by Doug Backus
“When Solharn started the Great War in an effort to take over Rhol and defeat Queen Elissa many years ago, he was surprised at the loyalty the Pegapires had to the Queen.
“He was even more surprised by their ferocity and stamina in battle. After two years of steadily losing men to the Pegapires, it was said that he created the black plague specifically to eliminate them. The plague took its toll, and the Pegapires along with many inhabitants of Rhol suffered great losses. The Pegapires numbers dwindled from thousands to a few hundred and it was widely thought that they would soon be extinct.
“It was my grandfather, Corceran, who managed to save the last few hundred Pegapires. In his day, Corceran was the most powerful warrior in Leal. He fought many brave battles and he was admired throughout Rhol. Corceran’s bravery and skill soon came to the attention of Palto, who was one of the most respected warriors within the Pegapires ranks. Corceran and Palto were destined to fight together and soon became battle companions.
“It was in the Great War of Aura that the alliance between the Lealians and the Pegapires was forged. Corceran and Palto were engaged in a ferocious battle with Solharn. Together they had slaughtered hundreds of Solharn’s army. They were mounting a second attack, when Corceran looked behind him to see Palto lying motionless on the ground. Three Kaltaures were approaching Palto, and Corceran ran toward his friend. When he realized he wouldn’t make it in time, Corceran took his last three Orler arrows from his satchel and placed them on his bowstring.
“Firing them in one shot, the arrows found their mark ripping through the heads of the three Kaltaures, killing them instantly. The lifeless bodies of the Kaltaures fell on top of Palto, and one of their tusks ripped into his side causing a deep gash. When Corceran reached Palto, he threw the Kaltaures bodies aside and began to tend to his wound.”
Jayden paused and continued the story trying his best to mimic his grandfather’s voice, along with Palto’s.
‘You will be fine my old friend,’ Corceran assured Palto.
“Very weakly Palto responded. ‘It is not the wound that ails me, Corceran, but the plague. I cannot move and I will die shortly where I lie.’
“Corceran would hear nothing of it, ‘No, no. It is not the plague Palto, you are too strong. This will not be your last battle.’
“Palto laughed. ‘My friend, you have been a loyal and faithful companion for many years, and we have fought many battles together. You have saved my life many times, and I yours, but you cannot save me now. We will see each other again Corceran, but you will have many more battles to fight in this world first.’
“With that, Palto stopped breathing and Corceran screamed. In anger he began to punch at one of the Kaltaures soldiers, whose life he had just taken. In doing so, he fatally wounded himself by slicing his wrist. Blood spurted from him and covered Palto. In a matter of seconds Palto arose from the ground having no ill effects of the plague.
“Turning to Corceran, Palto said, ‘How did you…,’ but abruptly stopped himself as he looked down upon him.
“Corceran grimaced and managed a smile. ‘It is fate Palto. My blood…, Lealians are immune to the plague. When mine mixed with your wound, it cured you my old friend, and for that I am honored. If one man must die to save an entire race, it is well worth it. Go and save the rest of your kind Palto.’
“Before Palto could respond, Corceran died. All Palto could do was to honor his friend’s last request. He flew all over Rhol spreading word of the cure to the suffering Pegapires. Because of Corceran, the Lealians managed to save the remainder.
“The mixtures of blood would form an undying loyalty between the Pegapires and the Lealians. In battle, a Lealian is the only race that is allowed to ride on the back of a Pegapire. Prior to this no creature had ever even imagined such a thing.
“Their union was a formidable one, making them the most valued and respected warriors Rhol had ever seen. Unfortunately, by this time Queen Elissa’s armies had been decimated by Solharn and he was well on his way to destroying the empire.
“It was then that Queen Elissa used the last of her power to create the Sacred Realms of Solace, Leal and Tamon in hope that Rhol would live on.
“Queen Elissa told my father back then that we would know when it was time to leave the Sacred Realm of Leal. I believe it was no coincidence that the protective force field disappeared today. It was the sign my father was waiting for. It makes me think that the one surrounding Tamon, the home of the Pegapires, is also gone. We have waited a decade to avenge Queen Elissa and Rhol, and that is why we must reunite with the Pegapires.”
Jayden looked down at the boy whose eyes were wide in anticipation for the next part of the story. Jayden did not get the chance. Cordelia was ushering the boy away saying something about rest, and Jayden’s eyes suddenly felt too heavy to keep open. As they shut he thought of what awaited Oisin, Palvoy and Kaelyn in the Valley of Aura.
Chapter Ten
Deke could not take his eyes away from the Pegapire, and as they drew closer to the rustic cottage he began to hear a voice in his head.
“The holder of the amulet, it is an honor. We have waited a long time for your arrival.”
Deke looked at Deo somewhat confused. “Did you say something?”
“It’s the Pegapire, Deke. She speaks to you. The Pegapires can communicate through telepathy or by spoken word.”
Deke turned to the Pegapire. Although it was a beautiful animal, its jagged teeth were a little intimidating. The only thing he could think of saying was, “I’m Deke, Deke Brolin.”
“And I am Lorca, Deke. I am Kiran’s protector. She has been eagerly awaiting you.” With that Lorca led them the remainder of the way to the cottage.
“Come.” Lorca motioned to the door with her nose.
Deke nodded and both he and Deo entered the humble cottage.
The cottage itself was much bigger inside than he would have thought, and was very tidy but rustic. The inside was planked in a rich wood much like pine. Pictures of great cities, beautiful rivers and waterfalls adorned the walls. A small kitchen had pots and pans hanging from the planks of wood. The furniture was sparse, but there were several wooden chairs surrounding a large stone fireplace. To the left of the fireplace an older woman of around eighty sat staring at the roaring fire. She seemed mesmerized by the licks of orange and blue flames crackling away as they devoured the wood.
Deo was the first to speak, “Kiran, we’re here.”
The woman stood and without saying a word walked across the floor toward them and stopped. She had tears in her eyes as if she had just been weeping. Deke was a little surprised when she suddenly reached out and hugged him.
“I am glad you found your way here safely Dietrich Brolin. We did not know what Solharn would have in store for you, but it seems his plan of attack has failed for now.”
She released Deke from her embrace and spoke once again, “Oh my, where are my manners. I am sorry Dietrich. My name is Kiran. Please, we have much to speak about. You and Deo come and sit with me by the fire.”
Kiran walked toward her chair with Deke and Deo following. Deke was still mulling over how Kiran could have possibly known his birth name of Dietrich. He never used it, and nobody aside from his mother ever called him by that name. That was usually when he was in trouble “Dietrich Jonathan Brolin, come here!” she would yell. When they were all seated Deke decided to ask Kiran how she knew his real name.
She did not really answer the question when she spoke, “I am sure you have many questions Dietrich some of which Deo has answered for you, and others...well, I am here to help you with.”
“First and foremost, let me explain who I am,” and with that she leaned back in her chair and began to speak. Only the crackling of the fire interrupted her soft voice.
“I grew up in Rhol in the small mountain town of Charn. The town itself was quite quaint and was located at the top of Mount Sibileo. This is the second largest mountain in Rhol of course, next to Mount Kart
ago where Queen Elissa lived,” Kiran seemed to fall into a trance, as if remembering happier childhood times before clearing her throat and continuing.
“Sorry, what I was saying? Oh yes, Charn was my home. It might best be described as a fishing village where modest wooden houses surrounded a small mountain lake which we called Shimmer Lake. It was abundant with fish, as well as two of the almost extinct Balane. Oh, the Balane were a wonderful animal who lived in the depths of the lake, but could also fly very short distances. Unfortunately for them, the nearest lake was a long distance away which is why I am quite sure they never left,” Kiran laughed. Deke giggled along with her, not at what she had said, but because of the way Kiran laughed at her own joke.
“I am kidding of course. The Balane were probably the only ones who loved the lake more than I. I can remember many mornings waking up to find the lake smooth as glass, so much so that the reflection of the trees in the water almost looked as if another forest had suddenly sprung up overnight in front of you. At the far end of the lake you could barely see the shore for the light mist that floated in the cool air. On mornings like those the Balane would eventually appear. You could see them slowly floating across the water side by side, diving every once in a while for a taste of fresh fish. It was a spectacular sight. They were enormous animals stretching at least seventy feet long. Their glimmering black skin was only outdone by their red bellies, which they showed every time they did a roll in the water. This in turn also exposed their long black wings that looked almost painted to their bodies, perhaps because of the lack of use. When they came back around for another breath of air, their long curved necks would arch out of the water as if trying to taste the sky. So gentle a creature they were that, if I had any fish to offer, they would slowly swim right up to me and gently snatch the treat from my small hands, grumbling a soft long moan to thank me. Personally, I thought they were more curious than hungry. They could have caught ten times the fish I offered them with a simple dive.
“Over several years the Balane came to know and trust me so much that they would allow me to ride them across the lake. I would sit in the notch where their necks joined their mammoth bodies. I never fell off because I held onto the bottom two spikes that jutted out either side of their long necks up to their head. If only I had known the fate that was to be bestowed upon them I would have…,” said Kiran. She appeared sad, but caught herself and continued.
“Excuse me. I have gone a bit off track. Let me continue,” Kiran said with her hand resting on her cheek.
“Oh yes, my home, well I led a pretty comfortable life you see. My parents were both servants for the royal family. This was a great honor in Rhol and my parents were quite proud when they were bestowed it. They began to plan a family shortly after they had saved up a little nest egg, and I was born a year later. The Queen took a shining to me from the very minute I was born. She told my mother I had a special heart, and with that a special purpose. I, of course always thought my mother made it up to make me feel special. She had a good soul my mother,” Kiran said pausing again.
“Many of our days were spent at the castle on Mount Kartago. The castle was beautiful. Hundreds of people worked there and anyone with a caring soul was welcome. The Queen would throw lovely feasts at night on the top of the castle which was much like an outdoor ballroom. Everyone was welcome to join in the festivities. The Queen herself always attended the dinners sitting with her people, and even serving some of the less fortunate herself. What a remarkable women she was…is.
“Anyway, as I said before, the Queen had taken a special interest in me and often took me exploring through the castle, showing me hundreds of secret corridors. Some led to underground lakes deep in the mountains, and others led you to areas of Rhol such as the top of Mount Sibileo. Many others led to secret rooms. The castle was a magical place. Every room looked different from the rest, some strewn with art from centuries before, others with elegant furniture. Of course they all housed books containing histories not only of Rhol, but of other worlds too. There were books about magic, books about war strategy, and books about magical creatures.
“By the time I was twenty I am quite sure that I knew the castle better than the Queen herself, and there was barely a book in the whole place I had not found and read. I loved reading. I would devour page after page, all while using my overzealous imagination to bring the characters to life, just as the author had described them. Even the sounds of their voices, or the expressions they used, would seem real to me.”
The thought of this quite obviously made Kiran very happy and she smiled staring at the fire. At the same time it made Deke feel a little sad for he could see that Kiran’s eyesight had failed her some time ago, taking with it her dream world which only a book could create.
“It was shortly after my twenty-first birthday that my parents retired and Queen Elissa asked me to stay on, not as her servant, but as her advisor and confidant. I could not believe the honor and gladly accepted. There were great times ahead. Rhol was at peace and very prosperous thanks mainly to Queen Elissa. She taught me many things over the years including the secrets of Rhol, and the secrets about herself that to this day few people know. Unfortunately, with great times and peace, someone usually comes along that causes great sorrow and war...I don’t know why that is,” Kiran said with a tear in her eye.
“Perhaps greed or sheer arrogance, or maybe some are created who are just pure evil through and through. In any event that person was Solharn.”
For the first time, Deke saw this lovely old woman frown. Her voice changed from being a warm gentle voice of reason, to being cold and full of disdain. It was as if telling the remainder of the story would leave a bad taste in her mouth for years to come.
“Solharn is a seraph and was a member of the Order of Six Angels. The Seraphim are what formed that Order. Now every living creature in every world describes divine beings, a creator of the universe if you will, as do many religions. There are many different names for the Creator; in your world he is often referred to as God, Allah, or Buddha. The people of our world have many different names for him as well. To make things easier, I will refer to him simply as the Creator.
“Now, this universe is made up of hundreds of planets. Five of these planets or worlds sustain life made possible by the Creator. In order to maintain life on these five planets, the Creator designed it so each world would support the other, not only to maintain life but to evolve.
“This is why the Seraphim were created. The Seraphim consisted of six celestial beings, and were dubbed the Order of Six Angels. They were the highest order of angels, and they served the Creator. Their main purpose was to assist the five worlds in maintaining a stable environment, and ensuring that they evolved continuously together. If one world destroyed itself, or fell behind, the balance of all would be lost causing the imminent annihilation of all five worlds.
“The Seraphim would travel from world to world, and with them bring knowledge and technology from the other, allowing each world to balance itself in different ways. The Seraphim would appear at times in the form of angels when necessary, but for the most part they blended in by assuming the form of the inhabitants.
“The worlds were created about two hundred years apart. Each was more advanced than the other, depending on when it had been created. Each contained within it the energy to enable the people of each world to possess a unique ability. Rhol was created first, and was given the gift of knowledge. Beltic was created after Rhol. Their abilities were the honing of the five senses. Daikon followed, and was given the ability to evolve in the art of magic. Jinn, the second last world created, would eventually define the ability to self-transport. The last world created was Earth and it was given perhaps the most important gift of all…balance.”
“Balance?” Deke bashfully interrupted.
“Yes Dietrich. Earth being the youngest of all the worlds would eventually bring balance to the other four allowing all five worlds to coexist as a harmonious w
hole. Can you imagine, Deitrich, the sheer exaltation of it all, the five worlds sharing what they learned, living and co-existing as one?
“This is why on Rhol, after many thousands of years and countless wars, we eventually through knowledge evolved into a peaceful world. A world that finally understood why we were created and what we had to lose if we continued to destroy it in our once barbaric ways. You see, Dietrich, Earth is still another eight hundred years behind Rhol. It will take many more centuries before your world reaches this realization, but through balance you will.”
“But your world is at war now. In my short time here I have seen it firsthand.” Deke interrupted.
“You are correct Dietrich, and this is because of Solharn. The Balance of Five has been altered. He has quite nearly defeated one of the five worlds, and because of that the others are barely sustaining themselves.”
“But Kiran, why would a seraph such as Solharn being of the Order of Six, want to destroy the Balance of Five?” Deke asked.
“Ah, but I said Solharn was an angel of the Order, Dietrich, not is. You see Solharn, by all accounts, was the most powerful angel in the Order of Six. It seems that the more power and knowledge he gained the more arrogant, and self-indulgent he became. He constantly challenged the Creator, and eventually began to dispense with anybody that did not do exactly what he instructed them to when he visited the five worlds. He carried this out in the most horrific of ways. This of course was not the purpose of the Seraphim. They were there to guide and help the inhabitants, not to harm them.
“The Creator grew tired of Solharn’s ways; however he underestimated the extent of Solharn’s power and prowess. You see Solharn had realized that the Creator was growing tired of his antics, but in his arrogance he did not believe the Creator could do anything about it. He quite often imagined himself as the Creator and ruler of the five worlds. Even if, by some stretch of the imagination he was defeated, he knew that he, a Seraph could not be destroyed, not even by the Creator. The worst that could happen was that he be dispelled into the Black Abyss.
