by Tom Rogal
Levus’ question was a little strange, but then again, this whole continent must be strange compared to his life on Dyyros. Eraddor sat down to the left of Divi and Levus and grabbed a piece of an eagle’s leg. They had Levus to thank for their supper. Because Thamalos didn’t want to offend the Sardonian gods, he refused to hunt in this land. Levus, however, amazed Eraddor with his skill. To be able to take an eagle where it perched without it seeing you was quite an accomplishment. Not many excellent hunters could claim so much. Perhaps this was Jared Sintar’s child, as Thamalos suspected.
Eraddor replied, “I’m sure Divi could tell you as much as I know about this place and its history.”
“Sadly, I’m a little in the dark about it too. In Myyril, they use the Sardonians to personify the entire human race.”
That didn’t surprise him. Since the Great War, everything had changed between the mages and the humans. Funny how little things could lead to complete hatred between two races. The events that led to the separation had been seen as minor at the time, nothing to worry about. He guessed that was how many problems started.
Eraddor sighed and said, “All right. So long as you promise that you will listen in silence. Will Tasi be joining us?”
Divi said, “He’s been asleep for the past hour. Don’t think . . .”
“I’ve been awake the entire time, if you must know. But go ahead.”
Eraddor wasn’t surprised by that either. Tasi had been watchful of Divi since he joined their party, even more so since the clash with Ferigor’s Hand. He wasn’t complaining. To have two mages as travel companions was more than almost any man could claim. Eraddor just wished he knew why Tasi was so persistent to him and Thamalos to come with. At first intending to refuse his request despite the order from the mage council, but Tasi certainly had a way with words. It only took five minutes. Mages tended to not have silver tongues, but this one did.
Eraddor tossed another piece of dead wood onto the fire and took a few bites from his food before starting.
“Well, before I can explain to you about Sardon, you must first understand the Great War. Do you both know about it?”
Divi nodded her head as Levus shook his. That figures. He had hoped that at least knowledge of the Great War would have reached Dyyros’ shores. It was obvious it hadn’t, or if it had, had been covered up. It wasn’t a very proud moment for all the races involved, that was certain. But to make it like it never existed at all was worse than avoidance.
Eraddor continued, “Here is the story as best I know it. The Great War was fought by a combined mage and human force against the barbarian hordes who first lived here. The elves later joined in near the end of the conflict. Back then, the natives of this land, a savage and wild people, ruled all but the western forests and the northern desert. Myyril was merely a village built after an early understanding with the natives. The relationship turned sour for reasons we don't know. The mages were left alone to defend against them for many years.
"That was until the first humans sailed from Dyyros and landed on the coast of what would be Cordca. It was only a three-building colony when it started, if you can believe that looking at it now.”
Eraddor’s comment gave Levus and Divi a chuckle. Levus did have a difficult time seeing it. Though, he supposed it looked like Arnis in its humble beginnings: one main road with all the key buildings along it before it just exploded into what it was today. He wondered if that would ever happen to Arnis. His thoughts were silenced when Eraddor began to speak again.
“The mages and humans met off and on, but generally did not disturb each other. One thing, though, that both sides valued above all else was trade. The mages now had access to strange things they needed in the north and Cordca, likewise, to the south. Not until the natives began to disrupt the trading of goods did the mages and humans form an alliance.
“Despite the brief and scattered attacks, for a long time, there was peace. But like all peace, it seems to not have been able to last. Over the years, Cordca grew so rapidly that it needed to expand, so they looked south and west to achieve this goal. The western part of where the city lies today used to be a large hunting ground for the natives. Many exotic beasts now extinct because of the war used to roam freely there. It is known that they tried reaching out to the natives to negotiate acquisition of the lands in exchange for trade and the promise to not impede their other hunting areas. Between their repeated refusals and pressure from the tight living quarters of the colony, the humans began to take these lands. The natives fought back. Instead of harassing trade convoys, they opted to attack the settlements themselves, mage and human.
“The mages and humans agreed that to continue trade and maintain their way of life, they had to drive the natives out of the area. And so, the Great War began. I won’t go too much into the details of the war, as it would take longer than a night to tell, but the struggle lasted for nearly twenty years. After the Battle of Haylen’s Pass, the natives were driven back. ‘Disappeared’ was the term the commander is said to have used.”
Eraddor took a moment to grab a drink of water before he continued. He was usually averse to telling stories or histories, though everyone told him he was good at it, especially her. His love was enamored of everything about him, though, so he wasn't certain how unbiased her opinion truly was. He didn’t think anymore of it because he could see the eagerness in their faces for him to finish.
“I’ll skip the mage and human difficulties and disagreements directly afterward. The important thing is that after the war, the humans, with the natives seemingly gone, had a dream: to own land from ocean to ocean. When Cordca became more established, they moved west and formed Garlock. There they made a pact with the indigenous mountain folk, avoiding another potential conflict. When the diamond mines were discovered up north, Rudann was born. When scouts determined just how close they were to the other ocean, construction of Sardon began immediately.
“Sardon’s development was normal at the beginning. They nearly had half the city built before the incidents began to occur. Workers disappearing, food stores ravaged, bodies turning up everywhere. One day, when a supply cart arrived, they discovered the people simply vanished. Nearly three hundred and seventy-five of them I believe the number was. Another set of workers arrived shortly after, with plans to send a third group. When that last group came, they saw what happened. They saw their predecessors hanging from the buildings, skinned and dangling out to dry. They also saw who the perpetrators were−the natives of old. The survivors had taken refuge in the mountains after the Great War, seemingly gone from memory.
“Rudann tried many times to re-take Sardon after that, but they had underestimated the strength of their foe. After losing and re-taking Fort Corrka numerous times, Captain Beil Garridon finally wrote the famous letter to the leaders of Cordca which read, ‘Our attempts have failed. Sardon belongs to them now.’ That is why they are now referred to as the Sardonians instead of the natives. It was also the start of the growing distance between Cordca and Rudann, but that is a story for another time.”
Eraddor took the last few bites of his eagle leg even though by now the meat was cold. After he put the bone down, he noticed both Levus and Divi still gazed at him, their eyes brimming with curiosity. He took another sip of water before facing them again.
“Questions?”
Divi asked, “Just one. Why did you call them natives? I noticed you referred to them as that instead of barbarians. Everyone just calls them that.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too. It almost sounded like you sympathized with them,” added Levus.
Eraddor's evaluation of Divi had not changed since they were on the Myyril plains. At least when it came to him, she was an observant little one.
Eraddor explained, “History is usually written by the winning side. It’s an important lesson to learn, children. Were they barbaric? Yes, and still are. Could we have made peace with them back then? Possibly. Most of the records are lost of that time. The po
int is, keep an open mind. What you know now is how it’s been told generation to generation. Ever wonder what cruelties were done to the Sardonians during their relocation? There is much about the past that we don't know, so just be mindful.
It was obvious Divi and Levus had never thought of it that way. She especially because back in Myyril, they were only ever told how the barbarians would capture mages and torture them before doing what they were famously known to do with their victims. Did the Myyrilian people at the time take an eye for an eye? Did they torture the natives like the natives did to them? After all, they were just protecting their way of life, the only way they knew.
Eraddor gave a yawn before suggesting, “I think we should get some rest. These next few days we’ll need to keep our strength up. See you on the morrow.”
He moved to the outer edge of the cave while Divi and Levus lay down next to each other, their heads near and enjoying the warmth of the fire. From the other side of the cave, Tasi watched with one eye open, directed right at Levus. He didn’t like the way Divi acted with the foreigner, even though he knew very little about him. That was going to change. In the boy’s case, it wasn’t only going to be the Sardonians watching him.
Thamalos sat on a log sharpening the regular arrows from his side quiver. The magical arrows rested in his back one. Juiiladdor crafted them so near to perfection Thamalos didn't even need to sharpen the head. He didn't worry about his shortsword. He only used that in emergencies.
The group was taking a break from the hard journey as the elf prince had them leave early.
Divi noticed that the temperatures were getting hotter the deeper they got into the kingdom of Tyranis. Even the water grew hot the further west they moved. Eraddor, who was standing on the tallest rock in the area, kept watch for any possible intruders. Levus stayed close to Divi, who was just as nervous as he was. Tasi kept pacing the ground near his horse, looking cautiously with every sound, not even trying to hide the fear he felt. She couldn’t blame him. There had been many rumors about these residents of Sardon that Eraddor’s tale confirmed. Not only were they ruthless in battle, but it was fabled that those captured by them were killed and eaten. The thought of it made her shiver.
Eraddor finally climbed down the rock and went to sit next to Thamalos, who was still sharpening his arrows.
“I have seen no one yet.”
Thamalos put his arrows away and looked at him.
“Perhaps we have lucked out. Spending even one night here without encountering one is quite rare. The Sardonians are usually very aware of those that enter their lands,” the elf replied.
“How much longer do we have in these wretched mountains?” asked Tasi.
Thamalos explained, “I’m taking us through the shortest route I know. We should be in the Terinic kingdom by two nightfalls. There is a fortified border town. We should be safe there.”
Divi surely hoped so. This placed scared her more than the Dyyros Woods, which had quickly become her point of reference for somewhere she didn’t want to be. Although the path they were taking was somewhat flat, the west appeared very mountainous. Many rock formations presided on the path, seemingly chiseled from existing rock beds. The Sardonians must have used these to hide. The blood-red sky in the west was most haunting of all, as its eerie color had remained constant all day. Only black and gray clouds littered the sky and they left their ominous shadows on the earth below. She turned her eyes away toward the east.
The terrain was not the only thing on her mind. The whole time Divi sat there, she had the oddest feeling that someone was watching them. She wasn’t sure because she couldn’t see anyone or feel anyone physically there. Her thoughts were pulled back from where they had strayed when she noticed Thamalos walking to his horse. The others also tuned.
The elf said, “We'd better get moving. It's nearing midday. That is when the Sardonians hunt.”
“Why should we be worried about that?" Levus asked. "I’m sure we can take them.”
“You have never seen them eat,” Thamalos replied.
Levus gave a cocked smile. “No, but I’ve seen my friend, Cerrapies, eat and it can’t be any worse than that.”
Divi chuckled at Levus’ comment. He was right. During the meal they had in Arnis, she was amazed and appalled at how sloppy the blacksmith was. She would’ve offered to help Frey clean up, if she wasn’t a mage. Divi always did the dishes back home and she would use her telekinetic powers to get it done. Her mother taught her how and she loved doing it that way. That wouldn’t have gone very well in Arnis, though.
They continued riding for several hours. Divi was already getting hungry again. Perhaps it was the dry air. Yet, she figured she could wait until they arrived at their destination or made camp. With some portions of the land smelling like decomposed corpses, it curbed her appetite. After a few more strides, Eraddor and Thamalos halted and peered ahead.
Eraddor said, “The Paranock Fields. Once we get past here, the kingdom of Rudann isn't far.”
“Let us hope we get there before they notice,” added Tasi.
Suddenly, a loud horn echoed throughout the small valley they had just left behind. Thamalos searched for where the sound was coming from. The horn blared once again, louder than the first time. Eraddor unsheathed his blade and began scanning the landscape around them.
Levus commented, “This doesn’t sound good.”
Thamalos looked to the mountaintop on the right. There was their watcher. No use killing him. Their location was already discovered, so there was no point. He blew the horn once more.
“It’s time to leave.”
Thamalos was about to move forward when a loud rumbling sound came toward them, accompanied by shouted orders. Over the first hills of the Paranock Fields, twenty-eight beasts bearing riders became visible. Thamalos grabbed his bow and readied it in his left hand. Tasi rode up to the front.
“What’s going on?”
Thamalos answered, “Sardonians with Midenbeasts. I was hoping we wouldn’t run into them.”
Levus was surprised by the elf’s observation.
“How could these guys control a Midenbeast? The ones we ran into on the way to Lozela . . .”
Eraddor explained, “Because the people of Sardon mainly eat the flesh of men, the beast gods bestowed on them the power to control animals of any kind. Unless we leave now, we’ll be on the menu.”
He could see in Levus’ eyes that he wanted to inquire what the Sardonians hunted in their own territories. They still fed off small game for every day subsistence. If a stranger entered their lands, though, they became the higher priority on the food chain.
Thamalos added, “If this is all, we can take them. Trust me. Charge up the hill. If we can eliminate enough of them, they will retreat.”
The riders spurred their Midenbeasts forward. As they began to move toward Thamalos and the group, the elf prince nocked two arrows. Levus unsheathed the Moonsaber while Tasi and Divi both readied their staves.
Eraddor, still a little hesitant to attack against so many, gathered his courage and yelled as he led the charge against the Sardon Riders.
Divi didn’t know how they would survive this. Eliminating the riders was one thing, but then defeating the Midenbeasts was another story. They were now twenty feet from meeting in an attack. She could see the Sardonian riders very clearly. Boots and fur pants were all that most of them wore. Some wore vests made of poorly tanned leather on their chests, while others used red paint . . . at least she thought it was paint. All of them were bald and used more of the red pigment on their faces. Most carried crude clubs, but a few had bows as their weapon.
They were ten feet away.
Thamalos finally unleashed his arrows. One slammed into the neck of the lead Sardonian rider while the other connected with his Midenbeast’s head. Both died before they hit the ground. Eraddor ducked a swipe from another rider. As he repositioned himself on his horse, he spotted the back riders were ready to fire.
Erad
dor yelled, “Duck!”
The riders let their arrows loose. Because of Eraddor’s warning, all them missed their intended targets. Tasi aimed for a rider in the second wave.
“Fiiama Cailius!”
The spell connected on the ground just in front of them. The rider and his Midenbeast were flung into the air by the impact. The Sardonians on either side dispersed and turned back. This wasn’t the first time they faced mage magic, and they certainly remembered how much damage it could cause.
Divi was near the back of the group, so by the time they reached her, the first wave had launched all their weapons. One of the riders, though, still carried a spear and aimed it right for her chest. She concentrated and waited until he was about to throw his weapon. Using her powers, Divi pushed him off his mount. The Midenbeast was just as surprised as its former rider. Taking advantage of the situation, Tasi shot a fireball at it. The spell set its mangled fur ablaze.
Thamalos loosened another arrow, which connected with an incoming Midenbeast’s neck. The beast fell dead, throwing its rider five feet ahead. Thamalos was happy with how things had gone so far, but he was also concerned. He had battled Sardonians before. For some reason, these riders were holding back. In previous encounters with them, when the riders were dispatched, the Midenbeasts continued to attack. That wasn’t happening here. Something was up.
Levus headed for his first rider: one that had a spear ready to stab him in the chest. As the rider thrust the spear forward, Levus sliced it in half with the Moonsaber. Past the rider, another one was ready to fire an arrow. Levus quickly crossed in between both adversaries. The archer unleashed his arrow, missing him while hitting the rider with the broken spear in the back.
Eraddor and Thamalos were able kill two more as they broke past the final wave. Thamalos turned around to ascertain if another charge was necessary. Of the original twenty-eight, twelve had been killed. He smiled when the remaining sixteen began to retreat into the mountains. Just as I thought.
