The Mage of Orlon: The beginning (19 page)

The roots where dry from being exposed most of the day, but they were hardened from the magic.
They would build a small fire to draw the sesquech and then and then what?
Lela began to look around the fortress.
All the thing was made of was stone, that was it!
They would lure the monster in with the fire and topple one of the battlement over on it.
Even if it didn
’
t kill the thing it might give them enough time to escape somehow.

“
Lela, its coming.
”
Ileana whispered.

The thing was getting quieter than before, it must have realized that the prey was able to hide from it so adjustments to its hunting style had to be made.
This caused Lela
’
s spirit to dampen a little.
She wouldn
’
t have time to set up this trap.
They had to find a new hiding spot, and quickly!
Lela scooped up the roots to get ready to turn and run with Ileana
’
s hand in her free hand.
They slipped from their hiding spot back into the battlements. Maybe they could climb down using the roots; each one was about five foot long.
It might work.

The breeze blew through the battlements send shivers through Lela and Ileana.
Lela had chosen the area because it looked as if this was the downfall of the fortress.
The battlement wasn
’
t as high and if she could lash the roots together she might make a pole they could slide down to the ground on the other side of the fortress.
Quickly Lela pulled strips off her shirt until the shirt was just a band of material around her breasts.
The strips bound the roots tightly.
The pole was long enough to reach the ground.
Now came the moment of truth.
To find out if the pole would hold or not, slowly Lela lowered the pole to the ground it was holding!
Now came the hardest part.

“
Ileana you have to slide down the pole to the ground.
I know it will be difficult, but you have to do it!
Okay are you ready?
”
Lela turned around to find she was talking to thin air, Ileana was gone.

Nathan
’
s time had come he had quietly escaped his prison while the guard dreamt of whatever the Sevol dream of.
The girls where dead and he needed to avenge them.
He had to get the stupid bracelet off, or find another way to get the Sevol back for killing his friends.
This wasn
’
t like the movies no convenient stores of gun powder or gasoline to ignite and blow up the village.
If he wanted to burn the place he had to get the bracelet off.
Nathan quietly went into the forest and started looking for something to pry off the infernal piece of jewelry off.

If he only had their packs, he could get out the knife and cut the bracelet off.
Their packs, the Sevols might have brought the packs with them.
He had to find the storage hut, there might be something useful in there.

The village was dark and shadows played in every corner.
Concealed in the shadows was Nathan the supply hut was guarded by two guards.
Nathan sat watching the two brutish Sevol leaning on their spears sleeping.
If only he had the stupid band off, he could cause a distraction or something.
In a huff Nathan crept back into the forest.
Nathan circled in the shadows when he heard a quiet rustling behind him.
He turned ready to sucker punch whoever it was.
Lela broke into his hiding spot in the bushes and let out a quiet squeal.
Nathan couldn
’
t help himself he grabbed Lela and kissed her.

“
I thought you were dead, they said you were dead!
”
Nathan said through teary eyes.

“
It got Ileana.
”
Lela said through tears of her own.

“
What, what got Ileana Lela?
”

“
A sesquech, it is a horrible serpent like creature that walks on two legs.
Its venom kills on contact with the skin.
She was right behind me, I started to lash together the roots to make a pole to get down the other side of the fortress, and turned back to talk to her and
…
and she was gone.
I looked for her, she was nowhere to be found, I thought that maybe she had fallen, but there was no body anywhere.
I am so sorry Nathan Ileana is dead, and it is my fault.
”

“
No, stop that after we get these stupid bracelets off we will get our packs and her bow and go back and rescue her or avenge her death!
”
Nathan said with clenched fists.

The Sevol were responsible for this!
He would make them pay for this treachery!
He would get the stupid bracelet off one way or the other and burn the Sevol village to the ground and the forest around it!
He would march to the Dark Queen
’
s castle and burn it to the ground as well he would turn this entire world into a ball of glass until these stupid barbaric people learned to leave him and his friends alone.

Lela saw the color drain from Nathan
’
s eyes.
Oh Goddess of the Forest he was trying to use his magic while bound it would destroy him before the bracelet!
A slight stirring of wind caught both Lela and Nathan
’
s attention.
Before them stood a skinny old man with long arms and a long nose.
The old man looked like a stretched version of the lawn gnomes you sometimes found in peoples yards.
The old man waved a long finger in front of Nathan, and motioned to them both to follow him away from the village.

Once the three were out of ear shot of any of the Sevol guards the elongated gnome spoke.

“
I am sorry to break in on your thoughts of burning the world to ash, but I live here and would hate to have to move.
I
’
m kind of set in my own ways.
”
He said with a grin.

“
You can read minds?
”
Lela asked cautiously.

“
Not really, but your young friend there is broadcasting enough negative thoughts that I can get the general idea of what he is planning on doing.
Now first off my name is Twill Leafton, I live here in what is left of this forest.
You Elves made one big mess of things with that spell you cast all those years ago.
”
He said with an accusatory finger shaking at Lela.
“
Made the forest almost completely uninhabitable for us tree folk.
Most of my kind left, only a few of our kind remained to try to tough it out.
”
The sadness touched Nathan enough the rage subsided and the color flooded back to his eyes.

“
That
’
s more like it young man.
Now first off, instead of burning everything down I suggest you get your things and go back to the fortress and get your friend.
The Sevol have already sent a messenger to the Dark Queen telling her that they have you.
What do you think will happen when the Sevol fail to hand you over to her royal highness?
”
Twill said with an impish grin.

“
Ileana died in that fortress, a sesquech killed her!
”
Lela nearly cried again.

“
She isn
’
t dead.
”
Twill countered.

“
How do you know all this?
”
Nathan asked suspecting yet another trap.

“
I am a forest sprite, a spirit if you will, and nothing happens in this forest without me knowing it!
Now young man, give me your word that upon death you will not burn this world down as you were planning earlier.
If you do this I will help you out of those binding bracelets.
”
Twill said patiently.

“
I promise upon death not to burn this world down.
”
Nathan said.

With a smile Twill snapped his fingers and both of the charmed bracelets fell to the ground at Nathan and Lela
’s feet.
“
Now as I realize that you can still destroy the Sevol, I ask that you consider the Dark Queen
’
s disappointment in your plans, and go help your friend.
”
Twill said just before he vanished
Nathan looked at Lela, and considered Twill
’
s words.
They would get their stuff and go rescue Ileana from this sesquech, and return to the castle.
That was a good plan right?
He hoped so for all their sakes.
First things were first, Nathan healed the four gashes on his leg, and he turned to Lela and said,
“
I know where they are keeping our things right now.
I will go inside the hut and get our stuff.
Stay here for a minute, I will be back and we will get Ileana from the fortress and then go back to the Elven Castle.
Does that sound okay to you Lela?
”
“
Yes, but hurry up, who knows what horrors Ileana is going through!
”
Lela said quietly.

Nathan crept back to the supply hut. The guards had not moved an inch since the first time he was there.
Then he had an idea.
Nathan crept to the back of the hut and traced a hole big enough for him to crawl through.
He retraced the line this time using his magic he cut through the back of the hut.
Inside the hut he found their packs and Ileana
’
s bow.
Quietly he pulled the back packs up together, they weighed too much, quietly he repacked his pack with food and the hunting knives.
He found Lela
’
s sword propped up against the inside of the entrance to the hut. He crept up to the snoring guard
’
s leg and pulled the sword from against the wall.
Once he got everything together he left out the hole he made and was going back to where he left Lela.
Once reunited they ran back to the fortress to rescue Ileana or slay her killer!

“
Where am I?
”
Ileana said, a quick bolt of pain rammed into her head.
Why did she have such a headache?

A hissing sound drew her attention to the right of her.
“
Who are you?
A better question is what are you?
You are not a sesquech!
”
She stated flatly.

The hissing became a hissing chuckle, and finally a full blown laugh.

“
Figured it out did you?
What gave me away?
”

“
The sesquech is a terrible brute of a beast that has armor like scales, ferociously tears its victims apart, and hunts in packs!
What gave you away is I woke up!
”
Ileana said defiantly.

“
How do you know so much about the sesquech
”
The voice countered.

“
Everyone knows these things about the sesquech!
It is common knowledge.
”
Ileana noticed her arms were tied to a chair.

“
Here is a bit of knowledge that isn
’
t so common about the sesquech
…
they don
’
t exist!
”

Ileana
’
s mouth dropped open.
How could anyone be so ignorant of one of the land
’
s most deadly predators!

“
They do exist you moron!
People have seen them for years prowling around sheep and cattle!
Why farmers have been mauled and killed by the sesquech.
”

“
Have you ever seen one before?
”

“
I have never seen a sesquech, but then again I have never seen anything before, I am blind you idiot!
”
Ileana nearly screamed at the top of her lungs.

“
Well that is just great!
Then all this didn
’
t do anything at all!
”
The disappointment traveled to Ileana
’
s ears to land flat.

“
The one person I decide to reveal myself to and she can
’
t see!
Way to go Galvin! Way to go!
”
he chided himself.

“
Galvin how about you untie me and we talk.
”
Ileana coaxed.

“
Not yet, I have to answer your second question.
You know my name is Galvin, but you do not know what I am.
I am the seventh generation of splintered, and you are tied to a chair at my mercy!
”
Galvin waited for her response of terror, and when it didn
’
t come he grew frustrated.

“
Well, don
’
t you have anything to say?
A shriek of terror, a cry for mercy, or something? You do know what the splintered is don
’
t you?
”

“
I am sorry Galvin, but no.
”
Ileana
’
s face showed no signs of fright or even nervousness.
Deep inside she was terrified, she knew what the splintered was, but as long as she could keep him off guard she might stay alive.
Without warning the ropes slipped from her wrists.

“
Okay, let
’
s talk you and I, so what is your name?
”
Galvin asked.

“
Ileana, and why have you kidnapped me?
”

“
A better question Ileana is why are you so friendly with one of the elves that caused your village to become a ghost town?
”
Galvin countered.

Ileana was in shock and then rage rang through her body.
Why would he accuse Lela of destroying her village?
It made no sense!
He was obviously lying, but why?
She decided to play along, surely Lela or Nathan would come to rescue her.
Lela probably escaped to come back with weapons to slay the sesquech, when the first spear thrust or flame wall appeared her little liar would be in for a rude awakening!

“
I am gaining her confidence so she will let her guard down and then I will strike!
I will take her boyfriend and when she is at her lowest I will drive my blade into her heart!
”
Ileana said with as much conviction as she could.

“
That
’
s a good tale to tell, but to my knowledge you have never used a knife only a bow and arrow.
I know you think I am lying to you.
I know very well the treachery of the elven people, but in a way I have to thank them.
You have to understand the elves created me.
”
Galvin said thoughtfully.

The shock was too much to hide; Ileana sat in the chair with a surprised look on her face.
Galvin seeing her shock knew she felt the truth in his words.
His bitterness had not waned in the years that had followed his defeat at the hands of the elf king.
Galvin swallowed his rage and proceeded with his story.

“
I know that my credibility is questionable right now, but what would I gain from telling you that the elf woman you were with, caused your once prosperous village to lie in ruin, because of a curse she put on it?
”

“
Do not answer my question yet.
Instead I will tell you of my beginnings and of my knowledge of the elves.
You can be the judge of what you want to believe.
”

“
If I chose not to believe you, are you going to kill me like the Sevol Queen wants you to?
”
Ileana asked quietly.

“
You are not going to die here Ileana.
After my story I will help you leave here, but you can never tell any of the elves that we talked.
If you tell them I am still able to think they will hunt me down and finish what the elf king started all those years ago.
Is it a deal?
”
Galvin asked.

“
Sure, but I know Lela would never do such a horrible thing, she is a good person.
”
Ileana said.

“
We will see.
My story begins around the time the Dark King came into power.
The lone monarch seemed harmless enough at the time.
He would threaten to take over land and rally a small army to stand at the boarders of his small kingdom, but no one feared the small king in his tiny kingdom.
After all he had no huge army, or massive weapons, but the elves did fear him.
They saw in him a tiny spark that if ever fed would ignite into a giant fire that would sweep across the land leaving only a barren waste land in its wake.

The elves decided to make an army of their own, one that could change shape infiltrate a camp and attack at a moment
’
s notice.
They were thinking of me.
I was the first magically created weapon the elves made.
A living breathing killing machine, but with one flaw
…
I could think.
One day while enduring a torturous training session it occurred to me to question why I should kill someone they pointed to?
They did not like a war machine that questioned authority.
They decided I was not to be trusted, and to destroy me before I could escape.
”

“
Wait a moment Galvin, I always heard that you started the fight between you and the elves.
”

“
In history the people that win get to right their version of what happened.
In reality I was the creation and slave to the elves.
I wanted my freedom and they tried to kill me for it!
So I attacked a few small bands of elves the weak spots in their net to capture me.
The elves responded by sending the best of their troops to the decoy attack to allow me to escape.
After that it became a matter of hiding in whatever shape I wanted.
After the monumental defeat of the dreaded splintered the elves turned to outside help for their magical warriors, do you care to venture a guess as to who that job fell to Ileana?
”

“
The mages.
”
She said with understanding.

“
The mages, very good.
I knew you were a fast learner.
The elves used the mages to wage war on the Dark King until he took his bride.
She was an ambitious woman who became the Dark Queen.
A funny thing happened after her rise to power, their army grew rapidly.
Soon the darkness spread like the elves always feared it would, but instead of fighting it themselves they relied on the mages to fight for them, saving their troops the heavy casualties they would endure.
The mages however, are not so lucky now the Queen has them captured and more than likely killed when they appear now.
”
Galvin fell silent for a moment.

“
I suppose the young man with you is the newest mage, isn
’
t he?
”

“
Yes he is, I love him, though I don
’
t know how he feels about me.
”

“
Guard your heart young one, or it will surely be broken.
The last mage fell in love with the elf woman and met his doom because of it!
”

Ileana began to question everything she knew about Lela.
She had not mentioned anything about her home, and she always seemed to be hiding something.
Ileana
’
s suspicion circled her mind like a wild dog.
It seemed possible that Lela could have had something to do with her home being cursed.
The strange man Galvin seemed to be certain the elves had caused his existence as well.
Could Nathan be in danger from the elves, was he just a weapon to be tossed away the moment he was broken?

“
By your silence I can see you are thinking over what I have told you.
I will show you how to escape this dreadful fortress, but remember do not tell the elves of me. They will certainly kill me and possibly you if they think you know any of the things I have told you.
I leave the final judgment as to if the elves are evil or not to you.
”

Galvin took Ileana
’
s wrist gently and lead her through a passage that she had not experienced before she felt cold as if the dungeon water had engulfed her and yet she stayed dry.
In an instant she felt the warm morning sun on her face.
The chirping of birds and crickets greeted her ears.
She turned to where Galvin had been standing to thank him for the way out only to find thin air.
Moments later she heard the sound of footsteps coming her way.
Ileana hid in the brush beside her and waited for the people to pass.

“
I don
’
t know why you feel we need to come back here Nathan.
Ileana is dead, killed by that monster.
We should be trying to get back to the castle.
”
Lela stated flatly.

“
Not yet Lela I have to find her, I have to know for certain that she is dead and not just injured.
”

Nathan
’
s voice caressed Ileana
’
s ears with its gentleness.
Ileana thought about revealing herself, but Galvin
’
s words had her bolted to the ground.
Maybe if she could get Nathan alone, but not while Lela was with him.
Lela went to the fortress first, her footsteps were always lighter than Nathan
’
s and whispered something.
The smell of smoke filled the air.
Magic!
She used magic!
They had run around that fortress for how many hours and all she had to do was speak a few words and they could have been running to safety!
Galvin was right!
The elf was treacherous!
She purposefully led them around in circles trying to get her killed by the sesquech so she could have Nathan as a living weapon for her father!
That bitch!

Lela crept in to the fortress trying to stay as silent as possible.
To Ileana
’
s ears Nathan was like a rampaging bog steer running through the fortress, he never seems to be able to be quiet like the hunters in her old village used to be.