The Banished Lands- The Complete Series

by Benjamin Mester

  Then he sighed long.

  “Looking back, I wish we'd have gone with Straiah. We could have stopped this weeks ago and he and Estrien might still...”

  Sheabor clenched his jaw, shaking his head and gazing at the table. Baron felt a wave of grief, knowing Straiah was probably already dead, along with Estrien and Gwaren. But Sheabor composed himself, switching topics.

  “Baron, I'm worried about your brother.”

  Baron opened his mouth for a quick dismissal of his worries, but didn't know what to say.

  “He isn't acting rationally,” Sheabor continued. “What's going on?”

  “He thinks King Euthor is speaking with him... trying to tell him something, but he doesn't know what.”

  “What else could he expect to hear from him? King Euthor's already somehow given him his powers.”

  Baron only shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

  “Is it possible the Illian city is still influencing him?” Sheabor asked. “Could they still be controlling a part of him?”

  Baron shook his head slowly.

  “I don't know what happened to him there,” Baron replied. “But something happened. When I join powers with him, it's nearly overwhelming. The things he can do. I don't think it came from the Illian city. Otherwise, they'd probably have done the same to me.”

  Sheabor considered his words.

  “Well, you know him best,” Sheabor concluded. “That's why it's up to you to manage things while I'm gone. I hate leaving you in this position Baron, but I have no other choice.”

  “Don't worry about us. Blair may be going a bit off his rocker, but he's still my brother.”

  Sheabor smiled.

  “It's not just him I'm worried about. Dhelgar wasn't the only representative talking of abandoning the city. You'll have to manage them all while I'm gone.”

  “Don't worry,” Baron continued. “We'll have Baronnora in tip top shape when you return.”

  Sheabor laughed.

  “I'll need a couple dozen warriors, mostly from the Melanorians, though Drogan demanded to come as well. The rest will remain here. I've given instructions to Bowen. Keep building. Don't stop for anything. With luck, we'll track them down quickly, now that they're not so concerned with stealth. But we may be gone a long time, Baron. So be prepared.”

  Sheabor extended his hand and led Baron from the tent, where Agur was waiting. Others warriors gathered, mostly Melanorians, but also Drogan, dressed in his full armor. As they set off, Baron called out.

  “Go see Blair before leaving.”

  “Why?” Sheabor asked.

  “When Estrien fought Corcoran's elites, her arrows glanced off their armor at first. But Blair was able to coat them with some kind of stone that made the arrows penetrate.”

  Sheabor seemed intrigued.

  “We'll see what protection their armor gives them against my blade,” Drogan said.

  The group laughed and headed down the road, Baron watching them disappear as he wandered toward the center of town for the morning meal. First light came over the plains and the city began to stir and without thinking, he grabbed a plate of food and sat down to eat.

  “Thanks for waiting,” said a familiar voice, which broke his ruminations.

  Turning to find Ariadra, he opened his mouth for reply but her smile turned to concern.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Sheabor and some others have gone,” Baron said.

  Ariadra glanced to the floor in concern.

  “It's not your fault,” Baron encouraged. “You said the right thing. Sheabor leaving is the only way the rest of us can keep working undisturbed.”

  The worry was painted all over her face as Baron walked with her to fill a plate of food. He couldn't help but smile.

  “My father has always been a leader,” she said. “I never wanted to live like that, to be the one making decisions that would affect the lives of everyone.”

  Baron turned to her with a wide smile.

  “I can't think of anyone whose hands I'd rather place my life in.”

  They finished their meal in relative silence, and Baron set off for the city site. Blair was already there beside the outer wall they'd only just begun. Though ten feet thick, it was two feet high as of yet, not tall enough to keep a child out. But when finished it would be near impenetrable. If things went according to plan, it would stand at forty feet tall with towers stretching higher still.

  Baron watched him for a few moments as he took piles of various sands and mixed them in different ways to form different kinds of stone. Blair hadn't even acknowledged Baron's presence yet and Baron couldn't help but wonder if Blair even knew about the current troubles the city faced.

  “I was reading in one of the histories,” Blair said suddenly. “One of the Builders from the First Age created a kind of stone that was semi-transparent but only from one side. Imagine if we had a full wall like that, which our people could see out through but the enemy couldn't see in. Wouldn't that be something?”

  Baron nodded enthusiastically.

  “Let's get started,” Blair said. “Baron, I'd like you to work alone today.”

  “What for?” Baron asked. “We need to work together to form the sturdiest stone.”

  “We need to move more quickly than we're going. The workers are getting restless. The stone will be strong enough, I assure you.”

  Baron nodded and the two brothers each set off for opposite ends of the wall. All atop it were piles of sand and rubble the laborers had placed there for them. It was an unlucky combination of circumstances. While everything was low lying, it was very easy for the workers to haul stone to them and just drop them wherever they saw fit. But once things got a little higher, it would take much more effort to hoist the materials up to where Baron and Blair needed. Things were only stalled now. But if the workers gave them a little patience, the tables would turn.

  Baron worked by himself the whole of the day. He couldn't harden the stone as fully without Blair's help, but he could make it tougher than normal stone. That should be enough to keep just about anything out. At the close of the day, Blair wandered over to him. He ran his hand along the smooth stone Baron had constructed.

  “This is good work, Baron,” Blair said. “You're a better Builder than you were a blacksmith.”

  Baron laughed.

  “Just more motivated.”

  Blair smirked.

  “Come on,” Blair said. “Let's get some supper.”

  Baron was a bit struck by Blair's declaration. He'd half expected Blair to leave the job site immediately at the end of the day to return to the chest of documents. But Blair seemed more like his normal self again, almost as though some weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Baron didn't know what to make of it. But they soon arrived at the center of town and were greeted by Ariadra.

  “What's the news?” she asked. “Can we keep the field hens out yet?”

  Baron laughed.

  “They have wings, my dear,” he replied.

  “At this point, we could probably repel a flock of goats,” Blair said. “But not much more.”

  Ariadra laughed, turning with delighted surprise to Baron at his brother's change of mood. The trio grabbed bowls of stew and sat by one of the fires. Blair looked at them both with a contented smile on his face.

  “I'm very glad you're here, Ariadra,” Blair said.

  Then a slow grin grew on Blair's face.

  “Before meeting you, this brother of mine scarcely put in an honest day's work in all his life.”

  Baron laughed loudly and Ariadra smiled wide, but it was the unfortunate truth. In prior days, Baron rarely took anything seriously, occupying his days with whatever distractions seemed most diverting. He'd been without purpose. But now, everything was different.

  “This truly is going to be a marvelous city,” Blair continued with a sigh.

  Baron eyed him curiously. Blair was acting very sentimental. Baron didn't know what to make
of it. But Blair finished his stew quickly and arose to depart.

  “Going so soon?”

  “I think I'll turn in,” Blair declared. “Going to be another long day tomorrow.”

  Then Blair was gone.

  “What's gotten into him?” Ariadra asked.

  Baron didn't know. But as he watched Blair disappear into darkness, a distressing feeling was building within him, culminating into a terrible realization.

  “I'll be back,” Baron said, bursting to his feet, Ariadra opening her mouth but scarcely uttering a word to waylay him before he too disappeared.

  Baron ran down the row of tents until arriving at their own, finding Blair standing outside in a traveler's cloak, next to a horse, heavy laden with supplies and provisions. Baron came up behind him and grabbed him by the shoulders, turning him round to face him.

  “What are you doing?” Baron demanded.

  Blair stood there for a moment, staring at the floor, jaw clenched.

  “I'm leaving, Baron,” Blair said. “There's something I have to do. You have the skills you need now to keep working on your own.”

  Baron was taken aback. Blair turned to go, but Baron put his hand again on his shoulder.

  “You can't leave. If you leave, we could lose this war. Don't you understand that?”

  Baron was angry. Blair looked up from the ground and stared Baron in the eyes. Blair's eyes purveyed a solemn determination, the same determination Baron had in his own eyes for building the alliance city.

  “If I don't leave, Baron, we will lose this war.”

  Baron was dumbfounded.

  “What are you talking about? Tell me what's going on.”

  “King Euthor left something for us....something we'll need for the coming battle. I'm going to find it. No one else can.”

  “Why? What is it?”

  “That, I'll soon discover.”

  Baron's heart was racing. The old Blair was back, speaking in riddles. Baron couldn't just let him walk away. Sheabor was counting on them to finish the city.

  “Blair, I'm scared for you. I'm scared for us all.”

  Blair nodded, his own eyes showing a measure of worry and concern. But then his countenance suddenly lightened.

  “Don't worry,” he said. “The foundations for the walls and fortifications have already been set down. But you should give some serious consideration to how you'll arrange the kitchen and the housing quarters for the chamber maids. I'm leaving those areas fully in your charge, Baron.”

  A slow smile crept over Baron's face, and he burst out in laughter.

  “Please trust me, Baron. I know what I have to do. I'm not crazy.”

  After a few long moments, Baron loosened his grip from Blair's shoulder. Blair turned and swiftly departed, walking alongside his horse. Baron called out after him.

  “Where are you going?”

  “The sea.”

  Then Blair was gone. Baron stood there, struck dumb for many moments. He didn't understand any of this. Where was Blair going? Did he intend to find Pallin and Durian? They too, were headed to the sea and the Banished Lands beyond. But concerns for his own situation began to crowd out concerns over Blair's. Baron had gone from the fire into the frying pan. He was now completely on his own. Sheabor never would have left if he knew Blair would also abandon them.

  Baron wandered slowly back to the center of town, his mind racing. What in the world could Blair hope to find? He sat down beside Ariadra, almost without even acknowledging she was there and gazed into the fire.

  “What's wrong?” she asked.

  She reached her hand to his cheek and turned it to meet her gaze. Baron's gaze softened and he sighed.

  “Blair's gone. He left the city.”

  “What! Why?”

  “I couldn't stop him,” Baron continued. “He's gone looking for something...something he said King Euthor left for us to find.”

  Ariadra swallowed hard.

  “But Sheabor...He's counting on the two of you to finish this city.”

  Baron nodded and clenched his jaw. He knew full well what it meant. But after a few moments, a lightness returned to his countenance.

  “Don't worry,” Baron encouraged. “All that talk about me never putting in an honest day's work. I carried him the whole time we ran the smithy. You just wait. You'll see.”

  Baron had a fire in his eyes. Even if it killed him, he wasn't going to let Ariadra down. She'd taken a stand with him in building this city and he didn't care what it would take to make it a success. Ariadra smiled at him warmly and Baron could see in her eyes that she knew what he was thinking.

  “I love you, you know,” Baron said.

  He had never before said those words to anyone beyond his own family and it struck him more than he imagined it would, nearly stealing the breath from his lungs. Ariadra put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him. Baron didn't know what would happen in the coming days, but for now, everything was perfect. They would be tested, perhaps beyond their ability to bear, but they would go forward together.

  Word of Blair's departure spread like wildfire. In the morning, Bowen came quickly to find Baron, and upon finding him, began pacing angrily back and forth atop the low wall of the city. Baron continued working, smiling as Bowen composed his questions.

  “Where has your brother gone?”

  “I'm not entirely sure.”

  “Why has he gone?”

  “I'm not entirely sure.”

  Bowen loaded another question, but Baron cut him off.

  “Can we get word to Sheabor? He'll want to know what's happened.”

  “I'm not entirely sure,” Bowen responded in annoyance.

  Baron smiled.

  “I'm not even sure I want to,” Bowen continued. “He can't turn back now. He'll function better if his mind is free from worry over us.”

  That was probably true.

  “In truth, I'm somewhat glad Blair's gone,” Bowen declared. “He was making the workers restless.”

  Baron smiled. Baron was glad that Bowen had stayed behind. He was a kindred spirit, with the same gift for lightening tensions that Baron himself had. But Baron needed to get back to work. He had a job to do.

  “The only thing I can figure is that Blair went to find Durian and Pallin, the two of our number who went west to find the tomb of King Euthor on the Banished Lands,” Baron decided. “Maybe somehow, King Euthor made his tomb impenetrable to anyone but a fellow Builder. Maybe they'll need Blair to break inside. That's the only thing that makes sense to me. Either way, Bowen, we'll just have to manage on our own.”

  Bowen seemed impressed by Baron's determination. He could see the resolve in Baron to keep working and finish the project on his own. Baron had no intention of stopping or slowing down.

  “Fine,” said Bowen. “I'll instruct the others.”

  Then he departed. Baron continued his work on the wall for the first half of the day, the wall but less than knee high. Near the end of the day, Bowen came back to find him, watching him work with a scrutinizing stare.

  “Does the wall have to be so thick?” Bowen asked.

  “I'm just building it the way Sheabor laid out in the plans.”

  “That's the final plan,” Bowen said. “But right now, we need something more useful.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Something's brewing, Baron. I don't know what, but I don't like it. The walls need to be higher as soon as possible, enough at least to keep a small force out.”

  “You think they may attack here?” Baron questioned. “But we've got hundreds of able bodied men. They have a few dozen and are probably a hundred leagues from here.”

  “So it would seem,” Bowen said. “But I don't like it all the same. Continue working on the wall. I'll take care of the laborer's discontent. And when you get above head high on the walls, build some staircases for goodness sake!”

  Was everyone around here going mad? What was going on? But Baron did as he was instructed, raising a na
rrower wall only a few feet thick instead of ten. But no sooner had he begun than a trumpet call rang out from one of the watchmen. Baron looked to see what was happening, but couldn't discern anything. Were they being attacked? It didn't appear so. But he saw three riders gallop from the city out to the plains, arriving back in short order with someone slung over the side of one of the horses.

  Baron was far away, but from what the person was wearing, it looked like Estrien! Baron couldn't believe his eyes, and sprinted away from the wall toward where they were taking her. The horses galloped to the medical tent and Baron pushed his way through the crowd and threw the tent flap open. Bowen was already standing there with a grave look on his face.

  “What happened?” Baron asked.

  Bowen only shook his head. Estrien's side was bandaged but blood stains had seeped through. She was tossing and turning on her bed, sweat pouring from her brow, running a high fever and seemed delirious. Where in the world did she come from, and how did she make it all the way here in her condition? And where was Straiah? If Estrien was alone and in such condition, it could only mean the worst.

  Almost as though she sensed Baron's thoughts, Estrien called out Straiah's name and despair came across her face. It made Baron's heart sink and his eyes began to well up with tears. He turned to Bowen who put his arm on Baron's shoulder and led him out of the tent.

  “We need to keep working,” Bowen said.

  Baron opened his mouth to protest.

  “I'll make sure someone finds you the moment she regains consciousness.”

  Baron clenched his jaw but nodded, heading back to the wall. Seeing Estrien like this, and knowing that Straiah had surely been killed, discouraged the labors even further. Something needed to happen, and soon, some paltry bit of good news to help get things going again in the right direction. Things were on the edge of a knife.

  Baron and Ariadra went to visit Estrien in the evening, but her condition was unchanged. And as they went for the evening meal, Baron could feel the defeat in the air, like a damp blanket over the city. The workers wouldn't even lift their eyes to greet Baron. He had never heard the city so quiet. Things were about to fall apart.