The Awakening (18 page)

Esta weighed her words heavily as she spoke. She knew now that whatever orders she dispensed today, she could not withdraw later. War was a horrible thing and she did not want to be the one to precipitate it, but the arrival of Sir Etan and the disturbing reports from her many scouts, made it perfectly clear to her that the countryside was in danger and that sooner or later, Avalain itself would be too.

“There is a new movement afoot. Somehow, the Lady Margot, the new Duchess of Talamar, has convinced the people of that land that the trees have abandoned them. Nay, even worse,” she said, and she saw in the eyes of the Knights for the first time reactions of surprise and shock. “She has deceived the citizens through her magic into believing that the great Lalas have turned against them, that they have used their awesome power to kill and maim their people.”

The Knights shifted their feet, stomping and scowling as Queen Esta spoke.

“We have a guest amongst us who is true of heart, but who has been perverted by her manipulations. He suffers what may prove to be irreparable damage from her intrusion into his mind. We are attending him as we speak, in the hope of cleansing him of her foul manipulations.”

Esta rose, straight backed and strong.. She lifted her hand and pointed to those before her, sweeping her arm from left to right as she spoke.

“You must stop her and send her back to the arms of the Dark Lord, her master. We do not know her intentions. But she will not rest with the betrayal of Talamar. Colton drives his servants relentlessly, and she can be no different than the others who have succumbed to his invectives. When one makes a pact with Colton, one has no choice but to carry out his bidding. There is no turning back for those who give of themselves to him. Make no mistake about it, Avalain will be next on her list.”

Esta sat down once again and then Parsifal took a step toward the throne, needing to query the Queen.

“Speak, Sir Knight. I have gone on long enough already,” she beckoned him earnestly.

“We have all heard rumors as you know, your Highness. It comes as no surprise to us that our borders are soon to be threatened. We saw the monsters and abominations that the great defiler brought with him to Pardatha. We will do whatever is necessary to rid the land of this poison. But, what of the people of Talamar? How are we to treat them?”

“We will accord them the respect and honor that they deserve and earn. Our aim is to dispose of their new leader and not to harm the people unnecessarily. It may be necessary to capture this Lady who leads them to the devil’s fountain. If they have not already drunk of his waters, they will return to the path of the righteous. For those who have crossed the point of no return, I trust your judgement. You are not Knights of Avalain for no reason. Your sentiments will prevail and the cause will be served.”

“Lord Markal will assemble the troops and secure the borders. I shall ready the people for war. Your example will carry them farther though, than anything else we could do here. I rely upon you to inspire us all with your rectitude and fidelity. Your primary mission will be to seek out and stop the Lady Margot before she does any more damage. This will not be an easy task, as we all know. But, pure evil cannot prevail against the truth. She will be no match for the noble Knights of Avalain. May the First guide you and keep you.”

The soldiers bowed almost to the ground as the Queen rose from her throne for the final time. She walked across the long floor, and she felt the weight of her decisions deeply upon her. She had just ordered her most loyal and devoted men into the arms of Colton’s vicious instrument, and it never pleased her to exercise her power thusly. But, she also knew that if she could eliminate that threat now, it would save countless lives in the future. Her decision was necessary, and the knowledge of that at least gave her comfort.

And so it begins for us
, she thought as she walked through the heavy door.
The threads that emanate from Avalain will affect the cloth in Seramour as well, and in Eleutheria and Pardatha and elsewhere, we are all so connected. If only I could see the pattern. It was not I who began this and it will not be I who finishes it, but my role is now defined, as is that of my people. Let the Gem shine upon the knights and the good citizens of Avalain and illuminate their path in this, our hour of darkness
, shoulders bowed, head bent, she reflected gravely to herself.

Chapter Twenty-one

“Wake up, my pretty little lover. It is time for you to walk. My horse is tired of carrying you,” Adrianna said to the semi-conscious elf who still sat strapped to the back of the animal he left Lormarion upon.

She pulled a sharp dagger from the folds of her cape and slashed the ropes that bound him. Ruffin fell heavily upon the hard soil.

The elf was tired and sore, and his thoughts were foggy and unclear. He remembered the house in flames and he recalled feeling joyous at the time. But suddenly, he was overcome by a wave of sadness. He had lost so much recently and he could not help but feel it. His mother, dead. His lover, dear Aramela, murdered and burned. Her father viciously and brutally disposed of. He even felt sad for the guard he left behind in Seramour. It was difficult for him to make sense of it all; his mind was clouded and confused.

He lay upon the dirt, staring at a woman he barely knew, one who proclaimed to have saved him from a lover who betrayed him in the worst possible ways. He remembered the lovemaking, but he thought it had been Aramela he embraced, not this stranger.

Ruffin tried to rise, but as soon as he did, the lady who called herself Adrianna tossed a rope around him, let it fall to the ground and then pulled his legs out from under him from atop her steed. She secured it around his ankles with a sharp tug and tied the other end to the pommel.

“No, no, my pretty boy. You will not stand unless I give you permission. Your soul is no longer your own. Neither is your body,” she hissed. “You gave them both to me and I command you now.

“Fear not. I will make sure that you arrive at Sedahar alive. After all, you are what I journeyed to this accursed land for. It would be foolish of me to bring only a corpse back to my Lord Colton. What he requires from you he must retrieve whilst you live,” she smirked. “Perhaps he will even bed you too. You were such a fine lover, it would be a shame for him to dispose of you too quickly.”

Ruffin could barely make sense of what was being said to him. He was so confused and so tired. His head was pounding, and he was splattered with blood and dirt.

“Stand,” she commanded. “See if you can keep up with me without falling,” she laughed, her lips turned up wickedly, and yanked upon the ropes.

Ruffin rose, using his hands and arms to prop himself up. He could not spread his feet in order to take even the smallest of steps.

“How can I walk if I cannot move my legs?”

“Use your hands, and bring the noose up to your waist, fool,” she scoffed.

The frightened elf did as he was told, and with the heavy bonds secured around his mid-section, he started forward. Adrianna spurred her horse violently forward and yanked the rope in the process. Ruffin lurched forward wildly, and began to run in order to stay as close to the horse in front of him as he could. He ran and ran, for hours it seemed. The sweat was cascading down his forehead, and every other pore of his sore body gave up his bodily fluids. Drenched and in pain, he continued to run until he could physically do so no more. Finally, he collapsed in a miserable heap upon the stony surface.

Adrianna barely looked back to acknowledge his situation. She drove on relentlessly, disregarding her captive completely who by now was barely conscious, as he bounced and pitched mercilessly upon the ground. Through his hazy vision, he caught a final glimpse of his captor looking over her shoulder at him and laughing a venomous laugh with her head back and her eyes wild, before he blacked out.

When he awoke, the pain was unbearable. Everything hurt. He was certain that his left arm was broken and he could barely move it. He tasted blood, and he could not tell if it came from cuts on his face, or from inside of him, from some other more serious injuries. His hands were bound before him and he was propped up against the trunk of a large tree. Other than his hands, he was not confined in any further way.

The woman was nowhere to be seen.

Has she left me here to die?

That was almost a welcome thought to him at this time.

“Ah, I see you have regained your senses,” he heard her say, though he could not see her anywhere.

“What do you want of me?” he pleaded.

“Want? What do I want?” she shrieked. “I want everything. I demand everything. Nothing is yours any longer. Understand that now and it will go much easier for you in the days to come.” Suddenly she was there before him, as if she had been there all along. “You are my prize and I will relinquish you to my master as soon as we return. Because of you, I will be his honored woman. I will gain his favor, and with that, I will gain power. He will love me. And that is what I live for, and that is what I crave.” She stared into the sky, eyes afire. “Understand me, fool. There is nothing that will prevent me from bringing you back to him, even if you have no legs to stand upon and no arms to reach with. All that he requires is your mind, as feeble as it may be, and your tongue. So savor those parts of yourself. They will be yours for at least a while longer.”

Ruffin’s mind was so totally worn out, so completely overwhelmed with all that had occurred in the past days, that he barely understood what she was talking about.

“But what of me? What will happen to me?” he pleaded.

“Ha,” she laughed. “You are nothing. Your life is forfeit. You willingly entered into this pact and now there is no turning back for you ever. After Colton has retrieved from you all that he needs, he will decide your fate, not me. But, mark my words, elf. It is not one that I will envy.”

She handed him a small crust of bread from a satchel at her waist, and tossed some warm water on his face from a flask that appeared in her other hand.

“First, you must tell him everything you know about Seramour, its armies, its supplies, its King and Queen. But most of all, you will tell him about the boy that resides therein, the one you whispered about to me when you wrapped me in your tender arms,” she laughed. “One never knows. Perhaps Colton will be so pleased with you, he will allow you to live as a servant in his house, as a dog upon his doorstep.”

Adrianna turned her back on him and beckoned her horse to come hither. It arrived immediately upon her summons, and she mounted him once again.

“Come, Ruffin. Keep up with me this time so that I will not have to put you back together when we arrive at the castle. I would that Colton can begin his questioning of you as soon as he wishes. He is not a patient man.”

Ruffin painstakingly stood and tried to walk forward. The first time, he fell to the ground as his legs collapsed from under him. Adrianna simply laughed. He rose again and this time he forced himself to walk, no matter how difficult it was for him. He was totally abject and defeated by now, and all that he wanted was to get to Sedahar and rest for even a short while. He could never have dreamed of the horrors that awaited him there, though that knowledge may have dissuaded him from wanting even this present nightmare to end.

He indeed was a lost soul, lost forever and all time. He set out upon this corrupt path on his own, and the fabric wove him into another and disparate pattern in stark contrast to all that he formerly knew, but certainly one that would not end in a glorious design. The righteous life would nevermore be his to attain, if it was ever within his grasp to begin with.

Chapter Twenty-two

Robyn looked up at the sky. The darkening clouds gathering in the south troubled him. He sensed their ominous nature and the unnatural way they congealed, gaining strength and intensity with each passing moment. Streaks of electric blue flashed repeatedly within them, followed by deep and disturbing rumbles of thunder. He felt the ground tremble slightly with each outburst. He looked upon the formations in the sky as he would an army that was assembling in the distance, preparing to strike, tense and poised. And he knew that strike they would, as soon as Colton dar Agonthea found the right moment. He would unleash his terrible power this time upon Seramour, the beautiful city of the elves, and regardless of its inherent strength and security, Robyn knew that it would never be completely the same again.

Colton left his deadly mark wherever and whenever he visited his evil upon anyone or anything. Pardatha was prepared, and it suffered greatly nonetheless, but Seramour was probably unaware of the impending attack. Having most likely not been privy to the communications that he had intercepted and therefor still unenlightened as to the betrayal that the message referred to, Treestar would have had no time to do anything more than he had already done. Robyn prayed that he had at least sealed the city previously, in the hope of containing those secrets that remained therein. He could not have known the futility of his efforts in that regard.

Although they were certainly not too late, time was running short, and if they were going to nourish and sustain the boy, educate and protect him, then they would need to begin their guardianship soon. There was no doubt in his mind that they needed to arrive before any attack began, in whatever form it would take. Robyn knew that it would not be an army of flesh and blood this time, but one of a totally different form. It would be eminently deadly nonetheless.

The secret of Davmiran’s whereabouts was no longer theirs to keep. Nor did it belong to Treestar and his fellow citizens. The evil one knew of the heir and he would do whatever he needed to do in order to prohibit him from reaching maturity and fulfilling his destiny. A traitor had revealed to the Dark One what they had so carefully safeguarded, and he would not hesitate to take advantage of his newfound knowledge.

“The fabric weaves of its own will,” he said under his breath as he surveyed for the final time the barren landscape that unfolded before them.

Robyn motioned to his friends to mount once again, shrugging off the heavy weight of concern that threatened to buckle his shoulders. The Chosen girded his senses against the onslaught he knew was coming, and he reached deep into the ground with his thoughts and pleaded with the earth to sustain them on their final approach to the city. He constructed an intricate web of shimmering power around the three travelers, barely noticeable, yet immensely powerful. It would at least offer them some protection until they reached the lifts in the event of an unforeseen attack.

“What do you fear, Robyn?” Filaree asked, noticing the gleaming mesh of potency surrounding them.

“I wish merely to be safe, rather than sorry,” he replied, expressionless.

“You would not be concealing something from us, now would you?” Cairn inquired, head cocked to the side.

“No. We are in no imminent danger that I am aware of,” he answered.

“Imminent?” Cairn repeated.

“We are always in some danger, my friend.”

“Semantics, Robyn. You forget my discipline,” he replied. “What is it that you are concerned about?”

“It is not that which I can perceive that distresses me. Would that all that threatens us be so obvious. No, it is what lies hidden from my sight that I prepare for.”

Filaree drew her sword and raised it high in the air at her side. “You prepare in your fashion, and I in mine.”

A brilliant streak of lightning lit up the southern sky, followed a few moments later by a loud crack of thunder.

“We should reach the city before the storm is upon us,” Cairn commented.

Sitting tall on his horse, erect and proud, Robyn led the way, maintaining his shield around them all the while as they walked. They emerged from the woods onto the plain, and they were greeted there by total silence. Nothing stirred. Even the wind had ceased to blow. The air was thick with dust and as dry as could be. The earth was parched and cracked, and the grass lay dead upon it. In the distance, above a moss covered knoll, lay the city of Seramour. The setting sun reflected brightly off of the rocky promontory that rose before them, but it would illuminate their presence as well, virtually announcing their approach to anyone who cared to notice. Dawn was the time to scale the crest if one wished to be protected and concealed by the blinding light. Alas, that was not an option for them. Robyn’s gambit would have to serve the group for now.

The three travelers rode toward the massive tree trunks concealing the lifts that would finally carry them into Seramour and home to the boy. The silence unsettled them all, it was so complete. Something had scared away everything that once resided here, including even the insects and lowly creatures that populated the once grassy area. They crossed the Plain of the Wolves unhindered and cantered up the crest. The howling of the wolves which usually greeted anyone who approached Seramour was conspicuously missing.

“Nary a wind blows,” Filaree commented.

“Aye. Nothing moves. I can barely breathe,” Cairn replied.

“I would rather the wolves nipped at our heels, than think about what it is that has frightened them away,” the maiden continued.

“Stay close to me, my friends. This silence augurs much,” Robyn said. “We have not far to go now.”

In another moment they were atop the hill, still surprised that they were not molested on the way. Calyx bounded out from behind the distant trees, and in barely an instant, joined them. Cairn dug his fist deep into the animal’s fur and fondly nuzzled him from his saddle, before the Moulant abruptly disappeared once again.

“Follow me,” Robyn said. “Yonder are the lifts.” He pointed to a mighty Noban ahead and to the right. “They are sealed, as I had hoped. We must signal them above.”

Filaree and Cairn gazed in wonder at the flat surface that appeared above them. It seemed as if they were standing below the plain of the land, not upon it, and looking upward, or even as if they were upside down and staring at the earth as if it was the ceiling. They could distinguish the differences between the tree limbs themselves and the lifts that stood between them, but only by virtue of the smoothness of the surfaces, as opposed to the gnarly ones. There were no cracks or gaps between the constructed platforms and the living trees. Merely some more geometric lines, straighter edges and such, marked the elevators.

The enormous tree trunks were covered in a dark brown bark and rose straight into the sky. The lower extremities were smooth and impossible to climb. Not only were they incredibly wide, but there were no crevices or notched surfaces in which one could place a foot or grab. They looked like giant columns of stone, but far larger than anything man or elf could ever have erected. Far above, they could see the many limbs branching out like fingers cupping a plate, holding up the concealed city overhead.

From below, it seemed as if the city went on forever, as the forest of Lormarion stretched in all directions and hundreds of Nobans grew within one hundred feet of one another, creating a maze of sorts beneath their spans which had been paved and landscaped by the elves above in better and safer times. The roadways wound through the tree trunks as far as the eye could see, and wherever there was a lift, a station was built, marked by a sign upon which was indicated what type of commerce could be carted into and out of the city from that point. Some were for food and such, others for visitors, while still others were marked for animals and heavier products.

It was breathtaking and the beauty below clearly only mimicked that which they knew existed above, high in the clouds.

“Follow me,” Robyn said, as he walked deeper into the musty smelling territory ahead. “We must find the proper lift if we wish to make our presence known and enter.”

The three walked quite some way, winding through the paths off of the main avenue that ran beneath the Heights. The light did not grow much dimmer, even as they rode deep into the forest, and the air was fresh and clean smelling. Both Cairn and Filaree kept looking in all directions for the source of the constant illumination, but they could not find any fires burning, any orbs of light glistening or even any glowbugs of any kind.

“Look up, Filaree,” Cairn finally said, satisfied at last that the mystery was partially solved.

“How high up do you suppose that funnel goes?” she asked, staring at a round opening perhaps ten feet in diameter above them.

“It seems to be never ending. The light though, is being reflected off of something. I cannot see to the top. It also is being diffused somehow before it reaches the ground. Ingenious,” Cairn commented, impressed with the feat of engineering.

Robyn knew where he wanted to go, and he walked with purpose, never hesitating or searching for signs to guide him forward. Finally, he paused beneath a large, squared ceiling, framed by four massive trees which stood next to another of the huge round funnels that emitted the light and brightened the entire forest.

“Those tubes reach all the way to the sky. They are curved outwards so that if an enemy tries to enter Seramour from the sky, it would merely terminate its attempt here, below, and vice versa,” Robyn advised them. “Anyone or thing trying to use the funnels as a source of entry from below, would only end up further away from the city, outside the tree line after scaling the slippery surfaces, than when they started. The elves are quite resourceful when it comes to construction,” he said.

“Brilliant, I would say,” Cairn asserted. “And down here, it seems as if we are still standing beneath a sunlit sky.”

“Air also enters from the funnels, Cairn. Not just light. Do you feel it?” Filaree asked, standing under one of the large openings and bathing in both the light and the fresh breeze from above.

“Yes,” he said, walking over toward her. “It feels wonderful, particularly after the deathly atmosphere we just traversed,” he observed.

“How did they get the light to curve around the bends without diminishing in intensity?” Filaree questioned.

“They position highly polished pieces of Noban at critical angles. The wood is so dense that it does not burn, but it reflects the rays and even intensifies them,” Robyn explained. “Can you see the bottom of the tube?” Robyn asked.

Filaree and Cairn craned their necks and looked up.

“The elves cover the ends with a paper thin sheet of plant fiber. They grow it especially for this purpose. The fiber diffuses the light, and then magnifies it once more. The air is drawn down the funnel like water in a suction tube, and it keeps everything cool. They are wonderful engineers,” Robyn concluded with pride in his voice as if he was of the race himself.

“They most certainly are,” Cairn agreed. “I cannot wait to see the city itself.”

“You will shortly, if we ever stop talking about it and attempt to make our entry,” Filaree responded.

“Will Calyx be accompanying us?” Robyn inquired of Cairn, interrupting the momentary pleasure the other two were taking in their observations.

“Yes, I expected him too. He will make his appearance shortly, I am sure,” Cairn answered unconcerned.

As soon as he finished his sentence, as if the Moulant had heard him and timed its appearance accordingly, Calyx bounded out from behind one of the huge tree trunks. Cairn smiled knowingly, and then placed his arm across the cat-like animal’s back.

“You certainly know your friend,” Robyn said.

“That I do,” Cairn replied, kneading Calyx’s thick fur.

“Are we ready?” Filaree asked. “How do we let them know we are here?”

“They probably know already,” Robyn replied.

“Are they going to let us stand here forever then, admiring their work from below, or will they let us in?” Cairn asked.

“They are merely being cautious. I am sure they see the approaching clouds better from the Heights than we do from down here. And they must be aware of the silence of the wolves. After all, we are strangers, and Elion is no longer with us, and they must have expected him. Baladar informed them of our journey,” Filaree noted.

Robyn approached the nearest tree trunk and placed his open palms flat upon it. He seemed to be searching for something. When he found what he sought, he pressed his hand hard against the surface and then quickly backed up.

“Watch the lift,” Robyn said. “The lines of demarcation grow wider.”

Sure enough, as they watched, the square lines that distinguished the platforms from the rest of the trees’ foliage began to grow clearer in shape, and wider, separating slightly and allowing cracks of light to break through the seams. Shortly, the entire lift began to descend slowly. Robyn, Cairn and Filaree, along with Calyx cautiously observing from behind another tree, locked their eyes upon the wooden rafts as they seemingly floated down to them upon the buoyant air, releasing a wonderful fragrance along with a glimpse of a world above that was beautiful and seemingly so secure.

The thought of the boy lying unconscious above permeated all of their thoughts. Filaree pressed her hand to her chest for reassurance, though the ring dangling upon its chain was heavy and obvious and she did not need to touch it to verify its presence. It felt as if it pulsed with her heartbeat.

Soon, we will all be in Seramour, she thought, her mind racing ahead with each passing second.

In moments, they could see faces peering down upon them, and they could hear uneasy voices mingling with stern commands. Guards lined the perimeters of the lift with their weapons drawn, prepared for any eventuality. In the center leaning apprehensively over the edge, stood an older elf with a long white beard that hung almost to his knees. His blue eyes darted left and right, scanning the ground, searching for someone that those below knew he would not find in their company.