Demoweir's Rise (Great War Chronicles Book 2)

by Michael Benningfield

  She smiled – her fear from a few moments prior was replaced with anger. She now knew what she had to do. If she could not find a dwarf to do her bidding for her, she would use the skinder clansmen to carry out her orders. One way or another, she would rule this kingdom.

  “If you have not done so, scout the land. You are on the shores of a city named Megh Borim. It is a city of iron workers. They are not fighters, but they are only a day’s ride from Thirndor, where the dragon riders reside. If you have seen dragon riders, then they know you are there. If they have not attacked, it is only because no king is sitting upon the throne right now. Get topside and see what is there. If there looks to be no army – kill everyone in the town, unless they pledge allegiance to me. If any resist, show them no mercy.”

  Metakon heard the orders and smiled. Tross, no doubt, would be happy to listen to the response from their leader. The time was fast approaching, and within days the skinders, dark elves, and cyclopses would wage war against Umuosmar.

  19

  The frigid air stung Sharp’s eyes as he plodded along the dirt path in the woods. Thirndor was only a couple of days’ journey away, and Sharp hoped to make it ahead of the thick ice that would arrive soon. Although snow would soon cover the forest, it was still a vibrant, luscious green, and unassuming to the naked eye.

  Sharp knew better, however, and kept his eyes and ears alert as he continued his trek through the forest. The feeling in the woods was breathtaking to those who chose to travel the dirt roads, and Sharp was no different. Fireflies blinked a vibrant gold as they circled the iron lanterns alongside the road. Birds could be heard from the tops of the trees as they flitted about, gathering everything needed for the winter to come. Even the wind appeared to coo as it moved about, causing small tornadoes of leaves to spring up and travel a few feet before dissipating back to the ground.

  Sharp grinned – Umuosmar was an enchanted land, and his heart had never been happier than when he set foot upon the ground in Thirndor. He was there for only a short time before he journeyed to Vel Boramm, where he eventually made his home.

  As he moved along, he stared at the beautiful arrangement of colors in the forest. Rich browns and dark greens, mixed with the vibrant whites and pinks of flowers that littered the ground between all the trees. His focus was so intent on everything around him that he did not hear the footsteps approaching from behind him.

  “Sharp!” the voice called out.

  Sharp turned to face the on-comer with a look of astonishment.

  “Nanseen! What in the blazes are you doing here?” he was shocked to see the beautiful dwarf jogging toward him. She reached him and stopped to catch her breath before speaking.

  “After you left the tavern, it felt empty and cold. I could not bear to be there alone. So, I grabbed a few essential items and bundled myself up for the arduous journey ahead.”

  “Oh, Nanseen! You should not have – “

  “I do not know what happened in my tavern, Sharp. What I do know is that I feel like my place is next to you,” she paused as she stared at his eyes, “at least for now.”

  Sharp said nothing but nodded his agreement. He already knew that she would play an essential role in the future of Umuosmar, though what that role would be was still unknown to him.

  “Well very well then, Nanseen. I am happy to have the company along this journey to Thirndor.” He held out his small hand, and she took it in hers and smiled. Saddling next to him, she linked her arm within his, and the two began to walk, arm-in-arm, to their destination. Sharp was happy for the distraction and the feeling of peace. He knew peace would not be in Umuosmar for long so he would enjoy it while he still could.

  “The forest is beautiful – don’t you think?” Nanseen said as they walked along.

  “Yes, it is. Made, no doubt, by a creator with an eye for beauty. Much like yourself, Nanseen.” Sharp looked up at the dwarf as they plodded along. Her cheeks held a rosy complexion to them as the cold air filtered into the opening in her shawl and stung her face.

  “You are too kind, Sharp. I am not all that pretty, at least, not enough to be compared to the flowers and other beautiful things in this forest.” Sharp was unsure of what to say, so he stayed silent and took in the beauty of the trees as they followed their course.

  “I have never traveled, Sharp. In fact, I have never seen any other city in Umuosmar. Are they all as brash as Vel Boramm?”

  “Not at all, love. Vel Boramm is the city of excitement, mixture, enchantment and sometimes mystique. It is the city of sailors, traders, and shady dealers. It is the epicenter of both good and bad. You never know what you are getting when you encounter someone in the bustling town.”

  Nanseen grinned – she had never heard anyone describe her town in such a fashion.

  “Sharp, you have a way with words. I really enjoy listening to you talk about, well, everything!”

  “I only describe things as I see them, Nanseen. Now, back to what I was saying. Right now, we are headed to Thirndor. Thirndor is quite the opposite of Vel Boramm. Thirndor is a quaint little town with only one local tavern. The dwarves in Thirndor fall into two categories: those who ride dragons, and those who live with dragons but do not associate with them. You will find that the town is quite breathtaking, but the inhabitants can be very standoffish and brash. Once you make it into the tavern, however, if you have a chance to serve a drink, they will no doubt love you.”

  The two continued their trek for the better part of the day before stopping at a fountain alongside the road to gather fresh water and relax for a bit.

  “Wow! This is beautiful!” Nanseen exclaimed as she stared in awe at the smooth stone fountain.

  “Ah, yes!” Sharp exclaimed. “This fountain marks the halfway point between Vel Boramm and Thirndor. The stones are dyed a dark red so that they give off an almost brown color under the lantern’s light. It makes them blend in with the forest’s background. This fountain, as I hear it, was built by the elves of Omabanise as a gift for the agreement of peace between our two lands. If you look at it closely, you’ll notice a few unique features.”

  Sharp motioned for Nanseen to come closer to the fountain so he could point out a few of the intricate details. She walked over and looked at the fountain from which water flowed through before going back underground to a hot spring.

  “See here,” Sharp pointed at the centerpiece of the fountain, “the elves worship water as the life force of all things. Though they practice magic, they believe that water is what brings life more than anything else. This is why the centerpiece of the fountain is an elf holding a barrel above his head, with the water flowing out of the barrel. The longbow is the weapon of choice of most elves, though some prefer daggers. A blade does not make a great carving for a fountain, however. But the longbow, if you notice, is carved out and as the water exits the barrel, it flows down the wood of the longbow before entering the water.”

  “I see,” Nanseen said as she placed her hands on the outer edges of the fountain’s ledge. “Everything they do is with a purpose then?” she inquired.

  “Yes, as is everything that anyone does whether they realize it or not. However, the bond does not stop at the elf carved out of the stone. See here,” he pointed to the bottom of the fountain, which was easily seen due to the clearness of the water – “the inner lining of the fountain is a dragon carved from the stone. The tail of the dragon circles the tank before coming out to show the dragon’s body. If you circle around the fountain, you will notice that the stone that the elf is standing with his back against is actually the dragon’s body and not random rock. The head of the beast is facing outward, with a dwarf standing on the dragon’s head. It is a symbol of vigilance. Water gives life to the elves, and the dwarves use the wind to protect the realm from the backside of dragons.”

  Nanseen circled the fountain shook her head as she took in all the detail.

  “Whoever made this beautiful piece of work did so with masterful hands. It is spectac
ular! Where does the water feed in from, Sharp?”

  “From here,” he pointed to a couple of holes between the toes of the dragon’s feet. “The water comes from a hot spring that runs underground. It comes up here and flows out between the stones in the back. It looks on the surface as if the water simply sits here, but it does not. It flows from underground, through the fountain, back out and to the stream on the top. It reaches the larger lake, which is quite warm, and apparently circles back which tells me that the spring’s entrance is underground.”

  The two continued to admire the spring as they rested their aching feet from the long walk. They were just about to pack up their utensils and pursue their journey when Sharp spotted what appeared to be two dwarves, an elf, and a leolf walking up the dirt path toward them.

  “Nanseen – stay behind the fountain and out of sight as best you can. I sense something dangerous coming upon us.”

  Although she was tempted to peek around the fountain to see what it was that startled Sharp, she obeyed his orders and stayed behind the fountain.

  The leolf spotted Sharp before anyone else and let out a familiar growl. The beast could sense immediately that Sharp was a kindred spirit, unlike Avalore and his companions.

  “Ho there!” Avalore called out with a wave as the men approached Sharp.

  “Can I help you?” Sharp asked in a flat tone, not giving away that he could see through the façade of Vailir and Naideth. Though they had no idea of just how powerful Sharp was, they would soon find out.

  “Well, we are on a journey right now. Heading to Vel Boramm in search of an old friend.” Avalore smiled.

  “Oh, well you only have about another day’s venture until you are there. It is quite cold in the city right now. The wind is blowing in eastwardly and has made for some very crisp air. I do not recommend being anywhere near the ocean.”

  “Yes, we hope to get there before it is too cold to be outside. If you came from Vel Boramm, you might know the man we are looking for. He goes by the name Sharp. I have a gift for him from an old friend of his.” Avalore looked from Vailir to Naideth.

  “What kind of gift is it? I am not great with names, but I love seeing the handiwork of others.”

  “Actually – that may help me very much. You see, the man named Sharp made this gift. It was given to the leader of the Storm Rider’s. You have no doubt heard his name before. It is Fogrolir. Anyway, I am returning the gift and requesting that this man comes with us to go back to Thirndor. His help is very much needed.”

  “Well, then indeed I may be of service as my specialty is recognizing the handiwork of others. If this man you seek made the trinket you are carrying, I may know who he is and where to find him. May I see it?”

  Avalore brought out the belt and held it in his hands. Sharp reached up and took the belt and examined it.

  “No doubt,” he began, “if Fogrolir told you to find the man that made this – he also said that the man that made this would kill you without hesitation if you tried to cause him any harm.”

  The brothers looked at one another as they realized that Sharp no doubt knew that they were not dwarves. Without hesitation, the two brothers released their dwarven form and attacked Sharp. They never stood a chance. The older brother charged forward with a hidden blade in hand. He swung at Sharp, only to have Sharp dodge his arm before grabbing his head and snapping his neck. He fell to the ground with a thud – the blade fell from his hand and rolled in the dirt. It came to a stop a few feet from the skinder’s body.

  The younger brother did not charge directly at Sharp. Instead, he conjured a ball of energy from thin air into his arms. Though the power appeared to come from out of nowhere, Sharp knew the truth: the Chaotic was using an ancient magic to form his attack.

  “I have waited a long time for this, Sharp. My brother may have been foolish to charge you, but I know better. You will not escape my magic!”

  The skinder spun in a circle and released the ball of energy as he came back around to face Sharp. The electrical blast shot at Sharp, but just as it reached him, it stopped. Sharp smiled and held out his hand. The ball dissipated as if a higher power commanded it to do so. Naideth – his face in utter shock, began to step backward as he planned to retreat.

  Sharp examined the glowing sphere of energy –

  “Hmm – electricity, water, and atmospheric gasses. You mean to disintegrate me with this, Naideth?”

  The skinder’s eyes widened with shock as the sudden realization that Sharp not only knew what he was – but who he was, set in.

  “I…I…am doing what my master commands of me!” he tried to conjure another ball of energy but found his ability to do so was gone.

  Sharp continued to look over the ball of energy as it levitated in front of him, waiting to be commanded.

  “Avalore, I do not know what you have gotten yourself into, but I can assure you of one thing. If you do not turn from your ways and return to Thirndor to help those that actually love you, you will die soon. Just…like…him!”

  As soon as Sharp pointed at the skinder, the ball of energy launched itself at the skinders head. Instead of hitting the creature, it entered his mouth and traveled down his throat and into his stomach. Naideth stood in shock for a second before crying out in pain as his stomach began being ripped apart.

  “One other thing, Avalore. You should probably duck.”

  “Why should I –…”

  He never finished the sentence as Naideth’s body exploded into hundreds of pieces. Bits and pieces of his body flew all about the immediate forest. Blood covered Avalore’s clothing and part of his face as his body began to shake. He had never been so scared before in his life.

  The skinders head – separated from the rest of his body but still intact – flew straight up into the air and came crashing down to the earthen floor. It landed next to his brother Vailir.

  The leolf, unfazed by all the events, circled around Avalore and stood over the body of Vailir and the head of Naideth. The beast raised its leg and relieved itself, before hiking the severed head of Naideth between its hind legs and into the forest. It let out a howl and turned to face Avalore.

  “Avalore – unless you wish to die today, I sincerely suggest you listen to my direction. Flee from here and never return. If I see your face before I arrive in Thirndor, I will kill you.”

  Avalore did not need any prodding. He turned and began to run down the dirt path, completely unaware of the blood that dripped from his hair and coat onto the street. The blood would eventually attract another beast, such as a lycan. Sharp did not care for he already knew that a plan was set into motion that no one could stop.

  “Shh…shh…Sharp?” Nanseen’s timid voice stuttered. “Is it safe to come out now?”

  “Yes, my love, it is safe to come out.” Sharp turned back toward the fountain and waited for Nanseen to emerge from the shadows.

  Nanseen stepped out, and Sharp realized immediately that a piece of the skinder landed on her, as she had blood on her hands and face.

  “Oh, my dear!” he cried out as he hurried over to her. “I am so sorry! I never meant for anything to happen to you. Here, let me wash it off.”

  He reached for her hand to help her but she pulled away from him. She was scared, and it showed in her eyes.

  “What did you do, Sharp? Why are those men dead?” She stood and waited for him to answer, though she could see that he was fighting for a sufficient explanation.

  “Remember the island I told you that I come from? The Island of Skinder? These two are skinders, much like myself. However, they are called Chaotic Skinders. They are part of a clan of skinders that are known for their violence. They serve the false goddess called a Demoweir. Anything she wants, they provide. It does not matter what it is. If she wants someone dead, they will stop at nothing to kill the person.”

  Nanseen nodded her understanding as she looked at the body of Vailir. She placed her hands into the water of the fountain and began to remove the bloo
d.

  “What do they want with you, Sharp? You are a skinder. How does someone such as myself know that you are not one of them? How do I know that you are not a rogue skinder that is killing off the good ones?”

  She turned and faced Sharp – she studied his face as she waited for an answer. Her heart told her that Sharp was incapable of being violent unless it was for a good cause, but her mind questioned everything.

  “Nanseen, I cannot explain everything to you right now. If you wish to know what part I play in this charade, then you must accompany me to Thirndor. There, you will learn more than you ever thought possible. All I can tell you is that I am not the enemy. I am the one thing standing in the way of destruction in Umuosmar.”

  “So, what are you then? Are you like a god? Are you the kind god that battles the evil goddess?”

  “Something like that, Nanseen. Continue with me to Thirndor and all will be revealed when the time is right to do so.

  Nanseen agreed, and so the two packed up their things and continued their trek to the beautiful city of Thirndor. A leolf, no longer loyal to Avalore, followed alongside the two and provided a backside ride when the two were too tired to continue the journey on their feet. Sharp prayed to his own master – he knew destruction was headed their way and that not many would survive.

  20

  Skalmaena arrived in Megh Borim and spent the entirety of the day explaining to the cities inhabitants why their city would soon be set ablaze. She urged the dwarves to load any iron or other precious metals they could find into carts to travel alongside the dwarves in their journey to Thirndor. As she made her rounds through the city, she hoped that her companions were having as much luck in Gornfurum.