"Are you sure?" asked Blackthorne.
"He's had possession of the gilded box for decades," said Darkin Root. "I can't imagine he has the strength to resist that thing for so long. He is past saving."
"Hm. I would like a chance to find out if he's past saving before we kill him," said Blackthorne.
"Why?" asked Kerreth. "What will you learn?"
"I am not sure, but I believe the Menaloch or something empowered by the Menaloch resides in that box. Even after the threat of the Menaloch is gone, the box will still be charged with sorcery. It will be a weapon in its own right."
Blackthorne paused, his brow knitted.
"There's something ahead," said Blackthorne. "It's elusive, but I sense magic. We best be wary."
"What about Loric and Taina?"
"The spells I wove around them still hold. Dvorak, what do you sense?"
"Nothing. I cannot see far in mind at all. Whatever it is, blocks my sight."
"How dangerous is it?" asked Kerreth.
"I do not know. If Loric and Taina have encountered it, then there is no immediate danger for they are safe."
"Let move rapidly then," said Kerreth.
They rode for several minutes and the road began to descend and they slowed their pace.
When they moved out of the shadow of the cliff they saw Loric and Taina speaking with someone. It was a Daerlan. The figure turned and waved.
"It is Navir," said Blackthorne. "How did he find us?"
"No doubt he will tell us," said Kerreth.
"In his own way of course," said Gorm.
"Well met, Kerreth," said Navir. "I almost came too late to meet you." He nodded to the others.
"I thought you were going to Nuneland."
"I was there and left the day before last."
"Impossible!" said Moria.
"Navir, you have no horse," said Gorm. "How could you travel so fast?"
"Ah, that will be part of my tale. How much longer until you camp?"
"Another hour," said Kerreth.
"Good, I will tell you then. I will ride behind Moria so not to slow you down." He swung up behind Moria and kissed her cheek. Kerreth signaled to Loric who rode off with Taina close behind.
Loric found a campsite well off the road that once hosted a lookout post for Masina in their early years. It fell into ruin as the need to man it with soldiers disappeared over the years. The stone foundation still provided a measure of protection from the wind and it was defensible.
They made camp and cooked their meal. Hobart and Elberra stood watch while the others sat around the fire waiting for Navir's promised story.
"Will you tell your tale now?" asked Kerreth.
Navir sighed and sat on a rock near the fire. He looked at each face in turn as if drawing strength from them to bring forth his story.
"This is a tale that has its beginning in the far reaches of time when the world was new. I beg forgiveness for not sharing it with my kin." He nodded to Gorm and Taina. "Even so, it was a burden of the ruling family and closely guarded. The Daerlan are an elder race and jealous of sharing their exalted status. We were here before Men, Tuors, and Anethean. The Celaeri came soon after us and I believe only the Zidar predated us. In those elder days gods walked abroad in the world. The Altenguds were Cothos, Tierase, Dwallond, Beo, Warga, Pellaton, Javon and Allamenor. The Jungeguds were Wulfgeld, Nagthagora, Agnaran, Menaloch, Galamog, Hothbard, Moruga, Ouila and Lothiena."
"I don't believe I've ever heard all their names," said Gorm.
"So Menaloch was a Jungegud. What happened to him?" asked Kerreth. "What made him less than he was?"
"I will get to that, but first there is a secret to unveil. It is difficult so please no more interruptions or I shall not be able to continue.
"The Altenguds gave their strength to the care of the world and helped the peoples when they arrived. The Altenguds had no concept of dominion; they wished only to nurture the world and its inhabitants. The Jungeguds fought amongst themselves and feared the strength of the Altenguds until one day the Jungeguds found out they were strong, strong enough to challenge their brethren. They worked together and attacked the Altenguds one by one, until only Cothos remained unbowed with his pride intact. Here, they misjudged for Cothos was vastly stronger than they still and he outsmarted them and thrashed them. They crept away to nurse their wounds and rose years later stronger than ever for they had made a bargain with Chaos to bring it through the barrier to the world. Chaos thought only of devouring the world and promised to help the Jungeguds. They did not see that Chaos would devour them too. However, they could not find Cothos and to this day he eludes them.
"The taint of Chaos has diminished the Jungeguds until they walk amongst us unnoticed and little power remains to them. The Menaloch still is strong, his bitter thoughts gnaw at him yet sustain him and he looks to destroy the Daerlan to the last child."
"Destroy the Daerlan? Why?" asked Taina.
"We defied Menaloch and would not bow to him."
"I can see that would anger him," said Darkin Root.
"Ah, but I haven't told you all. The Altenguds created most races, yet the Altenguds did not create the Daerlan. When the Zidar first walked the earth, Menaloch became inspired and created a people for himself; the Daerlan. He began our creation but nearly failed. Dwallond pushed him aside and finished our creation. We belong to Dwallond but our core belongs to Menaloch too."
There was silence. Navir looked at the shocked faces. Only Blackthorne was not surprised for Navir had told him years ago.
"We are creatures of the Menaloch?" gasped Darkin. "No wonder it uses Turucks to crush all races. It wants to corner the Daerlan in Liannest and destroy them."
"And with Masina and Eslenda destroyed," said Gorm. "There will be no one close enough to aid the Daerlan. The southern kingdoms of Anavar are too far away to stop the Turucks, even if they set sail today."
"It is a sound strategy," said Loric.
"We must aid the armies of Eslenda fight the Turucks," said Kerreth. "Navir, you have not spoken of what preparations you have made and how you sped south so quickly. Are you able to reach Liannest as quickly?"
"I have discovered a way to travel shadow roads between light and dark. It is a realm of Chaos and very perilous."
"Can you bring the Daerlan army to the aid of Eslenda?"
"I am of two minds in that, Kerreth. Can I be certain of our victory in arms? No, I cannot. Then why should I deliver the Menaloch's desire to him?"
"The Daerlan army will help our chances of victory."
"But can you guarantee victory, Kerreth? No, you cannot. I am not sure strength of arms will be enough. The Menaloch was once a god, remember? We do not know the resources available to it. I thought I had destroyed it once, but it survived. I have the same weapon en route to the battlefield now. Prince James of Eslenda heads a company bringing the Kaliga Spear to face the Menaloch. I fear it was my choice of wielder who failed, not the weapon."
"The Kaliga? Is it the same in the hands of a human?" asked Gorm.
"I have my doubts as well," said Blackthorne. "Was it not created with the remains of the Altengud Dwallond?"
"Yes," said Navir. "It still has the original potency."
"I fear for Prince James," said Blackthorne. "This is the hope you possess to keep from summoning the Daerlan army? Is Prince James strong enough?"
"He is one of the bearers, but another will wield it. I advised them of how it would drain them. They know the truth of it now."
"The Kaliga is our only hope?" asked Kerreth. He looked hard at Navir.
"I believe so. At the very least it is all I am aware of that can kill the Menaloch."
"Who wielded it last time?"
"My father."
"The king of the Daerlan did not have the power to kill the Menaloch with the Kaliga and you are hoping a man can?" asked Blackthorne. "Navir, I expect clearer thinking from you."
"Well, perhaps age is catching up with me at
last," snapped Navir. "After all, I have lived a thousand of your generations."
"Navir," said Kerreth. "You are eldest here, yet you show fears we have not witnessed in you before. Perhaps, you should not be involved in this task; after all you hired the Talos Company for your people. I doubt if King Faelir even knows of it."
"You are correct," said Navir. "Faelir has not my foresight. I must stay to the background to warn King Faelir should your battle go awry."
"What will the Daerlan do then? Run away again?" asked Blackthorne.
Navir gave him a dark look but did not answer. Gorm had begun pacing.
"I can't say I am full of confidence now," said Moria.
"Is there anything else you haven't told us?" asked Kerreth. "What happens to the bearers of the Kaliga? Do they die?"
"Kerreth, you must understand that to destroy the Menaloch is above all other considerations. It is a vile creature that corrupts everyone it touches. No Altengud is present to keep it under control. For longer than my lifespan it has sought the corruption of the Daerlan. We have struggled to rise above what we had been, but we could have been so much more. As long as the Menaloch exists, the Daerlan are a shadow of our potential. I abdicated the kingship to spend the remainder of my life searching for our salvation and I will have it."
"No matter the cost?" asked Kerreth.
"No matter the cost. Haven't you been listening? No cost is too great."
"I do not like this," said Dvorak Annis. "There are too many places for it to go wrong. What if Prince James fails and Tag Makk obtains the Kaliga? What can the Menaloch do with the Kaliga?"
"Destroy me for one thing," said Blackthorne. "It the Menaloch's current form I can resist its powers but the Kaliga would give it too much power. You walk on the edge of a knife, Navir, and you have brought us all with you."
"You never spoke of the Menaloch's fall," said Moria. "You said you would."
"The Menaloch at last found rumor of Cothos and tried to lure Cothos to his doom. The Menaloch's servants stole talismans from Cothos but Cothos wove strong and invisible spells around the talismans and the Menaloch tried to use one and was nearly destroyed. It took centuries for it to take shape again, but the Menaloch hadn't been destroyed. It became a sorcerer of cunning and malice but was unable to move on its own. It is confined to a black statue about a foot tall. I do not know of the power that made the statue, but it was Cothos who made it and none can unmake it. Long the Menaloch suffered and plotted in bitterness."
Kerreth stood up and stretched.
"I do not appreciate finding these details out so late in the day, Navir. You are throwing a lot of lives away to kill the Menaloch. What if this attempt fails? Do you find more mortals and lesser beings to do your work?"
"I have tried to kill it." Navir's voice was stern, but he did not shout.
"You haven't wielded the Kaliga yourself. Are you too valuable to risk your life?"
"No one knows the Menaloch like I do. If I die and the Menaloch survives, whom will you go to then?"
"Seems pointless to me," said Blackthorne. "You haven't killed it in thousands of years so who will notice a difference if you are not here to not kill it for another five thousand years."
"Do not push me, Blackthorne."
"I'm going to bed," said Blackthorne. "You can throttle me in my sleep if that's more to your liking. You don't even have to look in my eyes."
"Enough!" shouted Kerreth. "Blackthorne, go to bed. We need to rest and start early tomorrow. Navir, if you can think of anything else by tomorrow morning I'd appreciate it. Now, for the rest of us, once we reach the valley we will ride hard for Riverdowns. Then we shall see what we shall see."
Chapter 20
The clang of metal on metal rang across the fields and it throbbed in Hal's ears, pulverizing his thoughts, until they merged into his sword. Twang! Crack! He became the blade; no other thoughts penetrated his mind. See, react, see react, hear react; he moved quickly and under control. Again, he wielded his weapon and his blade dented his foes' metal, sometimes finding soft flesh. Blood soaked his tunic and the ground he walked on. He became a creature of reflex. Another parry, then cut, parry, slash, parry, push, stab and twist. The glories of war quickly melted into mindless gore and one only survived; there were no heroes. The stench of the gore numbed the senses. The mind focused on just raising the sword again despite the agony of muscles strained beyond human limits. But the soldiers were human no more. The carrion birds no longer waited on the fringes; they helped themselves as the living moved on to other encounters.
Hal exhaled and raised his battered shield. Two shapes came at him. A sword rang on his shield and he hacked with his sword into the shoulder of his opponent, and then spun away. The second attacker was blocked by the first and Hal charged into them both, pushing them backward. The second attacker lost his footing, falling to the turf. Hal forced the attack and drove the first attacker backward. Hal pounded the man's shield and the man stumbled over his comrade. Hal quickly stabbed downward, taking the first man in the throat. He struck the second with his shield, stopping the man from rising. Then Hal killed him as he had the first attacker. Hal no longer thought about his movements, he just reacted as long as Cane's soldiers attacked.
At one point, Hal became aware that he was fighting alongside Plucker. The huge man bellowed as he swung his sword, his heavy breathing creating a rhythm for Hal to swing his own sword. The tide of fighting flowed around them and Hal drifted here and there, engaging a new foe when his opponent was dispatched. He found himself facing two pike men attacking as one. He quickly slapped his blade against the right side pike, pushing it into the other. Hal danced to the side and swung a weak blow at the pike man closest but it drew little blood. This time they split and came at Hal from opposite sides. He attacked one, blocking the blow and rolled past the pike man to evade the other pike from the rear. He jumped to his feet and rushed inside the reach of the nearest man and ran his blade through him. The other pike caught his shoulder as he tried to remove his sword from the dead man. Hal stumbled backward and the pike man jumped over his dead comrade. Hal brought his sword down on top of the pike, blocking the blow and slide his sword upward and slapped the helmet of the pike man. He cried out and Hal found the opening he needed. The pike man died next to his comrade. Hal checked his shoulder. The wound was not deep. The flow of fighting came his way again.
Hal swung his sword until his shoulder burned and still continued to wield his sword. Cane's soldiers moved forward breaking like waves on the rocks when they met Hal's army. Hal led forward a charge into the main body of Cane's army. The constant clang of metal was deafening and the cries of the wounded and dying rose above the killing ground. When the call for Cane's army to fall back came, Hal slumped over his sword hilt, gasping for breath. He took no serious wounds but dozens of streams of blood ran down his body. Sweat and blood seeped into his eyes. As he relaxed the sting of his wounds crept into his awareness. He watched his enemies' movements. Cane's army rode south quickly. The battle had been evenly matched; there was no reason for such a hasty retreat. He did not understand the tactic, but he was too tired to think on it.
He looked at the battlefield. His captains were regrouping the men but did not give chase. Their discipline held the troops together. Most soldiers appeared to be in good shape. The wounded were picked up by wagon. Later, the wagons would return for the dead. The losses appeared acceptable. He saw scatterings of Cane's men heading south, following the main host.
Plucker trotted to him, his wide chest heaving. The big man's sword was bloody as was his tunic. Plucker grimaced as he stopped.
"Sire, are you well?"
"Yes, Sir John just exhausted. Cane's retreat came at an opportune time. I am not sure how long I would have lasted. I had not practiced with my sword in some time. How are the men?"
"They are regrouping quickly. We did not do too badly. Cane's men spend too much time at the taverns; they do not have the stomach for lengthy com
bat. Most backed off to save their skins."
"John, you're wounded."
"Not deep. I will get it bandaged as soon as you are safely inside the castle. Sire, we lost the Butler boy. He was killed right in front of me. He fought well, but was separated from his comrades. Cane's men came at him from two sides. Took a lot of Cane's men with him."
"He was a good kid. His sister?"
"She's at the castle with the defenders. I'm not looking forward to telling her, but I must."
"It will be hard for her. Ah, John, the old start the wars and the young die in them. Who am I to require their blood?"
"You are the king, and they owe their lives to you."
"Ha! Easy to say, but I will try to remember that," said Hal. "Thanks. You are a good man, John and a loyal one."
Hal looked over the battlefield. From the southwest, a horseman approached, riding hard.
"Look a rider. Edward's colors. He is carrying a parlay flag. Edward must be desperate. Have the Turucks attacked already? Let's hear what he has to say."
"Let him approach!" shouted Plucker.
The rider dismounted and hurried to Hal without looking at the drawn swords around him. Plucker kept his sword at the ready. So did Hal. The rider, armed only with a short sword, knelt and handed a letter to Hal.
"From King Edward to his brother," said the young messenger.
"King Edward?" Plucker stepped forward, but Hal put a hand on Plucker's arm.
Hal opened the letter, read it, and cursed.
"Edward asks for our help. The Turucks have conquered Masina and now march on Riverdowns. That is why Cane quit the field. He's heading to Riverdowns to support Edward."
"Can you trust Edward?" asked Plucker.
"No. But Eslenda is in peril and I cannot abandon Eslenda. The Turucks will wield a heavy hand as conquerors. If Riverdowns falls and we are isolated, it will be just a matter of time until we fail too. Call the captains; we must prepare to march south."
The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) Page 19