“What of me?” asked Luras.
“I would like you to travel north with Captain Dowr. We need to know what is actually happening outside the realms. We need to know the true picture of our enemy. Sail with Captain Dowr north. Bring back answers. There are other Acolytes in the world. Let them know of the Acolytes in Altaris,” said Ryland Heams.
“You have many men here already. Why me?” asked Luras.
“Any man I select could ask the same question. Why you? Why not you? In the end, does it matter?” replied Ryland Heams.
“It does for me,” said Luras.
“Mainly, because you are a Bourne Acolyte. You demand attention,” replied Ryland Heams.
“We will take two ships north - the Lisbeth and the Tigress. My guess is that Commander Thorne is further north in the lands of Tur,” said Captain Dowr.
“Or the surrounding islands,” said Nelos.
“He is not your goal, but if you find him, so be it,” said Ryland Heams.
“I need to have a message sent to the Greenling Woods,” said Luras.
“To whom?” asked Ryland Heams.
“I have some friends there. Matthias knows the location to something of value to them. I need to make them aware, until things can get sorted out,” said Luras.
“I can have someone bring the letter, but how will they find them?” asked Ryland Heams.
“Your messenger need only spend one night in the forest. They will come to him. A small parcel of pipe leaves would be nice as well,” said Luras.
“I can help there,” said Nelos.
“Then, I head north with you Captain,” said Luras.
“Indeed it does,” replied Captain Dowr.
___________
Borman walked through the Acolyte camp with a canvas bag full of food and supplies. The Acolytes and villagers stared at him in wonder. He was proof to some that the world was larger than the realms. There was life and mystery across the oceans. Part of it now walked among them. Borman's wound had been bandaged. It was beginning to heal nicely. Gilnor and Dord stood with their nephew and the other children. They were packed and ready. The children wore cloaks with their hoods pulled low. Gilnor nodded at Borman as he approached.
“It will be a good day for travel,” said Borman. “The air is cool. You can smell the sea.”
“It will be a good start,” said Gilnor.
“There is food, water, and such,” said Borman. He handed the canvas bag to Gilnor. “I've also put in some Tumara leaf, as well. Don't waste it.”
“You are sure about staying?” asked Dord.
“For now, I've grown fond of his temper,” replied Borman.
“If you are worried for him, bring him to Stone Water,” said Gilnor.
“His place is here. Anyhow, I would like to see more of Karth. It was ours,” said Borman.
“We will bring them back and return,” said Gilnor.
“Make sure Stone Water is fortified first,” said Borman.
“We will,” replied Gilnor.
“Stay alive,” said Dord.
“Tell your sister I'll return soon,” said Borman.
“Of course. She won't be pleased,” said Dord.
“I expect as much,” replied Borman. “Now, go before it gets too late to travel.”
“Be safe,” said Gilnor. He put his hands on Borman's shoulders.
“You as well,” said Borman. “Kiev, you and the others stay close to your uncles.”
Borman watched as Gilnor and Dord led the children from the camp. They walked in a line with Gilnor in front and Dord in the back. They ascended the grassy foothills and disappeared behind the hills. Borman stared at the horizon line. The grass moved in waves with the breeze. It felt good to breathe in the cool air. For a brief moment, Borman wanted to run to them. He felt alone. He watched the grass dance along the horizon in hopes to see them again. They did not reappear. Borman took out his pipe.
___________
Finn kneeled down by a wagon in the Acolyte camp. He packed his satchel with strips of salted beef, apples, and other provisions. The Blood Falcon perched on the wagon behind him. Its maroon feathers slowly moved in the breeze. It picked at its talons with its beak. The villagers gathered around the wagon to look at the massive bird. They were in awe over it. Some whispered and pointed to Finn. They discussed how he obtained such a creature. Others stared at the pale man with red eyes that stood by him. Ellison had been given clothes by some of the Acolytes. He wore a black wool tunic under a leather vest, boots, and pants. A sword hung from his waist and a curved dagger was buckled to his belt. He wore a hooded leather cloak that was brown and deeply oiled.
“I was told there is a man forming an army. They are in the east,” Finn said to Ellison.
“I will be a wanted man in the east,” replied Ellison.
“We all will,” said Finn.
“Who is this man?” asked Ellison.
“Someone named Xander Eaves. There is revenge to be found in the east, especially for you.”
“Timball was a good village. People say that about their home - but this time - it's true. It had the best tavern. I wish you could have seen it,” said Ellison.
“I still can,” said Finn.
Finn closed the satchel and stood. He looked at the villagers that had gathered around the wagon. He saw able men that stood with their families. Others stood alone. Finn grew indignant at how they could stand back and watch as others were taken. Their lands and loved ones were stolen, yet they stood and let it happen. They walked the Acolyte camp like it was a carnival, each one trying to get a glimpse of the Blood Falcon, Acolytes, or Stone Giants. Finn was sickened that this all happened while enemies raided their lands and imprisoned their people. Finn stood.
“Yes, there is a falcon here and giants there. But know that while we stare upon them, our lands are burning while able men stand back and watch,” Finn said to the crowd. “I'm not standing idle. Some of us are going east to meet with others that choose to fight. I have no more alliance to kings or realms. My only desire is to kill as many enemies as I can before I fall. Gorgons, wolves, kings - it makes no difference. Our enemies will come to you, whether you fight or not. I'd prefer to meet them in battle than in the dark of night.”
“The king, his barons, they will claim our lands if we leave,” said one of the villagers.
“If you're of the same mind, than come with us and fight,” replied Finn. “If some king or baron takes your lands, then we will return - and take it back.”
Epilogue
The Lisbeth
The Lisbeth cut through the foaming swells with deft efficiency. The ship was built for speed and distance. It was not a freighter or supply ship. It was meant to outrun other ships. It was made from ironbark wood from the euclid trees in the Western Isles. It was oiled a deep brown. The sails were maroon and crème. On the front of the Lisbeth, there was the figurehead of a woman with flowing yellow hair that covered the intimate parts of her body. She held a small child in her arms. The woman held it tightly, as the ship chopped its way over the swells and waves. There was a strong wind so Captain Dowr was able to push the ship to its limits. The wind whistled and hissed, as it blew past the ship. The Lisbeth keeled slightly to one side. The ropes pulled tight with the dull hum of stretching twine. The sun was out. It heated the wood on the ship and glared over the water. It was a day to make great headway. The last few days had been slow and full of rain. Captain Dowr barked out orders to his crew. They would use the day to make up for lost time. The Tigress followed behind with Tylin at the helm. He knew that Captain Dowr would push the ships until the wind broke or the sun went down. The ships pushed through the ocean with determination.
The captain's quarters in the Lisbeth were small. The ship was not built for comfort. There was a desk, a bed, and rows of bookshelves built into the walls. The wood was old but heavily polished. A lantern hung from the ceiling. However, there was enough light from the portholes during the day. It cast t
hrough the round windows in beams of yellow and gold. The room smelled of wax and dust. The ship was old. No matter how clean the room, dust still floated through the light. Luras shared the captain's quarters with Captain Dowr. A bunk was put in the corner of the room for him. Luras spent most of his time below resting and recovering from his wound. He read the many books that littered the shelves. He read about the Western Isles and its surrounding lands. He studied maps of Tur and its islands. It was only within the last few days that he felt strong enough to walk freely throughout the ship. Nelos still checked his bandages twice a day. Luras had gotten to know Nelos and Captain Dowr quite well. He liked them, especially their direct manner of speaking.
Luras laid in his bunk. He watched the lantern slowly rock back and forth, swaying with the boat. He drifted in and out of sleep. Luras heard a bell ring. For a moment, he could not tell if he was dreaming it or not. It was real. Luras jolted up. There was commotion on deck. He heard feet running above him. The watchman on the mast was calling out and ringing the bronze bell. Luras rose out of the bunk and adjusted himself to standing. He left the room for the deck above.
The crew lowered the front sails, as the ship slowly turned into the wind. It glided by the wreckage. Large chunks of black wood floated in the water. A yellow and black sail coated the surface of the swells. It moved rhythmically with the water. Debris littered the water around the wreckage. Bottles, paper, clothes, baskets, and other items drifted with the current. There were also bodies.
“Gorgons,” Nelos said to Luras, as he looked over the railing. “A supply ship.”
“What happened to it?” asked Luras.
“Something didn't like it,” answered Nelos.
“Razor Tails,” said one of the men.
“No. Something much larger than Razor Tails,” said Nelos. “We don't want to be here long enough to find out.”
“There!” yelled a crew member from the other side of the ship.
“They've found someone,” said Nelos, as he and Luras ran to the other side.
Luras watched as the crew of the Lisbeth pulled three women from the sea. They were burnt from the sun and nearly unconscious. One of them did not move. Luras walked closer to them. One of the women was clearly dead. Her eyes were rolled back and she had begun to bloat. She looked similar to another girl they took from the water. She was alive, but unconscious. The third woman had black hair that curled in ringlets. Her eyes were a vivid green. She was scared. Luras approached her. He kneeled down beside her.
“Someone get some fresh water,” said Luras.
“Help me,” said the woman.
“You are safe,” replied Luras.
“Don't let them take me again,” she said.
“The gorgons are gone. You're with us now. You are safe,” said Luras.
The woman began to cry. Luras put his arm around her.
“What is your name?”
“Nylah.”
Appendix I
List of Names in
Of Darkness and the Light
The Southern Realm
~ Finn: born into servitude to the King of the Southern Realm, falconer at Castle Red.
~ Nylah: daughter of a noblewoman, lives in the Southern Isles, niece to Lady Tanda.
~ Margery: born into servitude to the King of the Southern Realm, baker at Castle Red.
~ The Baron of Moor: head of Castle Red.
~ Lord Hartley: a nobleman of the Southern Realm, friend to Lady Tanda.
~ Lady Tanda: a noblewoman of the Southern Realm, aunt to Nylah.
~ Lilith: the daughter of Lady Tanda and cousin to Nylah.
~ Tilda: merchant of the Southern Realm, friend to Nylah.
~ Waltur: the butcher of Castle Red.
The Eastern Realm
~ Easton Welthorn: King of the Eastern Realm, resides in Castle Horos.
~ Ellison Welthorn: brother of Easton Welthorn.
~ Malvern: adviser to King Welthorn.
~ Jon Leland: Royal Treasurer of the Eastern Realm, adviser to King Welthorn.
~ Riley Moore: Minister of Land of the Eastern Realm, adviser to King Welthorn.
~ Haurice Marlon: Captain of the Guard of the Eastern Realm, adviser to King Welthorn.
~ The Council Elect: two villagers elected to the king's Council to speak for the villagers, a largely ceremonial position.
~ Jon Lince: copier of books, scrolls, and maps for the village of Timball.
~ Jared Horn: merchant in Timball.
~ Cal Mossy: logger and lumber merchant in Timball.
The Village of Reddington
(Outskirts of the Eastern Realm)
~ Thorson: alderman of Reddington.
~ Wreth: villager of Reddington, a bowman
~ Norris: villager of Reddington, husband to Lindy.
~ Lindy: villager of Reddington, wife to Norris.
~ Robert: villager of Reddington, a child.
~ Imeldris: lives outside the village of Reddington, friend of Finn.
The Northern Realm
~ Matthias Thorne: exiled commander of the Northern Realm, a wanted man by all realms.
~ King Tellos: king of the Northern Realm, resides in Castle Suell.
~ Martin Lancing: nobleman and baron of the Northern Realm, adviser to the king.
~ Gerald Lancing: lieutenant of the King's Royal Soldiers, son of Martin Lancing.
~ Devlin Molt: Warden of the Northern Realm.
~ Xander Eaves: a captain in the Army of the Northern Realm.
~ Helms: scout and soldier of the army, reports to Xander Eaves.
~ Denthas: mercenary of the Northern Realm.
~ Jarren: mercenary of the Northern Realm.
The Western Realm
~ King Uthan: King of the Western Realm.
~ Henri: villager of Wyndale, husband of Mary and father of Finn.
~ Mary: villager of Wyndale, wife of Henri and mother of Finn.
~ Noble of the Western Realm: known as the child monger, handles matters for the king, collects children born during the king's season of birth.
The Stone Giants (Stone Water clan)
~ Hemlor Nyman: Stone Giant, the Earl of the Stone Water clan.
~ Borman Thyn: Stone Giant of Stone Water, friend to Finn.
~ Dord Kynd: Stone Giant of Stone Water, friend to Finn, brother of Gilnor.
~ Gilnor Kynd: Stone Giant of Stone Water, friend to Finn, brother of Dord.
~ Torin: Stone Giant of Stone Water, friend to Finn.
~ Kiev: nephew to Dord and Gilnor, a child, captive by gorgons.
~ Hause: nephew to Dord and Gilnor, a child, captive by gorgons.
Woodlanders of the Greenling Woods
~ Watsy: Woodlander of the Greenling Woods, hotheaded, scout.
~ Locke: Woodlander of the Greenling Woods, scout.
~ Hermie: Woodlander of the Greenling Woods, scout.
~ Weyton: head of the Woodlanders.
The Acolytes
~ Luras: formerly a Nighteye named Mirkus, now a Bourne, last of his kind.
~ Ryland Heams: leader of the Acolytes in the four realms.
~ Captain Dowr: former pirate from the Western Isles, captain of the Lisbeth and the Tigress.
~ Nelos: former pirate, shipmate under Captain Dowr.
~ Tylin: former pirate, shipmate under Captain Dowr, helms the Tigress.
Appendix II
Map of Altaris
(Smallest continent of Ehlür)
~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~
C. M. Pendleton is the author of the epic fantasy series Of Darkness & the Light. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science and attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and four children.
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