by Jacob White
The next few days remained the same until I was using my magic more often. I would think of new ways to cast to strengthen my mind and imagination. For an hour each night, I would train with Dirk, mostly defending and practicing precise strikes against the body or joints. Prince Aden and Ralph would also jump in to offer their suggestions and take a turn swinging at me. I felt as though I was getting better but still, I ended up dead after each spar. With each session Aden seemed to relax more towards my presence.
On the fourth night, we were at it again, I was glancing off the blade as it came down, trying to get close enough to land a killing blow. The only damage I ever caused were strikes to the hand. Aden was coming down for a swing and next thing I knew I had a long gash, from my shoulder to the middle of my chest. I had lost concentration at the end. Something sent a shiver down my back. Like I was being watched in a dark corridor. I grasped at the cut and attempted to keep my screams to a minimum.
“Yeah… that’s going to scar.” Dirk said brining me back “It could be worse, however…”
“Please enlighten me…”
“Well, you could be dead. Lost an Arm.”
“Or a foot” Ralph added.
“A finger. Maybe an ear.” Dirk finishing after Ralph.
“Like Edmund… Thank you Dirk.” Aden remained silent and distant from me. “Reassuring as ever.” Anna was now at my side starting to heal me. I never truly grasped what little she taught me about healing, but it was the same theory as heating water. This time it was willing the wound to clot and healing it from the inside. It did make the pain more intense, but the wounds closed much faster. I had only ever managed to stop a small cut on my own hand and, then gave up after that.
“Thanks, Anna.”
“Men…” She walked off going back to her dinner.
“All right then. I guess that’s a night.” Aden helped me up as we walked over to the fire where Les, Anna, Laila, and Ralph were chatting. We sat after sorting out our food. “How much longer till we get to the twins?”
“At this same rate, maybe two more weeks, or a little longer.” Aden answered for the group. “It is a simple ride though. After another week, we will be out of the woods and once again find the main trade roads that will lead us directly there.”
“I hope can get there before it is too late,” I said more to myself than the group.
“Too late for what?” Anna asked.
“Gibi, is it okay if I tell them?”
“I would prefer to, there is something I have to confess.” In an instant, Gibi was sitting next to me looking at the group. Ralph fell back on a log he was sitting on at the sudden appearance.
“I will answer your questions, as best I can.” Anna was first to lead off.
“Weaver is just the first to deliver the stone. Is there another who is meant to accomplish the task at hand. If Weaver decides to entrust him that is?”
“What is the task? We have heard bits and pieces, but I'd like a bigger picture.” Surprising us all, it was Ralph who had asked. Not even I had firm grasp on the answer. I waited for Gibi to speak.
“For that, I need to start at the beginning. I assume you all know the history up to the calamity, yes?” Everyone nodded. “Well, this is also a part of the truth Liam wants you to know about me.” He peaked my interest. “After my mate had been killed by Liam, I went on a rampage. I alone went to his domain and slaughtered thousands of his followers. It was never enough, and Liam didn’t even seem to care. My whole intention was to make him feel as I did, so I left this realm. I rejoined the gods in our realm trying to convince my siblings to join me in taking his lands from him. None would come to my aid; they were too worried about a war that wouldn’t end. In the end, it came anyway. Towards the end of the war. I had pleaded many times with my creator, or parents in a loose sense of the word. I begged them to take all the children spawned by us away. I was able to convince them that if they remained this world would end in more death and the world will be lost. The creators called us back and told us what they had planned. Instantly there were arguments and begging from the others. Once a creator speaks, however, it is final. Some immediately left to attempt to hide their favorites. Then it was only Liam and me in front of the creators. He accused me of plotting and murdering innocents for my own gain and he was right to do so. Then all I had to do was mention his sons and how they would eventually crave even more power. He struck me with a cursed blade in front of the creators. Sealing the children’s fate at the same time. I still have a wound from where he struck me here.” Gibi, took off his leathers that resembled our own to show us a horizontal slash that wasn’t closed in his left shoulder. The injury seemed to be seeping a black substance.
“Was that the blade Liam had in Laila’s head?” Anna asked.
“The very same, but with less showmanship. A cursed blade doesn’t swirl in darkness. It’s just a black blade. It has to do with how it is made but that is not important right now. That day was the day I lost my entire family. After being stabbed, Liam and I both returned to the battlefield on Liide known now as Misamber or translated better to ‘Field to Remember’. As you know, the creators summoned us back and banned us from returning. Liam was able to hide his presence and sneak back. He had intended to return and wreak havoc on my lands. However, he was greatly weakened by his trip back. A general under him refused to take part in another war and begged his king to let him put an end to it. Most only know it by the other way around being the king asked him, but this is the truth.
When Liam gave notice that he had to rest for a few years. The general sneaked in to his resting place and stabbed Liam repeatedly. He cut off arms, legs and his head until no more ichor came from him. He arranged a magically sealed box to be hidden deep within Liam’s own lands. The magic was meant to keep him asleep, but his body has eventually healed after all these years. Which brings us back to the how.”
We were all a bit taken back at Gibi’s confession. It was a side of the story we had never heard. “The stone protects the carrier from all harmful magic. This stone needs to be placed into the sealed tomb before he awakes, in order to keep him locked away. The stone will act as a seal. It will take the energy within the tomb and never allow Liam to rise. As you have all seen, his anger knows no equal and will take his revenge. As a god, we can see many futures at once along with our other abilities. What I have seen shows this man we seek placing the stone into a socket, keeping Liam sealed. Therefore, we need the stone.”
“That means Weaver isn't meant to carry it all the way?”
“No, he is not. There are futures where he does, but only a handful show the world surviving.”
“Trust me if this man can keep him asleep, I will willingly give it up.” I stood facing the group. “Thank you, Gibi, for your confession, even though I cannot comprehend your pain. What you did might have been wrong. It may have been right but all I know now is that Liam is here to destroy us all. Therefore, I choose to stand just like my father told me in the afterlife. There were seats yet to be filled, and I yearn to know them. To do this, we must win.” But the silent nods said all that was needed.
“Weaver is right. If anything, Gibi’s confession has solidified our position and we must continue.” Laila was now standing as well.
“There is more sadly. The general who sealed away my brother had to flee his lands. Those who were still loyal, were furious with him. They knew they had a chance at taking back what was stolen as long as my brother lived. After seeing the king’s line fail. That same general came to Ellipsis seeking refuge, and he received it.” Gibi stood.
“That general’s blood runs in yours, Weaver. You are a son of two peoples, cultures, and the face of hope. Do not forget this. You are who you choose to be. Liam thinks if you know where you are from and what I did. That somehow, he can convince you to give him the stone. If you do this, you will all die anyway. He will coerce you with tempting offers but his mind has become consumed with evil and hate. Hate for me and
the rest of the gods that had fought against him.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. I had just learned that I had the blood of Liide in me. A thousand questions went through my mind; my biggest worry was if Liam had some type of power over me. It scared me more than the world burning. I could imagine him making me slit the throats of everyone I cared about.
“How did the general come into the possession of your stone?” Aden asked.
“I saw the desperation in him and what he had risked sealing Liam. I thought no other could keep it safer. His line would have the most to lose if ever caught by Liide.”
“Thank you, if that is all.” I abruptly and walked away from the camp with Les following. I could still hear the others asking questions, but I needed some space, I found myself brushing Blessing down.
“Talk to me. What's going through that head of yours?” Les asked.
“I couldn’t help but think once I give this stone up, that Liam will have a connection to me and compel me to kill everyone I care about.” I looked into the empty forest.
“Then keep it, and seal him yourself.”
“You heard what Gibi said.”
“I did, but I also heard there was still a chance if you keep it. Do not fear your blood, you decide who you are by your actions. I don’t feel any evil in you, and nobody else does. We wouldn’t have rallied with you if we thought it so.” I nodded and sighed and then looked to Les. I embraced her, kissing her head.
“Thank you. I hope I can do what's right in the end. No matter who seals him away, it must be done. I will do my part just as I always have.” She placed a tender kiss on my lips.
“And I will remain at your side no matter what happens.” We stayed there for an hour or so before heading back to our bed rolls. After exchanging blessings, I could sleep without fear haunting my dreams.
“Ralph woke me up, letting me know it was my turn to watch the camp. I got up and laced up my boots. To keep from falling asleep again, I circled the camp opening my senses. The lingering threat was still there. The fog of magic hadn't faded since we left. I had to draw myself back towards the camp after walking too far away. That's when I saw it: six sets of red eyes peering through the darkness. I could hear there snarling. The rumbles of a beast as it issues a challenge.
“Dirk! Everyone wake up!” I yelled his name through the silence. He jumped awake, trying to see what was happening. He ran up to my side, trying to see what I was looking at. I didn’t dare blink as the eyes already seemed as if they would disappear if I lost sight of them. “Do you see them?”
“I wish I didn’t,” Dirk mumbled. He collected the rest of his weapons and took a defensive posture in front of our half-awoken group. Aden soon saw what I did and stood next to Dirk. Ralph and Anna maintained the rear just in case and to provide more protection for Les, Me, and Laila.
“These are shadow hounds… but they cannot be here. They were one of the abominations that were destroyed by the calamity.”
“We will have to worry about it later. For now, if they attack, can we kill them?” I said to Gibi.
“You would have to cut off their heads then burn the bodies. Anything less they will just regenerate. Also at all cost avoid being bitten, as their fangs have a paralyzing effect.” I relayed the message to the rest of the group as we just waited. We would see the eyes separate to different positions around us. I tried to look deeper, but I couldn’t see anything in the darkness. No hint to what they looked like. The sun began to rise but dark mist kept them concealed from even the suns light.
“Soon.” Echoed on the wind as they vanished. We were still cautious not to move. Assuming they were trying to bait us. Dirk was the first to step away and head for the spot they were sighted. He returned but just shrugged. Still too tense from the night before, we chose to eat on the road and leave as soon as we could.
Gibi appeared next to us, floating in the air as we rode. Just in case anyone had forgotten or misheard, Gibi once again went over what he told me the night before about killing the hounds. That’s when the questions poured in from Dirk and Ralph.
“Is that the haze Anna and Weaver are running into?” Ralph asked.
“It is very possible but what is strange about this situation is during the calamity, only six were created by Liam. Meaning if they are the same beasts Liam had found a way to hide them from the creators all this time.”
“But that could mean—” Ralph trailed off.
“Yes, that he could still have dominion of any number of abominations. Of all my brothers and sisters, he was the only one to mate with beasts. Gifting some with intelligence and other advantages over man.” I couldn’t hold back the question any longer, I didn’t even care if the creators heard me.
“If this is happening, Gibi, why in the hell aren't the creators preventing this? Why let people die, for Liam to wake? It doesn’t add up. The longer we follow this, the more surprises seem to hit us from all sides.” There was a grumbling consensus, but Gibi remained silent.
“There are some things I cannot say, Weaver. Please understand.” I stopped my horse, making Anna weave off to avoid hitting me.
“That excuse doesn’t work with me anymore. Gods help me, I will give this stone directly to Liam if I am going into this fight with half the knowledge. By only having half it endangers us all. Gibi, by now you must see Liam isn't playing by the same rules. He will do what he must to ensure his plans come to take shape. This means we have to also have the same rules if we are to have a chance.”
“What would you have me do!” His immense power came over me, but I did not break my gaze. After it had dissipated and Gibi was trying to contain himself again I only whispered, I felt anything more could make me lose conciseness. Blood dripped from my nose onto my hand.
“Anything, Gibi… I would have you do anything to save this land, to prevent it from falling into his grasp. It is only fair as you have asked us to risk our mortal lives.” We just held each other gaze until he spoke much calmer this time.
“Well, it is actually very simple but a truth that could destroy us all at the same time. I am the only one who knows this truth, while many just assume. The creators have been gone for many hundred years. They no longer watch your realm, or in a sense that you would understand.” Our mouths dropped open.
“This is how Liam has accomplished all this, right under the other gods’ noses.” A hand went up to Dirk’s' forehead.
“Gibi… The other gods… would they create war if they came to know?” Anna asked.
“They would and I'm not sure any would even side with us. There are too many factors to contemplate this. Therefore, time is of the essence before the others also find out. It will not be long now. If we are able to stop Liam from rising that is one less enemy that we have to defeat when that time comes.”
“I'm sorry to be the one to ask an obvious question, but why can't you just call them back?”
“I have tried, brave Ralph, I have tried in many ways, but still they do not respond. The only limitation they have put on us since banning us was we have to keep to our realm until they deem it no longer necessary.”
“Then grab Liam and teleport somewhere.” Aden’s look was beyond frustration. His voice was aggressive in tone. He had been off ever since his mother died and never getting too attached to us. I knew it wasn’t entirely his fault, but his anger seemed misplaced.
“If I did this, the outcome could be even worse, Yes, the threat of Liam would be gone, but so will I. We would be banished to a deep darkness for all of eternity. We would eventually go mad but still immortal. Not to mention these lands would soon be invaded and the other god’s armies. There powers and blessings could over power our might in a night. Every person who lives on Ellipsis would then be subject to another gods’ will. No, I'm sorry. I must remain in case this fails. If I could sacrifice myself and Ellipsis would be safe long after, I would.” The next question just blurted out of my mouth.
“You’re not a fragment, are you?
” He met my gaze and smiled.
“How did you know?”
“I no longer felt my power flowing into the stone. If you hadn't have been here so long, I might not have known. But if you're not in the stone, does it still hold your power?”
“It does but now it holds a part of my own essence. Meaning Yo—”
“Meaning Weaver can cast as you do…” Anna stumbled with her words.
“I was going to say use it as you always have but I suppose you are right as well.”
“Holy shit, Weaver…” Anna whispered.
“However, remember what I told you: your mind is still growing. If you attempted something only a god could, well… You would be drained instantly as well as those around you until the power is satisfied.”
“Okay then. No acts of Gibi. Understood.” Ralph’s deep voice overtook the conversation.
“There are still questions left unanswered.”
“Let us continue this on the road, and I will answer as best I can.” We agreed and started off to another slow trot, staying together as best we could through the trees. Ralph continued.
“How is this haze able to be maintained with you here?” Gibi paused in thought before speaking.
“To keep it short, I have no idea how the haze still holds. Liam must have found a way to hide its source, or make an illusion that’s not an illusion. But he is still able to exist here through his power over the shadows. For the beasts, it means Liam must have sent them some time ago. This tells me that his body may no longer need their protection. Even worse I was not able to detect them, meaning he has somehow nullified some of my power against them. This also explains how he can manipulate minds without me being able to stop him.”
“Well, that’s depressing.” Dirk said over his shoulder.
“It might have something to do when we all met in my mind,” Laila added.
“Perhaps but this would mean he was somehow able to have contact with me through my fragmentation. I cannot see this as possible, as he cannot access the stone while Weaver holds it. I will have to think on this. There might be another obvious explanation that we have not yet seen.”