The Three Charms

by Brian Spielbauer

  “I won’t,” Jedrek whispered, embarrassed about the entire episode. He buried his head in Tegan’s neck, wishing he never needed to come out. Telon looked on in disbelief.

  The two brothers bandaged Jedrek and then readied for breakfast. “Tell no one what happened, Jedrek is embarrassed enough already.” Tegan asked of Telon as they waited for Jedrek to change. “How much did you hear?”

  “I heard him say he was Herrog and that was enough. What happened? Why did he have your axe?” Telon asked but Jedrek interrupted Tegan’s as he came back into the room.

  “Let’s go, I’m hungry,” Tegan’s son yelled as he ran by his father and uncle, already beginning to forget the events as the smoky dream drifted from his memory.

  As they turned to follow Jedrek to the Upper Chamber, a messenger arrived. “King Tegan,” the soldier saluted. He stood tall, coming to a short stop. “King’s Dorir and Fiji have arrived with their men. They are on their way to the Upper Chamber to join you.”

  “Thank you,” Tegan said, saluting back, his arm crossing his chest. He was relieved to receive good news for once. The brothers quickly ascended the stairs, the two Kings already at breakfast with Jedrek. Arlow, Erol, Belgin, and Cergon were also there. Erol introduced Cergon to the rest, the two then began telling of the volcano eruption and of how the centaurs arrived on the shores of Lemuria. Jedrek was right in the middle, eyes wide open. He listened as if he was hearing it for the first time, though he had already heard the epic but sad, story many times.

  “Did that really happen Dad?” Jedrek blurted right in the middle of the story, figuring it too good to be true.

  “I believe it did son. These brave men would not lie to you.”

  Soon another walked in the Chamber, receiving little attention as he entered. He sat at the next table, the one where Gulac, Bryon and the dwarf boys sat. The man wore a hooded cloak. He slowly raised his hand to Jedrek, and with his pointy finger, he gestured the little boy over to him. Jedrek eagerly complied with the request.

  “Quelna, you have come too!” Jedrek chattered, his excitement pouring out of control.

  “Of course, I would not miss this for anything in the world. It is time we brought your mother home,” the wizard said with a sly smile toward Tegan. Tegan smiled back but said nothing. His thoughts lay solely on what Jedrek said to him earlier.

  As they finished their meal, Tegan rose. “I thank you for coming. This will no doubt be a dangerous trek, but also one of a high reward. I would ask to speak with Arlow, Cergon, Fiji, Dorir, Telon and Quelna in my room. The rest of you should go and prepare to depart, as we will leave before midday.

  Lizzy came to take Jedrek, who was reluctant to go with his nanny. He desperately wanted to stay with his dad but knew he would not win the fight. “I promise to see you before we leave, but I must meet with my men now,” Tegan explained to his son.

  “Okay father,” Jedrek agreed as he dramatically rolled his eyes. He ran to give his grandfather Dorir a hug before Lizzy shooed him out of the hall.

  Tegan led the others to his meeting room and closed the door after they had entered. “Before we go on this journey, you must know this will be a difficult task. There is no doubt many men we take will not be coming back. Herrog will have also spent these past years preparing. Please, be sure you are ready for the likely outcome for many of our men.”

  “We are with you Tegan and are well aware of what we could encounter,” Fiji said in support.

  The others agreed, to which Tegan nodded his appreciation.

  “There is another thing I must tell you,” Tegan began but then paused. He looked down uncomfortably, before continuing, “This morning Jedrek woke me as if he was possessed. He was speaking in another voice. It was the voice of Herrog.”

  His words brought a dismayed hush over the room, the thought of the stained spirit sitting inside the little boy was too much to consider.

  “What did he say?” Dorir asked, very concerned for his grandson.

  Tegan told them all that Jedrek said and of the voice that came from him. The room fell silent, unbelieving that such a thing could come from the boy they all just witnessed playing during the morning meal.

  Quelna broke the silence. “Herrog knows we are coming. He has probably been planning on it since he left the Demon’s Chamber. This journey is more dangerous than ever.”

  “He must know the size of our force and is worried. He is warning us not to come,” Dorir added. “He is right to have fear of us,” he boasted.

  “For me, these words mean little to our journey, save that Milan is alive. I know well the treachery of Herrog and he does not idly mince words. Every one of them he chooses carefully for their impact. I have not thought other than that this would be a dangerous mission. Is it more dangerous now? I think not. My mind is not altered.” Arlow’s thoughts focused on freeing his land of Herrog and from that path, he would not deter. “Even if it is becoming more dangerous, that danger will not lessen over time. Waiting, for me, is not an option.”

  “There is a part of particular interest to me,” Fiji began, “when he says, ‘freeing Milan of her charms’. What do you think that refers too?”

  “I found that disturbing also. The only charm that he could take from her would be the jewel,” Tegan thought to the council.

  Quelna’s eyes widened. “Aye and there it is! He is a man that covets like no other. Often it is power, and in the case of Lemuria in general, that remains. But in Milan’s case specifically, it is the jewel. He would have long ago discovered its connection with the one Tegan has and the power that it has given both of you. I now grow fearful of this journey and the trap that is sure to be set.” More than one member of the meeting was growing surprised by Quelna’s fraught over this mission.

  “It would take quite a trap for an army of over five thousand,” Tegan interjected before Quelna’s words swayed the others.

  “Do not underestimate Herrog and do not believe that because you have not seen him in the last years that he too hasn’t been busy building his army. The dwarves have greatly multiplied in every kingdom, but those young warriors will do you no good for a few years still. He can create his armies overnight and out of stone if needed. We have seen this with our own eyes.” Quelna would not stay quiet. The lack of consideration and respect for Herrog’s power drove his apprehension even farther.

  “I feel I must speak on this,” Cergon said as he stepped forward, having previously relegated himself to the edge of the room. He was surprised Tegan asked him to come but now realized it was important for him to be there.

  “It was less than a year ago this wizard Herrog came to our shores. He swam the sea in the shape of a whale. We saw him far off at first and then watched in amazement as he changed shape into a man and walked onto the beach. He sought for me to pledge our help against you. He explained how you drove him from his home, and that soon you would do the same to us.” Cergon had the attention of the room. He could not have been more uncomfortable.

  “Herrog played on our distrust of you, trying to get me to turn. He almost succeeded, with only the wise words of Belgin swaying my judgement at the last. He would have us attack you to gain your attention and divide your forces, so that he might sweep you into the sea unexpectedly. Yes, he is ready. I forbid him from coming to our shores, with the promise we would not take part in the war that was to come. He cursed us and left in anger. He did not return, but I am convinced he caused the ruin of our fair island and our healing springs. I am glad to be here with you and pleased we are soon to make war on Herrog, but I am fearful of what awaits. A wizard that can command the oceans and the earth itself to break will certainly be ready for us.” Cergon’s message was hard for the others to hear.

  “If he wants this,” Tegan stated as he raised his axe defiantly in the air, “he will get his chance to take it soon. The damage he has wrought on our lands and the damage he has done to my family is a debt that is soon to be paid.” Several in the council cheered
, while others remained silent.

  Telon was ready, “It is time to depart. If he is truly preparing for us, the sooner we go the better.”

  Tegan ordered the others, “Prepare your armies to march, we leave within the hour. We will travel to the land of the harpies and then march onto the gargoyle mountain. All will march on the open roads. If Herrog has taken to shape shifting, then there will be no secrets to our moves. Telon, send Skyler and his crew and try to locate the enemy that attacked Erol and Gile at the beach. They will likely be involved in a trap. Let us prepare to march to war!” The sternness of his voice was even enough to keep Quelna quiet.

  The council stood and departed to their troops. As ordered, all were prepared within the hour to depart. The other kingdoms split their armies, sending only half of their men to the fight while leaving the rest to guard their castles. Tegan was not hedging his bets, taking all his best men. He left only a skeleton of old soldiers to protect the city.

  Seran got her wish, sort of. Tegan finally allowed the women of the city to wear armor and carry weapons. They would take up patrols and the safeguarding of their realm. Their main goal was to watch the many young dwarves born since the last war. “Seran, I leave you in charge of Tunder Bin. You are the eldest and best fit dwarf to lead the day to day operation.”

  The centaur women also remained, with Natalia quickly making friends with Seran and Lizzy. The females came together under the direction of Seran and Natalia, and helped with the food and raising the human, dwarf, and centaur. Seran took it upon herself to train the young in weapons and war, with an older centaur male staying to do the same with the young centaurs. While the two stubborn warriors butted heads often, they each also developed a deep respect for the other’s skills.

  Chapter 10: A New Leader

  “We have a mission for you,” Telon barked as he walked up on Skyler, Shalkar, Balthar, Taylor and Meril. Soot covered each of the boys, head to toe, as they just finished their last shift of shoveling coal in the darkest recesses of Tunder Bin. It was music to their ears, as they had their fill of mining fuel for the fires after only a few days since their return from Calonia. The importance of such jobs was not lost on them, but each knew a better use of their services. Even at their young age, their skill with weapons rivaled the most veteran of soldiers. None of them dared challenge Tegan or Telon to dual, but the thoughts of such a contest was growing in their eager minds.

  “I told you!” Shalkar barked to Meril, who was not impressed. “Anyone could have predicted this,” Meril shot back.

  “Anyone but you,” Shalkar answered. Skyler’s elbow to Meril and stern look to Shalkar stopped their quibbling.

  Skyler and the others were already growing restless since returning home from the north. With the approaching war, they expected an important role in the assault to win back Milan and destroy the evil wizard Herrog.

  “What is it? Are we to go ahead of the army to send back recon from Calonia?” Skyler predicted. He was already thinking of the best routes to take. “I have been studying the maps and—”

  Telon interrupted his young friend, fully understanding his eager thoughts, “No, not yet at least. Herrog has another army out there, lurking somewhere in the wilderness between here and Nubari. We need to locate it and mark its movements, lest we receive a surprise attack. We cannot afford to have them delay us unexpectedly. You are to go straight north and work the forests along our route to locate and mark the enemy if you can,” Telon answered, delivering his orders. Skyler had not considered this difficult assignment. He was not sure if he felt slighted by it. Balthar, however, was quite sure how he felt.

  “So,” Balthar started slowly, trying to remain respectful and hide is disappointment in what he considered a poor appointment. “The main army will travel the paved roads to the land of the harpies, is that correct?”

  Telon, and the other boys for that matter, knew where this was going. Balthar developed his sarcasm thoroughly over the past few years. “Yes Balthar, is there a problem?” Telon answered warily. Though he stated it as a question, he meant it more as a challenge. The sharpness in his voice his gave Balthar a slight warning.

  “No sir, no problem. I’m just pointing out to my friends here the difficulty of this assignment, so they can be prepared for it. The assignment is one, I might add, that is of obvious importance, to me at least. I want their resolve to be set from the start.” Balthar looked to each of his friends, who tried to shoot him warnings to be careful with his words. Sadly, he did not pick up on the cautions. He continued, “So the army of over five thousand will be traveling on clean roads, while we are marching through the tangled jungle, just the five of us that is. Correct?” Balthar was a little different from the others, as he was growing tired of the constant errands. The life of the city, even if it meant shoveling coal, seemed more suitable to him.

  “Stand down Balthar,” Skyler ordered, embarrassed for his friend.

  “No, I can handle this,” Telon said with a hand to stop Skyler. He then said to Balthar, “It is true, devout soldier of Tunder Bin, you have been asked to do many errands for the King. Each of them dangerous in its own right. They were best suited for only the toughest soldiers we have. Their importance to the city, and specifically to the King himself, could not be overstated. Tegan thought he had been sending his best. Do I have reason to believe that perhaps we have been sending the wrong group? Perhaps you would enjoy more coal mining and less goblin slaying. Perhaps your hardiness is what has been overstated?”

  All the boys questioned the errands to some extent, and each took in the wise words of Telon. The last thoughts of more coal and less goblin killing were certainly not a pleasant vision. Telon’s questioning of their assignment to the errands and their hardiness was growing their ire toward Balthar. The dwarf was quickly shying away from his brief moment’s courage.

  “These missions are given to you for one reason. It is because you are the best to do them. Your skills are such that even as a few, you are quite formidable. After this war, you will have earned a reward and you will begin training other young dwarves for a special division. By then you will have proved your worth and necessity.” The boys smiled broadly, having never received such praise from Tegan nor Telon. Nothing could have meant more.

  “I give you a warning though, one that you will find out soon enough. When the time comes and the need of you training your replacements replaces the need of you traveling, there will be many days you will desire to go out into the world and you will not be able to. Enjoy the days you have, for they are numbered.” Telon shook each of their admiring hands, the words of encouragement would long ring in their ears and carry them through many a hardship as they trampled through the toughest jungle Lemuria had to offer.

  “Prepare your packs, we have our orders,” Skyler stated sternly as he paced past Balthar with a smirk and darting elbow. Balthar was still basking in the praise from Telon and didn’t even notice the shot. He dropped the shovel that still hung in his filthy hands, looking around at some of the other men. The other dwarves spent much of their life in the mining pits, day in, day out. Their jealousy of the boys and their important errands dripped from their coal covered faces. They watched with desire as the boys marched out, their envious eyes seemed to grow large with the years of light starved underground mining. Balthar set his shovel against the cave wall and followed the others out, thinking better of his wish to stay in Tunder Bin.

  Δ

  Before mid-morning, the five boys met up again, this time outside the lower doors as the vast army was assembling before them. In the short time they cleaned themselves, prepared their packs, wrote letters to their families in the Ring Mountains, and left the quarters they shared spotless. While a part of the boys wished to ride with their King to battle, they knew a higher calling awaited them in the wilderness. Each of them carried a light pack. They prided themselves on killing most of their meals as the traveled and in their ability to journey with the slightest of rati
ons.

  Skyler stood before his men, irritated at how long it took them to get ready to depart, “Shalkar, pick up your pack and let’s get going.” Shalkar hurriedly finished checking it and stood, only to see Tegan coming up behind Skyler. Their leader was unaware of the King’s arrival on his large cat, which silently sauntered up behind Skyler.

  Shalkar saw his moment and quickly walked to Skyler, draping his arm over his leader’s shoulder. He turned Skyler away from their approaching King. “So, Skyler, what do you think of the army before you?” Shalkar asked, knowing Skyler was never one to shy away from showing off.

  Skyler stood for a moment, pleased his friend finally recognized his vast knowledge of military strategy. Taking a moment to size up the force, he grimaced as he replied, shaking his youthful head, “Not the way I would have done it, but I am not the King… yet.” The other boys giggled as Tegan dismounted Elard, hopping into the air from his steed. He landed with a solid thud as Elard snorted on Skyler, the full realization of his dilemma set in as the hot moist breath of the cat melted around his neck.

  “Men,” Tegan started, putting his hand on Skyler’s stiffening neck just as Shalkar removed his. The other boys were on the verge of a tizzy as they watched Skyler squirm nervously at his own misstep. Shalkar knew the repayment would be immense, but for now, the theater before him was thrilling.

  Skyler’s hair was standing even taller than it was at the sound of the thud, with a throng of sharp goose bumps joining them. Tegan knew well the playfulness of the boys and thought wistfully of the days when he enjoyed such things. “You have accepted yet another errand on my behalf. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and my appreciation for them is unlimited. I thank you. If you see anything in the wilderness that could hinder our mission, send us word immediately. If your travels become empty with nothing to report, then you will meet up with us prior to our crossing the ice to Calonia. Understood?”