by S C Gowland
He crept from behind the tree and ran as quietly as he could directly towards the figure, some thirty strides in front of him. Beginning to gather Fajin energy within his body, it flooded and tickled through every muscle, the Walkerblade flashed green in his right-hand morphing into a broadsword.
A grin grew on his face.
Then, to his horror, without even turning it simply raised its right hand and clenched. Kaoldan jolted and stopped dead in his tracks. Still some ten strides from his intended target Kaoldan couldn't move.
He tensed, tried to twist and turn; his muscles ached. It felt as though he was clamped in iron. He looked towards the figure which had turned to look at him.
It was tall, slender and hooded.
Forcing the Fajin energy up through his body his stomach and chest burning he nodded towards his opponent, a translucent orb popped out of his head flying like an arrow towards its target, but the figure simply waved it away deflected it towards the palace. An explosion of masonry and stones, a cloud of dust enveloped the figure.
Kaoldan tried again. Warm Fajin energy rose through him. He nodded the swell of the energy, making his head feel like it was about to explode.
The orb missed the figure, it jerked away to the side hardly believing his bad aim. But the bolt was not meant to hit the figure.
It cracked into a large branch above his opponent. Splinters burst outwards. There was a creak, a sharp snap, and the branch crashed to the floor, causing the figure to dive out of the way. A spray of branches and twigs; leaves rained down momentarily distracting his opponent.
The vice-like grip around his body instantly gone.
Then Kaoldan was upon him, his opponent pulled a black rod from his side, it flashed pink into a long-curved sword.
Their blades clashed the noise echoing around the forest. Kaoldan pushed forward unleashing a series of quick slashing; high, low, left then right. His opponent parried them, telegraphed each move, parrying each.
Kaoldan frowned, chest heaving.
‘I can bring the entire city guard out here with one shout.’ he yelled ‘You have nowhere to go. Surrender.’
The opponent paused, cocked its head to one side.
Kaoldan clenched his teeth, charging forward again, unleashing a series of savage cuts, which his opponent blocked and parried away. It stood its ground, refusing to give way.
It sprang forward blade singing through the air Kaoldan parried blows to his left and is right. Quicker, more ferocious, more intense; he was forced to take several steps back. As they exchanged blows, metal clashing together they half circled each other.
Each attempted attacks of their own, but each equal in their defence.
‘Let’s get a better look at you.’ snarled Kaoldan through clenched teeth. ‘Who are you? What do you want?’ he demanded.
To his surprise, the figure responded.
‘As you wish.’ it said, pulling back a bunched up black hood to reveal long untangled, but well-kept white hair. It shook its head, removing strands of hair from its face.
Or his face in this case.
He looked coolly at Kaoldan, pale skin, blue eyes.
‘Does this make things better?’ he enquired, ‘Knowing who you are fighting?’
Kaoldan, slightly at a loss for words, did not respond.
He tensed then sprang forward once again unleashing a series of cuts and slashes with his sword, the man parried with equal skill. Kaoldan tried one last flourish then back away arms aching, legs on fire.
The man took a deliberate step away. There was very little difference between them in terms of size, strength and skill.
‘Neat trick back there.’ said the white-haired man with a small nod, ‘Just gave you the slightest gap you needed to break my spell.‘
‘Half a second is all I need’ said Kaoldan under his breath, anger rising within him. He charged forward one more time, the man turned to his left. Leading Kaoldan through towards a tree.
Partly through blinding fury, partly in frustration. He didn't notice a tree root until it was too late. His left foot caught underneath it and he tumbled over, bones jolted, head spinning, world turned upside down. His Walkerblade skittering from his hand, clanging across the ground, and in that split second, he knew he was finished.
Before he had a chance to move the pink blade of his opponent was on him pressed into his neck.
The metal cold. Terribly cold.
He let out a shuddering breath and paused - his mind blank - slowly closing his eyes.
Two screams brought him back to his senses. Eyes now wide, he saw Zahara and Romina burst through the vegetation, Walkerblades in hand, they attacked the white-haired stranger forcing him back and back.
He parried left and right, for half a second Kaoldan had to admire the co-ordination and the combined effort of their attack. They gave him no grounds and no time to think. All he could do was react in every direction to a series of blows. Kaoldan then felt something he had not for a long time, pride.
It swelled within his stomach and rose up to his heart. Pride that his two young women were defending their father, then concern returned to his mind.
He scrambled with his hands. Fingers scratching desperate to loosen the roots ensnaring his left foot. He raised his right hand flickered his fingers and his Walkerblade whistled through the air and smacked into his hand.
He chopped through the thickest of the roots, brown and caked in mud. Hack. Hack. Hack. Cream coloured insides appeared. He wriggled his foot free. Then sprang to his feet and charged in the direction of the melee.
‘Enough!’ thundered a voice through the forest, ‘Enough of this!’
Kaoldan turned to his left, still running, to his surprise Nova was determinedly making his way into the woods, staff thumping slowly on the ground in irritation.
‘He is with me…’ he barked ‘Clear enough?’
Finally, the two women hesitated glancing at Kaoldan, who shrugged and looked at Nova.
Nova nodded. ‘He is with me.’ he said, emphasising each word. ‘Is that so difficult to understand, apparently, so.’ he said sourly baring his teeth. ‘Heavens above.’ he muttered partly to himself, partly to the trees and the sky above him.
Raising his hands as if introducing a theatre act and proudly so judging by the growing smile on his face.
‘Kaoldan, Zahara and Romina let me introduce to you to Aralorne Beldarne Mortane. My good authority.’ he emphasised.
The white-haired warrior with a flurry flashed his pink sword into a black rod stood stiffly and bowed to each of the three Walkers, who stood aghast.
***
Kaoldan sat fixed, mind blank, arms folded, staring directly at the man across the table from him. The man in question looked about him, pleased to have made such new colleague so quickly. His white hair was shoulder length. He had a pale complexion, easy smile and dark blue eyes.
Kaoldan took an immediate dislike to this man, he wasn't quite sure why, he wasn't quite sure how he had come to this conclusion, but what he did know was that he didn't trust this person one bit.
‘As I was saying,’ said Nova crossing the room, cane tapping on the floor. ‘I have it on good authority.’ he nodded towards Aralorne, who beamed. ‘That the place we need to go to is Zuivosal.’
‘And how exactly do you know that this is the place we have to go?’ spat Kaoldan, his eyes locked on Aralorne.
The white-haired man looked Kaoldan full in the face.
‘I know many things you don't, many things you don't need to know.’ he said simply. Voice clear, bright and confident.
Kaoldan’s jaw tensed even more.
‘The information that you received from Prava was correct.’ he nodded, ‘Reng did live an unnaturally long life - 300 or so years. If I'm correct and I know I am.’ he said.
‘How he was able to do this is not something that is widely known. Fortunately for you I have studied Reng virtually all my life. I am probably the foremost authority on him in the
world.’ he said, lightly, inspecting his nails. ‘Like it or not,’ he glanced at Kaoldan, ‘You need information, accurate information and rather quickly I’m led to believe.’ he looked towards Nova, who nodded.
‘And amazingly you turn up, appearing here just at the right time.’ said Kaoldan looking at the faces around the table. ‘Rather convenient, wouldn't you say?’
The doubtful expression on Kubrean's face showed that he was thinking the same thing.
Nova stepped forward, taking a seat at the table next to his wife Tokel, he took a long drink of water before carefully, deliberately placing the drink down on the table with a dull clonk.
Tokel gripped his hand affectionately, smile growing on her face, she looked at him, his eyes fell upon her and he nodded.
She cleared her throat.
‘If you’ll forgive me this next part.’ she looked towards Aralorne, who raised a hand in acknowledgement apparently nonplussed.
She turned to face Kaoldan and Kubrean.
‘I had certain’, Tokel fished for the right word, ‘suspicions, some time ago.’ she said with a pained expression on her face. ‘So, I took certain steps to investigate them. These investigations led me to Aralorne, and everything he has said on this matter, so far, has been true and has proven to be so on several occasions by several sources.’ she added.
‘So, in answer to your question Kaoldan, I do understand your suspicion. But yes, he is here by invitation at our request and he has information that can help us. We need help to make more progress with our own investigations.’ she shrugged her shoulders. ‘You will just have to trust that this is correct.’
Kubrean cleared his throat. ‘So, what precisely makes you the leading authority on this man Reng?’ he said, holding the gaze of Aralorne.
Aralorne settled back in his seat, wood creaking.
‘If I may?’ he gestured towards Tokel, who nodded.
The etiquette of the situation caused Kaoldan to scrunch his mouth up tighter. Anger at politeness? That was a first. He closed his eyes, took a breath, flexed his fingers out and rolled his neck, joints cracking and focused his eyes on Aralorne.
‘You ready?’ the white-haired man asked of Kaoldan, eyebrows raised.
Anger flashed over him again, but he pushed it down, forced a smile and nodded.
‘I grew up in the town of Treg; a rather backwards and inward facing place.‘ he said reluctantly. ‘Long winters and short summers, there wasn't really much to do there. Apart from read, and it is incredible what you can discover if you're willing to read long and deep.’ he said.
‘Once I was old enough, I left the town and travelled. I've been to many weird and wonderful places that you really wouldn't believe. But that is another story.’ he said coolly. ‘During this time of collecting and gathering knowledge I discovered I had rather a skill for it, and a mind big enough to be able to piece things together that others could not. I am certain when I say I am rather more intelligent than you all.’ he said with a small flickering smile. He looked at Kaoldan. ‘If you'll forgive my bluntness.’
Kaoldan frowned and began nibbling at his fingernails.
Kubrean interrupted. ‘No offence is taken.’ he said raising his hand.
Aralorne smiled. ‘Excellent and how very gracious of you.’ he said with a small nod. ‘People can be terribly sensitive and rather protective when the issue of intelligence is raised. Facts are facts.’ he said simply. ‘Given the acceptance in the room, I would go as far as to say I am far more intelligent than the vast majority of people in the world.‘ he said.
‘How gracious of you.’ muttered Kaoldan.
Kubrean shot him a look.
Kaoldan continued nibbling at his thumb nail.
‘I have a particular talent.’ he continued, ignoring Kaoldan's increasing frown. ‘Facts and figures, dates, I enjoy a good story, particularly a good mystery. The tale of Reng is one that I came across in my youth. And it has become something of a…’ he paused to select the right word. ‘Something of an obsession. Reng was and is, to all intents and purposes, one of the greatest people to have ever lived in the world. If you're willing to forgive his rather direct approach to justice and maintaining his authority over people.’
‘Mass murder and genocide does have its downsides.’ said Kaoldan an edge to his voice.
‘Yes, I suppose it does. It all depends how you see these things I suppose. I try to maintain a neutrality. Judging the evidence on the facts, not the moral or ethical side of things.’ said Aralorne considering the point.
Kubrean looked at Kaoldan and slightly shook his head. Kaoldan knew the look well, it was one that he grown increasingly familiar with over the years. A look that said, shut up. To tread lightly, to play nice, to allow the intelligent bastard to continue to tell a story.
Kaoldan nodded slightly and settle back into his seat.
‘What was I saying?’ said Aralorne, lacing his fingers together and resting his arms on the sides of his chair.
‘Reng.’ said Tokel.
‘Reng, of course. He ruled for just over 300 years. How was he able to do this, I hear you ask?’ He said looking inquiringly around the table.
Silence.
‘The answer is very simple,’ he said finger touching his chin. ‘He cheated death.’
A rustle of nervous movement spread around the room.
‘Yes, quite my reaction at the time. His soul was never consumed by the Abyss. He was able to prevent his soul from leaving his body with one simple trick. The Dark Crown.’
Despite himself Kaoldan found himself leaning forwards in his seat.
‘Oh, it is nothing to be ashamed of.’ waved away Aralorne. ‘Only a handful of people in the world are even aware of the existence of the Dark Crown.’
Kaoldan nodded but maintained his silence.
‘The Dark Crown allows anyone who wears it to cheat death.’ said Aralorne. ‘Put simply your soul never leaves your body. Never. And if the soul cannot leave the body, you are in effect…’
‘Immortal…’ murmured Kubrean.
‘Quite so.’ nodded Aralorne, clearly very pleased with himself. ‘Rather a neat trick, I am sure you would agree.’
Questions began forming in Kaoldan’s head.
‘So, what is the Dark Crown? Where did it come from? What eventually caused him to die?’ said Tokel leaning forward, clearly captured by the tales told by the white-haired man.
Aralorne sniffed. ‘We aren't really one hundred percent certain.’ a crease growing across his face. ‘There are conflicting stories, but most agree that there was an element of treachery, an element of double cross. Three hundred years is a long time for anybody to reign. Particularly, if you were as unpopular as Reng was reported to be. Conspiracies against you are bound to happen, sooner or later. It is one of the questions I would very much like to find an answer to myself.’ he said looking at his fingers stretching out on the table, before looking at everybody in turn. ‘I don't know everything.’ he shrugged in an offhand fashion.
‘So why the visit to Zuivosal?’ asked Kaoldan, who felt annoyed with himself for sitting forward, enraptured by the story.
‘Because I believe that it would provide the answers to the questions that we both seek.’ said Aralorne. ‘It is an ancient place as you rightly pointed out. But it is my personal belief that there are relics, articles, books, scriptures of varying sorts that should provide answers.’ he leaned forwards.
‘It has very much been a wish of mine to go to Zuivosal at some point in my life.’ said Aralorne ‘Now,’ he said with a degree of satisfaction. ‘I have the perfect opportunity to both complete my studies and potentially to save the world as well.’ he said. ‘If you're into that sort of thing.’ he added brushing a speck of dust from his black top.
Kaoldan eyed him suspiciously, as did Kubrean.
Nova noticed the stare and interrupted.
‘As you both know Zuivosal was abandoned centuries ago. There were certain arrangements.’ he
winced at the word. ‘Put into place to make sure that Zuivosal could never be accessed by those who may wish to do harm. That is where the partnership of the Walkers and my good authority must work together to gain access to Zuivosal and its secrets. It is a proposal I have already spoken to Duke Lomman about and he is in full agreement. The partnership will take place.’ he said. ‘It has a good chance of success, if handled in the right way and it is my intention to make sure that that happens.’ he said, ‘So I will be accompanying you on this journey.’
Kaoldan and Kubrean glanced at each other, then at Nova with the same look of concern.
Nova noticed that look too. He dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
‘I'm not that old.’ he snapped. ‘There is still life in this old body yet.‘ patting his knees ‘And I to wish to see the ruins of Zuivosal. So it is settled.’
Kaoldan glanced at Tokel, her face impassive, but he knew better. She was worried and not as entirely onboard as Nova made out.
‘We leave in the next day or so, and that is final’. he said, stood with a screech of his chair, nodded, harrumph then turned and quickly departed the room. Tokel unusually sat very still.
Aralorne acted on the cue, he stood, ‘You must excuse me.’ he said. ‘I have preparations to make.’ without waiting for any sort of acknowledgement he turned sharply and followed Nova out of the same door. The door banged closed behind them.
Kaoldan sniffed and looked at Kubrean.
The old man’s eyes said everything.
‘As a member of the Grey Council, why was I not told?’ he asked Tokel, who bristled a sharp intake of breath.
‘Because you were not, and either was I.’ she snapped. ‘Do you honestly think I am any happier about this?’
Kubrean shrugged.
‘Well I am not. Just for the record.’ she snorted heavily through her nose.
‘Stupid old fool. Racing off to the end of the world. Men!’ she shook her head.
Kubrean and Kaoldan both looked away.