Angels and Elves- Act I
Page 26
“But the council don’t believe you?” asked Brooke.
“Most prefer to stick their heads in the sand,” Krysla muttered. “Even dare to say Glommish is falling for conspiracies.”
“So,” Glommish continued. “I wondered to myself whether only two spawn had survived, or were others still out there, lost in the realms. I kept tabs on all the Realmer Strongholds, checking up on Realmers that showed exceptional abilities.”
“Brooke isn’t Akirandon’s child actually,” said Vanderain.
“Bloody Rueda.” Krysla snorted.
“Ah, that I did not know.” Glommish smiled. “But how is that possible.”
“Kalkavan,” Vanderain muttered darkly. “I’ll explain later. Was there another reason you wished to see us before the council summit?”
“Only to warn you of the dangers of what you plan,” Glommish said. Evan was reminded of a kind, but stern teacher. Even Vanderain felt like a student in Glommish’s presence.
“Knowing the council, there’ll be an immediate vote,” Glommish continued. “You know I’ll vote with you, Vander, as will Loren and Krysla. I believe, and hope, the majority of the council will also understand your situation and support you.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Krysla said, nose wrinkled in distaste. “Belgun and his lickspittles, Ionee and Stray, influence every decision.”
“Stray?” Evan almost spat the word.
“Sintian’s uncle sits on the council,” Vanderain replied. “And Belgun is Bane’s father. Sorry, I thought you knew.”
He shared a flabbergasted look with Brooke. “Um, besides the fact those two might kill us if they’re anything like their family,” he said. “Have you considered they might expose me and Brooke after this?”
“The council is sworn to secrecy,” Glommish answered. “The hall holds many spells and any member who betrays the council’s trust will be immediately known to us. Your secret will be safe, that is certain, how the council decides your fate, that is more ambiguous.”
“What’s the worst thing that could happen to us?” Brooke looked between the Eternals nervously.
“Execution?” Loren shrugged. The other three immediately scolded him.
“No, I doubt that will even be suggested,” said Glommish. “Imprisonment is the worst that could happen.”
“Oh, that’s fine then.” Evan grit his teeth to stop himself going on.
“But I won’t let that happen,” Vanderain insisted.
“That’s the other reason I wanted to see you,” Glommish said. “If it goes badly for us in there. I know you’ll go against the whole of the Republic to get your trainees out of here.”
“You’re going to ask me politely to stop?” Vanderain guessed. “Because I can’t.”
“The opposite my boy. I stand with you.”
“There was one other reason. Nallador has some news for us.”
Loren chuckled ruefully as he shook his head. “You knew that too? I won’t ask. Yes, I very recently stumbled across something. The world of Sargresh has been wracked by a brutal war between the drow elves and the reptilian Liskari for several years now.”
“I remember’ said Glommish. “We sent a team to aid the elves, but were forced to recall our Realmers after our ranks became spread too thin and the Sargresh war showed no sign of an end. The drow still resent us for it. A sad business all around, I’ve brought it up in the council since, but they always vote against sending another team in.”
“Why would the council vote against helping them?” Brooke frowned.
“We initially sent Realmers because Liskari were killing innocents and Realmers are bound to protect those in danger,” said Glommish. “But by the time our team left, all the elves had fled to their castles and cities, to avoid having their towns and villages raided.”
Now the walls of drow cities are besieged by Liskari armies, but no innocents are in immediate danger. The council claims we should not meddle if there’s no sign of demons or Dark-Venators.”
“War happens,” Krysla said. “It’s not nice, but it’s natural, we can’t involve ourselves in every battle on numerous worlds when there are hordes of demons for us to destroy. I agree with the council, for once.”
“But that’s the thing,” said Nallador, “I saw demons amongst the Liskari myself, even serving them. And that’s not even the worst of it. What I’ve discovered is bigger than one war on one world, it could affect all of them.”
The other three Eternals stared at Nallador in earnest now.
“You jest?” Krysla asked.
“What is it, boy?” Glommish added.
“I was visiting a dark elf lover of mine,” he began to groans of annoyance. “Now, hold on, this is serious.”
“This is not the time or place to regale us with your dalliances,” Krysla yawned.
“I agree, but that was why I’d travelled to Sargresh. Whilst there, I felt a terrible but immensely powerful force deep in the bowels of the underground. Naturally, I went to investigate. Sargresh’s earth is ripped by terrific chasms, where the Liskari first arose from. I journeyed deep inside one Hell Chasm, feeling the unmistakeable evil of the place. Many awful things reside deep beneath the earth, but when I encountered an Asharon, I knew how dire it had become.”
“Asharon only serve the Disciples,” said Glommish. “You believe one of them is meddling in Sargresh.”
Loren nodded gravely. “I used magic on the Asharon as I fought him, forcing him to tell me the truth before he died. I did not learn who his Master was, but I did learn why he was down there.”
“Why, damn it?” Krysla didn’t bother hiding her impatience.
Loren took a deep breath before saying. “Ezanathul’s famed gauntlets still exist.”
Silence surrounded the courtyard at his words. Clearly the other three were shocked, but Evan had no idea what Loren was on about. “What are they?”
It was Glommish who answered. “After Ezanathul was destroyed, rumours of where the demon god had hidden his greatest treasures spread across the realms. Weapons, armour and artefacts are spoken of, as are the locations and monsters Ezanathul set to guard his treasure. The god’s gauntlets were one such rumour, and the whispers claimed he’d hidden them deep underground on an unknown realm. In the many years since Ezanathul’s destruction, countless beings have searched for his artefacts, in all the rumoured locations. Many have perished doing so, and none have found anything. As for the gauntlets…” Glommish hesitated before continuing. “With Ezanathul’s right gauntlet, he could convert a whole world of humans into demons, and with the other gauntlet, he could destroy his enemies with a single blow. It was rumoured the left gauntlet could even kill a god.”
“Rueda,” Evan rasped. He’d never heard of such powerful enchanted items.
“Wait, you can turn regular people into demons?” Brooke’s eyes widened.
“No.” Vanderain answered. “No spell can do that. It was said Ezanathul was able to, back in ancient times, though I did not see it for myself. With one touch, he supposedly could corrupt anyone, infecting them with a curse that would turn their bodies demonic, their minds deranged.”
“Sargresh’s underground was a popular location for treasure hunters,” Krysla added, “due to its infamous Hell-Chasms. But it’s all lies cooked up by the Disciples to get stupid people killed looking for ancient relics that don’t exist.”
“Well, one of the Disciples is looking there now,” Loren countered. “Enough to provide the Liskari a demon army and send his or her Asharon underground to search for the gauntlets.”
“Could it be Kalkavan,” Evan said eagerly. “If so, feel free to send me down there to face him.”
Krysla smirked. “Are you so eager to die, boy?”
“No, just to kill a Disciple.”
Krysla smirked wider, looking to Vanderain. “I like this one.”
“So, what do you propose?” Glommish asked Nallador. “Assuming this wild speculation is true?”
“And you tell us because you know the council won’t elect to send a team to Sargresh.”
“Why would they?” Krysla asked. “No one who’s delved deep into the Hell-Chasms has ever returned. We would be sending Realmers to their deaths.”
“I know,” Loren admitted. “I plan to go myself, but even I need reinforcements, which is why I returned after defeating the Asharon and didn’t go into the Hell-Chasms lower levels. I need all three of you to join me, but I know you cannot spare the time, so I’ll just take Krysla and a team of tremendously skilled Realmers. Anything you can provide.”
“Oh, just me?” Krysla scoffed.
“I know the Asharon wasn’t lying, and if there’s even the slightest chance the gauntlets could be found, you know we have to stop it.”
“You’re right,” Vanderain said at last. “I will join you too, providing today’s summit doesn’t go wrong. It will also be wise not to tell the council, so they can’t come looking for me if today ends badly.”
“Vanderain, what are you planning?’ Evan asked. “I know you said you won’t let anything happen to us, but you can’t put yourself in danger.”
“Don’t worry, it may not come to that.”
“I’m afraid I won’t personally be able to join you, Loren,” said Glommish. “But I do agree it’s worth checking. I’ll assemble a team of the finest Realmers from my stronghold, and secretly, so the Republic is none the wiser.”
Before Loren could reply, a troop of guards hurried into the courtyard, heading past them, before a voice called for them to wait. The guards parted and Evan saw the man in their centre was the owner of the voice, a man unmistakably important.
“What’s this?” The heavily guarded man sniffed imperiously. “A secret meeting?”
“Oh, nothing Lord Madagant,” Glommish replied casually. “Just greeting old friends. Sorry for arriving so late, I forgot this time of the year is for the council meetings. I’m getting quite clumsy in my old age.”
Evan was surprised to hear the name Madagant, as Belgun didn’t resemble Bane at all. Belgun’s complexion was much paler than his son’s, and his hair was grey steel with a few remnants of black remaining. That, coupled with the pencil-thin moustache and his short stature, made Lord Madagant resemble a well-off businessman more than an accomplished Realmer.
“That much is evident,” Belgun sneered. “The rumours must be true if your mind is failing you so much you forget about our official appointments. Our next meeting begins in mere minutes. Try not to forget this one.”
Lord Madagant swept away, the Shining Legion guards following dutifully behind.
“He dares speak to you like that,” Krysla growled, hand resting on her dagger’s hilt. “You created the council, Glommish, your word should be final. Belgun is but a speck to you.”
“Hush dear.” Glommish patted her arm. “I would not want us Realmers ruled by one man or woman, I’ve told you before. And I certainly wouldn’t be the tyrant to enforce my rules.”
“Yet you let Belgun and his ilk be tyrants,” Krysla returned.
Glommish just chuckled. “Oh, Belgun is no tyrant, just a stickler for ceremony. Come now, children, let us see what awaits.”
“Children?” Loren snorted. “Sometimes you treat us like the kids you first trained Glommish. We’ve been adults for a fair few millennia now.”
“Aye, yet you still have much to learn, as do we all.”
“I think that hundred-year coma you were in stunted your emotional growth,” Vanderain grinned at Loren.”
“Pah, what’s a hundred years compared to the thousands I’ve had. That was just a long nap. Shame I missed all the latest fashions though.”
“You were in a coma for a century?” Evan asked incredulously.
Nallador nodded grimly. “The Disciples Merian and Halahink ambushed me, would’ve killed me if Glommish hadn’t arrived to get me to safety. The old man saved my life, but the curse Merian put on me took a century to leave.”
“Less of the old.” Glommish chuckled.
“Fancy being unconscious for a century,” said Krysla. “I was only in a coma for a decade after my duel with Hynd.”
“Sorry, I only arrived today, I would’ve told you about the gauntlets earlier,” Nallador said. “At least this is the fifteenth and final day of council meetings until next year, it’ll take me that long to recover from conversing with some of these glarqers.”
“Yeah, you only missed the first fourteen meetings,” Krysla glowered. “Imagine how sick of them I am.”
“You know this will be the first time in a decade all twenty of us council members will be present at the same time,” Loren remarked.
“Aye,” said Glommish, “now let’s hope it isn’t our last.”
Chapter 17- The Hills have Music
“I thought I smelled something different,” the valorc grunted.
Joelle dared not breathe as Gutga, inches away from their tree trunk, raised his hand and plucked the peach of the branch.
“Look Ram. This tree still bears fruit.”
She sighed silently in relief as Gutga moved away, back toward his brethren.
“Who cares?” Ram replied. “Faeries taste much better than horrible fruit.”
Joelle wracked her mind for a spell that would enable them all to hold their breath. She didn’t trust the Valorcs wouldn’t be able to sense them breathing. She saw Bane flick his wrist swiftly, and felt a spell pervade the air around them. She caught a thin wisp of blue by their feet and knew he’d used a spell to mask their scent. Valorcs had keen senses, the only reason Gutga hadn’t smelled them yet would’ve been the peach.
Joelle hated herself for being angry she hadn’t thought of it first, instead of grateful Bane had taken care of it. She was also highly uncomfortable being this close to Madagant too, and if it wasn’t such a dangerous situation she would’ve flung him off her. His body was practically pressed up against hers. When their eyes met she could see every bright golden mote in the forest green of his eyes. His skin was only a lighter shade than the bark around them and completely flawless. The look of distaste ruined Bane’s good looks, however, as did the repugnant personality Joelle knew lay within.
She could smell his peculiar, earthy scent and feel his hot breath on her face,
Jed and Sabine were inches to her other side, equally as close. The four of them could barely move, not that they should, considering the valorcs just outside.
Joelle clutched impy to her chest as tight as she could, feeling his little body trembling against her. She desperately wanted to mutter soothing words to him, but dare not, in case the valorcs heard.
At last it came to her. Rueda, she was so stupid. She didn’t need a spell to mask their breathing, just the general spell Muffle, which would silence everything. She cast the spell, weaving the thin energy field around the inside of the trunk like a cloak. It was practically invisible, but if Joelle squinted, she could see the faint green outline encircling them all. She kept her hand raised, focusing in keeping the shield intact so they could speak freely.
She wondered why Bane hadn’t thought of it, but he was watching the valorcs intently instead.
“It’s okay, they can’t hear us now.”
Jed and Sabine both let out the breath they’d been holding.
“Eurgh, what have you been eating?” Sabine tried to step away from Jed but there wasn’t room to.
“Now isn’t the time, Sab,” said Joelle. “Shall we wait and hope the valorcs l
eave? Or risk a surprise attack?”
Bane shrugged. “If I had more competent companions I wouldn’t hesitate killing these beasts. But since I’m stuck with you lot, it’s not worth the risk.”
Joelle tried not to let him get under her skin. She longed to destroy the monsters, especially after what they’d done to the poor fae girl, but she knew they couldn’t reveal themselves yet. The mission instructions had been clear. They were supposed to find the summer court without alerting the valorcs to their presence. If valorcs knew Veneseron was interfering with the plans Velkarath had given them they might call in Dark-Venators to help them too. The mission report had been clear, they were to try to ally the courts and eliminate the valorcs. If they failed to bring the courts together to save their own land, they had to destroy the valorcs anyway. Yet Joelle know it would take more than just the four of them to eradicate a whole tribe of valorcs. Failure with the fae would give them barely a pass, and Joelle couldn’t let that happen to her mission record.
“Is that the only faerie you seen today?” Gutga asked his kin now. “I’ve seen no sign of others.”
“Aye,” Ram replied. “No seelie or sidhe. This girl’s the only runt I’ve seen. The fae have run in terror from us. Could they have left this world?”
“No,” Gutga growled. “They cannot, we guard their portal stone. Felsythe says we keep searching until the glarqers reveal themselves. Felsythe says they’ll starve before long.”
Ram nodded. “If we don’t smoke them out first. I was with Felsythe yesterday when we dropped firebombs on scores of hills. The hills burned to the ground, but none of them in sight.”
Gutga spat black phlegm on the ground. “Cursed creatures. I yearn to rip them limb from limb.”
“Aye, we’ve been here too long. Our mead barrels ran dry days ago. I thirst for more than stinking water.”
“What about these,” Gutga gestured to the trees nearby. Joelle felt her stomach clench.
“We can take the sap out, mix it with water and spice it with blood. A fine drink that would make.”