The Isle of Mists: An Epic Mage Fantasy Adventure (Legend of Ecta Mastrino Book 3)

by BJ Hanlon

  “When we arrived, I just wanted to be with you… but there were implications made that you were to be destroyed unless…” she sniffled. “Unless I agreed to marry that man. They said you would bring ruin to the isle and all we stood for. But I loved you anyways and would’ve done anything to keep you safe. Now because of my feelings, because of my heart, this place, all that I love will be destroyed.” She paused, took a deep breath and straightened up. “I will not see you again Edin. Goodbye.”

  “I’m sorry…” was all he could say.

  She had loved him, now she didn’t.

  Something came to his head like a bird dropping. The west rises in darkness, The land will cover of shade.

  12

  The Trial of Edin de Yaultan

  Two days later, two pain-filled days later he was taken from his cell. The cell was a room deep within the castle, maybe even in the mountain and all the corridors around seemed abandoned.

  Placisus slapped wan-stone imbedded shackles and leg-irons on him and these forced him to take short steps. The chains rattled at every step like a wind chime of bones.

  The guards, under Placisus’ watch, were gingerly pushing him up stairs, around bends and corners until they reached a dark door. Beyond it, he heard murmuring voices like the crowd before wintertide games.

  Three loud bangs echoed and the murmurs stopped. A moment later, the door opened.

  Edin stepped through the portal into the agora. He was to the left of the lectern where he’d stood months ago.

  He saw spectators lining the benches and a group of eleven men, the Praesidium he guessed, at the bench. Mersett was absent.

  “Over there.” One of the guards said and led him toward a chair next to the lectern. He uncuffed the leg irons so Edin could climb the platform.

  As Edin sat, he was chained again, this time through an O-ring on the chair. The man continued, locking him in place until he could not move except to lean forward. He did this and itched his nose, more to check for movement than for any other reason. What did they think he’d somehow escape and kill many magi?

  A gavel slammed on the judge’s bench, for that’s what it was now in Edin’s mind. He looked directly at Pharont who seemed to have grown. His head, shoulders and arms were now at least half a foot taller than the rest of the Praesidium. No longer the First Among Equals… he was something more.

  Pharont started speaking. “I offer Edin de Yaultan, born of Laural de Yaultan and Rihkar Harlscot. A boy who had been searching for a sanctuary, a place where magi can live in peace.” The final murmurings from the crowd stopped.

  “The magnanimous gift of life we offered him wasn’t enough. He was given a job, a home, and food. A life free of suffering and worry. Was this good enough for him? No. Not for one of Rihkar’s blood. He, like his father before him is a traitor. A spy for the Por Fen and the usurpers on the mainland. He has willfully and with full knowledge released the spell that kept us hidden from those who’d wish to destroy us… our way of life. He even murdered my dear nephew Iashah.”

  It took him a moment to realize that he was speaking of Le Fie. “I did not…”

  “Silence.” The gavel smacked down again louder like a cracking of thunder through the air. “As the Premier of the isles, I have been given the grave responsibility to decide the fate of this traitor. It is known…”

  “This is a trial… not a sentencing,” A voice said from the behind Edin. It was Mersett’s.

  Edin craned his neck and saw the man seated in the front row next to Dorset and Cannopina. Dorset gave him a quick nod and a smile.

  Fior was there as well, next to Henny. Fior glaring, Henny was motionless and looking somewhere else.

  “I have seen the evidence with my own eyes. The mists are gone, the spell has died.”

  “The man…” Edin said. “The one in the tornado.”

  Pharont grew red, he almost forgot to bang his gavel. Then he did. “This is not a conversation… you are hereby…”

  “Master Pharont…” Mersett said standing and moving forward next to Edin. “This is illegal, as is your self-appointment of Premier. I may not be on the council anymore, but I do know our laws. You are breaking them.”

  “The laws are antiquated. They do not apply when such extraordinary events as have taken place.”

  “Are you making this up as you go? You’re not playing with those dolls in your chambers anymore. This is the real world.”

  Snickers were heard around the room and Pharont grew redder, if it was possible. His head looked like a fat tomato seated on a black pumpkin.

  “You are defending this traitor? Why? Was it you that sent him there to destroy our shield? Are you the real traitor to the islands and this… son of Rihkar is just the fool to follow?”

  “No…” Edin said.

  “I did with the help of Iashah,” Mersett said. “For it is my belief it is his destiny.”

  “To destroy magi? That is his destiny?”

  “To save everyone. The Prophecy of Ecta Mastrino...”

  “There is no such prophecy, it is a rumor…”

  “It was held by the one who protected us. We are told of a man who moves like a terrin… comes from the old kingdom...”

  “Shut your mouth traitor.”

  “By breaking the spell and releasing the one who was trapped for a millennia, he has shown he has the power.”

  “Edin Harlscot,” Edin said.

  “Quiet! There is no such thing as this supposed Ecta Mastrino. Even if there was, this boy is not him. I sentence him to death.”

  A loud cry came from somewhere above. Edin tried looking, but the balcony was shielded by some sort of mesh screen.

  “You have not yet tried him, nor have we discussed your four missing magi. Velcan, Lassial, Ellean, and Boore. Where are these men? Their families all said they went to work… of course they work directly for you?”

  “I know of their whereabouts, it is a matter of island security that they remain secret. As the Premier…”

  “Casting a terror spell on the island?” Mersett said. “I could feel it touch my brain. Subtle, but it worked. Everyone within a couple hundred yards of the tower tells me of it. They saw themselves and their families being murdered by an invasion of a mundane army.”

  “Silence…”

  “Edin what did you see?”

  Edin wasn’t ready for the question. He cleared his throat, the image of Arianne dying brought a tear to his eye but he was left with one question. “Four magi casting the spell in the second level of the basement in the Boganthean Tower?”

  Muttering came from around.

  Pharont banged his gavel. “Lies… he is to be executed before any further falsehoods.”

  Pharont’s neighbor leapt from his chair and stood, “Mersett, your accusations against the Premier are treasonous. I recommend your arrest and execution.”

  People gasped again, someone yelled, “you will die first…”

  “They were chanting in a circle above a green glowing rune. I saw fear… things that scared me but I fought through it. Then I stopped them.”

  “How?” Belo said. He clearly wasn’t following Pharont’s guidelines.

  “Enough.” Pharont yelled as he glared at his fellow councilor. Soon, Belo would be sitting down here next to Mersett.

  “With the wan stone blade that Casitas’ man tried to stab me with earlier at the party.”

  “Outrageous… I will not stand for it,” Pharont said. He stood so suddenly, the large chair behind him fell back and clattered to the ground. Pharont lifted a hand and Edin saw the sparks form.

  “No!” A scream from above came.

  A thick stream of yellow electricity flew from Pharont’s hand. It was strong and struck his chest.

  His heart almost stopped as it hit. Edin screamed as the force knocked him backwards ripping the chair from the ground. Edin’s head snapped back and the chair fell from the stand and crashed into the stone floor.

  He blink
ed, pain ravaging his already injured body. He heard wood exploding above his head. His mind, or eyes filled with a white light. There was silence.

  Edin blinked, people were around him, people who were gone.

  His mother, she looked at him and smiled, Kes bowed her head, Master Horston grinned. Were they ghosts? Were they coming to take him home?

  Then they disappeared, burned away like the fog when the sun returns. Shrill and hysterical crying and screaming echoed around him. Feet were slamming the ground, padding and pounding their way around like the riot.

  He opened his eyes and saw a nebulous cloud of smoke rising from his chest and could smell burnt hair and cloth. Around him, people cried out, some leapt from their seats and ran.

  From his vantage, everything was upside down.

  Pharont just tried to kill him, Edin thought. Someone dropped to a knee next to him. Edin blinked. “He lives.” Mersett said. “Help him up…”

  “How can that be?” Placisus said as he grabbed Edin’s chair and helped lift it back upright. He took out a key and began at the locks around Edin.

  “Out of my way Mersett…” Pharont screamed.

  “No.” Mersett cried and stepped between them.

  Edin heard lightning again and braced for the strike. It didn’t come. At least not at first. Edin saw Mersett take it in his palms like he was catching a ball. He held it for a few moments, then began to crumble.

  The ground roared beneath them like a war cry and suddenly a large peak grew into the sky and pierced the roof of the agora. The lightning smashed into it causing sparks to fly off and strike the ceiling and other people.

  Cries of pain echoed around the chamber. Lightning smashed into the balcony and a large chunk crashed onto a man’s head sending a spray of blood splatter around.

  “Grab him,” Dorset yelled from about a few feet behind Edin. He was sweating, his arms were out as if he were pushing something. Another peak popped up, then another like a stone wall being erected before his eyes.

  Placisus began to unshackle Edin. The man was slow and his hands shook, but his arms were free, then his leg.

  The wan imbedded shackles were flung at the back wall striking some onlooker. Edin watched it and nearly laughed. It was Rube and as he was hit, there was a loud thunk and he dropped into the stands.

  Edin was slow on his feet. Steadying himself with the help of Placisus, Edin started up the stairs to the door.

  Guards rushed in from the corridor outside nearly barreling them over. Placisus yelled something to them.

  Moments later, they were on the steps of the agora. A large horse appeared in front of him and he was pulled up onto its back.

  The rider, a man he didn’t know kicked the horse hard. The animal neighed and took off at a gallop down the road, each stride felt like a knife in his chest. Biting his tongue, he held on trying to think of anything but the pain.

  He had no idea how long the flight was, they were on a rolling street that seemed to curve only slightly between tall condensed buildings. The rider jumped off and with the help of three other people, he was pulled into a building. His heart was racing and he felt like it was going to leap from his chest.

  Inside, something was poured down his mouth, it was lemony with a hint of something else, a sweetness and slowly, he fell asleep.

  Edin woke on a bed, barely able to get his eyes open. With the soft whispers of people talking somewhere around him.

  “Mother?” Edin sputtered. His head warbled like he’d been on a ship in choppy seas. With the vicious pain in his chest.

  “Here, drink this,” a woman, not his mother, said. The tea swirled in his mouth. The lemon tea again.

  Edin opened his eyes and saw two women, Madame Caesum and one he’d never thought he’d see again. Laural the healer.

  “You’re…”

  “I’m here, and you’re lucky to be.”

  “My…”

  “Your chest will take time to heal. Caesum and I have been working all night.”

  “Where am I?”

  “Safe… now rest,” Laural said, she placed a wrinkled hand on his and gave it a small squeeze.

  The tea put him out again and Edin slept, his mind wandered, drifting in and out of some dark room. He felt it before, knew the place. A dark version of the Praesidium chamber. A cold tingling rolled up his spine, Edin looked down and saw his glowing body stationed on a small circular stone pedestal.

  “Well now, you are still alive” A snake like voice said. A barrage of coughing came from just before him. Down, near the base of the pedestal was the serpentine figure of the Inquisitor de Demar. He wiped a white rag from his face and Edin saw blood. The man tried standing straight, but remained hunched. “See what you’ve made me become?”

  Edin kept his eyes locked on the man. There was nothing to say.

  “I am glad you still live… I’m wanting more and more desperately to tear your heart out myself. Bring him in.”

  A door slammed open and a justicar entered followed by two more carrying a third. They dropped the body to the floor like a bag of refuse. It was almost unrecognizable as a human. The limbs were bent as if every joint was pulled from its place. Flaps of skin hung from his arms and back. The man had barely there dark hair… but it held vague tint of red to it.

  The face looked swollen and bruised but there were parts that looked familiar. Edin’s spiritual body shivered. “Berka,” he gasped, “what have you done to him?”

  “Hmm,” the old man said and strolled toward his former friend.

  He saw Merik, the justicar step back, his face seemed contorted with anger… but it wasn’t aimed at Edin. It was turned toward Diophin.

  Diophin bent down and patted Berka’s head.

  “Don’t touch him…”

  “Your childhood friend is tough… obviously though I’m not sure how much longer he will stay that way.”

  “He’s one of you…” Edin rasped, seeing his friend, despite all that had happened made tears well in his eyes. “He hates me… how could you…”

  “This is beside the point. For months, you have eluded my summoning with the Callto Stone…” He held out the yellow glowing rock, “As I thought, you’d made it to the island but now… it seems the barrier is gone.”

  “What do you want?”

  “You…” He hissed, his voice lowering like a cat getting ready to pounce, “though, I have a different proposal.” He stood in the hunchback way and held his hands out like some benevolent lord. “You are strong… whispers say the strongest. Come to me and I will free him.”

  Edin gazed down at Berka, there was no fight in him, he was a corpse but his rising chest said a corpse that still lived. “You are a demon, Diophin the wicked blotard.”

  “I have been called that.” He glanced sideways toward Merik, “but I am one who can also grant life.” He coughed again, holding up the red stained handkerchief.

  “You see my order has been fighting the evil of your kind for a millennia; it is an endless game with such high stakes that we’ve never been able to make that killing blow… but the shield is down and I know you are exposed. Join us and you will live…”

  Edin swallowed, did he just… It didn’t matter. “Never, you must be a fool-”

  Diophin cut him off. “Think of your friend, your village… the peace that would be had from magi being no longer a threat. Dunbilston is ready, Resholt has been mobilized… your precious islands are now in our grasp.” He coughed, almost choking for a minute or more.

  “Come over to the righteous side, fight with us and I’ll even allow you your woman. And after the magi is done for, you will be allowed to live, although you will be made sterile. But you’ll have your life. Think about it…”

  The yellow light grew brighter, it expanded like a ball hurtling toward his face at a great velocity.

  Edin shut his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw the small room with carved wooden beams looking like waves. Edin sat up in bed with a slight pai
n.

  His torso was cocooned in a wool cloth that stretched across his chest and wrapped around his shoulders, ribs, and waist.

  He leaned forward and put his head in his hands.

  The picture, Berka’s broken body on that cold floor like a disused hunting dog made him clench his jaw. He felt the tears beginning to pour down his face. How could this happen to him?

  Edin heard the door open and saw Laural step inside. With her, was a tearful Arianne. She ran toward Edin and threw her arms around his neck. The pressure caused him to wince and Laural seemed to have noticed.

  “Careful girl… he’s worse than when I healed you.”

  Edin didn’t hug her back. He just looked up at Laural, “what happened?”

  “You need rest.”

  Edin stared back at her as Arianne pulled back and sat down next to him.

  Arianne sighed. “They took Dorset and Mersett into custody, treason charges.”

  “What?”

  “Placisus escaped, he has been stripped of his position by the Premier. Everyone is looking for you now… the city is at war with itself…”

  “Because of me…” suddenly he remembered the offer from the Inquisitor, they were mobilizing.

  “Belo and Alerin, another council member, Cannopina and others have set up defenses around parts of the city. The isle is split, some backing Pharont, some backing you…”

  “Me?” Edin exclaimed, his head started swimming again. “Why would someone back me?”

  “They believe Mersett… that you’re the one from the prophecy, the…”

  “Don’t say it…” Edin paused looking blankly at the wood footboard by his feet. The words from his ancestor flowed in his brain. “The west rises in darkness, the land will cover of shade…”

  “What was that?” Laural said as Arianne gripped his hand.