Chapter 11

When the horse that Peryn had been using returned to the stable without him, a party of seven men was sent out to find out what happened to him.  Bronas was the first to spot where he had fallen, but all that remained in the trampled dirt and grass were hoof prints, bloodstains, and some prints that Bronas could not identify.  When the rest of his companions arrived at the spot, they were just as puzzled.

Searching around, they found the tracks leading off into the woods.  They were like the footprints of a human or elf but without toes, and they were less than the size of a small child.  Mixed in around the tracks were marks where a body had been dragged away.  Bronas selected two of the men to ride hard to the village and alert the Captain to what was happening, while the rest would continue the search.  As soon as the two had mounted and turned toward the settlement where the main force of the free races were located, Bronas turned toward the path carved by the strange footprints and strode forward, the tremble in his breathing betraying the nervousness that he tried to hide.

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Aldren had been in quandary for quite some time.  In spite of being outnumbered by the king’s forces, his troops had managed to hold the border at the river.  Many  of the King’s men deserted to the North side of the river,  men who were weary of the ever more strangling edicts that seem to come from the King’s Court in a constant stream.  This was good news for the cause since that meant trained troops to assist in the defense of the common folk who were valiant, but without the knowledge of tactics that could save lives and assure victory.

The tales that these same men were bringing in balanced all this, tales of a growing darkness deep within the court of the king.  Terrified men will exaggerate what they are recounting, but even discounting the wilder parts, the core of the tales were all along the same lines.

Ralahur had not been seen in the court for several sevendays.  Orders were coming through his subordinates, but all that was known about him was that he was dealing with powers that had not been roused since the times of the ancients.  His own priests were frightened and names were whispered that sent chills through anyone who had ever heard tales of the dark times.

Aldren knew that if these tales were true then what was coming was beyond his knowledge and abilities.  Ameni came into their room at the inn where they were staying to find her mate staring into the fire, very deep in troubled thought.  She walked over to where he sat and placed her hand softly on his shoulder.

“Anything I can help with, my love?”

Aldren took a few seconds to respond.  “I don’t know if there is anything we can do, if the rumors are true.  I spoke with some men who had crossed the river just a few nights ago.  The high priest Ralahur is delving into the dark magics that haven’t been practiced in more years than we can reckon.  I fear that if he succeeds and awakens the powers of destruction, there will be no way to stop them.  Even being Dragon Clan, I am only one man.  According to the ancient scrolls, the only way the wielders of this power were banished before was with the death of most of the old clan.  I am not enough to do it alone.”

Ameni was disturbed deep into her very core when she saw the look of fear in her mate’s eyes.  For as long as she had known him, he had never despaired about an upcoming battle.  It wasn’t the fear of dying in battle that was consuming him, but rather the knowledge that if Ralahur and his demon prevailed, all that had been gained would be lost and the lands would be plunged into chaos from which it would never recover.

Aldren did not speak these thoughts to her.  There was no need.  Since her bonding with her mate, Ameni had been able to feel his emotions.  It had started when they had made love after the bonding ceremony.  She had felt something much more than her own passion almost to the point of experiencing the pleasure of her lover as well as her own.  Her climax was almost more than she could take, with his feelings feeding her own.

She couldn’t read his thoughts but she could tell what his state of mind was.  When she started paying attention to this change, she found that she could strengthen and refine the gift.  Now she used it to try and aleve his despair.

She started to move her hands gently across his shoulders and up his neck, parting his hair so that it fell on each side of his neck.  She then started kneading the tension out of the muscles that she felt there.  It amazed her once again how this man who had dealt death to so many could be so gentle as he was with her.  Especially when they would make love.

Even when she was in the village of her youth she had heard tales from the newly bonded girls about how painful it was when their mates first penetrated them and how the men did not care about the woman’s needs.  From the first time in the cave, Aldren had been very careful about her pleasure.  She had followed his lead and found that by fulfilling his desires that it actually brought her more pleasure.  And it increased her love for him more than she could imagine. 

Aldren started to relax and allow his head to roll forward to expose as much of his neck as possible.  Ameni’s fingers, made strong from the use of her bow and knives, found the spots of tension in his shoulders and worked them away.  She worked until she felt the fatigue he had been feeling slip away.  He did not object when she led him to the bed and told him to lie down after removing his clothing.  He was soon asleep under her gentle massage.

After Aldren had slipped into the deep valleys of slumber, Ameni slipped out of the room and down to the common room.  Most of the men had gone to their beds in and around the village.  Off the few that remained, she sought out Vabryn.  Being Aldren’s childhood friend as well as his second in command, she felt he knew her mate better than anyone except her.

He was sitting on one of the hewn benches that were along the walls, his shoulders against the wall and his legs propped up on the table in front of him.  The remains of his evening meal sat next to his boot heel and in his hand was a mug that contained the last of his ale.

When Ameni approached, he dropped his feet to the floor and stood up.  This courtesy was not just because she was the Lady of the North Kingdom, but also because he admired, and in his own way, loved the elf warrior-woman.

“I thought that you would have been sound asleep after making that old dog upstairs beg for mercy.”  Vabryn flashed her a toothy grin.

Ameni gave a tired smile in answer.  She sat down opposite where he was as he settled himself on the bench.  “Vabryn, I know that Aldren is worried about the reports that he has been hearing from those that have escaped from the South.  If what is being said is true, he doesn’t know how to handle it.”

Vabryn rubbed the stubble on his chin.  “And he has reason to be worried. I don’t know much about magic and such but I remember the childhood stories and Ralahur may be meddling in things that even he cannot control.”

“Old Belwin said something about when wild magic is used, it will consume the one who is wielding it unless they are strong enough to resist.  This may be what has happened to the priest.  But I must find a way to help Aldren fight this.”

“Perhaps it is time for you and Aldren to talk to old Kal-angurr.  He is wise in the history of the ancients.  I would suggest that you ride for the Tower and seek his counsel.”

“Aldren feels that he needs to be here and the Tower is four days of hard riding away.  I don’t know if we can convince him.  But we must try.”  With that she stood and bade Vabryn a good night.  She then returned to the room and crawled into bed with Aldren who was still asleep.

They spoke the next morning about riding to see Kal-angurr and as Ameni predicted, Aldren was concerned about leaving the troops.  Vabryn pointed out that while the forces on the other side of the river were gathering, they were still not at such strength that they could attack.  The reports from deserters coming to the North stated that there was still resistance in the countryside, bolstered in all probability by the success of the free peoples.     The king and Ralahur could not possibly get their forces together for at least several sevendays from now.

The matter was settled by the arrival of a man dressed in the black hooded cloak of a priest of the New God.  The four men who brought him in to the leaders kept as much distance from him as possible, fearing what he might do.  His hands were bound behind him and he swayed a bit as he stood before the leaders.

Aldren motioned to allow him to be seated and a stool was placed in the middle of the room.  The hood of the robe was pulled back revealing a young man whose eyes showed his fear and exhaustion.  His bonds were cut and his arms fell limp to his side.

“State your name and why you wished to be brought here.”  Vabryn had taken control of the priest and started the questioning.

“Lord, my name is Temos and until two weeks ago, I was a priest of the God of the Sun.  I had to come and find the leaders of the rebels.  The high priest has gone mad with power and the need for revenge and someone had to come to warn you.  Things have been going wrong in the kingdom for some time, but I kept trying to reconcile it with what I knew to be right.  I couldn’t stand the abuses of others that he has ordered done, but would make excuses to ease my own mind.  But when he started to take young girls from the villages around the Keep, I started to wonder about him as well as my own sense of right and wrong.”

One of the men offered him a drink of water, which he eagerly accepted.  He then continued his narrative with increasing speed and urgency.

“One night I followed behind as the High Conclave of priests took the latest captives into the High Priest’s lair.  I lost my stomach as well as my sense of sanity with what happened next..  One of the young girls, probably not more than into her menses, was stripped and placed on an altar the likes of which I had never seen before.  While four of the Conclave held her down, Ralahur sliced her open and cut out her heart.  He was chanting something as he held the heart above his head letting the blood drain down over his head.  I was almost caught as I staggered out into the night.

Nothing in the scrolls of the God of the Sun speaks of the things he was doing.  This was some spell that must have come from the dark recesses.  I made it back to my hut and prayed about what I had seen.  I did not know what to do.  When I came out from the hut the next morning, I heard the villagers talking about how the miller’s daughter had been taken the night before.  That was when I decided that the only thing I could do was try and find the rebels.”

After giving this narrative, the young man almost collapsed onto the floor shaking with emotion on what he had witnessed.  It seemed that he had been holding in all of these horrors until he made it to his destination.  Once he released all of that emotional telling, he could not support himself any longer.

Aldren moved over to the prone figure and released his bonds.  He quietly spoke something into the man’s ear while placing his hand on his forehead.  Almost instantly, Temos relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.

A couple of the men took the sleeping man to a tent where he could rest, but under guard.  Aldren turned to Vabryn and the other captains that had witnessed the tale.  “This man does not lie.  I could feel the fear and hatred he had and that it was directed at Ralahur.  He may prove valuable in the near future.  However, some of what he has said is troubling to me and I believe that it is now time to consult with others that are more well-versed in the ancient lore.  I will be leaving with a small party to the Tower in the morning.”

He went through the door and into the daylight to search out Ameni and get ready to ride.  The arrangements were made and packs were set for the trip.  Aldren selected Uskar, one of his captains along with one of the new recruits of the captain’s choice.  Uskar had a wife that was soon to give birth at the Tower, so this would be a chance for him to see her.  The young recruit was Doale, who had come from lands to the east where the king’s troops had done some of the most horrific damage to the land and its people.

Mirgan asked to ride as well.  And since anywhere Mirgan was Kiran would be found, she was included.  This rounded out the group.  Enough of a force to effectively deal with any trouble on the trail and allow them all to rotate guard duty.  There was only one more addition to the troop, and Aldren waited until they were ready to ride before he summoned him.

Temos had just awakened from his slumber when Lord Aldren had entered his tent.  For the first time in months he had slept the sleep of the just, doing what he felt was right.  He had been afraid that the leaders of the rebels would kill him outright instead of listening to him, but he knew he had to try and stop the evils that were brewing in the South.    He heard the front flap of his tent open and Lord Aldren stepped inside.  Behind him was a woman of incredible beauty dressed as a warrior from some old tale.  He realized that she was an elf, and felt a blush run up his face.  She stared at him for several minutes and he could almost feel her reading his mind.  Just before he started to shift nervously, she broke her gaze and smiled at him.

When Aldren saw his mate nod her head, he spoke up.  “Temos, I am riding to the Tower of the Guard within the hour.  I request your company so we can talk in more detail about what is happening in the south.”   

“I would be honored my Lord.  I don’t know how much help I can give, since I am not of the High Conclave, but I will do my best.”  The pouch that contained his belongings had been taken when he was captured but was now on the top of the chest at the foot of the cot.  He picked it up and slung it over his shoulder.  With a nod of his head, he indicated his readiness to leave.

The others were already mounted and Vabryn was holding Aldren’s stallion so they could exchange last minute thoughts.  Aldren spoke quietly to his captain.  “I still do not like the idea of leaving now.  We have more troops arriving all the time and we will need to help them get into fighting shape.  The dwarves are battle ready as are the elves.  What we need is to get the human farmers and townspeople into a fighting force.  And we must know what is happening from the other side of the river.”

“We will handle the troops.  For all your wisdom my friend, you still have yet to learn to let others assist where they can leaving you to do what we can’t.”  Vabryn moved in a bit closer.  “I am concerned about not hearing from Peryn.  Word was passed on that he had made it to the farmhouse and had started toward the tower thinking you were there.  A group of men went to look for him but have not reported yet.”

Aldren stroked his chin as he absorbed this new information.  “That is a worry.  I could understand being captured across the river, but he should have been safe on this side.  See if you can find out anything.  Send word to the tower.”

With that, Aldren mounted up and the small band turned toward the tower.  Vabryn watched them go, then turned and called for the other captains to meet with him to figure out the best course to take with the new men that were arriving.

The road was wide enough to allow the group to ride three abreast, so Aldren motioned for the priest to ride between him and Ameni.  In the hours that followed, Aldren learned everything that Temos knew about troop strength, leadership, and most importantly any weaknesses that could be used to advantage.  He also learned a bit more about the young man.

As an orphan, Temos had been raised by some folks in a village just a couple days ride from the King’s Court.  The God of the Sun was already gaining followers in the village and he was turned over to the priests for training.  He knew nothing of the outside world except what they told him and their tales were filled with images of enemies that would tear a man apart and eat his flesh if they found him.  Elves were said to be the most dangerous and would torture men for days getting pleasure in their victim’s screams of agony.  He was told that the elves wanted to hold dominion over men and force them to engage in their evil rituals.

When he grew up enough, they had him take the vows of priesthood for their God and trained him in the ways that he would follow for the rest of his life.  However when he had been among other people for a while he began to question some of what he had been taught.  

The first time he had seen an elf with his own eyes, some of the men from the village had already tortured him to the point of death.  He had looked closely into the elf’s face and saw nothing of the tales he had heard about, but rather the look of a fellow creature that was not evil but just different.  Pain and despair that he saw as well and it haunted him from then on. 

He had been ordered to the King’s Court and there he had stayed in a nearby hut.  He had returned one evening when another priest came in with the news that they had finally captured an elf-witch and had just killed her when one of the guards of the court came rushing in and killed everyone that had been there.  The word went out that the guard was to be captured and brought back to be killed.  Temos could not believe that his fellow priests would do such a horrid thing, since he had been taught that evils were to be avoided not sought out.  When he had voiced his concerns, he was told that the high priest had been told in a vision that they had to destroy the evil before it consumed the land.

Temos soon found himself serving the High Conclave, tending to the needs of the elder priests, and running messages.  The night he left, he was told to carry the message to the rest of the runners that all was to be ready four moons from then.  On the day following the fourth full moon, Ralahur would be leading them into battle that would wipe all evil from the lands and bestow humans to their proper place as Lords over all the lands.  He had taken the message and after distributing it among the other messengers, he had saddled up to spread the word.  Instead, he rode as fast as he could to the river and the rebels.

Aldren had not interrupted him during the entire time Temos told his tale.  He knew part of the tale was true since the “elf-witch” had been his own mother.  He now digested what he had heard and realized that they did not have too much time.  In just over three moons time, they would be attacked and if his suspicions were correct, it would be an attack that they probably would not survive.

During the lull when Aldren was deep in thought, the sun’s warmth was having an effect on the priest.  He was feeling the exhaustion of his escape having ridden without rest for several days until he was captured.  His head was bowing toward his chest in sleep when Ameni noticed him.  With a quiet word to Aldren, she pointed out Temos’ condition.  Aldren then told him to move back between Uskar and Doale.  He could safely sleep in the saddle and they would keep him from falling over.

They did quicken their pace given the urgency of the new information.  They rode on into the night and did not stop until the waning moon was high overhead.  They had no fire and each man took an hour’s watch.  By sunrise, everyone was back in the saddle, stiff from the hard ride, but anxious to continue.

The remaining days were just as hard and by late afternoon on the fourth day, they reached the gates of the tower.  They were escorted in and rooms were found for the weary travelers.  Before he and Ameni retired to their quarters in the tower proper, he sent a request for Kal-angurr to meet with him later that evening.

When Aldren finally awoke from his exhausted slumber, he carefully removed himself from the arms of his bondmate without waking her.  He quickly dressed and went to the kitchens to get something to stave off the pangs of hunger that were gnawing at his belly.  He entered the kitchen grateful for the fire and the tantalizing smells of the last of the stew that had been supper for the rest of the tower’s occupants.  Isabella, the portly headwoman was busy making sure that she had what was needed for the next day’s meals when she spotted him in the doorway.

She immediately came over and set him down at the small table against the wall.  Then she served him up a large bowl of the stew, thick with meat and root vegetables.  Along with a half loaf of bread, it made for a delicious meal.  As he ate, Isabella kept him company with a steady stream of happenings both major and minor that had been going on since he had been gone.

As he sopped up the last of the gravy in his bowl with the bread crust, he looked over at Isabella and smiled.  “I am grateful that you have stayed on as headwoman.  Your concoctions are a major reason for returning home as often as I can.  I hope for the tower’s sake that some dashing young man doesn’t come along and take you away from us.”

The woman blushed as she nervously stroked back a few strands of her graying hair that had come loose from the bun on her head.  “Don’t you think that my Lord Aldren.  I ain’t had no young mans chasin’ me since I was much thinner and still had my dark hair.”

“Come now.  You are still a comely woman and I heard you mention a certain man’s name more than a few times while we were talking.”

Isabella blushed even more now.  “Ahhh... well, me and Gambaldt are gettin’ closer I guess.  He brings me the best cuts of meat he has, and I always have a sweet cake or two awaitin’ him.  But we’s not anything too serious.  And anyways, I wouldn’t leave here for nothin’”

“I’m very glad to hear that Isabella.  Now since I’ve had such a good meal to fortify me, I must leave to tend to business.”  Aldren rose from the table, kissed her hand (which made her blush even more) and left the warm confines of the kitchen.

He started to climb the long steps to the top of the tower where he knew Kal-angurr would be awaiting his arrival.  This was proven true when he entered the doorway and saw the ancient man arise from the rug that he had been sitting on.  They clasped forearms as old friends do, and Kal-angurr motioned him to take a seat.

“Now Lord of the Tower, tell me what this old man can do to help relieve you of your burden.”

Aldren told him about what he had learned from the tales and the young priest.  The ancient man sat taking it all in, but his expressions were taking on a more worried look with each new piece of information.  He sat very still for some time after Aldren had finished speaking, searching his mind for any clue on how to counter such a threat as this.

He finally stood and moved over to the fire pit that was in the middle of the room.  He stirred the embers until they started to take on a hint of flame.  Placing a log in the middle of the disturbed coals, he moved back and started murmuring an incantation in a tongue that Aldren had never heard.  The warrior was fascinated because this was the first time that he had witnessed Kal-angurr call upon the spirits of the ancients.

Aldren felt the winds start to move in through the many openings in a way that he was now familiar with.  He let them swirl in and around him, speaking to him with voices that no longer held fear for him.  The voices spoke of the past battles with the evil forces that were becoming a threat once again.  They also hinted at what would be needed to defeat those forces.  But he didn’t comprehend just what they were saying.

He was still trying to find meaning to those hints as the winds calmed.  Becoming conscious of his surroundings once again, he saw that Kal-angurr sitting against the wall, his face ashen from what he had heard.

“Old One, do you understand what the voices were trying to tell us?  They kept saying that I would need to draw upon the power of my inner kindred, but I do not understand.”

Kal-angurr understood somewhat better than the warrior did, which was the reason his face was so pale.  He knew that Aldren would have to be able to gather the strength and power of the dragons.  But he also knew that it could very easily be the death of the man that sat across the chamber from him.  Or even worse, he could lose his very essence.

For many minutes, the old man didn’t answer.  Finally, he gave a sigh and started to speak in a low earnest voice.  “Lord Aldren, what the spirits meant is that the only way to conquer this enemy is to use all the power of the Dragons - your inner kin.  It will require more from you than you have ever thought possible.  So much so that you could lose the very essence that makes you who you are.  The strength it will require will be enormous.  It is for you to decide if it is worth your life, and with it the last of the Dragon Clan.”

Aldren thought about what Kal-angurr was saying for a few moments.  There was no certainty of success even if he tried it.  Plus that would leave the rest of his people without the power he did have.  On the other hand, if he did not at least try to destroy the evil force, it would cover all the lands in its darkness and all would be lost.

In the end the choice was an easy one.  “I must try it for the sake of all I hold dear; even if it means my life.  But I don’t understand how I am supposed to do this.”

“For that you must go to the source of the power.  You must talk with the dragons.”