Until now I had not known what to really expect, and although I have no love for the north I could not help feeling sickened by what I was seeing. Oh, I have seen death on many different occasions, and in many different guises, but never like this. Having no control, and no power to change the outcome of one’s potential death was one of my greatest fears, and as I watched the weapons of men do nothing to deter the Bane Demon from its gruesome task, I realised my fear was made real…This was no longer a battle, it was a massacre!
How long I watched horror below me I cannot say, but all of a sudden, the light around us began to waver and brought me to my senses. I turned to Jaramel just as Baram cheered aloud as another fifty or so northerners were engulfed by a second blast of the Demon’s breath. The apprentice was standing as he had before, but this time his arms were visibly shaking. It was as if he was straining to hold a great weight above his head. Out of concern, I edged nearer the mage to better my view. Upon doing so, I saw that it was not only his arms but also his whole upper body that shuddered uncontrollably.
“Jaramel?” I asked uneasily.
With seemingly great effort, Jaramel turned his head to mine and cast me a look through green flames.
“Can’t….hold …much……longer…” he managed to say forcibly.
I turned worriedly back to the battlefield. The Bane Demon still looked to be under restraint, it had somehow managed to find itself what appeared to be a part of a catapult and was currently using it with great effectiveness to strike down many more of Vorgannon’s army.
“Then stop,” I said turning back, “you have done enough, we shall ask the Galvian to signal the reinforcements.”
The look that was returned was almost as pleading, as it was chilling.
“It…will not…let me…” came the unnerving reply.
Whether through strain, exhaustion, or sheer lack of magical power, Jaramel’s condition then began to worsen. His eyes rolled back in his head, and the contortions he was suffering spread to his legs. He looked like a frail twig in a ferocious storm, desperately trying to keep himself upright, whilst at the same time fighting to keep the Soul Crystal aloft. Reaching out a hand I moved to provide some stability for the boy, but quickly withdrew it as soon as it came into contact with the scorching coat of unnatural flames that he wore. There was nothing I could do except to look on helplessly.
It was then when I heard it. It came as clear as day is to night, a single sound that silenced all others, it was as if all other noises had been taken from the world just so this one sound could be heeded, it was what had concerned me from the beginning, it was the unmistakable snap of a chain breaking!
But no sooner had the sound reached my ears when Jaramel suddenly fell limply forwards. The fire that had once encased him vanished before my eyes, and whether by his own magic or if by some other means, the Soul Crystal floated gently to the earth and came to rest just a few paces away.
As I held onto Jaramel’s head whilst lowering his stiff body to the ground, his eyelids flickered open. But no longer were there flames of red or green to be seen; Instead there was only blackness, I found myself eerily staring at my own reflection, as soulless eyes gazed back at mine
“I …am sorry,” strained Jaramel weakly, “I… have failed….”
“TARAGON!” it was Baram shouting from somewhere behind, and his voice had great urgency to it.
“No,” I returned gently, “you have saved us all,” I smiled.
“It’s coming!” yelled Baram again, “it’s definitely heading this way!”
Jaramel returned my grin. I think it was the only time I had ever seen him genuinely smile and mean it.
“Thank ..you…Mr…..” the apprentice spoke no more when his head rolled lifelessly back into my arms.
“Call me Taragon,” I whispered back, then in silent prayer, I closed his eyes and rose to face Baram.
As I neared the weaponsmith, I saw that he was staring past me and towards the spot where Jaramel’s body lay.
“Jaramel!” he questioned in disbelief… I shook my head. Baram lowered his own.
Leaving him to his moment of grief, I peered over the edge of the Eye and immediately wished I had not. The Bane Demon was indeed approaching, and apparently, nobody had mentioned to it that this was supposed to be an unassailable cliff face! With a cold chill in my bones, I turned back to Baram.
“Quickly, you and the Galvian make for the tunnel!” I urged.
“But I can help…” insisted the weaponsmith, and began searching for the battleaxe he had thrown to the ground.
Outstretching a hand, I stopped him by placing it calmly upon his shoulder and looking him squarely in the eye.
“Not this time you old bear!” I said sympathetically
Baram gave the impression that he was about to argue further but merely lowered his head.
“Damn fool!” he said compassionately, “what will you do?”
I shook my head whilst weighing the validity of the question.
“I’ll think of something,” I grinned, “Now go!”
Through a weak smile, Baram clasped my shoulder one last time, then with the Galvian in tow moved off in the direction of the tunnel.
Watching them go I suddenly felt a presence of overwhelming evil emanating from behind. Spinning on my heels I half expected to see the Demon standing by my side, but gratefully it had not yet appeared. With my feet refusing to check on the Demon’s progress, I quickly sought the object of my desire.
“Be careful Mr Stein…the Soul Crystal is as fragile as glass.” With Jaramel’s earlier warning echoing in my ears, and with one eye upon the cliff’s edge, I ran towards the Crystal’s light. But my plans were suddenly waylaid when the emergence of an immense three-fingered clawed hand slammed heavily into the ground before me.
I had no time for this! Through fear and sheer determination, it took just a second to ready my muscles before leaping over the clawed fist, and diving head first along the ground until I felt the shaft of the Soul Crystal satisfyingly within my grasp. Moving quickly and awkwardly to stand, I tried my best to ignore the bone-shaking roar that followed, after finding that I had nowhere to run, I turned triumphantly whilst holding my prize aloft.
What I faced would stay in my nightmares forever, but since I was sure I was about to die, it did not bother me too deeply. Ironic really, after despising my father for all those years for throwing his life away in the name of the south, and here I was, the noble Taragon Stein about to do the very same thing!
The beast too large to enter the Galvian Eye was regarding me with the same look a predator would use on its prey. Standing just out of range from its talon like claws, I felt the same security that one would feel plummeting towards his own death. For seconds that seemed like hours, I stood there, lost, terrified, unable to move, and trapped within a world that contained nothing more than myself and the Demon before me. But just as day becomes night, and night into day, a change took place when the fiend tilted its horned head back in readiness to blow forth its deadly breath. It was in that moment of hesitation, that moment of release when I somehow managed to find strength enough to bring the Crystal down towards the earth with all the speed and might of my arm…
In the very next instance, I was engulfed by a fiery green explosion that lifted me off my feet, and sent me forcibly onto the rocks behind. As pain numbed my senses and dulled my mind, the last thing I remember seeing before slipping into grateful unconsciousness, was the sight of a single silver arrow blazing its way across the heavens above…
The first sight to greet me when I managed to open my eyes was the closeness of Baram’s bearded face, smiling insanely.
“By Thundar’s hammer you’re alive!” said the bearded giant enthusiastically, whilst shaking my shoulders vigorously with his huge hands. This did little to convince me otherwise, since my body felt like it had been turned inside out, and my brain felt as if it would burst!
“What happened?” I managed
to say as my hand moved to my head to check it was still attached.
“What happened!” said Baram excitedly, “What happened? …The damned bravest thing I ever did see, that’s what happened!
Baram tilted his head off in one direction. “You don’t remember?” he asked.
Hazy images of a battlefield, green light, and something that should not be remembered rushed in to fill in the empty gaps in my head.
“The Bane Demon!” I said aloud.
“Gone!” replied Baram “It vanished when you destroyed the Crystal, simply disappeared, just like that. Although for a moment there I was worried. You seemed to be standing still doing nothing for an awfully long time.”
“Sorry, it could not be done any quicker for you,” I quipped back.
“That’s ok,” replied Baram unexpectedly, “at least the day is ours,” he grinned.
“It is?” I asked suddenly remembering Vorgannon and his army of the north.
Baram nodded. “Taragon it was magnificent! Trevlock signalled the Galvians to join battle near to the rear of the valley. Of course by that time that Demon had sent so much of the northern army into disarray the enemy did not know whether to fight or flee, and when another army appeared from the southern entrance to the valley and joined with those within the city, well, the combined force of the two swept across the valley floor like a breeze upon a corn field! I’ve been watching the whole thing for hours, but there’s little more to see now, not since the north were chased from the field.”
“Hours,” I suddenly repeated, “how long have I been out?”
“At least four,” returned Baram “We tried to wake you, but it was impossible. Trevlock said it would be best to let you recover at your own speed.”
I groaned at the thought of being unconscious for so long, then held up a hand requesting Baram’s aid. “Help me to my feet will you, I want to make sure I still have legs to stand on.”
Through a dizzy head, and legs that felt as strong as corn stalks, I stood with Baram’s help. Now upright, but not yet mobile, I was able to take more note of my surroundings than I could have five minutes ago.
“And where is our Galvian friend?” I asked.
“Oh! He went to fetch a stretcher for Jaramel. We thought his return to the City would be more comfortable that way.”
Jaramel! In my state of mind, I had totally forgotten about the young apprentice’s demise. Looking across the flat of the eye I saw the outline of his body in the same place where he had fallen. As I looked upon the sorrowful sight, my own sufferings were felt no more. The young man had died before he had hardly time to live, and I never had the chance to pay him back for the life debt I owed him. “Perhaps in the next life young Jaramel.” Turning back to Baram I had to wonder what he was thinking.
“I think he’s hardly concerned about his level of comfort, do you?”
Baram looked to the body and back again.
“You don’t?” he asked confused.
“BARAM HE’S DEAD!” I returned in desperation. “It would be better for you to just carry him to his horse.”
Again Baram looked to Jaramel, and then back again. But this time a smirk was formed all over his bearded face.
“Well granted he is as stiff as a board, and he cannot move, but I think it’s mean of you to call him dead when he still breathes.”
This news hit me like a thunderbolt, I must have mirrored an expression that the village idiot would have been proud of.
“He…lives?” I asked in disbelief. Baram nodded, then grinned like a maniac.
The only time I had been grateful for my Moonglow enhanced finger, was when I used its light to illuminate the faintest glow of a fiery flame, deep within the pupils of Jaramel’s open eyes.
“Well young master Jaramel,” I said out of the deepest respect while stooping low over his inert body, “It appears we shall both live to die another day.”
As Jaramel only blinked in answer, I noticed the broken, blackened remains of the staff of Baros on the ground to one side. The shaft of the artefact had broken in two, and only fragments of the Soul Crystal’s lifeless glass remained still attached. As I stretched to collect the remnants of the once powerful weapon, I held them over the mage so he could see.
“I do hope this means I shall still get my reward…” I grinned.
Epilogue:
Exquisite…how is it that some of the best things in life are generally the easiest to obtain. With steaming scented waters washing all over my aching limbs and blistered feet, I reflected on past events that had led me to sitting in this bath.
As clear as day I envisioned the bar fight, the sword fight, and the fight with Wolverns again. I remember being chased, shot at, and nearly smothered to death by something I still do not understand. I had met with Kings and travelled deep into the warring north. I had my life drastically shortened by a week and lost a fortune in wealth by destroying a priceless artefact, oh and I had also sent a demon back to whatever hell it came from… and what did I have to show for it all? A glowing index finger, five hundred gold, and more bruises and scars than I care to remember. I gazed down at the illuminated depths of my bathtub and sighed, at least the riding gloves I had purchased would come in handy.
The last leg of our journey had been our triumphant return to the City of Ranak-lore, and this, thanks to King Crowmach, was completed with a wagon for Jaramel’s comfort, and a small accompaniment of Galvian warriors as an escort. I recall being quite surprised to see Luka already waiting for us upon our arrival at the eastern gate, although I should not have really.
The King’s curious advisor and master wizard had offered us great praise and thanks for our achievements before taking Jaramel into his care. But I had cared not for his kind words, with all thoughts of war, wizards, and demons exhausting my mind, I found the only deliberations left fit to contemplate were where I was going to find enough gold to buy my beer, my women, and my bath! Thankfully Luka had the foresight to solve this dilemma of mine, by graciously bestowing upon me my reward before he departed, it was almost as if he had known my thoughts? That had been three weeks hence, and now the time had come to get out of this bath and meet with Baram to say my final farewells.
As I strolled along the same cobbled streets that would eventually take me to Baram’s home, I noticed that nothing noteworthy had changed within the City’s walls. Shops were still open, merchants still performed for the benefit of coin, and the general populace, still hurried back and forth whilst engrossed in their own particular needs. A stranger entering the City would have been forgiven for not even realising that anything had ever been amiss, even the dead had been cleared from the battlefield to tell no tales. It was only when you ventured close to the City’s walls when the scars of recent events presented themselves. Here Galvians were already tasked with repairing the breached section of the wall. Here northern arrows could still be seen embedded into the wood of many of the nearby structures, and here if you looked hard enough, you could also discover red stains upon the earth. Of course, the gossip of the day centred upon the northern siege, and you would only need to head towards the nearest tavern or street corner to hear some of the wondrous tales. My last two nights had been spent listening to such tales, and of all the fact and fictitious stories, the one piece of information that I did take delight in hearing was how Governor Talak had survived to fight his way south and lead a battalion of men to victory against those who held the south’s reinforcements behind the southern gate. Above all though, the most entertaining story, had to be how Luka had made the mountain come alive, before using its magic to summon a demon to fight for the south!
But if the truth be known I was getting bored. The claustrophobic confines of the city felt restricting to my soul. Not only that, but I was already yearning for the chance to earn my next piece of gold, and venture over the next hill. Upon finding myself at the entrance to Baram’s home, I rapped on the door.
“Taragon! Come on in.”
�
��I take it I have allowed sufficient time for you to reacquaint yourself with your good lady,” I smirked.
A succession of awkward coughs had ensued before I received my reply.
“Err…yes, quite sufficient thank you.”
“And where is the aforementioned bride to be, not interrupting anything important I hope.”
“Oh no,” said Baram with haste, “she’s gone to the market to restock our food supplies. Since my return, she has been spoiling me rotten. I am sure I have grown more around the waist, not that I’m complaining mind.”
“Of course,” I smiled.
“Do you know that Luka paid me a visit not two nights ago,” returned Baram with a new change of direction, “scared the life out of Kendra he did. You should have seen her serve him some tea, shaking like a newborn baby she was.”
“Yes, I imagine he can have that effect on people,” I replied, “the King is still away then.”
Baram returned a nod.
Taragon Stein: The Search For The Soul Crystal Page 47