Overlords

by Matthew M Pyke

  King Pallan remained observing the ruins in silence.

  A fire broke out in the northernmost building as flames began licking its entrance.

  “Have you cleared around the structures for kindling?”

  Jaegar came closer to King Pallan and affirmed with a tap of his breastplate, “Yes, My Lord. We had cleared the area around the ruins for items that could catch fire.”

  “Good … I do not want the fire spreading to the surrounding countryside. I want to destroy only the ruins themselves.”

  Jaegar and King Pallan gazed at the ruins together for a time as the fury of a raging fire inside them began to crack (superficially) its hardened walls.

  Jardarah and Garan came alongside them; in close trail were the council members Hadara, Olish, and Yarek.

  Jaegar soon asked his king, “Do you believe that whatever was inside has gone? Been destroyed?”

  King Pallan responded a short moment later, “I do not know. This I know: what I saw and heard. That we were threatened by a malevolent force. I hope to, if not to destroy, expel that force from the ruins, so that others who may happen to come upon them in a future time will not experience what we did.”

  King Pallan’s words appeared agreeable to his lead soldier, who bobbed his head.

  The fire raged through the night, and by dawn, it had lost much of its fury, until it retreated into small patches of flame, withering and sputtering for lack of fuel. The fire had burned itself out completely by the morrow of the subsequent day, and after verifying it had been extinguished altogether, the Paladians once more took to flight, heading, without direction, through the low mountains in search of a place of rest.

  The days began to linger. The refugees would stop for a time in clearings, then continue, heading west for some intervals, for others changing course for the north, or even the south. After a period, as the ridges, trees, and sky, the mosses and light grasses, began to appear the same, the group caught sight of a wolf, standing on a berm near a gyliland tree. The wolf’s coat was of the whitest snow.

  Jaegar pointed the creature out to King Pallan in excitement. “Look.”

  King Pallan turned to spot the animal. “Hmm … it is quite large.”

  “And beautiful,” Jardarah added enthusiastically.

  “Do you think it is a threat—an advanced scout for a pack?”

  Jaegar stopped and caught his breath a bit, for they had been walking for quite some time. “No, I do not think so, My Lord. It appears alone … it is a magnificent creature.”

  The large wolf made a howl and went behind the rise.

  “I have always wanted one—to keep, to take care of.” Jardarah took several steps toward the berm as he tried to spot the wolf; but it seemed to have gone.

  Jaegar quipped, “As a pet?” He shook his head and smiled as he walked past Jardarah.

  King Pallan stopped by Jardarah briefly. “Wolves bite.” He smiled faintly and walked away.

  Garan came and stood alongside Jardarah as Jardarah scanned the rise for the creature. “Wolves make good meat.” He grinned mischievously and followed King Pallan and Jaegar.

  Jardarah growled back at him softly; he then resumed his survey of the nearby landscape for the lone animal, of remarkable purity of fur and stature.

  The column continued their course, and for some time, they encountered nothing out of the ordinary. In a short while, however, the mysterious wolf returned.

  “Look, sire, the wolf!” exclaimed a stunned Jardarah.

  King Pallan made a half-hearted smirk at his second-in-command, but was shaken a little by shouts from children, exclaiming the same.

  Jaegar came right next to King Pallan and directed his eyes over to the wolf, which had stopped directly ahead—a moderate distance off from the Vanguard. “There, My Lord—see. The creature has returned …”

  King Pallan titled his head back in evident surprise. “So it has. Perhaps it is lost, Jaegar—missing from the pack.”

  Jaegar began nodding as he viewed the animal with curiosity and light alarm.

  Jardarah offered, “Perhaps it is just hungry, My Lord. We could give it some food.”

  “No, Jardarah; we have little food to spare. What remains of it most go mostly to the children.”

  Jardarah became vexed. He vented, “Right, My Lord. In my enthusiasm for the creature, I had forgotten that point. Forgive me.”

  King Pallan replied in a low tone, “I forgive you—there is nothing to forgive. The animal is beautiful.”

  Jaegar announced with great emphasis, “The animal is walking off.”

  King Pallan and his close associates, in addition to the head part of the column and many children, followed the creature’s gentle stride with their mesmerized eyes.

  The wolf vanished into a thicket.

  “It has gone …” Jardarah attempted to go after it, but Jaegar checked his foolishness. “But why? Why must we let it go?”

  Jaegar, holding onto his subordinate, responded somewhat angrily, “Use your head! It could be dangerous. If it bites you, we have scant supplies to address your wound.”

  Jardarah tried peering through the bushes to catch sight of the elusive animal but was unable to do so. His head dangled on his shoulders in disappointment.

  Jaegar tapped Jardarah twice on the chest and said, “Cheer up, lad. We will find you a pet yet in these mountains.” He smiled indistinctly. “Maybe even a wolf … or two.”

  Jardarah began to follow them after a brief survey of the bushes; the column had begun moving again.

  In the course of time, as the people began to grow weary from the day’s journey, and the brightness of the day had passed its climax, the wolf reemerged from the trees and bushes. The column came to a sudden halt.

  Jaegar whispered anxiously to King Pallan, “My Lord—the wolf—it has reappeared.”

  King Pallan answered very softly—“I know”—as he viewed the animal with apprehension.

  Jardarah came by King Pallan and Jaegar, hinting at his desire to approach the animal, but he froze before Jaegar’s arm blocked his path.

  Jaegar muttered to King Pallan, “What do you think it wants?”

  A moment afterward, King Pallan shook his head slightly and replied, “I do not know; it seems intent on following us. For what reasons, I can only surmise …”

  Jaegar suggested impatiently, “Perhaps it is hungry—and wants food. Or has become lost from its pack; or its pack has abandoned it.”

  King Pallan acknowledged his insights. “All viable scenarios, Jaegar; who knows what it wants. Let us wait for it to move off …”

  Jaegar responded with a harsh whisper, “Aye, My Lord. Let us wait and see what it does … my men are ready, if it should attack.”

  King Pallan nodded his head very gradually in response as his gaze remained transfixed on the wolf, which stood facing his regiment; the animal gave no suggestions of attack.

  After several moments, the wolf unexpectedly took a few steps forward, gingerly, and then howled, lightly, once. The creature then became very still. Without warning, the wolf, of ultrapure white, fluffy fur, and rust-coloured eyes, transformed from creature to person before the mystified eyes of all. What was once a wolf was now a middle-aged-appearing woman with straight, short, auburn hair, wearing a white gown that reached the ankles. On her feet were sandals, a single dark-brown strap running across each. She was without weapon of any kind; her robe was devoid of any insignia or markings. Around her head ran a type of crown, made of waxy green leaves that seemed held together by unknown means. Her face was unblemished, and she smiled so gently at the stunned strangers that the utter strangeness and abruptness of her transformation seemed of little importance.

  An older man from King Pallan’s people came several steps closer to the woman. With a shaking hand, he pointed, saying with a tremulous voice, “A prophetess … that’s who she is.”

  The woman bowed her head at the man gently as she continued smiling.

  The colum
n began whispering. Nearly every word caught was ‘prophetess’, the inflection of the voice suggesting puzzlement or disbelief.

  King Pallan shook his head and blinked several times. He appeared flabbergasted at what had just occurred. As he was about to speak, the woman said, “Do not be afraid, King Pallan. Elrun has spoken the truth.”

  The man who had come nearer to the woman, seemingly astonished that the woman knew his name, remarked to King Pallan, “My Lord—sire—she has said my name correctly. No one has indicated it to her. How could she know?”

  King Pallan’s only answer was: “She is a prophetess …”

  As the gasps and utterings of bewilderment settled down, the woman said, “I am Evidynd, prophetess of the Great Exalted One.”

  King Pallan mouthed, ‘Great Exalted One’?

  Several of his people answered in wonder, “Vah.”

  Evidynd graciously bowed her head to them and said, “Xon—The Maker of All Things.”

  King Pallan’s mouth split open in manifest amazement.

  Evidynd smiled more graciously at the stunned Paladian king. “I have been sent to you this day as a herald of good news. I did not mean to frighten you and your people when I appeared as a wolf. I knew it would intrigue your people …”

  King Pallan searched for words. As he formed a reply, his voice broke up. After a strong clearing of his throat, he said, “Who are you, really? How can you perform such magic?”

  Evidynd returned, “No magic, I assure you, King Pallan the Third.”

  King Pallan responded somewhat curtly, “So you know my name.”

  Evidynd dipped her head to him. “You are of Paladia—the third in the line of the throne. Your mother was Iris, Queen of Paladia.”

  King Pallan was startled. “What do you know of my mother? She has long been dead.”

  Evidynd revealed, before all, “She was very dear to you, as was Lydia.”

  King Pallan became indignant. “How can you know these things—they are very private affairs. Be off with your chicanery and leave me and my people alone. We are wanderers … and I am a deposed king.”

  Evidynd said with gentle firmness, “All things are manifest to those who trust in Xon.”

  King Pallan objected harshly, “I do not believe you.”

  Jaegar and Jardarah looked at him with worry. Garan slowly made a fist with his left hand.

  With greater authority, Evidynd the Prophetess revealed, “You are in search of a stone, in hopes of restoring your kingdom.” She made the most indistinct shake of her head. “You have let it fall from neglect for personal reasons. I shall spare you the humiliation of the revelation of such a thing, before your followers. The stone, long lost to the pagan temple, Xydan, is now a thing for you to seek, to rid yourself of the curse that has been laid on the backs of your people … a noose around your neck. A foreign king.” She paused to look up and in the seeming direction of Paladia, continuing, “Even now, he feasts upon your stores—mocks you, as he sits upon your throne, devouring your wealth. A man dances before him with timbrel, as your vanquisher shouts, ‘Faster! Faster—more lively!’”

  King Pallan came forward; his expression ratcheted from disbelief to mild anger. “Jaid?”

  Evidynd nodded to him, solemnly.

  King Pallan was beside himself. He soon raged, “I will rid the land of that maggot if it is the last thing I attempt—with the vanquished reserves of old age!”

  Evidynd expressed disapproval at his threats. Her expression became serious; she took on the air of a mother about to rebuke an unruly child. “You shall die by the edge of the sword, if you attempt such a thing.”

  King Pallan appeared floored at the severity of her tone and the insistence of her words.

  Evidynd’s countenance returned to a more genial one. “There is another way.”

  King Pallan turned to his comrades Jaegar, Jardarah, and Garan with a look of puzzlement and surprise.

  “You have been told”— Evidynd’s smile widened—“by the Mysterious Ones to ‘seek the relic where the east winds meet the west, in the glade to the north’. Do you understand what this means?”

  King Pallan dropped his head a little and fidgeted with his hands. Shaking his head once, he replied very softly, “No.”

  Evidynd’s manner was of utter gentleness. She appeared to take pity on him. “Hitherto, King Pallan, you have made little progress in finding what you seek.”

  King Pallan dropped his head more; his expression spoke of shame.

  Evidynd continued gently, “I shall explain the riddle to you, as it has quite eluded you and your scholars.” Her chest swelled a degree, and she spoke more loudly. “The relic you were told to seek is the Eye of Kotar’ray.”

  King Pallan raised his head in shock. He muttered, “Eye of Kotar’ray?”

  Evidynd nodded as her eyes grew thinner. She confirmed, “The Eye of Kotar’ray.” She then asked, “Do you know what this is?”

  King Pallan, with hands folded together, came a few steps nearer the sage. “My Lady—I have heard of that before. It is some relic.” He paused to think for a second. “In the Castle of Tears.”

  Evidynd bobbed her head in response. “Yes, my good king; that is where it is.”

  King Pallan moved closer to Evidynd the Prophetess. He stressed, “That is in the Valley of Kreven.”

  Evidynd completed the thought. “Within the northern edge of Vadaal.”

  King Pallan appeared stunned and confused. “My Lady—but why reveal this, and why to us?”

  Evidynd answered firmly, “It is the will of Xon.”

  “The will of Xon is for me to seek this relic?”

  Evidynd nodded again.

  King Pallan protested moderately, “But what shall I do with it? I know little about it—its purpose.”

  Hadara scurried up to King Pallan. “That relic is guarded by the Sisters of Rune—the castle is impregnable. It is guarded by dark magic, some say …”

  Evidynd turned to Hadara—she seemed to look right through him—when she said, “Hadara the scribe, the scholar in exile seeking to restore his king. The son of Geland whose father was Aritel, the learned.”

  Hadara seemed to lose his breath. He remarked in shock, “How do you know these things, My Lady? Yours is a special gift.”

  “All things remain unhidden to Xon. He speaks and I listen—”

  King Pallan interrupted, “But what of this relic—can it help me find the Kaiper Stone of Ayren?”

  Evidynd answered, “Ultimately, yes. And more …”

  King Pallan pleaded, “But I know little of this relic; that castle is dangerous. The journey to it far. We are a displaced people of dwindling resources.”

  Evidynd replied with unwavering strength, “All things are possible to Xon. You will know what to do when you reach it and reach it you shall.”

  King Pallan tried to continue, but Evidynd ignored him.

  The prophetess regarded nature with light wonder for a time. She eventually said, “And now, I will show you a sign of my good intentions. Bring the children here, to me.”

  Hadara made a look of protest at King Pallan, who muttered, “Do as she says.”

  The scribe hesitated for an instant. He then darted for the column, where he commanded that all the children be brought near the prophetess.

  In a few minutes, all the Paladian escapees’ children were gathered before the sage, who looked upon them with great gentleness. When she raised her hand, there appeared almost immediately a large formation of butterflies. The children’s eyes lit up with wonder. They shortly began laughing and chasing after the gentle, meandering creatures. The adults looked on with amusement. For the first time in a long time, the children were happy. But it was not to last.

  Evidynd said, “Now, my children, I must go.”

  The Paladian children began to sob and pleaded with her to stay. The butterflies wandered away. The small clearing was soon empty again.

  Before Evidynd left them, she turned
to Garan and remarked him contemplatively for a moment. She revealed, “The warrior—of hardened will and dying ambition.” She said to King Pallan, “He will always be with you. The true warrior.” She began to walk off.

  King Pallan begged her to stay. “Please don’t go—please don’t go. The children were so happy when you were around …”

  She continued at a slow pace down the trail.

  King Pallan vented, “What am I to do?!”

  Evidynd disappeared.

  The startled Paladian monarch barked at his soldiers Jaegar and Jardarah, “Go after her.”

  The two men bowed their heads to him swiftly as they bolted for the strange woman who had slipped from sight.

  Several minutes afterward, an exhausted Jaegar and Jardarah returned to the camp with shocking news. “My Lord—we have searched the area all round about here—there is no sign of her. She has gone somehow, or is hiding in a place unbeknownst to Jardarah and I.”

  King Pallan roared, “Fools. How is it that you cannot find her?” He pointed angrily at the path the prophetess had walked on. “She was right there—I watched her go below that arc in the path with my own eyes!”

  Hadara chimed in. “I too, my good soldiers. She disappeared from view as the path sloped down.”

  Jardarah and Jaegar acted dumbfounded at his words.

  Hadara commanded, “Find her—at once—she may have important information for our king, still.”

  The two soldiers snapped to attention. “At once.”

  King Pallan restrained them briefly. “Take with you other men; search the grounds for her thoroughly. No one is to harm her. Bring her to me once you discover her whereabouts.”

  Jaegar and Jardarah responded, “At once, My Lord!” They ran off for the column to equip a small search party for the odd visionary, who had revealed, in truth, many secret things.

  The search party went out to scour the nearby land for the prophetess. In the meantime, King Pallan ordered the column to stand down and take some refreshment, and then to rest. About three and a half hours later, Jaegar returned with the search party; their tone was sombre.

  King Pallan stood up, for he had been sitting on the ground, taking some meat after working on a few arrows. “What have you to report?”