Gile was especially pleased to get back. He became rather accustomed to the attention bestowed on him by the good people who resided there.
The thundering horns of the returning dwarves echoed throughout the valley, announcing the return of Erol, Daril and their traveling party. Erol’s grin reached from ear to ear as the dwarves came forth from field and cave to see him. They were amazed to see another ogre with him and were relieved to learn it was Erol’s father. They knew, of course, other ogres lived across the land of Lemuria, though few had ever seen one, other than Erol. The wonder doubled when they learned of the army of centaurs arriving behind the dwarves and ogres.
“At last you have returned!” Tegan announced as he rode out to meet Erol. Elard deftly carrying him. His cat was also excited to see Erol and Gile again. Telon, riding Bramble, joined them as they rode out. Soon Skyler and the dwarf boys arrived, having made fast friends with Erol after the battle at the Demon’s Chamber. The group had not all been together since the war, as too often each was gone on business of the King.
After their initial welcome, Tegan turned to Erol, “Are you ready to introduce us to your friends?” Erol waved Cergon and Belgin to join him as he looked toward the army of centaurs waiting patiently, just a few paces away. The cats, carrying Tegan and Telon, sauntered out to meet them, unsure what to make of the centaurs.
Erol did the introductions. “Tegan, this is Cergon, Lord of the Centaurs. Cergon, this is Tegan, King of the Tunder Bin.”
“You are welcome in our land,” Tegan announced, bowing to Cergon. The centaur returned the courtesy.
“Tegan,” Erol continued, “This is my father, Belgin.”
The strong resemblance between the two was immediate to Tegan. “You should be very proud of your son. He has aided us much in our endeavors.”
“I’m proud of my boy and I thank you,” Belgin replied, slapping Erol on the back.
Cergon, weary of the niceties, began, “Thank you King Tegan. Our island of Sundaland is no more, swallowed whole by the hungry sea. It was a dark day, and one that will haunt us until the end of time. We earned this turn by refusing the wizard Herrog’s offer to join him in a war to wipe out the dwarves in Lemuria. Our price of retribution for denying his offer was our land of Sundaland, which he destroyed. I can assure that price was paid in full.” The sting of discussing the day was obvious to all who heard Cergon and many wished to be able to sooth the surly centaur’s wounds. Cergon continued after a hard swallow, his eyes narrowing with intense focus and his voice sharpened, “For now, we are looking for a new land to call our home.” Cergon paused again, which allowed Tegan to make his offer.
“We have plenty of land and water. I will offer you the land of your choosing within our vast realm, outside the mountain of Tunder Bin of course. You may search the forests and open plains surrounding the city. In time, you may choose your dwelling. Until then, may the generosity of the people and city shower upon you.” Tegan loved helping others when the occasion rose. He hoped the centaurs would offer his people the same, if needed.
The offer moved Cergon, “You make a gracious offer to us and you do it so easily. My people and I thank you.” He would have been far more reluctant in giving and was growing ashamed for it.
“In our moment of need, Erol, and now you, have shown us mercy. To the both of you we are indebted. We will earn our place before we accept your offer. In time, may I learn to be just as generous and merciful as you,” Cergon responded appreciatively. In silence, he still held out hope for an area where the dwarves would leave them alone, as they had before on their island, with little interaction with others. “In the time being, where should we go?” Cergon asked straightforward. While he was impressed with the generosity, he still was not comfortable being on the receiving end of it.
“You may set up camp just on the other side of the stream. For the meantime, that area will be yours.”
Without further word, Cergon turned and galloped off, quickly removing his people to the trees in the area indicated by Tegan. There was no camp, not in the same sense the dwarves had them. The centaurs did not mess with tents, as they were difficult for them to erect from the ground. It was even more difficult to make them tall enough to be of use. They enjoyed the outdoors and considered the lush trees of the conifer forest all the cover they needed.
“Odd fellow,” Telon said, having overheard the conversation. He watched as the herd of centaurs rode off, with many curious looks between the dwarves and centaurs. This was particularly true of the many children of both races, who never even heard of the other race. No dwarf, as far as memory held, had dealings with the centaurs. It would take time to fully understand them and learn their motives. Tegan was content to allow them to remain. They both had one thing in common, they bore a strong hate for the same enemy.
Δ
The following morning the army would depart for the land of the harpies on the East Road, with a quick stop at the gargoyles’ mountain. Eventually they would reach the land of Calonia to free Milan.
“Before we depart, we shall have feast to celebrate the arrival of our friends, both old and new!” Tegan announced. He knew the road would be long and the mission difficult. The feast was prepared for the departing forces and the rough times ahead. It did not disappoint. There was more food than the largest of those traveling could eat in several days. Music of harp and drum drifted in the air as dwarf and man partook in the merriment, a last night of fun and family before the fight that awaited them far to the north.
The men of Calonia, and specifically their King Arlow, were exuberant over the thought of regaining their homeland. Many talked of throwing down Herrog and his evil beasts and rebuilding their fair castle at the edge of the sea. They hoped to repair their homes and that summer could again return to the land seized by winter.
“Where is Cergon? I should like to meet the Lord of the Centaurs.” In truth, Arlow carried a grudge toward Cergon for not granting them aid a few years back. “Why are they not attending the feast?”
“I assume they will arrive soon,” Telon answered. But he also thought is strange they had not already come to the party.
Wars split families. The men marched to glory while relegating the women to staying home to keep the city safe. The men were excited to leave, while many of the women, particularly the dwarf females, were spiteful at having to stay home.
Seran, Jaric’s wife, resented the assignment. “I can fight just as good as any man! Why shouldn’t I be allowed to choose for myself what to do with my life, just as you have been allowed to choose for yours?”
“Dear, we have discussed this often. ‘Tis not my decision, but I support it! I fight so that you don’t have too.” Jaric hated this argument, knowing he could never win.
“I appreciate your sacrifice for our family and people. My only desire is to be afforded the same opportunity to make the sacrifice,” Seran argued to no avail. She never gained any ground in this verbal battle and began to understand it was one she would not win as long as a man was king.
Seran sat back, watching the revelry before her, praying for the safety of all that went to fight. A bad feeling came over her and she could not shake her darkened thoughts.
Shortly after the celebration was under way, Erol pulled Tegan to the side. “The centaurs, they refuse to come to the celebration. They do not feel welcome.”
“So be it. They may sit in the dark all night if that is where they feel comfortable.” Tegan responded, not interested is trying to appease the centaurs this evening.
Erol sat back again for a moment, but then persisted. “Tegan,” he started, getting Tegan’s full attention, “Their entire homeland was consumed by the ocean and many of their people have perished. If you want them to fight for you, they need to know you are worth fighting for.”
Tegan thought about Erol’s words, realizing their wisdom. “I will go and try once more. You will come with me.”
“Gladly,” Erol said with a smile. Te
gan first found Jedrek and together with Erol, they walked across the bridge, leaving the party behind for a moment. They walked up to the centaurs, who stood still in the dim of night, save the light from the few fires around them. They watched the dwarf and human revelry from a distance. Many of them were looking with interest onto the celebration across the stream. The younger centaurs were especially curious of the ongoing. Belgin, a good friend of Cergon’s, also sat in the dark, more than used to sitting alone and quite comfortable with it. He spent years traveling the wild alone.
Tegan stopped and announced to them, “Everyone, this is my son, Jedrek.” The little boy gave a shy wave and then quickly skidded behind his father. “We ask you to please come and meet our people and enjoy some fellowship before we are off tomorrow.”
Cergon stepped up to them, “It is not necessary Tegan. We do not want to interfere with your celebration. We will follow you to battle and make good on our promise to return payment for what you have given us. Nothing further is needed from you or your people.”
Tegan stepped closer, looking up to the centaur, “This is not a trade. The land you stand on and the land we will perhaps allow you on in the future is not for sale. To the people of Tunder Bin it is priceless. There is no payment of valor on the battlefield as a price for the land. Even should you save Milan and bring us the head of Herrog, you could not buy it. But, we will give it freely to those we consider our friends and share it with you for always. If a piece of land for you to live on in the same shut off way you lived on the island is what you desire, then be gone from here.”
Tegan’s tone dismayed Cergon. Tegan could tell and did not care.
The dwarf king continued, “But, if you want a place to live, a place to become part of, then we can offer that. We offer it freely, no matter whether you join us in battle or not. If you accept, I ask you please come across the stream. Warm yourself by the fires, eat with us and become part of us as Arlow’s men have.”
Natalia, with Franor, came beside Cergon and took his arm, “Tegan, King of Tunder Bin, your offer is generous beyond any we have ever received. Erol taught us a valuable lesson when he, his father and Gile helped to save us from the volcano. The lesson is slow for us to learn but we will learn it, I promise.”
Cergon watched in admiration as Natalia was so easily able to do what, for him, seemed almost impossible. “For us, accepting help is not easy. Giving it is not desirable either. We pride ourselves on taking care of our own. This trait will take time, but we will learn, as Natalia promised. We will come over and take your offer of attending the celebration. I have only one request.”
“What is it? We will do everything we can to accommodate.” Tegan said. He grew irritated at how long this was taking.
“We do not eat meat. Is there plenty of roughage available?” Cergon asked hopefully.
Tegan and Erol laughed, happy for the easy request, Tegan obliged, “Of course! The farms of Tunder Bin grow the best produce in Lemuria. Please, come and sample for yourselves.”
Tegan, followed by Erol, Belgin and the entire host of centaurs, re-entered the celebration. Jedrek walked with Franor and the two became quick friends.
“Arlow, this is Cergon of the Centaurs. Cergon this is Arlow of the humans from Calonia,” Tegan introduced during a tense moment.
“Arlow,” Cergon began, “I must apologize for not aiding your people when you needed it. I am at times slow to acknowledge who our friends and enemies are. I believe I have it correct now. We will make amends for my poor judgement. Herrog came to us first, warning us of your coming and that you would try to take our land. As it is, he is the one who ended up taking it.”
Arlow, seeing the sincerity in Cergon’s eyes, accepted the apology. He reached for Cergon’s hand, “I too have fallen for his well-placed, but ill-meaning words. I cannot place too much blame for falling into his woven trap. All is forgiven. I will rest knowing what Herrog most feared is coming to fruition.”
“What is that,” Cergon asked.
“The Dwarves, Humans and Centaurs are united! Tomorrow we march on him, to destroy his reign forever!” Arlow’s hope went far beyond saving Milan. He intended to take back his homeland in Calonia. Tegan was not as certain they could accomplish that but feared losing the support his needed if he addressed the issue.
The men and dwarves were quick to accept the centaurs and show them around the city. All ate to their full and that night many of the attendees of the celebration slept safely under the stars, next to the warm fires in the valley.
Chapter 9: Uneasy Alliance
A haunting feeling woke Tegan in the early hours of the next morning. It was the feeling parents unexplainably have when they know their children are near. He quickly rolled over to see Jedrek standing before him, trembling.
“Jedrek? What is it son?” Tegan asked. His voice hoarse, not quite awake yet. He was all too familiar with bad dreams that often haunt the minds of young children. The look in Jedrek’s eyes quickly told him there was more.
Jedrek jumped into the bed. Tegan wrapped his young shaking son up in his arms, but he was unable to sooth the fear that overtook Jedrek. “Father, you shouldn’t go! Please don’t go! You won’t come back.”
“I will! I will bring your mother with me. I promise,” Tegan consoled, trying to reassure his son.
“What if you don’t, who will take care of me?” he squeaked. Jedrek’s shudders only started to subside, his arms still locked tightly around Tegan’s neck.
“I will be back. And when I return your mother will take care of you. Until then, Lizzy will watch over you, just as she has your entire life. You are safe here.” Tegan felt sorry for leaving Jedrek and the pain it was causing him.
Tegan allowed Jedrek to stay with him and held his son tight as the whimpering boy fell asleep in his father’s mighty arms. Tegan fell back asleep too, and he was hopeful Jedrek would not remember the dream in the morning.
Before the sun rose, another terrible feeling woke Tegan. This time, however, it was the cold feeling of steal pressed against his vulnerable throat. He opened his eyes, worried for Jedrek’s safety. His worry changed to surprise as Jedrek stood before him, both hands squarely holding his axe. The razor-sharp blade pressed against his neck, the skin already giving way to the blade. Tegan was afraid to breathe, knowing the slightest movement from either of them could slice his neck much worse. The jewel showed bright in the dim darkness, dancing in the young boy’s eyes.
This, however, was not the same scared boy who woke him earlier, whose stricken body trembled with unrelenting terror. This time Jedrek wore a scorned scowl, his teeth clinched tightly over his set jaw. Though he carried a heavy battle axe in his little hands, his small arms had not the slightest of quiver. The true tell was bore by the eyes, which glowed an ominous look, as if possessed by a demon. The sinister glow of the red diamond revealed the evil intent and malicious determination of the spirit within, a spirit that was not his son.
“Man of the house of Dwigor!” a voice bellowed out of Jedrek, but it was not the boy’s voice. “Do not pursue your quest, lest you lead your people to their doom! The all-powerful one, who holds that which you hold dear, knows full your ill-fated plans.”
Tegan’s heart raced as the vile words quaked from his precious and innocent little boy. Jedrek continued to hold the axe stout, his arms unwavering. His unblinking eyes stared deep into Tegan, striking fear in his father. Tegan tried to rise, but Jedrek quickly released the axe from his tender throat and whirled the weapon in a marvelous arc as the red diamond blazed amazingly, lighting the entire room. Tegan fell back onto his pillow again as the spirit inhabiting his son’s body snapped to a stop, the weapon just before his face. Tegan never knew the fear with which the weapon taunted its victims. The point of the axe was less than the width of his smallest finger away from his pained face.
“Pursue your journey and die you will. Attempt to stay me now and you will perish far sooner!” the voice was convincing and stopped
Tegan cold.
“Who are you?” Tegan dared to ask. Jedrek laughed deeply, the sound filling every corner of the darkened room and echoing back to the middle. “As King of Tunder Bin, I command you to answer,” Tegan demanded, starting to rise even as Jedrek’s squinting eyes measured their deathly swing.
“I am the ruler of Lemuria! The one that holds Milan close, freeing her of her priceless charms. I danced with her through the fire and brought us forth unscathed. I am Herrog!” The booming voice cracked against the unbreakable stone walls of the room. Jedrek stretched once more with a hideous cackle and swung the axe hard toward Tegan’s head. Already pressed against the back of the bed, Tegan tried to pull back farther but had no room to recoil.
Telon, who snuck in when hearing the first noise, tackled Jedrek off the bed mid-swing. The blade just missed Tegan, a serious injury avoided. Telon rolled him to the ground, freeing Jedrek of the axe as the boy tumbled hard against the rock wall. The weapon clunked heavily to the floor. Tegan leapt from the bed to help Telon to his feet, both brothers looking to Jedrek as he clumsily stood, a cut to his head well earned.
“Why did you do that?” Jedrek protested as he cried, tears rolling fast down his innocent cheeks. The evil voice was gone. He held the cut as Telon rushed to help him but Jedrek stepped back untrustingly. Telon couldn’t help but see the same scene he endured as a child. He wished his own father had rushed to his aid. Telon knew well the hurt Jedrek now harbored for his uncle.
“Son,” Tegan called but Jedrek stood still, not ready to give in. “Jedrek, you were not yourself.”
Jedrek knew what happened and felt horrible for what his body did. He was completely unable to stop it. The fear of it terrorized him. “It wasn’t me father! It wasn’t me!” Jedrek jumped to Tegan, who swallowed his son in his arms.
“I know son. I know,” Tegan reassured Jedrek, while looking to Telon over Jedrek’s shoulder. “Telon only tackled you to save me. Do not hold it against him.”
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