Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands (11 page)

Télia smiled. “Your passion is strong. I’m glad to see it hasn’t
clouded reason. Going after the Halfstone is the best course of action. To
confront Malath without such a thing… would not end well.”

“Well, we had better hope we find it then.”

“We can always hope, but if we don’t find it, just remember Aldrick—there
is always a path to achieve that which you desire, however unlikely or obscure
it might seem.”

Her words were calming but he wondered if they held as much truth
as intended reassurance.

“I hope you are right,” he said.

“Concentrate!” cried Jon in frustration. “You have shown me what
you are capable of. Now, prove yourself further and take my storm from me!”

Aldrick wiped his brow. The falling sun was still hot and he too
was losing patience. He raised his hand once more, palm directed toward Jon’s
chest. He focused as intently as he was able, willing Jon’s storm to come to
him. Jon’s staff continued to levitate above his hand—evidence his storm
remained within him.

“It’s no use. I can’t do it,” Aldrick huffed, kicking the ground
irately. “The other abilities—those were clearer to me.”

Jon sighed and the staff returned to his hand. “Perhaps there is
something we haven’t touched on, Aldrick.” He frowned thoughtfully for a moment
before raising a finger. “The nature of Isobel’s ability… the unique motivation
behind it. We must take that into our considerations.”

“Self-preservation, perhaps?” Aldrick suggested.

Jon pondered. “Mmm yes, I suppose—self-preservation in the
presence of one who means to inflict harm. Perhaps you cannot take my storm
from me because I am not your foe, Aldrick.”

“Well how do we get around that?” he asked. “We can’t go seeking out
danger just to practise.”
“No,” agreed Jon. “Which is why I must reiterate that, for the time being,
focus is the key—to truly envisage your need to wield the power and to master
the belief that you can.”

“Very well.”

Aldrick tried many further times to drain Jon’s storm, but to no
success. Eventually they both had spent their patience and returned to the
house to finish preparing for the journey the coming day. They entered to find
Télia with all her gear packed and ready to be loaded on her mare in the
morning.

“You ready yourself with purpose, my dear,” commented Jon.

“Action spurred by concern,” she replied restlessly.

Jon took her hands. “No doubt this is a great undertaking for you,
Télia—following your wielder into the shadows like this. It is a noble thing
for an aera only in training to do. I am most thankful to have you here and to
know you stand at Aldrick’s side.”

Télia didn’t reply but offered Jon a faint smile and nod of
appreciation. Aldrick was also sincerely grateful for her willingness to take
part in this quest. Anyone else might have fled in the opposite direction, but
not her. She bore a courageous spirit and a caring heart.

The faint but undeniable rumble of hooves came into earshot. Like
lightning Télia went for her crossbow. Jon summoned his staff to hand. Aldrick
clambered for his bow and readied it with an arrow.

“This may well be trouble!” cried Jon in alarm.

Télia made for the door. “Come, we mustn’t find ourselves trapped
in here!”

They ran at great pace into the nearby forest and hid behind some
leafy undergrowth.

“Keep ready,” Télia whispered. “If one is an aera they will sense
you two are here.”

Aldrick stealthily drew his arrow, and a breath. They were
probably more assassins under Selayna’s command. It was best they be killed
before they had a chance to attack. By the sound of the hooves he judged there
were another two of them.

After a moment of tremendous tension, the riders came swiftly into
sight, galloping up the track toward Jon’s house. They wore dark green cloaks.
Outside the house they came to an abrupt halt, dismounted and drew crossbows
from their saddle bags. As Télia had feared, their attention did not fall on
the house, but on the area of forest in which the three of them hid. Aldrick felt
his heart start to thump…

“Wait.” Télia grabbed his drawing arm. “I know who they are!” she
exclaimed excitedly. “They are aeras from Galdrem. They are our allies!”

He and Jon stared at her.

“Are you certain?” asked Jon hesitantly.

Télia lowered her crossbow. “Yes, I am certain.” She stepped out from
the trees and walked toward the new arrivals. “Sinin!” she called out.

One of the riders—a bearded man with long hair—held up a hand in
recognition. “Télia. Télia, you are here.”

“Indeed,” she said brightly. “In the company of my wielder, and
another.” She gestured to Aldrick and Jon’s position behind her. They exchanged
looks, then cautiously made their way out from the trees.

Télia met Sinin with a lengthy embrace, as she had shared with Aldrick
when they first met, then turned. “Aldrick, Jon, this is Sinin, an old friend
from the aera’s lodge in Galdrem.”

Jon strode to Sinin and greeted him with the same warm embrace.
“Another aera? Well, it is my pleasure. I welcome you and your companion to my
humble home.”

“It is a pleasure to be here,” Sinin replied kindly. “I come with
a fellow aera, Aru,” he gestured to the woman he rode with, “to aid in the
protection of the young wielder.”

“My name is Aldrick,” he remarked, offering Sinin a handshake then
greeting Aru in turn. He was grumpy. Télia was not meant to have a man friend
who was ruggedly handsome and some years older than her. Still, it was
heartening to be welcoming allies into their company.

“How did you find us here?” Télia asked the newcomers while they
walked their horses to the stable.

“As any aeras worth their guts would have,” replied Sinin. “We
asked the right questions of the right people and learnt of your last known
path very easily.

“Too easily,” protested Aru, speaking for the first time. Her arms
were crossed and she wore a firm frown. “Enemies could find you here at any
time.”

“We have been on guard,” Télia said defensively. “Besides, we
intend to leave from here in short time.”

“Indeed we do,” affirmed Jon. “There are most pressing concerns we
must discuss.”

Sinin stopped walking and ran a hand through his hair. “I fear we
arrive here in the wake of dire circumstances, likely of the nature you are
concerned about.”

“What do you speak of?” asked Jon nervously.

“Malath Jayther and his faithful have come to the north. They set
upon Galdrem days ago,” said Aru.

“No,” uttered Télia in a voice stifled by dismay. The usual warm
tones of her face faded and were replaced by those of a morn frost.

“It is true, I fear,” said Sinin grimly. “Our journey to you was
delayed because of this. Malath’s power has returned and he is using it to hold
the Synod by the neck. The city is in anarchy. We were told to find Aldrick a
week ago but that same day Malath strode up the front steps of the high council
building and declared lordship of the city and lands. As you can imagine, the
Synod had a thing or two to say about that. Battle broke out. There have
already been casualties. It’s not pretty.”

Jon’s head dropped. “The worst of our fears are realised then.
Malath already moves to fulfil his old and dark desires, and there are few
standing in his way who threaten him.”

“Fewer now,” said Aru. “Half of the wielders in Galdrem are
unaccounted for.”

“What of Devéna?” Jon queried anxiously.

“I cannot say. We heard that a number of wielders are held up in
the Synod’s sanctuary. Malath was unable to break through the warding
enchantments placed upon it. Devéna may be among the survivors.”

“So there is some good news.”

“Some,” said Sinin. “Though I fear how this may end. Malath has
taken Delthendra as his own and given the Synod only days from now to declare
their allegiance to him. If they refuse he will make efforts to take these
lands by way of annihilation. He threatens to obtain the Shard of Heart’s
Storm.”

“We three were wary of such intent,” said Jon, trading glances
with Aldrick and Télia. “Malath will try to get the Shard whether the Synod
kiss his boots or not. Fortunately, we may still have time. He won’t find
opening the holding chamber any simple task.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. He uttered troubling words, Jon.
He said red wings will descend upon Darkna.”

Jon stared at Sinin for a moment then turned, twisting his lip.

“Oh dear me,” he remarked. “This is far worse than bad. Come—see
your horses to comfort and then we shall speak more of this indoors.”

Red wings? Aldrick thought to himself. What could that mean?

Once inside, Jon offered their two new companions food and water.
They then seated themselves in a rough circle so as to hear and share each
other’s thoughts. Télia sat next to Aldrick. He could sense her unease. Her home
village, Daraki’ Anya, was close to Galdrem. It may have already suffered in
the wake of Malath’s return.

He rested a hand on her shoulder.

“We are going to fix all this,” he said as tenderly as he could.
He wasn’t sure what else to say.

Télia didn’t offer a response, just continued to stare blankly
forward.

“Well now, let us talk.” Jon sat with his legs crossed and hands
on his knees. He glanced steadily around at each of them. “Firstly, let us talk
about dragons. It sounds as though we may have to add one to our list of foes.”

What! Dragons? … Dragons?! Surely Aldrick had misheard.

Télia stared at Jon with widened eyes. “No… they don’t exist, not
in this age.”

Jon shook his head. “Now Malath possesses his storm again there is
little from the past he cannot bring back to haunt this world. His foul sister
was just the beginning, I fear.”

“It is a certainty that ‘red wings’ referred to a dragon,” said
Aru. “There have been reports from a village near Mur that the gorge was
recently visited by a company of riders. It is the only known location where the
remains of a dragon lie. Malath plans to return it to life, has he not
already.”

Jon nodded. “It is the likely truth. His wielding ability will be
as strong as ever, possibly even more so given the years he has spent
disempowered and resentful of his fate. If he gets his hands on the Shard there
will truly be carnage as has not been seen in a thousand years.”

“And I hear this lad is our only hope,” said Sinin, turning his
attention to Aldrick.

Jon shot Aldrick a quick glance.

“That may be so, though it is not nearly that simple,” he said.
“We seek to obtain the stone which trapped Malath’s powers many years ago, to
ensure victory over him this time. Without it in Aldrick’s possession, his
chances are infinitesimal at best.”

Sinin nodded musingly. “It would seem you are steps ahead of us
then. We came with no plan of retaliation.”

“Yet you can provide invaluable support of our own,” said Télia.
“Tomorrow we travel for Selayna’s old Blackbed hideout, where we hope to find
the stone. It is the likeliest place Malath has kept it hidden from the world
all these years.”

Sinin’s eyebrows rose. “A bold move… but spurred by sound
reasoning it would seem. Aru and I will gladly accompany you. After all, it is
our job to protect Aldrick.”

Jon clapped his hands together. “It is most excellent to have you on
board. The extra arms you offer mean I shall be more willing to part from this
venture.”

Aldrick looked up. “What? You aren’t coming with us?”

Jon looked at him with reluctance in his eyes. “For some of the
way I shall, but I must make way to Galdrem. If the Synod has been given only
days to surrender, which they will not, then I must be there to protect the
Shard of Heart’s Storm, and the peoples of the Narathlands, just as I once
swore to. It is my duty, one I have abandoned for far too long.”

His words were disheartening. The knowledge that a powerful
wielder would accompany him to Fort Blackbed had been a large part of Aldrick’s
motivation to go there. Now it felt only perilous and foolhardy.

“Do not fret, my boy” said Jon, sensing his disappointment. “You
will find your way. With Malath in Galdrem, it is likely that the fort will be ill-guarded.”

Télia nudged his shoulder. “You’ll still have us aeras at your
side.”

Aldrick smiled and looked around at the three of them.

“I am grateful for it,” he said. “But know that I want none of you
to protect me any more than you would each other. I invite the support of
willing companions, not bodyguards.”

Sinin chuckled. “These words I endorse. What real man needs us
three watching his back? You are a real man, are you not, Aldrick?

“No, I am a wielder,” he replied.

“Like father, like son,” Jon said fondly. “So it is settled.
Tomorrow we shall leave here. Our cause is the same, though we have our own
parts to play and paths to follow. Let us pray, to whatever ethereal beings may
be listening, that this all ends well.”