The Pool And The Pedestal (Book 2)

by Daniel McHugh

  The old Elf stepped forward and touched two extended fingers to his forehead then lips, bowing lightly.

  “May you find shade on this day.” stated the old Elf solemnly.

  The girl’s hard expression didn’t change.

  “Knowing the traditional greeting of my people doesn’t convince me of your good intent.” snapped the girl.

  “Ah, but I also know that custom and good manners require a Borz warrior to return a greeting with grace whether it be from friend or foe.” sniped the old Elf in return as he looked down his nose at the Windrider.

  Vieri bit her lip and frowned. Finally, she bowed.

  “And may the winds still, keeping the sands from your eyes.” she replied to the Elf.

  Teeg smiled and returned the bow. The Windrider turned to the Seraph.

  “And what of you old man? What will you call yourself today?”

  “I am called Ader by those assembled here.” said the Seraph.

  Vieri's eyes narrowed again and she searched her mind. The name seemed somewhat familiar. Ader moved toward Cefiz. He knelt low and placed his hands on the Guardsman’s head and chest.

  “However,” continued Ader gently closing his eyes. “Your people have never known me by that name, and I dare say I haven’t visited the Borz for quite some time.”

  “You were amongst the Borz?” scoffed Vieri. “When? I may be young but I possess a long memory.”

  Ader concentrated on Cefiz.

  “Oh, it must have been ....three... maybe four.....”

  “Seasons?” laughed Vieri. “Trust me, old man. Outsiders are not welcome amongst the Borz. I would know if....”

  “.....centuries ago...” smiled Ader opening his eyes and looking to the girl. “I believe your people’s favorite name for me was Berbati.”

  A bright green light spilled from the Seraph’s hands and engulfed Cefiz. The Windrider backed away in fear and covered her eyes from the piercing light. The Guardsman’s restlessness abated and color returned to his cheeks.

  “I did not intend to ignore the Borz.” said Ader as the green light pulsed around Cefiz. “But often my duties in the greater world drew me away for a time.”

  The light flashed and faded as Ader withdrew his hands from Cefiz.

  “He will sleep comfortably for a short time now.” said Ader standing. “I do not believe he’s in any danger.”

  The Seraph turned to the girl and bowed.

  “I am pleased to meet you Vieri Shan, daughter of the sands.” said Ader touching two fingers to his forehead then lips.

  The Windrider stood gaping at the Seraph. She glanced down to the rosy cheeked Cefiz then back to Ader, unable to speak. Teeg slid up behind her.

  “Now is the time where you return the greeting to Holy Berbati, the voice of Avra.” whispered Teeg.

  The girl blinked then quickly touched her fingers to her head and lips, returning the salute.

  “You .... it .... is a myth.” mumbled the girl.

  “Pardon, my dear?” asked Ader.

  “Holy Berbati.” said Vieri. “He is ...a character. A myth.”

  “Oh, I assure you I am real.” said Ader. “Perhaps not as Holy as some might wish, but I am known as Berbati amongst your people.”

  Vieri frowned and furrowed her brow.

  “I see confusion in your face Vieri Shan.” said Ader. “And that is why I suggest you ask questions. Seek answers.”

  The girl looked up, her gaze piercing Ader.

  “You demonstrate great power.” said Vieri. “but so do many servants of Amird. How am I to believe this is not just a masquerade?”

  “Ah, excellent question.” smiled Ader. “However, the answer is evident in how I displayed my power. The servants of Amird derive their power from Chaos. They are no more capable of accomplishing what I just did than you are. By its nature, Chaos is destructive. Amird’s servants can only use their power to destroy. Their ‘creations’ are really twistings and corruptions of things Avra has already placed on this world.”

  Vieri accepted this answer as she searched for more questions. She turned and approached the fire. Granu became uneasy and moved closer. Ader frowned.

  “Before we continue.” said the old man. “Perhaps you can allay the fears of my large friend. Will you agree to act with civility while in this camp.”

  “The destruction of evil is the most civilized of all things.” stated the girl solemnly.

  A grumble rose from Granu.

  “Then will you agree to refrain from violence?” asked Ader.

  “Have no fear, old man. I made a vow to ... Cefiz. I will not....” said Vieri, her eyes moving toward Kael.

  “Try to kill me.” stated Kael, finishing her sentence.

  “Complete my mission.” returned the girl.

  “I don’t know who you are or why you think you must kill me,” snarled Kael advancing. “But I’m no one’s ‘mission’.”

  “Calm yourself, Kael.” said Ader. “Perhaps Vieri Shan would be willing to share that with us. If the reason for your death sentence is something we are supposed to be a party to, she loses nothing by imparting this information.”

  Vieri glared at the boy for a moment, then addressed her comments to the Seraph.

  “The boy is the vessel Amird desires to reenter this world.” stated the girl firmly.

  Ader narrowed his eyes as he assessed this information. Kael looked from the Seraph to the girl then back again.

  “The what?!” blurted Kael.

  “The vessel.” repeated Vieri, looking at the boy. “The body that Amird will inhabit to take form on this earth.”

  Kael threw a confused look to Ader then Teeg. The Elf raised an eyebrow and frowned.

  “She refers to several passages of Delvin Scripture that speak of a vessel that would one day carry the spirit of Amird as he returned to claim this world for Chaos.” said Teeg.

  Ader’s voice rose in a soft chant.

  “In the East he shall rise

  born to carry the one that good despise.

  From the line of Almu and Seraph man

  removed from his kingdom by Amird’s plan.”

  “That sounds like ... me.” mumbled Kael.

  “The vessel.” stated Vieri.

  “Stop calling me that!” shouted Kael rounding on the girl.

  “I will call you what you are!” she returned with fire in her eyes.

  “Call him what you will, Vieri Shan,” interrupted Ader calmly. “But he is not the vessel.”

  Kael rolled his eyes in anger at Ader.

  “The Scripture doesn’t call the vessel by name.” continued the Seraph. “It simply describes him. I will agree with you that the description loosely resembles many aspects of Kael, even aspects that you do not know, Windrider. However, throughout the centuries there have been many whose life stories approximate this vague description.”

  “I’m not concerned about history, old man.” said Vieri. “I’m concerned about the here and now. The boy is the vessel.”

  “Based on a resemblance to some vague verses of Delvin Scripture.” scoffed Granu.

  “What of the proof of Cefiz?” asked Eidyn. “He spared your life. He would have been killed by the Ulrog. He has been a protector and friend to Kael this entire time. Does all of that mean nothing?”

  “Rada was warned that the servants of Amird are capable of doing and saying anything to fool the world.” snapped Vieri. “The Guardsman may even be capable of sacrificing his own life to protect the vessel.”

  “I am not the vessel!” shouted Kael. “And why wouldn’t Cefiz kill you instead of tricking you?!”

  “Because the perseverance of the Shan Borz is legendary!” returned the girl quickly. “Perhaps your group thought there were more than one of us. There may be! Perhaps you fear the Borz joining in the fight against you, and you hope to beguile us into an alliance!”

  As the girl rambled, Teeg’s eyes widened and he slowly moved toward her. She shrunk from the old El
f as he moved in close.

  “What do you mean ‘warned’?” asked Teeg carefully.

  Vieri went silent as Ader eyed the old Elf and allowed him to pursue the question.

  “Answer me, girl!” demanded Teeg. “Certainly you realize how ridiculous your arguments sound and we possess very little time to entertain your sense of pride! You were fooled! The very subterfuge you were warned about was perpetrated upon the Borz before you ever left the desert. Who warned you of our supposed sinister alliance?!”

  Vieri’s vision spun across the group and panic entered her face.

  “Think of it, girl!” shouted Teeg. “Your entire people are being misled. Only Avra knows what they are capable of doing and they will all be doing it for Amird and the minions of Chaos!”

  “Rada...” she hesitated. “Rada believes the boy to be the vessel.”

  “Why?” asked Ader softly.

  “The Counselor.” whispered Vieri searching the ground in front of her.

  “The Counselor?” said Kael.

  “Who is this Counselor?” asked Teeg sharply.

  “I do not know.” mumbled Vieri in return.

  Teeg turned and exchanged a glance with Ader. The Seraph lightly nodded and the old Elf continued.

  “He is not a Borz.” Teeg stated rather than asked.

  “No.” said Vieri, her head hanging lower with each response.

  “He is an Elf.” hissed Teeg almost inaudibly.

  “Yes.” whispered the girl in return.

  “IMPOSSIBLE!” blurted Eidyn. “None of our people are capable of such a thing!”

  Teeg spun from the girl and strode in front of the fire, his mind racing. Kael searched each face in the group. All showed shock save Ader. The Seraph turned to the girl.

  “So now at least we know where we stand.” said the Seraph. “The Borz are aligned against us and a traitor lurks in the house of Leinor.”

  “I tell you that is not possible!” protested Eidyn.

  “All things are possible when Chaos runs unchecked through this world, Eidyn.“ said Ader.

  “You are going to believe the tales of this .... assassin!” exclaimed Eidyn. “She’s tried to kill Kael on several occasions, and she stands here a captive. She is capable of saying and doing anything to save her own skin!”

  Vieri’s head shot up.

  “I speak the truth, Elf!” shouted the girl. “If your people didn’t hide away in their wood, the world might not be in the situation it is!”

  “What do you mean by that, Windrider!?” barked Eidyn.

  “I mean that the Counselor demonstrated the cowardice of your people to Rada! He told us how you retreated from the fight against evil and abandoned the Zodrians to the edge of Ulrog cleavers!”

  “That’s ridiculous!” returned Eidyn. “The Grey Elves have always answered the call of their allies.”

  Teeg spun on the prince.

  “Patience, Eidyn.” warned Teeg. “We can afford the damage to our honor if we let the girl speak and determine how deeply this lie has been woven into the fabric of the Borz. Assess the situation and determine what is more important to you, the information or your pride.”

  Eidyn stared at the old Elf then clenched his teeth and set his jaw. Teeg nodded his approval then turned to Vieri.

  “Go on Windrider.”

  “The Counselor informed Rada of the existence of the vessel. With his assistance, Rada was instructed to eliminate the vessel before it could be filled with the spirit of Amird.” said the girl.

  “I must agree with Prince Eidyn.” said Granu turning back to the group. “This is nonsense. Kael to be used as some holder for the spirit of Amird. Ridiculous.”

  “Why?” asked Ader.

  Granu turned to the Seraph in shock. The giant had no response.

  “Why does it sound so ridiculous?” continued Ader. “In fact, most of it is true.”

  “What?” exclaimed Kael as the others in the party looked about in confusion. Once again Vieri tensed and glared at the boy.

  “All of what the Borz has said is true.” explained Ader. “Except the part concerning Kael being the vessel. Kael is not the vessel.”

  “Izgra.” said Eidyn.

  “Yes.” answered Ader. “The Half Dead is the intended vessel of Amird. He has risen to power in the East, the lost kingdom of Astel.”

  “But the prophecy states that the vessel is born from the Elves.” protested Vieri.

  “And a descendant of a Seraph.” added Granu.

  “As I said.” smiled Ader. “The prophecies are vague. The second portion of the description could apply to you Abbot. However, it applies to only one. Izgra Admir, son of Ilver Admir and Alel of Forend.”

  Kael’s face contorted in confusion. He quickly scanned the group and only Ader and Teeg showed no reaction.

  “You told me those were the parents of my ... Mother.” said Kael.

  “And so they are.” said Ader.

  “Izgra is an Elf.” interrupted Teeg.

  “That is not wholly accurate.” said Ader. “He is an Elf and the son of a Seraph, my brother, Alel.”

  “What?!” exclaimed Kael. “You never told me that!”

  “We hadn’t reached that point yet.” protested Ader. “I told you we needed to move slowly.”

  “But ... but that seems a little important to hold back!” shouted the boy.

  “Does it change anything?” asked Ader.

  “I don’t know what it means!” exclaimed Kael.

  “What it means is he has power, great power. The kind of power we need to be wary of.” said Ader. “He has inherited his father’s abilities and is backed by the full power of Amird and Chaos. He has given himself up to Amird as a means for the Deceiver to reenter this world.”

  “Why?” asked Kael.

  “Because he foolishly believes he will share in the power of the Lord of Chaos once this world is conquered.”

  “Foolishly?” asked Granu.

  “Does anyone here believe that Amird would willingly share anything with anybody?” asked Ader. “He was unable to share any recognition with Awoi when he walked this earth. He will not share when he returns. Amird is about total domination. Once Izgra is willingly usurped, his essence will be cast away or forced into complete submission and virtually eradicated from the being known as Izgra.”

  “But the prophecy says the vessel will be removed from his kingdom.” said Vieri.

  “Izgra has been removed from his kingdom.” replied Ader. “He has left Forend and crossed to this world in an effort to help Amird regain a hold here. He murdered Kael’s parents and stole the throne of Astel, corrupting the kingdom into what is now known as Kel Izgra.”

  The Borz furrowed her brow and contemplated these revelations.

  “Surely after all that has happened you still do not believe this fiction concerning Kael?” said Granu.

  The girl’s head shot up and she eyed the giant.

  “How am I to determine what is fiction, giant?!” snapped the girl. “Look at your own people and tell me if you do not see the signs of treason and evil.”

  Granu shut his mouth and clenched his teeth.

  “The Counselor was quite clear in his explanation of the events in the wider world.” continued Vieri. “They made sense.”

  “You met the Counselor?” asked an intrigued Teeg.

  “Yes .... and no.” replied Vieri hesitantly.

  “Did he explain these events to you personally?” asked Ader.

  “No.” said Vieri. “Throughout the years the Counselor only had contact with Rada.”

  Frustration crossed Teeg’s face.

  “Start from the beginning, my dear.” pleaded the Elf. “It’s important.”

  Vieri narrowed her eyes and scanned the group. Finally they settled on Kael and after a long moment she frowned then turned to Teeg.

  “The Counselor first came to Rada when I was but a child.” began the Windrider. “We camped close to the edge of the Great N
agur as was our custom during the summer season. Rada visited the wood alone to hunt. He was gone three days and when he returned a light shown in his eyes and his voice was strong and purposeful.

  He told us that he met someone in the woods, a great man of faith. The man called Rada by name and requested council with the revered leader of the Shan Borz. Rada was cautious at first, but the more the man talked the more he displayed an understanding of the Borz combined with a deep faith in Avra. He bade Rada to call him friend and Counselor , and he would call Rada the same.

  He told Rada that Avra devised a plan for the Borz. The clan’s years of faith and loyalty weren’t in vain. Avra chose to raise them up.

  The fools from the outside world looked upon the Borz as lords of a barren wasteland. They didn’t see the beauty and bounty the desert provided, along with the protection it afforded those brave enough to enter it. The Borz would be rewarded for their ability to make even the most inhospitable of Avra’s creations home. They would be rewarded for their strength and perseverance.

  However, they must first cast away their bickering. The Counselor told Rada that the Borz were a mighty people laid low by their feuds. Rada’s first task was to unite the Borz under one banner. It took my father ten seasons, but when he was through, the Borz were one.”

  “Many leaders were lost in those years.” said Teeg.

  Annoyance crossed the girl’s face.

  “We were given a command from Avra.” stated Vieri. “We removed the clan leaders who refused to follow us.”

  “Killed.” stated Teeg.

  “Replaced.” corrected Vieri. “It was for the good of all the Borz that the stubborn were removed.”

  Teeg frowned and shook his head.

  “Go on.” said the old Elf.

  “The Counselor was correct.” continued the girl. “The tribes united and ended their bickering. The Borz grew and prospered. Battles concerning water rights and land ownership disappeared. We started to settle our differences in tribal meetings. At first, fear of the Shan assassins brought clan leaders to tribal council, but soon they came of their own accord. All had a say and their voices were heard. Clans united and violence waned. Rada blessed the day he met the Counselor.”

  “But you still had never met your benefactor?” questioned Granu.