The Sword of Light: Book One of the Veredor Chronicles (5 page)

‘
Did you find any news about your parents?’ asked Stella as
Red poured him a mug of ale.

‘
No,’ replied Eben. ‘But I did learn a few things about my
past.’ Red handed him the ale. ‘I found the library that you told
me about. It is in a state of ruin. I met an old man who was once
the librarian there. He directed me on to a wise woman who lives
near the north gate. She knew Carlin, the one who sent me to
Clemensdale when I was very young, although she had never heard of
me. She also seems to know what’s going on in Ortaria. I’m going to
meet her again tomorrow night.’

Stella raised
her eyebrows and gave Eben a troubled look. ‘You should be careful
who you trust. Don’t get involved in anything that’s plotting
against King Ignis unless you want to get yourself killed.’

‘
She’s right,’ agreed Red, nodding soberly. ‘Everyone knows
the reason we have all these troubles is because the King doesn’t
care for the people anymore. Nobody likes the King; anyone and
everyone who has tried to do something has been thrown in the
dungeon or executed for treason.’

‘
Surely something needs to be done,’ said Eben.

Red took
another sip of his ale. ‘True, something does need to be done, but
it’s probably best left to other people.’

**

Eben found his
way back to Torela’s house late the following day. The sun was
setting sooner than he expected, and he was rushing because he was
running late. He arrived at the laneway and quickly approached the
red doorway. It was a little after sunset. A moment later the door
opened.

‘
You’re late,’ grumbled Torg in his deep burly
voice.

‘
I’m sorry,’ said Eben, stepping into the hallway.

‘
They’re all down there,’ added Torg, pointing toward the room
beyond the hall. Torg then closed and bolted the door.

Eben walked
down the hall and came to the large furnished room. A group of
about twenty people were seated in a semicircle. They were all
facing the far side where Torela was standing and speaking to
them.

‘
....all of you have heard the rumours and have seen what is
happening in Ancora. You all know the darkness continues to grow.’
She looked to Eben and directed him to a seat as she spoke. ‘Each
one of you is here because you are concerned. Each one of you is
here because you care for the people of Ortaria and you want to see
an end to all the villainy and evil.’

‘
How can we do anything if King Ignis won’t listen to the
people? Years ago he cared for us, and now he refuses to hear our
cries for help,’ said a man in response.

Torela nodded
and paused for a moment before speaking, ‘True, he doesn’t listen.
He refuses to give audience to anyone. He seems to have changed and
hardened. He once was a much loved and honourable man. Three years
ago everything changed, and for a long time there has been no
explanation or reason. No one has known why, but tonight I believe
you will all learn the truth,’ she said, and her words stunned the
people. ‘I want to introduce to you a young man named Cassiel. He
was once a student of the magic academy on the island of Zyran. I
believe you will all want to hear what he has to say.’

A tall and
handsome young man stood up and walked over to stand beside
Toerela. He looked to be in his mid-twenties and was wearing a long
brown coat. Cassiel held his chin high and his shoulders back and
had a certain sense of pride about him. He had carefree dark hair,
dark eyes, and a fair complexion.

‘
Thank you, Torela,’ he said and she took a seat. He looked
down at the group seated before him and cleared his throat before
speaking. ‘For you to understand what I have to tell you I first
must inform you of a few details about myself and also about the
Citadel of Zyran. Firstly about myself: I was once an apprentice at
the Magic Academy of Zyran. Seven years ago I began my training;
many of you know such training is rigorous and takes over a decade
to complete. Honestly, I was never a talented wizard; nevertheless,
I always worked hard and committed myself to the study of magic,
and in my first year or two it was a pleasure to learn.’

Cassiel
scanned the faces of the group and for a moment he glanced at Eben.
He drew a long breath before continuing. ‘And secondly, what many
of you probably don’t know is that beneath the Citadel of Zyran
there is a dungeon where the Zyranian Order keeps only the most
dangerous prisoners. The dungeon is the home of rogue sorcerers,
tyrants, and other evil individuals. The prison is bound by an
ancient and very mysterious enchantment that makes the stone and
hewn rock impenetrable. There is no way to break in, and it’s
impossible to break out. The only way in and out of the dungeon is
through the main prison gate and a single corridor that leads down
into the dungeon. The only way to open the dungeon gate and the
cell doors is by using a magical key that is held by the Gatekeeper
of Zyran.’

He paused for
a moment, catching his breath. The whole group were listening
intently.

‘
The dungeon door is guarded at all times by two wizards of
the academy. About three years ago I was placed on guard, which I
might add is a particularly tedious job. Late that night, when I
was nearing the end of my watch, I was approached by two wizards
who were leading a man. The man’s face was covered by a cloth sack.
It’s not unusual to see wizards in Zyran, especially within the
grounds of the Citadel, but these two were two of the most
important wizards on the island. Baltac at the time was the second
in command of the Zyranian Order, and Trebax was and still is the
Gatekeeper of Zyran. You all also know that Baltac is now the High
Commander of the Zyranian Order and the Lord of Zyran. I wondered
why the prisoner’s face was hidden. As they came back up from the
deep I overhead Baltac say that Ortaria was defenceless now that
the fool was locked away.’

There was a
gasp among those seated.

‘
Are you saying that they imprisoned King Ignis? Why would the
Zyranian Order do such a thing? The Zyranian Order has stood by us
for centuries. Surely they are our allies,’ said an old man near
the front.

‘
Let me tell it plainly: I believe the Zyranians have taken an
evil path and are working to sow seeds of wickedness in our lands.
I also believe you are being ruled by an imposter. The real King
Ignis is imprisoned in the Dungeons of Zyran.’

‘
We must free him!’ shouted a woman who was seated next to
Eben. The group started talking frantically. Eben could hear the
outrage and shock in their voices. Torela stood and turned to the
group.

‘
Please listen,’ she said. The room fell silent. ‘With
Cassiel’s help we have devised a plan to free the King. Cassiel, if
you would please describe the plan.’

Cassiel nodded
and waited for the room to become completely silent. ‘It will not
be easy. You have been called here because you are all trusted, and
we need some volunteers to complete this difficult task. Firstly we
must sneak into the Citadel of Zyran. Secondly we must steal the
key from Trebax, the Gatekeeper of Zyran; thirdly we must get to
the dungeon gate without being seen, and last of all, we must free
the King and safely escape the island. There is no way that any of
us could take on the full force of the Zyranian Order, and the
Citadel also has a dedicated group of one hundred highly skilled
guardsmen. It is extremely important that we don’t get seen and we
complete this mission in secret. The wizards are very powerful and
wouldn’t hesitate to kill us if we were discovered.’

There was a
silence as the group absorbed all that Cassiel had said. The
silence was suddenly broken when Torg rushed down the hallway from
the front of the house.

‘
My Lady, palace guardsmen are entering the laneway!’ he
cried.

Torela
remained calm and closed her eyes for a few seconds. Everyone in
the room looked up at her, waiting for her guidance. A few moments
later her eyes opened. She looked up at Torg.

‘
Torg, lead the people out the back door. We have been
discovered. They are coming for us,’ she said. Everyone in the room
stood up quickly. Torg drew his massive two handed
broadsword.

Eben could
feel the ground begin to shake. A groaning and screeching sound
resonated down the hallway. All the eyes in the room looked toward
the entrance. An explosion blasted from the front door and shook
the entire house. A wave of fire approached them at a blistering
speed from the hallway, setting fire to everything in its path.

Torela lifted
her hand; a ray of blue light issued forth creating a rippling
energetic barrier that shielded them from the approaching fire.
Eben drew his sword as Cassiel moved to stand beside Torela. The
room emptied of people as Torg led the group through the kitchen
and out the back door. Only Torela, Cassiel, and Eben remained in
the room. The intense flames suddenly faded away. A man in a dark
cape stood at the entrance to the hallway.

‘
Meara,’ he grunted, his eyes full of hate. His lips curled
down at the edges with malice. He was entirely bald which seemed to
increase the look of brutality that was etched into his features.
‘I thought the Irilian Order had agreed to stay out of the Eastern
Lands.’

‘
That agreement ended when the Zyranians decided to turn
against the people of Veredor,’ said Torela. ‘The Irilians work for
the good of all people, you know that, Zarceler.’ At the sound of
his own name the caped man smirked and stepped forward as a group
of guardsmen dashed down the hallway to stand behind
him.

‘
Oh yes, how noble of you,’ said Zarceler mockingly, with an
evil grin from ear to ear. Zarceler raised his hand. There was a
flash of red light. Beams of orange energy burst through the air
toward Torela. Torela lifted her hands and blue light streamed
forth creating a barrier that looked like a transparent shimmering
wall of energy. It shielded them from the hissing fiery energy
blasts. Zarceler didn’t stop bombarding the shield with his
sinister attacks. They hissed and smashed into the
barrier.

A moment later
a group of brutish guardsmen appeared in the kitchen at the back of
the house.

‘
Cassiel, take Eben and get out of here!’ cried Torela.
Cassiel raised his hand and hurled several orbs of fire at the
approaching soldiers in the kitchen. The blasts knocked the
soldiers back, and they all tumbled away.

‘
We can’t leave you!’ shouted Cassiel.

‘
You must go!’ she cried out, looking back over her shoulder.
‘Please, Cassiel. Go!’ Cassiel hesitated for a moment and then
turned toward the stairs.

‘
Quick, up the stairs,’ cried Cassiel, pushing Eben across the
room toward the staircase. Eben climbed the stairs in seconds and
reached the door at the top. The door opened out into a large
bedroom. At the far side of the room there was a small window. Eben
went to the window and started to open it. Cassiel was not far
behind.

‘
No! Eben, climb the ladder to the roof!’

Cassiel locked
the door and touched the handle. He muttered some words under his
breath; an orange light streamed forth from his hand and entered
the door causing it to instantly lock. In a heartbeat Eben had
climbed the ladder and pushed open the trapdoor. A moment later he
was on the empty rooftop. The whole house was shaking from the
raging battle inside between Torela and Zarceler. Eben stood with
his sword in hand as Cassiel climbed onto the roof after him.

‘
Eben, run and hide. I’m going back down there to help
Torela.’

‘
I’ll come too,’ said Eben, not wanting to leave them to fight
Zarceler and the soldiers alone.

‘
No!’ said Cassiel firmly. ‘She wanted you out...’ His words
were cut short.

The entire
building started to groan and shake under their feet. A moment
later it began to collapse around them. Cassiel managed to scurry
across and grab onto the solid wall of the adjoining house, but
Eben slipped backward over the edge. For a few moments he fell,
completely losing control. His back struck the solid ground as a
dust cloud from the collapsing building blasted out into the
surrounding alleyways and lanes. He slowly got to his feet and
picked up his sword. After a dazed moment he started to move down
the alleyway and out of the dust. He could feel that his left leg
was aching and his head was throbbing from the fall. He turned and
saw a great pile of rubble where Torela’s house had once stood.
Cassiel was nowhere in sight.

‘
Find them all! I want them dead or alive!’ cried Zarceler’s
furious voice in the distance.

Eben limped
away as quickly as he could into the darkness and edged down
through a thin gap between two buildings that opened up into a
small square. He crossed the square and moved through a laneway
full of waste and rotting food.

‘
This way!’ shouted a voice from behind him. Eben looked over
his shoulder and could see a group of soldiers in the distance.
They hadn’t noticed him yet, and he glanced around for somewhere to
hide. There was a wooden crate full of waste. He jumped in,
covering himself as they approached. They passed by, not noticing
the crate or the young man hiding within. Lying completely still in
the rot and stench he waited until all was quiet.

After a short
time he lifted his head and looked over the top of the crate in the
direction the guardsmen had gone. The laneway was empty. He climbed
out of the crate and started searching for a side laneway to
escape. He found a long and thin alley that led back in the
direction of the north gate. Dragging his aching leg he quietly
staggered forward. The pain was also growing in the back of his
head, and blood was dripping down the back of his neck. Shouting
voices echoed through the lanes and alleys behind him. He hurried
along and moments later the lane opened out onto the main street
that led from the north gate back toward the palace.