The Alterra Histories: The Fire King (10 page)

“Our son tried to warn me, but I…I couldn’t hear,” said Aincor in a heartbroken voice. “Stay here, beloved—stay with me. Don’t let me be alone. I...I’m afraid of being alone. Please?
Please?”
But the life had gone out of Faelani’s eyes, and she was still.

Aincor threw his head back and uttered a great cry—a cry that was either heard or felt by every being in Alterra, from the ice-covered northlands to the great southern wastes. His great spirit—the conflict that had raged within him all his life, the denial of need for love and warmth and companionship, and his one great fear, the fear of loneliness— poured out its pain in that terrible cry.

Even as he screamed, Aincor was aware of the Shadow feeding on his guilt, savoring his defeat. Then, as Faelani’s spirit left her body, Aincor felt the Shadow’s hunger turn to feed upon it. It engulfed Faelani as Aincor held her tight to his breast, his grief so fierce it threatened to crush her. He heard her spirit wail as the Shadow pounced upon it like a night-hunting beast, Wrothgar’s horrid laughter drifting in the background.

In one desperate, reckless moment, Aincor knew what he had to do. He could not engage the Shadow on any earthly plane, for he had realized that it lurked in the realm between life and death. Therefore he could not prevail, could not save Faelani, while he was alive. He had sent her to a doom worse than death…unless he could prevent it. There was only one way to do that.

Without hesitation he raised his blade and slashed his own throat, sending forth a flood of bright blood, drenching both Faelani and himself. Then, with some effort, he turned his blood-spattered face toward his horrified son. Though he could no longer speak, the message in his eyes was clear.
I have failed. You are King now.
Then he died, slumping over the body of his beloved. Even Lord Wrothgar was silent—his laughter died with Aincor. This was most unexpected.

Aincor’s shade could see his son, Asgar, kneeling beside his friend Aldamar, both obviously overcome with what they had witnessed. It was apparent that they could neither see nor hear the Shadow and had not shared Aincor’s illusion—all Asgar had seen was his father murdering his mother. Asgar would not understand why Aincor had cut his own throat—he would wonder if it was an attempt to escape his guilt. He would wonder if his father was a coward. Why had he done such a thing? Why had he left his people in a time of greatest need? Aincor knew Asgar would never understand, but he could not concern himself with such matters. This wasn’t about him anymore.

The Spirit of the Fire-heart rose up as it left its body, launching itself at the Shadow. No one but the Shadow could hear the cry it made, nor could they see the vile creature quail back as that mighty spirit went straight for its throat. No shade had ever dared attack him before! Aincor met the Shadow with all the power he was capable of, and the Shadow had no choice but to release the captive spirits it had fed upon—it could not afford the energy needed to restrain them. As they fled, Faelani fled with them, crying out for Aincor.

Come with me, Beloved! You must come with me or be doomed to darkness! I love you—I will always love you. Come with me now!

But Aincor knew that, if he relented, the Shadow would continue to consume his people as Wrothgar’s greatest ally. His only chance to defeat Wrothgar was to ensure the Shadow’s demise.

I cannot. I must keep this evil at bay long enough for you to make your escape. Go, now!

The Shadow grappled with Aincor, even as it taunted him.
Yes, Fire-heart! Let us dance in deadly embrace, for I am the stronger! Thou hast freed the souls I have fed upon, but I am still hungry. I shall enjoy feasting upon thee, Mate-killer!

Aincor snarled.
I think not. I sense the fear behind your threats. You are not even a whole being, but a shadow of Lord Wrothgar. Let’s see what he makes of my next intention!
Aincor looked across the Shadow-plane—the half-light between life and death—at the black void beyond. This was the nothingness of Eternity, a place from whence there was no escape, and Aincor knew it. Not even Wrothgar’s power could overcome this barrier. Here the Fire-heart would taste of victory at last. He heard Faelani wailing, and knew that she had guessed the dreadful, final sacrifice he intended to make.

As Aincor forced the Shadow ever-closer to the edge of the black chasm, a mind-numbing dread nearly overcame Lord Wrothgar. If the Shadow was lost in the void, Wrothgar would never recover it. Would he ever be able to summon such a fearsome ally again? Would he even survive its demise? Wrothgar did not know, and he was terrified.

He called to the Shadow:
Let go! Give up the fight and return to Me! He cannot follow, for he is dead. Come back to Me!

The Shadow struggled, trying to escape Aincor’s grasp, but in this realm it was spirit against spirit, and Aincor was strong. The Shadow could not evade him. Aincor pressed his advantage, drawing even closer to the edge. Almost there …

Wrothgar panicked.
Do you realize what you are doing, Fire- heart? You will be trapped with a part of Me for all eternity, and you will never see the Light again! Is that what you want? You will never see the Eternal Shores, you will never hear the voice of your Beloved. She calls to you now, begging you not to leave her forever. You would sacrifice so much to defeat me? You are a fool!”

I kno
w…whispered Aincor.
I have always been a fool. But I cannot let you escape this justice. You must pay for what you did to my people…and to her.

I did nothing to her,
said Wrothgar, the last words Aincor would hear before he cast himself, still holding tight to his enemy, into the black depths. From that moment, his ultimate fate is unknown. One thing, however, is certain—he would never be alone. He would always have the Shadow for company.

Epilogue—the Aftermath

Aincor’s sacrifice was not in vain. Wrothgar, certainly, felt it most dearly. His most powerful manifestation, the part of himself he both feared and valued most, was now lost. Wrothgar’s strength was tied in large part to the Shadow. Without it, he had no choice but to retreat.

In Tal-elathas, Léiras felt the loss of Aincor, falling senseless to the floor of the Council-chamber, overcome by a nameless dread and sorrow from which he would not awaken for days. Dardis, Aincor’s younger son, wailed and covered his pale face, weeping inconsolably. He had felt Faelani’s death, as well.

In fact, every Elf in Alterra felt Aincor’s Light go out, though few realized it. To most it was like a brief pang of loss. Tears came unbidden to the more sensitive souls, and a few nearly swooned as a veil of sadness briefly clouded their sight. The Bödvari felt it; their strength grew as they reveled in the loss of the one enemy they had not yet overcome.

No one on the battlefield really understood what had happened. Asgar and Aldamar had witnessed the King’s actions, but could make no sense of them. Had he gone mad? Only Vathan, who had personally felt the Shadow’s influence and had some sense of it, would have been able to shed some light, but he did not survive the battle.

When the bedraggled survivors reached their encampment, they found their horses had been slain and their supplies plundered. All who had remained in camp were gone. The Elves had to return to Tal-elathas on foot and with few supplies, the northern winter tearing at them as they retreated before it. Very few made it back to stand before the Council.

Meanwhile, the First Uprising raged on despite Wrothgar’s weakened condition. It would continue for nearly twenty years before the last of Wrothgar’s forces were vanquished. Vathan was proclaimed a hero; it was only because of his willingness to defy Aincor that the realms of Light had any warning of the impending war.

Asgar, who had not understood his father’s actions in the end, deemed himself unworthy of carrying the scepter, declaring that Aldamar should be made High King. Reluctantly, Aldamar took over the leadership of the Èolar. He ruled Tal-elathas for many an Age until his death in battle during the Second Uprising.

Aincor’s name and reputation sank deep into the shadows forever, sent there by his own pride and stubborn willfulness. His reckless disregard for others became his legacy—the true nature and extent of his sacrifice was neither known nor appreciated. To be compared with him became an insult of the highest order.

Asgar, who lived in shame, kept mostly to himself. Though he was still counted among the fiercest defenders of Tal-elathas, he could not face down a Bödvar as had his father. It is said that the last word on his lips at the moment of his death was his mother’s name.

Glossary

Aincor (INE-cor): Elf of the Èolar, a great scholar and warrior, known as the Fire-heart. He was among the most skilled and passionate of his people, but he was prideful, and his reckless acts bore terrible consequences. It is unflattering to be compared with him in terms of willfulness. He produced two sons, Asgar and Dardis. Name means “fire-heart”. (ain-fire, cor-heart)

Aldamar (AHL-da-mar): Èolarin Elf, son of Vathan. Aldamar was close in friendship with Aincor’s elder son, Asgar. His name means “majestic and noble”.

Alterra (Al-TAIR-ra): The World That Is; the Realm in which these tales take place. From terra (earth) and alta (being).

Asari, sing. Asarla (Ah-sah-REE): Immortal beings endowed with great knowledge, sent to enlighten the Children of Aontar. Also known as “magic users”, each held affinity for a different element—earth, air, fire, or water. They were generally of the Light, but could be turned. Name means “teacher”.

Asgar (ASZ-gar): Elf of the Èolar and elder son of Aincor. Asgar was like Aincor in temperament. Fearless before his enemies, strong and tall, he loved the thrill of battle. He mastered nearly every form of weaponry, especially the heavy two-handed sword his father favored. He was close in friendship with Aldamar, son of Vathan. His name means “the bold”.

Baelta (Bah-EL-tah): Asarla of Tal-elathas, friend of Kotos, he is known as “The Bright”. He is an air spirit. Baelta is cheerful, eminently likeable, and trustworthy. His name means “bright light”.

Bödvari, sing Bödvar (BODE-var): Dark servants of Wrothgar, they are the offspring of Dark Asari. They are as black demons that kill their enemies with fire after first paralyzing them with fear. They are terrible enemies in battle. From bödvar (demon).

Caladon (CAL-ah-don): Name given to Aincor by Duinar, the Asarla. Name means “One who is deep”.

Cós-domhain (Coss-Dome-Ha-EEN): Dwarf-realm known as the Realm of Caverns or Great Cavern Realm. From cós (cavern) and domhain (domain).

Dardis (DAR-dees): The second son of Aincor, a highly talented and inventive artisan and lover of learning. Unlike his father, Dardis was of gentle temperament and was revered especially by the Dwarves. He was apprenticed to an Asarla named Léiras (the far-sighted), who taught him of the making of things that could be endowed with magical properties. Dardis made the mirror given to Gorgon Elfhunter; he also created the Stone of Léir.

Duinar (DOO-ee-nar): Asarla who founded the northern realm of Men known as Tuathas. He appeared to be very old, with a long snow-white beard and a lined, weathered face. He fostered Aincor Fire-heart as an infant, naming him Caladon, and later sent him to Tal-elathas. An earth spirit, he is known as “The Guide”.

Eádri (Ay-AH-dree): The Evening Star. Also a rune meaning “Light”

Eádros (Ay-AH-dross): Elven-realm, also known as the Realm of Light. From eádra (light).

Elàni (El-LAN-ee): Elves.

Èolar (AY-oh-lahr): High-elves who achieved the highest level of learning and skill. They were the largest and most powerful Elves, and were known as “Warrior-scholars” because of their intense curiosity and love of learning. From Èolas (knowing).

Faelani (Fay-LAH-nee): Eolarin Elf, sister of Vathan, life-mate of Aincor Fire-heart. Her name means “feminine”, from “Faela”(She-elf).

Kotos (KO-tos): Asarla of Tal-elathas, known as “The Persuader”. He can see into the hearts and minds of those he encounters. Kotos is a fire spirit. His hair and eyes are raven-black, and his complexion is golden-brown. His name means “powerful”.

Léiras (LEH-ee-ras): Asarla, friend and mentor of Dardis. He instructed Dardis in the making of objects that could be endowed with magical properties. A water spirit, Léiras possesses powers of premonition—his visions almost always come to pass. He is a ghostly-white, slender figure with long, pale golden hair and nearly colorless blue eyes. Name means “The Far-sighted”.

Rûmm (RHUM): Ancient and Great Dwarf-realm, known as the Deep Delving, which was lost in the War with the Eádram. From Rûm- (to delve).