The Merchant and the Menace

by Daniel F McHugh

  Manfir tapped the flanks of his stallion and moved alongside Udas. The colonel shrank back as Manfir glared at him.

  “You’ll do nothing of the kind, hero of Rimdar Pass. I speak for all the men in this group,” growled Manfir. “And the last time I checked, I held a general’s commission in the Guard. The next time you fail to salute a superior officer before addressing him, you will find yourself confined to the Hold. Do you understand me?”

  Udas’s eyes shifted nervously between Manfir, the crowd and his troops.

  “I uh ... I..” stammered Udas.

  “DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME COLONEL? YES OR NO?” demanded Manfir rising in his saddle.

  Udas’s eyes widened and he nearly slid from the back of his mount. He fumbled awkwardly with his right hand in an attempt to extract it from the reins of his stallion then stiffly raised it in salute. His unit followed his lead as Manfir glared at them. The prince spun his mount and cantered toward the area of the crowd that shouted support to Udas. The men standing there shrank back against the wall of the nearest building. Manfir leapt from his stallion and walked amongst them. Fire raged in his eyes.

  “How I served this kingdom and my Lord Avra over the last seventeen seasons is no one’s business but my own and the ruler of this great land. Any man willing to question that service and take exception to my duty may do so now!” bellowed the prince.

  Manfir drew one of the dual sabers strapped to his back and held the hilt out to the crowd. The group shrank further away. Manfir’s hard eyes bore into them.

  “No one?” questioned the prince as he shoved the hilt toward the face of the man who shouted the first comment.

  The Zodrian averted his eyes to the cobblestone street and shook his head in dissent.

  “No, my lord,” muttered the man.

  Manfir flipped the sword over and deftly slid it back into its scabbard. The prince spun and marched to the middle of the street. He swept his hand across the growing crowd.

  “Zodrians! Now is the time for faith!” shouted Manfir to the crowd. “Now is the time for unity. The forces of evil bear down upon us! They hope to overwhelm and destroy us! We live in fear of an enemy poised to sweep down upon us unleashing murder and Chaos. The Ulrog strain upon their master’s leash, desiring nothing more than to overrun beautiful Zodra!

  “However, the arena for this destruction is not solely the battlefield! They also fight for our hearts and minds. These too are battlefields to our enemies. They hope to twist and corrupt all that is good in our society. They hope to turn us against our allies, our neighbors and our brothers. When the final battle begins, do not spend your last hours questioning whether your neighbor is doing enough. Ask yourself whether YOU are doing enough. Make sure that your own house is in order before you wonder about your brother’s house!”

  Manfir walked confidently to his stallion and threw himself in the saddle. The crowd‘s eyes remained fixed on the Zodrian prince. The street was quiet and still.

  “As for me,” stated the prince. “My house remained faithful to the wishes of Avra these last seventeen seasons, and I am ready to sacrifice all for the good of Zodra. I call upon those of you who can say the same to ride with me in defense of the kingdom!”

  Manfir reined the stallion to face Udas.

  “Now out of my way, colonel. I wish to go home!” called the prince.

  The black stallion charged in Udas’s direction as the colonel and his aide scrambled to get free of its path. Ader and the remainder of Kael’s group followed closely and a cheer went up from some gathered in the street.

  Udas’s face boiled with rage and embarrassment as he glared at the retreating figure of Manfir. He dropped his right hand onto the horn of his saddle with a hollow clunk. Hatred filled his eyes and the supply commander’s left hand mechanically rose and rubbed the elbow of his stiff and immobile right arm. His subordinate pulled beside him.

  “Prince Manfir was absent from these lands for quite some time,” chattered the aide as he nervously glanced to the area Udas caressed. “Perhaps he is unaware of the pain and sacrifice that both you and the great General Ellow endured at the hands of those Keltaran monsters, my lord.”

  Udas’s attention was broken from the departing troop and he turned to the young officer. A sneer spread across his face.

  “The sacrifice and pain I endured for the good of my nation is nothing compared to that which Manfir son of Macin will face before he ever sets foot outside his beloved kingdom again,” snarled Udas. “Spread word to our men. The time comes to show this kingdom where its power lies!”

  NOW ENDS BOOK I OF THE SERAPHINIUM

  GLOSSARY OF CHARACTERS AND LOCATIONS

  Ader: One of the second generation of Seraphim created by Avra to fill the gap after Awoi and Amird left the world. Ader represents the voice of Avra, commanding those on this world who will follow.

  Aemmon Brelgson: The second son of Brelg, an innkeeper in the small town of Kelky.

  Alel: One of the second generation of Seraphim created by Avra to fill the gap after Awoi and Amird left the world of Vel. Alel represents the Ear of Avra, hearing all the prayers and praise of his people.

  Amird: One of the first two Seraphim created by Avra to help and support the human race. Amird represents the intellect and creativity of the Creator.

  The Anvil: The military of the Keltaran Empire. All men past a certain age are members of the Anvil.

  Astel: Once thriving kingdom on the plateaus to the East of the Mirozert Mountains. Astel has been conquered by the warlock Izgra and his Ulrog stone men. The palace and ruins surrounding it have been renamed Kel Izgra.

  Avra: The Lord God and Creator of the Nearing World.

  Awoi: One of the first two Seraphim created by Avra to help and support the human race. Awoi represents the heart and compassion of the Creator.

  The Black: Manfir’s battle mount. Also referred to as the Prize by the Eru.

  Brelg: Owns a small inn, “The King’s Service”, in the town of Kelky. Raising two sons on.

  Cefiz: The cook at “The King’s Service” in Kelky.

  Chani: Commander of the Grey Elf army.

  Chimbre: Mysterious figure Kael spies upon.

  Corad Kingfisher: King of the island kingdom of Rindor.

  Delvi: A small enclave on the shores of the Lake of Calm Waters (Lake Eru) in the heart of the Eru plains. It houses the archives of the Delvin Scribes.

  Delvin Scribes: A group of men dedicated to observing and recording all that takes place in the world of Vel. The Order of Delvi is led by a prelate who directs all their efforts. The Order also has been known to prognosticate future events within their writings. The Book of Delvi is a collection of written works compiled by the Delvin Scribes.

  Diom: Grey Elf soldier in charge of the bridge over the Efer River set in the heart of the Nagur Wood.

  Eidyn Valpreux: Grey Elf heir to the throne of Luxlor. Accomplished soldier and officer in the Grey Elf Army.

  Eirtwin Admir: Queen of the Grey Elves of Luxlor. Wife of King Leinor Valpreux. Mother of Eidyn Valpreux.

  Ellow: Former commander of the Zodrian supply corps. Ellow was ostensibly killed by a group of Keltaran soldiers who ambushed him and his aide, Colonel Udas, at Rimdar Pass.

  Eru: Nomadic tribesmen of the Eastern plains. They protect long stretches of the North country from invasion by the Ulrog Horde. They are master horsemen and have extensive herds of the animals.

  Fenrel Stormbreaker: Captain of the Kings Guard in Keltar. Heir to the throne now that his brother has been exiled.

  Flair: A young man and hand at his grandfather Hamly’s ranch.

  Grannak Stormbreaker: King of the Keltaran people.

  Granu Stormbreaker: Exiled prince of the mountain kingdom of Keltar. Son of Grannak Stormbreaker. Brother of Fenrel Stormbreaker. Chief Abbott of the Monastery of Awoi.

  Gretcha: An ancient princess of the Zodrian kingdom. She was born unusually large and grew to a giant stature. Her father first
kept her locked up then banished her from the kingdom.

  The Guard: The military of the Zodrian Empire. Recruits are selected and volunteers are typically rejected. It is quite an honor to be selected for the Guard.

  Hamly: An old man used by Brelg to perform odd jobs around the inn.

  Hilro: A mysterious figure that patrols the Nagur Wood.

  Hindle: Blacksmith’s apprentice in the town of Quay.

  Hrafnu: The son of Gretcha and the Seraph Awoi. He is the father of the giant Keltaran race.

  Ituan River: A great river that gets its start in the Zorim Mountains to the West of Zodra. The river flows west to east across the lower third of Zodra and washes into the vast waterways of the Toxkri Swamp.

  Izgra the Half-Dead: Warlock and worshipper of the Deceiver. Izgra is a usurper on the throne of Astel. The warlock has taken the reins of control over the minions of Amird upon the Nearing World.

  Jasper: An old tinker and tradesman who travels amongst the villages in the south of the kingdom of Zodra providing goods and sewrvices to the people.

  Kael Brelgson: The eldest son of Brelg, an innkeeper in the small town of Kelky.

  Kelky: A small village in the southernmost part of the kingdom of Zodra. Kelky’s location has made it a forgotten outpost of the great kingdom.

  Keltar: City and surrounding lands set within the steep peaks of the Zorim Mountains. Keltar is inhabited by a race of people known for their extraordinary size and heartiness. At war with Ulrog invaders from the north and in a centuries long blood fued with the Zodrian kingdom.

  Leinor Valpreux: King of the Grey Elves of the Kingdm of Luxlor. Husband to Eirtwin Admir, Queen of the Grey Elves. Father of Eidyn Valpreux.

  Lilywynn: Mysterious girl Kael encounters on his journey North.

  Lintos: A captain in the Rindoran army.

  Lucyn Kingfisher: Queen of Rindor.

  Luxlor: Kingdom of Grey Elves set in the heart of the Southern Nagur Forest. Luxlor is a secluded and isolated kingdom.

  Macin of Zodra: Current king of Zodra.

  Malveel: Amird the Deceiver began his rebellion against the Creator by fashioning beasts to enforce his will upon the world of Vel. The thirteen Malveel rule all the minions of Amird.

  Manfir of Zodra: The prince heir to the throne of the mightiest nation in the world.

  Mestor and Wist: Former rulers of the kingdom of Astel. Overthrown by Izgra the Half-Dead and his army of Ulrog Hackles.

  Methra the Worm: The 5th of the thirteen Malveel. Methra was once a powerful Malveel lord known as the Beguiler. However, failures and indecision have marginalized his power. Now, he does the bidding of Sulgor in hopes that it will ingratiate him with the Malveel king.

  Netur: Eldest son of Hrafnu and Uttren of Keltar.

  Nyven (Jilk & Trawney): Cattlemen from the Zodrian town of Trimble.

  Olith Stormbreaker: Brother of King Grannak. Commander of the Keltaran army, the Anvil.

  Order of Awoi: A religious order of monks dedicated to the ways of the Seraph Awoi. The monks of the order are known for their peace and compassion but are equally adept at defending themselves and considered fierce fighters.

  Paerrow Admir: Nobleman in the court of King Leinor in Luxlor. Paerrow often represents the voice of the Grey Elf people in the confines of the king’s court.

  Quirg Firebreather: The 9th of the Malveel. Quirg is of the lesser order of the beasts and as all Malveel he is to be feared but he does not command a high rank in their order. He is known to be impetuous and rash.

  Rin: The son of Jasper the tinker. Rin is a silent and expressionless man.

  Scythtar Mountains: A range of treacherous peaks that runs west to east across the Northern reaches of the Nearing World.

  Seraphim: Beings created and set upon the world to care for and direct humans. Often referred to as Guides by the people. The first two Seraphim were Awoi and his brother Amird. The second pair was Ader and his brother Alel.

  The Spear: Name given the Rindoran army.

  Sprig “The Fox”: Mysterious figure Kael spies upon.

  Sulgor the Magnificent: The first of the thirteen Malveel beasts created by the Deceiver to be his emissaries on the world of Vel. Sulgor is the King of the Malveel and rules them as they in turn rule the multitude of Ulrog stone men. Sulgor has had his power wrested from him by Izgra the Half-Dead.

  Tarader: The mightiest of horses. Ader’s mount.

  Tay: Rindoran noblewoman married to Macin of Zodra. Manfir’s mother. She has passed away.

  Teeg Cin Fair: Old nobleman of the court of King Leinor in Luxlor. Friend of Brelg of Kelky.

  Toxkri Swamp: A gigantic maze of bogs, quicksand and jungle. The Toxkri lies on the Southern border of the Eru plains. Its geographical distinction lies in its central location. A part of the swamp touches the Derol forest, the Eru plains, the Borz desert, the Nagur Wood and the Southlands of Zodra.

  Ulrog: Men fashioned of stone and mud and given chaotic life by the Malveel. The Ulrog army is referred to as The Horde and units of 13 stone men are packs. An individual Ulrog is often call a Hackle. They populate the Scythtar Mountains. (Knife Mountains).

  Udas (The Hero of Rimdar Pass): A Zodrian colonel in command of the supply lines of the Zodrian army (The Guard).

  Uttren: Zodrian refugee who becomes the wife of Hrafnu.

  The Nearing World: The world created by Avra.

  Wynard: Zodrian commander of the cavalry corps.

  Yanwin: Kael and Aemmon’s mother who passed away many seasons ago.

  Zodra: The most powerful kingdom in the world of Vel. Zodra has stood for centuries as the main protector of the world against the forces of evil. Both the capital city and the kingdom go by this name.

  Zorim Mountains: Mountain range that runs north to South forming the Western border of the kingdom of Zodra. Home to the Keltaran Kingdom.

  GLOSSARY BY LAND OR RACE

  ZODRIANS

  Zodra: The most powerful kingdom in the world of Vel. Zodra has stood for centuries as the main protector of the world against the forces of evil. Both the capital city and the kingdom go by this name.

  Aemmon Brelgson: The second son of Brelg, an innkeeper in the small town of Kelky.

  Brelg: Owns a small inn, “The King’s Service”, in the town of Kelky. Raising two sons.

  Cefiz: The cook at “The King’s Service” in Kelky.

  Flair: A young man and hand at his grandfather Hamly’s ranch.

  General Ellow: Former commander of the Zodrian supply corps. Ellow was ostensibly killed by a group of Keltaran soldiers who ambushed him and his aide, Colonel Udas, at Rimdar Pass.

  The Guard: The military of the Zodrian Empire. Recruits are selected and volunteers are typically rejected. It is quite an honor to be selected for the Guard.

  Hamly: An old man used by Brelg to perform odd jobs around the inn.

  Hindle: Blacksmith’s apprentice in the town

  Jasper: An old tinker and tradesman who travels amongst the villages in the south of the kingdom of Zodra providing goods and sewrvices to the people.

  Kael Brelgson: The eldest son of Brelg, an innkeeper in the small town of Kelky.

  Kelky: A small village in the southernmost part of the kingdom of Zodra. Kelky’s location has made it a forgotten outpost of the great kingdom.

  Macin of Zodra: Current king of Zodra.

  Manfir of Zodra: The prince heir to the throne of the mightiest nation in the world.

  Nyven (Jilk & Trawney): Cattlemen from the Zodrian town of Trimble.

  Rin: The son of Jasper the tinker. Rin is a silent and expressionless man.

  Tay: Rindoran noblewoman married to Macin of Zodra. Manfir’s mother. She has passed away.

  Udas (The Hero of Rimdar Pass): A Zodrian colonel in command of the supply lines of the Zodrian army (The Guard).

  Wynard: A general in the Guard. Zodrian commander of the cavalry corps.

  Yanwin: Kael and Aemmon’s mother who passed away many seasons ago.
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  ELVES AND GREY ELVES

  Luxlor: Kingdom of Grey Elves set in the heart of the Southern Nagur Forest. Luxlor is a secluded and isolated kingdom.

  Chani: Commander of the Grey Elf army.

  Diom: Grey Elf soldier in charge of the bridge over the Efer River set in the heart of the Nagur Wood.

  Eidyn Valpreux: Grey Elf heir to the throne of Luxlor. Accomplished soldier and officer in the Grey Elf Army.

  Eirtwin Admir: Queen of the Grey Elves of Luxlor. Wife of King Leinor Valpreux. Mother of Eidyn Valpreux.

  Leinor Valpreux: King of the Grey Elves of the Kingdm of Luxlor. Husband to Eirtwin Admir, Queen of the Grey Elves. Father of Eidyn Valpreux.

  Paerrow Admir: Nobleman in the court of King Leinor in Luxlor. Paerrow often represents the voice of the Grey Elf people in the confines of the king’s court.

  Teeg Cin Fair: Old nobleman of the court of King Leinor in Luxlor. Friend of Brelg of Kelky.

  KELTARAN GIANTS

  Keltar: City and surrounding lands set within the steep peaks of the Zorim mountains. Keltar is inhabited by a race of people known for their extraordinary size and heartiness. At war with Ulrog invaders from the North and in a centuries long blood fued with the Zodrian kingdom.

  The Anvil: The military of the Keltaran empire. All men past a certain age are members of the Anvil.

  Fenrel Stormbreaker: Captain of the Kings Guard in Keltar. Heir to the throne now that his brother has been exiled.

  Grannak Stormbreaker: King of the Keltaran people.

  Granu Stormbreaker: Exiled prince of the mountain kingdom of Keltar. Son of Grannak Stormbreaker. Brother of Fenrel Stormbreaker. Chief Abbott of the Monastery of Awoi.

  Gretcha: An ancient princess of the Zodrian kingdom. She was born unusually large and grew to a giant stature. Her father first kept her locked up, then banished her from the kingdom.