The Gate and Beyond

by E J Gilmour

  ‘Why are they giving the Sun Stone to me?’

  ‘You must take the Sun Stone with you when you return to the world above. It is a great sacrifice for them to hand it to you, yet they know this is the only way they can help you defeat the Prince of Shadows. There will come a time when you will need the Sun Stone to move onward in your quest. One day you will meet someone who has only one hand; you must give the Sun Stone to such a person, and you must not show the Sun Stone to anyone else until that day.’

  ‘Who is this person you speak of?’

  ‘You will know when the time is right. A dark shadow is passing over the world above. Soon the shadow will cross the ocean and enter the deep. There is much evil afoot. I must warn you; the Prince of Shadows has brought a creature to Veredor that is evil beyond measure, a beast that rose out of a dark pit at the edge of the cosmos. He is planning his final victory, and you must go soon if you are to stand against him.’

  CHAPTER THREE

  The towering walls of Faircastle stood as the last hope for mankind. All the Irvarian folk from the surrounding countryside had retreated behind the ancient walls. The people of Irvaria could hardly believe that so few of their fighting men had returned from Everdon. A deep grief permeated the city. Only four thousand of the thirty thousand who left for Everdon had returned. Another four thousand had returned after defeating the Skatheans in Vastoria. All together only ten thousand men and twenty wizards of the Fire Order protected the city walls. Everyone in Faircastle knew that the shadow of night was advancing across their beloved land.

  Red stood at the height of the outer wall near the main front gate. He watched as a massive swarm of muckrons crossed the plain before Faircastle. All the small villages surrounding the city were set alight as the monstrous army marched onward. Thick plumes of dark smoke rose above the plain. Stella reached out and took Red’s hand. Drums heavily beat, and the howls of monsters echoed out across the distance. Dozens of wyverns circled above the muckron horde, and many more lindworms marched with the evil army.

  ‘We have to prepare,’ said Cassiel. ‘Baftel believes the wyverns are going to attack from the air.’

  The wyverns circled the city at blistering speed. Their bloodcurdling screams resonated throughout the town below. Dark clouds gathered in the skies above. A shadow was cast over the city and the surrounding lands.

  Suddenly the wyverns descended from above. Red and Stella drew their swords. Cassiel looked up in horror as twenty wyverns hurtled toward the city.

  ‘They are going to attack the town,’ cried Cassiel as he dashed down a long flight of stone steps toward the streets below. Red and Stella followed after him.

  Most of the army were manning the main front gate and the high walls surrounding the city. They hadn’t expected the wyverns to attack the townsfolk in their homes. Hundreds of Irvarian soldiers were descending from the height of the great wall to protect the people. Red watched as a bright green wyvern crashed into the tiled roof of a nearby house and tore its way inside.

  They dashed up the street toward the terrace house which was being torn apart by the wyvern. An old woman ran out of the front door as the house shook behind her. Her face was stricken, and she screamed for help as she stumbled across the street.

  The Wyvern smashed its way through the door. Stella leapt forward and cut out at the snarling beast. The wyvern recoiled; its nostrils flared. The old woman ran away screaming. Dozens of glowing blue darts blasted out from Cassiel’s hands and pounded into the wyvern’s scaly body. The wyvern howled in pain and jumped at Stella, clawing forward at her. Stella skipped back and swung her sword at the beast’s claw.

  Meanwhile Red leapt forward and cut down with all his might. His sword sliced into the wyvern’s back. Crimson red blood spattered out from the wound. The wyvern howled and then whirled about. The beast snapped at Red; its large fangs coming within inches of his head. Red jumped back and held his sword up in defence. A second wave of blue glowing darts blasted out from Cassiel’s hands. The wyvern moaned and leapt into the air to escape. Stella cut out one last time before the creature flew skyward and was out of reach.

  A moment later a loud boom echoed out across the city. The ground shook, and the great city gate shuddered. Red, Cassiel, and Stella looked back toward the ancient gateway. Again a second blast struck the gate.

  They looked skyward and could see all the wyverns were retreating back over the walls. Red led Stella and Cassiel up the stairs to the top of the wall. They surveyed a sea of hideous pig headed muckrons. The muckron army were massing just outside of arrow shot. Suddenly a bright green light lit up the enemy front line. Red saw that a group of about a dozen sorcerers were standing at the front of the multitude of monsters. They lifted their glowing hands. Each sorcerer sent a ray of green energetic light into a central glowing orb of raw power. The orb grew brighter and brighter. Suddenly the orb fractured, and a thick beam of light blasted across the field and smashed into the city gate. Again the boom echoed out.

  ‘Northern Sorcerers,’ said Cassiel in a low voice.

  A moment later Meara approached with Arlen. They were followed by several wizards of the Fire Order. ‘We must respond,’ she said firmly.

  Cassiel nodded resolutely. Meara walked to the edge of the wall and raised her hands. A blue misty light surrounded her arms. Arlen and Cassiel stood on each side of her. Arlen raised his glowing hands. Cassiel did the same.

  ‘Focus together,’ said Meara.

  Suddenly a bright beam of fizzing light rushed forth from Meara’s hands and shot toward where the Northern Sorcerers were standing on the field below. A second ray of light shot forth from Arlen’s hands and the light beams united. Cassiel did the same. The blue energy beam blasted forward. The Northern Sorcerers responded quickly and created a rippling wall of glowing green energy. The blue beam of light smashed into the shimmering green energy shield. The sound of the impact was like thunder.

  ‘Focus!’ cried Meara as the blue light blasted into the shield of the Northern Sorcerers. ‘We’re almost there…’

  Suddenly the blue beam of light dissipated. Meara watched in horror as blades of green energy swirled up from the field below and hurtled toward them.

  ‘It’s Baramak!’ cried Meara.

  The wizards of the Fire Order stepped forward and raised their hands. A bright hot layer of plasma formed a shield to protect Meara, Arlen, and Cassiel. Baramak’s green blades of energy smashed into the wall of plasma; the sound was deafening. Baramak didn’t stop. He pounded the shield with his powerful attacks. The three wizards strained to hold off the vast power of the evil sorcerer. Red and Stella watched on in horror.

  After several minutes Baramak ended his bombardment, and the Fire Wizards lowered their hands. The plasma shield instantly dissipated. The six wizards on the wall stared down at Baramak who was looking up at them with a vicious grin. He knew they were no match for him.

  ‘You don’t stand a chance! Surrender or die!’ His voice was sharp and crude with a thick northern accent. He then lifted his hand and a blast of green energy shot across the field and struck the main gate. There was an explosion at the gate; the ancient gate shook and wavered.

  ‘We must use our remaining strength to fortify the gate,’ said Meara wearily.

  Meara led the way down a flight of stone steps. A group of soldiers were jamming large logs at angles between the gate and the street. They looked exhausted and dismayed. Every time Baramak unleashed his power the gate would violently shudder and the logs would dislodge. The soldiers would again have to heave them into position.

  Arlen and Meara raised their hands and blue misty light issued forth and surrounded the gate. Slowly the gate absorbed the glowing energy. Again Baramak’s attack struck the outside of the gate, but this time the gate stood firm.

  ‘That will hold him off for a while,’ said Arlen. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief.

  ‘We must inform King Edric that Baramak is outside the city walls,’ said Meara
as she turned and walked toward the palace.

  They followed Meara up the street. Most of the people of the town were hiding inside their houses. The attack of the wyverns had completely emptied the streets and lanes. A dark gloomy feeling of impending doom permeated the once hopeful and happy town.

  **

  ‘We cannot possibly hold the gate for more than two days,’ said Meara. ‘Baramak is simply too powerful.’

  They were seated in the Ecorian Hall at the same round table that had been used for the council weeks earlier. The company in the hall included: King Edric, Queen Sera, Princess Apherah, Baftel, Mostyn, Red, Cassiel, Stella, and several other high ranking commanders of the city guard.

  ‘Baramak is not our greatest problem,’ said Mostyn. Mostyn brushed his tangled black hair off his face and then looked across at Baftel. ‘There are fifty thousand muckrons surrounding Faircastle as we speak. Another fifty thousand are marching across Irvaria and will be here in two days. This second wave is being led by an Astarian. When he arrives we will have to deal with magic far superior to that of Baramak.’

  ‘The Prince of Shadows,’ said Meara.

  ‘No, we don’t think he is the Prince of Shadows; however, he was the same Astarian who was present at Crescent Bay.’

  ‘Where is the Prince of Shadows? Have we been deceived? If it was not the Prince of Shadows at Crescent Bay who was it?’ asked Meara, looking across to Baftel.

  ‘I believe we walked into a trap in Everdon. I don’t know how we were led astray, but I do know that the Prince of Shadows is coming south. I can see that he rides high on the winds of Veredor. He has left the Fortress of Zarkanor; he is flying here by means we don’t understand.’

  ‘Flying?’ questioned Meara, raising an eyebrow.

  ‘Indeed,’ said Mostyn. ‘Possibly he has a steed carrying him; we don’t know for sure.’

  ‘One hundred thousand muckrons, an Astarian, Northern Sorcerers, and now the Prince of Shadows; how can we possibly save Faircastle?’ asked King Edric, his eyes conveyed his deep concern. ‘Is there a way?’

  Acartor walked into the Ecorian Hall. The company looked at him as he approached.

  ‘Acartor, can you give us any assistance or guidance? Can the Fiorians help us in our darkest hour?’ asked King Edric, a level of desperation evident in his voice.

  ‘Our world is falling into darkness. The sun is setting on the days of men,’ said Acartor as he took a seat at the table. ‘Few of my order remain. If only I could have been there to save Chiara and Eben Ecorian.’ Acartor looked away for a moment and shook his head grimly. ‘I think we should consider surrendering the city.’ His words darkened all their hearts.

  ‘And give Irvaria to the Prince of Shadows. I can never agree to this. Surely there must be another way,’ said King Edric.

  ‘If there is another way I cannot see it. I think the choice is simple. We are facing a threat that is far beyond our ability. We should consider our capacity to save the lives of the people of Irvaria and not let them be slaughtered.’

  ‘Are you suggesting that we become slaves to the Prince of Shadows?’ asked Meara.

  ‘There are possibly other options,’ said Acartor, staring at Meara without emotion.

  Meara’s eyes narrowed for a moment. ‘Acartor, who do you serve: the people of our world or the Prince of Shadows?’

  ‘How dare you make such an inference? I have sacrificed so much for the survival of men. I am simply suggesting a possibility. You know as well as I do, Meara, that we can’t overcome the muckron army outside the city gates. You also know that the kingdoms in the west have all but fallen, and in the east King Ignis is hedged in with enemies all around. It is only a matter of time before Silvor and Ateria are forced to submit. We cannot stand much longer against the Prince of Shadows. He is simply too powerful. We can allow him to destroy us, or we can search for another possibility.’

  ‘It would be better for us to die free,’ said Meara. ‘I will never take the lower road.’

  Acartor shook his head. His face was unresponsive ‘I believe you are clinging to a faint hope that we can somehow still win. If you continue in such foolishness you will surely be killed. I witnessed the faith you had in the young Ecorian. We learned our hope was misplaced. Eben failed us completely; surely you can see that now. Let us not let false hope fail us again. We must be practical. We must see the situation as it is. We can save the lives of the Irvarian people, or we can let them die, but I will not be involved in such futile plans again.’

  ‘It was your plan to lead Eben to Everdon,’ said Red angrily. ‘The Fiorians caused Eben’s death, not Meara. You first suggested the idea. If there is anyone to blame it is surely you!’ Red’s voice was fiery and strong. He had grieved deeply the death of his best friend.

  Acartor looked across at Red. His cold emotionless face said nothing of what he was thinking. ‘I was a fool to have had faith in the Ecorian. However, what you say is true; I did have hope that Eben could overcome the Prince of Shadows, but surely now you can all see the truth. The Ecorian is dead. Our shared expectation killed thousands of men and gave Everdon to the enemy. We must learn from our mistakes and be practical.’

  The company fell silent for a few moments.

  ‘This is a difficult decision,’ said King Edric grimly. ‘Perhaps you are right, Acartor. Perhaps there is a way I can save my people.’

  ‘I’m happy to see that you are seeing reason,’ said Acartor.

  ‘No, Father, we must not surrender,’ said Princess Apherah.

  ‘Acartor speaks the truth,’ said King Edric. ‘The Prince of Shadows will kill us all if we don’t surrender.’

  ‘Father, we are not slaves,’ argued Princess Apherah. ‘You always told me that integrity and honour is what makes us who we are. If we surrender who would we be? You are a noble king, not a slave. Irvaria is a kingdom of free people. We should fight for our freedom until the end. We should never give up hope. Eben Ecorian died fighting. Eben died free and kept his honour until the end.’

  King Edric looked across at his daughter. His anxious face softened at hearing her words. ‘You are right, Apherah. We will stand against the Prince of Shadows until the end.’

  Acartor’s emotionless eyes remained fixed on Princess Apherah.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Red stood with Stella and Cassiel near the front gate. Baramak and the other Northern Sorcerers had bombarded the gate constantly throughout the day and night. The Irvarians were preparing for the gate to collapse and had set up a makeshift wall of wooden spikes just within the city wall. The sun was rising slowly in the eastern sky. A dark ominous cloud hovered low over the city. The wyverns had not attacked the town again, but they would often fly over to intimidate the townsfolk and were always just outside of the range of the archers.

  King Edric had commanded the entire population of Faircastle to retreat into the palace. Many of the women of the city had donned armour and taken up weapons to fight with the men against the invaders.

  ‘How long do you think we have before the gate gives way?’ asked Red, looking across at Cassiel.

  ‘Let’s hope it holds for the rest of the day. The enemy is going to try to capture the palace,’ said Cassiel. ‘They will want to destroy the Sapphire Throne. Once they break down the gate we should hold them as long as we can before falling back to the palace. King Edric has ordered the army to hold the main street and attempt to force the enemy into a bottleneck to reduce the advantage of their greater numbers. They have been building barricades in the side streets and lanes to prevent the enemy dispersing through the city.’

  ‘Do you think the barricades will hold?’ asked Red, shaking his head.

  ‘They might hold them off for a while,’ said Cassiel. ‘Red, it’s only a matter of time. We are just going to show them what we are made of before we die.’

  Red nodded soberly.

  **

  Quade rode Swiftwing up a sandy slope. Three Desert Knights rode ahead of him. A
few moments later they arrived at the height of the huge sand dune. The view from the top gave them a wide vista of the plains to the west.

  ‘There,’ said Arthur, pointing into the distance. Quade strained his eyes. Far in the west across the plain he could see a dark area. It was difficult to make out because of the haze rising from the surface of the desert. ‘That is the camp of the Aterian army the nomads spoke of.’

  ‘Aterians, do you think they are going to Irvaria to help King Edric?’ asked Dillon.

  ‘I think they may be doing just that. We will ride back to the Jeanians and tell them to prepare for war. If we could unite the Jeaneans and the Aterians our army would be formidable indeed.’

  ‘Even with the Aterians and the Jeanians we still wouldn’t be able to match the muckron army that crossed into Irvaria. They say there were muckrons as far as the eye could see,’ said Dillon. ‘There is also the fact that the Jeanians will not move unless the Ecorian calls for them.’

  ‘The rumours of the return of the Ecorian Emperor are just rumours,’ said Arthur. ‘We will try to convince them to march west. If we allow the muckrons to destroy Faircastle it will not be long before all of Vastoria is under their control. Uniting the Aterians and the Jeanians may be our only hope.’

  ‘What about the tribes of the Empyrian Hills?’ asked Quade.

  ‘We have sent envoys north to request their assistance. I hope we are not too late.’

  **

  Eben stood on a long sandy beach with Casimir. They were completely alone. A gentle breeze blew over the sea from the south. Deep and dark clouds hovered low in the sky.

  ‘Time is running out. Your people need you. The hand of evil has reached out, and the shadow grows darker with each day, yet a glimmer of hope remains, like a single candle in a darkening world. You are brave, Eben. I believe the walls that bind you will fall when the time is right. Fiora’s Bridge can be crossed.’

  ‘Thank you for saving me, Casimir. I will do all I can to save our world.’