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

by Harrison Davies

  Coinin nodded. ‘Sounds simple enough. So, what do I do?’

  ‘You’s so big you can stand between my posts an’ stop the leather gettin’ through. Come on.’

  Coinin was led to the far side of the field and told to wait. ‘Remember, you’s got to stop it gettin’ past.’

  Coinin nodded and waited as he saw the dwarf children run to the centre of the field. On the far side, his counterpart waited patiently for the game to begin.

  ‘Three, two, one, go,’ he heard Albo yell.

  The screams and laughter of the children as they raced around the field brought to Coinin’s mind his childhood in Arrom Village, playing catch with the other boys and girls, or chasing sheep around the valley.

  A light drizzle kicked up and cooled him as he waited to save any leather launched his way. It was a new game to him, but he felt the excitement building. His side was in the lead having scored one point, and now the horde of children raced his way, one girl holding onto the air-filled sac for dear life, her face all smiles as she ran ahead of the boys. Someone made a grab for her, slipped on the now wet grass, and landed face first in a patch of mud.

  He stood up laughing and wiped his face, before chasing the girl once more.

  This was it; this was the moment Coinin needed to stop that leather getting through his defence. He braced himself, his arms outstretched. The girl hopped over another girl who had slid in front of her and raced to a predefined spot on the field. Some sixteen yards out from him the toothy-grinned girl with pigtails stopped and placed the leather sac on the ground. Coinin’s team all rushed to form a wall of bodies to halt the girl from scoring a point.

  With a whoosh and a thump the leather was kicked hard. It flew in a high arc over the heads of the opponents and sailed past Coinin even before he had a chance to react.

  Boos and yaas from his team signified their disappointment. The opposing side had drawn level for points.

  ‘What’re ya doin’? Yer supposed to catch it, ya great lanky fool,’ Albo yelled, and shook a fist.

  ‘I’m sorry, this is my first time,’ Coinin defended.

  ‘Ah, never mind, go out there and try an’ get the leather by the other team’s catcher, will ya?’

  Coinin nodded, glad to be in the thick of the game, rather than on the sidelines. He had size on his side, and that put him at an advantage.

  Despite his height, the dwarf children gave him a run for his money. They were younger and fitter than he was and he still wore his robes. Despite this, he secured the sac on several occasions, passing it to another on his team.

  Finally, his moment of glory arrived. His side was one point ahead; they just needed one more to secure the victory. A small boy on the sideline stood watch over a sundial and had indicated that less than a minute remained of play.

  Coinin had reached the kick zone and placed the leather down firmly on the muddy ground. The sounds around him muffled, and events seemed to happen in slow motion.

  His breathing slowed, and much like an eagle fixated on prey, he kept his eye firmly locked beyond the left shoulder of his opponent, the dwarf girl defending her posts.

  He pulled back his right leg and brought it forward as hard as he could. The side of his boot impacted with the air-filled orb and it soared high over the heads of the dwarf wall, all of whom jumped to intercept it, to no avail.

  The next moment, his side were cheering in a frenzy and grabbing at him and patting him on the back. ‘We won, we won,’ they cried.

  He had missed the moment, but they had won, and he never felt so alive. All stresses and strains were momentarily forgotten. He was back at home as a child of seven, playing fun games of hide and seek me with the other children of Arrom.

  But all too soon the celebrations had to stop, and reality hit.

  ‘Curator Wulf, what are you doing?’ Len’i the orc called across the field. He wore a wool covering over his broad shoulders to shelter him from the misty rain.

  Coinin looked up, smiled happily, and wiped the rain from his face and hair. ‘I’m playing a game of –’

  Albo stepped forward. ‘It’s called Leather Dodge.’

  ‘That’s it, Leather Dodge. Want to join us?’

  Len’i looked at the tiny dwarf children and shook his head. ‘My presence could be a danger to them.’

  ‘That is a fair point. What can I do for you, Len’i?’ Coinin asked, as he wandered across the field.

  ‘I am sorry to interrupt your fun. There is the matter of Axl’s funeral ceremony. It starts shortly. I was sent to find you.’

  Coinin’s mood came crashing down. He had completely forgotten in the excitement of the game and now felt guilty and callous.

  ‘I have brought a spare covering if you wish to use it.’ Len’i handed him a damp woollen cloak.

  ‘Thank you, Len’i. Please, if you would permit me a moment.’

  Len’i nodded and stepped back a pace.

  Coinin turned back to Albo, who smiled wryly.

  ‘You have to leave, right?’

  ‘I’m sorry, Albo. I was having such fun, too. I have important duties to attend to.’

  ‘I understand.’ Albo hung his head.

  Coinin lifted the young boys head with a finger and peered at him. ‘I promise, the very moment I can, I will be back for another game.’

  Albo jumped for joy. ‘You promise?’

  Coinin smiled. ‘I promise.’

  ❖

  Of those gathered at Axl’s funeral, not one face was without sorrow. A well-known and respected brother lay upon a pyre covered in a thin cotton sheet. His head lay upon a soft pillow of feather while his face was covered in a muslin cloth.

  Menin presided over the ceremony. She stood at a lectern placed at the back of a walled garden. The grieving sat upon rows of recently constructed benches to suit the height of the humans and faced Menin and the prone Axl.

  Surrounding them on all four sides of the garden, tall and delicate pink, white and red roses grew with such dazzling beauty and smell.

  King and Queen Thul sat to the left of Menin, while Coinin sat, feeling very much alone, to her right.

  ‘Your Majesties, brothers, sisters and gathered friends. Thank you for coming to pay your last respects to our dearly departed. I would urge that we use this time to contemplate the loss of not only our brother, Axl, but the many that we have lost in our quest to rid this world of evil and oppression.’ Menin sniffed. ‘I first met Axl when he was the tender age of eleven, and his adopted father brought him to the temple of Rostha to speak with a scribe there. His father was worried, you see, that the boy was eventually going to hurt himself or others with the outlandish experiments he had been performing in the basement of the family home. He had already poisoned the family cat with noxious fumes from a device he intended to use to soothe bees. He was becoming a handful, eager for more learning and experimenting.’

  Menin looked sadly at Axl’s body and closed her eyes upon hearing Aniol’s sobs. After several moments she composed herself and resumed. ‘Suffice it to say, upon meeting this marvellous young man for the first time I was in awe at his enthusiasm for creativity. He showed me a bound volume containing all the drawings he had inked since the time he could hold a quill. Such amazingly beautiful drawings, so detailed and useful. I invited him to learn at the temple and gave him free reign to follow his passions. He jumped at the chance and loved to invent and create for others, to make their lives easier. Axl, without prompt or request, created for the temple architect, Prentis, a wearable glass magnifier so that he could still read despite his failing eyesight, such was his selflessness. He was the sincerest person that I have ever known, and I for one feel a hole right here.’ Menin pointed to her chest. ‘My heart weeps with yours, Aniol. Please join with me in prayer to Rindor.’

  The gathered Brotherhood all lowered their heads and closed their eyes, while the dwarven party respectfully remained silent and contemplative in their own manner.

  ‘Mighty Rindor
, healer of all wounds, we ask today that you watch over those who grieve today and deliver us from our sorrow. Give us the strength to continue our course and watch over us as we endeavour to fulfil your divine will. Bless us this day and may we glorify your name in all things. So be it.’

  ‘So be it,’ said The Brotherhood in unison.

  Menin opened her eyes and waited while the gathered settled once more. ‘I will now invite anyone to say a few words about Axl.’

  Coinin looked down, hiding his guilt, and wrung his hands. Could Aniol ever forgive him for bringing Axl along on their journey? They had yet to speak, but surely a small part of her must blame him.

  Aniol stood and wiped her eyes with a cotton handkerchief given to her by Queen Lerial. She replaced Menin at the wooden lectern and looked tearfully at the gathered. She coughed and sniffed. ‘As you all know, Axl was my everything. We were to be wed, and I couldn’t have been happier. Axl was the warmest, gentlest man I ever met and my heart is broken now that he is –’

  Aniol broke down, requiring Menin to comfort her. She was led back to her seat and to the love of Jericho.

  Menin returned to the lectern and raised her arms to the sky. ‘Lord Rindor, I commit Axl to your loving arms.’

  The pyre smoked for several seconds, and then flames licked at the base, and in no time at all the wooden structure was ablaze.

  King Henfal stood now and raised his hand for attention. ‘My friends, as you grieve for your loss, so do I. May it please you to know that Axl will live on. He will serve to nourish these beautiful roses for all time, and from this day henceforth, the garden shall be a memorial to Axl.’

  Menin teared up and approached her friend, the king. She bowed her head and took his hand. ‘Thank you.’

  An hour later as the sun began to set, the funeralgoers processed from the walled garden as the last of the pyre fire began to die. They had spent some time mingling and reminiscing about Axl and celebrating his life.

  The king and queen had invited them to the castle, where a wake had been organised that consisted of a fine meal and plenty of ale and wine to drown the sorrows.

  The grand hall, a panelled high arched room, with mighty wooden columns and an oak table capable of seating fifty guests dominated the room. Above, six candelabras cast a warm light upon the scene, the periphery darkened. The centre of the table held a series of finely crafted glass jugs filled with deep burgundy wine, platters of fruit including grapes, dates and strawberries.

  The castle servants had laid every setting with gleaming glasses, plates, and cutlery to the exacting and demanding specifications of the queen. She was pleased with the result, and all guests commented on what a fantastic effort had been made to give Axl a special send off.

  ❖

  The morning brought sore heads and a renewed vigour to fulfil the task of searching out the traitor, Lordich.

  Coinin and Marrok had risen first and were eating breakfast in the dining hall consisting of grey oats and warm milk laced with yellow honey.

  ‘Today’s the day, little brother. Are you ready to take on Lordich?’ Marrok asked, a mouthful of oats on display as he spoke.

  Coinin ignored the question. The truth was he indeed felt ready for a one to one confrontation with the dark wizard. Ever since the Leather Dodge game, he had relaxed enough for Menin’s final lesson to sink in and the spell that had been eluding him for days suddenly became real. Before they set off for the citadel that morning, he would find a quiet spot and practice what he had learned.

  ‘Actually, I’m concerned for Aniol. Yesterday must have been hard for her. It was for me.’

  ‘For all of us,’ Marrok said. ‘She will be taken care of while we are gone. The archmage will see to that.’

  ‘The thing is, Marrok, I feel so guilty. I killed him.’

  Marrok pointed his spoon directly at Coinin. ‘You did no such thing. Mort did the deed. Don’t ever think that.’

  ‘If I hadn’t dragged him along, he would be alive right now.’

  ‘How do you know that? He could have fallen down the temple steps and broken his neck at any time. He died doing what he loved most, helping people.’ Marrok dropped his spoon onto the table. ‘Listen to me, brother. You have a great burden on your shoulders. Both of us do, but everyone in this adventure wants to be here. What we do is for the common interest. People die, that is life, and I recently learned that. If we focus on how or why they died and not what was accomplished, we do ourselves harm. Besides, Aniol would never believe his death was your fault, and neither does anyone who attended his funeral.’

  ‘What made you change your mind about death; you were angry for such a long time about our parents.’ Coinin looked at Marrok curiously.

  ‘I overheard you and Draken talking in secret in Underworld.’

  Coinin took a sharp intake of breath, shocked at the revelation. ‘And you said nothing? Didn’t rip Draken limb from limb?’

  Marrok looked sad. ‘His words cut me deeply. I never thought it possible that Draken could do such a thing, especially to family, and yet I saw no point in killing him in retaliation. What purpose would it serve? It would not make me feel any better. However, believe me when I say I was a hair’s breadth away from tearing in there and choking him to death.’

  ‘What stopped you?’

  ‘The understanding you have shown to him. You wanted to protect him from me, despite what he did, and that made me look at my temperament. You possess a beautiful heart, dear brother.’

  Coinin looked at Marrok in admiration. ‘You’ve really changed.’

  ‘I just don’t want to be like Lordich, bent on revenge. We’ve seen what that kind of hate does to a person.’

  ‘Then in answer to your question, I am ready. Lordich must pay.’

  ‘From what I hear, it’s a treacherous path. I was speaking with a dwarf by the name of Dark; he’s our guide and leader of the dwarven warriors.’ Marrok tipped the bowl of oats into his waiting mouth and finished off by licking the container clean.

  Coinin screwed up his face. ‘Do you have to? You’re such a pig.’

  ‘I’m hungry.’

  ‘You’re always hungry, but have no manners.’

  ‘There’s no one around to see,’ Marrok objected.

  ‘Well, actually, I did see, and Coinin is correct, you are a pig and without manners, General.’ Aniol stepped from the shadows and joined them on the opposite side of the table. Her face was blotchy, and she showed signs of having recently cried.

  Coinin looked down, ashamed still.

  ‘I didn’t get a chance to thank you both for being there yesterday. It meant a great deal to me.’

  Marrok and Coinin did not know what to say and instead smiled awkwardly.

  ‘I heard you two talking about me,’ Aniol said bluntly.

  ‘We’re sorry, Aniol, We just care –’

  ‘I know that. I do not want people’s pity. I will grieve in my own way and in my own time. I am more than capable of taking care of myself.’

  ‘We meant no harm.’

  ‘I am aware,’ Aniol snapped. She looked at Coinin. ‘You have hurt me most of all.’

  Coinin paled, his worst fear realised. She did blame him.

  ‘You think me callous enough to blame you for Axl’s death?’

  Coinin looked away, frightened of the confrontation. ‘The thought had crossed my mind.’

  Aniol, quite out of character, grew angry and flew into a rage. ‘How dare you presume to know how I feel or that I would think such a thing. You need to stop thinking that this whole thing centres on you. Axl died doing what he loved, he is a casualty of a war he was involved in whether we like it or not. A war of the heavens. If we do not stop Lordich, he could very well allow Rindor to destroy everything anyway.’ She stood there glaring and panting, her chest rising.

  Coinin stood silently, a sheepish look on his face. He walked to his friend and protector and did the only thing he could. He embraced her without a word. By jus
t holding her, he hoped that she would be comforted.

  Aniol flinched as Coinin held her and then she wept into his chest, uncontrollably and without restraint.

  Marrok stood and then quietly left the pair to it. He walked from the great hall and into the courtyard where he spotted Dark, a muscular, red-bearded dwarf with deep-set eyes of hazel, standing with a group of other fierce looking dwarves on the far side of the yard.

  The gathered soldiers wore armour that held no distinguishing marks of the king or kingdom and their weapons were older or those they had taken from different races, but all were still serviceable.

  Dark marched forward confidently upon seeing Marrok and offered his hand in friendship. ‘Marrow, my dear friend, how are you?’

  ‘Marrok,’ Marrok corrected.

  ‘Ah, yes, of course. Are we ready? When do we depart?’

  ‘We are waiting for my brother. He is just dealing with a personal matter.’

  Dark winked and nudged Marrok in the side with his elbow. ‘Lucky boy.’

  Marrok shook his head and rolled his eyes. ‘Do we have enough provisions to last the journey?’ he asked, changing the subject.

  ‘Absolutely, though you humans eat twice as much as my biggest soldier. We’ve had to gather another half dozen donkeys to carry your load.’

  Marrok laughed and surveyed the small army of dwarves, donkeys and horses before him. ‘I’m going to enjoy this,’ he said.

  BLACK SHIEL CITADEL

  The mountain pass was wild with a stiff wind. Bent double, the travellers forged onward, cloaks wrapped around them for fear of freezing in the icy conditions.

  Ice cracked and creaked above, threatening to send shards of the stuff hurtling down the mountain onto any unfortunate below.

  Snowdrifts whirled around, half blinding them as they pushed forward. For three weeks they had been travelling, the last week in bitter conditions.

  ‘The wind will drop as soon as we exit the pass. Though I expect a thunderstorm soon, the signs are there,’ Dark yelled at the top of his lungs.