by M J Webb
“Yes, us too. We all feel it, Sereq. Though, given our current condition, what can we do?” pleaded Terristor.
“We can die… Again.”
The remaining Heynai were unmoved by their leader’s deliberately dramatic choice of words. Death held no fear for them. In truth, they would all welcome the release, and the peace it promised. They had all privately grown weary of their continued existence and the seemingly never ending battle against evil. It was a continuous, energy sapping fight which had taken a great toll upon them. It had taken more away from their souls than anyone would ever know, in more ways than most could ever imagine.
“Srr… I fail to see how our deaths will aid the Keeper?” said Lapo.
Sereq replied, expressionless once more. “We will use what strength we have left to cast one last spell. It will be the greatest feat of wizardry ever performed. A wall, a shield if you will. An invisible barrier of energy through which none shall pass. It will need to stretch across the entire land if it is to work, raised to separate friend from foe.”
“Sereq, what you are suggesting is way beyond our power,” stated Rutax. “It would take far too much energy to create and maintain. There are simply too few of us.”
Sereq shook his head at him. “No. For once you are mistaken. By willingly sacrificing our lives, such as they are, we will add to the fires our very life force… And they will burn all the brighter for it.”
Silence once again descended in the cave. The gentle wind caressed the spirits as they considered their options carefully.
“Well? What say you all?” Sereq asked, once he was satisfied that they had had long enough to decide.
It was Lapo who answered first. “I will be sorry to leave like this, after all we have done. It will seem to many that we are deserting them in their hour of need, running away from the fight when the beast is at our door?”
“Yes. It will appear that way to some,” replied Sereq. “Though, those who believe in us will know differently. And in time, the true reasons behind our actions will be revealed.”
“By who?” Terristor enquired.
“Jake. And Tien. I will go to them both now, very briefly, to explain. I will not be able to stay long for the pursuit has already begun.”
“I see. Then Lapo and I will wait here for your return. We are with you. If you believe it can be done, we are willing to give it a try. It has been an honour and a privilege to have known you, Sereq. To have served our people alongside you all, has been by far my greatest achievement.”
Sereq nodded in gratitude at Terristor and then at Lapo. Then, he turned to Rutax. “And you? Are you with us in this?”
Rutax hesitated but eventually he spoke. “I… I just do not know… It feels too much to me like a defeat. As if I am running away when there is far more I should be doing!” he rasped. “We are leaving everything to chance. I have not lived like that. Is there no other way?”
“No. I am sorry but I can see none,” Sereq answered, shaking his head slightly.
“Koh. Then, I suppose it has to be. But, what of the Gerada? What of Knesh Corian?” Rutax asked, realising that they would also be abandoning the spirit of the former Ruddite general who had chosen to join with them and help his friends, instead of entering the afterlife.
“He will remain here for as long as he wishes. Only he can decide his own fate, for he was granted the same life force that we were given. It is his to surrender. He will try to save King Artrex if I know him at all. The palace at Dassilliak is swarming with enemy warriors and the King still sleeps. His wounds are severe.”
“Well, I suppose at least they will have one of us there to help them? He is a fiery, impetuous youth of a spirit, but he is a spirit nevertheless?” said Lapo.
A chorus of gentle laughter filled the cave and relieved the tension slightly.
“Then, we are all agreed?” asked Sereq. “Good. I will go to them now. When I return, we shall begin. We will hold the enemy forces at bay for as long as we are able. It may not be enough, but once it is done, once they break through and we are gone, our people are on their own.
Everything then, will depend upon the Keeper!”
Chapter 2
31st August - The City of Te’oull - Siatol
The Battle of Dassilliak was over. Somehow, despite the incredible army ranged against them, the Estian Alliance warriors and the civilians from the great city had managed to avoid what had looked like certain annihilation. Now, at the end of a long and arduous retreat, the extended lines of exhausted survivors trudged wearily through the open gates to the walled city of Te’oull. Their extraordinary escape was the stuff of fairy tales and legend. Dassilliak, or the tunnels underneath the mountains which surrounded it on three sides, should really have been their graveyard, their final burial ground. Everyone knew it and, as they poured into the city and at last had the opportunity to reflect on their astonishing good fortune, shattered warriors and civilians alike could scarcely believe their miraculous deliverance from the powerful forces of evil they had faced. Privately, when they were trapped in the deepest recesses of the mountain with no apparent route of escape, almost all had come to accept the fact that they were about to die. They had lost all hope in that moment and had moved way beyond despair. But now they had actually achieved the impossible and reached the relative safety of Te’oull, the survivors had a fresh glimmer of hope shining in their eyes once again, a tiny flicker of optimism which was fuelled by a shared feeling inside that they had all been saved for a purpose, or higher calling. More than anything, amongst the exhausted Estians now, there was a new and growing confidence, a very real belief they all shared that even the impossible was achievable where the young Keeper, Jake, was concerned.
The dishevelled lines of fugitives cast a thankful glance at their comrades, the friends they had around them. In most cases, this natural and instinctive reaction to reaching the walled city was followed almost immediately by an anxious look towards the north, at the distressing and exasperating sight of the dustclouds which were gathering in the sunlit sky. It was nearly midday in Siatol. The journey to Te’oull had taken three days to complete and during that time no one had been able to sleep. Everyone was utterly exhausted, and many could barely stand. Jake, Princess Zephany, Caro and Tien were at the rear of the extended columns. The small group of intrepid leaders, those who were primarily responsible for the army’s survival against all the odds, were therefore amongst the last to reach the gates. Once there, they too stopped to check upon the telltale signs of a lethal and determined pursuit. Their hearts immediately sank as it soon became clear that their worst fears were about to come true. There would be no respite from the chase. King Vantrax would afford the Estians no time to rest and recuperate before the next attack.
“Dragh! Well, I suppose we all knew it would not take them long?” stated Princess Zephany, bitterly disappointed. Despite her frustration, she spoke in a matter of fact tone of voice that contained no hint of emotion. The young royal was now every inch a warrior Princess, given all the many heroic deeds she had performed on the battlefield at Dassilliak. Zephany had fought valiantly and proven herself several times over to any who doubted her, she had led from the front, time and time again placing herself in harm’s way, and doing more than any other warrior or commander to ensure the survival of the Estian Alliance in its bleakest hour. “…By the look of things, they will be here by nightfall. That affords us little time to prepare.”
“No. You’re right, Princess, it doesn’t,” replied Jake, sharply, “but that’s the position we’re in and we just have to deal with it, don’t we?” He smiled warmly at her, staring wearily into her bright and beautiful eyes.
Zephany made to reply but hesitated, uncertain how to take his remark and considering whether or not she should challenge him on it. After a second or two though, she decided to let it pass and smiled back. “Srr… Yes, there is no point avoiding the issue. Let us speak plainly; we cannot run any further, we have given our
all. So… Here is as good a place as any for what is coming. The decision has been made for us… My friends, the next battle in this war will be fought here, at Te’oull. On the outcome, rides the future of our world, of all we know and love. I shall go now and make our preparations. Come Caro, let us see what we have left of an army, and decide how best to use it.”
Lord Caro nodded dutifully and followed behind the impressive new Leader of the Estian Alliance as she headed purposefully into the city. Jake and Tien remained outside the city walls. When he was certain that they were alone and no one could hear him, Jake spoke quietly to the old wizard, all the time staring with mounting concern at the northern sky. “Err… Okay then, it’s just you and me now… Tell me the truth. It’s not looking too good for us, is it? We’re no match for them. They have way too many soldiers compared to ours, and they are stronger, more experienced. It’s… Well, it’s a real life David and Goliath thing we’ve got goin’ on, isn’t it? Hmmph… Actually, if we’re comparing, let’s hope it’s more like Tom and Jerry, eh? At least the mouse always wins in their fights?”
The wizard was quite obviously confused by Jake’s words but he remained strangely silent. Jake thought it odd that Tien gave no reply. He sighed deeply before continuing. “…Err… Is this where it all ends? Have we had our chips? Are we all gonna die here, Tien?” the youngster asked, seeking a straight answer for once.
The fifteen year old was perfectly calm, speaking without any sign of fear. He just wanted to know. He was hoping to hear a pearl of wisdom from the old man of Estia which would help somehow, searching for a small nugget of knowledge, or some hitherto unspoken advice, anything he could use to their advantage, to try to even the impossible odds they faced. Tien though, had no words of comfort for him. It pained the wizard to speak, even though he knew that he had to reply. He wanted to be able to give meaningful support to this new Keeper, just as he had provided to all the others he had served before. After all, ‘that was the main purpose for his existence, wasn’t it?’ He desperately wanted to be the one to bring him the smallest speck of hope, when it seemed to them all that they had already used up their full quota.
In the end however, all he could do was shake his head slowly and reply to the youngster in a deeply apologetic tone. “I am sorry, Jake. I have not been of much use to you since you came to Estia, have I? Not much use at all in fact. I wish I could have done more for you. I assure you that I have served others better… Aghh! By the stars and all I hold to be sacred and true, I wish I had more to give!”
“Hey, stop that!” answered Jake, sharply. “I need you to be strong for us right now, not wallowing in self pity. And you’re wrong, very wrong. You’re so wrong you’re off the scale in fact. You’ve done plenty for us. You’re forgetting that it was you who made all of this possible, you who set us on this path, you who allowed us to escape. Without you, we would all be dead, buried under the mountains of Dassilliak. We would all have been killed in there, if you hadn’t opened up that tunnel when you did. Always remember, Tien that it was you who gave us an escape route, when everyone thought it was over and King Vantrax had won.”
“Kah, yes… But, in performing that spell, was I just delaying the inevitable? Did I only succeed in prolonging the agony? I do not mean to sound defeatist, but the facts cannot be denied; the creatures and beasts we face now are far too powerful, too numerous and strong. I wish I could… Why can I no longer see the future? Dragh! The truth of the matter, however much we try to avoid it, is that a tiny flea cannot down a dragon, even if it does have the will to fight. It is simply not strong enough. It is not equipped for the task. Some battles are lost from the very beginning, Jake, before the horns sound to begin the attack. The scales are already tipped too far in one direction, they cannot be won and it is pointless to fight. Have we been blinded by faith, you and I? Are we engaged in such a struggle? The army we face is…”
“Hey! Hang on a minute!” interrupted Jake, realising all of a sudden that extreme fatigue now had the better of his normally upbeat guide. He suddenly sensed the need to take a leaf out of his best friend’s book for once. “…I’ve just realised what you said. Are you really calling us fleas? Ha ha… It’s a good job Ben’s not here, he’d…”
He stopped himself in mid sentence. “Oh, Tien… Ben! If they’ve managed to come after us so quickly, they have to be chasing him, don’t they?”
The look of pure concern that quickly spread across Jake’s face was unmistakable. His emotions were all over the place, up and down like a rollercoaster, as they had been since he found the stones. He was suddenly drained of all colour. He had already lost his best friend once and that experience was without doubt the worst of his relatively short life to date. The memory of the pain it wrought still burned fiercely within him, for although it seemed like a lifetime right now, in reality it was only a few days ago. The thought of the very real possibility that he might lose Ben a second time, horrified him beyond measure. It was absolutely unthinkable, unbearable.
Tien’s mood changed instantly as he sensed his panic. He placed a reassuring hand on Jake’s shoulder. “I… I would not trouble yourself too much on this just now, Jake. Something tells me that young boy is indestructible,” said the old wizard, smiling slightly in an attempt to comfort the distressed teenager.
It worked. Jake seemed to immediately regain a little confidence. “Eh? Yeah, I s’pose you’re right. I mean, he’s survived this far, hasn’t he? Actually, short of being blown up, there’s not much he hasn’t faced, is there?”
Tien chuckled. “Ha ha… Quite. Now, shall we rejoin the others? Even though the gift of foresight appears to have deserted me once more, for reasons I do not know, I am as certain as I can be of one thing; the future will reveal itself to us in time, when it is ready, and no matter what we do.”
Jake nodded in agreement. The two companions began to turn in order to follow the rest of the army into the city. But, from out of nowhere, a soft echo of a voice suddenly sounded within the confines of their minds at exactly the same time, stopping them both in their tracks.
“Keeper! Tien! Hear me now, my warriors. Concentrate upon my image, I beseech you. Draw it forth from your memory, and I will appear. I am Sereq of the Heynai and I would come to you now, if you so wish? I have something important to say which cannot wait.”
Jake looked straight over at Tien to satisfy himself that the wizard had heard the voice too. Tien’s eyes spoke for him, reassuring the young boy without the need for words that he had. ‘Well,’ Jake thought, ‘if the Heynai themselves think it’s important, I guess this is one conversation I definitely need to have.’
They each turned back around and returned their gaze to the patch of dry earth in front of them. Clearing their thoughts completely, they concentrated in unison and gradually, a faint, hazy image appeared.
“Sereq!” cried Jake. He was now an excited boy again and he responded to seeing the spirit automatically, without thinking. “There you are! What’s happening? Why did you leave us back there at the city, eh? Where did you go? Why did you leave me? Why Sereq, when you said you would always be there?”
Tien shook his head slightly at the young Keeper, clearly disappointed in him. ‘That was the reaction of a child. It was immature and impulsive,’ the wizard reflected. Jake blushed immediately his eyes met with Tien’s. He knew straight away what he had said, and how it might sound. He wished at once that he could take it back, though he knew he couldn’t.
“Jake, it is not for us to question the ways of the Heynai, nor the decisions they make,” Tien stated, softly. It was not a rebuke, more like fatherly advice, the kind of thing his grandfather might say.
“No, Tien, leave him. He has the right to ask such questions. He has earned it,” Sereq stated, halting the conversation without delay. “…Jake, time is short… But then, this is perhaps a conversation which must be had? Yes, I will try to explain to you the best I can… In the midst of battle, and also in the run up to war, there
were stark choices that had to be made. Right now, with the benefit of hindsight, I am not certain that we always made the right ones. We may not have chosen the right path. The truth is, when the time came, we realised quickly that we could not help you all. We were not strong enough. So, in our wisdom, we decided to help your friends, knowing that it meant leaving you to fend for yourself. Whether we were right or wrong only time will tell, though you have to know that our actions at Dassilliak most certainly saved their lives. We also managed to bring you some respite from the onslaught, with the warriors that King Vantrax reassigned to counter the threat to his rear. So, we did achieve something. That cannot be denied.
However, as I have said, we could perhaps have done things differently, chosen another way. As it was, we acted as we thought best at that time. The result was that we were left powerless for some considerable period after we intervened. We were unable to help you further, and we have still not recovered our full powers. We are weak, Jake, and the situation you face is as grave as ever. I apologise if it seems to you that we abandoned you. I suppose we did in essence, but…”
