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THE KING’S RING
THE KING’S RING
[A story I wrote]
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In those later days, the world had changed, for as always with the nature of men change comes with forgetting the days that proceeded it. The many long years of peace and civility were eroding away into the resentfulness and disregard of their father’s lore. The children had grown into their own and become hard-pressed to refashion the world after their own desires.
There came a time one spring of great feasting in the King’s Hall in Mithar, when, in their midst, an unannounced stranger stood. The man dressed all in black came even before the King’s throne itself, saying, “Oh great lord of Eriduah, do you even know the reason for your feasting, and its same declaration throughout your realm? Sire would that you embellished its stature with heroic games of sport, and recall the day’s origin and the battle which won the day’s call for such rejoicing. For if not sire, this celebration, without a definition is but a hollow and vain event, save only to fill the gluttonous bellies of fools ignorant of their past.”
The music halted as dancers stood still in their steps, smiles fell even as the king rose to his feet, “Harsh words from a stranger in my court. But they are true nonetheless, come and enlighten us – ignorant fools, that we may have a better reason for full bellies and warm hearts.”
“Then listen to my tale, Oh court of the King,” said the man in black who turned about to that listening people. “Baranal, am I, come from Uruk to enlighten your king, Gadreel in the real cause for celebration. “One hundred fifty-seven years ago from this very day sire, a man named Mahelabreth, and his wife Azureth were slaughtered, along with the company of thirty souls who gathered to cross into this new realm. As with so many immigrants, before them, had done in search of a place to call home, people were horrifically cut down by a ravenous band of goblins seeking to return to their caves in the Iron Hills. Word reached Mahelabreth’s brother, Jaravil a merchant of Uruk who quickly rose up arms to rout out that fleeing horde.
“Oh, King Gadreel and to your listening court, hear now these words, for in the aftermath of that vengeful onslaught a lone hostage, who was before unknown, was eagerly recovered. It was none other than the only child and daughter of Azureth, Awan herself! Rescued from those cruel beasts Awan declared they sought only to live among her uncle’s people in Uruk. So, tender her face and touching her tale that the city’s high lord, Rakeel desired to wed her and gift all her heart’s desire, though sadden he could never bring back those whom she had lost.
“King Gadreel of Mithar and you people of his realm, I tell you these things only that you may not forget the wedding feast celebrated that, this very day now; and the long years of peace and reason Goblins fear your lands. Know, also sire, that from the union of those two was birthed my very own grandfather’s grandfather, Kennan the smith who made the king that rides upon your noble finger, King of Mithar.” With that tale told Baranal, the man in black took a knee before that lord.
Gadreel looked down at his hand where the mithril, seven-pointed star was inlaid into a black onyx stone, and wrapped as a finely decorative golden ring.
The king removed the seal of his office and held it up high before the people to see. Then, stepping down from his raised seat the king said to the kneeling man before him, “Rise Sir Baranal and accept this gift as a memorial of your father’s love. From henceforth you shall be known to the people as a Chief of Records. For in sharing this tale you shall be gifted that very battlefield land and a manor raised upon it, befitting a nobleman; Baranal, son of Awan and Rakeel, in having kept and researched that which we forgot. You deserve recognition and praise for that we shall remember what has gone on before us.”
In accepting the ring that court burst into celebration once more, only now did they have a much better understanding for their joy.
A LOST BOY?
A LOST BOY?
--(A story with a little dark humor I wrote)---
There was a boy named Ungon who was on his first hunt. Along the way, he had become lost, and his people were far behind him. Then he came upon a rugged piece of land, mountainous with jutting sharp rocks in a desolate area. His water container was near empty as was his rations depleted. Things were feeling hopeless. His strength was nearly spent.
When he suddenly happened upon a foreign camp. Strange voices off in the distance drew him closer to a group of shaggy, dark men who smelled like they knew not the meaning of a bath. More creatures than men. Some had tusks curving up from their mouths and boar ears, or horns on the side of their heads. Coming closer to the light of their camp and seeing their features better melted away all of Ungon’s weary troubles as only escape came to mind.
Braving the courage, he cleared his throat, asking, “Who are you?”
Startled they whirled about from the fire to the young man’s direction “What are you, we ask instead?”
“A morsel me thinks, but more bone than meat,” said another.
“I am a boy, Ungon is my name.” He declared, looking at the path behind him.
“The boy has a name for itself, how sweet,” the four creatures laughed in unison.
“What – what are you – things,” Ungon asked?
“Things? Boggers, Drogs, Hobgoblins, Orcs, takes your pick, Meat, and Bones, makes no difference after you’re eaten,” said the largest and closest goblin.
“What does it call itself?”
“Listen up, Duggnek! It called itself a boy,” declared the smallest of the four.
“Said its sweet name of Ungon.”
“I still says more bones than meat is this one here,” Duggnek wiped his leaking mouth.
“It’s all bone.”
“Some meat there, Noge.”
“I am a man on my first hunt.”
“I say, rather a boy on his last hunt, instead,” Noge laughed, and the others joined in.
“What you be hunten man-boy?”
“I was hunting rabbit then came upon a deer and then lost my way,” Ungon confessed.
“Rabbit, less bones than this one,” said Noge.
“Deer got more meat than him,” laughed Duggnek.
“Thinks he found Goblin instead, sad little lost man-boy did,” They all laughed, even the boy. Then they fell silent leaving Ungon laughing by himself.
“Man!”
“Man, and meat, all the same, Borge,” Duggnek nodded to his companion.
“And this one is lost nonetheless, ain’ts he?” Noge snickered to himself rubbing his hands together.
“Lost, then eaten says I, Noge.”
“Bokrah, I says hes lost and alone ands dats no good way to be, says we helps em,” Noge replied.
“I – I hates being alone,” Duggnek sighed.
“And lost, don’t forget lost!” The other three laughed, then Noge added, “Duggnek, You are always lost and alone.” They laughed even harder.
The boy said softly, “Well, no one likes being lost or alone, not even fine goblins like yourselves.” They stopped laughing and just stood there staring at the boy, who went on pitifully, “I do not like being lost, because now I feel so foolish.”
“Oh no, a foolish lost boy, that's no good havin.”
Ungon tried not to cry though his face looked like he wanted to, “Yes a foolish boy, thank you for making me feel even worse now.”
Duggnek stood up, twice as large as the lost hunter, “Well we can'ts have this poor man-boy feelen so horrible canwe? I says we takes em home – and quietly so.”
“Now, whose talking foolishness – what you mean take em home?” Noge was furious.
But Borge injected, “No, no, no there’ll be more men, meatier and less bones Im sure of it.”
Bokrah spoke up, “Now there is a plan to stand behind, lets take the rabbit hunten boy-man to wheres more man-meat tis.”
Ungon smiled happily, “Would you? Goblins are not so bad after all!”
They laughed deviously with watering mouths, “That’s what wes likes ta hear now,” Borge said.
“But –“ Duggnek began. Then Noge elbowed him in the stomach, “No buts here, we are just glad to help the boy to where more men are. Understand now?”
“Gratitude to you all, I think I came from this way.” Ungon, thought hard.
"That's right, lost boy we gonna shows its da way home," Duggnek laughed.
The four coarse-haired, smelly creatures followed him as if they were leading the way, “Yep, Is smells em this a way, lets keep goin boy-man.”
“Says his name is Rabbit,” Duggnek stumbled.
“No he didn’t, says its name was Ungon-deer,” Noge sounded smarter.
“Yes, that is right we are going the right way,” Ungon waved them on to follow him.
THEN at that moment, from behind razor-high rocks and surrounding brush fourteen spear-armed men jumped onto the scene hastily jabbing and slaying the four Hobgoblins!
"Nephew, you did far better than I did on my first hunt in taking two elk," Ungon's uncle praised.
"Son, I am so very proud of you!" His father beamed, watching as the others in the party cut the creature's heads off, then raising them on tall pikes.
Ungon said, "Gratitude, now that should serve as a warning that this passage of the Irons Hills is off limits to anyone else."
The four raised heads looked stunned, caught in their silent screams.
...
DISCLOSED SECRETS, The Argument
DISCLOSED SECRETS, The Argument
--(A story I wrote)---
The gray stone Manor that overlooked the Bay of Luhnn’s harbor was a beautiful house, but it was about to no longer be a home. Something was wrong. The merchant, Baldon sat at his dining table. A letter lay in front of him, and the four-stemmed candle holder of the Prophets. Its light nor the letter gave the old man any encouragement as the letter was like a cold wind from the past. His youngest son came home and entered the room looking just as pale as his father. “Son there is something I need to tell you. Forgive me, but I feel I should have shared it with you years ago.”
The young man stood a chair distant from the ancient figure, “Yes, father?”
Baldon’s voice was dry and broke, “ This - This is not easy, but I have withheld it long enough from you, and it will be yours to know from here.”
The thin figure placed a resting arm on the back of the chair but remained silent.
The senior’s eyes glanced at a side table where a decanter of wine sat, then sighed, “Your mother and I are not your parents. Well, I am your father, but Sil'renda – ” He sighed again without the wine’s courage, “Sil'renda is not the woman who gave birth to you, and Sil'ynthia is not your sister either.”
“So, no one is who they were?”
Quickly the man said, “I am your father and Cal'an is your brother. Just - I married a woman named Linlus of Uruk. But she became sick, well, for another man and left us. I put her away by law, and then came to the city of Mithar. In time, I met Sil'renda of Elosh, at the Gate market. She had a daughter by another husband, one who used to beat them both horribly, but they ran away and left him by law. Sil'renda and I married, and so she became your mother and Sil'ynthia became your sister.
“I see.”
The numb words hit his father, “Are you – alright son?”
“Does Cal'an know this?”
“Yes.”
“How – long has Cal'an known?”
The old man grew ancient, “Being much older than you, your brother Cal'an grew up knowing things”
The younger’s face grew red, “And only now you tell me. For what reason?”
The father felt the cold wind return, “Linlus desires to meet with you.”
Silence.
“Fayendar, son?”
“What have I to say?”
“I just felt you should know.” The old man Baldon had finally let the secret go.
“I see. I should have known. It was only because she contacted you with the desire of meeting me, which forced your hand in telling me now. Did I get that correct, father?
It was his turn to sound numb, “I was wrong for not telling you, Fayendar.”
“Did I get that correct, father?”
“Yes, son.”
“What else is there?”
“Nothing.”
Suddenly the youngest son’s own two feet were strong enough to stand on his own, he released the chair beside him, “Well father I have news of my own to share. I came home, to tell you today, instead of waiting twenty-seven years.”
“I deserved that.” Baldon blinked.
His son’s words were like ice, “We do not always get what we deserve and many times –“ Then he came out with his own secret to disclose, “I was Disfellowshipped by the Council of Elders from the religious Order today, father.”
“What is this is horrible news you bring me!” The old man shouted
The son’s words were cut off, “Worse than learning –“
It was Baldon’s turn to be red-faced, “You have disgraced your family!”
Fayendar’s ice was above a whisper, “Which family is that father?”
But Baldon raged on, “I am serious, Fayendar! We shall be –“
He cut his father’s words off, “There is no we, father. There is an I, and I will be the one you shunned. I will be the one cut off from the family, and from my friends, and- ignored by everyone when I walk through the city market like I am not even there. I - I father, not you, not we. Oh, yes – yes you may get the looks and whispers behind your back for having such a wicked son! But you know all too well those very things because of the way you treated others for years, who were ostracized from the gathering of God! What does my petty loss, or pain have to do with anything, other than with the shame brought upon you? It is not like I was special enough to even know about my own mother! What other lies are there to learn? What investment of care did you put in me as a person, Lord of Baldon of the gray Manner?
The old man’s eyes blinked hard, for his son never spoke such before, “What was it you did?”
“So now you ask. I asked questions father, I desired to learn and so I asked questions, but asking questions is forbidden. Questions instigate doubt in others, and it is not total submission to the Order, now, is it? – I should have known all along my entire life was a lie? My religion was a snare built on lies.”
His father yelled, “How dare you say such blasphemous things in this house!”
But the son replied calmly, “A word you have lived your life not knowing the meaning to. Goodbye father, this seems to be the last time we will ever talk again.”
Baldon was disgusted and shouted, “Apostate, be gone!”
......
Orid - Kalbruth
AFTER ENOCH
On that certain day when the world changed, those who had been gathered in the plain of Orid numbered six hundred persons. After the brilliant flash of light, all the people had been lifted off the ground and thrown through the air, and backward several feet by the sudden burst of wind. Many people were injured as they landed piled atop one another in a great heap of bodies. Those who had immediately been encircling the memorial ring of flowers had been blinded, (but for only seven days). The ring had been incinerated and windblown, like the four grand Standing Stones themselves which had crumbled to powdered ash, all were no longer there as if they had never been. Neither was the pool of blood nor the burnt and blown away River stones.
“Why were the Standing Stones even here in the first place,” a young woman asked.
“The Prophets, the Stones, and the blood were testimonies to how wicked and foolish, and shameful our generations have become,” an old woman yelled in response.
A small boy of eight asked, “My mother is dead, why?” He cried for her neck had been broken in the fall.
Again, the old woman said, calling out to the boy, “She only got what the rest of us have deserved for years of shameful acts!” She fell over dead clutching her chest!
A man dressed like a Priest was the last man standing, “This ground is but a scorched place, let ever it be known as Kalbruth! Cursed of the cursed and ever forbidden shall the living be who stand here long!” With that, he too fell over dead leaving the others wondering about the cause, to no avail.
...
War of the Eli'ouds
WAR AGAIN
(The Coming of the Eli’oud)
In the years before the Great War, there was a man named Udva’dare, a Bedouin rug maker, in the land of Harad. Even among his own Nasilian people, Udva’dare was considered by many to be a willful man, who defiantly made up his own rules. His belligerent nature often got him in trouble with his second cousin, the Shadol Ada’mul, who was the tribal ruler over all the Nasilian people. The Shadol desired to drive his camels and people further into the Southlands of Harad, because of the rumors of the imminent war between the east and west, but the rug maker said he was being unwise. Udva’dare went against the Shadol’s word and took a band of followers northward, and then entered into the western lands as immigrants.
On their journey, they came across a small group of elven travelers and waylaid them upon the road. Wanting only food and coin, his companions aggressed and accidentally killed two elves before they themselves were killed. Amid that chaos, Udva’dare raped an elven maiden who hid behind a wagon. After the deed, other elves fell upon the Nasilian men and captured them. The six ruffians were tried, and to avert a war with the newly allied race of Men, the maiden’s father made her wed the man, Udva’dare.
“This foolish appeasement for the sake of war would have better been silenced with the death of this man!” Nelwyn’s youngest brother shouted to their father.
“Nay brother, hush. Father, I shall do as you bid. Enough blood has been shed, and it seems we shall all witness more before the doom to come is over.” Nelwyn conceded her fate over that of a larger plan.
Nelwyn tried her best to put aside Udva’s assault on her, for the sake of peace, but she could only recall the brutal experience over and again. From their first encounter, then in due time she gave birth to twins and instantly fell in love with her two sons.
Udva’dare then said to his new bride, “Seeing you smile at them, now you know what I felt when I first beheld you, my love.”
Nelwyn replied coldly, “Nothing I feel in seeing them is like the day you raped me. I accept them as a gift for enduring your torture and pray the Vala to bless them for who they are; not you.” After that, Nelwyn never lay with Udva’ as a husband, willingly.
She named her twin boys: Symo’ (Sunshade), and Nu’len (Moon friend); yet their father gave them his name: Symo’dare, and Nu’lendare; (dare means to embellish). They were of two houses, elves, and men; but their origin was forged from the brutality of lust. The twins themselves grew to be nothing alike as Symo’ favored his mother, and Nu’len favored his father’s bitter demeanor most. Symo’dare grew up seeking only to know the ways of the elven kind, as his brother followed the ways of men, desiring to be adventurous and bold unto himself even among his peers. A contention grew between the twin brothers as their parents grew further apart, but for her son’s sake and stability, Nelwyn sought contentment. Yet ever did she see the growing arrogance and lust welling up in Nu’len, and how he dealt with those about him. He desired only the praise of his father and nothing from her. Sadly, in the fullness of time Udva’dare came to understand, too late, what his passions had brought forth, and he began to turn a bitter face toward his own son. But Nu’len blamed his mother because of his father’s turning away, and he became all the more unruly with her.
As the years passed, the rug maker, Udva’dare’s time among the elves became constrained by many disagreements and his unwillingness to learn or share. In time Udva’ took his family from among the elves of Greenwood to settle among the hilltops of the Blue Mountains. Weeks later his two sons gazed out upon the world, Nu’len said, “Come now brother, let us leave this place and return to our father’s homeland among the Haradrim in the east.”
But Symo’ looked to the west, “No, brother, for we are so very near the Havens from which so many are departing this world, soon this Great War that has begun shall be ended, and the people will be leaderless in need of purpose.”
Nu’len shook his head, “Such foolishness has always been your mind’s distraction, brother. Maybe the teaching they need is of - a more personal nature.” He said this smiling back at his mother.
Symo’ felt himself becoming upset, “Nay brother, for I know the inner workings of your mind all too well, and these people are broken enough already, and more so when this war finds its conclusion.”
Nu’lendare laughed, “Shall we bed them as we like or dutifully wait for the years to pass before the concept enters their feeble thoughts in waiting – to be taught, that is.”
Symodare stood tall, “Neither, for they belong unto themselves for the age of Men has come and that Dark Lord’s ending shall soon pass as well.”
His brother smirked, “You see as well as I do brother, his influence on Men is only as one uses a tool for their advancement. Dark lords or not, Men are men, as you say, and they have always belonged unto themselves. Darkness is their nature even without a lord.” With that Nu’len struck Symo with his fists, and then drew his father’s blade and fell upon him.
With a cold expression, Symo’dare threw his brother off and they both stood face to face, “Shall you slay me, that every part of yourself that you have come to hate so much? I could never kill you brother, even with this contention between us. Stay or go as you like, but I for one shall not abide with this continually.” With that Symo’dare embraced his mother Nelwyn, for she was unwilling to depart from her ailing husband, fragile upon his dying bed. She knew in her heart that it was with deep regret that her son sought out the lowlands, for he could no longer reside with his brother Nu’lendare in the Blue Mountains.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
After the Great Departure of the Faye Folk, from their western gray Havens, a remnant protested against leaving and watched the last fleet of Swan-carved ships sail away into the sun. Of those Watchers, three became the realm’s longest-lived Kings. With the passing of the fourth, a Nephilim Lord, named Koral, came his son Eli’Gadreel to wear the Mitharian Crown.
One day, horrid news reached the fifth King’s ear that many in the distant village of Sinjar had been mysteriously murdered during the night. A party had been sent out from King Eli’Gadreel to investigate what had transpired, but the party had failed to return to his Lordship in the tower of Varlendur. By now Gadreel had become more than suspicious that a foul hand was at work. Arming himself and two companies of his finest men they ventured forth to Sinjar, so the King could see for himself what evil was afoot. The tent village at the base of Mount Sinjarus was burnt to the ground and indeed all those in the cave dwellings as well. They had been slaughtered and lay dead for many days already in decay, still laying where they fell upon the ground with their throats cut. No exceptions were made men, women, and children were dead with no pity shown. Then King Gadreel saw for himself that his own men were among the bodies, and he became all the more enraged at the atrocity!
“Sire, none live but us in this encampment of death,” said a soldier.
Looking up at the cliffside with squinted eyes, Gadreel said, “It is whispered there are tunnels and caverns in the depths of the mountain's belly, go seek them out, and Lieutenant Minfalus destroy all those who lie in wait. With blades drawn, and by your King's orders shall you uphold your oaths this day, share that with your men.” From there Gadreel began heading up the worn steps alone. Moments later the King’s men surpassed him as squads poured into every opening and indeed into each discovered tunnel. Piled bodies blocked each of the passageways the deeper they went in until once again the Mitharian Guard had assembled at the base of the stone-carved city.
Gadreel ordered the men to line the bodies of the dead where the tent village had once stood, “Count them all, and then incinerate their remains.”
When the last of the unexplored tunnels was being cleared of the bodies that had previously blocked their advance, they suddenly unleashed Wild men who burst forth from every opening. The horde came rushing like a great torrent of flood waters down upon those below. In the labor of their grave duty, a sudden attack fell upon the King and his men, even as the shades of night fastly approached. Vicious men did the swift work of cutting down any they met! It was King Gadreel who retreated with only two squads of his men trailing behind. Near the tents of Slavath, they gave a warning to its people to alarm the Shadol and be called to arms! Falling back to the Mitharian keep the bells rang everyone to the defense of the city!
From that sudden retreat, none were being followed, to the bewilderment of the Slavathian villagers; yet the bells of Mithar still rang out! On the fourth day, the bells fell silent when another horror struck at daybreak. The watches upon their high walls spied the raging fires and plumes of smoke as Slavath was engulfed in ruined tents, leaving her people and livestock chard! No spokesman ever came forth, or banners waved, and no message of any kind was declared; only the terrorized threat that more was to come.
Now, about the southern part of the twin cities there ran Mithar’s unfinished second, outer wall. Begun many years before by the dwarven masons but never completed, it stood to protect only half of the lower farmlands, or pin them in.
On the dawn of the fifth day, what proved to be the only messenger stood before The Hideous Dwarven-Wall, and shouted, “This day shall the fallen King see his last breath taken for –“ An arrow pierced through his eye and silenced any worthwhile message he might have delivered. Moments later, to the left and right, and as far down afield as one could see a great multitude came rushing upon them! Those behind the Hideous wall were filled with panic as flying arrows set their fields aflame.
Earlier, King Gadreel had sent word for the Pagan Lord of Lindol’s, Mayor Ishmak to send reinforcements. His only reply came in the form of a dirty-faced street boy, “Sire, the Goblins have breached the northern wall.” The boy then fell over dead, revealing a dagger in his side.
Gadreel was overheard, bemoaning, “The world ends in fear this day.” Then came the thunderous pounding of a battering ram against the closed brass doors of the Sibling’s Gate. Moments later it began to rain decapitated heads of the Sinjarian dead! From among the masses beyond the gate, a lone voice was heard shouting, “You betrayed our fathers, then left us for dead, eat now the fruit of those planted seeds!” Bewildering words only the King seemed to have understood, for he went pale.
“No, sire!” Minfalus shouted as he ran for Gadreel.
But his blade was too quick in slicing his own throat before his men, even as the gates burst open for the hordes that rushed in. It was within that very hour that Mithvalon fell, both its upper and lower portions ceased to be the grand city on the Bay it once was. After those raiding forces had secured the tower of Varlendur, the Wildmen saved some of the younger generations from slaughter, and then – strangely, halted their monstrous deeds. Those children who crouched in submission knew their lives hung upon any whispered word of displeasure.
From that throng of brutish men there stepped forward a nearly naked foe dressed in tattoos, “Hear now you defeated whelps; those who brought you to this very end no longer draw breath, for the city lays in ruins and the streets run red with their blood. From henceforth your only purpose is to serve as thralls or lie with these bleeding dead. It makes no difference to me which you chose.”
No one questioned or breathed a word in defiance. The speaker smiled, “I am Me’geth’dare, the grandson of Nu’lendare, the brother of Symo’dare – ah, so you know that name, I see. Good! We are the Eli’ouds, sons of the Nephilim lords, a bastard race of whom you called Founders. Now, now you may be at ease from all your fears of not knowing who rules over you. For the Bastard son is king now!” With that his barbarous troops triumphally chanted his name, stomping their feet, pounding fear into the hearts of those frightened captives.
At that moment the eldest of them, a thin boy about twenty years of age stood up, and the army hushed, “If only you would have –“
“Would have what? Declared who we were beforehand, and we could all be one happy family? Oh, how childish is your outlook on the world boy! You have all grown worse than the ones who fathered you, arrogant even among yourselves. You are not the anointed elite, to the exclusion of all others in the world, that your parents pretend themselves to be. Those who really are seeking the truth and wisdom are not as beneath you as you think. Look at the Lindolian Pagans, they are far better people than your pretentious, meaningless words, so freely spouted, would have them be. You deserved to be wiped away for being the mindless ant-drones who have festered this long. But do not fear, change is here, to lovingly wake you up from that tedious slumber, with its cruel reward you brought upon yourselves with this end.”
The boy bravely asked, “What end is this, that we should be grateful to have awakened to?”
“THAT, that right there! That is what I mean!” The tattooed man shook his head looking around, then added, “Boy, what makes you think you even have another breath to waste in questioning me? What makes you more special than others?” Me’geth’dare’s eyes squinted.
“I am nothing if not better than you, for we have never slaughtered –“
“Nev - Never slaughtered? Outrageous! Most interesting. With every deceitful word that slithered off your wagging tongues, you have all done nothing but slaughter someone else’s ability to have any independent thought of their own. You wholeheartedly embraced and willfully accepted the twisted lies, spoon-fed you as the truth, without ever once blinking to ask for proof. Ha, yes, you have slaughtered everyone’s potential lives when they followed you into this despot Tower! Even the very name Varlendur is but a sick joke played upon the unsuspecting, for that dungeon is far from being a tower of ‘Friends’. The very ones you condemned as prophets, theirs should have been your own questioning voice, asking if what you were told was the truth or not. How dare you have such a superior, self-righteousness presence about you boy, when it was you who brought this end upon yourselves. Too asleep in your own drunken stupidity to understand that blindly following horrifically deceitful men led you to this end.”
Drawing a breath, the bitter tattooed man let a slow smile creep onto his face, “What is the name they call you boy?”
“Sethman.”
“Sethman - I will allow you to continue drawing breath until you do not. Every blink you have could very well be your last. Today I give you a new name boy, I shall give you the opportunity not to be the dirt under my feet, but at the whisp of a second thought you will be like these bleeding at your feet. Ba’nal (Second Chance); that is your new name.” Me’geth nodded to another tattooed man who stood beside him, who then put cuffs on the boy and handed it long chain over to his leader. Me’geth nodded to another soldier, and the remaining children were rounded up in chains and led off.
“Where are you taking them?”
“Again, with the arrogance of thinking, you can question me. Come.” Me’geth led the chained boy away to Varlendur.
Climbing up the body-littered steps to the opened doors of the realm’s seat of power, the captive witnessed for himself the cruelty of the invading forces. The lavished hall of the Gray Tower, which Ba’nal-Sethman had never seen the inside of before, was in utter disarray. The mural of the Great Departure’s Last Elven Swan-Ship was scared with hacked marks, and its ax was left in the swan’s head. Splattered with blood and smeared handprints from the Lords and Ladies who had failed to escape the slaughter. They still laid where they had bled out upon the floor amid the ravished furnishings tossed about. The leashed boy was led to step over these with disregard for who they had been. Helplessly, Ba’nal was pulled along as Me’geth headed for the downward staircase. The darkened well was lit by the infrequent placing of hung torches. The pitch-black flickered back against the last torch, which Me’geth claimed. From deeper inside the void a broken, faint voice barely called up, “Brother?”
Me’geth’dare answered back, “I am here.”
Then the amber light revealed the pungent smell to be that of forgotten prison cells. It became apparent that the Priests of the loving religion fostered none for the creatures who were left to waste away in the dank dungeons below the King’s meeting hall above. Several ghastly figures crowded the small cells. They were too beleaguered to speak as the two visitors passed them by. Without comment, Me’geth’dare headed for the other set of downward stairs. As the stench of the darkness grew, the boy choked back wanting to vomit, holding his nose and mouth, but his captor pulled on the chain all the more, “Come now and learn the truth for yourself.”
“Here, brother, I am the last alive among the feeding rats.” The blinding torch light validated the claim as the two visitors saw the scattering of rodents, except the most starved who lingered upon the dead body still chained to the wall. “Me’geth!” The whimpering was heartbreaking to the wide-eyed boy in seeing the thin, ragged prisoner crying for himself.
His savior withdrew a dagger and picked the rusted, locked door open, then did the same in removing his brother’s cuffs. “Ba’lim!” They embraced as the boy began vomiting on a rat-infested body. Moments later one prisoner was aiding the other to his feet, heading for freedom.
As they struggled to emerge from the dungeons below, back into the brilliant light of the throne room, Me’geth demanded, “Now you understand my words boy?”
“Yes, yes I do. The Apostates were correct about everything.”
Ba’lim’dare began choking, but the noise strangely sounded like laughter, “Only now do you see who was truly blind.” The emaciated man’s eyes were tightly shut. He had the appearance of a walking skeleton thinly draped with skin. His bony legs and arms had multiple bite marks. He was bald, with dark sunken eyes. In the light of day, Balim’dare looked frighteningly close to death.
Me’geth held back the overwhelming urge to weep, “What a handsome fellow this one was in stealing all the ladies from me. Balim, you are not done for yet my brother.”
“Free air to breath, you gave me that brother, before I died.” Looking up at three soldiers who came near at the sound of their voices.
“Water!” Me’geth’dare demanded one of the bottles off their belts. Then offering it to the freed prisoner, “You are not gone yet, fool.”
“No, I am not done yet,” Balim’dare felt the boy’s hand helping him to drink from the flask. “But Me’geth, you must know this boy is blameless.”
The leader’s eyes looked into those of his chained captive, “They will brand him an Apostate, then he will really understand.” Me’geth’dare sighed, “Brother, I love you.”
The frail figure whispered, “I know, and I love you – brother.”
The three men carefully place their Captain’s brother on a cape and carried him on his oversized bed out into the light of the city below.
////////
THE CROWN AND STAFF
THE CROWN AND STAFF
The ruling Kings of Eriduah were: Vendumar, Legandriel, Nuthcorlan, and Koral, his son.
It came to pass, after the fourth king had died, that his son Gadreel took up the father’s mantel. After the crown was rested upon his brow, King Gadreel stood up and interrupted the traditional ceremony, to the surprise of all. He took hold of the Lord High Priest’s staff, in the presence of that great court, then sat down upon the throne, saying, “Behold, now is the day this noble office shall be declared both King Protector and Lord High Priest as the former is relieved and discharged before the realm. The Protector and Mouthpiece are now one and the same, and henceforth shall be viewed as the physical representation of Eru-Illuvatar before men, their one true Lord.”
“Blasphemous outrage!” The Lord High Priest shouted at Gadreel before everyone, adding, “Never before in the history of our people nor since the Founders has such been said or done!” With him, the entire court burst into astonished murmuring.
“GUARDS!” The new king ordered, and immediately his knights snapped to stand before him, and those along the walls stood with swords drawn at the ready. Then the newly ordained Priest-King said, still seated on the great chair, “In three days the realm shall stand where you are now, and as a symbol of their acceptance that person, one at a time shall offer up a pinch of sweet incense. However, if they, as you refuse, my guards are commanded by the crown to detain them. When all the people of the realm have been offered this opportunity to pay me homage, then those detained shall be given a second chance to keep their heads where they rest. Great and small, three years and up; my word will be obeyed.” The room fell silent, then Gadreel continued, “We come to the example before us, Lord High Priest Wyndryel of Mithar, how shall you honor Eru before the people, this second time?” The king watched as did the silent court.
Against his will, the former Lord High Priest pulled back the large sleeve of his robe, then sprinkled a pinch of incense upon the hot coals that stood between two knights, before the Priest-King. Wyndryel shook his head with disdain and walked away.
“That was not so difficult after all, now, was it?” Without a sound uttered, the Priest-King added, “In three days we shall see who desires to play the role of martyr upon this court’s very floor. Begone and tell the populace they have a new wearer of the crown and holder of the staff.”
Moments later the hall was emptied of all but the Priest-King and his knights, “Malonus, gratitude, you and your men are dismissed.”
The Captain of the Guard yelled the orders, then bowed before Gadreel, “Your, majesty.”
As the doors shut behind him another opened with the sound of his queen clapping her hands, “Protector and Priest, how impressive, my lord.” She smiled, with a slight head bow, “How long, Gadreel do you think this endeavor of yours shall last?”
“For as long as I do, I am sure. What say you, Astreva?”
The eight-year-old girl sitting on a mat beside his throne looked up at him expressionless, answering, “Mine is to record only.” She then resumed making her Scribal notations.
“Let us see if that is true,” whispered the Queen to her husband, then to Astreva, “Child, obey your King, or by his Queen’s very hand shall we see your head lying before us on the floor.”
Without urgency, expression, or word the young girl crossed over and sprinkled the incense onto the still burning coals. Astreva resumed her position and took up making notations, again without word or expression.
“Beautifully done, my dear,” Gadreel said. “Gratitude, my love,” His wife whispered.
“I was speaking to the Scribe.” At which the upset Queen stormed out the door she had entered, leaving the two alone in the quiet hall.
Three days later, in the grand meeting hall of tower Varlendur, the Lord High Priest was notably missing from the gathered court. The Overseers, Guardians and all their ministers, Mayors of the seven cities and their administrators, Merchants, Farmers and Fisherman alike; great and small, young, and old came and one by one to pay homage to the new King they called Lord Priest as well. Of all the realm, only one refused the symbolic gesture demanded. A woman with bright red hair stood alone in the realm, undaunted before the throne of the Priest-King.
“Who is this lone holdout that defies the Lord’s decree,” asked Malonus, the Captain of the Guards.
“I am Areiah, servant of Eru-Illuvatar, not this imposture who is a mockery before the land.” The woman stood her ground, with no raised voice.
Gadreel smiled, then winking at his quiet Queen, “Areiah, my generosity offers you a second chance or the last breath, which shall it be?” The great hall was as silent as a winter’s day, and so was the woman.
Gadreel signaled a wave, and a block was brought out. The woman was made to kneel, with hands bound behind her back.
“Don’gilfellas!” The captain called for another more skilled in the art. A butcher by trade came forward to be the executioner as the Knight grabbed her red hair to keep the woman from moving away. Gadreel nodded for the act to be carried out and done with. Lifted and swung, as the blade of the two-handed ax fell, heavy upon the large block, the woman vanished. Before that watching crowd, she was gone. The King leaped off his throne even as the smoked ash settled from the air where the woman had knelt just moments before. Gadreel yelled, “WITCH!!!” He ran down to the Captain of the Guards, shaking him by both shoulders, “I do not care who else gets slain, find her or your head will be taken by my hands!” He ran off shouting for his men to follow in compliance with his majesty’s public orders.
Straightway one hundred-and-twenty armed knights marched to the cliffside village of Sinjar, known for its Witches and Pagan idolatry. Arriving there, the forces of Mithar surrounded even the tents, Malonus called out, “People of Sinjar, by order of the King, surrender the woman Areiah! She is named a traitor of the Crown. Anyone harboring her as well shall suffer her fate.” Ignoring them, the people of the village went about their daily lives as if the soldiers were not even there. Being outraged, the captain shouted a second time as the troops slowly continued to move in. Still, the people ignored the armed forces.
Suddenly the soldiers began hacking away and mascaraing everyone in the tents below as the people began running to the refuge of the caves above. Tents were torched, and none were left alive. By the time the armored men of Mithar had entered the cliffside dwellings reports came to Captain Malonus that Sinjar was empty!
“Where have all the people are gone? We saw them run for cover-up into these caves.”
Two men came up to the captain. But his Second in Command insisted, “I can only tell you what we did not find, sir. The people are nowhere to be found. All the homes have been destroyed in search of anyone, not even a child was discovered.”
Thinking out loud, Malonus said, “We are hunting for a Witch, one who disappeared before a full court.”
“You suspect a concealment spell?” Seljon, the Second suggested.
“This is why you have the rank you do, my friend. Good work! You, return to the Priest-King and tell him of what has transpired and our thoughts. Tell him also of our need for a priest familiar with such enchantment, for we know they partake of the mystic arts, now go!”
An hour and a half later, two riders on horseback arrived. “I am Guardian Gelbrik, a mystic of the Third Circle.” Getting down from his stead he found Malonus.
The captain walked the priest to the base of the steps leading up to the carved dwellings, telling him of their suspicion of spell craft, “For there is no other way the entire village entered their homes and not even a child is found, or babe heard crying.”
“You are quite correct, and your instincts are rather a wise captain, as well as the man who first told you.” Entering through the first ornately carved, sandstone archway they began to explore the home. Belongings were in complete disarray, “Yes, there is no place to hide here, and you say all the homes are as this very one?”
“Yes, some smaller, some larger, but none of them with hidden chambers in the floors or ceiling,” Cavon, the Captain’s second said.
But the priest, Gelbrik smiled, “There! There, is your hidden chamber, and I dare say that every home has this same marking and unobstructed doorway!” He waved his hand across a deeply carved EYE-circled symbol etched in the wall. “These are the sigils of the Cicadites, and their Seers mark for portals,” Gelbrik smiled at knowing something the two men beside him were ignorant of. The priest whispered something several times, each time getting closer to the wall. Just as his lips were almost touching the two soldiers alongside gasped aloud. “LOOK!”
Suddenly the stone face of the wall was gone revealing a long, tunneled hallway. Indistinct sounds instantly told the two knights that movements that lay beyond their light betrayed the villager’s location. Soon watches were posted as troops poured in one after another into the dark tunnels. With torches and blades drawn their intentions had already been declared as they continued to pursue the witch Areiah.
“Your Majesty.” The Captain of the Guards stood in the doorway of the great chamber.
“Come, Malonus,” Gadreel, his tone less severe than before.
“Sire. The Witch Areiah was nowhere to be found, my Lord.” He could tell the Priest-King was not pleased, “Sire, Sinjar’s tents were burned to the ground, their ashes searched. With the aid of a Mystic priest, we found a wide chambered hall within the Blue mountains deviled deep beyond their carved homes.”
“And?”
“Sire, every man, woman – and babe in arms were put to the blade, your majesty. Seven hundred and fourteen and the witch was not among there, my lord.”
The King’s eyes remained unimpressed, “Still no witch to be found, Malonus?”
“No, my Lord King.”
“What is to be done to rectify this problem do you think?”
“I shall pursue her throughout the realm, every hamlet, village, and –“
“Yes, yes, I know you will, my friend. But let us first cast the other net at our disposal, before your men -.” Gadreel stopped himself as a thought came to mind.
“Sire?”
“Through the Brotherhood’s own messengers, the word will be sent. Rest your men, and be well supplied ready to make siege and wholesale slaughter of the realm one city at a time, so that the people may know –“ At that very moment, a page ran into the room, “My lord, My lord King!”
“What is it, boy?” Kneeling, “Sire, the Witch who fled execution, she was witnessed passing along the road from Elosh. She told a woman in her garden, Uhm.”
“Out with it boy, you are here now, tell me!” “She said, ‘Tell the Arrogant Apostate on the throne that he himself shall find me at the Standing Stones of Orid.’ My lord, forgive my words.”
“Gratitude boy, they were not yours,” Gadreel waved the messenger away like a fly over his meal. “Malonus, this one treats me like cat and prey.” “My lord, perhaps instead she aims for Mount Ipstha?”
“I – I think not. The dwarves hide their own secrets and have no great love of sorcery themselves. No. No, there is something evasive about the Prophet’s Stones, something akin to her own liking. Make ready and come the morning we shall go to Orid to find this creature and learn its real purpose for defiance.”
“Yes, my lord,” The Captain turned to go.
“Malonus, and no more second chances.”
“Understood, my king.”
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