by M A Bernier
“Getting a little soft as an ambassador?” Eryyn replied in jest, Ardant started to walk.
“Father, I think I can help.” Jaymee had taken a few steps and stopped and turned as he spoke. “Syl, may we ride?” She nodded.
“I believe I understand what you are going to do.” She replied as she lowered her body and neck for the others to climb on to. “This walkway is too small for me to spread my wings to their full extent, but I will do my best to steady our ascent.” Ardant was the last to climb on. He made sure he had a tight grip on Syl’s mane. Syl turned her head and looked at him.
“Comfortable?” He could have sworn there was a bit of a mocking in her voice. He had never quite gotten over his first experience with dragons when her errant son tried to make a joke stating that Ardant did not look good enough to eat. Syl of course had promptly scolded her son, but Ardant began to suspect he got a bit of his defiance from his mother. Syl almost always remained the perfect representation of politeness but rare moments like these betrayed a hint of rogue-like behavior in the daughter of the king of dragons. She swung her head back forward. Jaymee had placed himself at the head of the group on Syl’s neck. When she had turned and made her comment Ardant was sure Jaymee smiled, but tried to hide his amusement unsuccessfully.
Alys watched as Jaymee lifted the elemental scepter, she felt it was a better description and resolved to make sure everyone realized that. Nothing visibly happened however after Syl had spread her wings to nearly the width of the thirty foot wide stairwell a gust of wind caught them and lifted her off the stairs. Almost immediately they were propelled upward at a very fast rate. It took less than a minute to reach the top chamber of the tower that resided below the outside that Syl had seen. The wind ceased and everyone climbed off Syl’s back and neck. The chamber they were in was about twice the size of Eryyn and Alys’s home and looked to be a meeting area. Benches lined the floor while at one end of the chamber a single marble table with several chairs behind it stood empty. To their right another set of smaller stairs could be seen; they were just wide enough for Syl to pass through. Syl moved to a nearby open window and stuck her head and neck outside. In a moment she withdrew herself back into the room.
“Those stairs lead to a second chamber, I suspect from that chamber there is another leading to the outside and on top of the tower.” Jaymee led them up the second stairs. They were straight and only went up one level. As everyone emerged into a similar sized chamber with high ceiling like the one they left it was barren accept for two oblong objects that looked like they were designed to hold coffins. The five of them walked to the tomb on the left. Eryyn read the words on top.
“The lady of Tre’El, queen to king and sorcerer Eriflen.” Eryyn looked at the others then turned to the other tomb and read the words inscribed in the language only he and Syl could read. “King and Sorcerer, Eriflen of Tre’El.” He looked at the others. “This is him, this is Eriflen.”
“What does it mean? How does it help up?” Asked Ardant.
“Eryyn, what does this mean?” Alys looked at the image on the tomb. It was clearly of a crown with what looked like a book below it. The cover of the book was the same as the banners in the entrance to the castle. The king’s image showed a book being held in his hands. Below the image were more symbols, Eryyn read them aloud.
“For the eyes of future kings, may their wisdom be enlightened.” He turned and looked to the others. “I am sure that book is the key, the problem now, is where to find it.”
“What if it’s inside with him?” Ardant walked closer to the tomb to scan the image.
“I will not violate this tomb.” Alys replied.
“I doubt that we could.” Syl said. “The same magic I felt protecting this tower is even stronger here.” Ardant stood at the tomb still looking at the image of the book when Jaymee walked to the other side to look at the same image more closely. He absentmindedly passed his hand over the top and rested it upon the book.
“I wish I could talk to him so he could tell me what I need to do here, what he did here as king.” A rumbling noise filled the room. The sound of hissing air escaping a tight area lasted for several seconds. Ardant and Jaymee backed away from the tomb.
“I really, really wished you hadn’t said that Jaymee.” Ardant replied as he and Jaymee backed farther away. The tomb lid rose up into the air several inches then burst into flames. The flames burned brightly for several seconds then the lid tiled vertically and moved itself to the wall behind the tomb. Eryyn and the others could feel the intense heat as the tomb lid heated to a point that caused it to fuse with the wall it had moved to. The flames died and within moments the heat had dissipated. Eryyn approached the open tomb.
“Jaymee, come here please.” He walked over followed shortly by the others. Inside were the skeletal remains of presumably the king. The bones were adorned with clothing long since faded and barely present. Within the skeletal hands of the former king lay the book they sought. “I don’t think anyone one of us should remove the book accept you.” Jaymee looked down upon the remains of the king. His eyes moved to the book held in the skeletal hands. It was small enough so the he did not need to use both hands to remove it. He kept the elemental in his hand and gently slid the book from the skeletal hands.
Eryyn followed Jaymee as he walked away from the tomb and knelt to the floor on both knees and set the book down to open it. The room was absent of furniture and Jaymee was reluctant to let go of the staff. He feared, without the staff, he might not be protected from something unknown when he touched the book. It was a ridiculous feeling he knew, but he still felt it. The others followed knelt near Jaymee. He turned the first page and to his surprise found he could read the words. “I can read this.” He said with some astonishment in his voice. He looked up at the engraved symbols on the walls. “I can read them as well, but I couldn’t before.”
“What’s written in the book Jaymee?” Hearing his mother’s voice brought him back to the task at hand. He flipped through several of the pages before finally settling on a page near the end.
“It’s more a diary than a book.” He looked to Eryyn. “You were right about the culture here, he talks about passing the test to summon the four elements. The sorcerers here were even more limited, they could summon only one element, not one at a time but only one.”
“Does it say anything about what is happening now?” Ardant pointed to the book, almost afraid to touch it. Jaymee began turning more pages speaking as he did.
“There was a war.” He paused as he read the words on the pages before him then looked up at the others. “It was a war with four elemental demons, there was key Eriflen had obtained from someone he called Lady Evergreen.”
“Our Evergreen has told us he is not the first; she must have been one of his predecessors.” Replied Eryyn, he looked back at Jaymee. “Go on.”
“The key locked the gateway shutting the demons into another realm.” He turned the page, what was on the next page caused murmurs from all five of them.
“That’s the image Cadan put together, only it’s complete.” Alys spoke and looked at the others.
Jaymee turned the page. “It says the symbol was burned into his hand as the demons were being pulled into the other realm. He says they uttered a curse, ‘By the symbol of the key and your descendants blood we will return.’” Jaymee turned a few more pages. “It does not say much more except that all the inhabitants of the kingdom of Tre’El went to the surface to heal the lands, the devastation was nearly complete. Eriflen and his wife were the only ones to return here to die, along with Lady Evergreen and her companion.” Jaymee closed the book. “That’s all it says."
“Well, some of our questions are answered.” Replied Eryyn. “We know why those with a symbol has disappeared, but why so many?” For a few moments no one answered.
“I think I know why.” Ardant held his scanner so that they could see the complete image of the symbol he had scanned. “All those who have been tak
en only have a part of the key, someone must have the complete key embedded somewhere on their body. I would not be willing to say we should only look at hands, it could be anywhere.”
“The question now is who has taken them, how did they contact the demons and where have they been taken?” Syl spoke voicing the question that pre-occupied their minds simultaneously. Ardant stood quickly slapping his hand to his forehead.
“I am so stupid.” He looked at the others. “We are stupid, the answer is probably been right in front of us all along.” He knelt back down with the others. “Where is the one place where the technology of my ships won’t work?”
“The Barren Continent.” Replied Syl. “But as dragonkind I am not effected, nor is Eryyn’s power or any of the mages or apprentices.”
“Overtly yes, but what if you try actively to probe or discern unusual events there?” Syl looked at Eryyn who then looked at Ardant.
“There is some resistance to what we do, but it has never been anything of significance.” Replied Eryyn.
“Has anyone ever tried to practice their powers in the Barren Continent?”
“No.” Replied Alys. “The old council and those before them had an agreement with those who occupied those lands. They would not participate in the apprenticeship or our affairs and we would not participate or force our ways onto them. No apprentice has even been allowed to go there. Most of us always suspected they practiced dark magic, but nothing obvious has even been known to occur.”
“That would make sense if they want to hide what they are doing.” Replied Jaymee.
“Or hide something, or someone.” Replied Syl.
“Or a group of individuals perhaps?” Eryyn looked at the others.
“I think it’s time we paid a visit to the Barren Continent.” Ardant’s voice hinted at anger as he spoke.
“If we only had a way of finding the descendent before the enemy does?” Jaymee asked as he looked at Alys.
“I need something more specific to focus on. If Eriflen were still alive I could ask him for something even as simple a lock of hair.” Alys’s eyes suddenly lit up as a thought suddenly burst on her consciousness. Eryyn knew what the look meant.
“Don’t tell me you actually sense a lock of his hair?” Alys nodded. Over the years she had practiced fine tuning her talent so that in many cases she could sense what she was looking for just by thinking of it, as long as it was in close proximity. She stood and walked over to the remains of Eriflen. She stood motionless for a few moments before reaching under a tattered piece of clothing and pulled out a small envelope. She turned it over and found it was sealed with a bit of wax from a candle. Despite the age of the envelope, its contents were still intact as she opened it. She unfolded a piece of paper, inside was a thick lock of jet black hair encased in a flat piece of crystal, almost as flat as the envelope itself, suspended by a gold chain. She handed the unfolded piece of paper to Eryyn who read it aloud.
“To the emerald eyed lady of the fire hair whose insight sees all that is lost, may this gift bring you to the one you seek.”
“How did he know?” Asked Jaymee.
“I don’t know.” Replied Alys. “But it does not really matter.” Alys stopped short as Syl made a slight sound as if in pain. Syl closed her eyes momentarily then reopened them.
“Something is wrong with one of my sons, or both.” As Syl spoke Alys could hear the mother's voice of concern.
“Then I believe it is time we return to the surface.” Replied Eryyn.
“What about the exit gates?” Asked Ardant, “we don’t know yet how they work.”
”I can guide us.” Jaymee replied and then turned to Eryyn. “Father, I just need you to guide the ship, I am not sure if I can do both yet.” The followed Syl up the last set of stairs to the top of the tower, they had no sooner climbed onto her back when she beat her powerful wings and launched into the air. Syl immediately felt the wind coming from behind, she would have to thank Jaymee later as she needed to ride the wind like a wave that brought them very quickly to the ship waiting below. Eryyn released a flashing pulse of light just before Syl had taken off from the tower top, the crew should be back on board not long after they reached it.
A few minutes had passed before the final crew boarded. Once all were accounted for, Eryyn easily raised the ship with his power and guided it to the nearest water vortex where Jaymee would guide them to the surface.
“Are you ready, Jaymee?” Father and son were standing next to one another on the bow of the boat. Eryyn held his staff in one hand while placing his other on his son’s shoulder. Jaymee lifted the elemental staff in front of him, not that he needed to do anything but hold it in his hand and concentrate. The four elements appeared around the crystal’s tip.
“Take us in father.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Deceptions and Reunions
Zelyth felt power coursing through his body from the demons that worked through Jyn-Taa. It could not have pleased him more to find the mind of the grandson to Ahm-Roth so easy to control. Through Rothyn’s eyes he saw the son of his enemy along with another child, so much the better that he could inflict pain upon any who associated with Eryyn. Zelyth unleashed all the anger he felt through Rothyn and could have kept control had it not been for the strangers and Ahm-Roth. His presence was snapped back to his body with such force that he and the one called Jyn-Taa were tossed like rag-dolls across the chamber. There was no part of his body which did not feel pain, but he stood anyway and addressed the demons standing within the circle of pillars.
“Ahm-Roth almost trapped me there!” Zelyth said accusingly.
“Our full power is not yet able to breach the barrier Zelyth, be cautious in your statement.” The Demon Wind looked at his brethren and nodded. “More of your brothers and sisters will be needed here to reach into the minds of your former kin, but not yet.”
“When.” Asked Zelyth.
“When it is time we will bring you here.” Koth replied. Jyn-Taa was just sitting up and could hear the hatred in Koth’s for Zelyth. It seemed to exceed his hatred of Jyn-Taa. He watched the short exchange between the two with amusement.
“I was not speaking to you servant, mind your place.”
“And you remember yours, you are no longer dragon, burn me if you can.” Koth spoke with disgust and mocking so evident that he nearly drooled with it. Jyn-Taa took pleasure in what came next. He watched the slight movement of the demons within the circle. A hazy mist of black stretched out then enveloped Koth and Zelyth simultaneously sending them into convulsions just long enough to stop them from bickering. After the two staggered to a standing position the demon wind spoke again.
“Return to your kind Zelyth and tell them they can either profit by this alliance, or be crushed and lose all hope of regaining your true forms.” Before Zelyth could respond a vortex of shadowy mists opened behind him and pulled him through. The Demon Wind turned to Jyn-Taa, “The army of the Barren Continent must be made ready to march on the evergreen continent, see to it Jyn-Taa.”
“Yes master, it will be as you requested.”
“How is it that Vuuaan is freed and what guarantee have you garnered that assures his obedience?”
“I released him with the power you gave to me and I committed to my mind the symbols upon his tomb which encased him. The power he craves is apart from your own and his offspring can serve your needs.” Jyn-Taa of course withheld all he knew, but provided an evidence of mistrust to insure the demon's pleasure. “Vuuaan may not be a true ally, but his hunger for satiation does not conflict with your goals, it will serve your needs as you see best.”
“Be sure that he is reminded of this Jyn-Taa, my brothers and I can see the deceit in your eyes and in your voice. Do not attempt to form an alliance with this creature against us; he has no power which can counter ours.” The demons faded from sight, Jyn-Taa suspected their recent efforts left them too weak to administer the painful reminder they usually gave to him. They may have be
en correct in saying that Vuuaan could not oppose them, but the power he had given to Jyn-Taa would be enough to set him free. He needed only to wait until the coming conflict when the demons would be to engaged in their enemy to deal with his betrayal. Jyn-Taa stood and raised his head only after the demons departed and looked at Koth.
“How do you plan on inciting this army to march on the evergreen continent?”
“By allowing them to perceive a face they believe that to be of their enemy.” Jyn-Taa pulled back his hood.
“Your eyes are as black as coal, they will know you for an impersonation.”
“Their minds are weak and easily fooled Koth. I will travel by night, but if it need be that I must show myself in daylight a simple magicians trick can make them see the eyes of their enemy. They already hate those of the evergreen continent. Now that Eryyn is known to them and the old council is no more they will fear he will wish to come to these lands to ‘educate’ them. I can use that fear to incite them.”
“Take your pet servant with you when you go, his blind obedience disgusts me.”
“There does not seem to be much which pleases you Koth.”
“Mind your tongue, your nothing but a servant to the masters, one which can be replaced.” Koth replied stabbing his finger in the air at Jyn-Taa.
“Yes Koth, as any servant can be replaced when its usefulness has ended.” Jyn-Taa only received a scowl looked from Koth as he passed by him. He found Odien patiently waiting him in the lower catacombs of the temple nearest to the main entrance.
“We have work to do, have you obtained the names and locations of individuals we need?”
“Yes.” Odien paused briefly, “Is she to remain behind?”
“She will be kept under guard by those chosen by me personally; she will be safe until our return.” Jyn-Taa knew Odien reasons for making the statement. “Rest assured, your loyalty is not in question.” As Jyn-Taa and Odien walked through the main gathering area outside between the temple and the outer walls facing the desert some of the clerics and witches turned to hide their faces while others watched, confident their new masters would bring them power. Some watched secretly hoping Jyn-Taa and his servant would meet a fate worse than death.