The Emperor's Shadow War (Tales of Alus Book 2)

by Donald Wigboldy

  They sat awhile in silence. Darius took in the activity of the small population as they continued building small shelters at one end of the clearing that he looked upon. "What are your people going to do now that they are here?"

  "Most of the people would like to stay here where the Dark Emperor is not. I know that we warriors would like to go back with Janus and fight for what is ours. The Emperor should not be allowed to get away with the destruction of the elven countries."

  He stood up and leaned against the nearest tree trunk. Electra stood to face him. Her blond hair seemed to glow in the light of the midday sun. In the brown leather jerkin and green tunic of her hunter order which hugged her slender body's curves, Darius couldn't help but find her lovely. His eyes must have betrayed him, since as she looked away the young man thought that he noticed her blush.

  "What are your people going to do with me?" Darius asked hoping to get her to turn and face him again while gaining the truth. He hated the thought of having to fight his way out against seemingly nice innocent, people. They were refugees besides, after all.

  She did turn back to him, but wouldn't quite meet his eyes. The blush was no longer in her cheeks, however. "You are free to go. We would prefer that you don't tell of our people just yet, unless you hear of your people coming to attack us. Then you can explain that we are just here for a short while until we can return home.

  "We really do mean your people no harm." Electra finished, her eyes staring at him earnestly hoping that he could understand and believe her words.

  Nodding, Darius asked, "Would it be all right if I stayed with your people a little while longer then I could talk about your people better."

  "I'll ask, Janus, but I'm sure that would be fine." Electra moved away to go find the holy knight with a brief glance back at the wizard to make sure he was staying put. Darius remained where he was and as the young man waited he continued to watch the elves' activities. He was so intent on the people that one of them slipped up behind him.

  "My sister is pretty, isn't she?" the voice of a child surprised him causing Darius to turn around quickly.

  Nikkowl stood there innocently looking up at him. He smiled again, "Yes, she's very pretty."

  "Are you gonna marry her?"

  Darius was slightly taken by surprise, but quickly took the question for what it was, the innocent query of a little sister who thought a moment's meeting meant a commitment for life. "I kind of doubt it, Nikkowl. Your sister doesn't seem like the marrying kind.

  "So what were you and your friends playing?" he asked changing the subject quickly.

  "Come on, I'll show you!" the little girl tugged at his hand excitedly. Darius had nothing else better to do for the moment and allowed himself to be led to the awestruck elf children where they kicked a ball amongst themselves. Smiling, the apprentice joined their game.

  Electra found Janus Orfrost alone in the forest out of sight of the clearing and any prying eyes. The knight looked at her inquiringly.

  "He asked to stay for awhile. I told him that it would probably be all right with you."

  "Did he say anything of this world and its magic?" the holy knight asked hopefully.

  "No, my lord. He said that there was nothing unusual about his world beyond the fact that portals opened naturally here. Perhaps if he stays longer, you could..."

  His eyes narrowed, "I asked you to find out about both his world and his magic, Electra. I don't care what you do to get this information, but you must. The human seems to have an interest in you. Use that to get the information. I hardly think that he would surrender such things to me, since I would look like an intruder questing for power, but you he would never suspect."

  "But I don't like deceiving him like this. He seems like a good man from an honorable world. Wouldn't it be better just to make allies with these people? If you asked or, at the least, warned them that the Dark Emperor works to destroy our world and probably has designs on this one as well..."

  "Maybe they'll lend us their magic and their soldiers to fight a war that has driven our people into hiding? The odds of them believing in such a grotesque conqueror of the Emperor's magnitude are not good. Our very own people couldn't see it before it was too late and we don't have the time to go to every little kingdom of this world trying to convince them while soliciting their help."

  Janus paced fretfully and confessed to the woman, "This boy has power beyond anything that I've witnessed in Litsors, though I could hardly tell him as much. I've seen many others in my time and they, and even the Emperor's sorcerers, are nothing compared to the power he showed in that instant. If I and the other surviving knights could learn this art and pass it to our surviving mages, we could throw the dark hordes into the sea to never be heard from again."

  Electra sighed. "If you think that it is the only way, my lord. But to do anything to get this information, we may make a new enemy instead."

  The knight placed his hand on the woman's shoulder. "We'll be destroyed, if we don't at least try. Even one more enemy even with his power while an entire horde stands ready to finish us, would change nothing. We will fall either way, so what would it matter? Besides, I have faith in you to handle him properly."

  The woman turned away concealing more of her concerns from the knight and slowly started for the encampment. The elven woman quietly answered the stern elf lord, "Yes, my lord," and knew that she would obey.

  Chapter 10- Dante

  The men spent an uncomfortable night in the Lethian Woods. Their supplies had only been designed to last until they reached Peleth. The last of their food had been eaten for breakfast, and it was cold. There had been no fire during the night and now joints ached or cracked as the soldiers stretched before mounting.

  Their moods had sunk into depression. There was no bright side to look upon that they could see. They had all witnessed the destruction of the western king's citadel. If the enemy had such power, what could any of their armies do against it? What castle could stand before such magic?

  The light of day had not served to brighten their dispositions despite the chirping of morning birds attending to their various activities. The air was still damp from the rain, but it had yet to start heating up so the moisture felt cool against bruised skin. Dante led the worn men south through the forest in an effort to reach the coast before returning east. If they were followed, they still hoped to lead the enemy away from the more inhabited areas. Maybe once the army and wizards were mobilized, they could end this with no more loss of innocent life.

  It was past midday when a small band of goblins found them. With the strength of their arms and steeds, Dante's men were able to both ward off and destroy the smaller creatures. Thankfully, no enemy escaped to be able to warn any others. They received a few new wounds and one horse came up lame from a hamstringing, but with the extra mount still left to them with Ettard's death, they were still as strong and mobile as before.

  That night, the band again camped without a fire. Berries and roots were found to hold onto their strength, but they were poor substitutes to the meat that the battle weary men craved. Dante watched as they all fell asleep with the oncoming darkness. The men were indeed weary, which left him wondering why he wasn't nearly as worn as the others. He hadn't shied away from battle, in fact, the lieutenant had perhaps fought harder and risked himself more than the others knowing that he was still the freshest.

  It was strange, the man thought. Ever since he had awoken in the battlefield at Turo, Dante had felt different, better. The rapport shared with Misery was just one of the strange things that he had come away with after he had fallen in battle. He didn't need to sleep the way he had before either. Dante didn't seem quite as hungry unless he received a wound and then he hungered more.

  Then there were the wounds themselves. Either he was getting away with painful, but minor wounds, or his body was healing faster than any man he had ever known. He wondered if the enemy had maybe cast some spell upon him, but if they had it had backfired.
Dante felt better now than he had ever been before. He was sure that it was more than just his imagination at play in his mind.

  When he had gone off to sleep after trading watches with Riad, Dante was still wondering about these things.

  The next day held no answers as the men followed faithfully after their leader. The soldiers said little as they traveled. There was little to be said anyway and they knew that too much noise could bring more of the enemy calling. So when Volin suddenly cried out and pointed towards a nearby tree, the band all had their weapons out and ready for the worst.

  "You can rest your weapons, gentlemen, unless you're all afraid of a piece of paper," the soldier chided the others. "Hey, lieu, you'd better check this out. This says that it’s for you."

  "What?"

  "It has the Seers' order markings. They must have known that you were coming and left this for you."

  Dante was quite surprised by this news, but quickly dismounted to walk over to the parchment. It was tacked with a nail to an iron oak. The nail was already forming rust though the paper felt as if it had been covered with wax to protect it from the elements and still appeared fresh and new. He figured that it could have been there for weeks already if magic was involved in its making.

  "What's it say, sir?" Riad asked.

  "`To Dante Betrice, Your destiny lies in Valos. When you find one like yourself, you'll find the way to the Dark Emperor.' It's signed with a Seers' hood insignia."

  "What do you make of it?" Sergeant Lane asked from his mount after the message had been read.

  Dante looked up from the parchment and shrugged. "I gather that the Seers have designs for me, sergeant. I'd be a fool to try to avoid it. There are tales of those who tried to avoid their fate and none ended with happily ever after."

  "Are you sure that it is real?"

  "Sergeant, we didn't even know that we would be here until today. If it was the enemy, first of all they would gain nothing by diverting me except a few less men to kill. Second, how would they know my name? It’s obviously real, so I'll need to head west, I guess.

  "It doesn't mention anything about the rest of you though. You're all free to go whichever way you want to go."

  Riad answered, "The last time we separated, a castle was felled and the enemy almost killed us all. If it’s all the same, lieutenant, I'll go with you and I hope everyone else joins us."

  Everyone nodded assent. Sergeant Lane seemed to speak everyone's thoughts, "You've earned our respect, sir, and so far your instincts have led us on the right path. Like Riad said, when we've gone contrary to you, we've lost. We're with you until you send us away."

  "Thank you, sergeant, all of you. I'm glad to know that you trust me, but remember that I'm still just as capable of failure as you. I didn't exactly help win at Turo or Peleth."

  "You had no choice at the Plain, sir," Volin pointed out. "You've given us a voice in your hard decisions. Unfortunately, that has led us the wrong way when the choice was against you. This time we all just want to try it your way."

  Dante rolled up the parchment and placed it in his travel pack. Climbing atop his horse, he said, "Well, boys are we all ready for a new adventure?" He didn't wait for an answer as he spurred his mount forward and quickly turned towards the west.

  The band had a refreshed feel to it after that moment. The Seers' note having given them both direction and hope. They spoke often of what the message contained. Foremost in their minds was what `the other like himself' could be. Another of like rank? A soldier of Certe displaced? The men worried that they would miss the one they were looking for with such a vague description. Dante just allowed them to talk and assured them that they would know who or what they were looking for when they found it.

  The question that he lingered over was who this Dark Emperor could be. Who was this creature? He or she was most likely linked to the monsters that had plagued Certe the past weeks. Dante knew that they all felt that the deaths of so many innocent people needed to be responded to properly. If the soldier ever found the being that had sent such death into their midst, he knew that there would be a true reckoning by his blade and his men would vow the same for theirs.

  When they found the edge of the woods, Dante paused the band long enough to look back. "Well, men, though we are still soldiers committed to Certe, it looks like it is time to change countries. There is still time for any of you to change your minds."

  Sergeant Lane shook his head, "No, sir, we have already given our word to ride with you. It is up to you to dismiss us. Otherwise, we are staying with you for the duration."

  There was a general murmur of assent by the others at the sergeant's words. "All right, if you are all sure, then it is time to leave Certe behind us for now. Does anyone have knowledge of Valos?" he suddenly asked.

  "Sir, I was born along the border to the north," Private Volin replied. "Years ago, my father took me on a trip to the west. If you look slightly north of west, you'll see the Valian Woods. We went to the city of Batol near the northern border of Echeya. There was a road along our way which had a fork in it. According to the maps, the north road, which we took, led to Batol. The southern road led into the forest and worked its way through the woods until it eventually found the largest city on the route, Dark Wood."

  Dante nodded that he had heard as much. "What lays further south nearer the coast? We are very close to the ocean. We weren't told exactly where to look in Valos after all."

  Volin shrugged, "I don't remember. We lived to the north of Peleth when I made that trip. I hardly looked at the rest of the map."

  "Don't worry, Volin," Sergeant Lane put in. "I can help you with that one, sir. Before I joined the army, and only just, I tried my hand at the sailor life. I only went on one trip and that was to the nearest ocean side city of Valos. About fifty miles southwest of us, is Gray Moor."

  The lieutenant thought a moment. "The letter implied west I believe. I think we'll head for the woods and maybe find Dark Wood. It is more to the west than the coast. I suppose it really doesn't matter which way we go anyway. The Seers said that we would find the one in Valos. My pick should lead us the right way no matter what, since they have already foreseen it happening already." He nodded at his declaration, though some of the others appeared confused by such logic as most men faltered in the face of the visionary magic. "Yes, we'll definitely take to the woods. You never know, we might find someone on the way who can guess where someone like me would be."

  "You're the leader," Lane replied. "Your guess sounds as good as anything. Though maybe you could try and repeat it? I think you lost me somewhere along the way with your thinking."

  The others nodded again as Dante saw their confusion at the convoluted nature of his logic. "It is pretty strange to try and think like a Seer, isn't it? Well, let's not hurt ourselves, men. Our mission is just to ride and discover whoever we need to. Leave the magic to the magicians."

  Still trying to follow his logic the soldiers turned after him discussing it amongst themselves and started towards the northwest. Quiet conversations began as they rode. The Valian woods were still a blue haze in the distance. As Dante looked at the far off forest, he wondered what they should be looking for once again. His head had begun to hurt with trying to work out the concept of a foregone conclusion mixed with freewill. He was a soldier and it seemed beyond him, or so he was beginning to believe.

  He was glad when Misery squawked in his ear and disrupted that line of thought. Dante looked at the bird on his shoulder and wondered why this creature would go against its instincts and stay with him. Again he shook his head at a question that would only serve to confuse him more. Dante slowed and joined the ranks for small talk. There was still much to learn about these men that had put themselves in his charge. The man hoped such talk could move his mind away from the greater mysteries that he would probably never even begin to understand with a hundred years to think upon it.

  The band hunted that afternoon within the woods. Luck was finally with
them and they caught a few rabmunks. Volin excelled with his bow and arrow to the point that he speared a turquay that was exceedingly plump considering the fact that it survived in the wild. Dante knew that some farmers bred them for their dinners and their attentions caused the birds to grow quite fat under those conditions, but he guessed that most would be happy enough with one like they ate with great relish.

  The men found a stream late in the afternoon where a few fish were caught before dark. Riad assured him that he would have more for breakfast.

  That night, though they posted a guard, the men slept the best that they had since the fall of Peleth. Dante awoke early. The raven was nowhere to be found as the first rays of dawn began to trickle down to the lower leaves of the trees on the western bank. Dante was about to rise when the rapport between him and Misery established itself for the first time since Peleth.

  The bird had caught sight of a lake nearby. As it floated lazily along on the breeze, the raven suddenly caught a movement near the far side of the lake. It looked like a single armored soldier of Valos. Hoping that this man would be the one he was looking for, Dante picked himself up. The vision vanished as the lieutenant rose and he noticed Gilel staring at him from his perimeter position.

  "Is there something wrong, sir?" the man asked as he stealthily crossed the encampment to check in with Dante.

  "Nothing of real importance, no. I'm going to scout down river before breakfast though. If Sergeant Lane asks, let him know that I should be fine and return soon."

  With his story given, Dante stalked out into the forest with a piece of cold rabmunk to chew on and his canteen at his hip. Gilel watched him leave curiously, but said nothing more.

  Dante still marveled at his connection with the raven. He would hardly ignore its visions now, when the link seemed to only form when important matters had been involved before this. He made his way through the brush with attention given to stealth. The soldier figured that where there was one soldier there were most likely more. He hoped for a simple conversation without starting trouble with his nation's neighbor.