Proud of his delivery, Shiver enjoyed the look on both men’s faces as he watched his mother stop behind the commander. He could see the pride in her expression as Darosen questioned, “My King, with respect, the wilderness is no place for a boy. Perhaps it’s best for you to stay behind and govern the city.”
“Agreed,” Shamand added. The advisor turned his head in Shiver’s direction. “We have much work to do, Your Grace. You have many lessons to master before you can become the king your father wanted you to be.”
Before Shiver could argue, Blandina placed her hand on the commander’s shoulder and spoke in rebuttal. “Lord Shamand, the clans have not had a king for many seasons. A few Peaks in the wilderness will not cause this kingdom distress. It would do Shiver well to know the lands under his rule.” She placed her hand on the commander’s left elbow and squeezed. “I shall also accompany you, Darosen.”
Any relief Shiver should have felt because of his mother’s defense was overshadowed by Shamand’s reaction as the boy watched his advisor clench his teeth. Shamand walked down the remaining steps and stopped where the scent of Blandina’s perfume emanated. He scoffed, “Woman, you don’t decide what’s good for this kingdom. Mind your place.”
Blandina rolled her eyes as she reached out and patted Shamand on the chest. She leaned in and allowed her weight to rest against him. Shamand could feel the sting of her words and the chill of her breath on his face as she hissed. “Blind men are in no position to object to a king’s orders.”
With two fingers, one on each of Shamand’s pecs, Blandina pushed clear. She then brushed past the advisor and ascended the steps to the throne. Sitting on Shiver’s chair, she pulled the boy onto her lap. “Do you wish for adventure, my son? If so, you have only to voice your desire. You have the power to do that which other boys cannot. Command Shamand to show you your kingdom. See for yourself what he cannot.” She gave Shiver a squeeze, kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear. “Do it now, my son.”
Before Shiver could do as his mother instructed, Shamand stormed up the steps. He reached forward, “Take my hand, boy!” After Shiver did as he was told, Shamand pulled the king down to the step below him and then grabbed the child by his left ear. After dragging Shiver to the lower level of the throne room, Shamand turned his head in Blandina’s direction. “Shiver won’t be leaving the city! Take your accursed tongue, and see that it finds some other soul to torment!”
Before another word could be uttered, Shamand felt around and placed his hand on the commander’s shoulder. “Take us away from here, Commander … perhaps to the stables. I’d imagine they have a better stench at the moment.”
As the commander led Shamand and Shiver out of the room, Darosen turned his head in Blandina’s direction. With his free hand, he lifted his palm as if to say, “What would you have me do?”
As the throne room door slammed shut, the ice it was made of cracked. Blandina sat back on the throne, threw her legs over the right armrest and chuckled.
The Harugen Understables
Early Bailem, the Next Peak
“Everyone to the surface!” the Frigid Commander shouted from atop his harugen. “I shall assign each group a territory once there! If you haven’t said your morning prayers to Helmep, do so before we disburse.”
Fifty-five harugen-mammoths, with seven men on each, skittered up and out of the understables, leaving the commander and his mount behind. The ice of the hole leading to the surface crumbled beneath the weight of 5,500 legs as the beasts used their sharp ends to assure a quick ascent. In awe of the repairs the stable hands would need to make to the tunnel, the commander watched as the last chunk of ice slid back into the understables and stopped at the front legs of his harugen.
After dismissing the stable hands, Darosen dismounted and walked into an empty stable. He looked toward the back wall and whistled. A moment later, Blandina stepped from behind a large watering trough.
“My moments will not be the same during your absence,” Blandina said as she walked toward the commander and placed her arms around his waist. After a passionate kiss, she continued, “It won’t be long before you and our son will venture into the wilderness. Soon, you’ll be able to teach him to be a man. Shiver needs the company of his father.”
The commander frowned. “How can I create such a relationship when Shamand commands the boy’s attention?”
Blandina placed her hands on each of the commander’s cheeks. “Do not fret, my love. Everything is as it should be. Soon, the Tormal will rule Hydroth, and you shall have the freedom to become a proud father.”
The commander pulled Blandina’s hands from his cheeks and pinned them between his own. “What of Shamand? He’s a mighty warrior, despite his affliction. I worry for your safety.”
Blandina removed her hands and reached inside a small pouch that had been tied about her waist under a thin, lacy, pink shawl. She produced a small, silver pin that had been cast in the form of a beetle and secured it to the commander’s cape. “This trinket shall animate and return to the city when the moment comes to call for Shamand. All you must do is speak Shamand’s name and lower the beetle to the ice. After the fool leaves Hydroth, see that Shamand makes his way into the southernmost entrance of the Caves of Carne. I shall do the rest.”
“What of Shiver? Shamand will bring the boy with him.”
“Worry not, for at that moment, Shiver won’t be of good health and will need to rest. Shamand shall be forced to journey without him.”
“And you’ll follow?”
“No. I’ll depart before Shamand.”
“Again, what of your safety? Perhaps my blade should be the one to take Shamand’s life’s source, though I don’t see how I can ignore my bond with him. He has been like a father to me.”
With a seductive smile, Blandina responded. “You needn’t worry. I wouldn’t ask that of you, nor is the betrayal of your friendship necessary.” She took the commander’s right hand and kissed the top of it. “You must go.”
After a long embrace, the commander ran toward his harugen. He mounted the beast with ease, grabbed its reins and commanded the mammoth-centipede to skitter up and out of the understables.
60 Peaks of Bailem have Passed
Medolas and Clandestiny are
10 Peaks North of the Pass of Nayala
This was Medolas and Clandestiny’s first journey into the Mountains of Tedfer. Tired, and with sore muscles, compliments of the harsh terrain, Clandestiny lowered to her back on a snow covered rock. This flat boulder was at the top of a mound that had piled with others during a recent landslide. The slide happened only Peaks earlier, leaving the mound sitting atop the edge of a cliff, and the boulders that failed to stop, plummeted to a crumbling end.
Clandestiny covered herself with her colorful blanket and allowed the snow beneath her to act as her cushion. The snow conformed to her curves as she reached back to fluff her pillow. Once satisfied, she rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, leaving Medolas standing on the rock next to her with his mouth open.
Medolas’ milky-gray stare tightened. Turning away, he bit his lip and looked toward the horizon. After a moment, he began to trace the peak of each mountain in the distance with his eyes while a frown pursed his lips. Shaking his head, he turned back to Clanny and thought, How dare she sleep.
Medolas squatted next to Clanny, took a deep breath and then pushed her off the rock. He enjoyed her squeal and smirked as she landed with a thud on the boulder below.
Clandestiny jumped to her feet. Once she understood what happened, her eyes spoke for her as they looked up and burned into Medolas’. “What in Helmep’s name?” she barked as she threw her hands up in disgust. Grabbing a handful of snow off the stone she had been pushed from, Clanny pitched the packed wad at Medolas.
“Whaaaat?” Medolas said as he swatted the snowball aside.
Clanny pulled herself back onto the rock and stopped only a hand in front of Medolas’ face. “Have you lost your ability to empl
oy clear thought?” She slapped his chest. “I could’ve been wounded. Must you attack me to win conversation?”
Medolas kicked Clanny’s blanket down onto the stone where she had fallen. Then he reached for the pillow. After fighting her for it, he pulled it free and tossed the pillow down the ledge. Both children could only watch as the cushion caught on a branch that protruded from the ledge and ripped. The magic filling the pillow poured out of the opening, and as a result, the softness the magic offered to the cushion vanished. All that was left was a pillow-shaped mass of ice that fell to the base of the cliff and burst into hundreds of pieces.
Clanny slapped Medolas’ arm. “Look at what you’ve done. Now our heads will suffer. You’ve gone nordel.”
“Nordel? Our heads? Only your head has enjoyed the comfort!” Medolas hollered. “You’ve ignored me for more Peaks than I can remember!”
“Did you expect any less?” Clanny snapped back.
Medolas crossed his arms in defiance. “I’ve done nothing wrong! If you want me to leave you to your own accord, then say so. I can suffer in silence without you, and you can find the Ko-dess on your own.”
Clanny sat on the rock and let her legs hang over its edge before she responded. “Don’t feign to misunderstand my anger. You know my mind, Meddy.”
“Your mind?” Medolas rebuffed. “How could any sane Isorian understand?”
With that, Clandestiny jumped to the rock below and grabbed her blanket. “If I have become tedious, I will continue on my own.”
“You wouldn’t last.”
“I can handle my own affairs!” Clanny defended. She jumped down onto the next rock and then hopped forward across a small gap before she jumped down to another stone.
Medolas scoffed.
“Do you doubt me, Medolas?”
“I doubt nothing. Go ahead. Leave if you want.”
With that, Clandestiny leapt from the final stone onto the ledge. She dropped her blanket to the ground, grabbed a handful of snow, balled it up tight and chucked it at Medolas.
Again, Medolas swatted the snowball away. “What angers you?”
“If you must know … Sajeen is the cause of my distemper.”
Medolas’ face showed his confusion. “Still? On how many occasions must we discuss this? Sajeen saved our life’s sources. Why does this loss continue to make me suffer your malice?”
Clandestiny shook her head. “Men!” She turned and began to walk up the ledge toward the top of the mountain.
Without hesitation, Medolas hopped from rock to rock and then ran to catch up. He grabbed Clanny by the back of the arm. “Stop! You do realize that you’re angry with me for saving us, don’t you? You must realize that the sudwal was an acceptable loss.”
“Sajeen was my friend, Meddy!” Tears began to flow down Clanny’s cheeks, causing her skin to discolor.
Medolas took a step back and thought for a short series of moments. He knew there was no way to soften the pain. Instead of trying to fix it, he pulled Clanny close. “I’m sorry,” was all he said.
Clandestiny would cry on his shoulder for a long series of moments before she finally accepted the loss of her pet. Since they were not far from the summit, Medolas led Clandestiny to the far side of the mountain before they lowered to the ground and fell asleep cuddled beneath Clanny’s blanket.
Meanwhile, the Southernmost Entrance
Into The Caves of Carne
Now, fellow soul … in case you don’t remember, the Caves of Carne acted as a safe haven for the Tormal during the Great Freeze. When the Tormalians abandoned the caves to return to their city, they left behind a great deal of history in the process. Culinary vessels, weaponry, books, and various hieroglyphics were scattered throughout thousands of rooms that existed off the main veins of the caves. The southernmost entrance was called Feéjeseéde—a name given by the Tormalian Council. The symbols were chiseled into the stone above the entrance, and their meaning was hidden from the Isor.
The Isorian Frigid Commander, Darosen, the Isorian army’s second in command, Shefrome, and three of Darosen’s Orland Lieutenants, Severen, Ograss, and Polomayne, had gathered around a seal’s carcass just outside the mouth of the cave’s southernmost entrance.
With his dagger, the Frigid Commander cut out the seal’s lungs, sliced them into chunks and then tossed each of his men a piece. “My mind is tortured,” the commander said with a half-chewed mouthful.
Shefrome, a strong, long-haired warrior with dreads, was the one to respond. “Tell us of your anguish.”
After swallowing another mouthful, the commander buried his dagger into the side of the seal. “Shamand will be here tomorrow.”
Shefrome’s head tilted to one side. “Why would Shamand’s presence cause you anguish?”
Darosen stood and walked to the opening of the cave. He peered inside to ensure hidden ears were not listening in on their conversation. “The king’s mother waits inside. I have been commanded to bring Shamand to her upon his arrival. She intends to deliver an end to the Great One’s life’s source.”
The men were speechless. After a long series of moments, Severen, a short, muscular male with a braided beard, leaned forward toward the seal and grabbed the knife. After cutting a fresh piece, he leaned back. “We cannot allow this. Shamand has become like a father to us all.”
Darosen nodded. “I agree, but the king has ordered his demise.”
“Why?” Severen questioned. “Shamand is the best advisor Shiver could have.”
The Frigid Commander shrugged. “The king wants what his mother wants. Her influence over the boy is growing, and once Shamand passes, there won’t be any stopping her.”
“Are we going to try to stop this?” Ograss, a plain looking warrior with short hair, interjected.
“No,” Shefrome responded. “It’s not our place.”
Darosen cut in. “The boy doesn’t understand the consequences of his ruling … yet I can see no recourse. Despite my affections for Shamand, I must do as our sovereign commands.”
Another long series of moments passed before Shefrome stood and moved next to Darosen. He placed his hand on the Frigid Commander’s shoulder. “Your commission was given to you because of your loyalty to the Isor. There will be many moments in which you must choose to do something against your conscience.”
“We always have a choice,” Darosen replied. “How can I be expected to follow an order that demands I be a part of ending a great man?” The Frigid Commander redirected his gave and stopped on Severen. “Like you said … Shamand has become like a father to us.”
Shefrome placed a hand on the Frigid Commander’s shoulder. “A life of service is no easy task. If the king has ordered Shamand’s demise, then it’s our duty to ensure the Great One is delivered into the trap that awaits him.”
Shefrome removed his hand and looked toward the others. “Shamand, himself, would expect us to obey our king. He would hold no ill will toward us. I would further say that he would be angry with us for not obeying.”
The Frigid Commander patted Shefrome on the arm and then took a seat on one of four blocks of ice that had been placed around the seal’s carcass. Darosen reached out and grabbed a pouch filled with ale that he had tucked next to his block and poured each man a goblet full. He then lifted his goblet skyward and proclaimed, “To king and clans.”
The men lifted theirs in kind. “To king and clans.”
The Caves of Carne
The Peak of Bailem, the Next Peak
Doejess pulled back on the reins to stop Shamand’s harugen next to where three other harugens had been tethered.
Upon seeing their visitors, the Frigid Commander exited the cave, walked around what was left of the seal’s carcass and strode another 50 paces across the ice to greet them. Seeing the souls who straddled the harugen’s back, the expression on Darosen’s face did not show his surprise as he waved for Doejess to toss him the harugen’s reins. Once tethered, Darosen bowed. “Your arrival pleases me.”
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Shamand looked toward the ground in the general direction of Darosen’s voice. “Good Peak, Commander.”
Darosen looked past the advisor toward Shiver who sat on the saddle behind Shamand two segments back. “My King, I was told you were ill. Your presence is unexpected. I assumed that you would’ve remained in the city.”
Shamand responded before Shiver had the chance. “The boy fairs well, Commander … without gratitude to his mother, of course.” Shamand reached forward and grabbed three bags that had been secured to the harugen’s saddle in front of him. He tossed them toward the commander without waiting for Doejess to complete the task. “Catch!”
Shamand then reached into a small pouch that was attached to his belt. He retrieved the pin that Blandina gave to Darosen before the commander left Hydroth. “I came as soon as I received your summons, Commander.”
The advisor tossed the silver beetle to the ice. The pin animated and scurried toward Darosen before it solidified at his feet. The commander picked the beetle up off the ice and pinned it to his cape while Shamand dismounted.
Shamand’s tone sounded irritated when next he spoke. “Blandina has been missing for over 20 Peaks now. When the boy’s mother could not be located, I was forced to drag the boy with me. I tended to his fever during the first 2 Peaks of our journey.”
Darosen lifted his arms and motioned for Shiver to jump. The boy-king brought his right leg over the saddle and pushed clear of the top of the harugen’s back. The commander caught Shiver and then lowered him to the ground. As soon as Shiver had his balance, the commander dropped to one knee. “My King … how may I be of service?”
Again, Shamand spoke before Shiver had the chance. “Grab our bags and take them inside the cave, boy.”
“I can do that for him,” Darosen objected.
“Nonsense,” Shamand rebutted. “What good is a king if he isn’t strong enough to carry bags.” Before the commander had the chance to argue, Shamand redirected the conversation. “Doejess, mount an orb to one of the walls inside the cave, and see to it the king begins his studies.” Again, Shamand redirected the conversation. “Shiver, tonight, you’ll read the story of Klidess the Mighty and recount the tale to me when you’re finished.”
The Tear of Gramal Page 8