Shiver the Moon

by Phillip M Locey

  “What in the Nine Hells are they?” Verino asked, barely above a whisper.

  “They are called Aasimar, and they come from another world. We are lucky to have them on our side,” Sir Golddrake explained.

  “I am certain we are…”

  “Come, let us go inside, Verino. I have waited long enough for my mug of spiced cider.”

  Taking Sir Golddrake’s lead, people began filing into the tavern. Once the entire Order, all the Aasimar, and a smattering of curious onlookers had packed in, there was barely room to stand.

  “Here, Jaiden, I saved you a seat,” Saffron said as she grabbed his hand.

  He took it thankfully, then set about gaining the attention of a barmaid to order a round of drinks. Service was understandably slow, but once the drinks were flowing and the initial awe of the Aasimars’ presence wore off, the atmosphere became surprisingly jovial. Most of the men were happy to be back in their own province, and the Pork & Porridge felt like home.

  After enjoying a couple hours of lightheartedness, Jaiden and Saffron were tapped by Sir Golddrake to follow him from the common area into a back room.

  Baron Rogan, Sir Kilborn, and Palomar sat close around a sturdy table, with the aloof Illicurus alone on the other side, wings spread more than Jaiden thought necessary. After allowing Sir Golddrake and Saffron to take their seats, he chose a spot between Saffron and the blue-tipped feathers of Illicurus.

  “I am sorry to pull you away from some well-earned relaxation,” Sir Golddrake began, looking around the table at each of their faces, “but plans must be made for how we proceed, and for that I need to know where things stand in the south. Palomar has told me a little already, though I wanted to eliminate the need for re-telling. Since I value all of your perspectives, I wanted you to share in the tale.”

  “Thank you, Sir Golddrake. After battling Gholdur War-priests, and now seeing Ebon Khorel use his powers in person, I have a better idea of what we’re up against.”

  “You saw the King-priest?” Jaiden could not keep from asking.

  “We did. And it was Ellingle who identified the handiwork of the Juda-cai,” Illicurus added.

  Palomar lowered his head in the Aasmiar Marshall’s direction. “Of course. Her experience provided much illumination.” Palomar sighed audibly. “Let me begin with what we saw. Reaction to our seizing Blackthorn Prison came swiftly. Within two days of the Order’s departure, we spotted troops moving toward us out of Lucnere. We were ready for them, naturally.

  “As per our agreement, the available uril-chent ore had been loaded on Cyril’s ships. With some ingenuity and the cooperative shaping of my brethren’s songs, we then temporarily rerouted the river and flooded the mines. It will take some work to make them operational again.”

  “It’s only too bad you couldn’t tear the whole place down,” Rogan interjected.

  “I understand your sentiment, Baron, but of course we needed the walls to make our stand and draw out the King-priest. Though swift, the initial response from the Chelpians was inadequate. They were mostly ordinary soldiers, unprepared for our wings, let alone magic. They laid an ineffectual siege, but took casualties from us.”

  “It was comical,” Illicurus added, “to watch them trying to batter the gate, and then scale the walls with little more than a few archers to cover them.”

  “They had to withdraw after a couple of days,” Palomar continued. “They realized it was foolish to remain in the open against us, given our resources. Then, we waited. I was sure an answer would come – we just did not know when.

  “We took turns flying out north, east, and south every day, watching for enemy movements. Four days later a storm rolled in from the south. From atop the prison I could see the massive, dark clouds advancing from above the horizon. The same day the storm manifested, however, a heavy fog, dark as shadow, rose out of nowhere to obscure the land north of the jungle for untold leagues.”

  A dull ache informed Jaiden he had pressed his elbows too hard into the table, leaning forward to follow Palomar’s story. Looking around, he saw he was not the only one on edge but forced himself to relax in his chair, realizing the words were not even issuing from the Aasimar’s mouth.

  “We could all sense something beyond nature at work, and prepared to be besieged once more. The enemy did not disappoint us. The fog met the jungle, curiously following the same road you took north out of Blackthorn. The sky was dark as twilight with the advancing clouds, and the wind strengthened. I could taste the impending rain on it.

  “A rustling came from the jungle as the fog advanced, as if it were a solid force disturbing the trees. Lightning illuminated the sky, and thunder cracked close behind. It seemed we were about to be caught between two colliding maelstroms. I flew to the outmost position on the northern wall; my eyes were trained on the mist as it finally broke free from the rainforest.

  “As another bolt of lightning struck overhead, it briefly illuminated numerous shadowy shapes within the dark fog. Our archers made ready, though we knew not what we were facing.”

  Illicurus suddenly unfolded his wings, startling the rapt table. Saffron grabbed Jaiden’s arm in response, then followed with nervous laughter and downturned eyes as she released it. The Aasimar’s dry, unapologetic tone suggested he was unaware of the tension. “This King-priest obviously was not taking any chances in dealing with us.”

  Palomar ignored the interruption and continued. “Once it rolled right up to the front gate, the fog evaporated, replaced by a horde that would be any general’s nightmare. These were not the troops we faced at Salmarsh, nor even like the smattering of War-priests garrisoned at the prison. The forces Ebon Khorel brought to bear were not unlike the Abyssal fiends we would fight on Mount Celestia.

  “Front-and-center was a huge, ebony battering ram, covered by a slanted, reinforced roof. A number of hooded men, moving like acrobats, used wooden poles to vault straight onto the outer wall, where they stuck and began to climb like tree frogs.

  “But my attention was grabbed by a large, lizard-like abomination. Tall as a house, it had five, ferocious heads, each with an iron collar around its neck. Chains spiraled outward from those, held by hairless men with markings and metal piercings upon their faces.”

  Jaiden rubbed his once-injured thigh at the description of the hydra. “I know that beast,” he said, the memory thick upon him.

  “And still, that was not all. Creatures like large, tusked dogs sprang forward and snarled in anticipation of an extra meal. Their eyes shone red in the dimness. Plenty of soldiers came too, wearing heavy shirts of steel and black shields – much better armed than the force we faced earlier.

  “The floor beneath my feet shook as the battering ram pounded the gate. My brethren acted quickly, firing arrows and then consolidating along the battlement. We decided breaching the gate didn’t matter as long as we kept the high ground.

  “It did not take long for them to break through, and once they did, the beasts charged into the fortress with abandon. Metherin sang a song to influence the scent of some of the nearby soldiers – they became like wounded prey, very appealing to the beasts. That bought some time, but we soon became busy with those who had scaled the walls.

  “We blinded them with our aurora and the fight was going well, but it kept me from noticing the arrival of the King-priest himself. In fact, I think he meant to remain unobtrusive, but right as the rain started to fall we felt it – all of the Aasimar – a strong pull of power at the edge of the jungle. I had felt it before. It was the same pull that called me to the caves where I hid and recovered my memories as a Damper. For a moment I despaired as I realized our enemy had found some of the Living Fire.”

  “I knew we should have gone back to recover it,” Rogan hissed. “There was just not any easy way with the Blood Tear Brotherhood on our trail.”

  “No, there was no easy way.” Palomar shook his head sympathetically. “And we cannot be sure that is where the King-priest found his. Either way, he has so
me now, and Gholdur has taught him how to use it. That, added to the stories your historian friend told you, and my companion Ellingle’s own interactions with them, is why we are now fairly certain Gholdur the Tyrant is one of the Juda-cai.”

  “Can we go backward for a moment?” Sir Golddrake put his hands in the air to stop the deluge of new information. “In order to make sense of all this, I am going to need you to finish the tale first. Then, we can discuss strategies. Please, Palomar, continue with the siege.”

  Palomar nodded his apology. “Of course, Master Golddrake. The storm had arrived, and when I felt the presence of the King-priest, I found he was away from the rest of the Chelpian forces among a cluster of bodyguards. They were all donned in black armor, astride black horses, but the rain obscured further details.

  “I rallied a handful of my brethren to fly down and engage him, hoping we might end this war quickly. Just as we leapt from the battlement, however, I saw that Ebon Khorel had stretched out a hand in our direction.

  “There was a buzzing in my ears, I was surrounded by light, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground, getting drenched in the downpour. Dazed, I was lucky one of my fellows reached me first. He helped me to my feet, but no sooner had I stood than he pushed me hard to the side. This time I saw the burst of light where I had just been. It accompanied a snap, a smell like burning hair, and a metallic taste on my tongue. A painful surge coursed up my legs, followed by the deafening crash of thunder. Thankfully, my wits stayed with me, and I realized the King-priest was actually commanding the lightning upon us.

  “Needless to say, it was time to leave.” Palomar leaned back and sighed, as if re-telling the story had released some of the tension from the experience.

  Illicurus took up where he left off. “I ordered our withdrawal and we ascended in a spiral pattern to deter our enemies from focusing on any individuals who might be wounded. We headed west across the great river, then began our long journey to Selamus, where Palomar promised we would meet the rest of his human allies.”

  Jaiden looked around the table at each person present, though none of their faces gave away anything other than an appearance of consideration. He understood, with so many things to think about, but after a few more seconds he couldn’t wait for someone else to ask the questions he knew they all must have.

  “So, were any of you wounded? How are you feeling, Palomar?”

  “The lightning was not a direct hit, thankfully. My legs felt numb and weak for a few days, but I have since recovered. I appreciate your concern. All told, we suffered nothing worse than cuts and bruises, fortunately.”

  “The King-priest was at Blackthorn in person… how long ago was that?” Sir Golddrake pressed.

  “A week,” came Illicurus’s cool response.

  “Baron, you probably know the King-priest’s behavior better than anyone here. Do you think he would seek to pursue the Aasimar?”

  Jaiden watched Rogan press his palms together. Perhaps feeling eyes upon him, Rogan turned and stared at Jaiden, but his expression didn’t change. After a moment, he looked back at Sir Golddrake. “Ebon Khorel has an obsession with the uril-chent we extracted at Blackthorn. If the mines were flooded as Palomar says, I think his first priority would be to return them to order. That would take time and more slaves.”

  “Not to mention more Dampers, of which there are none, as far as we know.”

  “Let us hope so, Palomar.”

  “Good,” added Sir Golddrake. “Then we should have some time. Please, share my thanks with all of the Aasimar. I know the danger you faced was real, but it may make all the difference.” He turned to Sir Kilborn next. “Pick a man to carry the news back to Windhollow. We need eyes at Halidor to give warning when the King-priest marches north again.”

  Sir Kilborn nodded his understanding.

  “I am not sure how much difference it will make, unfortunately, now that he has Living Fire.”

  “What exactly is the ‘Living Fire,’ Palomar?” Among a room of soldiers, Saffron’s voice sounded sweet and slow, like molasses. Jaiden’s eyes were drawn to her full lips, and his mind began to wander, before he forced his attention to Palomar.

  “As I have explained before, the Veil of Nessus prevents physical bodies from travelling between worlds, or planes of existence, if you would. Some planes may touch or merge, and special doorways can sometimes be created, but there are rules governing such magic as well. It is complicated.

  “I believe those you call the ‘old gods,’ are beings known on other planes as the Juda-cai. They could not travel here themselves, but were able to send Avatars. Ellingle, our companion, has met one such Avatar on her travels. The Juda-cai are immensely powerful, and struggle for dominance against one another on their home plane, as well as across other worlds. Yours is but one such battlefield. While their Avatars were present they exuded power, especially when invoking magic. This power permeated the air around them – even the earth and living things would have absorbed some of it. Like light, however, it could not be captured, and continues to surround us.” Palomar turned his head back-and-forth, as if looking for the mysterious power of the Juda-cai at their very table.

  “An exception, however, are some gemstones that formed when the Avatars were still present. Rubies especially, perhaps because of the heat and pressure present during their formation, have been known to trap some of that direct, magical essence exuded by the Avatars of the Juda-cai. Such stones are known as the Living Fire and can be used by those who practice the Art to unleash extraordinary power, comparable to that wielded by the Avatars of the Juda-cai.”

  “And now the King-priest has one of these rubies?” Jaiden asked, clasping his head in both hands. “Wonderful!”

  “I do not think it is wonderful at all, Jaiden.”

  Jaiden raised an eyebrow at Palomar and shook his head.

  “Certainly, we shall have to be on guard when we face him,” said Sir Golddrake. “But we should not forget; we have not only a flight of Aasimar, but the Champion of Criesha on our side. We will not hand victory to the Empire of Chelpa without a fight.”

  Jaiden saw Palomar look at Illicurus, and saw Sir Golddrake notice as well.

  “You are all with us, Palomar, aren’t you?”

  Illicurus responded. “Your Order liberated us from captivity, and even though my greatest desire is to return to Mount Celestia, we shall honor your bravery with our allegiance… at least until the King-priest is brought to justice.”

  Palomar nodded as if he had been unsure what answer Illicurus might give.

  “Excellent!” Sir Golddrake pounded the table with his fist. “Now, if you will consent, I would like to slow our approach to the capital. I know many of the towns between here and the Eight Hills, as well as estates of wealthy men. Between Jaiden’s growing reputation and an appearance from the Aasimar, we can drum up healthy support for the Order before reaching Selamus. With any luck, that will put enough pressure on Prince Falcionus to publicly throw his support behind us as well. If I know the Prince, he is too concerned with popular opinion to be found on the wrong side of a movement such as ours.”

  “Oh, we’re a movement now?” Sir Kilborn laughed incredulously. “Here I thought we were a military outfit.”

  Jaiden shrugged as they all stood from their chairs. He certainly felt a part of something more than that.

  “Jaiden, would you accompany me to the stables? I should like to see how the horses are doing.”

  Jaiden nodded. “I suppose so.”

  Palomar smiled and held out an arm for Jaiden to lead the way, “Very well.”

  When they had passed beyond the Pork & Porridge’s common room, still noisy with revelry, and into the fresh night air, Palomar confided. “I wanted to talk to you privately.”

  “You don’t say?” Jaiden smirked.

  “Well, I heard stories from the other men about how you performed a miracle while at Castle Windhollow?”

  “There is truth to that, but only
insofar as I delivered the blessings of Criesha.”

  “So you channeled Criesha’s power to heal the sick?”

  They reached the stables behind the tavern, where the boy Jaiden handed Inferno over to was putting away the last of the feedbags. He stared at Palomar with an open mouth as they approached, but said nothing.

  “You could phrase it so if you like.” Jaiden picked up a brush, resting on a rail, and went over Inferno’s coat in long strokes. The stallion groaned his appreciation.

  “Do not misunderstand; I am not implying anything is amiss. Only, it is likely Criesha is also one of the Juda-cai.”

  Jaiden lifted his palms up, “Is that bad? I do not really know what it means.”

  “Not bad, my friend. It is simply best to remember that the Juda-cai have their own agendas, and lesser beings such as we, are ultimately but pawns in their game.”

  “I think I am a little more than that to Criesha.”

  Palomar tilted his head to the side, and Jaiden was glad the stable was too dim for the Aasimar to see him blushing. “Now it is I who do not know what you mean.”

  Jaiden peeked around the horses, but could no longer see the stable boy present. “Criesha and I have a… special sort of relationship. I have promised myself to her.”

  Palomar’s eyebrows furrowed. “How can this be? She does not reside on your world.”

  Jaiden shrugged. “We meet in another place, when I am dreaming.”

  “You are wed to a Juda-cai in your dreams?”

  “No, it’s real. It’s just, well, we can only be together when I’m asleep. It is real.” He nodded.

  “I see. I apologize for my reaction, Jaiden. The idea is strange to me. I would still caution you to be wary, however. The Juda-cai gain power in their own world through the spread of their influence on others. Take care you are not manipulated from any course you feel to be right.”

  “She’s not manipulating me.” His voice reached a higher pitch. “We want the same things.”

  Palomar smiled and placed a gentle hand on Jaiden’s shoulder. “Very well, my friend. I hope for your sake that remains the truth. Now, I sense we are both weary. I will go meditate, and leave you to your dreams.” He patted Inferno’s flank before taking a few steps from the stable. He stopped for a moment, but didn’t turn. “It is good to see you well, Jaiden.” Without another word, Palomar returned to the tavern, leaving Jaiden to indulge his horse.