"But be careful, Elwin Pasha." Zafra smile turned into a deep frown, as he became serious. "If Khalu discovers that you plan to enter the Karr al-Isma, he will do everything he can to stop you. I will drop information that you are meeting other clan leaders near the woods. It is not an unusual meeting place among our people. But none enter the forest, not even the Aleach. That is something you can never speak of until the time arrives. And I hope no one ever speaks of my knowledge of you entering the woods. Even among my own people, that could be dangerous for me."
“Understood,” replied Elwin. “Tomorrow we will head east.”
Elwin was finding it hard to sleep. He leaned back among the silken sheets and pillows of his large bed. With only the finest furniture and luxury items, the sheik had provided for Elwin with a truly princely tent, everywhere he looked there was silver, gold, and silk. The bed alone could sleep five adults without them ever touching. After days in the mountains and sleeping on the cold hard ground, the softness seemed strange. Yet that was not the reason for his sleeplessness, nor was it the journey ahead. It was fear. Elwin feared to go to sleep, he knew what was waiting for him in his dreams. He dreaded that Torcull would once more be waiting in his dreams as he was most nights.
From outside Elwin’s tent flapped opened and Faynn, the druid, tuck his head in. “You requested to see me?”
Elwin nodded and gestured indicating the druid should join him. “Please come in.” Elwin could hardly believe he was asking Faynn for help, but he was growing desperate. He was only getting a few hours rest each night. If the sleepless nights continued, Elwin’s physical health would very soon start to deteriorate.
Dressed in the soft silken robes of the Aleach, Elwin rose from his bed. "Thank you for coming. I know it's late."
Faynn smiled, “It is fine. What can I do for you?”
Elwin lead Faynn to the central bronze oil heater. Even in the heart of summer, the night in Aleach could be as cold as the days were hot. Taking a seat on one of the many silken seats, Elwin leaned forward, turning up the flame as he invited Faynn to join him.
Once Faynn had taken his place on a collection of large pillows, Elwin started to explain the past dreams, "They come almost every night. Torcull is haunting me. Sometimes he chases me, while at other times, the Prophet tries to convince me that he is my friend, he wants to help me. I never believe him, but I fear going to sleep. If I sleep more than a few hours, he is always there. They only way I can keep him out is to sleep a few hours at a time, but that is slowly wearing me down. I don't know how much more I can take."
Faynn listened silently nodding his head in understanding. He could hear the desperation in the prince's voice. He was also aware of the torment one can cause through invading another's dreams. For the order of Druids, it was considered a violation to force oneself into someone’s dreams. Slowly Torcull would make the Prince insane or break down his will to resist. Torcull was slowly torturing the vulnerable young price. Elwin had neither the knowledge or training to protect his dreams.
When Elwin had finished, the Druid was silent for a moment longer, then asked. “Are you requesting my assistance?”
“Yes, can you help me?”
Looking at Elwin from across the heater, Faynn noticed the sword lying next to the prince. Elwin was never far from the ancient blade. The sword was now sheathed in a new scabbard of finely polished leather which was painted sky blue with detailed red abstract images of the Al-Amin. Connected to the sheath was a black leather shoulder belt studded with silver griffins of the Altair family crest. It was a gift from Zafra to Elwin and meant to illustrate the newly formed friendship between their two families as well to replace the sheath that had been destroyed in the temple fire. It also served to create suspicion in the Caliph's brother, Khalu. Khalu's spies were sure to note the princes new sheath, they would also understand what the decorations indicated. It would help convince Khalu that they two were plotting against the caliph, and Khalu would be determined to find out what the two were planning. However, it was not the sheath that concerned Faynn, but the sword inside it and how it was changing Elwin. Then the Druid bring his eyes back to Elwin. "Have you started to hear the songs of the Earth Magic?"
Elwin was reluctant to tell Faynn of the Earth Song. He still did not trust Faynn completely, but Elwin also knew Faynn was not his enemy, but suspected he was keeping things from him. And yet another part told him Faynn was a friend, Elwin was not sure which emotions he should trust. In the end, it was his hope of driving Torcull out of his dreams the lead him at last to say, “Yes, I have begun to hear the song. It is sometimes the voice of nature but not always, sometimes it sings of the past and at other times it is a song of life and death, and of power."
Faynn nodded, "Earth Magic is all those things and more. The sword is starting to have an effect on you. It is opening in you the power that is all around us. There is magic in everything that is connected to the earth.”
“Will it harm me?” there was a new fear in Elwin’s eyes.
"I won't lie to you, Elwin. Power is always dangerous, but ignorance is an even greater danger. Within the earth, there is great, unbelievable power. Life could not exist if that were not true. And yet this earth power, or more commonly called Earth Magic, does not hurt or help, it simply is. A trained individual, like myself, or Aidan, who was born to it, can, and to a limited way, direct its power. Yet with such abilities comes great responsibilities. It is the wielder of that power that can lead it to good or ill. And the sword is only a key that is opening up a new world to you. For most magic users, it takes years to learn the ways of Earth Magic, but with you, it is happening fast. With you it is also different; the Song of Earth Magic is louder and stronger. For me the song is never more than a whisper, like the sound of leaves blowing in the wind. The earth is calling to you, and within you, Earth Magic is growing. The power of the earth is connecting with you in an almost intimate way. It is such a different relationship than what I experience that I can’t truly say I fully understand what is happening to you or what it all means. No one has had such a close relationship to the powers of earth in a very long time, Elwin. You are learning the ways of the earth in a way no living person has ever done. Even your father never heard the song of earth. For whatever reason, the earth has chosen you."
“Magic is not something I wish to know more about,” Elwin stated honestly.
Faynn shrugged, “And yet I doubt you can stop it. You are becoming a user of Earth Magic. True, Earth Magic is not something you would have chosen, but you are not the one choosing, it is the earth who has chosen you.”
Elwin felt his fear rising. He had always been taught that magic was evil, and now he was being told he had no choice. "I don't want this Earth Magic."
"You have to accept it, Elwin. No matter what happens, the power will grow in you. If you do not learn to control it, it can become very dangerous. Uncontrolled, Earth Magic is wild magic that can quickly spiral out of control.”
Elwin thought back to the Temple of the Severed Head where he had felt the power rage through him. He also remembered how the priest lost his control over the magic, which had led to the total destruction of the temple. But can I ever accept the use of magic? I am not like Aidan.
"It does have an upside," Faynn continued. "If used wisely, the Earth Song will guide you. It can become a tool for good. The earth is in pain, Elwin, you can use the magic to heal the wounds that the Severed Head are causing. If you let me, I will help you where I can. I can also teach you how it can be used to keep Torcull out of your dreams. As long as I am close, I can set wards around your tent which will keep Torcull out of your dreams, but I cannot always be close.
If you would like, tonight I can stay here so you can sleep in peace. Nevertheless, you will need to start understanding the powers that are growing inside you. I can start by teaching you what you need to know for you to keep Torcull away and out of your dreams. It will also help you learn how to control the magic.”
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br /> Elwin suspected this was what Faynn had always wanted, to turn Elwin into some type of champion to fight Torcull. At the moment, Elwin did not care; he was tired and wanted to sleep in peace. If the price of that peace was the use of magic, Elwin would pay it. At least he would pay it until he reached the Guardians of Light and gave them the sword. That was one thing he was not going to tell Faynn. The Druid did not seem to think anyone but Elwin should even touch the sword. The Prince suspected that Faynn would not be pleased with the idea of him giving to the sword to the Guardians of Light. So that was one secret he would keep from Faynn. Faynn said he had no choice, but he did. He could give it away.
“What do I have to do to keep the Prophet away from my dreams?”
Faynn almost seemed to smile, “For one, stop fearing the Earth Song. It can help you if you learn its ways.”
"Can it actually keep the dark prophet out of my dreams?"
“Yes, but I will not lie to you, all things come at a price, Elwin. The Earth Song will protect you, but it will likely begin to show you other things in your dreams. Yet once you learn a few things, you should be more or less in control of most of your dreams, and they will not be something to fear.”
Giving into the inevitable, Elwin nodded, “What do I do.”
Faynn pulled out his pipe, stuffed it with tobacco and lit it. Aromatic smoke soon drifted through the tent. "Each night, before you go to sleep, you must call up the Song. Let the song enter you, let it wrap about you just as you would a blanket. Visualize it as a buffer or shield as you sleep. It is actually very easy, but it will take practice to master. Once you have it, it will protect you from anyone trying to enter your dreams. In the meantime, I will sleep in your tent with you. I can monitor you progress. Once you have called up the Earth Song, I will show you the way. You do not have to learn this alone.”
“How long will it take me to learn this?” Elwin still feared the idea of willing up the Earth Song, yet he feared Torcull more.
“Hard to say,” Faynn let out another puff of smoke. “Days, weeks, or months. It depends mostly on your willingness to trust the power.”
Elwin nodded. “Thank you, Faynn.”
That night Elwin slept in peace knowing Faynn hid him from Torcull, and he also felt a bond forming with Faynn, that might even be called friendship, and yet the suspicions remained.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
There was a damp chill in the air. The pre-dawn light spilled in through the forest of pine trees creating dark shadowy images. Wrapped tightly in his cloak, the Baron of Keloran, Ruan Deuchar, leaned up against a large gray boulder. His eyes drifted across the dark silhouette of trees. Somehow the towering trees managed to find enough soil in the rocky earth to send down their roots. Rubbing his hands together, Ruan waited for the coming of dawn. Soon the sun would rise and chase away the night and the cold, but the sun could not chase away the shadows that haunted the count.
Like most nights, Ruan could not sleep. Finally giving up, he tossed aside his blankets and got up. Taking over the last few hours of the watch, Ruan sent a tired soldier off to bed and the warmth of the campfire. Fighting off the chilly mountain air, he held his cloak tighter. Lately, the nights seemed to be getting colder. In most of Kambrya summer had already started. However, here in these northern mountains, nights could still be bitterly cold. Last night the temperatures had dropped below freezing, and Ruan had awakened to find that a light dusting of snow was covering the campsite. For the first time in his life, Ruan was deep in the northern Drygan Mountains. As far as Ruan knew, he was the first Kambryan to have ever ventured this far north. Fool! He said to himself. You had to chase a dream. But you have not found it, have you? A city? Here? What were you thinking of? You have led your men and family here to die because of a dream! It had been just short a month since he had fled his city of Keloran. An ironic smile crossed his hardened face. So much had changed in the last few months.
Trying to pierce the darkness that clung to the woods, Ruan's eyes narrowed. He was looking for any threat that might be out there, hiding in the dark. This was troll and hobgoblin country. Too many times, a troll or a handful of howling hobgoblins had come crashing out of the trees. Ruan and his men were always able to push them back, but not before the half-human creatures of the mountains succeeded in wounding or killing one of Ruan's men.
"Has it really been just over a month since I was with the king?" Ruan murmured to himself. Sadly he shook his head, remembering that Jerran was not the true king, but a pretender. He glanced at the frail old man lying near the fire. Wrapped in a blanket, the old man shivered in the cold. That is the true King of Strigiol, Ruan reminded himself. As broken as the old man was, he was still the true king.
Ruan worried about the aged king. Conrad, the true king, was too old and weak to be in this strange and unforgiving land. Ruan feared that if the savage races did not kill him, then the cold, wet nights would, yet, like Ruan, King Conrad was a fugitive, forced to wander the harsh wilderness of the north. If he had stayed behind in Keloran, he would be dead or worse. In the last month, King Conrad’s sanity had improved, if only slightly. At times the king remembered who and where he was, but then just as suddenly, he would slip back into his madness. The tortures of Torcull had left their scars upon the man's spirit, but those torments paled in comparison to a deeper pain. When he was lucid, the king had come to believe that his son, Jerran, had betrayed him. Above all else, that torture ate at the aging man's soul. The perceived betrayal of his son was more painful than the torture that Torcull had inflicted upon him.
No, Ruan realized sadly, King Conrad would never again be fit enough to rule as the king of Strigiol. He would never be the man he once was.
On the far side of the fire was a boy who was also laying close to the fire. Wrapped in blankets, the sleeping boy was not yet seven. He was curled up into a tight ball, he looked small and fragile. It was unfair, but Horik's life would be a hard one. Like so many around him, the child prince had no real choice. If they somehow survived this harsh land, Ruan knew that he would use the child to try to raise an army. Ruan needed an army to fight a civil war against the prince's father. There was little chance that he would win such a war, yet Ruan realized that he had to try. And if somehow Ruan did win, he would place Horik upon the Eagle Throne. Ruan felt guilty and ashamed of himself, yet he knew he would do it all the same, he also knew his plans for the child were unfair. However, as Ruan had learned, life was rarely fair. He sighed. At least the child would not be alone. The prince was still a boy and far too young to rule on his own. The true ruler, if somehow, they succeeded, would be his mother, Queen Catriono.
The queen lay near her son, her slender white arm draped protectively over the prince. Catriono had been raised in the luxurious pampered south, educated in the refined courtly ways of southern Strigiol, she of all the people, was the least prepared for this northern land. Ruan frowned. This was no place for a lady like Catriono. Yet he had to admit that she had carried herself well, never once letting on that she was scared or tired. Ruan could see in her eyes another story. The queen was both scared and tired; her eyes gave her true feelings away. She was always looking over her shoulder and always keeping her son close. Ruan gave her a silent nod. The queen is a strong woman. She has stood up to so many fears and never once complained or requesting a break from the endless march into these mountains. Along with the royal family, Ruan had brought his wife and daughter, and two dozen soldiers. He sighed. By now the Black Army has occupied Keloran. Will they follow us?
Unlikely, but with luck, they have given us up as dead.
While Ruan had never been this far into the mountain pass, he had often been in the southern most end of this pass. It was said that the pass cut straight through the Drygan Mountains and into the White Forest. The White Forest was said to be a cold and harsh land filled with strange creatures, and wild beasts, or so the stories and folklore would lead one to believe. The only creatures that Ruan knew for sure who lived in
the mountains were trolls and hobgoblins, and it took everything the south could do to keep them there. Ruan had been into the southern pass several times to fight back a hobgoblin or troll invasion. But as far as he knew, no one had ever ventured this far north. Never!
His frown deepened. In the last month, he had seen six good men killed, and two others wounded. At first, the pass had been strangely quiet. But that had quickly changed. As the days turned into weeks, they began to encounter trolls and hobgoblins. Usually, the trolls attacked one at a time, but the hobgoblins would come at them in groups of three or four.
A twig snapped. Ruan looked up with a start. A black shape moved among the trees. He drew his sword, and then with a sigh, he let it drop back into its sheath. It was only Imrich returning from scouting the pass ahead.
Ruan saw the tension written across Imrich's face. Something was wrong.
"What is it?" Ruan asked as the river captain approached.
Nervously, Imrich looked over his shoulder and into the dark line of trees. "You have to see it," he breathed. "I saw it, and I still don’t believe it.”
Ruan jumped to his feet. "Did you find the city or the waterfalls?"
"What? Your dream? No. It is something else. Something much worse. Come, I will show you.” With that Imrich stood and lead his Ruan into the woods.
After covering a few miles of thick woodland, Imrich abruptly stopped. A pre-dawn light was beginning to chase any the night. "It is just over that hill," he whispered, pointing up ahead. Coming over a ridge, Imrich dropped to his stomach. Ruan followed him, dropping to the ground as well. Slowly they climbed up the hill until they could see over the ridge and into the mountain pass beyond.
Imrich pointed. Below the two men were at least a thousand campfires. Like a swarm of fireflies, the fires covered the pass from one side to the other. In the early morning light, Ruan could make out large bulky creatures warming themselves by the heat of the fires. "Oh, my Lord!" he breathed. "It's an army!"
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