“So what can we do Abron?” the Commander asked. “Its no use taking the Militia over there, he’s just too powerful for us to handle. Deltana is nearly as large as Sanctuary and he has plenty of manpower. It would be foolish for us to fight them, we’re all Wyalonian.”
Abron thought for a moment or two before conferring with Merina. They talked for a while on the far side of the room, heads shaking and nodding, before Abron returned.
“Leave it with us Commander Rivers. We’ll go over to Deltana and talk to the Mage Tarn. We’ll try to explain the broader picture and see if we can get him to use some commonsense.”
The Commander looked visibly relieved at that and left, hurrying to return to his Guard. Abron looked back into the front room where Kuiran and Raleen were standing.
“Would you two like to come to Deltana, it’s on the other side of the island. We can provide you with a horse Raleen. Kuiran, Merina and I will walk but we’ll still need a pack horse for provisions and some sleeping gear, although there are inns along the way.”
Kuiran and Raleen readily agreed, a chance to see more of Wyalon was not something to miss. Soon they were upstairs packing a few essentials for the six or so days they would be away from Sanctuary. Kuiran wore his mail hauberk and packed his mail gloves just in case. They set off together, retracing the road Kuiran and Raleen had taken with Old Snowy when they’d gone to the Tower. They stayed in the same inn as previously and were warmly received, especially Raleen as she’d paid in gold on her last visit. Abron took care of the arrangements this time and the innkeeper seemed well pleased.
In the morning they carried on with their journey and rode past the turnoff which led up to the Tower. Mountains now rose on each side of them to finish in snow capped peaks but the road they were on ran along a green carpeted, treeless valley which split the range. A small stream, not so full at this time of the year, ran along the valley floor, flowing away from the direction of Sanctuary. Cool air and pleasant sunshine accompanied the party. Kuiran was enjoying his walk as much as Raleen was enjoying the ride.
Nearly a whole day passed on the green trail with the stream growing to a small river in that time and toward dusk, they reached the end of the split in the range. The view was wonderful and they could see all the way down to Deltana, a dark smudge beside the sea, far off in the distance. The small party began their decent but had only progressed a short distance when two armed men stepped out from behind some large rocks.
“State yer business.”
Abron was startled.
“Pardon?”
“I said, state yer business. This is the free State of Deltana and we’re part of its Border patrol. No strangers welcome here.”
Kuiran had seen too much of this in his relatively short time out of the Darkwood. Man against Man. He was fed up. What was wrong with the world? He strode forward purposefully, gripping his staff as the guards looked uncertain. Before either of them realised anything was about to happen, he’d given them a light crack over the head with it. They both fell unconscious at his feet.
Merina gave a little cry at the suddenness of the apparent violence so Kuiran turned to address her.
“Sorry Merina but if you give in to little would-be bullies like this they step all over you. These two will wake in about an hour with a sore head and will then have to decide what to do. It will be dark by that time. So I’m picking they will do nothing until morning. Shall we go?”
Kuiran seemed cheerful enough about his unorthodox approach, so they all moved off down the hill towards a small roadside inn. Their reception there was somewhat reserved but gold was gold and it bought a few smiles as well as rooms and food and plenty of silver change.
The following morning they were off again, bright and early. The trip down to Deltana was unhindered, strolling through farmland in the warm sun watching people tend their crops and plough and plant. They had no trouble at all until they came to the city gates where Abron was asked his business.
“Abron and Merina, two of the four Caretakers of Sanctuary, along with Kuiran their son and his betrothed, come to see the Mage Tarn.”
“That so? Well he ain’t seein’ no one,” the guard insolently replied. Kuiran stepped forward to deal with the surly man but Abron halted him.
“There other ways to deal with such as this, Kuiran,” he said making a small gesture. Ice formed around the guard’s feet until they were both stuck in a block of it. The guard looked terrified as Abron spoke to him.
“I can totally encase you in a block of ice so thick it would take a week to dig you out or we can go and see the Mage Tarn and the ice around your feet will all melt away.”
“Enter Sir and please release me. Tarn’s straight up the road there in the biggest building.”
Abron waved his hand and the ice vanished. The man’s boots weren’t even wet. Kuiran took note. The small party proceeded in the direction indicated and eventually reached a four storey building of grand proportions. Abron approached the door and knocked. It was opened by yet another guard who seemed surprised to see them.
“Tarn ain’t seein’ no one today. Bugger off.”
Abron merely smiled at this display of rudeness and asked to see the Mage Tarn.
“Tell him it’s Abron and Merina from Sanctuary come to visit.”
The guard left and they heard him mount a flight of stairs on the double. There was a brief pause before they heard him descend to appear again at the door.
“He said to bugger off and mind yer own business.”
As the guard finished speaking, his head came into contact with a staff and he crumpled at the knees, falling with a clatter. Abron and Merina entered, followed by Kuiran and Raleen. They made their way up to the second floor. At the head of the stairs was a passageway with an open door and as they approached it, they heard a voice speak out.
“I told you what to say. I don’t want to see them.”
Abron and Merina walked ahead through the door but before they could guard themselves, Tarn had hit them with a large mass of water. It blew them back through the doorway and smashed them into the brick wall of the corridor behind where they fell unconscious. The Mage was walking toward the door talking as Kuiran prepared to dash in and deal to him but Raleen laid a hand on his arm and whispered.
“Let me. My magic is stronger than yours at the moment.”
Kuiran nodded and Raleen stepped into the doorway and ‘shoved’ hard with Earthmagic. It was Tarn’s turn to fly back and while he was in the air, Raleen glamoured herself and Kuiran with Earthmagic so they were invisible. Together they darted forward into the room where the Mage was picking himself up but his eyes had no chance to see the staff which knocked him base over apex. He was unconscious before he hit the floorboards a second time.
Raleen ran back to check on Abron and Merina but they were unharmed. Abron had recovered first and cast a healing spell over Merina who had in turn made one over Abron. They came into the room and saw Tarn unconscious on the floor. Merina checked his pulse then bound him in wards, weaving them so Tarn could not use his magic while he was so warded. Then she cast a healing spell and the Mage Tarn came to.
At first he was dazed but when Tarn realised who peered down at him, he immediately tried to use some of his magic. To no avail.
He grimaced.
“Rule by force now do you?”
“We don’t rule Tarn. You know as well as I do that four of us were recently freed from the Tower after those long years of imprisonment. We’re the caretakers of Sanctuary and by default, the whole of Wyalon. We advise and assist and try to keep some form of peace so people can get on with their lives. If someone happens to become rich through honest toil. Well, good luck to them.”
Tarn wasn’t done.
“It’s all right for the likes of you but what about us other Mages? Where do we fit into the Grand Plan?”
Abron sighed.
“Tarn. Meet Kuiran my son. I sent him away twenty years ago to the M’Herin
dar to escape the Council of Mages. He was the catalyst which resulted in the destruction of the Council, giving us all our freedom. He doesn’t crow about it or demand reward. He abhors evil and for some reason we don’t know, he is part of something which is trying to wipe it out. The Council of Mages was corrupted by Q’Herindam evil and we came here to see if you were similarly affected.”
Tarn’s eyes flew wide open at the mention of the Q’Herindam.
“What in the name of the Fate was a Q’Herindam doing on Wyalon. Why us, what have we ever done to them?”
“They’re trying to wipe Man from all the lands.” Merina replied. “And using their evil to do it which is why we’re here checking on you. Just to make sure you don’t have the taint.”
Tarn appeared equally confused and embarrassed, looking from one to the other of his visitors.
“I thought you’d just come to pull me down and make me toe the line. Impose Sanctuary’s rule on Deltana.”
Merina continued.
“No Tarn, we came to discuss what would be best for the future of Wyalon since there is no Council of Mages any more. People are again free now. We have started Trade with Southland. I think it’s time we became more open and entered the world out there beyond the sea. We can all benefit from cooperating together. I’m going to release the wards as a sign of good faith. Please consider your response.”
Tarn stood and stretched as the invisible bonds fell away, rubbing his forehead where a shiny bump could be seen.
“I got it wrong and for that I apologise. I thought it was every Mage for himself now that the Council of Mages is no more but I see the sense in what you say. Would you need a Governor over here by any chance?”
Abron smiled.
“I’m not surprised you would be volunteering for the position Tarn. It’s fine by me but no more of the bully boy tactics. Working in that manner allows entry for evil. The people of Deltana deserve better and will respond well when they see you lead by example for the benefit of the population. You’ll be well rewarded for being a good Governor.”
The Mage relaxed, rubbing his hands together, his face already more pleasant looking than previously.
“Excellent. You’ll all have to stay with me while you’re here in Deltana and it would please me to show young Kuiran and…”
“Raleen,” she supplied.
“….Raleen, the city.”
So it was. A misunderstanding cleared up and the offer of a guided tour around Deltana. Kuiran was beginning to understand force wasn’t everything. There were ways to deal with situations subtly, without using coercion. Reason and fairness were things good people responded to everywhere and if they didn’t? Well he always had his staff.
The city of Deltana was vastly different from Sanctuary, being built around a system of canals which connected everywhere with everywhere else. There were few actual streets so their tour was conducted mostly by boat on the canal system. Kuiran could feel the sensation of water through the deck of the small boat and to his amazement the sensation was just as good if not better than the feeling he had in the Darkwood.
The guided tour around Deltana was wonderful. Residences, businesses, trading and markets all took place from boats or from the houses lining the canals. The architecture was intriguing, with the buildings overshadowing the waterways offering protection from the elements to the boats moored below. Distinctive colourful patterns made from glazed tiles covered most of the upper walls resulting in riots of patterning different for each abode. During their introduction to the city, Kuiran and Raleen absorbed the history of Deltana and were exceeding glad they had made the trip over from the other side of Wyalon to see it.
Two days later, Abron, Merina, Kuiran and Raleen left to travel back to Sanctuary after Abron and Merina extracted a Mage’s promise from Tarn that he would do his best to run this side of the island in harmony with the rest, for the benefit of Wyalon and Wyalonians.
It was back to work for Kuiran after they returned. Practicing the handling of his Watermagic heritage. Each day he improved a little and each day he thought of Arwhon, wondering what he was doing now. It troubled Kuiran that his progress in gaining Watermagic was so slow but he didn’t mention his thoughts to Abron.
One day, while standing in the surf practicing his control of the water, a seal’s head bobbed up in front of him and he recognised Ssarista immediately.
“Kuiran my sssweet. You are worried at the pace of your learning. I will help you if I can but you mussst come with me. We may be gone for sssome time.”
Kuiran blinked. How did she know what he was thinking?
“I would love to Ssarista but I must tell Raleen where I am going so she doesn’t worry. Will you wait for me?”
“Yesss Kuiran. It isss very important you learn all now. Hurry.”
Kuiran spun around, picked up his staff from the high-water line and raced up the hill to the house, charging into the kitchen where he found Raleen kneading bread. He swung her off her feet.
“Ssarista wants me to go with her to learn Watermagic. Would you mind? Can you spare me?”
“No need to ask Kuiran, all you had to do was let me know. How long will you be gone?”
Kuiran was surprised by the question.
“I don’t know. Ssarista didn’t say. I don’t expect it will be too long though”
“Very well. You go, I’ll tell Marina and Abron where you’ve gone.”
Kuiran took the love of his life into his huge arms and kissed her deeply, their lips melting together before he eventually and reluctantly pulled himself away.
“Will you look after my staff for me and collect my clothes from the beach?”
Raleen laughed at his seriousness.
“Of course. Now go. Ssarista is waiting for you.”
Kuiran handed Raleen his staff and with a last kiss, shot out of the door, running back to the beach. He quickly stripped off his clothes, leaving them above the high tide line before diving into the blue waters.
Ssarista swam ahead leading Kuiran Sealie down into the depths. Deeper than he had ever gone before. His complete trust in Ssarista quelling his fear about running out of air. They came to a cave mouth which Ssarista entered and Kuiran Sealie followed. The tunnel was long and smooth and Kuiran started to feel the pressure from his lungs as his oxygen depleted but eventually he saw brightness above him and Ssarista led him upward.
Into air and light.
Ssarista pulled herself out of the water onto a shelf of rock and amazingly changed into human form. As comely in woman form as she was sleek and fine as a Sealie. Standing, she walked to a rack of shimmering cloaks and choosing one, wrapped herself in it. Kuiran left the water and Ssarista handed him a cloak to put on.
“I thought you couldn’t change into human form.” Kuiran mumbled, still stunned at witnessing her transformation. Ssarista smiled at his confusion, Kuiran still had much to learn.
“We are in Haven, the only true home of the Sealie. Here, and only here, we can become what we once were. I have broken the Rules to bring you here and we must see the Eldest immediately. Follow me.”
Ssarista walked off and Kuiran followed her out of the doorway to enter into a city of sparkling light and airy towers, which twinkled and shone with endless reflected light. There were no streets as such, just flexible, suspended walkways which seemed to flow around the buildings, spiralling up through the air, held in place with gossamer fine threads. Kuiran looked up and saw a clear, glittering dome far above with the dark sea all around it.
His mind raced, question after question piling up, one after the other. Ssarista stopped walking, a broad smile on her face and turned to him, taking his right hand in her left. She placed her other hand on his head and Kuiran felt the flow of energy.
Answers came to him.
Haven was deep under the sea where no one could come, apart from the Sealie. Here they allowed themselves to don the human form of the ancestral Hirondae. The Sealie people aged very slowly and time h
ere in Haven was different from anywhere else. Kuiran discovered Ssarista was over a thousand Man years old. He also found he knew only True Sealie were ever supposed to come here and Ssarista could risk banishment for what she had done. After the knowledge flooded in, Ssarista stepped back and saw the awakening in Kuiran’s eyes.
“Yes Kuiran, you are of great importance to me. To all of us. Now we will go to visit the Eldest.”
Ssarista led Kuiran off through Haven, the shocked stares of the Sealie inhabitants following their progress.
7. Trugor.
As he stood outside the city gazing at the walls of Belvedere, Arwhon decided it was long past time to have some fun. His trip back from Dwarfholme in the foothills of Mehgrin’s Wall had taken a mere two days, far less than the walk there through the tunnels under Southland. He’d ridden on Krissi’s back for most of the return journey but only in short hops. Although Krissi was now fully grown, she hadn’t as yet muscled out to her final size so she was unable to carry Arwhon for long continuous distances.
“Ready girl?” he asked the gryffon as he gently climbed onto her shoulders in front of her wings. His answer was a mighty leap into the air and a downward thrust of those powerful wings. Arwhon held tightly to Krissi’s feathered neck as the ground rushed away and mentally sent her a picture of the cobbled area in front of Cristal’s mansion. The gryffon flew over the walls of Belvedere, guards calling out in surprise, before she circled down to land in Cristal’s courtyard.
There were cries of amazement and the sound of running feet from inside the house. Then the front door was thrown wide and as Arwhon dismounted, Shiri came running out to throw herself into his arms, tears of joy brimming from her beautiful amethyst eyes. Behind her, Cristal emerged at pace with the ever present Mendle a step behind and right behind them appeared a man who Arwhon found familiar only because he had a Cheshwon face.
The Q'Herindam Page 13