The Foreshadow of Balance

by Dangerous Walker

CHAPTER XXV

  They stood by the copse, it was now night and they were lit by the full moon. The three dragons had left them to spread the news to others of their kind in the hope that they would now come out of hiding.

  Nagendra had offered to go with them to Talon’s Fall, but the Shadow Ranger had declined. It was more important that they recruit more dragons, but also news of dragons would be more likely to reach the Black Queen. So under cover of darkness the dragons had left and the Stormclouds had set up a makeshift camp to eat and rest.

  Now came the most important part. Would the True King join them in the Quest, would he lead his world in a rebellion or would he shy away?

  “So even now the Capital City is rebelling?” the True King asked.

  “The last we heard,” the Shadow Ranger told him. “As soon as you landed safe in the copse a Stormcloud rode for the city to spread the word, bolster the people’s spirits. We have to assume that the news will reach Chinerthian ears.”

  “Then we must get there before they can send out reinforcements.”

  “No your Majesty, we want them to send as big of an army as they can.”

  “Why?” The King asked incredulous.

  “Talon’s Fall,” d’Gaz said, “is nigh on impenetrable, we have the best chance of beating the Chinerthian army there.”

  “So you want as many as possible,” the True King rubbed his chin in thought. “It is a dangerous game you play, Shadow Ranger.”

  “We have no choice, your Majesty, this could be our one and only time to restore the Balance.”

  “And you will not let us contact Earth.”

  “No, Sir,” Connor said. “It will not bring the happiness you think.”

  “This you do not know for certain, such weapons in Good hands could be used well.”

  “Yes, Sir, do not think I am suggesting anything. But you must look into the future; will they stay in good hands? Will the next King see things as you do?”

  “Again you are willing to play with the lives of this World on ifs, buts and maybes,” The True King said tiredly.

  “Yes, Sir, but also think of all that you do not know of Earth. If you walked through the Portal no one would believe you. If you brought them here, if they saw this, they would not necessarily want to help you. Our leaders are not necessarily good people, they think more of profit and the Chinerthians may offer them better prospects, or they may decide to just take over all of the Four Worlds.”

  “So be it, so be it,” the King said. “Let us ride then to Talon’s Fall and begin our future, or our last stand.”

  %%%

  They rode through the night having taken work horses from the prison. The Foreshadow rode to Talon’s Fall while the Stormclouds rode back to the Capital City and would then go through the Portal.

  It was nearly midday by the time they reached Talon’s Fall having ridden across grasslands and through forests. They had ridden away from the Articus Mountains, but had kept for the most part two new peaks ahead of them.

  As they came out of a forest and onto rolling grasslands Dylan could see that the two peaks were not another mountain range, but two solitary peaks. Harder rock that had not been eroded with its surroundings. The two peaks were close together and had steep, almost vertical sides to them. One had a jagged peak, the other had an almost flat top. As they drew closer Dylan could see that there was a high wall built between the two rock formations and he could even see tiny men walking across the top of them.

  “When was this built?” Dylan asked Lucas.

  “No idea,” he replied. “A long, long time ago.”

  “Some say it was built by the ancients of this land,” Bell said riding next to them.

  “Who were they?”

  Bell laughed. “Even I am not old enough to remember them, young Guardian.”

  They stopped some way off, letting those on the battlements get a good look at them. It would not do to be hit by an arrow by your own allies.

  After a while the flag of the True King started being hoisted and the Shadow Ranger took that to be a good sign and started forward once more.

  They rode up to the double gates as they opened. Dylan could not believe the size of them. They had to be at least as tall as a house and the walls were even taller. Close up though, he could see that they were old, the walls had some cracks in them, chunks of masonry had fallen and vines did their best to climb.

  “Will it hold?” he asked Lucas.

  “It had better.”

  Connor was also amazed as they rode in. He could see that this fortress had been built between the two massive rock outcrops with a wall at either end of the space between, completely enclosing that space and making it seemingly impossible to enter. Looking up at the two high peaks he doubted even a truly skilled rock climber could get up them. Certainly not without being noticed. Inside there were dilapidated wooden huts that even now men were fixing. Wood and stone had been used to construct stairs and walkways up the side of the rock and there were large buildings up along the rock face, perhaps even having been built at cave entrances.

  “What’s the plan?” Connor asked Mattaeus as they came to a stop.

  “Rest, plan and wait. You and the others will get fresh horses and ride to the Portal before Chinerthian forces gather.

  “How long do you give ‘em?” d’Gaz asked.

  “A week at least, they must gather their forces and then search. This is the most obvious place, but they can’t risk missing us somewhere else.”

  “My Lord and Liege,” Commander Harris greeted on one knee as the True King dismounted.

  “Harris, arise and let me look at you,” the King looked him up and down and then laid his hands on Harris’ shoulders. “Still as strong and dignified as ever,” he smiled.

  “Thank you, your Majesty, it is good to see you free again.”

  “It is good to be free again, but we have much work to do.”

  “There is a room made ready for you, Sire,” Harris told him and pointed to one of the larger rooms against the rock wall.

  They all walked up the wooden stairs and Dylan could see that there were a lot of men and women working and practicing with weapons. He felt better about everything. This was a strong place and these were good soldiers. Real soldiers.

  Inside there was a long table with chairs and they sat.

  “For now we rest and regain our strength,” the Shadow Ranger said.

  “And after all this?” the True King asked.

  “After all this we move back to the Capital City and urge the men and women of Sylvae to rise up.”

  “That will only bring more Chinerthian troops through the Portal,” the King noted.

  “Yes, it will and it will leave less on the other Worlds.”

  “And you hope for them to join you also,” the King stated.

  “We do, your Majesty,” Bell said. “We will go through and make contact with the Magician’s Star.”

  “And we will be a thorn in the side of any troops trying to get to the Portal,” d’Gaz added.

  “It will have to be enough,” the True King sighed. “Let us bathe and eat.”

  %%%

  It was still dark outside when Lucas awoke. He had been having strange dreams of the Princess of Earth and Stone. He was in the Prison of Articus, deep in the mountain and all around him were people in cells pleading to be released, but he stood at the end of a rock corridor and there she stood, beautiful in shimmering grey.

  “Lucas,” she said. “Your life continues to be in the Mountains. You are referred to as a Man Mountain and you act as a rock to the young Guardian.”

  “It is merely the way of things, Princess,” he replied.

  “No, nothing is the way of things anymore, everything has been changed,” she stopped in thought. “Or maybe nothing has changed, maybe this is His doing all along.”

  “I do not understand you, Princess.”

  “It matters not, Lucas, you must be ready to defend yet more stone a
nd it will not protect you, Lucas, it will fall.”

  And then his dreams had changed to the raging Battle of Tahoma, the Mountain City.

  And then he awoke with a start, sweat beading his brow and wetting his long hair.

  He tried to find a comfortable position, but it was no good. He was hungry.

  He left the building and could see that the Sun was dawning, the light came pale over the walls, but the Sun could not yet be seen. He walked to the food storage and entered. It was built into the mountain so that the food could stay cool. At the front there was much to eat, but not enough for an army, and he decided out of curiosity to look further back into the storeroom.

  He found a torch in the light seeping from the door, lit it and walked deeper into the room. It was strange, there were a number of crates stacked here, almost like a wall. He tried to lift one and it was heavy. What food were they storing in crates? He put his back into it and lifted one to the floor. He pried it open with his strong hands to find rocks and sand. Rocks and sand? What was this? He thrust his torch through the gap and looked behind the crates. The rest of the storage room, instead of holding food to support an army for weeks, was empty.

  And then the alarm horns were sounded.

  %%%

  “Archers to the ready,” someone shouted.

  “What is this?” the True King asked as Mattaeus, Bell, d’Gaz and the Twin Magicians entered.

  “The Chinerthian army has come upon us in the night, Sire,” the Shadow Ranger told him.

  “How is this? You said a week at least.”

  “I know not, perhaps they are taking a stab, this is the most obvious place for us to go.”

  “For now we need to rally the troops, my Lord,” d’Gaz said.

  “Yes, yes,” the True King nodded and then Lucas barged into the room.

  “No food,” he gasped.

  “Not now, Lucas,” Bell said.

  “No, no. No food in storage, never was.”

  “What?” the Shadow Ranger asked.

  “Only enough at the front for a few more days, made so no one would see,” Lucas panted, out of breath.

  “We are deceived,” the Shadow Ranger cried, “Treachery.”

  “Whom?” the True King asked.

  “Only a few could do this, stay here, Sire.

  “Sisters, bring the Guardians here and then go to the battlements. Lucas stay here and guard the King.”

  They ran out of the room and along a wooden walkway to the top of the battlements. Out in the grassland they could see a large Chinerthian army closing on them.

  “How have they got here so fast?” Bell asked.

  “They would have had to been close when we were at the prison,” d’Gaz said.

  “Yes,” agreed Mattaeus, “if this is treachery perhaps they were meant to corner us there.”

  “They close in,” Bell said.

  “The watchmen should have spotted them hours ago, treachery indeed,” d’Gaz said and unsheathed his sword.

  “Archers prepare,” someone shouted and the men lining the walls raised their notched bows.

  There was a great shout from the Chinerthian army and suddenly a great chunk of soldiers charged forward.

  “What, by Thunder, are they doing?” d’Gaz cried.

  “Fire!”

  Arrows blackened the morning sky and many Chinerthians fell. The Chinerthians answered with arrows of their own and everyone ducked.

  “What’s that noise?” Bell asked.

  “By Thunder, they’re opening the gates,” the Shadow Ranger shouted. “Down! Down!”