The Q'Herindam

by B Cameron Lee

  There was no huge flash, nor a loud report or spirits flying, just the forms of Arwhon and Mehgrin fading from existence. Shiri came back to reality immediately they were gone and found Arwhon missing. She was heartbroken to lose Arwhon again but her feelings were short lived as her wards flared in response to more spells being directed at her by the Q’Herindam Mages, who had resumed their bombardment. Arwhon or no Arwhon, she was once again embroiled in a magical battle for her life alongside Kuiran and Cringle.

  Arwhon was a passenger in his own body at first, as all light faded and he felt a transition, moving to elsewhere before the light rose again and he was standing in the centre of a circular courtyard surrounded by many columns supporting a huge domed roof. A shadowy, insubstantial figure stood beside him, motionless, while the more substantial Mehgrin waited a few paces away.

  Arwhon looked around as he sheathed his sword. Doorways led off the courtyard at varying intervals and it was through one of them that three female forms, in diaphanous gowns, stepped gracefully out to meet them. They were so alike it was difficult to tell them apart. Arwhon thought they could be sisters as he stood silently, waiting to see what would eventuate. The shadowy form of Durhain spoke, greeting them by name.

  “Fate, Destiny and Time. Greetings.”

  Each woman bowed in response to her name and Arwhon realised there were subtle differences between them. Not the least their hair colour. Durhain continued.

  “I’m sorry to intrude on you but there is a major problem in the world we come from. I wish to discuss a solution if I may.”

  The three women considered for a moment before turning to Mehgrin and speaking as if with one voice.

  “Is this your wish also, Mehgrin?”

  Mehgrin nodded but added.

  “Durhain is being unfair. All I want to do is rid the world of Man. The cursed race spreads everywhere and gets into everything. There’s no peace from them, always prying into things that don’t concern them.”

  Fate, Destiny and Time listened to Mehgrin without interruption until she’d finished then they moved to the fountain and started a private conversation among themselves. At one point Arwhon noticed their talk becoming quite heated as each appeared to argue back and forth. Eventually Fate, Destiny and Time returned to stand before Arwhon, Durhain and Mehgrin.

  “What is the nature of the problem you have brought to us Durhain?”

  The ghostly figure of Durhain answered.

  “Mehgrin was never tasked with making decisions on who should remain on the planet and who should not. We were placed there as Guardians only and many millennia ago I was forced to stop Mehgrin from wiping out most of the inhabitants of the world because she wanted it for herself.”

  Time merely stood and watched as Fate and Destiny consulted each other for a moment or two before replying.

  “Isn’t this a matter for The Creator, Durhain?”

  Durhain snorted. “You know as well as I do that once The Creator has created and put Guardians in place, he loses interest in his creation and won’t talk to anyone about it. That includes us, two of the world’s original Guardians. You Fate and you Destiny should know what is supposed to happen next or at least, what might happen.”

  Fate stepped back and reappraised Durhain.

  “Who is that who stands behind you Durhain?”

  “It is a Man known as Arwhon. He should be familiar to you.”

  Both Fate and Destiny advanced to stand right before Arwhon and inspected him closely before Destiny spoke out.

  “It is him. The one we have had to keep a close eye on. He was supposed to have died a number of times according to the path I laid out for him.”

  A sly grin flickered across Fate’s attractive face. Destiny spotted the fleeting smile and rounded on Fate.

  “What have you done, Sister? Have you been meddling with my storylines again? I told you the last time I would not stand for it.”

  Fate seemed unconcerned with this little tirade and spoke up.

  “You always were a little hard hearted. Look at him, he’s a fine specimen and doesn’t deserve what you’ve put him through. He only had Durhain’s Dagger for a few weeks before you tried to kill him off with it. Lucky I was keeping an eye on him too.”

  “So it was you,” Destiny cried out, “who disrupted all my plans for this one. Do you know how demeaning it is to see my stratagems thwarted? I suppose you helped save him from drowning in the river and aided his escape from Durhain’s cave under the mountains. Why?”

  “Because, Sister, it’s time the world stopped fighting and the Races learned to live in peace. Only a Champion for Truth could do that and this boy has a pure heart. Oh, I know of your schemes for war leading to greater leaps forward in technology but there needs to be time for the Races to come to know one another and dabble in whatever magics they have left. War’s turn will come again. Why not peace for now?”

  Mehgrin looked shocked.

  “What do you mean, Peace! I want Man off the planet. Now! I made the Q’Herindam what they are so they could wipe out Man and now you tell me that it’s not going to happen. I defy you, you pair of old has beens.”

  Fate looked at Destiny. Destiny looked back at Fate and nodded. Fate spoke.

  “We have decided, Guardian, that it’s your Fate to vanish into the depths of Time and trouble us and the world no more. You should have left it alone eons ago.”

  Time stood silently as her outline wavered and a change came over the lissome young woman. She expanded and grew, at the same time becoming more insubstantial. Stars appeared in the space she occupied and both Fate and Destiny stepped back. As if on cue, Durhain and Arwhon stepped back also but Mehgrin found she could not move as Time flowed toward her. In a brief instant she was engulfed by the star field and the last anyone heard of Mehgrin before she vanished forever was a long drawn out.

  “Noooooooo…”

  Time flowed and once more became a young woman in a diaphanous gown, patiently waiting for her sisters to complete their business.

  “So Durhain,” Fate asked. “Do you want us to rid the world of Q’Herindam?”

  Durhain, once a Guardian, stood for a moment, thinking. There was a lot for him to consider.

  “You probably know already how this turns out but I think you should leave the decision to Arwhon. He has a generous and warm heart, one which has led to a number of excellent outcomes. I think your other sister, Luck, also has an interest in this Man, so it may be a good idea to let him carry on and do what he does best. Mending relations and trying for the best solution for all.”

  The three women nodded wisely.

  “It’s what we thought also but you realise you cannot stay with him Durhain. Your time is long past and you must return to the dust of the stars.”

  Time stepped forward again and the star field opened up. Durhain turned and extended his nearly invisible arm, which seemed firm when Arwhon clasped it in a final farewell.

  “You are a worthy bearer of the Ring and Dagger. Be fair and just in your decisions. Now it’s time for me to go.”

  Durhain turned back and stepped into the mist of stars that was Time and vanished. Arwhon felt a part of him wrenched away as Durhain joined the void and became no more. His anguish was in knowing all he now was came from and through Durhain. Arwhon gave silent thanks to the Guardian as the courtyard became insubstantial and vanished into a dense mist, out of which formed the inside of the Q’Herindam fortress where a fierce magical battle was still raging.

  Arwhon reappeared in the midst of chaos and drew his sword, sucking up huge amounts of Power as he did. He felt different, his thoughts sharper and the slight buzzing that used to be in his head was now gone. It was clear to him that the Q’Herindam would never desist from their attempts to kill off Man. Yes, it was Mehgrin who had helped set them on this course but sometimes, the only way to fix a festering mess was to excise it. He pointed his sword at the nearest tower and a white hot beam shot from the patterned blade, hot en
ough to melt the stone of the fortress. Arwhon cut at the stone walls of the building with delicate precision and everywhere he stroked the white hot beam, sections of the walls and walkways came crashing to the ground. He hardened his heart to the screams of the dying Mages as he cut the Q’Herindam fortified city into superheated lumps of stone and then fused them together into one solid mass.

  Arwhon called for Shiri and explained what he wished to do. Between them, using Fire and Earthmagic, they worked the mass of stone into a single tall column. Arwhon paused while Shiri was still forming the hardening rock and sheathing his sword, turned to Kuiran.

  “Well met my Arm. Thank you for the rescue. Do you think you could flood every level and chamber beneath this hateful place?”

  Kuiran’s laughter was answer enough as water flooded from wells and reservoirs, seeking a path down below the ground through the subterranean levels beneath the wreckage of the Q’Herindam citadel. All magical attacks had long since ceased, so Arwhon strode over to Shiri and took her in his arms, hugging her to him fiercely.

  “I thought of you often when I was in my shell. I know I should have let you come with me but we wouldn’t have been strong enough even then. Before we leave, I want you to level this site with Earthmagic but leave a pile around the column in the middle to remind people in the future of what once was here. What has become of Cringle? Did you use the Sapphire on him?”

  Shiri, wide eyed, nodded dumbly, too overcome with emotion to risk speech at the moment. Arwhon just hugged her to him and observed Cringle over her shoulder. His Servant managed Airmagic with great flair and dexterity and really, was now too grand in his own right to be Servant any more. Arwhon released Shiri and stepped over to Cringle.

  “So Servant. Thank you. I guess you didn’t expect this much excitement when you asked for a job.”

  Cringle looked at Arwhon before he spoke and Arwhon immediately noticed the bright blue eyes regarding him.

  “No, not quite but there was something about you that drew me. Besides, I’m nothing like the Cringe you once knew, the boy who asked to be your servant.”

  Arwhon nodded in agreement.

  “Excellent. Now please, continue with what you were about, I have something I need to do.”

  It didn’t take too long, using magic, to finish the rest of the work tidying up the Q’Herindam fortress. The fact there were no children was a little perturbing because some female Q’Herindam Mages had fought alongside the men and died with them too. Arwhon called Krissi down, the gryffon stooping with alacrity to rejoin him. While Krissi was being petted, the thunder of hooves announced Duran, who had felt the bond reunite with strength and was racing to greet Arwhon. After a joyous reunion between man and beasts, which involved much head scratching and patting, stroking and multiple reassurances, Arwhon mounted Krissi and flew with her to look for some sort of Q’Herindam settlement capable of housing young Q’Herindam.

  Krissi flew up to circle the ruins. Arwhon was looking for roads or trails running away from the now demolished citadel, possibly leading to a Q’Herindam settlement and he spotted a well used, paved road leading off to the north. He directed Krissi to follow it and shortly, from his altitude, saw a sizeable settlement off in the distance. Having learned his lesson, Arwhon returned to the little group waiting for him, their horses and mule now saddled, bridled and ready to go. Krissi landed and Arwhon jumped off.

  “There’s a road at the back of the Citadel heading north, with a sizable town a few leagues away. We are not yet done. We must go there.”

  There was general agreement all round and shortly they were all mounted and riding away from the ruins of the citadel. Duran was broadcasting happiness at having Arwhon with him once again and stepped high with barely controlled energy. For Arwhon, it was wonderful to be reunited with his four legged companion. He had spent so much time apart from Duran lately.

  They found the road and Shiri moved up to ride beside Arwhon, Rancid and Duran delighted to travel together again. Kuiran strode ahead as usual and Cringle brought up the rear but Arwhon turned in his saddle to converse with him.

  “So how do you feel Cringle? Did Escarion come through, along with his magic?”

  Cringle’s face could not contain his amusement.

  “I’m not really ‘Cringle’ now, Arwhon, although that name suits us and Escarion is not fully Escarion anymore. We’ve agreed to combine the abilities each of us had before we were thrust together. It will be strange for you for a while looking at me, especially if I take to wearing frock coats, and hearing things only Escarion could know of but you’ll get used to it. Shiri and Kuiran did.”

  Shiri smiled as she spoke to Arwhon.

  “You’ll find it perplexing at first but after a while it just becomes normal and you think no more about it. I doubt we could have overcome the Q’Herindam without Cringle though.”

  Arwhon’s face flushed at this statement and he looked a little embarrassed.

  “I’ve learned my lesson Shiri. The Wise Ones of the M’Herindar are named ‘wise’ for a reason. They foretold my need for a Shield, an Arm and a Servant and here you are to rescue me yet again. I will not make the same mistake again. Ever.”

  Kuiran looked back over his shoulder, an easy grin on his face.

  “I’m sure your Grandmother will be happy about that. She worries about you so. Did you know Cristal and Captain Belmar have found love together?”

  They all laughed at Arwhon’s surprise, the merriment a release of tension for them all before they settled down to ride with their senses on full alert. There could yet remain some opposition.

  Within the hour, the Q’Herindam town came into view and as it did, magic was used against them. It was weak magic though and Arwhon shielded them all as they rode into the outskirts and came across a few old Mages struggling to stop them with powerless spells. Arwhon addressed them from Duran’s back.

  “Your Citadel is overcome and your Mages are all dead. If you give your word not to harm us, you may yet live. If there is any further resistance we will retaliate.”

  The old Mages bowed to the inevitable and stepped back.

  Barely glimpsed through the windows of some of the houses they passed, Q’Herindam women and children peered out, marking their passage along the cobbled street. The town was relatively large and it took some time for the group to arrive at the square in the centre and come to a halt in front of an imposing double story building.

  Its heavy doors opened and three Q’Herindam Mages stepped out, tall and proud. One of them spat on the ground in obvious distaste at the group before him but all three refrained from using any magic.

  The eldest shuffled forward, leaning heavily on his staff and addressed them.

  “I see a M’Herindar female, a Man with M’Herindar eyes and two other Men plus a Barsoomi horse and an aware mule. The Man with M’Herindar eyes I recognise as the Fire Mage we had trapped at the Citadel. Obviously you have all freed him. What of the Citadel?”

  There was a screech from above and a rapidly enlarging shadow on the ground as Krissi plummeted in for a landing in the square. The three Q’Herindam Mages stepped back as the gryffon folded her wings and settled beside the group as Arwhon answered.

  “The Citadel is no more and your Mages with it. They could have surrendered but chose not to. I am Arwhon, Fire Mage, who wears Durhain’s Ring of Truth. This M’Herindar lady is Sihron’del an adept at Earthmagic. The large Man over there was raised as a Prince of the M’Herindar but born on the Island of Wyalon. He is a Mage of Watermagic and this Man here wields Airmagic with strength beyond his years. We have come to ask for your surrender and your promise that the Q’Herindam will leave Man alone for ever more.”

  The eldest Q’Herindam drew himself up to his full height, using his staff to support him.

  “I will never be a party to such an agreement,” he spat out.

  Arwhon didn’t appear to move but instantly, the old Q’Herindam turned to white ash which floated gentl
y to the ground. Arwhon regarded the two remaining Mages calmly.

  “Either of you have any strong objections to leaving Man unharmed from here on.”

  Both of the remaining Q’Herindam shook their heads vigorously, not wanting to also become piles of ash. Arwhon dismounted to stand before them.

  “If you are in charge here, we need to talk and work some things out. It would serve you well if we were invited to dine with you tonight to discuss the way forward.”

  The horses and mule were unpacked and water fetched for them in buckets by Luper slaves. As the Q’Herindam didn’t use horses, relying on their slaves to haul wheeled carts, there was no feed or facilities for them. However, there was enough grain left on the packhorse to give them something to munch on and Arwhon promised Duran grass on the morrow.

  After seeing to the animals, the four friends were shown to an empty hostel once used to house single Mages, where they could bathe and freshen up. There were beds upstairs for later. Kuiran showed off by filling the baths with hot water in no time at all and as Cringle kept watch, the other three bathed before Cringle had his turn. It was good for all of them to get dusty clothes, armour and mail off for a while and lave themselves with the hot water, as they had virtually lived in their attire while travelling through the hostile territory of The Forbidden Lands.

  Refreshed and hungry, the four of them were led by a Luper slave to another building where they were shown to a dining room. Before they entered, Arwhon turned to their guide and thanked him in the Luper tongue. The Luper was taken aback and bowed to Arwhon before leaving them.

  The meal which was laid out before them was quite sumptuous and as they stood in front of the table, the two Q’Herindam Mages they had spoken to earlier entered the room along with four Q’Herindam women, the first they had seen up close. If Arwhon had not known, he would have taken them for M’Herindar, their heritage being so close.

  After introductions, they were all seated and Luper servants came to pour wine and place titbits before them. Cringle tested everything with the tip of his tongue but Arwhon took the more direct approach.