The Lords of Areon (The Chronicles of Areon Book 3)

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  “For not trusting the judgment of the Eilian,” Darian replied, gazing at the young lord.

  “It seems like, in this case, their judgment was wrong.”

  “We can hardly say that,” Ian replied, shaking his head. “We don't know what the motivations of the Eilian were. We only know what actually happened.”

  “What did happen?” Erana asked excitedly, her curiosity overcoming her weariness.

  “Yaellan went on a pilgrimage,” the bard replied. “He spent a year traveling through Areon, reflecting on seemingly tragic decisions the gods had made that, in the end, resulted in unquestionably good consequences. During that time, as a form of penance, he ate only ground meal and drank nothing but water. The Eilian forgave him, he returned home, and he and Raslin were wed. They gave up adventuring, focusing instead on enforcing the law and meting out justice in their own lands. The couple had several children, all of whom were faithful servants of the Eilian, and, as the story goes: they lived happily ever after.”

  “That was it?” Gregor chuckled. “I hardly see those consequences as dire.”

  “The immediate consequences weren't,” the dwarf agreed. “However, Yaellan Kalath's actions inspired other Telian to call on the power of Winrall when their requests weren't granted by the other gods. Winrall asserts that it is not the place of the Eilian to judge the actions of mortals, which is a stance most of the other Eilian – including Theolan and Selvios – disagree with. Winrall offers his power to all who ask, even if what they ask for is evil.”

  “So, he helps people do evil?” Kilren asked.

  “Of course not!” Darian exclaimed. “He merely offers his power to those who ask. That power is nothing more than a tool. A crossbow can't be guilty of murder. It's what a person chooses to do with a tool that is good or evil.”

  “Maybe,” the lieutenant replied, shaking his head, “but, it seems to me that, giving his power to someone who's planning to do something evil would be like me giving a crossbow to a man who I knew was intending to commit murder. In the eyes of the law, that would make me an accessory before the fact.”

  “Well, Winrall's certainly not an accessory to the crimes of mortals,” the knight replied vehemently. “He simply believes that only the Creator has the right to judge our actions. One could argue that, because the Creator could prevent all evil acts, but doesn't, that he's an accessory to everything evil that's ever been done.”

  “Yeah,” the lieutenant nodded. “I've actually wondered about that myself.”

  “A lot of people have,” the Telian said with a sigh. “It's a complicated subject, Kilren.”

  “It's always seemed that way to me,” the lieutenant agreed. “Why does the Creator allow bad things to happen?”

  “That's been the subject of eons of discussion,” Darian replied, turning his eyes to his friend. “I certainly don't have all the answers. However, I believe it has to do with free will. We're not merely marionettes, Kilren. We're living creatures, and we've been given the right to make our own choices. If we always had to choose to do the right thing, we wouldn't actually have any choice at all. Which means we have to have the right to make the wrong choice. It's been my experience that people who want the Eilian, or the Creator, to interfere, always want them to stop someone else. They want to take other people's free will from them, not lose their own.”

  “But, we take away other people's free will,” Gwendolyn asserted. “Just look at what we're doing right now; we're doing our best to keep King Palnar from conquering Innalas.”

  “From a certain point of view, you're right,” the Telian replied, smiling at the maiden. “However, opposing him is our choice. Right or wrong, it's our choice to make. We have every right to make use of our own free will as we see fit. We don't have the power to stop him, merely to oppose him. By opposing him we may stop him. However, it's not the same thing; if you see what I mean.”

  “I do,” Gregor nodded. “But then, it seems to me that Winrall is right. If the Creator lets us make the wrong choice, then the Eilian should, as well. If he's given us free will, they shouldn't take it from us.”

  “It's not a matter of them taking it from us,” Darian explained. “It's a matter of them deciding not to offer us their aid in certain situations. I'm not compelled to help you do something I believe is wrong, merely to ensure you have free will.”

  “So then, Winrall is wrong?” Gwendolyn asked.

  “I certainly wouldn't say that,” the knight replied, shaking his head. “Who am I to judge the gods?”

  “Then, why wouldn't you use his power?” Gregor asked.

  “Because he wouldn't stop me from making the wrong choice,” the Telian asserted. “He would give me the power to do whatever I wanted; whether or not what I wanted was right.”

  “It seemed to work out for Yaellan Kalath,” the young lord pointed out.

  “It did for him,” Ian nodded, releasing a cloud of smoke as he spoke, “but not for countless others after him. The Disciples of Kalath, as they came to be known, used Winrall's power more and more recklessly as the ages passed. In time, this led to a conflict amongst the Telian. Hundreds of thousands died as they waged war against one another. Eventually, peace was restored, and the Telian and the Kalathians agreed to disagree; choosing only to oppose each other as individuals, not as members of warring armies.

  “The resulting peace left Kalathians, such as Valrak, free to roam Areon doing as they wished with the power of Winrall.”

  “Do all Kalathians use his power for evil?” Gregor asked.

  “Not as such, no,” Darian replied. “It's simply that they aren't bound in the same way the Telian are. Many of them choose wickedness over righteousness. Which is why you have to be very wary of them.”

  “Either way,” the lord replied, “you wouldn't use Winrall's power to save Kilren's life, or Erana's, or Gwendolyn's?”

  As Gregor asked this question, he turned to gaze at the fair young sorceress, putting particular emphasis on her name.

  “No, I wouldn't,” the knight said after several seconds of thoughtful silence.

  “Well, that's where we differ then, Darian,” Gregor replied with a smile. “A year of nothing but ground grain and pure water would be a small price to pay in my mind. I'm sorry if that fact makes you think less of me.”

  “It doesn't,” Darian chuckled. “Although real repentance doesn't work like that. Still, I can see where you would be tempted. Just be glad it's my lot to bear up under it and not yours.”

  “I am,” the young lord replied with a stretch, before laying back on the ground and closing his eyes. “I just hope you never find yourself wanting something the Eilian don't want you to have.”

  “So do I,” the knight agreed, gazing into the little fire.

  Mere minutes after this conversation, most members of the little band were sound asleep. Fortunately, with the addition of Lord Jannus's men, there were enough of them to divide the watches of the night into one hour intervals, even with several standing guard at the same time. Ian and Jalek decided to take the first watch simply because neither of them were as weary as the others and because they had begun a conversation about dwarvish craftsmanship; which was a subject both found fascinating.

  As Darian lay stretched out at Gwendolyn's side, his feet pointed toward the fire, he found it impossible to fall asleep. He rolled over on one side, then the other, as he considered Winrall and the choice of Yaellan Kalath. In some ways, what Yaellan had done was unquestionably noble. He had risked his own life in order to save one of his companions. Darian had done much the same thing just over a year ago. He had done it with the blessing of the Eilian, however. He had submitted to their will, not acted in defiance of it.

  On the other hand, the gods themselves had made mistakes in the past. They had also forgiven Yaellan for his decision. Who was Darian to judge his actions if the Eilian had forgiven him? Still, there was no question that he had been in the wrong. His choice revealed a lack of faith. There was
a reason they had refused to restore the life of Raslin Morrin, even if that reason wasn't obvious.

  As a child, Darian had been told stories of incredibly powerful Telian who had raised people from the dead – some, several days after they had died. He even seemed to remember one who had brought someone back from the grave even though their body had been completely destroyed. Ian would almost certainly be familiar with the tale. He would have to ask him about it later.

  Could Yaellan have become that powerful? That was a question that would never be answered. The simple fact was that he hadn't. His decision could have been the reason for that. Of course, it was also possible that he would have never been capable of wielding that level of divine power. It could have been that Raslin would have been lost to him for the rest of his mortal life.

  With this thought in mind, the young knight opened his eyes and gazed at the maiden sleeping at his side. Gwendolyn was truly beautiful. She was a great deal more than that, as well. She was a creature of life and light, joy and generosity; she was one of the finest people he had ever known. What if it were her? What if she had died and the Eilian refused to restore her life? Would he call on the power of Winrall to save her?

  The young man took a deep breath and let it out slowly. No. No, he wouldn't. It was true that the Eilian had made mistakes, but he had made a great many more. He would rather make the wrong decision as a faithful servant, than make the wrong decision due to a sense of arrogance. The Eilian were also far more capable of correcting their mistakes than he was his. If she died, if any of his companions died, he would do his very best to bring them back from the grave. However, he would submit to the will of the gods, whatever it might be.

  Darian reflected on the fate of Gregor's parents with a deep sense of sadness. Even if the Gates of Death could be opened, the Eilian would never allow it. Which was obviously why the young lord found Winrall and the Kalathians such an interesting topic of conversation. The Telian was somewhat consoled by the fact that the gates would never be found, even assuming that they existed physically in Areon. Searching for them would distract Gregor and help him come to terms with his loss. In time, he would give up his search and would be able to move on with his life.

  “Why are you staring at me?” Gwendolyn asked, gazing at the young knight with a smile.

  “I'm sorry,” he replied, returning her smile. “I didn't realize I was. My mind was wandering. I also didn't realize you were awake.”

  “I just woke up,” she explained with a stretch. “I was dreaming that it was our turn at watch.”

  “And, it is, lass,” Ian said. “I was just about to wake you.”

  “Then, my timing was perfect,” she replied, sitting up as she spoke. “I saved you the trouble.”

  “I'll wake Gregor,” Darian said, rising to his feet.

  “Let him sleep,” the beautiful sorceress said with a coy smile. “I think you and I can handle the watch alone.”

  “I'm sure we could,” the knight replied. “But, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to be alone like that, remember? The book says...”

  “I suppose you're right,” she said with a deep sigh. “How far have you read, by the way?”

  “I'm past the middle,” Darian replied. “Why?”

  “I think she's hoping you'll get to the good part soon,” Ian chuckled as he stretched himself out on the ground.

  “What good part?” the Telian asked.

  “The part where young gentlemen get to be alone with young ladies,” the dwarf replied with a smile before pushing his hat down over his face. “Goodnight, Sir Darian.”

  “Goodnight, Ian.”

  “Oh,” the bard said, lifting his hat just enough to look the knight in the eyes, “and you might want to spend the next hour reading. No reason to waste the time.”

  “I suppose I can see that,” the young knight nodded, before stepping over to awaken Gregor.

  For the next hour, Gwendolyn, Gregor, and Darian stood watch in silent reading and whispered conversation. The Telian didn't hear a word that passed between the handsome lord and the fair sorceress, as he was far too engrossed in the pages of the tome he was reading by the light of the fire. At the end of the allotted time, they awakened a number of Lord Jannus's men before drifting silently to sleep.

  The following morning, the party rose with the dawn to continue their journey. Darian decided to make use of the time and continued his reading as they made their way toward the besieged fortress of Lord Merclan. By early afternoon, the knight had finished most of the section on marriage and the band had reached their destination.

  They arrived just in time to see Lord Merclan strike his colors and surrender to Lord Jannus. The ranks of Solarin had been swollen, not only by the soldiers of the aged lord, but by several hundred other peasants who had decided to take a stand against King Palnar's endless conquests. Among these valiant – although in the main, untrained – warriors, was a small group of Solarin nobles.

  Lord Jannus had seen fit to restore the titles and lands of the broken nobles who had joined the cause, as well as granting the descendants of those who were deceased what was their rightful inheritance. Considering the fact that most of these men were knights who owed their fealty to the old lord, he felt well within his rights to take such action. He was also certain that King Calmon would completely approve of such a course.

  The army of Solarin took possession of the castle although, according to the terms of the surrender, Lord Merclan and his men, with the exception of a few who deserted him in order to join their former adversaries, were set at liberty. The defeated lord's men marched out of the fortress with their heads held high and their banners unfurled. The lord assured his foes that he would recapture his home, warning them that any who were foolish enough to await his return would certainly pay for their impudence with their lives.

  The weapons and armor that Darian and his companions had brought were quickly distributed, while the young Telian took charge of securing Lord Merclan's personal belongings. All articles of value, other than arms and perishable goods, were packed carefully in the vaults of the fortress as well as being listed, item by item, in a bill of goods signed both by the young knight and the aged lord. With this detail attended to, the pair turned their attention to the castle's defenses and their next course of action.

  Chapter 13: A Shortage of Supplies

  “One thing is certain,” Lord Jannus asserted, gazing down from one of the keep's windows at the men assembled in the courtyard below, “King Palnar will not let this go unanswered. Fortunately, it will take his forces days to reach us. We had better make the most of that time.”

  “How do you suggest we do that?” Darian asked, stepping up to the side of the aged lord.

  “We should strike another blow while we have the chance,” Gregor suggested. “The last thing we want to do is just sit here waiting for our enemies.”

  “I think I agree,” Lord Jannus replied, turning from the window to face his fellow compatriots. “Although, it would be unwise to abandon the two strongholds we have. We can't hope to defeat the armies of Mikral but, we may be able to hold this castle – as well as my own – against them for some time, even if most of our men are woefully lacking in combat experience.

  “I believe we had best focus our attention on our main goal; coming to the aid of Innalas. What we've managed to accomplish so far may very well pull some of King Palnar's men from the front lines but, the longer we can hold out, the better it will be for our elvish allies. That means; we need to help them come to our rescue.”

  “What do you mean?” Kilren asked.

  “I mean,” the aged lord explained, “that we'll be far more likely to keep the forces of Mikral at bay if the warriors of Innalas manage to fight their way into Mikral itself. With a large enough force of elvish reinforcements, this castle would be far more difficult to capture. King Palnar would have to choose between sending enough men to successfully drive us out and leaving us in possession of a fortr
ess within his own territory. I can't imagine that he would find either of those choices particularly appealing.”

  “So, we need to help the armies of Innalas invade Mikral?” the lieutenant asked.

  “We do,” Lord Jannus nodded.

  “How exactly can we do that?” Darian asked.

  “While you were gone, I did my best to gather what information I could,” the old lord replied. “It seems that King Palnar has ordered a caravan of supplies to be sent to his troops in Innalas every four days. Although it's very heavily guarded after it reaches enemy territory, it is decidedly less so while it remains within Mikral. According to my information, no more than fifty of Valrak's mercenaries escort it to the fords.”

  “Fifty of Valrak's men are still a force to be reckoned with,” Ian pointed out.

  “That's certainly true,” Lord Jannus agreed, “but, it's still a great deal less than the hundreds that watch over it once it crosses the river. If we were to ambush the caravan in the woodlands between Andor's Fortress and the fords, we could almost certainly capture it. We would be able to deny our enemies those supplies, as well as use them to provide for our own men.”

  “I can certainly see the advantage of that,” the bard nodded.

  “We have enough horses to mount nearly fifty men,” the old lord said. “The next caravan is due to be dispatched day after tomorrow. If we send a force out in the morning, they should be able to reach a suitable spot for a surprise attack before the caravan passes through it.”

  “Providing they can avoid the forces of Mikral between here and there,” Kilren pointed out.

  “Obviously,” Lord Jannus agreed.

  “Which is why we should head out this evening,” the lieutenant continued. “We'll be a lot less likely to have any unwanted encounters if we travel at night. Plus, it will give us plenty of time to setup our ambush.”

  “Are you volunteering to lead the band?” the aged lord asked.

  “No,” Kilren replied, shaking his head. “I'm volunteering Sir Darian to lead us. I'm volunteering the rest of us to follow him.”