by Jeff Inlo
Ryson took a quick glimpse at the wall stretching out from both sides of the northern gate. It was his intention to pass beyond the barrier which protected Burbon. He would be leaving the safety of a town guarded by a warrior spirit, venturing out into a land tainted by magic and dark creatures, but his attention remained on those whom he held most dear.
"My wife knows not to leave, and she'll make sure Stomps doesn't take off on his own. That dog loves to run around the wall with me and into the forest, but he'll stay close to home when I'm not here. As for me, I'll be fine."
The captain turned again to the ghost of his predecessor, as if he heard a call from the apparition which was otherwise silent in the breeze. He appeared somewhat surprised by the message which flowed directly from Sy Fenden. The captain of the guard could not be certain of the exact meaning behind Sy's counsel, but he would relay it as directed.
"Very well," Klusac finally replied to the apparition. "I'll tell him."
Ryson watched curiously as the focus of both the town's new captain and the specter which previously held that position fell upon him.
"What is it?" Ryson asked of Klusac.
"Sy told me he understands why you're leaving. He knows you can't quell the curiosity within you, but you may be asking questions which have no firm answers in this land. He said—very clearly, in fact, and with great emphasis—that conviction requires trust. A belief in something beyond substance cannot be confirmed with investigations based in a physical existence."
After revealing the message as it was given to him, the guard captain had to ask his own question.
"Do you know what that means?"
Ryson believed he understood Sy's point, but his quest had taken on a unique substance in a place where he, as a delver, could see beyond the physical moment. In Demonspawn—an existence built more on the past than on the present—he saw a reflection beyond a memory. In the shimmering echoes of his trail, he had witnessed the totality of his full existence, and within that existence, he saw his own soul. Whereas others might rely on faith, he had observed the inner and true essence of his being with his own eyes.
Rather than attempting to explain such aspects to Captain Klusac, Ryson faced the apparition of his dead friend.
"Your return to Burbon is a testament to the substance of what I'm trying to understand. More importantly, what I see of you now, I saw of myself. If I was able to see that much, then I have to be able to comprehend its meaning."
Ryson paused to gauge the position of the sun. It was still early, and the mist of the morning had barely burned away. He could afford a few more moments before he had to leave, and he professed his own outlook about Sy's ghostly existence.
"The return of magic and the use of spells might confuse us about what's real and what's illusion, but there's more to you than magic. Let's be honest about this; you're not just a nameless ghost, an apparition empty of identity. And you're not some illusion. I realize the people of this town are overjoyed at your return, but they might not be considering the full significance of your existence and what it ultimately means."
Sy offered nothing in response, but Klusac became curious at the delver's suggestion. For the captain, Sy Fenden's return meant many things. The ghost warrior offered protection for Burbon beyond what any mortal could provide. The presence of Sy's spirit boosted morale for the soldiers of the guard. And for Klusac personally, the willing participation of the apparition in the defense of Burbon validated his own role as leader of the town.
To all the citizens, Sy Fenden had been viewed as far more than the commander of Burbon's forces. He was the embodiment of the structure and commitment which allowed Burbon to survive after the return of magic. Sy was the personification of security, the foundation for order. When he was killed in a goblin siege, Burbon had lost more than a leader and a soldier; the town and its people lost the essence of their identity.
Captain Klusac had assumed command, but he had grown anxious over whether or not he could gain the respect and trust of those he led. He never doubted his abilities as a soldier, but he openly wondered if he could replace Sy Fenden and hold the town together.
When Sy's spirit returned, those doubts disappeared. He didn't have to replace the respected captain, he only had to hold to the courage and duty of a true soldier.
Ryson, however, never considered himself a soldier, and the delver's perspective was often foreign to the captain.
"What does his return mean to you?" Klusac asked of the delver.
"The substantiation of a new perspective," Ryson responded without hesitation. "Sy died. No one can dispute that fact, yet here he is. We know it's him. You can communicate with him, even if I can't... at least not directly."
"We all agree on that matter. I don't think there's anyone in Burbon who doubts this is truly the spirit of Sy Fenden. Surely the soldiers know it's him. We felt his presence in battle."
"And that's exactly what I'm talking about. Sy filled your soldiers with courage and determination, not through some grand speech or battle cry, but through a fashion that can't be described in physical terms. He reached them through his spirit."
"Again, I don't think there's anyone who would argue that point, either. We felt his presence before we even saw him."
"But you're not matching his arrival with your own circumstances. That's the perspective I'm talking about. His very presence here now confirms what I saw in Demonspawn."
"I'm not sure what you mean. You've told me about what you saw, but you just said the people of this town may be failing to understand the significance of Sy's return. What does your experience have to do with the rest of us... the rest of the town?"
Ryson decided to try and make the connection more apparent, even if it meant asking a rather dire question.
"Have you considered what will happen to you when you die?"
Klusac frowned.
"It's not something I dwell upon," the captain admitted.
"Even as a ghost stands right next to you?"
"You think that after my... demise, I might return to protect Burbon as well?"
"I have no idea what will happen to you... or me... or anyone else. I'm just pointing out a simple fact. A spirit stands before us right at this moment. Sy is actually listening to our conversation. With all that the return of magic has brought, I can almost understand how such a thing could seem almost trivial, but I can't dismiss certain implications."
"And they are?"
"There must be more to life than our current existence in this land. If not, how could Sy be standing here now? And if there is more, what do I need to do to understand it?"
"Maybe you should be more focused on the life you have now," Klusac offered.
Ryson knew he couldn't explain his considerations to the captain, and he didn't wish to try. Klusac had not seen what he had seen.
"For me, I can't separate the two," Ryson offered. "Not anymore."
Klusac realized debating the delver was a pointless effort. Rather than argue, he decided to focus on minimizing the danger to both Ryson and Burbon.
"I've never understood what drives a delver," Klusac admitted. "Do what you have to do, but don't leave us too long. You're still a valued member of this town... and of the guard. Sy can protect us against many threats, but your services as a scout in the surrounding lands add to our defenses."
Ryson considered the request. He knew he was just beginning his search, but it was not a quest that would be completed in a single trip. With the harvest coming to a close and the dormant season nearing, he believed the first leg of his journey could be completed fairly quickly and he could return to Burbon in a few days.
"I won't be gone long. I want to be back for the Harvest Festival."
The Harvest Festival was one of the few times the citizens of Burbon allowed themselves a small break from order and structure. For several days, the town would celebrate with parades, feasts, and parties. Children would create masks and wander through the streets hoping
to scare treats from neighbors and merchants alike.
It was a time the delver enjoyed, a time when he could race through town at top speed and add to the fun of a little bedlam. As Ryson considered that part of the festivities, he placed a request on the apparition before him.
"Sy, I think you should make several appearances during the festival," Ryson suggested. "Think of it... a ghost captain leading the late night haunts. The kids will be thrilled."
Sy Fenden smiled and nodded but offered no further words for Klusac to relay to the delver.
Ryson found the spirit's eagerness to comply with the request beyond comforting. The essence of his friend had been separated from his mortal body, and yet, Sy remained willing to participate in celebrations such as the festival. Ryson felt such a connection bolstered his desire to seek more information regarding spiritual existence.
The delver would have liked to question Sy directly, but such efforts were cumbersome at best. Even though Sy could speak through Captain Klusac, previous attempts at asking detailed questions failed to generate suitable responses. Frustration rose quickly in both Klusac and Ryson as the apparition avoided certain issues which were at the heart of the delver's curiosity.
"Eventually, we're going to have to find a better way to communicate," Ryson acknowledged.
Sy nodded one last time and then disappeared.
With the ghost gone, Ryson considered the spirit captain's appearance. Sy did not materialize often, but many had seen him. The town had accepted the bizarre circumstances without hesitation, for the unyielding spirit of Sy Fenden had saved them while he was living and again after he had died.
It was a challenge to their ordinary lives, but Sy's return came after the return of magic to Uton. With the energy creating so many spectacles across the land, the ghostly appearance of their protector was not quite as demanding on their collective perspective as it might have been in earlier times.
Ryson, however, questioned almost everything, and he could not help wonder about Klusac's ability to communicate with the apparition.
"How is it you can hear him?" Ryson asked, his curiosity temporarily delaying his departure.
"I have no idea," Klusac admitted. "Actually, I'm not even sure I would say that I hear him. He talks, but then again, he doesn't. There's a voice that comes into my head. It's kind of like when you read words in a book. They're not your words, but as you read them, you understand them one word at a time, and they become a voice. That's what it's like. I get a message from him one word at a time."
"Do you have to focus on him?"
"No, I don't have to do anything. The words just come to me."
"But they don't come to me. I think he's trying to talk to me, but I can't hear him, not with my ears... and not with my mind. As strange as it sounds, he's not even the first spirit I've come across. I've dealt with others... and I could hear them."
"I don't know what to tell you. It's not like I understand it. I just accept it."
"Do you think that maybe that's my problem? That I'm not completely accepting it's him? That maybe I believe he should just remain dead?"
"Do you?"
"No, not at all."
"Then why did you bring it up?"
"Because I still think there's something that I'm missing. When he first appeared in Burbon—as a spirit I mean—I knew it meant something more than just some ghost returning to protect his home. I understood more when I went to Demonspawn. I saw how the present could turn into a reflection of the past. I still think Sy's past is influencing his existence here, but I can't be sure. I'm also not sure why he was able to return and others aren't. People across this town have lost family and friends. Why has Sy been allowed to return while others haven't?"
"I've asked him that for you before. He can't explain it."
"Or maybe he won't," Ryson offered as another possibility.
"If he chooses not to tell us, it's probably for our own good."
"That still doesn't explain why I can't hear him."
"Maybe you can, but you're not paying attention," Klusac suggested.
"What do you mean?"
"People hear things all the time, but they don't always listen. If you stop listening long enough, you don't even realize you can hear something."
"That's an interesting perspective," Ryson allowed. "Maybe you're right. And if so, it's even more reason for me to do what I have to do."
He looked up at the sun once more. The days were growing shorter, the sun setting earlier. He was losing daylight and he didn't want to delay his departure any longer.
"Time for me to go."
"Be careful and take care," Klusac offered.
Ryson looked first to the west, to Dark Spruce Forest. He would not be venturing near the heavy woods—a sanctuary for dark creatures—and he worried more about the citizens of the town than for his own safety.
"Since I'm not going to be scouting the forest for a while, you should probably limit any excursions into the woods. River rogues were pretty active the last time I went out. Sy can protect the town, but the woods are still dangerous."
"There's little need for us to go into the forest. We've collected all the wood we'll need for the dormant season. We'll leave Dark Spruce to the elves."
"Good idea," Ryson agreed with a nod, and he took his leave of the captain.
With graceful ease, the delver moved through the gate, across the clearing which surrounded the town, and over a dirt road which cut through the farm fields to the north. He immediately turned east. In order to gain the answers he sought, he knew he had to speak to individuals more willing to delve into spiritual matters.
He had to leave Burbon, a town of order. The citizens had their individual beliefs, their faith, but they kept it to themselves. Such discretion was understandable, but it would impede the progress of his quest.
He had to return to the place he had previously called home. In Connel, a growing city with an ancient history, there was a place where he could discuss certain elements with greater ease.
As Ryson raced eastward, he recalled when the magic first returned to Uton. The Sphere of Ingar released a burst of energy which breached Sanctum Mountain. The freed magic caused a rolling tremor which signaled a new beginning. Everyone's life changed on that day, including his own.
After the quake, he had gone out to explore the lands, to determine the cause of the upheaval. That quest began in Connel, specifically at the steps of an ancient building, a place where he needed to return. In order for him to move forward, he knew he had to go back to where it all began, to the Church of Godson.
Chapter 2
Sy Fenden's influence did not end with Ryson Acumen. The return of Burbon's captain as an apparition had greatly affected another, though not in a positive way.
Neltus once cast spells of great power. Crimson energy had crackled through his essence as he sharpened his focus over rock and dirt. There was a time when every grain of soil and sand bent to his wishes. His distinct connection to the land offered him power and insight which stretched over every mountaintop and reached below the deepest dwarf mine.
He lost that connection when Sy Fenden's ghost removed his magical core. The removal saved the town of Burbon, and perhaps all of Uton, but it left Neltus powerless, unable to cast spells with his own magic. It was a condition Neltus chose not to endure. A decision made, he would risk everything and anything to restore his power.
It took a great deal of effort and money to find what he needed. And while Neltus was not used to hard work, he had wealth to spare. After a long search and a little persuasion, it seemed he was finally nearing the end of his own quest.
The boy before him was old enough to take care of himself, but still inexperienced in many facets of life. He was easy to manipulate, and more importantly, blessed with a substantial core of the magic Neltus craved.
Neltus cared little about the boy's well-being. He only wanted what was inside the novice spell caster. In making his proposal, the
coreless wizard had briefly explained what he desired and offered a large sum of wealth in return.
The boy, Dimi, had found the proposition enticing, but as they neared the final moment of completing the bargain, he worried about the cost.
"Will it hurt?" Dimi asked, wondering if he had accepted too little in return for giving up a portion of his magical core.
"You'll hardly notice," Neltus lied.
If he told the truth, Neltus believed Dimi would back out of the deal, and that was not an acceptable course of action. He would not allow for any change of heart.
The boy thought otherwise.
"Before you start, I want more gold."
Neltus rubbed his forehead in frustration. The boy's simplistic request was almost insulting. Dimi had the power to find all the gold he needed, if he just learned to focus his power. The foolish boy cast in dark crimson, and the land would give up all its secrets to him, just as it had once done for Neltus. Fortunately for Neltus, Dimi lacked the desire to hone his craft. The boy cast in a misshapen loop with angles and twists. His spells lacked direction, and his incompetence diluted any influence or power.
When the magic had flowed through Neltus, he had managed to cast in a near perfect circle. It was pure red and concentrated enough for spells of tremendous power. With such spells, Neltus developed a tight bond with the land, and the very ground had revealed to him deposits of great wealth; gold, silver, and various gems. Though the magic was no longer within him, his memories remained intact. He knew the locations of many vast treasures, and he would use such wealth to regain the power that was taken from him.
Neltus reached into his pocket and removed a small sack tied at the end. He pulled at the strings, loosened the opening, and poured out half its contents. Several gold nuggets rolled across the table before him. He also retrieved two diamonds of considerable size. He put one of the gems next to the loose pile of gold.
"That's more wealth than some people see in a lifetime. You can add that to what I have already given you. I will also give you the remainder of the bag and the second diamond once we have completed this task."
