by E J Gilmour
Stella arrived a moment later. ‘What happened?’ she asked, looking about for the shadowy enemy. Red arrived a few seconds later.
‘I put an end to it,’ said Eben.
‘Good,’ said Red, clutching his aching arm.
‘Are you okay?’ asked Eben.
‘It feels like a burn from ice. My arm feels a bit numb, but I think I’m alright,’ replied Red, shaking his arm so that the blood could flow back into the limb.
They returned to the camp. Cassiel was sitting by the fire waiting for them. The bright star was gone, and the flames of the fire had rekindled. Cassiel was wrapped in a blanket and was recovering from his ordeal.
‘Did you catch the creature?’ he asked as they approached.
‘Eben slew it,’ said Stella.
‘It was a shadow in the shape of a man,’ said Red.
‘This creature was something different, a monster I am not familiar with,’ said Cassiel. ‘It matched my power and then attempted to shroud my heart in a frozen darkness. I felt the cold night descending as I fell into an unsettling dream. I reached toward the only light I could see. At first the light was far away from me, a faint glimmer in the distance. Then the light came closer. All I could hear was the sound of sweet voices singing around me. I felt at peace. The bright light grew larger, and the icy shroud of darkness was lifted.’
‘That’s when you made the star appear,’ said Red.
‘I’m not sure where the star came from. It was certainly not created by any magic skill that I have. Perhaps the voices I heard came to our aid.’
‘I don’t know how we would have fought the creature without the light,’ said Eben. Cassiel nodded in agreement.
As the night progressed they built up the fire until it was burning brightly and lighting up the entire clearing. They took turns to keep a vigilant watch until dawn.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The following day the four friends continued their journey. They were determined to reach the border of Irvaria as quickly as possible. They passed many small river settlements. The further they went north the more welcoming the people became. As dusk approached the river turned toward the west. In the distance they could see a line of small hills
‘The Sunset Hills,’ said Cassiel. ‘Irvaria is beyond those hills.’
They marched onward with renewed energy and had almost reached the Sunset Hills as the night fell. They set up camp beside the river and rested well that night. Knowing that Irvaria was so close gave them all a feeling of confidence.
After sunrise they made a move and within an hour came upon the hills. The Adira River wound its way through a shallow gorge. The river road was hewn into the hillsides and followed the path of the river. Almost instantly the land about became green and fertile. The grass was lush, and majestic golden elm trees filled the groves and hillsides.
After about half an hour of walking the company rounded a bend in the road. A hundred yards ahead the way widened significantly. They could see a stone watchtower built on the hillside adjacent to the river. Down from the watchtower was a stone landing where several boats were moored. The river road passed between the tower and the landing. The watchtower stood about seventy yards tall; at its height flew the red flag of Irvaria depicting the white dragon. Dozens of fully armoured Irvarian soldiers were gathered down by the river.
‘This is one of the watchtowers of the Sunset Hills. There are many of them scattered along the border,’ said Cassiel. They walked ahead toward the tower. The group of soldiers noticed them approaching and walked up from the riverbank.
‘What is your business in the Kingdom of Irvaria?’ asked the leader, a lean and tall man with a noble face and short auburn hair.
‘I am Sir Red of Ortaria,’ said Red proudly. ‘We are on a mission to Faircastle to appear at the council by invitation of King Edric of Irvaria. This is my wife, Lady Stella, and my two friends, Eben and Cassiel.’
The soldiers murmured between themselves for a few moments. The captain stared up at them and seemed very surprised.
‘We did not expect anyone to come this way. Vastoria is said to be impassable. They said that you would likely go by sea to Everdon and come to Irvaria from the south. I’m surprised you managed to cross Vastoria.’
‘I’m surprised too,’ said Red with a smile. The captain nodded and smiled back at Red.
‘My name is Commander Jon. These are the men of the Brigade of the Sunset Hills. I will give you horses and have an escort take you as far as Stonehaven. There you will be safe and can rest for the night. From Stonehaven you can take the road that follows the river to Faircastle.’
‘Thanks for your assistance,’ said Red.
‘It’s an honour to help you, Sir Red,’ said Commander Jon.
Commander Jon led them to the watchtower. They were given Irvarian tea and biscuits as the four horses were being saddled and prepared for them. They sat around a small wooden table situated in the lower level of the watchtower.
‘Did you encounter the Skatheans in Vastoria?’ asked Commander Jon.
‘Many of them,’ replied Cassiel. ‘The Desert Knights told us that the Skatheans rule Darancra and the south of Vastoria. They are preventing anyone from crossing the Deep Desert.’
‘Yes, we have heard they control Darancra. Fortunately their days are at an end. Only recently an army left to liberate Darancra from their evil rule. The Skatheans arrived in Vastoria three years ago in the port city of Kavacas. They have since progressively moved north. It is interesting to me that the Desert Knights told you this. Did they assist you?’
‘Yes, they sacrificed a lot to help us cross the desert,’ said Eben.
‘This news is surprising. We have not been sure about the allegiances of the Desert Knights. They have sent an envoy to the council, yet we have long thought they may have been working with the Skatheans.’
‘No, you can be sure they are not in league with the Skatheans,’ said Cassiel. ‘Only days ago there was a battle at the Mooring of Gastrell. The Desert Knights fought bravely against the Skatheans. Many of them were killed that day.’
A moment later there was a knock at the door and a young soldier entered the small room. He was perhaps eighteen years old with curly brown hair and a determined look in his eyes.
‘The horses are ready, Commander,’ he declared.
‘Good, well done. Sir Red, this is Charles. He and two others will lead you to Stonehaven. You should arrive there before nightfall. I wish you all the best for your remaining journey.’
‘Thanks for your hospitality,’ said Red, bowing to Commander Jon.
Commander Jon nodded and smiled warmly. He followed them out to their horses. The four horses were majestic creatures. Eben could see that Irvarian horses were indeed a noble breed, each of them in some way was similar to Swiftwing in stature; although Swiftwing was clearly a prince among horses. They mounted their horses and galloped away from the watchtower heading steadily westward.
**
The land about grew ever more beautiful the further they progressed. The treed hillsides and lush valleys were a picture of splendour. Small crystal clear streams poured down from the hills above and flowed into the Adira River. The river followed a wide gorge that wound its way through the Sunset Hills.
‘I never expected Irvaria to be so beautiful,’ said Red, his eyes surveying the magnificent landscape.
‘This is why the Ecorian Emperors of old chose Irvaria as their home,’ said Charles, a glimmer of pride in his eyes.
As the day unfolded they came to the far side of the hills and descended toward the lowlands which were also incredibly beautiful. The road passed through long meadows full of colourful spring flowers. Later in the day the road led them back to the Adira River.
‘Soon we shall arrive at Stonehaven,’ said Charles.
They continued along the river road for another hour. In the distance they could see a solitary hill to the south of the river. They entered a shallow dale surrounded by vi
neyards. The road led them around the base of the hill. As they rounded the western side they could see a very large and old stone house; it looked to be almost a part of the hillside. The grey stone walls were covered in moss and ivy and a gabled roof rose high above the many arched windows. A short wall surrounded the house, and an open gate led them into a stunningly beautiful rose garden within the wall.
An old man stepped down from the threshold. He wore a red woollen overcoat, and his long grey beard descended all the way down to his belly. His aged face showed a certain degree of gentleness. He walked toward them slowly and warmly smiled as he approached.
‘My name is Sir Norman of the Sunset Hills. I am the Guardian of Stonehaven.’
‘I introduce to you Sir Red of Ortaria, Lady Stella his wife, and his two servants. They are guests of King Edric and on a journey to Faircastle for the council,’ said Charles. Eben and Cassiel smiled across at each other at the mention of being Red’s servants.
‘You are most welcome here at Stonehaven,’ said Sir Norman. ‘Please, come down from your horses. I will have the house cook prepare a feast to honour your arrival.’
‘I must say what a beautiful garden you have,’ said Stella as she dismounted.
‘Thank you, Lady Stella. For centuries these gardens have been kept mostly the same as they are now. Stonehaven is the furthest westerly abode of the Irvarian Royal Family; a stopover for royalty that take the journey into the Eastern Lands. It is rare that we have any of the royal family staying with us these days; however, we must always keep the gardens and house ready. Mostly we serve as a guesthouse for noble travellers and knights passing this way along the river road.’
‘Are there any soldiers stationed here?’ asked Red as they tied the horses to a water trough.
‘Only the house guard. We have six guardsmen who protect us. Of course they rarely see any action. The Brigades of the Sunset Hills keeps anything wicked from crossing into Irvaria. Please, come inside. I will show you the house.’
Sir Norman led them through the front door. They were all immediately amazed by the lavish surroundings. The wooden floors were polished to shine, the whitewashed stone walls were adorned with magnificent paintings, and wonderful crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings above. A long hallway led them down to a large open room with a sitting area beside a burning open fireplace. On either side of the fireplace were two large bookcases that stood wide and tall, reaching up toward the ceiling above. Thousands of leather bound books adorned the shelves. Cassiel gazed on the books with wonder.
‘You are welcome to read any book you desire,’ said Sir Norman, having spotted Cassiel’s interest. ‘This is only a small part of the royal collection. It is rather unfortunate that they are rarely read. Occasionally I read a little, but mostly they are left as they are, apart from the regular dusting they receive.’
‘Thank you,’ said Cassiel as he walked over and browsed the shelves.
‘Please, Sir Red, consider Stonehaven as you would your own home. I will have your rooms prepared and inform the house staff of your arrival. I expect that you will be leaving in the morning for Faircastle. The journey is a three day ride, or five days on a barge, but I dare say that you should ride because the first day of summer is only five days from now, and I’m sure you would prefer to be early for the council.’
‘Of course,’ said Red. ‘Thank you for your kind hospitality.’
‘It’s a pleasure,’ said Sir Norman warmly. ‘I must say you are the first Ortarian Knight that I have ever met. I’m very glad to have you as my guests.’
With this Sir Norman left the room. They all sat down on the large comfortable chairs.
‘I think I like the Sunset Hills,’ said Red, smiling at Stella. ‘Perhaps it would be a good place to raise our children.’
‘We’ll see Red,’ answered Stella, smiling back at her husband.
‘Look at this,’ interrupted Cassiel as he took an old leather bound book from the bookcase. ‘Rare Creatures of the Forgotten Age – by Baron Monte of the Endora Mountains.’ Cassiel gently opened the old book and stared down at the pages with a glow of excitement in his eyes. He turned the pages lightly and then suddenly gasped.
‘Here it is! Ghouls! Creatures of darkness brought to Veredor by the Prince of Shadows in the Forgotten Age. Ghouls are servants of the Prince of Shadows. They are related to draugs and are said to have a similar origin. They were brought through the Cosmic Gate in small numbers. Ghouls were used as the personal guardians of the Prince of Shadows. They can pass directly through solid objects, move with great speed through the night, and they retreat underground during the day. All the ghouls were slain by the Astarian Fiora in the Battle of Shidon. No sightings of them were ever documented after the end of the Forgotten Age.’
‘No sightings. That means we are the first to see one in ages,’ said Red.
‘It would seem so,’ said Cassiel. ‘This is clear evidence that the Prince of Shadows has returned and the Cosmic Gate has been reopened. If ghouls are his personal guardians then the one we fought must have been sent by him.’
‘So the evil Master is the Prince of Shadows as we suspected,’ said Eben grimly.
‘It makes perfect sense. He must have planned to establish himself in the north where the Skatheans and Northern Sorcerers are based.’
Cassiel went back to the bookcase and took another large leather bound book. ‘- The Account of the Forgotten Age - By Holmia the Mystic.’ He opened the book and flipped through a few pages. ‘Recognise this,’ he said as he turned the book toward them.’ A clear illustration of the Sword of Light was sketched on the page.
Cassiel read from the book. ‘The Sword of Light, one of the three swords of the Astarian people. The Sword of Light belonged to the Astarian Fiora. The Sword of Light was used to protect Veredor in the first wars of the Forgotten Age. The Sword of Light was later wielded by the Astarian Fiora against the Prince of Shadows in the Battle of Shidon. Fiora vanquished the Prince of Shadows and cast the evil Astarian into the darkness beyond Veredor. Fiora sealed the Cosmic Gate against his return. The Sword of Light is the only weapon powerful enough to match the power of the Sword of Darkness. The Sword of Light stands as a sign of hope for the people of Veredor.’
‘Is there a Sword of Darkness too?’ asked Red.
‘Of course there’s a Sword of Darkness, and there is also a third Astarian sword called the Sword of Midlight. Can you see why this is significant? The Prince of Shadows wants to take the Sword of Light from Eben because the sword was used against him successfully in the Forgotten Age. He wants to remove the one weapon that can stop him. That’s why Azagord said he wanted to cast the sword through the Cosmic Gate, because if he can remove the Sword of Light from Veredor there would be no weapon powerful enough to be used against him.’
They all looked across at Eben. Eben felt his heart thumping in his chest. The idea that he held the only weapon that could stop the Prince of Shadows conquering Veredor was overwhelming. A silence fell upon the company for a few moments.
‘Don’t worry, Eben. Whatever happens you can be sure we will stand by your side,’ said Stella kindly.
Suddenly Sir Norman entered the room. ‘I have informed the cook to prepare a roast dinner, and my butler has informed the house staff to prepare your rooms. For the next hour I suggest that you enjoy the books and the gardens around Stonehaven. I will send someone to find you when dinner is served.’
‘Thank you. You have made us feel very welcome,’ said Red.
‘It is an honour.’ With this Sir Norman left the room. They turned to face Eben again.
‘Of course we will all stand by you no matter what happens,’ repeated Stella. ‘We’re all in this together until the end.’
Red and Cassiel both nodded. Eben felt his confidence return at knowing his loyal friends genuinely cared about him. He knew they would be there by his side no matter how events eventually turned out.
**
Sir Norman ser
ved up a mighty feast in the grand dining room of Stonehaven as he had promised. Roast chicken, potatoes, pumpkin, peas, gravy, and the finest red wine Eben had ever tasted.
‘This is an excellent wine,’ said Cassiel.
Sir Norman smiled and a glimmer of pride could be seen in his eyes. ‘Stonehaven’s wine is famous throughout Veredor. We have even sent barrels as far as Scaldonia. Irvarians have always loved wine; winemaking is a highly regarded craft in our country, we take it very seriously.’
They continued with the meal and the house staff continued to bring dish after dish and finished with a lavish date pudding covered in fresh cream and strawberries. They stared wide eyed with delight.
‘You will find the road to Faircastle is safe and very pleasant. It will take you through the lowlands and several forests. The road will then return to follow the Adira River before you arrive at Faircastle.’
‘Is Faircastle as magnificent as they say?’ asked Cassiel.
‘Indeed it is. The castle is said to be the most marvellous in all of Veredor. I’m sure that when you come to see it you will agree. Faircastle was built by Jerial the Just and the Ecorian Emperors who followed him. Now Faircastle is the home of King Edric, who of course is a direct descendent of the Irvarian Ecorian Arbiter.’
‘We look forward to meeting your king,’ said Eben.
‘I am sure you will be impressed by him,’ said Sir Norman. ‘King Edric is dearly loved by his people.’
After dinner they were shown to their charming rooms on the upper floor. They rested and slept peacefully under the roof of Stonehaven.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The following morning they gathered in the front garden of Stonehaven. The house servants had prepared their horses and brought them to the front gate.
‘It has been a most pleasant stay,’ said Red, bowing to Sir Norman.