"Now, Arnanor!" Randor shouted from the passage. The wizard swung down his left arm at the thick, smooth standing stones that framed Eln-Radah's gate, cracking the hard stones with his fingertips. The mountain began to rumble once more with a noise that fairly deafened everyone's ears as the Northern elves approached the gateway, not yet free of the Of-Adians' pursuit. As the three elves fled toward Randor, great splinters of rock dislodged from the side of the mountain, tumbling end over end, striking the ground like fearsome giant arrows and piercing into the forest floor, barely missing the brave elf-warriors as the horsemen clambered in after them. The ground shifted unsteadily, rumbling all the while, and though the soldiers' horses were highly trained, none were impervious to the earth's rage, which began to send each steed into a panic. And as the Of-Adians attempted to master their animals, they lost what ground they had gained on the Northern elves, who at last found themselves at Randor's side within the newfound cavern. Randor's shadow loomed in the closing doorway as he looked for the last time at the stunned soldiers' faces, nodding in a gesture of farewell. Inexplicably, the earthquake stopped as quickly as it had begun, and the seven soldiers made for the doorway of the mountain, spurring their steeds without remorse.
"Seal the door, Randor!" Helfare cried. "It is our only chance!"
"Nara en san-rah-doa!"Randor chanted as he brought his hands together. Obeying the magic, the heavy door slammed shut in the twinkling of an eye, making the mountain tremble one last time.
They were safe.
The cave gave off a foul, sulfurous smell and in the utter darkness, no one could see his hand before his eyes. Feeling his way through the crowd, Randor soon released a small light orb to see by and was greeted by the long, dank cavern of Eln-Radah's innards. Then, as the company turned away from the gate, they were met with something terrifying.
Hundreds of torches poured forth from the farthest depths of the cave, growing rapidly brighter and closer. Less than three-hundred strides now separated the collection of floating fires from Randor and the company. The torch bearers' footsteps echoed in a clamorous din. Elves, hundreds dressed in armor and carrying spears, ran toward the company.
"We are trapped!" Helfare yelled, drawing his sword.
The front-runner of the elven army shouted a command in her native tongue and halted the battalion at once. The flickering flames bounced wildly off the cavern walls, illuminating the army's weary postures and faces. The apparent leader strode away from her kindred, inspecting Randor as he approached. "Quite a selection of the great races I see in your little collection during these final stages of my journey," the leader said. Gripping her long, blue spear tighter, she placed her free hand behind her. The spear's blade was long and slender, ground thin by apparent sharpening during the years. Her armor was dark in color, of the elaborate style of many years ago, though now it carried countless dents and a thick layer of soot. The maiden-warrior's hair was long and dark, also very dirtied from the strenuous caverns. With a frown on her smudged face, she said, "I ask that you move aside so that we might finish our escape from this horrid place. Trusting to my now-failing intuition, I gather this is the location of the door leading outward."
"Yes, you are correct, but you will not be able to escape this way," Randor said firmly.
The elf leader bristled at the wizard's statement. "I am leading my soldiers through this gate, and there is nothing you can do to stop us! Now, let me pass!"
"The way is closed," Randor informed her softly.
"It is open," the leader replied, not believing him. "Now, make way."
"It would be impossible. My magic has sealed it tighter than you can imagine. You must take your army elsewhere."
The elf leader turned and strode with feet heavy back to the front rank of her army. With a yell, she declared, "Eos ee-ehth forneith! Meith-lon Ran oenos oenthaik!"And twirling her spear with great skill, she planted the butt in the ground. "Fength al trodus!"
"Do you understand what she's saying, Randor?" Arnanor asked. "I can only translate a handful of words."
"She is telling her battalion they are still imprisoned by these dark and evil caverns for many long years to come--and that I am responsible for their doom." Randor paused. "Fength al trodus--the devil has snatched away victory."
"The devil?" Seth asked.
"It is just a saying," Randor explained.
"What are elves doing in such a place?" Arnanor asked.
"I do not rightly know offhand, but I do wish to be enlightened," Randor replied. He approached the rattled elf leader slowly so as to not prompt any unwanted reaction from the mysterious elf host. "Why have you come here, and how do account for your claim of imprisonment?"
"This burden is heavy upon me," the elf admitted, puzzling Randor even more. She grew silent for a moment, then continued. "I have prayed to Ethindar many times over to release me from my woes, but the gods only punish my kindred."
"What is your name, Commander?" Randor asked.
"I am Captain Cailen of the Darnoth Kingdom, and King Enxos's most trusted knight. Those who follow me are what remain of His Majesty's military from the Dark War." Her expression changed in the torchlight, and she said, "Do the Allies of the Light still hold strong against Argos? What news of Master Rodane? Is he well?"
Randor lowered his head and cringed, not wanting to inform Cailen of the many stories that any Darnoth would remember. Randor's unspoken guess of what these elves were had been correct, and he now understood Cailen's burden, for the Darnoth had not seen the daylight of Londor for more than eighty years. Cailen could easily see the shocked looks on the company's faces, and she could do little but wait for an answer as the wizard listened intently to Gildan murmuring in his ear.
"Did we fall defeated in the war?" Cailen asked. "Please, you must tell me."
Gildan pleaded further to Randor, not wanting him to expose the whole truth at once. "You cannot lay yet another burden onto their weary hearts. Let these tidings come from another," he whispered.
"You expect me to lie?" Randor said, recoiling from his friend. "I am surprised at you, Gildan." Shaking his head, he looked at Cailen who looked back at him with an intense yet curious expression--the elf captain had to know the outcome of the 'ongoing war'. "The Dark War is over," Randor finally spoke. "It ended more than eighty years ago."
Cailen leaned heavily on her spear as if she might fall to her knees. Her first reaction was a slight smile, thinking it a joke. With a weak laugh, she said, "Tell me this isn't true."
"It is, Cailen, and the Kingdom of Darnoth is no longer. I loathe being the one to tell you this, but Darnoth exists now only as a province of the Alliance of Mudalfaen. Since Darnoth neighbors Mudalfaen, it was annexed, expanding the borders."
"Darnoth is now controlled by Mudalfaen?"
"Precisely."
"So now the Great Tree rules the world?"
"They govern most of it, yes, in a sense. Anyone on Londor can see the faults of these rebel kingdoms. A diverse gathering now dwells within the Tree; it is known as the Council of Mudalfaen. Peace has spread its wings to all its boundaries, and the lineage of Darnoth share in this prosperity. You shall be proud and happy to return to your homeland, Captain Cailen." But Randor could see that Cailen was far from overjoyed to hear this news, and the wizard wished there were something he might do to raise her spirits. "I hope I have lifted the greatest of your burdens, Captain."
Cailen stood still, unable to speak. The news overwhelmed her thoughts, yet she seemed unable to shake the feeling that she would remain in these cavernous depths forever. "This you have told me--it is heavier than anything I expected."
"You are free of war now," Gildan said.
"Yet I am not free! I will never be free! Still we are pursued in these caverns by a larger host of elves of the Argos army."
"Argos still lives on this continent?" Seth asked. "Wait until the Council hears of this."
"This gate you have shut was our latest hope of escape. My elve
s have gained a ten-day marching advantage over the Argos--no doubt, they know we have gone this way. So you have exactly one day to get this gate open! I will not let your magic be the end of the Darnoth army!"
"No wonder the Argos fled into these enormous caverns," Randor said in reflection. "Dark elves can easily maintain their wits in the dimness." Though Randor knew all too well of the Argos, he could not fathom the battles of Darnoth during the Dark War, being at the opposite end of the Dunith Continent for many long decades of the grueling campaign. It was then that Randor had played a major role in establishing the Mudalfaen Council with the aid of Master Rodane. It had taken decades for the lands to heal from the massive bloodshed and ruin of so many cities, burned and destroyed from the battles waged around them. "I will tell you one last time: I cannot reopen this gate, nor would I wish to, had I the power."
Cailen glared with great anger deep into the wizard's bespectacled eyes. The elf breathed hard and long, attempting to remain sane. "Then you have just committed the murders of six hundred and eighty-nine elves--and of your companions. Tell me your name so that I may relay the killer's identity to my brethren." Randor introduced himself as well as the rest of his company. "By the hand of Ethindar! How could you possibly do this to your own kind, Miithra? This cannot be the wish of our god!"
"Neither is it my wish, Captain."
"You could not make me see otherwise."
"Listen to my reasoning," Randor suggested as he brought forth a hand in peace. "Let my company and me aid you away from this place. I will find the way to the surface--I promise you."
"When you open this gate, I will cease thinking ill of you. Until then, you are my enemy." Cailen bowed one time in respect, making her last gesture of courtesy. "May your day be as miserable as our last eight decades. I will return for your heads soon." Cailen marched off, looking over her shoulder to the company as she sent her army back in the direction they had come. The torchlight faded away, the flickering glow crawling along the walls until the last rank of elves was gone.
There by the gate the company stood in silence.
Gildan was curious of Randor's determined stance. "Were you telling her the truth about the gate? I do not see how you couldn't simply cast a spell and have it done with. Then, at least when it was reopened we would have a great host to aid us against the soldiers of the symbol." He sighed, feeling some compassion for the Darnoth captain. "Dooming them certainly is a great price to pay for keeping us safe from our own problems."
"I never speak untruth, Gildan. Why would I subject them to such a fate? Seals upon a door--or anything else, for that matter--remain in place for months, maybe years in some cases. This gate may not be opened for a very long time. It is a consequence I must accept when magic is used. If I had know there was an army of elves ready to charge outward, I would have not sealed the way."
"What is your plan?" Gildan asked.
"Let me meditate on this for a while."
"Then I will establish camp here," replied Gildan.
"Yes," said Randor. "Rest, and I shall have the answer for you when you rise."
"Everyone, settle in," Gildan told the company. "Take rest shortly before we venture farther." Yet finding a suitable place to rest would be a tedious task for the travelers. The ground was littered with great rocks and jagged shards. Each cleared away what rubble he could, and took an uncomfortable rest within the dim and silent cave. The wizard's magic light faded away, and darkness enveloped them again.
"Randor?" Lorn asked softly.
"At your service, Lorn."
"Could we have a bit more of that light to sleep by? A nice, warm fire, perhaps, would be greatly appreciated." Lorn hated the dark confinement he found himself in. Though he had good companionship around him, the blackness made him feel utterly alone. "It wouldn't have to be much."
"No more magic tonight, Lorn. You shall be safe without it." Randor staggered over and lay down on a large flat rock, very much in pain. His chest burned constantly from the lack of rest between usages of magic. Sweat poured down his face, and his head felt as if the world were spinning out of control. He focused on breathing slowly to calm himself; his decision to have no fire came not out of a need for secrecy but rather so his companions could not see his current state. No one could stand to see him like this, and the morale of the company was the most important thing to the wizard. The deep pains he felt were his own to mend.
"But it's not a need for warmth," Lorn whispered. "I fear the dark."
"Try not to think of it," Seth told him. "You will have light around you before you know it. Meanwhile, stay close to me if you wish, and hold the hem of my cloak. If you cannot shake your fears, then wake me up."
"I don't want to disturb you."
"Just remember that I am here. Now, try and sleep."
With that, Lorn found some comfort, and eventually he fell asleep with Seth's gentle words replaying in his mind as he drifted into a hazy dream. The dwarf was the first to sleep but was soon joined by the others, with only Randor and Malander remaining to stare into the darkness, each for his own reasons.
* * *
When the company awoke from their much-needed break in events, a floating orb of light high above their heads lit the cavern. Randor paced quietly a few feet from the company, in Cailen's direction, and looked up at his magic, pondering as he puffed on his pipe. The princes and Geil sat close together in silent anticipation.
"I trust you all slept well?" Randor asked. "Lorn, you did well in the darkness. I know it is difficult for Beowulken folk to dwell in such conditions."
"Thank you," Lorn replied, smiling. "I couldn't have done it without Seth here beside me."
Helfare rose to his feet and asked, "What have you decided, Randor?" He approached the pacing wizard. "I honestly cannot wait to hear this."
"I will inform you later, Helfare. I do not want to spoil the surprise in store."
"Surprise?" Helfare replied, not amused. "This is not a time for such games. Do we aid the Darnoth soldiers, or do we avoid them and find our own way out?"
"In a moment you shall see." This was all Randor would say of his plans. "We have much work to do." He moved forward, as did his orb of light, which began to leave Malander and the Northern elves, at the back of the company, in the shadows. Quickly everyone started after Randor, who led the way in silence.
After a little more than an hour had passed, they came to a high ridge, where they found a great sloping path plummeting down into the vast caverns below, where Randor's light was unable to pierce the blackness. As the company descended, so did the temperature. Far-off echoes of unrecognizable, eerie sounds greeted them, as did the horrid sound of rockslides. For five miles more they trekked without event before the magic light began to flicker, concerning Randor, who did not want anyone to fall over the edge of the narrow path.
"Our light is dying," Seth spoke. He held one hand on the wall to his left, and the other on Lorn's coat.
"I will try to keep it aloft, Seth," Randor replied. "What more can you tell us about Valadure, Helfare?"
"Valadure will not be as easy a goal as you would like, Randor," Helfare offered. He had to keep the company's perception about this realm as realistic as possible; he did not want his only allies against Adian to underestimate the warlock's powers. "His guard is never lowered, and he always he has a legion of twenty thousand patrolling the palace and its environs. Not even a half-dozen mighty magicians could penetrate into his stronghold….What shame it brings me to know that our road ends at Adian's feet." Helfare kept his fast march as he bit his lip. "Why did I ever disagree with his terms?"
"Because you obviously have a mind of your own," Randor answered easily. "It is well to have a leader, but not if the person you trust and follow wishes to harm innocents."
"Curse that enchantress!" Helfare screamed, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. "Indeed, she will pay!"
"Do you know where she is?" Randor asked.
"I could lead you
there blindfolded."
"If you ask me," Gildan remarked, holding up a finger, "we need to journey to her before we approach Valadure--get back the moon firsthand, and then we finish off Adian afterwards."
"I have already thought of this," replied Randor. "But we must take this one step at a time. No need to hasten with things that are too far ahead of us--that is, if we will even get near the enchantress or Valadure."
"Doubting our success, Randor?" Arnanor asked with a huff.
"Never," the wizard replied sharply. "I am only being analytical about this entire situation. You, Prince, should heed this notion above all others."
"Explain yourself," snapped Arnanor.
"You are the heir to the throne of the Northern Kingdom, are you not?"
"You well know that I am."
"Do you worry even now about the governance of the kingdom, though it is ruled by your father?"
"With every waking moment I do."
"Why?" Randor asked casually.
"Why?"Arnanor was insulted by the question. "If you do not know, I shall explain it to you more thoroughly." The prince took in a deep breath of the dank air and continued, "It is my duty to worry about the Northern lands and my people. I need to delve into the affairs of the kingdom each day to ensure its longevity."
"This should be your father's concern."
"Indeed it is, yet I must attend to the affairs as well."
The White Shadow Saga: The Stolen Moon of Londor Page 26
