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My heart fluttered as my eyes fell upon Lunaris in the distance. Everything around me was a blur. It was as if she glowed and all else faded away; the smell of death, the grotesque visions of war; all of it slipped away into obscurity when I saw her. She stood with her sword in her hands, gently tossing her hair out of her eyes. She felt my gaze and looked up to see me. After a moment she recognized who I was, dirtied wings, blood stained bronze skin and all. She curled a bashful smile and batted her eyes.
Out of the blur I saw something behind her, rising up. The man she thought she had slain was only wounded. He rose to his feet, raising his sword up over his head with all the remaining energy he could muster. Lunaris’ eyes were locked on me. My happiness spiraled into doom; I was choked for air as my heart sank. The smile on my face dropped into a muzzled frown and I ran toward her. I would be too late. He was ready to strike.
Just as the smile on Lunaris’ face turned into the confusion of a furrowed brow upon seeing my demeanor change, another figure raced in from the blur of my peripherals. A blade struck down with such tremendous speed and force that it seemed like just a flash of light as the sun glinted off the blade. Holding the handle of this blade was Sindris. Her steel had cut through the man that was about to attack Lunaris. Blood sprayed from him, drops of it hitting Lunaris’ arm. She looked down at her arm, noticing the blood. Then she turned to see the soldier fall to the ground, as Sindris stood beside her with a bloodied blade in her hands.
My eyes went to Sindris, and then shot back and forth between her and Lunaris in a panicked frenzy. My emotions were overwhelmed. I did not know if I wanted to scream, cry, or cheer with joy. Sindris nodded at me and smiled. She knew. She knew who she had protected, that my heart belonged to her, and that I loved her. Sindris tucked her head with honor, bowing to Lunaris after receiving her thanks.
I caught my breath, and my fright subsided. I began to walk toward Lunaris. Deius was right behind me. He too saw what happened. But our path was cut off. Before us stood a hideous and vile creature. An Ahaareti so twisted and deformed from his impure lineage and his exposure to dark items that he made Hadut look like a cuddly mouse. It was Hadlick.
“You are the one who killed my dragon.” He pointed a warty finger at Deius and pulled out his curved blade sword. He wanted revenge.
Deius and I fought him together. Hadlick was a skilled warrior. The trick that worked on the dark wizards would not work on him. He moved as fast as Deius, but with a brutal force that we could not match. A stray swipe caught Deius in his side, nearly the same place he had been wounded before we found Alapis. He fought through it, but his speed was diminished and his attacks less precise. We landed a few grazing blows, but nothing that slowed him for more than a moment. He was too powerful.
Moments later Deius fell to the ground. His wound was severe. I had to go to him to try to bring him back before it was too late. But Hadlick’s attacks were relentless. I focused. I thought of all our training. I emptied my mind, and time seemed to slow down. I could see his moves coming before he made them. Our blades clashed over and over, each time knocking me back from Hadlick’s raw power. I stepped forward as he drew his blade back for another strike, looking to attack his hands. My blade met with the top of his handle. Our arms swirled and contorted, causing both of us to lose the grip on our weapons. It then became a fight of brute strength in hand to hand combat.
My back was exposed after we were disarmed. Hadlick quickly seized the opportunity and wrapped his arms around my neck from behind. Suddenly I was on the ground with Hadlick underneath me, but he held me in an ever tightening choke hold. His arms felt as thick and strong as tree limbs. I tried with all my might to summon my powers and create a flame like I had done in the rain for the campfire, but it did not work. Perhaps my powers could not be used for destruction and harm, only for something like warmth and cooking. Perhaps I hadn’t even created that flame at the campfire; perhaps it was Agimus who lit the fire after all. My confidence dwindled as these thoughts raced through my mind.
I soon began to feel light headed, gasping for air. Both my mouth and my gills were smothered. Darkness began to close in. Then I felt the ground rumble as someone approached from behind. I heard a muffled grunt, and the pressure released all around my neck. I breathed in deeply as my vision returned. I turned to see Agimus looming over Hadlick. I looked upon him with thanks.
Agimus laughed. “You saved me once, and now I you. I 'spose that makes us even, eh?” He referred to the vow he made to repay me for saving his life during the pirate attack.
“Thank you, Agimus.”
Wounded, Hadlick rose to his feet and retrieved his blade. I grabbed mine and the fight resumed, this time with Agimus and I fighting side by side. I knew not how Hadlick was still alive. Agimus’ blow was a deep thrust into Hadlick’s side. Blood oozed out of the three holes left by his trident. It was just a matter of time, I thought, but Hadlick clenched a dark item with his free hand. This seemed to fuel his rage and strength somehow. He seemed to fight with more power and fury than when he was unwounded.
I caught a glimpse of something in my peripherals. Through the fog of focus, my lion paced back and forth, waiting for a moment to strike. I moved back and nodded for Agimus to do the same. Hadlick began to lunge at us. In an instant my lion pounced, catching Hadlick in mid stride and tackling him through the air. His massive jaws closed around Hadlick’s neck and squeezed tight. Hadlick went limp, dying almost instantly. My lion lifted its head and let out a loud triumphant roar, then another. A moment later it simply laid down, as if bored with the battle. I couldn’t help but laugh at the personality of this beast.
Immediately I ran to Deius. Patreus saw us and came over. He knelt beside us in tears, but with great pride for his son. Deius was fading. If I had any chance at reviving him, it would be fleeting. I placed my hands on his wound and closed my eyes. There was nothing. Perhaps I was too late, yet again, but I owed it to Deius as a friend to never stop trying. I called out to him in my head and a moment later I heard him.
"Valdren," he said. "I'm sorry."
"Why?" I asked.
"For the way I've acted toward you and the others. I know you think I drank from the fountain, but I did not," he said. "I wanted to. That is why I did not gain the skills that you and the others gained. I wanted powers for selfish reasons and not for the grand cause."
"Deius, you did gain skills," I told him. "Your speed and focus improved greatly. At first I thought it was because you drank from the fountain, but it was because you were becoming pure at heart and leaving your desires behind. And seeing you fight today, you are faster and stronger than I could ever be.”
"I was impatient. But the Lapisians helped me change many things," he answered.
"Without you we would have lost this battle. Your ambition brought the Lapisian army to our side. You gave us victory!" I said.
"Victory is yet to be had, Valdren. I must go now, and rest in Eterna," he said.
"No!” I shouted. “Come back!” There was silence. He was gone. Not even Hemela could bring him back. I opened my eyes, and a moment later I told the others I had spoken to him. "He said he was sorry for his behavior toward us, and that he needed to rest. I told him to come back to us but there was no answer." I looked around realizing that Lunaris and Fiama were there as well, and Peitus too. What was meant to be a happy reunion was now one of sadness. Lunaris embraced me, placing her head in the crux of my shoulder as she wept for the loss of her brother.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t bring him back.”
Patreus placed his hand on my shoulder in comfort. His sadness was calm, as if he had already dealt with the grief. Fiama and the others seemed to handle the loss in the same way. Part of them was filled with joy that they were able to see him again, or spend any time with him after his recovery. Although different for Patreus and Peitus, since they were not with him in Alapis after he recovered, they seemed to be at peace with
Deius. Not only did he redeem himself, but he gave us victory in battle. They were a proud family indeed, and their son would be remembered as a hero of legend.
Upon seeing Hadlick die, the rest of the impure soldiers started to scatter in fear and defeat. The last few scuffles ended. The battle was over. We had won.
CHAPTER 26
We stacked the bodies of the fallen and spoke words of remembrance at a mass burial. Brave Haareti of all races sacrificed their lives for something larger than themselves; they did it in the name of freedom. Like Ver’Deiro before them, each soldier gave their life so that others may have a chance at peace. This too was to be my fate if the prophecy came to fruition. I was to die. My thoughts were fixed upon it always. I tried to convince myself that it was a fate I was willing to face if it meant putting an end to Scievah and bringing peace to Haaret. I struggled.
We set up camp on the edge of the battlefield, and by nightfall the tents rang with the songs of triumph and clanked with the cheers of porcelain mugs filled with barley beer. My thoughts wandered to the ancient times. I wondered if the very place we were camped once heard the sounds of victory for those who fought in the battle at the Junction of the Four Realms, beside Gareth. Would it be a lasting victory? I questioned the very prophecy that seemed to be on its way to fulfillment. I wondered if we too would let our victory slip as Gareth had after the battle. I was determined not to let that happen.
There was a celebration of sorts, as Gareth had celebrated, but it was restrained. All knew there was more to come. A fight more gruesome, more fierce, and more deadly than anything we saw on the battlefield. Nonetheless the fires roared, the food was filling, and the drinks flowed.
After spending some time greeting and talking with my fellow soldiers, I came upon Gelande. He was swarmed by ambitious and eager admirers, who surrounded him as he told tales of his times on Haaret from ancient through present. He spoke of his efforts as a spy for the pure and as a false spy for the impure, building a vast network of allies with the ultimate goal of thwarting Scievah.
Even the other Divinae listened in as Gelande explained how he managed to deceive the great deceiver himself, constantly changing his identity, turning impure against impure, and causing rifts and schisms among their ranks. He spoke of how difficult it was to convince pure Uhaareti to abandon their lives and go into hiding to join his covert cause. It must have been a great relief for him to be unburdened of all the secrets in his life, to finally open up and be himself as he once was so many cycles ago.
The stories went well into the night and continued until the light of dawn. One could fill a book with such tales! Many did not sleep, but that following day was a restful one. We packed our things at a relaxed pace, for we knew the following day would bring a long journey deep into Uhaaretu as we chased the retreating army to Scievah’s fortified palace. It was there we would face the wrath of the Pantagruelian.
The earth shook violently again, and Blood Mountain smoked and spewed forth molten lava from its peak. Perhaps Scievah had the Earthstone now. Perhaps the devastation wasn’t as bad as the first time he put his hands on a power stone because I was here now, supplying the power of the Fifth Stone to counteract the taking of the second. We would have to investigate.
Rather than celebrating with drink in hand, I spent that evening with Lunaris. We embraced each other, treating each moment as if it were our last. We professed our love and loyalty for one another and vowed to be together despite what the prophecy said, but there was still much to do to stop Scievah. His fortress in the depths of Uhaaretu would have to be attacked, and the Firestone returned to its altar. On top of this, I had a growing suspicion that Scievah once again used the battle as a diversion so that he could go after the Earthstone unchallenged.
Soon my quiet and blissful evening with Lunaris was shattered by the quaking earth. I left my tent to speak with the Divinae, who were already gathered and discussing the topic of my suspicion.
“The quakes are too frequent. We must go check to make sure it is safe,” Gelande suggested.
“Would I feel something? And wouldn’t the quakes be more violent and devastating?” Felsson asked Gelande.
“It is different this time. You may not feel what I felt when the Firestone was taken. Valdren is the return of the Fifth Stone. His very presence sustains the realms as if all the stones are in place at their altars. He is what keeps the destruction to a minimum. We must guard him and keep him safe, for if he dies, then the realms will die too. Two power stones in the hands of the evil one is far too dangerous,” Gelande explained.
“Then we must go up into the mountain,” Felsson said.
“I don’t know which is more dangerous,” I added, looking up at Blood Mountain as it glowed red in the night sky.
“Trust me, my boy; Scievah with two stones is far more dangerous than a volcano,” Gelande responded. “You are right, Felsson. We must go up to check if the Earthstone is still hidden, but we must also keep Valdren safe with us. If we lose him, we are doomed.”
“But what about the prophecy? Don’t I have to go with the army to destroy Scievah?” I asked.
“I know a secret way down into Uhaaretu from up in the mountains. Felsson, Valdren and I will go check on the stone. Luna and Hemela will guide the army down into Uhaaretu, and we will meet the army as it makes the approach on Scievah’s fortress,” Gelande said. He turned to Luna and Hemela.. “I will tell you of a safe place to camp as you wait for us.”
My mind wandered to Lunaris. I told myself I would never again let her out of my sight. My love for her tore at my emotions. I struggled to put my desire to be with her aside and focus on the duty at hand.
“May some of the others come with us?” I asked, hoping that I could bring Lunaris along with us.
“No, absolutely not,” Felsson said. “No one else can be trusted to know the location of the Earthstone. If we fail in our mission to retrieve the Firestone from Scievah, then it is best that the Earthstone stay where it is, hidden from all.”
“Right. Then we shall leave in the morning,” Gelande said. “Valdren, get some rest. The journey ahead is quite treacherous.”
I followed his instruction and went back to my tent, back to the warmth of Lunaris. She wrapped herself around me as she slept. She took away all of my worries. Her embrace put me at peace. I would have to explain everything to her in the morning.
I awoke alone. I peeked out my tent to see Lunaris tending to a small fire, cooking a meal for us. I wrapped my arms around her gently and kissed the back of her neck, moving her hair aside so that my lips touched her skin. She turned with a smile and kissed me on my lips.
“There’s something I must tell you,” I said.
“What is it?”
“I have to leave now, with Gelande and Felsson, to check on the Earthstone before returning to battle in the underworld.”
Her grin flattened. She turned back, continuing to prepare the meal. “I understand,” she said softly.
“I don’t want to leave you. It is very difficult for me. You are all I can think about now,” I confessed, bringing the smile back to her face.
“You know, hearing you say you are going on with the Divinae to check on the Earthstone… this should be your proudest moment, not a difficult one.” She spoke selflessly.
“This is still all so new to me. It is confusing. The thought that I might die…”
“Should never give you pause,” Lunaris sternly interrupted. I was taken aback by her quick response. “We must vow to each other not to linger in sadness during the times we cannot be together. Sadness will lead to desire, obsession. These emotions can be manipulated by dark forces.” She spoke with clarity. “None of us know the full power of what Scievah can do. If he can coax an army of many thousands to their doom as a diversion to obtain a power stone, then he must be a skilled and cunning demon with great charisma.”
I nodded in agreement. “I admire your will,” I said plainly.
“You must
take what I say to heart. Scievah has no holding over you other than your love for those you cherish. He will exploit it as a weakness,” she explained.
“I will not let him,” I said.
“You’d better not. I’d rather see you die than see you manipulated, succumbing to his schemes,” she added. I thought about her words. She was stronger than I was, I thought. Her will was unshakable. She was right. My love for her, my father, and her family could be preyed upon as a weakness. I had to put that all aside while away from the others. I had to focus on the tasks that were ahead, on the war. “Here is some breakfast,” she said, passing me a bowl of boiled oats and sweet root.
We ate in silence, but shared many tender glances despite the seriousness of our conversation. When we finished, I gathered my things. We embraced one last time, kissed, and then I left to meet Gelande and Felsson. On the way I knelt down beside my lion and asked it to look after my loved ones. I don’t know if the mysterious beast understood me, but I had the feeling it did.
“I have seen the figure again,” my father said as he approached.
“The hooded one that follows you?” I asked.
“Yes. I have alerted the others and we will search for it before we leave here,” he explained.
“Where did you see it?”
He pointed. “Behind some of the boulders there, to the north.”
“I am headed in that direction. I will keep my eyes out for it,” I said.
“Be safe my boy,” he said with a hug.
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Gelande, Felsson and I headed northeast, up into the rocky foothills. Our path meandered as we navigated around large boulders that dotted the grassy incline.
Gelande told us of his struggles as a spy for the pure. “Once Scievah promoted me into his inner ranks, I couldn’t be out of sight for too long. That is why I couldn’t warn anyone about the Soul Collectors and the Pantagruelian. I hoped Erdus would get word to everyone if he found out.”
The Return of the Fifth Stone Page 35