by Jeremy Dwyer
“That is not all, my lord. Your soldiers are needed. The Premier Governors believe that the poisonous red mist was created deliberately, as an attack upon their assets. As a landholder under their authority, they sent instructions for you to occupy Cinder Valley, where they have significant financial interests,” Climaco said.
“Cinder Valley is a wasteland of bad soil, dead trees and lava rivers! Everyone knows that! Neither stonecutters nor farmers can turn a profit from that ruined ground. What financial interest does the central bank have there?” Baron Vizakrid asked.
“They did not specify, my lord. They insisted that you prevent anyone from intruding and taking control of that valley. They have summoned other landowners to deploy their armies, as well. This matter is both crucial and urgent, my lord,” Climaco said.
“I suppose I have no choice, if I want to continue doing business with the central bank. What of the commerce ship that was promised and never arrived? Did the Premier Governors have anything to say about that?” Baron Vizakrid asked.
“They are distressed by the failure of the ship to arrive and transact business. They will look into the matter when they have resources available, but that is not their highest priority,” Climaco said.
“I will deploy two thousand (2000) troops in the morning, after they’ve had a chance to overcome the illness,” Baron Vizakrid said.
“The Premier Governors were hoping for you to send at least four thousand (4000) soldiers, my lord. And they want you to lead them,” Climaco said.
“If I am leading the troops, then I plan to take five thousand (5000) soldiers. I will need to send twenty (20) ships to carry that many. Guards, go to the barracks and summon twenty (20) of my lieutenant colonels. Tell them each to prepare a battalion of two hundred fifty (250) soldiers – one hundred ninety (190) swordfighters and sixty (60) archers – for deployment tomorrow. Physical training is to begin immediately to overcome the sickness. Then, they are to board the airships, ready for combat. I will be leading the first battalion on board the Griffin’s Fangs,” Baron Vizakrid said.
Five (5) of the guards departed the throne room and exited the castle to send the orders to the lieutenant colonels.
“The central bank will be pleased with your commitment to service, my lord,” Climaco said.
“Our commitment, you mean. You will be joining me, Climaco, to keep in contact with the Premier Governors. I want to be sure they know what this military deployment is going to cost the central bank. I expect a very large payment for my services, and full coverage for any losses,” Baron Vizakrid said.
~~~
While meditating inside his private chambers within the castle of Baron Amidio, Leocadio drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to communicate with the spirit world. He reached out to find a familiar spirit and asked his questions through that spirit. He soon received a reply. Leocadio exited his private chambers and returned to the throne room.
“My lord, I have received some answers from the central bank,” Leocadio said.
“Only some answers, Leocadio?” Baron Amidio asked.
“Yes, and some instructions, my lord,” Leocadio said.
“Tell me what you have heard,” Baron Amidio said.
“The poisonous red mist has circled the southern hemisphere. The symptoms of the sickness can be alleviated by vigorous physical activity, although that is not a cure. There is no remedy for the farmlands that were ruined. The Premier Governors believe the poison to be a deliberate attack upon their assets. As a landholder under their authority, they sent instructions for you to occupy Cinder Valley, where they have significant financial interests,” Leocadio said.
“Cinder Valley is a wasteland. Nothing grows there. It has no worth. Much like my own land now that it’s been poisoned, that place can yield no profit,” Baron Amidio said.
“The Premier Governors insist that you personally lead your soldiers into Cinder Valley and protect their holdings there,” Leocadio said.
“What, exactly, are they holding in Cinder Valley? The soil is worthless for harvesting wheat, oats, barley, corn or anything else. Lava rivers crisscross the ground, so it is no good as a quarry. The trees are rotted, so it is not good timberland, either. If someone – who, I must ask – is going to attack that valley, what am I supposed to protect?” Baron Amidio asked.
“The Premier Governors want you to prevent anyone from occupying the valley. They are sending reinforcements to be sure,” Leocadio said.
“This seems pointless, but I need to keep doing business with the central bank, so I will deploy five thousand (5000) soldiers, ready for battle. Twenty-five (25) airships will be enough. I will lead them from the Creeping Leopard,” Baron Amidio said.
“The Premier Governors will be pleased with your cooperation, my lord,” Leocadio said.
“And yours, as well, Leocadio. You are coming with me to Cinder Valley, so that we can maintain contact with the Premier Governors. And I will be charging the central bank extra for my services, as well as for any losses,” Baron Amidio said.
“Yes, my lord,” Leocadio said.
“Did the Premier Governors give any explanation about the promised trading ship that never arrived?” Baron Amidio asked.
“No, my lord. They are troubled by its absence, but that is not their first priority,” Leocadio said.
“Their first priority seems to be that valley…or something valuable that they have hidden there. I may just have to find it for myself,” Baron Amidio said.
The Chronicler Caemgen recorded all of this into his book and said: “Under the authority of the Chronicler’s Oath, I will be going with you.” He then drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to slow the passage of time. He thus extended his own lifetime and gained the ability to see fast-moving events proceed slowly enough to witness and record them. He fully expected war, based on the conversation. Even though the Oath forbade suppositions and inferences from being written down, he could use them as a basis for a change of venue, to follow the most likely historically significant events.
~~~
From under the cover of false light, Derek watched and listened. Now that the central bank had revealed its interest in Cinder Valley – a land which even this greedy robber baron considered worthless – he would have to travel there along with the baron. He drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial to refresh his powers of light and far sight and thus continue to maintain his cover.
~~~
Erikkos and Kastor oversaw the farmers as they planted the seeds and cultivated the trees to grow rapidly into full size over eight (8) days. The five thousand eight hundred (5800) farmers then drained some of the sap from each of the trees into their cups.
“Place the lids on your cups and hook them onto your belts,” Kastor said. The farmers did as they were instructed.
“Now, where do we go?” Erikkos asked.
“I have the maps into the tunnels. Follow me, all of you,” Kastor said. He led Erikkos, along with the three hundred seventy-two (372) stonecutters and the five thousand eight hundred (5800) farmers, back into the quarries.
Kastor walked through the carved pathways until reaching another sealed archway – two (2) feet wide and three (3) feet high – in a sidewall.
“Open this archway,” Kastor said.
One of the stonecutters approached the archway and molded the low-level structure of the stone until it gave way, revealing an inner chamber.
“This is the path leading into the mountains that surround Cinder Valley. Follow me inside,” Kastor said.
“We’re going to have to crawl through that?” Erikkos asked.
Kastor got down on his hands and knees and crawled through the small archway. Inside, he stood up slowly and said: “The ceiling is high. Only the archway is low.”
“Is it dark in there? We don’t have a Lujladia water drinker to give light, and we don’t
have torches,” Erikkos said.
“There is ample light. Come in and see,” Kastor said.
Erikkos got down on his hands and knees and crawled through the small archway. Inside, he stood up and felt immediate relief. “Where is the light coming from? Why is it red?” he asked.
“This is a magma chamber. The molten rock glows in the distance,” Kastor said.
“I don’t like this at all! We’ll be burned alive if any of that touches us!” Erikkos said.
“It’s far away from us. But it gives off light that reflects off of the obsidian crystals embedded in the tunnel walls. This passageway was engineered by the central bank, and Major General Ortigern found the map of all the tunnels. There is nothing to fear,” Kastor said.
“He found the maps in the third age. That was millions of years ago. Magma moves faster than that and it can melt through stone. I’m not a Kazofen drinker, so I can’t manipulate stones or crystals or see their low-level structure, but I do know that much,” Erikkos said.
“You underestimate the skills of the architects and engineers hired by the central bank. They have always designed and built structures very carefully so that work could be done efficiently and profitably. Now, we have work to do, along with the farmers and stonecutters. We need them to join us,” Kastor said. He then crouched down, looked through the archway and said: “Come in. There is ample light, and the ceiling is high after you pass through the archway. Just take your time and follow my lead.”
“Why not have the stonecutters alter the stone to open the archway to full height? Wouldn’t that make it faster so they could walk right in?” Erikkos asked.
“That would make things worse, because there’s magma within these walls. Molten rock can be manipulated, but not easily or safely. Opening up the stone could spill it on us. That’s why,” Kastor said.
“Even you admit the danger of being here, this close to magma,” Erikkos said.
“Not if we take our time and tread carefully. Hasty, reckless maneuvers will ruin our chances to find what we’re looking for,” Kastor said.
“We’re relying on ancient structures to hold back a river of magma. That’s what I consider reckless,” Erikkos said.
“The central bank would not endanger their assets with faulty design or construction. Despite their greed, they are not foolish, and they invest carefully where it matters most,” Kastor said.
“You need to be ready to react – faster than instantly – in case something happens,” Erikkos said.
Kastor drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to slow the passage of time. He exercised this power to extend his own lifespan and to be able to react to fast-moving events as if they proceeded slowly. “I am more than ready,” he said.
Slowly but surely, the three hundred seventy-two (372) stonecutters and the five thousand eight hundred (5800) farmers crawled through the small archway over the next nine (9) hours. They entered the large chamber, stood up and awaited orders.
“Ready your weapons,” Kastor said.
The farmers and stonecutters held up their shields and swords as per orders.
“Now, follow me,” Kastor said. He proceeded to walk through the tunnels and consulted his book to know which branches to take. Erikkos, the farmers and stonecutters followed him, day after day.
~~~
Under the cover of darkness, Baldovino and Ghoukas followed Erikkos, Kastor and the farmers and stonecutters through the maze of tunnels.
~~~
Three (3) middle-aged men appeared out of the darkness in the throne room of Count Nemanja. The castle’s lord – a thirty-seven (37) year old man with toned muscles, blond hair and goatee and no battle scars – was seated on his throne. Two (2) dark-bladed swords were mounted on the sides of the throne: one (1) on the left and one (1) on the right.
“What is your report, Helder?” Count Nemanja asked.
The first man – Helder – said: “Lord Nemanja, I see a group of sixty-five (65) people approaching your territory. They are now only sixty (60) miles away from your eastern border. It is perhaps a four (4) day journey if they walk briskly. Only one (1) of them is armed. Judging by the symbols on their water vials, the others are an accountant, a musician, fifty-seven (57) farmers and five (5) stonecutters.”
“They may be the peasant workers we are expecting. Do not underestimate the warrior who accompanies them. If they are the people who stole the seeds, then he is the combatant who routed Baron Waldahr’s troops,” Count Nemanja said.
“I will provide the cover of darkness and we will destroy them all,” the second man said.
“You will provide the cover of darkness, Sandalio, and watch them closely, but we need to avoid falling into their trap. I would not be surprised if these peasant workers were part of a larger plan. A portion of their seeds may have been given to other farmers – whether known or unknown to them – who will be approaching Cinder Valley from the north, west and south. They could have a signal arranged, sent through spirits by hidden agents watching at a distance. Killing them too soon would alert those other operatives and deny us the opportunity to catch them all. Antaine, I want you to telepathically probe them and learn who their accomplices could be, if they happen to be aware. You may be able to lure them with an offer of work in the fields and quarries to distract them,” Count Nemanja said.
“If they refuse work, you want me to bring them to your castle as guests, where you will give them a fine meal and promise them fair treatment,” the third man – Antaine – said. He read Count Nemanja’s every thought and found the man to be relatively clever and reserved for a warrior who drank the Nabavodel waters. However, Antaine knew that the cleverness was developed through instruction by the agents of the central bank, who incessantly trained Nemanja to investigate everyone before attacking.
“Yes, Antaine. Intercept these peasants at once…gently and generously. If they have the seeds, they must not take them into Cinder Valley. I must obtain and protect the seeds, personally,” Count Nemanja said.
Antaine drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from his vial to be energized with the powers of telepathy and empathy. Helder drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. Sandalio drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power of darkness. He exerted his powers and extended the cloak of darkness over himself, Antaine and Helder. They vanished from sight, exited the castle and walked to the eastern edge of Count Nemanja’s territory.
~~~
Lavakara led Ruth, Sophie, Patrick, Molly, Sean, Ciaran, Elise, Odhran and the other fifty-six (56) farmers on a slow westward trek through forestland for nine (9) days until reaching a large stretch of wheat fields. Significant parts of the fields were obviously dead.
“This is the eastern edge of Count Nemanja’s territory,” Lavakara said.
“I thought you said this Nemanja was another robber baron,” Sophie said.
“He is,” Lavakara said.
“And you brought us to his territory. He’s going to enslave us or kill us,” Ruth said.
“Enslave us for what? To farm on ruined fields? A third of the crops are dead. Why?” Patrick asked.
“There’s plenty of good farmland left to work on. Not everything is spoiled,” Odhran said.
“He’s going to enslave us then,” Ruth said.
“He’s going to have to kill us! I’m no slave! Not again!” Sophie said.
“You’d rather fight?” Lavakara said.
“You better believe it!” Sophie said.
“You’re no warrior. Leave the fighting to me,” Lavakara said.
“You had better have a plan,” Patrick said.
“Trust me,” Lavakara said. He drank anew of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from the ornate vial and was energized with the powers of strength and speed. Furthermore, the ornate vial conferred the powers of spirit, which he
used to vanish from the material world and enter the spirit world.
“I don’t trust him at all. I only trust God,” Elise said.
“I don’t trust him, and I don’t like that he brought us here,” Molly said.
“I don’t trust him either, but he did protect us already,” Ruth said.
“Are we supposed to just wait around for somebody to try to catch us?” Sophie asked.
“Sooner or later, that is what will happen,” Patrick said.
“They’ll try. And then they’ll have to kill us,” Sophie said.
“He said we should leave the fighting to him,” Sean said.
“We have to work if we want to live. Fighting is not an option,” Ciaran said.
“I agree. Don’t put up a fight, no matter how much you want to,” Patrick said.
“You’re asking the impossible,” Sophie said.
“Winning the fight on your own would be impossible,” Odhran said.
“Yes. Only through God’s Grace is deliverance from this evil land possible,” Elise said.
“We’ve made it through a lot of problems to travel this far, but things aren’t looking great. We’re still waiting for that deliverance,” Ruth said.
“God will provide for our needs at the proper time – a time that He chooses,” Elise said.
~~~
From under the cover of darkness that was provided by Sandalio, Antaine probed their minds and learned that they had the seeds from the vault and were aware of no other accomplices. They did not know the purpose of the seeds, but only that they were being protected, which meant they must be valuable. The warrior – whose name they did not know and who was now concealed by some power – advised them to plant the seeds in Cinder Valley. This is what had to be prevented. Antaine also knew that these peasant workers – who were runaway slaves – had decided not to put up a fight.
Antaine telepathically signaled Sandalio, and he retracted the cover of darkness to appear in front of the peasants farmers.