The Tear of Gramal

by Phillip Jones

  “Yes, My Lord,” Medolas responded. The tension in the boy’s voice returned now that the newness of his experience riding the harugen had worn off.

  Thoomar directed his attention toward two other harugens as they skittered across the terrain toward them. Shamand was sitting atop the larger of the two. The future advisor shouted from the top of his mount with Clandestiny tucked in front of him. “Do your eyes bear witness, old friend?”

  Thoomar pushed his hands through his hair as he responded. “No, Bumps! My eyes fail me as yours do! There is no way for me to swim into such depths! We must wait for Blandina! Only she is capable of searching so deep!”

  After commanding his harugen to halt, Shamand snapped his fingers and sent the other harugen carrying the army’s new second in command back to the undercity. “See to it that Thoomar’s wife is on her way!”

  Once his ears had heard that his order had been obeyed, the future advisor turned back toward Thoomar and sought to calm his friend. “Shiver benefits from your wife’s bloodline. I’d wager that he has taken shelter somewhere beneath the ice to avoid the bled. The gills your wife has blessed the boy with will give him the advantage. He shall see other Peaks.”

  “But he is only a boy, Bumps,” Thoomar rebutted.

  “He’s not just any boy. He’s your boy,” Shamand argued. “Don’t worry, my friend. Shiver is alive. If I know the boy, he’s sharing his air with the ruby eyed child as we speak. They are most likely waiting for us to retrieve them. Garesh … I’d even wager that they’re enjoying the irritation they’ve caused us to suffer.”

  Thoomar shook his head as he stared back into the water. “Let’s hope you’re right, Bumps. Let’s hope you’re right.”

  CHAPTER 2

  Breath for a Breath

  SHIVER’S SEARCH FOR THE RUBY EYED CHILD had been frantic, and though his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, he had become lost and had made too many wrong turns.

  The brisk air of the cavern greeted Shiver’s face as he pulled himself out of the water and onto an icy shelf. With both hands, he reached back in and yanked Gablysin out. Once the ruby eyed child had been rolled onto his back, Shiver took a deep breath to silence his own breathing and then placed his right ear to Gabs’ mouth. Despite the air he had forced into Gabs’ lungs, his attempt to save the chosen one had failed. The ruby eyed child’s chest was empty, and as Shiver pulled back, he realized the color of Gabs’ skin was almost solid white.

  Taking another deep breath, Shiver leaned down, secured his lips to make a seal and then blew. During the next series of moments, Gabs’ chest would lift and fall on 26 occasions before Shiver would concede that the ruby eyed child’s life’s source had been extinguished.

  Exhausted, the future prince of the Isor fell against the wall of the cavern to look around. Though spacious, the cavern was unwelcoming and lifeless. The sound of his breathing echoed off the walls, and the realization that he was alone caused his thoughts to overflow with despair. Shiver wept.

  Back on the Bank of the Swimming Hole

  The harugen carrying Thoomar’s wife came to a stop next to the embankment. Without wasting a moment, Blandina rose into a standing position and used the suction cups on the bottom of her feet to grip the surface of the saddle. She ripped off her yellow shawl and dove from the creature’s back without saying a word. She entered the water and slid into its depths with ease.

  Thoomar looked at Shamand. “Bumps, did you see that?” The future king frowned. “Bahhhh! Of course you didn’t. Blandina dove into the water from the back of her harugen.”

  Shamand grunted. “My eyes fail me at the worst moments. But I heard the disturbance. I swear to you, old friend, I despise blindness.”

  Thoomar nodded as he turned toward the water. “All we can do now is wait.”

  The gills on Blandina’s back harvested the oxygen she needed as she searched for her son and the ruby eyed child. Her long, white hair floated back and forth as her head snapped in one direction and then another. Her brow furrowed as she saw four entrances that led into separate caves beneath the ice.

  Entering the first, her movements were silky smooth. Her Tormalian heritage allowed her to move effortlessly beneath the water while she marked a trail behind her. The future queen systematically searched every nook and cranny of the first cave before she returned to the entrances of the other three. Entering the second cave, she swam next to the walls and peeked around each corner, scanning the shadows for evidence of the bled.

  Many, many moments passed before Blandina found the shaft that led up to the cavern where Shiver sat weeping inside the third cave. To her surprise, the body of the bled was lying around the final corner at the base of the shaft. Four of its five eyes were missing and pieces of the bled’s brain had been pulled clear of its eye sockets and discarded to the floor. Tiny plasons—small fish that those of us from Earth would have referred to as minnows—were picking at the bled’s remains. Blandina knew the corpse’s smell would eventually attract larger predators. Her moments to find the boys were limited, and she would need to hurry before she, too, would become a feast.

  Blandina swam past the bled and planted her feet on the floor of the cave. With all her strength, she pushed off and shot up into the darkness of the shaft, unable to see its end. Twenty-seven heartbeats passed before her nose found the air of the cavern where Shiver sat.

  When Blandina’s eyes located her son, Shiver was still sitting next to Gabs’ body. The future queen recognized the despair of the situation. Pulling herself onto the shelf, she took no moments to console her son. “Shiver, you must swim to the surface. Tell your father that he will need to use the Tear of Gramal to save the ruby eyed child. Go now!”

  Shiver wiped the yellow, blood tears from his chin. “Why Mother? Gabs has expired.”

  “I said go!” Blandina reiterated.

  “But the way out has been lost to me.”

  Blandina frowned. “I taught you to leave a trail. Follow my markings to the surface. Go, boy!”

  Shiver wanted to object, but to do so would be a waste of his moments. He stood on the shelf, dove in and disappeared.

  Blandina jumped off the shelf and then pulled Gabs’ body back into the water. With a few sudden movements, she dragged the chosen one back into the depths.

  When Shiver broke the surface of the swimming hole, torches had been lit with their ends holstered into the ice. His eyes stung as they adjusted to their glow.

  With the light flickering off Thoomar’s silhouette, the future king reached down the embankment and offered his son a hand. Once Shiver stood beside him, Thoomar dropped to his knees, enclosed his large arms around his boy and pulled him close. “Thank Helmep you have been spared an early termination. Do you fair well, boy?”

  “Yes, Father,” Shiver responded while looking over Thoomar’s left shoulder into the blackness of the swimming hole. “Gabs failed to hold onto his life’s source. He suffered the liquid end before I could retrieve him. Mother required that I inform you to be ready with the Tear of Gramal.”

  Thoomar released his grasp on Shiver and stood to take a step back. He knew the severity of what the Tear’s use would be on his being if he had to use it to restore the ruby eyed child’s life’s source. His gaze found the water as he moved to the edge of the embankment. Without looking at his son, Thoomar spoke. “Shiver, I want you to return to the city. See to it that a place is waiting for the expired.”

  “But, Father, I can help you get Gabs home.”

  Thoomar moved away from the water. Again, he pulled Shiver close. “I know you can.” He placed his forehead against Shiver’s. With his right hand on the back of his son’s head, he held it in place so he could kiss the top of it. “I recognize your skills, but I need you to run ahead and do that which I cannot from here. I love you, boy.”

  “But, Father—”

  Thoomar gave Shiver a look.

  “Yes, Father.”

  Thoomar watched Shiver grab a torch from the
harugen’s pack, light it, and then run across the tundra. He admired his son’s strength for a few moments before he turned to face Shamand. “He’s a fine boy, old friend. But if what he says is the truth, I shall never see him again. If the ruby eyed child has expired, the chosen one’s passing will require that I surrender my life’s source to retrieve his. There are things that must be spoken before sacrificing all that I am.”

  Clandestiny sat in silence on the back of her father’s harugen as Shamand reached out in search of his old friend’s hand. Once secured, Shamand cleared his throat as if it had suddenly gone dry. “I don’t wish this burden to befall you. Perhaps saving the ruby eyed child isn’t what Helmep would ask of you. You’re to become this kingdom’s sovereign. This shouldn’t be your burden to bear.”

  Medolas looked up from the embankment and watched as Clandestiny buried her face in her hands. The torchlight reflected off the tears that rolled between her fingers and then froze to the back of her hands as she listened to the conversation.

  “Bumps,” Thoomar responded, “we both understand the importance of the child. The prophecy was clear. Only a child with the ruby eyes can save the races of Northern Grayham.”

  Shamand thought a moment. “I agree that this was foretold, but what’s he to save us from? There’s no conflict within the territories. Your marriage to the Tormalian princess saw to that. Perhaps a different child with the ruby eyes is the chosen one. Perhaps we’re wrong.”

  Thoomar cupped his left hand around his old friend’s neck and extended his right arm. Turning his palm over, he stared at the lines crossing its width as he responded. “What kind of king would I be if I failed to do everything within my power to protect this kingdom before my coronation? I won’t wager against fate. This isn’t a risk I’m willing to take.”

  Thoomar grabbed Shamand’s free shoulder with his right hand and faced him. “I’ve shared with you the stresses that haunt my union with Blandina. No matter how stable our alliance with the Tormal may appear, I cannot risk the safety of our people by failing to heed the words written in the prophecy.”

  Shamand reached forward and placed his hands on Thoomar’s face. A moment of silence passed as he viewed his friend through touch before he pulled Thoomar’s forehead to his own. “You do realize this is your life’s source you’re surrendering, do you not?”

  A smile crossed Thoomar’s face as he squeezed Shamand’s shoulders. “To give my life’s source for the child with the ruby eyes is a blessing to my being ... and to the Isor. Please see to my affairs once I’ve expired, old friend.”

  Resigned, Shamand’s heart was heavy as he responded. “What do you wish of me?”

  “You’re a true companion, Bumps. See to it that my son wears the crown with honor. I want him to be the leader that I would’ve been. See that he leads our people without taking the will of others. It is my wish that you be his advisor, just as you were to be mine.”

  “I swear to you, I’ll do as you’ve commanded.”

  Thoomar moved his right hand and then squeezed the back of Shamand’s neck. “Shiver’s mother has an affection for swaying from what’s right and honorable. With your guidance, my boy shall become a great king. Don’t allow Blandina’s influence to threaten Shiver’s ability to employ good judgment.”

  Shamand sighed and then forced a smile. “I’ll serve your son with the same dedication I’ve given you.”

  A wide smile appeared on Thoomar’s face as he turned to look at Clandestiny. With his right hand, he reached down and grabbed a large, tear-shaped crystal that hung around his neck by a leather strand. Once he was sure Clandestiny’s eyes were fixated on the object, he spoke. “Young lady, the Tear of Gramal was bestowed upon me by the High Priestess of Harvestom. Helmep, himself, gave the Tear to her so that it may be delivered unto our people. It was the priestess who taught me to understand the crystal’s abilities. The power within the Tear protects us from certain doom.

  “The High Priestess commanded: if the Peak was to ever arrive that I was unable to bear the responsibilities of the Tear’s burden, another would need to take my place. You, Clandestiny, were given this responsibility. A blessing by the High Priestess was bestowed upon you when you were delivered. You will need to help the chosen one save our people.”

  Thoomar allowed Clanny a moment to think. “You must bear the Tear’s burden once I’ve expired. The crystal must always rest above a pure heart.”

  Clanny had no idea what to say or how to act as Thoomar lowered the crystal back to his chest. She also had no idea what Thoomar was talking about. She nodded her head and hoped that clarity would come while she waited for Thoomar to continue.

  Thoomar motioned for Clandestiny to climb down from the back of Shamand’s harugen. “I understand your trepidation, child, but alas, the moments are unavailable for me to prepare you for this burden.” Thoomar held Clanny’s gaze as he patted Shamand on the chest. “You’ll need to speak with your father, for he is the only one with whom I’ve shared the knowledge of the Tear’s abilities. But this knowledge won’t be enough. There is another whom you must seek.”

  “Who is this other?” Clanny questioned, her voice trembling.

  Thoomar’s facial expression changed to something far more serious. “The Ko-dess.”

  Clandestiny gasped. The harugen beside her shifted as if the beast knew the sacredness of the Ko-dess’ name. Clanny pulled her hand away from her mouth. “The Ko-dess is an abomination. Why must I seek that monstrosity?”

  “Make no mistake, girl, your journey to find the Ko-dess will change you forever. Your father will ensure the High Priestess visits to prepare you for this task.”

  Before another word could be uttered, Blandina’s hand broke the surface of the swimming hole. Thoomar turned and outstretched his arms. He snagged Gablysin by the wrists and pulled the ruby eyed child up the embankment and lowered him onto his back.

  Once Blandina had also been pulled clear of the water, Thoomar knelt on both knees next to Gabs. He lifted the Tear of Gramal from his chest, and a moment later, it began to illuminate. As if it was Thoomar’s first moment ever laying his eyes upon it, he marveled at the way the Tear’s blood-red facets caused the crystallizations embedded in the palm of his right hand to reflect a soft purple while he wrapped the leather strap around his wrist.

  The Tear was flawless, and the leather strand passed through a small hole at its narrowest point. The crystal was shaped like its name and was almost the size of Thoomar’s thumb.

  Staring intently at his palm, it seemed like an eternity before Thoomar was able to refocus. Looking up, he watched as a harugen scurried toward them with the Frigid Commander of the Isorian Army on its back. Once its appendages had stopped skittering, the commander climbed down.

  Thoomar waited patiently on his knees as the commander walked toward him, dressed head to toe in crafted armor made of ice. The crest of the Isorian race had been chiseled into his breastplate, an image of the most powerful creature the Isorian people respected, also the one they most feared—the gashtion—a symbol chosen by the council. No stronger representation of power was known to exist.

  Thoomar motioned for the Frigid Commander to stop a few paces away from Gablysin’s body. “Darosen, your moment of arrival is perfect.”

  “I came as soon as I could, Lord Veelion.” The Frigid Commander’s eyes widened once he realized the lifeless form lying on the ice was that of the ruby eyed child. Darosen took a knee and bowed his head. “How may I be of service?”

  Shamand was the one to answer. “You can listen to the wishes of a man who shall soon pass.”

  With a brave smile, Thoomar added, “Well said, Bumps, well said.”

  It was clear by the look in Darosen‘s eyes, he had questions. But before he could speak, Thoomar spoke again. “Commander, you must bear witness. Tonight ... I was to be named king over the Isor. But Helmep has other plans for me now, and I must surrender to this calling. The ruby eyed child has perished, and I am the only b
eing who can save him so that he may fulfill the prophecy.”

  Thoomar brushed his forearm across his forehead to remove the frozen beads of sweat and then continued. “I must call forth the power of the Tear to return the child’s spirit. This will require me to surrender my life’s source. My soul will ascend to find its place with Helmep.”

  The Frigid Commander’s face remained unwavering. “Word of your sacrifice will be spread throughout the territories of the seven clans. The men under my command shall know of your greatness.”

  Thoomar smiled again. “I’m sure they will, Commander. It appears your promotion could not have come at a finer moment. The Council of the Seven can rest knowing that you’re capable of keeping the army prepared until my son has acquired the skills of command.”

  Thoomar adjusted his gaze to find his wife’s eyes. Blandina had moved close to one of the harugens, and she was using the beast’s fur to stay warm enough to allow the water from the swimming hole to drip off her skin instead of allowing it to freeze as a thin sheet of ice. “It’s my wish that our son become king,” Thoomar decreed.

  Pulling the harugen’s hair away from her face, Blandina nodded. Her candor expressed her sorrow, but her mind contradicted her theatrical show of concern. “It shall be done, my love.”

  Thoomar continued. “It is also my wish that our son be counseled by Shamand.”

  No sooner did the word Shamand leave Thoomar’s lips before Blandina objected. “I should be the one to advise Shiver. Shamand doesn’t need to bear the burden. I shall—”

  “Nonsense!” Shamand objected in a strong voice to ensure he cut Blandina off. “To advise the king is not a burden. I shall instruct the boy as if he was my own, and you shall do as a mother should. You shall not interfere with the governing of this kingdom. Am I understood?”