Earth Magic: A Kingdoms of Kambrya novel (The High King of Kambrya Book 1)

by Kenneth Price

  Parlan asked, "Is it finished yet?"

  The soldier dropped his head. Elwin could not tell if the man was showing respect to Parlan or was ashamed of what he had done.

  "Yes," he replied softly. "It is finished... my Lord. And as you ordered, there are no witnesses. The Elves of the Green will be blamed."

  "Good. Then let us get away from here. The smoke stings my eyes." With one hand roughly holding the princess and the other his reins, Parlan looked down at Leina. "Soon, my princess, I shall be king." Then with a dry haunting laugh, he spun his horse towards the west and raced off towards the red horizon.

  Mercifully, the image then changed. Once more, Elwin found himself in Leina's bedroom chamber in the Acair Castle. Leina stood staring out her window watching the flight of an eagle. All signs of the child who had played upon the canopy bed were gone. Her childhood had been stolen from her. In the span of a single night, Leina had become an adult. The days of innocence were lost in the ashes of the abbey. The beautiful round face that had seen years of happiness was drawn out and sad.

  Standing at Leina's side, Elwin watched the day fade into night. As the day grew dark, Elwin saw fires appearing in the mountains and he wondered what it meant.

  As in the first illusion he had seen, Elwin heard footsteps, however, this time, they belonged not to King Artair, but Parlan. With growing concern, Elwin watched as Parlan leer at Leina's back. Parlan now wore a silver crown and the colors of the Gruffydd royal family, proclaiming himself king. Standing where Elwin's father had once stood, Parlan watched Leina with a hungry look. Then Parlan and Leina began to argue. Elwin heard Parlan threaten to have Elwin killed, as well as his plan to force Leina to marry him. Then Elwin was compelled to watched Parlan try to force himself upon his sister. But when Leina resisted his advances, Parlan threw the princess down upon her bed. Then thankfully, Parlan left Leina alone.

  Bursting into tears, Leina cried herself to sleep. Elwin thought the image would then change, but it did not. There was a bright light. Elwin quickly raised his hand, covering his eyes as the blindingly bright light abruptly flashed at the foot the bed. As the light faded away, Elwin lowered his hand and saw a tall, beautiful woman in long, flowing white robes.

  His mouth fell open in wonder and disbelief.

  The figure smiled down at Leina as if she did not see the sad woman lying upon the bed, but instead saw the child that the princess had once been. Then unexpectedly, the figure turned from Leina and looked across the bed. The mysterious woman was now looking straight at Elwin. Elwin had not heard the wind signaling him that he had moved into the present, and so he knew this still had to be the past, and yet the figure in white seemed to see him. It was impossible. The woman in white was only an illusion of the past, and yet her soft green eyes met his.

  "This is an unexpected meeting, Prince Elwin." The woman's voice had a rich musical quality to it.

  Elwin staggered backward. This was not happening... it could not be happening.

  "How?" he stammered. "How do you know me? And how can you see me?"

  "We have met before, Prince Elwin. Do you not remember?"

  Elwin remembered. It was in the dream he had the week before. Elwin recalled the black castle of Ban-Darn and remembered both the Red Robe, and the perfect face of the Prophet Torcull. But that was not where he had met this woman. Elwin had seen her in the beautiful valley with the white palace that sat beside a silvery lake. Before the gates of the white palace, a woman in white had spoken to him. Elwin knew beyond all doubt that the woman before him now was the same person. "I remember."

  "Yes. We already know each other. The dream you had was a kind of Dream Walk. As you slept, I reached out to you. But this is far better. This will be easier now. But tell me, my young prince, how did you enter the World of Dreams? Did you do it yourself? Have you that ability?" The woman sounded excited. "Has He Who is the Light come to you?"

  "He Who is the Light? No. At least I don't think so. I don't know any such person."

  She seemed saddened, or maybe disappointed. "Then how did you get here?"

  "A druid brought me."

  "A druid!" she exclaimed. Then she became thoughtful and calm once more. "Forgive me. But a druid? That was not foreseen. Though, I guess I should not be surprised. They are a meddling sort, and perhaps he will be useful. He did bring you here. But if I were you, I would be careful. Do not trust this druid. The druids are not one with the light, and what they proclaim as the truth are only half truths. And if he is helping you, then he has reasons for doing so. He wants you for something or something from you. Druids always want something."

  "And what do you want me for?"

  She looked hurt. Elwin immediately felt guilty and ashamed. He did not mean to hurt this beautiful angelic like woman. But before he could apologize, she went on, "It is not I who wants you. All I wish is to help you and to serve He Who is the Light. In the dream when we first met, you were shown the two paths: one of darkness and one of light. Torcull tried to show you only the path of darkness, but we interfered, and I showed you the one of light. The choice is now yours."

  "I still don't see what this has to do with me. And who are you? How can you see me? Do you know where my sister is?”

  "So many questions! But to start, I am Silas, a Guardian of Light, and yes I do know where your sister is. She is safe with us. Come to the Woods of the Mist and you will find her. Come to us, Prince Elwin. We can help you fight the darkness that has touched you. In the woods, the light awaits you and there you will be healed. We have waited so long. The day of the awaking grows near."

  "Where is this woods?" Elwin asked.

  "You will find it. But you must hurry my young prince, but be careful. The servants of the Dark Overlord have many faces."

  Elwin shook his head. "But I don't know the way."

  "The light will show you the way. But now you must go. The World of Dreams is not as it once was. The shadows of the night grow stronger and it is no longer safe here. Your enemies have followed you here. The one who calls himself Torcull knows you have entered this world and is searching for you. I can confuse him for a time, but you must hurry."

  Sileas and the room began to fade back into the fog. "How?" Elwin called out, "How am I to find the Woods of the Mist?"

  "If you are the one, you will find a way," Sileas' voice sounded weak and far away. "Trust only the light, Prince Elwin, and it will see you through."

  "I need to know the way! I have to find Leina!" There was no answer. The Guardian of Light was gone. Surrounded by the fog once more, Elwin tried to relocate Leina's Life Force, but, it too had vanished.

  Wandering aimlessly, Elwin decided to start over, yet nothing happened. He knew he should leave, however he, still did not know how to find Leina. He had never heard of the Woods of the Mist. Covered in the icy dew of the fog, Elwin began to tire and still he refused to give up. He pushed on until he was too cold and exhausted to take another step. Slowly, he sank down to the cold white sand. He knew he should follow the green light back to Faynn, but he did not seem to have the energy. Suddenly a new chill came over him and he could feel a dark shadow pass by. Some evil force walked the World of Dreams with him. Elwin was sure whatever it was, was looking for him. Yet, he still could not find the strength to rise. The Dream Walk had drained him. As if surrendering, Elwin laid back and waited for the shadow to find him. He almost hoped it would find him and put an end to the ghosts that still haunted his mind. He closed his eyes. In the silence of the World of Dreams, he started to drift off to sleep. At first he tried to fight it, but found he was slowly sleeping into sleep. He feared his sudden drowsiness was some kind of magic, or the effects of the fog filled world, but try as he might he could not resist the forces at work around him and he feel into a deep slumber.

  Elwin awoke to discover that he was no longer on the ground. With his eyes still closed, he could feel a pair of strong arms holding him close. He was being carried. The biting chill of the icy fog told
Elwin that he was still in the World of Dreams. Images of the Nightling flashed through his mind. Forcing his eyes open, Elwin looked up, expecting the worst, however instead he saw the face of a living man. Covering the man's chin was a thick salt and pepper colored beard. The man had two deep-set grey eyes that stared into the equally grey fog. Somehow, the man seemed to belong in this strange world. Cautiously, the grey eyes swept back and forth as if the person was looking for something, or expecting something to leap out of the fog. Elwin would not have called it fear, but there was a tension to the craggy face of the man and a sense of urgency.

  For a brief moment, Elwin did not recognize the man. He only knew it was not a Red Robe or Torcull. For the moment, that was enough.

  As a name attached itself to the face, Elwin whispered, "Faynn?"

  "Prince Elwin," the druid sighed in relief. Gently, he lowered the prince to the ground.

  "How do you feel?"

  "Weak, but better than I did a little while ago. How did you find me?"

  "When you did not return, I became concerned and decided to go after you. We are both still connected to the octagon, so I simply reversed a few things and used my Home finder to find yours."

  “What happened to me?”

  "It is hard to tell, the World of Dreams is different for everyone. Perhaps it is this place, or perhaps other forces are at work here."

  "Is it far to the octagon?" Elwin asked suddenly feeling the need to get out of this world.

  "Not too far. Can you walk?"

  Elwin struggled to his feet. "I think so." He could see the two green balls of light hovering over their heads.

  "Good. We should make haste. We are not alone."

  "Torcull," Elwin remembered the dark presence he had felt, "I think I felt him pass by. He followed me here, didn't he?"

  "Yes. I too have felt him. I should have guessed he would follow you here." Faynn shook his head. "I fear I am growing old and forgetful. The Nightling has touched your soul and left his mark. He has tasted your Life Force. Through the Nightling, Torcull has also seen your Life Force and can now follow it. So far, we have been lucky. He has not been able to find us. Several times he has passed close, but each time he went right on by. I do not understand it. He should have found us by now."

  "The Guardian of Light," Elwin guessed. "She said she would help me by confusing him."

  "A Guardian of Light?" asked Faynn with a concerned look. "You saw a Guardian?"

  "Yes. She spoke to me and told me about ... Leina!" Elwin suddenly remembered what the woman in white had said. "Leina is in the Woods of the Mist! Wherever that is."

  Faynn's frown deepened. "There is time to talk later. Now we must hurry."

  --

  Torcull stood up. A glowing red octagon flashed at his feet, then disappeared. Where the octagon had been, a black staff reached out of the floor. Torcull reached down. The black staff was carved like a twisting snake and in the snake's head were two ruby eyes that slanted like two crescent blood red moons. Torcull's gloved hand wrapped tightly around the snake's head. Pulling upwards, he easily slid the staff out of the floor, leaving not even a small hole were the staff had been. The dark Prophet smiled. "So," he said to himself, "You think you are going to the Woods of the Mist are you?" The man dressed in black walked across the floor and sank into a high-backed chair. "The Guardians think they can snatch you from me. Faynn thinks he can protect you and hide you from me. They are wrong, Elwin. They are all wrong. They have no idea of the power of Beli. The prophesies are written and shall be fulfilled. It is to Ban-Darn you will go. It is to me you shall come, and you and I shall free my master. The Guardians are fools! They are playing right into the hands of my master." Torcull's white teeth shimmered in the dim candlelight. His blue eyes flashed. Off to one side, a tall figure dressed in a dark red robe stepped out of the shadows.

  Torcull looked up at the hooded figure. "Faynn is a fool. Did he think I could not feel the boy enter the World of Dreams? Did he think I would not follow? Is he as big a fool as the Guardians?"

  When the Nightling did not answer, Torcull went on, "No, Faynn is no fool. Then what game is he playing? I wonder. But the boy will try to reach the Woods of the Mist, that much was evident. Flynn will no doubt try and block the boy’s Life Force from me. But it is already too late, we... I know where he is headed. And even Faynn cannot entirely block his Life Force. There are other ways to track him down. If he does escape from Reidh County, I will be ready."

  Torcull looked past the silent figure of the monk. "Come!" He called as if he were speaking to a dog. From behind the Nightling, a creature crept forward. It hesitated for a moment, and then slinked out of the shadows. Hunched over, the twisted figure looked shorter than it truly was. It had a humanoid shape, but there was an inhuman quality to the thing. A black iron mask with no eye holes covered its head. Around the creature's neck hung a silver collar that was connected to a long chain. Through a small hole in the mask, the creature breathed, making a raspy sound. With its nose held high, it sniffed the air, searching for its master. Finding the scent, the thing moved forward. Like a primate, the creature used its long arms as well as its legs to walk across the floor. At the end of its arms, where hands should be, were two metal claws. The claw-like talons were polished to brilliant silver. Naked except for the mask and a black loin cloth, the creature walked slowly across the room, it's masked head swinging back and forth as it took in the smells of the space around it. For the most part, the creature had pale sickly, white skin, but where its arms joined the metal claws, its flesh was a raw red color. As it reached Torcull, the masked creature tucked its razor-sharp talons under itself, and cowered at the dark Prophet's feet. Looking down at the creature, Torcull reached out a hand and placed it upon the creature's masked head. The creature sat up with a jerk. Maintaining his hold on the creature, Torcull forced it back down. Almost whispering, Torcull began to chant. The ancient words of the song he sang were dark and haunting, and filled the room with the smell of rotting fruit. The air grew thick. A shadow seemed to enter the room and then pass into Torcull. The Prophet's eyes changed. The sky-blue color of his eyes turned into glowing red coals. In awe or fear, the Red Robe took a step backwards. Beneath Torcull's hand, the cowering creature began to shiver and whimper.

  --

  Elwin blinked. He was back in the bell tower. Before him sat Faynn, who was tired, but still held tightly to Elwin's hands. "We are back," the druid whispered. "The danger has passed."

  Or just beginning, thought Elwin.

  CHAPTER TEN

  "Return to Port Murray!" gasped Colin. The tall blond youth came to a quick stop. He stared over the heads of Aidan and Elwin, down a narrow staircase to where Pallas led the way. At Colin's cry, Pallas stopped and turned. He looked up at Colin, forcing the others to stop as well. Pallas had only just arrived from Port Murray and was still covered in dirt and grime from the road.

  Colin shook his head as if he were watching a mad man. "Why would we return to Port Murray?! We barely escaped last time. And that thing... the Red Robe, or whatever you want to call it is still out there. Have you lost your mind?"

  Pallas scowled, returning Colin's intense stare. Sounding defensive, he replied, "I have not lost my mind or anything else. And for your information, my father has not made up his mind yet. Besides, he is not planning to have Elwin go right into town. He plans on Elwin going just north of it, to the marshlands that line the bay. But now we have to hurry. Father and Lord Rodan are here. They are waiting downstairs with the druid. And I do not think Rodan likes Faynn much." With that, Pallas turned back around and started down the stairs once more, taking two steps at a time. Quickly descending the staircase, Pallas forced Colin, Elwin, and Aidan to hurry to keep up.

  "It is the best way," Pallas said over his shoulder. "And of course, it is dangerous. But it might be our only chance."

  Elwin groaned. Pallas always appeared excited when there was any mention of danger.

  "Do you h
ave to sound so blasted happy about it?"

  Pallas laughed. "It looks like there is going to be an adventure. And I plan to be part of it."

  "Why can't we just stay here?" asked Aidan. "The brothers are more like Elves then men. They don't chatter and talk nonstop like most men. It is almost peaceful."

  "That was suggested as well," replied Pallas. "But I think father will want to get Elwin out of the county. It's too risky to stay here any longer. The Strigiol soldiers and this Lord of Risca are determined to find you, Elwin, and they are not going to leave Reidh until they do. So far, my father has kept them busy," Pallas added with a wry smile. "You should see the Lord of Risca. He does not know if he is coming or going. Father has him and his soldiers running in circles and chasing after false rumors and reports of people claiming to have seen you. But it is only a matter of time before they catch on and think of looking here."

  "That is why I have to leave soon," Elwin asserted. "I can't wait for it to stop snowing or for the mountain passes to melt. So if I can't get over the mountains, then I will have to go by sea."

  "Father has arranged everything. If father decides to get you out of Reidh, Elwin, there will be a boat already waiting to take you. You know Jon.”

  Elwin did remember the strong sailor who had risked his own life attacking the Red Robe. Evidently the man was still willing to help Elwin despite the Nightling tossing him around like a rag doll. Then again maybe that was why Jon was helping. It was a matter of pride.

  Pallas went on, “Just in case he is needed, Jon and his boat are already waiting on the far side of the marshes just north of town. His boat may not be a Strigiol Man of War, but she is Reidhen built. Our boats, though on the small side, are the best one could ask for."

  "Can she handle rough seas?" asked Aidan, looking suddenly a little green around the edges. Just the thought of taking a small Reidhen boat out upon the rough and unpredictable Iar Sea made his feet sway and his stomach sink. "Haven't the recent storms made the ocean too rough? Maybe we should wait for the storms to break. A week or two won't hurt, will it?"