by Rick Brown
“Hey boys. Like some company?” She asked.
“Sure,” I answered. “Would you like a drink?” This brightened up their faces. I guess this life would be easier when you're inebriated. Barad and I each moved out a seat allowing the women to take the middle stools.
“I’m Honey,” Said the closest one. “This is Bess.”
"Ladies, I'm Stefan, and this is Briad," I replied giving us aliases. I'd like to say that was a well thought out strategy with complex backgrounds. In reality, I just made them up. Barad gave me a glance but went with it. I waved to the barman and signaled drinks for the ladies. He nodded and brought two over.
“So Honey,” I asked. “How’s business been?”
She leaned in, “Slow. We’re under new management. They don’t seem to understand us ladies are used to certain standards.” From the slur of her voice and the booze on her breath, I could tell this wasn’t her first drink of the night. Maybe not even her third or fourth.
“Oh? Are they not protecting you,” I inquired. It wasn’t the plan to get information this way, but I wasn’t going to pass on the opportunity.
“No, that’s the one thing we have plenty of,” motioning to a couple of bouncers sitting with bored expressions by the stairs. “It’s that they are Dommerians,” she said rolling her eyes. Then took two big swigs of the ale. “They’re a bunch of degenerates. They see us women just as property. Not even the BEST part of what they own. They took our clothes budget down to nothing and...Well, you can just see the state of this place. I hope it doesn't fall in over our heads." Barad looked up in concern like it might happen at any moment.
“Oh, how long ago did they take over?”
“Ummm... A year ago? Something like that. I don’t know. All the days are just a blur anyway.” Honey finished her drink with another swig. I glanced at mine that was still almost full. “Care to go upstairs?”
“All in good time,” I stalled. “Would you like another drink?” She gave a genuine smile and nodded eagerly as I ordered her another drink.
"It's awful they don't treat you like the jewels you are," I said laying it on thick. I thought it may be too much, but she just nodded enthusiastically as she took a big swig from her drink. "The two of you are obviously the stars of this place. If they aren't interested in you girls what are they interested it?”
“It’s not like that,” she said with a laugh. “To them, we are just a bit of business. They’re more interested in their shipping interest. They are always receiving things from the coast and shipping them out. I guess they must be selling it in Dommeran since I’ve never seen them trying to sell the stuff here. Enough of this,” She said as she swigged down the last of her ale. “I like you, let’s go have some fun.”
Barad looked at me in panic as Bess took his hand and started pulling to the stairs. At that moment, there was yelling upstairs. That can’t be good, I thought to myself. Brianna came tearing down the stairs holding her bag. Just as she started to reach the stairs for our level, a man came from the stairs above. I recognized him as the wagon driver that ran when we attacked. I watched helplessly as he threw a dagger hitting Bri in the back. She screamed as it struck her, falling over the rail and dropping onto the floor in front of us.
“Bri!” Barad yelled. Rushing forward he picked her up hugging her to his chest he started running to the door.
“Stop them!” Yelled the man who stabbed Brianna. Two men nearest the doors started to stand. I ran forward throwing myself into the two men giving Barad an opening to carry Brianna out the door. The two bouncers that Honey had indicated by the stairs rushed out after him. I glanced out the window helplessly. The men that I had knocked down were now between the door and me. I watched as the two men closed on my friends when suddenly an arrow struck the first one. The second man looked back to find their attacker and was hit in the chest. Lenux rushed out into the street and glanced through the window at me. I waved him after Barad. He nodded and sprinted after them. Now that I felt better about their chances I turned to face my own issues. I pulled my sword and dagger and stepped into the two men as they approached. These men were just bouncers. They would be good at bashing in the heads of drunks, but I have trained in the sword for years. I also had some new tricks I was looking forward to trying out.
I used the meditative techniques taught to me by Father Pild to push my worry for Bri to the back of my mind. I blocked the man on my left with my dagger. Spinning into him I used my momentum to swing my sword at the other man. In my swing, I kicked up my knee into his side feeling his ribs snap. The other man had rotated around from his block and was swinging down on me from his other side. I blocked with my sword and stomped my heel into his toes. In a rage, he stepped towards me. My intuition suddenly screamed at me. Instead of retreating I stepped into the man driving my dagger into his side. I grabbed him with my sword arm and swung him around me just in time for him to be struck by a knife intended for my back. The dark-haired man cursed as his blade hit the wrong man. He turned and sprinted up the stairs. I wasn't going to let him escape, but as he was going up the stairs, five others were coming down.
Aggravated, I had to give up my chase on the dark-haired man for the second time. I glanced up the stairs and saw the other man Brianna described. Pelen. Our eyes met for a moment before I turned and ran out the doors.
I didn't return straight to the temple. Instead, I took a circuitous route until I was sure I wasn't followed. As I entered the temple, I found Lenux looking worriedly outside of Yagen's office.
“She doesn’t look good,” he said as I walked up. “Still, Yagen is working on her. She’s in good hands.”
“Where’s Barad?”
"He refused to leave her. He's in the office too." With nothing else to do, I sat on the floor and waited. Now that the adrenaline was dying down I started feeling fear for my friend's life. I prayed to Ayisha, as I have done all my life. I still felt empty. Out of desperation, I started a prayer to Alynon. As I did, a flush of warmth entered my body. Driven by a sudden need, I stepped forward and opened Yagen's office door. Before me, I could see Brianna on the desk. She was laying on her belly, bloodied bandages wrapped around her. I could see Barad in the back of the room his face pale and tears running down his cheeks. Father Yagen turned around to look at me. I could hear voices around me, but they were only background noise. Following my instinct, I reached out and placed my hand on her back. My hand took on a golden glow that spread to cover Brianna. I could feel my strength pouring into her as I felt myself weakening. I could sense Yagen stepping between the others and myself making sure my contact with Bri wasn't interrupted. I doubt he knew any more than I did what was going on, but if he could see the glow like I could, then he would figure something was going on.
I lost all track of time. At some point, I had fallen to my knees, but I refused to release my contact with Brianna. As quickly as the golden glow had encompassed us it dissipated. Whatever energy I had left was gone, and I collapsed in a heap.
Chapter 10
(Lee)
I felt I was in a dream again, but this time I was not on the fields of Alynon. Instead of a dirty, bloody field, I was in a beautiful reception hall. It was magnificent. I had never seen it's like before. Giant murals of enchanted woodlands were painted on the walls. One depicted naked Nymphs dancing in pools of water as knights and their horses rested on the shore. Another was of an elf, a man, and dwarves dining together at a table. All looked to be enjoying themselves. I walked down the hall to the front. There sat a proud golden throne on a dais. As I stared, the walls started to decay before me. The beautiful murals fell away as the walls they were on collapsed to ruin. The marble floors I stood on crack and weeds sprouted through the rubble. The beauty faded before my eyes into an aged ruin.
“This is how it is now,” a deep voice said behind me.
I turned to see the giant form of Alynon standing before me. "This was once the greatest city on our planet. Beauty everywhere. The city flourishe
d under your ancestors. They were good men. As are you," He said as he glanced at me. "Sometimes it is good to see it again, as it once was. Before Gorath came. Somehow he found the beauty of our home an insult, and he took it from us." Anger seeped into his voice. "He and his depraved people. Even the weather here is wrong now." He looked up. Through the collapsed roof I could see a dark and cloudy sky. "I come here often, and yet I rarely see the sun anymore."
“This is Alsselya?” I asked, like having a conversation with a depressed god was a normal thing.
He nodded. "This is Ealinhart, the capital city. I brought you here to see why we fight. I must remove this taint from my land. You are more involved than you know. You are a decedent of Prince Marcus. He was the brother of King Neifer. When the capital fell, he sent his children to Vaelin. Now your family line is all that is left of the Royal family."
I took a moment to comprehend what he was saying. “Wait, I’m a king?!” I asked stunned.
Alynon did a half laugh. “Yes, here is your Kingdom. Come claim it.” The smile left his face. “Yet, that is exactly what I want you to do.”
“This was too much, I feel lost. I remember looking at my injured friend and seeing a golden glow around her. Now I am in this dream.”
"Dream?" He said looking around. "Yes, I guess that is as good a description as any." He turned to me. "You prayed to me, and I answered your prayer. I've always watched out for you. I'm what you call your ‘intuition.' My power is limited in what I can do in your realm. Your praying to me helped, being in my temple even more so. Normally I can do no more than give you an impression of a warning. I could see how you would misinterpret that as something other than a religious experience."
I was stunned. All these years it was a god talking to me. Saving my life all those times. Somehow it felt better when it was my own intuition saving me. Now I owed a god my life, many times over. “And now you want me to become king over an occupied land?”
“You already are King!” He said, anger in his voice. “This horror before you will come to an end.”
“You’ve seen this? Do you see the future?”
“No. None can see into the future. There are those humans that claim that they can, but they are but charlatans. What I can see is the current state of affairs. Dommeran struck our kingdom quickly. Catching us off guard. The same with our allied kingdoms. There was no time to seek aid. In the end, they were only able to adopt our defeated people.
“But now, now it is clear to the world that Gorath’s greed grows again. His hunger will not be sated until he owns all lives. You have seen it in battle. They have started to test Vaelin. They also have a network of spies in Spellion and Tiber. This time my fellow gods are aware. Gainth who is the god of Tiber, Mannoth who is the god of Spellion, and of course sweet Ayisha mother of Vaelin. It is difficult. We have rules amongst the gods. We try to lead from afar, but direct contact is forbidden. We can answer prayers, but the kings no longer seek our counsel. If we bent the rules now, then so could Gorath. I already believe he is in contact with his high priests in private. Under the guise of sacrifices, he will commune directly with those that should be forbidden. We cannot see inside the temple, so we have no proof.”
“But you are talking to me, are we not in violation of the rules?”
"Yes." He stated matter of fact. "But here no one can see us. This is my realm. Besides. Gorath no longer watches me. Once I had the power to best anyone, now I am but a shadow. Still, this shade has teeth, and he will use them. My priests and you four. You are my teeth. It is well that you have started your training. Father Pild's lessons have done much to open your mind. Continue to do so. You will represent Alsselya. You must be the best of men. There is much in the ledger you found that will benefit our cause, but it will take time for Father Yagen to decipher its meaning. That is well. You are using your time well in the temple, and there is still much the library can offer."
“You mentioned us four. What about Brianna? She was deathly wounded.”
He raised his eyebrow. "She is healed. You healed her."
“I healed her? How?”
“Alsselya was a powerful kingdom because of her royal family. You have already learned that you are unique because you can perform both human and elf magic.”
“Yes, but I have hardly any strength in either one.”
He laughed at that. "Because those are lesser magics to yours. You simply haven't tapped into it until tonight. Yes, it's draining. That's why your friends are carrying your body to your cell as we speak. They are anxious for you," he gave a little laugh. "Still, it seems you are ok to me. Your power is ancient. It comes from a people lost in history. Your royal line was all that was left of them. It's for the best really, because that magic is so potent. I would hate for the Dommerians to share your talent. Tonight you did healing, though I had to guide you through it, the power used was yours. That is why you collapsed. You overextended your magic, but it was necessary to save your friend's life. Come with me." He walked over to a shriveled plant. "You are weakened, but I doubt this little one will deplete you worse than you already are. Hover your hand over the plant. Push out with your mind and try to feel its energy."
I did as he asked. Hovering my hand over the plant. I focused my mind on the plant but felt nothing. I wasn't even sure what I was feeling for. "Maybe this is too small for the first time. Don't touch me because my energy is vast and may burn you out. Just point your palm to me and try to feel my energy. Again. I did as he asked, but this time I felt a flood in my mind as waves of energy came towards me. "Enough!" he yelled breaking my focus. I came to my senses and realized I was trembling, sweat dripping down my brow. "Maybe that wasn't a good idea after all." He mumbled to himself. "Now," he said louder. "Try hovering your hand over the plant again and see if you feel its energy." This time I knew what to feel for. Reaching out I could feel it. It was almost like touching a damp paper after feeling the drowning effect from the god, but there was something. I slowly sent a trickle of my strength into the plant. It wasn't much of an impact, but the brown leaves turned slightly green, and the plumped a little from their previously desiccated look.
“Excellent!” Alynon exclaimed. “It is a good beginning. Though you must be cautious with this. Had I not guided you, the attempt to heal Brianna it would have taken both of your lives.”
Well, that’s sobering, I thought. I get a fantastic power, and it will kill me if I use it. “So I can heal, but it will kill me, great.”
"Oh yes, healing is dangerous, but this is but the beginning of your strengths. It will take time, but I will show you more. You are still too weak. As we speak, Father Yagen is hovering over your bed looking very nervous. Here a miracle is performed right before him, and the person responsible appears to be near death. He is a good man. If you wish to see him panic asks how he beats the priest at the temple of Ayisha in cards so often." Alynon said laughing to himself. "I'd frown on his activities, but he puts the winnings into our charity.
"Still, I have kept you for too long. Being in this place is preventing you from recovering properly. Your body is becoming fevered. Here, take this," he pulled a coin from the pocket of his robe. Looking at the coin, it had printed ‘Kingdom of Alsselya.' On that same side, it had the image of a man and a building on the other. I assumed the building was the one we were standing in. The man was likely the king. The coin must be ancient, but it appeared new.
"I'll punch a hole in the coin, and you can hang it around your neck with a cord. The coin is mine and will strengthen our connection. When you are sufficiently recovered, we will meet again." With that, I entered a fevered sleep.
Chapter 11
(Lee)
Within my dreams, I would sometimes hear voices around me. I could hear my name, but I was unable to reply. Other times images of my battles with Dommerian would replay in my mind. During particularly bad moments I could feel someone restrain me as I fought against those soldiers. Time past and my dreams calmed.
; I opened my eyes to darkness. I reached for my eyes, but my arms felt too heavy. I gave into sleep again.
I could feel wetness on my lips. I tried again to open my eyes, but there was only darkness. This time I was able to lift my hand a little.
“I think he’s waking up,” I heard Lenux call out. “Lee, can you hear me. Just relax. The priests are coming.” I tried again to reach for my eyes. “Easy. There’s a towel over your eyes. It’s just to protect them from the light in the room. Just another moment. The priests went to get Father Yagen.”
I heard a shuffling of feet enter the room. “He’s awake?” I heard father Yagen’s voice.
“I think so,” answered Lenux. “He tried to reach up for the towel.”
"Ok, let's blow out all the candles. There will be just a little light from the hall for now. His eyes will be sensitive." I could hear Lenux moving about the room. I tried to speak, but my throat was dry. "Easy there, Lee. I am going to remove the towel. Don't open your eyes right away. You've had a nasty illness, and they will likely be sensitive."
I could feel pressure being lifted from my face and the light even through my eyelids seemed blinding. I decided to keep them shut a little longer. “Wa..water,” was that my voice?
“Yes, here I’ll put a wet towel in your mouth. Just suck on it.” I could feel the wetness on my throat. If felt wonderful.
I tried again to open my eyes. This time I was able to get them open a peek. I could see the outline of Father Yagen. He again wet the towel and let me suck on it. I drifted back to sleep again.
I awoke again. This time I was able to open my eyes. My neck was stiff, but I was able to turn and look around the room. Brianna was asleep in a chair beside my bed. How is she already up? I wondered.
