“Quiet, you two,” Auvelia said from the wagon’s bed.
They both stopped, if only to appease Auvelia. Yet Treasach punched Leith in the shoulder and hoped no one else saw him. Leith yelped in pain.
“Hey! Quit that!” Kellen shouted.
Treasach grinned at the steaming driver. He crossed his arms in a show of false triumph. Leith attempted to ignore the royal twit sitting next to him and peered into the fog. The others were thankful another bout of bickering from those two had ended.
Faolan noticed Bayne growing apprehensive. The knight was fidgeting, and sweat beads began to sprout from his forehead. Faolan was not sure what worried the man and decided to let him be for the moment. He glanced at Aili. She had recovered for the most part from whatever had frightened her back in the courtyard, though Faolan was still confused about what had scared her so much. He recalled standing in front of the statue and reading the inscription. Then the next thing he could remember, Aili was crying behind him. He felt as if something had disrupted his memory.
The wagon lurched to a stop. Its occupants were caught by surprise, and they all looked toward Leith, who was squinting at something farther ahead in the road, but the fog made it hard to see. It was Caedmon. The wolf guardian was standing in the middle of the road with one hand outstretched toward the wagon. He was motioning for Leith to stop. Everyone waited with bated breath while no words were exchanged. Caedmon stood in silence as his ears twitched and rotated. He was focusing on anomalous sounds in the forest. His ears made subtle adjusting movements as they homed in on the sounds’ origins and attempted to pinpoint their locations. Everyone searched the shadowed forest for the source of Caedmon’s hesitation. They could hear nothing, nor did anything seem to move between the thick trunks.
“Faolan,” Caedmon whispered.
Faolan jumped in shock and saw Caedmon’s big blue face inches from his own. He looked forward toward the road, then back to Caedmon, who stood next to him now. He was surprised the ancient wolf could move so quietly. His heart was beating fast.
“How—?” Faolan managed to whisper. He tried to quell his bafflement. “What, Caedmon?”
“Something is observing us from the shadows,” Caedmon said in a low voice.
“Who?”
Caedmon shook his head. “Have Leith continue down the road. Prepare yourself. I will attempt to scare it out into the open. I may need your assistance if it proves aggressive.”
Without Faolan’s voiced agreement, Caedmon sprinted down the road, back toward Lesley.
“Leith, keep us moving,” Faolan said.
Leith nodded and snapped the reins. The small wagon crept forward again. Faolan unhooked his swords and waited. Moments passed and nothing happened. Neither a sound nor a sign of movement came from the shadows. Everyone relaxed and began to breathe.
“You know, I bet you his old ears are just hearing things,” Treasach said.
Gavina shot the prince a disapproving look.
“What? He is ancient . . . his hearing could be playing with him,” Treasach said.
There was a sound off to the right, a quick scuffling of sorts. Everyone turned just in time to see a body fly out of the shadows and across the road. The creature slammed into a large tree trunk with immense force and fell to the ground, lifeless. Faolan leaped over the wagon’s side and moved out in front of the horses. He stood poised and stared at the corpse. Its iridescent skin was dark purple.
A twig snapped farther up the road, and another purple form ran out of the tree line. As the Drey’kan reached the middle of the road, its head twisted toward Faolan, and its metallically reflective eyes took note of the wagon’s standing warden. Time seemed to slow for that mere instant as Faolan stood frozen and in utter trepidation for the unique humanoid’s eyes seemed pleased at Faolan’s apparent awe, almost as if they could simulate a smile. The mouthless head swiveled back into place, and the foreboding form vanished into the road’s left tree line.
“Did you see? I told you their arms ended in two-foot-long blades! Not hands! Wicked creatures, I tell you,” Bayne shouted.
Caedmon exploded from the right tree line at full stride.
“Do not let it get away!” Caedmon shouted at Faolan before disappearing into the left tree line.
Faolan refocused and shouted over his shoulder. “Treasach, come with me! Everyone else stay with the wagon!”
Faolan dashed into the trees with Treasach at his heels. They wove through the obscured understory in Caedmon’s general direction. They maneuvered around large roots, which were thick as torsos and arched wildly out of the soft soil. After a few minutes, they stopped. Faolan pressed a silencing finger against his lips toward the prince. They listened to their surroundings in mounting anticipation.
A deafening silence permeated the air.
“Did you hear that?” Treasach whispered.
Faolan only had time to shake his head in disagreement before a great force rammed him from his right. His body was lifted off the ground and launched a short distance before tumbling to a stop. He lay on the ground, dazed and disoriented, then something clasped around his throat. It heaved him off the ground and slammed his back against a tree. The invisible force held him suspended by the throat yet it did not proceed to choke him.
Treasach trailed after Faolan’s odd movements and hesitated a short distance in front of Faolan with sword and shield drawn.
“What is happening? I do not see anything! There is nothing to strike down!” the prince yelled.
A deep, diabolical laugh thundered through their minds. “So you are the great forest elves? Your kind is pathetic.”
A six-foot-tall, hairless form coalesced from thin air before Faolan. The dark-purple form finally revealed itself to the flabbergasted elves. Faolan stared at its now-visible metallic eyes, noticing they had neither pupils nor irises. As a chill ran up his spine, he switched his gaze to the Drey’kan’s arms. The Drey’kan’s right arm grasped his neck with a relaxed hand, which was alarming, though Faolan was more concerned by the Drey’kan’s left arm, which was a sharp extension hovering less than an inch before his right eye. There was no hand at its end. Instead, a two-foot blade extended from the being’s forearm. Even more stunning was the fact that the skin changed not only color but also into the consistency of an actual sword, beyond the end of the expected forearm.
The Drey’kan’s disturbing voice beckoned within their minds. “Why do the weak oppose us?”
Treasach remained still. He did not dare endanger Faolan’s life any further.
“You were pursuing us,” Faolan said.
The Drey’kan pushed the palm of his hand into Faolan’s throat; he spasmed and coughed. The Drey’kan narrowed his eyes.
“Not pursuing . . . observing,” the Drey’kan corrected.
“Why?” Faolan gasped for air. He attempted to understand what the Drey’kan were up to as he anxiously watched the sharp extension dancing an inch before his right eye.
“The wolf guardian,” the Drey’kan said.
“Why do you concern yourself with him?” Faolan said.
The fearsome voice roared within their minds. “He kills Drey’kan. If he continues to interfere in the plans of the Drey’kan, then the Drey’kan will depart for war against the races. And he will watch as your kind falls.”
The Drey’kan began to tighten his grip, and Faolan kicked as he helplessly tried to breathe. An inharmonious laugh sounded through their minds as the Drey’kan’s eyes smiled at Faolan’s struggle. Slowly, the Drey’kan’s form disappeared from sight as it dissolved back into nothingness. The grip around Faolan’s neck persisted a second longer before releasing. Faolan collapsed to the ground and heaved for air. He rubbed his neck as the pain lingered. He glanced around only to witness Treasach wildly twisting about with sword and shield held aloft in defense.
“Treasach.” He strained to speak.
Treasach turned his attention to him.
“Make sure the others are safe,” he said.
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“What about you?” Treasach said.
“I am fine. It is not coming back,” Faolan said.
Treasach nodded and rushed into the shadows, leaving Faolan to recover from the encounter. Faolan attempted to shake the uneasiness he was feeling. Never before had he seen a Drey’kan. He was surprised by its strength and unnerved by its appearance. He shook his head when he thought about that menacing voice, which bellowed only in their minds. He knew deep within they could have done nothing to resist an attack by the Drey’kan. If the Drey’kan had chosen to ambush the group, they would have been slaughtered, solely due to the Drey’kan’s ability to fade in and out of sight at will. He realized from the brief encounter the Drey’kan were indeed a formidable adversary, and the creature’s threat should not be taken lightly.
He stood up and began walking back to the road. While he walked, he thought about the events and analyzed the encounter. He needed to learn and better prepare for the future. He knew he might have to stand against one again, though he knew it could not really be called standing as he was admittedly hanging helpless and powerless for most of the confrontation. He hoped with all his heart he would never have to stand against another Drey’kan, but if he did, he wanted to improve his odds of survival.
Faolan emerged from the tree line and stepped onto the road. He noticed the wagon was a fair distance away. Treasach was speaking to the others, but Faolan could not hear the prince’s words. After a moment of concerned expressions and discussion, Caedmon came to Faolan’s side.
“Are you injured?” Caedmon asked.
Faolan shook his head. “We must talk, Caedmon. There is a great deal I do not understand as events continue to unfold. First the demon and now the Drey’kan. I fear for the kingdom’s safety.”
“Very well, we will converse tonight,” agreed Caedmon.
Faolan was content with Caedmon’s compliance and left the subject there until later.
◆◆◆
The group made camp near the road in a small glade after the sun had set. The redwoods towered along its perimeter, which allowed a small area of clear star-cluttered sky to shine through the high canopy. The night swallowed the forest, and the warming campfire’s bright glow caused the night around them to seem deeper. The group was sitting around the flickering campfire after consuming dinner. Faolan sat with his parents. Not far from them sat the healers. Continuing the circle around the campfire were Caedmon and Gavina, who were accompanied by the three human knights. Off to their side and separate from the others sat Treasach. A silence radiated around the camp as the long day’s events sank into their thoughts. Caedmon could feel a slight tension building from the others.
“Ask me what you wish, and I will try to calm your restlessness.” Caedmon finally broke the silence.
Kellen inquired first, “Why are the Drey’kan here?”
“I am unsure of their intentions,” Caedmon said.
“How do the Drey’kan fade in and out of sight?” Auvelia asked.
“I am not certain, though the Ikalreev believed there is a trait in the Drey’kan’s skin which hides them from the light. The Drey’kan are only visible by the heat they produce when their skin exhibits this trait. When they disappear from sight, they do not vanish; they still take up space and move about as you or I.”
“How did you know they were watching us, Caedmon?” Treasach questioned.
“I could see them. The Ikalreev created my eyes to see the visual realm of both light and heat. A long time ago, the Drey’kan warred against the Ikalreev for an age. The Ikalreev learned about the Drey’kan’s unique abilities and how they are utilized in combat. The Ikalreev believed I might need the perception of heat in order to protect the three races.”
Faolan entered the conversation. “Caedmon, how do a Drey’kan’s hands transform into blades?”
“They are not hands. The Ikalreev called them extenders. A Drey’kan’s forearms seem to just end when they are at their neutral state, appearing as a flat surface at the end of their forearms. The extenders can turn into whatever form the Drey’kan wishes them to be: hands, simple weapons, an extra pair of feet, or even tentacles, I suppose. Whatever form the extenders take, they will also exhibit that form’s respective properties of consistency, texture, and appearance; becoming exactly what they appear to be.”
“And their eyes—why do they appear so?” Bayne said with a tinge of fear.
“The Ikalreev told me the Drey’kan see heat, not light. The Ikalreev believed the Drey’kan’s eyes needed to see heat because they remain hidden most times from the visual light spectrum. The Drey’kan would not be able to function socially or militarily without their heat vision. It makes sense to think the Drey’kan would need to see heat in order to see their brothers on the battlefield. Perhaps the metallic property aids their sight somehow.”
“If they attacked, we could do nothing,” Faolan said. “They are, as you said, magic.”
Caedmon heard the fear in Faolan’s voice and attempted to console him. “Do not concern yourself with the Drey’kan. I will deal with them if the need arises.”
Faolan looked into Caedmon’s eyes. “The Drey’kan who threw me around with ease said if you kill another of their kind, they will rise for war against the three races. And you would watch the races die.” Faolan paused. “Honestly, I do not believe you could protect the races if the Drey’kan unleashed their full fury against us.”
The accusation stung Caedmon deeply. “Perhaps. Though I am not the only one meant to protect the races.”
“What are you talking about, Caedmon?” Gavina was intrigued by the underlying tone of Caedmon’s statement.
Caedmon hesitated as he alluded to the Ikalreev Prophecies and was uncertain if this was the time to speak of them. The story was long and would not quell their fears. He was concerned it would do the opposite.
“Caedmon, what do you keep secret?” Auvelia softly asked.
Caedmon looked around the fire and noticed their unrelenting stares. “Are any of you aware of the Ikalreev Prophecies or the Ikalreev spell?”
“Yes, my father mentioned them once, but he did not explain what they were,” Treasach said.
Caedmon sighed. “I shall start from the beginning. An ancient race known as the Ikalreev once existed and were led by the five most powerful Ikalreev Archmages known as the High Council. They experienced a series of visions, which they did not fully understand. The visions showed them parts of the future. A future where five powerful evils spread darkness, three titans rise, and one fallen angel reigns. Great confusion swept through the High Council as the unwanted images flooded their minds. Over time, tensions mounted as they witnessed the world coming to an end, though they eventually realized the source’s intention.
“They devised a plan to aid those far in the future. In the visions, they took note of three intelligent races appearing many times. They did not recognize the races themselves, because these races had not yet settled in Verdunmull. Yet this did not prove troublesome to the Ikalreev, for they were the epitome of magic. If their magic could not be applied to a situation, then the magic did not exist.
“The High Council deemed it necessary to cast a spell that would travel the threads of time and affect the three races in their visions. This spell would grant five individuals the ability to use the elements. Three of the individuals would be from the races, one from each race. I was the fourth individual, a creature created by the Ikalreev, the Guardian of the Races. The fifth individual was only known by the High Council and remains a mystery. The fifth could be of any race, creed, or intelligence. They granted the five individuals the means to save the three races and the world from the impending darkness, which they so feared in their visions.”
Caedmon paused briefly to see if his audience was following. “The Ikalreev created me immortal to time’s erosion on the living so that I may protect the races until all five Ikalreev mages arise. However, my magic remains incomplete, and I cannot go through the
trials until I find at least one other Ikalreev mage.
“For a number of years, the Ikalreev educated me on a vast array of subjects, including what was to come and the purpose of the five Ikalreev mages. Yet, as I am witnessing these recent events unfold, I have to admit I am beginning to lose faith in the spell. I have yet to find the others, and with the foretold Initiate undoubtedly roaming Verdunmull at this very moment, the circumstances seem increasingly dire.
“The five are supposed to stop the Initiate from opening the First Seal, preempting evil from sweeping over the world. The Ikalreev granted me one glimpse of what is to come, and I must assure you I am unable to stop it alone. If I do not find the other four soon, then I fear the Initiate will find the key to the First Seal and open it. The First Seal is what presently imprisons the five evils and their legions, which the Ikalreev foresaw bringing complete ruin to this world. Without all five Ikalreev mages blessed with the elements, I fear the Initiate cannot be stopped, and this world will be forsaken.”
“Caedmon, you keep mentioning the First Seal. How many seals are there?” Faolan said.
“There are six seals in total. At least, that I know of. The most powerful Archmage believed there was a seventh seal, but the others did not agree.”
“There are six seals! And we are here worrying about just the first? If there are six seals, and the first is supposed to end the world, then what are the other five seals intended for, Caedmon?” Treasach said.
“All I know are the numbers the Archmages told me: five, three, one. Five evils to purge, three titans to mold, one fallen angel to reign. I have tried to consult the tome of the Ikalreev Prophecies, but it is cryptic.”
Faolan flashed back to the old madman in Lesley as they were departing. He whispered, “Two, three, five, the opposite they shall arise . . .”
Caedmon looked at him with a questioning glance. “What?”
“Two?” Faolan said. “Should it be two, not one?”
Treasach blurted, “How would you know?”
“Ah, never mind.” Faolan glanced away.
Verdunmull Page 8
