“Are you well? I mean?” The guard motioned to Leith’s head.
Leith frowned. “Of course!”
“You were at the seal?” the guard asked.
“Yes,” Leith insisted.
“And you are alive?” The guard looked surprised.
“Yes.”
“Huh, imagine that. I mean, you have no armor, and you are a bit skinny,” the guard said.
Leith quickly caught on. “Oh no. I am a healer.”
“Ahh! That explains it,” the guard said. “I could not peg it. The idea did not make sense to me. No offense. I was thinking you used magic . . . or maybe you were a runner.” The guard shrugged.
Aili snickered.
Leith elbowed her. “No. Not a runner.”
The guard put a hand to his breastplate. “My apologies.”
“Aili! Leith!” The shout rose from beyond the guard, and Treasach raced through the gateway, stopping in front of them. He hugged them both. “It is good to see you both. Come! Follow me.”
They left the guard and followed Treasach into the courtyard.
“How long have you been here?” Leith asked.
“A day and a half,” Treasach said. “We did not sleep nor hunt. Stopped only at small creeks for water.”
“That explains all the activity,” Aili said.
“My father made a public announcement about the recent events. He has always felt honesty with his people should come first. He feels the elven people can deal with the truth, if you give them the chance. Once they know they have the resolve to deal with one crisis, the next is not as much a shock to them. Determination and perseverance become second nature. Perhaps it is not a universal truth, but here in Lesley it has proven to work. The people have become twice as productive, and the soldiers do not slack. Reconstruction and reinforcements of existing fortifications, planned for the last year, have been streamlined and immediately started. Some minor projects were completed already,” Treasach said.
They walked through the castle keep’s huge wooden doors where a dozen guards were stationed. Along the keep’s walls hung elegant purple tapestries with the Harmaalinna Kingdom symbol in gold. Candles lit the interior, and guards were positioned everywhere.
“A dwarven rider from the Verdunmull Scar and a rider from Mor both arrived not long ago. They are talking to my father now.” Treasach led the healers up the three wide flights of stairs that led to the king’s throne room. The guards before the door wore formidable armor, quality unmatched in the kingdom. Treasach waved his hand, and the guards parted, opening the doors for the prince. As the doors opened, the voices within became clear.
“Your Majesty! I still do not understand how the citizens from every city can be supported here. Where does the food come from? The water? And the housing?” exclaimed the grand general of the Harmaalinna army.
King Zael quietly sat on his throne as he listened, regal as ever.
Bayne was the rider from Mor, and he explained, “A wall can be extended to the south to protect additional farmland along King’s River. Human farmers can help grow crops.”
“Can it be done so quickly?” the unnamed general asked, the highest rank in the elven army forged into his pauldrons. He had a jagged scar spanning from his right temple across his right ear and down the back of his neck. Something nasty had gotten hold of him in the past.
“Quick enough,” General Gavina said. “We can increase the hunters and fishers as well. It will be hard on the animal populations, but it will have to do for now.”
“And what about water?” The grand general continued his questions.
“The lake in the garden district will suffice. It is fed by underground springs. The lake will never deplete,” a cloaked individual said.
Aili could see the Shadow Guardian emblem on top of the cloaked individual’s raised hood, which hid his face from view. His clothing was the same Shadow Guardian uniform Faolan had worn. This Shadow Guardian’s uniform was colored bright green.
“As for housing, we will have to make do with what the people have already, at least for a time. The people can share until new homes can be built, or a new district can be walled in,” General Gavina said.
The scarred general leaned back. “That will create poverty, illness, and discord between the citizens of different nations.”
“What else can we do, Baskla?” Gavina responded. “All of the masons work on the defensive improvements for the walls. A new wall needs to be erected to protect the farmer; that farming district will take time to build as well. We do not have time to build a new housing district. We must prioritize!”
Baskla shouted, “If we do not provide housing for the swelling populace, then we will have disorder and infighting between races. The privileged will look down on those without. And those who have no housing will resent those who do.”
“Who will build the new homes?” Gavina asked.
“Humans. Dwarfs. Whoever is able,” Baskla roared.
“Enough,” King Zael said. “What news comes from King Kvaran?”
The dwarven envoy spoke. “The dwarfs have agreed to move, under Caedmon and Ehreion’s guidance.”
“Ehreion?” the king asked.
“Your Majesty, Ehreion is one of the five gifted with the Ikalreev magic. He was at the seal with Caedmon,” the dwarf explained.
King Zael nodded in new understanding.
“The women and children shall arrive first with armed escorts. The remaining army shall follow. They will bring all the supplies they can muster,” the dwarven envoy said.
Zael shifted his gaze to Bayne. “What word comes from Mor?”
“When I left the mayor and his council, they had not decided. They were in the midst of a heated debate,” Bayne answered.
Aili shouted over the debate, “Do you have news of Ireli?”
Bayne looked over to the new guest and recognized her face. “No. Her stay was short. All I know is that she headed southwest from Mor on a horse stolen from the mayor’s barn.”
Aili smiled at the mental image.
“The humans may be a problem.” The Shadow Guardian’s tone was unkind.
“What do you mean?” the dwarven envoy asked.
“Humans have no king. No one unites them. A great many of them are greedy, violent, and undisciplined. Governed in small towns with inadequate rulers, or no ruler at all. The few humans who are noble and try to do right by others end up being pillaged by bandits or killed. Mor is the only human city with some sense of sanity encompassing it,” the Shadow Guardian said. “Bringing humans here is unwise.”
“Was bringing your kind here a wise idea?” Baskla said. “Is your purpose not to maintain order and to keep the aggressive ones in line? You are a Shadow Guardian. Your kind exists to protect the nation, but the lot of you are unruly and uncontrollable. We are having a meeting of the most serious concerns, and only one of you has come. Where is Kodan? Vina? Jokal? Rornak?” Baskla paused. “Where is Alexi? The revered Blood-Kin Battle Magi of the Kalnor Vale, the strongest mortal in all Verdunmull. Even Alexi does not answer the call.”
The Shadow Guardian was unhappy with the venom in Baskla’s voice but masked it under his shroud.
“You are an assassin, are you not? A shadow stalker?” Baskla accused. “You were trained by the Falcarna wizards on the Illianar Isles. Are you not tainted by their dark magics? The Shadow Guardians are a joke.”
A small red area developed on the Shadow Guardian’s clothing, just above his heart. His clothing was like any other Shadow Guardian’s. It changed color depending on his emotions and mental state. It was necessary in their line of work, for the sake and protection of those around them. The Shadow Guardians normally operated outside Harmaalinna’s borders and had abilities beyond what most considered normal. They lived in unfavorable situations in solitude and usually did not return as stable as they departed.
“Just as I suspected.” Baskla smirked. “There is darkness in your heart.”
“Saalkain will not be killing civilians,” Zael said. “You will be thrown into the dungeons, Baskla, if you incite violence in my throne room. And I will keep you there, if I must, to keep you safe from Saalkain. Believe me, Baskla, you cannot best a guardian in battle. If required, you will command the armies from the dungeons.”
“In straight combat I could win, without a doubt,” Baskla said. “But Saalkain doesn’t know how to fight with dignity.”
Gavina was on high alert as she watched the patch of red move to the middle of Saalkain’s chest and change to black. The black circle twisted and shaped itself into a symbol. She did not know what it meant but figured it could not be good.
Saalkain glared at Baskla beneath his hood.
Treasach interjected, “Any word on where Caedmon and Ehreion are?”
The dwarven envoy spoke. “Caedmon traveled toward the southwest from Odemar, not long before I departed. He mentioned something about convincing the enemy. I did not understand him, but he was gone before I could ask him to explain. Ehreion stayed with King Kvaran and is aiding the dwarfs in their move.”
Gavina opened her lips to speak, but she was cut off.
“Oh! And the giants,” the dwarven envoy added.
“Giants?” Zael asked.
“Yes, giants from the Tri-Peaks. They came from the northwest asking to be allies, said Caedmon sent them. They have been aiding us with our persistent dragon problems,” the dwarven envoy said.
“How many are there?” Zael said.
“Dozens? Hundreds?” said the dwarf, unsure himself. “Chondrose said he would send word to the rest at the peaks.”
“Perhaps they could help us with building a wall to protect new farmland,” Gavina said.
“You have got to be joking,” Baskla said. “Where are we going to house giants in Lesley? And just to remind you, the giants attacked Lesley in the past, so keeping the populace calm when they see the giants is going to be a challenge.”
“Treasach, you will oversee keeping the peace when the giants arrive; Baskla has too much to do already. Prepare the people. Spread word the giants come as allies,” Zael commanded.
“Yes, Father.”
“If the giants choose to help with the construction of the wall improvements, then the giants are welcome in Lesley,” Zael said. “Though they can be stubborn and may choose otherwise.”
“Force them,” Saalkain said.
Baskla burst out in laughter. “Force a giant to do something. That is good. I am tearing up a little.”
Saalkain slammed his right fist against the marble table in anger, triggering five hidden daggers to explode from his sleeve. The daggers shot across the table, barely missing Baskla’s neck. The daggers pierced the cold stone wall behind the general.
“Saalkain!” Zael roared. “You are dismissed. Leave the throne room at once.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Saalkain stood up and glared at Baskla. He raised his right arm.
Aili could see the small, nearly invisible fibers extending from Saalkain’s sleeve all the way to the hilts of the daggers in the wall. The fibers tightened, and the daggers were pulled from the wall. They retracted and slid up the side of the table and then along the top. The daggers reeled back into Saalkain’s sleeve, disappearing into the loose fabric once again.
Saalkain left the table and pushed the throne room’s doors open.
Aili watched Saalkain leave as subtle rage radiated from the Shadow Guardian.
The doors shut behind him.
“Baskla,” Zael said. “Hold your tongue. You are dismissed as well. If you incite any further discord among the Shadow Guardians, I will strip you of your title and position. I cannot have a general who divides my forces. Do you understand?”
Baskla pushed his chair back and made his way toward the doors in apparent frustration.
“Baskla, watch your back. Saalkain can be irrational if provoked,” Zael warned. “He is removed from our way of life. They all are.”
Baskla stopped and asked the king one last question. “What made him so?” He truly wanted to understand the secretive individual.
“Imagine, Baskla . . . if your family was ripped apart before your very eyes, your mother and sister taken advantage of by trolls. Father thrown into the ocean by a troll warlord, injured and unable to swim, yet still breathing. Brother torn to pieces by their war-hyenas,” Zael answered. “Imagine what you would feel. The pure emotions that would fill you and that you would hold in your heart forever. He has seen those things. That is a part of his life. But those seconds are just one dark moment in his life. He hails from Novrhaan, the dark-skinned kingdom, and is trained by the Falcarna. The evil he has seen in his life has made him far from stable. Tread softly, Baskla.”
Baskla bowed to the king and left the room.
After a moment of silence, the king spoke. “Gavina, your task is to aid the newcomers. Provide them with housing, food, and water. Arm the civilians who can fight. Kindly instruct them that they are needed, and we would appreciate their service. We need all the soldiers we can gather.”
Gavina nodded and took her leave.
The king took a few moments and finished his business with the two riders from Mor and the Scar. They exchanged the information needed, and soon the two riders left the room as well.
“Now then.” Zael turned his attention to his son. “What must we discuss?”
“I wish to inform you that two of my companions have returned from the journey, Aili and Leith. The twin healers from Darnum,” Treasach said.
“Ah, yes. Welcome home, Aili, Leith.” Zael acknowledged them. “I am deeply sorry for your losses.”
Kellen, Auvelia, and Faolan’s faces flashed in their minds.
“It is unfortunate success was not found at the seal.” Zael gave a soft smile with a hint of sadness. “But we will survive, and they will be remembered for their sacrifices. We will hold a ceremony for them.”
Aili and Leith gave comforting smiles to the king.
“Treat my castle as your new home. I will tell the guards you are allowed within the castle walls forevermore.” Zael stood, exhausted by the lengthy discussions.
The king gave his farewell and left the room.
“What now?” Aili asked.
“Now, we prepare and wait,” Treasach answered. “The ceremony for Faolan’s family will be tomorrow in the garden district. They will receive a place of honor within the walls, not buried in the forest.”
The healers felt some sense of comfort that Faolan’s family would be recognized by the royal family for their sacrifice.
They departed from the throne room and prepared themselves for the ceremony in the garden.
Chapter 8
Remember the Loved
Remember the lost; they are who you fight for and why you try so hard to survive. Loved ones living and dead. You must survive for them.
The Ikalreev Prophecies 17:16–18
The next morning came quickly and with heavy hearts. The healers woke and prepared for the ceremony to remember and honor Faolan’s family.
The climate was much different than what the travelers experienced at the seal, at the high altitude of the Niyere mountains and its wintery landscape. It was a pleasant day; the sun was out, and the sky was clear. The air was cool, and the invited began arriving early to honor those who gave their lives trying to protect the kingdom.
The garden district was beautiful, with countless flowers and luscious plants. Several natural spring–fed lakes covered the area, with small piers and docks. The King’s River was wide and deep enough to sail down using the small sailing vessels tied down in the lakes.
Chickadees and sparrows chirped while cardinals and blue jays fluttered around the pristine gardens. The grounds were well kept by the castle staff as a service to the people of Lesley; flower bushes were pruned, and seasonals were replaced at their appointed times. It was a tranquil place and a respite, with babbling brooks and emerging springs, from the rest
of the stresses and happenings of the world.
There were also small corners of the garden district where the most honored citizens and soldiers of the Harmaalinna Kingdom were buried for their sacrifices while in service.
By the time the healers made it to the ceremony, almost everyone else had already arrived. The royal family, the generals of the elven army, and Saalkain were in attendance. Many maidens of the castle and soldiers surrounded the burial plots of Kellen and Auvelia.
“Welcome, guests and friends. We gather here today to honor a family who has served and fallen while in service to our great kingdom. I appreciate everyone showing their support for those who loved the three who have fallen.
“Kellen was a magnificent elf. He served valiantly as a general of the elven army for hundreds of years. He conquered many enemies and protected Harmaalinna from great dangers countless times.
“Among his many triumphs, he defeated the hideous ogre chieftain known as Garagtak in the caves of Molagav volcano. He killed the raiding orc chieftain Nocg’rog and spearheaded the attack of elven forces into their warbands to scatter their warriors. I also saw Kellen fend off three war-hyenas single-handedly on the battlefield during the Berserker War. He will be missed and remembered.”
The king paused briefly.
“Auvelia was kind and lovely. A beautiful elf maiden who became a Shadow Guardian long ago. She accomplished many things for this great kingdom. Things that I will not tell you because it would do her a disservice to paint her passing in a dark light. Know this: she cared for this kingdom, she cared for her family, and she loved those close to her deeply. She was a light in this world, one that will be missed and remembered.”
The king paused again.
“These two loving elves took in a lost individual. His age was unknown, and his past was uncertain. They gave up their careers as general and Shadow Guardian to watch over this lost child. He became an adopted son to them and took their last name as his own. A great sacrifice for someone they did not know, and I am positive the boy knew he was loved.
The First Seal Page 6