Possessing the Grimstone (12 page)

“Retreat!’ He called over the din. “Retreat! We cannot win this! The stone’s power makes them too strong!”

“Damn them all!” Drith called, signaling to his men to pull back, chopping the head off one last creature, and then gutting its lizard steed.

The people of Gwythroth teleported out of the battlefield, and the Wivering raced, blurred, out of the reach of both magic and catapults. Tolan saw Pim still wailing over the body of his fallen friend. He made his way back, and grabbed hold of him.

“Pim, come, we are retreating.”

“No!” Pim cried. “No! I cannot leave him. No! No!”

“Come, Lad, there is nothing more you can do for him. He is gone. I am sorry, but we must go!” Tolan retrieved his father’s sword and bent to Pim.

“Come, Pim, or we are all dead.”

Pim looked up, face soaked with tears, and nodded.

Tolan helped him up, and they ran to a wagon that Drith commanded. He helped the two in as one of the enemy creatures lunged for Pim, sinking a claw into his ankle.

Pim screamed in pain as if fire ate at his flesh. Tolan turned to attack the thing when the familiar swatted at him. Tolan ducked, and bent, dodging the ghostly claws. He swung his sword through the spirit, but the blade passed through it. As it dropped, it ripped the bone necklace from the master.

The spirit smiled, and, free of its tether, soared into the air, vanishing into the clouds.

“Hold on to it, Pim!” Tolan called. “This is our chance!”

Pim locked onto the monster instead of kicking it off as Tolan grabbed the wagon’s reins. He severed them with his sword.

“Are you mad?” Drith called.

“Some say I am.” Tolan slung the rope around the creature’s arms and neck. He punched it in the jaw a few times, and then kicked it off of Pim. “It’s not as strong without its familiar.”

The creature fell to the ground, and the wagon dragged him away from the battlefield back to Cardoon. They’d just captured their first prisoner.

Pim curled into a ball in the corner of the wagon; the pain inside him was overwhelming.

Tolan looked down on him, placing a strong hand on his shoulder.

###

Moonlight shimmered into the chamber through grated windows. The creature stood in the center of the room in chains. Its arms were bound to the floor.

Sooth-Malesh stood in the room with the leaders of the kingdoms: King Enrille of Cardoon, Drith of Glenghora, and Olani of Bhrungach.

Jorrel of the High Guard watched from the doorway, as did Tolan and Pim. Pim still shuddered, the battle still raw in his bones. It had only been an hour since their return.

Sooth-Malesh approached the creature slowly. He carried a crystal in his hands.

The beast snarled at the mage, railing against his chains, frothing at the mouth.

Sooth-Malesh, the red mage, extended his arm and placed the crystal on its forehead. The old man shivered, and the creature froze. The crystal lit up with white light, and began pulsating. Light glimmered down the mage’s arm, glowing beneath his skin. Suddenly his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his mouth opened.

“Nesh.. Nesh… Neshing. They are called the Neshing.” Sooth-Malesh quivered, and his legs buckled. “Their homeland… savage… hostile; hot, thick air; lava pits, volcanoes. No relief, no sustenance. Slavering beasts… danger everywhere. Harsh. Food is scarce.”

For over a hundred years they had held the stone, studying it, trying to unlock its magic. They used it to break through the wall of mist. When they arrived, they liked what they saw, and wanted to take it. They wanted to find the other pieces of the stone in order to exterminate all else and take the land.

Sweat poured from Sooth-Malesh. His arm twitched. The light grew brighter until he could no longer withstand it. He let go of the crystal, and slipped to the floor. The crystal tumbled, and the Neshing pulled up his chains from the floor.

He lashed Sooth-Malesh across the face, and ran.

Everyone in the room scattered, and the Neshing stormed toward Tolan. He reached for the warrior with clicking claws, yanking the dagger from his belt. The Neshing warrior drew it across his own throat, and ended his life.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

“What a distasteful creature,” King Enrille said.

Olani rushed to Sooth-Malesh’s aid, helping him to his feet.

“Yes. Thank you, young lady,” he croaked.

“So… what do we do now?” Drith asked, placing his hands on his hips, staring down at the creature in a pool of its own blood.

“We cannot defeat these Neshing on our own. Not with the power the one piece of stone gives them. There is no choice.”

Everyone stared at him.

“We must locate the other pieces of the stone, or face annihilation.”

“How?” Pim asked the question that was perched on everyone’s lips.

###

Pim sat in a long hall with marble floors and archways. Above him, a sconce flickered with orange-amber light. His sword lay at his side. He felt listless, defeated. He stared at the floor. In its surface, he saw Ono’s face.

“I’m so sorry.” Even as he whispered it, he knew it made no difference. Tears dampened his face; one rolled down his cheek to the edge of his chin, and fell. It splashed the floor, chasing Ono’s visage away.

“It is okay to mourn,” Tolan’s voice roused Pim. He looked up at the noble warrior, battle worn, dusted with ash and dried mud.

“I know.”

Tolan got down on the floor with the young Wivering. “We both lost our friends today. Our best friends. We are kindred, you and I.”

“He tried to tell me how scared he was, and I wouldn’t hear him. I was a fool. I’ve been a fool about everything.”

“No, you wanted to help. You wanted to make a difference to your world, to your people.”

“And what good did it do? I didn’t just lose my best friend today, I lost my people. Many of them. Arc was the smart one. He chose not to go to war. He chose to live. I should have done the same. We all should have.”

“We all have our own paths to follow, Pim. Arc’s path is not your path. Yours is still before you.”

“And Ono’s path?”

Tolan looked into Pim’s eyes. The Wivering noticed the fire still burning in them. He saw in them pride, courage. But Tolan’s head sank just a little. “I knew Geyess since we were small boys, chasing goats through the roads of Cardoon, sitting on the roof of my parents’ hovel, and counting pixie lights in the Northern sky. Today he is gone. His path ended here, and I will miss him, but mine goes on. I must fight on for him, for we were kindred. Just as you and I are.”

Pim returned Tolan’s gaze and understood. It didn’t ease the pain just yet, but he knew what Tolan meant. The fight had to go on.

“The King has called another meeting of the leaders,” Tolan said. “I think that you should come.”

“I am not a leader.”

“You are, here. You lead the Wivering army, now.”

“What Wivering army? Half of them are gone.”

“No, you are part of the Cardoon army, and the army of all the kingdoms. We are one, and now you are a leader. I need you at the meeting.”

“Well, if you need me, then I must go.”

Tolan smiled, and Pim followed suit. The warrior helped him to his feet and guided him to the meeting hall.

###

The leaders were gathered at the great stone table when Olani entered the hall. She stopped in mid-step and stumbled. Pain bit through her. She clutched her gut with her left hand, and caught her breath.

“Are you alright, M’lady?” Tolan took her by the arm, steadying her. Pim looked on with concern.

She feigned a smile and stood up straight. “I am fine. Thank you.”

They walked on, arriving at the table with King Enrille, Drith and his twin, Gyrn, and Jorrel of the High Guard, who Tolan was surprised to see—he thought he hadn’t survived the battle.

“My friends,” King Enrille began. “These are dark days. I am afraid that might and numbers alone cannot stop this new enemy that marches to Cardoon. We seek another way, another plan to save our world. A quest is at hand. Sooth-Malesh?” The King looked around. “Sooth-Malesh! Show us what you have seen.”

They waited for a few moments, and a cluster of shadows writhed in the corner of the room. Whispers echoed, and Sooth-Malesh stepped from the shadows, the darkness sliding off of him like a bed sheet.

“I have seen much,” the mage said to the group. “Your actions have not been in vain, my friends. You have delayed the Neshing. They have stopped at the battlefield and have made camp. They are recovering their dead, and…” the old mage hesitated, “Ravaging the rest of the bodies. Removing the skin and bones.”

The group looked at one another. The implication was ominous, and left the room in silence.

Sooth-Malesh went on, “It is unclear how long they will camp, but my senses tell me a death ceremony is in order. It will be some time before they march on, although there are other bands roaming to other kingdoms in Athora. They march to Cardoon not only to topple our grand city and its palace, but to look for the other pieces of the stone. We must find them first.

“I have scried and consulted for many hours. If we were to possess the other two pieces of the Grimstone, we would level the battlefield… no, we would crush them.”

“How are we to know how to find these pieces?” Olani asked. “Most here had never heard of the Grimstone before now.”

“Aye, M’lady, but my visions have shown me the path. These creatures lack this one thing: the vision and connection of the First People. It is there that we must search: the origin of all life, the ancient home of the First People. We must go to the Graywing Mountains. It is there that we might learn the location of the other pieces, and where the Mulcavrii have hidden them. By studying where they hunted or gathered food or how much of our world they may have charted. They may have left clues. Not exact locations you see, but something to help give us knowledge. This is of the utmost importance. We must get to the mountains before the Neshing do. They will head there, they will know the stone once resided in the mountains.”

“We can’t possibly find the other pieces before they reach Cardoon,” Tolan said.

“That is true,” King Enrille spoke. “That is why we need a few select volunteers for this quest. The rest of the armies will stay to defend the city, as with our mage, Sooth-Malesh.”

“I will do my best, sire.” The old mage bowed his head. His eyes caught Olani’s as he straightened. She winked at him. “Your attack has bought us time, but not much. The assault will commence, but we will not fall. We will keep them at bay until the group returns. It is a perilous quest: there are many uncharted lands, but those brave enough will prevail. I will imbue all those that step forward with a spell of protection.”

“Who will step forward?” King Enrille asked.

Tolan, almost immediately, and without hesitation, stepped forward. Not long after, Pim joined his side. Tolan looked down at him and nodded.

“This is madness,” Drith said. “We don’t even know if these pieces exist, or where they are. We are all doomed.” He turned to storm out of the hall, when his brother grabbed hold of him.

Gyrn sidled up to his ear. “Do not act so hastily, my brother. What if they do find the pieces? Just think of what not one, but two, could do? You could rule all of Athora. Smite all of our enemies, and deliver your people to paradise. You would be worshiped more than Thet, himself. Children would weave stories of your deeds.”

“As usual, you are so much wiser than I. Were it not for you, we would have no hope of leaving the dust behind. I will accept this pitiful quest.”

Drith turned back and stepped to Tolan’s side. “I will embark on this journey, as well. My brother will lead my army in my absence. I will take a guardian with me to fight at my side.”

“Very well,” King Enrille said. “There is one more mission: a backup plan. This is a secret mission, and its existence must not leave this room. A brigade will ride out and head for the Red Coast. While the Neshing armies are divided, the men will infiltrate their camp and try to steal their piece of the stone. In case one quest fails, the other may succeed.”

“Who leads this mission?” Tolan asked.

Jorrel stepped forward, bowing to the King.

“You?” Tolan’s eyes widened.

“It is the least I could do for doubting you. I should have listened.”

“It’s a suicide mission, Jorrel.”

“It’s best we have. If your group fails, at least we’ll have another shot at survival.”

“You won’t even get close to the piece of stone.” Tolan raised his voice. “There are dozens of mages around it; Sooth-Malesh said so, himself.”

Jorrel looked into his eyes. “We have to try. That day you came to me… that day… I should have at least investigated when our men did not return. I am sorry. We would have been better prepared if—”

“It is forgotten, my friend.” Tolan sighed, and reached out his hand. Jorrel took it. “May Thet guide you and watch over you. It is a most dangerous mission.”

“So is yours. May your steps be as quick as a Wivering’s.”

Pim’s ears perked up. The sacrifice these people had made, the camaraderie, the energy in the room all warmed his heart. It amazed him. This was what war was, not the action on the battlefield, not the impressive deed, but the selflessness, the will to do what was right. He’d been so wrong. He hoped to redeem himself on the quest—a quest into the unknown, a quest that was suddenly at hand.

Olani took a deep breath. “I am sorry that I have no champion to volunteer.”

“Typical Northern garbage,” Drith said under his breath. Tolan heard him very clearly, and glared at him in response.

“I will send a few of my warriors,” she said.

“It is not necessary, M’lady,” Tolan said. “The North has suffered enough. You do not even have a home right now. No, it is better we keep the group small. We will travel unnoticed; the Neshing will not waste their time attacking such a speck on their path. They have bigger aspirations.”

“Very well,” Olani nodded, and her eyes dropped to the floor. Tolan knew shame filled her.

“I thank you all,” King Enrille said. “This is a day made in history. Please, Sooth-Malesh, keep me informed of the enemy’s progress, and summon me when they arrive in our lands. I need to rest in my chambers, now.”