Chains of the Forest (Chronicles of Ruvaen Book 1)

by Darin Niemann

  “You’ve been mostly silent during the last leg of our journey. What is worrying you?” Elana asked of me, interrupting my thoughts. The closer we had come to Greypoint, my mind had once again turned towards the Devourer and the goddess’s words. I glanced at the elf beside me, seeing the slight frown upon her face. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t seem to find the words.

  The elf laid her hand gently over mine. “You can tell me.”

  Unable to keep the words within any longer, I recounted my conversation with the goddess. I spoke in a soft tone so as to make sure my words didn’t carry to prying ears. Her eyes widened when she first heard that I had spoken to a goddess but they quickly became worried when she heard me speak of the Devourer. Lifting my other hand, I indicated the ring upon it as proof of the whole encounter. As she saw the symbol upon the ring, her face took on a thoughtful look.

  “I have seen this symbol before…” The elf trailed off, pondering.

  “It was upon the altar and the front door of the temple. It is no doubt the symbol of the goddess, Kykrena.”

  Elana nodded in agreement. Then her face lightened, “I remember! This symbol was within one of the many books my grandfather keeps. I always liked looking at them as a child when I was too young to read.”

  A saddened look flashed across her face for a moment, quickly replaced by her usual calm demeanor once more. I didn’t pry as it seemed she wasn’t in the mood to speak of her past. A small silence settled between us and I attempted to reach for a drink when I realized Elana’s hand still rested upon mine. We glanced at each other and a smile blossomed on her face.

  “I am glad you told me.” She said lightly squeezing my hand before finally releasing it. I nodded slowly, for a moment taken aback by her graceful, elven beauty. As she turned away to take a drink of her own, the spell broke enough for me to remember the topic of the conversation and my mood plummeted once again.

  “How will I fight such a creature.” I muttered under my breath, taking another sip from my mug.

  “We.” Said Elana.

  I frowned, “What?” I asked, confused.

  “How will we fight such a creature.” She clarified.

  My frown stayed in place, “But this is not your fight.”

  Shaking her head, Elana replied. “Isn’t it? From the goddess’s own words, this is a creature that has endless hunger and only desires for chaos. I could leave this country behind, perhaps return to my people. But would it truly be finished with that? What happens after you fail in your attempt to solely vanquish the beast? Will the Devourer be satisfied with the country of Turinval? I think not. It will continue to consume life wherever it can find it, until nothing remains. It is an enemy of all those living. I can assure you that this is indeed my fight.”

  Her words pierced through me and I realized that they were true. As the goddess had said, there were others in the world who would fight against the Devourer. I just needed to find them.

  I nodded my acceptance. “I stand corrected. In either case, we will need allies.” As I spoke, we both glanced at Answald describing his tale of fighting wild beasts in the mountains. We then looked at each other with small smiles. “Stronger allies.” I specified.

  Elana agreed as she finished the last of her drink and stood. “Yes, but first we need rest. We can discuss this more in the morning.”

  I drained the last of my own drink and stood as well. As if suddenly feeling the journey of the last month or so, my body desperately desired sleep. “Agreed. Sleep well.”

  We waved goodnight to Vaughn who was himself nearly half asleep in his chair. Answald still seemed to be vigorously recounting tales. Separating in the hallway upstairs, I collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep in moments.

  ~

  The morning crowd in the Keeper’s tavern was much more sparse than the previous evening. Only a few patrons sat amongst the tables quietly eating their morning meal. I took a seat at the bar where Braddick waited impatiently with a sour face as I slowly ate my own meal. As soon as I finished he asked about the journey. I obliged him and began the tale. Halfway through, we were joined by Elana who ate while I talked. Braddick seemed surprised by the mention of a lost dwarven city, but couldn’t hide his shock when I revealed my encounter with the goddess and her message.

  “Ye met with a goddess an’ ye didn’t even hav’ the decency to bow?!” He reached over the bar and rapped his knuckles lightly on my forehead. It didn’t really hurt but I was surprised that he had done such a thing. “Blasted youngin’s.” Braddick growled as he shook his head.

  I quickly finished my story while Braddick idly wiped the counter, listening all the while. When it was through, Braddick commented, “Ye be needin’ some help with this bit o’ trouble.”

  I nodded, “It seems impossible.”

  Braddick shook his head. “Nay, not impossible. Difficult, sure, but not impossible. Not with the right help.”

  Elana’s eyebrows rose and she spoke for the first time since her morning greeting. “You know of someone?”

  The old dwarf scoffed, never pausing in his work on the bar. “‘Course I do lass. Ye think I was always a wrinkled old innkeeper? I been on more than a few adventures meself.” Finally he stopped what he was doing and sighed. “Though the help we be needin’...”

  We waited as he grumbled a bit of gibberish, or perhaps dwarvish, under his breath. Eventually he spoke in common. “We be needin’ help from the mages.”

  It was my turn to raise an eyebrow, “You know someone among the mages? Are they powerful?”

  Braddick nodded, “Aye, that I do and he ain't be lackin’ fer strength. He just be…” The old dwarf struggled for words before he gave up and sighed. “Ye’ll see when ye meet ‘im.”

  Just then Vaughn and Answald entered the common room. They had all their gear ready for travel. It seemed they were ready to depart for home. The two approached us and Braddick served them breakfast as well without being asked. They thanked the dwarf before quickly devouring the meal. Once they were finished, Answald spoke up at last.

  “It has been an honour to accompany you both along such a dangerous journey but alas it comes to an end.” Answald stated. “It is time for us to return home.”

  Vaughn simply nodded at us both with respect as we all shook hands one last time.

  Answald looked around before asking, “And what of Master Dendar?”

  Braddick joined in on the conversation then. “If yer lookin’ for the dwarven wayfinder then he left at first light. Said that he wanted to be gettin’ his brother’s ring home.”

  The mood in the room suddenly dropped as we were reminded of Hafoki’s fate. An awkward silence hung about until Vaughn finally broke it by standing and speaking.. “We must be on our way, daylight is fading.”

  Answald stood as well, “Yes, yes. Quite so. Well then, if you ever find yourselves in Osdriff stop by for a visit! Fare thee well, Elana, Ruvaen.”

  Elana and I said our own farewells and we watched as the two departed the tavern. Even after all the treachery and misfortune that had occurred along the way, I was glad for journeying with the group.

  Braddick approached us once again flipping a dirty rag upon his shoulder. “Well, we best be going then.”

  Elana questioned the dwarf, “And where are we going?”

  Braddick rolled his eyes. “Ta the mages’ school o’ course. Where else would we go, on a picnic?”

  I chuckled, only to receive a glare from Elana. It caused me to laugh even more and I noticed that the corner of her mouth was slightly upturned. She was attempting not to laugh as well.

  The dwarven innkeeper shook his head at us before hollering back into the kitchens. “Sarah! I’ll be heading out for a bit.”

  An older girl, who I had seen serving the patrons before, poked her head out of the doorway. Her eyes were wide with surprise. “You? You’re going out? But you never go out.”

  Braddick scowled fiercely at the serving girl. “Lass, I’m g
oing out for a bit an’ that’s that. Don’t burn me place down.” He glanced at Elana and I. “I need ta grab a few things.”

  The old dwarf went off to gather whatever things he needed as Elana and I tried our best at not laughing too much. Sarah just stared in wonder at the back of the retreating dwarf as if something unprecedented had happened. Perhaps it had, I thought, remembering that Braddick had always been here whenever I arrived at the Keeper’s tavern. Using Sarah’s reaction as a measure, I could tell that Braddick thought the situation quite serious.

  We only waited a few moments before the dwarf returned. He had a cloak on and he fiddled idly with a ring on his right hand. We followed Braddick as he left the Keeper’s tavern and strolled down the street straight in the direction of the mage schools. They weren’t located directly within the town but were quite close and it didn’t take us long to reach The Towers of Wisdom. Braddick hadn’t even paused at the road leading to The Towers’ Annex.

  The Towers of Wisdom appeared over the horizon. Five pointed towers soared into the air above a fifteen foot tall wall, both made of the same pure white material. Stone or marble perhaps? When we came closer, I noticed that beyond the gate lay more than a few other buildings in and around the five towers. Again, all of the buildings were made from the same similar white stone. Mages of many ranks bustled back and forth in what I could see of the courtyard past the gate. We paused when we reached the entrance.

  Positioned at the gate, a pair of guards stood at attention. I noticed that, instead of swords these guards carried staves. Mages then, or perhaps even mage students. The one on the left looked quite young, albeit he was most likely older than I by a few years. The other seemed to be near thirty or so, though it was hard to tell. I remembered something my mother told me once about mages living longer than others, so I kept that in mind.

  The older guard stopped us with an uplifted hand as Braddick appeared as if he was simply going to go straight passed the guards and gate. The dwarf huffed irritatedly as we halted. “What is your purpose at The Towers of Wisdom?” The older guard asked of us.

  Braddick replied with his usual grumpy mood. “I mean to meet with Endrik.”

  The older guard appeared surprised at the response. “Endrik? Surely you don’t mean Archmage Endrik?” he asked bewildered.

  Braddick snorted, “That’d be the one.”

  The younger looking guard finally spoke up with a scornful laugh, “Nobody simply walks in and sees an Archmage.” Even though we were roughly the same height aside from Braddick, the younger guard seemed to be looking down at us.

  At this haughty attitude, Braddick grinned wickedly. “Oh is that so.” Then he pulled the ring that he had been fiddling with and hefted it for the guards to see. “Not even if I carry this little thing?”

  For a moment, the two guards appeared stunned at the sight of the ring. There on the face of the ring was a symbol the clearly represented The Towers. Five white towers in a star formation and with five black horizontal lines stacked atop each other in the middle. I wasn’t sure what it meant but apparently the guards were awestruck. Braddick snapped his fingers with his other hand, causing both of the guards to jump.

  “I ain’t got all day, ye know. Now ye best go and tell Archmage Endrik that Braddick be here to see ‘im. Hurry now!” He stamped his foot and the older guard motioned for the younger guard to move. The young man kept glancing with wide eyes behind him as he ran, nearly running into a mage student as we made our way through the somewhat busy courtyard.

  Elana and I, after quietly watching the scene unfold before us, shared a glance filled with questions. Somehow, Braddick had a ring that allowed him direct access to the upper levels within the mage society. Who was Braddick? Clearly the dwarf was more than just an innkeeper. After this was all over I had half a mind to ask him. Knowing Braddick, he would no doubt brush the questions aside, saying it was another lifetime.

  Chapter 18

  It wasn’t long before the younger guardsman returned. This time he bowed slightly towards Braddick as he offered to show him to a sitting room where we could wait. The dwarf hadn’t looked at Elana or me, grumbling to himself about the meeting ahead as we walked. We were lead through the grounds into the northernmost tower, which was the one at the top of the star formation. Once within, the young guardsman took us to a small study-like area where we waited for the Archmage Endrik. The young guardsman then left us, likely returning to his post.

  Elana moved around the room, studying the bookshelves and their contents while we waited. Braddick sat on one of the fancy chairs and sniffed at it, folding his arms across his chest. He appeared even grumpier than usual which was surprising for the dwarf. It was clear he didn’t want to be here. I sat down next to Braddick and it wasn’t long before a polite knock came from the door.

  Braddick and I turned, though Elana seemed distracted by a tome she was perusing. Braddick stood and faced the doorway. It opened and a pair of servants came forward with trays of desserts and fruit along with glasses of wine. Behind them came a tall, skinny older man with long gray hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore elegant white robes and carried an ornate staff in one hand. Braddick glared at the individual before us.

  The man, who was no doubt Endrik, looked at Braddick with an emotionless face. “After ten years you finally deem a visit necessary?”

  Braddick glowered, “I ain’t here ta’ speak of times gone by.”

  The Archmage sat down in a comfortable chair, sipping a glass of wine he had appropriated from the servants. “Then what have you come for?” He spoke coolly and calmly, as if meeting an old acquaintance after ten years was nothing.

  The dwarf indicated me with a wave of his hand. “Ruvaen should be the one to tell ye. It be his tale after all.”

  Endrik finally turned his full attention on me, raising an eyebrow at the sight of my hair. “Ruvaen is it?” I nodded to his question and he continued. “Well then, let us hear this stor…” Endrik cut off his words mid sentence as Elana had finally joined us, sitting next to me. He stared at the elf in surprise, before getting up from his seat. Moving over to the elf’s side, he kneeled before her, gently holding her hand with both of his. He lightly kissed her hand to the surprise of Elana who had her eyebrows raised.

  “My fair lady, it is simply an honor to have the joy of your company. You must forgive my rudeness. May I ask for your name?”

  Elana replied, somewhat confused. “Elana.”

  “What a beautiful name! Elana, would you care for a glass of wine?”

  Elana shook her head in reply. Finally the Archmage let go of her hand and returned to his own seat, though he still focused his gaze upon the elven beauty. “What lovely blonde hair you have! It is as if the morning sun’s rays have broken through the cloud of night and pierced my very soul.”

  Hearing a choking sound, I turned to find Braddick with a hand over his face and shaking his head. He muttered, “Blasted womanizer. Never could focus when there be women about.”

  Either the Archmage hadn’t heard Braddick’s loud grumbling or ignored it while Elana tried desperately not to laugh. I, as well, found it quite funny that this all powerful mage had a weakness for a pretty face and I smirked. Then, I glanced at Elana who politely thanked the older man. In Endrik’s defense, the elf truly did have a beautiful countenance.

  “Your eyes make the stars hide in shame from their inadequacy.” The Archmage complimented her once again.

  Braddick finally stood up and barked, “Enough! Ruvaen tell yer tale. Time's wastin’. Time we nay have ta’ waste.”

  The old Archmage took one last, long look at Elana before returning his focus upon me. He sighed, waving his hand as if to grant me permission. “Very well then, tell your story.”

  And so I began to tell my story, although a shortened version to save on time. At first the mage kept glancing at Elana but as I spoke of the cursed forest I soon had his full attention. He made me pause and show my blackened magic. I hesitated a
t first, but when I glanced at Braddick he nodded. Trusting in the old dwarf, I summoned a small sphere of wind in my palm, black as night. Endrik studied it, stroking his bearded chin with a hand in thought.

  “Interesting.” Endrik muttered. “And you say it is the curse?”

  “Well, at first that was my thought. I have since learned otherwise.”

  The mages eyebrows rose at my revelation, and I continued my tale of the hunt for the treasure and the lost city of the dwarves. When I mentioned the goddess Kykrena his eyes lit up and he interrupted me.

  “Pray tell, what form did the goddess take? I have heard of gods taking many different forms.”

  Frowning I replied, “She was in the form of a woman.”

  The mage nodded as if this was obvious. “Indeed, indeed. And what of her hair? Eyes? Figure?”

  At this Braddick groaned loudly once again. I could tell he wanted to smack the Archmage. For that, I smiled and somewhat obliged the mage as I answered. “She wore black robes over the purest white skin I had ever seen and had black hair and eyes alike. Her beauty was truly otherworldly. It seemed too perfect to be real.”

  Endrik smiled as he closed his eyes, clearly attempting to imagine the goddess before him. I glanced to see Elana with a slight frown on her face. Braddick glared at me and urged me once again to continue. I finished my tale, by telling him of the Devourer and that it had been set loose when I removed the enchantment placed upon the forest.

  The Archmage, his gaze serious now, spoke. “If Braddick believes such a tale, then I must as well. After all, I haven’t seen magic such as yours before.” He gestured at me before moving on. “We must set out quickly and find this creature before it has a chance to grow in power.”

  I was surprised that, even though they seemed a bit hostile towards each other, Braddick and Endrik appeared to hold a grudging respect towards one another. I was curious as the the history behind the two, but it would have to wait for another time.