The Blue Journal (Fantasmagoria Book 1)

by I. B. George

  Anyway, even those who lost intentionally couldn’t spoil the king’s good mood, even when he was aware that sometimes his competitors didn’t use their full ability when throwing the javelin. The king admonished them laughing, waving his finger at them and, in return, they would pretend not to understand why they were being rebuked.

  Gradually, as Elian came into the courtyard, the good mood started to subside. The sorcerer had this gift of raising hate, fear or repulsion amongst those who laid eyes on him.

  Elian passed through the courtiers untroubled, moving his gait proudly and gazing coldly at those around him who rushed to bow their heads fearfully.

  Elian approached Tyreas and whispered a few words into his ear. The king nodded, signing that he understood what the sorcerer had told him, then raised himself up from his throne that stood somewhere to the left of the courtyard.

  “That’s enough for today, my friends. We will resume another day. Right now I need to attend to urgent business that requires my presence elsewhere!” Tyreas called.

  They headed towards the gardens of the palace, while many of the courtiers who had come for the tournament started making their way home.

  Once in the corner of the garden, away from prying eyes, Elian started talking:

  “King Tyres, I have been watching Prince Eremon and his companions, as you ordered. The World’s Mirror showed me that your enemies have crossed the checkpoint at the Misty Passage and are headed towards Akros.”

  “Akros?!” the king exclaimed in surprise. “I expected them to head to the land where the exiles of the Kingdom of Fire are banished, not the Upper Realm. What business could they possibly have there? Are they looking for allies among the wild people of Akros?”

  “That, I don’t know. Anyway, this diversion could be to our advantage.”

  “How?”

  “If they are indeed looking for allies among the tribes who live in the Upper Realm, they could be wasting precious time, and there’s not that long left until the prophecy is due. As you know, the second phase of the moon has passed already.”

  “I fear the Professor is up to something. He’s an extremely calculating person”, mused Tyreas.

  “Let’s assume he will look for help among the Khalari, Hekar or Dal’al. He will still be wasting a lot of time convincing one of these nations to join the prince’s fight. Especially since the rules imposed after the war in the kingdoms of Elementis were not exactly popular in Akros.”

  “That’s right. They were largely isolated from the rest of the world and forced to live within the borders of the Upper Realm.”

  “Whatever Radius is planning, it’s to our advantage. Even if he manages to convince one of these peoples to take part in fulfilling the prophecy, it could take a long time. The protocol of being received in any of the courts in the Upper Realm is a long and difficult one, considering that the people of Akros don’t feel very kindly towards those from Elementis.”

  “You might be right, sorcerer. Little Eremon’s diversion could have beneficial consequences to us.”

  “I’m certain of that, great king.”

  “Very well, sorcerer. I will give orders immediately to supply the garrison at the Misty Passage. I shall send ten times the number of soldiers in order to be able to face any potential troops from Akros. And on this occasion we can also catch the prince as he returns from the Upper Realm.”

  “Where will you find that many soldiers, great king?”

  “I’ll use the ones who guard the border of that frozen land, where the… Eremon’s people live”, said the king, emphasising with disgust Robert’s family name. “Anyway, nothing has happened there in years. Those cowards have given up.”

  “Do you think that’s wise, King Tyreas?”

  “The outpost we have at the border is enough for those weaklings in the Kingdom of Fire”, said the king determinedly. “I’ll give the orders straight away.”

  Elian nodded in agreement with the king’s decision.

  “Has the prince reached Akros?” asked Tyreas.

  “Not yet. They just crossed the checkpoint today. The road through the Misty Passage takes almost two days. Soon they will be starting their climb through the fog that hides half of the passage and I won’t be able to see them anymore.”

  “As long as they are in Akros and away from the Kingdom of Water, they present no threat. Keep watching them. I want to know if the prince decides to head towards us.”

  “I’ll do that”, said Elian in a drab voice.

  He then bowed and went away slowly and quietly as a shadow.

  ***

  The first rays of sun welcomed the arrival of morning caressing the eyelids of the seven travellers with their warmth. You could see the checkpoint down in the valley, as well as the bustle of merchants getting ready to cross into Akros. You could hear the commander calling out orders to the soldiers in preparation for the new day.

  Above, thick clouds of mist enveloped the path leading to the Upper Realm, hiding the road from sight.

  Robert woke up first, cheered up by the warmth of the sun which glided quickly across the horizon. He stood up and went over to the edge of the abyss that opened beneath him and looked over at the display unveiling in front of his eyes.

  The air was as clear as dew and Robert breathed it in greedily while enjoying the splendour of the valley. The woods were green and the trees swayed their canopies and let their tops be caressed by the warm wind.

  Somewhere in the distance, you could see the city walls of Bakar and the crowds of people, smaller than ants, bustling around the gates.

  He turned to his friends and watched them as they slept. His thoughts rushed back to the new mission they had to accomplish and was glad – for the millionth time – to have beside him a handful of loyal people helping him through all these trials. He was far from home and he couldn’t imagine how else he could have done it without their help.

  It had been some time since he last thought of his home in the village, his friends or his grandma… yes, especially grandma Abigail. He tried to imagine the suffering he must have caused her when he left without even saying goodbye. He was hoping with all his heart to see her again one day, although that day could come later or might not come at all.

  A cold sweat ran down his spine as he contemplated this implacable thought, which seemed to crush any trace of hope that someday he would return home.

  He shook his head: now wasn’t the time to be sentimental. He had to fulfil the purpose of his destiny because not just his fate was at stake, but that of his people who had to endure the horrors of war and the exile they had been forced to accept.

  He was on his way back towards the side of the road, still watching the sunrise, when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw the Professor looking at him with warmth in his eyes.

  “Good morning, Robert! You’re up early.”

  “Good morning, Radius! Yes, I’ve been awake for almost an hour. I let the rest of you get more rest since we have such a difficult journey ahead. I had a look earlier on at the path that stretches into the mist… it looks frightening.”

  “Don’t be afraid. Azar has been on the road to Akros before. He knows what to do. I’m more worried about the dangers we might encounter on our way that Master Azar didn’t want to divulge.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m not entirely sure”, replied Radius honestly. “All I know is that Azar seemed troubled about something. He probably doesn’t want to worry us because from what I could understand, his words implied that we might not have to face that danger.”

  Behind them, the travelling companions started waking up one by one. The first to stretch his arms was Captain Vidar who jumped up to his feet sprightly despite being the oldest in the group. Rolan opened one eye first, but the sunlight made him close it quickly again and he turned over with his back to the bright star above the horizon.

  Akura got up with a yawn and stretched his forepaws.r />
  “Good morning”, he said, addressing Robert and Radius who were now clearing up. “Ready to go?”

  “Of course, Akura. Let’s hope there won’t be any problems so we can be in Akros tomorrow morning. We should eat something before leaving. We have a long and difficult journey ahead.”

  “How right you are, Professor. I’m as hungry as a… wolf”, said Akura with a chuckle.

  “I’m sure you are”, laughed Radius too.

  They took out the provisions prepared by Quilar and started eating slowly, then quenched their thirst with a few gulps of their water. Al last, they felt full and ready for their journey.

  “Let’s go, friends!” called Radius from the cart seat.

  Vidar led the way and Azar followed at the back of their little convoy.

  “We will have to get rid of the cart and the wine barrels once we reach the mist. We will be able to move much quicker if we throw all that into that gulf beneath.”

  “I agree, Professor”, said Azar from the back. “We will need to able to move fast if necessary.”

  The fog started enveloping them slowly, making it harder and harder for them to get their bearings. At some point, Radius called out to Vidar to stop. Vidar pulled the reins of his horse, blocking the others from moving forwards.

  Radius climbed off the cart and went to his horse which was tied up at the back. They took out the weapons from the hiding place inside the axle and from behind the wine barrels, making sure they didn’t leave anything behind.

  They untied the horses from the cart and send them off with a few slaps on the back. As the others in the group were calling out, the horses started ahead, manes fluttering in the wind.

  Rolan, Vidar, Azar and Radius pushed the cart from behind, moving it step by step towards the edge of the road. The front wheels left the side of the path and the vehicle balanced precariously on the edge of the abyss underneath. Eventually, the cart crashed over the side of the road while the barrels lurched towards the front, hastening its drop. A few moments later, a deafening noise, magnified by the echo of the gorge rang out at the bottom of the passage.

  Radius mounted and signed to Azar – who had taken the lead – that they were ready to continue. Tapping him gently with the heels of his boots, Azar urged his horse forward. The horse snorted and started obediently on its way.

  ***

  They had been travelling for almost an hour through the dense fog that engulfed the upper side of the passage. All this time they met only two other convoys of traders who advanced carefully, wary of the precarious road ahead.

  From time to time, Azar, who was riding at the front, would call through the silence “Travellers!” in order to warn those coming from the opposite way of their presence.

  The fog was so thick that you could barely see the horses’ hooves. Azar recalled the first time he’d been on this road, when he had been one step away from losing his life in the abyss that bordered the passage.

  By walking carefully, he had managed to memorise almost every corner along the path leading to Akros, which turned out to be of great help today when he needed to protect his friends from the traps of the passage.

  Used to the bustle of towns and the hubbub in castles, Azar was overcome by a strange feeling in this place where he could almost hear the others’ thoughts. He didn’t like this silence, which gave him a bad feeling. He couldn’t stop sensing that something was going to happen and if this feeling had anything to do with the secret he hadn’t shared with the others, then things were going to take a turn for the worse.

  “By all gods”, he heard himself exclaiming. “Luck has to be on our side. The Oracle has never been wrong before and it would be a real disaster if that were to happen to us now. Robert must succeed… for himself, for his people and for the future of everybody in Elementis.”

  He thought he could hear a noise coming from somewhere on the left of the passage wall. He strained his eyes, trying to scan through the fog around, but couldn’t distinguish anything. He restrained his horse, wishing with all his heart to leave this cursed Misty Passage as quickly as possible.

  They were advancing quietly, guiding their horses with great skill, knowing that a single moment of distraction could be fatal. Judging by the bright sunlight that glowed through the mist around them, they guessed it must have been around noon.

  It was beginning to get warm but that didn’t help dispel the haze which continued to swathe them like a shroud.

  Azar heard another sound which made him reach for his sword. He hated the sounds that kept coming from somewhere near them. He had this feeling that dozens of eyes were watching them from the mist, some unseen enemies waiting for the right time to pounce.

  Behind him, the companions gathered gradually around Robert. They had also heard the noises and their only thought was to protect the young prince.

  Radius’s mind was still preoccupied with the talk he’d had with Azar about the danger that might come upon them from the murkiness of the passage. Knowing that the apprehension he’d seen on the face of the Master of Weapons was a hint of the seriousness of their adversary, made him even more vigilant than usual.

  His thoughts darted to King Tyreas and he wandered what he was planning this time to try and stop them. What else could it be then, if not some new obstacle sent by him?

  The atmosphere was tense. This journey, on a road without a visible end, made them feel as if they were heading towards the end of the world, and the noises they heard around them in the past hour magnified the strain. Everyone’s senses were stretched to the limit and their palms started sweating around their weapons.

  Aware of the noises around them, Azar was scrutinising the fog in search of unseen enemies. He felt responsible for the safety of his small group of friends. In his memory, there still lingered a similar incident that had happened during the time when he had travelled here before.

  He could still recall the moments of horror he had been through when trying to face those unseen enemies. It was his dexterity in handling weapons that saved him that day when all his other companions perished.

  His friends’ screams, powerless against these invisible warriors, still rang out in his ears. He had watched them fall to the ground one by one, while covering his retreat. They had defended him to the last man, as he was the most important member of the group in his role as messenger of the Queen Mother.

  Now he had the same mission to accomplish: to defend Robert at any cost for as long as the prophecy of the Oracle of Konaar depended on him. He gripped his sword again, ready to pull it out of its sheath at any moment and defend the young prince’s life against any danger.

  The silence was dreadful, broken only from time to time by the warning calls of the other merchants who had ventured into the mist along the passage.

  Judging by the weakening sunlight gliding over to the West, they had been going for several hours. The time they had spent on this side of the passage seemed like an eternity because of the dense fog and the surrounding silence. It felt as if not even the wind dared venture here, afraid to blow away the horror and mystery that were felt each step of the way.

  Nobody dared to speak, so as not to be heard by any potential attackers, afraid to break that unseen tie with luck, which had been protecting them so far.

  The darkness enclosed them all of a sudden, creeping along the winding path and engulfing the passage in its black trap.

  Azar knew that once night descended, the danger increased. On the one hand because of the harsh travelling conditions but on the other, because of the enemies who were bound to be watching nearby.

  It was a well-known fact that fighting became even more difficult under the shelter of darkness. Sometimes, the number of assailants was irrelevant because victory could easily be claimed by either of the two participants in the conflict.

  Azar was hoping that the night would go by without any surprises and they would reach Akros that morning. Once there, they would be beyond any danger as they
would be under the protection of the person they were going to meet.

  The call of an owl travelled through the silence, making the little group shiver. Surely this cry could not be a good omen.

  For Azar, however, an owl calling in these desolate surroundings meant something entirely different. He had heard the same cry may years ago and he knew that it marked the moment when the enemy hiding in the day was going to attack.

  “Zafaris!” he shouted. “Close the ranks around the prince!”

  ***

  Among the peoples of Akros, there reigned an unwritten law which stated that anyone who had, beyond any shadow of doubt, committed acts of cowardice, must be banished from the Upper Realm.

  All three tribes, Khalari, Hekar and Dal’al held courage in high esteem and cowardice was regarded as a stigma that could never be erased, leaving a permanent mark on the face of those who were considered thus.

  The exiled had to leave Akros and look for a new place to live their life. Elementis was not an option for this kind of people because after the peace that reigned many ages ago, the warriors of the Upper Realm were not well received on these lands.

  The first to be banished found shelter in the caves which lined the steep wall of the Misty Passage. Through the years, their tribe had become larger, numbering at one point over a thousand souls.

  Entire generations had been born, lived and died in this place, which had now become the home of those who had been banished. They took on the name of Zafari, a word that meant the ‘unwanted’ in Akros and had turned this name into a fearful warning to those who ventured into the Misty Passage.

  With time, they had connected their caves through an intricate system of bridges hidden among the fog around the passage, which allowed them to make contact. They had adapted well to the conditions in the passage and they were able to get their bearings very accurately in the gloom of the Misty Passage.