Ashrak stared hard at Daka for a few moments. It reminded him of something that he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around until it hit him all at once. Even as he thought it, his sense of smell shifted to citrus and cut grass. The sense of smell was much fainter than it had been before, but it was exactly what he’d experienced when Aiden had taken him to that other realm when they visited the evil Duke Feldar. Could this be that strange dimension? Ashrak looked around with concern but simply wasn’t sure.
“I think Aiden and I have been to a place like this before,” Ashrak volunteered. “If it is the same place or something like it, we have to be careful. Before we left Terek, Aiden had encountered strange creatures that were feeding on people.”
“Where was that?” Ellian asked.
“It was on the line between Caitrel and Norpon,” Ashrak answered. “It was some floating thing, but you couldn’t see them. I’m not exactly sure how to describe it, to tell you the truth.”
“Just great,” Daka growled and clutched his axe tightly. “Exactly what I need to sleep well at night knowing some invisible creature might be floating around. Thanks, Ashrak.”
Ashrak shrugged. “Would you rather not know if something were sticking tentacles in your head?”
Daka narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to answer, but then stopped and got a thoughtful look on his face. “I’m…not sure. I’ll get back to you on that,” he finally said.
“Enough, you two,” Ellian snapped angrily. “There’s something coming.”
They all stopped and looked in the direction Ellian was facing. It appeared several faintly glowing forms were emerging from the hallway that led into the room. As they came closer, they resolved into tall, wispy humanoid forms with elongated heads and pointed ears and wearing long robes of white that blended with their pale features almost perfectly. Their mouths were almost slits in their faces, and their nose formed four more downward slanted holes above that. Their eyes were wholly black and without pupils, though it did not give an evil cast to their faces. Instead, they held age and wisdom.
Ashrak, Ellian, and Fallon faced the new arrivals grimly, but Daka turned and tried to go back through the swirling mist of the gate that was behind them. Instead of passing through, they all heard him curse as he slammed into a solid barrier and fell backward onto the floor.
“Get up here, Daka,” Ellian said quietly. “Whoever they are, we’ll face them together.”
Fallon grunted and nodded. “I can see the walls behind them. There’s no telling if our weapons will even have an effect on them. What are we going to do, love?” She said, turning slightly to Ellian though her bow did not waiver.”
“I don’t know,” Ellian said. “I’m a little out of my depth here. Ashrak, did your Wizard friend ever mentioned anything like this?”
Ashrak shook his head and stayed on guard. “No, it was just floating things with tentacles the last time I spoke with him. At least they don’t appear to have weapons or are trying to attack us. Let’s just wait to see what they want.”
They watched as the figures finished entering the room. Seven of them spread out toward the walls and seemed to stop and simply wait. The eighth one continued forward and came to rest a few meters in front of them. The humanoid figure closed its eyes and bowed, holding itself there as if waiting for a response.
The four companions remained frozen for a long moment until Ashrak breathed out a sigh. He straightened up from his crouch and sheathed his sword before returning the bow. Once he did so, the tall, alien figure straightened and turned before moving slowly back down the corridor. The seven other pale figures moved aside, and all made gestures for the companions to follow.
“Well, that seems pretty plain to me. I suppose we should follow,” Ashrak said and stepped down off of the raised platform that the gate was on.
Ellian and Fallon followed suit while Daka held back. “What if they’re going to eat us? I mean really, hasn’t anyone thought about that?” he said plaintively.
“You can stay here if you like, Daka,” Ashrak called back over her shoulder. “Alone.”
Daka still didn’t move as he gritted his teeth and paced back and forth on the platform watching his friends slowly disappeared into the haze. Finally, he cursed and shook his head before hurrying after his friends, eyeing the seven pale beings closely as he passed them.
***
The hallway continued in a twisting, winding pathway that not only changed direction without rhyme or reason but moved up and down levels as well. There were numerous other corridors that branched off from it and occasionally rooms would blossom in their pathway, each stranger than the last. Some constructs within them were recognizable as tables, chairs, and other furniture of an alien design. Many other things were not so easily recognizable. Ashrak thought they might be fantastical works of art or even technology like that found on the Duke’s skimmer, the Skywitch.
There were also many beings, some that were similar to their hosts and others that were not. They never approached close enough to be able to discern them clearly and all throughout they heard sounds that could be music or voices. It was a beautiful if disturbing trip.
It took half-an-hour to traverse their way through what must be a massive building before they arrived in front of what looked like huge, metal alien face. Half of the face was black, and the other a radiant golden sun. As they approached the massive mask, it split and separated before sliding to the sides and allowing them to enter the room beyond.
If anything, the expansive nature of the hallways and rooms they had already passed through grew exponentially as they entered what could only be a throne room. They stepped out into a large semi-circle which seemed to radiate upwards in several tiers. There were no seats, and because of the haze everything quickly grew indistinct, but they could see other pale figures moving about on each successive level above them.
In the center was the only chair in the entire massive chamber, though in truth it was more of a throne. The massive construct was carved out of crystal and held another of the pale figures whose robes were the most elaborate they had seen. On top of its oblong, gracefully arching head sat an intricate crystal crown. This figure seemed to glow more than the others which made it painful to look upon, but this was not what all of their eyes settled.
Daka and Fallon were staring at the man in the middle of the room. Not because he was one of the aliens, but because he was like them; a normal human. Ashrak and Ellian, however, were more shocked because they recognized him.
“It can’t be,” Ashrak said in disbelief. “I killed you in Riften, Father.”
The tall, redheaded man simply nodded. “Yes, you did. I’ve been brought here to speak with you both. Will you listen to me?” His demeanor was far different than it had been in life. Whereas before he was half-mad and violent, this version was calm and collected. It did not seem like their father at all, except in physical appearance.
“Are you sure it’s him?” Daka said and looked at Ellian. “You described him as a crazed psychopath. Maybe it’s a trick to lure us all into the pot of stew.”
Fallon took a moment to glare at Daka. “There isn’t even a pot around here. Stop it. This is serious.”
Daka shrugged. “I am serious,” he muttered though didn’t seem inclined to continue.
The man before them waited patiently while Ashrak and Ellian shared a glance. Finally, Ashrak stepped forward and stared angrily into his father’s eyes. “We’ll listen, but by the seven this had better be good. I don’t mind killing you again.”
Ashrak’s father, Zekfran Brun, simply nodded and moved off to the side into a small alcove. The four companions followed carefully. As they did so, they couldn’t help but notice that he was semi-transparent like the other beings were and wondered what that could mean.
Chapter 21
“You can put your sword away, Ashrak,” The transparent figure said. “It is beside the point because I’m not a threat to you any longer, but you can’
t hurt me with that here.”
Ashrak just continued to glare at the man that had inflicted his brutality and insanity upon him throughout his life. “This is one of Aiden’s swords. You may be surprised what it can do.”
Ellian just gritted her teeth and kept her daggers out, squeezing them as if she wanted to beat Ashrak to the punch. Before she could do so, Fallon put her hand on Ellian’s arm and pulled it back gently. “Please, Ellian and Ashrak. Please, stop. We need to hear what he has to say. I know he has been cruel to you, but he’s the only one that seems to have a voice in this strange place.”
Slowly, both of the siblings unwound slightly. Neither could completely lose their anger as they continued to glare at their father. For his part, Zekfran wisely remained motionless and quiet until they nodded for him to continue.
“Thank you,” he said quietly to Fallon before drawing himself up. It was strange to see the walls show faintly through him though they had begun to get used to the odd qualities of this place. “I understand that this is uncomfortable for you,” he continued slowly and frowned, shaking his head. “No, that is too light. It is much worse than that. I remember everything I did to you and my people. Everything. Can you believe me if I say that I was trapped in my mind? That I was controlled by something placed inside of me? I was a monster, but it wasn’t me.”
Ellian exploded. “What kind of crap is that?!” she yelled, stepping toward the ghostly figure angrily. “How dare you! How DARE you deny what you’ve done to me! To us! You were a monster!”
The figure of their father weathered the yelling and did not flinch. “I deserve all of that, and far more.” He turned to Ashrak. “I am sorry it had to be your sword that killed me though I was grateful for it. The nightmare of my life was over, and I could no longer harm those that I loved. Do you remember at the end when I turned to you and looked surprised? That was me for the briefest moment before I passed, that was the real me, Ashrak.”
Ashrak felt uncertain as he cast his memory back to that day when his father had died. He had charged toward Duke Terek despite having his men killed around him and didn’t even seem to see Ashrak as he slipped his sword through his father’s chest. Then, he had spoken his name, sounding sane for the first time in his life before the light disappeared from his eyes. It had confused him at the time, but now it was making more sense. If what the spirit was saying was true.
“I do remember,” Ashrak said slowly. “Who would do such a thing? Why are you here telling us this now? You know what I’m after, right? The Golden Bands. Your Lords are running rampant, and they’ve called for the Occulate Raun rather than accept me.”
Zekfran nodded. “Yes, but it is necessary, Ashrak. The rot has run deeply in Brun, and this is the only way to clean out the filth. The filth that my ancestors and I caused, or rather those that controlled us made us allow. The Mourning Lords have had their hands in our Duchy for countless generations, twisting and turning us into their pawns.”
“The Mourning Lords?” Daka asked in confusion. “Those are stories they tell to scare children.”
“No, they are real,” Zekfran answered sternly. “Ellian and Ashrak have both seen the books that speak of them, and Ashrak has been fighting them directly for several months. He is only just beginning to understand their true power.”
“What is this you said about them putting something in your head?” Ellian interrupted. “I’ve never heard of anything like this. What did it do?”
“It is a creature. It takes several years for it to mature, but once it does, it allows control over whomever is its host.” Zekfran said grimly.
“That is terrible!” Ashrak said. “If the Mourning Lords have that kind of power, why haven’t they used it on everyone?”
“There are a few men in our world that have them who are still alive, but they haven’t used more because they don’t have control of the creatures or where they come from. That is one of the problems that you were brought here to help solve. The Mourning Lords are trying to wrest control from the current beings that control the creatures.”
“And those would be these beings that live here?” Ashrak asked, though he already suspected the answer.
Zekfran nodded and fixed his son with his gaze. “Yes. The Mourning Lords had promised them things from our world. The world they can see but not touch directly. In return, the Shining One’s granted them the use of some of their servants. However, the Mourning Lords learned too much, too quickly, and they hold a strange ability that lets them cross over at will. Now, they seek to overthrow these beings and take everything. At least, those here in this realm. I do not understand exactly, but this is like one of their Duchies.”
“Where is this place?” Fallon asked. “I’ve never seen a place like this before.”
“I do not know how to answer that,” Zekfran said. “It is beyond my comprehension, to tell you the truth. I felt my spirit brought here though even as I traveled through the halls, I felt as if I were traveling further than my feet were carrying me. It was almost as if each room in a castle was, in fact, all in different houses rather than the same house, yet all were joined. I do not know if that makes sense.”
“Why should we trust them, though?” Ellian asked. “Didn’t these things originally make a deal with the Mourning Lords?”
Zekfran nodded. “Yes, they did but only out of boredom and disinterest. These beings live forever as far as I can tell, and while they can see our realm, they do not pay attention to it most of the time. It was more out of the novelty than anything. However, they say there are other things occurring in their realm now. More of our kind have begun to travel in their lands that are not spirits such as myself.”
“That must be Aiden,” Ashrak guessed. “I swear, he’s always getting into trouble.”
“You know of these people?” Zekfran asked sharply.
“I think I might,” Ashrak answered. “What do they plan to do with them?”
“I do not know,” Zekfran said slowly, looking back toward the throne room. “I get the feeling they only wish to speak to them, or find out what they are doing just as any lord of their lands would, but these beings are strange and difficult to understand. The only thing I can say is that it is their plan you are following now and have been since you landed in Brun. They meant for you to be on the path to find the Golden Bands.”
Ashrak and his companions exchanged glances before Ellian grunted. “So they are manipulating things. Do they believe we will be easier to control than Count Stavix or General Rhendu? Are they going to plant one of these strange creatures in our heads? How can we trust them?”
The tall form of Zekfran shrugged and shook his head. “I would not trust them very far at all, except to know that they wish for Ashrak to be Duke of Brun and not any of the others. They hear every word I say, but I do not care. Beware of them until you understand what their motivation is, and right now they are being attacked by the Mourning Lords. I believe their interests, at least for now, lie with yours.”
“I do not like this,” Ashrak said darkly. “I feel like some puppet and I do not know if we have any choice. What is our next step? Why did they bring us here?”
“What do you mean, bring us here?” Daka asked.
“Somehow they led us here. How else would they have my father ready and waiting to speak to us? And to find this particular gate, though I don’t know how since they cannot interact with our world.” Ashrak said, looking at the ghost of his father for confirmation.
Zekfran nodded. “You are correct. They have led you here. I can only surmise they have agents in our world they can somehow communicate. There are said to be mystics in the Eastern deserts of Brun that might explain it. I had always thought those legends were false,” he said, looking at his semitransparent hands, “Now, I am not so sure.”
“Why didn’t they tell us all of this themselves?” Ashrak asked.
“They needed someone to speak for them,” Zekfran answered. “They have difficulty understanding
and communicating with us. In the past, they have experienced problems directly communicating with beings from our world. However, with the recently deceased, they can share themselves with us that lets us understand more of what they wish.” The tall spirit shuddered slightly. “I have never experienced anything like it, but for this I was willing. It was a gift to me as well, so that I may at least explain why I did the things to you that I did. There can never be any forgiveness for what happened. I hope knowing what really happened might help in some small way.”
“So what now?” Ellian asked. “Do they have the Golden Bands here?”
“They are not here. There is a guide that will take you to where the Golden Bands are located. You must travel to him, and convince him to lead you to the Paths of Dusk.”
“The Paths of Dusk?” Ellian said with disgust and threw her hands up. “First it’s the Temple of Akka we have to go to and now the Paths of Dusk. I’ve never heard of these places. Who is this guide?”
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 103
