Shadows

by Michael Duncan

  It was obvious to Lorik that Braden didn’t want to continue talking about the deladrin, but he had heard enough to convince him that the captain needed to learn about them. Lorik changed the conversation, “So, if I may ask, how old are you?”

  Braden brightened and his tone lifted, “Ah, yes, I am three hundred and fifty two years old! Middle age, by dwarf standards! My father lived to be over five hundred years, as his father before him. I guess I’m cursed to live out my days in this place, for cowardice carries a life sentence. But, enough about my troubles. Tell me about yours… you and your companions are here, and it is rare to find your kind in our realm.”

  Before Lorik began, a burly guard with little patience entered. “It’s time to go. You and you,” he said as he pointed to Lorik and Braden, “get up and go back to your cells.”

  Lorik contained his enthusiasm and his eagerness to tell Aaron the information he’d learned from Braden. He had stumbled upon a piece of news that provided them a direction to search for the book. With a sense of hope, despite their captivity, Lorik began to think they might find the means to escape and regain the Book of Aleth. With renewed confidence he walked back into his cell.

  Aaron and Rayn waited on the pile of straw, passing the time. Lorik entered and the door locked behind him. With a slight smile on his face, Lorik stood over the two men.

  “Captain, I have some interesting news.”

  Aaron and Rayn sat up as they listened to Lorik tell about his encounter with Braden. Aaron’s eyes widened.

  “Lorik, do you think this Braden will be in the square tomorrow?” Aaron was eager to meet the dwarf and hear the story for himself.

  “Sir, I don’t know. Come with me to the square. I suspect he will be there eventually.” Lorik’s eagerness poured out with every word.

  “If what he says is true then all we need to do is concentrate on how to get out of this place. Do you think this dwarf will accompany us as a guide?” Aaron asked.

  “I don’t know. But to leave two hundred years of incarceration might be incentive enough for him to help us.” Lorik replied.

  “Then all we have to do is to wait until the moment comes for us to make our escape. If we have a dwarf working with us, we might be able to find our way out of this mess.” Aaron paced in the cell again with a new, anxious hope as he stroked his beard. “I can feel it,” Aaron said. “Somehow I know…our time is near.”

  Shadows: Book of Aleth Part One

  10

  A Friend Among Enemies

  Aaron lay awake in the cramped cell watching snow fall in a soft, silent dance outside the window. His companions still slept as dawn broke upon the world. Some unknown person rattled a key in the lock and creaked open the door.

  “On your feet, prisoners!” barked a rough, grizzled dwarf. Three stern dwarves stood with the first, axes hoisted on their shoulders. Their beards were braided, adorned with the woven threads that Aaron had come to expect, and they wore brilliant armor, polished to a mirror shine. There was no mistaking these dwarves, Dunstan’s own, private guard. Large helmets of polished steel protected their heads, with the axe and hammer crest imprinted in gold just above the brow. Lorik and Rayn woke with a start,

  Rayn spoke first. “I see our room service has taken a step up! What can we expect for breakfast today?”

  Lorik chuckled at Rayn’s sarcasm.

  But Aaron lightly rebuked the young private for his comment. “Rayn, that is no way address our hosts. So”—he collected his thoughts and spoke with a more serious demeanor to the three dwarf soldiers who waited at the door—“to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”

  “You will accompany us to Lord Dunstan.” The lead dwarf, larger than his companions, spoke.

  “All of us?” Aaron inquired.

  “No, just you,” said the dwarf as he pointed at the captain.

  Aaron was reluctant, but he stood, donned his boots and cloak, brushed off the straw that had collected on his garments, and followed the dwarf soldiers out the door. They walked down the hall, past several other cells, then up the stairs to the main door of the barracks. From behind him, Rayn’s voice echoed through the hall. “But what about breakfast?”

  Aaron shook his head and chuckled at his boisterous private. The guards led him, again, through the crowded, busy streets of the city. It was just after sunrise, and the crisp air was a refreshing change from the cloistered conditions of their musty cell. Snow had fallen upon the city and covered the cobbled streets in a shimmering blanket of clean, white powder. Sunlight streaked across the sky like ribbons tethered to the Shadow Mountains. Aaron breathed deep and enjoyed the sensation of fresh, cold air filling his lungs. With the point of their axes his guards encouraged him to continue toward the castle.

  The city, though it was much as he had seen before, seemed alive with festivities. Young dwarf children piled snow into high walls as others bombarded them with a flurry of snowballs. Petite dwarf women, dressed in fine clothes hurried through the streets with scampering children in tow. Even the buildings, which Aaron still marveled at, were decked out with greater adornments than before. And lights, lights of every kind filled the windows of the shops and homes to displace all shadows in their radiance. Soldiers, dressed in more ordinary attire, strolled through the streets and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the cheerful throng.

  The guards escorted Aaron through the crowds. He felt like an object of curiosity as he stood over a head taller than any of the passers-by. Several of the dwarf children marveled at him as he passed and were barraged by an aerial assault of snow from their not-so-distracted companions.

  As they approached the castle, the massive doors swung open, and Aaron was escorted once again into Dunstan’s hall. This time, however, no other private guards entered and a single chair waited near the throne. Next to the chair sat a table adorned with food and drink. Dunstan waited on the throne, his gruff countenance tempered.

  “Come, sit down Captain.” He motioned for Aaron to take a seat. Dunstan waved off the guards who escorted Aaron into the hall. “You may leave us.” Aaron sat and gazed at Dunstan with a sense of mistrust, uncertain what happened to change the dwarf ruler’s disposition.

  “Captain,” began Dunstan, “our laws state that you and your men are subject to execution.” The reserved tone made it clear that Dunstan was disquieted by such a possibility. Aaron wanted to use the moment to try and persuade him otherwise.

  “Sir,” Aaron returned, “I don’t know your laws, but it is hard to believe that your society, with such beauty and refinement, possesses regulations that condemn men to death without a full examination of the facts.”

  Dunstan paused and breathed a heavy sigh. “I didn’t call you to discuss the logic of our laws; I want to give you another opportunity to tell all that you know and all that you’ve experienced since you first pursued Derrick and the book that he possessed.” Dunstan paused and motioned to the table. “Feel free to eat, Captain. I know that you were brought here before the morning meal.”

  Aaron thanked Dunstan and began to eat some of the food on the plate. The breakfast consisted of several selections of fruit, salted pork, grain bread, and a large decanter of water. A carafe of coffee was also available which Aaron drank with gratitude. He tossed down two glasses of water and enjoyed the rich, sweet fruit. Aaron looked up from his tray and noticed the dwarf lord enjoyed a hearty breakfast as well.

  “Well, Captain, I am glad to see that your appetite hasn’t suffered.” Dunstan set his entire attention on Aaron. “Now, I want you to tell me all that you know.”

  Aaron fixed his eyes upon the dwarf lord, the intensity of his gaze matched by his captor. Like two mighty warriors locked in an effort to break the will of his opponent Aaron would not look away from Dunstan’s stare.

  “I was, as I told you before, following the orders of my emperor,” Aaron said. I was given the assignment to track down a man who posed a threat to the empire and regain the Book of Aleth for the empe
ror. I’m not sure what more it is that you want.”

  “What I want to know is who has the book now? I believe you know and are keeping that secret to yourself!” Dunstan’s tone resonated with authority as he shifted again to that of a gruff, stern ruler. His heavy brows furrowed with frustration as he glared at Aaron.

  “Then, Lord Dunstan, tell me something,” Aaron said. “What is so great about this book? What does it contain?” Aaron spoke with great sincerity.

  “You don’t know?” Dunstan asked, incredulous at the thought.

  “No, I don’t. It seems to me a tremendous waste of time, and I have suffered an appalling loss of men because of a book the emperor needed to just throw in a fire.” Aaron was perturbed and desperate for some answers.

  Dunstan looked Aaron over with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. “Well, Captain, this is a surprise!” He stood and motioned for Aaron to follow him. “Come with me, for it seems I must teach you the severity of what you’ve fallen into. Throw it into the fire. Ha! The fires of Mount Sonna cannot harm that book!” Dunstan circled the dais; Aaron followed close behind.

  The dwarf ruler led Aaron behind the throne and through a door that looked like a seamless stone wall. The secret door opened into a large antechamber filled with exquisite treasures. Mounted on wall brackets, numerous stones glowed with a pale-white radiance and illuminated the room. Bronze and stone statues depicted ancient heroes and lined the walls like a silent army of warriors. Marble pillars supported a high, vaulted ceiling.

  Aaron followed Dunstan to the left where several paintings hung on the wall. Aaron marveled at the stunning artistry. He had no grasp of the value of the treasures in the room but believed that he looked upon priceless works of art depicting magnificent scenes of ages long past. One particular picture caught Aaron’s eye.

  He stopped to gaze at a canvas that illustrated a panoramic view of tree-covered mountains and rich, fertile valleys. The image was dramatic and so realistic that Aaron imagined he looked through a window into a world that possessed unimaginable beauty and tranquility. He felt as if he watched the shimmering ocean crash against the distant shore, while a castle, with tall alabaster spires stood on a remote hillside, golden banners waving in the gentle breeze. The castle looked down upon an expansive harbor with tall-mast ships pushing out to sea. Quaint cottages and a small village garnished the terrain around the castle. The entire scene took Aaron’s breath away. As he stared at the painting, a strange familiarity washed over his thoughts.

  “Ah, yes,” remarked Dunstan. “That particular work was done by one of our greatest artisans.”

  “This scene is familiar to me, but I don’t remember ever seeing such a painting in my life.” Aaron said as he continued to explore the image.

  “You recognize that scene, Captain? It is your capital city more than a thousand years ago.” Dunstan looked upon the panorama.

  “That’s impossible. The capital was built only three centuries ago… this cannot be the same place.” Aaron argued.

  “Captain, look upon the scene. The two rivers flowing into the bay, the hillsides and distant mountains, all the terrain is the same… this is your city before the Fall, before the usurper came. It was a place of wondrous beauty, magical and filled with splendor. One of our master artisans painted this portrait just ten years before the usurper came into the realm and led your people to disown the King.”

  “You’re right, of course…the scene does resemble the landscape around my city, but the artist must have taken liberty to depict it with a generous helping of imagination. Nothing this fantastic has ever existed in Celedon.” Aaron dismissed the painting, but the image stuck in his mind.

  “Young captain, I brought you into this hall to look upon this very picture, the image of what was once a jewel in your realm. You cannot so lightly dismiss this image; it represents how your country used to be. Given the circumstances you’re in, you must have begun to question what you thought you knew. The power of your emperor is in his ability to deceive, and that is what happened to your realm. But his power fails in those who truly want to know the truth. What you’ve always considered true is the cloak of deception forced upon your people by the deceiver.” Dunstan’s voice grew louder as he pressed his words against Aaron’s perception.

  “Perhaps, Lord Dunstan, but if you say this image is over a thousand years old, and that your king has been gone for that long, what is to say that the growth and prosperity of our realm is not the natural course of events. Besides, if this king of yours was so mighty, how did he let someone slip in and turn his entire nation against him? You say he had the power, but of what value is that power if it is unused against an adversary?” Aaron became more vocal as he fought against a growing disquiet in his own thoughts. He didn’t want to accept what the dwarf lord said, yet he had no reason to deny the evidence that stood before him.

  “Captain, to rule with fear is to do no better than your emperor,” Dunstan said. “The King ruled with power but not by force. He possessed the might to rule with unrestrained domination, but he wanted a nation to follow him, not out of terror but out of love. The people were deceived by the usurper and began to believe that they needed to cast off all allegiance to the King. It took several of your generations, but the twisted lies of the usurper finally destroyed the people’s love for the King.”

  “But what about you and your people?” Aaron continued. “If you claim that Therion is so adept at deception, why haven’t you been fooled?”

  “Dwarves are long lived,” Dunstan replied, “so the memory of the King’s glory and his work among my people remained fresh and alive. Elves are the eldest of the races and even now, there must be those who possess firsthand knowledge of the King. Your race however seemed quick to forget. With each successive generation, loyalty dimmed and rebellion increased. Until, finally, the usurper had the strength he needed and the Great War began.”

  As Dunstan spoke, he led Aaron to another painting. The scene displayed a great city, large and immaculate. The surrounding countryside in the picture was small in comparison to the city. Massive towers and walls surrounded one great central tower that stood above all the others. High atop the central tower stood the figure of a man. He held aloft a sword that shone with brilliance, as if streams of light pierced the sky in every direction.

  The picture displayed a massive horde of men and beasts, some Aaron recognized and others he had never seen, advancing against the gates of the city. At the gate, a legion of warriors stood ready to defend the city. He recognized an army of dwarves, and they fought side by side with men, along with another race—elves, he imagined. Leading the defenders was another solitary figure who brandished a weapon of great power. Green light surrounded the figure as he stood his ground against the advancing army.

  Dunstan motioned toward the large painting. “Dwarves and elves sided with the King, along with a great many of your kind. In fact, all those loyal to him took up arms to defend the last stronghold of truth. Our forces were outnumbered, and the King ordered us to abandon the war and flee to the safety of our realms.

  “Alone, the King sacrificed himself for his people. The new emperor divided up the nation like a thief dividing the plunder and gave authority to those who were chief ambassadors to his purpose. Now your nation is fractured and decayed. Your emperor rules by fear, and your governors are his pets.

  “Many of your people vowed to retain the knowledge of the truth and the glory of the King’s realm. But, as the generations of men passed, the truth diminished into history, until it became lost, discarded as myth and legend. The book that you so diligently pursued was the key that had the power to free all of Celedon from the usurper’s control. The man you killed had found the book in the deepest archives of the capital and attempted to bring it here. He knew the Book of Aleth was the hope of restoration. The emperor fears the book more than any other artifact and sent you and your men to kill the man who found it. Now the book is lost again, and the hope of restorati
on is lost with it.”

  Aaron listened to the story with rapt interest. The dwarf who stood before him told it as if he had witnessed every scene, as if he tried to transport Aaron there with his very words and make him see the unfolding of history firsthand. A fire of passion filled the dwarf’s eyes and revealed the ruler’s zeal for all that he spoke.

  Aaron looked upon the leader of the ancient realm. “You say that the Book of Aleth is the key to restoring the nation. Despite all you’ve said and what you’ve shown me, I am hard pressed to believe any of it. Perhaps this book is some mysterious power that causes the emperor to fear. From what you say, if you speak the truth, the Book of Aleth is a grave threat to the empire…and I am sworn to defend the empire. You say that it will bring some type of restoration and an ancient peace will return to Celedon, but all I can see is the potential for chaos.” However, his own words did not calm the inner turmoil as he tried to resolve in his mind all the issues that swirled around him. “Tell me, Lord Dunstan, what’s in this book? Why is it so desperately sought?”

  Dunstan looked up at Aaron, the dwarf lord’s eyes set like stone. “The Book of Aleth was written by the King himself. In it, he poured his power and wisdom. It is the one artifact that can overcome the usurper’s power to deceive. After the Great War, the book was lost and many of my people believed that it was taken by the King’s enemy. Our fears were confirmed when it was discovered in the ancient archives. Word came to us, and we sought out those of your race who remained faithful to the King and had the courage to try and recover it. It was hard to find anyone who still believed the ancient truths. Derrick was one. There are others, but now that the book is lost again, the power to defeat the usurper is lost as well.”