by Roy Huff
Eventually, the giants could no longer carry Borak. Two of them stayed by his side, the others continued on in the hopes of making it to the portal and returning with help. The remaining giants continued for another day’s journey, but soon, even they could no longer continue. One by one, they collapsed onto the desert sand until all but one of them lay scattered on the ground, their massive bodies the only thing visible in the entire region.
It would be left up to the only giant left standing, Consilium, to reach the portal. Otherwise, all of them would become tortured victims of the wasteland. With that burden squarely on his shoulders, Consilium plodded along. Step-by-step, breath-by-breath, he continued. The muscles in his legs began to revolt. The fatigue that had defeated the others was creeping up on him, ever so quickly.
“No! No! No!” Consilium shouted.
“I will continue. I will not quit. I will move forward. I will not quit.”
He marched on for several more hours, denying the harsh desert its victory over him. In a moment of weakness, he collapsed. He fell forward, and when he did, he could finally see what he had been looking for. It was a color, purple to be precise. He couldn’t make out any of the features, but that was irrelevant. He knew by the purple hue that it had to be Lillymore, one of the surrounding realms.
The discovery propelled him forward. His used his last bit of strength to stand up and continue walking. His mind took control of his body, forcing the pain and fatigue to obey his will. Less than an hour later, he reached his destination and then he collapsed.
Consilium succumbed to a deep sleep. His body was drained close to death, but the border realm was cool. He slept for several days, and when he awoke, he was weak and robbed of all strength.
Finally, Consilium stood up and continued walking until eventually he came upon a stream. It was a small stream, barely large enough for him to fit his cupped hands.
The water in the stream, like the ground and the vegetation in that realm, was purple, just a slightly bluer shade compared to the vegetation, which had a few reddish hues. There wasn’t much variety, but it was something, and it was much better than the lifeless desert sand.
Consilium dipped his finger in the stream, and then he dabbed his tongue with the water. It was sweet and had a fruity aroma. Excited by the fact that he finally had something to drink and restore his strength, he cupped his hands in the stream and drank as much as he could until his belly felt like it was going to burst.
Consilium stretched out his body on the purple grass, allowing the water to do its job. He rested a short while longer until he felt the strength return to his muscles and the energy return to his body.
The vegetation was short, so he could see a great distance. He wasn’t sure where the portal was located, but he felt confident he would eventually find it. He continued walking until he felt strong enough to leap above the ground and cover more distance.
Consilium felt empowered. The water had returned almost all of his strength, and one leap at a time, he ventured high above the ground. He looked in every direction as he soared, noting the absence of anything other than purple streams and short vegetation. It didn’t take long, though, for him to spot the portal.
Moments later, he shot up into the air, making a few more leaps. Finally, he had reached the portal. Consilium walked through and arrived in the land of the giants within one of the recently constructed monoliths.
Immediately, the soldier sent word to their leader, General Varrick, that Consilium had arrived. Upon hearing the news, the General left the confines of his bunker and arrived at the monolith to greet Consilium.
“It’s great to see you alive, soldier. Are there any others?”
“Likewise, General. There are twenty of us including myself, but I was the only one that made it out of the wasteland to Lillymore. The wasteland is unusually harsh, especially to the largest among us. Borak was the first to collapse. They are alive, but just barely. I fear if I return, I will not be able to rescue them.”
“Well then, I’ll notify The Keeper. I’ll have him send out a contingent of Ubaloo soldiers from Brackenbone to the monolith. We’ll save our men, thanks to your courage and determination.”
After returning to his bunker, General Varrick used his hand to activate the table used to communicate with The Keeper.
“Keeper, only one soldier from the army of giants has returned. Nearly twenty remain strewn across the vast wasteland beyond Lillymore.
“I will send some soldiers to the edge of Lillymore, but the wasteland steals the strength and magnifies the weight of the giants. We should send a contingent of Ubaloo as quickly as possible through the monolith and across Lillymore to rescue the giants from the wasteland,” the General said.
“I agree. I will send a few dozen marmooks as well. They will be able to fetch some nourishment from Lillymore to give the Giants ahead of the Ubaloo,” The Keeper said.
Word spread quickly in Everville. In the land of the Fron and in Brackenbone, many rushed to help prepare the Ubaloo and the marmooks in the hopes of rescuing the brave giants who had succumbed to the elements of the wasteland.
One thousand Ubaloo soldiers approached the portal in Brackenbone. Their attire was streamlined and light, to minimize the effect of the wasteland. Likewise, in the land of the Fron, several dozen marmooks hopped along with containers strapped to their furry round bodies ready to cross through the portal and arrive at the monolith in the land of the giants.
The Ubaloo soldiers marched across the portal, one wave at a time. When the final wave of Ubaloo had crossed and the last of the marmooks arrived, General Varrick and a small contingent of giants escorted them through the portal in the monolith across to Lillymore.
The giants brought large crates. Each giant carried two of the large crates that held dozens of miniature muscle-bound Ubaloo solders. Once the giants reached the edge of the Lillymore, they would release the Ubaloo and marmooks.
“Now!” signaled General Varrick.
The giants made a running start, and then each of them leapt hundreds of yards into the air. Leap after leap, the giants came closer to the edge of Lillymore near the vast wasteland.
A few marmooks peeked over the side of the crates once the giants took flight. They whimpered and shrunk back down as close to the bottom as possible until the giants arrived.
“Get moving. Let’s fill up the containers by the stream and get the water to the giants,” General Varrick said to the marmooks.
The three dozen marmooks filled up their containers, and the Ubaloo kneeled beside them while taking a few sips of the purple water before venturing into the wasteland.
“It’s now or never,” said one of the Ubaloo.
The marmooks hopped across the border into the wasteland. The Ubaloo followed behind, running as fast as they could. A few of marmooks stayed with the Ubaloo holding the containers of the purple water in case they got thirsty.
The Ubaloo and marmooks followed in the general direction they were told by Consilium. The marmooks hopped along for several hours, only stopping every so often for a minute or two to rest and take small sips of the purple water.
At last, the marmooks had arrived to the first giant. The Ubaloo were still a day’s journey behind, but closing fast. Two marmooks stayed with each giant until the last of the marmooks arrived at Borak’s location.
One of the marmooks gently tapped on Borak’s head trying to get a response, but there was no movement. The giant’s face was chapped and dusty. The marmook brushed off the sand from Borak’s face and pried apart his lips, pouring in a small amount of the water. He waiting a few seconds, and repeated the process.
Over the course of the next several hours, the marmooks continued to pour small amounts of the water into each of the giants’ mouths until they finally responded. Borak was the last to open his eyes. The giants remained weak, but their strength slowly returned.
The Ubaloo themselves felt the drain of the wasteland, but not to the degree tha
t it had affected the giants because they were so much smaller. Eventually, they too arrived. It took twelve hours between the time the first of the Ubaloo reached the first giant and the last of them reached Borak. By that time, the first few giants were able to walk on their own. The giants that were farther behind, including Borak, were still not able to get up.
Soon only Borak remained in the wasteland, accompanied by a hundred Ubaloo and a few marmooks. The Ubaloo carefully lifted the giant up and carried him up above their heads with their tiny muscular arms. They could only make it half way before fatigue prevented them from carrying him any farther. They were then relieved by a second contingent of Ubaloo and several marmooks who had escorted the first of the giants to Lillymore.
“Please. Leave me here. Save yourselves,” murmured Borak.
“It’s okay. The other giants are safe. We came back for you. You’re saved,” one of the Ubaloo soldiers replied.
Borak blacked out. When he awoke, he was lying on the ground in Lillymore next to a purple stream alongside the Ubaloo, the giants, and the marmooks who had come to rescue him. He was very weak, but by that time he had gained enough strength to dip his hand in the stream and take a few sips.
They rested there for another day. Escaping the vast wasteland allowed them to regain their strength relatively quickly.
The next morning, they were all eager to leave. The purple land of Lillymore reminded them too much of the monotony of the vast wasteland, and the armies began preparing for their return
“Borak, your exploits in The City of Worms will not be forgotten. You are a hero to our people and a true force of good,” the General said to Borak once he had regained sufficient strength.
“Your words are very kind, General, but it’s I who should be thanking you. I failed you. It’s you who had to rescue me.”
“Nonsense. That’s the wasteland speaking. You are the most courageous person I know. It’s not just your strength, but it’s your courage and your honor that distinguish you from the masses. All our soldiers are valiant, but you have led them. You have nurtured them. You have sacrificed your life and your soul for every single soldier we have. You wouldn’t hesitate to die even if it meant saving the lowliest of our soldiers,” the General responded as he fought back tears.
“And neither would you, General, because it’s you who are our leader.”
“Yes, but you are our hero and if I had a son, I could only hope that he would possess but the tiniest amount of valor and character that you have demonstrated since you joined my army. You are the closest thing I have ever had to a son, and you have made all of us proud.”
The General could no longer hold back his tears. They streamed down his face, but the purple sky and dim light hid the General’s loss of control over his emotion.
The first of the giants leapt into the air. Everyone was relieved, but the marmooks were especially grateful; they didn’t even seem bothered once they left the safety of the ground. Shortly thereafter, they all arrived back in the land of the giants.
It’s true that the Fron’s feasting and celebration was legendary, but the giants were not constrained by the watchful eyes of The Keepers. Today, though, the celebration would be muted out of respect for those who had died in The City of Worms. Borak’s return was a great victory, but the loss of half the army of giants weighed down their spirits too much to indulge in more than a modest meal and a glass of wine. It was a good meal, nonetheless.
CHAPTER 5
THE SEARCH FOR VARSTOCK
Owen, along with Felix, Asher, and Grenmar had arrived in land of the giants shortly after the rescue of Borak. Most of the giants had left the table, but Borak and General Varrick still remained when they had arrived.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, General,” Owen said respectfully.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. A pleasure to meet you,” Felix copied.
“Hey, quit that, Felix,” Asher snapped.
“Sorry,” Felix whimpered.
“It’s quite alright, gentlemen. Take your fill of food and drink. Our men have had enough for the evening. Now, please excuse me,” the General said before leaving.
Borak stayed a while longer. The loss of his men in The City of Worms was something he wished to discuss with Owen.
Borak towered over them. Owen and the others had to sit on large crates just to reach the top of the table. The enormity of the room was not lost on Owen, for Grenmar and the Ubaloo even more so.
“I want to thank you for what you did, Owen. I know it wasn’t an easy decision to initiate the destruction of the city with our armies still there.”
“I’m at a loss for words. I am truly sorry about all those who died,” Owen said with deep sorrow visible on his face.
“I know others may disagree, but you did what you believed was best. Say what you will, but if you had not initiated the city’s destruction, the dragons would have destroyed us all just the same. If you didn’t destroy the city, concentrations of power would have been even greater and our destruction total. Your actions, however, allowed some of us to survive, and more importantly, your courage and humility have prevented the destruction of our world by the element,” Borak said with reassurance.
“Thank you, but there is something you may not be aware of.”
Before Owen had a chance to finish, Borak interrupted.
“If you are referring to Mallory and the juvenile dragon, I am very much aware. The General told us moments ago. It is indeed very troubling, Owen, but I have every confidence that you will once again be victorious. You have proven to be a man of great character and wisdom, and that wisdom will guide your path to the best course of action.
“There will always be something. There will always be some evil. Whether it is apparent or not to some, there is darkness within all of our hearts, just as there is good. Even the best among us are capable of despicable acts, and the worst among us are capable of redemption. Mallory is the perfect example. Arrogance and humility are always in a constant struggle inside of us. That’s why we must always remain on guard, not just for those that would see us destroyed, but also for the darkness within,” Borak explained.
“Darkness. Darkness,” whispered Felix.
Asher gave Felix a stern look.
Borak continued, “I must admit that at times I have also been a slave to my emotions. As soldiers we are bred for battle. We are honorable men, but anger sometimes does get the better of us.”
“That’s completely understandable, but you’re not just honorable, you’re also brave and wise,” Owen replied.
“Brave perhaps, but wise is another matter entirely.”
The fatigue had caught up to him, and Borak’s body needed rest. He could go on no further.
“I’m sorry but I must rest,” Borak said as he stood up from his seat at the table
He walked towards the exit, his large size shaking the room and the table along with it. Grenmar almost fell off, but Owen was quick to grab his arm and hoist him back up on the crate.
For a moment it was quiet. Owen sat there, thinking about what the giant had said.
“This is delicious,” Felix said, breaking the silence.
He stuffed his face with roasted morsels of meat that remained on the table. The others joined in.
“It is quite tasty,” Asher replied.
Owen and the others finished their dinner before making their way down the crates onto the floor. The ground was made of hard packed dirt and was not very comfortable, but they were able to find several discarded rags that made adequate coverings for the night. Soon they were all sound asleep.
The next morning they awoke to the trembling ground and the sound of the giants moving about.
“Ahhhhhh….” Felix yawned as he stretched his arms.
The giants had already prepared breakfast, and both Felix and Grenmar were assisting each other in getting back to the table.
“Good morning, Owen. I trust you slept well,” Borak said at a dis
tance as he approached from the outside.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“The General tells me that you’re off to see the Mountain Dwellers in The Valley of Darkness a short time from now,” Borak continued.
“Yes. We need to find clues that will lead us to Varstock, The Keeper who knows The Third Pillar of Truth,” Owen responded.
“Well, before you go, I think you should meet the healer. I think she may be able to provide you with some protection for your journey,” Borak said.
“That sounds great. We’d be grateful for any help you can provide us,” Owen replied.
A short time later, Borak had escorted them to the healer. She was beautiful, with long hair and tan skin. She was taller than Owen, but much closer to his size than that of the giants.
“So, I hear you have a great journey ahead of you in The Valley of Darkness,” the healer said to Owen.
“Yes. I’m not sure where to start looking for clues other than to first find the Mountain Dwellers,” he replied.
“From what I hear, the Mountain Dwellers can be ruthless, but I would watch more closely for the Fwaylan. I’ve had the opportunity to heal some of the soldiers after their attack. I have a few things that should help you on your way.”
There were two medium-sized shelves in the room and a wooden chest. Owen and the others looked around the room and were drawn to the larger of the two shelves that contained dozens of glass jars filled with different substances.
Felix reached over to pick up one of the jars.
“I wouldn’t touch that if I were you,” the healer said as she saw Felix from the corner of her eye.
Felix snapped his arm back and drew another angry look from Asher.
The healer took a few items from the shelf, including the jar that Felix was so interested in.
“This here comes from beyond the walls of Vermogen, deep in the heart of Brackenbone.”
“That’s not the element is it?” Asher asked, interrupting the healer before she could finish.
