Shadowbane: Age of Aelfborn

by Paul Francois

  “Do guilds ever surrender without a fight?” Megildur asked.

  “It is rare, but some have,” the Aelfborn replied. “Most prefer to fight and some smaller guilds will join a larger nation if they are outnumbered by the attacking guild.”

  Megildur was so fascinated with the art of war in Aerynth, that he did not notice the two servants tasked with collecting their belongings were walking in his direction.

  “M’Lord, here are your possessions. Where would you like us to place them?” The larger servant asked.

  “You may leave them right here. Thank you,” Megildur replied. The servants placed the items near his feet, bowed, and left. Just after, Megildur observed Gaal walking back with a cart in tow full of food, water, and blankets. “What did you do, empty their stores?”

  Gaal exclaimed, salivating over the thought of eating all of this food. “Nostarion said we could have anything we wanted!”

  “True, but we need to be able to carry the provisions,” Megildur replied. “Are you going to be our beast of burden?” Megildur glared at Gaal. The Shade realized they would not be able to carry it all, but his desire for food conquered him. “Alright, pack what you can into our bags and we will leave soon. I need to find Honoria.” Gaal sneered back at Megildur and began feverishly packing their bags.

  Megildur began his search for their companion but was unable to track her down. Eventually, one servant was able to point him in the right direction. Near the outskirts of the fighting, he found several Bards huddled around, eagerly listening to Honoria. As he approached, he could hear her tale.

  “As the fiendish bloodsucker began to drink the Aelfborn Lord’s essence, he worked his way loose of her grip, grabbed the flaming torch, and rammed it down her gullet, vanquishing the foe!” Honoria detailed the escapades of Megildur to the wide-eyed Bards. She noticed Megildur standing near the group listening. “Speaking of our hero, here he is.” She pointed out Megildur to the group. They all cheered at the sight of the honored hero.

  Megildur responded, “Thank you all. Honoria, we must leave now.” He gave a slight wave to the group and turned to depart, before his embarrassment vanquished him. The two of them walked away and Megildur whispered to her, “Why did you tell them I killed the vampire? Remember, you were the one who saved us all.”

  “M’Lord, I am a Bard. I am no hero, nor do I want to be,” Honoria replied. She stopped to address Megildur face to face. “Aerynth needs a savior, now more than ever during these dark days. The All-Father chose you, and you alone, to be the savior and champion of Aerynth. It is my role in life to record and distribute your heroic tale of how you defeat foes and recover Shadowbane. Nobody wants to hear the tale of a Bard who slayed a vampire. They want to hear how the future High King saved the world.” She smiled at Megildur, who after listening to all the praise from Honoria was a bit red faced.

  “Thank you for your praise,” Megildur replied. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “However you are wrong about one thing, you are a hero. More than you will ever admit to, but still a hero.” He grinned back at her. “Of course, let’s keep stretching the truth to a minimum.” They continued to meet Gaal, who by now finished packing.

  “Alright, I am ready,” Gaal announced. He slung his overstuffed pack onto his back, nearly toppling over.

  “How did you fit all of those provisions into the packs?” Megildur asked, noticing the cart was empty. He looked down and found his answer. The other two packs are also bulging beyond capacity and the seams looked like they wound rip at any moment. “How do you expect us to carry those packs? That will break Honoria’s back!” She looked at Megildur, turned to the packs, slung hers onto her back with ease and reached back down to grab Megildur’s pack.

  “You ‘boys’ ready?” Honoria boasted. Megildur and Gaal stood there in amazement. She could see they were in shock and wondered how she was able to not only lift her own hefty pack but also carry Megildur’s pack. “Remember, I am a Nephilim. We are naturally stronger than other races.” She beamed at both of them and turned to depart the bane. “Don’t let the curves fool you,” Honoria said with a sultry voice, walking away.

  “Indeed she is strong!” Gaal replied with an enormous grin on his face as he eagerly followed Honoria. Gaal and Honoria passed Commander Nostarion. He was coming back from checking on the status of his bane.

  “I see you are ready to depart, Lord Megildur,” Nostarion commented while Megildur grabbed the last of his gear. “It’s a shame we were not able to fight side by side in battle, M’Lord. It would’ve been glorious.”

  “Perhaps we will someday, Commander. Aerynth is not at peace yet,” Megildur replied with a grin at his fellow Aelfborn. “I do have one last request of you. Can you get word to my family that I am well and on my way to Fort Irsadeng? My mother is Vanya and my father is Aedan; you can find them at Fort Viatrus.”

  Nostarion warned, “Fort Irsadeng, Lord Megildur? That is the Amazon safehold. They do not allow male travelers.”

  “Our Bard has a friend there who can help us cross the sea to Stormvald,” Megildur reassured the concerned Nostarion.

  “I will dispatch my fastest Scout to deliver the message, M’Lord,” Nostarion responded, extending his hand to Megildur. “May your journey be swift and your conquests grand, Lord Megildur.”

  “Farewell Commander Nostarion,” Megildur replied. He shook Nostarion’s hand. “Thank you once again for your gracious hospitality, and I wish you success on your bane.”

  Megildur turned to follow his companions. He quickly caught up with both of them. “Thank you, but I can carry my own bag,” Megildur commented, taking the pack from Honoria. He stumbled a bit when swinging it onto his back and trying to manage the weight. He glared at Gaal once he realized just how heavy his pack was. That would be the last time he trusted that Thief to pack for him. They were once again on their way and hopefully without any more distractions…except for heavy packs.

  Trudging through the lush meadows and ample forests on their way to Fort Irsadeng, Megildur reminisced of his own homestead in Fort Viatrus. This region was vastly superior to the scorching wastelands of the desert to the south or bitter cold of the frozen mountains to the north. Megildur definitely preferred green grass and blossoming flowers. Gaal on the other hand seemed to enjoy anything but the flourishing fauna, made apparent by the vicious sneezing attack produced by the pale Thief.

  “Blessings of the All-Father upon you,” Megildur wished upon his companion.

  “He can bless me by placing me in a dank dingy tavern, with a tall pint of ale and a voluptuous Irekei maiden,” Gaal countered with a smile across his pollen-infested facade.

  “Must you be so crude?” Honoria snapped. The Bard halted, causing the others to pause as well.

  “Hey, you don’t know what it was like growing up as the ‘abomination’ with my human parents!” Gaal rebuked. “The villagers abused me verbally and physically…when they were not busy plotting my demise. Even my own mother and father were involved in a ruse to sacrifice me to whatever god those zealots worshipped!”

  “You think my family was any better?” Honoria retorted. “All they cared about was worshipping the Dark Lords of Chaos. They conspired to rekindle the War of the Scourge and ‘cleanse’ Aerynth. They cared about nothing else, even when the Temple of the Cleansing Flame cultists attacked our settlement…they left me to fend for myself!” Tears began to well up inside her eyes. “I can still hear the screams from the younglings when I close my eyes. The smell…” Honoria plunged her face into her hands and burst out crying, the resilient Nephilim could contain her composure no more.

  Megildur placed a hand upon Honoria’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for your pain. I have only experienced a brief encounter with the Temple of the Cleansing Flame and that still haunts me.” He reached for Gaal, only for the Shade to pull away before Megildur could console him.

  “I’m fine!” Gaal grunted as he continued toward Fort Irsadeng. “Let’s just find this frie
nd of yours and get on our way.” Megildur and Honoria glanced at one another before following their pale friend.

  The Aelfborn hoped tonight would actually be a time to get some sleep. No banes, no killing, and no surprises. He pondered if they would ever retrieve Shadowbane. Megildur’s thoughts wondered back to Nostarion’s unsettling reaction when he told him where they were going. He prayed Honoria was right about her friend, because they do not stand a chance against an entire guild of women who hate men.

  CHAPTER 25: Reunion in Mellissar

  Day after day, night after night, Zeristan, Aedan, Vanya, and Aranel desperately awaited news from Sir Adelard’s messenger, the giant wolf. The boredom was so intense, they decided to help with cleaning up the ancient castle. All but the elderly Steward abandoned the capital over a century ago and apparently, cleanliness was not his forte. The four of them started with the exterior walls and the dilapidated gate. Vanya showed her skill with a blade by chopping down the unsightly vegetation. Each lash of her weapon more precise than the last. Aedan repaired the entrance, displaying his strength by raising the massive stones from the ground and placing them back into the barrier. Even little Aranel proved her worth by vigorously sweeping and cleaning wherever she could find a mess, which was currently everywhere. The Wizard proved he could not only battle foes with his magic, but could also repair stone. He used spells to heal the structures and strengthen the stone where it was weak, or broken. Blocks floated in the air with each graceful swipe of his boney hand. Aranel was in awe of the power and beauty behind each stroke of Zeristan’s fingers. The colorful lightshow emanating from his fingertips dazzled her, until she could stand no more and she perched herself against a fallen boulder.

  Aedan watched his daughter’s fascination as he continued to work on the front gate. The burly man was so entranced himself that he did not notice the next block to lift was furrier than the last. He looked down, after sensing the change in texture. He just seized ahold of a rather large furry paw. Aedan stumbled back and tripped over one of the fallen stones. Gazing up, he discovered Sir Adelard’s messenger…the giant wolf. The giant wolf lowered his head and licked Aedan.

  “Oh, Orc crap! I feel like a worg’s plaything!” Aedan bellowed. Vanya laughed at her husband’s demise. He flicked some slobber in her general direction.

  Sir Adelard, who rushed over to investigate the commotion, greeted his friend and walked him back to the stable. Sir Adelard returned after a bit to Zeristan and the others, who were still working. All turned to address the troubled Steward.

  “I assume my wolf made it through all ten kingdoms. However, this parchment only has a handful of signatures.” The Steward of Mellissar fretted, holding up the scroll he sent out with his wolf. “I am not sure why?”

  A voice quavered from behind Sir Adelard, near the gates, “You might have a better understanding why if you ever left Mellissar to see what Aerynth has become since the Turning.”

  Sir Adelard turned to see an elderly man standing in armor just inside the gates. His armor distressed and tattered, much like the man who donned it. Around his neck, the aging man wore a ring of drake’s teeth, most likely gathered from successful kills.

  Rejoiced to see the man, Sir Adelard exclaimed, “Sir Mardiock Wyrmslayer, you old drake slayer! How are you doing? Where have you been hiding? Come with me, I have a lot to tell you and we must prepare.” The two elderly knights walked off together to discuss the arrival of the new High King and to reminisce about the old days.

  Aranel approached her mother and father with a confused look on her face. “Mother, what was the Turning the old man spoke of?”

  “Well little one,” Vanya replied, sitting down on a bench with her daughter. “On the day when the High King Cambruin died, the Turning began. One of Cambruin’s own knights betrayed his High King and pinned him to the first Tree of Life. This betrayal angered the All-Father so much that He made the sky darken and Aerynth shook so hard it fragmented the world. At that time, the All-Father also closed the doors to Heaven and Hell. Nobody has heard from the All-Father since that day.”

  “You mean until Megildur?” Aranel questioned her mother’s statement.

  “That is correct,” Vanya replied.

  “Megildur said before he left something about being ‘the hair to High King Cambruin’?” Aranel inquired. “What did he mean?”

  Aedan chuckled at his daughter’s mistaken understanding of royalty and explained, “He said that he is the ‘heir’ to High King Cambruin. That means Megildur is a blood relative of Cambruin and is the rightful successor to the High Throne over the Kingdoms of Men.”

  Aranel squeaked, “So if he is a King, does that make me a Princess?”

  Vanya laughed with a smile at her eager daughter, “Once he receives the crown, yes it does.”

  Aranel darted off, yelling back toward her mother, “Then I am off to make myself a crown!” The young Aelfborn Princess bound off to look for supplies to fashion her crown.

  Over the next several days, other knights would arrive, along with their entourage. With each arrival, Sir Mardiock Wyrmslayer would educate his old friend, Sir Adelard. Since he was the Steward of the High Throne, Sir Adelard needed to know each of the new arrivals. Of course, Aedan and Vanya used this opportunity to their advantage by listening in as Sir Mardiock Wyrmslayer mentioned the name and history behind each person. Sir Mardiock elaborated on the description since he knew the others were also listening.

  “Now that is Sir Malorn. He goes by the title of Saint since the Temple of the Cleansing Flame canonized him nearly fifty years ago. Rumor has it, he still holds onto Cambruin’s crown. Although I doubt he, or his cult, would release it to an Aelfborn. They still blame Sir Sesherin, all other Aelfborn, and Shades for the demise of Cambruin.”

  “The unscrupulous character entering now is Sir Eric Essengal. They call him Eric the Drake, most likely due to his hotheaded nature. He never liked Queen Bronwyn since she seduced Cambruin into marrying her. This action broke the engagement between Cambruin and Sir Eric’s sister, Lady Essenmay. After the Queen attempted to have herself crowned High Queen over Mellissar, Sir Eric made an unsuccessful attempt to take over the capital. Subsequently, Sir Eric went back to some of the fragmented kingdoms and made himself warlord over the lands. He turned his back on the knight’s code and became a Dark Knight on that day.”

  “Ah. Here comes Sir Sesherin. He is the Aelfborn that Malorn accused of being the Traitor to Cambruin.” The Aelfborn knight proudly walked in displaying the signature body tattoos that all Aelfborn wear, although only his face markings were visible now. “Malorn and his followers captured Sir Sesherin, and then they proceeded with torturing him. They tried for years to get him to admit to the crime, but the brave knight refused. Never did find out how he escaped the Temple of the Cleansing Flame.”

  “Finally, we have Sir Hurrigan the Huntsman. He renounced his calling as a Ranger to ride under the High King's banner. Many thought Sir Hurrigan might be the Traitor since this knight feared Cambruin would turn on the Rangers. You see, many Elves outside the Dar Khelegur were Rangers and Sir Hurrigan called them brothers, even though he was helping Cambruin destroy the Deathless Empire.”

  Sir Mardiock’s lessons on the knights helped Aedan and Vanya know what challenges their son would face upon his arrival. Now if only they could get them all to agree to Megildur being the next High King.

  Vanya peered down to Aranel and noticed she was examining her arms and face. Inquisitively Vanya asked her daughter, “What are you looking for?”

  “That one knight had markings on his face, just like Megildur and I do,” Aranel replied. “I thought we were the only ones with them?”

  Vanya confessed, “All Aelfborn have them, my sweet one. They are mystical markings I put on both of you to help calm those wild feelings.”

  The next morning, the meeting commenced. Everyone within Mellissar gathered below the steps of the castle to hear the speech. Sir Adelard pronounced, “Brave
Knights. Since the tragic day of our High King’s betrayal, Aerynth has been in turmoil. We have seen brutal attacks against our neighbors and devastation at every turn. Even the All-Father turned his back on this world because of our actions.” The crowd’s agitation level seemed to elevate at the Steward’s remarks. “However, the day has finally arrived when the All-Father has chosen a champion to bring peace and unity back to Aerynth!”

  Sir Eric bellowed, “There is no peace you fool! Cambruin is dead and his descendants are worthless! Only power decides who should rule, the power to crush the lower beings into submission! We do not need Cambruin’s heir, and we have prospered just fine without the All-Father as well.”

  Sir Malorn scolded, “You blasphemous fool! You dare spite the All-Father? You abandoned the knight’s code in favor of being a Dark Knight and rule your lands as a warlord!”

  Sir Eric countered, “At least I have not proclaimed myself a Saint and pretended to be a God by cleansing the unworthy!”

  This accusation angered Sir Malorn, who drew his flaming sword and advanced toward Sir Eric. However, a bolt of energy in between the two enemies halted his attack. The energy bolt once again came from Zeristan, who was not going to let them scuffle. His power forced both of the knights to the ground in opposite directions, along with portions of the ground into the air. When the dust settled, the crowd witnessed another visitor had arrived in Mellissar, Queen Bronwyn. Cambruin’s widow strode past the two knights, as they picked themselves up off the ground. She walked up the stairs to confront Sir Adelard directly.

  Queen Bronwyn demanded, “Why have you called the remaining Kingdoms of Men and why was I alone not notified, personally? They do not deserve to be here! I am the rightful heir to the High Throne!”