"The Long Winter"

The world is crippled in a cold winter. Something stirs in a distant forgotten village.

1

“The Long Winter”

 

“In the beginning everything was black and white. Everything had a specific order or a role. Then chaos was born from the darkest pits of human hearts. Monstrous forces waged war with the races of Peandra. A war which continues still, hidden in the shadows. One that is fought not with valor and honor, but with deceit and betrayal.”

 

 

It was a long and harsh winter. The season had frozen the lands of Peandra for over five cycles now. It was cold, dry, chilling and the worst of all was that it kept plants from growing. If they did they simply died before giving birth. All this made villagers, townsfolk, nobility and every other kind of people weary, uneasy, even angry. Trade was slow. Blocked trade routes put the kingdom’s economy to a screeching halt. The wolves did not help the situation very much. There had been complains from all over Albinon of attacks from wolves, bears, ice birds, and even creatures you never knew existed: frozen elementals, white tigers, snow giants… the list went on and on. The trouble was that no kingdom would even try to put an end to these problems. That would mean going on a pointless hunt to try and exterminate every pack, flock and beast that littered the land. It would consume an enormous amount of resources, far more than they could spare. So the complains did not cease. One after another they came like a shower in the tropics - abundant but almost never ending. All Valorguard could do was send out patrols and guards with the shipments. This helped secure a slow, but steady flow of vital goods into the city, preventing an otherwise certain famine.

 

     Throughout the small settlements rumors began to spread. They spoke of the end of the world. They said that Demons from Chaos have come and were killing them all. Few people believed them though. Most were realists, and believed that “’tis was just a prolonged winter. It would end soon enough.” But yet another faction of the population told another story: “Those witches from Noctrus, have cast a curse upon the world, so they can weaken and conquer it.” These spread like a wildfire, reaching the far corners of Albinon �" from the frozen coasts of the north to the once lush valleys of the south. A large curved mountain chain stretched from the south-western tip of the peninsula, to the north-eastern shores. It’s snowy tips divided the country into two parts �" a large southern plain and rigid, smaller north. They were called the Luminus Mountains. The capital lied in a pass through the far northern parts of the range. It was one of the 3 major power centers of Peandra, being host to the mystical tower of the wizards. In the same mountains, near the Raging Sea at the southern border was a village called Light’s Edge. It was named after the second highest peak in the vicinity of which it laid. This village had a long history, as it was built at the same time as the temple within the mountain. As the only settlement near this holy place, it grew to prosper during the years when the builders resided there. Merchants traveled to and from, bringing more and more people. This prosperity continued for a long time, until the temple was mostly abandoned for unknown reasons. When that happened, attention was drawn away from the small town. People began to leave for the larger cities and the capital. Slowly but surely, the abandonment caused the town to shrink into a smaller and smaller village, up to the point where only a few families lived. Some of the old buildings, such as the local inn, the infirmary and the store, still stood. Their grey masonry reminded of better times. A calm, dozy atmosphere hung over the place. The innocence of the village would soon be interrupted by the ruthless, cold arm of death.

 

     In Light’s Edge, there were few children. Most were very young, no more than ten years old. During sunny days they usually ran about the fields and forests, playing games and laughing. The older children were tasked with helping their parents take care of their farms and animals, as that was the only way of providing for their families. Seldar Aquamar was one such child. He had little interest, whatsoever, in the worldly matters. However, as he and his father relied on the fruits of the land to survive, he was eager to accept the theory that the winter would end soon. Seldar wasn’t stupid though. He knew that such a devilry can’t happen by natural means. Yet there was something else that concerned him. He feared that what happens once may happen again. Ever since he was 11 he helped his father on the farm by plowing the land and taking care of the horses. They were simple folk, not having many possessions. The farm, their home, was not too far from the village. It was in a small clearing in the forests near Light’s Edge. This provided a well needed shelter from the biting winds coming down from the mountains. The estate consisted of a number of buildings �" a house, where they lived, a stable for the horses, a granary for food storage and a shelter for the rest of the animals. The house itself was decent, on two floors �" quite a rare thing for people of their social status. The Aquamars’s few animals were a small herd of mountain goats, some chickens and a few cows. Two horses occupied the stable. They were old, immortal legends said. Fergus, Seldar’s father, would tell his son tales about them - how Valier blessed them with eternal life. They were wise horses who had seen a lot of lives come and go. He didn’t say much more though. His father’s face always turned rather serious when he spoke of his horses… or anything connected to his past. Those were their ‘riches’, if we don’t count the tools. Even so, rumors spoke of Fergus bringing precious artifacts and hiding them in a secret room in the cellar. He always denied that, though, as it was quite obvious that if he had any treasure he wouldn’t be living in such a poor way.

 

     The Aquamars were a good sort, respected for their work, their wisdom and calm manners. Seldar’s father was a member of the village council, the right hand of the elder. Not only that, but he was also the boy’s only living relative. His mother, he was told, died during childbirth but, strangely enough, there was no grave in her memory in the whole village. There was no sign, not even a document to commemorate her death. No one would ever comment on that. The mage who guarded the temple, Azar Cameron, had advised Fergus that his son needed a mother, but he would just respond:

     “A woman is like a flower: Beautiful but makes you sad when it dies in autumn.”

Seldar did not understand how his father gathered all this wisdom. If someone didn’t know him, they would think he was a wizard! But he did not marry again, choosing to remain a widower, raising his son on his own.

 

*   *   *

 

     Every once in a while Fergus and Seldar would ride down to Light’s Edge to stock up on a few necessities. They might have been living on a farm but some things were hard to come by. Occasionally something would break and materials would be needed for repairs. Besides, the horses needed to stay in shape. It was morning and Seldar quickly got up at the shouts of his father.

     “Seldar! Seldaaar!”- Fergus’s old wizened voice bellowed from underneath the window.

The boy’s room was on the second floor facing the east. He wasn’t thrilled about getting woken before the sun was up. A deep chime came out of the grandfather clock downstairs, signaling 6 o’clock in the morning. Seldar jumped out the bed, ran to the window and opened it. When he looked down he saw his father standing in the snow with his arms crossed. It was very dark so not much could be seen. All that was visible were the green and brown leather clothes with yellow lining which Fergus wore. There was also the fur coat which covered his back. The old man had made it himself long ago from some unknown animal. It’s red hide sometimes glimmered funnily and gave out a warm air. At that moment a sharp, bitter cold wind took the first opportunity to chill the boy to the bone. The fact he had no shirt didn’t help either. His brownish-gold hair, which was already messy, was made even wilder, flying all over. Being straight and of medium length, it was hard to keep control of it. Teeth rattling, he tried to talk to Fergus.

     “Yes? What is it, father?”

     “Come down here and help me rein the horses to the carriage! We’re going to the village!”

     “Alright! I’ll be there in a second.”

     “And for the Light’s sake, put on some clothes! You don’t want to freeze to death in this mad weather, do you?”

     “Yes, yes.”- Seldar speedily closed the window, blocking the winds from entering his otherwise warm room.

Turning around to his left he opened up the tall wooden wardrobe and took out a white shirt. Throwing it onto his bed he quickly pulled out some brown leather trousers and a red woolen jumper, as well as a nice dark green fur coat. It wasn’t as fancy as his father’s but it would do the job nonetheless. He put everything on hastily and got into a pair of black shoes. Taking a quick look in the mirror near the door, Seldar tried to fix up his hair, even though he knew it would get ruined by the time they reached Light’s Edge. The boy rushed to the bathroom on the same floor and washed his face in a hurry before going down the wooden staircase and out the door.

     By the time Seldar got ready Fergus had fed the horses and was just taking them out of the stable. The rays of the rising sun began to drive out the darkness of night, as the two men worked together preparing for their trip. It was rather difficult to traverse through all the snow but the pathways they had shoveled helped their efforts. The cart was made ready on the dirt road and they reined in the horses. After making final checks Fergus locked the house, then the gate and got onto the cart. Seldar looked towards his father. His face was beginning to show signs of his age. The slightly wrinkled face had rough stubble coming through.  His long hair reflected the traditions of the elves in H’audenna, no doubt a mark of his many travels during his youth. It was once raven black, a trait of those born in the high mountains. Yet now the pigment gave way to the slowly increasing number light strands. One could say that most of his hair was snow white. Two elegant braids, tied up with royal purple silk strands, made him look imposing and of high stature. With his golden wolf-like eyes and pointy nose, one might say he and Seldar were barely related. While the young boy was contemplating these things, Fergus snapped the reins and the two strong animals galloped like the wind. Both of them were thrust back by the sudden surge of speed and it took Seldar a while to return to his previous position. Even then he struggled to keep balance.

     “Father! Have you gone insane?!”- he shouted on the top of his lungs.

     “The Council has called me to an urgent meeting! If we are not quick we’ll be late! Hold on!”- Fergus snapped at the horses again to prompt them to go faster.

     “But they called you there just a few days ago! Why again?”

     “I will tell you when I have a definite answer! Now try not to fly off the cart!”

And so they sped through the forest’s snowy path for what must have been close to half an hour. The cold winds blew against them, choking with fresh mountain air. Everything around them was devoid of life, save for the occasional call of some bird. The trees were naturally bare, as the winter had not allowed them to bloom. Their coats were flapping about and the cart quickly made its way along the snow covered dirt road.

 

     After a while they reached the edge of the forest where it began to clear. The sound of gushing water could be heard in the distance. When the trees ended they saw it �" a great river flowing from the peak bringing down ice cold liquids from the heart of the mountain. It splashed and roared as it made its way. The horses continued their gallop along straight path. Soon, roofs of buildings began to appear on the horizon. The normally golden hay was now covered by a thick layer of snow. Wooden houses and stone buildings blended together to make this a quaint little settlement. Fergus slowed down a bit as they entered the village. A wooden sign signaled they had entered Light’s Edge. Rough sounds resulted from the wheels hitting on the cobble stones making up the paved roads. People were staring at them �" women in colourful dresses, curious children in little jackets and men with concerned looks. Everyone here knew them and most were friendly, others indifferent, and a few disliked them. Fergus finally stopped the horses at the square. It was a large circular space where the road made a round turn. In the center was a large fountain which was fed by the river passing nearby. It represented a statue of a man with long hair. He had his hands up and out of them poured forth crystal clear waters. Light’s Edge continued to the west over a stone bridge across the river, but there were mainly houses there. Fergus got off the cart and looked around hastily.

     “Seldar, go and make the purchases. If you finish before me then wait here. I’ll try not to tarry for long.”

     “What should I buy?”

     “Well… I’m not sure. You’ll think of something. Look around.”

     “Ummm… alright.”- he received a small bag of silver coins. The head of a man with a crown of stars was engraved on all of them.

     His father turned towards a large stone building on the south side of the square. It had large wooden gates and many coloured windows. That was the Council hall. There was a terrace on the upper floor, right above the doors. It would be from where the Council would announce important decisions to the public. As Fergus disappeared behind the large doors Seldar went to look at what was available at the market today. There were a couple of stalls there, all of them poorly stocked. It was predictable as the weather conditions did not allow for many items to arrive. He haggled for a bit with a merchant about the price of half a litre of mead and a few fruits and vegetables. When he finished, he went back to the cart and left the goods he bought at the back. As he had nothing to do, Seldar went for a quick walk until his father had finished with his business.

 

*   *   *

     A few minutes had passed. Seldar was in a small alley just around the corner of the Council hall. He had made a few steps when he heard the whisper of a familiar youthful voice:

     “Hey! Seldar!”�" he turned around to find his childhood friend, Keleb. Ever sense they met it was quite obvious how different they actually were. This, however, actually cemented their friendship even more, like the two sides of a coin. The two boys found that even though they were different, they could still be good friends. Kaleb was an energetic boy. He had wild red hair which never seemed to stay neat for too long. His eyes always had a spark of mischief to them, which usually gave his plans away.

     “Hey Keleb! Why are you whispering?”

     “I need to be careful so someone doesn’t hear me.”- the boy looked around cautiously.

     “What have you prepared in your twisted mind this time, eh?”�" Seldar had got used to his friend’s sometimes dangerous jokes. The jokes, however, usually turned back to him, which only seemed to encourage Kaleb even more. Seldar even found himself a victim quite a few times.

     “No, no, no! No funny business. I swear on my mother’s heart! I just wanted to ask you if want to come to the Council meeting.”- a long silent pause ensured. For the first time in his life, Seldar was gob smacked by his friend’s sense of humor.

     “Are you serious? I’m starting to think that you need to spend some time in bed for the next few days.”- Seldar chuckled.

     “I AM serious! Come on! Your father is in that meeting. Aren’t you curious about what the heck they are talking about?”

     “Of course I am, and keep your voice down. Now, tell me, how do you think to get even an inch closer to that meeting than we already are?”

     “You will see. Just follow me.”- Kaleb signaled Seldar to go after him and ran towards the back of the Council hall.

     “This better be worth it. I have no interest in how Mr. Icecavern’s clean trousers fell in the mud, or how Mrs. Cloudstorm’s kitten got lost while chasing birds, and now she wants the whole council to search for the bird that “did that to her pooor baby”, and sue it! Ugh, I have a feeling I’m going to regret this.”-after saying all this hurriedly, Seldar went after his friend with unsure steps.

     “He he, that’s the spirit.”

     “How are we going to get in without someone spotting us?”

     “Simple �" we are not going in.”- A raised eyebrow followed this answer �"“Don’t worry! Nothing can go wrong. Not this time.”- Somehow Seldar felt that Kaleb meant what he said, as insane as it sounded. With this in mind, and his own curiosity driving him, he decided to help his vagabond of a friend.

     They reached the back of the building where they found a tall wooden ladder. It lied on the ground in the snow. There was a small open window in the roof high up.

     “I think that now I can explain what I’m doing. What happened is this: I found a ladder, I brought it here before the meeting and then I met you. See? It's crystal clear.”

     “You’re hiding something.”- a smug smile adorned Seldar’s face while saying this.

     “How do you always find that out?! Anyway, I also found this room right above the Council chamber. We can listen from there. Come on.”

     Seldar was reluctant to follow his friend, being cautious of any danger. In the end though, the contagious troublemaking urge took over reason and he helped Kaleb put the ladder up. They started climbing and as they reached the roof of the building, Seldar pushed the tiny window wide open and snuck in. To his disappointment all he found was a brick wall. He stared at it, then at his friend and breathed out an annoyed sigh. After an index finger signaled him to wait, Keleb pushed a small brick and the wall began to move. Without much noise an opening was soon visible, leading the way to a little room. Seldar stood in amazement. Every time the two met, Keleb had some witty idea in his back pocket.

     “Welcome to the world of Keleb Whiteriver, my friend.”

     “You are a genius!”

     “Yeah, yeah. That’s what they all say. Now will you hurry up and get in, already? My ears are itching.”

     They both entered while chuckling. The room was nothing special �" a small space surrounded by walls of wood. Loud voices could be heard arguing downstairs. Seldar, puzzled, looked at his friend and saw a worried face… something unusual for him:

     “They have been like that for a week now. The Council has been meeting, pretty much, every day but I can’t understand what they’re talking about. The members hoped that your father might settle the argument. He is the Elder’s right hand after all. There are holes in the floor over there. We can see through them.”- the two boys crouched down and peeked into the small cracks in the wooden floor. A spacious hall was visible. On the opposite side of the large doors there was an uplifted podium and on it was a throne of stone. It was decorated with rich furs. Off the podium, around the throne, were twenty wooden chairs, ten on each side. All of them together formed a semi-circle. Fergus was sitting on the right side of the throne, on the chair nearest to it. The Council was in a hot dispute:

     “It is obvious we must act!”�" said a brown-bearded man.

     “And what good will that do?!” �" shouted an old, skinny man.

     “I agree with Saphrion. We cannot leave the village defenseless in the current state of the kingdom, damn the oaths and anything to do with them.”- nodded another who was sitting on the fifth chair to the left of the throne.

     “Valier smite you! Don’t you see? “The Shell” IS obviously cracking! The Forces of Chaos return to our world. Freak weather plagues the land; monsters pray on travelers. What’s next?! If we don’t unite now, we will all fall under the shadow!”- a middle aged woman with pale skin spoke out.

     There was tension in the air. The arguing continued on and on yet Seldar didn’t understand one thing: what were they so worried about? And it seems as if the answer came by the whim of his mind:

     “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Council! It seems we will get to nowhere, no matter how much we debate the issue. Fergus, you have always been a neutral party here. Can you put an end to this chaos?”- the old man in the throne seemed stressed. Similar to Fergus, he had long white hair, but there was also a beard to go with it.

     “I do not know Conabar. The situation seems dire. Valorguard must be desperate if it searches aid in such remote places of the world. Then again, we cannot leave the village on its own. But I will be a realist: If we stay here we will die for sure. But if we leave, we might have the opportunity to return. We have two choices: Stay and die, or join the capital and exact vengeance later. To me the answer is clear.”�" Fergus smiled slightly.

     “Why are you smiling old friend?”

     “Oh? It is nothing.”

     “It is decided then. Light’s Edge will join the mighty Valorguard, Jewel of the North, in the struggle against the darkness. We will send all our warriors in aid of the army. Preparations will begin at once. Any objections?”- the Elder spoke with authority and everyone seemed convinced as everyone nodded in agreement and support of the leader.

 

     After some unimportant discussions Seldar and Keleb saw the council dismissing. However, someone seemed to have disappeared. They quickly went down the ladder but were frozen by the low, serious voice of Seldar’s father:

     “Exactly how much of that did you hear?”- The two boys were gob smacked. Fergus’s golden eyes had a sharp intensity which made them shake in their boots:

     “N- Not- Nothing sir.”- With an eyebrow raised against them, the youths quickly took a hold over themselves -“We were just putting this ladder away.”

     “Oh really? Why was it here in the first place?”

     “Well, we, ahhh…”

     “You were eavesdropping.”- the old man put an accent on the last word, increasing its severity.

     “Y-yes sir.”�" Both boys looked down with guilty expressions on their faces. They were ashamed at how quickly Fergus’s piercing look broke them. Something told them they would regret ever going up in that little room.

     “Now then, you two are both coming with me.”- Fergus pointed in the direction from which he came and led the two boys to the square. As he was walking he began to ask them more questions-”Well then, did you understand what you heard in the meeting?”

     “Not really, sir. I’ve been listening to them for a couple of days now but can’t figure out what’s going on.”- Kaleb was quick to give himself away, which resulted in a stern look.

     “What about you Seldar?”

     “I am not sure, father. We heard that the capital has trouble but I don’t understand these things about ‘The Shell’. What is it?”

     “’The Shell’ is a magical barrier which spans around our world. It protects us against the darkness which lies beyond. Many have linked the recent disasters with it’s decline. However, none of us can be completely sure. Yet the reality is that trouble is ahead and we have to do something. That is why preparations for a military expedition will begin immediately.”- they were near the horses when Fergus finished his explanation-“But you do not need to worry. Now, Seldar, have you bought everything?”

     “Yes father.”- the boy nodded.

     “Then see your friend off and come back. It’s time to go home.”

     “Alright, lets go Kaleb!”- he nudged the one next to him and they both walked towards the bridge on the west side of the square.

     

     Seldar did not know how his father knew that they were listening, or the reason for all the secrecy. What he did not even suspect was how quickly the answers to these questions would come. More quickly than anyone would have suspected, or wanted. After the two boys said goodbye, Seldar and Fergus left for the farm. They managed to reach the house by nightfall. They had a warm dinner with herbal tea. The cold nights in the village seemed warm compared to these parts of the valley where the very air seemed to freeze. There was a blizzard that night. Fergus had to go out and calm down the horses, as well as close all the windows, for they would freeze in the weather. The grandfather clock in the sitting room chimed, signaling midnight. Outside, the winds whispered in an unknown chant. A wolf howl could be heard somewhere in a distant part of the forest. Fergus was sitting in an armchair and watched the flames in the fireplace. He smoked his pipe and muttered, what seemed to be, a stanza of a High Elven collection of poems, called Fire and Shadow:

   “Malarad el funiel celenad;

    Harladar el funiel selenad;

    Lardaromini se gered;

    Malanore a’kar Dum.”

 

    “Of Air they are born;

    Of Light they are spawn;

    All life they consume;

    Fire and Shadow.”

 

He repeated it, again and again, like an incantation. His face was expressionless as if made of stone. While his father stared at the flames and chanted, the young boy went quietly up the wooden staircase. Leaving the cozy, fur hide covered floors of the sitting room, Seldar realized he should not disrupt his father from his thoughts. He changed his clothes and quietly went to bed. The storm outside was loud and unfriendly. The fireplace went cold by the time he fell asleep. Today’s events still tortured him with questions. “What will happen now?”; “What are we going to do?” These thoughts swirled around the boy’s mind as the cold darkness consumed the place. A crow was heard screeching somewhere nearby. It was strange to hear a bird in this weather. Fergus’s footsteps made the wooden planks of the floor screech, as he was walking down the corridor. A distant door opened and closed. Then everything went silent, except for the raging blizzard. It was a long winter, indeed.

 

*    *    *

 

“Valier, one of the two gods of Peandra. He was crowned the God of Light after taking the Heavens as his domain. Little is known about Valier, only that he was once one of the few mages first to walk the earth. His powers were always channeled into light and ice. After his Ascension as a god, he focused his power into creation of life and curing the sick. The Grand Circle Cathedral of Valier, in Valorguard, is based at the very top of the great towering city. In front of it is the great square with the statue of Valier overlooking the capital, together with the one atop of the cathedral. It is said that one day the cathedral will crumble into dust and the city will follow beneath it.”

Mythology of Peandra, Volume 1 by Morgana Iceriver

 

     This was the book Seldar had picked up from a bookshelf in the sitting room. There were many volumes on history and mythology in his father’s collection, all from famous authors. There were even some rare ones which he hadn’t seen elsewhere. Today was one of those rare days when the sun shined. It’s light fed the hungry earth, as well as those inhabiting it. A few weeks had passed since the Council decided that the Light’s edge would support Valorguard in its mysterious war. But something else had happened in the period after the meeting. Seldar’s father, Fergus, had been silent, deep in thought. He rarely said anything. Sitting in his armchair and watching the cracking flames, nothing seemed to be able to move him. The only time in which he said a word was when they had to go out. He would say:

     “Seldar! We are going down to the village!”

After that he would return to his silent thinking. Seldar could not understand this change. “Is there something bothering him? Of course there is something bothering him! Why would he be like that if there isn’t anything?” Raging thoughts plagued his mind for these few weeks. But then, something triggered a chain of events which would turn around his life, forever.

 

     30^th Vatay. It was the middle of summer, at least according to the calendar. The village prepared its men for the upcoming trip to Valorguard. The journey was perilous, filled with danger. The first of the many obstacles were the very mountains they lived in. Although they were a defensive wall, they also created a nearly impassable barrier. Rocky peaks, steep heights and tiny passages were only a few of the obstacles the expedition had to face. There had been reports from messengers that the passes were infested with vile creatures - elementals, giants and other foul things. They would probably lose half of their men on the way to the capital. For that reason, Fergus had been taking an initiative to gather the Council every time they went to the village. He also insisted on Seldar being present at those meetings. This left the boy surprised. When he asked Fergus about it, he would say that ‘he knew too much already, so there was no point in keeping it secret from him.’ And even if he talked about unraveling secrets, nothing became clearer than it already was. The meetings were interesting though. Fergus was debating and arguing with the Council members, something that, from the words of others, had not happened since Fergus had joined them.

     “Members of the village council!”�" addressed Fergus, with his voice raised up. His posture was one of someone who was both important, yet brought down by some great burden �"“We are facing a threat bigger than anything we have seen before. If we go by the White Passages, we would lose half of our men before we even travel a fraction of the way to Valorguard. We must go by the Nether Roads.”

     “Have you gone mad Fergus?!” �" A council member shouted as he stood up from his chair. His long grey hair and beard waved. A golden amulet around his neck dangled with a shimmer �" “Those roads have not been used since the time of the ancients. And even if we reached their very threshold who is going to open them? As far as we know, only an Azar knows the incantations needed and there are none in our village. Only Cameron is one but he would not leave the temple for even an instant. That is a bit of a problem since the nearest entrance is in another bleeding valley!”

     “Shtefan is right!”- said a woman in a red dress.-“Who will lead us through these pathways? Perhaps you’ve thought of that as well, Fergus?”- she waved her hand in a suggestive manner towards the white haired man.

     “Yes, I have… I will lead.”- at that statement everyone grew silent. No one expected such a response. They all looked at him stunned.

     “Perhaps you would like to give us an explanation, Fergus?”- said the one called Saphiron in an imposing voice.

     “Yes, indeed… It is time for the truth to come out.”- he paused for a minute in thought and then began his tale -“I am a veteran of the War of the Magi. As one of the most powerful wizards I led a division of soldiers in defense of H’audenna. We were the famous legion that brought the war to an end single-handedly.”

     “So the legends are true.”- A man in his 50s muttered to himself as Fergus continued his story.

     “As a result of my exploits, the High Elven Tribunal granted me the incantations used to open the Nether Roads. After certain events happened, other things came to my attention and I decided to give up my magical power at the promise to receive it back when the time is right. I believe now is that time.”

     “Fergus,”�" the Elder stood up �"“I was there when you disowned your powers. Are you sure of your decision? Once it is done, there is no going back. It is a one time process which cannot be reversed. If you are wrong, if the time is not at hand, then who knows what may happen. You may be putting others, and yourself, in danger.”

     “No, I am certain. And if I am truly incorrect, then I promise you that I will not let anyone be harmed, old friend. I must visit the Statue of Valier. It is the place where I did the ritual all these years ago. It is there I will do it again.”

     “What is the meaning of this?! It seems that you two know something the rest of us do not. Tell us! What are these cryptic words?”�" Saphiron shouted out and the members of the village council agreed loudly.

     “I will not answer that question now. It will answer itself, in due time. Now, I believe that all of you have some preparations to make.”

     With these words, Fergus walked out of the door with Seldar, who had a dead-struck face. All this time he had not said a word, as none could come out. The reality of the situation was too… drastic. By the time the boy realized that he and his father were walking outside the village, but not towards their farm, they were already on the west bank of the river, across the stone bridge. The houses they passed by looked similar in construction, although each had it’s slight differences.

     “Father, where are we going?”- the young man said this with a confused expression.

     “You were there in the hall when I explained. You know very well where we are going.”

     Seldar realized that Fergus really meant what he said. Atop the tall Light’s Edge peak towered an enormous monument to the god of Light - Valier. Suddenly, he became aware that he had lived here all his life, but had never actually visited the statue, or the temple. Some time must have passed in muddling these things. The boy looked around and saw the mountain side and the narrow pass which led higher up. As they drew closer and closer to the peak, the sight became more and more stunning. The road cut through the forest and after they got to a clearing the two men reached a crossroad. A signpost pointed to two opposite directions - one, for the temple of Valier, and the second one, to Light’s Edge Peak. Fergus took the one to his right and began climbing up the path. The way was long. No one was in sight. It was quiet save for the whisper of the chilling wind. Fergus turned around and said:

     “Listen to the wind, Seldar. It can tell you a lot more things than you expect.”

Seldar was a little confused about his father’s words, but he also had the feeling that he knew what the old man was talking about. There was always that feeling, as if some far away presence was talking to him. Yet he never really understood it. Regardless, he never did pay much attention to it.

    

     The road started to get steeper along the side of the mountain. A chilling wave bashed against their shoulders. The capes they wore waved behind them. It soon became hard to move as the wind seemed to fight their very presence.

     “Seldar! Hold onto me!” �" Fergus shouted. It had become necessary for communication as the wind got stronger and stronger, to the point of a blizzard. It toppled the masses of Light’s Edge upon them.

     Snow and rocks rained from above, putting the two men in mortal danger. Both of them clung to each other and they traversed closely near mountain side. It was hard not to slip on the icy snow-covered ground and the young boy was thrust towards the gaping precipice.

     “SELDAR!!!”- screamed his father who instinctively jumped to his son’s aid. In the blink of an eye he pulled him back and they found themselves sitting and panting nervously.-“Be careful, son. I do not know where this blizzard came from, but it certainly is not natural. Keep close to me. Don’t look down.”

     “I’ll try…”- barely said Seldar who was fighting for breath after an encounter with death itself.

     With these words they slowly got up, supporting each other. They didn’t talk for the rest of the way. Step by step, the path became wider, allowing them to roam more freely. Soon, the turns and curves stopped, revealing a rather flat area. The wind suddenly ceased to rage and a peaceful breeze brushed their hair. Seldar did not understand what happened at first, but his father said:

     “We are here.”

By looking around the young man saw a swirling mass of storm clouds surrounding the whole peak, blocking any view beyond the immediate vicinity. Flashes of lightning passed through it, yet no sound was heard. It was as if this whole place was a safe haven, protected from anything that may harm it. It was magical… it was Heaven itself.

 

*    *    *

 

The council members were still in shock after Fergus’s sudden reaction. Even more so, the fact that the wise old man turned out to be a wizard was incredible, and it left the speechless. They did not know how this slipped their views, but the connection between the Elder and him had something to do with it. For once in many years there was no arguing and the Council hall was left in a state of stillness. In that moment a loud bang on the wooden doors broke the nervous calm. Everyone was startled. A continuous series of slams was heard and one of the members stood up and opened the doors. A young man, no more than 25, came rushing into the hall. His red cap was tilted funnily. The scared look of his eyes spoke of danger.

     “Elder Conabar! Elder Conabar!!!”- he stopped in front of the throne and bent down panting-“C-come outside… you… you have to see this!” �" The man’s face was distorted in terror.

     “What is it, poor man?!” �" stood up the Elder, his long hair and beard waving.

     “It’s Light’s Edge Peak, sir. The mountain is exploding! There is lightning and thunder everywhere! The statue is hidden in big grey clouds! By the Light… It’s like Valier’s wrath is coming down upon us!”- by that time a whole crowd if villagers had entered the hall, all shouting things concerning the disaster.

     “Everybody out!”�" Elder Conabar’s voice thundered and brought all the others to a halt. The people began leaving slowly, one by one. The old man turned to the Council members-“Everyone, come with me to the terrace. We’ll have a better view from there.”- he began taking great hurried strides, leading everybody to two winding staircases on each side of the hall. They led upstairs where they crossed a small corridor, turned left and opened two wooden doors. They revealed the stone terrace where they all crowded, with the Elder looking at the view. A worried expression came across his old aged face. To the west they saw a terrible storm raging atop mount Light’s Edge. A pillar of clouds blocked any view of the ancient monument. Terrified by the monstrous sight, Conabar murmured to himself:

     “Fergus, watch yourself.”

     “Conabar, do you think they are safe?”- said the lady in the red dress.

     “In the eye of the storm he weather is normal. I hope that they reached this point, before the blizzard arose… by Valier… Light help us all.”

     “Elder Conabar! Look!” �" Sephiron pointed to the west side of the village, across the stone bridge. There, a person clothed in white robes tumbled and tripped as he was trying to run. His black hair and forked beard were a complete mess. He seemed in a hurry, as well as a bad state. Blood and mud stained his covering. Even though his looks were appalling it could be recognized that it was Azar Cameron �" the wizard from the temple. He was raving something and only one thing could be made out:

     “Monsters! Monsters in the temple! Monsters!!!”- this continued until he finally collapsed on his knees. In a final surge of strength he stretched out a hand and said in a hoarse voice -“They… are… coming.”- after that he lost consciousness. A moment of silence ensured as everyone struggled to assimilate what had just happened. Then a surge of screaming and shouting enveloped the crowd.

     “Call for help! Get him in the infirmary! And prepare for battle!” �" the Elder’s orders ran from mouth to mouth as chaos took hold of the innocent village.

 

*    *    *

 

     Seldar watched as Fergus slowly approached the shining crystallite statue of Valier. The titanic structure rose above them, making everything feel… insignificant. A feeling of true weakness came upon him. The monument represented a man with a muscular body, standing proud and tall. His long hair seemed to wave in the wind, even though it was carved from solid crystal. The face had delicate, yet sharp features. Its eyes were serious and wise. They seemed to look into eternity itself. A tall staff, with what seemed to be jewels, stood in the statue’s right hand. A white crystal at the top beamed with uncanny light. In the left hand, Valier held a scroll with something written on it. What it was, was not visible. Step by step, Fergus stopped before the grand statue. He fell on his knees and went silent, leaving only the wind to whisper in its undistinguishable language. Then, a stream of light poured through the clouds and thunder tore the peace and quiet. It flowed and enveloped the kneeling man. Fergus began to talk in a strong voice, while Seldar simply watched speechless.

     “Valier, oh great god of Light and Valor! I once begged you to remove an ancient and dangerous power from me, so I could protect what is most dear to me! I also promised I would give that boon back when the time is right. Now we are at the brink of war and I believe my powers are needed by the world once again. It is time I return this gift to you.”- The clouds above broke. Fergus was illuminated and his body was picked up in the air. Fire, thunder and light rained down from the skies into him.-“AARGHH!”�" he was in agony. The pain was limitless. All the forces in the world were gathering inside him. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the ceremony ended. It was over. Fergus’s body lowered down and was left on the ground gently. He breathed heavily, and with a little help from Seldar, stood up.

     “It is done. Hurry boy, a disaster is taking place while we tarry here. We must get to the village before they attack. I will shield us from the storm.”

     “Who will father?”

     That question remained unanswered. However, something was indeed answered. The question of his father’s recent actions. He was a wizard. A mighty one by that. A wizard who had influenced the powers of the whole world. With Fergus’s arm stretched out there seemed to be an invisible barrier around them, from which the snowflakes and pieces of ice bounced off. The old man took Seldar by the hand:

     “Now, this may feel a bit… uncomfortable. Just remember �" keep running. Even if it seems you’ll fall, keep running. Also, don’t let go of my hand. Do you understand?”- the boy nodded.

     Fergus started running and pulled his son with him. As they ran towards the path something strange happened �" the air and wind slowed down. Everything around them blurred and bent. The clouds and snowflakes came to a halt. Instead of falling they began distorting into unnatural shapes. The ground underneath Seldar’s feet felt as if it was melting. Soon, his mind was telling him that if he made one more step he would fall into an abyss. But he listened to his father’s instructions and kept running, against every urge in his body. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything returned to normal. When he looked around, they were more than 100 yards farther than they were before. They had flashed forward into space in the blink of an eye. Bewildered, Seldar continued to run while holding the old man’s hand, as another flash ensured. And thus the two men made their way down the snowy path and into the raging storm.

Author's Note

The book is not finished and in the process of editing. There may be some strange errors, please point them out. All reviews on any aspect are welcome.