The Godling Chronicles:Book 05 - Madness of the Fallen

by Brian D. Anderson

  Linis nodded with understanding. “Yes. He could be used to terrible affect. I can see the wisdom in your decision.”

  In spite of his words, Linis knew that Gewey’s true motives were to keep Lee with his son and as far out of danger as possible. But he was not going to challenge the issue.

  “It occurs to me,” he added, “that Melek may possibly be more powerful than you – if he is indeed the father of all the gods. Also, if the Dark Knight is aware of this, he may be acting out of fear.”

  Gewey nodded slowly. “That is certain. But fear of what? Is he afraid that Melek will destroy him, so wishes me to fight what he cannot? Or does he hope Melek will destroy me? Better still, that we destroy each other?”

  “The Dark Knight plays a dangerous game,” Linis pointed out. “Were Melek to convince you to join with him, it would undoubtedly spell the end for Angrääl.”

  “If he really is in Althetas, that's exactly what he will try to do,” said Gewey. “But at the moment, we still don’t know if I’m chasing shadows.”

  “I would say trust your instincts,” Linis remarked. “They’ve served you well enough so far.”

  Gewey shrugged. “There are some who might say different.”

  “And I would be one of them,” Kaylia told him with a smirk.

  Linis rose. “Dina and I will be ready when all is prepared.” He turned and left.

  The rest of the day for Kaylia and Gewey was spent walking the gardens and exploring the massive house. They could see that Lanson had been as avid a collector as Lee, though Gewey guessed that most of the treasures on display were purchased from ships importing goods into Baltria rather than from the man’s adventuring.

  Lyrial reported later that afternoon that the ships would be ready to sail in two days’ time.

  Just as they were heading for their room to take their meal, Millet arrived.

  “There is a message for you,” he said. “It arrived by fauna bird a few minutes ago.” His shoulders drooped and there were dark circles under his eyes. He handed Gewey a rolled parchment. Just to the left of the unadorned wax seal were scrawled the words: ‘For Darshan’.

  Gewey took the parchment and gave Millet a worried glance. “You should get more rest. You look as if you are about to collapse.”

  “The faithful had thousands of letters and journals hidden away,” Millet explained. “And my old eyes aren’t as sharp as they once were.” He bent backward and groaned while stretching his knotted muscles. “My body isn’t in much better condition either.”

  Kaylia stepped forward, allowing the flow to pass into his thin, fatigued frame. He instantly smiled and sighed with relief.

  “Now don’t start thinking this means you can go straight back to work,” she said with false harshness in her tone.

  “Ah, my dear lady,” said Millet. “I would not dare disobey.”

  Noticing that Gewey had yet to open the message, he took his leave.

  Gewey broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. Kaylia drew close. A sense of dread ran through both of them as they read the brief message.

  Darshan,

  I forgive you for leaving me behind in Shagharath. Join me in Althetas, where I am a guest of King Lousis. I give you my word that no harm shall befall you, or any in your company.

  With warmest regards,

  Melek

  Gewey crumpled the note in his fist. “Well, I suppose that answers my question.”

  He could feel Kaylia’s heart pounding furiously. He wanted to ease her fears, but his own doubts were on the brink of overcoming him.

  For two days after that Gewey was unable to sleep. By the time the ships were ready to depart, his mind was scattered in a thousand directions. The docks were packed with elves and humans, all there to see the great Darshan sail west and wish him a safe voyage.

  Lee, Jacob, Millet and all the others bid him a solemn goodbye. It was clear that they were acutely aware of the danger he was now facing. In that moment he wished that he had not told anyone other than Kaylia about Melek. Certainly not the bit about how powerful he thought the father of gods might be.

  More than fifty ships were loaded and prepared for the journey. The vessel he would travel on was by far the largest and most seaworthy – or so he had been told. As he boarded, the crowd erupted into cheers and farewells that continued long after the ship had set sail and was moving with the rest of the fleet into open waters.

  The trip would take several weeks. That meant several weeks to contemplate what might happen.

  In truth, several weeks of apprehension and worry.

  * * * * *

  Lee had not wanted to appear as somber as he did, but he could not shake off a sense of foreboding and finality about Gewey’s departure. Jacob remained at his side for the remainder of the day as he wandered the city, and for that he was very appreciative. But his dark mood and unintended aloofness soon had his son worrying needlessly.

  “I’m fine,” Lee lied, forcing a smile. “Just tired, that’s all. Being a half-man does not give me infinite strength.”

  “I can tell that you’re lying,” Jacob responded. “You’re worried that Gewey is quite possibly racing off to his death. As a matter of fact, so am I.”

  “Yes,” Lee admitted. “But there’s more. I had hoped that you would go west where you would be safe. Or at least, safer than you are here. But these days it seems there is nowhere safe. The world is closing in, and I don’t think I have the power to hold it back.”

  He knew what his son was going to say and held up his hand to silence him. “I know you think it’s your duty to stand by my side. And when there is no other way, I would agree. But you are all that survives of me and your mother. I would have you one day worry over your own children, not perish fighting beside an old man who has cheated his fate far too many times.”

  “The difference between us, father,” began Jacob, “is that I still have hope for us both. You hope only for me and keep none for yourself. You act as if you were already dead. Well, you still live. And until that changes, I will continue holding my hope close to my heart. So if you cannot find any of your own…share mine.”

  A tiny smile formed at the corners of Lee’s mouth. “Not long ago I would have said that you reminded me of myself as a young man. But now I see you are far wiser than I ever was. For that, you can thank your mother.” He slapped his son on the shoulder. “Pay no attention to my foul moods and moping. But for now, I think I need some time to myself. I’ll see you in the morning, and then we will banish my melancholy together. Baltria is a large city with many distractions. Tomorrow you can help me remember my youth - just the two of us.”

  Jacob smiled, hugged his father, and then disappeared into the crowds of people that were now a constant sight on the streets of Baltria.

  Lee had remarked on several occasions how the elves had breathed new life into the city. With each passing day the humans were becoming ever more accommodating. He agreed with Millet that soon it would be as if the elves had always been there.

  He wound his way through the streets until arriving at a small tavern close to the western market. The sound of a lute and singing drifted out from the worn front door. He reached into his pocket and jingled the coins he had with him.

  “Perhaps some wine and song,” he muttered to himself.

  The interior was quite shabby and old, but the faces of the patrons were friendly and the musician playing and singing pleasing enough. The small bar ran along the wall to his right, while two rows of tables were to his left. Here, the musician was perched atop a small stool.

  Lee ordered a bottle of wine and found an empty chair beside two drunken sailors. Across from him was a party of elves. He was certain they recognized him, but to his relief they only nodded and smiled a greeting.

  As the night wore on, Lee managed to finish off three bottles of wine and a pitcher of ale. By now he was well aware that if he didn’t eat soon, his head would pay the price in the morning. Unfortunately, th
e tiny tavern had no kitchen. He drained his final mug and tossed the young serving maid a copper. Not wanting to insult the musician, he leaned back in his chair to wait for the song to end before departing in search of a late meal elsewhere.

  As the music stopped and the crowd burst into ale fueled applause, the maid brought him over another bottle of wine.

  “No thank you, my dear,” Lee told her.

  “I’m sorry, sir,” she replied. “But the lady at the bar sent it over.” She placed her hand back on the bottle. “Should I take it away?”

  Lee looked across the room to the bar. Only one woman was seated there. Though her back was turned to him, her sleek raven hair caused him to struggle for breath. He rose to his feet and slowly made his way toward her. She was wearing a simple blue cotton dress, tied at the waist by a thin white belt. The floral pattern on the cloth was unmistakably northern weave.

  Lee’s heart began to race with each step. He knew who she was, even without seeing her face. When standing just behind her he opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

  The woman, sensing that he was there, turned around.

  Even though he had already known that there could be no mistake, a loud gasp of surprise still shot from Lee’s mouth. There, right before his eyes sat Penelope...his darling wife.

  He reached out with an unsteady hand and touched her bare arm, as if to make sure she wasn’t simply a specter.

  “It is me, my love,” she said. “I am here.”

  “How?” was the only word he could manage.

  “We must talk,” she replied. “Soon, everything will become clear.”

  Chapter 21

  They had only just sailed out of sight of Baltria when Gewey spotted Dina storming toward the bow, her face red and her eyes ablaze. Linis followed a short distance behind her, smirking.

  Dina spun around to glare at him. “If you think it’s funny, you can just leave me alone.”

  Linis stopped and backed away. After staring hard at him, Dina marched to the rails on the port bow and began screaming curses at the sea.

  Linis joined Gewey, who was sitting on an apple barrel near to the center mast. “She has just found her mother,” the elf explained.” He could see Gewey’s confusion. “Dina instructed her most firmly not to come. But a few minutes ago she saw Nahali in the galley helping the cook.”

  “I can understand why she’s upset,” said Gewey sympathetically. “I too wish I could keep those I love safe. And remember, they are only recently reunited.” He laughed softly to himself. “And to think she’s off on a quest to challenge a mad god…two mad gods, in fact. And in the company of a third.”

  Linis grabbed his shoulder and shook it fondly. “Mad? You? Not entirely. A bit moody from time to time perhaps. But considering you went from being a young farm boy to the hope of the world in such a short span of time, you can be forgiven a little bit of madness.”

  Gewey recalled the visions he had been shown when visiting the Oracle’s hiding place in the forest. Linis had featured in two of these: once as a friend, and once as foe. But in both visions Gewey had betrayed him.

  Since being told of these, Linis had never yet openly questioned whether Gewey would have the strength to remain loyal and true. Even so, Gewey knew that such thoughts must have passed through his friend’s mind. Sharply aware of what he might have to face, he’d certainly wondered the same thing himself.

  “You know that whatever happens, I’ll protect you and Dina with my life,” he said.

  Linis leaned back and gave him a sideways grin. “You're thinking about those bloody visions again, aren’t you? Kaylia told me they still torment you.” He lowered his head to meet Gewey at eye level. “I trust you. I do not think you will betray me, my wife, or the people of this world. And if there was ever once a chance of such a thing happening – which I doubt – what you saw has now prevented it.”

  Gewey was surprised at how easily Linis could tell what he was thinking. It was probably why in both visions Linis was either his friend, or at least, had once been.

  “You’re right, of course,” he said. “And I don’t dwell on it as much as I used to.” He paused and looked down at the deck planks. “But there are things I can’t ignore. In both visions Kaylia was no longer with me, and that’s what keeps it fresh in my thoughts.”

  Linis waved his hand dismissively. “That means nothing. You said yourself that Ayliazarah told you these things need not be.”

  “True,” he agreed. “But I wish she had told me how to avoid them. My father used to tell me that fate is a trickster. The path you take to avoid it has a way of leading back to where you never wanted to be.”

  Just then, Dina’s angry voice called out. “Linis! Come here now!”

  Linis smiled. “Speaking of fate…”

  They both laughed as he hurried off to his wife.

  Gewey listened to the sounds of the sea and wind, smiling as he did so. The life that emanated from the sea, together with the company of Kaylia and his friends, were going to be his only pleasures during a long journey that would be cramped and uncomfortable. His experience of time on board ships was limited to the elf vessel that had taken Aaliyah and him to the desert. Things this time were very much different – gritty and harsh.

  He had heard several tales of the brutal discipline handed out on board human ships, and before the sun had set that first evening he was to witness it for himself. A young sailor had left a rope unsecured on deck, and apparently this was not his first offense. The chief mate decided that a lesson was necessary and immediately ordered two other deckhands to rip away the offender’s shirt and tie him face first to the mast. The chief mate then produced a long leather strap, the last few inches of which had been split into six knotted strips.

  The first strike cracked loudly across the man’s bare back, leaving ugly red marks. He grunted and ground his teeth hard together against the pain. By the fifth lash, blood was oozing from rips in the poor wretch’s skin. Gewey could bear it no longer. Using the flow of the air, he tore the strap away from the chief mate’s grasp.

  “Do as you wish when I’m not aboard,” Gewey told him sternly. “But while I am here, the beatings will cease.” He pointed to a nearby sailor. “You. Untie him.”

  The sailor stood fear-stricken for a moment, but after a quick glance at the chief mate, obeyed. Gewey snorted with satisfaction and returned to his seat. He could hear murmurs of anxiety and alarm spreading rapidly throughout the ship. Men were asking what might happen if Darshan’s anger were to grow beyond control.

  A short time later Kaylia joined him. He could feel her displeasure long before she arrived.

  “I hope you do not intend to cause terror among the crew for the entire journey,” she scolded.

  Gewey shrugged. “I’ll not see people tortured. And if it stops from fear of me…so be it.”

  The sun was setting as Kaylia grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

  She led him below deck. The interior was not much different from Aaliyah’s ship, though with just a few faded paintings of various vessels and bits of old netting hanging along the walls, the décor was not nearly as pleasing to the eye.

  The captain had relinquished his cabin to them, in spite of both Gewey and Kaylia’s objections. Now though, he was glad of it. Everyone they passed eyed him with suspicion and fear, and the captain’s private quarters was the only place he could escape this.

  “Lee told me before we left that human sailors are extremely superstitious,” said Kaylia. “Better you not unsettle them if you want us to have a quiet trip.”

  The cabin was meagerly furnished and designed to serve as the captain’s dining room, bedroom and office all rolled into one. A single bed at the rear of the room was directly beneath a row of small windows overlooking the ocean. Four chairs surrounded a square table in the center, and a desk was pushed into the near left corner. There were no books or items of clot
hing other than the packs Gewey and Kayla had brought in with them. Most likely, the captain had removed his personal belongings before they boarded.

  Kaylia climbed onto the small bed and motioned for Gewey to lie beside her. “Close your eyes,” she said in a soothing tone.

  Gewey did as she asked. At once he felt her spirit calling him to her. As they became one he sensed something he had never felt before. A tiny ball of pure light darted and danced, melding with them both. It was the essence of love and the wind of spirit.

  “Our child,” said Gewey. “That’s my…my son.”

  He had felt the baby’s life-force before, but only as a pulsating beacon – a formless spirit that he instinctively knew was his child. Now though, it had a substance. And he could feel that his son already knew him to be his father.

  “When did this happen?” he asked. His heart was filled to bursting with joy. Even the closed eyes of his resting body were filled with tears.

  “When you went to Shagharath,” she replied. “His spirit is the strength that kept me from completely losing my mind. He saved us both.”

  Gewey watched in awe, losing all sense of time. Never had he imagined such powerful emotions possible. Not even his bond with Kaylia could compare.

  “Shagharath helped me to banish my anger,” he finally said, more to himself than anyone else. “Now my son has helped me to conquer my fear.”

  It took a great effort to pull away and open his eyes. By then, many hours had passed and the sun was rising. He could hear the bustle of the crew going about their duties.

  He rose from the bed, his face aglow with happiness. “I think I’ll work on deck today. Maybe that will ease the crew’s reservations.”

  Kaylia sat up and gazed out of the windows at the dim morning light. A few lingering stars were still visible in the cloudless sky. “I think that is a good idea. As for me, I would like to rest.”

  Gewey leaned down to kiss her forehead before leaving the cabin and going up on deck.

  Using the knowledge he had gained while aboard the elf vessel, and without bothering to ask, he began helping the sailors with their morning work. Many of the tasks differed from what he had learned, but they were similar enough for him to quickly adjust.