by Rick Brown
"We'll make camp here tonight," I decided as I looked around the clearing. "Eventually those Dommerians will be missed. I suggest we leave early tomorrow."
After our first bad experience at an inn, we no longer stopped at those we past. Instead, choosing to make our camps somewhere in between. The soldiers that we feared and expected, never appeared. After some discussion between ourselves, we concluded that it must have been the entire garrison, and therefore no one else was aware they were missing.
The forests we followed slowly opened up to farmlands. Farmers were out breaking their soil for the first plantings of the spring, guiding heavy oxen that pulled the plows behind them. We had stripped the soldiers and priests of any money they had before we buried their bodies. I used that to trade with some of the farmers as we traveled. Buying fresh meat and some dried vegetables.
Alsselya appeared to be a beautiful kingdom, with rich fertile soils. It was no wonder Dommeran coveted it. Now the kingdom’s bounty was stripped away and sent back to its conqueror. I looked forward to ending that practice. Alsselya will be a wealthy kingdom once again.
“Will we be passing through Ealinhart?” Ryan asked Orlik.
“Aye, Lad. Close enough. Dommeran didn’t want Alsselya to have a capital anymore. It be a ghost town now.”
“The entire city is deserted?” Father Pild asked, shocked.
Orlik nodded. “It’s been picked over by looters, but Dommeran will routinely send troops through to make sure it ain’t occupied. They feared Ealinhart and the power it did represent. They will no allow it to be rebuilt.”
“I can’t wait to see it. Someday it will be my new home,” Ryan said gleefully.
“It’s a couple of weeks away. Still, we be heading right for it. Would no hurt to stop. I warn ya though, there ain’t the splendor it once held.”
“Shame,” Father Yagen said dejectedly. “I hear it was beautiful.”
“Aye, it was” Orlik agreed. “But, if them Dommerians are good at anything, it’s destroying.”
“Lee, can your magic fix damaged buildings?” Ryan asked.
I shrugged, "I don't know. I've never tested that." Climbing down off Mabel, I grabbed a couple of stones from the side of the road. I quickly hopped back into my saddle and started to look at the rocks as Mabel followed the other horses without my encouragement.
Can it really be all that different from bone? I wondered. I held two stones together and tried to think of them knitting into one as I did with Bri's collarbone.
The only thing that happened was the stone became too hot to touch. I dropped them into my saddlebag until they cooled. Looking up, I noticed Orlik was watching with interest.
“Nothing, eh? Well, I suppose if your ancestors could do that, they’d have no need of us dwarves,” He said as he turned to face forward.
I almost didn’t detect it, but I felt an inquisitive emotion that didn’t seem like my own. It took a moment, but I noticed a flashing from Alynon’s Tear in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a purple glow from the diamond.
“Well, hello friend. Do you have an opinion on combining stones?” It gave a quick flash of green that I took as a yes.
Reaching down, I pulled the two still warm stones from my saddle. Placing them together while holding the Tear in my hand, I waited to see what happened. Instead of the stones stitching together as I had attempted, the two edges of the stones softened, then hardened again as one.
"I think I see," I said after watching the Tear work. Hopping back down, I picked up another stone, and then got back into the saddle again. Placing the stone next to the bonded ones, I pictured it softening into something moldable as I added my magic. It was slow, but the stone gave away as I pressed them together, forming a solid bond between the two.
"Ha!" Orlik laughed. "Had my father seen that he woulda led the dwarven army to save Alsselya himself!"
“Do you really think it’s that useful?” I asked, looking at the stones.
“Ya could build an impenetrable castle with that trick,” Orlik explained. “I’d think that’d be useful.”
“It could speed up the rebuilding too,” Ryan added excitedly.
After gathering more stones, I happily spent the rest of the day practicing with melding stones, even creating a heart-shaped one that I gave to Abigail.
Chapter 7
(Lee)
“Looks like we’ll be here a while,” Lenux stated as he peered over the small hill. I carefully crept up to join him. The two of us rode ahead to investigate a large dust cloud that appeared on the horizon. As my head cleared the top of the hill, I saw its source, thousands upon thousands of troops marching towards Vaelin.
I nodded my head in agreement. “I believe you are right, unless they are willing to step aside and let us through.”
“You can always ask, but I think I’ll just wait for them to pass,” he said with a smile.
“Stay here and keep watch. I’ll ride back to the others and make camp.”
Sliding back down the hill, I climbed back on Mabel and returned to the others who I found resting underneath a tree. “Is it as bad as it appears?” Brianna asked.
I sadly nodded in agreement.
“So, it’s their army then,” Orlik stated, kicking a stone.
“It’s not an entire invasion force, but it is definitely larger than the units Barad and I used to face.”
“So, it’s not the invasion, but we don’t want to dally either?” Ryan asked.
“That’s it. It only proves that time is not our ally,” I agreed. “They are probably slowly building up their forces somewhere near the border.”
Brianna looked back toward the dust cloud. “We’re too close to the road here. We should move further into the woods,” she suggested.
The next morning, Lenux finally rode back into camp. “Any warm coffee?” he asked as he dismounted.
“No, but I’ll heat it for you,” Abi volunteered as she poured him a cup, heating it with magic before handing to him.
“How’s their army?” Whilhoit asked as Lenux sat down.
“Oh, they seem in fine shape, which doesn’t bode well for us. As for their movements, the main body has past. We just have to wait on the stragglers now.”
“Even one would be a problem,” Farloc agreed. “As much as it pains me to allow Dommerians to pass unchallenged.”
“Aye, they may no be best pleased if they knew the most wanted people in the world were passin’ through their kingdom,” Orlik laughed.
“Our kingdom,” I corrected. “They are just squatters right now. They’ll be evicted soon enough.”
“Ha! Got to love ya confidence, Lad,” Orlik said with a laugh.
I turned to Brianna. “Bri, take a shift at watch, let us know when it’s clear.”
“Is that wise with her shoulder?” Barad asked concerned.
“I’m fine!” Brianna answered in frustration as she mounted her horse.
I waved away his concern. “I’ve been healing that bone all week, last night I couldn’t even tell where the break was anymore. I think she’ll be fine,”
It was later that afternoon that Bri rode back stating the road had been clear for an hour. Mounting up, we quickly past the dangerous road and into the safety of the plains beyond.
“It won’t be long now,” Orlik suggestively announced as we rode.
“Till what?” Barad finally gave in and asked.
“Ealinhart. We be passing it soon. Used to be, this would all been farmland. Now it’s all gone wild again, thanks to Dommeran,” He said as he spat on the ground.
“Ah! That would mean that we are halfway across Alsselya,” Father Yagen declared excitedly. “I can’t wait to get out of this saddle and rest once we reach Olingard.”
Well, we won’t be reaching there tonight,” I stated as I looked towards the setting sun. “Let’s make our camp.”
Even with the warming of spring, the nights were still very chilly. I put up my shield and warmed the air wit
hin. Here in the heart of enemy territory, I didn’t dare start a fire.
It was early afternoon the next day that Ealinhart came into view. Its shattered towers could be seen standing in the distance. As we neared, you could see the crumbling outer stone walls still surrounded the city. Approaching the gate, we found that it had been repaired by the Dommerian’s and chained shut.
“Do ya think you can open it, Lad?” Orlik asked.
“I could try magically picking it, but let’s do something different.” Using my magic, I chose one of the chain links and imagined a hole being created in the side. As I watched, the link melted away to leave an opening.
Lenux hopped down and unlinked it. “I could have picked it quicker, but that was still fun to watch,” he said as he removed the chain and pushed the gate open.
For the first time in my life, I rode into Ealinhart. Before me lay a city ruined by war, my city. Its crumbled walls and collapsed roofs belied what my heart told me was there. That in this destruction, there was still beauty left to build on. The cobbled streets were still solid, even centuries later. Fountains sat dry in the plazas we rode through, just waiting for life to return.
Father Yagen gasped as we approached a temple. The Dommerians seemed to pay special attention to its destruction. We dismounted and walked inside the building. Its stained-glass windows had been shattered many centuries ago. Only scattered pieces of wood left any indication that pews once filled the room.
At the front of the temple, where the pulpit would have set, was now a stone sacrificial altar that the priests of Dommeran used to defile Alynon’s home. I walked forward and pushed the stone altar over, cracking it in half.
“Father,” I said to Yagen. “Can you re-consecrate these grounds?”
The priest enthusiastically nodded as he waved Father Pild to follow him. “It will take some time, but we can at least remove the taint of Gorath from here.” With that, the priests started praying for Alynon’s blessing.
I felt a warming of the coin against my chest as the priests worked to remove Gorath’s presence from the temple. I pulled out the coin and gave it a comforting squeeze. Alynon was home.
Once again, I felt the tickle of Alynon's Tear in the back of my mind. As I pulled it from my pocket, it was giving off an angry red glow. "Not happy to see what's become of your home, eh? I don't blame you. I am angry too."
As soon as I finished speaking, loose stones started flying across the room as the walls suddenly started to rebuild. "Oh," I said in surprise. "Here, let me help." I started transforming another wall, lifting the stones scattered across the ground and sealing them back into the wall. Everyone else ducked and lay flat on the ground to avoid the flying rocks.
“Careful, Lad!” Orlik complained. “Ya almost removed my head there!”
"That one wasn't me," I explained. "The stone is rebuilding that wall. Everyone just don't move, and hopefully, the Tear will avoid you."
“Hopefully?” Barad questioned worriedly.
“Well, the stone didn’t exactly say that, but I think it would avoid you,” I answered with a shrug.
After I finished the wall, I looked around. While the walls were complete, there was nothing left of the roof. “Well, my friend, I guess we’ve done all we can do.” The stone gave a flash of purple, which I took as disagreeing. Suddenly any piece of roofing still left on the neighboring buildings started ripping away to be rebuilt over our heads. Within a matter of minutes, the destruction of the temple was erased.
Barad led everyone in applause as we looked around the now rebuilt temple. “That was incredible!” Ryan yelled. “We truly can rebuild Alsselya!”
“It’s a good start,” Farloc agreed. “That was amazing to see.”
“Everyone, place your crystals around the room for light. I think we’ll rest here tonight,” I said with a smile. I looked around the room with pride in what the stone and I had accomplished. “Thank you, my friend,” I spoke to the stone. It gave a happy flash of blue.
I was not surprised that night when Alynon visited my dream. We stood in the same temple that I currently slept in. The oversized god walked around the room, looking with pride at the repairs the Tear and I had made.
“The priests have done well. The presence of my brother is no longer in the temple,” Alynon stated as he took a deep breath. “Ahh… To have a home again in Alsselya, this pleases me greatly.”
“The pleasure was all ours, I assure you,” I said with a smile.
Alynon’s smile disappeared as he looked at me. “I wish to explain why I was unable to help you when you were in limbo.”
“Limbo?” I asked, confused by the god’s serious turn.
He nodded. "Yes, what you have called the ‘void.' Typically, when a soul dies, it goes into limbo until its god comes to collect it. Had I gone to you, I would have had no choice but to gather your soul. Your body would have died. All I could do is hope the stone would choose to call you from limbo itself and restore you to your body. It took far longer than I wanted," he said with a frown. "Normally only those cast out from their gods would have been left there that long. Of course, for them, they would never be collected and would stay there for eternity."
The idea of being in the void for eternity sent a chill down my spine. "Remind me never to offend you."
Alynon laughed. “Oh, there is little risk in that. You are doing very well. In fact, I can feel the priests are just about done re-consecrating the temple. It feels so good to be home.”
“So, how are we doing? Have we been discovered yet?” I asked the god.
Alynon frowned. “It is hard to tell. My brother has started hiding things from me. That’s not a good sign. If he isn’t completely aware of what we are doing, he at least suspects.”
“Then we need to hurry,” I sighed.
“I fear so,” Alynon agreed. “If he is aware of you, then you are in grave danger. Be careful of discovery as you travel through these lands. You are doing well, King Eberon.” With a wave of his hand, I was back in my blanket.
Chapter 8
(Lee)
We all woke late the next morning. I believe it was due to the peace we felt in Alynon’s temple. Brianna and Lenux had already snuck out to explore the city by the time I crawled out of my blanket.
“Well, the King arises,” Barad said with a mock bow. “Do you think we have time to explore the city?”
Alynon’s warning of danger nagged in the back of my head, but I couldn’t resist spending one day looking around Ealinhart. “Just today,” I agreed with a smile. “Maybe Orlik will act as a guide, seeing he’s the only one here that’s been to Ealinhart.”
“Because he’s old as dirt,” Barad said with a laugh.
“I heard that, Lad. Don’t think I’ll be coming to find ya when you be lost in these streets,” Orlik threatened.
“Don’t fear, ancient one, I shall be your shadow,” Barad continued to tease.
“Ha, ya better iffin’ you don’t want to be left behind,” Orlik replied as he grinned back. I was glad the two of them were getting along. There were times I feared I would find Orlik’s axe buried in Barad’s back. I think everyone was feeling better being in Ealinhart.
Ryan, Abigail, and Farloc joined us as we left to explore the city. Whilhoit remained behind to keep watch over the sleeping priests. They must have been up all night consecrating the temple.
Stepping outside, I looked once again upon my birthright, the city of Ealinhart. Most of the structures were made of stone and were still standing all these centuries later. The temple opened up into a large plaza. A fountain with a stone dragon, its wings spread wide, stood in the plaza center. The pool now filled with murky water.
“Now, let’s see,” Orlik said as he looked around. “This must be the West Plaza. If we take that east road there, it should lead to the central plaza. Most the important buildings be near there.”
“Is there a library?” Ryan asked.
“Oh, aye, a grand library. It be n
ear the central plaza, too.” Orlik answered as he led us down a side street. I took the opportunity to look at the houses that lined the road. This appeared be a very upscale neighborhood of Ealinhart. Orlik nodded back when I asked him about it. “Sure, this be a wealthy merchant area, mind you, Ealinhart was a wealthy city. Even its slums were no so bad. I preferred the lower neighborhoods when I visited. Nothing like some ale and a good fight,” he answered with a grin.
The central plaza was much bigger than the west plaza where we spent the night. It reminded me of Vennean’s market in size, but it was hard to be sure, looking at it empty. The market in Vennean was always full.
“There,” Orlik stated as he pointed to a large building across the plaza. “That be the library.”
Ryan lead us all as he rushed across to the building. His enthusiasm was crushed when he opened the doors. Inside the vacuous chamber, only the remains of burnt bookstands still stood. Scorch marks marred the floors and walls where a giant fire had once filled the room.
“I’m sorry, Ryan,” I said as I walked up behind him, resting my hand on his shoulder. “Father Pild told me about this. Dommeran burns any books that they find. The good news is, the priests of Alynon saved many and took them back to Vaelin when they fled. Hopefully some of the books that were here found their way to the temple in Coneer.”
“Why burn books?” Ryan asked as he stared in shock at the huge empty building.
“Because knowledge leads to rebellion,” Farloc answered. “Educated people crave their freedom. To deny people knowledge is a way to control them.”
“Don’t worry, my friend,” I said as I led Ryan away from the building. “It will be your responsibility to rebuild that library. I wish for it to be returned to its previous grandeur.” I could see some of the gloom lift from Ryan as he dreamed of rebuilding the library.
“Orlik, what’s that building over there,” Barad asked as he pointed to a military style building that was on the corner of the north end of the plaza.
“I believe that be the officers’ quarters,” Orlik said after thinking for a moment. “Mind ya, it’s been three hundred years. It may be a giant privy, for all I know.”