The Sword of Light

by Andrew G. Wood

  Finley meanwhile closed his eyes and tried to sense where Arach was. From what he could tell it was some distance away, and fortunately in an easterly direction. “Can you head to the human lands Arach?” he asked sending the message out. The reply took a few moments to come back but was answered in the affirmative. “Just stay out of sight and trouble,” he said aloud, causing Galdrac to stop and turn, “What?”

  “Sorry I was just talking to Arach,” Finley said with a smile.

  Having eventually convinced Karesh he should be staying put with his mother, Finley once more asked Sessi to stay and watch over them. He and Galdrac then made their way through the vast caverns of Durn Raldun and to the Waygate. After waiting patiently for an incoming traveller to pass through they then headed to Felham, before taking the follow-on trip to Carison.

  Despite Finley being raised in the human lands, and being part human, this was his first visit to the capital city. Having seen how different the Elven and Dwarf capitals were, he was unsurprised to find this one completely different again. The building in which they appeared was bright with large windows, and after being checked by two guards as to their purpose, they were allowed to progress.

  Galdrac led the way down a set of wide stone steps that twisted slightly at the bottom, before entering a large foyer. The sun shone through the large windows beside the wide entrance door giving it a nice bright and airy feel. The guards at the door paid them little heed as they moved outside and down another set of steps, “We need to get in there,” Galdrac said pointing to a large walled building further ahead of them.

  The wide streets were bustling with people and traders selling their wares. The smells of cooking and baking drifted on the air as they walked past a bakery and pie shop. Finley paused for just a moment to savour the aroma but felt his sleeve being pulled as Galdrac plainly wanted him to keep moving. As the pair of them eventually made it through the crowds, the area around the palace appeared somewhat quieter and less congested. “There seems to be a lot of soldiers about,” Finley said in observation.

  Galdrac looked around for himself, “Seems the King has started taking in conscripts,” he replied pointing to a group of people wearing civilian clothing but being marched down the adjacent street to where he knew the City Garrison building was located.

  At the grand gates of the palace, they were stopped and questioned. While it was evidently clear that Galdrac had no time for such things, the old mage answered honestly. As to whether the guards would see fit to let them in of course was another matter, and judging by the look on their faces Finley didn’t think that was going to be the case. Just as he had presumed, they were made to wait to one side as the guards focused on the next man trying to gain access to the palace. “They’re not letting us in are they?” Finley asked.

  “For your information, they are just waiting while someone goes to find the Commander. A man I know personally. So, yes they will…just not yet.”

  Although it was a delay that either of them could do with, Finley actually found himself thinking it was funny. While he and Galdrac had barely taken half an hour or so to travel the vast distance from Durn Raldun to Felham before arriving in Carison, Arach was still some way short. The link with his dragon was strong, and even at this distance, he could sense the beast devouring the miles between, darting through the sky at speeds he had thought impossible.

  The wait outside the palace gates was surprisingly a short one, not because anybody had actually gone out of their way to help, but merely because the very man they needed to see just happened to be passing through. “Eric!” Galdrac shouted over noticing him through the iron gates. The man stopped and looked over to try and see who was calling his name, and for a moment Finley didn't think he was going to respond.

  “Galdrac?” The man finally answered stepping a little nearer just to make sure his eyes were not deceiving him.

  “Eric. Nice to see you again,” Galdrac said offering his hand out through the gates.

  The Commander duly signalled to one of the guards to open the gates, and as they did Galdrac turned to Finley and gave the look of ‘I told you so.’ The Commander suggested they talk and walk as he needed to be in a meeting with the King very shortly. Galdrac agreed but did not miss the opportunity being offered to him. “That is the very reason I am here. I need to know what the King’s intentions are. I have much to tell him, especially about this lad!”

  The Commander stopped suddenly, turning to look at Finley as if he had only just realised he was actually there.

  Finley gave a little smile and a wave, “Hello,” he said as the Commander glared his direction. The man then turned back to Galdrac, “Who the hell is he?”

  “That, Eric, is our chance at defeating the Darkness,” came the rather unexpected reply.

  “Really? What can he do that is so great?”

  “I’ll explain later. Now can you get me to the King?”

  The Commander started walking again, forcing the others to do likewise, “I’ll see what I can do, for now, you can wait in the Foyer of the palace.”

  Finley felt awestruck as he walked up the steps and into the grand entrance of what was quite possibly the biggest building he had ever seen. He felt lost in thought as his gaze peered around the large foyer, “Everything looks so expensive,” he mumbled.

  “It is, so don’t touch anything!” He heard Galdrac reply to him even though he wasn’t actually expecting an answer.

  Asked to take a seat on two rather plush looking chairs, Finley was happy to just let his eyes explore. Aside from the carpeted flooring, expansive staircase and large pictures, he thought how everything looked so spotlessly clean. He peered down at his boots and trousers and thought how poor he appeared when compared to his current surroundings. He watched as several palace staff all passed by, dressed in their royal livery which he thought looked a little peculiar. They were quickly followed by two soldiers, also immaculately dressed and wearing the uniform which Galdrac explained denoted them to be members of the Elite Royal Guard. “Don’t want to be messing with any of those,” he said suggesting they were perhaps dangerous men to be dealing with.

  Finley closed his eyes and tried to sense how far away Arach was only to discover he was much closer than he had thought possible. Using his ability, he focused on seeing through the dragon’s eyes. The creatures did not visualise objects as humans did, and Finley sometimes struggled to know what certain objects were. Clouds, he saw as white and fluffy, but for Arach they were merely outlines of nothingness as he felt the dragon darting through them. His link was broken as he felt himself being nudged by the man sitting next to him. “Stand up!” he heard as he reopened his eyes.

  Finley was unsure as to why he needed to do so but did as was instructed anyway, as he watched a youth wearing fine clothes walk past his position. The boy seemed to glare his way, and Finley was about to ask what he was staring at, when Galdrac bowed his head slightly, “Highness,” the man said. Deciding this was one of those times where keeping quiet was probably for the best Finley did likewise, even though he was unsure as to who the youngster was. “That is the Prince, Heir to the throne,” Galdrac whispered, leaning over just slightly as he watched the young royal head up the grand staircase and out of sight. “Oh!” Finley replied, glad he had not said anything.

  Chapter 12.

  After being made to wait more than an hour, Finley and Galdrac were eventually led up the grand centre staircase of the palace. A man in royal livery led the way, while a member of the Elite Royal Guard walked just a few paces behind them. Finley would have liked to have stopped and gazed at the large portraits at the top of the stairway, but instead was treated to no more than a quick glance as they continued on.

  “Don’t speak out of turn,” Galdrac said as they turned and walked down a long but bright corridor. Finley merely nodded far more interested in these opulent surroundings than anything Galdrac had to say. The dwarfs may have built magnificent structures, and having their capital
inside what was basically a mountain, was a fete of engineering he doubted he would ever see surpassed. The elves were much more attuned to nature, and many of their larger buildings attempted to bring that feeling inside. The humans, however, certainly knew how to do things with style and elegance. Everything he saw, albeit only briefly as they seemed to turn numerous corners, just oozed grandeur.

  His pondering was interrupted as he was forced to stop, as the man in front halted to knock at a door. Two more burly guards stood motionless either side of the entrance, once more immaculately dressed down to the finest detail. The door opened, and the familiar face of the Commander greeted them, before ushering them inside. “Remember, don’t speak out of turn,” Galdrac whispered over. “In fact, it's probably best that you don’t talk at all,” he added.

  They were shown into another room that was bright and airy. Large windows ran along the far wall allowing the daylight to shine through, while the white washed walls were again adorned with colourful pictures. Sat behind a large wooden desk was a man Finley presumed to be the King, although being as he had never met him before, he couldn’t be sure. “Bow your head!” Galdrac hissed trying to do so without being heard. Finley glanced at the old Mage and mimicked his actions, dipping his head just slightly before standing up straight.

  “Ah Galdrac, welcome to Carison,” the man behind the desk said, speaking in a voice that Finley somehow thought did not fit his original conception of what he thought a King would sound like. Talking in a much softer voice than he had presumed he asked them both to take a seat and signalled for a man dressed in Palace livery to fetch some refreshments. “Now what is it you wish to speak to me about?”

  Galdrac behaved in a way Finley had never seen before. The Mage was somehow more respectful and even spoke slightly differently as if trying to make each word clear, as opposed to the shortened versions he generally used. He told the king of the progress of the armies of the Darkness, and how they were pillaging both the Elven and Dwarf lands. The Elven capital of Neylarin would soon be under threat as several outposts had been overrun, and the Dwarf King and his armies were basically prisoners in their own capital, kept behind their walls by a large force of balgraf.

  Although the King listened, it was quickly apparent that he did not seem surprised by anything Galdrac told him. “I am aware of the situation Galdrac, and I thank you for updating me. However, if as I think you are here to ask me to send more soldiers to the fight I am afraid I am going to have to disappoint you.” Finley turned to look at Galdrac for a response, the Mage he knew would have spoken his mind to anyone else, but instead, he again acted very much out of character and respectfully nodded his understanding.

  The King explained his reasons to them both, even though as King Finley assumed he didn’t really have to. Apparently flying balgraf were circling the city on an almost daily basis, and although they had not yet attacked the city, they had killed dozens in a small village to the east.

  “Whitebridge!” Finley said out of turn, as all eyes turned to glare his direction. He could have sworn Galdrac would have killed him given a chance at that moment judging by the look he gave, but the King didn’t seem to mind.

  “Yes, Whitebridge, but how did you know that?” the man asked looking over to his Commander standing off to one side of the room.

  “I have not mentioned outside our meetings Sire,” the man said answering the question his King was about to ask.

  “Abalyon told me he’d attacked it. My aunt is among those killed, my Uncle as well I assume, but I don’t know about both my cousins,” he added still being glared at by Galdrac, although not with the same thunderous look as he had shown a few moments earlier. The King leant back in his chair clasping his hands together and looking at Finley, “And you are?”

  “This is Finley Majesty,” Galdrac intervened before Finley could answer for himself.

  “He is a boy of unusual gifts, although one that finds being asked to keep quiet very difficult. A half-breed that can somehow communicate with all the gods.”

  The King looked a little taken aback, “You talk to the Gods?”

  “Well not as we’re talking, but in my dreams. I’ve spoken to Heralin of the Elves, Thedan of the Dwarfs and even Eldan of the Humans.”

  It was quickly apparent that the King doubted what was being said and merely made a scoffing sound and waved his hand to demonstrate as much. Galdrac spoke again and explained to the monarch that this was indeed the case. Moreover, Finley was able to do magical things others could not. “He even has a link with a dragon,” Galdrac added.

  “Really and where does he keep this dragon?” The King replied somewhat sardonically. Finley closed his eyes to see whereabouts Arach was and smiled when he realised he was suitably close enough.

  “If I bring him down into the palace yard can I have your word that nobody will fire upon him?” Finley asked interrupting the king for the second time. The man sighed, “Fine, come on let’s get this over with. I have better things to do than to sit here listening to fairy stories. Eric, have the guards stand down,” The king instructed his commander before heading over to the large windows.

  Finley waited for several minutes before risking bringing Arach over the city. With the knowledge that death to the dragon also meant his own demise, he was not willing to take any chances despite the King being clearly annoyed at having to wait. Only when he was assured it was safe for him to do so did he send the message, “Okay Arach come to my position.” Although Finley knew where the dragon was, Galdrac seemed to take great delight in pointing the creature out as it dived down from above the clouds to show itself to those in the city.

  Finley could hear a few screams coming from outside the open window and cautiously had Arach stay out of reach of any archer who might have been startled and not understood his orders. Surprisingly the king did not look for long, and Finley actually felt a little disappointed when the man suggested they retake their seats. “Okay young man, have your beast move back out of sight,” the man said dryly before retaking up his position behind his desk. Finley passed the message on to Arach, but not before thanking him, and asking that he did not attempt to snack on any people.

  The King was just about to speak when all of a sudden the door burst open and in came the same young man they had seen while waiting downstairs a little earlier. Galdrac immediately stood up despite the fact he had just sat back down and bowed his head, and Finley thought he should probably do likewise. “Father! Did you see the beast? I was just about to fetch my bow when it flew off out of range,” the youngster exclaimed excitedly.

  “Good job you didn’t or else you wouldn’t be standing here now,” Finley said, although knew he probably shouldn’t have done so. Galdrac gave him another of those stern glares, but Finley didn’t really care. “No, I was told it would be safe to bring Arach close, the last thing I need is somebody taking pot shots at him. I mean how would he like it if I had Arach swoop down breathing fire at him,” Finley added feeling his anger getting the better of him.

  “Keep calm, I apologise for my son’s somewhat enthusiastic entrance,” The King said trying to alleviate any tension within the room. Finley glared at the prince before taking his seat even though he knew Galdrac was certain to have words with him later about his outburst. “James you may as well stay,” The King said gesturing for his son to take a seat next to Finley.

  The young prince did as was asked but did not take his eyes of Finley, “I have seen you before…but I cannot recall where and when ” he eventually said.

  Finley explained he had never been to the capital before, so that was highly unlikely, although he had walked passed them earlier in the foyer and so that was probably it.

  “No, but you seem vaguely familiar…Something about your hair. The Picture!” he shouted quickly getting back to his feet, only to be told to be quiet and sit back down again by his father.

  Happy that everybody was calm and listening, Willem spoke again, explaining that he do
ubted Finley was a half-breed as the gods did not allow such things. Moreover, while it was evident he had somehow managed to link with a dragon, he did not for one minute think that a boy could talk with the gods. “How else would I know that Whitebridge had been attacked?”

  “Pfft possibly word has gotten out despite our efforts to keep it quiet,” King Willem answered immediately. Finley just waved his hand, he had only come here because Galdrac had said he needed to speak to the king, but now they had it was quite evident the man was not going to listen to anything they said.

  He was just about to stand to leave, when he thought of the other reason he was there, “Then how would I know that you have the Sword of Light?” he announced interrupting the king for the third time.

  “I have it!” James said excitedly nudging Finley on the arm, “Come on…I’ll show you the picture while we’re there,” he added getting to his feet and heading for the door. The King just sighed, as Finley looked at him, “Fine…go,” he added feeling somewhat fed up with the entire conversation. “The sword is merely a myth, no more than a plaything. It’s not even sharp. I mean I used to play with it as a child,” he added thinking them foolish for even wasting their time looking.

  As the two youngsters left the room, Galdrac knew he needed to have the king listen to reason. If the races of the world were to have a chance they would need to stand together, not fight individually as they were currently doing. Although he was sure Finley would not like it, Galdrac was about to make promises on his behalf in the hope that King Willem might change his current line of thought.