Alutar: The Great Demon

by Tuttle, Richard S.

  As he was climbing the path, he noticed the lack of bodies on the path or near the entrance to the cave. There was not a single body of the enemy force that attacked the 30th Corps, nor had any of the Federation soldiers even made it up the path. He shook his head again, unable to envision such a scenario as the one painted by the remains. When he reached the mouth of the cave, he peered in, half expecting to be attacked, but no one was around. He sighed with relief. Having completed his task, Captain Borgund turned around and hastily returned to the canyon floor and began making his way out of the canyon.

  The captain spent the next two hours making his way out of the canyon, thankful that the lengthening shadows were hiding much of the carnage around him. When he finally reached his horse, he sighed heavily, relieved that his mission was almost over. He mounted his horse and rode to the mouth of the canyon, anxious to make his report and push the images from his mind. He turned as he exited the canyon and headed towards the encampment, the last rays of sunlight fading to dusk. In the distance, Captain Borgund could just see the rising smoke from some of the campfires, but he frowned when he could not detect the light from the flames, as if the fires were smoldering. The campsite was as dimly lit as the surrounding woods. The captain grew anxious again.

  Unexpectedly, several large figures moved off to his left, and the captain started with nervousness. He turned and gazed into the trees and saw three horses wandering through the trees. The horses were without saddles or bridles, and a dark feeling of dread filled the captain’s heart. He moved cautiously towards the camp and strained his eyes to see the sentries, but he could not detect any of them. When he eventually got close enough to see the men, he understood what he was seeing. The captain rode quietly into the camp and surveyed the men of the 2nd Regiment. They were all dead. Understanding the situation clearly, Captain Borgund turned his horse and urged it into a gallop. He dropped all pretense of stealth and raced away from the battlefield, intent on delivering word of the massacres to General Salaman. Undetected by the captain, two pairs of eyes watched him ride by. One dark figure had an arrow nocked to his bowstring, but the other placed a hand on the arm of the archer to halt his firing.

  “Why let him get away?” asked Caan.

  “His arrival in Calusa will serve us better than what we have planned,” answered Randi Witzak.

  “How do you mean?” asked Caan.

  “Max Caber has built a miniature catapult for the express purpose of hurling Colonel Atman’s head over the walls of Calusa,” answered Randi. “It is hidden in the forest outside of the city. It was to prove the demise of the attack group sent against us, but that captain will now spread the word for us. He has reviewed all of the carnage. His tales of the massacres will spread throughout the city. The catapult will just be used now to announce our arrival.”

  * * * *

  Captain Gomery and Haditha sat in a rocky cove on the Isle of Despair unaware that they were being observed by the elf standing behind them. The water witch bent down and gently touched some kelp that had broken loose from its grasp on some rock offshore.

  “Poor thing,” Haditha said softly. “It has been torn from its home.”

  “It is just kelp,” commented the captain. “There is plenty more where it came from.”

  “Gomery,” Haditha said with displeasure evident in her voice. “I used to love swimming through the kelp forests. They are beautiful creatures, not something to be thrust aside. Do you know that kelp can grow almost a pace in a single day? It is one of the most wondrous creatures of the sea.”

  “I think I am gazing upon the most wondrous creature in the sea,” the captain replied lovingly. “Is it not understandable that I might not recognize other wondrous creatures?”

  “Bah,” Haditha replied sternly, although a smile betrayed the falseness of her dissatisfaction.

  “We need to focus,” Captain Gomery said with a more serious tone. “We are tasked with blocking Despair Harbor in some manner, and we are not making any progress towards that goal. I was wondering if we could store fire glue in some type of soft shell, something that would break upon impact with the hull of a ship.”

  “No,” the water witch shook her head. “I will not be a part of killing innocent people, and any ship that struck one of your fire glue mines would sink. The sailors would perish. Gomery, there are simple merchant vessels that sail in and out of Despair Harbor. We cannot sink them. If it is a military ship I will help you, but not for indiscriminate killing. Find another way.”

  “You have already ruled out my other suggestions,” sighed the captain. “I do not wish to kill innocents either, but I can think of no way to target just the military ships. If we get close enough to distinguish one from another, we will be close enough for them to attack us.”

  The elf moved forward from his place of concealment, his silent footsteps alerting no one. When he spoke, the captain and the water witch started with surprise.

  “You must be Haditha, the water witch,” the elf said in greeting. “I am Galdan from Glendor.”

  Haditha stared blankly at the stranger, but the captain rose and extended a hand in friendship.

  “I am Captain Gomery,” he announced. “I have heard of you, Galdan. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

  Haditha watched as the two men greeted one another. She stared into the elf’s eyes and asked, “How did you know of me?”

  “A few of King Arik’s closest advisors have been kept informed of the happenings in Zara,” Galdan replied. “Being a magician, I have a keen interest in the magical abilities of others, especially one so talented as yourself.”

  Haditha’s brow furrowed as she tried to read between the elf’s words. Her ability to steer and propel a ship would have obviously been reported, but only Gomery was supposed to know of her other form. She glanced accusingly at the captain, but Gomery shook his head, assuring her that he had said nothing of the mermaid.

  “And what have you heard, Galdan?” she asked the elf.

  “That you have a way with water that is unknown to me or anyone else that I know,” answered the elf magician. “I will also say that I have other suspicions based upon our ancient archives, but if you do not wish to discuss such things, I will respect your wishes.”

  “I appreciate such candor and respect,” Haditha replied with genuine surprise. “Welcome to our cove, Galdan.”

  The elf waded into the water and gently held the kelp in his hands. Haditha started to look at the elf with renewed suspicion.

  “Do not molest the kelp,” she said sternly.

  Galdan looked back at the water witch and smiled in a mischievous manner. “While I do not understand your capabilities, Haditha, you are a mage. Have you no healing magic?”

  Haditha appeared perplexed at the elf’s words, but she gasped as the kelp suddenly straightened and took root on a nearby rock.

  “How did you do that?” she asked.

  “A healing magic can do more than merely close a gash or smooth an abrasion,” replied Galdan. “It can also replenish and strengthen. I did nothing more than cast a healing spell on the kelp. It will flourish now, but it could do still better with even more healing.”

  “But what more can you ask of kelp than to flourish,” frowned the water witch.

  “Indeed,” frowned Captain Gomery. “Kelp may be of use to a sailor by letting him know where shallow rocks might reside in the channel, but why would anyone want it to flourish beyond that? Kelp can foul a keel enough to make headway difficult.”

  Haditha’s eyes suddenly brightened. “And a forest of kelp of extraordinary strength could…”

  Galdan smiled broadly as Haditha suddenly realized the potential of healing the kelp. She turned and gazed at the elf in wonder.

  “You knew,” she said accusingly. “Didn’t you?”

  “No mage willingly gives away all of his secrets,” Galdan replied. “Do you have such healing skills? If not, I would be pleased to teach you.”

  “I know some
healing,” replied Haditha, “but I need to make sure that my spells will produce the required result. Gomery and I are needed to ferry some elves to the Pyres tonight. Would you care to join us? I would love to discuss magic with you.”

  “And I would love to see a water witch perform her magic,” smiled Galdan. “When do we leave?”

  * * * *

  The starling flew high over the Equus Steppe west of where Korocca met Zarocca. It gazed down at the amassing cavalries below. Eight thousand Zaroccan lancers rode eastward, and twelve thousand Koroccan lancers rode westward, meeting at a nondescript place along the Herinak-Traginak Road, but it was the other three thousand riders alongside the Koroccans that caught the bird’s attention. The black-cloak disguised as a starling had been posted to Alcea a couple of years ago, and he knew the uniforms of the Alcean Red Swords. More importantly, he recognized the shining white and gold battle armor of the Warrior King. The Alceans had allies in Zara, and they were marching to war. This was news that had to be carried directly to the Black Citadel. The starling banked sharply and headed towards the Forest of Death.

  The starling remained high as it soared over the Forest of Death, not wanting to be affected by its aura of fear. It pressed onward over the Kyber Woods, the Dark Forest, and finally, the Bloodwood. Skirting the slopes of the Barrier, the bird dropped its altitude to avoid the snow-covered peaks. Eventually, it banked sharply into a canyon, and catching an updraft, headed upward towards the cavern known as the Black Citadel. It glided into the cave and immediately transformed into its human form, unaware of the black-clad Rangers above the cave entrance. The black-cloak made his way directly to the office of Feragyna. The Master of the Black Citadel sat hovering behind his desk. He waved the black-cloak into the room and waited for the report. The spy reported all that he had seen, and the room fell silent for a moment.

  “They can not hope to survive a trip through the Forest of Death,” Feragyna eventually said, “nor could they possibly survive such a long journey through the Sands of Eternity. How do they hope to bring war to the Federation? Are you sure that is their intent? They could be merely hunting ogres.”

  “I know the Occan mindset rather well,” replied the black-cloak spy. “They would not amass such a large army to hunt ogres, while leaving their cities lightly defended. When they come out to battle the ogres, it is within sight of their walls. I also spent some time in Alcea. It is said that the gods bless King Arik. Perhaps they do have some way to survive a trip through the Forest of Death.”

  “Perhaps,” mused Feragyna. “In any event, Despair must be notified immediately. Carry the word there with haste.”

  Feragyna dismissed the spy with a wave of his hand. The door opened magically, and the spy departed. The door closed, and Feragyna dwelt on the possibility of the gods protecting the Warrior King’s invasion force. Moments later, shouts erupted from the mouth of the Black Citadel. Feragyna dropped his legs to the floor and strode out of his chamber. When he reached the mouth of the cave, he found dozens of black-cloaks standing back from the lip of the cave. They were staring out at the sky.

  “What is the matter?” demanded the leader of the black-cloaks.

  “One of our brothers just tried to leave the Citadel,” offered one of the men. “An arrow pierced his body.”

  “An arrow?” Feragyna frowned in disbelief. “Have our alarms failed?”

  “The arrow was from above,” replied one of the mages. “We have no alarms up there because it is not possible to be attacked from up there.”

  Feragyna stared out at the sky in silence for a moment. It was true that the cave was protected from an attack from above, but that protection obviously did not extend to birds or men leaving the Black Citadel. Someone was trying to block access to the Black Citadel, but for what reason? It could not possibly be in response to the spy that they just killed because they let him into the Black Citadel to deliver his message. Besides, they could not have gotten into place without expending a great deal of time and effort. There had to be another reason for their presence.

  “Why would a man sit atop us?” questioned a black-cloak. “He has to know that any one of us could obliterate him in an instant.”

  “Were we able to see him,” frowned Feragyna. “Besides, I truly doubt that it is a single man up there. Someone is planning on bringing war to the Federation, and they do not want us interfering with their plans. Go and gather your brothers. I have words for their ears.”

  Most of the black-cloaks had already gathered near the entrance, but runners took off in every direction to ensure that all were present. When Feragyna was convinced that everyone was present, he explained what the spy had told him.

  “Word of this must reach Despair,” Feragyna stated in conclusion. “Three of you will leave simultaneously.” Feragyna pointed to three mages randomly. “Each of you has the duty to carry the report to Despair. Transform and leave on my command.”

  “Shouldn’t one of them try to gain ground above us?” asked one of the black-cloaks. “It would only take a simple spell to destroy the archers up there.”

  “You would not have the time to transform back into human form,” Feragyna shook his head. “And if you flew far enough away to make the transformation, you would then not be able to get close enough to strike. The archers are not a threat to us while we are in the Black Citadel. We will deal with those men in due time, but this message is more important. It must be delivered immediately.”

  Three birds sat near the lip of the cave awaiting instructions to fly away. With a wave of Feragyna’s hand, the three birds leaped into the sky and tried to flee. Almost immediately, a dozen arrows slammed into their bodies. The birds died instantly, and their bodies transformed back into human form as they tumbled from the sky and smashed on the canyon walls below. Feragyna bit his lower lip as he raised his estimate on the number of archers above him. Cries of horror and shouts of revenge rang out among the black-cloaks as they watched their brethren die. Feragyna knew that he could lose control of the black-cloaks if he continued to sacrifice his men. Instead, he had to think of a way to show his superiority before someone thought to challenge his position. He thought quickly about the situation and inhaled deeply as he turned to address his men.

  “We will not be undone by mere archers,” he announced loudly. “The men above of us are no threat as long as we remain in this cave. We will wait until nightfall, and then I alone will carry the message to Despair. I want a dozen of you to keep watch until then. When nightfall arrives, you will cast spells of brilliance to ruin the night vision of the archers. At that time, I will leave. The rest of you return to your studies.”

  Feragyna randomly selected twelve men to remain on watch. He then returned to his office and spent the rest of the day pondering the significance of the archers above the Black Citadel. As nightfall arrived, he summoned Targo and put him in charge of the Black Citadel. He then walked to the cave entrance and stared out at the night sky. Feragyna transformed into a bird and stood on the lip of the cave waiting for his fellow black-cloaks to cast their spells. Within a few minutes of his transformation, twelve spells of brilliance split the night sky. The walls of the canyon lit up as if the sun had temporarily returned to the sky. Still, Feragyna waited. He knew that he had to wait for the brilliance to dim before he left, or he would be illuminated for all to see. When the time was right, Feragyna hesitated slightly and then jumped off the lip, letting his body fall downward before flaring his wings and soaring away from the cave. He thought the spells of brilliance had saved him from attack, but an arrow struck his wing, passing completely through it. Feragyna struggled to maintain his transformation spell as his bird-form spiraled downward in a dizzying descent toward the canyon floor. While he expected another arrow to pierce his body, none came.

  The bird struck the canyon floor hard, but not hard enough to cause further damage. It slowly rose to its feet and tried to take flight again, but it was hopeless. His wing was damaged too severely to
fly. Feragyna transformed into his human form and quickly moved into the shadows to examine himself. His left arm was badly damaged and blood flowed freely from it. He shook his head and cursed under his breath. While he was the Master of the Black Citadel and conversant with most types of magic, the one form of magic he had given short shrift to was that of healing. He was able to staunch the flow of blood and cause a closing of the skin over the wounds, but the muscle of his left arm remained useless. Convinced that he would not be able to fly, Feragyna rose and started walking towards Despair.

  Chapter 12

  Black Citadel

  The black-clad figure woke and rubbed his eyes. He looked up at the towering trees above him with a start and immediately sat up. Garth Shado sat on a log a few paces away, and the awakening figure sighed with relief.

  “Where are we?” asked Prince Harold of Ertak.

  “In the Dark Forest within the boundaries of Ertak,” Garth replied. “I trust that you slept well?”

  “It would appear that I have slept through a journey of several hundred leagues,” frowned the prince. “How did we get here?”

  “By magical means,” Garth answered vaguely.

  “You mean that you will not explain the journey to me,” retorted the prince. “Do you not trust me?”

  “I believe you to be a just and good man, Harold,” Garth answered sincerely, “but I am always a cautious man. We plan to escort you into the bowels of one of the Federation’s major cities. I trust you enough to put my life in your hands, but your method of transport must remain a secret. If I were to explain it to you, and Federation troops captured you, it could cost the lives of thousands of good people. Their lives are not mine to give away. I hope you understand.”