The Bad Seed

by Michael Lackey

  Kegan was in shock. "How could ya survive down here laddie? Away from tha surface for so long."

  Hatholon told them. "We did what we had to do, we adapted. We have groups that patrol the surface and gather needed supplies. There are some who were born here that have never seen the surface."

  Gabriel clenched his fist in anger. "I vow to you we will restore Weelinn. We are planning our assault on the demons now. Once Benzoete has returned we will be ready. Do you have any able to join us?"

  Hatholon pointed to a small building to their left, "That is our barracks. We are few, but those of us that are battle ready are fierce. Most are from the original defense unit and we are thirsty for revenge." They walked to a nearby building where the passing people stared at them. It had been many years since they have seen outsiders. "This is our town hall; you will meet with Gannon. He is our elected leader."

  Upon entering, the group was introduced to Gannon, who was a tall, lanky man with long blond hair. Surprisingly, he was human.

  They walked over to him. "My name is King Gabriel of Whitehold. We mean no harm to you or your people. We seek volunteers to fight alongside us in defeating the demons. I see you have an army of your own."

  Gannon rose from his seat. "I remember you from the first time you came here, all those years ago. You came to see master Benzoete, you were in hiding, but I knew you. I was just a common houseboy then, and yet you spoke to me like I was a royal visiting your home. You and your people showed us respect and in return, it shall be shown to you. Anything you need that we can provide will be given. Know, though, that the people here have the power of free will, they will choose to fight with you or not."

  Kegan saluted the man, bowing with his arm crisscrossing his chest, "You are a wise and thoughtful leader laddie. I 'ave not met many humans like you. It be my honor to stand with ya." Gannon nodded at the dwarf king.

  "I would like to address your people then, with your permission, to ask for volunteers," said Gabriel.

  "Hatholon will sound the horn letting the people know there is a town meeting. Thirty minutes after the sounding of the horn, they will be gathered in the square. You can make your proposal then." They heard the sound of the horn ring out.

  George asked Gannon, "You're sure that can't be heard from the surface? It was pretty loud."

  Gannon turned to him, "We have taken every precaution. This city chamber is lined with sound dampening materials. We've made plans for our survival, I assure you."

  The people made their way to the town square. It was an astonishing sight to see so many that had survived. Gabriel stood on a balcony overlooking the forming crowd. A clamor rose from the people about the new outsiders, but Hatholon raised his arms and the crowd went silent.

  "My name is King Gabriel of Whitehold. We came asking for volunteers. Join us in the fight for freedom. We are readying to face the demons and will reclaim our lands. I understand why you would want to choose not to fight, we have all lost people we love, and that is just one of my reasons to see these demons be returned to hell."

  A voice from the crowd yelled out, "How can we destroy these creatures?"

  Another spoke up. "You have already lost your castle, we are unseen here, why should we risk our lives?"

  Gabriel was about to answer when George stepped forward. "My name is George Morely and like most of you here I am just a simple farmer. My whole life was my family and my farm. But then the demons took my farm and my wife. Who here has lost someone to these monsters? For that reason alone, we must fight. If we fail, others will fall."

  Gabriel embraced George then turned back to the crowd, "The choice is up to you. We will not force you to go. We will be at the Town Hall waiting for those who will fight to join us there."

  The group walked back into the Town Hall. Gabriel thanked Gannon for his time and hospitality.

  Hatholon stepped forward. "I would like to join you. I lost good people in the attacks on Weelinn. I want to see them vindicated."

  Gabriel extended his hand. "It will be an honor to have you."

  Antoine heard a commotion outside and peered through a window. "Gabriel, you should see this."

  The king walked to the door. "Bless the Heavens." There, outside the Town Hall, stood fifty or more men. "You honor us with your presence! We will face the demons and their horde headlong. You men, along with the Iron Army and the Elven Army of Eska'Taurn fighting side by side with the Champion of Light, we shall be victorious!"

  A cheer rose up from the crowd, fists pumping in the air. They prepared to follow the group to the surface.

  As they walked, Hatholon asked Gabriel, "You mentioned an army from Eska'Taurn. How is that possible? Those of us that left when the new elders were named are all that is left. Eska'Taurn is locked and can only be opened by the elders."

  Antoine laughed. "That is the surprise I was telling you about. Seems that Benzoete's mother is still alive and we found her."

  Hatholon stopped in his tracks. "Aliz'Ra lives? I have heard so many stories of her! I was but a young elf when the battle waged between the heavens and Craotonus. How did she. . . Where was she. . . What is. . ." He just kept mumbling to himself all the way to the hidden door.

  Once they all were back to the surface, a large shadow appeared overhead. The new recruits braced for what they were sure was the demon army.

  Suddenly, Barrok and Zachery landed in front of them. "There you are. We were getting worried." At the sight of the creature and its rider, everything went silent. Some of the younger men had never been to the surface and definitely none had seen a real dragon before. "Didn't I mention we had a dragon?" laughed Gabriel. "We must go to Benzoete's tower. We will wait for the others there. Kegan, you and Hatholon take the men to the ridge with your army, see if we have enough armor and weapons for everyone." The dwarf king nodded his head and led them away. Zachery circled above them searching for signs of Benzoete or the others.

  "I hope they are alright. We should be have heard from them by now." Zachery told Barrok.

  I had seen Benzoete and Aliz'Ra do many things but opening the doors to Eska'Taurn and convincing the elves to take up arms may have been a task too great. The end was near I could feel it in my soul. We were going to rid this world of the demons; I knew we were.

  41

  Nightfall Begins

  Craotonus grew stronger every day. With the guidance of Malonox, he had become even more powerful than the refugees could imagine.

  "The mortals are mounting an attack. They have grown in number and will pose a problem," Malonox muttered.

  "Dori'naur and Rauko' are preparing the orcs and new soldiers of seed, barkers I think they call them. I am almost complete. Let them come!" Craotonus howled as he pounded his fist on the table.

  In the courtyard, Dori'naur had a group of barkers returning from the outskirts. They were returning from collecting enough souls to complete Craotonus and make him whole. It was getting harder and harder to find anyone left to sacrifice without venturing out for long distances. The people of Whitehold and all surrounding cities were either hiding or dead. The demons spread over the land like a plague, killing all that stood in their way, delivering the souls to their master.

  "Today is a glorious day! You, my good people, are the newest additions to Lord Craotonus's army. You will serve him with your life and your death!" Dori'naur spread out his arms, and roots entangled the feet of all the people. They struggled to break free while the demon laughed at their struggle. He slowly walked through the crowd, "Do not fret. I assure you it is painless." He thrust his hands downward and the roots pierced the skin of the people. Screams of pain echoed throughout the courtyard. "Well, I have been known to be wrong!" The skin ripped from their flesh was replaced with bark-like armor. Their souls are torn from their bodies and delivered to Craotonus. Their free will was taken away and they were turned to mindless, bloodthirsty monsters.

  Craotonus stood in the center of a large, round room as he soaked in the last of
the souls. He fell to the floor, writhing in pain and pleasure. Pure darkness swirled around the room, pouring into his evil body. Tearing at his flesh, shedding his outer rags, he stood before Malonox completely exposed. "I am yours to command. I am whole and complete, use me."

  Malonox walked to the fallen God, placed his hands on his head. "Malonorey terio rigorer. Falkea no reato. Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh."

  The corrupt lord handed him a robe of pure shadow. Donning the robe, dark smoldering embers formed in his burning eye sockets. The robe locked itself around him, shrouding him in evil.

  "We will take back what is ours. Akadius will feel my hands around his throat, squeezing the light from him. My master, you will be at your rightful place and all shall kneel to your might," Craotonus told him.

  The two walked out to the courtyard to meet Dori'naur and Rauko'. Once there, Craotonus motioned for the brethren to join him; they fell to either side of him.

  "Today, we stand united. Today, we are shrouded in shadow and it shall deliver us to victory. The humans think they can overcome us and dissipate the shadows. They do not know what they face." Craotonus lowered his head and opened his new midnight black wings.

  "You shall be witness to the rebirth of this world and when we are finished, the other worlds will have no choice but to kneel before us!" He swung his mighty wings forward, spreading a dark shadow over the warriors like a blanket, filling their very souls with evil.

  Rauko' and his reborn hellhounds were working with the orcs. After Craotonus gave his address to the Dark Army, they knew they had to be ready for war.

  "You have some of the finest looking warriors I have seen in centuries. They are equal to the blessed humans of the first war. I look forward to seeing them face the dwarves and their Iron Army. They will be ready, won't they?" Rauko' asked a figure standing on the edge of the courtyard.

  From the shadows, a large brownish-green orc stepped into the light. He carried a large scar across his chest and one down his face. "They will chew up this so-called Iron Army and crush them like children," Xago said. "My people are what wars are fought for. They are always ready."

  Rauko' shot a hideous smile. "Good. I look forward to seeing them rip the son of Akadius into pieces."

  "The demigod is mine," Craotonus said as he approached them.

  "When do we strike, my master?" Rauko' asked.

  "We wait. They will come to us. Have the orcs lay in wait, come in from behind them and crush them."

  The demons were ready for war. They longed for it. Everything they had worked for, the centuries preparing, all came to this.

  The refugees, on the other hand, had a new sense of confidence. They had outlasted the demon forces for eighteen years now. Tradan matured in power and wisdom. Zachery Morely went from a wide-eyed farm boy to the first Dragon Rider to emerge in centuries. The mighty and noble King Gabriel found out he was the son of Akadius with an unknown power. Aliz'Ra, one of the first Elders of Eska'Taurn, still lived. They were joined by some of the mightiest warriors to walk Amundiss. The sting of loved ones lost could still be felt throughout the people. Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, wives, and husbands, all lost to the evil holed up in Castle Whitehold. They were ready, finally ready.

  ALIZ'RA, BENZOETE, and Elos made the long trek to the boundaries of Eska'Taurn, a long-forgotten land of the elves, hidden from the eyes of others. Eska'Taurn was sealed to protect the elven people from the outside world; only a few chose to branch out into the world were used as contacts.

  "It has been a very long time since I have laid eyes on my home. Will they allow us in?" asked Elos.

  Aliz"Ra's eyes filled with tears. "While I was on Earth, I looked to the heavens and thought of this place. When we moved from Terra’Fayoak to Eska'Taurn, we had everything we needed. Then the demons came. I helped make the decision to seal this place in hopes of saving our people, and now I am asking them to help save all of us."

  Benzoete stared at the entrance. "I saw all this coming. That is why I set them in motion. We have to save Amundiss. If we fail, I fear others will fall as well. Our people are a race of good, they serve the Light, they will not fail us." He affirmed with a look of determination in his eyes.

  Aliz'Ra stepped forward, "Mendowa tero yesatay." She pulled a dagger from her robes and gently opened the flesh of her hand. "Bound by my blood no more. I release the bond." She placed her hand on a nearby tall tree. Elos took a small wand and dipped the tip into a vial of magical herbs they had gathered on their way there. He handed the wand to Benzoete. The old wizard drew symbols around the tree, and they began to glow brightly. With the last symbol in place, Aliz'Ra recited, "Dentrey maleno tero yesatay. " The air seemed to shimmer and ripple around them. As the doors opened, the illusion faded. A glorious city lay before them.

  "Home," sighed Benzoete.

  The trio entered the city walls, leaving all that saw them gasping and whispering.

  "We are here to speak to Lanlose. He is still leader of the people, is he not?" Aliz'Ra said loudly. "Where may we find him?"

  "You may look in the city graves, my lady. He has passed to the afterlife, where we thought you three had gone," a voice from an alleyway replied.

  "Who do we have the pleasure of speaking to?" asked Benzoete.

  "Not very sure if it is a pleasure, but you are speaking with me." The man stepped out into the open.

  "Kallen? Is it really you?" asked Elos.

  Kallen was a close friend of Elos and had been a student under Benzoete before the entrance was sealed. He had chosen to stay in Eska'Taurn, blaming the humans for the War of the Heavens. "Hello, Elos, Master Benzoete, it pleases me to see you among the living. Lady Aliz'Ra, there are no words for having you here. Welcome back to your home."

  Aliz'Ra nodded. "Kallen, we need to speak to whoever took master Lanlose's place. Eska'Taurn, and all of Amundiss are in jeopardy."

  Kallen pointed to a majestic tower in the center of the city. "You will find Meno' there, he was chosen to lead us. He will not be easily swayed to help the humans."

  "How do you know that is why we are here?" asked Elos.

  "Master Meno' hears the wind as it blows from city to city. We know Craotonus has returned, we also know of Valindra's grandson and his gift. Do you actually believe he can be a stable Dragon Rider with human blood coursing through his body?"

  Benzoete stepped closer to Kallen. "I have seen this human show more honor and bravery as a boy than most of the civilized elves living here. Now as an adult, he is the Dragon Rider, and he will aid this world in defeating the demons. Did the winds tell you that?"

  Aliz'Ra tugged on Benzoete's sleeve, "Dear Kallen, take us to Meno'. I need to speak with him."

  Kallen led the group to the Pellucid Towers, a tall structure made entirely of mirrored glass. Meno' was at the top floor of the tower. Aliz'Ra had her work cut out for her in convincing him to help humans; she hoped she could make him realize that fighting was not just for the humans, but also for all the people left on Amundiss and other worlds to come.

  Coming the top floor, they entered a grand hallway leading into a room filled with a large table and chairs. Standing behind the head chair was a tall, slender elf with long white hair, and a deep scar across his eyes.

  "Welcome home, I have been expecting you," Meno' said in a low whispered voice.

  "We wish to address the elven people, with your permission, of course. The demon Craotonus has returned and is at full power now. We need to band together with King Gabriel to defeat these creatures." said Aliz'Ra.

  Meno' stepped from behind his chair and walked to where they were standing. "You do not know me, do you, dear Aliz'Ra?"

  She searched her memories but could not recall him.

  "Of course, you do not. Why would you recall a frail old man that the council disregarded and thought of as dead for over two thousand years? Now you want me to allow my people to aid the ones who imprisoned me?" Meno' laughed and his eyes cut to Benzoete. "Your mothe
r was a proud warrior of the elven people. Was. Now she's a puppet of the humans."

  Benzoete stepped forward, only to have Aliz'Ra stop him. "I know you now. We did not disregard you, we banished you! You call yourself Meno' to these unsuspecting people, but I know you as Relinquo, the one that turned his back on our people for the sake of self-promotion!"

  Elos gasped and took a step back. "I have heard stories of you in my training. Relinquo was to deliver the humans to the place the elders were stationed. He wanted them dead in order to put himself in power. When they arrived, the Elders left, and the humans took him instead."

  "They kept me locked in that cell for centuries! As one imbecilic king died off, another took his place. Each one with new ideas on how to study me and receive immortality. As the War of the Heavens began, I took my chance to escape. I had barely made it into Eska'Taurn when it was sealed. Now, I am at my rightful place." Meno's voice reeked with anger.

  "And did you come into this position the same way you tried the first time?" asked Benzoete.

  The guards around the room stirred. "I am Aliz'Ra, chosen first Elder by the God’s hands. Your position is relieved," she said with fire in her eyes. "The people of Eska'Taurn have the right to choose their destiny, not to have it chosen for them by a deceitful, self-propelled leader. The banishment is still in effect, please escort Relinquo away from this place."

  Eska'Taurn had been led by corruption and deceit for all those years. Aliz'Ra had many repairs to make with very little time. The elven people would get a choice: either to keep the disguised Relinquo, or to choose a new leader. With or without the elven army, Benzoete knew they had to meet Gabriel and the others in Weelinn soon, though he had someone he needed to find before the vote took place. Valindra was there in Eska'Taurn, and he knew she would want to go and meet George. Leaving the tower, Benzoete walked to a large building on the south side of the main city. It was a school for gifted children. He knew that Valindra made the choice to be without her son, and the man she loved, so she had surrounded herself with children every day.