Sharvesa shook her head. “I cannot say that I approve of Lasidious’ adultery, but I’m sure he has his reasons for sowing his seed.”
Mosley walked to the door and looked around the corner to make sure no one could hear their conversation. He had promised the Book of Immortality that he would not speak of his knowledge of the gods unless it was with someone who possessed the same knowledge. Though the wolf’s memory was not what it was before the Book had stripped him of his immortality, he still had questions.
The wolf turned to face Sharvesa. “I wonder ... how do you think the Book would feel about Fosalia’s existence? I remember you live by the laws on its pages. Was there not a law that states the gods cannot have children?”
Sharvesa shook her head. “No, Mosley. There’s nothing within the laws that states Lasidious cannot have a child with a mortal being. The law simply restricts the gods from having children with each other.”
Mosley pondered the goddess’ response as he returned to take a seat next to her. “You said you despised Lasidious’ adultery, yet you’re here at his request, are you not? You did say someone sent you. It was him, wasn’t it?”
“I am here at Lasidious’ request. But I’m also here for reasons of my own. There are many things that you don’t know about the gods ... things that have opened my eyes to the truth ... things that have caused me to seek George’s destruction just as you seek it.”
“Explain,” the wolf demanded.
“I cannot tell you all that I know, but now that your memory has been restored, I can explain my reason for choosing to participate in your training.”
“I’m listening.”
“Like me, you also seek vengeance on a beast named Kepler. I want this demon destroyed.”
“Why?”
Sharvesa reached out and placed her hand under the wolf’s jaw. “My son is in the care of George’s family.”
“I know,” Mosley responded. “I can’t remember his name, but I do know you speak of the fairy-demon.”
“His name is Payne. He was a mistake, but I love him.”
“How ... how—”
“How did he come to be?” Sharvesa finished.
Mosley nodded. “I’d like to know.”
“How is not a story I’d like to tell. The story pains me.” The goddess pulled her hand away and then stood to move to the window. The shoreline of the island was not far beyond a lush field that surrounded the palace. “What I will say is that my son was a powerful being before George stripped him of his magic. The demon-cat you hate so much commands what he should never have been given. For this, I want both George and the demon-cat destroyed. I’ll do whatever I must to ensure you find the power to send their souls to Hell. Once they arrive, I’ll have my daughter torture them further. Their hell will be far worse than any other’s.”
The demon-goddess turned from the window. “Your power grows at a remarkable rate, Mosley. I would imagine this is because your body remembers what it’s like to command the power of the gods.”
“I only wish that I could remember more,” Mosley added as he lowered his snout to sniff the scorch marks on the floor. “I know there’s much that I’ve forgotten, but the Book said he could not allow me to remember it all.”
Sharvesa smiled. “Your memories of Ancients Sovereign are unnecessary to deliver vengeance. If you’re successful, I’ll do everything I can to ensure you reascend.”
A moment of silence passed before Mosley continued. “Tell me, Sharvesa ... why do you trust Lasidious? You must know that he plots against the others of the Collective. I may have forgotten many things, but I haven’t forgotten that.”
Sharvesa stepped away from the window and reached down to scratch the top of Mosley’s head. “My reasons will remain my own. Why don’t we see what Fosalia is up to?”
Sensing that he would get no further with the conversation, Mosley agreed. As he and the goddess stepped out of the training room, they looked over the balcony and spotted the priestess standing beneath Helmep’s banner. She was speaking with Jeromas, the Isorian Frigid Commander, and the cape the goswigs had given him was wrapped tightly around his body.
With his memories of Northern Grayham now returned, Mosley snorted. “That’s impossible. The Isorians don’t possess the ability to make such a journey.”
Sharvesa closed her eyes. “Magic is protecting that being.”
Mosley’s face showed his confusion. “How? The Isorians don’t possess magic strong enough to protect their skin from the heat he would have to travel through to get here.”
The demon-goddess shook her head as she returned her gaze to Jeromas’ blue skin. “I don’t know who is protecting him, but significant magic encompasses his being.”
From below, the High Priestess looked up. “Mosley, I leave you in good hands.” Fosalia bowed to show her respect to Sharvesa. “Goddess, I leave the wolf in your care. I must go.” The priestess reached out and touched Jeromas on the arm. The pair vanished.
Growling, the wolf looked up at Sharvesa. “As irritated as you were with her ... without Fosalia, my training won’t progress as quickly. I was learning from her.”
“You’re wrong, wolf. Your training won’t suffer. I shall return in the morning. Until then, I suggest you get some sleep.” Sharvesa vanished.
After dealing with the aggravation of being abandoned without an explanation, Mosley realized he was alone in the palace. It did not take long before he began to notice all the unmarked corners that were calling his name. He walked to the top of the staircase that led down to the second level and sniffed the banister. After looking in every direction to ensure no one was around, he grinned and lifted his leg to deliver a squirt. “Ahhhhhh!”
Northern Grayham
The Next Peak, Early Bailem is Approaching
Fellow soul ... when Fosalia appeared with the Frigid Commander the previous night, the servants of the undercastle had been quick to explain that the king and the ruby eyed man were with the army at the hollow that was nearing completion.
Jeromas had wasted no moments. He placed the High Priestess on the back of his harugen and then took Fosalia through the tunnel that led out of the city. The tunnel remained beneath the undulating shelves of ice until they reached the hollow. The journey took the night, and when they finally arrived, the sun was just about to peak its head above the horizon.
The priestess was taken to the section of the tunnel that served as the king’s camp. It was there where Clandestiny, Medolas, the goswigs, Gablysin and Shiver were sleeping.
X Marks the Battlefield
Jeromas reached down and shook Shiver gently on the shoulder. “My King ... My King. I’ve returned.”
Shiver rolled over, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and responded after he yawned. “Your return pleases me, Commander.”
Wincing, the king reached down to rub his lower back. “I fear I’ve become spoiled. The ice here works against me. It doesn’t cottle me like the ice of my bed.” Shiver sat up. “Where’s the priestess?”
The Frigid Commander moved to his right. As he did, Fosalia came into view.”
“Excellent, Jeromas. You’ve done well.”
Fosalia bowed. “Your Grace. I came as soon as I received word.”
“Your haste is appreciated, Priestess.”
“I’m here to serve. Is Clandestiny nearby?”
Nodding, Shiver motioned for the commander to give him a hand. Once he had been pulled to his feet, the king walked across the tunnel to where Clandestiny and Medolas were sleeping and knelt. “Clanny. Get up. You have a visitor.”
As Clandestiny made her way to her feet, Fosalia’s eyes fixated on the Tear of Gramal. She had heard stories from her mother about the Tear’s magnificence, but the tales had not done the gem justice.
The priestess stepped forward to greet Clandestiny, however, her eyes remained on the Tear. “I’ve been told that you’ve spent many seasons with the Ko-dess. What was he like?”
Clandestin
y lifted the gem off her chest and enclosed it within her fist. “You heard the truth. Perhaps you could spare me the inquisition and visit him yourself.”
Hearing the tone in Clanny’s voice, Fosalia looked up. “You’re clearly bothered. Perhaps when you feel up to it, we can find someplace quiet to see to what end you can control the Tear?”
A frown appeared on Clanny’s face. She turned to look at Shiver. “To what end, she says! On how many occasions must I say that this is a waste of my moments before you’ll listen. I know the Tear far better than she does.”
Before the king could respond, Clandestiny redirected her gaze back to the priestess. “The moments are not available to us for idle chatter. There are no words you can utter or techniques you could teach that I don’t already possess. The Tear and I are one. Your moments have been wasted by coming here.”
As the last bit of excitement on the priestess’ face vanished, Medolas sat up. “Come now, Clanny. Must you be so brash? She’s here to help.”
“Help with what, Meddy? What could she possibly do or say? She’s not her mother, nor has she ever laid her eyes on the Tear prior to this Peak.”
Placing the gem back against her chest, Clandestiny reclaimed Fosalia’s gaze. “I mean you no ill will, but I’ve spent 300 seasons with the Ko-dess. How could you possibly help?”
“You won’t ever know unless you offer her the chance,” Medolas argued.
Shiver stepped forward and placed his hand on Clandestiny’s elbow. “This kingdom needs you to be prepared, Clanny. War is coming, and the people need to know you’re ready.”
“As much as I hate to agree with her, she might be right, Your Grace,” the priestess announced. “I cannot argue with Clandestiny’s logic. During her absence, we all know the moments were unavailable to me to befriend the Tear prior to my mother’s passing. I’ve never bestowed the blessing as she did on Thoomar.”
After refocusing on Clandestiny, Fosalia continued. “I can promise you only this. The knowledge my mother bestowed upon me prior to her passing is yours if you want it. All you need to do is ask.”
A long period of silence passed while Clandestiny processed the priestess’ pledge. When she looked up from the floor, her milky-gray eyes were filled with confidence. “Go home, Priestess. You’re not needed here.” Clanny turned and pointed toward Gage and Gallrum who were asleep on a pile of furs on the far side of the tunnel. “What help I need lies over there. My moments are best spent with them to finish the hollow.”
Everyone in the group was speechless as Clanny turned to walk across the expanse of the tunnel in the direction of the goswigs. Eventually, Shiver spoke. “I’m sorry, Priestess, but it appears there’s nothing I can say. If Clanny’s belief in your ability suffers, perhaps it’s best if you return to Harvestom.”
“Do you want me to speak with her first?” Medolas offered.
Shiver shook his head. “No. We both know Clandestiny. She won’t listen.”
Medolas looked at the Priestess. “He’s right. She has been like that since we were children. She would become angry if I badgered her. You wouldn’t like her when she’s angry.”
The Frigid Commander turned to look down the tunnel. The legs of three harugens pummeled the ice as they approached. The newly appointed Frigid Omayne was on the lead harugen with six of his officers sitting on the saddle behind him.
The omayne stopped his harugen only paces away from the group and then commanded the riders on the harugens that followed to continue on to their destinations. The omayne was completely bald, but still ruggedly handsome, and he was known for adding emotion to the way he spoke through the movement of his hands. After he tethered his harugen’s reins to the horn of the saddle to ensure the beast remained steady, he reached up and held his thumb and forefinger close together. “My King, the Tormalians are close.”
Shiver’s face showed his confusion. “How, Omayne? There’s no way for the Tormal to have already passed through the caves.”
The omayne’s arms created a large circle in the air. “Our scouts returned with reports of the Tormalian army stepping out of a light. They described it as an illumination that appeared in the wilderness.” He ducked his face behind his hands. “They remained hidden long enough to watch the entirety of the Tormalian army set up camp.”
“He speaks of a portal,” the priestess announced. “I didn’t know magic of this nature existed on Grayham.”
“The portal must be my grandfather’s creation,” Shiver responded. “How long do we have until they arrive, Omayne?”
Two fingers were extended. “Not much more than 2 Peaks.” He turned his hand upside down and walked his fingers up his free arm. “I imagine they’ve broken camp and are already marching.”
Shiver looked at the High Priestess. “Clandestiny was right. The moments are not available for idle chatter.” The king looked at the Frigid Commander. “Prepare the army for battle, Jeromas.”
Looking up at the Frigid Omayne, Shiver delivered another order. “Gather Clandestiny and the goswigs. I want the hollow finished by morning.”
“Yes, My King!”
As the omayne’s harugen skittered away, Shiver took a moment to think. “Priestess, if you want to help, stay with Medolas. When the moment arrives, you’ll receive the signal. It appears your journey won’t be a waste of your moments after all.”
Fellow soul ... to keep from boring you with details, allow me to sum a few things up.
Clandestiny, Gage and Gallrum worked through the rest of that Peak and the following night to finish the hollow. And though I’m sure you’re dying to know, the moment is not yet right to disclose how Clandestiny contributed. I will say this, however. The rate at which Clanny tore into the ice took 7,000 men and 200 harugens to keep up. Gage had to use his magic to protect the army from wayward ice while Gallrum helped the men load the chunks onto enormous sleds. The sleds were then taken out of the hollow and dumped into the Ocean of Utopia to the south.
Meanwhile, at the southern end of the hollow, Medolas and Fosalia worked together. Medolas brought the priestess up to speed on the tactics that were to be deployed during the battle. With a complete understanding, the priestess extended her hands toward the ice and used her magic to mold the wall that was holding back the ocean. It was a delicate process. The wall needed to be strong enough to hold back the ocean, but feeble enough that it could be torn down when the moment arrived.
Shiver, the Frigid Commander, Gablysin, and 400 Isorian soldiers focused their efforts on attaching chains to the pillars that had been left behind to keep the roof of the hollow from collapsing. In total, the hollow stretched away from the ocean some 100,000 paces and was just over 1,000 paces wide. Seven thousand chains were attached to an equal number of harugens, and it was agreed that these beasts’ lives would be forfeited when the moment arrived to collapse the roof of the hollow since it would be impossible to get them out.
When the morning of the war arrived, the Frigid Omayne ordered the men to line up near the edge of the hollow. Behind them, small alcoves had been created in the ice to provide sanctuary if the gashtion was to attack during the battle.
Since the Peak Clandestiny returned to Hydroth, she had to chase the gashtion off on two occasions before the war, but the beast was becoming bolder, and Clandestiny’s roar was becoming less effective.
Fellow soul ... the moment has come for a fight.
As Shiver and Gablysin stood side-by-side looking down the expanse of the hollow, they marveled at how quickly Clandestiny and the goswigs were able to complete the cavern.
The king looked up at the top of one of the pillars that had been left behind to hold up the roof. “You know, Gabs, directly above us, the largest war our people have ever seen is about to take place. I’ve heard the scouts’ reports. We’re outmatched. If the columns don’t break, the battle will be short-lived.”
The ruby eyed man gazed down the hollow. “You worry too much. They’ll break.”
“And if th
ey don’t?”
“Then it’s simple ... we’ll perish.”
Smirking, Shiver turned to face the Frigid Commander who was approaching on the back of his harugen. “My King. The Tormal have assumed formations on the far side of the hollow as planned. What are your orders?”
Gablysin was the one to respond. “Are the trumpeters ready?”
“I will check, My Lord.”
“Then that’s the only command I need to give.”
“What of the Tormal?”
Shiver spoke up. “We shall wait for the Tormal to advance. When I give the order, sound the horns.”
The ruby eyed man lifted his hands and pointed down the length of the hollow toward the 7,000 harugens that had been chained to the pillars. “Their sacrifice is key to winning this war. Make sure the trumpeters are ready.”
Nodding, the commander turned his harugen until its side was parallel to Gabs and the king. “Would you like a ride?”
Once on the surface, Clandestiny, Medolas and the priestess were waiting near the front lines of the Isorian army. As the Frigid Commander’s harugen skittered to a stop, Jeromas dropped the reins and then jumped down to join them while Shiver and the ruby eyed man remained on the beast’s back.
After Gablysin moved to the front section of the harugen, he grabbed the reins and commanded the beast to skitter out onto the roof of the hollow. As it did, Shiver called out an order. “Jeromas, wait here and ready the army!”
Stopping at the center of the battlefield, Shiver and Gabs waited for Meerum Bosand and the Tormalian Frigid Commander, Grandon, to make their way past their lines. Meerum was the first to call out from the back of his harugen as they stopped some 10 paces away. “This isn’t the Peak I want to witness the passing of my grandson!” He teleported onto the ice and commanded Grandon to dismount.
After sending their harugens back behind their lines, Meerum continued. “Let us have a civil conversation.” He stepped forward and patted the head of Shiver’s harugen. “They are fine beasts, are they not?” He looked up and waited for Shiver’s response.
The Tear of Gramal Page 47
