Defenders of The Sacred Land: Book One of The Sacred Land Saga

by Tyson, Mark

  “Cheerful!” Rennon said flatly. He paused from washing his hands.

  “Aye, too cheerful if you ask me. I can’t figure what has gotten into her lately either,” Dorenn said disgusted.

  Rennon cocked an eyebrow. “I do. She has been talking to Sylvalora.”

  “What do you mean?” Dorenn asked, eyes narrowing.

  Rennon stopped and gave Dorenn an inquisitive look. “She has been showing her how to do something with that little statue you gave to Tatrice. You didn’t know that?”

  “Nay, what is she showing her?” Dorenn asked as he handed Rennon a drying cloth.

  “How should I know? It was you who gave her the statue.” Rennon took the drying cloth and dabbed it on his face. “Where did it come from anyway?”

  Dorenn stammered while still in thought. “I—I bought it in a shop in Cedar Falls.”

  “Well, what’s it for?” Rennon asked inquisitively.

  “I don’t know. I just thought it was something she might like,” Dorenn said. “The old man said it was made by the elves.”

  “Are you certain that is what he told you?” Rennon asked.

  “Now that you mention it, no, I don’t remember what he told me it was. What are you getting at?”

  “It is something dangerous.”

  “It did feel strange; it made my hand tingle while I held it.”

  Rennon’s face dropped in shock. “And you gave it to Tatrice!”

  “Well, she didn’t feel anything strange about it.”

  “Great, you had better get it from her. It’s probably some kind of talisman. Sanmir had a stone he brought from Darovan that he used to mix in with potions to increase their potency. He used it many times, but he wouldn’t let me touch it. He said it would only serve one master and was not something to be trifled with.”

  Dorenn became worried. “You think the statue may be affecting Tatrice in some way?”

  “Could be. I would get it from her as soon as the chance presented itself.”

  Dorenn nodded. “Maybe you are right.”

  Rennon tossed the drying cloth aside. “Let’s go find Vesperin. I think we should talk to him without the wielders around and find out what really happened to him.”

  “Aye, I was thinking the same thing. Let’s get out of here and get back to Brookhaven, the sooner the better.”

  “Now that’s the Dorenn I know,” Rennon said smiling.

  Dorenn and Rennon walked briskly through the long corridors of the Morgoran’s tower and found Vesperin eating breakfast in the dining hall with Lady Shey, Sylvalora, and Tatrice. Dorenn sat down beside Tatrice, and Rennon sat opposite him. Servants appeared with fruits and bread for the two newcomers.

  Dorenn lightly kissed Tatrice on the check as he settled in his chair next to her.

  “I was wondering when you might be joining us, Dorenn. Did you sleep well?”

  “Not particularly,” Dorenn said. “I tossed and turned most of the night.”

  “Well, you have a lot on your mind I would imagine,” Tatrice said.

  Dorenn leaned in close to Tatrice’s ear. “I need to speak with you alone as soon as possible.” Sylvalora looked up sharply at Dorenn, and he started for a moment. “Are you all right, Sylvalora?” he asked and then immediately scolded himself for being so bold.

  “Fine as a spring day, good man Dorenn, why do you ask?”

  “You just seemed concerned for a moment.”

  “I am just concerned you are not sleeping is all, Dorenn.”

  “Aye, perhaps I am a bit jumpy. I apologize.”

  “No need for apologies. Just try to get some sleep tonight. Perhaps have Rennon prepare you a sleeping powder?”

  “Aye, Sylvalora, I will.”

  “Good,” she said.

  There was a long, uncomfortable silence while they ate their breakfast.

  “Vesperin, don’t you have morning prayers to attend?” Rennon asked.

  “I already attended them.”

  “Good, I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

  “With what?” Vesperin asked.

  “Something,” Rennon said uncomfortably.

  Vesperin stared at him for a moment. “All right. I will help you with your task. When do you wish to meet?”

  “We can go right now.” Rennon pushed himself away from the table. “Are you finished with breakfast?”

  Vesperin nodded and pushed away from the table. “Aye, let’s go. I am curious what you are up to.”

  “Come on, Tat, let’s go with them.”

  Tatrice smiled at Dorenn’s invitation, excited to be included. “Aye, let’s go,” she said.

  “If you will excuse us, my ladies,” Dorenn said, rising from the table.

  “Of course,” Lady Shey said.

  Dorenn grabbed Tatrice by the arm and held her hand as they moved hastily behind Rennon and Vesperin out of the dining hall.

  “What is all this about?” Vesperin asked suspiciously. “Why are you two acting so strange?”

  Dorenn waited until they were well down the hall before speaking. “We are leaving. These wielders have done something to you both.”

  Rennon sighed. “Oh, that was subtle, Dorenn.”

  “My father put me in charge of this trip, and as far as I’m concerned, I still am in charge, and I say we go back to Brookhaven.”

  “Don’t be a fool, Dorenn,” Vesperin said, stopping in the corridor. “I told you, Loracia has given me a vision.”

  “Are you certain, Vesperin, or was that vision a trick of the wielders?”

  Anger flushed over Vesperin’s face. “I would know the difference. I am surprised at you, Dorenn. I will not force you to come along, but I am staying.” Vesperin left down the opposite direction, away from Dorenn. Tatrice scowled at Dorenn and followed Vesperin.

  “Well, that went well,” Rennon said sarcastically.

  “Come on, let’s find Gondrial. I have a plan,” Dorenn said.

  “What kind of plan?”

  “You’ll see. Come on,” Dorenn insisted.

  “I hope you know what you are doing,” Rennon said, following Dorenn down the corridor.

  Rain still fell steadily as Dorenn and Rennon entered the courtyard. Dorenn spotted Gondrial at the gate beneath an outlook platform. He appeared to be looking through a battlement at the muddied road leading to the Vale.

  “What are you looking for, Gondrial?” Dorenn asked as they approached.

  “Not what, but whom. I believe the Enforcers are near. I have sensed their presence since morning.”

  “How?” Rennon asked confused.

  “How do you think they track other wielders if they are not wielders themselves?” Gondrial asked. “They are out there somewhere, searching.”

  Dorenn shuddered. “That is disturbing news. Why do they hunt their own kind?”

  “They may be wielders, but they are not well known as such. They are deceivers to themselves as well as to those they hunt.”

  “I don’t understand,” Dorenn said.

  “That is precisely the idea, Dorenn. The Enforcers want the average peasant to stay in the dark because it furthers their cause and protects their secret.” Gondrial squinted. “There.” He pointed through the battlement. “There are five of them, in full armor, heading this way.”

  Dorenn squinted but saw nothing but the falling rain. “You have the sight of the elves,” he blurted out.

  Gondrial cut his eyes briefly at Dorenn without changing expression. “Of course,” he said. He pulled up his hood and spun around, swinging the heavy, dark green cloak behind him. “Now we see if Seancey is half as intimidating as he would have us believe.” Dorenn and Rennon shrugged at each other and then quickly followed Gondrial.

  Gondrial entered the left-most guard tower, followed closely by Dorenn and Rennon, and yelled into the darkness, “Seancey, five Enforcers on the horizon,” he paused. “Seancey, are you up here?”

  “I hear you, friend Gondrial,” the large m
an replied. “And I suppose you want me to handle them?”

  “Not at all. I thought I might wake Morgoran, unless, of course, you will come down from that tower,” Gondrial said sarcastically.

  “I will take care of them,” Seancey said with his booming voice.

  Dorenn moved downward as Gondrial turned and almost tripped over the two boys standing directly behind him. “You two had better get out of the way; Seancey is somewhat clumsy in the dark.” Dorenn and Rennon quickly exited the steps as Seancey headed down the stairway. The big man hastily climbed down the stairs to the gate and opened the peep hole. “I don’t see anything,” he said.

  “Just wait, they will come,” Gondrial replied.

  After a few moments, the hooded riders came into view, riding down the road to the Vale.

  Seancey climbed onto the battlement at the side of the wooden gate and waited.

  “Hail, Vale of Morgoran, the Enforcers require entrance.”

  “Who goes there?” Seancey retorted.

  “The Enforcers,” the voice barked back with obvious sarcasm.

  “Hold,” Seancey roared as he opened one side of the gate. “Enter and state your business but do not pass the threshold until your business is approved, understood?”

  “Understood, Guardsman,” the voice said.

  The first Enforcer came through the gate, his cloak blowing to and fro in the wind and rain. He rode a jet black stallion, and after he entered through the gate, he threw back the hood of his cloak. The Enforcer’s face was gaunt and pale, and his brow was furrowed in a permanent scowl. His eyes were mere slits, and his armor was unkempt and dirty. Dorenn shivered uncontrollably. The man was the most evil appearing man he had ever seen. Dorenn cringed as the Enforcer narrowed his eyes at him. He was thankful Seancey was there to deal with the man. The Enforcer gave Dorenn another menacing look before turning to Seancey. “I am Captain Row Praf of the Enforcers. I am here on business. There are wielders here, and I mean to find them.”

  Seancey laughed. “Aye, there is a wielder here. Congratulations, you have discovered the worst kept secret in Symboria.”

  The Enforcer fixed a disapproving stare at Seancey. “Not He Who is blind and maimed. I speak of the others I have followed here.” He shifted in his saddle. “I am here to enforce the law. The heretics will be apprehended.”

  Dorenn suddenly felt strange as if he could not breathe, and then he noticed Seancey seemed ten feet tall and strangely ominous.

  “There are no wielders here but the blind one,” Seancey thundered. The horse shrank back, and Dorenn felt Rennon back away as well. Seancey seemed immovable and imposing. “You will turn away from this peaceful vale and search elsewhere at once!”

  The Enforcer had a surprised look on his wrinkled face. “If you will not admit me, I will come by force.”

  “You will do no such thing unless you wish to see the bottom of the Lake of Souls after I have my turn at you.”

  Dorenn was amazed at Seancey’s words and even more amazed as the captain pointed his finger at Seancey as he turned back through the side gate. Seancey closed the gate behind him and winked at Dorenn as he bolted it.

  “It is his special talent,” Gondrial whispered to Dorenn, “to overwhelm those in his way. Seancey can be a particularly useful ally.” Gondrial smirked and put his hand on Rennon’s shoulder. “Are you all right, my boy?”

  “Huh, um…yes, fine, thank you.”

  Gondrial snickered. “Just stay in Seancey’s good graces and you will be fine.”

  Seancey boomed a thunderous laugh at Gondrial’s words, slapped him on the back, and reentered the guard tower.

  “They will not go far, and as soon as their courage returns, they will attempt to enter the gates again. Seancey will not be able to intimidate them a second time.” Gondrial crossed in front of Dorenn and looked squarely at him. “We must leave now. I think we need to discuss with Enowene and Lady Shey the best route out of this vale and leave at nightfall.”

  “Is there a back gate?” Rennon asked.

  Gondrial nodded. “There is a gate, but the captain will have it guarded before we can saddle our horses. We are trapped, my boy, we will need another means of escape.”

  “Escape?” Dorenn asked with confusion.

  “Aye, Dorenn, our leave from this place has now become a plan of escape. Go and fetch Lady Shey and meet us in the meeting hall. We need a new plan.”

  “We can use the tome again,” Lady Shey suggested.

  “Too risky. The Enforcers will detect the magic and trace our path. Since we can only transport two or three at a time for a league or so, the Enforcers will catch up to us by half a league. We can send out horses, but we can only get one, maybe two out at a time,” Enowene observed.

  “Aye, but what if you three wielders each cast the spell? Would that be faster?” Dorenn asked.

  “Recuperation time is lengthy. Even if we sent you three boys and your mounts through, the time it would take to send ourselves would be considerable. Any length of time is more time the Enforcers have to get to you,” Gondrial replied.

  “There is another alternative,” Sylvalora began. “Not far from here is the forest of Tolennor and the ruins of Signal Hill. The Enforcers would be fools to follow us there.”

  “And we would be fools to go there,” Gondrial countered.

  “Another problem with that plan is that no one who has ever entered the cursed ruins has ever returned from them again,” Lady Shey said.

  “That doesn’t sound good at all,” Rennon responded. “I will take my chances with the Enforcers!”

  Sylvalora cupped her hand in thought on her cheek. “We could stay at the edge of the forest. The inhabitants of Signal Hill are particularly nasty folk. Abominations to Loracia.” Sylvalora peered at Vesperin. “Are you familiar with the curses against Loracia’s will and how to sense such things?”

  Vesperin was staring at his wine goblet and suddenly jolted up at the sound of his name. “Aye, it is the first thing taught to new members of the priesthood.”

  “Even cursed dead, those brought back by unnatural means, and not those merely deceased?” Gondrial asked.

  “Aye, if it is living dead I can sense it as well, no matter how it met its fate.”

  “Excellent,” Gondrial said, turning back to Sylvalora. “A bold plan and a foolish one as well. Whomever we send to the doomed village first will have to enter and wait. Any manner of events could occur during that time. In addition, we have to do this at night. The Enforcers may not be dissuaded from traveling into the woods in daylight.” He pondered for a moment. “In fact, I am certain they would not attempt it at night.”

  Rennon gulped.

  “It will be all right, my friend, if you keep your wits about you,” Lady Shey said as she patted Rennon on the back.

  Gondrial began to pace back and forth. “We will not be able to send the mounts along with us; the spell requirements are too great. We will have to take along plenty of gold and buy horses at Loggain, a dozen leagues or so to the north of the forest.”

  “Agreed,” Lady Shey nodded.

  “And we will be traveling light for speed. No unnecessary gear,” Enowene added.

  Gondrial stood and clasped his hands together. “All right then, gather your things and we will meet in the courtyard at dusk.” He paused a moment. “Unless we get word the Enforcers are coming back to the gates. In that case, gather in the courtyard and we will go before dark.”

  Dorenn entered the courtyard as requested. The rain had subsided, but the Vale still clung to the chill. A paralyzing fear had replaced his plans to leave the Vale without the wielders knowing. He knew the Enforcers would capture him if he did manage to get away, and he had no intention of being captured by Captain Row Praf if he had anything to say about it. Rennon appeared from somewhere behind him. He wore blue, his long hair tied back in a ponytail tucked into his cloak, giving him the appearance of a man with short-cropped hair. He carried a knapsack and his stash
of daggers, which lined his breast harness. His new apothecary bag hung at his side. Vesperin was there too. He wore the white and yellow robe of his order. A bit bright for night travel, but he did have a dark cloak to wear if need be, and Dorenn noticed Gondrial had already suggested that he wear it since Vesperin was rummaging through his pack to find it. Lady Shey and Enowene wore dark grey dresses and cloaks wrapped tightly around them. Dorenn noticed that Lady Shey had the tome in her hands opened to the travel spell, and she was nervously going over the incantation, mouthing the words silently. Enowene was peering over Lady Shey’s shoulder at the tome intently. Sylvalora, the last of the companions to enter the courtyard, wore brown. Her cloak seemed to sparkle as if it had flecks of silver and gold in the fabric. She crossed to Rennon and whispered something in his ear. Rennon’s eyes glazed over a moment before he shook his head and walked to where Dorenn stood.

  “What did Sylvalora say to you?”

  “She said that if we had to do battle in the woods, I should focus on my daggers and the magic I possess will guide them true. She gives me the shivers sometimes.”

  “I know what you mean.” Dorenn cupped his hand to Rennon’s ear. “I heard she got into Gondrial’s secret stash of Dwarven ale last night, and he was furious when he found out.”

  The boys laughed hysterically.

  “And what is so funny?” Gondrial asked.

  “Nothing,” Dorenn said as he looked directly at Sylvalora, whose frown made Dorenn wonder if she had heard them.

  “Enforcers on the horizon,” Seancey said, running up to the party. “If you are going, you had better go now.”

  Gondrial looked up into the sky. “Still an hour worth of light left.” He gathered his cloak around him. “We have no choice now. Lady Shey, are you and Enowene ready?”

  “I think we are, although we found another part of the spell we are trying to decipher.” She studied the book intently. “Something about the gender of the spell, male and female casting at the same time.”

  “Never mind that now, prepare the spell; we need to send the first ones through.”

  Kerad, dressed in his high priest robes, appeared and stood next to Seancey. “Is all prepared, Gondrial?”

  “We are about to cast the spell now, your grace.”