The Banished Lands- The Complete Series

by Benjamin Mester

“Not when you combine it with the final lines:

  And all or nothing, hand in hand,

  Let's find our place and make our stand

  King Euthor and Sheyla's place will always be in Eulsiphion. It's from that city that they and the rest of the world will make their stand against Corcoran.”

  Estrien was speechless and her gaze troubled as she considered his words.

  “Did you work this out or did Corcoran?” she asked at length.

  “He did,” Durian replied. “Though the details are getting fuzzy. It all made sense when we were connected. But now it feels like a passing dream.”

  Estrien's heart sank. If Corcoran really was right, the rest needed to know it. But the message was so subtle, hidden deeply within the metaphorical layers of King Euthor's poetry, which were now trapped here in the room with them for the rest of time. But something struck Estrien that didn't make sense.

  “If King Euthor somehow had the means to bring Sheyla back to life, why wouldn't he have done it then, long ago?” she asked. “Why wait twelve hundred years and the return of Corcoran?”

  Durian only shook his head. He didn't know.

  “He had much to do to help us against the return of Corcoran,” Durian offered. “Things like leaving a beach full of sands for making Shade Stone. Without King Euthor's help, we'd never stand a chance at defeating Corcoran. Perhaps once King Euthor finally finished setting things in place, returning to the Banished Lands with the Hammer of Haladrin, it was no longer possible to cross again back to the Eastern Realm. The ocean might have grown too wide.”

  Though it didn't seem much of an answer, it was the only one they had.

  “Was anything Corcoran told us true?” Estrien asked.

  “I'm not sure. He didn't know about Sheabor's wife, whether she was alive or dead. He's had all his attentions fixed on the Eastern Realm. He cares little for the state of Malfur's fortress or the prisoners therein. He abandoned it to the resistance months ago.”

  “Has he established himself on this continent?”

  “Yes. He's all over the Westward Wilds. He never trusted Malfur to secure this continent for him. He only hoped Malfur would throw the lands into chaos, which he did.”

  “Straiah,” she whispered. “Do you know if Straiah and Gwaren encountered them?”

  Durian shook his head.

  “I've not gotten any new information for weeks. But I know they've been landing ships for over a month now. The elite force that wreaked havoc on the Horctura was but a single vessel, aimed at turning our attention away from the rest.”

  “They succeeded.”

  Just then, the fires of the torches began to noticeably dim, quickly burning through what little air they still had. Estrien considered blowing them out to give them more time. But what was the point? She turned to Durian with a look of deep gratitude.

  “Thank you for not being angry with me,” she said. “It was so difficult going through with the plan, knowing that your life would also be taken.”

  Durian stared at the ground, his eyes glazing over. But he nodded and looked up at her with a smile. Estrien was suddenly overjoyed that she'd defeated Corcoran and expelled his spirit from Durian. If he'd killed her, as she had originally intended, Durian would've been left to die alone in the dark. Estrien placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a warm smile.

  “I'm very glad to have known you. You Suriyans are a humble and generous people.”

  Then the two embraced warmly. But as they stood there, Durian grew suddenly tense. Estrien released her hold and looked him in the face.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  Durian clenched his jaw and looked up at her with sadness.

  “He's gone. I felt him get pulled back to the Banished Lands.”

  Estrien was hit with a wave of grief. She could only nod slowly at his statement.

  “I'm so sorry, Durian. This is all my fault.”

  “You did what you thought was best. I don't blame you.”

  Soon the torches began to go out one by one and the air grew close around them. Estrien felt her thoughts cloud and a deep exhaustion take hold. They sat together on the ground, backs against the wall of the room, and waited for the end to come.

  Choices

  Baron was the star of Suriya. Everywhere he went people bowed and gave him their thanks. And though it felt wonderful to be so useful and to know that he was making a real difference, it also somehow felt hollow. What would it really matter what he accomplished in Suriya if Sheabor and the others couldn't defeat Corcoran?

  Baron was deeply conflicted. He was one of only two Builders able to help construct the alliance city. And though he kept telling himself that they didn't need him as long as they had Blair, Baron knew that his destiny was greater than the rebuilding of cottages. Of course Sheabor would need him in the coming struggle.

  But Baron couldn't yet bear to face them. Having lied to Sheabor and run off for home without saying a word, going back to the alliance wasn't going to be easy. And besides, Baron was in the middle of a new project now. If he abandoned Suriya just when he'd begun to rebuild it, he'd be doing the same disservice to them as he'd done to Sheabor. Instead, Baron lost himself in his work.

  At night, Baron would meet Jaden and his friends at Walloway's Tavern, his only real release from the cares of the wide world and thoughts of Ariadra. None of the others had ever been outside the kingdom Forthura and they were ever brimming with questions for Baron, bursting to know everything about the old world and the return of Corcoran.

  One night, Baron was in his usual chair, the others gathered round. But before anything began, one of the young women, Henna, produced something from her bag.

  “I found a book,” said Henna. “It was in the library in town. It's called Tales of the Prosperous Age.”

  Baron couldn't believe his eyes as Henna handed him the same book he had often seen in Durian's possession. He shook his head in disbelief, chuckling.

  “Did you read it?” Baron asked.

  “Parts of it,” Henna admitted.

  “Did you read the farewell poem of King Euthor to his wife, Sheyla? That was always my favorite.”

  “Yes! It was beautiful!”

  Baron handed her back the book and she opened it to the portion where the farewell poem of King Euthor was written, showing the others, who read it slowly.

  “The Lord of the House, Cavanah, Sheabor, carries a hammer made by King Euthor himself. That poem is etched on its side. It's quite touching.”

  Henna and Shay gushed at each other over such romantic sentiment and the three men couldn't help but chuckle.

  “We actually found the tomb of Sheyla,” Baron declared. “It's hidden in the lands of the Horctura, which were back then the lands of Cavanah.”

  Their eyes went wide.

  “King Euthor buried her there, in the place she loved most. He had another poem etched into the side of her sarcophagus, but I can't quite remember it.”

  Baron recalled the scene, of him and his friends standing there together above the beautiful form of Sheyla. It made him long to know where the rest were now. Where was Durian? Had he reached the Banished Lands with Pallin? Where was Blair? And what about Straiah and Gwaren? It brought a sudden wave of anxiety. Here he was talking about heroic events when his friends were out there living them.

  “Why was Sheyla away from her kingdom when she died?” Shay asked.

  “It was so tragic,” Baron said. “King Euthor's father began construction of a magnificent city for the people of Kester, using the same form of stone Eulsiphion is built from. But King Euthor's father, Cithran, died before the city was completed and King Euthor went to finish it in his father's memory. But that was just at the start of the Great War. Murmurings of a darkness in the west came to the Three Houses. It should have been King Euthor to go and visit the outlying townships, but he was so preoccupied that Sheyla went in his place. The Great War began before she could get back and she was shot down with ar
rows while fleeing through the plains.”

  The listeners were entranced at his story. But talking about it brought heartache and guilt to Baron. King Euthor had been hit with the ultimate tragedy, the death of his beloved wife. Yet even in the face of it, he'd found a way to selflessly put others first...even those he would never meet! And here Baron was, moping in his hometown while the rest still fought and died for the safety of the world.

  Just then, a notion struck Baron. There was an old sailor who moved to Suriya from one of the northern townships. He would often frequent Walloway's Tavern in the old days when Baron, Blair and Durian were also there. The old sailor had tall tales that all the audience loved to hear, though none of them really believed them. Baron remembered distinctly feeling sorry for the man who thought he commanded the rapt imaginations of all his young listeners. But in reality, any story from the outside world was worth listening to if it broke up the drivel of the average day to day.

  Baron considered seriously for the moment that this would be his future if he stayed in Suriya. Would the years pass him by and find him sitting with new listeners eager for tales of the outside world? Baron shuddered at the thought. But he couldn't yet bring himself to think about leaving Suriya. Why couldn't he stay here for just a little while longer? But way leads on to way, Baron knew. The longer he stayed, the harder it would be to leave. Baron looked up from his ruminations to find an audience now gazing at him curiously for his sudden change of countenance.

  “I think I'll call it a night,” he said.

  “What?” Jaden complained. “One more round, on me.”

  “No, really,” Baron resisted. “I'm pretty tired from work.”

  Then Baron left the tavern behind. Arriving home, his mother and father had already gone to sleep and Baron felt a sudden stab of guilt, for the old Baron was often out late carousing with his fellows and making merry. But the new Baron had left those things behind, or so he thought. The fact that even his mother hadn't waited up for him meant that she expected him to be out late, yet again.

  Baron didn't like the man he was becoming but for tonight he chose not to care about it, falling into his bed, exhausted. When he awoke, Marin was already up and heating some water for their morning meal. Baron got out of bed quickly and came into the main room.

  “Good morning, sweetie,” she said.

  “Good morning, mother,” he replied with a wide smile.

  Baron marveled at the fact that no matter how badly he felt about himself, the good opinion of his mother could always cheer him up. She would never think badly of him, no matter what he'd done. It inspired him to be a better man. He wanted to thank her for it, but couldn't, in the moment, find the words.

  Instead, he thanked her for the hot water, with which he made some tea and had a bit of breakfast, and then headed off for the morning job site. The laborers were already there and grumbling at the lateness of the hour when Baron arrived. Though they could still do work without him, he was the foreman and should have been the first to arrive, not the last. Blair had often put up with similar treatment in their blacksmith's shop but to do so to dozens of laborers was discourteous, to say the least.

  “I'm sorry for being late,” Baron said.

  Baron opened his mouth to say more but just got down to work instead. Baron, with a dozen workers, performed their usual task of repairing the main walls, the dozens of other laborers coming behind them and adding to the frames. Baron worked till midday, when he got hungry and took a break to eat, surprised to see Jaden approaching him. Baron could tell that he meant to talk with him about something in particular, and Baron invited him off to a quiet spot where they could have lunch together. The two sat eating their respective meals, Baron unsure as yet as to what Jaden meant to tell him.

  “My sister is quite taken with you, you know,” Jaden said after awhile.

  Baron was surprised by his bold declaration, opening his mouth for reply but not knowing just what to say. Jaden had a tendency toward exaggeration but if he'd made it a special point to come talk to Baron about it, he must have at least been fairly serious.

  “I see,” said Jaden with a chuckle after a few moments of silence.

  “It's just, there's someone else,” Baron said. “She's in another city. It's complicated.”

  “The best ones always are.”

  The two said little else as they ate the rest of their meals. Baron almost wished Jaden hadn't told him what he had. It would feel so good not to feel heartache anymore. The temptation to feel normal again was powerful, and made stronger now by Jaden's statements. Shay was beautiful and fun. The way Ariadra had looked at him in the forest...the way she had kept him at bay, not even wanting his comfort as she told him of the loss of her mother...it haunted him.

  Though he still told himself they would one day be together, he felt the creeping worry that maybe she didn't feel for him as strongly as he felt for her. Did he really want a relationship like that? She hadn't even been wearing the pendant anymore. Why would she have taken it off unless she didn't believe there was a future for them? When Baron finally glanced over to Jaden, he was surprised to see that Jaden was watching him.

  “Baron, what are you doing here?” Jaden asked suddenly.

  “What do you mean?” Baron asked, pretending not to know what Jaden was really asking.

  “I know you're from this town and all, but you're different now. Whether you like it or not, fate has chosen a different path for you. You have a greater destiny than telling stories in your favorite tavern.”

  Baron cast his glance at the distant sea over the horizon.

  “Don't get me wrong. We love having you around,” Jaden continued.

  “It's okay, Jaden,” Baron replied. “You're right. I guess I just haven't been able to admit it to myself. Thank you for being willing to tell me.”

  Jaden nodded, grateful that his words were accepted and didn't estrange him from his new found friend. Jaden patted Baron on the shoulder and then left him, bound for his apprenticeship at the glass blower. Baron clenched his jaw as he sat there, his heart pounding and his mind screaming for him to make a decision. What kind of man did he want to be? He was making a difference here, yes, but it was too easy. They respected him too much here to keep him accountable to a greater destiny. Baron was very thankful for Jaden, that he had had the courage to speak his mind.

  But he knew what he had to do. He would set off for the alliance city and deal with whatever consequences awaited. Would Sheabor ever really trust him again, knowing that Baron had abandoned them in their time of need? Though it was a difficult path and there would be much explaining to do, he couldn't stomach the idea of being an old man still sitting in a tavern in Suriya telling stories to mystify ignorant youths. He would become something more.

  Revelations

  The room was pitch dark and the air thick, with no sound but the labored breathing of Estrien and Durian. The plan had failed and Corcoran had escaped. Estrien felt herself beginning to slip away. But a muffled thud came suddenly from the other end of the room. What was that? It happened again.

  Estrien struggled to her feet and moved slowly toward it, fumbling about in the dark until, all at once with a loud crash, a blinding flash of light entered the room, with bits of stone flying in all direction. A moment later, the entire wall shattered. Estrien and Durian shielded their faces from the blast then turned their eyes back to see the silhouetted form of Blair standing with both palms extended to the empty space where an entire wall had just stood. The Hammer of Haladrin was lying on the ground beside him.

  Blair rushed into the room, seeing his two friends on the floor nearly suffocated. But approaching Durian slowly, he was wary until something in Durian's manner signaled to Blair that his friend had returned. Grabbing Durian by the arm, Blair pulled him to his feet and into a warm embrace. Durian was still woozy and reached out to the wall for support. Then Blair turned to Estrien with a look of guilt.

  “I'm sorry, Estrien. I just coul
dn't do it. I couldn't let you both die.”

  “It's alright, Blair,” she responded. “The trap didn't work. Corcoran found a way out.”

  “Thanks for not killing me,” Durian said with a smile to Blair.

  Blair threw his head back in laughter and suddenly, another figure appeared in the newly formed gap. It was Aravas and the three came forward together and joined him at the front of the building. Aravas gave a sigh of great relief at the sight of Estrien and Durian alive.

  “Though this turn of events will surely make our efforts to trap Corcoran more difficult, I wouldn't trade it for either one of you.”

  But something about his declaration struck Estrien. For though Corcoran had learned that the alliance now possessed the ability to construct nearly impenetrable stone, the trap had failed. Corcoran couldn't know that the trap had only failed because their second Builder, Baron, wasn't here to blend his powers with Blair. Something was nagging at Estrien, though she didn't know what. Her senses were returning in the fresh outdoor air and she gazed off into the distance.

  “What is it?” Aravas asked.

  But she glanced over to Durian.

  “Durian, what was Corcoran's impression of our trap?” she asked

  Durian cocked his head to the side, not understanding her question.

  “Did Corcoran know that you and I were never planning on escaping or did he think we left ourselves a way out?”

  “No, he knew you weren't going to escape. He could see it in your eyes.”

  Estrien walked away a few paces and then returned.

  “So conceivably, he believes we both perished in that room.”

  “I'd say so,” Durian replied.

  “Then perhaps we have the upper hand. I never considered what an asset Durian would be if we managed to get Corcoran out of him unharmed. I always assumed that Durian would be killed, no matter what the outcome.”

  “Thanks,” Durian said.

  Estrien smiled but continued.

  “Durian is aware of everything Corcoran is planning. If Corcoran thinks he's dead, he'll have no reason to change his plans.”