“H-how…I mean what…um, who are you?” Megildur stumbled to find the right words but the entire occurrence dumbfounded him. He tried to gather his composure until he realized, he was not the only one confused by what just happened. Gaal was still standing there with his mouth wide open in awe. Megildur pushed upward on Gaal’s jaw to close his mouth, after he realized how childish they were behaving. “Sorry to react this way, but I have never seen anything like that before,” he admitted.
Gaal yelled out, “Neither have I! That was awesome! I loved the way you…” Gaal noticed Megildur was glaring at him to be silent. He wanted to find out with whom they now traveled. Once Gaal restrained his excitement Megildur turned his attention to Honoria, who was now sitting down with the rest of the group in her Human form.
“I am a Nephilim,” Honoria stated. “Our race emerged on Aerynth after the murder of your High King Cambruin, during the Age of Strife. Many of us live among humans and other races using a spell, Mundane Eidolon. It transforms our bodies to mimic Human traits, as you can see.” She stood up, did a slight twirl, and sat back down across from a bewildered Megildur and Gaal.
“I’ve heard Nephilims live in Maelstrom and worship Dark Chaos Lords,” Megildur commented, trying not to offend Honoria. “Isn’t this true?”
“That is true,” Honoria responded. Gaal had a shocked and dismayed look on his face. “However, there are many of us who do not follow the Dark Chaos Lords and choose to live among the other races of Aerynth.” She looked at the two of them to see if they could accept her or not. “Is this knowledge something you can tolerate or should I depart now?”
Megildur countered, “Please do not leave. Forgive us for our ignorance about your race, but the full lore of the Nephilim race is not common knowledge. I would hate to lose such a strong champion due to our inability to accept an unknown race. Besides, you bested a Vampire who was about to turn me into mutton, thanks.” He extended his hand in friendship, hoping Honoria would consent and stay with them.
“Thank you for understanding,” Honoria replied, accepting his hand in friendship with a smile. She turned to face Gaal for his decision, acceptance, or refusal.
“Hey, you do not need to look to me for acceptance,” Gaal replied. “I am considered an abomination by most races and most people, plus my profession as a Thief, nobody looks kindly upon us.” Gaal smirked back at Honoria. “Besides, I thought you were on fire when fighting that Vampire! Or she was on fire! Either way, you were great!”
Megildur jested, “Alright, now that we have decided to keep our newfound friend we all need some sleep. However, it is painfully apparent we need to sleep in shifts so we always have someone on guard. I will take first watch and check the perimeter for any other marauders while you two get some rest. Gaal, I will wake you in a few hours for your shift.” Gaal nodded his head in agreement and both of them attempted to get some rest. Megildur patrolled the nearby foliage.
A few sweeps of the surrounding area, Megildur discovered he was too agitated after the assault from the Vampire Assassin. He decided to pace near the campfire and considered their next move, come first light. He was so wide-awake, and Gaal slept deep enough to snore like a hellhound, Megildur decided not to wake him. Nobody in all of Aerynth had seen Shadowbane since Kierhaven vanished from this world. Megildur thought of only one place it might be. The one place the Gods would entrust with the sword was with the Dwarves who helped forge it, deep under Korvambar. It was the Dwarves that Thurin entrusted with Shadowbane before, when Sillestor betrayed the All-Father. It remained with the Dwarves until Beregund crept into the Halls of Haganduur, the Dwarf armory deep under Korvambar, and brought Shadowbane back into the world.
“You never woke me for my shift,” Gaal commented while rubbing his eyes. At that time, Megildur noticed the sun was beginning to peek over the trees. Morning had arrived.
“I was unable to rest, so I figured I would remain on guard and let you sleep,” Megildur admitted. “If you get wood for the fire, I will prepare the food for breakfast. We need something to eat before we start for Fort Irsadeng.”
“Sounds good,” Gaal replied and began his search for wood. “Well, look who decided to wake. Good morning, Honoria.” Gaal gave her a quick smirk and departed to find kindling for the fire.
“Good morning, Gaal,” Honoria responded. Gaal was nearly to the trees by the time she replied to his greeting. She noticed Megildur was searching his pack for food, but was just able to find dried meats and some beans.
“Good morning, Honoria,” Megildur said. “I would offer you some good food, but in our haste to depart Thieves’ Den I was unable to restock our supplies.” He continued searching through his pack but he found nothing more.
“Will this do?” Honoria asked. She pulled out some fresh meat and bread from her pack. “I was already planning on leaving the safehold before I stumbled upon you two.”
“Oh, real food!” Gaal exclaimed upon returning to the campsite. He dropped his firewood and rushed to Honoria.
Megildur scolded Gaal, “Gaal quit ruining our meal!” He snatched the food from Honoria before Gaal drooled on it. “This will be great, thank you.” Megildur grinned at Honoria and turned to Gaal with a frown. “It hasn’t been that long since we had real food. Try not to act like a beast for once and get that fire going or you will be eating your meat raw.”
Gaal did not seem to mind the idea of raw meat, but he started the fire regardless. Megildur cooked and Honoria split the food among the three travelers. Nobody trusted Gaal to hand out the food evenly in his starved condition. They finished the meal, packed up, and started out for Fort Irsadeng. None of them knew what danger awaited them on the path to the safehold.
CHAPTER 23: Bane Crashing
Megildur found some large trees and Gaal pulled out his water, first drinking some and then dumped a bit of the water over his bare pale scalp. The group traveled all day without rest. Due to severe exhaustion, they decided to sleep for the night and forgo their usual evening meal. With the trio unable to sleep in a few nights, they all felt a bit fatigued. Gaal took first watch.
Megildur opened his eyes; he was not asleep for long. He was unsure if he actually heard something, or if paranoia took over due to what occurred with the Vampire assault earlier. He lay there, mentally arguing with himself. He began to hear crashing sounds in the distance. Megildur sat up, examined the area without rising from his seated position, and noticed a section of sky between the trees, brighter than the rest. He also noticed Gaal was missing from the camp.
“You hear it too,” Honoria mentioned. She too arose from her resting position. “I thought I was dreaming the noises.”
Megildur whispered, “As did I. Where is Gaal? He’s supposed to be watching the camp while we sleep!” From between the two of them, Gaal materialized, causing both of them to fall backwards.
Gaal chuckled, “Whoa, you guys almost scared me. Now if you want to see something scary, follow me.”
Megildur whispered, “Alright, but you really need to stop sneaking around invisible like that.”
“That is what Thieves do best,” Gaal smirked. “Now crawl on the ground to the top of this next ridge and watch the show.”
Both Honoria and Megildur did just that and they did indeed find the exhibition before them daunting. Right before Megilder’s eyes, a battle erupted. The massive bane stone came down in front of towering city walls and planted itself in the ground. The stone was a large obelisk with circular swirl markings on the surface. Approximately twenty feet tall and five feet in diameter. All their eyes widened in awe as a magical barrier surrounded the stone. It was circular in shape with mystical markings along the outer ring. A war was about to begin, and the three friends had front row seats.
Both sides began placing siege tents, bulwarks, ballistas, and trebuchets. It was a colossal undertaking that shockingly did not take long. Soon both sides were ready for battle. One guild trying to breach the city walls and take down the Tree of L
ife that sits in the defending city’s center. The defending guild must demolish the bane stone planted just outside their city walls. This could prove to be difficult and dangerous for the defending guild because by attacking the bane stone, the defending guild must leave the security of their city walls to assault this giant obelisk. But, if the defending guild destroys the bane stone, everything goes back to how it was before they proclaimed the bane.
Commands flew through the air like weapons. Two guilds of different races attacking each other with all their might and powers they wielded. Aelfborn, Aracoix, Half Giants, Humans, and Shades against Centaurs, Half Giants, and Humans. The factions contained several classes like Assassins, Bards, Priests, Scouts, Thieves, Warlocks, and Warriors…the other with Bards, Priests, Scouts, Warlocks, Warriors, and Wizards. Aracoix flying and swooping down on their victims, while the Wizards were conjuring spells to take them down. Shrieks pierced the skies above as Half Giants and Centaurs clashed in heavy hand-to-hand combat on the ground. Trebuchets rocketed boulders to their marks crashing into fortified walls, making them explode into dust.
Gaal found it impossible to look away, almost entranced by the whole ordeal. Honoria found herself sickened by all the bloodshed and noise. The three just froze with mouths open for several minutes just watching the onslaught of combat. Not one of them uttered a word. Unsure if they even took a breath if not for their hearts pounding in their chests. Megildur was taking the whole event in as a learning experience and did not want to miss a beat. Even though Megildur did not understand all the validities of a bane, he knew protecting one’s Tree of Life was of the upmost importance. If the attacking guild forces its way through the city walls and annihilates the Tree of Life, everything changes. A new Tree of Life spawns. The ownership of the new Tree of Life, and all city assets, transfer to the individual who initiated the bane.
Just as the trio was deep into being spectators at the incredible site, nobody even noticed the Scouts and Assassins who just materialized behind them on the hill. The assailants grabbed all three of the spectators and bound them with rope. The aggressors easily subdued the trio and escorted them to the battle. Megildur could see an enormous man at the front of the group, another Half Giant. They were sometimes in the New Mellissar safehold as well, but everyone avoided them because of their short tempers and incredible strength. At their last encounter with one, in Thieves’ Den, Megildur understood why everybody shunned them.
“So what did we capture tonight, boys?” The brute asked the Scouts and Assassins, who detained them before the Half Giant. “A half-breed, an abomination, and a wench! What a pathetic scouting party!”
“We are not…” Gaal interrupted but the brute silenced him by putting his sword to the Shade’s throat.
The brute bellowed an insult, “One more word from this pasty abomination and I will gut him like a pig, cook him, and serve him to my men!” His arrogant laughter at the trio was no longer contained. “And what are you looking at, filthy half-breed? If your whore of a mother could have kept her legs closed I would not have to look at you right now!” A Scout shoved Megildur into the large brute, who wrapped his oversized arm around the Aelfborn’s head. The stench from his unwashed armpit made Megildur nearly pass out. The Aelfborn knew he did not stand a chance against the brute’s sheer size, strength, nor odor so he had one option left, insults.
Megildur taunted, "You know, you really should stop talking. Every time you open your mouth, you prove your lack of intelligence! In fact, you should just end your miserable existence now since you also prove your incompetence with every action you take!"
The brute was so mad, he took his right arm, pulled it back, and swung with all his might at the insolent half-breed’s head. Megildur used this opportunity to work his way loose from the brute's grip, and his bindings. He dropped to the ground. He grabbed the brute’s own sword and aimed it straight for the Half Giant. Using the brute’s weight against him, and to his own advantage, Megildur plunged the sword deep into the Half Giant’s chest. The brute looked into Megildur’s eyes, the Aelfborn snarled at him. The Half Giant toppled to the ground with his own sword protruding from his chest. Megildur twisted around to face two other Warriors, who drew their swords on him, but they halted upon orders from their leader.
“Wait! Do not kill them yet!” The leader commanded. He walked up behind the Warriors. “So, you bested one of my Captains? No loss there, I never did like his constant use of the term ‘half-breed’.” Megildur could see that the leader was also an Aelfborn. “Of course, you are not one of mine, so I can’t let your actions against one of my men go unpunished.” Another Aelfborn ran up to the leader and whispered in his ear, pointing at Megildur. The Aelfborn Lord now wondered how much worse this night could get. “Are you sure?” The leader looked in shock at the other Aelfborn and turned his attention to Megildur, as if to examine him from afar. “Lower your weapons and kindly escort our guests to my siege tent,” the leader commanded. He turned around and walked to a large red tent off to the side of the battlegrounds.
“Megildur, what is going on?” Gaal asked.
Megildur whispered to Gaal, “I am unsure, but stay alert. We may need to escape, fast.” Megildur was a bit uneasy about this Aelfborn leader, but he figured he could have killed him by now if he pleased. Only time would tell if he was a trusted ally.
CHAPTER 24: Friend or Foe
They escorted the three of them to a large tent, filled lavishly with furniture and servants to attend to the leader’s needs.
“Release them and remove their bindings,” the leader commanded his men. “You’re dismissed,” he told the Scouts and Assassins after they cut the rope from Gaal and Honoria. “Forgive me Lord Megildur, I did not recognize you. I am afraid your deeds travel faster among Bards than your description,” he smiled at Megildur. He handed him a goblet his servant just filled with a drink, possibly wine. Megildur looked into the drink in disbelief, wondering if the leader poisoned his beverage. “Oh I assure you, we would not poison your drink. If I wanted you dead I would have let my men gut you outside.” The leader grinned at Megildur while the servants tended to the needs of Gaal and Honoria. “I am Commander Nostarion, ruler of Mercenary Company from Fort Leontar, just north of here. You arrived just as we were in the midst of a bane against a nearby safehold, Erkesh Point.”
“What is the quarrel between your two factions?” Megildur inquired as he took a drink and set the goblet down.
Nostarion laughed, “Just the same as everyone in Aerynth. We struggle for land and power.” He motioned for more refreshments for his new guests. “I must admit, your assault on Aelarnost was most impressive. It takes a lot to confront and defeat the Dar Khelegur.”
“Thank you. Apparently it takes two factions to defeat them,” Megildur admitted. “I am still amazed they followed me on such a risky endeavor.”
“I would not be too surprised,” Nostarion replied. “Many of us are still loyal to the All-Father and would follow his champion into battle without question.” He raised his eyebrow at Megildur and the Aelfborn Lord knew his past was now common knowledge to the commander.
“I see the Bards have allowed all of my past to become common knowledge across Aerynth,” Megildur said, scowling at Honoria.
“Do not look down upon the Bards,” Nostarion replied. “It’s their role in life to record the tales of everything in our world. Without them we would have no knowledge of our past, or our present.” He placed a gentle hand on Honoria’s shoulder, to reassure her of a Bard’s responsibilities. “Now, Lord Megildur, I know your journey is long and strenuous. How may I ease your burdens?”
“We could use more provisions, ours have run a bit short as of late,” Megildur requested.
“Done, I shall have my Steward attend to that need,” Nostarion motioned to one of his men to assist Gaal in that task. Gaal and the Steward left for food and supplies. “Now, I will send for your belongings from your campsite.” Nostarion motioned for another servant
to handle the task. “Please enjoy yourselves here. My people will tend to your needs. I must excuse myself to check on the progress of my bane.” Nostarion nodded his head and left.
Honoria squealed, “I am going to talk with their Bards!” She scurried away. “I have so much to tell them.” Megildur stood there rolling his eyes. He still considered the Bards to be no more than storytellers for children. Although, Honoria vanquishing Vampires is an advantage.
After Megildur relaxed for several hours, as best he could with the sounds of trebuchets off in the distance, he decided to go find Gaal and Honoria. He stepped outside to find the Aelfborn who informed Nostarion of Megildur’s royal identity. This Aelfborn was shirtless and proudly displaying his mystical tattoos, which all Aelfborn must have. He was watching the battle continue.
“Mesmerizing, isn’t it?” The Aelfborn asked when Megildur walked up beside him.
“Yes,” Megildur replied. “I have never seen a battle like it. How did this happen?”
“Banes like this are quite common in Aerynth,” the Aelfborn responded. “Nostarion wanted this territory so he unfurled a bane scroll outside Erkesh Point. While waiting for the opposing city’s response, we place our siege equipment.”
“Bane scroll?” Megildur inquired. “What exactly is a bane scroll?”
“It is a declaration of war,” the Aelfborn replied. “The leader of a guild, or one of their Inner Council, will purchase the enchanted parchment from a magic sage. Once the leader, or Council member, activates the scroll, they will pin it to the front gates of the city they are declaring the bane against. This is how we wage war in Aerynth. The defending city can then decide if they wish to surrender, or fight.”
“Do you really have to wait for an official time to fight?” Megildur inquired.
The Aelfborn chuckled. “People in Aerynth are always fighting, but without an official bane the Tree of Life and all city assets are protected from damage. Sometimes guilds will sneak inside another guild’s city and campout within the city walls, just to wreak havoc. You know, kind of like what you did in Aelarnost.” The Aelfborn smiled at Megildur.
Shadowbane: Age of Aelfborn Page 14
