In the distance the legion made their way along the road toward the Eluan Capitol. Their flags were hung upside down. It meant Heric was injured.
The horns were blown signaling their approach to the city. It encouraged many of the citizens to come out of their homes to see the parade. More horns echoed the signal across the entire Capitol. Before the carriages arrived the streets were filled with people wanting to welcome back their returning emperor.
Nikali and Aul sat across from each other in the middle of the training room. It made Aul uncomfortable to sit only a few feet from Nikali and not move for hours. They did not speak. There was nothing to react to. This had been going on for days.
“Emperor Caning is returning today,” Aul said, finally breaking the tension in the room.
“Quiet,” said Nikali. The words were spoken so gently Aul never saw Nikali’s mouth move.
Aul did not stay quiet. He got up from his seat and circled around the chair. He could not take it anymore.
“What are we doing here?” Aul frustrated. “All we’ve been doing is sitting here for a week. You are wasting our time.”
“I am training you,” said Nikali.
“You are doing no such thing,” said Aul.
Nikali stood up. “You have walked across the known world. Your feet must be killing you. Sit down.”
“No,” said Aul. “This is over. You killed the others. You are teaching me nothing. You have no plans on creating a new army for the Emperor. They were right.”
“Forman needs not worry about my plans,” said Nikali.
“You are delusional.”
“Good,” said Nikali. “You are ready for the next part of your training.”
“What?” Aul said. Nikali’s change in demeanor surprised him.
“Using arcan is not about control. It is about letting loose. There is a need to move. You are finding it.”
Aul stood straighter. He was proud of himself.
“I am going to Myrus today,” said Nikali. “The city will have what I am looking for in building our squad.”
“What about the Emperor?” Aul asked. “Will we see him before we leave? If progress is being made he would surely enjoy the news.”
“Not yet,” said Nikali. “We will present the team when it is fully ready. Not before.”
Nikali headed for the door. Aul followed in his footsteps.
“What will I learn in Myrus, sir?” asked Aul. “Emperor Canning assured us that we had the most pure Tamor Blood in the world.”
“It is not always about what you consume,” said Nikali. He stopped at the door to open it. “You have to know how to let it flow through your body.”
“Myrus can teach me?”
“No,” said Nikali. His hand extended out pushing Aul back. “Only you can teach yourself what you need to control your sanity.”
Nikali stepped outside the room. The door closed quickly behind him leaving Aul inside. Then Nikali dropped a plank across the door to lock it shut. On the other side Aul struggled to open the door to his new cage.
“Sir,” he yelled through the thick door, “Sir, where are you going?”
Nikali did not answer. He walked away down the narrow hallway. Aul’s unanswered cries echoed against the walls. It put a smile on Nikali’s face.
Heric’s carriage made its way through the streets of the Capitol. Trumpets played the anthem of the Emperor. The crowd cheered their leader. There were several encouragements to get well from his fall in battle. Word already begun to spread about the fight against the Tcher guards. Several songs of the tale had already emerged.
The carriage came to a halt at the palace steps. The council stepped down to welcome their returning emperor. Forman remained where he was at the top of the steps.
The soldiers opened the carriage door. Moments later Heric was carried out. He sat on a seat situated on a platform. Six soldiers held up the platform over their shoulders.
Heric began to wave to the crowd behind them. He was no longer unconscious. The return journey had helped him recover. Now, he was only one thing; angry.
He finished waving to the citizens of the Capitol as the soldiers carrying him brought him up the steps. As he emerged to the top he saw another soldier coming from the palace. He had with him a wheelchair, one used by his father before his death.
Forman smiled at the sight of his friend back with him. He welcomed Heric back with open arms.
“It is good to see you again,” said Forman.
Heric dropped the smile he had on his face. “Put me down,” he ordered the men below him.
They did as they were told. Heric remained sitting on the chair next to Forman.
“What were you thinking having me brought back, Forman?” asked Heric.
“I was trying to protect you. It is my duty,” he answered.
“Aldrin got way because I was tended to. He has been missing for weeks now.”
“I have armies in every corner of the world looking for him,” said Forman. “It is time for you to rest. You are injured.”
“I am fine,” said Heric.
“You were almost killed by one of his guards.”
“And that guard was killed,” said Heric. “As was Eviton.”
“Your place is here,” said Forman. “You have weakened them. It was a good show for the soldiers. We know they can be killed.”
“Their ships destroyed our navy,” argued Heric. “They use fire as if it is under their control. We have proven nothing.”
“Aldrin will be found,” said Forman. “His numbers are small now. We can take him.”
“I will take him,” said Heric.
“You will lead from the Capitol,” said Forman.
“I am the Emperor. I will make the decisions regarding where I lead. I intend to get back out to the field, Forman.”
“You are in no condition to do that.”
Heric looked at the wheelchair presented in front of him. He waved it off defiantly. “Nothing will stop me from finishing this war myself. I will not cower to Aldrin and his army.”
He stood up to his feet. His legs wobbled, but held their place. Then his first step nearly brought him down, but Heric never dropped to his knees. His balance held and he continued. The Royal Council cheered behind him. Heric kept walking stronger than ever.
Forman kept the rest of his words to himself. He watched as his friend stubbornly walked away from him. Forman knew everything he was building towards would fall apart because of Heric.
Then a soldier approached Forman. He cowered towards the bigger man. Forman was fuming.
“What?” he asked the approaching soldier.
“We have found Nikali.”
“It is too late for that,” said Forman.
“He is leaving,” said the soldier.
“Where is he going?”
“The itinerary says Myrus,” said the soldier.
Forman stood quietly. He looked back toward the direction of Heric. Then he once again addressed the soldier.
“Let him go,” said Forman. He can do what he wants.”
Nikali and Cassandra walked with their bags in hand. The stables were clear of people because of the parade for Heric’s return earlier in the day. Their carriage was ready and waiting for them. It was the most luxurious thing Nikali had ever ridden in. He decided to use the advantages of being a member of the Royal Council. It came with safe travel to any city in the world.
The carriage driver and guard greeted their guests. Nikali passed off his bag to the driver. Cassandra gave hers to the offering guard.
“Thank you,” she said.
Before the guard put the bag away he said, “Are you sure you want to be leaving the city now?”
“Why would we not?” Nikali asked.
“Tcher is on the advance. Eluan has been unable to stop them,” said the guard. “It is dangerous out there.”
“It is dangerous right here,” said Nikali. “Is there going to be a problem?”
“No, sir,” said the guard. “We will go whenever you are ready. The Emperor Present has cleared your way.”
Nikali smiled in surprised glee. “Wonderful.”
“Good thing,” spoke up the driver. “I would hate to try to leave the city while the parade was going on with out clearance. We’d never get out of here.”
“What parade?” Nikali wondered.
“The Emperor has returned,” said the driver obviously.
“Good for him,” said Nikali. “Let’s go.”
He and Cassandra got into the carriage. They did not concern themselves with the affairs of the rest of the world. Their next stop was Myrus.
Chapter 40
The morning sunlight broke through the curtains of the carriage. The Tcher soldiers paid it no attention. Abigail rolled over to have her back to the approaching dawn. She kept her eyes closed to try and drift back to sleep. Her hand clenched around the handle of the blade to reassure her that she was still protected.
On the bench across from her, Marina slept peacefully. Tyeche sat quietly guarding her. Kastor snored in deep slumber. His mouth was bandaged up. His breathing slipped in and out of the blood soaked cloth. Abigail’s attack had ripped apart his tongue. He would never speak again.
Then dreams overpowered Abigail’s thoughts. Her eyes grew heavy. She was once again asleep.
Later, Abigail was abruptly awakened when the carriage pulled to a halt. The stop caused everyone to shift forward in their seats. Rilla, driving the carriage, shouted into the cabin. Abigail sat up. She stretched out the drowsiness from her body. Aldrin spoke to Rilla. She could not understand them. Abigail had not picked up the Tcher language as well as she had Louson when Alexus was teaching her.
She understood one thing Rilla said. “We’re here.”
Aldrin stood up from his seat. His frail body creaked in his joints. He stuck out his hand for Abigail. “Come with me, Farrah,” he said.
“Where are we?” she asked her grandfather.
“Your home,” he said.
Immediately, Abigail’s thoughts went to Eluan and the Capitol. They had made it back to the gates. But why, Abigail thought. She knew Heric would be looking for Aldrin and the others.
She took his hand in a gesture of faith. Aldrin opened the door to the carriage. He held it open for Abigail to exit first.
The grand wall of the Capitol was not there to greet Abigail. To her surprise they were not at the Capitol at all.
The ground was barren. Dirt flung through the air with every gust of wind. The skyline was filled with spires and towers that reached out to the sky and above.
The entire city was dead. The streets were empty. Only rubble and debris was scattered across the buildings. The colors of the buildings had faded away from the elements years ago. Trees and bushes were hunched over deteriorated. But it was the sound that got to Abigail. There was not a bird in the sky or a wolf in the distance. Everything was dead. Abigail was back home in Prial.
“What are we doing here?” she asked Aldrin standing next to her.
“Have you ever seen Prial before?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “It’s a dead land. Nobody comes here. Nothing will survive.”
“I wanted you to see it,” said Aldrin.
“To gloat?”
“How many people died the day Prial fell?” Aldrin asked.
“Nobody counted,” Abigail said.
“Yes and how many of those people were Tcher?”
“None,” Abigail said with disdain. “Eluan led the annihilation of Prial.”
“Then I have nothing to gloat about.”
“No,” argued Abigail. “This is what you wanted. You rampaged across the world for Prial. It does not matter who did the dirty work. You started the trail of blood.”
“I wanted Prial to pay,” said Aldrin. “They had stolen from me what I held most dear.”
“What could they have taken that would equal genocide?”
“My dynasty,” said Aldrin.
Abigail could not look at her grandfather. She kept her attention to the spires reaching out of the city. Memories and feelings were emerging in the back of her mind. Every time she grasped for them they would go away, but the city was bringing something back to her.
“My son was not born with my gift,” said Aldrin. “I watched as he grew older. It did not seem long until he looked the roll of my father. The day came when he wanted to leave the sanctuary of the Tcher Islands. I granted his wish. I believed he should have had a chance to see the rest of the world. I was going to let him rule the islands eventually. I was going to lavish on the beach while my dynasty prospered on the Tcher Islands. That was the dream.
“Then he went to Prial. He found his wife. It was a proud moment for me. Finally, the letter came that said he would not be returning to Tcher. He was happier in Prial. Everything that I had built for him was being thrown away.
“He ignored my demands to return. The Ranee of Prial would not aid in my pleas. She disregarded any thought of sending my son back to Tcher with or without his new bride.”
“That is your reason to start a war?” Abigail asked.
“My son had forsaken me because of your mother. As time passed the letters grew shorter and fewer. He had cut off all ties. Tcher was no longer a part of his life. My dynasty must live on. I do not want to rule forever. Prial had become an obstacle to that.
“The rest of the world could have stepped back and let me reunite with my son. Instead, Eluan had to get involved. They tried to stop my advances through the Prial Empire. I had to quell their spirits at Salid. After that, Eluan fought valiantly, but they were never a match for Tcher. It was Nikali’s death that changed the war.”
“He was killed by Prial guards during a skirmish at Insabal’s Canyon,” Abigail said.
“He thought that bridge was going to unite the world. Instead it helped rip it apart. Cyrus came into power after his death. Prial had stolen my son, but they had killed his brother.
“Cyrus saw the advantage I was leaving the Eluan Empire. We did not have to be enemies. He stopped fighting my army head on. Instead he swooped in from behind and claimed what we had destroyed.
“Prial was on the horizon. Cyrus made his final gambit. He proposed I stand down. Eluan would finish Prial. I agreed. These two nations were once allies. In the end, Eluan slaughtered every citizen of the city and poisoned the earth. Prial will never rise again. I had broken them. The beauty of Prial was no more.”
“What happened to my father?” Abigail asked.
“He died during the war,” said Aldrin. “He joined the Prial army. He perished in one of the battles as Tcher made its way to the Prial Capitol.”
“Why did you start it? Did you think your son was going to come back to you after you destroyed Prial? You could have ended it. If he died during the war why did it not end there?”
“Prial stole my dynasty. I did the same. The only difference is my blood will live on.”
“What do you expect of me?” Abigail asked.
“My blood still runs through you, Farrah,” said Aldrin. “For my son, I will protect you. I will even offer you the right to rule. The Tcher Islands are mine forever, but the main land will be yours. Cyrus took away what was rightfully mine. I allowed it because patience is on my side. I waited for you to grow up. Alexus raised you for this moment. The world will be yours.”
“I do not accept it,” said Abigail. “Stop this campaign now. I will not follow you, Aldrin.”
“Stop holding Eluan in such high prestige,” said Aldrin. “Cyrus planned for the final nail in Prial’s coffin. Cyrus stole your present and future life from you and gave it to his son. Cyrus is no better than me.”
“Cyrus is dead,” said Abigail. “Heric is not his father.”
“He is weaker,” said Aldrin.
“Heric is not weak. You could not kill him at the shore. He will prevail against the Tcher forces. I know it.”
“You protected hi
m,” said Aldrin. “You care for him.”
“I know him well.”
“Then you know his weaknesses,” said Aldrin. “It does not matter if you help me or not, I will tear Heric Caning apart bit by bit. Only deceit and other’s blood hold the Canings’ reign together. It is time for strength to return to the land. Help or watch helpless as his empire falls.
“I am doing this for you, Farrah. The Empire has had two decades to stand in the place of my dynasty. That is long enough.”
Chapter 41
To the Capitol-
“Our army has prepared for battle, but I fear when it will arrive. The population of Myrus has grown enormously in the previous year. We are ready to defend the city. Every day our lookouts report back that nothing is coming. We get messages that Tcher is advancing west. Much of their forces are concentrating on the river toward the Capitol.
Myrus is at your service, my Emperor. If the Capitol were to need help I will spare some men.
There appears no threat from the north. It would seem that Myrus, the city of ashes, is not of any concern to the Tcher army. Let that be their mistake.”
-Captain Francesco de Seres
The war room was near empty. Only Heric and Quaet remained. Heric looked over the map of the Eluan Empire hanging on the wall. He looked over the dead earth of the north; the first trail of destruction from Tcher. His eyes trailed to the forest in the northwest. It was the last known location of the avadons. Heric’s empire was half gone before he even took control. It was little comfort to the present situation forming behind him.
A miniature model of the territory sat in the center of the room. Pieces were discarded to the floor. Quaet was busy rearranging the pieces according to the latest messages from the battles across the world. The Eluan naval ships were scattered debris. Legion figurines from every city were piled to the side. Tcher pieces swarmed the board.
Eluan Falls: The Tides of Utter Undoing Page 15