The Banished Lands- The Complete Series

by Benjamin Mester

  Estrien was greatly surprised.

  “Do you think you'll return?”

  Bowen sighed and set off again toward the city.

  “I doubt I'll be allowed to,” he said. “My superiors will be none too pleased with what little I have to report. I think a lifetime of shining the general's boots is my future lot.”

  Estrien smiled wide.

  “There will always be a place for you in the alliance.”

  Bowen bowed low. Bells within Cormak Castle began to ring as the group entered the city. Though they'd lost many, they'd somehow won the battle. Tonight they would feast. Tomorrow they would mourn and bury the dead.

  Fires were started throughout the city as the sun began to set. Estrien and their group reclined by the growing flames. Removing her breastplate and holding it in hand, she analyzed its features. Beaten and battered, a large crack ran down the center from where her own dagger had struck it. Unsheathing it, she gazed sadly at its broken form. Drune had been her friend through many battles.

  Music drifted through the air as the people of Kester began to celebrate. Estrien and the others smiled and watched as the people danced and sang. And though they'd have loved to join them, anxiety still filled their hearts, for the war was far from over.

  “Is there anything we can do to help Sheabor?” Estrien asked at length.

  Straiah only shook his head slowly. Estrien gazed into the fire, lost in thought. She pondered many things. Had Pallin succeeded? Had they bought him enough time to complete his quest?

  “What about Pallin?” Estrien asked. “If we can't help Sheabor, is there anything we can do for Pallin?”

  Straiah's look was distant as he considered her question.

  “I think we've done everything we can,” Straiah said at length. “All we can do now is trust in Sheabor and King Euthor.”

  Estrien's gaze turned to the fire once more. Had King Euthor planned for all this? Did he still somehow have a design to defeat Corcoran? It didn't seem possible. But Estrien chose to hope.

  A Clash of Powers

  Blair stood beside the newly sealed wall in the cavern, his palms placed against it, waiting.

  “Better get cozy,” Blair said to the others. “We might be here awhile.”

  “How will we know if Sheabor comes?” Cora asked.

  “He can use the hammer to break through.”

  Then Blair heard a thud from just beyond. Taking a step back, suddenly, with a loud crash, the tip of Sheabor's hammer protruded through the wall. The group gasped. They had Sheabor's hammer! Did that mean he was already dead? Blair ran over to Aravas.

  “You have to use your powers! Better some of us die than all of us!”

  They each carried a weapon, but what match would they be for an equal number of Corcoran's elite forces? With one more strike, the wall shattered. Five warriors in dark armor stepped through with torches into the cavern.

  Cora, Durian and Blair stood out front, shielding Ariadra and the Windbearers behind them. As the warriors approached, they retreated in equal measure.

  But just as the warriors came at them, suddenly a soldier in one of Blair's suits of armor bolted into the room, sword raised. It was Sheabor! With a yell, he struck one of the warriors in his armored helm with a swing of his sword, spinning him and sending him to the ground.

  The others turned to face him. Blair, Durian and Cora rushed in. Three of the soldiers were facing Sheabor, but the lead man, their Builder, raised his head back with a laugh as Cora, Durian and Blair advanced.

  He barely made a move as Durian struck his chestpiece with his sword, the blow bouncing free, and he hit Durian in the jaw with the back of his armored gauntlet, knocking him to the ground. Cora swung for his head, but he ducked the blow and struck her in the gut with the pommel of his sword, doubling her over.

  Blair had scarcely used a sword in his life. Shooting his gaze about, if he could find some loose stone, he could try crippling the man's armor. But the lead warrior dashed forward, grabbing Blair's wrist and squeezing hard, making him drop his sword. The other hand clamped round Blair's throat, gazing at Blair with hateful eyes as he began choking the life out of him.

  Sheabor, meanwhile, though he had slain another of Corcoran's warriors, fell to superior numbers. With a final block, his sword flew from his hand and one of Corcoran's warriors struck him with the pommel of a sword in the helmet. Sheabor fell unconscious on the ground.

  Blair's eyes went wide as he tried with his free hand to do something to cripple his attacker's armor. But he couldn't breathe and he felt his world beginning to spin. He was beginning to lose consciousness.

  “Hello, little brother,” the Builder said.

  Of wave of disorientation hit him. He felt as though dreaming. For he recognized that voice as surely as he knew his own. It was his twin brother. Their Builder was Baron! Corcoran had taken control of his body, just as he had done with Durian. Blair struggled ferociously, trying to scream Baron's name to tell the others. But only garbled noises came. Baron was squeezing the life out of him. Sounds grew dull and his vision narrowed.

  “Thought you could trap me, did you?”

  Blair felt unconsciousness taking hold. But raising both feet, he kicked Corcoran squarely in the chest. Blair felt the skin around his neck tear as he flew backward from Corcoran's iron grip, hitting the ground hard, the impact stealing what breath was left in his lungs.

  Blair tried desperately to breathe. Corcoran stumbled backward from the kick, but soon he approached Blair again, sword pointed toward him. Blair tried to scream, his lungs on fire from lack of air. There was nothing he could do. He was drifting toward unconsciousness.

  But he felt the cold steel tip of a sword placed against his throat and it kept him awake a few moments more. Blair pulled with all his might, finally feeling the breath of life enter him.

  “Baron!” he screamed.

  And as the scream faded from the walls, a deathly quiet replaced it, a long moment stretching on until a second voice shattered the silence.

  “Baron?” came the second voice, the voice of Ariadra.

  Corcoran hesitated, turning as Ariadra stepped forward from behind Aravas and Faigean, wearing the gown and necklace of Sheyla.

  “What is this?” Corcoran demanded.

  But his steely gaze quickly grew to rage and confusion and he shot his gaze toward the stone coffin of Sheyla, only paces away. Moving toward it, he saw the form of Sheyla still buried in liquid crystal. Slamming his fist down atop it with a roar, he turned toward Ariadra with rage, realizing in that moment what King Euthor had done.

  “Baron!” Ariadra screamed, tears streaming down her face. “Baron, please!”

  But Corcoran flew toward her, sword raised with a shout of fury. Ariadra lowered her head, weeping. She couldn't bear to look into those eyes she knew so well, once filled with love and adoration, now filled with only hatred.

  “Baron, no!” Blair yelled from the ground.

  But it was no use. Baron was gone. With a powerful swing he brought his sword down on her fair form. But the blow was caught by the staff of Aravas.

  “I tried to see the best in you,” Aravas' angry and labored words came as Corcoran pushed his sword closer and closer toward him. “But Madrigan the wanderer has long been dead. You have become only the conqueror, Corcoran.”

  Corcoran's sword inched toward him, touching Aravas' throat.

  “You will never win,” Aravas struggled.

  “Silence, old man!”

  Corcoran struck him with his gauntlet, knocking him to the ground. Aravas was dazed but remained conscious.

  “Take them,” Corcoran said to his two warriors, who came forward, one pointing a sword at Blair on the ground, the other grabbing Ariadra by the arm.

  She sobbed as she stood trapped in the warriors' clutches, eyes cast down to the ground. Corcoran came slowly over to her, standing before her and removing his helmet, revealing the face of Baron. But his countenance was cold and hateful
and he waited long moments for her to raise her eyes to meet his gaze.

  At length, Ariadra ceased her tears, looking up at him and taking a deep breath, a look of compassion filling her eyes.

  “It's not your fault, Baron,” she said. “If you're still in there somewhere, I forgive you.”

  Corcoran raised his sword above his head. Ariadra gave him a tearful smile. But he hesitated, clenching his jaw as though immobilized. Something in his eyes softened.

  “Ariadra,” he whispered.

  Then he thrust the sword toward her, striking the soldier who held her instead and sending him backward with a thud.

  “Baron!” she screamed.

  But Baron suddenly doubled over as though in great pain.

  “Get out of here!” he yelled, clutching his temples.

  The other soldier, stupefied that their leader had suddenly turned on them, dropped his guard over Blair, who kicked his leg. Cora, Aravas, and Faigean quickly descended on him.

  “Hold him down,” Blair commanded.

  Then, applying his Builder ability, he ran his hand quickly over the warrior's armor, freezing every joint, entrapping him. The warrior struggled fiercely but to no avail. Baron was still at war with Corcoran for control of his body and there was little they could do to help him.

  “Stop it, you fool!” Baron said, taking his sword once more in hand and moving toward Blair and the others.

  Raising the blade above his head, he swung downward but then pulled pulled it wide of his targets, himself falling to the ground instead. Blair glanced to his right, to the hammer-shaped indentation beneath King Taspian.

  “Baron, the hammer!” Blair yelled.

  Blair made for the hammer, which lay not far behind Baron but Baron stretched out to swing at him, startling Blair and making him jump back. Blair could see in his eyes that Corcoran was still in control. But Baron was doing whatever he could to upset his movements. Ariadra came and knelt beside him, reaching her hand toward his face.

  “Ariadra!” Cora yelled.

  Corcoran swung his sword toward her but it stopped just short of her neck. She placed her hand on his cheek and his eyes softened once more. Exploding up from the ground, Baron sprinted for the hammer, taking it in hand and making for the indentation in the stone, stumbling as he went and falling just short of it. He crawled forward, letting out a yell of pain.

  But he thrust the head of the hammer into the stone, heaving deep breaths and gripping the handle tightly. Then with another cry of searing pain, Corcoran once more took hold. But something began to happen above him. The head of the hammer glowed with a gleam ever brightening.

  Baron's head was suddenly thrown backward and his body convulsed violently. Ariadra stepped toward him but Cora grabbed her.

  “Wait,” Cora said.

  Baron slumped over as though dead. But floating just above him was the spirit of Corcoran.

  “Get everyone out of here now!” Aravas shouted, taking a step forward.

  A sudden breeze hit their cheeks, bitter cold and growing in intensity with each passing moment. Then, rising right in the middle of the room, was a form of lava and stone.

  Ariadra rushed to Baron, shaking him and pleading for him to wake up. Baron groaned and blinked his eyes open and he reached an armored hand slowly to her cheek. She laughed tearfully, but soon pulled him up with all her might.

  “Baron, we need to leave now!”

  Blair ran to Durian who still lay on the ground from the blow of Corcoran's gauntlet. Together they helped Cora pull Sheabor through the gap in the wall and outside the vault. Baron arose slowly, shaking the dizziness from his head. Putting his arm around Ariadra, he limped toward the tunnel. But the growing form of Corcoran was in their path.

  The wind stung their faces as it whipped through the room faster and faster, growing to hurricane force. Baron took Ariadra into his arms and knelt together on their knees, eyes squeezed tightly shut.

  The molten form of Corcoran roared as the red glow of the lava disappeared and the stone cooled. But with a burst of intensity, the magma became bright red again and the creature came toward the four still in the room.

  But the wind increased all the more, threatening to flash freeze Baron and Ariadra to death. Ariadra let out a cry of pain and Baron did his best to shield her in his arms. But the creature's movements slowed and as he drew near them, a leg broke free from the rest of his form and he stumbled forward.

  “Leave! Now!” Aravas commanded.

  Baron and Ariadra arose and bolted for the opening, diving through. The wind grew to deafening intensity,

  “Baron, I need you!” Blair yelled, grabbing him by the back of his armor and pulling him to his knees. “We need to seal the room tightly shut with true Shade Stone.”

  “I don't know how,” Baron shouted.

  “Yes you do! Trust yourself!”

  Then, taking the pieces of Shade Stone still scattered about from when Sheabor had first broken into the room, Baron and Blair worked together to seal the entrance to the cavern. Baron was dumbfounded to see pieces of the indestructible stone liquefying in their hands as they worked together to repair the hole.

  “What about Aravas and Faigean!” Cora yelled.

  “We won't seal it until they get free!”

  But the winds intensified until they could barely even stand at the entrance to the cavern. Claps of thunder and flashes of lightning lit up the dark cavern. Baron and Blair had nearly sealed the gap. The hole was barely large enough for a person to dive through.

  “Come on!” Blair yelled. “Aravas, we're almost done! Hurry!”

  Just then, the form of Faigean appeared, climbing quickly through the narrow hole.

  “Where is Aravas?”

  “He's seeing that it's finished,” Faigean replied, breathlessly lying on his back.

  But Faigean lingered only a moment on the ground and stood with his hands outstretched toward the hole, doing what he could to aid Aravas. Moments passed. Baron held a large chunk of Shade Stone in his hands, one that he and Blair had fashioned from the rest of the pieces to put the final plug in the hole.

  “Come on, Aravas,” Baron said to himself.

  Just then, Aravas dove headlong through the hole, landing hard on the ground beyond them.

  “Baron!” Blair yelled.

  Baron shoved the piece of Shade stone into the opening and together, he and Blair worked to meld it into the surrounding stone. But a loud fist suddenly slammed against the stone, startling them and dislodging it. Blair let out a yell and extended the full measure of his ability into the stone. Baron had never felt such power before as he added his own skill to Blair's.

  The hole in the Shade Stone wall was sealed for all time. Blair sank backward in exhaustion, caught by Ariadra and Cora. They were struck speechless, none of them yet able to believe the events that had just taken place. They had done it...had defeated the enemy of all peoples just when it looked like all hope had been lost.

  Baron ripped the chestpiece off his body and rushed over to Ariadra, kissing her until the flowing tears made him bury his head in her shoulder. Ariadra wept with him, the rest filled with an inexpressible joy just to silently witness such a reunion.

  “But I saw you die,” Baron said at length. “I buried you in the stone coffin beside Sheyla.”

  “I did die. King Euthor and Sheyla...they brought me back.”

  Blair stood slowly to his feet and was suddenly struck by something.

  “Wait! The hammer!” Blair exclaimed. “He'll use it to break free!”

  “You mean this hammer?” Aravas asked, he too rising to his feet, holding the Hammer of Haladrin in his hands.

  “He's trapped then forever,” Durian said. “I don't understand how it worked. Why wasn't his spirit pulled back to the Banished Lands the moment he left Baron's body? That's what happened before in the archival building, when he found the weakness in the stone.”

  “Though I can't be certain, I believe that when Baron pl
aced the hammer in the opening beneath King Taspian, Corcoran's tie to the Banished Lands was broken and his spirit tied to another piece of Soul Stone, the one still buried in Sheyla's coffin.”

  “What an awful fate,” Durian said. “Trapped forever, alone in the dark.”

  “He still has a choice,” Aravas said. “King Euthor gave him that much.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The only thing now keeping Corcoran's spirit from joining the dead is the piece of Soul Stone buried in Sheyla's coffin. If he wishes, he can smash the stone and release himself from this world forever. But I think it will be many years before he comes to that point.”

  The group still stood dumbfounded. Could it really be true? Somehow, beyond their wildest dreams, they had carried the plan of King Euthor to victory, despite all odds.

  The End of an Age

  Sheabor awoke with the sun on his face, blinking his eyes open to the smiling face of his wife, Cora. She caressed his cheek and leaned over to kiss him. He sighed in great contentment.

  “Are we dead?” he asked.

  Cora smiled wide.

  “No. We've never been more alive.”

  Sheabor was stunned, looking at her as though expecting to soon wake up. But pushing himself up, the throbbing aches in his body testified that he was in fact still among the living. In concern, he glanced about the room, somehow finding himself in his own bed in the palace chamber of Eulsiphion.

  “But how?” he asked.

  Sheabor had been knocked unconscious when all had seemed hopeless. It hadn't even entered his wildest imagination the story Cora was about to tell him. Taking his hand, she relayed the events that took place in the Orb Stone Vault.

  It brought a mist to Sheabor's eyes, imagining what it must have been like for Baron to see Ariadra suddenly standing before him among the living. What horror for Corcoran, realizing that Sheyla was lost to him for all time, and what bliss for Baron seeing his love returned to him. He lay back in his pillow, marveling.