Shadow Realms: Part One of the Redemption Cycle

by J. R. Lawrence

  Turning away to leave, Dril’ead saw Gregarr of Grundagg and Skandil of Vulzdagg standing in their battle worn armor, watching him as he spoke to Gefiny and Leona’burda. They both held solemn expressions as they heard the troubling words of Dril’ead.

  “Are you to take your leave?” Dril’ead said to Gregarr.

  “I am,” Gregarr answered. “But, if you will say, who is this Neth’tek you speak of?”

  Dril’ead’s gaze left Gregarr to settle on Skandil, whom he knew to have once been a fellow student beside Neth’tek. Whether or not the two were ever acquainted or friends, Dril did not know or care to know. He only wanted Skandil to hear clearly his answer to Gregarr’s simple question.

  “Neth’tek Vulzdagg is a thing forgotten,” he said simply, and was gone out into the streets of his city with no real intent. But deep inside, Dril’ead would never forget the student who taught him.

  Chapter forty-three

  Eyes of an Ancient Glory

  The Greater Realm was what the ancient empire of the Urden’Dagg was called among its inhabitants. It was separate from the Branches of its tree, which lingered in the place known as the Shadow Realms. No commoner of The Followers ever entered the Greater Realm without a purpose called on by the Urden’Dagg, and the Urden’Dagg never left its realm for its own personal reasons. Its priests were its messengers, and it was they who went forth throughout the Shadow Realms and delivered the messages and commands given by the Urden’Dagg.

  That is why it was a priest who went out to intercept Maaha Zurdagg and Vaknorbond Vulzdagg to tell them of what their actions cost. Maaha was to bring the last thing left in the possession of Zurdagg, while Vaknorbond was told that the child born the day of Zurdagg’s destruction was to be brought before the Urden’Dagg. His own son was to be given up for the respect of the all great and all powerful Urden’Dagg.

  Vak’s family had all doubted this. They all told him to do otherwise and ignore the biddings of the Urden’Dagg. But Vak knew he had to, or else his whole kingdom would be taken from him, and his family would be destroyed. No matter how much he told them this, they could not see it.

  Despite their blindness to Vak’s warning words, he had done it, and was now at the footsteps of Neth’tek’s fate. They had made it. They had survived the forces that apposed them. And now they were standing at the gates of a realm so unknown and mysterious to all that words cannot describe in full.

  The drake landed upon a flat of rock. They appeared to be in a wide cavern, walls of stone rising up on either side. It was cold, much colder than the usual warmth that such enclosed dark caverns beneath the earth would feel. Neth’tek drew his cloak round his arms as he stared up at the huge doors built into the cavern wall before them. Vak was the first to dismount from the drake, and took a cautious step toward the stone stairs ascending to the mysterious entrance.

  “Come, Neth’tek,” Vak said slowly, uncertainty in his voice. “It is the gate of the Urden’Dagg, and the entrance to the Greater Realm.”

  Neth’tek moved slowly and with fear, slipping off the back of the drake to stand beside Vaknorbond. So this is where they were going, to the Urden’Dagg. But what was the cause? One question had been answered, bringing another to the mind of Neth’tek. But Neth’tek expected that question would soon be answered.

  Vak looked over his shoulder at the drake that had carried him and Neth’tek to their destination, and nodded to the winged mount, thanking it for its faithful service. The nod gave the drake assurance that its service was no longer needed at the hands of Vaknorbond Vulzdagg, and it raised itself and took to the air with a single flap of its wings. Soon it was soaring back through the narrow cavern from whence they had come, to go where no one could say.

  Watching the drake go, both Neth’tek and Vulzdagg knew that there was no turning back now.

  Vak led the way, taking the steps upwards without hesitation, knowing that his decision had been made and that Neth’tek would be safe in the hands of the Urden’Dagg. For so long it had preserved them throughout the many generations of the Vulzdagg name. When he left, though, the name of Vulzdagg was under threat of destruction. However, Vak did not allow himself to believe that it could be destroyed under the watchful eye of the Urden’Dagg.

  The name had to live on. And if not, than it would in memory. Besides, Neth’tek was still present and far from the dangers that had threatened them. Neth’tek would live on, and his life will bring the redemption of Vulzdagg. That, after all, was why Vaknorbond had been so insistent in the end to carry him all this way.

  The redemption of the foolish actions of his family had cost the child so much. Why must he pay for the crimes of his family? It isn’t right, Vaknorbond told himself. It should be I, not him. I should face the Urden’Dagg. I should die and not them. Or at least die alongside my own people as their lord, as I was in days long past. Dril’ead will lead them, and their victory will be great. I, Vaknorbond Vulzdagg, do not deserve such a victory as theirs will be.

  The doors opened inward as they approached, and a low light emanated from within. The light was soft, white, and increasing slowly as to allow their vision to adjust to the spectrum before them. Neth’tek nearly forgot to blink as he looked at what lay before him, and he breathed out in an almost gasp.

  It was a single narrow chamber that was revealed to them. The floor of the chamber slanted upwards slightly, a maroon carpet laid out upon it. The lights that showed to them this chamber came from red glowing orbs that floated near the ceiling. A power emanated from before them, Vaknorbond and Neth’tek could both feel it the moment the doors opened their eyes into the chamber of the Urden’Dagg.

  There was a throne, built of solid emerald stone. It shimmered in the light of the orbs overhead, causing the spectrum to flash with a bright green. The figure that sat upon this throne was unmoving. Its arms resting on the arms of the great seat, and its legs set at a solid angle at its base. The face of this being was concealed beneath shadow cast by a cowl of pure white. The cloak was large behind this being, folded over the arms of the chair, nearly covering the entire seat.

  The only visible part of the seated being was its hands. They were fair skinned, unlike anything that Vaknorbond or Neth’tek had seen before – unlike The Followers and their pale skin.

  The figure was still unmoving, and seemed not to notice the opening of its doors or the two Followers standing still in weariness beyond them. Almost, it seemed, the figure expected them to be there.

  But from behind the emerald throne another person stepped forth, clothed in the robes of a priest of the Urden’Dagg. The priest came round to stand beside the seated figure, and lifted a hand to beckon the two warriors forward.

  “Enter, Vaknorbond and Neth’tek Vulzdagg,” the priest said to them. “You are welcomed into the house of the Urden’Dagg, who has long awaited your arrival.”

  Vaknorbond took the first step forward onto the maroon carpet before them, and Neth’tek followed with cautious steps, looking round in anxiety. Vak, however, appeared to be calm as he walked with even strides and his head held high. That or he did a good job of hiding his uneasiness.

  “Enter Maaha Zurdagg, you are also welcome,” the priest added, glancing beyond Vaknorbond and Neth’tek.

  Vak halted in his steps, staring straight ahead, but his jaw visibly clenched. Neth’tek looked up at him, and could see the stressful anger boiling within him, and then looked over his shoulder. He always wondered what Maaha Zurdagg appeared to be in real person. Only once had he seen the face of the female who had single handedly destroyed a great number of the Vulzdagg mages, and nearly brought Dril’ead, his cities greatest warrior, to his doom.

  There she stood under the arch of the great door into the Urden’Dagg’s chamber, tall and with pride in her expression and deep in her eyes. She was alone, but a power was within her, just like the power within the room they were in. Neth’tek could feel a great source of supremacy emanating from her.

  Vak breathed deep
ly as he privately reminded himself of the reason they had come. Despite the notion of the person who had destroyed his home standing behind him, Vak was able to take the next steps forward and approached the throne of the Urden’Dagg. Maaha followed close behind.

  “The Urden’Dagg is grateful for your respect in obeying its orders,” the priest said to them. “Now stand before the Urden’Dagg and present your gifts, so that it may look upon you. The Urden’Dagg knows all. It sees all always, and its judgment brings the destruction and the uprising of all nations. Its power is unlimited, and its wisdom beyond all else of this world…”

  As the priest spoke of the greatness of the Urden’Dagg, Vaknorbond, Neth’tek, and Maaha continued to approach without fear and with respect. They avoided looking upon the Urden’Dagg, keeping their eyes on the priest as he spoke of it. However, each felt the powerful gaze of the Urden’Dagg upon them. The piercing unseen eyes gave each a shiver, and a feeling of a cold wind blowing into them. But there was no wind, only the unblinking eyes of the Urden’Dagg hidden beneath the shadow of its pure white cowl cast far over its face.

  Neth’tek watched the priest carefully, examining his stance. The way the priest held himself with pride beside its lord and master. The priest continued to speak, but his words were shrouded from Neth’tek’s mind as he felt the power of the gaze of the Urden’Dagg fall suddenly upon him.

  The Urden’Dagg rose smoothly to its feet.

  The priest stopped in his words as it rose, and backed away and bowed very low in respect. Vaknorbond and Maaha both dropped their chins to their chests as they bowed their heads, avoiding looking upon the Urden’Dagg. Neth’tek followed their movements, and stared at his boots as he waited for further instruction.

  The Urden’Dagg then spoke, and its words were even and deep and full of power. “The enemies of this realm of shadow shall stand together. The respect of two nations shall be ever respectful towards one another. Let Zurdagg and Vulzdagg always remember that today is the end of their troubles, and the beginning of their salvation. Welcome both of you. Welcome Vulzdagg and Zurdagg, my faithful followers.

  “Bring forth the child borne the day Zurdagg fell, Vulzdagg. And bring forth the remnant of the power of Zurdagg, Zurdagg. Let them stand beside each other as a fellowship, and not as enemies. Let this be the end and the beginning.”

  Vak and Maaha looked sidelong at each other, their gazes piercing one another like knives. The Urden’Dagg saw this, but said nothing.

  Vak’s hand rested on Neth’tek’s shoulder as he gently pressed him forward. Neth’tek followed the motion, and stepped forward gingerly to stand before the Urden’Dagg – the person his family had honored in fear their entire lives.

  Maaha removed her satchel from off her shoulder and stepped forward to lay it upon the soft carpet beside Neth’tek. She then stepped back to her place, lowering her head as she closed her eyes. As she did so, a cloud of green smoke rose from within the satchel, consuming it in a swirling mist that rose upwards as it began to take shape.

  The green mist subsided as it formed itself into a being. It became a female woodlander, her hair long and red with streaks of gold running through it. She wore a dress of leaves, all green and all shimmering in the light of the candles as if condensation was still upon them. Eyes of pure green stared forward with rage, fear, loneliness, determination, and strength. Her skin was fair like unto the Urden’Dagg’s hands, and it seemed strange to Neth’tek to see such skin unlike the paleness of his and his kinsmen’s.

  The woodlander stood tall and straight. At her side, belted to a vine of green, was a dagger shaped to the form of a leaf. Standing before them all was a piece of the world above them. She was a small fragment of the surface realm, a realm Neth’tek had never seen or heard any mention of. And yet he knew it existed. She was strange and foreign to them all. She was a spirit no doubt.

  “Present yourselves,” the Urden’Dagg commanded the two of them.

  Neth’tek swallowed, afraid to speak, but knew he had to or he would most likely face the wrath of the Urden’Dagg. Throughout his whole life it was either to obey or face punishment, and he had no intention of being punished this day. He had already gone through so much. Why waste it all now?

  But the spirit being of the woodlander spoke first. Her voice was soft, but full of a determination. “I am Ezila, a guardian of the Emerald Tree. I am a spirit of Narthanger, third realm of Aldabaar, and protector of the realms. The Emerald Tree is my duty to protect and defend at any cost, assigned to me by The Beloved of the First Born. The Beloved is my master. I answer to none other save He give order to do so.”

  “Tell me, Ezila,” the Urden’Dagg began, “how is it that you’ve entered this realm from so far above? What brought you this far from your home and your duty in defending the Emerald Tree?”

  “A fall,” she said with pride.

  Neth’tek looked at her in confusion, wondering what she meant by that. Her story seemed very interesting to him, and he wished to hear more of it when the time could come for it.

  The Urden’Dagg walked round his throne to stand beside it. It spun round as it demanded in a flustered tone, “A fall you say?”

  “From glory,” she added.

  The Urden’Dagg was silent, looking straight at Ezila from under his deep cowl. Neth’tek looked at its hands, and saw that they were clenched tightly at its sides, the fair knuckles turning even whiter. A deep exhale of breath came from within the shadow of its face, full of anger.

  Something about what Ezila said obviously put the Urden’Dagg into a mood of frustration. Something from the past, it seemed. However, it was angry, and Ezila knew but didn’t appear to care. Her not caring made it even more outrageous to the Urden’Dagg.

  After a long pause of silence, in which Vaknorbond shifted uncomfortably behind Neth’tek, the Urden’Dagg turned from Ezila and faced Neth’tek. Neth’tek dropped his eyes from it immediately as it did so.

  “Present yourself, child of Vulzdagg,” the Urden’Dagg commanded in a tone that struggled to keep calm.

  Neth’tek swallowed, afraid to make a mistake and to say the wrong thing, and anger the Urden’Dagg further than it was. He spoke, though in an unsteady voice. “I am Neth’tek Vulzdagg, third born of the nobles of Vulzdagg. I have been taught in the basic training of both melee and magic. Dril’ead Vulzdagg was my teacher and mentor. Everything I know I know from him.”

  The Urden’Dagg was silent, examining Neth’tek, and waiting for further information. When it realized Neth’tek was not going to further his explanation of himself, it began its questioning.

  “Tell me, Neth’tek,” the Urden’Dagg began, “what is one key principle this Dril’ead taught you?”

  There was so many things that Dril’ead had taught Neth’tek. So many choices and all were equally important to him. But there was one that questioned Neth’tek’s strength and ability. One that he doubted he could ever do. Doubted he had enough courage to carry out. That one lesson was taught to him by the Dril’ead who had been battle beaten and crazed over the madness of war. That was the Dril’ead Neth’tek grew to know. But there was a Dril’ead before that. Neth’tek could hardly remember the brother who spent hours and hours teaching him the complicated skill of fighting.

  That was the Dril’ead who told him that it didn’t matter if you won or lost your fight. The only thing that mattered was how the fight began, and the cause of it. That principle was the most important to Neth’tek. Those words told Neth’tek who the real Dril’ead was, and who everyone believed to be gone. Despite their unbelief, Neth’tek could not begin to believe that his brother was gone. No, there was still that Dril’ead left. Neth’tek would never forget him

  Things that are lost are to be found again if not by someone else.

  The Urden’Dagg waited patiently as Neth’tek made no move to answer, but held an expression of deep thought. Before Vaknorbond could nudge Neth’tek in reminder of what he was supposed to do, Neth’tek began to sp
eak as if piecing his words together while saying them.

  “My brother told me once that it’s not about whether or not you win or lose your fight. Instead, he said that what really matters is how the fight began, and the reason why it started.” He looked over his shoulder at Vaknorbond for assurance of what he said.

  Vak, though, was frowning at himself. And out of the corner of his eye, Neth’tek saw Maaha with the same expression.

  The Urden’Dagg stepped forward again to stand in front of its throne. “You have a knowledgeable brother. It is a pity that your training with him has ended.”

  Neth’tek looked down at his boots, feeling the tears coming to his eyes as he remembered the death of Dril’ead, his mentor.

  The Urden’Dagg continued, saying, “I can see that the two of you have seen and experienced much. Well, so have I. And now that you have both introduced yourselves to me, it is time that I present myself to you.”

  What? Neth’tek said silently as he looked up in surprise. Is this really happening? Are the answers all coming at once? This could mean my understanding at last! The one question that has the answer to all other questions is about to be answered!

  All three of The Followers, including the priest and Ezila, watched as the Urden’Dagg reached upwards to withdraw his cowl. It came back slowly, the shadows over the face vanishing away as the lights in the room rested over a fair face.

  As the cowl fell back, a pair of bluish grey eyes looked up into the faces of the three Followers standing before him, and also the woodlander. They were the eyes of an Adya. Not a Follower, or woodlander, but an Adya from the long forgotten past in the kingdoms of the surface realms, full of magic and wonder.

  If ever an Adya was made mention of, it would be spoken as in the days of yore. Such a time belonged to the Urden’dagg, who was now revealed to them as a male Adya of those times and places of the surface. It was astonishing, and the three Followers found their mouths agape.