Shadows

by Michael Duncan

  Time vanished in the absolute blackness of the cavern. Aaron remembered the small stone that was carefully contained in his inner pocket. He pulled it out; a faint, iridescent glow streamed from its core and shone a brilliant blue light all around the craft. The two dwarves looked almost lifeless as they leaned against each other. He watched Lorik and Rayn in the stern of the craft, both of them with their head in their hands. Aaron then looked around and marveled at the sight.

  They drifted across a large, deep pool of water, an underground lake that swirled in the constant flow of the river. Outside the sphere of light, the darkness remained. As far as Aaron knew, the water was endless. Their boat drifted in lazy motion. By his dim light, Aaron noticed a large rock wall with a black hole cut into it like some gaping maw.

  Aaron gained Garam’s attention. “What can you see in this darkness?”

  Garam took a deep breath, regained his composure and looked around the cave. “Captain, we are in a large cavern. Water reaches to the walls on every side with just one exit. It is several hundred feet in width, and the ceiling is more than a hundred feet over our heads.” There was a collective gasp from all the members of the party when they heard how far they had fallen.

  “Is there any place to take rest and regroup?” Aaron hoped, but he had already guessed the answer.

  “No, there is no place at all. The water fills this cavern like a basin.” Aaron heard the heaviness in Garam’s voice.

  “Take us to the cliff wall; at least we can stop for a moment before we venture into the watercourse.” Aaron directed them toward the edge of the water and put his hand out to allow their craft to nestle gently against the rock face.

  They began to check their gear, and were relieved when they found their packs had survived. Some water had filled the bottom of the boat, but that was of little concern to Aaron, knowing where they had just come from.

  “Well,” Aaron said, “there’s nothing else but to continue on our journey. We’ve survived thus far, and I will trust to our luck for the remainder of this cruise.” The two men in the stern nodded in agreement while Braden and Garam took control of the oars and rowed their vessel back into the river’s current.

  Once again they found themselves in the main course of the waterway. With steady rhythm, the two dwarves guided the boat with impeccable skill. Aaron used the faint blue light to illuminate their way and found the outlet where the river departed the underground lake. The narrow passage made it difficult for Braden and Garam to use the oars. On more than one occasion they needed to retract them to save them from bashing into the cavern walls. Aaron grew concerned their ship might find itself locked in the waterway, pinched by the narrow channel.

  “You said that others have safely navigated this course?” Aaron asked Garam.

  “It has been said that others have navigated it,” he replied, “but I’ve not known anyone personally who returned from this underground passage.”

  “Now you tell us,” Rayn said.

  For several hours they drifted in the silent darkness. Only the lapping of the water against the boat gave voice to their passage. Then the cavern widened enough for Braden and Garam to put the oars in the water. Aaron held out the stone and watched the moist cavern walls flicker in the reflected light off the water.

  Only the constant flow of water indicated the passage of time. To Aaron the journey became a monotony of motion so he took the opportunity to hunker down in his cloak and listen to the rhythm of the water. Braden and Lorik were on the oars and Garam sat in the stern, wrapped in a cloak and sound asleep. Rayn, weary and nursing his injury, slipped into a fitful drowse as well.

  Aaron listened as Braden and Lorik quietly talked about their experiences. “It was a difficult time,” Braden began as he remembered his life in the Kanton Mountains. “We labored for years to try and excavate the ancient tunnels. It was said that one of the sons of Lord Brekken ventured to retake the Kanton Mountains and was lost in battle.” Braden’s eyes drifted into the vague darkness. “But tell me about you. What was your life like before all of this?”

  “There’s not much to tell,” Lorik commented. “My family lived in the north. We farmed and kept cattle, a modest life that I wanted no part of. So I joined the ranks of the Royal Guard just after my seventeenth birthday and never looked back.”

  The two kept up a quiet conversation for some time as they reminisced and tried to outdo each other’s stories. After several hours, Braden excused himself from the oar and tapped Aaron on the leg. “Captain,” he said, “do you mind if we change places. My eyes will close by themselves if I don’t take a break soon.”

  “Certainly,” Aaron replied and handed Braden the stone. With great care the two exchanged places, anxious to keep from falling in the water or tipping the boat.

  “Well, Captain,” Lorik observed, “I guess it’s up to us to keep moving the right direction.” Lorik’s lighthearted disposition lifted Aaron’s spirits. He sat down next to the sergeant and took the oar in hand. Together with Lorik, Aaron gently stroked the water and kept their small craft in the center of the channel.

  Aaron glanced at Rayn who appeared to sleep in the stern. Garam and Braden also slept as they drifted along the river.

  “Lorik?” Aaron whispered in the dark to his friend.

  “Yes, Captain?”

  “We’ve served together a long time.”

  “More than fifteen years, sir.”

  Aaron hesitated and gripped the oar even tighter.

  “Captain,” Lorik’s voice was soft and patient. “Aaron,” he said, “You don’t need to guard your words with me.”

  Aaron smiled at the friendship he had with the sergeant. He took a deep breath. “I want to let you know that I intend on finding the Book of Aleth, but I won’t be taking it back to the emperor.”

  Lorik grinned. “That doesn’t surprise me, sir.”

  “I’ve seen too much, Lorik,” Aaron said. “I have to know what the truth is and this Book of Aleth might be the key. If I find the book and return it to the emperor, I doubt I will ever get another chance to learn what it has to say.”

  “You do know that it goes against your orders.”

  “I know, but I can’t think of another way to find out the truth. I can’t keep an allegiance to those who have lied to me my entire life.”

  Lorik chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” Aaron asked.

  “It’s nothing,” Lorik said. “It’s just that I never doubted that once we left the dwarf city, that you would want to understand this book for yourself. As long as I’ve known you, your need for the truth has been the driving force in your life.” Lorik took a deep breath. “But I want you to know, Captain; I’m with you to the end of this.”

  Aaron clapped his friend on the shoulder and smiled. “I hoped I could count on you,” he said then turned his attention to the business of steering the boat.

  ****

  Trying to keep the boat steady was fitful duty for Aaron. Minimal light and the swift current made guiding their craft difficult and required intense concentration. He envied the dwarves’ ability to see in the dark cavern. However, even with the limited view, Aaron and Lorik navigated the vessel well enough to maintain control and keep themselves in the center of the river. The water cut through the mountain, twisting like a serpent. He had no idea how far they had come, but Aaron felt certain that escape was near.

  Then the river flowed into another large chamber. The boat slowed to a crawl so that Aaron and Lorik were forced to step up their efforts in order to continue. It was a vast cavity deep in the roots of the mountains. The low ceiling required them to keep their heads down while stalactites reached their massive fingers into the water. Aaron found it difficult to keep the boat on course as the current increased, so he woke both Braden and Garam to take control of the vessel.

  The four switched places, with Aaron, again, at the bow. The two dwarves gripped the oars and steered through the menagerie of rock formations. As
they weaved through the maze of stone obstacles, Aaron held out the light. Scintillating gems imbedded in the rocky fingers reflected like a subterranean star field. He wondered if he didn’t look upon some ancient treasure trove, hidden for ages in the depths of the earth.

  Aaron had lost all track of time. He turned to Garam. “How long have we been on this boat?”

  Garam looked perplexed as he waived off Aaron’s question. “Two days,” he said. “Now just listen for a moment.” All the men were quiet as they strained to hear what Garam listened to. Echoing through the darkness, the whisper of rushing water filtered through the cavern.

  “What’s that?” Rayn asked as he woke.

  “I believe,” said Garam, “that is the sound of our exit.”

  Aaron looked around and hoped to see the light of the sun, but all was darkness before him. “Garam, Braden, can either of you see the exit?”

  The two dwarves looked around. “Captain,” replied Braden, “what I see is a large bowl, and we are floating in it. Ahead of us there is a cave and the current runs rather swift in that direction. The water disappears as if over a breach. I can only guess that it rushes out of this cavern through another tunnel.”

  “Do you think that’s our exit?” Lorik asked.

  Garam looked at the sergeant. “Yes, I believe it is. But I fear that it might be as bad an experience as when we entered.” The wizened dwarf turned to Aaron and inquired, “Ready?”

  “I think that we’re as ready as we’ll ever be. Let’s go.” Aaron held the blue crystal in his hand as he sat in the bow. Lorik and Rayn sat in the stern and held on tight. The two dwarves gripped the oars and turned their craft toward the tunnel. They maneuvered through the rock formations with such skill that not one stalactite threatened them. Then, in a rush, they plunged into the violent flow of the raging waters.

  Aaron watched as the blue-grey walls of stone blurred with the speed of their descent. Swiftly and steadily, their speed increased. He held onto the frame of the boat, desperate not to be cast into the torrent. The dwarves soon gave up on the oars, unable to control their pace. The boat began to shudder in the rapids. Banging from wall to wall, the two oars fractured and ripped violently from their posts. They were now at the mercy of the river.

  Faster and faster the river flowed, pounding against the boat. Their small craft was tossed about like a cork, and the five companions struggled just to remain aboard. Waves exploded beneath them and tossed them in the air. Aaron nearly struck his head on the ceiling. Then, down they went. In a violent shake, Aaron lost the blue stone into the river.

  Darkness engulfed them. Tumbling through the blackness, the men clung to whatever their hands found.

  Aaron watched as a light began to grow. Over the roar of the rapids he heard the thunderous sound of a waterfall. Panic gripped his heart as they rushed toward the light. The exit grew brighter as they neared their final escape. Water splashed around them and filled their boat. Their craft now ran dangerously low in the river. Then sunlight exploded around them.

  In a violent expulsion, the men were cast out of the mountain and sent hurtling through the air. Their screams were drowned by the roar of the river as they crashed into violent rapids below. The boat shattered on impact, and each man clambered for the shore. Waves crashed and pounded over Aaron’s head as he frantically swam toward the eastern bank of the river.

  Lorik was first to reach the land, grabbing the grass and brush against the edge of the water. Garam and Braden washed up on the bank twenty yards down river with Aaron close on their heels. Lorik stumbled to help the dwarves, all of them distressed and worn, yet thankful to be alive.

  Aaron noticed that Rayn desperately struggled against the current. Aaron rushed to the edge of the water and grabbed the young soldier by the shirt, hauling him to the shore. Panting with exhaustion, Aaron leaned over and rested his hands on his knees. At that moment, Rayn stood to his feet, drew his sword and slashed at his Captain, eyes wide with anger.

  Aaron jumped back just in time as the tip of Rayn’s blade sliced the edge of his tunic. “What are you doing?” Aaron demanded as he drew his own weapon from its sheath.

  “You dare to ask me what I’m doing.” Rayn kept his sword pointed at Aaron’s chest. He swung again, and the two weapons rang out as they clanged together. Rayn thrust swiftly at him. “You plan on betraying our emperor and handing this nation over to those vile creatures,” he said and glanced toward Braden and Garam. Again he swung his sword through the air, aimed at the captain’s head.

  Aaron parried and dodged Rayn’s attack. He never took advantage but merely defended himself. “Put your weapon away, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. With his own sword, he spun Rayn’s blade, and it flew from the private’s grasp.

  Steam wafted from Rayn with each breath as if his anger boiled within like a fire. He retrieved his sword from the trampled, compacted snow. “I heard you! In the boat, in those dreadful caverns. I heard you say that you will find that book for yourself. You want to find it and depose Emperor Therion. Maybe you plan on setting yourself up as ruler in Celedon.”

  “Rayn, you’re completely wrong. Look around, see for yourself. All our lives we’ve been taught lies. The things I’ve been shown have hammered against my heart, and now I must know the truth for myself. If this Book of Aleth contains the truth, I want to know it.” Aaron lowered his sword so that the tip of the blade touched the snowy ground.

  Lorik walked up to stand at Aaron’s side, his sword drawn. “What are you doing, Rayn? Put your sword away.”

  Garam and Braden followed after, their axes gripped tightly in their hands.

  “Think about it, Rayn,” Aaron said. “We were taught that the ancient peoples of the past were only myth and legend. But even you must see that was a lie.” He pointed toward Garam and Braden who stood behind Lorik. “The proof stands right here!”

  “What I see,” Rayn said, “is that you are nothing more than a traitor and now you and Lorik stand with these dwarves and against the emperor.” He lowered his sword a fraction as his shoulders slumped. “I should have left you when I had the chance. I should have gone to the emperor and reported your failure.” A new resolve set into the young man’s eyes as his gaze narrowed upon Aaron. “You won’t stop me now. I will go to the capital and tell him of your rebellion.”

  “Don’t be a fool,” Aaron pleaded. “You won’t even make it as far as North Village. You need to trust me.”

  A sly, cruel smile crossed Rayn’s lips. “Trust you? That will never happen again. But I promise you this: once more our swords will cross and in the name of the emperor, I will strike you down.” Rayn sheathed his blade and turned south, away from the four companions. He entered the woods and disappeared into the foliage.

  Aaron returned his sword to its scabbard, shook his head, and moved to follow the young man when a hand gripped his arm.

  “No, Captain,” Lorik said. “He won’t come back with you.”

  “But he’ll die out here,” Aaron said as he looked at Lorik.

  Lorik clasped Aaron on the shoulder. “He has made his choice and so have we.”

  Both men turned around to see Garam and Braden. The two dwarves looked at Aaron with questioning glances under their heavy brows.

  “What are your plans now, Captain?” Braden asked.

  Aaron walked past them without looking back, a resolution in his stride. “Let’s go find the book.”

  COMING 2012

  REVELATION: BOOK OF ALETH PART TWO

  Evil Reigns in Celedon...

  No longer a captain in the Royal Guard, Aaron now commands a ragtag band on a mission foretold by ancient prophecy, a mission that must not fail.

  But Emperor Therion knows of Aaron’s desertion, and each step of their quest is fraught with danger and betrayal. From the dark and deadly tunnels of the Shattered Hills to the lofty heights of Kanton’s ancient towers, the four band together to restore hope and a future. And as their missio
n hangs in the balance...a new Protector rises.

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