The Shadow of All Worlds

by Shane Porteous

  Chapter 17

  King Yadi had retreated to the room of royal memory, the room of royal history. Both names were fitting, because it was in this room, surrounded by the texts of his bloodline that Yadi was reminded of his history and the legacy to which he tried to live up to. Kae’s words echoed in his mind, like a violent scream of someone falling through an endless abyss. His son was alive. He had to be. Viadi still breathed. There was no other possibility.

  Yadi had been his father’s only son and possessed no sisters. It was his bloodline and his bloodline alone that had the power of the call. As powerful as the Ulnath were, there was no way they would’ve been able to replicate this power, for only the gods could grant such gifts and the Ulnath had turned away from all the gods of this world. Sitting alone in that room Yadi, didn’t look like a king, he looked like a broken man, bent and defeated by the weight of memory and revelation.

  He slowly glanced around the room at the texts on the wall. The records of the great acts his ancestors had performed fueled his memories making the semblance clear in his mind. The day he lost his wife and son played out, not just in his mind, but seemingly by the power of memory alone that day came to life once more. He was no longer seeing phantoms of hunger, but real phantoms of his past, the kind whose haunting wasn’t easily dealt with. His wife never screamed, she never had the chance to, for she was the first to suffer an orc arrow. He didn’t even have time to acknowledge her death on that day, because she may have been the first victim but certainly wasn’t the last. The orcs seemed to rise up out of the ground, like some mass of foul black mist, engulfing the king’s escort. His troops were ambushed from all sides, cut down like cattle.

  He remembered their screams, the vile orc chants, the blood and the second of intense silence before the world as he knew came to a violent bloody end. There were no orc drums that day, one of the few times the orcs hadn’t performed their dark battle ceremonies. They were willing to break their own traditions if it meant they had a chance to kill the invader.

  That is what Yadi had been that day, not a liberator like he had called himself. He had no business being in the Harrow Mountains, they weren’t Ebulon territory and the orcs of those mountain had never threaten Ebulon trade routes. But the Harrow mines had never been taken from the orcs, not by elves, not by men, not by dwarves. He had once thought it was a great place to prove his mettle, to earn his place amongst his ancestors. What a fool he had been, blinded by ambition, by the notion of living up to his father’s legacy. Because of his stupidity he had lost his wife and thought he had lost his son.

  The phantoms of memory became stronger, the image of his wife dying playing over and over again, like a hammer driving a nail into his mind. He didn’t try to block it out because he deserved this haunting.

  He remembered how Captain Juruz had saved him from orc axes and taken him away before he too could be killed. He also remembered that over all the bloodletting and screaming, the cries of his infant son, his baby boy who had no one to protect him from harm. He heard those cries, those shrieking sounds of a helpless innocent. They now replaced the words of Kae, the screams from those tiny lungs echoed in his mind like the tolling of cemetery bells.

  There was a part of him that knew he couldn’t have saved his son, his escort was being butchered and if it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of Juruz, he would’ve died that day. But that part of him barely could be heard over the phantom screams.

  Yadi had never married again. No woman could ever live up to his memory of his dear Evahaher. There was rarely a day that went by when he didn’t think of her and his son. The idea that the Ulnath had taken his son made Yadi feel sick to his very soul.

  What kind of name was Morzu? His son’s name was Viadi. There was a part of him that wanted to march his entire army right to the city of the Ulnath and take back his son. The phantom screams of fear were now becoming the blood bellows of battle. But it was through such foolhardiness that he had lost his son in the first place. What would he tell his son anyway, that he was sorry, that he was a fool, that in order to live up to his father’s memory, he risked the lives of the boy and the boy’s mother?

  It was then that the revelation further weighed on him. His son would be 20, no longer a boy, but a man, raised by the foulest creatures in this world, the oldest enemy of Ebulon. The memory tasted like poison in his mouth, as vile and as fresh as the very day that ambush had happened.

  With a very distant gaze in his eyes he finally realized that he was no longer alone in this room. Aftan the advisor had entered although Yadi had no memory of him doing so. Aftan had addressed the king multiple times but even the raising of his voice hadn’t broken his king out of his trance of memory.

  “Forgive me my King, I did not mean to break your concentration,” he said slowly. He could only imagine what the king was going through, Yadi was a good man and Atfan knew the burden he must have been feeling.

  “What is it?” Yadi asked, flatly, seemingly all emotion taken from his tone.

  “Commander Alatearame has returned from the mines, she has something vital that she must tell you of in private.” Yadi took a long breath, his mourning would have to be pushed to the back of his mind for now.

  He merely nodded, “Send her in,” he added in that flat tone.

  Atfan simply nodded and left the room, quickly being replaced by the Commander. Yadi could tell by the dry blood on the side of her head that her retreat from the mines hadn’t been a quiet one, but like the great warrior she was, she had survived it.

  “Are you alright, my King?” she asked, seeing how disheveled he looked. He appeared like a man who had had his very soul taken away from his body by some evil magic. Clearly Atfan hadn’t informed her of Kae’s revelation, perhaps he thought it best that she hear it from her king. But he couldn’t bring himself to talk about it, not even to the Commander who had served him so well over these years. Even speaking about it would bring the memory back to life, it would break open the damn and a river of tears would’ve fallen from his eyes. No, now wasn’t the time to speak of it. If nothing else her words would be a welcomed distraction to his problems, even if she was only bringing more problems.

  “Want do you want to tell me?” he asked, morosely, clearly avoiding her question. She allowed the matter to drop, she had a revelation of her own.

  “I have evacuated the mines as you ordered, my King. I am afraid that the Red Army was able to get to some of the mines before I could.”

  Yadi knew her well enough to read the look in her eyes and even with a distracted mind he asked, “How many Ebulon lives did we lose?”

  “Too many,” was her heavy reply. “ Whatever these things are they are well organized and are as formidable as any warrior Ebulon has. But I noticed something else. In each mine site I checked, the Red Army didn’t take a single piece of gold or silver, nor did they raid any of the supplies. In other words they weren’t after anything but human lives, for what purpose I do not know. But what I do know is once they have killed or taken all of the refugees they will be looking for more lives, which means…”

  “They will march on Ebulon.” Yadi stated rather than asked.

  To this the Commander nodded. “I have seen them march in groups, their numbers are growing my King.”

  “How many?” Yadi asked.

  The Commander shook her head, “The exact number I do not know, but at least ten thousand and that is only counting the groups I saw.”

  Yadi nodded at this revelation but didn’t appear overly surprised. There had been nothing pure about the creature that had been presented to him by Lieutenant Ulka. It had a foulness that was usually only preserved for orcs and their hatred of mankind was well known.

  “There is something else my King, something far more disturbing.”

  “What is it?” Yadi asked, knowing that Alatearame was never one to be easily rattled.

  She swallowed hard, the words stuck in her mouth. “On one of
the mine sites that the Red Army reached before I did…there was over four thousand dead Ebulon troops. None of the mines had that many soldiers, I made sure of that. Even the largest mines were defended by no more than 500 men…” Yadi narrowed his eyes as the Commander continued. “In other words my King, at least 3500 troops had marched from the capital in a bid to reclaim the mines.” By the look in his eyes she knew the answer before she had even asked. “Did you give the order to reclaim the mines?”

  “No,” Yadi replied before they both shared a short moment of silence.

  “I was afraid of that,” the Commander said. In that moment a fresh memory came to Yadi one of Captain Juruz walking off after his demand that the mines be protected was turned down. It hadn’t been the first time Juruz had walked away from the king without being dismissed. Five years ago the King never would’ve even entertained the dark notion in his mind. But these were desperate times, his command and judgment didn’t carry the power or respect that it once had.

  “Summon the captains to meet in the courtyard before the tower.”

  “Yes my King,” Alatearame said, deeply concerned that a captain may have given such a bold order without permission from the king. The mines had been her responsibility and she had followed the king’s orders to the letter. She had fought against the Red Army and knew how formidable they were. She also knew that if the mines hadn’t been evacuated there was a good chance that every worker and soldier under her command would now be killed. She didn’t know what this Red Army was, all she knew was that it wouldn’t stop killing, wouldn’t stop forcing people into the service of whoever the Red Lady was.

  Now alone once more the king felt weary both in mind and in body. His kingdom was falling apart all around him and with each moment that passed there seemed less and less he could do about it. The memory of the day he lost his wife and son refused to be silenced, those phantoms enjoyed lurking in his mind not just in the corridors of memory. Time didn’t pass for him, and he didn’t know how long he sat there stewing in misery and anger.

  All he knew was when he left that room and went to the courtyard every captain was waiting for him. They stood at attention, seemingly not knowing why they had been summoned there. King Yadi knew he had to appear strong, whatever memories haunted his mind had to be silenced for the time being. He took a deliberate moment to look each of the captains in the eye, each looked back, none showing any sign of betrayal. He briefly glanced towards the Commander who stood off to the side, accompanied by a number of his regular escort.

  “Commander Alatearame informs me that at least 3500 troops from the capital were at the mines. They weren’t under her command and I know that I never gave such an order. You all had been informed of what my decision was, we would consolidate our forces within Ebulon itself. Is there any captain here that wasn’t aware of my orders?”

  Carefully he looked to each of them but none spoke up. “I take it from your silence that means that you all knew…” He paused for a long moment, wanting the silence to weigh heavily upon any guilty conscience. “So this must mean that at least one captain went against my command. Not only did you go against your king, but at least 3500 Ebulon lives are gone because of your betrayal, which didn’t gain anything!”

  With each word he spoke anger filled his tone. “In fact such a betrayal may have done nothing more than increase the strength of this Red Army! A force that the Commander informs me shall be marching upon this very city and now we have 3500 less troops to defend our home! You are all experienced men and women, do you not understand the desperate situation Ebulon has found itself in over the last couple of months! We cannot afford to be so stupid. There will be more orphans, widows and widowers in a city that has become filled with little more than orphans, widows and widowers. We have lost enough Ebulon lives! We don’t need to lose anymore!”

  His wrath was felt by each of the captains, his vigor reminding each of them of the great king that deep down he truly was. “Do you think I like being in such a desperate situation? Do you think that I haven’t suffered hurt pride and frustration just like all of you? Do you think that I chose these circumstances? No! But I am doing all I can to make sure that this city survives. I have lost just as much as each of you! I don’t want to lose any more Ebulon Lives! Is it too much to ask, no to command that my captains do the same!”

  Again the captains kept their silence, the glare of their king cut through them like an axe through water damaged wood. “I am the King of Ebulon, I have made mistakes, never claimed that I haven’t. But these orders were given so Ebulon could survive and now 3500 men and women, sons and daughters of this city have been killed for no reason. I demand to know which amongst you gave the order.” When none spoke Yadi yelled again, “I will not have so many dead bodies on my conscience, whoever gave the order will be held accountable. Those widows, widowers and orphans shan’t be ignored and this betrayal shall not be forgotten. None of you are leaving here until the betrayer steps forward! Your king commands it!” Silence fell like rain upon the courtyard every captain and advisor trapped within this soundless storm.

  “How can you be so sure that any captain gave the order, my King?” The question came from Captain Juruz, who stared at his king with unflinching eyes. Yadi quickly approached him, barely a foot between them as he asked, “Why would you say such a thing?” He hadn’t forgotten that Juruz had walked away from him when these orders were initially given. “Many of the troops have felt the frustration of these times, they are not use to hiding or running away from their enemies.”

  “And I am?” Yadi yelled, his voice filled with anger. “Have I ever retreated from a battle that I thought we could win? Can you name a single time Juruz!” To this the Captain merely stared back but his silence somehow felt disrespectful. “It has been twenty years since I sent any one of my troops into a suicidal situation. A day has not gone by where I haven’t regretted doing that, but I have never done it again! I have enough innocent blood on my hands as have whoever gave the command.”

  He waited for a confession that never came and so he began to walk back and forth before the captains, pacing like a hungry wolf. “Do you expect me to believe that no one gave such an order, that 3500 troops collectively agreed to disobey me?” When they kept their silence Yadi stopped pacing and shook his head. “So you all think I am a fool do you? I know that none of you are stupid, you each earned a place under my command. You know this as well as I. So you know that I would find it impossible to believe that none of you noticed troops disappearing from their posts and yet not one word of it reached me, but I know that it must’ve reached at least one of you.”

  They all kept their silence and that is when it hit him like a rock slide. He had lost control of his army, ever since the Battle of Ebulon he was aware that there were some that didn’t respect or admire him as they once had. He knew that few of his decisions were popular, but it was only now he realized just how bad it had become. Whether one of his captains gave the command or the troops defied orders themselves, the fact that none of them stepped forward with any information was proof of this. He waited a moment longer hoping this wasn’t true, that there would be a way to pull them back from the edge but the captains remained tight-lipped.

  “The Ulnath, the oldest and most dangerous of the orc tribes have called evil from other worlds to come into our own with the purpose to destroy us once and for all. This army of red is working with them as well as other evils. It will be only a matter of time before they are at our door, I won’t allow that to happen, I will not allow the city streets to be filled with the blood of my people. Hear this order and hear it well, gather your troops and have them prepare for battle. You tell me that my troops are tired of hiding and running away, than so be it! We shall march against this enemy and meet them at Sorn field!” Silence remained but there were clear looks of shock on the faces of both captains and advisors alike, but there was also a faint look of agreement, even if some of the captains were p
ainfully trying to hide it.

  “The Ulnath seem to want to get revenge against Ebulon for what occurred 100,000 years ago. I am sick of such a threat looming over us, we shall defeat them once and for all.” His words garnered no cheers from his captains, but at the least the silence no longer felt so disrespectful. “You have your orders and I demand that you each follow them to the letter, we will hide no longer, prepare to march!” One by one the captains moved away, they didn’t walk with gusto or with valor, but at the least they were following this order.

  “My King,” Alatearame spoke gently, seeing the emotion in her king’s eyes. Carefully she stepped towards him, the silence around her far from disrespectful. She was the single military officer whose loyalty he had no doubt of.

  “You have your orders Commander,” he said before she had a chance to speak.

  “Yes, my King,” she replied, knowing her king well she recognized the fire in his eyes, this decision may have been in haste, but the gods themselves wouldn’t convince him otherwise. Alatearame gave a slight bow of respect before turning, knowing what orders she had to follow.

  Silence filled the caught yard, but didn’t last long for the advisors could sense what Alatearame was going to address.

  “My King do you think it is wise to meet them in open battle?” Atfan asked. Yadi knew that his words actually meant that he didn’t think it was wise to engage the enemy in open battle. That didn’t worry Yadi too much, it was more that apart of him agreed with the doubt.

  “You saw it yourself, Atfan,” the king explained. “Their loyalty is frayed at best, frustration and desperation have overshadowed the vows each of them gave to me. If I remained behind these walls while this Red Army and the Ulnath pillaged the countryside I would lose every trace of respect and the army wouldn’t consider me their king anymore. And without them none of us would survive, it will be the campaign of the Orc Confederation all over again.”

  Atfan merely nodded his now heavy head, he hated the fact that this was true, but there was no denying it any longer.

  “If I am to keep my Kingdom and regain their loyalty I need to defeat this enemy in open battle.”

  “But we do not know the enemy numbers, we could be outnumbered three to one,” another advisor pointed out, not accepting what Atfan already had.

  “I realize this as well,” the king commented. “The Ulnath have called evils from other worlds to aid them so I shall call for otherworld heroes to aid us. Just like I did during the battle of Ebulon. Except this time I shall not hide within my tower I shall command and lead from the front line, my sword shall cleave the first wound.”

  “My King, I agree with your plan,” Regent Jenner explained. “But Malik didn’t answer the call, I realize that many of the otherworld heroes are more selfless than he is. But we have no idea if the otherworld heroes will be able to come, perhaps all of them will, perhaps none of them.” King Yadi nodded, he understood this but had no answer for it.

  “King Yadi,” Soin began stepping forth. “I agree with Regent Jenner, we may not know who will come and aid us from these other worlds but we have a potential ally in this world.”

  “The Elf Nation? They will not aid us again, I have received no call for help from them, it seems this Red Army and the Ulnath aren’t interested in taking their lives.”

  “That may be my King, but I was actually talking about the refugees.”

  “What about them?” Yadi asked with narrowed eyes.

  “Kae informed me that there is a large number of them hiding in a certain valley, some of them were once warriors, quite formidable I am told. We could use their help in defeating this Red Army,” the mage explained.

  “What good would they be to us, if they are hiding they must not have the weapons to defend themselves with.” Atfan pointed out.

  “This is true my King, but that wouldn’t be the case if we armed them ourselves, we have plenty of weapons and not enough men or women to wield them.”

  “Do you really think that is wise to put weapons into the hands of so many potential enemies?” Regent Jenner said, more out of concern than anything else.

  “Kae informs me that they were hiding specifically from this Red Army. We would be giving them a chance to avenge their fallen loved ones.”

  “Still,” Atfan began. “They have no loyalty to Ebulon.”

  “No, but Kae does,” Soin pointed out. “He answered the call to defend this city during the battle of Ebulon. He traveled all the way from Za-xayek to tell us about what the Ulnath were up to. He told me that he told the refugees that he would find a way to help them. Perhaps this can be his way, he can lead them into battle alongside our own army, the refugees have no reason not to trust him.”

  “But what happens if we allow the refugees into the city, arm them and then they take control of Ebulon?” Regent Jenner asked.

  “Well we wouldn’t let them into the city, not all of them anyway, every able bodied man and woman would have to agree to fight for us first, we would arm them at the city gates but not before we take in their children and their elderly.”

  “And hold them hostage?” Atfan asked, clearly not opposed to such an idea.

  “Essentially yes,” the mage replied. “Although we should be far more diplomatic in our wording when telling the refugees of our plan.”

  “What do you think my King?” Regent Jenner asked, realizing that Yadi was the only one not nodding.

  “At the very least it would stop the Red Army from swelling its ranks further.” Atfan pointed out.

  King Yadi finally nodded. “I agree with such a plan. Where is Kae now?”

  “I believe he is in one of the dining halls.”

  Again the king nodded, “Okay I shall go and see Kae myself.”

  “My King forgive me if this is out of term but perhaps it is best if I speak to him,” the mage said. “After all you have a battle to prepare for and time is of the essence.”

  There was a piece of Yadi that wanted to remind the mage that he was king and his word was final. But the mage made a good point, not to mention the fact he didn’t need to strain the loyalty of any more of his people. “I understand, please inform Kae that I am forever grateful to him. Also please apologize to him on my behalf, as you said I have a battle to prepare for.” King Yadi slowly walked away. He had listened to the screams of the mental phantoms inside his mind long enough. Soon they would be replaced by real life screams at Sorn Field.