Island of Darkness

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “There are thousands of them,” she frowned as she watched the distant kruls searching the island. “It is only a matter of time before they decide to search the mountain peaks. We must get back to that small cave.”

  “Kruls will not venture up to the peaks,” Eltor responded, “but the soldiers will. The spreading of the alarms will surely bring the army into play before long. Still, I think it is best to wait for the dark of night before continuing. If anyone notices us moving against the skyline, we will be doomed for sure.”

  “I am not sure that Caldar can wait that long,” frowned MistyTrail as she cast another healing spell on the injured elf. “His body is trying to respond to the healing spells, but the cold is weakening him. If we don’t get him out of this wind soon, I fear we may lose him.”

  “Do you have any more clothes in your pack?” asked Eltor.

  “I already added your old slave clothes and the spare uniform to what little he was wearing,” MistyTrail shook her head. “There is nothing left to cover him.”

  Eltor nodded solemnly as he stripped off his army uniform and handed it to MistyTrail. She looked curiously at the near-naked elf.

  “It does no good for you to freeze,” MistyTrail said. “There must be a better solution.”

  “I will survive,” insisted Eltor. “We have only a few hours until sunset. Put the uniform on him and continue to heal him. He must survive.”

  MistyTrail nodded as Mistake reached out and pulled Eltor close to her. Mistake wrapped her arms around Eltor to warm him. MistyTrail smiled inwardly as she slid the uniform onto Caldar.

  * * *

  Lady Mystic and Aakuta walked slowly through the forest. They watched the kruls running in every direction with curiosity.

  “This is most unusual,” commented Lady Mystic. “The kruls can usually lock onto the scent of an escaped elf with little difficulty. They appear to have no inkling of which direction to search. Perhaps we erred by waiting so long to issue the alarm. Vand will be incensed if they are not found soon.”

  “Why would he get worked up over such a trivial matter?” questioned Aakuta. “It is not likely that the elves will go anywhere. They will be found in due time. He must have more pressing matters to occupy his time.”

  “You do not yet understand the nature of Vand,” Lady Mystic frowned as she stopped and stared at the dark mage. “He portrays himself as a god. He cannot afford to show any fallibility. Even something as minor as an escaped elf can cause doubt in the minds of his followers. He cannot allow for even the tiniest shred of doubt. His power lies in his absolute infallibility.”

  “Portrays himself as a god?” echoed Aakuta. “There is a hint of something more in what you say. You know more about his nature than you are willing to let on.”

  “Do you truly believe in gods?” shrugged Lady Mystic. “I thought you were much more intelligent than that.”

  “I do believe that there are higher powers than man,” replied Aakuta. “The power of man cannot explain all things. Therefore, there must be something greater.”

  “So you do believe that Vand is a god?” Lady Mystic asked questioningly.

  “No,” Aakuta shook his head. “I suspect that Vand has great powers, but he is as mortal as we are, although I am intrigued as to how he has managed his longevity of life.”

  “He has the ability to take another’s life for his own,” Lady Mystic responded. “Others can do as much, but only once. Vand has the knowledge to do so as often as he wishes. It is his most closely guarded secret.”

  “Is that why you are so close to him?” asked Aakuta. “You seek to learn his secret?”

  “Never say such a thing,” warned Lady Mystic. “To do so is to dance with death.”

  “You truly fear him,” the dark mage retorted with surprise. “You just said that he was only a man, and yet your fear is palpable. Why?”

  “Vand may not be a god,” Lady Mystic answered softly, “but he is protected by a higher power. Do not think of trying to cross him. Your life would surely be forfeit.”

  “But you have indicated that you do not believe in gods,” countered Aakuta. “Now you speak of higher powers. You confuse me.”

  “I confuse myself,” admitted Lady Mystic. “What people believe in as far as gods go, I find humorous, yet you were correct in saying that there are powers far greater than man. I do not know how to classify such supreme powers, but I know that they exist.”

  “How do you know they exist?” pushed Aakuta.

  “Because one controls Vand,” answered Lady Mystic. “Vand is a very talented and powerful mage, but I have learned to recognize one who is serving a greater master. That is why I have been so lenient with you. It is clear to me that you serve no master. I do not have to worry about you interfering with Vand’s plans on the orders of anyone else. You serve no one.”

  “But Vand does?” mused Aakuta. “Who does he serve?”

  “I do not know,” admitted Lady Mystic, “but I have seen the proof of it many times. There is a chamber inside the temple where none are allowed to go. Only Vand is allowed to enter the secret chamber. He goes there daily, and I have seen dramatic changes in him after he returns. Whatever exists inside that chamber has vast power. Vand fears it.”

  “And you have not thought of entering that chamber to see what resides within?” asked Aakuta.

  “Death resides within,” responded Lady Mystic, “and not just a simple death. It is a lingering death of excruciating pain.”

  “How do you know this?” inquired Aakuta.

  “I have seen those foolish enough to stumble through the wrong doorway,” answered Lady Mystic. “Most of the victims were merely fools who did not know where they were going, but one was a mage of extraordinary skill. His death still haunts my dreams. His screams echoed through the temple for over a fortnight. He begged people to kill him, but it was forbidden.”

  “Surely, he could have killed himself,” posed the dark mage. “Perhaps he could have thrown himself off the roof of the temple?”

  “He tried that and many other ways to kill himself,” replied Lady Mystic as she started walking again. “None were successful.”

  “Do you mean he could not bring himself to jump?” questioned Aakuta.

  “Oh no,” Lady Mystic shook her head. “He jumped just fine, but he did not die. Nor did he die when he entered the huge bonfire, but his pain increased greatly. Whatever entity decided that he should pay for his transgression, it had power enough to keep him alive to suffer for his errors.”

  “Yet Vand can enter unharmed?” asked Aakuta.

  “He can enter unharmed,” nodded Lady Mystic. “In fact, I believe that he is required to enter that chamber daily. He never misses a day even when he is involved in something important.”

  They reached the edge of the forest and stopped walking. Aakuta gazed up the barren mountains above him as something tugged at his mind. A group of kruls moved swiftly through the forest towards them. When they reached the edge of the woods, the kruls growled softly and shook their heads. They stumbled into each other in their attempts to leave the area.

  “The kruls are acting very strangely today,” frowned Lady Mystic as she turned to follow the small group. “I cannot understand what has gotten into them.”

  Aakuta bent down and examined the carcass of a dead rabbit. It appeared to have been gutted by a knife, but something about it bothered the dark mage. He bent closer to inspect it, and a strong smell of garlic penetrated his nostrils. He rose and stared up at the bare mountain peaks again, his eyes searching for any sign of the elusive elves. With a nod of sudden understanding, he turned and hurried after Lady Mystic who had disappeared following the kruls through the forest.

  * * *

  StarWind dropped the air tunnel and sat silently in the Campanil park for several moments as she digested the news from StarCity. Things were moving much faster than she could have imagined. The news about Duran and Zaramilden defecting to the Sakova was surprising, b
ut not unthinkable. She knew that food could be a persuasive negotiator with starving citizens, but Alamar was no longer in danger of starvation. StarCity had been unable to provide the details of how Lyra managed to get Alamar to defect, but the Sakovan spy master did not doubt the proclamation.

  StarWind stared at the mayor’s building across the park and inhaled deeply. As many times as StarWind had walked into the enemy’s strongholds, she never quite got used to the feeling of risking her life in such a passive fashion. Steeling her nerves, the Sakovan spy rose and started walking towards the mayor’s building. She mentally reviewed what she knew about Ferde, the mayor of Campanil. She remembered the nighttime visit that she made with HawkShadow, and how they had silently penetrated the defenses and caught the mayor asleep in his chamber. It had been a risky plan, but it was necessary to avert a war.

  This time StarWind would be going in alone. She would not have HawkShadow to watch her back, or Fisher to distract the Imperial Guards. This visit was also not one of averting a war. The war had already been declared, and StarWind was the enemy to the people in Campanil. Even Mayor Ferde might turn StarWind over to the Imperial Guards when he saw her. While he had been helpful the last time, much had changed since the fall of Alazar.

  StarWind exhaled slowly as she left the park and crossed the street to the entrance gate. She tried to appear nonchalant as she approached, but she could not help noticing how the Imperial Guards stiffened at her approach. They became instantly alert as their eyes watched her carefully. Campanil had never been so dangerous for a Sakovan spy as it was now. StarWind subconsciously rubbed her palms against her tunic to wipe the sweat from them.

  “What business do you have with the mayor?” snapped one of the Imperial Guards as StarWind halted before the gate.

  “My business is personal,” replied StarWind as she tried to force color into her cheeks. “I am an old friend of Mayor Ferde’s.”

  “What is your name?” demanded the Imperial Guard.

  “I prefer not to give it,” StarWind replied knowing that any name she made up would mean nothing to the mayor. A false name would just make it easier to dismiss her.

  “Without a name,” scowled the Imperial Guard, “you are just wasting our time. Run along.”

  “Wait,” ordered the other Imperial Guard as he inspected StarWind closely. “She looks familiar to me. Perhaps we should hold her and check the board for criminals.”

  StarWind smiled and tried to shrug casually. “You will not find my picture on the boards,” she stated as her mind tried to concentrate on some of the most embarrassing moments of her life. “Look, this is embarrassing for me. I met Mayor Ferde on one of his trips to Okata. We spent some time together at the Palace Arms in the capital. He said that he would visit me the next time he came to Okata, but he has not returned. All I want to do is talk to him for a little bit.”

  StarWind succeeded in producing bright red cheeks, and one of the Imperial Guards snickered under his breath.

  “You look old enough to know better than to believe the promises of the high and mighty,” the Imperial Guard shook his head. “Run along now. No doubt he has forgotten you long ago.”

  “You may be right,” sighed StarWind, “but I have to know for sure. Is it too much to ask one of you to whisper in his ear? Just mention that his friend from the Palace Arms is outside and would like just a few minutes of his time. If he says no then I will leave and not bother you any longer. Please?”

  “There is a war going on in case you hadn’t noticed,” replied one of the Imperial Guards. “Mayor Ferde has no time for such things now. Run along.”

  “Oh, let her message through,” retorted the smirking guard. “She is not harming anything while she waits here. I will keep an eye on her.”

  “I am sure you will,” scowled the serious Imperial Guard. He gazed at StarWind again and finally shook his head. “Alright,” he said, “I will send your message, but you will leave promptly when his reply comes through.”

  “I promise,” StarWind smiled weakly.

  The serious Imperial Guard turned and called for a runner. He whispered in the runner’s ear, and StarWind watched the man’s face break into a grin as he nodded at the instructions. As the runner turned and raced into the building, the serious Imperial Guard returned to his post. He pointedly ignored StarWind as the other Imperial Guard continued to stare at her. The Sakovan spy kept her eyes glued to the front door of the building. She knew that one of the possible responses would be a squad of Imperial Guards racing out of the building to arrest her. She mentally planned a course of action that would afford her a small chance to escape.

  The wait was long, and StarWind grew increasingly nervous. She felt her skin begin to dampen and realized that she was nervously tapping the ground with her foot. She chided herself and stole a glance at the two Imperial Guards. One was still ignoring her, but the other was grinning openly. Finally, the runner emerged from the building. StarWind was slightly surprised to see him without an escort of Imperial Guards. She sighed and let the nervousness subside somewhat. The runner ran up to the Imperial Guards and said something so softly that StarWind could not hear the words. The gate swung open.

  “You made more of an impression than I thought possible,” announced the serious Imperial Guard as he ushered StarWind through the gates. “This man will guide you to Mayor Ferde.”

  “Thank you,” StarWind replied with a weak smile as she followed the runner towards the building.

  The runner led her through the corridors of the large building and up a flight of stairs. He stopped at a tall ornate wooden door and knocked loudly before cracking it open and peering inside. Satisfied that the mayor was not in the middle of a meeting, the runner opened the door wide and waved StarWind through it. StarWind immediately locked eyes with the mayor of Campanil as she entered the room. The mayor stood behind his desk and stared at the Sakovan spy as she entered the room. He did not speak until the runner exited the room and closed the door.

  “You are incredible,” frowned the mayor as he waved StarWind to a chair in front of his desk. “You walk into this building when our countries are in a state of war. Do you think so little of the Imperial Guards that you truly expect to get away with this?”

  “I have no tendency to think ill of the Imperial Guards,” StarWind replied as she sat in the offered chair. “I do, however, think highly of you as a man of honor. I realize that you may have me arrested and executed as a Sakovan spy, but I was willing to wager that you would talk to me first. Neither of us wishes to be the enemy of the other.”

  “What we wish in that regard is of little significance,” retorted the mayor as he sat in his chair. “The fact is that we are enemies. This is not determined by our wishes, but by the directives of those who lead our countries. You have offered your life to bring me a message. I wish you had not. I can only imagine that it is important. Use this time wisely to convey what has brought you to Campanil.”

  StarWind swallowed hard as she realized that Mayor Ferde planned to arrest her at the conclusion of the meeting. She nodded inwardly as she realized that he had to. In a state of war, he could hardly allow a Sakovan spy to move around freely.

  “There is importance to this meeting,” StarWind began. “This war is going to result in many deaths. Neither you nor I can stop it at this point. Already the armies of the Katana have invaded the Sakova. The senseless slaughter will begin now.”

  The mayor cocked his head and looked at StarWind with curiosity. “Are you here to defect?” inquired the mayor. “Is that the reason that you came here?”

  “No,” StarWind shook her head. “I came here in an attempt to minimize the number of people that must die. You are wise enough to know that the Sakovans hold no malice towards the Omungans. You helped to avert the last war between our nations because you truly care for your people. I admire you for that. I want you to safeguard your people from this war.”

  “I intend to do exactly that,” countered the
mayor, “but I have the feeling that we are talking about two different things. What exactly is your purpose in coming here?”

  “To warn you,” replied StarWind. “Up until now, the Star of Sakova has forbidden the Sakovans to attack the Imperial Guards. That is soon to change, if it has not already.”

  “I need no such warning,” frowned Mayor Ferde. “The troops of Campanil have been ready for Sakovan attacks since the war was declared. I am surprised that it has not happened yet.”

  “I am not talking about any attack against Campanil,” responded the Sakovan spymaster. “We have no desire to inflict harm on the Omungan people. If your troops remain inside this city, they will survive this war intact.”

  “You are asking me to keep the Campanil troops out of the war?” gasped the mayor. “I cannot believe what I am hearing. You are sadly mistaken about me if you think I would abandon my country in a time of war.”

  “Your country?” echoed StarWind. “Had you said that you would not abandon your people, I would have believed you, but Omunga is no more your country than Khadora is.”

  “What nonsense are you spouting?” scowled the mayor. “Campanil is a founding city of Omunga. Every Omungan city will fight the Sakovans, not just Okata. Are you daft?”

  “Am I daft?” retorted StarWind. “It is not my people who are continually ruled by madmen. You no sooner got rid of Alazar, and you choose another madman to lead you into a senseless war.”

  “You did not feel this way about Larst when he saved your people from arrest in Okata,” countered the mayor. “All of a sudden he is a madman because he seeks a war that all Katanas have sought over the centuries.”

  “Larst was an honest and decent man,” responded StarWind. “Were he still alive, we would not be having this war.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Mayor Ferde. “Larst is alive. He is the Katana. Surely your spies could not miss such a thing?”