At length, Joseph spoke.
“It is madness how this world is going. I had thought this evil had been brewing in the Knights of the Realm since the days of my grandfathers. But it seems much more deep-seeded than that if your words be true. The generals under whom we served were of noble manner, knights indeed as was nearly every man under their command. They were doing well to turn the tide of evil that had swept through the Knights. I have no doubt now that this is why we were sent to deal with the orcs in the Northlands. They expected us to die.”
“If I may ask, Captain, “Marian spoke, “how many were you when you arrived?”
“Six-thousand strong, lady,” Joseph replied.
Marian’s eyebrows went up.
“Six-thousand?” she repeated in quiet shock, “and you were not hindered?”
Joseph furrowed his brow.
“No, lady,” he said. “By whom would we have been hindered?”
“Well, there is another part of the tale,” Marian responded. “And that is that the light elf Lilliandra was somehow involved. I do not know her exact involvement, only that it is said that any attempt by the Knights to enter the land again in force would be ‘hindered’ by her.”
She shook her head before continuing.
“Well, that is one portion of the tale that is not well known, even by me. An obscurity, I’m afraid. But I see now that you are…” she looked around, taking a quick count, “…thirty-three. My condolences on your losses, Captain. And to all of you.”
Joseph nodded.
“I thank you, lady,” he said. “However, do not grieve them. They died in service to the ideals to which they clung, that being mainly of striving for peace and driving back all those who would threaten it. It is a strange thing. Since my birth, there has not been a time when I have not been in the middle of a war or heard of one happening in distant lands. It is the reason the Knights of the Realm were formed in the first place, to bring together a force so mighty that peace might finally be attained and maintained in this troubled world.”
“Forgive me my words towards the Knights, Captain, but such a thing will never come to pass.”
At this, all looked to Marian, the knights giving looks of surprise and confusion.
“Why do you say this, lady?” Joseph asked.
Marian looked around at the party, marveling that they did not know the reason.
“Do none of you know the reason this world holds its name?”
None responded, but instead stared endlessly at the learned woman.
“I see. Well, I assume you all know what sylitrium is?”
Several nods were her reply.
“I do not know it,” Mara answered.
“Sir Dolanas?”
“Sylitrium is a metal that cannot be melted down, it can only be forged. Once it cools, it becomes nearly indestructible and can’t be heated again to be re-forged. It can’t be mixed with other metals in the initial forging either. The two materials simply won’t adhere to each other.”
“Thus when it is forged into something,” Marian continued, “it is always pure sylitrium. Sylitria is a word from the Old World dialect that means ‘to forge’. Rin is of the same dialect and means ‘sword’. So, Sylrin means, ‘to be forged by the sword.’ The implication is that there will always be war on the face of Sylrin. But the Godking will use this constant war to forge those who are his into his own pure people. And at the culmination of all things, when he at last comes to judge the world and put an end to all war, his people will stand before him pure and unbreakable, forever more untainted by evil.”
Thomas gave a sputter.
“If you believe in that sort of rubbish,” he said.
“I absolutely believe it,” Marian replied. “And you would do well to heed it as well. The evidence to support it is all around us and throughout history in the actions of all peoples. The Godking does not hide himself. He makes himself known openly. Only those who choose to remain blind will not see him.”
All remained silent a moment as the two exchanged hard stares.
“Lady, pray tell us,” said one of the soldiers, wishing to end the tension. “What legends do you know of the beginnings of this world and of the dragons? Do you know what happened to their scaled kind?”
“Do you know the legend of Lilliandra?” said another.
Joseph smiled and Marian’s eye was caught.
“Something you find amusing, Captain?” she asked him, her hands on her hips.
“You have gained an audience, fair lady. I’m afraid they won’t be satisfied now until you give the secrets of the earth.”
Dolanas gave a grunt and Marian raised her eyebrows.
“Well, the secrets of the earth I have not,” she said, looking back to them. “But a few tales I do know and I would be happy to share them with you.”
And so Marian began, delighting the hearts of the knights and even that of Trogla and Mara. H’ruk was bored and soon left to hunt. Grak lay down and slept.
The learned woman began as requested with the beginnings of the world. Old tales she told in ways that caused all who heard to feel as though she were as old as the stories themselves and they were being transported back to times long forgotten.
“It is said that there will be seven ages to the world of Sylrin. The first age was the Age of Innocence or the Age of Light when the Godking created the world and all that was in it. Rock and plant, land and sea, earth and sky, even the stars in the heavens were fashioned by the very word of his mouth. He gave his world the ability to grow and change over time in its basic shape, though not in its inherent nature. Rocks and stone were shaped and wrought by the environment around them. Plants had a sort of life whereas they grew on their own taking food from the elements. Beasts he made unique among these for they could more interact with their environment and were indeed made from the environment from which they came. But even among the beasts, there were those that were unique, set apart from the rest of the beast kingdom.
“Dragons, like other beasts, were made from the earth, but very specifically from certain elements and elemental forces. They were granted speech and intelligence, yet remained as beasts. And the Godking, knowing his plans for them, knew that they were not yet needed, though they very soon would be, and so he left them asleep in hidden places in the world.
“Having made a suitable home, he then set about creating the races. The Dwarves he made from the rocks. Short, broad, and sturdy they were, made to endure even the most torrid winds of history though greatly shaped by them as well. They were to teach the humans how to use rock and minerals. Anything they crafted it was said held some special properties, though none could say what those were as they differed from dwarf to dwarf and from tool to tool, though in the beginning, it was specific for the tool’s intended use. They drew their strength from stone. So long as they touched it, they possessed great strength, could discern where they were and in what direction they faced. They could sense its slightest grade, thickness, and density. They were masters over that from which they had come and none could rival them in stone, gem, or steadfast spirit. These he set as stewards over the rockling and under-races, those that dwelt in the caves and hollow places of the world.
“The Elves he made from the trees, thus their slender forms and their pointed ears which mimic the top branches of a tree. It also accounts for their long age and slow growth, though in the beginning, it was not so, for there was no death. To them was given the task of teaching the humans how to till, care for, and feed off the earth. They were unrivaled in their understanding of the wood and of plants, and they could do masterful things with the wood from trees that no other dared try. They could know a tree inside and out from root to leaf simply by looking at it. They could speak to the plants, encouraging them to grow, and discern the changing of the wind and even the coming weather from the flutter of a single leaf or a blade of grass. They could, within a generation, thrive in any environment into which they were planted, though th
e environment itself would shape them. They were masters over that from which they had come and none could rival them in wood, weed, or beauty. These he set as stewards over the fae races, those that dwelt in the wood and plant-rich places of the world.
“Man he made from the dust of the earth and breathed into him, as into the others, the breath of life. Man could endure history, though not like the dwarves, and would be shaped by his environment, though the shaping was more internal than it was external and thus he was different from the elves. He possessed no special skill such as speaking to plants or mastery over stone, these belonged to the other races. They were to use these to aide, serve, and teach the humans. Man’s ability was less, his life shorter, yet he was to be over them. Indeed, he was made steward over all creation, though there was nothing special in man. Rather it was the Godking’s sovereign choice and the order of creation which he himself had set in place.
“The races were to be fruitful and multiply and fill and dominate the world. And for a time, they obeyed in innocence, not knowing good or evil. But these were not the only created beings. There were others, powerful beings created of light and able to move from spirit to flesh. Many of these beings, when they saw the creation of the Godking became jealous and rebelled against him. In their rebellion, they rejected the light of the Godking. When light is rejected, only darkness remains, thus they became beings of darkness and were cast out of Kindgom of Light. They then sought to destroy that which the Godking had created in love. They plummeted to the earth, taking on varied forms and seeking to destroy, corrupt, and turn away all of his creation, from speck of dirt to soul of man.
“In creating the races, the Godking made them Children of Light. Evil being in the world, innocence was threatened, indeed creation itself was in danger of corruption. The races could use the light of the Godking to combat those of the Dark Way and cast them into Oblivion. But man’s will is weak and it took only one to spurn the light and plummet the whole of creation into the darkness of rebellion and futility. But even at the closing of the age, the Godking was gracious and promised redemption would come by one of the very race that had brought the curse upon them all. Thus began the Age of the Fall.
“Because of the darkness of their hearts, their minds were also affected. The humans lifted up in their pride, sought to abuse their roles and enslave the other races. The elves and the dwarves reacted strongly to this and sought to not only break out of their servitude but reverse the order, each seeking to exalt its own race. Though there were those faithful among them who attempted to hold to the precepts of the Godking, they few could not stem the tide of evil swelling in the hearts of the many. The races would have destroyed each other, were not the fourth race to suddenly appear.
“The dragons, awakened at the fall, swiftly ended the impending slaughter by the sheer might of their presences. It was for this purpose they were created and given intelligence and speech. They were intended as a watchforce; peacekeepers and judges of the realm. They would save many, keep many wars and disputes from starting and escalating, and keep many a realm at peace with one-another. But they could not save the races from the evil in their own hearts. Such can only be restrained by outward obedience for so long.
“To aide them in their roles as peacekeepers and servants of the races, they had each been given a unique breath besides their normal breathing. A dragon could, at will, bring forth their breath in blasts in whatever degree was needed for whatever purpose it was best suited. Fire, wind, water, earth, lightning, ice, molten rock, gold, silver, and many others besides. These are that from whence they came. These determined their unique breaths, the color of their scales, indeed, their very personalities and dispositions. All that they were was wrapped up in that from which they had come. They could not escape it and thus could not escape their roles as servant beasts.
“The first great conflict was averted for the time being, and the races separated, each slinking back to be closer to that from which they had been formed. Each buried themselves in the knowledge and skill of their making, forgetting the Godking and even replacing him with gods of their own.
“The dwarves excelled in mining, craftsmanship, and metallurgy. The rockling races, seeing their steward race’s rejection of the Godking, went further and cursed his name, wholly embracing the darkness into which they had been plunged. Thus the Godking deepened the curse upon them and all turned aside into utter darkness. But for the sake of the few faithful among the dwarves, he did not deepen the curse of their race. He allowed them to continue, even in their stubborn rejection of him, blessing those that chose to follow him and giving common grace to those that had turned away, knowing a redemption would soon come for all.
“The Elves excelled in hunting, gardening, woodworking, and the arts. Unlike the rockling races, the fae races had many among them who remained faithful to the Godking. Thus they were spared from the Deeper Curse, though many, even among the elves turned to a whole-hearted worship of nature itself. Even so, there were more among the fae races that believed than among their steward race.
“Sadly, this was not the end. For many dragons also fell. To sway a dragon’s heart was not a simple task, nor a quick one. But when a dragon fell into darkness, great was its fall.
“It was in these early days, at the dusk of the Age of the Fall, that the great wars of the dragons were fought in the sky. Skirmishes and clashes had occurred before, but nothing on the scale of what we would call a true battle, much less a war. And there has been no war so widespread or of such destructive force on the face of Sylrin since that time. It is said that when all was done and half the world had been torn asunder, the dragons looked upon the devastation they had wrought and knew that they must leave this world to its fate. The subservient understood their trespass. But even the wicked understood that there would be no point in ruling over a world of ash. And so they retreated to an isle unknown, far south beyond known waters at the edge of the world.”
There was silence as Marian’s audience sat spellbound.
“I have heard of such tales,” Joseph finally spoke. “Of the wars of the dragons fought amongst their kind. That some of the colors of dragon were completely killed off. That field and forest alike burned or froze. That all the peoples of the ground quivered and hid themselves, yet few escaped death.”
“You have heard right, I am afraid,” Marian replied solemnly. “They say it was between the council of the last departing dragon and the human he had served that the world received its name. For both saw that if even the humble dragons could not keep from war, neither could prideful man.”
“What of orc?”
Marian looked over to see Grak wide awake and looking at her.
“Yes,” echoed Trogla. “Tell us of orc. You know it?”
“I do know of it, yes,” replied Marian, “but that is another tale I must refrain from telling for much the same reasons as the first. My apologies Grak, Trogla.”
Trogla’s countenance fell at the denial. Grak seemed put-off but nonetheless accepting of her choice. H’ruk, who had returned during her narrative of the dragons, sat eating a deer carcass, showing mild interest in her tales and having no reaction to her denial.
“Let us then move on to another tale,” spoke one of the knights. “Tell what you know of Lilliandra; of her people the light elves and of the other elven races. You said they adapt well to their environment. Did all elven races come from the one? And how was that?”
Marian smiled. Instructive story-telling was something in which she very much delighted and she was happy to continue her tales. Before she could speak, however, Joseph cut in.
“I’m afraid we must wait to hear more from you, dear lady,” he said, rising to his feet. “We have much distance to cover and we know not how much time we have against the ravaging of Sylrin. We must get moving. Feel free to continue your tales at our next rest. I myself am eager to hear more.”
He finished the last statement with a grin and Marian smiled back and
also rose to her feet.
“Very well, Captain,” she replied.
All then got to their feet and, gathered their gear, and followed Dolanas into the next passage, the orcs and Mara trailing behind. Gash took up the rear guard, contemplating the things which Marian had spoken, the seed of desire to know the origin of the orcish race having been planted in his heart.
XIV. Dwarvenhome
The next few days passed quickly. Marian told her tales at each stop for rest and meal. Once they were exhausted, the time was passed by the soldiers and orcs trying to understand one another, even practicing together during their times outside the hidden dwarven tunnels. Grak and Trogla learned much about honor, tactics, and sacrifice while the knights learned more of how the orcs fight and think. There was not much to the latter, but what was learned they found to be insightful and helpful in understanding their enemy. The orcs, while respecting and holding with fascination the honor and strategies of the knights, resolved not to hold to them, knowing such things would be useless against the brutality of their kindred.
At the edge of the third day, the group at last reached their halting point, a chamber many times larger than the alcoves they had stayed in before and filled with darkness. The two days they had traveled down the ridge of mountains, they had been slowly ascending, though none but Dolanas could tell, and they were now high enough that they could feel the chill of mountain air wafting in from vents in the rock high above their heads. Dolanas went around the perimeter, lighting torches until the room was well-lit and the first peek of the skill of dwarven hands was revealed to the men, women, and orcs who had not so much as heard of such workmanship in all their lives.
The chamber was indeed grand, a strange mural that none could decipher lined the walls, etched into the stone more expertly than could the most skilled human sculptor. Statues of unknown figures, elven, human, dwarven, and even orc stood lining the edges along with those of other races that none present were familiar with. Their quality was such that they looked as if they would come alive and greet the visitors, or perhaps kill the intruders. As a result, some stood in awe, and the rest stood on edge. A large stone table, smooth and heptagonal in shape, sat in the center of the chamber. To their surprise there were chairs lining each side of size well enough to fit the size of the largest orc or the smallest man. At the far end of the table, lined in a row, sat chairs very obviously cut to accommodate the height and girth of dwarves. The center chair they would have expected to be a throne, but it was just as plain as the others.
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