but it wasn't without warrant. The elves had surprised him with their tenacity, their resourcefulness, and the wizard was more of a nuisance than he had expected.

  Servant didn't understand the ways of these creatures, or any other creature outside of his own domain. He, after all, was the spawn of another kind, artificial, without a soul or conscience of his own, in contrast to every other creature he had come across. Perhaps it was why they didn't understand his own persistence in accomplishing his mission. He knew what emotions were, understood how they worked and why, and had even tried to mimic them. Yet whenever the Elderon sent him on assignment to research Planar disturbances, the programmatic languages he had ruthlessly studied and incorporated into his being were so feverishly overwhelming that emotions were immediately abandoned. Control was his religion, following orders his penance; there was no room for error.