Champion of the Gods Box Set

by Andrew Q. Gordon

  Five days into an otherwise uneventful, but tiring journey, the party was attacked by a group of harpies—warped creatures left over from the first war. Farrell mentally and physically merged with Takala and attacked the enemy from the sky. During the fight, a massive attack targeted the pair. Takala took evasive action in time and the attack missed them.

  Farrell used the Eye of Honorus and learned that Vedric, a son of Meglar, sent the attack. Vedric planned to follow them to Agloth and raze Seritia’s city in tribute to Neldin. Alerted to this new danger, the unicorns raced to get to Agloth ahead of Vedric.

  When they arrived at Agloth, an escort immediately took them to meet Jolella, the high priestess of Agloth and first priestess for Seritia on Nendor. Though it appeared the city was nearly deserted, Farrell felt a deep sadness radiating all around him. Finding nothing to cause the feeling, he brushed it off as fatigue.

  Mother Jolella greeted them and confirmed Kel had visited years ago. She told them that a gravely injured Kel rode to the city on a unicorn from the worst part of the desert. When Farrell asked what he brought and where he hid it, Jolella refused to answer. Instead, she gave him permission to search the city using any means available to him.

  With the help of the Eye, Farrell found the house where Kel had hidden what he brought to Agloth. Inside the building, Farrell met the lost people of Ze’arder. Amelt Randgar explained that his brother, the previous ruler, had marched his army out of Agloth intending to retake their ancestral lands. Seritia warned them not to violate their oath to defend Her city by leaving, but Amelt Jazor ignored her. Seritia banished them to the void. Randgar told Farrell he and his people were waiting for him to free them.

  Using the Eye, Farrell located another image of Kel. This Kel looked older and frailer than the one in Dumbarten. Kel guided him to a chest and when Farrell opened it, he found the Heart of Seritia and the Hand of Neldin.

  Angry, Farrell left the void with the chest. Within seconds, the city erupted with life as the people of Ze’arder emerged from wherever Seritia had sent them. Their return to the city created confusion across Agloth.

  Back in Farrell’s quarters, Jolella and Randgar explained how the Children of Zeron ended up in the void. Farrell speculated Seritia intentionally provoked the breaking of the oath so She could hide the people of Ze’arder in the void in case Neldin won the first war. Now that Her brother had returned, She returned them to the world again. Jolella expressed doubt, but Nerti agreed with Farrell. The discussion moved on to the Hand and the Heart, and Farrell confessed he hadn’t learned much from Kel.

  A couple of days later, Farrell returned to speak to Kel about how he came to possess the Hand of Neldin. Kel explained he was tasked by Seritia to collect the Hand from the dark wizard Krendrew. The fight nearly killed him, but Flemin, Nerti’s son and Kel’s companion, had saved him.

  After his conversation with Kel, Farrell determined he needed to go to the dwarf realm of Colograd to collect the Mind of Falcron. He and Miceral, along with Nerti and Klissmor set out while the others prepared for Vedric’s invasion of Agloth.

  Farrell and Miceral met with King Thrinton of Colograd. Though Thrinton understood Farrell’s need, he wasn’t willing to relinquish the Mind without further thought. Shortly after Miceral and Farrell returned to their rooms in Colograd’s palace, Father Aswick knocked on their door. Khron’s high priest had traveled from Trellham with news and a gift. He presented Farrell and Miceral with new suits of armor made from a rare metal. He then advised them Khron decreed Miceral and Farrell were to be the new kings of Trellham and high kings of all dwarves.

  Khron’s anointing new kings spurred King Drendar and Father Laminar of Fracturn to travel to Colograd for the first meeting of the dwarf kings in more than three thousand years. Drendar opposed the news, but Farrell and Miceral were able to convince both him and Thrinton to accept them as high kings. The two dwarf kings then pledged their support in defense of Agloth.

  With the new alliance settled, Farrell turned his attention to retrieving the Mind of Falcron. With magic and the help of Father Wasquar, high priest of Khron for Colograd, and Father Mendox, high priest of Falcron, Farrell located the Mind in a corridor behind Wasquar’s personal quarters. The Gift, a small blank book, was not what Farrell expected, but he couldn’t dwell on the mystery.

  Having achieved what he came to Colograd to do, Farrell made plans to return to Agloth. With Seritia’s permission, Farrell opened a large Door between Colograd and Agloth. The dwarf nations each committed fifteen legions to the defense of Seritia’s city. They used Farrell’s Door to move their dwarves to Agloth.

  Farrell searched for Penelope and the two discussed the magical defense of Agloth. Their talk devolved into an argument and in an effort to find a more private place to speak, Farrell flew down from the walls of the city. In front of Agloth he discovered an odd patch of ground he knew hadn’t been there before.

  The defensive spells that ringed the city did not extend to the circle of affected dirt. They agreed to ask Mother Jolella about the discovery and returned to the discussion about the magical preparation. Farrell insisted he needed to face Vedric and while unhappy with the decision, Penelope finally agreed it was the wisest course.

  Later in the day, Jolella accompanied Farrell and Penelope to the affected area. They discovered Farrell and Jolella could stand inside the circle and nothing could touch them, not even magic. Although they knew what it did, they didn’t know why it was there. Unable to find an answer, they left to prepare for the attack.

  When Miceral arrived with the last of the dwarf soldiers, Farrell and Takala flew off to check on Vedric and to make sure his army didn’t arrive sooner than expected. Farrell kept them concealed and the pair destroyed the invisibility spell Vedric used to hide his army. As they flew home, Farrell used the Eye to look in on Vedric’s response to the surprise attack.

  Although angry, Vedric remained undeterred. He had received reinforcement from Meglar, including his cousin Brezlaw who was a powerful wizard. Although Brezlaw suggested they retreat or at least pause, Vedric decided to continue with the invasion.

  Farrell’s attack gained the defenders another full day to prepare, and he and Nerti added one last defense to the city. They stopped at the circle in front of the city and Farrell decided that was where he would confront his half brother.

  The next morning, Farrell and Nerti left Agloth and waited for Vedric. Inside, Miceral, Penelope, and the others readied the defenses. Farrell ignited a ring of fire around the city and watched the Chamdon rush through it only to be cut down by the vast ring of magical defenses that protected Agloth.

  Vedric sent his wizards to disarm the defenses. Penelope and the other wizards were able to kill many of the enemy wizards, forcing Vedric and his senior wizards to help before any progress was made. Rather than let Vedric destroy all the defenses, Penelope turned off the protections and let the army charge the walls.

  Vedric stayed behind to confront Farrell, and they fought as the battle raged behind them. Farrell realized early in their fight he could defeat his sibling, but he let the fight continue hoping to learn something about his father’s fighting style. Once he realized he wouldn’t get anything helpful, Farrell attacked in earnest. He quickly had Vedric on his heels and was readying a killing blow when Nerti screamed. Their minds were connected during the fight and her shout nearly shattered Farrell’s mind.

  The battle had proven to be one-sided. Without Vedric’s help, his army floundered against the powerful defenses of the city. Miceral had paused to assess what to do next when he noticed a large force of Chamdon heading his way and it was growing. Klissmor called for reinforcements and Miceral prepared to meet the charge. Right away he noticed the attack was unusual. The Chamdon didn’t focus on their foes around them but rather on something else. By the time Klissmor figured out the target was Nordric, a small force had slipped around the main body of troops and was headed for Nordric and Peter.

  Miceral watche
d a Chamdon rip the horn from Nordric’s head just before Grohl crushed the creature’s head in his talon. Nerti screamed and Miceral turned in time to see a large burst of energy he knew wasn’t Farrell’s.

  Nerti’s scream incapacitated Farrell and gave Vedric a chance to recover. As Farrell readied a blow to kill Nerti to save himself, she ran off, leaving him nearly broken. Vedric loomed over Farrell and struck with a massive burst of power. The blow passed through Farrell’s body and kicked up dirt underneath him. Vedric struck several more times, all with similar results.

  Slowly, Farrell recovered and realized he was inside the circle and it had saved his life. He took the fight back to Vedric, and after a vicious exchange left Vedric panting, injured, and defenseless, Farrell hesitated when it came time to kill his brother. Seritia appeared and told him he needed to kill his brother. Vedric heard Seritia’s words and realized Farrell was his brother. He begged Farrell not to kill him, but when Farrell said he couldn’t do that, Vedric tried to curse him. Before his brother completed the curse, Farrell struck, killing Vedric.

  Takala came and carried Farrell back to Nordric. Everyone looked to him, hoping he could help their friend. Farrell asked the Eye to show him how to save Nordric and when it showed him nothing, he yelled for the Six to help him.

  Lenore appeared and told him She couldn’t help and Farrell needed to let the events play out as they were intended. She had Peter give Farrell Nordric’s horn. When Farrell asked why he should take it, Lenore simply insisted he accept or decline. When Farrell accepted the horn, a chill wind swept across the desert and when it passed, Nordric was gone.

  After helping with the wounded, they all returned to Penelope’s estate. Farrell and Miceral immediately rode off to visit Kel’s home. When they reached the barrier protecting the house, Miceral was barred from entering. As Farrell prepared to take it down, Kel appeared.

  Having finally found Kel alive, Farrell struggled with what to ask. Kel agreed to join them at Penelope’s the next day and asked them to give him one more day in his old house. Farrell and Miceral left and informed Penelope and then Markus about their discovery.

  Early the next morning, Grohl asked Farrell if they could practice fighting the way he and Takala had in Lourdria. Farrell agreed when he realized Grohl would end up doing something foolish if they didn’t. While the pair were flying, they spotted Kel on a unicorn carrying two small children in his lap.

  Kel’s arrival touched off a flurry of activity and coincided with King Markus’s arrival. When Kel and Flemin arrived in the courtyard, Nerti and Klissmor rushed to see their long-missing son. Flemin explained Lenore had tasked him with helping Kel and since Kel was pretending to be dead, he had to do the same.

  Farrell asked about the children and Kel said he learned centuries ago that Neldin had been targeting his descendants. He had managed to save the two children after their parents had been killed. At Honorus’s direction, Kel placed them in the same sleeping spell he used to preserve his life. When asked why, Kel explained he needed time to find them new parents. Smiling, he said Honorus had chosen Farrell and Miceral.

  Chapter One

  Farrell paused outside the door before knocking. For years this door had been off-limits to him and the other students. Once he was permitted to visit, he found any reason to avoid coming here—even when summoned.

  Now it created a conflict of emotions. Rather than struggle with the two warring sides, he knocked on the stock door. Like most doors in Haven, this one had been infused with magic to make sure his presence was heard inside. Given the size of the suite and the age of the occupant, Farrell waited patiently for the door to open.

  Kel smiled when he saw his guest, something Farrell noted Kel did often when he showed up.

  “Grandson.” He stepped back to let Farrell come inside. “I expected your visit, just not this soon. From what I hear of your reputation, early mornings are not your preferred time.”

  That part of him also seemed a lifetime ago. “Considering you are the reason I can no longer sleep late, you of all people ought not be surprised.”

  “Bah.” He waved Farrell into the suite. “You know I was merely the messenger. Honorus made you the children’s parents, not me. Though I must say, I think He made an excellent choice. You and Miceral are very good with them.”

  “They’re sweet—well, Geena is. Bren can be a handful at times.”

  Kel laughed from deep inside. “Oh yes. That boy is a rambunctious sort even at barely two. He will keep you both hopping as he grows.”

  Farrell wanted to point out that he might not live long enough to raise Bren and his sister but knew Kel would admonish him for negative thinking. “That’s being generous. I’ve already had to use magic to keep him in line.”

  “Oh? How so?” Kel lowered himself into a large overstuffed leather chair.

  The sight caused Farrell to miss a step. Pushing through the moment, he took the seat opposite and remembered other such times he’d been in this room, in this chair. Then the owner was Grand Master Heminaltose, and Farrell had been his student.

  “He has—had—this habit of flinging his bowl off his tray once he’d eaten his fill. The first time he did it, Lisle screamed so loud she startled both children into tears. Then she fussed at me—me—as if I had a hand in Bren’s behavior. Five minutes of how he was taking after his messy parent drove me to find a solution—fast.”

  Kel laced his fingers into a steeple and leaned forward. The playful grin told Farrell his ancestor was enjoying this moment too much. “And what did you come up with?”

  “When he shoved the bowl, it stopped a few inches off the table. Lisle was able to bring it back and tell him not to do it again.”

  “That worked? I’d imagine he’d be so amused, he’d do it again and again.”

  “You’d be correct.” Farrell chuckled at the memory. “I put a second spell on the bowl. When he tried to do it again, it shocked him. Lisle told him that his bowl would only hurt him if he tried to throw it. She had to put his hand onto the bowl a couple of times to convince him, but now he doesn’t toss the crockery around anymore.”

  “Ingenious. How did you come up with that idea?”

  “I didn’t. My mother used it on me when I was Bren’s age.” Maybe Bren was a lot like him. “According to her, I did the same thing. Since it worked on me, I assumed it would be effective.”

  Kel laughed and sat back. “Or perhaps he’ll prove more stubborn than you.”

  “Perhaps.” Farrell scanned Heminaltose’s old rooms. “You’ve not changed anything.”

  “There’s no need. Heminaltose was a practical man. His quarters reflect that trait.”

  “That’s one way to put it. The few times I came inside when he was alive, I used to think they reflected his tendency to control everything.” He shrugged. “Are you ready to go or should I come back?”

  “Now is good.” Kel grasped his white staff and used it to lift himself out of his seat. “I have nothing pressing to do, so I’m ready for my tour of Haven.”

  “I’m not sure I’d consider our walk to Trellham a tour, but if you’d like to call it that, I won’t argue.”

  “You are wise beyond meager years, Grandson.”

  As happened every time Kel made a public appearance, crowds gathered wherever they went. A new feeling of hope had permeated Haven once word spread Kel had returned. Even Farrell felt more confident, enough that he brushed aside the implication of what the reaction said about Haven’s faith in him. They made a quick stop to pick up food and then set out for ancient Trellham.

  “An interesting use of Doors,” Kel remarked after they’d left the boundaries of Haven. “I never thought to hide the lines inside the rock.”

  “Heminaltose did it more to protect people from accidentally hurting themselves.”

  “Still, quite clever.”

  Farrell closed the portal and motioned them toward their destination. “Can you show me how you were able to hide Trellham from eve
ryone except me?”

  “Ah, I’m not surprised you want to know about that curious bit of magic.” Kel moved in the direction Farrell indicated. “Unfortunately, I cannot show you how it works, but I can tell you the theory behind it.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” Farrell hadn’t meant to sound so suspicious.

  Kel’s expression turned serious, and he stopped moving. “Farrell, I have remained alive all these extra years for no other reason than to share my knowledge with you. There is nothing I would willingly withhold from you. I can’t show you because I am no longer the Champion of the Six.”

  “I’m sorry, Grandfather. Every interaction before I found you taught me to question what you were withholding.”

  “A fair point, but now you must feel comfortable that I will be forthright with you. If the Six won’t allow me to answer, I will tell you that as well.”

  The good mood he’d had walking and talking with Kel had vanished, and Farrell nodded his agreement. They completed the short walk to Trellham’s gates in silence. When they arrived, Kel stared up and down.

  “Three thousand years ago, these beautiful doors were the last image I had of this once bustling city. I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance to see Trellham reborn.”

  “So you didn’t use the gates to give the priest the book you left for me?”

  “No.” Kel ran a hand gently over the carved stone door. “Honorus directed me to use the Door between Fracturn and Trellham instead of breaking the seal on the city. Startled the beard off the poor priest in residence.”

  Farrell pulled on a handle and the door opened smoothly. He paused before entering. “Let me notify Father Aswick that we are here. He is old, even for a dwarf, so I don’t want to shock him.”

  A small puff of smoke flew from his palm and into the city. Farrell followed his spell and lit the torches in the entryway. Before the pair had walked far, the tiny cloud returned and stopped by Farrell’s ear. The smoke hovered for a moment, then dissipated.