by CA Morgan
Gently, Raga did so and the green gem suddenly appeared on the ground in front of him. Raga’s teary eyes opened wide in shock. Eris had had that gem with him the whole time and he hadn’t known. He hadn’t even sensed its presence, nor had he felt a bulge in the leather when he had packed Eris’ things and that had been more than once.
“Eris…how?” was all he could say. Anger pulsed in him. He picked up the bow and jammed the green stone into the mounting. Like the others before it, it did nothing. Even fully complemented, it did nothing. “Damned bow! You have all your gems. Work! Give me back my powers,” Raga demanded furiously, and gave it a violent shake.
“Don’t...” Eris whispered, his voice fading.
“Eris, it’s not right for you to die this way. You aren’t supposed to die. We’re on the verge of finishing this and getting you your life back. I should have listened. I should never have brought you here. It should not have ended this way.” Raga's fury turned to sorrow and the tears streamed down his face.
“What way…friend?” Eris asked in barely a whisper. A slight, so slight it almost wasn’t there, smile flickered for a moment on his dirt-smudged face.
It was a smile that flashed like the light of a thousand torches in Raga’s heart and he knew it was sincere. He was about to question Eris’ words, when he remembered what he had told him. Was it not the way every warrior wanted to end his life, serving and defending those who couldn’t, as the blood of the enemy wet the ground even as his own life’s blood flowed from his body. But the bitterest blow of all was that Eris had called him friend.
“Friend, Eris?” Raga asked. His big hands trembled as they gently closed against each side of Eris’ face. Eris nodded slightly and closed his eyes. The red sky was too bright. The gaping black holes were too frightening.
“No, Eris, no,” Raga wept as he gently cradled him against his broad chest willing him to breath once more and then again.
The ground around them suddenly trembled with a mighty roar of laughter as the black and red, burning form of Riza appeared before Raga’s disbelieving eyes. The blazing fire around his head reduced to smoke and he turned black, yet the burning coals of eyes remained bright.
“Riza? What are you doing here?” Raga asked annoyed. Something about this new situation was making him feel even more disturbed than he already was.
“As if you didn’t know. You’re a sneaky one, Raga-Tor,” Riza chuckled, but Raga remained puzzled. “What is it that always rouses me from the pits; the delightful death of another foolish soul that attempted to play a dangerous game with me? Why do they do it? They never win.”
Riza laughed again and pointed to Eris with a gnarled, twisted finger. He made an obnoxious sucking sound as his lips curled up grotesquely to reveal white, razor-sharp fangs that eagerly awaited the taste of Eris’ blood.
“By the gods, no!” Raga exclaimed aghast. His ruddy face paled. “What sort of game were you playing?”
“Truly, Raga-Tor, all this fuss for a mortal? You’re not yourself these days. Charra-Tir has really taken you to task, hasn’t she?” Riza mocked. He bent down to take a closer look at both of them. The traces of Raga’s tears stopped him. “Oh ho, what is this now? Tears? You?” Riza howled with laughter. “Of all the Red Vale elementals, I never thought to see you shed a tear. You’re the meanest and most devious of the lot. I find this rather amusing. But, I am disappointed with this one,” he said and nudged Eris’ foot.
“Why, because he didn’t let you kill him sooner?” Raga asked angrily.
“No, that he changed his mind and decided to trust you. If he had managed to avoid the avatar, when were you going to kill him? Before or after your revenge on Charra-Tir?” Riza asked.
Raga looked up at him appalled.
“I never had any intention of killing him.”
“You’re not a very convincing liar. You’ve killed them all in the end. When they’ve suited your ends, poof, just a little puff of fire and ash,” Riza said. He snapped his fingers and a fiery spark blazed and went out.
“I’m not lying,” Raga insisted. “I’ll admit there were times when he sorely tried my patience, but he’s not like any of the others. If you knew him as I do, you would see that.”
Riza shrugged.
“Lie to yourself then, because I know you. You would have been hard pressed to kill him before in a match of sword against sword, but now that you are on the brink of having your powers restored…well, like I said, poof, the end. I’m just saving you the trouble,” Riza said.
Eris let go an almost inaudible sigh that caught both of their attentions. Riza leaned a little closer, but Raga shoved him back.
“His life ebbs very low. It won’t be long now,” Riza said. “In a moment or two he can tell you himself about the game we played before I chain his soul for the duration of our agreement.”
A ponderous weight of black, iron chains and locks appeared in the demon lord’s hand. Raga felt sick at the sight of them. He knew those heavy bonds would be the true hell for Eris, even more so than the place itself.
“No, Riza. I won’t allow this,” Raga insisted. “I shouldn’t have brought him here against his will. He was not meant to die here. Restore his life as I know you can.”
Riza smiled deviously that at the same time acknowledged Raga’s statement, but said that he would be contrary all the same. He shook his head in disbelief at Raga’s odd behavior.
“You know I won’t do that. Death is my business. Besides, I really should be angry with you. Twice you cheated me out of his soul. He was a hard one to kill. Usually I don’t have so much trouble.”
“You don’t play fair,” Raga accused, not knowing what else to say. He felt Eris shudder in his lap and knew his death was finally at hand.
“I don’t have to play fair. I'm Riza, Lord of the Pits of Damnation, remember. I have many plans for this one,” Riza said.
Raga felt the demon lord’s hot breath on his face as the tall, but squat looking demon, bent over Eris' nearly lifeless body. “Come to me, Eris. We have much to talk about, you and I. Your chains are warm and waiting.”
Riza rattled the black iron across Eris’ legs and Raga saw the aura of his soul beginning to waver around the edges of his body.
“No, Riza!” Raga shouted and knocked the chains away. He quickly laid Eris’ head on the ground and scrambled to his feet. “I won’t let you do this! If it’s a soul you want, take mine. Whatever deal he made with you, I will agree to. What other elemental has ever made you such an offer? Surely my soul is a greater prize than his.”
Riza laughed louder and red flames shot from his black ears in his mirth.
“No wonder the other elementals scorn you for your foolishness. You don’t have a soul, you dolt,” Riza laughed.
“What?” Raga said perplexed. “What do you mean I don’t? Everyone does.”
Riza laughed harder and little flames rose up all over his body.
“You're an idiot! You don’t. Only these pathetic creatures have them, and they're mostly wasted on them, too.”
“Then I’ll put myself in your irons in his place. Do with me as you will,” Raga insisted.
“Well,” Riza drawled, as he paused to consider the offer. He looked down at Eris, whose aura was growing brighter. “You would make an interesting experiment, something different for a change. His kind is so predictable. Fine. Agreed, but what to do with this one?”
“Let him go to the place of his own god, whoever that may be,” Raga said. He still wasn’t sure whether Eris believed in one or not. Or rather, it wasn’t that he didn’t believe, but more whether he would submit his life and soul to one.
An evil grin suddenly spread across Riza’s flat, pug-like face.
“I have a better plan. I think I will keep both of you. As you two are such good friends, it will be amusing to watch you torture each other. Yes, I think that will be quite an amusing change,” Riza said and leered at him.
“That will be enough, Riza,”
a disembodied voice boomed out across the barren land. “You overstep your authority.”
“Who dares speak to me with such gall?” Riza demanded, but he was just as startled as Raga.
Both sorcerer and demon alike watched as a shimmering light appeared and rapidly took on corporeal form.
“Who are you?” Riza demanded.
Raga instantly recognized the stranger as the god of Morengoth, Tas-Moren. In more obvious ways, he looked very similar to the Tamori king, but the light and purity of his godhood shone around him in startling contrast to Riza and the wastelands around them.
“I’m the god of the Tamori,” Tas-Moren answered. He raised a hand over Eris to keep body and soul together until they settled their business.
“The Tamori are all dead,” Riza spat. “You have no right to interfere.”
“I have every right. The man you claim, and the elemental, have fulfilled a prophecy cast by myself three centuries ago,” Tas-Moren said.
“Don’t play your games with me. I know how these things work. It could have been any man come along to help this one,” Riza said, indicating Raga. He kicked Eris’ foot. “This one made his deal with me months before Raga entered the situation. He promised me his soul for one year if he should die while still cursed by Charra-Tir. In exchange, I gave him a spell that would hide the power of the fire gems. Raga has his gems. This one is still cursed. I win.”
“You were working against me?” Raga asked in shock. “You and I are of the same kind. How could you betray a first-level elemental?”
“You are such a fool, Raga-Tor,” Riza snorted with a condescending leer. “This reduced state of power has revealed you for the imbecile you are. Where is your cunning, your deviousness? I’ve beaten you at your own games. But, you see, this one has a most vital soul, and I want it.”
“Enough I say,” Tas-Moren said, demanding silence. “Though you were spawned in treachery most vile Riza, you have no excuse for breaking oath with a first-level elemental.”
“What oath? I broke no oath,” Riza screeched.
“Yes, you did. You agreed to take the sorcerer in exchange for the man and then decided to keep both. I would say you went back on your word.” He held up a hand. “Don’t speak, not one sound. I know it was a trivial thing you uttered, but your mistake suits my need. They have served my purpose and as a reward, the man shall live. The elemental will take his place in your domain, but for only half the required time. Unfortunately, not even I can completely void an agreement made with you.”
Riza howled his defeat. He stomped his heavy, black feet and hurled the chains far out into the red void. His gnarled fists waved and threatened as he argued.
“You can’t do this! Your people are dead. You have no power to say who lives and who dies. There is not one soul to believe in you and until you have one, you are powerless. These two are mine!” Riza shouted furiously.
Tas-Moren smiled patiently as Riza’s firestorm ran its course. Puffs of black smoke came from the demon lord’s nose as he glared at the Tamori god.
“There is yet one, and one is all I need to overcome any of your obstacles. I preserved the life of my last king until the day when at least one, or both, of these men came across his path. My prophecy is fulfilled. You have been told how it will be,” Tas-Moren said.
Riza howled his loss and frustration and the ground trembled beneath their feet. Without warning, he vaporized from the desolate plain to the seventh level of his hell to lick his wounds. He pouted and raged about Raga’s eventual stay. There was no way to torment the elemental of fire. Raga-Tor was spawned in the fire and fury of creation and destruction. For him, it would be like coming home to the womb.
Raga felt numb by the sudden twist of events. He still wasn’t sure if he should feel sad or grateful. He looked down at Eris’ broken body and thought of the horrible waste of a proud young man, who still had so much more to do.
“My heart-felt thanks to you for saving him from Riza,” Raga said. He sat back down and pulled Eris into his lap. “If you would grant me a few more minutes before letting him go to his god, I would appreciate it.”
“Shall I add not listening to your list of shortcomings as well, Raga-Tor? I said that he will live and I didn’t say that merely to anger Riza,” Tas-Moren said. He echoed the strain of Eris’ own conceit, when he added after a moment, “The world has great need for one of his kind, for a champion of kings and gods alike.”
Raga’s face brightened slowly at hearing those words. His ruddy complexion warmed and the internal fire that fueled his existence burned in his eyes, though he was still unaware of its return.
“I'm afraid I don't understand what good we have done to warrant your good graces. All we have accomplished here is the destruction of the avatar,” Raga said. The sight of the slain beast more than embarrassed him now that he was face-to-face with the god.
“Many things have happened in the course of these months of which you are unaware. I will tell you, and you alone, several of these things so you will understand. We of the godhood have decided this is the best course of action, as you are so slow to ponder these things,” Tas-Moren said.
Raga felt embarrassed again and lowered his head. He used his sleeve to wipe some of the dirt from Eris’ pale face. The god of the Tamori smiled down and took pity.
“Watch, Raga. Then you will pay attention,” Tas-Moren said. He walked slowly and passed his hand over Eris’ still form from head to foot. The shining light of his soul faded and healthy color replaced the pallor of his face. His chest rose and fell more fully and evenly and Raga felt a steady heartbeat beneath the palm of his hand.
“Thank you,” he whispered, but kept his hand pressed to Eris’ chest just to be sure.
“You are most welcome. Now listen to my words,” Tas-Moren replied. “As many of your kind knows, and as Eris will discern for himself in time, life is not without purpose, though sometimes it doesn't seem so in its despair, its chaos. Much of what has happened was a lesson for Morengoth as well as for you.
“Morengoth, as you have already seen, is a man of many talents and possesses a mind of astute intelligence. Yet he, like any man, was and is capable of great evil. That evil needed to be purged from him if he was ever to regain his kingdom. When he got a hold of your gem, he could have easily plumbed its mysteries had he so desired. His temptation was great as night after night he wrestled with his desire for revenge against those who had come against him. After three centuries, he finally had the means with which to utterly destroy the descendants of the men who destroyed his people. My people for that matter,” Tas-Moren said. A shadow of sadness passed over his face.
“Forgiveness is a worthy trait in a just king,” Raga said, and the god nodded that this was so. “But it seems to me that you punished him for an unjust amount of time. Three centuries is a long time to be alone. I know something of this loneliness and I don’t find it pleasant.”
“Of course it wasn’t pleasant, but it needed to be endured. Morengoth wasn’t always like the man you met. Time has tempered him. Besides, there were other things that needed to happen that could only come about by the passage of time. You have existed for countless millennia, yet one such as Eris doesn’t appear so often.
“Morengoth showed me his ability for pity and compassion when he offered to save Eris’ life, which at first he was loath to do. He displayed temperance and tolerance, when he allowed you to tell your story, then cunning and cleverness when he put you on the quest for Anya. In the past, he would have used threats and abuse to achieve his ends. Finally, Eris was the tool again, when Morengoth showed me that he has the ability to judge men accurately after only a short period of time. That was not easy for him given Eris’ own internal strife and his fits of intemperance. Nevertheless, an essential trait for rebuilding an empire,” Tas-Moren explained.
“I’m confused again,” Raga interrupted. “When and what judgment did Morengoth pass on him?”
“He gave him the sword
of the Tamori warrior did he not?”
Raga nodded. He looked down at Eris and saw that the pool of blood beneath him had blackened and was finally absorbed into the hard earth. He pulled aside the tear in the shirt’s collar to check on the wound made by the sharp talon. It was swollen and bloody, but it had stopped bleeding.
“By giving him that sword, Morengoth charged him with upholding his honor in all things. He reminded him that some things are worth whatever the cost,” Tas-Moren said.
“How could there have been any doubt by Morengoth or you? I’ve seen this in him from the beginning. In the end, my help in slaying the avatar was inconsequential compared to his efforts, which have cost him much,” Raga said.
Tas-Moren shook his head indicating that he was wrong and Raga looked puzzled.
“He wasn’t going to help you. His desire for those gems and the hate in his heart made him hesitate. He was content to watch the avatar kill you, which was a very real possibility in your reduced state. That fact wasn’t lost on him either.”
“Really, it could have finished me?” Raga asked.
Tas-Moren nodded. "Gods create, gods destroy at a level higher than yours. It was my avatar."
Raga shivered at the realization. “I know Eris hasn’t been the most pleasant person to live with, but he hurled himself into that battle and fought as bravely as any man, probably more so than most. In the end, he called me friend and I know he meant it.” A tear ran from Raga’s eye.
Tas-Moren smiled knowingly at Raga-Tor’s newly found innocence such as it was.
“Of course he meant it, and he meant to save your life. He wanted both of them for you as a true friend. Morengoth judged him correctly, and Eris, just in time, came to realize his own flawed thinking, as well as to understand that perhaps not all things are to be feared and hated equally. He realized that not living up to the honor he professes would have made his words, and his life, worthless when it counted most,” Tas-Moren explained.
“Then why let him be killed, or almost killed? What is the purpose in this other than to increase his deepest fears?”
