by B. D. Suever
Vetick circled Orius. “You are a stubborn old fool, aren't you? Well, I have ways of dealing with stubbornness. If you won't tell me what I want to know then I'll just have to force it out of you. This is where interrogations get fun.” He gave a sinister grin and motioned to the goblins to leave the room. As they exited, Vetick looked back at Orius one last time. “Last chance. Once I leave, I am not responsible for what comes next.”
The elder just sat there, staring at Vetick with a smile on his face as if to say, give me all you've got.
Vetick shook his head and chuckled. “Stubborn fool.” He closed the cell door behind him.
As Vetick and the goblins exited the dungeons, Graff approached, bowing his head to Vetick. “M'lord.”
“Bring me Initiate Liara,” Vetick commanded.
“As you wish, m'lord.” Graff bowed his head and walked off to retrieve the initiate.
One goblin looked over at Vetick. “What you need one of them creepy kids for?” he asked.
Vetick gave him a stern look. “You let me worry about that. For now, I need you to go gather up more goblins and check in with Krimm. See if any of his group has returned and if they can lend a hand. I have a feeling I will have my answers soon enough and we will need to head out immediately.”
“Yes, m'lord,” the goblin said as he scurried away.
CRASH!
Vetick turned in the direction of the noise. He saw the undead drunk crawling out from beneath a knocked over weapons rack. The man rushed over to Vetick, tripping a few more times before reaching him. He stood in front of Vetick, arrows sticking out of his back and butt, a dagger jammed in his arm and one of his fingers hanging on by a small sliver of skin.
“Graff's scout returns,” Vetick said. “What did you find out?”
“Paper ... Secret ... Hidden ... Capital.” The undead tried to get the words out. Most undead had a hard time speaking. They were never able to form full sentences but used a few words to describe what they were trying to say.
Vetick walked up to the undead scout. “Silence. I'll just see what you saw.”
He placed his hand on the undead drunk's head and closed his eyes. The undead's eyes glowed bright purple as Vetick viewed his thoughts. Vetick saw Nera and Ethan at the village of Gwantar. The boy! he thought. He observed Nera walking down into the cellar and emerging again after some time. What was she up to down there? She was down there for a while. The vision shifted to Nera and Ethan around a campfire in the middle of the Hollowed Plains. Vetick could hear them talking, although it was hard to make out. He watched as Nera passed a piece of parchment to Ethan. It was still hard to hear, but he heard 'Amulet of Light.' “You sneaky old fool,” he said.
Vetick released his hold on the undead minion. “Leave me,” he said, frustrated.
The undead bowed and disappeared down the corridor. As Vetick turned to head back to the cell holding Orius, he heard a loud crash down the hall. “Graff, you moron,” he said.
He turned and entered the dungeons again. As he approached the cell door, Graff was awaiting his arrival with a child standing next to him.
“Initiate Liara.”
“Yes, m'lord,” she said in a very soft voice.
“Are you prepared?” Vetick asked.
Liara nodded and approached the cell door.
Vetick opened the door and led Liara in to meet with Orius. “Comfortable, Orius?” he asked with a grin.
Orius lifted his head to look at Vetick. His eye was swollen, he had multiple wounds across his face from the goblins' hits, and his gray beard was now crimson from the blood dripping down his face. “Whatever you are going to do, just get on with it and leave me in peace.”
Vetick chuckled. “Peace? There is no peace for you, my old friend. There will only be pain and suffering until I get what I want. Now, I know you left something in Gwantar for that hunter and the boy. What was it?”
Orius just laughed.
“Very well,” Vetick said. “Allow me to introduce one of my unique initiates. This is Liara. This little one here has happened upon a power that none of us knew was possible.” He gestured to Liara. “Now, let us begin.”
Liara walked up to Orius and placed her hands on his head.
Vetick circled around them. “See, we Necrom who can control the dead have an innate ability to read their thoughts and see what they have seen. However, Liara here has unlocked the ability to read the thoughts of the living, giving her the ability to extract memories from her victims,” he said. “So, as I said before, if you won't give it up willingly then I will force it out of you.”
Vetick watched as Liara lowered her head and attempted to enter the mind of Orius. Orius struggled, trying to fight her off but she was finally able to connect with his memories. She lifted her head and opened her eyes. They were completely white, as if she had left her own body. “The Amulet of Light is hidden away from the world. Each of the elders holds a piece of the puzzle to finding the location of its resting place. Orius oversaw an old parchment that had ancient writing on it. No one living today can decipher the message.” Liara listed Orius's thoughts for Vetick as she filtered through his memories.
“Who was the hunter in Gwantar? What is her relevance?” Vetick asked.
“Searching,” Liara said. “Her name is Nera; she has recently been tasked with being the Avent's guardian.”
“The Avent?” Vetick said, shocked. Then he gasped. “The boy! He's the Avent! That is why I've been having visions of him.”
Liara's eyes returned to normal. She was exhausted from exerting so much energy diving into the mind of another.
“What are you doing? I need more information!” Vetick commanded.
Liara was trying to catch her breath. She felt weak. “I'll try again, m'lord.”
“I know you are tired, initiate, but I need to know where they are headed,” Vetick said.
Liara tried to enter Orius's mind again. Orius was still trying to fight her. She gave one final push with her mind and her eyes went white again. “He left a letter for the hunter. It advised to head to Dragenmar to meet with the other elder who holds another piece of the puzzle.”
Vetick rushed out of the cell and down the hall. He flung open the door to the dungeon with such enormous force that it smashed the face of a goblin. “Watch where yer goin', fool!” the goblin yelled.
“Shut up, maggot!” Vetick yelled back.
The goblin saw who he had yelled at and cowered at Vetick's feet. “I'm sorry, Lord Vetick, I didn't see you.”
“I don't care about that! Find Graff! Gather a group of your men versed in stealth. I need them to enter Dragenmar and grab the hunter and the boy. They already have a day’s head start so hurry and get there as soon as possible. Fail me and it will be the last time you will be among the living!”
The goblin bowed and raced off to gather Graff and his crew.
Vetick turned and headed back to the cell holding Orius. He walked in and saw Liara waiting there patiently. “Destroy his mind. Make him an empty shell,” Vetick commanded.
The giant wooden doors creaked and groaned as they opened, testament to the doors' great age. As they opened, the sun came beaming through. Inside was a bustling city street filled with many people, talking, running around, and trading goods with one another.
“Welcome, Ethan, to the capital city of Dragenmar,” Nera said as they entered the city gates.
Ethan was in awe at the city's size. “This looks just like the castles I would fight monsters in when I played Dark Torment,” he said. They were on the lower level of the city, which it seemed supported a few homes and the major market area. Ethan and Nera passed by a bustling market selling fruits, breads and meats. Ethan could smell the food and felt his stomach rumbling.
“Hey, Nera. Can we stop and grab some food? I'm pretty hungry.”
Nera glanced over at the market. “Sure. Let's grab something from here and move on.”
She walked over to one of the booths and purchase
d bread and cheese. She split it in half and gave half to Ethan. They continued through the capital, keeping an eye out for the elder.
“Oh wow! Look at that!” Ethan yelled. He ran off towards the docks. They were lined with many ships, larger than any Ethan had ever seen. The ocean looked beautiful from where he stood. As Ethan peered out over the waves, he saw a large sea creature in the distance jump out of the water and dive back in. “What was that?” he asked. “It looked like a giant snake.”
“That creature is known as a larkin. Stories tell that they bring fishermen good luck and keep them safe from the dangers of the sea,” Nera explained.
Ethan stared out at the ocean. “That's so cool. I love sea animals. I even have a beluga whale I sleep with every night.” He smiled.
Nera looked confused. “You sleep with a fish in your bed every night?”
He chuckled. “Well, not a real one. That would stink up my room. It's a toy.”
Nera laughed. “That makes much more sense than sleeping with a real fish.”
“Beautiful view, isn't it?” a voice from behind stated.
Ethan and Nera turned around to see a bald man wearing a light brown robe. “Elder Mora!” Nera said as she rushed to hug him. “How did you find us?”
“Well, Naveni is hard to miss,” Mora said. “How was the journey to the capital?”
Nera turned to Ethan. “Wait here with Naveni, Ethan.”
She walked Elder Mora away from the docks, so she could talk to him privately. “I've missed you, Elder.”
“I know, Nera. I didn't expect to be away this long,” Mora said. “I haven't been away from you for this long since your sister left you.”
Nera held Mora's hand as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Do not cry, dear,” Mora said, wiping the tear away.
She shook her head. “They are tears of happiness. I'm glad I made it here in time and I'm glad to see you again. You've always been there for me. You're all the family I have left in this world.”
Mora smiled. “I have always thought of you as my grandchild.” He sat down on a nearby bench. “Now, why don't you tell me what I've missed?”
Nera let Mora know everything that had transpired since Ethan's arrival. The undead goblin scout that attacked them in the forest; the meeting with Joraya; the events in the swamp; learning about Orius's fate; finding his parchment and letter. Repeating everything was so overwhelming that she broke down and cried. “After all that has happened over the past week, I don't know how much more I can handle,” she said.
Mora could see Nera was carrying a lot and felt bad because he knew there was much more to come. However, he felt that now was not the time for her to know. “I heard what happened in Gwantar. Many of the villagers have taken refuge here,” he said. “It is unfortunate about Orius but, like him, I too have already foreseen my end and I am afraid to say it will be soon. We all have our destinies to follow and have already seen our roles played out in the stars.”
Nera regarded Mora sadly. She didn't want to lose anyone else. “I wish I knew what my role was. It seems to have taken a drastic turn,” she said.
Mora took her hand. “Truthfully child, we elders have known you were destined to help fight back against the forces of darkness. We saw it in you and your sister.”
“My sister? Well, I guess that proves that our destiny can change at the drop of a rock,” Nera said. “Trixxie was selfish and probably still is to this day. She wouldn't lift a finger to help anyone but herself.”
“You are still mad she left, aren't you?” Mora asked.
Nera looked up at the sky. “Of course I am. She left when I needed her most.”
Mora patted her hand. “All will be answered in time, Nera. You have to take things day to day and not lose that special quality that makes you who you are.”
Nera lifted her head as a shout could be heard from the docks. “WHOA! There it is again, Naveni! What did Nera call it? A lorken ... lurkan?”
Nera and Mora approached the excited boy. “It's called a larkin, Ethan,” Nera said.
Mora walked up to Ethan and put his hand out. “It is nice to meet you, Avent Ethan.” They shook hands. “I am Elder Mora.”
“It's nice to meet you, too,” Ethan said. “Did you see that huge water snake jump out of the ocean?”
Mora smiled at the boy's innocence. “Why yes, I did. The larkin often jumps to announce that it is here to protect the people.”
Mora led them away from the docks and they ascended the steps to the second level. As they walked through the streets, Ethan could see that this was where most of the people lived. There were a few markets scattered throughout but nothing as large as the one on the first level.
“So why did you come to Dragenmar, Elder?” Nera asked.
Mora nodded to a couple people passing by. “The steward here summoned me to teach his daughter. I owed him a favor, so I promised him that when I left on pilgrimage next, I'd come here and tutor his daughter. While here, I have also helped others who were in need, whether it be tutoring, mentoring or healing.”
“Can Naveni carry me? My legs are sore,” Ethan whined.
Nera looked back at him. “Not now, Ethan. This is good training and exercise for you, plus Naveni needs a break too.”
Ethan gave a low grumble of disappointment as they walked through the streets of the second level.
“So, Ethan, what do you think of the world of Terah?” Mora asked. “I'm sure it is strange and unfamiliar to you.”
Ethan looked around at the capital, still amazed at its size. “It's beautiful here. There's too much walking though.” He sighed as he dragged his feet. “A lot of places I've seen remind me of some video games I played at home.”
Oh boy, here we go again with these video game things, Nera thought.
Mora smiled at Ethan. “I am not sure what these video games are but I am sure it is something you enjoy, based on how your face lights up when you mention it.”
Ethan grinned. “I do. It's one of my favorite things to do at home.” As they walked more, though, his smile faded.
“What is wrong, Ethan?” Mora asked.
Ethan stopped in the middle of the street. “Well, to be honest, I'm terrified. This place looks like my video games, but I die a lot in those games. Since I've been here, I've been attacked, I almost drowned in a swamp—heck, I was even electrocuted when I got here, though I didn't know I was until Nera told me. It's all so scary.” A tear fell down Ethan’s cheek. “I don't know if I'm ready for all this. What if I get hurt bad, or even die? What happens when I have to defend myself? Can I hurt a living person?”
Nera knelt in front of Ethan and placed her hands on his shoulders. “I won't let anything happen to you, Ethan. Naveni and I will protect you. The only way you would get hurt is by me smacking you if you say rude things again.” She gave him a smile, trying to make him laugh.
It worked. Ethan smiled back and took a deep breath. Mora walked over to him and placed a hand on his head. “You are in good hands, Avent. I guarantee it,” he said, smiling at Nera.
They continued down the street. As they came around a corner, Ethan noticed a building that looked a lot like a church. “What's that?” he asked.
Mora glanced up to see what Ethan was referring to. “That is the Temple of the Twins,” he answered.
“The Twins?” Ethan asked.
“Yes, Ethan. The people of Dragenmar and many in the south worship the twin moons. They revere them as goddesses who govern the night and the oceans,” Mora explained. “Many of the fishermen come here daily and pray to the Twins to change the tides and bring in many fish.”
This fascinated Ethan. He didn't realize people worshipped and prayed to the moon. He thought it was a hunk of rock in the sky, like in his world.
As they made their way closer to the temple, they noticed many people outside the building lying on rugs and tending to the wounded. “Elder, what happened to them?” Nera asked.
Mora wa
lked up and helped an old woman get water. “These are the refugees from Gwantar. They arrived a few days before you. I learned of Orius and the attack on the village from Gwantar’s priest.”
Nera walked around the temple courtyard, placing blankets around some children she saw. “The Necrom did this,” she said.
“Them and a group of goblins,” a voice from behind said.
Nera turned to see the priest standing there. “I ran into a goblin that escaped the village. What happened there?” she asked.
The priest walked with Mora and Nera around the courtyard. He explained how the Necrom rushed into the village searching for Orius, the drunken man who gave him up, and the child Necrom who had turned the family to stone.
“How did they know Orius was even at Gwantar?” Nera asked.
The priest shook his head. “I do not know. It's as if they knew ahead of time where he would be.”
“The Necrom are a group with vast powers and abilities,” Mora said. “There's no telling what sort of power they used to find this information out.”
As the priest, Nera and Mora talked, Ethan wandered around the courtyard, seeing the damage the Necrom had done. He worried again and doubted himself. What if I fail? Will all these people get hurt? What if I'm not supposed to be the Avent? Is it a mistake? The thoughts kept rushing to Ethan's mind faster than he could answer. He sat down on a rock and tried to collect his thoughts.
“Get off my daddy!” a little girl screamed.
Ethan fell off the rock and turned to look at it. He hadn't realized he was sitting on a person turned to stone. “I'm sorry. I didn't know,” he said hurriedly.
The little girl gave him an angry glare and turned to hug the statues. She sat next to them with her head down, crying.
Ethan sat down next to her. “I'm sorry. I miss my parents too,” he said, trying to calm the little girl down.
“What happened to your mommy and daddy?” she asked.
Ethan looked at her parents. He wasn't sure she'd believe the truth, so he said, “They are in a faraway land.”
Ethan sat there with the little girl looking at her parents, wishing there was something he could do to help her feel better. He had seen all this devastation from the Necrom and was feeling bad for himself. But this was the first time he had felt bad for the people of this world and the dangers that had fallen on them. Something inside Ethan welled up.
