Maebus awoke with a splitting headache. The rays of daylight that found their way into the cave starkly contrasted with the darkened interior. The brightness penetrated his eyes, making them throb with pain.
Kelm hadn’t awakened him for the second watch and, from what he could tell, the Wizard had already scrounged up more food. A blanket with leftover nuts, berries, and a few new edible shrubs lay just near the remnants of last night’s fire. Maebus felt mentally and physically awful. He slowly pulled himself toward the food and grabbed a handful of bitter berries. He still didn’t have an appetite and had to force himself to eat.
Maebus’ ears perked to the sound of Kelm dragging his feet as he entered the cave. He’d been up the entire night and it showed in the bags beneath his eyes. With a lengthy groan, Kelm squatted next to him by the blanket. “You look as bad as I feel,” he said, squeezing his stiff thighs.
“I was about to say the same to you,” Maebus replied with a slightly full mouth.
Kelm grabbed a few berries. “I’m glad you’re eating at least,” he continued. “While you were sleep, I scouted the area. The rocky terrain is steep, but we should be able to manage it on foot.”
“Sounds good,” Maebus tore off a corner of a green leaf, “But if we’re still going to meet with Fable in the Ancient Lands, then I imagine we should get going.”
“Indeed. It’s already midday and we’ll need to take full advantage of daylight travel.”
Maebus rose unsteadily to his feet, followed by Kelm.
“My head is pounding. How long did you say it would take us to get there?” Maebus asked.
“Several days, perhaps longer since we can’t travel at night. I don’t want to risk it. It would be too hard to see through the darkness, and any light we produce in the open will only draw attention to ourselves.”
“That’s understandable.” Maebus said. He reached down to grab his robe and battle sword from the ground. After sheathing his sword, he slid the robe over his armor once again.
Kelm walked over to the fire pit and doused it by kicking dirt over its last burning embers. “I found a small mountain lake a couple of miles away. We’ll be able to wash and refill our canteens.”
“Okay,” Maebus said, as he staggered toward the cave opening to begin their walk to the lake.
Hiking through the clean mountain air made Maebus’ head feel slightly better. They’d been walking for about twenty minutes, but the day was cool and crisp and provided relief from Maebus’ warm layers of armor and clothing. The sun beamed bright, though not harshly, and a soothing breeze carried the faint scent of pine from the trees growing on the mountain ledges above them.
Maebus had forgotten how beautiful the Realm could be. He’d never spent much time in the Northern Lands and found its terrain fascinating. It amazed him how the trees and plants could thrive in a nearly solid rock environment. Maebus chuckled as he compared the similarities to the Realm itself.
“What are you laughing at?” Kelm asked.
Maebus smiled. “I was marveling at the irony of the Northern Lands. It amazes me that even in the midst of constant war, tranquility such as this can still exist.”
Kelm nodded in agreement. “It’s definitely interesting,” he said. “We tend to forget that not everything in the kingdom is defined by war. Survival is brutal, but nature itself is very peaceful.”
Maebus nodded. “If only man’s nature was peaceful.”
“Oh, but it is!” Kelm exclaimed. “However, I often find that man continually fights against his own nature. He wants to be above it, instead of being one with it.”
“Hmmm,” Maebus grumbled. He wasn’t entirely sure if he agreed with Kelm. From his own experience, he found it hard to believe that peace could exist within some of the brutes he’d encountered in his life.
“I know, I know. It sounds idealistic,” Kelm continued. “It actually took me a long time to understand it as well.”
“How did you come to that understanding?” Maebus asked as they stepped up to the top of a steep hill. Kelm paused briefly to catch his breath. Either their elevation was higher than he realized, or he was overexerting himself, Maebus reasoned.
“As a Grand Wizard, I tend to look to nature for answers, simply because nature never lies. All truth can be revealed if we’re willing to stop and observe … and there it is!” Kelm pointed at the mountain lake in the distance. The midday sun created millions of sparkles across its surface. It was breathtaking.
Together, they marched down the hillside towards the water’s edge. Maebus was the first to arrive. He pressed his hands together to scoop up as much water as he could hold. He drank, scoop after scoop. The water tasted cleaner than any he’d ever had.
“Yeah, cups are overrated,” Kelm teased, pulling one out of his travel bag.
Maebus laughed. “I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”
Maebus felt somewhat jovial. Perhaps putting mental distance between themselves and their worries would give them the strength to endure the inevitable hardships of their journey. After a couple of hours resting by the lake, Maebus was rejuvenated, and Kelm also seemed more alert after a brief nap. They were ready to move on. They filled their water canteens and reluctantly left the beautiful oasis to continue their journey eastward. By this time of afternoon, the sun was high within the sky and produced little shade.
As they walked, Maebus realized just how little of the Realm he’d seen throughout his life. Other than their physical locations and reputations, he knew nothing about the places outside of Centre Pointe.
“Kelm, have you ever been to the Ancient Lands?” Maebus asked.
The Wizard smiled. “Yes, I have actually. It was where I first met Fable.”
“Really? And I thought I knew everything about you.”
“Well, it was a long time ago, back when I was becoming a Grand Wizard. You had already left the apprenticeship. As a new Wizard, I had a lot of questions about the Realm and magic. In fact, the more I learned of our history, the more questions it produced.”
“I’ve heard that the beginning of the magical journey is always a confusing time for young Wizards,” Maebus stated.
“This is true. Many aspects of the kingdom did not make sense to me and actually seemed to directly contradict what I learned as a child. I spoke with my mother about my feelings. As the Realmsic Advisor, I thought for sure she’d know the answers to all my questions. I asked her how magic was first established within the Realm. Why did it exist in no other place? Why did some people choose the path of magic, while others rallied against it? Why was the kingdom in constant war? How did the wars begin? Had there ever been a time of peace?”
“What was her response?” Maebus asked as they began walking up a steep hill.
“Actually, she didn’t immediately answer me. Instead, she wrote me a letter explaining her inability to answer my questions. She said the knowledge I sought could only be discovered in one place, the Ancient Lands of the Realm. There, she promised, all would become clear.”
“And that’s when you decided to go?” Maebus probed.
“Precisely. I wasted no time riding northward through the Lands of the East. It took four days on horseback to reach the Ancient Lands. I was filled with excitement when I arrived though, admittedly, it was a bit eerie being there. To this day, I still remember walking along the ruins, touching the same structures that were touched by the very first settlers of the Realm … or rather, the Realm of Terror, as it was known back then. Thousands of years ago, they lived in that very place, and their presence remained immortalized within its dilapidated stone structures.
“For hours I walked around, unsure of where to go. I felt discouraged and somewhat foolish for bounding off into the unknown so quickly. Yet in times of doubt, my mother always explained that answers came with clarity—by adjusting one’s perspective. Therefore, I began closely analyzing the environment, noticing the tiniest of details. But nothing seemed significant. More hours passed and I f
ound nothing out of the ordinary.”
“I’m very surprised you made such a journey in the first place,” Maebus said as they reached the top of the hill. He took a second to catch his breath.
“So was I,” Kelm replied, pausing to wait for Maebus. “I’m also surprised I didn’t plan better. But things have a way of happening for a reason and, at the time, I felt the journey was necessary for me to finally become a Grand Wizard.
“After basically wandering aimlessly for most of that day, I started to give up. Why had I been so impulsive? What was I really trying to discover? As I thought these things, I climbed a tall hill overlooking the ruins and rested near a withered tree. When I gazed upon the landscape, I nearly leapt out of my skin. I even squinted my eyes, but the image remained the same.”
Maebus began walking again. He was intrigued by the timbre and excitement of Kelm’s tone. “What image?” he asked as Kelm rejoined him.
Kelm stretched his hands wide. “There, before me in the distance, someone had arranged the structure of the ruins to spell the word ‘KOWAN,’ which was the ancient Realmsic word for knowledge.”
Maebus’ neck jerked in astonishment. “You’re kidding?”
“No, I’m not!” Kelm replied. “I nearly cracked my head stumbling down that hill.”
Maebus laughed out loud.
“Also,” Kelm continued, “I noticed that centered within the ‘O’ in the word KOWAN was a small temple that came into view! I ran directly to it and pushed open its thick double doors.”
Kelm shoved his palms forward as if simulating the action. “At first, I was disappointed to see nothing inside. But it didn’t take long to feel a magical presence emanating from the floor. I’m not sure how, but I knew something was down there, waiting to be discovered.
“I tried using regular magic to depart the floor, but my powers proved to be too weak.” Kelm slowly shook his head as he reminisced. “But then, I quieted my mind, and extended my hands. I felt an energy extend from them as if reaching for something. Something … intangible. I could feel it stronger as I began to pull back. Slowly, the floor retracted before me. It took a level of strength I didn’t even know I had to reveal the magical stairway, which spiraled below the ground. I followed it and, upon reaching the last step, a beautiful, silver-haired woman was waiting. I’ll never forget the first time I looked into her hazel eyes.” The Wizard’s face brightened with a smile. “She greeted me, identifying herself as Fable.”
“Ah!” Maebus exclaimed. “She was just there waiting for you?”
“Actually she lived there, in the labyrinth below the temple. Hearing the floor panel lifted, she came to see me.
“I introduced myself as Wizard Kelm, yet Fable referred to me as Grand Wizard Kelm. She proclaimed that the temple above was magical and only Grand Wizards possessed the power to sense her presence, and the ability to enter her hidden labyrinth. This greatly surprised me, as I thought Grand Wizardry was only learned in a class. But Fable explained that the true path to becoming a Grand Wizard was different for all. Grand Wizardry, she continued, was not so much a mastery of magical disciplines, but more so a mastery of perception and of self. Through all my previous study and practice, even through my journey to reach her, I’d developed the skills of a Grand Wizard!”
“They say life is the best teacher,” Maebus commented.
“Well, as much as I now hate to admit it, I didn’t believe her. But then, Fable asked how I was able to locate the temple. When I replied KOWAN, I suddenly realized she was right!
“To find the temple, I had to change my own perspective. For most of the day, I was so lost in the tiny details of the ruins that I neglected to see the larger picture. And that’s how I learned that nature never lies!”
“Fable seems like a wise woman,” Maebus said.
“That she is. I learned from her that beyond spells and magic, knowledge is the greatest power that a Grand Wizard…” he paused, “…that anybody can possess.
“With that understanding, I returned to the Realmsic Castle filled with a calmness I’d never felt before. It was that experience that made me a believer in faith and destiny and why I continue to remain hopeful despite our situation with Damian. The Warlord uses knowledge as a weapon against us. Therefore, we must use it as our defense!”
“I agree with you, Kelm, though it’s hard for me to possess your level of faith.”
“Give it time,” Kelm replied.
Maebus sighed. “It continually feels like time is something we don’t have. But I sincerely look forward to meeting Fable. At this point, I’m open to almost any guidance she can provide.”
Chapter Sixteen
Thane and his men had spent most of the day riding from the Centre Forest into the connecting South Woods. He’d exhausted his horse traveling at top speed for what seemed like hours. Now coming to a small creek, he thought it best to give his horse and his men a brief rest.
As his soldiers tended to their steeds, Thane dismounted. He allowed his horse to walk to the water’s edge and drink. The leaves of the deciduous trees in this part of the forest had already changed colors and had begun to fall. He watched the red and yellow flakes sail gently into the creek. But the serenity of the moment brought Thane no peace. He was angry with himself.
His jaw hurt from grinding his teeth, as he mentally replayed the events of his search for the Realmsic Crystal. He thought for sure Maebus headed north. His instincts screamed it. But it made no sense for the King’s tracks to suddenly disappear in an empty field. Maebus must have doubled back south. Thane had analyzed the sets of footprints his men found by the castle. They led south. And after finding a council cape discarded near the castle, he knew he was on to them. Maebus had to be with them. There was no evidence to conclude otherwise.
“General Thane,” a voice called.
He looked quickly around, but no one was in sight.
“Answer me, General Thane!” the voice called again, more angrily.
He then realized it was emanating from his own pocket.
He reached in and removed a handheld mirror. Small, thin, and rectangular, it fit easily in his palm. An image of the Warlord Damian appeared in the mirror.
“Yes, my Lord,” Thane answered.
The image within the mirror began to speak.
“What is your status in locating the Realmsic Crystal?” Damian asked.
Thane hesitated a moment, not out of fear, but out of discomfort. The magical communicator mirror, often called a mobile device, was a brilliant invention that allowed two people to speak over long distances. Damian had provided mobile devices only to a handful of his men. Although the Realm was filled with different gadgets such as this, seeing magic utilized in such a fashion seemed unnatural to Thane.
“I’m currently in the South Woods,” he explained. “I believe Maebus and his council are heading to the Hellish South Plains.”
“Are you sure, General?” the Warlord asked.
Thane hesitated again, this time out of fear. “The physical evidence leads me to conclude as such,” he carefully worded.
Damian scowled, seeming not to like the answer.
“General, I need not remind you that it is imperative that the Realmsic Crystal be found! If your evidence does not allow you to stand firm in your assessment, then I suggest you find better evidence. Failure is not an option,” he said, the tone of his voice escalating. “Am I clear, General?”
“Very,” Thane flatly responded.
With that, the image of Damian faded and was replaced by Thane’s own reflection. He nervously placed the mobile device back into his pocket. Thane had never failed a mission, and he had no intention of starting now.
So far, he’d had little difficulty tracking the footprints of Maebus and the council southward. But he knew that, at some point, the trail would grow cold. He needed to catch up to them as quickly as possible.
Thane gently patted his horse on the side of its long head.
“Let�
�s go, girl,” he spoke to her softly. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
With the strength of a much younger man, Thane mounted the steed in one huge bound. Looking up through the canopy of trees above him, he caught a glimpse of the sky. It’ll be night soon. “Come on you lugs!” Thane yelled to his soldiers, and galloped off.
• • • • •
Nighttime is the best time for thievery, the bandit thought. From experience, he knew it made men feel braver, bolder, invincible. They were more willing to take greater risks than they normally would during the day. And since he and his archers hadn’t scored much from a group of traveling teachers earlier that afternoon, approaching a small encampment of Legionaries in the forest would be a nice rebound.
The heat from their campfire felt warm upon the bandit’s face as he squatted, concealed within the bushes. He took a few moments to observe the scene. His archers waited stealthily on the other side of the encampment for the ambush to commence.
From what the bandit could tell, only one man sat near the fire. Old looking and shaggy, he’d most likely be too weak to defend himself. A lone Legionarie was an irresistible opportunity. Gripping his sword handle tightly, he imagined the spoils he’d receive from such a defenseless target: food, coins, weapons, and any other standard gear Legionaries were issued.
“Greetings,” the bandit said as he stepped from the bushes. “Fine night, isn’t it?”
The Legionarie did not acknowledge the voice.
The bandit took a few steps closer. “Travel alone often?” he asked.
“It’s none of your concern,” the Legionarie huffed without looking up from the fire. His face remained expressionless, his demeanor as still as pond water.
The bandit narrowed his eyes in annoyance. “Everything is my concern within these woods,” he replied, taking a few steps even closer to the Legionarie. “Trespassers are required to pay a toll.”
The Legionarie barked a laugh. “Under whose authority?”
The Hero of Legend Page 11
