The Three Charms

by Brian Spielbauer

  Tegan thought of his son so far away and hoped he understood what was going on. He thought of his wife locked up in a cold and dank dungeon, of holding her again and freeing her from her wicked captivity. Then he thought of the vile wizard Herrog and of what it would take to end his reign and break his hold.

  Lastly, he thought of his troops. How many of them would perish? How many would never survive to see their wives again, just so that he could see his? He weighed his gain versus their loss. Was it fair or worth it? Could he look at the widows and justify the loss of their husbands? Milan was far more than just his wife. She was also the Queen of those who dared to help him free her. The risk was worth the reward, so he hoped.

  Telon pulled the door to his tent back as he peaked in shivering from the cold night air, “Brother, may I sit with you?”

  Tegan smiled, happy for the company, “Of course, you are always welcome.” He offered him a seat close to the fire.

  Telon quickly leaned back out, grabbing several sticks piled near and laying them across the small flame, which soon spread and grew. Telon was out visiting the troops and consulting with Bryon, earning his cold tremors and numb hands. He then sat to warm himself, reaching toward the dancing flames so they might delight his fingers with their warmth.

  “How do you feel now that we are on the verge of this battle?” Telon set out for Tegan, who seemed a bit nervous.

  “I cannot lie, it has weighed on me greater than any of the many adventures we have dared. I have spent every day of the past five years waiting for this moment. Is it the right thing to do?” Tegan answered, confessing his doubt.

  “I have had my own doubts, but the wrongs Herrog has dealt us and the people of Calonia need to be righted. The sorcerer has also shown the centaurs his great malice, this much is certain. We have to free her, even if there is a great cost of life to pay for it. She has suffered long enough.”

  Tegan grew confident from Telon’s words, glad to hear it from someone else. He was also very appreciative of the company. They sat in silence as the fire danced before them.

  Erol pushed through the deep snow carrying Gulac like a pack on his broad back. He created an easier path for Cergon and Bryon to follow as Gulac studied the map of the maze of valleys. Gulac felt as though he was traveling back in time, quickly noticing and remembering every turn and landmark on the way. Kyrie flew low through the sky, just skirting the tops of the trees. He was searching for the entrance to the castle, as well as the easiest path for his friends to travel. The mighty gargoyle also kept a keen eye out for the enemy which was sure to be watching them, trying to keep himself hidden at the same time.

  “According to the map, we must be getting very close,” Gulac informed Erol. “I think this would all seem more familiar if there wasn’t all this damn snow.”

  Kyrie flew back, landing just ahead of Erol. “I have seen nothing ahead. What is the map showing?”

  Gulac was frustrated, “I think the castle should be straight ahead, but there is nothing there.” The dimming day made it all the more difficult to see.

  “We need to rest,” Cergon said, unable to feel his hooves. “Night is coming soon. It will be bitterly cold tonight.”

  “Just ahead there is a rocky ravine coming off the hill,” Kyrie said, “We can rest there, maybe have a small fire too.”

  As he said, there was a ravine that cut into the side of the hill. They found plenty of dead branches to start a small fire and keep themselves out of the wind. Bryon’s fire brought them some warmth and encouragement, two things of which they were in desperate need. They continued to ponder the map as they ate a meager meal.

  “It has to be straight ahead,” Gulac repeated. “I remember there being a huge rock outcropping on the left valley wall, with the opening to the valley on the right. A stream flowed through the bottom of it, feeding into a place where three steams met. I remember it clearly.” Gulac’s memory was rushing back, his confidence in them growing by the moment.

  “It was the most beautiful stream. You would not believe it emitted from the nastiest, most brutal dungeon in Lemuria.” Gulac reminisced of finding the castle as he looked back to the map, trying to keep his mind off the dungeon. But the memories of the dungeon and Herrog no longer caused him to fall into darkness, no pause in his thoughts. It was something the others noticed and they were happy for him.

  Kyrie thought for a bit, “If it is there, I would think we should find it in the morning with good light.” Kyrie was hopeful he was right. They were pinning their hopes on the memories of a very old and weathered dwarf. They rested uneasily in the cold, knowing how close they were to Herrog’s Castle. If not for the freezing temperatures, they would never had risked a fire.

  Kyrie had the watch, so the others rested close to the small fire, gleaming as much heat as they could from it. With dawn not far off, a shrill screech shook them from their sleep. The snow that fell during the night quickly jumped off their backs and shoulders. Kyrie was gone, and for the moment, all was silent. Gulac stayed close to the rock wall as Erol, Cergon and Bryon stood by the almost exhausted fire, Cergon with an arrow notched in his trusted bow.

  “Should we put out the fire,” Gulac whispered, eyeing the darkness that clung tight the surrounding trees. His heart beat hard, as if trying to catch up with time that seemed just ahead of the slumbering warriors. He fingered his sword but did not trust the skill of its wielder if the need arose.

  “It’s a little late now,” Bryon answered. He stared into the same darkness. “Whatever it is, they know we are here. Put some more wood on it and let it blaze!”

  Gulac had only began to reach for more wood when another screech erupted. Two Tolltier attacked the group. They darted hard toward their prey, their wings pulled back tight. The red of their eyes the first thing the soldiers noticed in the dark. Just before crashing into their foe, the wings shot out and wide, catching the air that parachuted them softly to the ground. Their wings shoved the air, creating an evil wind that kicked snow and dirt onto their enemy and almost ousted the fire. Gulac frantically tried to build it back up as the fight began.

  Cergon let loose two quick arrows into his foe, knocking it back, but far from out. Erol dealt with the other one, a rather large Tolltier that brought back brutal memories from the fight at the Demon’s Chamber. Each landed punches and ripped flesh, but neither beast backed down. Their battling growls filled the valley. Gulac felt the punches landing on each of the combatants, with each one stopping the other, sending waves of pain through each of them. Gulac hoped Erol would be able to withstand the worthy enemy, but it was an even fight.

  Bryon pulled his long sword as two more Tolltier entered the quickly crowding ravine, looking to get to Gulac. One raced to him, with the old dwarf scurrying away from the Tolltier, unwilling to measure himself against the beast with his sword. Kyrie arrived and stopped the Tolltier short. He entered the camp just in time, grabbing the surprised enemy from behind. His claws sank into the loose hide of the Tolltier and deep into the thick muscle of his neck. It roared in pain as it tried to turn to the stronger gargoyle. It was unused to seeing such strength in another.

  Bryon claimed the first victim by driving his sword into the white as snow Tolltier, soon staining his clean blade and white background with the dark red blood of the evil creature. The deathly weak howl of the squirming Tolltier was difficult to hear, even for Gulac, who was the target of the Tolltier attack. Cergon, having ran his foe through, rushed to aid Erol. The ogre was giving ground to the two Tolltier that were concentrating on him.

  Kyrie got another good hold on his beast and quickly broke its neck as it unleashed a high-pitched squeal. Gulac covered his ears to soften the shriek, but there was no hiding from the sinister sound. He then started picking up stones to throw at the enemy and he caught one in the back of the head with a well-placed throw. It did little damage though, save further angering the Tolltier as it wrestled with Erol.

  Cergon stuck one of the beasts exchang
ing blows with Erol, stabbing it in the back with his sword. The Tolltier dropped it to its knees and Erol took care the rest. He broke its back with a punch and a giant step on its head. The last of the attackers leapt out of the ravine, sporting his aching head and it disappeared into the darkness.

  Erol started to give chase but Kyrie stopped him, “No, you will never catch him. We need to go quick to find the entrance, or all will be for naught. Their entire might of Herrog will soon be upon us!” Erol knew Kyrie was right.

  “Where were you?” Cergon asked Kyrie, as they quickly loaded for the final push.

  “I heard them in the forest and went to see if I could find them. They arrived before I got back, so I waited for them to make an attack, as I did not know how many of them there were. At least it allowed for surprise.”

  Cergon didn’t like the excuse, but this was no time to challenge it.

  “Those beasts are strong! I hope there are not many of them,” Bryon said. He hoped his first encounter with the Tolltier would be his last. He wiped his sword clean on the one of the few spots on the dead animals not already tainted by their spilled blood.

  Cergon continued, “The sun is rising. Erol, lead the way and make us a path, I will carry Gulac. Kyrie, get up there and keep watch for them coming back.” Cergon led many battles in his life, and was an expert at assigning the troops.

  “We need to go fast, the one that got away will soon bring many more,” Kyrie charged them.

  They pushed hard and onward. Even though the danger was high, they needed to find the hidden entrance. Failure would jeopardize the entire mission. The rising sun brought both hope and better light than the evening before afforded.

  They went farther up the valley, with Erol plowing the way. It soon veered in both directions as the valley split before them. Erol stopped, unsure the direction to go.

  “There!” Gulac announced excitedly, pointing up to the large rock above and behind him. “That is the rock I was looking for! The entrance lay straight across the valley. Do you see the streams? They break into three directions, just as I said last night!” Gulac was proud of his prediction come true, they only needed to see the castle that he knew was directly ahead.

  They enthusiastically looked across the floor of the valley but only the mountain stood before them. They saw no gap.

  Erol led them as they crossed the frozen stream that led to the left. Then they walked next to the stream, which lead straight to the hill. Gulac could not understand, “There was a little valley nestled between two large mountains, I know in my heart it was there.”

  “We don’t have much time Gulac, are you sure this is the spot?” Cergon questioned. Gulac’s resolve was strong and getting stronger by the moment. “Yes, now that I see it, this is where it was. It has to be here.”

  As they continued and finally reached the far wall of the valley, Cergon noticed something peculiar, “Look there!”

  The hill before them had a fold, which from their approach hid a cavern below it. From it, the spring that ran through the valley floor. It was wide but shallow, and could allow many men to come through it at once, if needed.

  Kyrie flew down to them, “What have you found?”

  “A cavern, leading under the mountain,” Gulac explained. “It was not like this before though.”

  “It would not be beyond Herrog to create the mountain, not from what I have seen. If he could shake my land into the ocean, raising this mountain would be little effort,” Cergon angrily conceded to the mighty wizard.

  Bryon agreed, “It would make sense for him to change the entrance since it was found by Gulac.”

  Kyrie scanned the area, “Where is the enemy? If we are indeed on the doorstep to their hidden realm, why are they not attacking? They are well aware we are here.”

  “I am not sure but we need to be certain the castle lies on the other side. Let’s continue and make sure and then get back to the others,” Bryon stated and the others agreed.

  Erol again led the way, carrying Gulac. They hesitantly entered the opening to the shallow stream. The dark path unnerved them but what they expected to find on the other side was far scarier. Erol and Gulac peeked into the cave. Then he looked back to the others, “We can go in. I see a light from the other side.”

  “I have not seen anything moving this morning. I find it strange,” Kyrie said to Bryon.

  “Every moment I go without seeing the enemy is a blessed one, we need to get a look at the other side,” Bryon replied. He was ready to battle his foe.

  “If I am right, we will have found the castle and we can quickly get back to the others,” Gulac announced to his companions. He desired greatly to succeed in what he knew to be his final mission.

  They slowly followed Erol and Gulac into the cavern. The floor of the stream was not rough with stones as they expected. Instead, they discovered a smooth paved road covered with rapidly flowing shallow water. The tunnel bent low but Erol was right, they could see the glow of light from the other side as they entered. They cautiously worked their way through, hugging the low sides of the rocky walls. As they reached the opposite end and stepped back into the light, the colossal fortress of Herrog towered before them.

  Four massive rock walls protected the castle, which held towers and walkways high above them. Each sturdy wall stood three times Erol’s height. Jetting up from the inside and rising far above the outer towers and walkways, stood three spiraling towers. Each of them held small lookout points and at regular intervals, the spirals stopped. At each of these, three covered bridges connected the towers. Above the bridges, the towers spiraled again. Solid stone framework shot up in three straight pillars, providing the strength to hold the spirals in place. No word passed out of the valley of the tremendous structure and the five stood in awe of the masterpiece before them.

  The dark look of the castle cast an intimidating shadow across the valley. A wide moat surrounded the four walls, with a single drawbridge spanning it as the only way to cross without entering the foreboding water between.

  The water of the moat poured over a thin rim, which led to short lived rocky falls and eventually the stream that lead under the mountain. They could hear the voices of enemy milling around on the inside, shouting orders to unseen soldiers.

  “Where are they? I would have expected to see them,” Erol asked the others.

  “You can hear them on the inside. Perhaps they are all in there, preparing for the fight.” Bryon put forth the answer but in truth, he too thought to see the enemy.

  There would be room for thousands within the immense castle walls. Flying Tolltier, like pesky gnats, zoomed here and there around the towers, using the structure to perch and roost throughout the day. The trespassers remained hidden under the trees to protect their cover and secrecy.

  Cergon set Gulac on the ground. “Well done,” Cergon congratulated, clapping the dwarf on the shoulder. “Now let’s get out of here before we are noticed.” He was in a hurry to get back, not at all liking the look of the castle or the bustle from within. He turned and made for the tunnel.

  Gulac did not answer, as if only a shell of himself remained. Disbelief of the massive sight took residence in his body.

  Kyrie turned and followed Cergon hastily back through the tunnel. Erol picked up Gulac and carried him away. They traversed the cavern quickly, not wasting time on the sides of the tunnel as they had before. They soon emerged out of the cavern, but what lay before them stopped them in their tracks.

  The sight stole Gulac’s breath, as filling the previously empty valley were legions of Herrog’s Tolltier, goblins and trolls. Standing before them was an old man. His frail body leaned heavily on his staff. The elderly man wore a long black jacket held tight by gold buttons. It started below his knees and ran all the way to the top button at his neck. His hair was black with grey patches and it irreverently shot into the air, and it was parted on the side. Around his neck hung the jewel of light, blaring brightly in the early morning sun. A gigantic
troll stood at his side, helping him as he hobbled forward to address the small group of trespassers. A snarky grin smirked across his unshaven face.

  In a creaky voice, one that was almost carried away by the slightest of breeze, the old man started to speak, “Not once, but twice, you have found my castle!” he chided Gulac, glaring straight at him. Gulac tried to grow small as Erol set him down. He quickly slid behind Cergon and Bryon. “No, no, no, I can’t go back!” Gulac whimpered for his friends to hear. For the first time, he doubted accepting his role on the mission. The wizard continued, growing more excited with every word, “Years in my dungeon were not enough! You have come back for more. I will oblige that!”

  The voice grew stronger in their ears. He stood taller and then let go of the troll and his staff, altogether.

  “Herrog, you seem worn. I hope the time of rest has done you well,” Kyrie rebuked the wizard, hoping to infuriate him.

  “Kyrie, you may have won round one, but I assure you, round two will go to me,” Herrog answered, eager to banter. He was in no hurry to squash his prey, as he enjoyed toying with his foes before the slaughter.

  Erol took the moments distraction, searching the field for a possible path out, but could see none. Cergon turned and whispered to Gulac as he reached for the dwarf and set him on his back, “Hold on tight. When we go I will not be able to hold you and fight at the same time.” Gulac grabbed the leather strap that held the scabbard of Cergon’s sword. It was the only thing he knew for sure would not leave Cergon.

  Erol saw the legion of trolls standing before him and to the left. The Tolltier stood to the right, with the goblins standing down the middle. He motioned slightly to Kyrie, who agreed to attack the trolls. Their hope was to use the mountain to shield at least one side and to stay as far from the Tolltier as possible.