CHAPTER 2 - A DEADLY SUN - Part 1
By cormacru999
- 619 reads
CHAPTER TWO
A DEADLY SUN
The breeze off the ocean was cool and salty as everyone gathered together to leave on their separate journeys. Cullen and his group were mounted except for the Asrai who preferred to jog alongside the horses. Next to them were Grimm and the Dreamweaver, also mounted and followed by fifty Kingsguard soldiers who would escort them into the neighboring lands.
Cullen waved a farewell to the others and led their group along the King’s Road north towards the Everwinter Mountains and whatever waited for them on the other side. Grimm didn’t wave or call out; he just turned his horse to the east and started riding away.
The Dreamweaver did wave and almost cautioned Tik again about the cursed sword he carried, but then he decided against it. He had warned the boy that wielding it was different than studying it, and trouble could be close behind once he took charge of it. But Tik wanted it anyway, and the old man thought he perceived why he wanted it, and he worried over that too.
Shaking his head at the foolishness of youth, he turned his horse after Grimm and followed him down the King’s Road towards Dustan and the Great Swamp. The Dreamweaver had never traveled outside of Holdfast and he was eager to explore the other regions of the Kingdom now, especially to view the other courts of minor Kings.
He knew that riding with Grimm would be somewhat unpleasant since Grimm suited his name very well. He would rather not speak at all if he could prevent it and the old man wondered what had happened to him that made him such a grim man.
The Dreamweaver had brought his journal so he could write about his experiences and he had a moment of feeling loss when he realized no one would write down what happened to Cullen. He would have to wait for their return and hear their stories before he could write them down for history’s sake.
He had been writing about Cullen’s life since he was found in the forest all those years ago. Such a lively young lad he was, always getting into mischief and trouble. He soaked up information and learning like a sponge, but he was easily distracted and often in trouble.
He has turned into a fine young man however, the Dreamweaver thought, following his heart to do the right thing at whatever the cost. He only hoped he wasn’t walking into a trap that the Host had prepared for him. He wondered at who could have sent those specific images to the boy.
He turned his thoughts to the task ahead of him, inviting the minor Kings to the tourney and building better relationships between the different factions of leadership. In Dustan was King Adrian, a highly religious man, following the Church of God which had become powerful in recent years since the High King supported its rise.
Adrian ruled the marshlands as a kind man, and he wasn’t known for being aggressive. His people were quiet and calm, simple fishermen that hunted the swamps for a variety of prey. In addition to being religious like their King, the people of the marsh were folksy as well, still believing in the Faery lore.
After Dustan, the Dreamweaver and Grimm would travel to Seawatch, a lonely desolate Kingdom of cliff and stone. A fairly barren land, they lived of some farming, some mining and some fishing. It was ruled by King Cosmin, who ruled his Knights with a heavy hand.
He surrounded himself with hard men that fought battles between themselves as often as not. Those men considered themselves true Knights, following a cast of rules that most men wouldn’t choose to follow. But they were good warriors and they defended their border against Rath diligently.
To the north of Seawatch was Vess, a region ruled by King Simon and his family. His was the richest land since he mined for gold in the Everwinter mountains at his northern border. The rest of his land was used for farming, but his was the richest region of them all.
And the rest of the known world was grasslands, from there until the sea. The Horse Lord clans ruled there for hundreds of years, warring amongst themselves over horse herds and land. Until now, when this King Nicu finally managed to bring the clans together into some kind of peace.
The Dreamweaver wondered at what kind of man could gather the warrior clans together and what kind of hold he had over them. It would be interesting to meet such a man. Grimm seemed disturbed by the news of Nicu’s rise but the Dreamweaver hadn’t gotten it out of him why he was so upset.
Grimm was a tall man, over six feet in height. He kept his head shaved like many warriors and he wore a scar that ran from the side of his head down his face to his chin. He wore it proudly and he never smiled.
He carried himself upright and tall at all times, and guarded his King with devotion and care. He carried a battle axe that was as tall as he was with a massive iron head. Even with new steel weapons coming in from the Daoine Sidhe, he still preferred his giant axe.
Everything about him was extra large. Even his horse was bigger than the others, a big war horse, specially bred by Rathians for battle. Horses like that were hard to get outside of Rath and the Dreamweaver wondered how Grimm came by such a horse. It seemed he had history with Rathians, and the old man wanted to hear the tale.
But Grimm was silent for most of the trip, as they rode through lazy hills and over quiet rivers that emptied out into the sea or the swamp. The weather was calm and cool, as spring should be and the Dreamweaver was glad that the High King had made the world safer and peaceful. They wouldn’t have to worry about bandits or thieves bothering them along the King’s Road.
The High King’s father, Cezar had been the one to start the uniting of the land, when he tried to take Dustan and Vess. But it was his son that saw both battles through and won them, continuing on to Seawatch and finally Rath. Although Rath had never been fully under Remus’s control, but no one was organized enough to challenge him and his soldiers lived there without worry.
Soon the land began to change as the days went by. The Dreamweaver watched the land turn from small forests and fields to a swampy area that was wet everywhere but where the road led. The High King had defeated Dustan by building roads into the Great Swamp, right up the King Adrian’s castle in the marsh.
The road was higher than the wet ground on either side and they camped in places where the road had been widened for just such a purpose. Grimm’s men didn’t set up tents, they slept out in the open and fortunately it didn’t rain for the whole journey.
Soon they were surrounded by tall trees covered in moss and ferns, with small lakes of water everywhere on either side of the road. As they neared the King’s castle and surrounding city, the Dreamweaver began to see the types of houses they built in the swamp.
All buildings were raised on poles, keeping them high enough above the water that even heavy flooding wouldn’t touch the bottoms of the structures. Raised platforms were the common walkways between buildings and ladder led down to the water level where boats were tied up ready for fishing.
There were very few kinds of food one could grow in a swamp; so much of their produce was imported in from the surrounding Kingdom, while they traded fish out of their region. The Dreamweaver began to see the homes and watery gardens of the Dustanians as they passed settlements.
The main road was quite wide and the growth on either side was trimmed back, so he got a eyeful of the view when they approached the castle finally. All around the castle was an intricate layout of homes and businesses all on stilts with walkways stretched in-between. It reminded him of the Faery city of the Daoine Sidhe.
In the center of the wooden city of platforms and walkways was a solid piece of land that held the castle of King Adrian and his family. They had found the one solid rock that existed in the Great Swamp and they had built a small castle on top.
It was made of imported stone, in giant blocks that must have been a nightmare to assemble. The castle was square and a few stories high, but sort or squat looking from the front. It had two towers in the back and a huge gate in front that opened across the moat of the surrounding swamp.
The castle was big enough to hold their Church, just like Holdfast, as well as the barracks for both King Adrian’s forces and the contingent of Kingsguard that lived here keeping the peace for the High King. A group of Kingsguard and local militia were on hand to meet Grimm and the Dreamweaver as they arrived.
The Kingsguard wore their usual white tabard with bees embroidered along the hem, and they carried new steel weapons. The marsh guard wore green tabards with frogs embroidered on the center of their chests.
Grimm saluted the men, and since he was easily recognized the call went out across the moat and the bridge was lowered, allowing them to ride across with their fifty men following.
Waiting for them on the other side was the Kingsguard Captain for Dustan, a man well known to Grimm since he chose each region’s Captain personally.
“Well met Captain Cezar,” Grimm said gruffly as he dismounted.
“Well met Captain of Captains sir, how was your journey?” The young Captain asked.
“Good. No rain. Do you have room for fifty more brethren here?” Grimm asked gesturing to the men lined up behind him.
“Of course, they have extra bunks here, so they can set up whenever you like.”
Grimm turned to the soldiers behind him. “Right then, you’re off duty as long as we’re here, but you’ll listen to Captain Cezar when he speaks! Get some rest and some food and be ready to ride out in two days.”
“We won’t be staying longer?” the Dreamweaver asked.
“No need to old man, we’ve got places to go, things to do. We’ll spend a little time with the King and his family, but we’ve got other Kings to see.”
The Dreamweaver bowed his head in understanding. He turned when he saw a new man approaching. He wore the long white robe of a Godsman, with the red lightening bolt down the side.
“Greetings Grimm, I am Aegidius, the High Priest of Dustan and I am pleased to welcome you in his Majesty’s name.” The Priest was a short bald man and rather portly, but he had a genuine smile and seemed kindly enough.
“Will you take us to our rooms to get cleaned up before we see the King?” Grimm asked.
“Certainly, I’d be glad to, if you’ll just follow me inside.”
***
Cullen led the group past the ruins of Boulder, the first village to be struck by the Host when they attacked Holdfast, and a good reminder of what they might be facing soon. The village had never been rebuilt since it was so near to a cave that led into the tunnels of Goblins and Duergar. People feared such creature now that their existence had been confirmed.
It took three full days to climb the mountains, using the only path Cullen knew, that led directly to the mountain fortress of King Garm. The travelers had to lead their horse up through the last pass, since the trail was steep and thin, running across snowbound cliffs.
No tree grew at that height, leaving a view of miles around where Cullen could see much of his father’s Kingdom. The air was colder on the mountain peaks and Cullen had thought to bring furs along for warmth.
In the last few miles, Dwarves appeared out of snow drifts, guarding the pass that led to their home. Some of the Dwarves Cullen recognized by all of them recognized him as the Keeper of Creations and they joyfully agreed to escort his party the rest of the way.
They soon reached the large patio of stone that sat outside the fortress gates that Cullen had never seen closed. The patio was a few hundred square feet and surrounded by large braziers of burning coals that lent warmth and light to the area.
The front gates of the fortress were thick wooden planks that could be dropped down to form a wooden wall that had iron bracings. It was open and out of it poured Dwarves, coming to see who it was visiting.
The King, a mighty Dwarf that stood almost five feet high, came to see what the excitement was. He had deep red hair, braided and tucked into his belt with piercing golden eyes that looked right though a person.
“Well if it isn’t the Chosen One, come back for a visit!” the King laughed, walking straight at Cullen and giving him a hand shake and a pound on the back.
“Well met King,” Cullen chocked out. “It’s good to see you!”
“And you m’boy!” the King said loudly, taking a look at who else had come. “Lady Sonia, beautiful as always, Master Tik, with a ready smile, three wolves I know, and who are these others?”
Stepping forward, Aki gave a flourished bow, bending almost in half. “I am Aki Forestborn, the Lightbringer and this is Fox, a Spriggan who owes me a debt.”
The King nodded at the introduction and then glanced at the last figure, the human that he didn’t know.
“My name is Anton, High Priest of the Church of God, and a friend of Cullen’s,” Anton said easily, seeming unaffected by the King’s stare.
“Well I am King Garm, ruler of these mad Dwarves and Master of the Mountain. I welcome you each into my home and to my friendship. If you be friend to Cullen then you be a friend to the Dwarves!”
The King gripped Cullen’s arm, and motioned inside. “Leave the horses with me boys out here, they’ll be safe enough and we’ll give ‘em some grain.”
The group entered the fortress, and Aki and Anton got their first look inside. Dwarves mine, its part of their genetic makeup, and they love to dig in the stone for treasure, but they are Faeries too and they miss the forest, so they carve up their homes to look like a forest, complete with animals and flowers, birds and streams, all the walls are decorated with the beautiful landscapes you could see outside of the real thing.
The chambers were carved along the walls and often the ceilings well, well lit by fire or glowing lamps of a magical nature. The sounds of work echoed throughout the chambers and halls as well, since each Dwarf was responsible for creating armor, weapons and tools.
The King led them deep into the fortress, towards his favorite place, the dining hall, a long, wide room that held many tables and was often covered in food to eat at any time during the day. Garm loved any excuse to feast and having visitors was an excellent reason.
He led Cullen to the largest center table and had everyone sit down. He sat himself in the big throne like chair that was carved out of stone to look like leaping stags playing along the cliff of the Everwinter Mountains.
“While we wait for food to come, tell me why you’re here with so many friends boy,” the King invited. “You’re up to somethin’ or I’m a goat’s arse.”
“I had a dream King,” Cullen began, and he described the dream, the broken crown, his belief that it was connect to the Host having enslaved humans on the other side of the Mountains, and the images of the Dark Master.
The Dwarven King listen quietly through the whole story and then sat back against his throne. Round Dwarven women brought in platters of food, venison, beef, ribs and duck. Other plates held vegetable and starches like rice and potatoes, and there were sauces and creams in little bowls spread out across the tables.
Dwarves started piling in and seating themselves nearby, digging in gratefully to the mounds of food. Garm motioned for everyone to start eating and the table was quiet except the sounds of people enjoying good food.
The King started asking other questions, like how was the High King, and the state of the human Kingdom or how did Sonia like working at the Orphanage. He asked Aki about the Daoine Sidhe and King Dagda, all pleasant conversation.
As things died down, and Dwarves finished eating, they went off to whatever tasks they had to do before bedding down for the night. Garm had already invited Cullen to stay in the guest chambers for the evening and Cullen had accepted, knowing it might be the last time he slept in a bed for a while.
When the room was mostly clear and everyone was sipping their last drinks, the King finally spoke about the dream.
“We’ve never really traveled outside the north side of the mountains Cullen,” he said, speaking softly. “I don’t know what’s out there. We have an exit that will take you through the cliffs and out onto that side, but I don’t know what waits for ye.”
“I understand King, we’re just grateful for the passage,” Cullen said in all honesty.
“I wish I could send me Dwarves with ye, but I won’t send ‘em into the unknown like that. Go and have a look around, see what ye see, then come back and we’ll see what kind of help we can send.”
“I’ll try. I don’t know what we’ll run into either Sire, but I expect it will be bad for the humans that live there. But I have to know what the dream meant, even if it’s a trap.”
The King began to speak again but he was interrupted by another Dwarf who Cullen recognized as Roarr, one of the King’s Champions. He was tall for a Dwarf, almost five feet and wide as a horse, with rippling muscles beneath his fur and chain mail.
“I’d like yer permission to go with the boy Sire,” he said in a low deep voice.
“Ye would go with them Roarr?” the King asked, surprised.
“I would. I remember his leadership during the War and I like this half human boy. I would protect him from any trap he may be walking into.”
Cullen glanced at Sonia and Tik. To have another warrior of renown would certainly help their cause. Cullen didn’t want to look too eager, but he was hoping the King would agree.
“Would ye take him Cullen?” the King asked.
“I would take anyone willing to go. I don’t know what we face, but I know Roarr to be a brave fighter and I would feel safer with him along than not.”
The King stroked his long braided beard for a moment. Then he sighed and lowered his hand. “Then go with me blessings. But don’t you die out there Dwarf!” he commanded.
“I’ll do me best,” the warrior said, grinning. Not many Dwarves felt the call of adventure, they were a simple sort, happy mining and creating things, but Cullen could see this Dwarf was different; he had a gleam in his eye to go outside the fortress and see the world.
“Then we leave tomorrow.”
- Log in to post comments
Comments
Such wonderful descriptions
- Log in to post comments