"It's okay lad, you are a guest in this meeting. This isn’t a trial," he whispered.
"Why am I here Clancey? I thought we were going home."
"We’ll know soon enough. Vhalen mentioned that he may call on you to explain yourself, for the sake of clarity I’ll wager, be honest with him and then we can finally return home. Just relax."
When introductions were over the Queen stood last, and her audience was respectful to her every word.
"I welcome you all here today to this secret meeting. Forgive us for the discretion but a peril has befallen us, one that we cannot ignore, and one where our prejudice towards each other must be discarded if we are to be successful."
"Is there no-one here to represent the dwarves?" Knight Thormond interrupted, it was clear that none were present.
"And what use are they in their mountains, from which they confined themselves to long ago?" Thukrald from Helmbolg bantered, his voice was gruff and layered with spite, it was evident he held some bitter resentment towards them. "They have not aided us in the last century, and I imagine that suits them fine. Some antipathy cannot be prevented your majesty."
"It is not animosity that brings the dwarves' absence, for this concerns all races of Heldorn. The impetuous nature of this gathering forces us to be without their audience, for Ruun is void of any dwarven presence, and not through prejudice. Their importance in all this cannot go unquestioned, their counsel would have been of much use to us as you will soon discover. A chain of events has only now forced our attention and we must unite to extinguish its evil from this land. You will have questions yearning to be asked, but I implore you for tolerance on matters discussed here today. I have already had discussions with Vhalen and Nerelion on these matters, and in detail we will reveal our knowledge on such events."
All remained silent, oblivious to any obvious danger when the Queen continued.
"As some of you may be aware, creatures unseen in our time have revealed themselves in our lands in recent weeks. Ash-spawn, molten creatures from the volcanoes of Corcadia destroyed one of our villages in the south. A cockatrice incursion has sprouted on the borders to our east, Barghest attacks in the Yalthume, creatures only ever seen by the more intrepid adventurer are now entering our borders and with no reluctance."
"It's true," stated Garthal of the Warrior's guild, "one of our men was injured fighting a cockatrice outside the city of Haldenshore only a week ago. Such a contract is hardly problematic among our guild, though this was more dangerous than anticipated. Where this beast came from is unknown. The cockatrice resides in murky waters for the most part, though none exist in Ruun from my knowledge."
"Our homeland has also incurred peril with basilisks your majesty," Wendella added, her voice was heavy and very masculine. "Our sisters have become exiled to their flets and many have refrained from walking the forest floor. We have always co-existed until recently, only now do they pose an aggression unusual to us."
"I am aware of these perils, and their behavior might all point to the same purpose. It is believed these Ash-spawn that destroyed the village were searching for something, taken from a cave in the south of Ruun, one that master Vhalen here has returned from inspecting. I will let him share his tale with you now."
Vhalen approached the table and remained standing, he pulled free from his pocket a handful of gems and slid them to the center of the table. Landau instantly recognized the stones, though they were not his own, before the council their light shone from deep within for all to marvel, eventually in the light of the sunlit hall their glow soon faded.
"These here are Vallara stones, found throughout the cave the Queen just mentioned. They are of elvish make, and only in the lands of Luinadae are they forged, though they have not been for quite some time. The elves of Luinadae used them for ceremonial purposes, to mark the passing of their lords. These stones would harness the light of the moon and in death protect them from dark magic…to bear light in dark places. The elves eventually bore these stones to the lords of the living, as a symbol of their supremacy, much like a king bears his crown. These jewels before you now are beyond valuable, as rare a gem as any dwarf could mine, yet here they lie as common as stones. I do not know much of the elves from the north, but I know they would be disheartened for men to look so casually upon their riches, and so far from their home."
Landau became nervous when Vhalen walked beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder to acknowledge him in this tale.
"Landau here was the one to come across them and remove them from this cave. I would be heartened to know lad how you happened upon this discovery."
Everyone looked at him when he rose to announce himself to the audience, and so he told of his endeavor through Evenn Woods, to the cave under the mountain. He mentioned the jade colored book, and the map that guided the way, the butterflies and the bugs that inadvertently had him discover the entrance, to the stones that they found, through to the chamber in which he and Elliott arrived. At last he revealed the sword, how it was stuck in a stone behind a makeshift wall and how he pulled it free to help release his friend from the vines, only for the mountain to collapse around them. It was more than he had mentioned to Clancey, Jema or Vhalen on previous discussions, and the looks on their faces were dumbfound, how trivial the events seemed to lead to this council did many wonder. Alas when his story had finished he sat back down, embarrassed but relieved to have revealed his faulted venture.
"That could explain the quake we felt weeks before the attack," Clancey realized. "Until now I never thought to connect the two incidents. The devastation of the latter turned my attention away from it no less."
Many pondered what this meant, when Vhalen continued to make sense of it all.
"When the Ash-Spawn fell upon Landau's village it was thought these stones were their desired treasure, but if they had existed in this cave for many years, why not travel there directly to retrieve them? I explored this cave deep in the south of which Landau discovered, one which made great effort to remain unfound. This cave was not made from the weathering of time, its walls and floors were carved in solid stone, dwarven make I am sure, yet the purpose of such a place eludes me. Carvings on the walls were of a dialect I am not familiar with. These Vallara stones are sacred to the elves of Luinadae and should not exist outside their elven province, to find them so numerously throughout a cave too dark for any elf to venture confuses me indeed. I first thought them stolen, alas evidence of the cave suggests differently. Through the rubble I found bones who had long lost their skin, through the destruction and decay I managed to find the skull of an elf.
There were no further clues of the struggle that developed there, alas I underestimated this stone from whence this sword came. It was not carved by earth nor from any dwarf, it was though the ground had reached to ensnare the sword in its grasp and imprison it there. Only by some spell could this have been achieved and one whose power pre-dates mine. This book however I did not discover, and if indeed it is written in the language of elves, then much clarity would it have given me. How is it Clancey that such a book came into your possession?" Vhalen was interested to know.
"Jade in color and laced with silver?" he tried to remember. "The only book from memory I had was a journal, found in an elven tomb in Heimmarch, though in earlier days it would have resided in Luinadae before Heimmarch invaded their lands. The tomb belonged to an elvish princess named Arnmanath, a half-breed of elf, killed by the hands of men. We discovered her tomb in search of a dangerous relic, yet we were not the first to have ventured there, the relic in question was stolen, among its other treasures. Buried with her was a man named Valnair, he guarded her tomb until he perished. This journal was found on him and explained her death, in it he wrote of those who betrayed Arnmanath, mostly words of mourning and regret. There were names in the book I sought to investigate, thus why I took it to begin with if you follow me. Alas once the quest was done the book stayed with me, its design was unique, at least in my eyes, i
f it’s indeed the book that Landau describes. There was little else besides journal entries, it was mostly blank bar some elvish scribble, no offense," he gestured towards his elven companions. "There was certainly no map of any kind."
"Explain yourself Landau," Vhalen asked calmly, and gave him the chance to clarify.
Again Landau stood from his seat, and for the first time revealed the catalyst for his discovery. The council heard of how through accident Landau held the book to fire, which caused the words within to stir and reveal themselves, to which Nerelion appeared most concerned. He explained the map in its animated reverence, and the symbols that scattered across its face, specifying the one that led him to the cave. He spoke of it like it was far from interesting, but extraordinary it appeared in the eyes of the wizard. Once again he took a seat and hoped it was the last time he need to. Vhalen turned towards Nerelion in light of this new information, which forced him to stand and offer explanation.
"If what you say is true child, then the tome you speak of is older than you think. An old illusion magic of the elves, to conceal sacred documents of most importance, only revealed through fire upon scrolls and parchments, but no tomes have I ever encountered. Great would the magic need be to impress such a possibility."
Vhalen raised an eyebrow in astonishment. "What's to be made of this Lord Nerelion?"
"Arnmanath was the daughter of Ayluin, son of Nindrel whose father was Saudren, Lord of Luinadae at the time of the First War, before the elven factions broke into three. Much history of the elves was lost in the destruction of Nirilebor, when Draganor’s armies fell upon the once great tree capital. I cannot know what this tome reveals, nor know for sure if it descended from Arnmanath's lineage, but if such a tome exists then it exists outside the knowledge of our kin."
With that Eadwald spoke, the frustration in the knight’s voice was apparent.
"And what of this discovery? For nothing has been revealed here, only that a cave was discovered whose significance seems little, apart from some elven stones. I doubt these demons desire such wealth wizard, unless an enchantment is drawn upon them I cannot see how they present much danger."
Everyone looked upon the stones once more, spread out across the table in disorderly fashion. It was unclear to everyone what threat they possessed at all.
"Their curiosity lies in their location. These stones are historical, perhaps even worth a large wealth as you suggest, yet it seems their significance in these events is purely coincidental. A scapegoat of our own creation., Unfortunately, we were blinded to the real danger at hand," said Vhalen, before he gestured to Elman.
From beneath the steward’s cloak he revealed a sword, one Landau hadn't seen since he arrived in the city, but instantly recognized it as his own when Elman placed it in the center of the table for all to scrutinize.
"A sword wizard?" said Garthal in confusion. "A sword is hardly a threat if no-one wields it."
"This was the sword taken from the cave, imprisoned in the stone until Landau pulled it free. One that bears more attention than its appearance suggests."
"Do you suggest this weapon has an enchantment upon it?" said Garthal.
"It needs no enchantment to render itself curious. When it resides as a lone weapon in a dwarven cave full of elven artifacts forged centuries ago it is enough to grab my attention. If that does not impress you then know the metal of this blade is not forged from steel, in fact it is incomparable. I have taken it to several blacksmiths since and none can determine the metal from which it was crafted."
"Where did it come from?" Grennan spoke the question on everyone's mind.
"There was one other thing I discovered in this cave, and in good fortune," he declared, and revealed a tattered piece of cloth, saturated in mold and mud.
"It was overlooked by Landau. I returned to my library to confirm my memory of the image," unfurling a threadbare emblem of a sword, with circles and lines encompassing it to display its radiance, all in the forefront of a griffin on hind legs with wings spread wide beside it.
All made notice that the sword that lie before them mirrored the image of the emblem.
"This is no crest I am familiar with," confessed Thormond.
"I imagine none of you are. This is perhaps the first emblem of its kind, one that pre-dates any kingdom of man that exists now. This represents the kingdom of Rahnaddon…the Sword Empire. It was the earliest Empire of man, established after the First War, almost two millennia ago. Its emblem bears the sword of Azuron, the man responsible for ending the war."
"You speak of the 'Immortal man'?" Pollus chimed in.
"Immortal men now?" Garthal rolled his eyes back.
"Azuron ruled the kingdom for the best part of two hundred years," said Vhalen, "at a time when men had no knowledge of magic. Alas this Sword Empire no longer exists, and its whereabouts remains a mystery that only the Lords of Luinadae are privy to." In his explanation the wizard’s voice became noticeably solemn. "With this sword, Azuron destroyed the villain Morakii, and if that name does not unnerve you then it soon will, for he was no man, nor any race of birth on Heldorn. He was an Archaian - a Creator."
Landau was bewildered at the mention of that word, around the table many found discomfort in this revelation also.
"You refer to the old religion?" Thukrald spat out his words. "Our fabled creators of this world?"
"They are no fable!" Llewelyn responded in distaste. "The irony for them to give you life, only for you to question their existence."
He would continue his defense if the Queen didn't intervene to invoke silence between them.
"The Ancients are very real," Vhalen assured them, "or at least they were. To understand this sword and the weight of our plight, you need become familiar to its purpose. Nerelion here knows more than I, for many of his ancestors fought in the First War. I would ask that you remain quiet in your intolerance against the Archaians, whether you believe them or not."
Vhalen finally found his chair, and the pale elf arose to address the council with his wisdom, his voice was very mordant and every word was articulated.
"I preface this by making it known that man is portrayed poorly. It is not in jest nor racially motivated, but fact. To properly explain the sword's significance is to go back to before the First War, at a time when our Ancients oversaw their creations and guided us to prosperity and enlightenment. They nurtured our progress, and in return asked only for their acknowledgement and praise, and justifiably so. Man however realized that neglecting such praise resulted in prosperity all the same; crops would still grow, the sick would recover in good health, and soon an ambiguity formed. Men soon felt giving praise to their creators was unproductive. So they abandoned their temples, dismissed their prayers, and this neglect spawned anger over one of our gods…Morakii.
He resented those ungrateful to him, and in return created beings infused with only the power to hate, demons forged to punish the negligent. He created half-breed abominations to mock his fellow creators, but his persistence saw no end, and soon he was banished from Etherium from where the Archaians reside. So Morakii deserted his immortal plane to Heldorn, to the mountains of Helskaar where he spawned his minions to cleanse the land of all the insensible. These demons weren't created to tend the trees like elves, or protect the mountains like dwarves nor sea by mer, their sole purpose - was to destroy us. To cleanse the unholy.
People of all races were victim to this onslaught, and in a time when peace dominated the land we had no defense, no power in this world could contest the might of Morakii. We know all this, for the Archaians were forced to intervene.
The people of Heldorn united with our own creators, and forged an army to battle the dark forces of Morakii, in what was eventually known as 'The First War'."
All eyes fixated on Nerelion whose lecture rivaled those of Clancey's. All except Jema, who stared at Landau from across the table with an expression that appeared neither angry nor sympathetic. Landau remained none the wiser to the dange
r present, and avoided the knight's stare.
"What did these Archaians look like?" wondered Thukrald.
"They took the form of their creations. There were five in total, appearing as elves, dwarf, and mer, but not man. The Archaians would not forgive them for their negligence, though did not abandon them entirely. They gifted elves with the power of magic, and dwarves with the talent to craft weapons and armor of immense power, men however were avoided any such prize. In Helskaar the war ensued, and the Archaians led their armies to battle Morakii’s, the very ground trembled with the footsteps of a hundred-thousand warriors. The war lasted for months, tens of thousands of our unified people perished in the endless battle. We were mortals battling a god, and our enemy was only growing stronger. Alas this is where the sword of Azuron came into being. The Archaians knew that no weapon crafted here in Heldorn was capable of destroying Morakii; the metal of this sword cannot be recognized because it was made in the forges of Etherium, a weapon infused with all the Archaians’ power, crafted with one sole purpose - the ability to destroy a god."
All in attendance began to realize the royalty of the sword that precariously lay before them. How ordinary it appeared to warrant such renown.
"Alas this sword crafted for Morakii's demise brought about their own," Nerelion lamented, and his tone was grim. "In their eagerness to destroy him, Morakii pillaged the sword and began wielding it himself against his former allies. One by one our creators fell to the witness of all, until only Mantaeus, the god of power remained, and in the heart of Black Mountain Mantaeus met his end, the last of them defeated. But in Morakii's arrogance of victory he underestimated man that day, blinded to Azuron, a simple soldier of man who took the sword from Mantaeus’ corpse and pierced the flesh of Morakii. He was a man against a giant, yet like a poison the cut of this blade defiled him, and eventually destroyed him. His armies fell into hiding, and his darkness no longer soured these lands. Azuron was praised, and his bravery restored value among the other races. Alas little is known of what became of Azuron, or this Sword Empire, only that the sword was taken there, and now it is here. For what circumstance it became abandoned in a cave far from Helskaar will not be solved here."
The Secret of Azuron (The Sword Empire Book 1) Page 23
