“I would be happy to Eldest. After all you have done for me, it seems such a small request to make.”
“Ah Kuiran, you have some mighty contests of magic ahead of you in your fight against evil. I’m happy with your agreement. Now go, help those in need and be kind and True.”
Kuiran bowed deeply once more and turned for the door, his eyes hot with unshed tears. He paused then turned back to the Eldest.
“May I approach you?” he asked.
The Eldest considered for a moment.
“You may.”
Kuiran strode to her and gently grasped her wrist. It took but a moment for him to undo all the exhaustion and stress of the last few days and transfer a little of his youthful vitality to her. Before his eyes the face of the Eldest lost its wrinkles and plumped out. Her eyes widened in surprise as Kuiran beamed at the result of his considered use of Watermagic.
“A quick student no more but a Master, Kuiran. Now go with my blessing and fight evil.”
Kuiran nodded and turned away, happy in his heart to have done something for the generous matriarch of the Sealie. The Eldest, although appearing stern, had given him so much of herself he felt the poignancy of leaving her deeply. Soon he was out in the air above Haven with the dark sea seen through the dome of the roof above and the lights of the buildings glittering far below. He ambled down the beautiful, flowing walkway, taking his time. It would have been just as easy to jump over the side and thicken the air with water vapour to slow his descent but that would be showing off and he had promised not to do so.
Ssarista must have been informed of Kuiran’s pending release as she was waiting at the base of the ramp. She gave Kuiran a friendly, warm embrace and pulled his head down to kiss his cheek.
“We’ve done it Kuiran. You are now a formidable Mage in your own right. The Ringbearer has Firemagic, Shiri has strong Earthmagic and you have Watermagic. Pray that will be enough to defeat the evil Q’Herindam. My instructions are to keep you here a day longer to adapt to people, even if they are Sealie, before you go back to your world. Ready for lunch?”
Kuiran’s stomach rumbled and he realised he was quite hungry.
“Lead on Ssarista.”
Raleen was pacing as she talked to Marina, her voice pitched a shade higher and faster than her normal speech.
“He’s been away for nearly a month now. Has Kuiran forgotten he is a Man and has left us to join Ssarista and the Sealies? Where can he be?”
Marina was trying to be patient with Raleen but it had become more difficult of late. Her worry translated into fear. Fear of losing the soft spoken giant to another, particularly a Sealie. It was a side of Raleen which troubled Marina as the girl, which is how Marina thought of Raleen, would need even more fortitude in times to come and display far more trust toward Kuiran.
“Raleen. We’ve had this conversation before. Things are as they are. Kuiran has gone with Ssarista to try and hasten his uptake of Watermagic. Your fear, which is turning to jealousy, is a petty thing. One I didn’t think you had in you.”
Raleen stopped pacing, stung by Marina’s honesty and evaluated the older woman’s statement. It must seem like that to her. Raleen sharply remembered her jealousy over Arwhon’s success when she had first arrived in Belvedere. Hands cradling reddened cheeks in anguish, she hung her head and fought back tears.
“Marina, I can’t help these feelings. I’ve had no Mother to guide me as I grew up and had to be a mother to the family. Help me please Marina. I don’t want to be like this. Kuiran deserves better.”
Marina stood and crossed the room to take Raleen in her arms and stroke her hair. Kuiran’s birth mother was almost as tall as Kuiran and her presence reassured Raleen. Marina whispered to her.
“I could use a little touch of magic to ease your fears. It wouldn’t change you but it would remove the need to worry so.”
Raleen looked up into Marina’s eyes. This was a woman who could be trusted. She had saved Kuiran’s life by giving him up when he was newborn. She was selfless.
“Yes, please do Marina. I can’t stand the way my thoughts run away with me. It’s an ugly thing.”
Marina drew Raleen over to a chair, indicating she should sit on the floor in front of it, back to the seat. Marina sat in the chair and leaned Raleen back against her legs until finally she placed her fingertips on Raleen’s temples. Raleen felt warmth through those hands and relaxed. In fact she was being put to sleep and soon her head slumped forward. Marina smiled and went to work. In some ways the spell she used resembled the one Vehrin’del had used on Cringle in the Darkwood and probably was once identical. It served the same purpose, purging the mind of any deep rooted fear and driving out the uncertainty and worry which went with it. Abron entered the room while Marina was thus engaged and felt the edges of the spell. He smiled and nodded his support in Marina’s direction before quietly leaving again.
It was almost dusk when Raleen awoke, lying on a couch, feeling refreshed and totally at ease. She looked over to Marina who was mending clothes.
“I feel a lot better than I did before. Thank you. Do you think the spell worked?”
Kuiran’s mother looked up at Raleen, a twinkle in her eye.
“You would be the best judge of that. Feel for your magic. Is the way to it clearer and more sharply delineated?”
Raleen explored that part of her, amazed at how lucid her mind was then looked into other areas. The constant worry which had dogged her every waking minute recently had vanished and she saw her suspicion of Ssarista for what it was.
“Thank you Marina. You’ve truly made me a better person. I hope I can repay you some day.”
“Looking after my only son is repayment enough Raleen. You’re a good woman and an excellent match for him, of which I heartily approve, as does Abron. Now, if you feel rested enough, it’s your turn to cook the evening meal.”
Raleen laughed for the first time in a couple of weeks and jumped up from the couch to go to the kitchen. Marina gazed after her, a satisfied smile on her face.
The very next morning, as Raleen sat at her morning vigil, watching the beach from the study window, she caught sight of two large dark shapes in the waves beyond the beach. As she watched, a large seal surfed in on one of the waves and landed on the sand were it proceeded to transform into Kuiran.
Kuiran!
Raleen leapt to her feet and ran downstairs, thinking enough to grab Kuiran’s Darkwood cloak from the peg beside the door as she left the house on the run. Down the slope to the beach until nearing Kuiran, her hair flying behind her, she leapt toward him joyfully only to find herself hanging weightless in the air. Kuiran reached forward and drew her floating body toward him, wrapping his huge arms around Raleen and kissing her deeply. They broke apart for a moment and Raleen realised the naked and dripping Kuiran was laughing.
“Put me down you great lump and cover yourself immediately.”
Kuiran stepped back, taking the cloak from Raleen and wrapped himself in it. She still hung in the air before him. He smiled and she gently drifted down to the sand as he turned and waved to the Sealie in the surf. Water sprayed and sparkled as it lazily waved a flipper back and dove into the oncoming wave to disappear.
“I see you learned some magic in the month you were away,” Raleen commented.
Kuiran’s head jerked back in surprise.
“A month! But it was only a week I was away.” He turned back to the sea for a moment, deep in thought. “Time really does move more slowly down there.”
Turning back, Kuiran easily picked Raleen up again and carried her up to the house, his arms holding her firmly as if he would never release her again.
“Beloved, it’s time for us to leave Wyalon and return to the battle against evil. I sense Arwhon will need our help in fighting the Q’Herindam. If the Jalwynd does not arrive soon, we will have to buy a small sailing boat of some kind and head off ourselves.”
Raleen took his head in her hands and kissed Kuiran deeply before
coming up for air.
“That’s for tomorrow Kuiran. Today is for us.”
10. Servants of the Q’Herindam.
The day after Arwhon and Shiri’s visit to Jalwynd, Arwhon stood by the window of their room in the castle, looking out over Encarill. He was enjoying his stay as King Rickard’s guest; it allowed him to spend time with Shiri. She sat in the window seat near him, dressed in Ranger garb, happy to be out of her armour.
There was a knock at the door. Arwhon opened it to find one of the King’s personal servants. The man’s harried appearance presaged a matter of some urgency.
“The King requests your presence immediately Lord Arwhon.”
“Lord? I’m no Lord but if the King wants to see me I’ll come at once,” answered Arwhon.
The servant breathed a sigh of relief as Arwhon, with Shiri following close behind, hurried after the man. In a few minutes they were led into Rickard’s private chamber where they found the King pacing back and forth, deep in thought. He stopped as he noticed them waiting.
“Ah, Lord Arwhon, thank you for your promptness,” acknowledged the King.
“Sire. I’m no Lord. Just plain Arwhon.”
“Not any more lad. You’re a subject of mine and from Myseline so if I want to make you a Lord, a Lord you will be but we have more important things than that to discuss right now.”
Rickard dismissed the servant and bade Arwhon and Shiri sit before taking a seat himself. He pulled a tiny scrap of paper from his pocket and waved it at them.
“This just came by carrier pigeon from Bentwood. It’s a message which tells me Durhain’s Pass is now closed. Apparently the tremor we felt here yesterday was far stronger in Bentwood. A loyal subject used a spyglass after the dust settled and the remaining daylight was enough to see the pass was no more. I would like your opinion.”
The news came as something of a shock to Arwhon and Shiri. The only way to enter Myseline by land was now closed. A pass which had been there since Mehgrin raised her Wall was no more. Arwhon thought on it for a moment before turning to Shiri for her opinion. After a short discussion between them, Arwhon addressed his King.
“It’s strange indeed that a week after Encarill is cleansed of a Q’Herindam Mage, our only land contact with Cumbrisia and the other nations is closed. I think there’s more than coincidence at work here. I would suggest, with all due respect Sire, that you mobilise whatever forces you are able to as soon as possible. If nothing else it’s a good training exercise.”
The King took his gold circlet off and scratched his head as he contemplated Arwhon’s suggestion.
“Then what do we do Lord Arwhon?”
Arwhon didn’t bother denying the King his use of a title. Obviously it made Rickard feel better about respecting a twenty year old who had rescued his King and done so much to destroy the stranglehold and evil influence of the Dominion.
“I suggest your army march up to Bentwood and a scouting party inspect the damage to Durhain’s Pass. All the other lands have seen some sort of action against the Dominion but the Myseline forces are untried in battle. It will prepare them a little better for what may be coming.”
“You are right Lord Arwhon. Will you lead them?”
“Sire. Your General should lead them, as I have other work to do but while I’m in Myseline, I would be honoured to assist your General with advice if he so desires.”
The King drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair.
“He will desire. Believe me, he has no other choice.”
Arwhon and Shiri returned to their quarters to meet with Cringle. The Servant had returned from his scouting amongst the taverns of Encarill to gauge the mood of the citizens. He conveyed his impressions to Master and Shield.
“Nothing much to report at the moment, apart from the fact most of the population are happy Jerome has been removed from power and King Rickard is back. A lot of them know who you are Arwhon. And you too Shiri. There’s talk of magic and the sign of warding being made but most of it is banter. I’ll go back out this evening and see what else I can find out.”
Arwhon agreed. He needed to know what the common people of Encarill thought. Secretly he wished Cristal was here. She was good at that sort of thing.
The orders went out into the city and the surrounding well populated, fertile farming country. Every available man who had any military training was called up and a request made for volunteers to join the army. Over the next few days, the castle courtyard bustled with activity as able-bodied men arrived in response to the call-to-arms. Dusty old barracks were cleaned out and fresh straw placed on sleeping pallets. Supplies were brought in by the cartload to accommodate the increase in manpower. The standing military force of a few hundred men was easily doubled by the new auxiliaries and the Quartermaster’s store was sorely pushed to provide uniforms and weapons, although most of the recruits were eventually kitted out when dusty, locked storage rooms were investigated. Some of the uniforms and weapons found in those rooms dated back to the time of the first Dominion war nearly seventy years before. Back when Encarill was a well-garrisoned city. The cavalry only numbered fifty horse and six of those were off on an honour guard for Staril, escorting him back to Trugor. Three days after Arwhon’s audience with the King he was asked to accompany the General on an inspection of the troops.
It was late afternoon as the Myseline army, numbering around five hundred men, assembled in the castle courtyard. The cavalry was off to one end of the rank and file, sitting on fidgeting horses as Arwhon and the General descended the few broad stairs from the Keep. Most present knew Arwhon by sight now as word of the King’s rescue from the clutches of his bastard son Jerome had swept through Encarill like wildfire and Arwhon and Shiri were pointed out wherever they went. Cringle preferred to remain anonymous however, and generally walked several paces behind his Master and Shiri when they all went out together, hidden in plain sight, well beneath the notice of the average citizen.
Anonymity was a tool Cringle tried to avoid blunting.
Observing closely as he strode behind the General past ranked lines of soldiers, Arwhon was dismayed at the lack of pride shown in their appearance. Even though the older uniforms were somewhat dilapidated and a different style from the later ones, all of the soldiers were far sloppier in their turnout than any force had a right to be. It was as if they had no understanding of the overarching requirement for military unity. Perhaps because Myseline had never needed to field a large army since the first Dominion war or maybe it was due to Jerome allowing everything to fall into disrepair. Whatever the reason. It was just not good enough.
The General drew Arwhon to one side after they had looked over the ranks of soldiers.
“What do you think? Will they do?”
Arwhon didn’t want to make an enemy of the man but in truth, he was quite disappointed with what he’d seen.
“General. I suggest you order the men to reassemble at daybreak in clean clothes and with all their kit cleaned and polished. At the moment they are just a group of men with a collection of gear, not an army. We may have need of a real army soon and under your leadership surely a real military force can be constructed from these men.”
The General concurred and led Arwhon over to the cavalry, to inspect both them and their horses. As the highest paid in the King’s army, their deportment and preparation were a lot better but there were only forty four of them. After the pair had finished their inspection, the General spoke to his troops and ordered them back at first light with their clothing cleaned and their weapons and kit polished. There was a general moan from the ranks and one large individual called out.
“We don’t need to be clean to fight.”
Arwhon turned to the General.
“May I put on a little demonstration?”
The General agreed and Arwhon called the dissenting soldier out to the front of the ranks. The man was heavy and strong looking, with calloused, dirty hands and clothes to match. He strutted forward as though he
were invincible. Arwhon removed his helm and sword, handing them to Cringle and stepped in front of the hulking soldier. The man was a good head taller than he.
“So, you can fight can you?”
The big man’s eyes lit up. “I can beat anyone here.”
All Arwhon said was, “Choose your weapon.”
The soldier drew his regulation issue sword and waved it about, trying to give the impression he knew how to use it.
“So who am I to fight?”
“Me.”
The man laughed, then without warning swung a vicious blow at Arwhon who suddenly wasn’t there. The heavy blade cut through the air again in a backhand stroke, aiming for the place Arwhon had occupied but a moment before. As the man warmed up, trying to hit Arwhon, it was apparent he had little skill and mostly relied on strength alone, fighting in the chop and hack style. Arwhon let him have a few more swings before stepping inside the man’s guard and easily removing the sword from his grasp. He flung it away and stepped back again as the man pulled a large knife from his belt sheath. He held it for less time than he did the sword as Arwhon pivoted to avoid a stabbing move and twisted the knife out of the bully’s hand. Cringle was awed, having never seen Arwhon in hand to hand combat before. When it came to unarmed combat, all of Arwhon’s training at the hand’s of Chalc came to the fore and he gently sent the big man to the ground a number of times before calling a halt to the bout. He helped the fellow up and handed back his knife and sword before sending the clearly humbled man back into the ranks. He turned to face the assembled soldiers, his breathing normal.
“That was just an exercise but the reality of actual combat results in death or serious injury. It’s not a game we play but a deathly contest with those who would come to kill you, your families and every man, woman and child throughout all the lands. I was in Belvedere when the city was entered by the Dominion forces and we were hard pressed to hold it. We were lucky to have someone who administered a healing spell to many of the injured but still the number of dead was a sizable figure. They left loved ones and children behind. It’s not size and strength which win through but discipline. That includes self-discipline. Soon you may be needed to fight and if you can take pride in your appearance, you may fight better together against a common enemy.”
The Q'Herindam Page 20