Many Hidden Rooms

by S. J. Varengo

  A group of four other men who had witnessed the demonstration ran forward. “Good wizard, may we offer the services of our crafts as well?”

  “Your cooperation is appreciated, and in the name of the Chosen One I vow that you will be rewarded. It would also be of great help to me if you could spread the word among the taverns and brothels of Tarteel that every captain now in port should report to me at this time tomorrow so that we can begin loading our troops. We need to set sail for Harundy as soon as possible, and there are many thousands of warriors to transport.”

  The men, all literally quaking in their boots, nodded their heads frantically and ran off before Kerval decided to set any of them on fire. The young wizard chuckled quietly to himself. Cerah’s instructions were to persuade the captains to comply, using whatever means necessary. A dinghy is a small casualty if it means avoiding a more impressive demonstration.

  Kerval noticed a young boy standing on the dock, looking down at the few ashes that remained afloat where the small boat had been. He saw not only fear, but sadness in the lad’s eyes. He suddenly realized why. “Was that your dinghy?” he asked him.

  “Yes,” the boy replied sheepishly.

  The wizard reached within his robes and retrieved five dans. “Here, I wish to compensate you for the loss of your boat.”

  The boy looked aghast at the thought of taking money from a wizard, and the boat had been worth no more than two dans. He shook his head frantically. “No, it’s quite alright. I can’t take your money.”

  “Please. I feel bad. I had to prove to the sailor that I was serious about what I was telling him, but I bear you no ill will. Take the money and buy yourself a better boat.”

  The boy held out his hand. It was shaking quite noticeably, so Kerval carefully placed the gold in his palm and closed his fingers over it.

  “Th-thank you, oh mighty wizard!” said the boy.

  Kerval laughed out loud. “‘Mighty wizard!’ I wish my teacher could hear you say that! Run along now and help spread the word along the waterfront.”

  As the boy dashed off, still too shaken to look back, Kerval turned and walked into the streets of Tarteel. After traveling several blocks, he encountered Lista, who stood with their two dragons. “I wonder if that negotiation would have been resolved more quickly if Urien and Lopotha had been with me,” he said.

  “Their presence helped me convince a half-dozen or so captains that refusing their services would be unwise,” Lista replied. “But in fairness a few moments earlier two of them came looking for me, eager to help without any coercion whatsoever.”

  “We’re going to need a lot more than the dozen ships we’ve secured thus far. Even packing two hundred or so warriors aboard each one, we’ll need a hundred ships to transport this army.”

  “I spoke with the harbor-master,” said Lista. “There are currently only twenty-three ships moored in Tarteel. Another fifteen are due within the next few days. We can tarry no longer than that. I fear we may have to fit closer to three hundred fighters onto each boat in order to get them to Harundy within Cerah’s time frame.”

  “That will make for an uncomfortable voyage, but I’m afraid you’re right. It can’t be avoided,” Kerval said, then added, “And that’s assuming I don’t have to burn any to the waterline.”

  “I am praying that won’t be necessary. We need every vessel.”

  As the two wizards were conversing, Urien, Lista’s big red match-mate, let out a short, but emphatic trumpet. “Someone is hungry,” Kerval said, laughing.

  “Let’s take them out past the breakwater and let them feed. It will make a good show for any captains who may yet be on the fence.”

  “Agreed,” said Kerval. They mounted their dragons and took off, flying low over the ships moored nearby. Frightened cries could be heard from the sailors on board as their clawed feet barely cleared the ships’ masts. Green Lopotha dipped down to the water and came up with a fish so large that it would have provided some lucky trawler enough dans to feed his family for a week. Again, the sounds of gasps and exclamations could be heard as the two great beasts tossed food back and forth to each other, swallowing the fish whole. After a fifteen-minute feeding session, they flew back and touched down on the dock. When they did, a group of ten more captains ran to the wizards as they dismounted, offering their ships for use as troop transports.

  I think our mission may yet be a success, thought Lista as Kerval gave instructions to the awe-struck sailors.

  Over the next three weeks, ships from all over the planet converged on Harundy, carrying the warriors that were soon to head to the Frozen South. Cerah realized there were far fewer than she needed. Even with the skillful persuasion of her riders, there simply were not enough transports. But she would make do with what she had. She instructed the wizards to oversee the unloading of the passengers and then muster them in the flatland that lay to the west of the city. After the ships were emptied, they were told to move out of the port and anchor in deeper water, allowing new arrivals to do the same. Eventually, a vast army filled the outlying plain.

  Slurr was dressed in his new suit of Riddue armor. The molute fit him like a second skin. From his waist, alongside the singing dagger, Kuldeen, hung a long sword of gorrium. When Zayan had presented it to him, the craftsman had said, “I have named it Gorshinda. In Riddue it means ‘bringer of black blood.’ May you slay a thousand Silestra with it.”

  Slurr had grabbed Zayan, embracing him warmly. “I have received a magic dagger from the wizards, and now this perfectly crafted sword from you. I wish I could express just how precious this is to me. I grew up a poor laborer, and the grandest thing I owned was a floppy felt hat, which my wife would have me throw away.” Slurr reached into a pocket on the breeches of the armor and partially extracted the green hat. “As you can see, I have not. But to carry your sword by my side is a greater honor than I could ever imagine.”

  Zayan, not for the first time, was completely won over by the young man’s humble warmth and enthusiasm. “The honor is mine, General Slurr.”

  Now Slurr and Cerah, both on krastback, rode out of the city to view the army. Their first sight of it took their breath away. It was almost impossible to see where the last line of warriors stood, so vast was the assembly. The plain in which they were mustered stretched out before a small hill on which Slurr and Cerah sat and viewed the massive expanse of humanity.

  “Can you believe it, Cerah?” Slurr said. “All these people are here to follow you!”

  “And you, my general. Remember, the battalion commanders will be reporting to you.”

  “It is a long way from the Softer that we find ourselves, my most beloved,” Slurr said.

  “A very long way indeed. And we are about to move further away still.”

  As the word passed among the warriors that the Chosen One was on the hillside, they began to form into their ranks and stand at attention, facing her. Without a single command being given, they grew silent and waited to see what would happen next. They were not disappointed.

  Cerah gave her krast a nudge and took a few steps forward, as Slurr remained behind. Looking out at the army, she raised Isurra above her head. It began to glow a brilliant emerald green. As she began to speak, her voice magically boomed over the plain so that every person, no matter how far from the hill, could hear her clearly. “Army of the Free People of Quadar, I greet you! We are met on this field in anticipation of a long sea journey which will take us to the most inhospitable location on our planet, the Frozen South. By now I am sure you’ve heard of the evil we are gathered to eradicate. You have heard of Surok, the Anger of Pilka, created eons ago out of hatred toward the Good of Ma’uzzi. For many thousands of years, Surok has periodically sent his evil creatures into the world to kill and maim, always staying behind in his lair on the highest peak of the Frozen South, unable to lead them into battle, as he had not attained corporeal form. Nearly a thousand years ago, the great wizard Opatta, accompanied by my teacher and mentor, Par
nasus, First-Elder of the wizard race, sailed with an armada far inferior to ours, to the Frozen South. There they found the wraith-like Surok, presiding over his Silestran assassins and his horde of karvat vermin. Opatta, using every ounce of spark within his ancient body, cast a spell of binding that both encased Surok and opposed the desperate retaliation of the demon, wiping out many of his foul underlings. In doing so, Opatta sacrificed himself.

  “The spell was powerful, and it lasted for many hundreds of years, but it was not strong enough to destroy Surok, only to imprison him. According to the ancient prophecies, it will be the hand of Ma’uzzi’s Chosen One which will ultimately unmake Pilka’s Anger. Within the last year, it has become clear to the wizards of Melsa, most of whom now wait with their dragons in the green fields to the south of Harundy, that the promise of Ma’uzzi’s deliverer has come to pass. I am the Chosen One.”

  A roar came up from the army, as the tens of thousands of voices united in a cheer, then again fell silent. Cerah continued.

  “It has fallen to me to lead you, my vast and proud army, to the very lair of Surok, where you will meet his company before it ever has the chance to deploy. Using the gift of distant vision, a process we wizards call ‘Going Within,’ I have seen Surok in his lair. I have seen the soldiery he is creating by breeding Silestra with captive human women. These foul creatures gestate in a matter of weeks and tear themselves free of their poor mothers’ bodies to emerge fully grown and ready to make war. With them are many vile Silestra, who will serve as the army’s field marshals. A mob of karvats wait to gnaw at the ankles of Surok’s enemies as well. It is not a force to be taken lightly.

  “It is vital that we strike now, as the spell cast so many centuries ago will not be able to hold Surok much longer. He has finally attained a solid body and, once free, he will lead this diabolical army off of the frozen continent and across every one of the ten Green Lands. It is my intention to destroy Surok and his foul horde before they can do so.

  “And so, we shall soon begin a long and treacherous sojourn from the relative comfort of Harundy to the agonizing cold of the Frozen South. The voyage will take nearly half of a month. You will be squeezed like packed fish into the ships that are anchored waiting to convey you, for although many captains have given over their crafts to ferry you, there are far too few for any promise of comfort. Once we arrive upon the ice sheet we will have a trek of several hundred miles inland to reach the high peak. Then there will be a climb through conditions that will make the first part of the march seem pleasant in comparison.

  “And then, after all of this, we will face the forces of pure evil in their own arena. Our victory will not be an easy one. But...” She paused for several seconds, the tension growing palpably among the massed warriors. “…But we will be victorious!” Another roar, louder and longer than the first, echoed across the plain.

  “We will not all of us return,” she said, silencing her forces instantly. “Not even my survival is assured. But if I die, I will die plunging my staff, the mighty Isurra, into the black heart of Surok. I pray Ma’uzzi grant me enough breath to witness his demise and the salvation of Quadar.

  “And so now I bid you rest and ready yourselves for all that is to come. I go now to hold counsel with the wizards of Melsa. We will be making our final preparations, leading up to our scheduled departure in three days’ time. Until then, encourage one another. Remind the soldier that stands beside you that the very fate of the Free People of our planet is at stake. I may not have the opportunity to address all of you again for quite some time but know that I will fly before you into harm’s way, and I will fight to my last breath for each and every one of you.

  “General Slurr, dismiss your army.”

  Slurr rode forward, his body trembling at hearing Cerah’s words. He did not know any spell to make his voice heard by the thousands, but as Cerah subtly waved her glowing green staff in his direction, he felt a strange sensation in his throat.

  “Army, I dismiss you until we deploy, three days hence!” he said, his voice echoing as had his wife’s. A final cheer followed them as they turned and rode to meet with the assembled wizards. Slurr turned to Cerah and said, “That’s a neat trick. I sounded quite impressive. I hope my voice is that strong when I say, ‘Cerah, bring me my dinner!’”

  “Ha!” Cerah snorted. “You will not need to call to me that loudly! I cannot wait to serve you in that way, my Lug!”

  “Nor I you,” Slurr replied. “I look forward to the day when all this is over, and we can return to our little cottage. Melsa seems a fine place to raise a family.”

  “A family! Indeed! A handful of little Slurrs running around bouncing off of one another!” Cerah said, laughing.

  “And a handful of little Cerahs, enchanting the flowers to sing songs!”

  They laughed together all the way to the southern edge of the city. There the wizards waited to plan for the voyage. Cerah caught her breath upon seeing the hundreds of dragons as they moved about, waiting for their match-mates to mount them and lead them into battle. Among them walked the scores of riderless as well. It was an awesome sight!

  “Cerah!” called Kern as they approached. “I need you to help me organize the riderless. You are far more familiar with them than I.”

  “Of course,” Cerah replied. “I will bring Tressida to sit with us. She will pass our plans onto the blacks, who will in turn lead the others.”

  They talked for the remainder of the afternoon. When they were finished, Tressida flew off to begin communicating with the riderless, while Cerah and Kern moved on to meet with the wizards themselves. This planning session stretched late into the night. When at last all the talking had been done, Parnasus approached Cerah and placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “It is vital that you rest now. You have done all you can do to prepare. Take these last few days before we set sail and seek your center. Do not neglect your own needs. There are but a few more peaceful sunsets in our immediate future. Enjoy them.”

  “As always, your wisdom comforts me,” she told her teacher. “I will rest. There is nothing further that needs my attention until we depart.”

  “Good. Take comfort in your husband’s arms. Remember, he is your rock.”

  “I remember that always,” Cerah said, looking over at Slurr as he sat with Kern, laughing about something the wizard said.

  “Good night, Cerah of Quadar,” Parnasus said as he turned to take his leave.

  “Good night, First-Elder Parnasus. Good night.”

  Cerah sat for a few minutes by herself, allowing Slurr to enjoy his friend’s company. She closed her eyes and forced herself to think about nothing. No army, no dragons, no Surok. She let all the stress and tension that had built up during the weeks since Beru’s death drain from her, literally feeling it trickle from her fingers and toes and seep into the earth beneath her.

  As she sat thus, she heard her mother’s voice within her mind. “No matter what happens, I am so proud of you,” Jul said. “You are indeed the Chosen One of Ma’uzzi, but you are also my perfect angel. Remember I am with you, now and always.”

  Cerah opened her eyes, her mother’s words still echoing in her memory. Slurr stood before her, holding out his hand. She took it and rose to stand beside him. “Our room at the Inn, where I once lay across your doorway, is waiting for us. Let me take you there.”

  She smiled and slid her arm around his narrow waist. “Please lead me, Lug. I would like a warm bath and a soft bed. They will be the last luxuries we enjoy for some time.”

  Chapter 8

  Hell at Sea / Hell on Ice

  It didn’t take long for all parties to realize that the voyage to the Frozen South would be hellish. The vast majority of the ships that sailed the three oceans of Quadar were designed to haul cargo, with a handful of passenger cabins to add a little more revenue. Packing two hundred and fifty to three hundred armed souls into the holds made for shoulder to shoulder travel. There was no room to lie down for sleep; t
hat had to be accomplished in a crouched, sitting position.

  The lead ship was none other than Captain Renton’s Marta, which had been in the port of Klefix on the continent of Rethmira when the wizards had been seeking ships. Renton had volunteered the Marta’s services without hesitation. Although Slurr longed to be beside his wife, winging southward on Tressida’s back, he chose instead to sail among the men he had been commissioned to lead. His first decision in his role as General of the Army was to name Renton First Admiral of the Navy of Quadar. After a busy first two days at sea, Renton finally found time to sit with Slurr in the captain’s cabin. It was the first opportunity they had to speak at any length. Renton had been occupied not only with the operation of his own vessel, but the organization of the other hundred and sixty ships in the armada. Slurr had moved among the soldiers on board. Already, thanks to the cramped conditions, their morale was challenged. He had slept on deck among them.

  “So, no longer a deck hand, eh, Slurr?”

  “I suppose not,” the young man answered. “I must admit, I was far more comfortable helping load cargo than I am being in charge of over fifty thousand warriors.”

  “Being a leader of men is a daunting task,” admitted Renton. “It was several years before I felt truly competent to be the captain of my own ship.”

  “And now I’ve placed you in charge of all the ships.” They looked past the stern of the Marta at the armada that followed them, all of them just as crammed with humanity. “I feel horrible for the people in the cargo holds,” Slurr said.

  “It is not an ideal situation,” said Renton, “but remember: this is war, not a pleasure cruise. Not even a paid passage, as when I first took you and your friends to Melsa. It is war, the most ignoble of human enterprises. And wizard enterprises, I suppose. I fear what will face these fighting men and women after they disgorge themselves from these many holds will be far worse than the conditions of their transport.”