by M A Bernier
Once enough souls were collected the first ritual opening the gate for the elemental demons would be begin. The demons will emerge to this world however their true power would remain hindered until the one descendant bearing the full mark was sacrificed. Only Jyn-Taa could perform the rituals, so he knew that they needed him alive until the last possible moment.
Koth hated Jyn-Taa, he hated him because of the body he had chosen for him and because he was nothing more than a messenger without any real power. He hated being forced to inhabit a mortal body instead of being free to roam the shadows as in incorporeal creature. The power to spy on Jyn-Taa and report any betrayal to the demons Koth served was not enough. “I will kill him slowly.” Koth muttered to himself. The opportunity his master promised him kept him from losing all patience, at the right time he would kill Jyn-Taa. Koth planned and plotted the slow death and torture of Jyn-Taa’s false body and then his soul.
The transition within the body he inhabited had been difficult. In the beginning he could barely walk and all he did was drool profusely. He had taken advantage of others assuming he was a brainless messenger and listened carefully as he apparently walked the halls of the temple aimlessly. Every time Jyn-Taa looked or spoke to him Koth grew enraged, he planned carefully to make sure those chosen to be the vessels of the Horde would ultimately give their allegiance to Koth. It did not take him long to find those who hated Jyn-Taa and would only serve him until the opportunity came when they could dispose of him.
When Vuuaan first looked upon Jyn-Taa he knew him for what he was. Vuuaan wanted complete freedom however, that was not likely with the one who released him. There was one thing he could offer that the demons Jyn-Taa served could not. Vuuaan’s mother imparted upon him a special gift, the ability to pass on a limited portion of his power and immortality. Vuuaan could control what he gave, it was her gift to him so that he could raise an army of followers. He had intended to raise countless followers for his mother so that she could rule with him. His father, the Demon Katanz, had been furiously jealous of Vuuaan’s affection for his mother. In his rage Katanz fashioned a wooden knife from the Tree of Death and impaled Vuuaan’s heart imprisoning him within a tomb never to be free again. He had not demanded or even asked for the knife which Jyn-Taa hid within his robes. Vuuaan was patient and the time would come when he was stronger and he would take the one weapon that threatened his freedom. As he left his former prison, he passed by a mortal standing partially hunched over in the central chamber of his father's temple. He was going to consume the creature’s essence until he sensed the shadow messenger within the body of the cleric. It was an insignificant creature and it served those who would be no threat to him. In the creature’s mind he saw it’s intent to kill Jyn-Taa, Vuuaan would be there for that event and take the knife from Jyn-Taa’s body. Jyn-Taa could not lie to Vuuaan, nor could Vuuaan lie to him, it was evident as they began to speak with one another, each realized this immediately. Vuuaan and Jyn-Taa made no pretense or attempt speaking with lies. An unspoken understanding passed between them. In time they would face each other in combat provided both were alive and free. Vuuaan did not care about Jyn-Taa’s immediate goals whatever they may be. Once free he would take as long as needed to obtain his secondary goals. He could travel to other continents and distant worlds to raise his followers. He could not sense the presence of either his mother or father. He knew the moment he was freed his father was not within this realm or he would never have remained free for more than a few moments, this pleased him greatly. His mother may not be present but he knew she was still alive, if her essence had been dispersed by the other demons or gods he would have known. His father most likely had struck out in anger at the witch goddess and she was now in hiding leaving Katanz to roam the universe and others in search of her.
Koth entered the central chamber followed by one hundred clerics and witches. He watched as Jyn-Taa rose with deliberate slowness from where he sat. As he walked the length of the table he gave the appearance of someone evaluating those before him and, his expression was one of arrogant superiority. He continued his intense scrutiny of the clerics and witches for several moments even after Koth moved to stand beside him.
“They will do.” Jyn-Taa spoke without approval or disapproval in his voice as he turned and walked within the center of the four columns. Within the center of the pillars he raised his arms high above his shoulders. From within he summoned the powers given to him by Wind and Shadow.
Odien watched as the first shadows formed around Jyn-Taa. The chamber’s silence was broken by the sound of invisible winds whipping around Jyn-Taa. More shadows formed and seemed to join the wind in its chaotic pattern as it whipped about Jyn-Taa almost ripping his robes from him. Jyn-Taa’s hands lowered until they were pointing at the group of clerics and witches. Odien watched as they tried to set themselves firm against whatever was going to happen to them. Without warning the shadows sped like lighting into the waiting group of clerics and witches. The wind threatened to knock them down onto the desert ground. Their stances became even more precarious as their physical bodies reflected the struggle within as the shadows plunged into each one of them. Within moments the struggle ceased and the transformation began. Their skin, hair and eyes turned black as midnight. The size and build changed, instead of old, fat and hunched they now stood over six feet tall. Once the transformation was complete, the wind ceased. Odien could still discern the clerics from the witches, the clerics retained the masculine tones, the witches the feminine ones, but that was the only difference. Jyn-Taa lowered his hands and approached the Horde.
“Your task is to poison the lands, to distract those who would oppose us while the walkers and gatherers find the descendants of Eriflen.” The Horde looked at their hands, they felt the power of the poison within them, and they suddenly felt the need to cause decay and take life from the living lands. “Start with the Equator Islands and the Northern Continent.” Jyn-Taa pointed to two of the Horde. “You will start with the evergreen continent. Be swift in your attack, do not stay long or linger in any one place. Touch the land, make it barren, poison it, devour its living essence.” The Horde waited only moments, then all at once they sank into the chamber floor out of sight.
“Bring the creatures created by Vuuaan they will be vessels for the Shadow Masters.” Koth ordered as he turned to Jyn-Taa. “Perhaps the Elemental Demons will forgive your foolish act of releasing him by taking his offspring chained in the cavern.” Jyn-Taa put on a false expression of anger. Koth’s demand to use them would only benefit his plans. Apparently the elemental demons knew very little about Vuuaan and his powers and this pleased Jyn-Taa a great deal. The Shadow Masters would control the undead creatures below, until Vuuaan decided otherwise. Jyn-Taa knew Vuuaan’s power would be the greater when exerted, and for the immediate future a precarious alliance existed between himself and Vuuaan. The desire to feed upon the souls of the living would still be present and the shadow masters may still give into that desire. If Vuuaan can extract that energy it would strengthen him as well as Jyn-Taa. Vuuaan was very powerful, but still weak from his nearly eternal imprisonment. He needed to feed so that his full strength would soon return.
Jyn-Taa and Odien walked to the ledge overlooking the clerics and witches below that had been consumed by Vuuaan. All ten stood snarling with hunger as they fought against the chains that held them in place. Jyn-Taa summoned chains to wrap tightly around each of them.
Jyn-Taa stood, again, within the center of the four pillars and performed a similar ritual as before. Unlike the other rituals, the power he felt through his body was much different. The gateway he opened allowed the demons to channel their servants through it and Jyn-Taa. Each time he opened the gate he felt the cold essence of those passing through him. When the Shadow Masters passed through it felt like the sum of all those who passed through him before only ten-fold. Ten Shadow Masters would not present a threat to him a hundred perhaps, but not ten. Vuuann’s soulless offspring formed
much like the other shadow creatures, except with large black wings and a more demon-like body and face. Koth appeared too small and frail as he faced them.
“Soon you will be needed. Until that time, learn through eyes of your brethren whom we send out before you. Go to the cavern and wait until you are called.” The former worshippers of Katanz silently left the chamber and Koth turned to Jyn-Taa. “Not all in this temple fear you Jyn-taa.” Koth turned the left the central chamber while speaking sharply as he did. “This must be dealt with!”
CHAPTER FOUR
Reflections and Revelations
The marker that Alys and Jaymee appeared in, as the magical gateway subsided, was like any other, except its hue of light was green due to the abundance of moisture from the swamp. The marker resided on a small hump of land just large enough for no more than ten people to stand on. Similar humps, connected by very narrow paths, dotted the swampy area as far as the eye could see.
The inhabitants lived in log-built homes, connected to the large trunks of the trees, ten to twenty feet above the swamp level. Despite the humidity they could see in the distance areas where sparse trees allowed the sun to shine on the marshy ground. One sunny area looked large enough to hold at least twenty people more than the ten adults present. Jaymee tapped his mother's arm and she looked in the direction he faced. Two mages, Carolin and Jaun, were walking towards them down on of the few solid paths from the suspended village. Alys and Jaymee waited where they had arrived. They did not know the area well enough to walk safely without an escort. At 170 years Carolin and Jaan were both middle-aged however, they appeared young for their age. Both were friendly and outgoing however Carolin was the more vibrant and social of the two while Jaan tended to be the quiet one.
Carolin immediately hugged Alys and Jaymee. She too had to look up to Jaymee. “My, you have sprouted like a tree, young man.” Her voice was soft and smooth. Jaan was friendly, but a bit less open with his feelings than Carolin. He nodded to Alys and shook Jaymee’s hand. Carolin turned back to Alys, her face remained jovial, but Alys could see the tension behind it. “Come on you two, I made something for breakfast.” Alys and Jaymee followed Carolin and Jaan.
The four walked for several minutes along the narrow path bordered by the swamp. There were several offshoots from the main path leading to other areas. Alys and Jaymee knew some of those paths were not safe to walk on. Many were nothing more than water grass appearing to be solid ground. Jaymee immediately noticed the lack of insects. He expected to be bitten continuously. Jaan must have seen him looking around when he commented about their need to use their powers to keep the bugs from overwhelming everyone in the swamp.
The path wound about several trees before ending in a much larger clearing made up of very firm ground sparsely populated with small huts. Behind several of the huts rope bridges, or steps spiraling around the trees, led to the rest of the tree-top village. Alys and Jaymee exchanged casual nods at the expectant faces of the villagers around them. He could see the hopeful looks on their faces. Although Carolin and Jaan were accomplished mages, Jaymee’s adoptive parents Alys and Eryyn, especially Eryyn, had gone further beyond any other mages. Jaymee was also much more skilled than most, partly because of the additional training he regularly received from both Alys and Eryyn.
Jaymee had suggested more villages could be visited if he visited them on his own. Since the war with Lysithia forces, Eryyn and Alys had never suggested he needed supervision. In many cases he had been sent to solve minor disputes between various villages or cities. At the last meeting, Eryyn asked Jaymee to stay with his mother, although Eryyn could not specifically state why he felt it was necessary. Jaymee could only surmise the DragonStone, also known to the mages as the Destiny Stone, could be influencing his decision. If the fabled stone they had seen was influencing his father Jaymee knew better than to question it.
He and Alys were led to the nearest hut on the left. Once in, they sat down and were fed with an abundance of delicacies while Jaan and Carolin related recent events.
“We have found nothing,” said Carolin. “Two have disappeared in the past month. A little boy and a mother.”
“In the past, accidents have occurred here,” said Jaan. “A child getting lost, hurt, or in the worst case the victim of a predator.”
“Despite those events,” replied Carolin, “we have always been able to find evidence of what happened.” She paused while she absentmindedly placed bacon on Jaymee’s plate. Normally he and Alys never ate much for breakfast, however, Carolin was an excellent cook and they enjoyed the pleasant look on her face as they ate heartily. “Jaan and I have done everything we could think of, tried everything we knew with and without magic.” Carolyn spoke with sadness in her voice. “The boy and the mother disappeared at different times. Both of them at night and without a trace.
“Can you take us to both homes?” Alys placed her hand on Carolin’s to console her. She understood how it felt to have no control over loosing someone. Jaan offered to clean up while Carolin led Alys and Jaymee to each home. Alys only needed something familiar to the person in order to locate them even if they were no longer living, although the latter was much more difficult. After spending several hours in quiet seclusion, in the lost person’s room, she sensed nothing from either location. Jaymee had excused himself to go back to look at the home where the little boy disappeared from to make sure nothing was missed. Something had not seemed right at the previous location. Could not say what it was so he went back the first location of the disappearance. It was near then end of the day when he returned to Alys, Carolin and Jaan.
“Could you three look at something for me?” Jaymee asked them to walk to the back of the home with him. The young man of the house was tending to the gardening probably trying to keep his mind off his lost wife. The young man’s two-year-old daughter stood next to him carefully plucking at weeds. The young man and his daughter stopped what they were doing to watch them.
“Have you found something?” Carolin asked.
“I’m not sure, follow me.” He walked approximately twenty feet from the back of the house and turned left then walked a few feet between and knelt down within the tomato plants. “Look at this plant and then look at the others nearby.” The others looked closer however the plants appeared to have just a few more brown spots of decay than the rest.
“Not all plants are the same. A bad plant is not unusual to find,” replied Jaan. Jaymee stood and stepped to one side.
“I saw something similar in the garden at the other house, but I want you to lean down behind this plant, then look toward the back entrance.” Jaymee stood so he could see their faces. The owner of the house set down his rake and brought his daughter over and looked. At first their faces remained unchanged, and then one by one he could see they found what he found. A direct line of slightly off colored plants led to the back of the house.
“What does it mean?” The young father asked.
“I wish we knew.” Replied Alys, she felt a tug on her robe and looked down at the little girl, her eyes full of hope.
“Will you find mommy?” Alys leaned down and took the girl’s hands in her own.
“We will do everything we can.” The little girl seemed preoccupied with her own hands. “Are you OK?”
“Yeah, maybe her lucky birthmark will lead you to her?” Alys looked the girl’s father as she stood.
“It’s a small mark on her right hand, a small, brown semi-circle about the size of a small pebble. She used to tell Serana she found her because her lucky birthmark led me to her.”
“Daddy?” The little girl tugged at his tunic. “Do you think Sephee’s birthmark is lucky too?”
“Maybe honey.” He picked her up and looked at Alys and the others. “Sephee, the young boy who disappeared, has a small L shaped birthmark on the bottom of his foot.” The young man took his daughter back to where he was gardening. Alys and the others took a second look at the young boy’s residence and saw a similar e
ffect on the vegetation. Alys took samples of the vegetation from both gardens and placed them in individual vials given to her by a villager. Once alone, she could devote all of her senses to search for what may have caused the decay on the plants. EverGreen would be interested in this assuming he had not yet discovered what they did. Night was falling quickly, so Alys and Jaymee used their staffs to communicate their findings to the others. EverGreen had indeed sensed the effect at the first village and was preparing to inform Eryyn and the others. Alys related the birthmark information but Eryyn and the others could see no obvious connection. Alys, before leaving, showed the local mages what to look for. If the same effects on the plant life are found at each disappearance it would indicate a pattern.
In the southeastern city of Dun’ai Ardant received the information from Alys through one of the local mages. In the past few months five people had mysteriously disappeared without any trace. Dun’ai’s central commerce and living area was at least one mile in diameter. One quarter of the city consisted of fields of various flowers and multicolored shrubs. Beyond the main city, the next several miles consisted of smaller versions of the main city. After consulting once more with family members, the birthmark appeared to be a consistent feature. A second view of the areas also confirmed the discoloring of vegetation. Returning to the shuttle Ardant drew a small description of each birthmark and logged it into his computer system for upload to the orbiting colony information center. He was about to upload the information when his communication console started beeping with an incoming message. Ardant pressed the blinking yellow button, and the face of a nervous young man appeared.
“Ambassador, your needed back here right away.”
“What is wrong Lieutenant?” Ardant did not know this individual except for a brief introduction when he assumed the communication post on the main colony ship a few weeks earlier. His first impression was of a capable young man and not the nervous type he saw now.