The Blue Journal (Fantasmagoria Book 1)

by I. B. George

  Rolan interfered in a cheerful voice:

  “And this is how the great Oracle of Konaar failed to foresee Grandma Abigail.”

  Everyone around the table chuckled. Rolan smiled, pleased with himself. He had a gift for loosening the tension with a joke or clownish behaviour every time his friends were upset or preoccupied. As usual, he had achieved once again to unfurrow his friends’ brow, who were overwhelmed by the importance of their mission and the obstacles they were encountering.

  “My friends,” Voras’s reserved voice rang out, “there is one thing I know about the Oracle of Konaar: its prophecies have always come true. The predictions of Lokar, the god of destiny, voiced through the priests at the oracle, have always been true. If indeed the prince’s grandmother had this pouch and she has thrown it away, then this is what Lokar had intended. Maybe it hadn’t been written in the Great Book of Fate that the dust should be with us now… it would have been too easy. When the time is right, Lokar will unravel his plans to us.”

  Those in the room nodded in agreement.

  “Our friend Voras spoke wisely,” said Akura. “Our destiny is in the hands of the gods. What matters is that we are near the walls of Heldor Castle when the time of the prophecy comes, on the fourth phase of the moon.”

  “If you will allow me,” intervened Captain Vidar, who until then had not uttered a word. “The way back will be full of perils. Apart from the Zafaris who have proved their warrior temperament to all of us, we run the risk that the soldiers at the checkpoint for the Misty Passage have been warned about us. Our group could be easily spotted… Tyreas’s troops are probably already waiting for us.”

  “Captain Vidar is right,” said Radius gravely. “One solution would be to separate into two groups, leaving a gap between them so as not to go through the barrier at the same time…”

  Aryana stopped the Professor and opened a paper scroll which had been lying on the table until then, unveiling a map of Fantasmagoria.

  “I believe I have a solution for that,” said the queen as her palms smoothed the map down. “I’m guessing that none of you has heard of Zathar’s Trail right?”

  “I don’t think so,” replied Radius, looking to those around him who confirmed in surprise that they hadn’t heard of such a place.

  Aryana saw the bewilderment on Robert’s face and hurried to answer his silent query.

  “Zathar is the god of the After World, who takes over the souls of those long gone from us. The route I’m suggesting we take to go back to Elementis is called Zathar’s Trail,” said Aryana, pointing on the map.

  Everybody gathered over the map, looking to see the place pointed by the queen.

  “Now we should find out why it’s called Zathar’s Trail,” said Voras who, being the more religious one, was always wary of the gods’ wrath.

  Aryana sighed, looking for words. Then she uttered in a level voice the explanations everybody wanted to hear.

  “I won’t lie… Zathar’s Trail is one of the most dangerous places in Fantasmagoria. Perhaps even more so than the Misty Passage,” she said over everyone’s murmur. “It was discovered during the reign of King Dalmar, my husband’s grandfather. The king wanted to find an alternative to the Misty Passage… a place through where the Khalari spies could reach Elementis without anyone suspecting them.”

  Radius intervened, stroking his white beard:

  “Do you mean to say that the people of Akros send spies to Elementis through this place?”

  “Yes… you must understand that it is imperative we know what happens in the Lower Realm, especially since Tyreas came to power. We have information that sooner or later Tyreas will attempt to conquer the Upper Realm.”

  Aryana noticed the surprised look on the faces of Robert’s companions. If all of this was true, then Tyreas had to be stopped indeed. The whole balance of Fantasmagoria and the interdependence of the people from Elementis and Akros that had lasted for centuries – with the good and the bad – were in danger.

  “Then we must continue our mission. Tyreas mustn’t succeed in his mad machinations,” said Radius, voicing out loud what everyone else thought in their minds. “A sole ruler over the entire realm of Fantasmagoria could lead to tyranny and could halt all the progress that has been made so far in culture, science or art…”

  For a few moments, everybody imagined a world where people were slaves and nobody could say what they thought.

  Finally, Aryana broke the silence that had enveloped the room of their small council.

  “As for the name of the place of passage, going back to our friend Voras’s question, the explanation is a simple one. It’s a small path, one person wide, dug out along a cliff wall that goes as far as Elementis. Except that from place to place, the path is broken. It’s probably because in time the cliff has eroded in those places. That makes the journey through Zathar’s Trail dangerous. We will have to tie ourselves together in order to avoid the danger of falling into the abyss beneath us. Many of our people have lost their lives there, in the arms of Zathar. Some also call it Zathar’s Teeth because from below, the broken path that lies along a part of the cliff resembles a dead skull and looks like a hideous, crooked mouth with no teeth.”

  “Lokar is testing us again, my friends,” said the tight-lipped Voras. “Let the gods’ will be done!”

  “If we have to go through Zathar’s Trail in order to fulfil our destiny, then I could not have wished for more trusted companions to journey with along this perilous place,” added the cheerful Rolan.

  The others smiled. Rolan was right: they had become a unified group, each of them knowing that when in need, they could rely on each other.

  “There is one other problem though,” said Aryana.

  “What other problem, your Majesty?” asked Akura in surprise. “I thought we had one already: Zathar’s Trail.”

  “Hagor…”

  Radius frowned in wonder.

  “What is Hagor? Another dangerous place we need to go through?”

  “No,” answered Aryana. “The road to Zathar’s Trail shouldn’t be a problem. We will go through part of Khalari and my presence will guarantee that nothing bad can happen to us.”

  “Then? What is this Hagor?” queried Robert, intrigued.

  “Half an hour before we reach Zathar’s Trail, we shall enter a wild forest which houses a ferocious beast, very agile and blood thirsty… and which people around there have named Hagor.”

  “Your Lokar is up to mischief, friend Voras,” replied Rolan cheerfully. “I’m beginning to wonder if he really wants us to succeed or has he gathered all of us in one place to make Zathar’s job easier,” he added to everyone’s amusement.

  “It’s true,” chuckled Radius. “The storm, the Shadows, the Demented Forest, the traitor Grodor, the Misty Passage, the Zafaris and now Hagor and Zathar’s Trail… nobody thought our mission would be a walk in the park, but it feels as if the gods want to see how much we can take on. If that’s what’s written in the Great Book of Fate, as Voras says, then we shall overcome all the obstacles that destiny has in store for us.”

  “We will,” agreed Akura. “Tomorrow we need to set off. The third phase of the moon is approaching and so is the end of our journey.”

  “I’ll get everything ready for the road,” said Aryana. “Professor, I could use your help with this. I want to make sure everything is in order for our journey.”

  “Count on me, your Highness. Early dawn tomorrow, when the first cockerel starts singing, I will be at your service. We will need food, water, ropes, horses…”

  “Until tomorrow then, my friends,” said Aryana, getting up from her chair. “It’s getting quite late. Try to get a good rest… there’s a long journey ahead of us. The servants will show you to your rooms. Good night!”

  Everybody stood up then headed for the door, following the queen. The servants who had been waiting in the corridor outside the council room led everyone to their rooms.

  Half an hour later the
castle was drowned in darkness as everyone slept. Only the guards’ shadows lingered on the wall battlements in the pale moonlight.

  There was nothing about the serenity surrounding the castle and everything around that could have foretold the terrible thing which was going to happen the next day.

  Somewhere above, it looked like Lokar was smirking.

  Chapter 8

  Watch Your Steps!

  The first ray of light appeared the next morning, shining through the windows of the Tanaris’ Castle. The guards on top of the castle walls were doing their rounds at a brisk pace so as to keep at bay the slumber that lured them back to sleep at that time in the morning.

  Aryana had woken up early so she could put together what was needed for the journey. Because of her husband’s military campaigns, she was used to getting only a few hours’ sleep a night, which seemed enough to keep her going the next day.

  In their rooms, the seven friends also began to rise, thinking about the next stage of their journey. There were mixed feelings. Some felt the thrill of a new adventure, while others, the quieter ones, were more focused on the dangers they were going to encounter.

  Robert watched through the window, looking forward to the new day. The adventures he has been through and the lands he has crossed since he’d left his grandmother’s home, had prepared him for whatever was coming next. He didn’t get worried anymore and simply enjoyed each day at a time, knowing that everything was going to happen as Lokar wished.

  How strange! Only a while ago he hadn’t even heard of Fantasmagoria and now… so much was imprinted on his mind. He would think about Lokar instinctively, even though he hadn’t even known about him a few weeks ago. Right now, the names of Lokar, Ga’al, Eremon were part of himself, his spiritual legacy.

  He got up from bed, washed his hands and face then changed his clothes. He drew the big curtains at the window in his room and looked at the courtyard, watching the servants running around, busy fulfilling Aryana’s orders.

  Behind the curtains, Robert found himself smiling when thinking about his aunt. He liked this woman because she was the closest link to his family; she had his own blood. He watched her tenderly, thinking how Neri, his mother, must have been as energetic and determined as she was.

  He went out of his room and the two soldiers who had been guarding his door through the night, rushed to take their position. Robert greeted them happily then headed towards the courtyard of Nargor Castle.

  The morning air felt chilly, making him shiver as the first breeze caressed the hair on his neck. He climbed the stairs briskly and went towards Aryana.

  “Good morning, aunt!”

  Checking the reins on her horse, Aryana turned to Robert with a smile and a happy glow in her eyes.

  “Good morning to you too, Robert! Did you sleep well?”

  “I had a great sleep,” he answered, realising for the first time that he did have a deep, dreamless sleep and a good rest as nothing worried him.

  “We’re almost ready. Are the others up yet?”

  “I think so, although I didn’t see any of them on the corridors of the castle.”

  “Could you possibly tell them that breakfast will be served in the big hall? We must get going if we want to cross Zathar’s Trail today, in the daylight.”

  With a short nod, Robert agreed and rushed back on the stairs to look for his friends.

  He knocked on their doors and asked them to come down to breakfast. Akura, who had slept in the Professor’s room, accompanied Robert on his way to Rolan’s room. The prince knocked a few times, expecting to hear footsteps coming towards the door. But there was no sound coming from the other side. Robert knocked again, harder this time.

  At last, Rolan appeared in the door, wild-haired and red-eyed. He looked as though he hadn’t slept at all that night.

  “Rolan, my friend,” uttered Robert, visibly worried at the state of his friend. “Are you all right?”

  Rolan stifled a yawn and ran his fingers through his hair.

  “I am a bit tired. I couldn’t catch a wink all night because of a cricket hidden in some corner of the room. Only in the morning did it go to sleep and I managed to get some rest. I don’t think I slept longer than two hours. Did something happen?”

  “No, nothing. Aryana asked me to tell you that breakfast is ready in the big hall.”

  Rolan felt suddenly wide awake when he heard the word breakfast.

  “Well, Prince, that is good news. I’m as hungry as a wolf. No offence, my friend,” he chuckled, looking at Akura.

  “None taken, Rolan. Sometimes even I’m as hungry as a wolf,” replied Akura slyly.

  The three of them laughed.

  “Hurry up!” called Robert as he went off. “Aryana says we must leave straight after breakfast so we could cross Zathar’s Trail before dark.”

  ***

  By the marble stairs at the entrance to Nargor palace, Volkar Tanaris was whispering something to his wife. Although at the beginning he didn’t approve of Aryana’s plan to join the seven companions, in the end he understood her desire to protect her nephew. After all, he was the last and possibly the most important offspring of the Eremon House.

  “Please take care,” he told her, holding her hands in his. “As for what we talked about… don’t worry, I shall remember. When time comes, I will be there, as we agreed. I hope to see you then.”

  “I have no doubt you’ll keep your word, Volkar Tanaris. May Lokar watch over us, husband, and may Yari guide our steps through the journey.”

  He hugged Aryana to his chest, breathing in the smell of her hair. He watched her, pushing the hair on her forehead away. She placed her cheek in the cup of his palm, closing her eyes for a moment.

  At last she pulled away from his embrace and with a smile headed towards the horses in the middle of the courtyard, where Robert and his companions were waiting, ready to depart.

  Swiftly, she mounted her horse in one movement and caught the reigns to keep it steady as the creature started moving away slowly. She then gazed back at Volkar before heading off quickly, followed closely by the others.

  She felt tears gathering in the corners of her eyes but shook her head to drive away the sadness that came over her.

  Radius and Robert were riding behind Aryana, wanting to give her some time to herself as they instinctively felt her sorrow. Radius realised that for the first time since the beginning of their journey they were riding on the main road, without having to hide. At last, they felt safe after such a long time travelling through forests or avoiding the paths normally used by those living in Fantasmagoria.

  Everywhere they went, they saw smiling faces and people bowing in respect when they saw Aryana Tanaris, the queen of those places. Robert and his friends greeted them in return, enjoying the peace that had been surrounding them ever since they had stepped into Akros.

  “There are two days left until the third phase of the moon, Robert,” announced Radius, turning towards him, their horses trotting along in sync. “I hope we gain a bit more time by going through Zathar’s Trail… the Boundary is a long way away and it will be difficult to go through the Kingdom of Water without being seen.”

  “Yes Professor, I think we will have a peaceful journey. But once in Tyreas’s kingdom, we must be extra cautious.”

  “I’m counting on the fact that the people in the Kingdom of Water don’t approve of their king. I truly hope we shall cross unnoticed but if anyone were to see us, they’ll hopefully keep it to themselves. Still,” added Radius bitterly, “there are zealous people who are never happy to be simple observers and want to go further than that. Some purely for the money, others thinking they’re doing the right thing. Let’s hope however that we will get to the end of our journey and the prophecy will be fulfilled.”

  “I’m worried that we wouldn’t find the blue dust. Without it, all our efforts will be in vain…”

  Although concerned about what Robert was saying, Radius found the strength to answer
in a happy tone, trying to banish negative thoughts:

  “I’m beginning to agree with our friend Voras… things will be set right in the end by Lokar’s will. Maybe one of your people, Your Highness, someone exiled to the Boundary, might know the secret of the Blue Flame. You must keep faith, Robert, don’t lose hope.”

  “I’m not, Professor, it’s just that I would feel much safer if we had the blue dust.”

  “We would all feel safer, prince, I can assure you. I’m worried about Aryana though,” Radius changed the subject. “She seems upset, don’t you think?”

  “I understand this is the first time she’s travelling without Volkar. It’s normal to be sad. Maybe we should ride beside her and make feel less homesick.”

  In answer to that, the Professor bridled his horse to ride faster and went closer to Aryana. Robert did the same and joined them.

  “Beautiful day today, Your Highness,” Radius struck up a conversation. “And allow me to add that this is a truly beautiful and rich kingdom you have, judging by the fertile lands that stretch around us.”

  “Yes, that’s probably true,” replied Aryana absentmindedly.

  “Is there much longer till Zathar’s Trail, Aryana?” intervened Robert.

  “We should be there in an hour, maybe an hour and a half. It takes half an hour from the edge of the forest to Zathar’s Trail.”

  “How long do you think it will take us to cross the Trail, Your Highness?”

  “The road is treacherous… I was hoping to reach Elementis before dusk. We will have to descend carefully and tie ourselves together to be safe. That way, if one of us takes the wrong step, the others would catch them.”

  “That’s a wise decision, Your Highness,” approved Radius. “That’s what we’ll do. What about the horses?”

  “We will release the horses when we get to Zathar’s Trail. They’ll go back to Nargor by themselves, they know the way.”

  “Which means that when we get to Elementis, we would have to walk.”