by T Nisbet
Chp. 46
I gasped in the darkness unable to feel my body or tell whether my eyes were open or not. My thoughts were shattered, fragmented, blurred. There was only the lingering memory of unbelievable pain and anguish beyond human endurance. A billion pins and needles began to pulse and stab me, bringing with them some sort of bizarre order to my mind. I was forced to recognize this new pain. Uncountable pinpoints of light fought against the darkness as I struggled to draw breath.
The pain slowly moved from my thoughts out into numbed limbs that weren’t mine to control. The nerves endings fired as blood returned to my arms, legs, chest and back. I heard a groan echo through the darkness changing in pitch and intensity as it was repeated.
I became aware of my legs spasming uncontrollably, and concentrated on that feeling. The rest of my body joined my legs, as my head swam with images of an Inn, a one-eyed man, and a glowing sword. The darkness changed back and forth from pitch black to one partially filled with light. My memories slowly came back to me. I hadn’t been able to scream. I’d wanted so badly to scream.
I was blinking. The points of light were stars. Feeling began to return to my body and the shaking started to fade.
I was lying on my back looking up at the stars. With effort I rolled over onto my side and drew myself into a fetal position. It helped almost immediately and my head began to clear. I heard myself groan, but the echo wasn’t from me, but from other people. The banishment! It all came back to me in a flash. The pain lessened considerably except for a deep burning in my shoulder.
Pierre! Pierre had stabbed my shoulder as the banishment took a hold of me. The other groans! Had it worked? I couldn’t see anything in the darkness. Damn it, I needed light.
“So make a light my son,” came a familiar voice from inside my head.
My mind fought against me as I tried to pull in magic. I could feel sporadic bursts and drizzles of energy drawing into me from the cold air surrounding me.
“Set your will, and release it.” An order.
I though of the light I’d made over the camp near Memron’s castle and imagined it above me.
“Now,” I groaned aloud, releasing my will.
A soft amber light came into being in the air above me. I closed my sensitive eyes for a moment and said a quick prayer, then slowly opened them.
Pierre lay face down next to me, his head turned towards me staring at me with his good eye. He barely moved his head in a nod. I returned the nod and was rewarded with a lancing pain that started at the back of my head and ran down my spine.
Something like a moan escaped my lips.
I heard a couple of other groans and whimpers. Did it work? I fought a wave of nausea and wrenching pain, but managed to sit. I closed my eyes willing the dizziness and pain to ease. My stomach threatened to empty it contents and I fought against it, knowing the pain of retching might send me into oblivion once more.
When the nausea started to fade, I gingerly opened my eyes and looked around. An amber glow surrounded a short, thick shape struggling to sit up. My heart cried out in joy. Bronn! Did the banishment include everyone?
“Well done my boy!” the voice said proudly.
Just beyond Bronn a huge shape retched into the grass. Toby! I turned my head as tears of relief flooded down my cheeks. Surrounded by a crimson aura, Guldan sat with his head between his legs to the left of Toby, shaking his head as if to clear it.
A short distance away Carla and Gill lay on their backs groaning.
A deep purple glow surrounded a figure crouched beside a prostrate shape I didn’t recognize immediately. I could see her hands feeding health and healing into the body. Ivy! My Ivy…
“I knew it would be painful, but I didn’t realize just how much so,” Thallium’s familiar voice noted with detached amusement.
I turned my head and looked up at the amazing, towering trees behind me. A sob escaped my lips and I wept with relief.
“It worked!” I said to myself, as my emotions overwhelmed me.
“Yes it did my boy.” Thallium said softly. “Yes it did.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know if it would work, or if it was the answer you would find. The prophecies weren’t clear on that point. The Binari Prophecy alluded to a force that would take ‘The Light Bearer’ across space and save the world, so I set out to learn about the forces that allowed such movement. That is how I came to know Queen Illithril. The magic of the fairy circles and the ancient gateways they create seemed a reasonable place to begin my studies. I spent several human lifetimes studying with them. Then I journeyed to ‘the Floating City’, Lor Lorenith, to learn how the Elves used Earth magic to power the great lifts that bring their people from the forest floor up to their city.
Through much trial and error I created stones that could move people across space, the ‘treaty stones’. They required a great deal of magic to function, so I set up a group within the council that could focus their power and use the stones when needed. You see, I created the stones for this very purpose my son, that they brought peace and prosperity to Ceneria was a pleasant side effect really”.
“Couldn’t you have given me a hint at least?” I complained.
“As I mentioned my boy. I didn’t know if this was your only choice, or if it would work at all with so many unknown factors involved. Pretty amazing that the council was able to banish all of you.”
“Jake!” Ivy cried running over and jumping into my arms. I fell backwards in pain and wrapped my good arm around her tightly. I felt her drawing in magic and releasing it into me as she cried with relief. Warmth flowed through me erasing the pain in my protesting muscles and easing somewhat the burning in my shoulder. I felt her tears dropping onto the hollow of my neck as she wept.
“Ivy,” I whispered, lifting my wounded arm gently and running a hand through her wavy hair. “You’re here!”
“Yes my love,” she cried showering my neck with kisses. Her body pressed tightly to me, replacing pain with aching of a different sort.
I heard soft laughter, then Guldan’s voice.
“When you two are done, there are others that could use your assistance, Mage.”
Ivy giggled and pressed herself up slightly bringing one of her hands up to my injured shoulder. Soothing health flowed into me. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as Ivy’s healing magic refreshed and invigorated my body. It felt so good, I didn’t realize how tired I had been.
Kissing my cheek, Ivy got up and went over to a form that still lay unmoving. I pushed myself up into a sitting position again, glad that the memories of the awful pain of banishment were fading. I looked up at the light and willed more magic into it. As it grew brighter, I took another breath and looked around. Lord Lathris had gotten to his feet and was moving towards Carla who was curled into a ball, crying. Toby was trying to push himself up and having a difficult time. I stood carefully and walked over to him sinking down onto the low grass beside him.
“That’ll teach you not to drink,” I kidded, helping him into a sitting position.
“Somehow, I don’t think a hangover compares to this Jake-O,” he groaned putting his head between his legs. “Carla…”
“Lord Lathris is with her,” I assured him.
“What happened?” Toby slurred. “We were trapped…”
“Ceneria decided it was better off without us,” I laughed. “I guess I got us banished.”
“Can’t leave you alone for a second,” Toby grunted.
I rubbed his massive shoulders overjoyed beyond imagining that my friends were alive and back with me.
Across the grass I heard a gravelly scream and looked up to see Pierre standing very unsteadily holding his sword blade against a prostrate figure’s throat. Pierre weaved barely able to stand upright. Guldan joined him and put his hand on Pierre’s supporting him with the other.
“This knave… was about to kill the young master in the Inn. He can’t be trusted.”
“Eve
n so,” Guldan replied softly, easing the sword from Pierre’s hand. “I’ll watch him my friend. Sit down until the mage can see to you, please.”
Guldan helped Pierre sit down, then moved over to Coach and regarded him distastefully.
“Memron’s lackey eh?” he said.
“You!” Coach rasped with sheer venom.
“Me?”
“Where is she? You kidnapped her…” Coach spat.
“Even so,” Guldan said pleasantly. “She is beyond your Master’s reach. Whichever one you serve now.”
Coach’s strangled cry sounded out loudly echoing across the grasses like a soulless demon morning the loss of heaven. It was hard not to feel pity at the sound that ripped from his throat.
Ivy had moved away from the figure who I could see now was Brianna and moved over to where Carla sobbed in Lord Lathris’s arms. I wondered if it were a trick of the light I’d created, but Brianna seemed to be glowing a lighter shade of crimson than Guldan.
“Oh crap.” I breathed, still rubbing Toby’s shoulders and back.
“What?” Toby groaned.
“I think Guldan made Brianna.”
“Made her what?” Toby chuckled pathetically. “You mean they… had sex?”
“No.” I groaned, and then I realized I didn’t know what had happened between them. “I mean, I think he turned her into a vampire.”
“Really?”
“She’s glowing kinda like he does,” I said. “McNally is screaming in fury. I just put one and one together.”
I heard Carla’s whimpering stop, and a moment later Ivy was kneeing beside me putting her hands on Toby’s chest. His strained breathing became more even and the tension in his body faded.
Toby sighed.
“Wow, that’s amazing. Hey Ivy… I heal better with Twinkies. You wouldn’t have any lying around would ya?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Leave it to Toby. There was probably not a girl in this world or the next who would be less willing to be involved in that sort of arrangement.
“Of course I do,” Ivy giggled. “I always carry around food that has a half-life of ten-thousand years.”
“Actually, that doesn’t sound half bad right now,” I said laughing as Ivy rolled her eyes at us and left to help Pierre.
I helped Toby stand up, and we walked over to Carla.
Toby knelt down beside Carla and held her against his chest. Their relief at being back together was a private moment, so I turned and walked towards the woods a little ways.
The sky-scrapper like trees were just as amazing as I remembered them. High above the ground florescent, glowing birds darted in and out of the canopy. As I stood there in amazement, Lord Lathris and Bronn joined me. A jolt of fear rushed through me, and I put my left hand into my pocket. My left hand encircled the oblong stone, and I was flooded with relief. Pulling the Cardinal Ruby out of my pocket I held it out for Lathris and Bronn to see.
“Hard to believe, that something so beautiful could contain such evil,” Bronn whispered looking with wonder at the stone.
“Oft times, such wonders hold secrets untold,” the Elf said studying the stone.
“Thallium says we have less than twenty four hours to get it out of here before it fails,” I said. “And I have no idea how to get to back to the place we entered this world from.”
“Fairy portal?” Bronn asked. “Bet a golden crown Guldan knows where it lies.”
Lord Lathris sighed shaking his head.
“Begging your pardon, but I doubt that very much, King Hammervil. But it matters not, I remember, besides, our guides should arrive any moment.”
“Really?” I asked surprised.
“Indeed. I do not lie,” Lord Lathris smiled kindly at me. “You’ve done well Master Gunn, very well. Be at ease Immortal and trust my kin, they will see you to the gateway.”
I nodded. It would be nice to let go of the cross I was chosen to bear.
“Where is your sword lad?” Bronn asked patting my empty scabbard.
I looked down at my sword belt and sighed remembering. When Pierre’s sword pierced my shoulder Gwensorloth had fallen from my grip and then the banishment took me.
“Gone,” I said feeling suddenly naked without it. “I was wounded trying to get us banished and dropped it.”
Lord Lathris looked at me kindly and put his hand on my shoulder.
“If it is meant to be, it will come back to thee.”
“Yeah, don’t fret over it… I can always make another,” Bronn said, as if its loss was inconsequential. “Just don’t lose the next one.”
Lord Lathris laughed. It was a musical sound that couldn’t help but raise your spirits.
“I forgot it was you that crafted the Quail blades…”
“Hmph,” Bronn grunted.
“Pardon my offense,” Lathris said bowing low.
Bronn looked at the handsome elf and rolled his eyes.
“Master Gunn, our stout companion here is regarded by many as the greatest smith to ever grace this land,” Lord Lathris said, inclining his head towards Bronn. “His work is studied by Elven smiths to this very day.”
“Now yer just blowing smoke up my arse,” Bronn grunted, but he did look a bit happier than he had moments before.
“I doubt there isn’t an Elven smith alive who wouldn’t give his weight in gold to study under King Hammervil if for only a week. Though many of our smiths are masters in their own right, none can match his metallurgical skill or ability to infuse magic into his creations.”
Bronn looked at the elf suspiciously.
“Since yer not about to ask me on a date, I’m guessing you wish something else from me, elf?”
Lord Lathris smiled down at Bronn.
“I merely seek to educate our young sword master, King Hammervil. But now that it has been mentioned, I do wish to commission a work that is worthy of your great skill.”
“What?” Bronn growled.
“A glaive,” Lathris said, his face intent.
Bronn grunted, shaking his head.
“A devastating weapon in the hands of one skilled in its use, but not very practical anywhere but on a battlefield. Why would I make such a weapon?”
“It is to be made out of Mithril...” Lathris smiled, “and Skystone.”
Bronn’s eyes grew wide as he regarded the taller elf.
“Skystone?” he breathed reverently. “What color?”
“Blue,” Lord Lathris grinned.
“Blue!” Bronn stammered. “You have the amount required for such a weapon?”
“With enough left over for your own use to craft… a sword perhaps?” Lathris offered.
Bronn rubbed his braided beard and glanced sidelong at Lord Lathris.
“What’s the catch? There is always a catch with Elves,” Bronn growled.
“Just your silence, for it shall be the weapon of the new king,” Lord Lathris said regarding Bronn intently.
Bronn took a deep breath.
“Lord’s mercy… that is quite the load to lay on one isn’t it.”
“You are one of the ten, an Immortal. You gave up your throne for a greater purpose. As such, you are beyond politics and can be trusted with the information I have just gifted you with.”
“And the boy?” Bronn said, inclining his head towards me.
“He is one of the ten now. I’m sure you will instruct him appropriately.”
Bronn growled.
“Aye, that I will.”
I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. That it was important, I had no doubt. Bronn and Lathris both spoke as if the information wasn’t for just anyone’s ears.
“What is Skystone?” I asked.
Bronn grunted.
“You know it as meteorite, I believe. It is extremely rare in this world and holds special magical properties. The colors of Skystone are matched to the types of magic. There are perhaps a dozen weapons in existence made of Skystone. None is blue.”
Gill joined us and greeted me with a bear hug.
“Banishment… never thought I’d have to go through that,” he laughed.
“Better than rotting in a Blood Elf dungeon,” Bronn said gruffly.
“On that we agree good King,” Gill laughed. “I don’t think our stay was going to become any more pleasant with time.”
“How is the girl?” Bronn asked.
Gill looked back towards where Toby sat on the ground holding Carla tightly, his laughter died and a stricken look came over his face. “I doubt she will recover from her wounds anytime soon.”
“Once we finish this business, I will be paying this Memron a visit. This time with an army at my back,” Bronn growled angrily.
“I would join you if you’ll have me. Lord Memron has much to atone for,” Gill said.
“What happened? What did they do to her?” I said with a sinking feeling inside.
Bronn looked up at me his face horribly grim.
“Lord Memron tortured the poor girl, cowardly son of a maggot. I will wreck my vengeance upon the Blood Elves for her.”
“We could hear her screams from our cells,” Gill said. I could see his eyes welling up with tears.
“Ivy… healed her,” I breathed, suddenly overcome with emotion.
“Some wounds never quite heal Master Gunn,” Lord Lathris said quietly, resting a hand on my shoulder. “When this is over, she should spend some time in Lor Lorenith… I think it would do much to speed her recovery.”
Tears raced down my face. I couldn’t believe Carla had been tortured. What had she done to deserve it?
I left them and walked over to where Toby sat on the ground rocking Carla in his arms. I could see the anguish on his face. I had never seen Toby cry. It broke my heart seeing his tear stained face. I knelt beside him and hugged them both. At some point Ivy and Brianna joined our hug. We sat there on the grass, in front of the Elven Woods on a foreign world and wept, wrapped in a deep purple glow of healing.
