The Aduramis Chronicles: Volumes 1-3: The Definitive Collection

by Harrison Davies

  ‘I have been so worried for your safety,’ she cried.

  Coinin felt an overwhelming surge of emotion and relief that his guiding force had joined them, making his eyes tear up. How long had it been since he had seen her, he did not know, except it had been too long.

  He wiped his eyes and saluted Menin. ‘Thank you for coming at such short notice, Archmage.’

  ‘I’m only sorry it took so long,’ Menin said, tears welling in her eyes. ‘That key is a fascinating device. I just couldn’t resist trying it for myself.’

  ‘It is good to see you. What have you been told?’ Coinin asked.

  Menin took a deep breath, and her lip trembled. ‘Jericho has told me of Hur’al’s passing and has given a brief summary of your journey.’

  ‘We are sorry for your loss Laliala. Hur’al was a good man.’

  ‘He was a bad man though turned to good in later years. I am proud of him for that; I only wish I could have seen him one more time.’ Tears streamed down her face, and she wiped them away.

  Zaruun attempted to comfort her, but she rejected his attempts.

  ‘Thank you Zaruun. I don’t need sympathy right now. I need to focus on the reason I was brought here. My mourning for Hur’al will have its day.’

  Coinin nodded and felt anguish for her, knowing how she must be feeling. He felt the same way when Reena had died.

  ‘Perhaps if we meet this Prince Thymes we can get a better insight as to the nature of his request and have a little bit of a catch up in the process.’

  ‘This way then, follow me.’ Jericho led the party with Zaruun and Marrok taking up the rear.

  ‘Glad to have you back with us General,’ said Zaruun to Marrok.

  ‘It’s good to be back.’

  Jericho led them the dizzying route down into the cavernous City of Underworld and once they had finally reached the bottom they were escorted back to the palace of the Prince.

  ‘This truly is a wonder to behold,’ Menin said, admiring the accomplishments of the city despite their obvious hardships. ‘What can you tell me about the Prince?’

  ‘I do not doubt his integrity,’ Coinin said. ‘He seems genuinely concerned for his people, yet before I acquiesce to his request, I’ll let you be the judge of his character.’

  ‘A sensible precaution. Ah, here we are,’ Menin said, as the main doors to the palace opened stiffly on creaking hinges.

  Just inside the doorway, a small girl waited with a bowl of water and a small red towel. Coinin chuckled and explained to Menin that she needed to wash so she would be able to understand the language. After the short ceremony had been completed, they ventured further inside.

  Prince Thymes was waiting inside the hallway for them and beamed when he saw there were two new guests.

  ‘Your Highness, may I present Archmage Laliala Menin,’ Coinin announced grandly.

  ‘Call me Riley,’ the Prince said and held out a hand in friendship.

  ‘Only if you call me Laliala,’ Menin smiled, though not one of her regular winning ones.

  As before, Riley led the group upstairs to the room with the warming fire and long table, only this time several goblets had been set out for them, and he poured a dark red wine into each. He offered a glass to each and took a sip himself. ‘To friends,’ he said.

  Each of them politely raised a glass and responded in kind. ‘To friends and absent ones.’

  The wine tasted good, and the warm room comforted them.

  Laliala addressed the Prince. ‘If I may Prince Thymes, sorry, Riley, I’d like to speak with my Curator alone before we proceed to hear your request.’

  ‘My dear lady, that is understandable, and I would expect nothing less. Please, take all the time you need. I shall be waiting for you in my study.’ He stood and breezed from the room.

  ‘If we may have some privacy please,’ Menin prompted.

  ‘We will wait outside,’ Marrok announced.

  Laliala smiled and waited until the four remaining souls had left before speaking. ‘You look tired, Coinin,’ she said with concern.

  ‘I’m exhausted, truth be told.’

  ‘I think it’s time you had a rest. You’ve worked tirelessly on this problem.’

  ‘There’s no time to rest while Lordich is out there plotting our downfall.’

  ‘I don’t understand. I thought finding Marrok, and then the Swords of Cerathil was our priority.’

  ‘Things have changed somewhat,’ Coinin declared. ‘We have, by chance, recovered all but one of the swords, and yet at every turn, Lordich seems to be there hampering our progress to find the last.’

  ‘I see, so you’ve changed tack and intend to search out Lordich and end his campaign, freeing you up to search out the last sword,’ Menin surmised wisely.

  Coinin carefully chose his next words, knowing how Laliala despised his uncle. ‘That is the plan, and we have only two years in which to complete our task.’

  ‘Three years,’ Menin corrected.

  ‘As much as I wished that were true, new evidence suggests otherwise.’

  ‘Oh?’ Menin stood and warmed herself by the fire.

  ‘In our travels, we have come across many learned individuals, and one such person showed us the possibility that the official calendars may be out by a year. If this is the truth, then we have less than two years, not three, to locate the last sword. And with Lordich breathing down our necks, it is so much harder to do than you realise.’

  Menin mulled over the information for a while, pacing back and forth, and pulled at her lip in thought.

  ‘He is a thorn in our sides, and we do not know where or when he will strike next. It was agreed between us that we would dedicate six months to finding him and if after that time we have failed then we would shift our focus back to the last sword.’ Coinin sipped his wine.

  Menin tipped her head as if listening to something and nodded away to herself. Finally, she crossed to the table and sat down again. She took a sip of wine and smiled. ‘It seems your judgment is sound. If Lordich still buzzes around us like a stinging bee, it diverts our focus from the prize, so remove the threat of the sting, and our focus is restored.’

  ‘Exactly.’ Coinin nodded.

  ‘Well, if that’s settled, we know our priorities. Let’s get this Prince in here and dig a little deeper.’

  ‘Before we speak with Riley, what do we do with this?’ Coinin asked and handed a long thin box to Menin.

  ‘Is this what I think it is?’ she asked.

  ‘It is indeed. Hur’al said it was for you. I suppose he was going to bring it to you.’

  ‘Thank you Coinin,’ Menin said and looked visibly upset again. ‘I think it best the sword remain in Quindil’s protection until we can secure it at the temple.’

  ‘It shall be done.’

  ❖

  Some time later, Menin had recovered, a little red-eyed, but nonetheless her usual self and keen to get some answers.

  ‘What can you tell me of your banishment, Riley?’ Menin asked the seated Prince.

  ‘It was not a glorious day for our people; it was a wicked time that saw many deaths at the hands of my brother, Jarek.’

  Menin nodded to show that she was listening, yet her mind was searching every nuance of the Prince’s speech and body language, looking for signs of dishonesty.

  ‘That night he killed the castle guard and smothered the King. He had me arrested and tried for my father’s murder. I was spared death, only to be given the sentence of banishment, yet my scheming brother had pre-planned this.’ Riley struck the table furiously. ‘He was a practising wizard and sought the wisdom of an authoritative tome, and finally, he was able to enchant the entrances to this cavern. His magic would be everlasting, preventing anyone banished there to exit. I do believe, should he enter this domain or die, that the curse would lift.’

  ‘Why have you not before now asked for help from those with whom you trade?’ Menin enquired.

  ‘Simple traders are not exper
ienced in these matters. I need the help of The Brotherhood of The Wulf. I want you to understand that I don’t make this request for myself. I ask only for my people. They are dying here. We are all dying; changing.’

  ‘Changing?’ Menin asked.

  ‘We have not always looked this way. We were similar in appearance to you and the others. But over time our skin turned grey, and our hair fell out. The most shocking thing, though, is that our taste for food has changed. But it’s not consistent throughout the colony. More and more of our people are turning to a thirst for the blood of the animal, and this worries me greatly.’

  ‘I can see your thinking. Perhaps you believe the thirst for blood will somehow intensify and Roderians will become a target for the food source.’

  ‘You have read my mind. It would be a horrific thought to turn on one’s own for sustenance. There is something about this place that is evil.’

  Menin pursed her lips. ‘Jericho tells me that in order to end this curse, we need to abduct your brother from his palace.’

  ‘That is correct. I see this as the only way.’

  ‘How do you expect us to accomplish this task?’ Coinin interjected.

  ‘Well, I don’t expect you to march on the city with an army; that would only serve to panic the citizens and perhaps create an unacceptable loss of life. No, there is a secret way into the palace. I have an ally at your temple. The Chief Scribe will assist you.’

  ‘I will need time to think this through and consult with the Curator and my Generals,’ Menin finished.

  ‘Very well, please take all the time you need. I will ensure that you have comfortable rooms in which to lay your head and my aides will make sure you want for nothing.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Menin smiled and turned to Coinin and the others. ‘It seems we have a decision to make.’

  ❖

  They talked late into the night and drank much wine until they could stay awake no longer and retired to bed. Each slept soundly and comfortably and did not wake until late in the day.

  They were escorted to the dining room and offered a breakfast of broth and stale bread. They were thankful, however, for the sustenance and ate in silence.

  ‘Before we look seriously at the offer Riley has on the table, there is one other possible source of information,’ Coinin announced. ‘During my discussions with Draken, he revealed that a friend of Lordich’s might hold some of the answers we seek.’

  ‘And who is this friend?’ Menin enquired.

  ‘He is known as Voloran Turg of the Hede province.’

  ‘Giant country? What information do you think this friend will hold?’

  ‘That is unclear; I don’t consider him to be a reliable source, any more than Riley. But Riley is no friend of Lordich, whereas Voloran is, and may not easily give up information concerning his friend. If indeed he has any in the first place.’

  Menin sighed deeply. ‘Considering the urgency with which we need to accomplish our task, and the fact that we’re here now, I am willing to approve this action against Jarek in return for the information that Riley holds.’

  ‘Potentially holds,’ Jericho pointed out.

  ‘Yes, there is always a risk that he is lying to us. I consider myself a good judge of character and I believe he is truthful. If somehow we fail, or Riley has deceived us, then we will have to focus on this Voloran.’

  Coinin stood and looked out of the window towards the plaza. ‘This place is hellish, and I feel sorry for these people, yet is that enough to warrant abducting a sovereign of a country we know nothing about?’

  ‘I believe it is justified, and I believe in our involvement so much that I will accompany you and aid you in the abduction,’ Menin decided.

  A shocked silence rocked the room, and then Coinin found his voice. ‘You can’t do that; it’s against protocol.’

  ‘Sometimes to better ourselves, rules need to be broken,’ Laliala pronounced with the familiar twinkle in her eye. ‘I have said previously that The Brotherhood needs a shakeup and what better way than to start now?’

  Jericho looked at Zaruun who was wide-eyed and perplexed.

  ‘The choice to do this is yours, Coinin, but I will back you all the way.’

  Coinin scratched his head and looked torn. He weighed the options carefully, and it was several minutes before he spoke. ‘Would one of you get the Prince so I can tell him my decision.’

  Marrok headed from the room and soon returned with Riley, who looked apprehensive and fidgety.

  ‘Riley, I thank you for joining us. I assume you’ll be wanting to know my decision?’

  ‘Before you tell me, I need to say that if you do this for my people, Curator Wulf, we will come to aid you in the hour of your greatest need, and I will divulge the whereabouts of Lordich Secracar,’ Riley promised. He held a hand over his heart and bowed his head.

  ❖

  Two days later, on a frosty morning, six figures wrapped up warm looked South West over a seemingly unending lake. Riley had said the city was that way.

  They, and the small band of Brotherhood soldiers positioned behind them were about to do the impossible: infiltrate the City of Rodine and abduct its King, and then return him to Underworld.

  Coinin took a deep breath and sighed. ‘Here we go again, into the dragon’s den.’

  THE END

  THE LANDING PARTY

  Two large and fully laden trading vessels cut through the water with ease, leaving a sizeable wake behind each craft. The rough hessian sails billowed in a strong wind that propelled them across the lake at a fair rate of knots. The smell of pitch, which sealed the joints between the wooden shiplap, mixed with the salty brine of the lake and dried the lips of the occupants to the point of cracking, and no amount of licking could restore them.

  Dark and incredibly deep, the lake stretched for mile upon mile, and it seemed to the travellers there would be no end of their journey in sight.

  The night had drawn in and chilled the occupants of the two sturdy boats. They huddled together for warmth and watched as their breath misted before them under a full moon, bright and oddly comforting in the sky.

  General Dareth Jericho, a broad-shouldered man, late of year and dark of hair, used the tiller to guide by the stars and now an orange glow in the distance told him they were significantly closer to their destination, Rodine City.

  The other senior Brotherhood of The Wulf body, consisting of Curator Coinin Wulf, General Marrok Wulf, and Archmage Laliala Menin, were accompanied by Grand Protector’s Aniol and Zaruun. They were ensconced in one boat, with a dozen soldiers. Captain Dalia, alongside Len’i the Orc and the remaining squadron of her men and women of the Order’s military arm, were crammed into the other.

  The party wore thick woollen cloaks over their uniforms and armour, given to them by the Underworlders, and had borrowed two boats left by traders who had chosen to visit the underworld city at the wrong time. Relieved of their boats, the merchants would need to wait until The Brotherhood returned with payment for the loan.

  It had taken four days to cross the harsh wasteland from the city to the lakeside. They had endured hot, desert-like conditions during the day and the freezing nights had tested them to their limits, yet, sunburnt and dehydrated they had made it to the shore of the lake and had located their current mode of transport, right where Prince Thymes had told them the craft would be found.

  Coinin, a slender young man of eighteen, with long brown hair and hazel eyes, was relieved to rest his feet for a while. During windless periods, he permitted the gentle rhythmic splash of oars to relax his mind and found time during the journey to mull over recent events.

  The Brotherhood had successfully searched for and rescued Marrok, his elder brother, from a pirate stronghold and made their escape, only to then find themselves plummeting to the earth aboard an airship that had encountered a particularly intense thunderstorm. The ship impacted the ground within what is known as the Dead Lands of Upper Rodine, killing many of the crew,
and this stalled their search for Lordich Secracar, the dark wizard bent on destroying The Brotherhood of The Wulf.

  With little food and water, the crew feared they would not survive long in the desert conditions. Fortune, however, favoured them unexpectedly as, during the night, the ship fell through a fissure in the desert floor and provided them with an escape route via an underground river. The vessel, damaged and too large to navigate the waterway, was partly dismantled to make small rafts to carry the injured downriver.

  Further on in their journey, they encountered a remote gateway guarding the entrance to an unknown City of the Damned. Coinin sent a scout ahead, who soon returned with the leader of the city, Prince Riley Thymes. He had purposefully set out to make a personal visit and invited the beleaguered travellers to respite, and cited that he wished to speak to Coinin concerning a personal matter.

  Coinin and the others had met with Riley, and an unusual request was made of them. The prince explained that he and his people had been banished to Underworld by his tyrannical brother, Jarek, and that they were slowly evolving into something unwholesome. Some were dying from the effects of the changes brought about by the unusual properties of the surrounding rock that formed their prison. He had asked The Brotherhood to infiltrate the royal palace in the City of Rodine and, once there, abduct his brother.

  Riley believed that by bringing Jarek to Underworld it would break a curse binding him and his people to the City of the Damned. But, more importantly, he offered knowledge in return. Information that could finally see Coinin and The Brotherhood defeat Lordich. Riley promised to divulge the whereabouts of their enemy in exchange for direct action against his brother.

  Archmage Menin had joined them and, although against protocol, she stated that she, too, would join in the sanctioned abduction of the usurper, Jarek.

  With a plan hatched, Coinin and the others found themselves sailing towards the City of Rodine in complete darkness aboard two appropriated boats, with no idea what lay ahead of them.