Soulseeker’s Descent

by Pablo Andrés Wunderlich Padilla

  Osuno lowered his voice. “Argúl. How can I be of service?”

  “Him,” was all the newcomer said.

  “Me?” Mérdmerén said. “I’m just a pirate. I live from day to day, sir.”

  “Ehréledán,” the necromancer said, then uttered a sound which terrified everyone.

  Then, he waved his bony hands and from them issued a red spiral. The vojs moved back.

  A bolt of blue lightning. A scream. Something collapsing on to the floor.

  Silence.

  ***

  Elgahar was in his cell, trying to concentrate and meditate on his decision to take ship with Mérdmerén when he noticed a fluctuation of energies. Neither Turi nor Greyson seemed to have felt the change, but something evil was close by.

  Chapter XVII – Meromérila’s Return

  Róganok landed gently and gracefully, like a feather. His claws, the size of a solidly-built man, sank into the soil of the Empire of Gardak and what was left of the city built of resin.

  “Little creatures, a very good day to you,” the white dragon said. “You are very interesting beings.” His attention turned to the flesh of a humanoid which was chubbier than the rest. “Perhaps tasty, even,” he added.

  The Dakatak and the humanoids waited expectantly. Alac climbed down from the great back. His outstretched wings were prominent, white, and soft. He kept his armor on.

  “Listen to me!” he shouted to the crowd which had gathered outside the ruined palace.

  He noticed that his voice did not have sufficient volume, but there was a bigger problem: nobody understood him. He remembered that on his previous visits Teitú had been the vehicle for communicating with those beings.

  Róganok croaked, and the audience nodded.

  “Proceed, Alac. I know the language of Gardak. I will be your interpreter.”

  It was slower than with Teitú, but Alac managed to get his message across.

  “Evil will not stop. You have seen what has happened in your lands. The same will happen to others until Mórgomiel attains his ends. I am the God of Light, Good, and Hope. Join my cause, the effort to defeat Evil.”

  A murmur ran through the crowd. A Gardakian who looked like a man of faith came toward Alac and knelt before him. The rest of the population did the same.

  “He asks for a show of your power,” Róganok said. “So that the people may believe and follow you.”

  Alac was troubled by this show of doubt, but he complied. He made his shield appear and issued from it a beam of white light that bathed all those present. After a moment of stupefaction, they all celebrated with cries of joy. The man of faith burst into tears and kissed Alac’s metal boots.

  The God of Light took hold of the man’s green toga and raised him up.

  “Control yourself, man.”

  “Deeply valued and most excellent God of Light, supreme and all-powerful, we beg you to forgive us our sins. We have sinned by following Fuifay and Meromérila’s father, and his father before him. For years they were accursed kings. They resorted to unorthodox means to dominate the people, and the results have been catastrophic. In the sacristy, we knew that good would return one day and that day is today. How may we be of service to you, Lord of Light?”

  “For a long time, you say?”

  “Thousands of years, Lord of Light,” the old man said. “My name is Urraca, the one chosen to receive the Gods.” He bent once again to kiss Alac’s feet. “The era of dragons is here, that much is obvious. The huge white dragon is proof of it. It was foretold, Lord of Light. Omens are being fulfilled. Storms are being stirred up. The great battle is to break out once again.”

  Alac understood that the priest was telling Gardak’s version of the Times of Chaos. He suspected that his religion and his gods were different; perhaps the kings, in their cruelty, had abolished the faith. The people of Gardak had spent thousands of years being manipulated, and one order of priests was awaiting the return of Good. No wonder this man was kissing his feet and the Gardakians were showing their devotion. He would like to behave as befitted a god, showing the same respect to them in return. Nordost had already warned him that something like this would happen.

  “Listen to me, Urraca. I need you to choose a leader for your legions for when the war breaks out. Good needs all the forces it can bring together. Do you understand? You must hurry.”

  When the dragon finished translating, the priest responded by bowing his head, still on his knees.

  “He says they have already chosen,” Róganok said. “They are bringing their leader to you now.”

  There came two grave calls, as if from a horn. The crowd parted in two, making a corridor for their leader. Despite all the death and the destruction of the city, the people of Gardak were in awe.

  Alac narrowed his eyes, struck by the sight of a lady in white approaching. Her figure was lovely, her hair silver. She was pale and extremely thin. Her eyes were purple.

  The priest cried to the sky.

  “Welcome to you, Meromérila, once again with your people! By the grace of the God of Life, your soul has been returned to us and your people will follow you in the war between Good and Evil. May the God of Life bless you with his divine word.”

  Alac was left speechless. He had always felt attracted by the Princess of Gardak. She was as beautiful as Luchy, only different. Meromérila knelt at his feet. The long imprisonment had taken its toll on her body and her gaze.

  The princess spoke in her deep, seductive voice.

  “Thank you, my dear Alac Arc Ángelo. It gives me great pleasure to see you again. In the end, you were the one who rescued me and I shall be forever grateful. My people are free again and have named me their leader. From now on, I shall be the Queen of Gardak. If we must go to war, we shall do so willingly. We Gardakians are formidable on the battlefield. We remain at your service, My God.” She fixed him with her violet eyes.

  Alac was silent. Luckily, he had not taken off his helmet, so nobody noticed how every fiber of his being was responding to the beauty of the woman who was now Queen of Gardak.

  “It will be an honor to work with you,” he replied. “Evil is spreading and we need to become allies. Thank you for agreeing to be on my side, Queen Meromérila, and congratulations on taking the throne.”

  The priest uttered an enthusiastic prayer to the sky.

  “They are celebrating your blessing of the queen,” Róganok explained. “By the way, you like the queen, do you? Has there been anything between you two?”

  Alac whirled. His heart belonged to Luchy, and yet his instincts were pulsating vigorously. Róganok’s insinuation made his imagination soar so that he saw Meromérila naked, her white skin and silver hair adorning her curves.

  “Are you always so rude?” he asked the dragon when he had recovered from his reverie. It made sense the dragon had Mowriz soul. Perhaps that explained his behavior?

  “Did my comment upset you? It is obvious that you like each other. There is nothing wrong with that. Sexual intercourse is a blessing.”

  Alac blushed at the mention of sex.

  “My heart belongs to another.”

  “Ah, I see. I did not know that. A pity. Your children would have been beautiful. And this girl is worth more than a chest full of diamonds.”

  Alac snorted. Teitú would never have spoken to him in that way, and now he had to deal with this dragon which was unable to keep its thoughts to itself.

  The Queen of Gardak said something, raising her arms and looking to either side. The audience cheered.

  “This evening there will be a banquet in our honor. It is sure to be delicious,” Róganok said and licked his chops. The sight of his fangs scared the soldiers and everyone else. “We will bury our dead and mourn for them, and celebrate the arrival of the God of Light and his magnificent dragon.”

  Oh Teitú, how I need you.

  “My God,” the Queen said and kissed the demigod’s hand.

  Once again, Alac felt his instinct overcoming his r
eason, diluting Luchy’s image in his mind. He felt divided and had no idea how he was going to resolve this.

  ***

  The banquet was the most magnificent anyone could remember in those lands, and the celebration enabled their people to adopt the God of Light and his white dragon as their new deities.

  To fit in all the guests, hundreds of trees were felled and used by the Dakatak to fashion tables and seats. Alac was impressed by the efficiency of the insectoids, who obeyed without complaint. There was no doubt that they would make first-class soldiers.

  The new queen had invited the entire population of Gardak, from the poorest to the richest. They slaughtered more than fifty animals, among them some specimens that looked like boars and great birds that looked like the wyverns of the Meridian. Róganok enjoyed one of these birds set aside for him alone. It was raw, as he liked it, although he roasted the liver with the fire from his jaws. Small spirals of smoke oozed from the corners of his mouth to the amazement of the youngest ones, who applauded the spectacle.

  The God of Light was seated on the queen’s right, at a long table at whose head she sat, surrounded by esquires, priests, philosophers, historians, and other senior members of the hierarchy. The priests wore green tunics, the historians grey. Alac suspected that Gardakians and Mandrakians were very similar; they might come from the same gods.

  “Gardak will do well with a queen,” said Katalio, a priest who had already drunk too much fermented resin. “Hitherto the kings have worked our ruin with their tyrannical laws, but Meromérila will be good for the people. And besides, the arrival of the God of Light is a good omen.”

  Alac took part in the conversation through Róganok, who translated for him. It meant missing many details, particularly when the dragon began to show signs of needing a nap. In any case, his mind was in another world, literally. He was thinking about Luchy and Lulita. He missed his home and at that moment, all he wanted was a bowl of Lulita’s stew with her scrambled eggs, then to wake up early and go to the observatory. He missed the simple life of a farmer. It would have been deeply pleasing to retreat and devote himself to the land and his family.

  But he could not afford to be that naïve. Sooner or later, Evil would emerge again; Mórgomiel was not going to abandon his aims. As soon as the feast ended, he would go with Róganok to Allündel, after ensuring the alliance with the Gardakians.

  Alac spent the evening avoiding the glances of the queen, who was openly insinuating herself. Despite her extreme thinness, she had been made up to enhance her beauty and her physical attributes. But not even with all her makeup would she exceed Luchy in beauty.

  Music began to play in the distance. It came from instruments shaped like balloons or huge coffee beans, against whose surface the musicians rubbed a resinous stick. After a while, Alac realized they were not instruments but living creatures! They were enormous insects, perhaps the larvae of the Dakatak. This use of the insects was certainly strange, but the music was delightful.

  The queen stood up and began to dance, swaying her hips in a manner that Alac felt was very sensual. The priests recited psalms while they watched the God of Light. Later, he would find out that they were chanting: The queen is fertile! And she has found a mate! The queen is fertile! Let her give us princes and princesses!

  They led Alac to a luxurious tent which seemed to have been put up only recently, and for obviously seductive purposes. It was decorated with candles and large, comfortable cushions.

  The only reason I’m here is to negotiate, only negotiate, Alac repeated to himself. I have to make sure the queen understands she must be ready for when war breaks out.

  The queen walked in, swaying her hips with her hair loose and brushing against the curves of her body. Alac could not deny it, his body was attracted to hers. But his heart, which Luchy filled completely, was never in doubt and he was unshakable.

  Then, the queen let her dress fall to the ground. Alac was awed by the sight of this woman who, though extremely thin, had two full breasts like soft apples. Her thighs and belly glimmered in the light of the candles. The queen approached and danced around him so that he could see her and take delight in the pleasure that awaited him.

  Two passions were pulling Alac in opposite directions, threatening to tear him apart. His adolescent body wanted to possess Meromérila while his soul and his heart clung to Luchy’s image. All the while, he could not take his eyes off those thighs, hips, buttocks, breasts, and the line of silvery fuzz that decorated her pubis. The young man felt he was about to explode beneath his armor.

  True, he was attracted to the queen, but he would never betray Luciella. Carnal pleasure was one thing, but love was something else entirely. Then, it was suddenly as if the queen were no longer naked.

  She felt the change. Her dance lost its enthusiasm, and she became aware of the coldness in the boy’s eyes. She dressed hurriedly, shame-faced.

  “I need Róganok so that I can talk to you,” Alac said.

  “It will not be necessary. I have learned a little. While I was in prison, a traveler of worlds taught me your language.”

  “A traveler of worlds?”

  “I always loved you,” Meromerilá said, her eyes wide.

  She was adorable. He would have liked to embrace her as a consolation but he could not risk her misinterpreting the gesture.

  “Ever since I felt you at the waterfalls. Do you remember when we first met? I thought you were my angel and that you had come to save me.”

  “I was clear from the beginning: my heart is spoken for.”

  “I know,” she said with a sob. “But the hope is the last thing you lose.”

  “Meromérila, you must pay attention, this is important: the God of Chaos is regaining his armor. He has already taken part of it from here.”

  “That was the reason for such cruelty… Gardak has been assailed by tragedy for millennia. We made slaves of the Dakatak but I shall free Goochuka, the queen of the insects, who is a prisoner underground.”

  “That is all very well, but you need to understand that Evil is lurking not far away.”

  Alac went on to explain everything that had happened and his plans.

  “All my legions? She was surprised.”

  “We must take the risk. If we don’t win this war against Evil, everything will end: your world, your past, this beauty, the universe… Believe me, I’ve seen it.”

  “Flamonia.”

  “What?”

  “The priests tell the legend of a world named Flamonia that was destroyed.”

  Alac was taken by surprise. He had always suspected that someone else had access to the portals. It did not seem to him either strange or impossible. Meromérila had mentioned a traveler of worlds.

  “That’s true,” he confirmed. “Flamonia existed and suffered greatly.”

  “So it is not a legend, then?”

  “No. I need your legions to be well trained. Today we almost defeated the God of Chaos, but we failed.”

  The queen stroked his arm. “One day, you will succeed, my dear.”

  Alac put her hand aside.

  “I am glad you are well and that Gardak has you as its queen. That is all for now. I must continue my journey.”

  The queen smiled weakly, her purple eyes filled with emotion.

  “Of course, Lord of Light. I apologize for my impudence.”

  “Thank you for everything. The banquet was delicious.” Alac shivered to see the woman crying, with her eyes on the ground, ashamed, but he was adamant. “It’s time for me to leave.”

  He left her tent, spread his wings, and launched himself into flight.

  “Róganok!” roared the dragon beside him.

  With an acrobat’s leap, he mounted him and, letting forth a beam of light, they took off at enormous speed. From below, Meromérila watched him leave, her gaze sad. At once, her attendants came to surround her. They bombarded her with questions and she, with her young heart galloping in her chest, could only reply that they must
prepare the army.

  Part III – Aeternum

  Chapter XVIII – Allündel

  Alac pointed in the direction of a range of rocky mountains. “Kanumorsus is that way.”

  “That will not be necessary,” Róganok replied.

  Alac felt mist on his face. He touched himself and noticed with distaste that it was the dragon’s saliva that was dribbling from its snout due to their speed. He must have forgotten the protective cloak. Or perhaps he was spitting on his face. Alac could not tell if it was on purpose or not.

  “Why?”

  “First, because we dragons can enter the River of Time which will take us to Allündel more quickly. Second, because Kanumorsus has no portal.”

  “Really?”

  “Think about it for two seconds and you will understand. Kanumorsus is in the Meridian, a planet that was conquered by Mórgomiel thousands of years ago. He opened portals in the tunnels he created, what many know as the Ring of Amrin or the Devil’s Mouth. But Allündel is a sacred place of elves and dragons which has not yet fallen under his power. The River of Time is one of the wonders the beings of the Celestial Divinity bestowed on us, a stream of time that shortens space and time. To enter the River of Time is to experience another facet of dimension. You will see when we enter. It has been thousands of years since I used it. It will be a pleasure to follow its course again.”

  Alac looked back. They were a long way from the atmosphere of Degoflórefor which looked like a majestic blue pearl in the distance. He could not feel the cold of space or the hostility of the void.

  “Do you also resort to magic to protect us in space?

  “Of course, Alac, and we both benefit, particularly you who are not a god in its totality. If you were, you would not need my protection. But you are flesh and blood, and space is cruel.”

  “How do you generate the protective cloak? How does it work?”

  “It is a simple spell, Alac. The best way to understand it is by experiencing its effects. Pay attention when we encounter meteorites and other dangers. Now, be quiet. We must make speed.”