The Sword of Light

by Andrew G. Wood

  “Good. Stay away from her. The last thing we want is to upset the king any more than we have,” Galdrac replied sounding his usual gloomy self.

  Although Karesh had already explained much of this to him, Galdrac and his mother thought he needed to be told again. While they did add a little more information, the general gist of what they said was as Karesh had already explained to him. As they spoke, he let his mind wander just a little bit, as the image of that smile reappeared in his mind. “Are you even listening?” he heard Galdrac shout.

  “Of course I am,” he lied.

  “Good, then we need to pack up and get ready. The Elves are being overrun. Have your dragon head to Neylarin, we will need his abilities to help keep the balgraf at bay.”

  Chapter 18.

  On arrival at Neylarin, the Elven capital city, they were surprised to see Mazon and Akeev already waiting for them. As to why they were there and not back in the slightly more secure Durn Raldun was soon explained as they all walked as a group away from the Waygate and outside to a city full to bursting with refugees. The dwarf capital was still under siege, despite the number of balgraf there reducing in number, although as to where the others had gone to, Mazen did not know.

  Finley, for one, was shocked at seeing just how bad things had gotten in the past few days. The streets were packed full of people, huddled together in small groups, some clutching to the only possessions they had left in the world. Leyna felt heartbroken that her own people were suffering so greatly and although she wanted to help, she knew there was, in fact, little she could do. The wealthy and poor members of Elven society now rubbed shoulders with each other, both relying on food handouts and having no homes to speak of.

  On the plus side, Leyna could see hundreds of soldiers, not just Elves, but some Human and even a few Orcs and Dwarfs among them. “Is this our last stand then?” She muttered to herself. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Finley looking rather solemnly at her. “If it is our last stand then let us make it one to remember!” he said. He wasn’t sure where he got those words from, but he was quite sure they were not his own and thought they must have been from a book he had once read. Wherever it was, they sounded good and fitted the moment perfectly.

  With Arach nearing the Elven lands they would soon be able to get a better picture of what was outside the capital walls. In the meantime, Leyna suggested they all go to her parents, as Elves of some distinction they would likely be up to date with what was going on. Moving along the wide Elven streets was actually far more challenging than any of them had presumed, such was the number of people crammed in. “They can’t keep this up,” Galdrac muttered aiming the words at the Dwarf walking alongside him. “Aye. Food is already low, a week of this and disease will start. If that happens… then the balgraf won’t have to fight.” Galdrac nodded his agreement. As noble as it was that the Elven Council were trying to save as many of their people as possible, by taking in so many refugees, they were, in fact, shortening their ability to hold out should the balgraf merely do as they were against the Dwarfs.

  Leyna’s parents were inevitably glad to see their daughter and although a little less so, Karesh as well. The verdict on Finley it seemed was still undecided, as his Elven grandfather barely acknowledged he was even there. His grandmother, however, did show a little more affection towards him, and gave a little hug, albeit a rather awkward one. However, when all the greetings were over Finley was somewhat surprised by his grandfather, as the Elf placed a hand on his shoulder and asked for a word.

  While the streets outside were overcrowded with people, the garden of his grandparent’s home was as empty as it always was. Immaculately kept lawns and flowerbeds, and a few trees that gave a little shade in the hotter summer months were all a far cry from what was going on outside in the city. “I hear you have developed a few unique skills?” his grandfather asked turning just slightly towards him as they ambled over the lush green grass. Finley shrugged, he wasn’t sure how much the man knew.

  He started by running through the things that he assumed might be considered unique. Using magic without the utilisation of a stick or staff for one, apparently, that was not considered the norm. He glanced over to his grandfather to look for a reaction, but the Elf didn’t seem overly impressed, or at least he didn’t show it if he was. “I have a link with a wolf,” he said running through the list of what he could do. “And a dragon of course. I’m sure you’ve heard about that?” he asked as they stopped walking and sat down on a stone bench set around the base of one of the trees.

  Although not sure if his grandfather wanted to know about Arach, Finley decided to tell him anyway. While he did at last show some modicum of enthusiasm, Finley felt it was not the fact he could link with a dragon that his grandfather wanted to know about. “I have…well had something they call The Sword of Light,” he said looking for a reaction. His grandfather suddenly perked up, “You don’t have it now?”

  Finley shook his head, “Galdrac says I am not allowed to use it. Apparently, it is not yet time for me to do so, so he and Mother took it from me.”

  Without any further words, Finley was suddenly sat on the bench by himself as his Grandfather stormed off towards the house. Not sure whether he had said something he should not have, he decided to follow, although kept a few paces behind. They found the others about to drink a cup of tea as his grandfather immediately turned on Galdrac. “You have taken the Sword of Light off the Halfbreed. He will need it back to protect the city!”

  Galdrac remained surprisingly calm. Although everyone else in the room was undoubtedly shocked by the sudden outburst, it appeared the old Mage was not.

  “Well I am sorry Sir, but Finley is not to use it, at least not yet,” Galdrac eventually said breaking the awkward silence that had suddenly gripped the room.

  “Who are you to decide?”

  “Look!” Galdrac said calmly but firmly, gently placing his tea cup down onto its saucer. “We almost gifted our most powerful weapon over to Abalyon. The gods have given us this chance of victory, and for it to come to fruition, we must act accordingly and at the right time.”

  Realising he was not going to get anywhere with talking to Galdrac, Leyna’s father then turned on her. “And you will stand idly by and let your own people die, just so this fool human can do things at the right time?”

  “Yes, Father I will. However, we have not come here to argue, nor are we going to stand idly by,” she replied clearly torn by what she knew needed to be done, and what her heart told her to do. “If we unleash Finley with the sword, yes he probably could wipe out the balgraf outside the city gates.”

  “Well give the halfbreed the damn weapon fool girl. You have spent too much time in the company of humans, it is clearly not good for you!”

  It was evidently clear that even Finley’s grandmother felt embarrassed by the words coming out of her husband's mouth, but she remained quiet and said nothing.

  Leyna, however, did not stay quite so calm as Galdrac had. Slamming her hand down onto the table so hard, the cups and saucers rattled, she told her own father exactly what she thought. “His name is Finley Father, do not refer to him as ‘Half-breed,' she spat, her temper visibly reaching boiling point. “And yes I would like nothing more than to give Finley the Sword of Light and wipe all the balgraf from the world. If I do that now, he will likely fall into Abalyon’s clutches, and there will be nothing left to save us,” she added jabbing her finger towards her father.

  “We have come to see if the dragon can help us keep the balgraf from the gates,” Galdrac added, sounding so unusually calm and considerate. However, it was clear that the Elf was having none of it. “Then you leave me no choice. I shall have you all arrested and have the weapon taken from you. I assume you have it among your possessions.”

  “I do Sir,” Galdrac replied, seemingly not bothered by the threat.

  “Although you seem to be forgetting one thing. Even if you have the Sword of Light, you still need the �
��Half-Breed’ to use it,” he added in the more usual Galdrac tone of speaking.

  “The Half-Breed will do as he is asked.”

  “His name is Finley…Come on, we are leaving,” Leyna snapped knocking the teacups from the table and sending them smashing to the floor. Finley had never seen his mother so angry before, and thought now was probably not a good time to argue. Karesh apparently thought the same as he followed Finley in walking out of the door. Sessi appeared untroubled by all the ruckus and merely ambled along as he usually did, leaving a somewhat bemused Mazen and Akeev little choice but to follow.

  Galdrac was last to go but turned on his way out of the door to speak. “You will push her away and lose her for good. I might well be human and an old fool, but you Sir are a prejudiced sad little Elf who can not see a good thing even when it stares him in the face.” With those calmly spoken words, the old Mage turned about and followed the others back out into the garden. They had barely walked ten paces along the narrow path that dissected the plush green lawns when Leyna’s mother came running out after them.

  Leyna turned at the sound of her mother’s voice, and although she knew only too well that the woman would stand by her husband, she decided to let her speak anyway. “I’m so sorry my dear. You know what he is like. What will you do now?” she asked looking almost tearful at seeing her family torn apart.

  “We will fight what is outside the walls as we intended to Mother. If we die trying so be it, but I will not risk my son being the puppet of Abalyon, even if that means every Elf has to die in the process.”

  Leyna looked at her mother’s eyes and could see the tears welling within them. However, she knew she needed to be strong, and although she loved her very much, now was not the time to show weakness. “Goodbye Mother,” she said leaning forward just a little and kissing her gently on the cheek, before turning around and heading for the small gates that kept this part of the city apart from the traumatic scenes outside in the streets.

  With determination in her walk, Leyna headed for the outer wall. Neylarin may not be as impregnable as the Dwarf capital but it would certainly be no pushover should Abalyon want to attack it. “Have Arach scan the area please,” she said glancing over her shoulder towards Finley.

  Atop the outer wall, they could already see the army of balgraf amassing in larger numbers than they had seen at Durn Raldun. Not lined up in ranks as they sometimes were, it was evidently clear they were preparing for the long haul and Finley thought they appeared to be preparing for a siege as opposed to any imminent attack. A thought that was soon echoed by Galdrac, “At least we have a little time. Abalyon probably knows as well as we do, that all he needs to do is sit and wait a few weeks and the Elves will have exhausted their supplies.”

  While the Dwarfs were receiving regular provisions via the Waygate from the Humans, they did not have the same kind of numbers in the city. Even if their allies did send extra food through the Neylarin Waygate, it would never be enough to keep the vast number of refugees fed. Galdrac explained his theory and what he thought Abalyon was hoping for. The fallen God already knew that Finley was almost his and that the Elves more so than the Dwarfs, would have to fight eventually. Finley, with the Sword of Light, would be the obvious choice, and while that might result in the death of the vast number of balgraf, Abalyon would get his hands on the prize he longed for.

  “So how are we going to play this?” Mazen asked stretching to look over the battlements.

  “We certainly do not let Finley loose. However, I do think his dragon may be of use, providing he stays at a safe distance,” Galdrac replied keeping his eyes focused on what opposed outside the city. Finley closed his eyes as he sensed Arach fly high overhead looking down across the city and more importantly what now was camped outside it. Hundreds of shapes were scattered about in small groups, some of which he could tell from the dragon’s own senses were feeding. He did not need to ask what it was they were eating, as Arach already had that answer for him, and thought it best he did not tell the others either. The fact it was rumoured that the balgraf ate some of what they killed, was bad enough, confirming that was indeed the case would serve no purpose now.

  “Arach says he could swoop down and unleash his fire, although he thinks there are too many for him to get them all. Once the element of surprise is gone, they will probably spread out and make it impossible for him to get.”

  “What if the Lad’s dragon attacks and they decide to make a move against us. You think we can hold them back?” Mazen asked looking at the steep drop over the wall. The balgraf had already proved with their new flying kind that tall walls were no longer the problem they had once been. The Dwarf gazed up into the sky, glad to see it appeared bereft of any of the beasts that had so nearly caused the fall of Durn Raldun. “I don’t see any flying ones, perhaps now is a good a time as any to strike then!” he concluded.

  “And if they do attack us, then let us make sure we are all ready to repel them,” Leyna said defiantly stepping nearer to the wall’s edge.

  Chapter 19.

  Finley watched on as he could see Arach circling overhead. Putting the dragon in danger appeared to always have him slightly on edge, especially now he knew the consequences of it getting killed. He was somewhat confused as to why there were none of the flying balgraf in the area, and that any attack without them would prove far more challenging. While the regular balgraf were indeed intelligent, formidable fighting beasts, they would still have problems scaling the tall walls of Neylarin.

  “Something doesn’t seem right,” he said voicing his concerns to the others.

  “How do you mean Lad?” Mazen asked seemingly the only one interested in what he wanted to say.

  “Well, why are there no flying creatures. How does the enemy hope to get up the walls without them? I mean surely if they were planning an assault they would need them here.”

  Mazen scratched at his beard for a few moments deep in thought, “Aye you do have a point Lad,” the Dwarf finally replied.

  It was Akeev who spotted something a little unusual. The Troll’s keen eyesight seemingly far better than their own, although getting the message over did prove slightly more problematic. Fortunately, Karesh had taken to picking up a few words of the language, and the two of them appeared to be able to communicate a bit better.

  Akeev pointed out something in the far distance, that when looked at more carefully, somehow, did not look right. There appeared an area of greenery, where there probably should not have been any, and although it might indeed just be a random patch of vegetation, something did indeed look out of place. “You think maybe they are using the foliage to keep the flying balgraf under cover?” Mazen suggested throwing his idea out to anybody who might listen. If that were the case, then the balgraf were even smarter than they were being credited for. “Why would they bother hiding them?” Galdrac scoffed apparently thinking it a ridiculous notion. “To get me to fly Arach overhead?” Finley replied not thinking it such a daft idea.

  “What they or Abalyon does not know, however, is that a dragon’s sight works a little differently,” he said feeling if this were the matter of fact, he would be able to tell if there were indeed flying balgraf hiding out of view. With no time to explain, he asked Arach to keep flying high and out of trouble but to fly over the unusual patch of green vegetation. Finley closed his eyes and immediately linked into the sight of his dragon, seeing the rainbow of colours that distinguished living creatures. The army of balgraf was quite clear to see as each of the beasts gave off a kind of orangey glow, revealing that there were, in fact, more than Finley had originally thought.

  However, as he flew over the anomaly Mazen’s suggestion proved entirely correct. While he could see the outline of the vegetation placed over the top, he could also see dozens of colours moving, fidgeting about beneath. With that knowledge in mind, it was Arach who actually came up with a credible plan, and although Finley should probably have given the others the heads-up first, decided he was go
ing to go with it anyway.

  Arach explained that although he could see them, because he was above the thin wispy cloud, and they were under cover of the thick vegetation, it gave them a window of opportunity. They would not be able to get airborne quickly if they are under all that greenery, which Finley agreed did give them a chance to strike. “Go for it, Arach. Be careful Please,” he added sending out the message but keeping his eyes in tune with his dragons.

  Arach dived out of the clouds, tucking his wings back as a bird of prey did when swooping down on their unsuspecting prey. Moving at such speed, Finley was unsure the dragon would have to time to level off and was almost relieved when he did. Recoiling his long neck back as he swooped over the patch of green vegetation Arach spewed forth a stream of dragon fire. Moving his head slightly left to right as he went, the vegetation below turned instantly to flames, trapping the hiding creatures of the darkness beneath. “Good job. Now get out of there!” Finley suggested as he returned to his human vision.

  Clouds of black smoke billowed up into the air in the far distance as he watched Arach move back up to cloud level and hopefully free from any resulting danger. “What the bloody hell are you doing?” Galdrac snapped turning to him with a face like thunder.