Shadowbane: Age of Aelfborn

by Paul Francois

  “Who are you referring to?” Megildur asked. Her actions and references puzzled the Aelfborn Lord. He sat down with Marie.

  Marie looked at Megildur. “You are very much like him, my father that is,” Marie admitted once she finally stopped crying. “He was a Warrior who dreamed of following the Knights of Cambruin to find Shadowbane. One day he heard the sword might be in the Dwarf safehold and he went off to find it, leaving Mother and I.” Marie started to tear up again. “He never came back, either with or without that damn sword!” She stood up from the chair with mixed emotions. She loved her father and missed him but also hated him for leaving.

  “I am going on this journey at the All-Father’s request,” Megildur replied. “I am uncertain of the journey ahead and I know it may lead to failure, or worse.” Megildur took a deep gulp at the thought of what else might happen. “I am certain, with the backing of the All-Father, I will prevail.” Of course, Megildur’s confidence about the journey was mainly for the sake of his family and for Marie. Personally, he was terrified. Megildur lifted Marie’s chin and looked her in the eyes. “I will also investigate what happened to your father.” That put a smile on her face. He picked up the bag Marie packed for him and collected his armor. He knew he would need it.

  Megildur walked out of the tent, met with Gaal, and said his final farewells. His mother and sister wept when he walked away but his father stood strong, with a look of pride in his son. Aedan knew what Megildur faced, which increased his pride knowing that he still was willing to meet the challenge. He only wished for his son’s safe return.

  CHAPTER 19: A New Journey

  Megildur and Gaal walked for several hours without seeing any signs of life. Finally, some form of civilization appeared when they came over the next hill, a safehold. Inhabitants were not visible. However, they did see an object rise from the center of the safehold and start moving in their direction. It was flying, which was an unusual occurrence in Aerynth. While the object drew closer, their dread grew deeper. At last, the object was close enough to see what it was, an Aracoix Scout. The traveling companions remembered the last encounter with these birdmen, on the way to Aelarnost. It would be more treacherous for Megildur and Gaal if they had to battle more Aracoix alone. The two travelers unsheathed their weapons and prepared for the worst. The Aracoix Scout stopped before reaching them and appeared to be thinking of his next course of action. It stared at them and let out a single shriek before turning around and flying back to his point of origin.

  “I have never seen an Aracoix turn and flee from a conflict.” Gaal remarked with a baffled look on his face.

  “I guess our last encounter deterred them from wanting to fight,” Megildur replied with a grin. He did not expect the Aracoix to be so reluctant to face him again but it pleased him, especially since he lacked an army this time.

  The lucky pair continued in their southeastern direction toward Thieves’ Den. They knew they would not make it to the safehold during the daytime but they kept moving so long as the sunlight remained. Megildur did not like all the walking they must endure but he was ecstatic it was not through the hot deserts of Aerynth. By sundown, they reached the same river they had crossed before when journeying to Aelarnost.

  Gaal moaned, “Oh wonderful, this river again. I almost drown crossing the last time.”

  Megildur laughed, “At least this time you’re not bound to a wagon.” Gaal glared at him. “Besides, it’s nearly nightfall. We will make camp here and cross in the morning. Resting shall make the crossing easier.” Gaal agreed and the two made camp.

  Megildur lay on the ground gazing up at the stars. Observing the sky, he wondered if the All-Father had made the right choice with him. After all, it would have been wiser to choose his father since he is a cunning leader. These thoughts plagued the young Aelfborn until sleep caught up with him.

  Megildur heard a noise and opened his eyes, but Gaal did not stir. The Aelfborn did not recognize the sound, but he noticed a glowing orb of light approaching.

  “Who’s there? I can hear you, now show yourself!” He grew a bit impatient since the situation was making him nervous. The light engulfed Megildur’s being, calming him. He remained still as the orb began to speak.

  “Hello again, my young Aelfborn champion,” the voice called out. Megildur hesitated. He recognized the voice but it concerned him to not know from where. “Why do I disturb you so, my child?”

  Megildur implied, “It might put my mind at ease if I could see who I am speaking with.”

  The voice affirmed, “If that will bring you peace, I think I can grant your request.” An elderly man with a silvery gray beard emerged before Megildur. He was taller than Megildur and wore a robe made of golden silk. It surprised Megildur to see a material of this type shimmer so bright on such a dark night, and with no light shining on it.

  “Are you the All-Father?” Megildur asked the man.

  “I am,” He replied to a doubtful Megildur. “Why do you question what you can see with your own eyes? Do you think I would look more gallant in armor?” He waved his hand and bright heavy armor now covered all of his body, except for his head. “Or would I be more cunning and wear leather?” With another wave of his hand, he now wore a suit of leather armor, much like the type a rogue would wear. “The outward appearance we project does not change who we are within.” The All-Father walked next to Megildur wearing the golden robe once again. He placed his arm over Megildur’s shoulder and guided him to walk along the newly formed stone path before them. “What bothers you on such a peaceful night?”

  “I do not mean to question your decisions, but are you sure…” Megildur paused, uncertain if wanting to question a God. He did create Aerynth and most of the creatures on it.

  “Am I sure you are the right one to reclaim Shadowbane and bring peace to Aerynth?” The All-Father interrupted. He stopped walking to glance down at Megildur. “Let me tell you of another quest I offered to a king. In his darkest hour, I told him of a weapon so powerful; it could bring hope to the hopeless. He was not able to leave his men during their massive battle, so he sent one man in his place to recover the weapon. Now this bold knight, who went on the quest for his king, had the most humble of beginnings. He was the son of a blacksmith, who took up his father’s trade when he was seven. The boy never wanted to pursue blacksmithing. Instead, he yearned for knighthood. Being the son of a blacksmith lacked the nobility to warrant such a title. Therefore, the boy left home at the age of twelve. He met another knight who told him in order to be a knight he must defeat fifty foes in battle. So that is exactly what this blacksmith’s son did before going to see the king, who was so impressed he bestowed the title of knight upon him.”

  “You speak of Sir Caeric Blackhammer,” Megildur added. “He was one of High King Cambruin’s champions. My father told me of his tale but I never heard of his lowly beginnings.”

  “Many of the men you admire start out as nothing more than peasants,” the All-Father replied, smiling at Megildur. “It’s not how you begin your life that matters, but how you live it.” Hearing this caused Megildur to beam back at the All-Father.

  “About time you woke up you lazy worg,” Gaal said to Megildur when his eyes opened. “Help me with this fire before we freeze to death. How can the temperature smolder during the day and freeze at night?” Gaal was shivering while he gathered some logs and kindling for a fire. “Why are you smiling?”

  “I awaken with a warm heart and a renewed conviction,” Megildur beamed. “The All-Father visited me in my dream.” Gaal stopped gathering kindling to stare at Megildur.

  Gaal mocked, “There is no All-Father! If there was he would not let his champion freeze!” Without warning, the fire burst in intensity sending Gaal stumbling back in fear. The flame turned blue and a massive hand emerged from the embers, as if to strike down the insolent Shade. As swift as it appeared, the fire returned to its normal yellowish-orange color, this time with no hand. The intensity of the fire did decrease but not
to the same meager level that it was before Gaal spoke so arrogantly.

  “Do you believe in the All-Father now?” Megildur queried the almost charred Thief. “How is that lack of faith holding up for you?”

  Gaal vowed, “I believe in Him! I will believe in anything He demands as long as I am allowed to live…in one undercooked piece preferably!”

  Megildur laughed as Gaal attempted to check his body for any fire damage. Megildur did not want to eat this morning. He was still marveling in the confidence the All-Father expressed in his abilities to recover Shadowbane.

  “This should be easy enough,” Megildur commented, looking at the river they must traverse. “I will cross first and make sure it’s safe for you.” Gaal seemed a bit perturbed by the coddling from Megildur. If the Shade remained unbound during their last crossing, he would not have nearly drowned. Megildur went into the river and discovered it was a couple of feet deep, hardly a challenge for him. He continued without any issues until he reached the middle of the river. He felt something tug at his ankle and before he could look down, it dragged him into the water. It kept the Aelfborn Lord fully submerged, pulling him upriver. Then, abruptly, his motion stopped. He lifted his head from the water to find Gaal standing over him. He tried to pull Megildur from the river but something was yanking Megildur back down.

  Gaal exclaimed, “What happened?” No sooner did the Shade ask when he heard a shrieking sound. He turned around to see a red wormlike creature lunge out of the river toward him. He let go of Megildur to pull his dagger out. He placed his arms over his face to shield himself from the creature and inadvertently filleted the worm.

  Gaal turned back to help his companion by stabbing the red worm wrapped around his leg. Megildur muttered while Gaal helped him to his feet, “Thanks. That is the one thing I hate about the water. You never know what is in it!”

  Gaal boasted, “See, I am not so clumsy without a wagon attached to me.” He sneered at Megildur while the two finished crossing the river.

  “Indeed you are not clumsy,” Megildur admitted, sitting down at the river’s edge for a few minutes. He removed his boots to dump the excess water and to eliminate anything hiding inside. His feet were wrinkly, like one of his pigs back home.

  “What’s this monster?” Gaal asked, examining the remains he dragged ashore.

  “My mother told me of red worms her people, the Gwaridorn Elves, encountered at sea,” Megildur replied. “They called them Delgaran Worms. Translated it means red horror.” Gaal looked at the gutted worm with disgust and threw it back into the river.

  Gaal inquired, “If they are from the sea, why did we find them in the river?”

  “This river lets out into the sea just south of here, I guess they traveled upriver looking for food,” Megildur surmised.

  Gaal scoffed, “I’ll say, they found us! Personally I would prefer not to be some worms feast!”

  Megildur stood up, “We should keep moving if we are to make it to Thieves’ Den by nightfall.” Gaal agreed and the two got back on their journey.

  CHAPTER 20: Mellissar

  Now that Megildur and Gaal were well on their way and the remaining armies were packing up, Zeristan decided to prepare for the Aelfborn’s pending victory. He went to Megildur’s family to say goodbye before leaving for Mellissar, the old capital for the Kingdom of Men and Cambruin’s last residence.

  “Am I intruding?” Zeristan asked, pulling back the tent flap where Aedan, Vanya, and Aranel were sitting.

  “Not at all, please come in,” Aedan replied. He stood to greet the Wizard. “So you are the mighty Wizard who counseled both my son and my…great-grandfather? I think that is right. The High King Cambruin was dead long before my birth.”

  Zeristan responded, “I’ve had the honor of advising many great rulers, including Cambruin and the soon to be High King Megildur.”

  Aranel interrupted the Wizard to ask, “Are you a demon?”

  Vanya retorted, “Aranel, do not be rude!” She pulled her daughter back and addressed Zeristan, “I am sorry, she can be a bit impish at times.”

  Zeristan chuckled, “That is quite alright.” He knelt down next to the young Aelfborn child. “Why would you suspect I am a demon?”

  “Cause my brother said that only demons and Elves have been alive that long, and you don’t look like an Elf,” Aranel replied.

  “Actually, the All-Father himself created my kind just before he created the Human race,” Zeristan admitted. “That was when time began on Aerynth, at the dawn of the Age of Days.”

  Aedan exclaimed, “That would make you, over five thousand years old!”

  “Yes,” Zeristan affirmed. “However, I did not come here to spout off about my historical knowledge of Aerynth. I am off to Mellissar, to prepare for Megildur’s coronation.”

  “You mean my son is really going to be the next High King of Men?” Vanya inquired. “Since the Age of Strife began, over one hundred years ago, no one in Aerynth respects or acknowledges royal bloodlines anymore.”

  “He is the rightful heir of Cambruin and chosen champion by the All-Father to retrieve Shadowbane,” Zeristan responded. “It’s only logical that he would take up the throne in Mellissar and rule the ten Kingdoms of Men.”

  Aedan gasped, “I am still in shock over the news. My son, the High King?”

  “Well, Megildur is special, since he has the blood of multiple royal lines,” Zeristan announced while looking at Vanya. “However, there is another reason I want to proceed to Mellissar. I feel Sir Adelard, the Steward of the High Throne in Mellissar, will not step down to just anyone who claims title to the High Throne. Also, there’s the matter of Queen Bronwyn.”

  “Cambruin’s widow?” Vanya asked. “What about Queen Bronwyn?”

  “About fifty years after the death of her husband, the Queen returned to Mellissar. She demanded Sir Adelard ordain her High Queen,” Zeristan educated Aedan and Vanya. “Chaos erupted between Queen Bronwyn, Sir Adelard, and the remaining Knights of Cambruin. At one point a knight even tried to take control of the city and claim himself ruler, but I helped put a stop to that and Sir Adelard remained the Steward.”

  Vanya exclaimed, “Well that settles it! We will accompany you to Mellissar! I will not let my son go from one dangerous quest to an even more dangerous town!” Vanya began gathering her belongings and preparing Aranel for travel.

  Zeristan warned, “Are you sure that is wise? I do not think this is the type of family trip you would want.”

  “Oh, she wasn’t asking to join you,” Aedan interjected. “She was telling you she is going to Mellissar.”

  Zeristan grinned and replied, “We will teleport to the nearest runegate, and I will open the portal to the runegate near Mellissar, when you are ready.”

  Aranel looked worried, “We will tele what? Will it hurt?” She looked to her mother for comfort.

  Zeristan reassured, “No, my little one, it does not hurt. It’s the way that mages, such as myself, travel great distances in a short time.”

  Aranel, not knowing if she could trust the old man yet, looked up at her mother who patted her on the head and whispered, “You will be just fine, Aranel.” The young Aelfborn beamed and followed her mother, father, and the Wizard outside.

  Once clear of other people, Zeristan began to wave his hands and a bubble enveloped the four of them. He sent all of them to the nearest runegate, where the Wizard stood upon the platform and again waved his hands to open a portal on the runegate. It opened and he stood back, gesturing for the others to step onto the portal. One by one, they walked onto the platform and vanished. At last, all four of them stood on the runegate platform closest to Mellissar.

  “It’s this direction,” Zeristan guided Megildur’s family. “I am unsure of who will be in the capital. I haven’t returned in some time.” Vanya and Aedan looked at Zeristan, and then each other. They were unsure of how Sir Adelard would receive them, since one of them was a descendant of Cambruin and the other an Elf. Relations betw
een the Elven and Human races have been volatile ever since the All-Father created Men, but even more so since the War of Tears. This war pitted Elves against Men for nearly two hundred years.

  The unlikely foursome traveled for several hours before reaching the outer walls of Mellissar. When they arrived, nobody expected the once majestic capital to appear in such shambles. Vines and foliage riddled the towering walls. The gates to the main entrance appeared rusted and dilapidated. It looked more like an ancient ruin, instead of the glorious thriving city it once was.

  A voice shouted from within the walls, “Halt! Who approaches Mellissar?”

  The Wizard announced, “Zeristan the Wise, Wizard and Counselor to the late High King Cambruin. I come with word of good tidings soon to come!”

  A weary voice replied while opening the main gate, “Well, that would be a good change, my old friend.” An elderly man stood before the travelers wearing tattered leather armor, with a bow slung across his back.

  Zeristan exclaimed, “Sir Adelard! Is that you?” He approached the knight, who was acting as a guard. He greeted his old friend. “What are you doing at the front gate?”

  Sir Adelard sighed, “All of the original Knights of Cambruin have left, and even the widow, Queen Bronwyn, has given up her fight for the High Throne. Come in, come in.” The old knight guided Zeristan, Vanya, Aedan, and Aranel inside. “An Elf and an Aelfborn? You sure travel with different company these days Zeristan.”

  “These people are good, but it’s because of their son that I am here,” Zeristan responded.

  The Wizard sat down on a nearby bench with the Steward of Mellissar and explained everything to him. He told him that not only was Megildur the heir to Cambruin, but the All-Father chose Megildur to retrieve Shadowbane. Even though Sir Adelard always thought this day would come, the news surprised him.