The Elderine Stone

by Lawson, Alan

  “Oh no!” Devon cried out as he saw the hordes of death surrounding his two new friends.

  Devon, Grimble and Sherbit couldn't move they stood in fear, their two friends sat huddled as the hordes of undead cursed by an evil, closed in on them. They wouldn’t stand a chance. Emily was weak her magic wouldn’t even keep the attack off long enough for Devon and the others to reach them. There was nothing they could do to save Jason and Emily from their fate, and without Jason their quest would be pointless.

  The shrouds of black cloth closed in on Jason and Emily as they sat huddled expecting the worse to come. Emily tried to stand again, at least so they could make a final battle together without giving up hopelessly.

  Jason helped Emily to her feet. She leant against her staff whilst holding onto Jason’s arm, the dark figures closing in against them.

  “Thanks” Emily said in a grateful, caring voice.

  “What for?” asked Jason sounding brave in their final moments together.

  “For showing me the real world and the truth.”

  “It’s not over yet Emily, I’m the hero. It doesn’t end here.”

  Emily smiled at him then looked at the skeletal figures, reaching into them, to take their last breath and make them one of their own.

  “Jason!” Emily cried with excitement “It’s glowing!”

  Jason looked down at the pendant around his neck, the summoning stone within was now glowing a warming blue colour, it continued to glow, the light growing in strength.

  Devon could see a bright blue light that gained strength and brightness with every second he looked on. The black shadowed beasts continued to move in on the two friends, and the light within stone continued to grow. He watched waiting to see what would happen, wondering if Emily had gained enough strength to cast a spell.

  Then he saw it, a figure appeared, it looked angelic in appearance, draped in a long silver robe, the figure was ghostly, but not like the creatures around it. A female with long golden hair, she held out her arms, facing her palms toward the ghastly figures of the city.

  Emily held onto Jason as the light continued to grow, the black beasts had stopped moving towards them, it was almost as if they feared the light, or feared what was in the light, neither Jason, nor Emily could see the angelic figure that had appeared in front of them, the brightness was so overwhelming and the fear of what could be happening had forced them to close their eyes and wait for the end to come.

  They could feel a gentle breeze around them as if something was shielding them from the evil in the ancient streets.

  Devon continued to watch as the angel like figure surrounded Emily and Jason. The dark creatures moved back slowly as the light grew around the dazzling figure. Suddenly each one of the dead turned and fled into the city away from Jason and Emily, the light began to fade, as the rest of the beasts disappeared. The figure faded, the light decreased, the stone within the pendant was still and lifeless. The summoned had done its work, and now rested within its stone.

  Jason opened one eye first, and then slowly opened the other. He blinked a few times while his eyes re-adjusted to the darkness. The street was empty. It was quiet, but most importantly free from the creatures that had stalked them. The beasts had been driven off by whatever that light was, it seemed so powerful, but he felt a sense of calmness, as if he was being held by a loving force that wasn’t just Emily, he felt as if he was being held by the presence of love itself.

  Jason supported Emily, she had regain her strength, in fact both Emily and Jason felt fully refreshed, no longer tired or hungry, they were more than ready to continue with the journey.

  “Look Jason, Look at your summoning stone” Emily said exclaimed.

  “Yeah! Look!” Jason replied in amazement at the power he now controlled,

  “It was beautiful, and so strong. I have never even seen magic as powerful as that”

  Jason walked alongside with Emily to the base of the mountain, their three friends stood in amazement, still in shock at what they had just witnessed. They had seen what the summoned was, although they didn’t know its name, they saw the shape it took. Devon ran to meet them.

  “Are you two ok?”

  “Yes we are fine, in fact I think I feel a lot stronger now” Emily replied smiling at Jason

  “That thing, you know that light and that lady. It was flipping amazing, did you summon it Jason?”

  “It came from the stone within his pendant! I’ve never seen anything like it” Emily said when she finally reached the base of the mountain, she then looked up at the stairs that led the way to the temple “It looks like we have a long climb ahead”

  “The thing is I don’t have a clue how I managed to summon it.”

  “I’ve heard that the most powerful of summoning stones, react to the emotions of the holder” Emily answered.

  “Which would mean that, in your time of despair, the summoned brought itself out to aid you” Devon continued.

  “Well at least I know what it can do now, I just hope it can help when we really need it, I mean if all else fails I hope I can summon it when we come to fight the Dark Lady”

  “Jason, you will be fine, don’t worry about it,” Emily paused briefly then continued

  “Devon did you say you saw a lady? We couldn’t see anything except for a bright light”

  “Yea she was beautiful, wearing a long silver robe, and bright golden hair, I mean she was the most attractive girl I have ever seen”

  Emily gave Devon a looked of disgust, Devon quickly noticed and grinned.

  “I wonder who she was” Emily said pondering out loud.

  Her thoughts were soon disturbed as Sherbit came running up the steps screaming, “The dead they are coming again!”

  “I think we should move on before those damned souls get a chance to catch up with us” Emily said as she led the way up the steps to the temple.

  The steps had been carved into the rock of the mountain face, they looked worn from many years of use, and perhaps the temple up ahead was a place of worship for the people of this city. The Temple above was the central point for the Elderine Order, Lady Averin and her priestesses spent many hours within the walls of the Temple reflecting on the powers that they controlled. The temple was once a beautiful place, lined with trees and streaming water that flowed down to the city below. When Caleb attacked all beauty was stolen away. The people below enjoyed a prosperous life with natures blessing, but no matter how much magic they controlled the greed of Averin’s brother destroyed them and everything they had worked for.

  Many ornate figures lined the sides of the stairs each depicting a figure of great magnitude, a priestess, or a great mage all ordained in robes of solid rock. Even through the many years of their existence they still embody faultless detail.

  Jason stopped a few times to look at the figures, who were they? And why had they been honoured by having their sculptures grafted to these stairs?

  The stairs led high into the mountain, the ground below was shrinking and any member of the group who dared look down could see the borders of the Elderine forest and the city of the dead. The epic size of the once grand city could be seen. Its size harmonized with the size of Haspar perhaps it was even bigger. The city grew darker. The fog had regained its coverage of the streets. The creatures that once lived now rested. They waited for another, perhaps less protected being to stray into their world of the lost.

  The air was much cooler at this height, but the friends carried on. The flickering flames of the temple were now in sight, they seemed to pulse as if the whole building was a live and the torch fires were its life line. It was midday, and by all means the sky should be bright, the sun was out and most definitely in full glory when they left their camp earlier that morning, but now it was dark, it was as if the mountains themselves had stolen the sun thinking it to be a precious gem and hiding it away within its hidden caverns.

  “We are almost there!” Emily called down as the tower of the temple cam
e into sight

  All were thankful when they reached the top of the stairs. They had finally reached the top. The climb was long and laborious but they didn’t feel exhausted, perhaps they had no time to feel tired, they could see the temple in front of them now, with its looming tower, stretched into the sky. Stain glass windows cast colourful images onto the ground which flickered as the flames moved from the torches within the temples’ halls. The building was in perfect condition, the test of time had eaten into its stone work, all the windows were still intact, the wood in the structure had not totted in at all, and it was as if the temple had been built recently. The door into the temple lay in front. Soon they would confront the Dark Lady, and Jason’s moment, the moment in which the life of the world would lie in his hands.

  “Well here we go.” Jason said as he walked towards the door, there was no turning back now, he was here, and the Dark Lady knew. She was waiting for him.

  Emily followed Jason, the rest slowly walked behind towards the large door that sealed the temple.

  Chapter Fourteen: The Dark Lady

  Jason could feel the chilling cold as he placed his hands on the surface of the door, a tingle was sent down the spine of his back, as he felt each hair on his body stand on end. Behind the closed door the group of friends could hear mechanisms of ancient times creaking and grinding against each other, and within moments the great door slowly pulled open, revealing inch by inch the inner corridors and the bright flickering lights of the red, orange and yellow flamed torches. The doors continued to open, pulled by chains thicker than a muscle ridden arm. The chains disappeared through holes located on each side of the walls in the corridor, until they were hidden and the doors, now fully open came to a rest.

  Devon shuddered as he walked into the warm corridor of the temple. The air was cool outside and it was such a relief to all, that this temple, a place now known to be a resting place of great evil, to be so welcoming, still had a warm environment. At least they wouldn’t freeze to death in this battle of good versus evil. The entrance corridor was ornamented with large statues of robed figures. They were different from those that patrolled the edges of the stone staircase cut into the mountain, these figures seemed to be alive, their eyes almost appeared to watch and follow every movement that the friends made.

  Alcoves lined the walls, each displayed a pedestal with an ornate object on top, and many displayed stones, much like the stone in the great library. These stones however seemed to resonate with a presence of evil, as if they held trapped spirits of foul demons and tortured souls. It could well have been true, they were all very aware that the most evil of creatures is held within the Elderine Stone. Perhaps that stone lay somewhere within this temple?

  Jason led the way up the corridor, their steps echoed along the hall, it would be impossible for them to hide their presence now, yet it seemed so naïve to even think of a sneak attack. The Dark Lady was not of a simple mind. She knew of their presence and eagerly awaited their arrival, but still they hoped that they could somehow gain an advantage before whatever lay ahead.

  The doors of the temple slammed shut behind them closing off the wind that was blowing in against their backs, causing the lights to flicker. The halls echoed with the sound of the doors closing. If the Dark Lady wasn’t aware of their presence she certainly was now. The five friends all stood motionless for a moment waiting for the echoing to stop. The halls soon returned to their unnatural silence, a signal for the friends to continue on.

  At the end of the hall a large statue stood in the centre of the floor, it stretched from the floor to the ceiling. It was a statue of a cloaked man. His face was hidden from sight, an emotionless sculpture. The statue held out two cold arms, holding onto a stone which seemed to merge together with the figures arms, as if they were one. The statue seemed to represent a great power. Perhaps this statue represented the magical power that was offered to Averin and her people because they showed great respect towards nature. However the statue was also very fitting at representing Caleb a hidden figure filled with greed that had stolen the magical powers from his sister and as a result suffered and was imprisoned within the Elderine Stone.

  Jason now knew what lay ahead of him. The seal which Elindril had spoken of was the seal holding the Lord of Darkness within the Elderine Stone. Now that he was here, perhaps the Dark Lady could break this seal, and he was the only one who could stop her. He paused for a moment, thinking this over. If he failed this quest, she would be able to release her lord, and the world that he had entered would be lost forever; everything that he had seen, everyone that he had met, his new friends, all destroyed.

  “Are you alright, Jason? You look awfully white.” Emily said as she walked over to Jason.

  “Yes, Yes, I’m fine, really I am. I just had a thought.”

  “Are you worried” she paused and lowered her voice, so that only Jason could hear her, “about what lies ahead? I know I’ve said this before Jason, but I am here for you, we all are! And by my word we will get through it. You are the one and don’t forget that.”

  Jason smiled, he somehow struggled to do so, he was grateful for the encouragement but that alone would not take away the fear he felt inside.

  Devon and Grimble had stopped now too, they were now cautiously looking around for any creature that might try and ambush them and strike them down before they even had a chance to face the presence of evil deep within the temple.

  Sherbit on the other hand was hopping along as he usually did, humming the tune that he often hummed. If the others had more attention to spare, they would have noticed his strange actions that were rather unfit for this particular time and place. It almost seemed as if he was possessed or that he had lost all control of his natural thinking. Perhaps he was over come by the situation, and had reverted to a child like persona so that he could face what was to come. Or perhaps there was darkness within waiting to be released. No one noticed, as they continued to walk down the hall. They continued to pass statues much like the large statue in the temple’s entrance hall that had welcomed them. The stone walls seemed cold, and shielded an ancient history from those that walked by them.

  In the distance they could hear the crackling of a huge fire, and the sounds of chains being hit against the stone walls, as those who were held captive tried desperately to escape though their attempts were in vain. Apart from these distance noises, the halls were surprisingly quiet.

  “I hate to be the one to break up our little rest, and believe me, I could do with one, but don’t you really think we should try and get this bit over with, or at least get to the stage were we face the Dark Lady.” Devon turned around and mumbled to Grimble “I’d hate to be picked off before we reach her, imagine the stories.”

  Grimble nodded in return as if agreeing to the shame they would face if something did happen to them before they had a chance to fight the dark lady.

  “We can’t be far now, from the outside this temple doesn’t look that big, so we should reach the inner chambers soon.” Emily stated almost matter-of-factly.

  “Well let’s get moving then, The Dark Lady is more than likely aware that we are here. It would be best, not to keep her waiting” Jason said as he continued to walk down the remainder of the large hallway.

  The corridor ended at a junction, they had two choices as to which direction they should now go. Going back the way they came was certainly not an option. Jason thought that no matter which direction they took now the destination would most likely be the same. Before Jason could make a final decision in direction they should take, a gust of wind blew past him from the left corridor to the right. It wasn’t that fierce but was strong enough to blow the torch flames completely out along the wall of the left corridor and cause the ones in the right to flicker.

  “Well that’s my decision made for me I guess.” Jason said aloud to himself.

  The corridor was not that long at all. Jason could see that the corridor connected on to what looked like a large chamber.
He noticed that there were several more large statues plotted against the far wall, each cloaked and bowing to an invisible master. He could hear heavy breathing, deep breaths in and out, it didn’t take him long to realise that these were his own. He felt a cold shiver pass over as each hair on his body stood on end. He knew what lay ahead in that chamber. There seemed to be some form of magnetic field that affected only him, he felt pulled towards it, but he could not explain it. He took one final step, he was now at the end of the corridor, and he could see so much more of the large chamber that lay a head of him.

  Jason took a deep breath, trying to inhale as much as he could. Without looking back he walked into the chamber, not for one second moving his eyes from the far wall, if she was in this room he didn’t want to see her. Stopping when he felt he was half way across, Jason breathed out. He could hear the torches crackling quietly along each face of the old stone walls, what sounded like a large fire could be heard burning at the top of the chamber; although he didn’t want to look, not yet at least.

  He was unsure if his friends had followed him this far or if they were still standing in the connecting corridor, but he most certainly did not feel alone, someone else was with him. His heart raced as he decided to look up and towards the end of the chamber. Excitement mixed with fear passed over him in rapid succession, boosting his adrenaline to carry out what needed to be done.

  Slowly he lifted his eyelids, with each movement he could see more of what lay at the end of the chamber. Situated at the end of the room in the centre was a platform area reached by three steps, two large figurines on either side, each holding a bowl. Jason could now see the large fire, it burned in a majestic fire place, but what was more, he could see someone standing in front of it. This someone could only be one person, The Dark Lady. She was cloaked in a long black garment that reached out onto the floor in an effort to trap any colour and life from those who would seek it. The figure slowly turned around, lifting her head slightly, so that she could face her new guest.