Quarterstars Awakening

by David L. McDaniel

  “You speak blasphemy,” said yet another.

  “Think what you may,” Jaerick said raising his hand to silence any more reaction from them, feeling a little agitated with their pious platitudes. “I have been having dreams of Traelyn and the Quarterstar Talisman with the Shard embedded in the talisman.”

  “But, my king, once again, the Shard can only be transported out of the catacombs if it is first put into the Quarterstar Talisman,” Sahven commented looking at the other five Sorae in attempt to calm the emotions, and bring the meeting back into control. “As long as we have the talisman, we can be assured that the Quarterstar is safely where it is supposed to be.”

  “That is why I sent Naemyn away. We have found that the Talisman is missing,” Jaerick said calmly, knowing that this new information would lay down yet another hammer blow upon their never-ending pompous attitudes.

  Shocked silence filled the room.

  “How can it be missing?” Sahven asked in barely more than a whisper.

  “I don’t know, and that is why Naemyn has left for the catacombs.”

  Sahven took a deep breath and realized the situation had just unfolded into something more ominous than he first anticipated. “Then tell us your vision,” he said in a sincere, humble voice, knowing he had to give the king audience to his absurdities.

  “Now that I finally have your attention, I am also confident that your prejudices against me won’t get in the way moving forward.”

  “My king,” one began, feigning insult. “You misunderstand us. We only serve you and the elven kingdom.”

  “Is that your true belief, your sole motivation?” Jaerick said noticing the mock reverence.

  “It is, my king,” he said.

  “If you speak truly then listen and do not interrupt until I finish.”

  Jaerick then went on to describe his dream in detail from beginning to end. He explained his confusion as to how he could forget Traelyn from his memory so completely, and why now he had regained his memory of her through such a dark dream. He went into detail of his son’s demise in the pit, and demanded that the Sorae take this portion of the dream in context when they make any rash decisions to their interpretations to the dreams. When he was finished, he looked at the six Sorae members and waited for a reaction or comment.

  “My king, you have shared your vision with us, and even your fears, but what do you think this vision ultimately means?” Sahven asked.

  Jaerick was surprised that the first question was actually a question of his concern, and a fair and honest question.

  “I don’t know for sure.” He paused and thought a little deeper before answering. He was not sure what they might think of his completely honest opinion. “I suspect that Traelyn is still alive and her human children will attack our home and kill my son. I also think Traelyn has, or at least very soon will have, the Quarterstar Talisman. And we must do something.”

  “Some dreams are mere paranoia. Do you really believe Val Eahea has sent to you a vision in the form of this dream?”

  Jaerick shook his head. He had told them too much, almost as if he fell into a trap.

  “I know where you are going with this Sahven. My father had this problem with his own spiritual advisor. The Sorae are not the only ones that have communication with the creator. If Val Eahea wants to speak to someone directly, or through dreams and visions, don’t you think he is capable of doing so? You are not so much more powerful than our creator that you can dictate to him that he must speak only through you so that you may interpret his meaning.”

  “Yes, we fully understand that our creators can do anything they please, but please remember that Val Eahea was originally your god. We are trained to understand and react on all such matters concerning all three of the gods. That is why you are talking to us now, is it not, my king?”

  Jaerick shook his head, wondering how he continued to fall into their verbal traps, he was only talking to them because his friend Naemyn had asked him to, and for no other reason was he here. “So what is your interpretation, and suggestion?” he mocked, speaking as he exhaled.

  “I do indeed believe that this is a message from Val Eahea, and he is trying to warn you of what could happen if you let these humans rally to their full strength. Send our forces and crush them before it is too late,” Sahven said slapping his hand on the table as he spoke the last word.

  Jaerick blinked twice in surprise at Sahven’s reaction. He responded with a quick hand slap on the table. He shook his head, again not surprised at how aggressive these peaceful Sor elves respond when it comes to humans. “And what of the Quarterstar Talisman?” he added, getting them off of the path of destroying humans, at least temporarily.

  “That is only a marker to tell you that it is Val Eahea who is speaking to you.”

  “But what of Traelyn, then why does she have it?”

  “That is merely your subconscious working into Val Eahea’s message and confusing you.”

  Jaerick stood up and became annoyed again. “Do you remember that the Quarterstar Talisman is missing?”

  “Yes, but you will find it.”

  “On that we agree, but I also believe that I will find it when we find Traelyn. She will have it in her possession.”

  “No! Do not search her out! Do not bring her here. We sent her out many years ago to save the elven kingdom. Please my king, do not attempt to bring her back,” Sahven said before he could think about his words.

  Jaerick paused, and stared at the group as they collectively went silent. “What do you mean you sent her away to save the kingdom?” He asked slowly.

  “You don’t understand…” Sahven began, attempting to backtrack his error.

  “No, you don’t understand,” Jaerick said, almost in a whisper, but loud enough for the others to hear. “I am just now finding out what events transpired when Traelyn left us. I will not allow such important events to pass against my wishes again.”

  “But my king, surely you must know that she is dead by now. Humans cannot live for three hundred years.”

  “Yes, reason tells me this to be true, but I also feel that she is alive and something tells me that it is important that I see her again. I honestly feel that the elven people cannot be so afraid of one human female that they would deny their king his wishes.”

  “We sent her away three hundred years ago to save the people from a possible civil war, caused by the possibility of a half-elf heir, not to mention her being the heir to the prophecy we have been speaking of today. To bring her back will only reactivate the prophecy and bring about those fears again. That is the true reason why your son dies in your dreams.”

  “So you sent her away to avoid a civil war, but for three hundred years we have been at war with humans because they now believe their sons are rightful heirs to my throne, and I am to believe that my son dies because of this influence.”

  “The humans have no real claim to the throne. The first human king was a blasphemer to the elven race and is dangerous to our existence.”

  “I refuse to believe it. Dar Drannon, her father, was our loyal friend. These humans may have been, and still can be, of service to elven kind.”

  Jaerick despised the human tribes, but he did not wish their complete destruction: They were simply a thorn in his side that he wished would disappear on their own volition. He understood their plight in that they were sandwiched between the elven kingdom and the destructive dragons from the Dragoncross Mountains. However malicious he or his elven counterparts thought the humans were, he understood that theirs was a need of survival.

  “No! This is more blasphemy, my king. Do not speak in such way! These humans are the barbarians that followed us
out of our original homeland, and they have been a nuisance to us ever since.”

  “What if fighting is not the answer?” Jaerick asked. “We have been doing it for so long with no just conclusion.”

  “My king, unfortunately, fighting them is the only option. This has been, and so shall be, as far as humans are concerned. They cannot be allowed to be part of our prophecy. Only you and your father insist that they are part of it for good. If these humans get a foothold, they will overrun us, we will slowly, but surely, cease to exist, and that is true even if they do not secure the shard and talisman together. Either way, it will mean our demise.”

  “That may be so, but what if we are not meant to be here in the first place? What if this is land was destined for humans, and what if we are supposed to be somewhere else, what if my father was supposed to take us even further, maybe to another place farther west?”

  “What are you saying?”

  What I am saying is, maybe this northern coastal area is not supposed to be our final home.”

  “Are you saying we should leave this homeland? Leave all that we have here? And what of Aaestfallia Keep? If the fact that we now exist here together isn’t a sign that Raezoures and Val Eahea wanted us here and nowhere else, then I don’t know what is.”

  “Maybe we should. I do not doubt that Val Eahea wanted us to find this place with your kind already here, but that does not change the fact that we may need to leave. We can dismantle and uproot ourselves and take away anything that is precious to us. It could be time to move on. Aside from the Aaestfallia Keep there is no proof that this is where we belong.”

  “No,” Sahven said shaking his head. “I think it would be wrong to leave. It would also be wrong for the Val elves to leave and the Sor elves to stay, which is exactly the division that would create. We are one race, and it must stay that way. We must stay and simply rid the humans of existence by going on the offensive instead of always being on the defensive.”

  “Even Naemyn despises the humans and wishes them to be eliminated. Are you not in harmony with your closest friend and advisor? “Added Laesting.

  Jaerick walked around the table. “I’m finished here. Naemyn asked me to tell the Sorae of what we have decided to do and I have done so. My decision is final, and Naemyn has already approved it. He is going to find the Quarterstar Shard, and find Traelyn and the Quarterstar Talisman if he can. Ultimately, I want him to bring Traelyn back, the motions are already in place. Thank you for your advice, I will consider all that you have said.”

  “I wish we could have spoken to Naemyn before he left.”

  “He had to hurry. There was no time for discussion.”

  “We just fear that he will not return, and we do not know what Naemyn’s true intentions are.”

  “Well you don’t know what he is thinking, so you are just going to have to put your faith and trust into your king for a change.”

  Chapter 11

  A light breeze blew towards Traegon as he crested the hill and saw the massive army encamped in the valley. He had been riding solid for three days. The day was ending and the overcast sky hid the last moments of light that had been casting a dim shadow upon the land throughout the day. Riding down into the valley, he saw nothing but tents, all in a tight knit forest of brown and green canvas that littered the valley. When he neared the bottom of the hill, he began to make out the soldiers milling about. Some were sharpening and maintaining their weapons, while others were practicing their skills by sparring against each other. Many just sat around campfires drinking ales and talking amongst themselves.

  They had been on a two-week road march, and during that time had only stopped twice to set up a full camp. They had been camped now for a number of days and were making the most of their extended down time.

  As Traegon approached the encampment, he saw the banners flapping in the light dusky breeze. These banners symbolized and identified each individual tribe, signifying their regimental command. He knew there were hundreds of different tribes and regiments but he had never seen them together like this. When his father, Daegon, left two weeks ago, he left with five regiments of fifty men each with the intent of meeting the other commanders and their regiments at a designated rendezvous point. From there they must have mustered their large force together and headed north.

  He had reached the first set of tents and was surprised that he was able to enter the perimeter without even a question or little more than a sidelong glance. Traegon then realized that it was the elves that they were suspicious of and not other humans, which to him was slightly odd, because as long as he could remember they not only fought elves, but they also had minor skirmishes amongst other tribes.

  He walked his horse in a little deeper and approached a group of soldiers sitting in front of a fire near a circle of tents. They stopped their conversation and stared at Traegon with defiant distrust. Traegon took a deep breath and spoke.

  “I’m looking for Commander Daegon of the Mothers Defenders.”

  “Big brown tent north of here. You’ll see the banner,” one of the soldiers said as he lifted his ale, took a swig, and then turned his head to the right.

  Traegon nodded in return, and continued through the rows of tents, noticing the condition of the soldiers. They were tired, dirty, but still enjoying their rare time off. The banners he passed were creative and original as they all had some sort of glorious history to them. Daegon’s originated from being within the true lineage of the Great Mother, and by being the son of many great leaders serving Traelyn, the Great Mother. Other banners represented the regiments’ famous victories or overall attitude of their fighting abilities.

  He passed the High Swords regiment, a simple red banner with a sword held high. He passed by many other banners and the men that grouped near them. After he made a few turns and switchbacks in between tents, he saw the Great Mothers’ Defenders banner flapping in a light breeze from atop the brown and green commander’s tent. Upon seeing the tent, Traegon trotted the horse, eager and yet hesitant to reach the tent and tell his father the news about the Great Mother.

  Two guards stood in front of the tent and drew their swords as Traegon approached. Traegon pulled on the reins, stopping his horse. He dismounted and handed the reins to a servant boy who was standing obediently waiting for orders. He took two steps toward the tent entrance when one of the guards blocked his path. “Halt!” the soldiers commanded in unison as they pointed their swords towards Traegon’s breast, both of their sword tips were planted firmly against his leather breastplate. Traegon raised his hands above his shoulders. “I need to see my father, Commander Daegon.”

  “What business do you have with the commander, boy?” the soldier said with an angry sardonic smile.

  “Just get my father; I have news from the Great Mother.”

  The larger soldier of the two motioned with his head to the other soldier to go inside the commander’s tent. Within a few seconds, Traegon and the other guard heard Daegon’s booming voice commanding them to let Traegon enter. Traegon put his hand on the blade and moved it away from his chest. “Thank you for your obedient service,” Traegon said, smiling as he entered the tent.

  Daegon stood in the center of the tent. His staff sat around the edges of the tent. “What are you doing out here?” he shouted at his only son. “You had better have a good reason for being here, one for leaving the Great Mother, and two, for compromising our security by showing up here.”

  Traegon stood erect with both hands to his sides, but he looked straight into his father’s eyes without fear, and answered. “The Great Mother has sent me here to deliver a message to you.”

  “What could be so important to the Great Mother that she would send you miles away from home that couldn’t wait until we return?
”

  “She is dying,” Traegon answered.

  “What? That is impossible. She can live forever as long as she eats that nasty flower.”

  “That is just it. She has destroyed them all, and if that isn’t bad enough, there is more ill news.”

  “Well don’t keep me hanging, boy. Go on,” Daegon pushed, becoming increasingly annoyed with the situation.

  “Father, I tried to talk her out of this,” Traegon continued, and for the first time since his adolescence years, he began to tremble while addressing his father. “She wants to come here with you so that you can take her to the elves.”

  Daegon instantly turned red and raised both hands, shaking his fists. “What kind of joke is this? What are you doing here? Why are you really here?”

  “It’s true father. She wants to see the King of Elves.”

  Daegon walked over to Traegon, grabbed him behind his neck, and pulled him closer so that their faces were less than an inch apart. “You do not understand what you are saying.”

  “Yes Father, I do. I begged her not to send me, because I knew that this would be your reaction. She wanted me to take her to the elves, but I refused, instead I said you would know what to do.”

  Daegon turned loose of his son, and turned to his staff. “Leave, all of you! We will resume our meeting later.”

  As the staff officers left, Daegon turned his back to Traegon and collected himself. Traegon stood silent and waited for his father’s response.

  “Do you know what this means?” Daegon finally asked his son.

  “No, I don’t. She said something about dreams, and the prophecy of Dar Drannon.”

  “I’m sure it does mean something to her, but I think she has finally lost her mind, and has forgotten what the elves have done to her.”

  “I think you’re right father, because she said that the elves have done nothing to us, and she must see the elven king.” Traegon said. “So what do we do?” Traegon asked after a long pause.