1085 lines
68 KiB
Plaintext
1085 lines
68 KiB
Plaintext
1 +-+ +-+ +-+
|
||
+-+--+-+--+-+ VOLUME SEVEN NUMBER FOUR
|
||
| | ==========================================
|
||
+___________+ FFFFF SSS FFFFF N N EEEEE TTTTT
|
||
| ++ | F S F NN N E T
|
||
| ++ | FFF SSS FFF N N N EEE T
|
||
| | F S F N NN E T
|
||
|_________| F SSS F N N EEEEE T
|
||
/___________\ ==========================================
|
||
| | BITNET Fantasy-Science Fiction Fanzine
|
||
___|___________|___ X-Edited by 'Orny' Liscomb <CSDAVE@MAINE>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
CONTENTS
|
||
X-Editorial 'Orny' Liscomb
|
||
A Death in the Attic Jeff Girard
|
||
Lifesong Aiwu Lian
|
||
Shakka! H.D. Baumeister
|
||
Seer's Doom John L. White
|
||
Ceda the Executioner: 5 Joel Slatis
|
||
Idol John L. White
|
||
|
||
Date: 033087 Dist: 312
|
||
An "*" indicates story is part of the Dargon Project
|
||
All original materials copyrighted by the author(s)
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
X-Editorial
|
||
Hello one and all! No really exciting or motivating news to
|
||
report, so I'll just jump into a description of this issue. There is
|
||
no Dargon work in this issue, although you'll find a couple choice
|
||
tidbits from some unexpected sources. However, for those of you who
|
||
actually enjoy the Dargon material, here's a hint of what's in the
|
||
works for the near future! John White is working on a new tale which
|
||
I have seen parts of, and it promises to be a classic. Joseph Curwen
|
||
is plowing through the next tale in the Atros cycle, which should
|
||
also be out soon. I am, of course, humbly plugging away at my story,
|
||
which should be ready very soon (no promises, however).
|
||
It is at the close of the editorial that I historically welcome
|
||
our new readers and emplore people to spread the word about FSFnet.
|
||
Well, as we have over 300 readers who get the file directly and
|
||
uncounted millions (?) who get the magazine from servers, secondary
|
||
distribution sites, and who knows where else, I've decided that I
|
||
can finally sit back and pass up the opportunity to remind you to
|
||
help get others interested in FSFnet. Of course, this doesn't mean
|
||
you should stop spreading the word...
|
||
-'Orny' Liscomb <CSDAVE @ MAINE>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
A Death in the Attic
|
||
Tina slowly closed the door behind her and proceeded up the
|
||
attic steps. The fading light of the autumn sunset cast a beaming
|
||
ray through the only window that caused all it touched to shimmer
|
||
with a golden hue, while at the same time it cast dark, forboding
|
||
shadows about all that were out of its reach. Tina paused for a
|
||
moment, and smiled to herself at the sheer irony of it. How much it
|
||
was like her own situation now.
|
||
She flicked on the light, and immediately all but the most
|
||
hidden corners were were bright and visible. She stepped around the
|
||
trunk which held her mother's wedding gown and high school
|
||
yearbooks, crossed over her grandfather's antique clarinet, and
|
||
stopped in front of a small coffer. She paused for a moment, then
|
||
reaced for it and undid the latch. Trembling, she opened the
|
||
silver-lined box and picked up the ring that lay inside. It looked
|
||
ordinary enough - carved out of silver with a ring of rubies and
|
||
emeralds encircling a medium sized diamond in the center. Definitely
|
||
a treasure by any standards, but also much more. Tina held the ring
|
||
tightly in her hand, and thought once more about what she was about
|
||
to do. She had spent the last hour just trying to decide what to
|
||
say. She was sure this was what she wanted, but at the same time she
|
||
couldn't help but feel a great dread deep in her soul, and for a
|
||
moment considered just putting the ring back and forgetting the
|
||
whole ordeal. At the same time, the caring nature of her soul kept
|
||
crying out for her to do it, that this was the greatest thing she
|
||
could ever do. Eventually, her caring side won out. She unclenched
|
||
her hands and slid the ring on her finger. At the same time she
|
||
glanced at her watch. It read 6:47. She would have to hurry, or she
|
||
would be late for her job.
|
||
She closed her eyes and concentrated on the ring, just like she
|
||
had accidentally done earlier today. In a moment, she felt a small
|
||
gust of wind, and then heard the voice. "Yes, Tina Redgrave, have
|
||
you thought of your first wish yet?"
|
||
She opened her eyes, and gazed directly at the man she had just
|
||
met a little over an hour ago. He stood about six feet high, with
|
||
dark black hair and a very heavy build which matched his voice. A
|
||
nearly perfect specimen of a man, and Tina felt the same surge
|
||
within her again. This time, however, she was prepared and replied,
|
||
"Yes, I have."
|
||
"And what is your wish?"
|
||
"My first wish is this: I wish there was no longer any death."
|
||
The man frowned. "Have you thought long and seriously about
|
||
this? Are you absolutely sure that this is what you want."
|
||
For a moment she considered crying out No, I'll think of
|
||
something else. But when she thought about all the suffering she
|
||
could alleviate with just that one phrase, she had to do it. "Yes,
|
||
I'm sure. That is my first wish."
|
||
The man sighed. "It shall be as you have it." He gestured into
|
||
the air, and a huge spark of energy flew from his fingertips out the
|
||
window and disappeared from sight. "Are you ready for your next wish?"
|
||
Tina, still staring at where the energy ball had passed through
|
||
the window, jumped slightly and said, "No, I'll have to think on my
|
||
next one too. How about if I call you again tomorrow morning?"
|
||
"Whatever you wish, Tina Redgrave," he said, then faded away
|
||
into nothingness.
|
||
Tina took off the ring, placed it in the coffer, closed it, and
|
||
then rushed downstairs. It was now 6:50. If she hurried, she still
|
||
could get dressed and make it to Kmart before her 7:30 shift.
|
||
|
||
Tina could hardly keep in her excitement as she jumped out of
|
||
her car and practically flew into the store with minutes to spare.
|
||
She took off her coat and walked briskly over to her station at
|
||
booth number nine. Stacey, the girl who worked the previous shift,
|
||
was standing there totalling up the price of an old man's sweater
|
||
and pipe.
|
||
"Hi Stacey, how's it going tonight?"
|
||
She turned and smiled, but there was a note of concern on her
|
||
face. "Hi, Tina. You seem awfully bubbly tonight. Here you go sir,
|
||
and thank you for shopping at Kmart."
|
||
The man walked past them with his purchases. Tina looked at
|
||
Stacey carefully and said, "What's wrong? And don't you dare say
|
||
nothing - I know you better than that!"
|
||
Stacey turned up the portable radio she kept next to her.
|
||
"Haven't you heard? Listen to this."
|
||
Bill Artwood, the local news reporter, was talking. "-admitted
|
||
just a few mere minutes ago. Apparently, he was the victim of a
|
||
mugging in Central park. He has suffered multiple stab wounds,
|
||
including one right through his left lung, but is still alive. He
|
||
has been placed under heavy sedation, but the doctors don't expect
|
||
him to live. They were totally amazed that he lived this long.
|
||
Whether this has any connection to the terrible accident on James
|
||
and Third is unknown."
|
||
"James and Third? That's nowhere near Central park. What does he
|
||
mean about a connection?"
|
||
"You didn't hear? You mean you didn't listen to the radio on the
|
||
way down to here?"
|
||
"No, the time kind of flew by for me today."
|
||
"Well, at about 7:00, I guess you would have been on your way
|
||
soon after, a tractor-trailer lost its brakes and plowed straight
|
||
through a red light into a small Subaru. The Subaru was flattened.
|
||
Of course a big pile-up occured, and three more cars were
|
||
demolished. But the strange part is, no one died. The two people in
|
||
the Subaru were horribly mangled, and another had his rib cage
|
||
completely collapse against the steering wheel, but all of them were
|
||
fully alive and conscious too. they were screaming, those that
|
||
could. One paramedic was so sick he had to leave the rescue team for
|
||
a while - Tina? Are you OK, Tina?"
|
||
Tina just stood, shocked. What could have gone wrong? How could
|
||
this be happening? This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen.
|
||
She had said, I wish there was no more dying, and- no, that wasn't
|
||
what she said. She heard her own words now as plainly as if she was
|
||
in her attic again - "I wish there was no more death." She hadn't
|
||
said dying, she had said death. She turned hard and ran for the door.
|
||
"Tina? What's wrong? Tina?..."
|
||
Tina pulled into the driveway and leaped out of the car. Her
|
||
keys fumbled with the lock, and it took her three tries to unlock
|
||
the front door. Finally she succeeded and slammed open the door, not
|
||
even bothering to get her keys. She ran inside, up the stairs to the
|
||
second floor, and into the attic. switching on the light, she
|
||
stumbled her way across the littered floor to the coffer. Tears were
|
||
streaming down her eyes now as she put the ring on her finger and
|
||
concentrated. In a moment the man appeared again. "Yes, Tina
|
||
Redgrave, have you thought of your second wish?"
|
||
"I want to change my first wish!" she nearly screamed. "I didn't
|
||
mean to say it that way except that I was so excited but that wasn't
|
||
what I meant to say and you've got to change it, please!"
|
||
He looked at her with a gaze that chilled her to the bone, and
|
||
she quieted down. "Normally, you could use another wish to undo a
|
||
previous wish, but this is a slightly different case. You wished for
|
||
there to be no more death, so I destroyed him."
|
||
"Him? What do you mean, him?"
|
||
"Death is an entity whose touch causes the soul to be released
|
||
from the body. Without him, all souls are bound to their hosts, and
|
||
can't die. This doesn't mean they can't be hurt. They just can't die."
|
||
"Well, bring him back! That isn't what I meant to say!"
|
||
"If it was a normal person or thing, I could. However, death is
|
||
an entity of great power, and it will take time to create him again."
|
||
"How long?"
|
||
"I would say about 36 hours."
|
||
"36 hours? But what about all those people out there who are
|
||
supposed to be dead now? I can't simply let them go on suffering!"
|
||
"You could find a replacement."
|
||
"What?"
|
||
"A replacement. Someone who could temporarily take death's place
|
||
until I can re-create him."
|
||
"How? Do I just walk up to someone and say, 'Hey, this genie
|
||
just granted me a wish and I wished for no more death so he
|
||
destroyed him and now we need a replacement'? I hardly think that
|
||
will go over.
|
||
"I'm afraid that that's your problem."
|
||
Tina thought for a moment, then came up with an idea. "Alright,
|
||
here's my second wish. Let me become death while you try to recreate
|
||
the original."
|
||
"As you wish, Tina Redgrave." He waved his arm, and suddenly
|
||
Tina felt different. She was dressed in black robes. She looked at
|
||
her hands, and saw that they were nothing but bones. Suddenly, she
|
||
felt a surge of power, and knew what had to be done. She flew out
|
||
the window at an incredible speed and soon found herself next to an
|
||
old man in a hospital bed. She touched him, and a white globe
|
||
floated up skyward. She then flew across the continent and touched a
|
||
young boy just as he hit the ground after leaping from the eleventh
|
||
floor of a hotel. His soul floated out of his body. Then she flew
|
||
elsewhere, again and again for thirty-eight hours without a stop.
|
||
When she was caught up, she used her powers to temporarily stop time
|
||
for a while, then flew back to her attic.
|
||
She stood for a moment, shocked and appalled by all she had
|
||
seen. Some people she had to touch were in such a horrible shape
|
||
that she felt like throwing up her last dinner, except that death
|
||
couldn't do that of course. She walked over to the coffer, opened it
|
||
up, and put on the ring. In a moment, the genie appeared. "Yes,
|
||
death, can I help you?"
|
||
"OK, here's my third wish. Return me to normal and let death
|
||
resume his job. I'll never forgive myself for wasting my wishes, but
|
||
I guess it's too late to change that now."
|
||
"I'm sorry, death, but I can not help you. My services are
|
||
currently being given to a young woman named Tina Redgrave. You are
|
||
not Tina Redgrave, you are death." With that he vanished into thin
|
||
air, leaving death to stand and bemuse the fate befallen on her.
|
||
-Jeff Girard <IP60523 @ PORTLAND>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Lifesong
|
||
Viam ad Infinitum
|
||
Space...a void not empty. Planets and moons, followers of the
|
||
great ones, the stars, move in time with the great music which is
|
||
not heard with their children, the comets and asteroids. These ride
|
||
the coattails of their parents, occasionally breaking away to amuse
|
||
themselves with the games of the innocence of youth before becoming
|
||
planets themselves and taking the orbits planned for them. The
|
||
planets for the most part cared only for themselves, but the stars
|
||
were constantly shining light upon them all, and because of it many
|
||
of the planets reflected the light of the great sun and began to
|
||
live, and walk toward the path of becoming a star.
|
||
There stood in the darkness of night and the cold of death,
|
||
alone in a prison of metal a man, with his face in the direction of
|
||
the east, eyes shut, waiting. Flint-faced and unmoving in the icy
|
||
wind of Altus V which probed with invisible fingers any living
|
||
flesh, his clothing could not keep out the intangible members
|
||
feeding on his comatose mind. It was dark, the dark of a remote
|
||
planet near the edge of the universe; no stars and no moon shone on
|
||
the forbidding ebony landscape. The man's gloved hands were nearly
|
||
frozen to the bars they clutched, the heavily booted feet were a
|
||
part of the deck on which he stood. All was utterly silent. Behind
|
||
eyes shut and ice-coated, there was blackness.
|
||
The sky before his face suddenly grayed, casting upon the face
|
||
of the watcher. Slowly but steadily the horizon paled, and the forms
|
||
of a few unhealthy clouds appeared, a dirty white. Now the winds had
|
||
ceased to blow, though still the landscape was anything but
|
||
appealing... and with the luminescence a smell became apparent to
|
||
frigid nostrils: the smell of death and rot, of terror. Exposed by
|
||
the steadily-brightening light was an expanse of bare rock pocked
|
||
with the remains of plants and animals long vanquished. Bones and
|
||
ash, fragments of unburned roots and cinders adorned the surface of
|
||
the dead planet.
|
||
Now the glow of the firmament grew more quickly, showing the
|
||
black of his robe, tunic, and trousers. A cape of red completed the
|
||
costume, and his gloves and boots were likewise as unliving blood.
|
||
Black hair, moustache and long beard, caked with ice, testified
|
||
somewhat to his middle age. ragged clouds of moisture escaped his
|
||
lips, though there was no other sign of life in him, and this but
|
||
infrequent.
|
||
But behold! for at this time, a voice carrying one wonderful
|
||
note of music quiet yet powerful, was imposed upon the world,
|
||
drowning the sounds of silence. The sweet voice increased its
|
||
volume, and the grey of the edge of the horizon glowed faintly
|
||
pink... it increased again; the planet shuddered. Yet again. And the
|
||
planet shook this time; and reaching its peak the music of the
|
||
morning shattered the walls of silence! As the walls of ancient
|
||
Jericho they crumbled before the trumpet's blast, the mighty Singer.
|
||
The first streaks of color ripped apart the grey of the
|
||
sky...fragments of cloud disintegrating, the heavens burst into
|
||
flame. On Jason's world the sun rose.
|
||
And as it then looked upon the planet, there appeared at the
|
||
man's feet, green in the midst of the destruction. A single flower
|
||
of blue and gold grew, bloomed, and around it sprang up grasses and
|
||
flowers of every kind, until the surface of the world was covered
|
||
with the fresh, living color and there was no trace of the former
|
||
cataclysm! Now also began trees to sprout, and there were forests of
|
||
mighty Sylvan specimens to rule over and care for their younger
|
||
cousins and remove from the air the horrible stink. When this was
|
||
accomplished, it was yet the first hour of morning. The note which
|
||
had broken the walls of death and darkness now became Song. In sweet
|
||
liquid voices it flowed over Altus Five and collected into paths and
|
||
channels, where followed cool water for the sake of the living things.
|
||
Now Jason had not moved in all the time previous, being nearly
|
||
dead from the cold but the rays of the sun focused upon him and the
|
||
song once more changed. Now growing bold and strong, beauty became
|
||
handsome; the music washed over him as the rains of the spring. A
|
||
drop of filthy water dripped from beard and fingertip, moustache and
|
||
boot, and collected at his feet in a growing pool of red.
|
||
And as this man's flesh began to live, yet another wondrous
|
||
thing happened. As the Song washed his flesh, the powerful light of
|
||
the sun also washed over him...and the dye of his garments faded to
|
||
be replaced by a sparkling white. Trembling with all the excitement
|
||
of a newborn, the emerging butterfly which sees light after so long
|
||
in darkness, the eyes of gold opened; Jason began to live. And there
|
||
was much rejoicing in the galaxy, and the sun and the song were
|
||
happy at these works and rejoiced long. For after years in the grip
|
||
of death a man gained the eternal life of one whose soul has seen
|
||
the morning.
|
||
-Aiwu Lian <IP60149 @ PORTLAND>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Shakka!
|
||
It was a day as any other, Jardell awoke to the smell of
|
||
smoldering wood outside his father's campaign tent. His mother
|
||
quietly rattled with her pots and spoons which she used to prepare
|
||
breakfast. He gently attempted to recall the dreams of the night
|
||
before, but he could not fathom their nature. Then he remembered
|
||
that today was to be a special day: He would go on a hunt with his
|
||
friends of the surrounding tents, and Lenda, daughter of Jast, the
|
||
merchant travelling with them for their protection, would join them
|
||
at a secret meeting place later in the day. Lenda's father was a
|
||
coward, and as Jardell thought of this large, heavy man with the
|
||
constantly dirty hair, a jeer spread across his face. The only
|
||
reason why he let Jast treat him as he did was because of Jardell's
|
||
desire for Lenda's love. Today would be the day of fulfillment.
|
||
He smiled as he thought of the day's plans: He and the gang
|
||
would go out to track down a few coyotes and maybe even attempt to
|
||
kill and hide one, just so as to be able to show that they had
|
||
indeed done something useful upon their return. However, hey would
|
||
cease this activity as soon as the sun reached it's peak and would
|
||
then meander to the Shakka tree a league away from their camp.
|
||
Shakka trees were strange creatures: They were plants, but then they
|
||
weren't. Whoever sat within it's Sphere of Dreaming, or Shadow as it
|
||
was called by the elders, would mindlink with the Shakka entity
|
||
which, according to legend, resided not in the tree itself, but in
|
||
the netherworld - reputedly near Odin's Valhalla. This, mixed with
|
||
the lack of factual knowledge, made Shakka-sitting, as it was
|
||
called, a very adventurous thing to do. The elders forbade it, the
|
||
young ones craved it. It was addicting, to an extent, but not to the
|
||
point where one could not rip oneself free from the Shakka's grasp.
|
||
Once mindlink was established, the Shakka would, upon deposition of
|
||
a small part of one's lifeforce, create any phantastic circumstance
|
||
one desired. One could reenact anything one could imagine, and
|
||
always escape unscathed, as the Shakka thrived on lifeforce, and
|
||
would not destroy his guests for fear of them not returning should
|
||
they be mentally scarred. The elders disapproved of such unworldly
|
||
pleasures, as deposition of a fragment of lifeforce weakened the
|
||
character and shortened one's lifespan, or so they said. Also, there
|
||
had been reports of Shakka's that had extracted all of a guest's
|
||
lifeforce while they were journeying in the land of make-believe.
|
||
Such stories were told by hardcore users to Virgin Dreamers, as
|
||
first time users were always called.
|
||
Today would be different from other Dreamtimes, however, at
|
||
least for Jardell and Lenda. They would commence to make their way
|
||
to man and womanhood while in the shadow of the Shakka. It was
|
||
considered the ultimate act of love to copulate in it's shadow, and
|
||
Jardell had always desired for his Passing to be of such a high
|
||
caliber. He was excited and fearful, and for the first time since
|
||
the plan had evolved out of their young minds did he discover doubts
|
||
in his mind. His father had concluded his Passing in the same
|
||
manner, much to the disapproval of the elders afterwards, and he had
|
||
given Jardell only one piece of advice on the matter: "Wait until
|
||
you feel that it may be the wrong thing to do - then you will know
|
||
that you are ready...". These words reverberated through Jardell's
|
||
young head over and over, pushing tears from his eyes and causing
|
||
him to tremble all over his body. He wanted to call it off; he
|
||
suddenly thought it was the wrong thing to do after all. He would
|
||
tell Lenda that he didn't think it was such a good idea, she would
|
||
certainly understand.
|
||
After having dressed and eaten breakfast, he quickly gathered
|
||
his hunting implements and headed for the meeting place just outside
|
||
the camp. Two of his friends were already there, evidently in eager
|
||
anticipation of the day's coming events as they hastily greeted
|
||
Jardell and then went back to discussing any possible evasive
|
||
actions should such be required. Jardell sat next to Rhun, one of
|
||
his better friends and inquired why they were even considering such
|
||
possibilities, as they all knew the Shakka was their private secret.
|
||
"Because, Jardell, one of the elders COULD have found the Shakka
|
||
on one of his spiritual walks. It is unlikely, but possible. It is
|
||
true that we planned this well by telling your father that we would
|
||
be hunting coyotes by the old cave, as that one can draw a straight
|
||
line from the Shakka to the cave, and it will pass right through the
|
||
camp, but all possibilities MUST be considered!" Rhun had always
|
||
been a pessimist. In either case, Jardell had already made up his
|
||
mind that he would not make the Passing under the Shakka's shadow
|
||
after all, so all that could happen to them is mild reprimand. The
|
||
other two participants in their campaign arrived soon after, and
|
||
they set out for the old cave.
|
||
The trip lasted an hour, which was normal for Drytime, and their
|
||
waterskins were soon depleted. They arrived at the old cave and
|
||
promptly made their way to the hidden stream inside to refill their
|
||
water supply and to quench their thirst. Then they sat upon the cold
|
||
clay floor of the main dome and proceeded to devour their brought
|
||
rations hungrily.
|
||
After a short rest, they headed out to hunt coyotes. They needed
|
||
not search long, as their tracking and hunting skills were much
|
||
improved from the previous year. They had soon entrapped a confused
|
||
dog in their midst and were jabbing the snarling animal with their
|
||
spears. As they continued their deadly game with the doomed
|
||
creature, they debated who should give the fatal blow. It was
|
||
decided that Jardell should do so, as he would be consummating
|
||
Lenda's love and completing his Passing on this day. All involved
|
||
smiled jealously as the decision was passed, all except for Jardell
|
||
who blushed. He nodded silently, saying nothing about the decision
|
||
he had met earlier. He prepared for the deadly blow, and the others
|
||
tightened the circle about the crazed animal. Jardell aimed and
|
||
thrust his spear at the coyote's head, thrusting with all his might.
|
||
The thrust struck the animal beneath the right eye and glanced off.
|
||
The entire group fell silent for a split second - a glancing blow
|
||
during a hunt was an omen that any decisions passed that day were
|
||
bad. Jardell fell back in horror - only he knew that the omen could
|
||
apply directly. The others fired him up, yelling to complete the
|
||
kill, and Jardell thrust again. This time, the coyote was stuck
|
||
squarely in the eye; the spear head pierced it's brain and a shower
|
||
of blood burst forth from it's nostrils as it jerked in a few
|
||
spastic motions and finally remained still. The boys gathered about
|
||
the dead animal and congratulated Jardell on his excellent kill.
|
||
None even thought of the omen, no one thought it applied, no one but
|
||
Jardell, and while he shook his friend's hands, he quietly thought
|
||
about his decision this morning. He felt a nudge beneath his
|
||
stomach, and suddenly the decision not to follow the plan was wiped
|
||
from his mind. He began to smile in eager anticipation and
|
||
disemboweled the coyote with such fervor that it even surprised
|
||
Rhun, who knew Jardell to be the hardworking type under all that
|
||
lazyness. The carcass was skinned and the hide was hung up to dry.
|
||
Rhun built a fire and stuck five neatly cut pieces of coyote meat on
|
||
a thick stick which was kept in the storage area of the cavern. The
|
||
boys gathered about the fire and began the almost ritualistic
|
||
telling of stories. One could tell that they were all ready for the
|
||
Passing, but only one member of a Circle of Friendship was allowed
|
||
to do so every phase of the moon. Soon the time to travel to the
|
||
Shakka came and they gathered their posessions and wandered off.
|
||
Jardell wore the completely dried hide about his waist, a feature of
|
||
the ritual for which he was thankful for, as it helped him hide his
|
||
display of anticipation.
|
||
At the start of their trek the sun was still high in the sky,
|
||
but going around the camp to an area roughly the same distance from
|
||
it as the old cave took a long time and when they finally arrived at
|
||
the Shakka, the sun was just an hour away from setting. There was no
|
||
breeze, and the Shakka's huge stationary form sent a shudder down
|
||
even the most expert user's spine. It's branches were grotesquely
|
||
twisted arms that reached out toward the boys in blind desperation.
|
||
Even though they were out of the Shakka's mindlink shadow, the
|
||
unworldly creature could still transmit empathic emotions to them.
|
||
It was hungry for their life force, that much was obvious. Jardell
|
||
began to think of the stories told by the elders about Shakkas
|
||
devouring the entire lifeforce of a user while he or she was under
|
||
the Shakka's influence. He shuddered: Such stories were merely used
|
||
to try to scare them away from the strange dreamlike state that the
|
||
tree produced.
|
||
They were to meet Lenda when the sun fell behind the horizon, so
|
||
they sat atop a nearby rock and wearily gazed at the Shakka. "I
|
||
don't like what I just felt close to Shakka!" Rhun said. The others
|
||
nodded in agreement, but Jardell thought differently.
|
||
"Guys," he said, "we're just overwrought with anticipation,
|
||
that's all... I don't think there will be a problem. We never had
|
||
one with the Shakka before, I don't see why we should now!" The
|
||
group fell into silent thought which was only interrupted with the
|
||
spectacular display that rippled across the clouds covering the
|
||
horizon: The sun was dying and spilling its blood into the white
|
||
cloud cover. They gazed in awe at the spectacular display and only
|
||
Jardell noticed that the Shakka was moving. He wordlessly pointed it
|
||
out to Rhun. The Shakka's root system seemed to have disappeared,
|
||
leaving a system of ten or so leg-like appendages. It appeared to be
|
||
stretching it's newly found legs as it slowly folded and straightened
|
||
them. The other three now noticed this odd display and fear riddled
|
||
their faces. Janten was the tallest of the Circle, and also the
|
||
first to run in fear, the other two followed him, loudly yelling
|
||
unintelligible phrases as they raced back towards the camp. Rhun had
|
||
tried to stop them, but gave up when it was apparent that nothing
|
||
would change their minds at leaving the Shakka far behind.
|
||
Both Rhun and Jardell were as fearful as they, but Jardell
|
||
thought of Lenda who should be arriving soon, and Rhun would never
|
||
have left him in a dangerous situation such as this. They had heard
|
||
the myth of the Rising of the Shakka, but neither of them had
|
||
believed it. The myth told of a certain day of each year when one
|
||
Shakka was allowed to move on to another location; the magic was
|
||
invoked at sunset and lasted until dawn. As this was only possible
|
||
once a year, the Shakkas made certain that they could pick the best
|
||
spot to settle down again, and many tales of horrible violence upon
|
||
mortals were linked to the myth.
|
||
"Look, over there! It's Lenda!" Rhun exclaimed as he pointed
|
||
towards a small moving figure silhouetted against the horizon. The
|
||
Shakka shuddered again, producing whistling sounds from it's
|
||
branches whipping through the air. It whirled around and seemed to
|
||
gaze at Lenda with invisible eyes. Then it made it's way toward her,
|
||
slowly at first, but with ever increasing speed. Jardell jumped to
|
||
his feet, quickly gathered his possessions and ran behind the Shakka
|
||
as fast as his leg would carry him. Rhun was right at his heels,
|
||
panting loudly. They made a wide circle around the Shakka which was
|
||
headed straight for Lenda.
|
||
"Why doesn't she stop? Can't she see that it's coming her way?"
|
||
panted Rhun.
|
||
"Maybe the Shakka has taken her mind into control?" Jardell
|
||
muttered. They ran towards Lenda, but as they passed close to the
|
||
Shakka, they realized that this had been a bad move. Rhun was the
|
||
first to feel the effects, but as they got closer to the Shakka,
|
||
Jardell was also beginning to feel the effects of the spell.
|
||
"Run back!" he screamed at Rhun, just in time. Rhun slowed,
|
||
blinked and with a surge of concentration broke free long enough to
|
||
make it out of the Shakka's Shadow. Panting, the two boys huddled
|
||
together and tried to decide the best plan of action.
|
||
"It's best if we just run around it at a great enough distance,
|
||
don't you think?" Rhun commented. "Otherwise, it'll get to her
|
||
before we get help or do anything else." Jardell agreed, and they
|
||
made their way around the Shakka at a safe distance. When the two
|
||
had finally reached Lenda, she indeed seemed to be in a trance.
|
||
Jardell stood in front of her, breathing hard, and called her name
|
||
over and over. Lenda gave no response, and Jardell had a difficult
|
||
time trying to stop her moving even closer to the rapidly advancing
|
||
Shakka. Jardell slapped her face lightly, and for a split second, it
|
||
seemed that her eyes cleared, but then they quickly took on their
|
||
previous state. Almost ready to panic, Jardell picked up on what he
|
||
had just seen: Pain seemed to break the spell. In desperation, he
|
||
whipped out his hunting knife and made a short, clean cut on her
|
||
lower arm, trying his best to stay away from any areas that
|
||
contained major blood vessels. Her eyes cleared instantly, she gave
|
||
a quick yell and looked at Jardell questioningly. He grabbed her
|
||
unwounded arm and pulled her behind him as fast as possible.
|
||
"Don't ask questions, just run!" He screamed at the top of his
|
||
lungs. He noticed that in all the confusion, the Shakka had come
|
||
within twenty paces of them, and it was high time to get out of it's
|
||
way. Jardell, Lenda and Rhun darted to the right, out of the
|
||
Shakka's path, and this seemed to confuse it enough for them to gain
|
||
some distance.
|
||
They stopped, and panting, Jardell tried to explain the
|
||
situation to Lenda. She understood immediately what had transpired,
|
||
and told Jardell and Rhun of a short story that her father had
|
||
related to her some years back. It seems that he, too, was a Shakka
|
||
user in his prime years, and had come to the local Shakka on a day
|
||
like this. He was the only one of the group to survive unscathed,
|
||
but he never related to Lenda how he had made his escape. She seemed
|
||
to remember him muttering something about Rabbits, but he never
|
||
would tell her more.
|
||
"Rabbits?" Jardell exclaimed. Just then, the Shakka changed
|
||
direction and was heading toward the group once again. "Come on,
|
||
let's move!" Jardell yelled.
|
||
"Rabbits!" he thought to himself. It was too obvious: The Shakka
|
||
seemed to have a limited intelligence in certain ways, much as a
|
||
predator had when trying to chase a rabbit. When rabbits fled, they
|
||
would not run in a straight line, but zig-zag their way to safety.
|
||
This not only wore the chasing foe down, but also confused it to the
|
||
point where the chase seemed fruitless.
|
||
"Come on... let's go! Do exactly as I do!" Jardell screamed, and
|
||
immediately changed his direction to the left. Lenda and Rhun,
|
||
astonished, followed his example. The Shakka slowly realized the
|
||
directional change, and altered it's direction accordingly. Jardell
|
||
now changed to the right and the other two followed his example. The
|
||
Shakka took even longer to realize this change and had moved away
|
||
quite a distance before it turned in the correct direction.
|
||
"One more should do it!" Jardell exclaimed. Once the Shakka was
|
||
on their tail again, he suddenly ran towards it in an almost
|
||
straight line, veering off to the left at the last moment. The
|
||
Shakka didn't even notice that they had passed it and were
|
||
successfully escaping its wrath behind its back. It just kept moving
|
||
forward, eventually slowing down to conserve resources. It was well
|
||
on its way to a new location, having already forgotten its prey.
|
||
Jardell, Rhun and Lenda stopped running when the Shakka was but a
|
||
tiny speck against the growing dusk. They hugged each other,
|
||
exasperated, but happily laughing, and after a short rest started to
|
||
make their way back to the camp.
|
||
-H.D. Baumeister <HDB0242 @ RITVAX>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Seer's Doom
|
||
The man freely checked his sword and knives to the child at the
|
||
flap of the garishly colored tent before entering. The dim interior
|
||
of a thelavran, or seer's, tent was not a familiar place to him, but
|
||
Baranya was rumored to be the best forecaster alive, and he wanted
|
||
to be sure, for his wife's sake.
|
||
He knelt on the cushions before the low table and waited for the
|
||
thelavra to appear. His eye was caught by the many-faceted crystal
|
||
spheroid on the a black velvet padded stand in the center of the
|
||
table, and so he didn't notice Baranya's entrance. One moment her
|
||
chair was empty and the next, she was sitting serenely before him.
|
||
"Pose your question," she said without preamble, sliding
|
||
gradually into her trance by narrowing her eyes to slits, breathing
|
||
shallowly, and concentrating on her personal thendera, or
|
||
concentration point, which was a painted wood toy knife her brother
|
||
had owned as a child.
|
||
The man said, "My wife wants a child. But, she's a small woman.
|
||
The healers aren't sure that she can safely carry and bear one. My
|
||
question: If my wife becomes pregnant, will she succeed in
|
||
delivering it safely, and will it be...normal?" There was a history
|
||
of deformity in his family, and that worried him as much as his
|
||
wife's possible problems.
|
||
The thelavra began humming softly, and closed her eyes in full
|
||
concentration, sinking fully into her trance. Presently, she opened
|
||
them again, and, still humming, gazed deeply into her crystal.
|
||
"I see...your wife." Baranya spoke slowly, humming between, and
|
||
the man had to concentrate in his turn to understand her. "She's
|
||
pregnant. She's delivering...a son...safely." He breathed a sigh of
|
||
relief. "I see...a limit. If...you...she conceives within...six
|
||
months, ...all will be...well with her...and the...child."
|
||
Baranya sat back, a slight frown on her face. She shook her
|
||
head, as if unable to quite leave her trance, and her eyes unglazed.
|
||
She looked at him, and asked, "Was that satisfactory?"
|
||
"O, yes, my lady. Thank you, thank you so much. Here, for you,
|
||
and all your help." He set three gold Stars on the table. "Thank you
|
||
again." He stood, turned, and left, smiling.
|
||
Baranya's frown deepened as the tent flap closed. She had seen
|
||
something else, but she knew from experience never to give a
|
||
customer more than he wanted. Still, she was curious, so she
|
||
breathed deeply, re-entered her trance, and stared into her crystal
|
||
ball. Her frown deepened, then her eyes widened in horror. She
|
||
muttered, "No. No! Stop!" She stared for a few more moments, then
|
||
she screamed, "Gods, NO!" and slumped in her chair. She breathed
|
||
once more, then died.
|
||
|
||
The man never knew what he had engendered. The thelavra had
|
||
looked into the future a little too far, and seen her own death, and
|
||
the result. And, seeing her death had brought it about, just as she
|
||
had seen it - slumping back in her chair and expiring right then and
|
||
there. But, such were the circumstances, and her power, that her
|
||
psychic death-gasp was transmitted throughout the whole of Eastland,
|
||
setting up a chain reaction among all of the mentally gifted - the
|
||
so called magicians - and, in forced empathy, killed them, or burned
|
||
out their powers.
|
||
Unknowing of the disaster foreseen, the man went home to tell
|
||
his wife the good news. His son was delivered some months later.
|
||
On the man's son's first birthday, barbarians from the Steppes
|
||
invaded quietly. They poured into Eastland unnoticed, and attacked
|
||
from within. Their conquest was easy and uncontrolled, due to the
|
||
demise of most of the witches and wizards the year before.
|
||
-John L. White <WHITE @ DREXELVM>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Ceda the Executioner: Chapter 5
|
||
The day was getting on and there was still a long way to go
|
||
before he was safe. If the Nuadrin had made a new gate then they
|
||
were almost certainly watching for him.
|
||
The sun was on the other side of the mountains now casting
|
||
shadow of Psom far out into the wilderness past the cliffs. Darkness
|
||
stretched as far as the eye could see, but in any case, Ceda waited
|
||
for the sun to go down totally and the darkness to be complete
|
||
before he left the shelter of the cliff face.
|
||
That night he set out. Being on the east of the mountains, he
|
||
had the moon to guide him, but the way was dangerous. Trying to
|
||
avoid roads as much as possible, he tramped on slowly, being most
|
||
sparing with the remaining food that he had left.
|
||
A couple of hours march brought him a newly made crossroad. The
|
||
way South undoubtedly led to the Port of Breanduin or Naz'Clow and
|
||
the North, it probably led up the Cities of Pheeng'Am, Bilfneuin or
|
||
past the Gate of Ploughdom to the far City of Naudsman on the
|
||
borders of Old Grandydyr beyond the desert.
|
||
The way West led back to the Cliffs of Belos. East was the way
|
||
that Ceda went, though he was not sure at this point where it led.
|
||
After a short time, The dry atmosphere that hung about the mountains
|
||
vanished and woods sprang up all around. Soon the road was deep into
|
||
a forest surrounded by the pleasant sound of birds.
|
||
The road was now slow and hard. The road climbed now up some
|
||
unnamed hill and twisted constantly. Soon all sense of direction was
|
||
lost and continuing meant following the road or being lost in the
|
||
endless wood.
|
||
Then Ceda heard footsteps coming up the path in front of him. A
|
||
great many footsteps, 'around fifteen of them', he thought. 'Mayhap
|
||
they can tell me where I am.'
|
||
They were getting very close when Ceda heard a commanding voice
|
||
call out an order in the common tongue. "Halt! We hold here for the
|
||
night! Beniza, chain their feet and bind their mouths. I don't wish
|
||
to meet any Bilfneuin Axemen. Now! Any of you filthy men decide to
|
||
try anything and I'll personally cut your fingers from your hands.
|
||
We reach the gate tomorrow." The voice was Nuadri. The laughs that
|
||
followed were Orcish-- and the cries were Human.
|
||
Ceda jumped into the woods. His first thought was escaping, then
|
||
remembering the fate of the men that reached the mountains, he
|
||
decided to help them. Taking a long sip of his wine, and throwing
|
||
away the last skin, he slipped into the woods and approached the
|
||
camp under the cover of the trees and the darkness.
|
||
Soon he stood just outside the camp. There were indeed fifteen:
|
||
one Nuadri, four Orcs and ten men. The sun was just crawling over
|
||
the trees in the east when they had settled down and the Orcs drew a
|
||
little into the wood to shield themselves from the coming sunlight.
|
||
The Men were bound in heavy chains at their feet and necks and were
|
||
anchored to a nearby tree and Nuadri slept down the road out of
|
||
reach of the men.
|
||
Ceda waited until the sun was over the trees shining down on the
|
||
company before he moved. Then taking his trident in both hands, he
|
||
crept forwards and silently killed the Nuadri. Then walking to the
|
||
trees the Orcs slept, he killed all but one, then he put his foot on
|
||
the Orcs chest and yelled.
|
||
The Orc and the rest of the company awoke with a start. Ceda
|
||
lifted it to its feet and took its weapon casting it away onto the
|
||
road by the Men. "Now, Orc! tell me, what is your business on this
|
||
side of the Gate of Ploughdom?" The Orc looked at Ceda in dismay,
|
||
then spat at him. The Orc died quickly.
|
||
Then Ceda turned to the dead Nuadri. A brief search revealed the
|
||
keys to the chains that bound the Men. Then they all sat and talked.
|
||
"I am Aroth of Leafholm, City in the Wood of Carne," said a man.
|
||
"And I am Ceda of No-Al Ben"
|
||
"Thank you for your kind service. My men and I were taken
|
||
prisoner of the Nuadrin some three days ago," said the man before he
|
||
was cut off by Ceda.
|
||
"Nuadrin? How came you by that name?"
|
||
"The Beast you killed there, it is called by our people a
|
||
Nuadri," replied Aroth. "So have we decided after none of the elders
|
||
could find any text with description or word of them. We have never
|
||
seen them before."
|
||
"Nor have I," said Ceda. "But I also have come to call them
|
||
Nuadrin though I know not why. I thought of such a name in folly for
|
||
I could not remember ever meeting such an odd creature as this in
|
||
all my travels. But let us come to this later, first we must leave
|
||
the road, for there are many of these Nuadrin about now, they have
|
||
hewn a new gate from the mountain of Psom."
|
||
"Aye, and from Dearn. But this is old news. We shall speak of it
|
||
later when we reach Leafholm. It is six hours stride from here."
|
||
"Nay!" cried Ceda. "I'll not travel the roads now! they are
|
||
infested with the vile Nuadrin!"
|
||
Aroth laughed. "We are native to this wood, Ceda of No-Al Ben.
|
||
We need not contend with The Orcs new masters! We know the wood like
|
||
as well as the Elves of Carne. You need not fear!"
|
||
Then he leapt to his feet an bounded into the wood followed by
|
||
the rest of the men. Ceda went to the Corpse of the Nuadri leader
|
||
and took a skin of liquid that was tied to its waist. Then he
|
||
followed into the woods after the men who were singing a merry song.
|
||
|
||
Carne! the merry wood
|
||
We return to Thee
|
||
Coming home.
|
||
|
||
Carne! where all is good
|
||
As we enter Thee
|
||
coming home.
|
||
|
||
Leafholm, the City in the Trees
|
||
Where all is well and good!
|
||
From the Days of Old when
|
||
Elves wrought gold and ruled
|
||
The kingdoms untold.
|
||
Then came to Leafholm.
|
||
|
||
And Leafholm! I return to thee
|
||
In bliss and glee
|
||
And smell the sweet nectar
|
||
That flows in Thee!
|
||
|
||
Coming home!
|
||
|
||
Strong wind and rain,
|
||
And Tainian's Bain,
|
||
And all the Ice of Plime;
|
||
Nor Orcs or Barnonoen
|
||
Or Dragons of Khuss
|
||
Shall keep me from my
|
||
Beloved Leafholm!
|
||
|
||
Coming home!
|
||
|
||
The air is sweet!
|
||
The food a treat!
|
||
All is right
|
||
In Leafholm!
|
||
|
||
Carne! love me please!
|
||
Let me live under your leaves!
|
||
|
||
Carne! I return to you!
|
||
|
||
I come home!
|
||
And rest I shall
|
||
In Leafholm!
|
||
|
||
Coming home!
|
||
|
||
And so they sang as they bounded through the forest as though
|
||
they were in an empty field hindered not by the trees of the hills
|
||
that they passed. At times they had to wait for Ceda who had a great
|
||
deal of trouble keeping up with them.
|
||
Finally, after some hours march, they came to a large wall that
|
||
stretched into the trees in either direction. The wall was as green
|
||
as the trees themselves and they turned and followed it for a little
|
||
while until they came upon a great gate.
|
||
Upon the gate were many Elves cloaked in dark green robes drawn
|
||
tightly about their heads. In each ones hand was a a long bow and on
|
||
their sides rested long knifes. Seeing Aroth, the gate was drawn
|
||
open and they all entered.
|
||
"Do the Elves of Carne and the men of Carne dwell in the same
|
||
city?" asked Ceda as the gate was closed behind them.
|
||
"Nay," said Aroth. "There are no men of Carne."
|
||
Ceda stopped short. He looked up and down at the row of Men he
|
||
had entered with. All appeared to be human. Then he looked sidelong
|
||
at Aroth who stood smiling at him.
|
||
"Ceda of No-Al Ben," he said. "We are not Men, but are Elves.
|
||
Come, we will hold now a council with the King, and you shall be
|
||
there to tell of your ordeal. There you shall learn all that you
|
||
wish to know.
|
||
Ceda was led up many streets until they reached the gate to the
|
||
palace of the city. The walls were made of a strange silken thread,
|
||
which Ceda commented on and was told that its properties were that
|
||
of the strongest metal and the thickest rock yet inclimbable.
|
||
All over the city as Ceda passed, trees towered over his head,
|
||
their tops disappearing into the clouds above. Green leaves covered
|
||
the paths (in Elven tree cities, there were no set roads to disrupt
|
||
the natural area, but paths were maintained for convenience) never
|
||
dying, and the soft singing of birds was never absent.
|
||
Inside the great walls of the palace, a great ring of pine trees
|
||
acted as a palace wall, which was only enterable through the Gate.
|
||
The trees were much larger then all the others and even as their
|
||
mighty trunks rose into the clouds above, they gave no hint of ending.
|
||
Into the tree gate they went and discovered a large stair. The
|
||
stair went both up and down, they went down. Torches lined the walls
|
||
and which were delicately carved out of the dirt among the roots.
|
||
Finally after a long descent, they came to a large door guarded
|
||
by four Elves. The doors were made of an odd yellow metal which
|
||
lighted the passage. Ceda was told to leave his weapons and enter.
|
||
The hall that he had entered was like none he had ever seen or
|
||
even heard the likes of in any tale. The walls and ceiling were that
|
||
of the living tree root of the magnificent trees that grew in the
|
||
Palace Ring. They were nicely cleaned and polished to the
|
||
magnificent color of orange which Ceda guessed was their natural
|
||
color. The floor was of the same yellow metal that the doors had
|
||
been made from. The room was full of Elves the like of which Ceda
|
||
had never seen before. They were dressed in many different shades of
|
||
green, their hair was and well groomed (mostly in braids) and their
|
||
faces were stern but gentle. They welcomed Aroth and turned to Ceda
|
||
as he and his men left the chamber.
|
||
"Welcome," said one of the larger Elves coming forward. He was
|
||
well dressed in a light green robe and wore a helm of orange leaves
|
||
about his head. "I am the Lord of Leafholm. Rakine I am called by
|
||
most of my Elves; Rakine of Leafholm. What is thy name, Sir?"
|
||
"Ceda of No-Al Ben," replayed Ceda.
|
||
There was some muffled talking around the room. Then Rakine
|
||
spoke. "The finder of the Crown has come to us! Welcome again, Ceda
|
||
of No-Al Ben. Tell us your tale and then ask us what you will, for I
|
||
see great concern in your eyes." He signaled and chairs and a great
|
||
table were brought forth.
|
||
Ceda sat at the middle of the long table. Elves were all about
|
||
him, but they were silent and Ceda spoke. "When the winter had
|
||
passed, I was hired and left for the city of Caffthorn. Then, as the
|
||
sun rises and the moon sets, it was ten days and three when I found
|
||
the Tree of Grobst and came upon the Crown."
|
||
"Aye," said Rakine. "This we know. We have been in close contact
|
||
with Rackins, for he is my brother, and we hide nothing."
|
||
Ceda stared at Rakine for a moment and then continued. "Then I
|
||
will start from the time that Cander of Perstanie reached
|
||
Cramstrock. It was ere two months that he came to me, and I was
|
||
drunk and could not talk. He took me like a dog onto a horse and we
|
||
rode for Dhernis stopping in Caahah. It was only there that he
|
||
counseled me that we made for the City of the Elves.
|
||
"Upon leaving, about four days ride from Dhernis on swift horse,
|
||
we went astray by my leave to the Gate of Ploughdom, for I had
|
||
misgivings about the Dark Doorway, though I know not why. Methought
|
||
it best to check and see lest there be something afoot.
|
||
"You dared to approach the Dark Gate in times of war? and what
|
||
of Cander, we knew not that he had reached you! where is he now?"
|
||
said Rakine.
|
||
"Cander," said Ceda slowly. "Met his end in the Caverns of
|
||
Onibus, but what is this talk of war?"
|
||
There was more quiet talking in the room and Rakine looked to an
|
||
Elf at his side and spoke a few words. The Elf answered and then
|
||
Rakine continued and the room grew silent.
|
||
"The Mouths of Arnmere and the Gates of Ploughdom, Dearn and
|
||
Psom have been spewing forth their vile laborers in war for nigh two
|
||
and a half months!" said Rakine. Caffthorn, Ruirse, No-Al Ben and
|
||
all the little countries of the East, North and West have been in
|
||
violent struggles to defeat their might, but as yet they are strong
|
||
and well armed. And they have with them the Nuadrin to command them."
|
||
"Aye," said Ceda. "I know of them, though I do not yet fully
|
||
understand them. I had no name for them, and in folly did I begin to
|
||
call them Nuadrin, for I had naught else to refer to them as, and
|
||
yet you use the name as do I, yet none have heard me speak it."
|
||
"They are to us a nameless people, not in song or story, but yet
|
||
they are here, and we call them now the Nuadrin for we also have but
|
||
naught else to call them but must speak of their deeds. Continue."
|
||
"After seven suns had passed since we had departed from
|
||
Cramstrock, we were taken prisoner by Nuadrin not fifty dragon
|
||
lengths from the Gate! I know not of anything else but that I lay
|
||
for sometime in a dark room bound in chains at my feet and hands.
|
||
Then I was led before a large beast that bore like to the Nuadrin,
|
||
but was bigger and stronger. He was the ruler, and he mocked me and
|
||
smote Cander, and that was the last that I saw of him.
|
||
"After a while in my cage I escaped and found my way to a pass
|
||
in Psom and learned of the new gate. There I fought with a Nuadri
|
||
and some of its pet Orcs and found this:" he reached into his pack
|
||
and retrieved the medallion with the crown on it.
|
||
"Aye, we have seen many of the like," Said Rakine.
|
||
Ceda returned the medallion to his pouch and went on. "There was
|
||
one other matter of the mountains that troubles my thought: on the
|
||
night that I had escaped from the pursuit of the Orcs, I came upon a
|
||
place that was barren of life. Naught lived there, it was as if all
|
||
creatures were dead and gone save the trees and plants. It was to
|
||
that place that the Orcs from Onibus did not follow me as I fled."
|
||
"Aye, there are places in the mountains that even the Orcs will
|
||
not tread. You were lucky that you found not what did live there
|
||
I'll wager."
|
||
"It is there that I slept. When I awoke, I journeyed down into
|
||
the valley below and there I found a camp of the enemy. They did not
|
||
spy me though I sat and watched them for a time. There they burned
|
||
men and made many weapons in ready for war.
|
||
"I sat until the sun fell and then I circled the camp making for
|
||
pass in Psom. And it is there that I first discovered the new Gate.
|
||
"I fled Orcs over the pass killing some and gaining the
|
||
medallion and traveled down the other side of the mountain to the
|
||
Cliffs of Belos and then found a way down the following day."
|
||
"You found way down the cliffs with naught but what you have
|
||
now, or did your luck provide you with rope from one of the dead
|
||
Orcs?" asked one of the Elves that sat at the table.
|
||
"Luck it was, but not with rope," he answered. "Down the cliffs
|
||
edge Southward I walked until I came to a crack in the cliffs edge
|
||
that descended until the ground. That was the night that it rained.
|
||
Almost half way down I came upon a cave and rested there until the
|
||
following day.
|
||
"When I came down the mountain the following day, I traveled
|
||
East until I came so Carne and met your men in the hands of the
|
||
Enemy. They led me here, and that is my tale."
|
||
Rakine sat for a while in thought until a another elf entered
|
||
the room. And Ceda stared at him in wonder, for it was Aroth, yet he
|
||
was no longer a human, but an elf; the face was the same, with
|
||
perhaps a more smooth look, or perhaps his eyes were more stretched
|
||
and thin, but this was Aroth, and anyone could see that. He bowed
|
||
low before the king and took a place at the far side of the table
|
||
with a nod to Ceda.
|
||
"Well," said the King at last. "We must send word to Rackins at
|
||
once. Ceda, it is upon you to accompany them to the fair city of
|
||
Perstanie in the Learis Islands. This time, however, I hope that you
|
||
shall go there without any short side trips. Go now directly to
|
||
Dhernis, and take the Ships of Tearny by my order to the Captain.
|
||
"With him we shall need to send escort. Aroth, go with him, and
|
||
take whoever you would with you, but make haste! It is nigh one year
|
||
since he was sent for, and we have as yet heard nothing from my
|
||
brother in forty suns and forty moons. Go now, and may your speed
|
||
compete with the raven!
|
||
|
||
'uentu descern shyen svequ seju!'"
|
||
|
||
"We shall leave at first light, cousin" said Aroth to Rakine
|
||
with a nod to Ceda.
|
||
"Nay," said Rakine. "First we wait for word from Rackins,
|
||
messengers have already been sent telling of his arrival. As for
|
||
now, go and make yourselves ready, for you leave within the week."
|
||
With that final word, Ceda and Aroth got up and left the room.
|
||
"Cousin?" asked Ceda as they walked down the hall.
|
||
"Yes."
|
||
Aroth led Ceda to a room where he was to rest and before long he
|
||
was sound asleep on one of the most comfortable beds that he had
|
||
ever slept on.
|
||
It was a week and three days before they had left. No word had
|
||
come from Perstanie and time was ever fleeting. Ceda lay on his bed,
|
||
thoughts drifted though his mind and slowly he fell into a slumber.
|
||
It felt like he had hardly closed his eyes before Aroth once
|
||
again stood before the foot of his bed, clad in a dark green riding
|
||
cape with a hood and light riding boots; and it was not long before
|
||
they were on tall horses riding for the city gate. Aroth seemed of
|
||
good cheer and was full of energy as was Ceda who was once again
|
||
under way to the beautiful City of the Elves on Cergaan.
|
||
Before the sun was in center sky they were deep into Carne many
|
||
leagues from Leafholm. The light could just barely seep through the
|
||
leaves of the treetops high above their heads bringing small showers
|
||
of blissful illumination to the undergrowth and small animals that
|
||
bathed in the tranquility. On the look-out for Orcs and Nuadri, they
|
||
continued onward, but met none. And by nightfall, they were a days
|
||
ride from the border of the forest.
|
||
They pulled off the road about a hundred yards and set up their
|
||
camp. The horses were put on watch while they set up. Then they sat
|
||
down to have a meal of some cakes that they had brought from
|
||
Leafholm along with some fresh water from a near-by stream.
|
||
The pleasantness lasted during the night and at length both Ceda
|
||
and Aroth were deep in slumber while the horses watched over the camp.
|
||
At first light they awoke and packed up their gear for the days
|
||
ride. The red pinnacles of light were barely visible through the
|
||
branches above stemming over the early morning sky and the air was
|
||
rich with the soft sounds of birds. Reluctantly they stowed the last
|
||
of their things, had some berries and started for the borders.
|
||
The second morning since they had left Leafholm was peaceful.
|
||
Although they were in a hurry, they could not ride though the great
|
||
Forest of Carne without slowing to wonder at the somber trees that
|
||
stood so noble in their path. Soon they took to walking, first
|
||
quickly, then slower and finally barely moving up the path at all.
|
||
After a few hours the sun was over head and they stopped to have
|
||
a meal in a small patch of sunlight that managed to sneak through
|
||
the upper branches of a tall tree and form a large circle of light
|
||
on the ground near its trunk. They took a few cakes from their packs
|
||
and sat down to eat when they first heard the noise; hoofs, running
|
||
at great speed up the road from the direction they were headed.
|
||
"Arnea seek Duval! We were not careful! They will see the horses
|
||
and will know we are here," cried Aroth as he leapt to his feet. "We
|
||
shall perish from this folly of ours!" He ran to the horses and
|
||
pulled their reins jolting them off the road in a frenzy.
|
||
Ceda also got up, but not as hastily. "I think not, Orcs ride
|
||
not on steeds of any kind."
|
||
"True, but can the Nuadri ride?"
|
||
"I know not, but it is too late do debate, alas they are upon
|
||
us!" He through back his long hair and reached for his sword that
|
||
hung loosely at his side. At that moment the riders came into sight,
|
||
and Aroth relaxed for they were Elves.
|
||
"Hail!" shouted the foremost rider seeing Aroth. "Greetings."
|
||
"Hail," answered Aroth with a long sigh of relief. "I am Aroth
|
||
of Leafholm, cousin to Rakine the King. We seek knowledge of the way
|
||
up ahead by the forest gate, is it save to travel?"
|
||
"Aye, we have seen and heard naught for a days ride, it is safe."
|
||
"Good, and what is your business? Are you messengers?" said Aroth.
|
||
"Yes, we travel with message from Rackins. Pardon me, but are
|
||
you Ceda, for our message is for you be you he."
|
||
"Ah!" said Ceda with satisfaction. "Rackins has word of our
|
||
arrival then! What were his words?!"
|
||
"He spoke not as much as Merth. They want you to ride for the
|
||
Caves of Arnmere and seek what lies there, thou I know not what. He
|
||
said you would know about what he speaks," said the rider.
|
||
"The Caves? Is that old fool wizard in his right mind?" cried
|
||
Aroth. "Even in times of peace I would not venture within fifty
|
||
leagues of the hideous Caves!"
|
||
"Aye," said Ceda. "I know of what he speaks."
|
||
With a glance from Ceda, Aroth bid the riders continue to
|
||
Leafholm and inform Rakine of their new destination.
|
||
In a spring the horses had drawn away bearing the riders onward
|
||
and were soon out of sight. "To Arnmere?" asked Aroth with a lump
|
||
welling in his thought.
|
||
"Aye," said Ceda with the same feeling of dread. "I know what I
|
||
must do. Come if you will, but I force you not."
|
||
"I will come, for only a coward would leave you, and I am of
|
||
noble blood!" he said thrusting his fist into the air revealing the
|
||
pitch black ring that encircled his forth finger.
|
||
"Then let us ride at once!" shouted Ceda with a smile.
|
||
They finished what remained of their meal and stowed their gear.
|
||
Then mounting the horses they sped down the road and out of sight
|
||
into the distance with swiftness of the eagle.
|
||
-Joel Slatis <LGSLATIS @ WEIZMANN>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Idol
|
||
My father was a mercen'ry:
|
||
For our upkeep he sold his sword.
|
||
His fame was sung throughout the land,
|
||
And told to us by Mother's word.
|
||
|
||
We saw him little in early years,
|
||
As across our land in war he went
|
||
Leading some and killing others,
|
||
And always money home was sent.
|
||
|
||
Then he left home to fight foreign wars
|
||
When I was but a decade old.
|
||
Yet we looked up to the image he left
|
||
In the tales my mother told.
|
||
|
||
Without a father we grew up,
|
||
But our mother raised us right
|
||
With tales of Father's glorious deeds
|
||
That made us all eager to fight.
|
||
|
||
And though we were not swordsman each
|
||
A model was his courage still.
|
||
And we learned pride in all to take
|
||
Even if 'twas only to kill.
|
||
|
||
And he left home to fight foreign wars
|
||
When I was but a decade old.
|
||
Yet we looked up to the image he left
|
||
In the tales my mother told.
|
||
|
||
Another tenyear he'd been gone
|
||
When word of him fin'ly came back:
|
||
He'd died in battle, brave and true,
|
||
To hold his flag against attack.
|
||
|
||
That had occured some two years past
|
||
When we began bad things to hear.
|
||
A saint he was not, and no one is;
|
||
But the wrong he did was not ours to bear.
|
||
|
||
And he left home to fight foreign wars
|
||
When I was but a decade old.
|
||
Yet we looked up to the image he left
|
||
In the tales my mother told.
|
||
|
||
Ten more years had passed me by;
|
||
Years I'd lived both full and well,
|
||
And for myself because I knew
|
||
No good would survive me after I fell.
|
||
|
||
For Father's life was oft in my mind
|
||
And the tales that grew after he'd died
|
||
Spreading the wrong, forgetting the right:
|
||
Leaving me no need for pride.
|
||
|
||
And he left home to fight foreign wars
|
||
When I was but a decade old.
|
||
And the Idol created by Mother's words
|
||
Died by the tales that others told.
|
||
|
||
-John L. White <WHITE @ DREXELVM>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
-John L. White <WHITE @ DREXELVM>
|
||
|
||
|