Return of the Darkness

by Andrew G. Wood

  The bear backed away as the flames spewed forth, as they hit the creature full on, causing it to flail its long powerful claws wildly and aimlessly. Several moments passed before the sounds died away and the beast fell, as its companion had, to the forest floor in a smouldering heap. The air filled with a thick black smoke and a putrid stench of burning flesh, as Galdrac calmed his breathing, hoping there were no more surprises out in the wilderness waiting for them.

  He watched the druid walk up to the bear that had effectively saved both their lives and thought perhaps they weren’t as useless as he had first thought. The bear, now back down on four paws, appeared no more than a pet as the druid patted the beast and ruffled its thick brown fur behind its ears. Galdrac never quite understood the bond between the animals of the world and druids, but it was clear it was stronger in some than others. The elf stood back and lowered his head just a little as if showing respect to the bear before the creature turned about and loped off into the forest.

  After prodding both of the beasts several times with his staff, Galdrac was satisfied both were definitely dead. He and the druid had barely managed to kill two of them, and only then thanks to the druid’s bear and a little luck. He dared not imagine what might have happened if there had been more than two, and the thought of an entire army of them did not bode well for anyone. The darkness was approaching, as to how long it would take to get here in force he did not know, but it was definitely coming.

  Chapter 25.

  Leyna thought long and hard about what to do. She had considered taking Finley and Karesh elsewhere, away from all the immediate dangers. However, she had quickly realised that doing so would not help her son in the world of dreams. Since her visit to Dheela a few days ago, he had once more been plagued by constant nightmares, and the thought that these might have been triggered by her interference played on her own mind.

  At least Finley was able to wake each time, and aside from the slight mental trauma, he appeared to do so physically unharmed at least. Now though, two characters apparently appeared in his dreams, as if both were trying to coerce him into taking one side over the other. The darkness of Abalyon seemed to be getting the better, and Leyna had noticed her son becoming far moodier over the past few days. Naturally, this could just as have been due to the lack of sleep as to any change in persona, but it was something that had her concerned.

  The constant appearance of Heralin, the elven goddess, was at least some small comfort, yet she seemed insistent in Finley tracking down Galdrac; or that is at least who they assumed she referred to. Until that morning, Leyna had no idea of the mage’s whereabouts, and so any decision to follow that path had been pointless. Now, however, a message had come from Barilyn, issuing a warning to all. The note had been signed amongst a few others, by Galdrac, the very person she was supposed to find.

  The message contained no good news and only reaffirmed to Leyna and those in charge at Lochgorm that the forces of darkness were indeed preparing for an attack. As to when or where that would happen, was as yet anybody’s guess, but as an elven outpost, Lochgorm was just as likely to be a target as any of the other settlements on the western borderlands.

  Leyna leant back in her chair, holding a copy of the message sent by Galdrac and the elders at Barilyn. The journey north to seek out the mage would take a few days on horseback, and with the increasing level of incidents involving creatures from the darkness, one likely to be fraught with danger. There was, however, one other way to transport yourself around the world, aside from the large Waygates in the capital cities.

  Leyna would have to call in many favours if she was to have herself and her two sons transported to Barilyn. Even then there was the chance that Galdrac may have moved on and left, but of all her options she thought this one probably the best to take. While a couple of arcanists could power up the Waygates, a dozen all linked together could hold a portal open long enough for them to move through. So long as each arcanist focused on the same destination at the same time, a window could be opened, allowing people to travel through.

  While this practice was well-known, it was very seldom used. Not only did you need a dozen able arcanists to power the portal, but they all needed to be able to visualise where they wanted to go, meaning each member would have to know their destination well enough. Secondly, the window of opportunity would last barely a few seconds, just long enough for maybe two or three people to pass through, before it closed. Summoning such a portal would also take its toll on those empowering it, and each of the arcanists would likely take several hours to recover. Finally, travelling this way was not without risk. If the portal closed before you had time to step through to the other side, then you disappeared with it.

  Leyna stood just in front of her sons Finley and Karesh. The wolf pup known as Sessi waited obediently beside them, as she checked they had everything they needed for their trip. In the room with her were the twelve arcanists she needed to manifest a portal to Barilyn. When it was opened, they needed to be ready to move, as their window of opportunity would be just a few seconds long. There were only fourteen arcanists in Lochgorm, and fortunately, twelve of them were elven and knew their destination well enough to create a portal. Although their skills in mastering arcane energy were supposed to be used in defending Lochgorm, those in charge had agreed to her demands to use them for making a portal.

  Leyna was unsure as to why they had so readily accepted, even though she had used her family’s influence to get some to accept. The niggling suspicion they had allowed her request because they wanted to be rid of Finley and his wolf played greatly in her mind. Since the episode with Dheela, she was witnessing more occasions of people, some of whom she had considered friends, giving her and her sons a wide-berth. She tried to shrug the feeling off, but no matter how had she tried to tell herself that was not the case, deep down she knew it to be the truth.

  Finley, as was now common knowledge, was a half-breed, with an elven mother and a human father. Despite it being seen as an abomination in older times, Leyna had hoped that in this more liberal world the stigma and ostracising would have stopped. Finley, after all, was just a boy, a very special boy, especially considering so very few half-breed children existed; in fact, she knew of no other alive but presumed there must be at least a few in the world. She may have had to give up her son when he was a just a baby, but she determined not to do so again. If people had an issue with him, then that was their problem, and she was not about to start letting Finley feel pushed out.

  After re-checking they were all ready and understood the instructions, she gave the signal for the arcanists to start. Each magician pointed the staff they held in both hands towards the centre of the room, as a small globe a light started growing. Finley watched as it expanded and was amazed when he could see something inside. The globe grew bigger, and he realised it was somewhere in Barilyn that he could see glimmering in the magical light, although it appeared as if he were looking at it through water.

  Once the light had grown big enough, Finley heard his mother give the instruction for them to go. He felt a shove in his back as he realised he was still stood gawping instead of doing as was asked, and sprinted to catch up with Karesh who was already disappearing into the pool-like light. Sessi needed no command as he obediently darted in behind Finley. Leyna then brought up the rear, hurrying in through the portal before it closed on her.

  Finley had forgotten the part about taking a deep breath before entering, and he felt like his lungs had taken a battering when he emerged the other side. Fortunately, the effect was only a short-lived one, and after a few gasps managed to steady his breathing to something considered normal. He turned back to see his mother emerge from the portal, just before it vanished and petered out behind her.

  They wasted no time as Leyna headed straight for the door to the room, just as several soldiers came crashing through it before they had a chance to leave. Obviously having someone magic a portal into a place where there was not usually one might
have caused a few people to panic, and it appeared that was exactly the case. They were all ordered to remain still by an elven guardsman, as even more followed in behind him. Several bows were pointed their direction, as they had little option but to do as was ordered.

  “Put your weapons down!” Finley heard his mother shout, “We are not intruders,” she added deciding to move anyway. The guards had little option, they either had to fire or move and realising she was an elf duly stepped aside for her to pass. Karesh and Finley looked at each other and quickly followed behind her, glancing at the guards as they passed. They were forced to stop, however when their mother did likewise in front of them. “Where will I find Galdrac?” she enquired looking at the faces in the room. “He is here?” she asked. Finley for one hoped he was, otherwise they had made a wasted journey, and he at least felt it would be nice to see the old mage again.

  One of the guards answered to the affirmative, and before he knew it, was being ordered to lead the way. While Leyna had been to Barilyn several times, she did not know which building was which; moreover, if the guard knew where Galdrac was, then he could save her the time of looking. The town, more commonly referred to as an elven outpost was home to more military personnel than not, something that actually made her feel safer.

  Finley looked up as Karesh pointed out the towers located on the outer wall, and paused briefly to look before being told to keep up by his mother. They were briefly forced to stand aside as a group of elven archers hurried along the street, running in unison in five ranks of four. Finley looked at their bows, and then at the staff, he now carried instead. He had liked using his bow and thought perhaps when time allowed it, he might strive to get another made; providing he could find somebody to help him make it of course.

  The guard led them across the outpost, to the largest building at the centre. The problem with a place like Barilyn was the fact there was little in the way of order as far as the buildings went. Whereas an ordinary town or village had streets, that flowed into one another, this place had buildings of all shapes and sizes, seemingly randomly placed, the very reason Leyna always found it difficult to find any particular one.

  The guards on the doorway only cast them the slightest of glances as they passed over the threshold and through the doors. Finley was a little surprised neither of the elves on duty had so much enquired about Sessi, and they had all but ignored Karesh completely. Perhaps being in a military outpost as opposed to an actual town, the people were less particular about who or what you were.

  As they entered a large room, Finley immediately noticed the face of an elderly gentleman stood around a large table in the centre. Beside him was an orc, one so huge it made Karesh look like a small child, and strapped across his back was possibly the biggest sword he had ever seen. The room was illuminated by magic, as he noticed several small globes of energy glowing around the wall, giving off the now familiar bluish tinge.

  The mage turned as he looked to see who had entered the room and smiled when he noticed the familiar face. Stepping forward with his staff in one hand, he gave Leyna a friendly greeting, and a small peck on the cheek, before looking over her shoulder and casting Finley a smile. “What are you all doing here?”

  “Long story, but to cut it short, we are here to see you,” Leyna told him.

  Galdrac asked if they minded waiting a few minutes while he finished off talking to the orc at the table, and suggested perhaps going over to the mess hall for refreshments. Leyna looked a little blankly, realising she did not know which building that was, and so absconded the same guard she had used before. The elf rolled his eyes a little, as he once more led them outside and across the outpost towards another slightly smaller building.

  Karesh stopped briefly to look, as four more orcs walked slowly by, each with large swords strapped to their backs. Finley noticed his brother looking but suggested they keep up with their mother, although he had to admit the sight was enough to make you stare; Well he supposed it would be if you were not used to seeing such a thing. He smiled, wondering if Karesh was going to grow that big and that if he did he would be almost twice the size of their mother.

  There were no guards on the door of the mess hall, and so they walked straight in unhindered. Inside, there were dozens of long tables with benches to sit on, running in rows all set out in military precision, unlike the layout of the buildings outside. At the far end, there were a dozen or so people stood behind a counter, “Come on let us get something to eat,” Leyna suggested, turning briefly to her two sons. While the elven woman unsurprisingly selected a bowl of vegetable soup, both Finley and Karesh were both fixated by the large meat steaks on view, although neither were sure they were allowed to have one. Fortunately, the human lady serving behind that part of the counter intervened and asked if they both wanted one. Karesh answered first, “Yes please,” he said excitedly. The lady smiled and placed one large steak on a plate for him, before turning her attention to Finley, “Would you like one dear?” she asked. “I can get a raw one for your wolf if you like?”

  Finley did not need to ask Sessi if that is what he would like as he could already sense the wolf’s needs. “That would very kind thank you,” he replied to the lady, who gave him a big smile, “And such good manners, here you go,” she added placing an even bigger steak on a plate for him. Karesh looked a little deflated, peering from his own steak to the much larger one given to Finley. The piece of raw meat handed down to Sessi was even bigger, as the wolf wagged its tail in delight, walking tall as it made its way to one of the benches.

  Finley waited for Karesh to sit down beside him, before sliding his plate over, “Here you go, we’ll do a swap,” he said offering the orc the larger of the two steaks. Karesh screwed his face up, in the strange way that he did when he grinned, “Thanks,” he replied tucking straight in before Finley had even let go of the plate.

  They had all but finished eating when Karesh spotted Galdrac enter the room, and making his way over towards them. “I’ll just get a drink and be right over,” he said briefly passing them by and heading for the serving counter at the far end. “Why do we need to see him again?” Karesh asked looking over to Finley’s plate to see if there was anything left for him to eat. “I’ve explained all this several times Karesh,” their mother replied a little tartly.

  “Sorry, I forgot.”

  Finley watched as Galdrac, carrying a cup of something hot, sat himself down beside his mother. In all honesty, even he did not know why they needed to see the old mage, other than the fact some elf goddess had told him to do so in his dreams. The old mage looked down at the floor where Sessi lay licking his paws, satisfied with his own meal, “Druid?” he said looking up and across at Finley before looking over to Leyna. Finley thought he detected a touch of disappointment in the old man’s voice and was about to ask why, when his mother spoke first, stopping him doing so.

  “He has shown signs of shaman powers also, like his father.”

  “Really? Two callings? That is very rare,” Galdrac replied leaning forward a little as if to inspect Finley a little closer. Leyna did not wait for anybody else to speak, as she added that her son may also have shown other abilities as well. She explained very briefly about his dreams and the fact they contained Abalyon. Finley noticed an immediate change on Galdrac’s face the moment that name was mentioned. As his mother spoke further, mentioning how he had managed to drag others into the dream world, before mentioning the elven goddess Heralin. “She says you have something for me,” Finley spoke for the first time, interrupting his mother.

  Galdrac looked puzzled, “Do I?” he said. Finley nodded, “Something you found, I think she said,”

  “Who said?”

  “Heralin. The goddess elf woman,” Finley replied waving his hand jumbling his words slightly.

  “The ring?”

  “What ring?” Finley asked.

  “The one I found, only I don’t know what it is, and I can’t find anybody here who can translate the damn w
ritings.”

  Leyna suddenly sat up, “Oh what language is it written in?” she asked wondering if it was perhaps something she had knowledge of.

  “Ancient troll I think,” Galdrac said dryly, not holding out much hope.

  “Hmm, that one is very rare. I know a little, show me,” she added.

  “It’s in my room, although I keep the ring with me in my coin purse. Here,” he said reaching down and taking it out for them to see.

  Galdrac explained that he had no idea what the stone was, but was sure it was imbued with some kind of magic. He told them that if he touched it there appeared nothing untoward, but if he rubbed the stone set within, it felt warm to the touch, hot almost as if it were on fire. Leyna held her hand out for the old mage to hand over the ring, despite it supposedly being for Finley. They all watched as she turned it over in her fingers, before holding it up to the light. “Hmm, the markings are in troll. See here around the band,” she said pointing them out, despite the fact nobody was close enough to be able to see them. “I think this is the symbol that means a bird,” she said before rubbing the stone and moving her hand away quickly.