Brinks in Time: The Unification

by Tom Rogal

  That voice. Whispering once again to him in his mind, only the language changed slightly.

  . . . derlis tabato recenya . . .

  Levus’ hand began to slowly reach for his sword. How he wanted to hold it!

  . . . luscit obsenca.

  He closed his eyes halfway. Although he couldn’t understand what the voice was saying, he had a yearning to follow it.

  Praesonto . . . kill . . . kill.

  “Levus!”

  He awoke from his trance, letting go of the sword hilt as he looked at Divi. She stared at him very strangely. He realized he had sweat through his tunic, even though his hands were very dry.

  “Is everything okay?”

  Levus nodded, though Divi thought otherwise. She felt a strange presence in Levus. She believed she sensed this foreign spirit before, back in the Dyyros Woods. It was so small then that she thought nothing of it. Their religion had oracles that would get possessed to speak the words of their gods, so to her minor possession was not uncommon. However, whatever was inside Levus was growing stronger.

  Their attention was disrupted when they heard a distant clamor from the east. Divi eyes lit up as she realized what it could be. Was it starting today? Then again, they were on Dyyros for a month. Her father had been invited, but he was going to send others in his place to represent their race. It still felt strange that had been one of his last orders.

  “Levus, what day is it?”

  He had to think. The events of previous days threw off his usually perfect knowledge of the seasons phases on Gyyerlith, which were numerous. On Dyyros, each season had six phases, except winter, which had seven. Although most could go on with life without memorizing them, as a hunter, he had to know. This past month, however, he was more the hunted than the hunter.

  It finally came to him, though he wasn’t sure if she shared the same calendar as they did on Dyyros.

  “It’s the beginning of the third week of fall. Froilin’s Fall Phase. Why?”

  Before he could finish, Divi sprinted to the head of the ship. Levus followed. When he caught up, she wrapped her arms around a wooden flag pole.

  She hadn't thought she would be able to see it because her father forbade her going. This was an event she wouldn’t get to see for another hundred years, though. There was no way she would miss this chance!

  Levus asked, “What’s so important about today?”

  “It’s the start of the 700th anniversary celebrating the freedom of the mainland!”

  “Wow.”

  It was the only word that Levus could say as the ship neared the port of the giant city. He had only seen Cordca a few times in paintings back home. It appeared that even those were a bit outdated. He recognized certain buildings, no longer in the artwork but part of the landscape. The palace in the middle was the tallest. The architecture was like nothing he had ever seen. The numerous pillars and arches outmatched the construction of Dyyros any day. Even from far away, he could see the intricate detail of designs and pictures on the building. The top part of the dome was plated in gold so that it reflected the sun’s rays. The Cordcan flag, a sun eclipsing a moon with seven rays of red, white, and yellow sprouting out, unfurled proudly above all the province flags. He would have to ask what they meant, as he knew each flag had meaning to it.

  “What do you think?”

  Levus smiled and said, “This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen! Makes even Tartus look small.”

  The ship slowed down as it entered the bay. Great statues of bronze, some larger than the smallest buildings, lined each side of the canal in the water. They all faced east, most holding a manuscript and pointing with their free hand. Levus assumed their aim was at Dyyros, the motherland of the human race. Some of the statues, though, had their hands out like they were warning those who had evil intentions to stop and turn around. That was probably a wise decision, too. Cordca was supposed to have the mightiest army of all the races.

  One structure caught Levus’ eyes, though. He saw it when they neared the bay, and it looked huge then. It appeared to be a large white statue with four extensions coming from the center. Two faced northwest, one southwest, and the last one straight south. He could only see the top of one of them, but they looked like dragon heads. It looked marvelous. He wondered what the purpose of such a large statue could be. He would need to inquire about it later.

  A loud clanging noise came from over the side of the ship. Anchoring at last! Levus and Divi were among the first to disembark. His excitement to view the city that for years he could see as only a shadow in his mind overwhelmed him. Levus stopped at the base of the ramp and began to look around. The docks were so large and magnificent. Benches and trees were planted in planned spots, something he never would have conceived considered how the docks were made in most Dyyros cities. A band played a fast-moving song while a few people dressed up or in costume danced to it. He suddenly felt a hand touching his shoulder.

  “I never saw anyone so excited to see Cordca. I know it’s your first time here, but don’t make a big deal out of it. It won’t look good that a mage has been here before a human.”

  Levus laughed and Divi did too. This was also her first time stepping on the famed docks of Cordca. She had seen it in pictures and from afar, so she couldn’t share that awe of seeing it for the first time, but she did understand his feelings. It was a very lovely scene. Ribbons and colorful flags hung on poles and against the walls of the buildings around them. Most of these had to have been set out for the celebration only, but that still didn’t undermine its beauty.

  He asked, “What is this celebration for?”

  “Seven hundred years ago, the enemies of the mainland formed an alliance to destroy Cordca and the free world. The races united to defeat the enemy. It was the last time that all the races willingly and confidently fought side-by-side.”

  They began to walk across the docks. Posts bearing lighted candles surrounded the water's edge. It must have been very beautiful to see at night. A cool breeze hit them in the face the moment they went through the gateway into the city. The buildings looked like giants as they walked next to them. Levus could not take his eyes off the great edifices. Divi had to guide him, otherwise he would’ve collided with a ton of people. Levus stopped at a large square. His eyes were fixed upon a mural that showed a huge battle being fought. On the left, darkness and creatures of horror. In the middle, a clash between the strange creatures and a group of men. On the right, light and celebration surrounded the men, with the creatures lying on the ground under their feet. The detail in it was frightfully real. Levus could almost hear the screams of terror and the celebration at the end. A plate underneath the picture read: “Victors of the Great War.”

  “Levus, we must make haste.”

  He turned to face Divi again. “Sorry. You’re right. We should go see the king before it gets dark.”

  “We’re not going to see King Aldaran first,” stated Divi.

  “Well, why not? Cerrapies told us . . .”

  “First off, it would be impossible for us to see the king privately in the middle of this big celebration. What do we have on us for him to take our knowledge seriously? Second, I know someone in Lozela who can be of a more immediate help.”

  She began to walk toward a long street where horse-drawn carriages clattered. The street itself was white brick, a material that seemed reserved for the streets near the palace. The palace itself was drawing nearer, probably why Levus proposed seeing the king first.

  It was just one of many things he was seeing for the first time. Levus ran to catch up to her.

  Levus asked, “What’s Lozela?”

  Divi didn’t hear Levus, as she was much too focused on finding a ride. The secret was to observe the cargo the trader carried. Lozela’s people had certain tastes that she was familiar with. Most of the carriages transported foods or some wooden and silver trinkets. This hinted to Divi that they were heading north to the other provinces of Cordca’s territory.
The cart or carriage she was looking for would carry such strange goods that it would stick out in this crowd.

  Near the end of the street, they passed a carriage on their left that seemed to hold small boxes while the others had a mix of large and small. Also, unlike most other cargo, every single piece was covered and secured. This cargo had some value to it and it was not going to King Aldaran, nor would he allow such riches to go to the other kingdoms. There would only be one race he would be delivering to. Divi flashed a big smile.

  “Can I help you, young folk?”

  The driver startled both Levus and Divi as he came from the front. He was medium-built, dressed neatly with a nice shirt and vest. His brown hair was trimmed well and his face was clean shaven. He certainly fit the criteria of one who was going to their destination. He looked at them with his brown eyes, examining whether they were here to cause trouble. His left hand was on the hilt of his sword, just in case.

  She assumed he was watching to make sure nothing was stolen. The recipients of the items on this cart would not be pleased if they got into the wrong hands before they even left the city. That was a sign he was a good merchant. Hopefully for their cause, he would also be a good man willing to assist them without asking too many questions.

  Divi answered, “Yes, actually. We are seeking transport to Lozela. Can you please help us?”

  The driver replied, “Well, it's not like me to be taking travelers. The place where I am delivering this is not expecting company.”

  “We have money,” Divi added.

  Levus looked at Divi puzzled. Do we? He had left all but a couple darmma with his mother. The darmma was one of three currencies used on Dyyros, and worth the least. A hundred darmma equaled one silver drinott. Maybe Divi had some, but it couldn’t be too much as the pouches she carried were not very large.

  The driver asked, “And how much are we talking about?”

  Divi answered, “I can pay you five magari per traveler.”

  The driver’s eyes opened wide with shock and pleasure.

  “Hmmm. Ten magari, heh? That’s mage money . . . and pretty darn good. Very little it will do here in Cordca. Yet, it has its value in the right spots. For twelve magari, not only will I allow both of you to travel, but you can have as much food and water as you want and not have to worry about doing anything.”

  Divi answered sternly, “Ten magari. It is all I have. Take it or leave it. Be mindful that the next merchant going in your direction will take it in a heartbeat.”

  Levus had never heard Divi speak that way, but figured it was necessary if they were going to win this haggling battle. Levus had to do some haggling in Porsita, but it never got too aggressive as the merchants didn’t want to lose people’s business to Tartus or Dynis.

  After a minute, the driver laughed and said, “You have a way with words, young lady! Very well. Ten magari. Let me be the first to welcome you aboard. My name is Izaris. We will leave in about an hour. It will take a little over a week to get there as we are taking the southern sea border route. If you need anything, I’ll be taking a slight nap. I’ll collect the magari before we leave.”

  Izaris disappeared behind the horses. Divi thought it was a good idea for them to get some rest too, but there would be plenty of time to do that on the trip. She would be paying the merchant more than enough to travel in some type of luxury.

  “How much did you give him?” Levus asked

  Divi replied, “More than it is worth, but I needed to convince him without any doubt. Magari is the highest denomination in the mage lands, but not many places accept it outside of Myyril. One magari in Cordca could buy you food for months, if you know the right people. Almost all the traveling merchants tend to know.”

  “So, he was really trying to get as much out of you as possible. Little greedy, I say.”

  Divi explained, “You can’t blame him for trying. Even though Cordca is better off than the rest of the human lands, this Aldaran king is not known as a giving one. This celebration seems like the most generous he has been to the people in his thirty-five years of ruling. He is not as bad as Ulcinar, who feels it's better to impoverish his people. King Aldaran is just . . . stubborn, or so I’ve heard. Thamalos in Lozela is much different, though.”

  He could see that. Most of those who had power and money didn't realize what it was like not to. He believed the best leaders came from the common people, ones who knew what it is like to be poor. Perhaps this Thamalos person rose in the same fashion. It was then that he remembered there was still one question Divi failed to answer.

  “What is Lozela?”

  “The kingdom of the elves.”

  Levus’ jaw dropped. “Elves! They really do exist?”

  He chased after Divi, who had planned on taking a short nap, but now realized that it would no longer happen with an overly curious Levus next to her.

  Izaris, who was half asleep when he overheard the conversation, shook his head and commented to himself, “Foreigners.”

  ***

  “Come on! Tell me about the elves.”

  It had been a couple hours since they left the border towns of Arten and Nesseis, about two days south from Cordca. Arten was the Human town and Nesseis was the Mage one, separated by the Argiic River. Levus had heard they were built to create closer mage and human relations. Divi explained otherwise, that instead they were originally built so that the two races could keep an eye on each other. From what she had told him so far about their relationship, he could believe it.

  The jubilee from the Cordcan celebration was long from being audible anymore, but Divi was impressed how far the sound had carried. She swore she could still hear the music nearly fifty miles away. King Aldaran would be proud to know. What lay before them now were vast plains and a few patches of forest, as Izaris managed to somehow avoid all the southern Cordcan forts for no other reason than to avoid delays with sticky-fingered guards. It was quiet, apart from Levus bombarding her with questions. The cool breeze in her face was a refreshing feeling. It was much different than the breeze in Dyyros, which seemed colder and emptier. On the mainland, the wind seemed to be talking to you if you cared to listen. She was glad to be home.

  “Why won’t you tell me?”

  She couldn’t take it anymore. When it came to the elves, one would learn more from seeing than trying to explain, but she had to stop his barrage of questions. They had a long journey and if telling him a tiny snippet would halt the inquiries until they got there, then it was worth it.

  “Didn’t they tell you anything about elves back on Dyyros?”

  “Well, yeah. But they were treated as mythological characters. I had no idea that elves were real,” Levus said.

  How sad. The people on Dyyros were so deprived on culture. On the mainland, elves had been around for over a thousand years after being displaced from their homeland. She herself was a respected friend to them. Not many individuals could say that. The Nialsiann tribe, the leading clan in Lozela, was very strict about calling anyone outside of their tribe, or race for that matter, a respected friend. She decided to tell him a little bit, but only a little. The rest he would learn when they arrived, mainly because she wouldn’t be able to find the words to describe them.

  Divi began by saying, “All right. Elves are a truly magnificent race. They’re the only race on the mainland that are free to roam in any territory, whether it be human or mage. They are by far the best archers in the land.”

  Levus interrupted, “Can they perform magic like the mages?”

  “Yes, but it is quite different from my race’s. Their magic relies on nature. They can command the water, the air, and use it against an enemy or to restore life on the land. They also have the longest lifespans of any race. Some think they are immortal, with battle the only way to kill one.”

  Levus was amazed, slack-jawed at what Divi was telling him. She almost had to laugh. It was like telling a child a mythological tale.

  “They don’t need sleep because of thei
r meditation practices. The thing I like most about them is their value of freedom for everyone. They very rarely leave their lands because they really don’t have the need to talk with outsiders . . .”

  Divi was about to continue when suddenly the driver slowed down, knocking on the wooden boards of the carriage.

  Izaris said, “Please, be mute for a while. We are entering the neutral lands.”

  “What are the neutral lands?”

  She explained, “It’s the land the mages allowed for humans and elves to trade. My people’s lands separate the two races east to west. With their hatred for each other, it made it dangerous for humans to attempt to trade with the elves. The Wood Elves dislike humans even more, making it impossible up north. Because of pressure from the southern elves, the mages finally allowed some contact here. The leader at the time, though, supposedly cursed the land with violent beasts. They're attracted to loud sounds, which is why we must be quiet.”

  Levus didn’t have to be told twice. He stopped speaking and looked outside. The land around them was hilly, with stones jutting from the earth to the south. He thought he could see movement behind the rocks, but he couldn’t be sure because of the haze that surrounded the hills. It was almost like it was trying to hide something.

  Levus whispered, “How long does it take to leave the neutral lands?”

  “At our speed, about a day,” Divi whispered back.

  Levus turned his attentions back to the outside world. The haze was gone and replaced by fog. He had to double-check to make sure he wasn't seeing an illusion. According to Divi, they were unofficially in the land of the mages, so he figured anything was possible. Levus stuck his head out of the window to see what lay ahead. They seemed to be heading for a passage in a small mountain range. The view was beautiful, and he would’ve liked to continue watching, but someone tapped his leg. He looked into Divi’s beautiful blue eyes.

  She whispered, “These are the sacred cliffs of Kuzcam-hi. Kuzcam was a demigod of the Myyrilian people. In legend, the gods trapped him for trying to give divine powers to the mages, a defiance he was often guilty of. On his day of judgement, they gave him a choice: to jump off this cliff and give up his immortality and his life, or to be released, though they would punish the mage race severely for his actions. He took his life to save us. We added the -hi suffix as our mark of respect. It means 'to be on high,' to be with the gods where he deserves to be. Elders in my town believe that anyone who touches the stones of this mountain would suffer the same fate as the demigod.”