“Can I help fight that evil?” inquired the fairy Prince.
“We must all fight it, Midge,” sighed Egam, “but I cannot rid the world of the evil’s source. There are others who will be called on to perform that task and all you and I can do is to try to help.”
Egam began walking back to the orchard where Queen Mita and her colony of fairies would be.
King Solva and Queen Alysa were sitting on a bench overlooking one of the many decorative pools that dotted the City of Sorelderal when the ground began to rumble. He looked curiously as the surface of the pool began to ripple like a bowl of water that had just been set down on a table. The trees started swaying as the rumbling intensified and the sky began to dance with colors like a thousand intersecting rainbows competing for their position in the heavens. Dazzled by the display of colorful brilliance in the sky, he almost missed the tremors that shook the Tower of Peace. Leaping to his feet, he gazed at the great tower and shook his head as if to clear his vision. Everywhere he looked around Sorelderal, the scenery was changing. Trees were disappearing or appearing in odd places. One tree materialized in the pool that he and Queen Alysa had been sitting by. The lengthy tree bridges that connected structures in the trees above were crumbling down onto the paths below.
The most shocking sight of all, however, was that large trees had materialized in the base of the Tower of Peace. Three large trees became part of the base of the tower, replacing the blocks of stone that had been laid to support the huge stone structure. He reached back and grabbed his Queen’s hands and hoisted her to her feet. The base of the great tower started to crumble and the newly materialized trees shattered with the sound of an explosion.
The Tower of Peace, symbol of harmony between dwarves and elves, started tilting towards Sorelderal’s monarch and he quickly lead the Queen to safety. With a peal of thunder, the mighty tower crashed to the ground sending massive blocks of stone hurtling off in all directions. King Solva hurried Queen Alysa to the ground and covered her body with his own.
When the shaking subsided, King Solva surveyed the damage. Sorelderal was clearly destroyed. The Tower of Peace was nothing more than a fallen column of rubble. Bodies lay crushed under its massive stone blocks. The stream that ran through the city now ran through in an entirely different path, leaving a dry gully were it used to flow and flooding the area that it now ran through. King Solva could not see a single tree structure still standing in the stately trees. Most of the ground buildings were either completely destroyed or, at least, heavily damaged.
Even as he stood surveying the damage, the sky began to turn black and King Solva had an enormous foreboding of evil times ahead.
General Fernandez was running along the main street of Kantor with six of his officers getting his daily dose of exercise when the rumbling began. He abruptly stopped and spun in a complete circle seeking the origin of the disturbance. The rumbling increased and horses along the street started bolting, throwing their riders or taking their carriages on a wild path through the city. One of the General’s companions pointed towards the sky and the General looked up to see a dazzling display of fireworks on a scale so massive that it dwarfed anything he had ever seen.
The trembling of the ground became so severe that the General found it hard to keep his footing. Shouting drew his attention toward the Presidential Palace and General Fernandez stood transfixed, as the Palace became host to a large mountain. It was not like the mountain growing from beneath the Palace, the mountain was replacing the Palace, or most of it, anyway. The mountain towered over the city of Kantor and a small, corner section of the Presidential Palace remained.
More shouts from behind him caused the General to twirl towards the harbor. A large section of the harbor that used to serve the local fishing fleet was now dry land, complete with trees and grass as if it had been there for hundreds of years. Most of the fishing fleet was gone, but, here and there, General Fernandez could detect masts sticking out of the ground and he could almost determine which boats they were from their position in what had been the harbor.
People were running and screaming in every direction, but General Fernandez knew that it was just a human reaction. Without being able to detect the origin of the threat, it made no sense to run in one direction or another; besides, he surely must be having a nightmare. There was no other explanation.
A mighty roar from the direction of the mountain that had replaced the Presidential Palace caught the Cordonian’s attention and General Fernandez turned to watch a massive flying beast burst out of the cone of the new mountain and rise up into the darkening sky. He stood gaping, somehow unafraid, as the magnificent dragon hurled itself skyward. Finally, the sky completely darkened and General Fernandez knew that there were entities much more powerful than Cordonia and Targa at play here.
He gathered his six officers together and started issuing orders. Within moments he would have a brief outline of the damages that the city had incurred. He would need a plan, possibly involving relocation of the capital city, to stop widespread panic. Certainly, if the dragon returned, nobody would want to live in Kantor. Whatever the outcome, the Cordonian people would need someone like himself to guide them.
Alex and Jenneva were on their way to the stables at the Royal Palace in Tagaret when the rumbling started. Alex picked Jenneva up into his arms without breaking stride and headed directly for Kaz. He placed Jenneva on Kaz’s back and leaped up behind her.
Into the sky, Kaz, quickly. Hover over the top of the Royal Palace so we don’t get replaced by any trees or other items.
Soldiers turned to stare as the unicorn lifted Alex and Jenneva off the ground and high into the sky. The soldiers’ attention was soon occupied by other more dangerous sights as the rumbling increased and the landscape of Tagaret began to change.
Alex watched, trying to picture the layout of the City of Elderal, as trees started sprouting through rooftops. The worst problem for Tagaret, he knew, was going to be the large trees. The problems for Elderal would be more severe, as Tagaret had many stone buildings that would probably take precedence over the wooden huts of the elves.
The swirling colors of the sky proved to be a tempting distraction, but Alex kept his eyes on the city below him. Small elf huts appeared in clear areas and streets, trees much older than those of Targa rose throughout the city, the river changed course almost imperceptibly, and a shower of wood splinters shot up from the Palace. That was what Alex feared the most, the combining of the two Palaces would certainly be devastating for Elderal. The rumbling subsided and the sky darkened as Jenneva shouted.
“The elves, Alex, look! What will happen when the two peoples meet unexpectedly?”
Alex directed Kaz down to the Red Sword courtyard where a small band of elves had just appeared. One of them was the familiar figure of King Galever.
“Sergeant,” shouted Alex, “the elves are friendly. Send runners to inform the townspeople that the elves are not to be harmed.”
Kaz landed just as the sky went black and Alex and Jenneva dismounted. The elves were huddled in a circle, backs together with bows and spears ready, while the Red Swords encircled them with swords drawn.
“Fergy, King Galever,” Alex called, “have your men lower their weapons. We have no need of hostilities today.”
Alex and Jenneva walked over and greeted the elf King. He explained as quickly as possible that their Universes had combined and that if they did not take quick action, fighting would break out between the two frightened peoples. Jenneva suggested that each Red Sword take an elf on the horse with him and that they ride together to calm the people. When the elves and Red Swords had paired up, Jenneva suggested that King Galever accompany Alex and herself in seeking King Byron.
They entered the Royal Palace and started down the corridor. Several sections of the corridor were completely blocked by a wooden wall and Alex decided to retreat and try a different entrance to the Royal Palace. The third entrance the group tried got them through w
ithout encountering any remnants of the Elderal Palace. They quickly made their way to the King’s Study and entered.
King Byron looked up as they entered and stared at the elf King. “I think these two will be able to offer some explanation,” King Byron stated.
“The short version,” began Alex, “is that Sarac has destroyed the Universe called Aquina, home of the elves. King Byron, this is King Galever, King of Elderal. King Galever, this is King Byron, King of Targa.”
When the two monarchs had exchanged greetings, Alex continued. “The City of Elderal and Tagaret now occupy the same geographical area. There are sections of the Royal Palace that are impassable because of the structure of the elves Palace. The real problem lies in the fact that two nations now occupy the same space.”
“I doubt that Sarac chose only the Aquina Universe to destroy,” added Jenneva. “I would expect him to consolidate all of the Universes into one. If I am correct, the problems of elves and humans occupying the same area will appear to be a minor inconvenience. I think we should be prepared for the emergence of Yaki, goblins, ogres, and dragons, as well as some friendlier races, to pop up almost anywhere.”
King Byron introduced King Galever to the rest of his staff and ordered a chair for the elf King. “We have already had reports of ogres in the North,” stated King Byron. “The Cordonians turned back as you predicted, Alex, and we moved our troops south to deal with the Sordoans. We did not expect the ogres and they are tearing through the countryside.”
“It will get more interesting than that,” added Alex. “The Dielderal have been at war with Elderal for a long time and they will probably appear somewhere between the Cordonians and the ogres. They may actually slow the ogres down and give you more time to react.”
King Galever was staring at the wall map with great interest. “My people will need a place of their own while we sort out this mess,” he declared. “There is probably nothing left of the City of Elderal, so I suspect that we will be the ones moving on.”
“This is a problem for all of us to solve,” suggested Jenneva. “Borders will have to redrawn, new countries established, or both peoples will have to learn to live together.”
“That may indeed happen in the future,” replied King Galever, “but if it does, it will be because we wish it, not because we were thrown together accidentally. I recognize the features on your map and the indications of your cities. I will move my people north of the river to a sparsely settled area and start rebuilding. Any humans we find there will be sent to this city. When we are both settled we can talk again.”
“I think you are being a little brief with our problems,” retorted King Byron. “I am sure that we can come to some agreement, but just arbitrarily relocating Targa citizens will not happen peacefully. The people whose land you plan to take will fight to keep it. I think we need to talk more before we take action.”
“King Byron,” stated King Galever, “we do not have the time for talk. If I understand your situation correctly, Targa is currently at war with both of its neighbors and I do not wish my people to get involved. At the same time, my people are at war with the Dielderal and I doubt that you wish to have yet another army against you. It is best that we split nations immediately and talk about peace later. I do not think your settlers will wish to fight with thousands of elves seeking a place to rebuild their city. As it stands right now, fighting will break out here as soon as both sides realize that they are going to lose their homes to the other group. That is what I seek to avoid.”
“Your Highness,” interrupted General Clark, “if the elves will not fight with us, then I agree that it would be better to remove them from Tagaret. Perhaps if we send a letter with King Galever telling the settlers to relocate to Tagaret it would keep most of them from fighting the elves.”
King Byron stared at his Military Advisor and knew that he wasn’t saying everything that he wanted to. It was clear that General Clark wanted the elves out of the city, but not because he felt sorry for them. Suddenly, King Byron realized General Clark’s fears, that the elves might join the enemy forces and try to keep Tagaret for themselves. That would prove disastrous for Targa.
“Very well, King Galever,” King Byron offered, “I will issue a proclamation that will notify Targan settlers in the area you have chosen, however, when our war with Sordoa comes to an end, you and I will sit down and discuss long-term arrangements that will ensure peace between our two peoples.”
“As you wish,” concluded King Galever. The elf King departed to start the journey with his people, wondering if he would get them resettled before war came to them.
“At the very least,” General Gregor offered, “the elves may provide a barrier to the ogres coming down from the North. Still, I am not happy having another nation in the middle of Targa.”
“Frankly,” Alex admitted, “I don’t expect Targa will come out of this with its borders intact. The enemies and perils brought on by Sarac’s sorcery almost guarantee the end of Targa as we know it. The Elderal are not the only group coming to Targa and each group will think of it as their home.”
“Then we have to finish these Sordoans quickly,” suggested General Gregor. “Can we expect the Sordoans to be having surprise visitors, as well, Alex?”
“I don’t really know,” Alex answered. “In Aquina, there was very little population between where Melbin would be and the Southern Mountains, but I don’t know about the other Universes.”
“We can tell you when we get back from Lanoir,” suggested Jenneva. “That is, if the war is not over by then. Alex, we must go now. If Sarac has already destroyed the Universes, we must retrieve the spell that binds him quickly.”
“True,” sighed Alex. “May the gods preserve all of us and may we meet again. Farewell.”
Oscar looked out of the wagon at the sound of approaching horses. He had witnessed the ground rumpling and the colorful display in the sky, but the geography around him had not changed at all, so he was unaware of any catastrophic calamity approaching. Only the black sky held the ominous tone of danger. The horses could spell disaster for him if he was identified as the Crown Prince of Targa, so he remained hidden as the Cordonian soldiers drew nearer.
The Cordonian Cavalry drew up alongside the gypsy wagon and the Sergeant halted while the others kept on going.
“Gypsy,” the Cordonian Sergeant greeted, “you had better turn that wagon around and follow us if you value your life.”
“Does the enemy attack us?” queried the gypsy. “Would they have a grievance against a humble gypsy?”
“If it was Targans chasing us,” retorted the Sergeant, “I would let you ride on, but the enemy is not Targan. There are about a thousand elves coming this way and they are not friendly.”
“Elves?” the gypsy questioned unbelievably. “You’re not telling me the Cordonian Army believes in elves?”
“Don’t make sport of me,” scolded the Cordonian. “If you don’t believe in elves then I guess you won’t be dead when their arrows pierce your ugly hide. Don’t say that I didn’t warn you, gypsy.”
The Cordonian Sergeant prodded his horse to catch up with the rest of the soldiers.
“Do you think he is serious?” the gypsy asked Oscar.
Oscar, elves are not fictitious beings. We would be best to heed his advice.
“Ora,” Oscar sighed, “we should turn around. I can’t be sure of there being elves ahead, but I do know that the Cordonian Cavalry does not normally run from a fight. Let us be safe and head west until we know more of what is going on. I will be leaving you in the morning, in any event. I think I healed enough to stop being a burden to you. I will always be indebted to you and your family.”
“Well,” Ora laughed, “the one good thing about being a gypsy, is that we don’t really care which direction we go. West is as good as east.”
Ora turned his wagon around and followed the Cordonian Cavalry.
Chapter 19
Cave of Winds
K
az carried Alex and Jenneva easily, winging through the dark sky over the Sordoan coastline. Alex peered through the inky mist at the Sordoan Army troops below. The Spiders’ intelligence reports were correct about the deployment of the Sordoan troops, but that thought gave Alex little comfort as the Targan Army was spread too thin to properly repel the invaders. He knew that Tagaret would probably be sacked before the Targans pushed the Sordoans back into the desert and even then, only if the ogres didn’t get to the Targan capital first.
Alex was depressed. He would much rather be down there with his men helping to repel the invasion, but Sarac had to be imprisoned quickly before he found a way to alter the odds of the prophecy going in his favor by killing the children who could ruin him. Alex silently willed Kaz on faster to the Cave of the Winds on the Sordoa-Lanoir border.
Kaz circled wide around the Southern Mountains as they approached the Cave of Winds and Alex saw the devastation that had befallen Sorelderal, the destroyed Tower of Peace representing the shattered hopes of two peaceful races. Kaz dropped lower and landed in an open field near the headwaters of the Toulane River. Alex and Jenneva dismounted and set up camp. There was no way to determine how long they needed to search the Cave of Winds before finding the Sword of Heavens and they decided that they would leave the campsite well rested and fed.
Alex retrieved two rabbits and handed them over to Jenneva for the stew and then headed to the waterfall to check for the entrance to the Cave of Winds. Alex returned an hour later and the couple had a quiet meal, then Alex spoke.
“The entrance to the Cave of Winds is not difficult, but the cave is rather small and I couldn’t find any sword or scrolls in it.”
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