The morning sun rose to a sorrow-filled lagoon; the Mermaids were saddened by the loss of their queen. For however long they were fooled by the sea hag and her wicked intentions, there is no telling how long their true queen had been gone.
“I am terribly sorry for your loss,” Alexandros said to Lucinda. “Your people need you now more than ever; you are their queen now.”
“Thank you, Belen Alexandros.”
Lucinda sat on the beach looking off at to the lagoon.
“My sisters! This will not be a day of overwhelming sadness. Our true queen would have wanted us to honor her passing and with that we shall. Tonight, since we cannot give our queen a true sea burial, we shall hold a ceremony in honor of Queen Priscilla.”
She took Valchor’s hand.
“I hope you will and your friends will be here for it,” she said to him.
“Yes. Of course, we will.” Valchor replied to Lucinda he held tightly to her hand as well.
Siruac
The rain continued to pour down over the grey kingdom, as the goblins recklessly searched for the staff of Alistair. The kingdom barely stood standing; out of the ten tall towers that once stood high around Siruac, only four remained. Hundreds of goblins ran through the kingdom digging and searching for the staff. Jasmine and Zuers made sure the goblins did most of the searching. They patrolled the halls, ordering the goblins and their zombie-like slaves to search.
“Why did you betray the Amazons?” Zuers asked in a gurgling voice as he and Jasmine patrolled what was left of the castle halls.
“What I did was to show them I am and forever will be better. Cassandra lived by a code that was old as the wizard Barbarious. The only regret I hold is that I left before I could see the pathetic harlot die,” Jasmine answered in a harsh, conceited voice.
“Shut your face. You are the pathetic one here. A true warrior would have stayed, but what did you do? You fled in case she overpowered us and won. You are as cowardly as these goblins; only you are worse because you are human. You humans have to come up with an excuse for all your actions. Have a backbone and speak the truth.”
Jasmine was so full of anger she could not even think of what to say to Zuers. Zuers walked off, leaving Jasmine where she stood, and peered out a gaping hole in the castle wall. The view looked out to where the forest once grew. The grey sky was now completely darkened by monstrous vampires flying in from their mountains.
Zuers turned to Jasmine and, with a most sinister laugh, said, “Look what we have here…our troops have arrived…”
The Lagoon, Nightfall
Lucinda, followed by Soraya, placed the first illuminating night flower into the lagoon. The night flowers shone brightly as they floated in the water. Other mermaids placed even more night flowers. Valchor held the moonflower, a most lovely flower that grew abundantly around the lagoon. He placed the flower into the lagoon and watched it drift away. As Alexandros and the others placed their flowers into the Lagoon, Lucinda recited…
“Let her soul sail through the sea, and guide her
To the place she needs to be…
Let her soar through the ocean while free…
Our mother you are gone but we can see that you shall
Be with us from all time to be…”
Lucinda placed Priscilla’s golden crown onto a lily pad and gently pushed it out into the lagoon where it soon drifted out to sea with the night flowers. No Mermaid swam in the lagoon that night; instead, they rested on shore, dipping their fins in the water every now and then. Lucinda lay on her stomach, resting for the night, when Valchor approached her.
“Valchor, why are you not resting with your friends? Belen Alexandros said you were leaving as soon as the sun was in the sky.”
“Well, I choose to stay awake with you. I do not care if I miss a night’s sleep.”
“You are a most kind being, thank you.” Lucinda gently wiped a tear from her eye. “These two days knowing you has been most precious to me. Will I ever see you again?”
“I promise, once this is all over and the war is done…this is the first place I am returning to.”
Lucinda gently pulled a scale from her tail and placed it in his hand.
“When you are ready to return, just think of me and place this scale into the sea…I will hear the call from wherever I am. I will come find you.”
Valchor placed the scale in his gauntlet. He placed his arm around her and sat by her side the entire night.
At sunrise, Alexandros and the others were ready to go. He stepped into the lagoon. Lucinda swam up to him.
“Are you ready, Belen Alexandros?”
Alexandros nodded and Lucinda took his hand.
“Take his hand and do not let go…” Lucinda said to the others.
Lucinda led them into the water, and together they swam toward the mountain opening and then through it. She dipped her finger in the water and created a whirlpool. “Do not fear or be alarmed, this shall take you to shore safely.”
Alexandros was a bit weary, but he had no choice but to enter into the whirlpool. Valchor turned to Lucinda. She smiled at him and watched as they were slowly sucked down…
They awoke on a rocky, muddy shore, not knowing where they were. Alexandros rose up to his feet. A massive hillside of mountains surrounded them.
“Great. How are we to cross this? Not all of us are able to fly,” said Bixbin.
“Here you are, son of Mabruk; we are here to help you…” a growling voice echoed out.
Alexandros drew his sword and turned to the voice. Standing at the far end of the muddy beach was Maddoc, the lycan leader.
“Do not look so amazed, son of Mabruk…I am here to help…”
CHAPTER XIX
LYCAN
FOREST-OVUNAS
TWO NIGHTS AGO…
“The land is ours once again. This time we shall not allow any other being to cowardly sneak in. Celebrate my children, for this is a victory worth a celebration,” Maddoc told the lycan clan.
The lycans ran through their haunted forest, the remains of the Ovunas villagers dangling from their snarling mouths. Deep within the woods stood a dark dank cave; hidden within the cave were hundreds of tunnels built by the lycans many years ago. Humans who chanced on roaming the tunnels never got lucky enough to see another day. The entrance of the cave was located deep in the forest, surrounded by several tilted tresses. The trees covering the cave entrance seemed as if they were clawing at each other.
The lycans of this clan were far older than any other, so old in fact that they forgot how to revert back to human form. Although some could still in fact revert to their human form they simply refused to, wishing to ignore past memories of their human roots. Before any other was allowed into the cave, Maddoc entered first; his paws thudded upon the cavern floor as he walked. Within the cave a flowing spring trickled. Maddoc, after taking a drink, shook his shaggy dark fur, then easily made his way through the dark tunnels; without even the benefit of light in the cave, Maddoc saw as clear as day. His chamber, far within the cave, featured a small opening in the ceiling that allowed the full moon to shine through. Skeletal remains were scattered about the round chamber; a bed of dry leaves in the corner. For the remainder of that night, Maddoc slept undisturbed.
“Is there anyone left from the village to eat?” asked the lycan Liorm.
Liorm, known well within the clan, was heavy set with dark brown fur and a scar over his right eye. Besides Maddoc, Liorm was the only lycan in the clan born from lycan birth. “I will never understand why humans are such fools,” Liorm said with a hissing growl. “The son of Mabruk must have given them our message. Why they would not leave is a question that will now haunt them for eternity.”
“Simple answer to your question…humans are not as bright as they would like to think they are,” the lycan Vesall said in a deep coarse, growling laugh. “Only a rare few actually really think and use their thoughts.” Vesall stood tall and lean and was very agile. His fur was de
ep reddish brown; his eyes were extremely light in color and were the only human quality he had left. “These are a few less humans to have to worry about…” Vesall tossed a leg to the corner of the cave.
“You were human once…”
“My human life ended a long time ago, before you were even born so I would watch how you speak to me.”
“Tell me of this Mabruk.”
“You were just a pup when we left for battle. Mabruk led the humans into battle. He and Maddoc had their understandings, and that was the only time in our history we ever allied ourselves with humans.”
Liorm scratched his neck in a dog-like fashion. “Do you think Maddoc regrets not helping the son of Mabruk?”
“Who are we to even question? If Maddoc wanted to he would have. But there is no for sure way of truly knowing… unless someone was to actually ask.”
“How nice of you to offer. Go on, go ask,” said Liorm and pushed Vesall toward the dark tunnels. “Do not worry; Maddoc is resting in his chamber. Go on.”
“Stop!”
“It was a joke, Vesall.”
Vesall crouched into attack position. “Are we really going to battle over these scrawny remains?”
“Silence…” Vesall took in a few deep sniffs. “Do you not smell that…it is the scent of…vermin…”
Vesall leaped out of his the chamber and ran through the tunnels letting out a piercing howl. Lycans from all throughout the chambers then charged into the tunnels. Vesall led a dozen lycans out of the cave into the forest, where silver-tipped arrows were being launched towards them. The lycans quickly turned back to the caves for shelter. Waking from the howls, Maddoc ran through the cave’s tunnels, bouncing off walls as he turned corners.
Two mountain trolls and several goblins swarmed around the cave’s entrance. The trolls pulled trees from the ground and hurled them at the lycans. They bashed the lycans using the trees like giant clubs, sending them high in the air and then crashing to the ground. Liorm used his ferocious claws to dismember the goblins, while Vesall tried to lure a mountain troll away from the cave’s entrance. Vesall bit and slashed at the legs of the troll until the beast followed him into the forest. Liorm charged the goblins, who were now hurling torches. Just as a flaming torch was about to fly into the cave, Maddoc flew out of the cave’s entrance like a hawk, catching the flaming torch with his mouth. Maddoc tossed the torch at a mountain troll, setting its legs on fire. Maddoc then leaped onto the troll’s chest with full force. The mountain troll lost his balance and stumbled backwards, crashing hard on its back. Maddoc slashed and clawed the mountain troll; he viciously tore off huge parts of the troll’s chin until there was nothing left but bone.
As more goblins charged, the lycans were now fully aware of the attacking foes outside, and several of the clan’s most powerful warriors were out in the battlefield.
“You should have remained the cowardly rodents you truly are—and never …” But before Liorm could finish, a goblin fell an axe into his back. Liorm dropped to the ground with a loud thud.
Maddoc lunged for the goblin, and with his fierce claws struck the creature across his belly, hacking the goblin in two.
Vesall led the troll deep into the woods and silently moved through the trees, barely making a sound. The troll searched for the lycan, kicking over boulders with its giant feet. Vesall waited on a tree branch, and just as the troll stepped beneath him, he leaped upon on the troll’s chest and ferociously ripped a huge chunk of the troll’s neck. The troll crashed down to the ground and soon bled out. Vesall kicked dirt into the troll’s face and left the dying troll squirming about. He returned to the cave, where the mournful clan welcomed him.
Liorm shook restlessly as a lycan tried to pull the axe from his back. Liorm choked when he attempted to speak.
“Do not move, my child,” Maddoc whispered. “You shall be well before the next full moon.”
After a moment Liorm’s breathing stopped, and he died soon that night.
Maddoc howled loudly at the full moon for what may have been minutes without end. His cries echoed throughout the air. His breathing became hard, and he shook with anger.
“I want half of our clan standing directly in front of me before the sun rises,” he cried.
Vesall rounded up their most fearsome warriors.
“We are leaving,” Maddoc said, gazing into the forest. “The remainder of our clan shall guard our caves and forest while we are gone.”
“Where are we off to, Maddoc?” Vesall curiously asked.
“We are going to find the son of Mabruk…”
CHAPTER XX
A HARPIES SONG
HARPIES WERE ONCE thought to be hags of the underworld, but in recent times have been known to live in remote rocky mountain areas. Before you will ever see a harpy you shall surely hear her song. Although hideously ugly, a harpy has a most magical voice, which she uses to lure her prey. Before a harpy feeds she will torture her victim for hours. Harpies are carnivorous creatures that will feed on just about any living creature, but prefer the taste of human flesh…”
“Now they wish to help,” Bixbin complained as they traveled over faded mountain paths. “Before, when they were asked, they turned us away, but once they were attacked, the lycans wish to join the battle. I would have turned them away for the cowardly actions they had shown before.”
“You have been rambling on for miles now about the lycans, but have you ever stopped to think that they may be able to hear you. Lycans possess impeccable hearing,” said Alexandros.
Maddoc’s eyes were locked on Bixbin.
Valchor whispered to Bixbin with a chuckle, “I would not stop if I were you…”
The sun soon began to set over the mountains. The darkness made it close to impossible to travel through the mountain path, but they found a small, empty cavern to serve as shelter for the evening. The lycan leader arrogantly pushed Alexandros aside and entered with his lycan clan. Alexandros made a fist and hoped to control his anger.
Tension that night was at its highest. The lycans kept to themselves and slept at the back of the cavern, while Alexandros and the others sat around a small fire Raphael had made near the entrance. The fire flickered through the dimly lit cavern. Alistair sat and was deep in thought. With his hand he created small objects with the flames. He first made a shield and when it did not seem familiar he made a locket, then broom, then a crown. Alexandros watched as the wizard created all these bizarre things and asked.
“What are you doing?”
“I am trying to recall what it was I transformed my staff into. I figured, if I saw it then I could remember.”
“Any luck?”
“None so far…”
As Winston slept with his head on Alexandros’ lap, Valchor pulled out the scale Lucinda had given him. Elora sat close to him.
“You miss her, do you not?” she asked.
“I do. I feel as if I should have stayed, but I know Lucinda would have made me continue with this quest.”
“Valchor…do you think you might love her?”
“You creatures and your love,” the lycan leader said with a growl from the back of the cave. “It truly is a sad and pathetic thing.”
Valchor placed the scale back into his gauntlet, turned to the lycan leader, then turned back toward the fire.
“Some mighty elven prince,” said Maddoc. “Cannot even defend himself.”
“Shut your mouth…” said Raphael.
“What did you say to me, horse?” Maddoc walked up to the fire.
“I said shut your mouth. You say we are pathetic for loving, but indeed you are the one that is the most pathetic. If you did not love then you would not be here. You would still be in your dank forest hiding away from the world. It took you to be attacked and have someone you love to die before joining this battle. So unless you have something else you wish to say to us, turn around and join your people at the back of the cavern.”
Maddoc, stunned, did not know what to say
to the centaur prince; he simply returned himself to where his clan slept. Raphael exited the cavern to gaze over the mountain landscape. Alexandros joined him.
“I believe it is becoming a bit too crowded in the cavern,” said Alexandros.
“Do you hear it?” asked Raphael. “Listen closely.”
They heard the song of a woman echoing through the mountains—a most beautiful voice unlike any they had heard. It was even more alluring than Lucinda’s song. This echoing song was in a language neither could understand, and its mesmerizing nature almost made them step off the mountain’s edge.
“What is it?” Alexandros asked. “Where is it coming from?”
“It could be from anywhere. Sound echoes off mountains and can appear to be coming from hundreds of locations.”
“Inside! Both of you!” Alistair yanked Alexandros and Raphael back into the cave.
“What has gotten into you, Alistair?” Alexandros asked. “We were trying to pinpoint the location of the voice.”
“Trust me,” said Alistair. “…that is one song no man or being should ever try to locate.”
By early dawn, they were all back on the move, wishing to quickly clear the mountains. Alistair and Alexandros side by side led the way; Elora walked beside Raphael, Valchor behind them, and Winston with Bixbin.
Bixbin finally learned the special way of coping with Winston’s stories…he simply ignored them.
The lycans kept to themselves, lagging somewhat far behind. Winged shadows soared sporadically from above. The sun’s glare prevented the group from identifying the shadows.
“How much further can these wretched mountains be?” Valchor complained.
“These are the Akemur Mountains,” said Alistair. “If I am not mistaken; they are a two to three days journey to cross. So be prepared for a lot of walking, elven prince.”
They heard the faint sound of a woman’s song echoing throughout the area. Alistair’s face grew serious. He hurried on down the path and rushed the group through.
The Legend of Alexandros: Belen Page 14
