Shadow Cursed

by Jason Sander

  As the light faded Cane saw Laisaruse’s eyes open. He tried to rise but Cane held him down.

  Gaia came forward and kissed Laisarus lightly on the forehead, “Sleep beloved, all is well.” Her words seemed to draw his pain away and he closed his eyes.

  Cane said unthinkingly, “You love him.”

  She looked at him for a moment deciding whether to answer then replied, “Yes, him above all others.” She turned her head to the side as if hearing something and her brow creased in frustration. “I have been here too long, already darkness is falling over the Riverlands.” She turned to Cane and said, “Take care of him for me.” With those words she disappeared before his eyes.

  Cane looked down at Laisarus, his body still covered by animals of all kinds but now his face was glowing with life. Cane looked behind him and saw the mountain lion still guarding the pass.

  He carefully replaced the book in his sack and made himself comfortable on a dry rocky patch and went to sleep. Several of the animals moved to lie down around him.

  CHAPTER 115

  Dagar

  A ragged tent city spread through the forest coated in snow and ice. Fires sent plumes of white smoke into the air as dwarves cooked their morning meal and the wolven lay beside the fires watching as the meat was turned to evenly cook it. The sounds of children running between the trees chasing each other mixed with the sounds of axes chopping wood.

  Dagar waited in his tent idly scratching Lockjaw behind the ears as he waited for his messenger to find Hanbar and fetch him. Having no experience at tent construction the roof leaked when it rained and threatened to collapse when it snowed but at least it provided some shelter from the icy wind.

  The dwarves had crossed the frozen river into the northern forest and had made great progress towards the mountains. The wolven acted as guides and protectors around the column as they made their way through the dense forest.

  Dagar realized that this was their natural hunting grounds during the spring, summer and autumn. Winter was the only time when they could cross the frozen river to attack the goblins to the south.

  Dagar had said his goodbyes to his father without regret but now he felt an emptiness inside him. He had no living family any more. Even when his father had hated the sight of him he had had his brother’s love and now they were both gone. Not even their souls were safe from the goblin gods.

  His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Hanbar. Dagar had not hesitated to appoint him as war master when he confirmed that Galdar was dead. Hanbar had almost refused but Dagar needed him and perhaps Hanbar had felt it.

  “You called me, sir,” said Hanbar bowing formally.

  Dagar almost reprimanded him for such formality but decided against it. “It is time to fulfil my pact with the Wolf King.”

  Hanbar interrupted him before he could continue, “Surely there must be a more reasonable compromise. I can go in your stead Dagar.”

  “No, the bargain was for me to accept the price for the wolven’s help no matter what it was. I will not back down from my responsibilities.” Dagar saw the hurt in Hanbar's eyes and remembered his failings. “I expect you to lead our people until I return. The wolven will continue to lead you to the mountains and keep you safe. If I don’t return I trust you to take care of our people.”

  “I will not fail you!” Hanbar replied firmly.

  “I know,” said Dagar gripping the war master’s shoulder in support. “I will leave in a few hours,” said Dagar dismissing Hanbar.

  Dagar listened to the sounds of life around him; pots banging in preparation for breakfast, children’s cries of delight and the distant song of the wolves as they howled to each other.

  Dagar wondered what the price would be for the freedom of his people. Lockjaw licked his hand as if to give him comfort.

  CHAPTER 116

  Amelia

  The smell of smoke dissipated and was replaced by more natural scents of pine and earth as she walked further from the camp. Even the sounds of sword practice dwindled to a distant noise until the wind covered it completely.

  Amelia walked alone through the forest holding the small tree cupped within her hands. She had healed the wound in her shoulder once she regained consciousness and only a small red mark remained.

  Around her the forest was alive with the sound of birds twittering in the trees. At first she wandered aimlessly, not knowing where she was going, but soon she felt drawn onwards and followed the silent call.

  She arrived in a clearing where the sun shone on the rich earth that had been recently dug up by animals leaving a small hole large enough for her purpose.

  At the other side of the clearing she saw a ghostly elven woman standing solemnly in the shade.

  Amelia nodded greeting to Gaia and moved to the centre of the clearing. She knelt letting the smell of the damp ground fill her aching heart and placed the small plant in the hole before pushing earth around it and gently patting it.

  It no longer served its purpose of keeping in touch with her parents so she had decided to plant it in the forest as a memorial to them. Elyise had been there for her as much as she could without drawing attention and had become her mother in all but name. She barely knew her father except through the communication they had through the treeling.

  Gaia watched the child who had become a woman as she travelled through the mountains. She wanted to spare her the pain she was going to feel when the Gatekeeper’s unspoken prophecies ran their course but all Gaia could do was give her hope. “Cane still lives, Amelia.”

  Amelia’s face twisted as if fighting between joy and pain. She thought Cane had chosen death instead of life with the guilt and wasn’t sure if life was a blessing or a curse for him. Amelia held her hand against her abdomen sensing the life within. Half elf and half human.

  She had not wanted to upset Tagier with the news and had kept quiet about the growing child within. Perhaps he would accept it now that he had chosen to conquer his demons.

  Gaia sensed the child as well. “The Gatekeeper’s prophesy has been fulfilled. Emperor Palanthus hoped that merging the elves with the tainted would increase the elves’ birth rate but it had only limited success. Your child holds the key Amelia. Your love for Cane will save the elven nation.”

  She nodded acceptance but she still felt a lingering pain remembering her dreams of Laisarus suffering in the mountains and being unable to help him.

  Gaia seemed to sense her thoughts and said, “Laisarus lives as well. Cane saved his life.”

  Another barb was drawn from her heart and her thoughts returned to her parents. Finally able to release her emotions she cried tears of joy and pain. The drops fell on the treeling’s leaves and dripped to the ground below. She could sense the tree absorbing the tears from the ground giving it life, sparking the plant out of its dormancy. She could feel it sending out roots into the earth.

  As the treeling came alive her tears dried.

  “You have given it new life Amelia, you should give it a name,” said Gaia.

  “Memory,” said Amelia.

  In the distance Amelia heard Tagier calling out her name. She brushed the dirt from her hands as she stood. When she looked around for Gaia nothing remained but a patch of flowers blooming out of season where the goddess had stood.

  She made her way back to the others to tell them the good news about both Laisarus and Cane.

  CHAPTER 117

  Commander

  The blood kin polished the second set of runes on the blade, removing any protruding crystal. The edge of the blade sliced the bloodkin’s fingers but it continued to sand away, smearing the blood across the blade.

  Tasha had provided the missing piece of the rune structure the commander had required. Through the bloodkin’s eyes he had seen the summoning rune appear in the air to gather the human souls to the church. It was almost as if she created it by instinct.

  The commander turned his attention back to the electronics he was working with.

 
General Allister was organizing the forces of Central to attack Blackrock Keep. So what if McMillan refused to release Jack and the other renegades, the damage was already done, thought the commander. Now Central would have no protection whatsoever and the commander had a bad feeling the goblins would be returning with spring.

  Not that the commander cared if Central burned to the ground with every living person in it but he had to complete the gate before that happened and merging runes and human electronics was stretching even his abilities.

  He was working day and night now, using blood magic to keep himself going.

  At least Allister’s madness was providing a steady supply of prisoners. The General actually believed that the gate would allow him to take the Titans by surprise. The fool didn’t realize the commander had his own plan for the gate. The General had served his purpose and no longer mattered.

  At least he could buy himself some time. He had already created twenty new bloodkin to harass the goblins as they approached, which was all they could do against an army.

  He would keep the surviving original bloodkin with him in case he needed protection. After having destroyed a second wraithlord his powers had grown and he could sense the return of Gabriel and perhaps others with the power to stop him.

  Without the threat of discovery weighing on him, the commander had moved the gate onto the surface where he had more freedom to work.

  The gate was no longer a ring but had been reshaped into two towers twenty yards apart. Each was a cylinder of metal running ten yards into the air and wrapped in runes that were still under construction. Cables ran within the hollow tubes to well insulated electronics he had removed from the original gate and stripped from the two mainframes.

  Time was his enemy now, but once the gate was complete he would be ready for Gabriel.

  CHAPTER 118

  Gabriel

  Gabriel spotted the watchtower while he was taking his turn poling the raft down river. They had been travelling day and night to put as much distance between them and the goblins as possible and had managed to pass through the rapids where the river branched around Blackrock. Now near the shoreline where it was possible to beach he saw the first signs of humanity as a fire began to burn at the top of a watchtower warning of their arrival.

  Gabriel gave the command to steer towards shore and woke those who were sleeping.

  A group of human soldiers formed on the shore ready to attack at the first sign of trouble. They were armed with bows and swords.

  Gabriel called out a greeting, “Ahoy shore, I’m from Central.” They drew their bows ready to fire and Gabriel hastily shouted, “I come in peace with an ambassadorial party from the elves.” A few of the men laughed and lowered their weapons but a command snapped them back to the ready.

  Gabriel warned the others not to draw their weapons as the raft finally reached the shore.

  Two soldiers tied the raft against the bank and another soldier motioned the group to go ashore.

  Gabriel’s men surrounded the elves in case there was any rough treatment as Gabriel walked forward towards the man who appeared to be in charge.

  “Jack?” called Gabriel overjoyed at first until the implications hit him.

  The big man stepped forward and lifted Gabriel off his feet, “I see you found the elves but where are you hiding the dwarves?”

  “What happened, why are you here, where’s Tasha?” endless questions poured out of Gabriel’s mouth but Jack cut him off and lowered him to the ground.

  “Bad things happened, Gabriel. I’ll tell you everything on the way to the General McMillan,” said Jack sadly.

  As they walked Jack told him how the commander had ambushed him and General Esperanza. Gabriel barely paid any attention to his surroundings as they passed the newly drained fields where workers were levelling the ground and fencing areas with rock walls.

  It was only when they passed houses neatly arranged with gravel roads that Gabriel came out of his stupor and saw the construction going on around him and the work already complete.

  The steep sided mountain rose high into the air and all along its sides he could make out lights burning in windows as the sun began to set. When they finally reached the gates of Blackrock Keep darkness had fallen but the streets were well lit with torches.

  In the distance Gabriel heard hammers beating metal and rock.

  Jack seemed to regain some of his former joy as he described his time under General McMillan’s protection. “I’ve been doing duty as an officer watching for signs of goblin attack along the river. But on my off time I’ve been looking around. They have a working forge and already have tools. They mine the mountain for ore and process it. They harvest wood from the forest to the west where apparently no goblin ever goes. In spring they plan to sow the fields we passed.”

  Gabriel let Jack carry on but the only thing he could think of was Tasha held prisoner by the commander.

  The elves remained quiet as did Gabriel’s men and even Jack’s enthusiasm eventually ran out.

  By the time they reached the audience hall Gabriel was dead on his feet. Jack walked in front and announced the group to General McMillan where he sat behind a table full of printouts and pages of hand written notes.

  Gabriel made more formal introductions for the elves and the General’s usual stern face softened as he greeted Amelia, “Amelia, my humblest greetings to you and your fellow travellers. I welcome any ambassadors from this world who come in peace.”

  The General called for chairs for the elves and dismissed the humans. Gabriel remained where he was standing and the General stood up almost knocking the chair over backwards. “You have something important to add Gabriel?”

  Gabriel nodded and said, “I need to return to Central and any aid you could give me would be appreciated.”

  “You want to return to Central! Do you have any idea what’s been happening while you’ve been away from your post, soldier?” said the General angrily.

  “General Allister has murdered General Esperanza and seized control of Central,” answered Gabriel.

  The General’s eyes darted to Jack for a moment. “I can’t allow you to return to Central, you’ve seen too much here. Until I settle my differences with Allister you will be held under my protection. Jack, escort Gabriel and his men to the holding cells. I will continue this discussion later.”

  Jack placed his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder before he could respond and motioned him to the door.

  “I’m going back for Tasha and not even you can stop me Jack,” said Gabriel in a whisper.

  “I wouldn’t dare. I’ll help you but there’s a rumour that General Allister is bringing an army to attack Blackrock Keep,” said Jack quietly.

  “What the hell is Allister thinking? The goblins will return any time now. He can’t leave Central undefended,” said Gabriel raising his voice in anger.

  Jack glanced back over his shoulder to make sure nobody was paying any attention then he said, “General Allister became more and more unstable after you left, I think he may even be insane. General McMillan on the other hand is a stubborn bull-headed ass, but you didn’t hear it from me.”

  “Where are you taking us?” asked Gabriel.

  “To see Isabella of course. She wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t say goodbye before we left,” replied Jack. Gabriel was reminded of his own departure and nodded acceptance.

  CHAPTER 119

  Cane

  The ravine steadily filled with water as the snow melted, creating small waterfalls and rapids.

  The animals slowly drifted away leaving only the mountain lion watching over them.

  Finally Laisarus recovered the strength to walk again and Cane said, “Laisarus, I have a favour to ask.”

  The elf listened intently as Cane described his narrow escapes in the dwarven city and the quest he had been given by the Allfather. “I can’t deliver the book and search for the axe at the same time. If I take the book with me there is a chance th
at it will be taken from me by my own people. I need your help to return the book to the dwarves,” he pleaded.

  “Of course Cane, I would be honoured to help a blood brother,” said Laisarus

  “Blood brother?” asked Cane confused.

  “You now have the body of an elf to match your heart, besides we are a family of sorts,” answered Laisarus cryptically.

  “Very well blood brother, tell Dagar that I will return with the golden axe and his horn as well,” said Cane. He paused before asking, “How is it you know a goddess, Laisarus?”