by AZ Kelvin
“Druid magic,” Jua Kali said as they watched the gathering of mystics do their work.
The rest of Grove Seven joined them in the courtyard minus Quinlan’s group. Ticari introduced Jua Kali to his grove mates and told them of what happened.
“A disciple and the dreyg commandant,” Sovia said. “Be a couple of points for our side, there.”
Ticca looked at the bodies and at the carnage all around them. “I care not for battle.”
Ticari held his sister. “Nor do I.”
“Ronni!” Modgrin exclaimed as he came by. One arm hung limp and he bled from the side of his head. “Apologies, lass, are ya all right?”
“Aye, Modgrin, I’m fine. Naught ta worry about,” she answered while Chyne worked on Modgrin’s wounds.
“The moon is high,” Modgrin said. “What happens if our friend dinnae want ta come out and play?”
“Then we need to be a bit more persuasive about our invitation,” Sovia said.
People around them muttered as a black mist slowly moved from the top of the tower toward the moat of green. The black mist and the flaura cloud tore at one another like thousands of gaseous vipers fighting over territory. The mist crept over the plants and began to smother the life from them. The Gwylari and druids responded by chanting stronger. The moat of plant and energy held, but could go no higher. They had reached a stalemate.
“It be up to Quin and the others now,” Sovia said, hands on hips and tapping her foot. “Och, I’ll die if I has to wait any longer. I’m going up to be of help to Quin. Who be with me?”
“I am with thee, Cetrey,” Chyne replied.
“And I,” Jua Kali said.
“I’m goin’,” Ronni said, which met with the immediate disapproval of Modgrin and Ticari.
“Hey, ye there! Vakerian!” Modgrin called out. “Have ye seen Brixal?”
The man pointed to a large group of men by the east end of the courtyard.
The group found Field Marshal Brixal organizing troops to do a final sweep of the city and rout out any remaining dreyg.
“Well met, friends,” Brixal said when the group arrived. “Victorious so far, but it seems we’ve woken the lord of the manor.”
“Indeed,” Modgrin said. “Brixal, would ye have a spare subversion squad ta send inta Teivas Keihas with these druids in case they meet armed resistance?”
“Certainly, we planned on entering the castle momentarily as it was. Come along with us. Jua Kali, it is good to see you again.”
“And you, Brixal. De plan went exactly as you said it would. You Vakerians are very sneaky. Most pleasing.”
An aide reported to Brixal that all was ready. “Very good,” he replied. “Subversion squads, move out!”
“Ye stay put,” Modgrin said to Ronni. She looked down but nodded.
“Na’veyja be with ye all,” Ronni said to her friends and embraced them before they left.
She watched the host head off to the castle. Modgrin had gone as well with a dozen Raskanish fighters. She waited until no one was watching and quietly slipped away after them.
~~~
Quinlan and the main objective force encountered dreyg as they entered the castle. They dealt with them easily using mysticism and might.
Edwynn laid out the next phase of the plan. “We must go up through one of the corner towers and cross over to the central tower from there.”
An ornate wide flight of stairs split off into two smaller stairways going in opposite directions. The subversion squad led the way up the stairs and to the right with crossbows up and ready. Many dreyg fell dead silently as the squad cleared the way until they found the next flight of stairs.
“We are running short on time,” Joseah said.
“There.” Quinlan pointed to an alcove with a spiral stairway going up.
Dreyg fighters waited at the top of the stairway and fired crossbows whenever squad members peeked around the corner. The engagement would be difficult to win. One group was under cover with clear shots at the entryway and the other safely behind the entryway wall but unable to move ahead.
Quinlan moved up to the edge and grabbed a handful of seeds from a pouch. “Mundi jala tarquath,” he said and threw them down the hall. “Stay back.”
Questions and comments preceded several popping sounds and yells of pain. Glossy spikes stuck into the stones of the wall across from them.
Edwynn started to move, but Quinlan stopped him. “Wait.”
The glossy spikes began to wilt and decompose.
Quinlan nodded to Edwynn. “Clear.”
The dreyg were semiconscious and moaned in pain from blisters growing all over their skin.
Edwynn looked at Quinlan as they passed by the dreyg. “I’m glad you didn’t know how to do that when I stole your fish that day.”
“Yes, as you should be,” Quinlan replied. “I might have used it on you.”
They reached the gleaming steel gates of the bridge to the central tower. The crenelated structure was wide enough to line a hundred horses in the allure between the parapets. Four of the bridges spanned the gap between the corner towers and the twice-as-tall central tower.
“Too quiet.” Kenri shook his head.
“He’s right,” Edwynn replied. “I expected more resistance. I smell a trap.”
“Have we any other choice?” Quinlan asked.
“Nope,” Edwynn answered and opened the gates.
Quinlan looked down and saw the green of plants gleaming in the moonlight. The glow of flaura swirled around the four wings of the castle and up the sides of the central tower. A black mist began to descend, engaging the flaura and attacking the plant growth.
“Acimasiz is here!” Joseah said.
“We must hurry,” Kenri said
They no sooner reached halfway to the central tower when the expected ambush took place. Dreyg fighters poured from the four corners and out from the central tower. They were surrounded by the enemy.
“Circle up!” Edwynn said.
The subversion squad took positions around the group. Their defense did not need to stand long before the dreyg turned to defend their rear flanks from a new attack. Druids, Gwylari, subversion squads, and armed forces from across Arden stormed the four bridges. An all-out melee ensued in every open space of the four allures.
The scene changed instantly as Acimasiz materialized on the bridge before them—a giant among men. He drained the lives from those around him, friend and foe alike. He drew a sword swathed in black mist and lifted fighters off the ground without touching them. Draining them dead, he cleaved them in two.
“Engage!” Quinlan said.
Edwynn’s subversion squad spread out to give them room. Quinlan moved to where he could see the moon. Cassae and Kian joined the subversion squad to protect Quinlan and the others. Joseah moved to one side of the allure and readied her tri-brand. Kenri moved to the opposite side of the allure and brought forth a hand-sized green-and-brown-streaked adder stone.
Swela walked forward and confronted Acimasiz when everyone was set.
“I feel yer anger, beastie,” she said and held her arms out wide.
The power of Acimasiz shook the bridge as he turned his attention on Swela and advanced.
Her scar began to glow with golden-yellow light.
“Ease yer anger,” she said calmly. “Talath on hongna.”
Acimasiz stepped up unhindered by Swela and raised his blackened sword.
“Talath on hongna…” she let her voice trail off slowly and focused her spirit.
The sword did not fall. Acimasiz looked angry but seemed frozen by her words.
“Talath on hongna…” she spoke calmly and smoothly.
Joseah moved into position and began to chant. Kenri did the same. The blending of their energies created an emerald-colored ethereal web over their enemy. Acimasiz was bound to the ethereal plane.
Quinlan focused his spirit. He lifted Askue high and pointed it at the full moon.
“Esba
t nom krayla nom talsa. Rynn nom krayla nom talsa. Na’veyja nom krayla nom talsa.”
The moonlight once again was drawn to Quinlan and Askue. The shimmering silver glow around Askue sparkled with thousands of tiny bright white shooting stars. The silvery-white starfield traveled down Quinlan’s raised arm, flowed across his body, and toward the ensnared Acimasiz.
The power of the esbat clearly caused Acimasiz discomfort. The sword arm dropped and he fell to his knees. A deep growl grew into a mighty roar as the moonlight dealt him great damage.
The dreyg surrounded the subversion squad and pressed the attack. Three dreyg fighters broke off from the melee and attacked Quinlan. He had to stop his channeling to defend himself.
When the moonbeam stopped, Acimasiz recovered. “Foolish animals!” He turned his visage upon Kenri and screamed.
Kenri’s adder stone charm exploded sending shrapnel in every direction. The shards tore through Kenri’s body. He fell to the stones of the allure and did not move again.
The ethereal web dissipated and Acimasiz was free again. He turned next to Swela and began to drain her life force. Swela staggered under the effort to continue her defense and calmed her spirit. “Talath on hongna…” she whispered peacefully.
Acimasiz faltered but only for a moment before he advanced again.
Joseah ran in between the two with her tri-brand raised. She stood boldly before her enemy and blocked his attack on Swela.
Quinlan kept one eye on the objective and the other eye on defending against his attackers.
Ronni came up from behind and ran one dreyg through with her sword. With one arm bandaged and slung, she faced the other two.
Quinlan swung Askue and clipped one of the dreyg at the base of the skull; he went down in a heap. Ronni took only a minute more to dispatch the last fighter.
Quinlan strode back into the open and called to the esbat once more. “Esbat nom krayla nom talsa. Rynn nom krayla nom talsa. Na’veyja nom krayla nom talsa.”
The channeled beam of moonlight struck Acimasiz causing him to turn from Joseah and Swela and toward Quinlan. He fought against the moon’s power and slowly moved closer to Quinlan. Swela and Joseah continued their efforts, but it seemed to have less effect than before, now that the binding was broken.
The glowing form of a woman took shape in the swirling flaura cloud generated by the Gwylari and the druids below. She reached forth with arms of ethereal energy wrapping them around Acimasiz. He struggled to be free of Na’veyja’s embrace and his defenses dropped.
Joseah and Swela moved up and continued to blast Acimasiz with their powers. The tiny stars of Quinlan and Askue’s channeled moonlight penetrated his skin and began to erode his physical body. The robes burned away and the skin underneath drifted away in flakes of ash. Muscles rotted, decayed, and peeled from his bones. The bones disintegrated into molecular dust.
The burning spark of Acimasiz’ physical presence that remained suddenly detonated and threw off a massive shock wave of black, green, and white energy. Everyone on the allures was blasted off their feet. The energy ring from the blast disappeared past every horizon leaving only its echo to remain.
Quinlan got to his feet and looked around. Acimasiz was gone, but so too was the swirling cloud of flaura. The troughs of Askue’s wood grain pulsed with bluish-white light that slowly faded away. He and Ronni went to Swela’s side.
“Swela?” Quinlan asked.
She came around quickly and he helped her to her feet. Kian ran over with all of Grove Seven. Cassae went to check Kenri, but she shook her head.
“Quin,” Sovia said from Joseah’s side.
Quinlan knelt by the Primerey’s side. Her breathing was ragged and blood trickled from her mouth.
“We—did—it,” she whispered and smiled.
He smiled back and tried not to cry. “Yes, Primerey, we did.”
“Croaker, we need a litter here!” Edwynn called to the squad medic.
Chyne knelt down and placed her hand on Joseah’s abdomen then withdrew it and began to cry.
Joseah took her hand and squeezed it. “Worry not, Chyne. We all must leave this world. My time comes.”
The subversion squad carefully loaded Joseah onto the litter and carried her down to the courtyard. Others did the same with Kenri’s body.
The mass of armed forces, Gwylari, and druids gathered around the triage area where Vakerian physicians tended to the wounded.
“Tenderfoot,” someone said as Quinlan walked by. Even through his surprise, he knew the voice well. He turned to greet his smiling brother.
“Lanry!” Quinlan said and embraced his brother. “By the Goddess, what brings you here?” Lanry stepped back and showed off his outfit.
“You’re with the Vakerian privateers?”
“I’m not the only one.”
An older man dressed similarly walked up, holding his arms out.
“Dad?”
Riklan hugged his son. “Quin, I could not be more proud. Word has already spread throughout the city of you and your friends’ deeds.”
Jua Kali joined them. “I should have known de savior of de day would be a child of your loins, Riklan of Calamere.”
“Jua Kali, meet another son, Quinlan. Quin, this is Jua Kali, Prince of the Onomali, from the southern continent.”
“I am most grateful to you and de northern druids, Quinlan,” Jua Kali said. “De natural world rejoices.”
“We paid a dear price,” Quinlan said, looking at Joseah and Kenri.
Joseah held a hand out to him and he sat by the bed they’d placed her in.
“Acimasiz is not gone, Quin,” she said, “but he has been rendered powerless for some time. I fear the same for Na’veyja.”
“What must we do?” he asked.
“Seek out Azuria Norr,” she replied.
“I know of dis sorceress,” Jua Kali said. “It is said she lives deep in de jungle, at de bottom of de Misted Gorge.”
“On the southern continent?” Quinlan asked.
Jua Kali nodded. “Far from de coast.”
“She’ll know how to find Na’veyja,” Joseah said.
Quinlan looked down at her. “We will find her, Primerey.”
Joseah shook her head. “You—are Primerey now, Quinlan. My time is at hand.”
“No, I have not the knowledge to be Primerey,” Quinlan replied. “You must live, Joseah. You are the last of our elders. If you die, who will be left to learn from? What of Segoney Silari?”
“He would agree that you must find Azuria Norr. She will guide you to Na’veyja. Trust in yourself, Quin, and in your grove. Blessed be…” Joseah whispered and passed from the physical world into the beyond.
Many cried, but all mourned the passing of Joseah. She was the last druid council member of the Order of Arden to survive the destruction of the conclave. The era of the Great Marsh and the druid conclave that had existed there for generations of time had come to an end as well.
“Oh no,” Cassae said.
“What?” Quinlan asked.
“Wylla…” Cassae said as two soldiers laid her body to rest with the others and covered it with a sheet.
The grove went over to pay respects and pay their farewells to their fallen friend. Quinlan pulled the sheet back from her face and straightened blood-soaked hair. He recited the poem she had spoken over Freyn’s gravesite.
“I’ve been on a journey of many milestones, yet my feet do not tire.
They’ve walked dry trails warmed by the sun.
They’ve tread muddy slopes soaked by dark storms.
The destination is known, yet the trail is misted by many tomorrows, or perhaps just one.
I walk on.”
“Wherever you are, I hope you find the peace you could not find here.” He smiled at her before replacing the sheet.
“What be your orders, Primerey?” Sovia asked with all respect intended. Flit and Singer chittered a happy song back and forth to each other, which lightened the mood.
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The grove came together to hear what he had to say.
Quinlan simply looked at them and did not know what to say, so he chose what he knew how to do best. “Help others.”
Pie Thief barked her agreement and chased away some more of the gloom.
The gathered people split off to deal with the grief in their own way. The assembly, Grove Seven included, pitched in to help tend the wounded or clean up the debris and bodies.
“So, what’s next?” Quinlan asked his father as they looked over the ships in the harbor from the keep walls.
“Go visit your mother, of course. She’ll be sore with me for being gone this long.” They shared a laugh as they both knew her scowl well. “After that, we sail for the southern continent to help Jua Kali free his city from the dreyg.”
“Then we will sail together for the first time in years. I look forward to it.”
“As do I,” Riklan turned to his son. “Who would have thought those many years ago when we rode to Telovin things would turn out such as they have?”
“I followed the druid way and felt Na’veyja’s presence, yet in my heart I did not see the threat existed until it was too late.”
“That’s the nature of evil, Quin. It sneaks in even when you think you’re the most secure. Enough talk of dark things. Today we are victorious over the sahdow.”
“Agreed!” Quinlan began to process the recent events. The battle was over, they had won the day, and at least for now, life could return to a more normal course.
~~~
A destitute cripple with shriveled skin, stinking of pig feces, teetered over Praven’s corpse and began to pee all over the face and head. The deed being done, he laughed and shuffled off back to find a place among the beggers on the streets of Trossachsmuir.
The former Disciple of Nemilos had resigned himself to his new existence until a presence he had not felt before touched his mind.
Kazim…
*~*~*
Epilogue
