The Red Horde: Story I

by Geltab

this time.

  “I am Verg…redeemer of the south and…and…bane of the red!” Verg spoke listening to what the voice told him to say.

  The pipe man was visibly pleased and his face began to soften. Without hesitation Basner spoke.

  “I am Basner, mage of the world, destroyer of the horde.”

  Beaming, the pipe man threw off his baggy black cloak to reveal a robe the color of moving fire. The man was in a completely red and orange robe that seemed to move as though it was an actual fire, the same way the pipe man’s eyes would dance. His red beard was also jumping to its own fire, at least Verg thought so.

  “You may have recalled your fate, now recall your memory! Remember Rak’Sul, I have created the world for your destiny.”

  Upon hearing the name Rak’Sul all three were flooded with memories and emotions spanning eons. Many experiences over many lifetimes began coming upon the three. They each sat there absorbing their previous memory, power and lives. Rak’Sul was more than a name, it was, and it was a world, a time, a place, a God, everything it seemed.

  “How could I have lived these lives and have no memory of myself or deeds?” Verg thought aloud as he watched the stream of memories pass before his eyes. “I forgot myself, nothing indicated I was special.”

  “Why should it? You expected horns? Maybe lightning bolts, who are you?”

  It was coming back in pieces. “I am…I am…Rak’Verg, bane of the red horde. I have redeemed the south before. I…wait…this isn’t the first red horde invasion.” Verg looked up at Rak’Sul.

  “No it is not, perhaps you three can make this one the last however.”

  “Who are you?” Rak’Sul said turning his fiery gaze towards Basner.

  “Rak’Basner, Omni mage, destroyer of the horde, I…I know magic?” He half asked looking at his hands front and back.

  “No, I know magic, as of now, you know nothing, but it will return.” He turned to Rega.

  “Universal queen Rega, every knee shall bow to you. No need to ask if you know who you are. Rak’Sul then bowed deeply to her.

  “I remembered everything. From the moment you called me universal queen,” Rega spoke to Rak’Sul. “How is that possible?”

  “It has been known to happen from time to time. Although it is a rare occurrence, only the most talented usually awaken so quickly.” Rak’Sul winked at her. “Though you are all in the process of remembering, some more than others. You do not possess any of the magical powers of your previous selves. That is why we continue north.”

  “What’s in the north?” Verg asked him.

  “What you need to know.” Rak’Sul seemed annoyed by the question. “It will take some months for your memories and knowledge to return. It can take up to a year for your full power to return. I pray the red horde gives us a year, so you three may be ready when the time comes.” Rak’Sul spoke as he moved forward in the ox cart and took up the reins himself, beginning to move the ox cart again. The others were too stunned by their recent flood of memories to continue.

  “There is a great deal to learn and a short time to learn it. Please move on my friends.” Rak’Sul seemed to be talking to the horses. The cart moved forward, lurching angrily to a steady pace once again. The three, Verg, Rega and Basner sat stunned almost catatonic, being overwhelmed by the tide of memories and knowledge they were receiving. North, north, it kept repeating in their heads like a drum. They each began to realize their home lies in the north. Verg looked at his sister and Basner.

  “Can we really be from the north, I thought nothing existed there…but monsters.” There was a hearty laugh from the fiery Rak’Sul driving the ox cart.

  “Monsters, I love those stories.” Rak’Sul called back to them.

  Verg didn’t feel like speaking anymore, Rega and Basner didn’t feel like answering. They were each in essence, reliving lives in their minds.

  The ox cart lumbered on though the forest of Vadan along the perfectly smooth gravel road. Rak’Sul happily puffing on his pipe, talking to the plants, insects and animals, oblivious to the squeal and rattling of the lurching cart, tired from weeks of driving without maintenance. The road being in the north and being so perfect seemed to be no surprise to Rak’Sul. The three in the back had fallen asleep hours ago from the intense experiences they had all begun in their minds.

  Rak’Sul thought back through the fog of time, trying to remember the time when he had realized he was not Sul son of a farmer, but Rak’Sul sorcerer of the endless age, keeper of infinity. “Too long ago to remember,” it had been nearly sixty thousand years, thinking back that far was difficult even for Rak’Sul. He continued puffing his pipe as the ox cart reached the far side of the forest of Vadan. Coming to the edge and clearing the tree line, Rak’Sul smiled and relaxed.

  They had reached Berasa, city of lights. They would be safe from the red horde for the time being. Berasa was a city wholly unknown to the three sleeping saviors arriving in the back of a broken down ox cart, the only thing splendid about it was the stallions. They had been losing strength, but since meeting Rak’Sul in the forest of Vadan they had been gleaming, absolutely healthy and stunning.

  Rak-Verg, Rak-Basner and Rega queen of the universe did not notice they had arrived. Looking back at the young ones sleeping, the old sorcerer Rak’Sul wondered if they had the magic and will to conquer what was coming. Destroying the red horde would be no small magic trick or a spell at all, simply dedication and hard work. Their predecessors had much difficulty stopping the previous invasions and they were trained and groomed since birth. These three have one year at the most before the red horde is upon them.

  The sudden stop of the ox cart jolted the three young fugitives from the south awake. Startling, they each began to stir in their own way, shaking off their slumber.

  “Sorry about that didn’t mean to stop so quickly.” Rak’Sul laughed to himself as he puffed away getting down from the driver’s seat.

  “Greetings Rak’Sul, may I tie your cart for you, perhaps some maintenance for it, secure your goods, find you a room perhaps?” A voice from below, next to the wagon spoke to Rak’Sul as he climbed down. Watching as he fastened his sword belt and straightened his robe, Verg noticed the old sorcerer’s pipe was still lit and filled as ever before. “Gods, he is a sorcerer or a chimney,” he whispered to Rega and Basner. They all cackled as Rak’Sul haggled with the weasel faced man that had approached them below. They reached an agreement, Rak’Sul handed the man a strange blue coin, none of them had seen before. Of course, just a few months earlier they had been living normal lives sure that nothing existed in the north but monsters and wild men so a blue coin was not too unusual.

  “Right then, that is Nel, a bit of a prude but he runs a decent enough inn here in Berasa, not too many blue coins for my taste. Not the best, but I never like the high and mighty here anyway. He will take care of our horses and gave us a room for the night, let’s go get something to eat.” Rak’Sul said as he had already started off in the direction of the inn.

  “Berasa?” Rega asked out loud in a voice that clearly intoned neither she, Verg or Basner had ever heard of, much less seen the city.

  “Yes Rega, this is Berasa, city of lights. First city beyond the forest of Vadan as you call it and magically hidden to appear inconspicuous. This city stands as the gateway to the forgotten northern imperial magister.”

  “What is that?” Basner asked as they all climbed out of the ox cart to allow Nel to secure it for the evening and care for the horses.

  “The northern imperial magister?” Rak’Sul puffed his pipe; “that would take a long time to explain. The short version is it was an empire of magic covering what you call the unknown north. An empire of magi and wizards, sorcerers’, conjurers, all types of magic were practiced throughout the north, their dominion was total. Now it is a place forgotten by the short lives of mortal men and their fake kingdoms. Just the way the magi that brought down the empire want it.”

  “That was the short versio
n?” Verg asked thinking he was being funny. Rak’Sul knocked him down without touching him, and then walked away.

  This explanation really answered nothing for Verg and only served to create more questions. Before any could be asked by Verg or Basner, Rega spoke.

  “Why is this place called city of lights?”

  The old man smiled puffing away as usual; the red ember of his pipe seemed to match his robe and beard perfectly. “Well my young queen, we have arrived when the sun is at its brightest, tonight I would guess that question shall answer itself.”

  “I have so many questions Rak’Sul, my mind is swimming,” Verg interjected.

  “Yes young redeemer and those questions will be answered only to be replaced by new ones.” Rak’Sul had his arm around Verg’s shoulder as they walked down the main street of Berasa. Rega and Basner walked behind looking around them like stunned forest mice. They had never seen anything like this place, so much stone, marble and crystal.

  “The south only uses such precious materials for our most venerated statues. Here they appear everywhere, such wealth, it’s unimaginable.” Rega said to Rak-Sul walking in front of her.

  “Yes, you will find many things different here in the north. In time answers will come, for now let’s get out of this never ending drizzle and into the inn as fast as possible.” They walked a short distance more before they came