“Oh no!” Elwin seemed panicked, his eyes widening. “Now Damacoles is coming over here. Look!”
Instinctually, Nayland held the handle of his axe tucked under his black cloak.
Damacoles stopped in front of him, his gaze concentrated. “My students, handled them well, you did, yes, yes,” Damacoles praised in sort of eerie whisper.
Nayland said nothing.
“Handled them well. Good stranger you are, aye?” He grinned. “Ah, yes, good stranger you are.” Slowly, Damacoles turned around and abandoned the festival, pushing his way through the crowd.
“What was that about?” Elwin asked. “I mean, I thought we were in for a brawl!”
“What could he say?” Mythaen noted. “Nayland was fantastic. You defeated Daemon and his ‘minions’ single handedly. Ha!”
“They weren’t worthy enough opponents to face with my axe.” Nayland opened his cloak and showed them his battle-axe. Its silver color sparkled in the moonlight.
“Where did you learn how to fight like that?” Mythaen asked.
“My father—”
“Your father?" Elwin interrupted. “You said you have no family and no memory.”
Nayland looked confused himself, not understanding. He also appeared irritated and tense. “I—I don’t know. Enough with the questions!”
“All right, all right, apologies,” Elwin said, cringing a tad. “Meant no harm. Ah, if only Darshun were here.”
Nayland stepped toward him, eyes widened. “What did you say?”
“Um, a friend of mine named Darshun. He’s a great fighter too and would’ve loved to see you tonight. Speaking of Darshun, where is he? And where is Master Seth?”
“Well, speak of the heathens.” Mythaen chuckled. “Say their names aloud and they shall come.”
“Where?” Elwin asked.
Mythaen did not have to point, Elwin soon saw them, walking through the people on the east side, rushing over to the group.
One couldn’t help but notice Darshun eyeing everyone’s plate as he passed by each table, his mouth already beginning to water at the sight of the chocolate cakes, the strawberry rhubarb pies, the peanut butter cookies and a dozen different gooey pastries. He walked faster; Seth could barely manage to keep up. “Greetings, everyone!” Darshun smiled. “We’re late, but we still made it. Wanted to let you know we’re here.”
“Did you two miss everything!” Elwin cheered. “I know neither you nor Seth care much for the Honoring of the Gods, but this was one event you should not have ignored.”
“We didn’t miss the food—the most important part!” Darshun snickered. “I’ll be right back. I got to try Mrs. Hagel’s chocolate cakes before they’re gone.”
“Darshun, hold on.”
Eager to get to the food, Darshun’s expression changed to frustration. “Can it wait, Elwin? I’m kind of starving.”
“Just hold on a moment; I’d like you to meet someone. This is Nayland, a visitor to Loreladia. Nayland, this is my longtime friend Darshun. Well, minus the ten years we’ve been apart,” he finished with a smile.
~~***~~
Eager to get this boring introduction over, so he could grab some grub, Darshun put out his hand to shake Nayland’s. “Nice to meet you. I’m Darshun Luthais, son of Mirabel Luthais.”
Immediately, Nayland pulled his hand away, and a dark, cold look swept over his face. “I must go,” he snapped. Without hesitating, he stepped around them, maneuvered his way through the crowd and ventured back into the outer street, disappearing in the dark, most likely heading for the woodlands.
“What—was that about?” Darshun asked.
“He reacted that way when you told him your name,” Seth observed.
“But I’ve never seen him before.”
“Has your father?”
“I don’t know. Ah! Can this day possibly get any stranger?”
“I second that,” Elwin agreed. “Attacked by a lizard, accompanied by a mysterious fighter, someone who cannot hold a conversation to save his life—and who doesn't like questions. But hey, that's me. What’s been strange about your day, Darshun?"
Witnessing the visions earlier in the afternoon they still haunted him, but as of yet he hadn't nor wouldn't speak of them, not until Mirabel returned. “Eh…nothing to concern anyone with at the moment.”
“Well then, since you were late, do you think you could hold off filling your stomach for just a tad? I’m dying to dance with all these ladies. They’re stunning! After all, you promised me yesterday.”
“Oh come on, does it have to be right now?” he asked, stomach growling. “I already missed half the festival. I want to eat. I’m starving.”
“Darshun Luthais, I want a wife. I’m not approaching these goddesses alone—you must help me. Besides, ages five through seven both of us always danced together with the grown-ups, galloping around like a bunch of fools, and they loved us back then! Remember?”
“Of course, I remember which is why you should have no problem impressing a lady on your own. You'll dance just fine.”
He laughed, shifting his golden locks of hair from his eyes. “I’m not worried about that, I’m worried about freezing up on the spot. Physical attraction wasn’t within us in those days, neither was the fear of making a mistake.”
“Ahh, poor Elwin, so you need me to fall back on, is that it?”
“Exactly! With a good friend at my side, I’ll feel more confident. Just a short while is all? Please...?”
Fittingly, a great catchy song began to play just then. A bouncy, energetic, a good piece to move to while dozens upon dozens of ladies dominated the dancing grounds. But according to Elwin, that was soon to change. “Come on! Come on!” he shouted. “This is the perfect song.”
“But—food?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Darshun,” Seth admonished. “I’ll get you something to eat, I know your appetite. Don’t worry; you’ll have two overly filled plates. Promise...lad. Now go, have fun. Find your friend a bride.”
He sighed. “Very well. Hey, don’t forget dessert.”
Seth shook his head. When it came to food, he was the same old Darshun.
“Brother, do you want to come too?” Elwin asked.
“Nah.” Mythaen looked uneasy. “I’m not feeling well, a little nauseous perhaps too much ale, I gather. You two go on, enjoy yourselves.”
Elwin excitedly tugged Darshun by the arm to the dancing. He’d been right—the ladies were very beautiful and while many obviously were interested in Darshun, nearly rubbing their bodies against his. He hadn’t a care in the world to court one, especially marry and ‘settle down’ not a Nasharin, not yet. He still looked forward to a full hundred years of exploring to do before that.
Nevertheless, Elwin and he danced with the ladies, inspiring more men to step to the grounds. But none, however, were as good as the two teens, or at least drew as much attention, with their fanciful—sometimes quite silly moves. And confidence—confidence in what they were doing, always a big attraction. As the festival went on that night, many would go home broken hearted when Darshun refused a dozen offers of courtship.
Yet one remained madly in love when Elwin accepted.
CHAPTER SIX
SHADOW OF THE DARK
The next morning, Elwin rushed into Darshun’s house in a panic, throwing open his bedroom door and shouting, “Darshun, Darshun, wake up!”
“What’s—the matter, Elwin?” he asked, yawning and still half asleep.
“My brother. He’s been struck with an illness. It’s from that Balska lizard’s bite, just like the stranger warned. I’m sure of it. He runs a burning fever, can barely move, and the medicines in Loreladia have little effect. I don’t think he’ll last much longer.”
Darshun sat up. “What are we to do?”
“Your uncle says you know the location of special healing plants. Is that true?”
“Oh, yes. I’d never forget that. They’re magical plants seeded long ago by the Earth W
izards. They grow on Arundel Mountain. My father took me there a long time ago and showed them to me.”
“Can you take me there?”
“Yes, of course. But it’s very far from Loreladia.”
Seth entered the room, a dark-green cloak shielding his body. “The King has granted us his fastest horses.”
“Uncle Seth, you’re coming too?”
He nodded.
Elwin remained beside Darshun’s bed, staring at him anxiously, his eyes never budging. It seemed he would beg at any moment. Poor Elwin, Darshun thought. Father told me not to leave Loreladia, but I have no choice. I must help Mythaen. “Give me a minute.”
The two men left the room.
Darshun tossed off his blankets and slipped into his typical blue tunic, loose black breeches and a pair of wooden sandals. He sheathed his sword, set the belt around his waist, tucked in a few daggers and stepped outside meeting the others. “Let us go.”
They traveled across the land with great speed, stopping only a few short times for food and rest. After three days, they reached Arundel Mountain and began the long climb up. The mountain seemed heavily populated with elm, spur, pine, maple trees and the thick brush which complicated their travels. Continuing to climb, however, they soon reached the top. A field stretched before them about a mile long and after it, another forest. The morning sun illuminated the field like a green sea.
“Wow,” Elwin stated in awe, “how long does the top of this mountain stretch?”
“For miles,” Darshun answered. “And this is the place. The plants are in this meadow, somewhere. All right, the best way I can describe the healing plant is it looks similar to the mint plant, except the leaves have different shades of green mixed together and crystal-like blue speckles.”
“Then, let us begin our search.” Seth dismounted from his steed.
They combed the field, sifting through many different weeds and flowers and it was not long before Elwin shouted, “Over here!”
Darshun and Seth hurried over to him.
“These look like what you described, right?”Elwin brushed a hand over the top of a cluster of mint-like plants, the blue speckles capturing the sunlight.
“Yes, that’s them! Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen one.”
“They’re beautiful—the sparkles especially. What’s their story?”
“According to my father, many thousands of years ago the ancient Earth Wizards planted them for the sick.”
“Your father is correct,” Seth agreed. “All you have to do is eat one leaf, and it shall heal all of your wounds. But take only one; the leaves will not work for selfishness. The magic responds to the pure intentions of your heart.”
Elwin picked a leaf, gently wrapped it in cloth, and put it in a sack. “Shall we ride?”
“Wait, do you hear that?” Darshun asked.
“Hear what?”
“It’s coming from beyond the trees…across this field.”
They listened and could faintly hear the sound of chanting.
“It sounds like warriors singing a battle hymn; like the ones Mythaen sometimes chants around the bonfires,” Darshun’s eyes lit up. “A civilization, in this mountain, wow! Perhaps they’re a friendly people?”
“No, Darshun,” Seth warned anxiously. “That’s not the sound of friends or allies.”
“Who then?”
“That is the chanting of Cullach before they march out to battle. We must leave this place at once!”Seth headed to his mount.
“You mean Cullach, like in the battles you and my father fought?”
He glared at him. “Precisely.”
“Wild! I have to see for myself!” Like an excited young boy, Darshun rode off toward the sounds.
“A wrong choice of words to tell Darshun, Seth.” Elwin looked worried now.
“Darshun, no!” Seth shouted.
He ignored him and kept riding, entering the next set of woods across the field.
“I cannot let our presence here be discovered. Besides, it is not at all good that Cullach now roam in Arundel Mountain. Something isn’t right.” Seth clenched his fists. “Darshun, foolish boy!” He rode after him and Elwin followed.
Darshun rode through the forest, climbed a short brushy hill, carefully avoiding the cluster of broken tree limbs, fallen maples, thistles and thorn bushes then stopped at the last section of pine.
When Seth and Elwin caught up, instead of scolding they sat still and gazed below, alongside Darshun, like three statues—bedazzled.
Beyond a valley, they saw a city surrounded by a square stone wall. There were rows of wood and mud brick buildings, clusters of oak trees grew at the four corners of the city. In the center of it all...stood an enormous tower of stone.
However, what startled them the most were the hundreds of Cullach armed with axes, swords and shields standing outside of the tower. And to their left stood a prison camp of Humans. They were digging, hammering, and transporting large rocks, as if in search for something.
Darshun could not take his eyes from the Cullach. “Ugh, those things look like—like wild humanoid boars!”
“Asgothian,” Seth said.
“The ones who took the original Loreladia?” Darshun asked.
“No, they were from the north. These are from the west, and now belong to King Tanarokai of Asgoth.”
Darshun meant to ask about this ‘Tanarokai’ but was distracted by a man on the highest peak of the tower, stepping out from a corridor and onto the balcony. He had short, spiky brown hair, dark-brown eyes with thick black eyebrows and a pale face. He wore a long red robe and held a black staff with a two-headed snake upon its tip. He faced the Cullach, raising his arms.
“That is a sorcerer,” Seth whispered. “And those Cullach are lined up in war formation. Something is about to take place.”
“What has long been awaited shall begin today!” the sorcerer shouted. “This day starts the turning point of the earth to our own. No longer will we have to share this world with Men, Elves or any other being of the Light. No creature or any of their gods shall stand in our way this time. We will change this world forever! Now go, march to Mt. Mundoria and retrieve the crystal. Then destroy them all, down to the last man, woman and child. We have no more use for additional slaves. Go now, my comrades. Make Lord Abaddon proud.” He lifted his staff into the air, forming fires of black and red to inspire.
The Cullach roared with excitement, clashing their weapons together and stomping their feet like mad beasts. Then, they exited the front gate, marching west with a sound like thunder.
“What is going on?” Darshun asked.
“We must get out of here now!” Seth seethed with such commanding tone—even Darshun dared to disobey.
They turned and began to flee back through the forest, racing down the brushy hill, but just before reaching the field Darshun stopped.
“What is it now?” Elwin asked.
“There’s something here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know how, but I can—sense something of great power hidden among the leaves in this area.” He jumped off his horse and began searching. He acted like a madman, tossing, kicking and scattering the damp leaves everywhere. Whatever this ‘power’ was he seemed compelled to find it. Then they heard footsteps approaching in the distance.
“Come on!” Seth urged. “We must go.”
“Yes, Darshun,” Elwin complained. “Besides, Mythaen is running out of time.”
“Go without me; I can’t leave yet. I’m sorry, but whatever this thing is—it calls to me. I can feel it.”
The footsteps were now right around the corner, and Seth sensed a bad aura. “We must hide, quickly!”
They jumped from their horses and Seth commanded the stallions to flee to the field and wait for them. Then they hid among the thickets.
Two men with their hands and feet chained walked before six hideous creatures on large black horses. The creatures appeared to have
dark-green scaly skin, lizard-like faces with yellow eyes, and rows of plated spikes traveling down their backs and along their tails. But oddly enough their arms, legs, chests and torsos looked human, at least in form. And they smelled like a mucky swamp.
“Eh, what are they?” Darshun whispered.
“Draconians,” Seth answered. “Barbarian men from the Southeast Mountains whose flesh was intertwined with the Balska Lizard long ago by the use of Dark Magic…Ruthlessly evil.”
Ruthlessly evil? “Oh no, Elwin lies on the other side of the trail!”
“He’ll be all right if he stays quiet.”
Darshun had other thoughts. Why did you have to run that way, Elwin?
“It’s here, yes, this is the place I promised you,” said a prisoner.
“Retrieve it,” one of the Draconians commanded in a raspy tone.
“No, Belar,” the other prisoner pleaded. “Do not give it to them. I tell you, let them kill us. If any love for the earth still dwells in your heart, they mustn’t have that crystal.”
“I do not want to die, Borius!” he snapped, stomping a foot on the ground. “Not today.”
“Silence!” commanded the Draconian, whipping them on their backs—adding additional wounds to their already split, and tortured skin.
“Borius, if we just give it back they’ll let us live. They gave us their word—their word! Stealing it was not our idea in the first place.”
The Draconian stepped closer, clenching his fists. “I’m out of patience. Retrieve the crystal now!” he roared
His raspy voice sounded like a shrieking even to Darshun’s ears.
Belar walked over to a maple having a large gash in its bark and next to the tree, rested a pile of leaves. He reached into them, scattering the damp leaves to and fro, and unveiled a black sack. “Here,” he said, handing it to the creature.
The Draconian opened the sack and looked in, then glanced to Belar with a crude smile. “Very good, stupid human.” In an instant, he pulled out a sword and chopped off Belar’s head.
It flew into the bushes next to Elwin. Startled at the decapitated face and twitching eyes, Elwin screamed.
Prophecy Of The Guardian (Guardian Series Book 1) Page 10
