The cold breeze gently brushed against Queen Dallaam's face. She stood in a relaxed manner on top of a cliff far north in the North Daiko Hills, her gaze admiring the sea that extended westward of Ylbunish. On her right, the imposing chains of the Yayema mountains traveled all the way north of the continent, sending in the fresh air from its icy peaks towards the dark green fields. Dallaam wore a calm but grave expression, mystified by the calm this place provided.
She took it all in, the chill that the air caressing her clashing with the warmth of the morning sun, the murmurs of the wave that hugged the giant cliff before dying in stillness, and letting the grass dance beneath her feet to the rhythm of the wind's music. The Queen of The Darkness's breath was controlled, full of purpose. She measured every slow breath that she took, drafting them in and out in a cadence that brought her solemnness. She simply was, and that brought her a peace so simple, yet so foreign she failed to understand it.
An echoing rasping noise suddenly erupted behind her. The Queen didn't flinch, she was all too familiar with that sound. The sound of a Rift opening. The portal widened to life and she felt Slein, her most trusted messenger, step out of it. As the noise died, her subordinate greeted her:
"Your Majesty."
"Hello, Slein." She said, still facing the horizon with a firm stillness. "I hope you did not mind the excursion here."
"Quite well your majesty." The sentry replied. "My deepest apologies for being late. Finding you has been slightly tricky. What brought you to this place, if I may ask?"
Dallaam did not reply right away. She let the question settle quietly in her mind. Why indeed has she come to a forsaken field that brought no means to help her win the war nor that brought her any sort of personal leisure?
"Tell me, Slein." She finally said. "What do you feel?"
"Meaning no offense, I'm not sure I understand the question your majesty."
"There's no deep meaning to it." Dallaam told him. "What do you feel right now?"
"Hmm... I wouldn't say I feel anything particular right now." The messenger answered. "I have always been bound to my duty, and it's always been like that. I only feel the satisfaction of helping you achieve your long overdue glory."
"And apart from that?" His queen asked.
"Nothing."
Dallaam nodded, the shadow of a smile drew on her thin lips. She then heard herself ask:
"When was the last time you've felt nothing, Slein?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"It feels nice. To have a vacant peace in your heart. It changes from the corruption of The Darkness. Don't you agree?"
Slein remained silent, uncertain on how to reply to his queen's words. Dallaam went on:
"Every day we wake up on our continent, we are subjugated to the torment that courses through its veins, basting anguish in our hearts, driving our anguish and suffering forward, twisting blades in wounds we didn't even realize exist. Don't you get tired of that?"
"We are creatures of The Darkness." Replied Slein. "Whereas the people of this continent perceive pain and torment as pests to cast away, for us it has always been part of ourselves and a source of our strength. We are one with it, and it is a natural part of us."
Dallaam hid her sigh from Slein. She didn't expect him to understand. He hadn't seen what she had seen, during the end of The Collapse. She scoffed a dry laugh before saying:
"Forgive me. I'm sure I'm but a child in her own blabbering your majesty. To answer your question, I am waiting for someone. So tell me, what news brings you from the archipelago?" She added to change the subject.
"The queen has heeded to your letter." Slein replied. "She understood the gravity behind your threats and immediately opened the search for Talj Horsh. With Enyo now under your palm, all The Five Lands are declaring an open hunt for the boy. And, considering a good load of their forces are infested with our own men, you can be assured that you have full control of all kingdoms of this continent. Their sovereigns know that, should they disobey, they will have to deal with threats from both within and without."
"I take it we'll move on to phase three soon then?" The queen inquired.
"Aye. The Dali has grown weaker in the past decades thanks to your efforts. And we outnumber them by far. I believe initiating the next step of your plan will be easy."
"That is, if we manage to anchor our teeth into The Roots. How long do you think it is before we can control them?" Dallaam asked.
"It's hard to tell. I haven't heard from my scouts in Ramol, and Enyo's geography will be an obstacle considering our methods." Slein answered.
"So, Kroll's plan remains our greatest asset. If all he intended came to pass, we wouldn't even need to bother decaying Enyo's Roots. It makes me wonder why I bother weaving this whole operation in a way." She added in another scoff.
"Not at all!" Slein immediately said. "Even if Kroll's idea came to be, the efforts we've put into controlling The Roots will make its results even more fruitful! We'll require less strength to install our dominion! While it remains true that some aspects of his plans would have saved us time, it still doesn't dispense the energy you poured in your own schemes, Your Majesty."
Dallaam chuckled lightly before turning to finally meet Slein's eyes. The old messenger wore his usual stern face under his short dark hair.
"Slein, you really must learn how to take a jest." The queen said. "Besides, Kroll's plan is not flawless. He says all risks are calculated but should he fail..."
The Darkness's queen entered a deep trance, suddenly pulling herself away from the conversation. A subtle hint of distress mixed with disgust filled her eyes. She was the only one who knew the true meaning of failure. If The Darkness doesn't prevail, the consequences would be far from light.
"Your Majesty?" Slein's call brought her back to reality.
"Sorry again." Dallaam said. "I'm merely projecting."
On her right, a dark red light flashed. The sound of another Rift opening awakened on the cliff. From it, a young looking woman stepped out. She wore a mask and a cloak around her, but they both instantly recognized her. The newcomer bowed her head low and said:
"Your Majesty. Lord Slein."
"You may rise, Lady Aarya." Dallaam commanded.
As her back straightened again, Aarya gave the queen her news:
"You Majesty, I am happy to inform you that Kroll's maneuver was a success. It was not easy, but he managed to make use of the catalyst efficiently without breaking him... Or at least not before we were done with him." She added with a mischievous giggle.
"Most excellent!" Dallaam rejoiced. "And what of our facilitator?"
"He's ready to serve us, Your Majesty." Aarya replied.
"That's perfect."
"Your Majesty." Slein interjected. "Far be it for me to question your decisions, but are you sure you want to endanger the boy that much? If he proves too difficult we may end up killing him."
"It's a risk I'm willing to take." Dallaam said with a tone that left no room for argument. "My priority is to emotionally wound the boy and control him, not to ensure he lives."
"With all due respect." Aarya said. "But the risk is way too grand to take. If the boy dies, then all my husband and I's efforts would be in vain."
"Then we'll simply stick to the original plan." Dallaam's stare was cold. "Remember, I approved of Kroll's idea under the sole condition that the boy can be subdued and controlled. If this proves to be impossible, then I want him dead."
"But-"
"Lady Aarya." Dallaam's voice matched her expression. "Do I take it that your convenience is more important to you than my orders?"
Aarya didn't hide the venom in her expression before she answered:
"No, of course not." But as soon as the queen looked away she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Then go. Make the necessary preparations."
Aarya bowed her head and stepped through The Rift that was still open behind her. The air regrouped around the portal and closed it around the portal. The silence that followed was brief, broken by Dallaam's words:
"Do you believe my caution to be too excessive?"
"I do not question your wisdom, Your Majesty." Slein replied.
"Oh please." The queen replied. "You were at my father's side when I was born. Besides, it's because you don't question orders that I trust you with the answer. So tell me, does my caution seem unnecessary to you?"
Slein took some time before slowly saying:
"I believe you have a good reason to be wary of that boy -or at least you believe you do. And that reason is enough to make you believe it's enough of a threat that you must either eliminate him, or control him. However, whatever you fear within Talj Horsh, it seems to run deeper than just the wariness of him being a threat. Your idea's goal, nevertheless, is still unclear to me."
Dallaam smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She didn't state her answer out loud:
The Spear may become the trigger that will lay destruction to more than just The Darkness. Kroll's plans regarding it have been impeccable thus far, so I let him have it his way for a moment. But after that, all its members must perish without a single exception. So, should things go astray, I'd rather have a trump card that will ensure our safety.
A buzzing sound made her head twirl towards Slein again. The messenger pulled a small object from his back pocket and looked at it deeply. Dallaam eyed the small relic. It looked like a small oval mirror in an obsidian frame. A Scrying Communication Mirror. Not a classical one however. The one on Slein's hand was a variation that Kroll came up with. Instead of directly talking to a person using it, this one could store messages and allowed them to be transmitted from the mirror into the consciousness.
"Oh." Slein simply said.
"Something amiss?" Dallaam asked.
"It's the Enyo Kingdom. One of our most important spies there died during an important mission." Slein answered. "And, strangely enough, the queen has also declared General Kinfol as a traitor to be hunted and brought to justice, dead or alive."
"The General killed our troop?" The queen inquired.
"The message said there's no clear idea if she was involved." Slein said. "Nonetheless, the primary suspect is a woman called Xara Higgar, as the body was found near her house. According to our spies, she shares a close bond with Talj Horsh."
"Was she part of The Spear?"
"No." The spy replied. "But, coincidentally, both her and the General have disappeared the night our mole died. Furthermore, the mole's primary target was General Kinfol."
"I see." Dallaam answered.
"I will go at once go for the Kingdom of Elements-"
"No need." Dallaam said. "Focus your efforts on Ramol."
"Your Highness, the plan relied on the abduction of Talj's kin." Sentri reminded her before she interrupted him:
"The death of your sentry, however unfortunate, still suits our purpose. If indeed this Xara Higgar is close to Horsh, then her criminal act will enforce the hatred of the population towards him and anyone associated with him."
Sentri nodded. The idea was simple but highly effective. By killing a Dali member, Xara had also become a target of public authority, which will make Talj more prone to make mistakes should he find out his loved ones are in danger.
Divide and conquer. The queen thought. They're all isolated targets now, and to the eyes of the entire world, they're nothing but filthy criminals that must be brought to justice.
"Tell your spies to keep a good eye on Enyo's deck but do not send more of our forces there yet." Dallaam ordered. "I'm sure this is a ploy of Queen Lin to counter my control over her islands. But it matters not. Whatever General Kinfol has planned, she and Xara are isolated inside the smallest and furthest nation of Ylbunish. And, when Ramol falls, no place in The Five Lands will be safe for them. Nor will it be for Talj Horsh and his newfound friend."
𖤓─────✧✦✧─────𖤓
The river's water was cold. Its freshness washed away on Talj's face, numbing for a mere second the worry and unease that stung him. He kept his eyes closed for a moment before rising from his squat and sighing heavily. Three days have passed since the encounter with the bandits, and three days the conversation he had with them lingered in his mind.
As he turned around to part from the water's course, a slight tap on the shoulder made him flinch. Aklas's eyes, filled a quiet concern, met his. The hunter had his hood off his face and let the sun reflect his brown hair and tired eyes. As he handed his brother the water supplies he had just filled, he asked inquisitively:
"Is something the matter, Talj?"
"Oh, don't worry about it." Talj replied with a dismissive wave of his hand before taking the pouch. "I just have a lot on my mind that I am sorting out."
"Is it about the prisoners we freed?" Aklas queried.
"No... And yes." Talj sighed and straightened back up. He shook off the weariness from his limbs in a stretch before expanding his answer. "Their tales reminded me of how lost we are."
"What do you mean?" The brown-haired man asked.
Talj didn't answer straight away. He gazed at the horizon, the outskirts of the city of Kaelnah drawing themselves in the horizon.
The last stop of our journey before we head for the big mountain.
Joining actions to his thoughts, Talj shifted his sight on the right. Beyond the slight mist that gathered a few kilometers ahead of them, a timid peak rose from the ground. It appeared very small and unclear to the eyes due to the striking distance that separated them. And yet, just this tiny apparition was enough to squeeze his heart, for it was the first time he had set his sight on The Crying Mountain in almost half a decade.
When the silence dragged on for too long, Talj gave his brother a reply:
"I mean that my mind is starting to send me serious questions. Questions that, while completely normal to ask, have been a bit of a plague to me."
Aklas gave the blacksmith an understanding nod and, adopting a serious expression, gestured for Talj to sit down.
"Then, shall we seek an answer to them together?" The young hunter suggested. "It's not like we can go any further without Nyr joining us."
Talj hesitated briefly before bobbing his head. After dealing with the bandits, the small group had agreed to keep the hooligans tied in their own camp and send the prisoners to the nearest Dali outpost. However, to ensure no harm would be met in their ways as the Daiko Hills would sometimes be the terrain of monster activities, Nyr had gone to keep his eyes on the small group, and had asked Talj and Aklas to wait for him after two days of travels.
The white haired blacksmith lowered to the ground and crossed his legs in front of his companion, letting the tranquil breeze and the Magnum River's whispers carry on their conversations.
"Well then, where do I even begin?" Talj chuckled. "You know me, I don't wish to be the pessimistic one in the room, and I always try to hope for the best. And yet... What if we're making a mistake and our mission is sentenced to failure from the beginning? And I don't just mean that we'd have to face The Darkness and The Dali quite possibly on our own. As Nyr said, the prophecy's origins are unclear. What if we're missing a key element and unleash cataclysms that may doom Ylbunish? We may have been members of The Spear, but we were still trainees. We didn't complete our tutelage and are still too inexperienced for situations like these."
"So you're starting to doubt whether we are qualified for our endeavor?" Aklas asked, his tone and face indicating no specific emotion.
"Oh no, I do not doubt that." Talj answered swiftly. "We are definitely not qualified for our endeavor. Look at us, two refugees who could barely keep their lives together trying to face forces that bring about the motion of an entire continent, all while trying to save that continent from its own inhalation as we shield ourselves from blows that the lands we're trying to protect deliver to us! This, all of this, is beyond us! The actual problem that we should address would be: How bad are we about to screw up? And will the consequences of our ignorance take a toll on innocent lives?"
"I understand your concerns." Aklas said solemnly. "But, as much as they're completely natural doubts to have, especially given how inequitable our situation is, it is better not to burden yourself with such thoughts. They will only impede your thinking, making you more prone to committing mistakes."
"I know, but..." Talj hesitated to finish his sentence, not wishing to disclose a vulnerable aspect of his life out loud. But seeing the encouraging smile on his older brother's face, his resolve mustered some might and allowed him to go on:
"Every time I tried to pick my life together, it all just fell apart. From belonging with The Spear, to living in Kaelnah, to meeting Xara... Every time I would finally rise from the flood, a wave would push me down to sink again." Talj looked at his brother, an honest and raw pain in his eyes. "A part of me is tired, Aklas. It's a small part maybe, but I can feel it. How long will it be before this new life -or whatever our current adventure is- crumbles? I know it's foolish to simply assume that we will fail even if the odds are not in our favor but... In total honesty, a part of me just wants to go back and live whatever life I'll have left with my close ones. If the end has to come, at least I would wish to enjoy the company of my friends and kin before it kicks our arses."
Aklas paused before answering. He gave Talj a knowing nod, indicating that he understands his brother's emotions. The young blacksmith had seen his world collapse into dust more than once, and yet, he was still marching on to wherever the road took him. And now, Talj Horsh was starting to get tired from his march. A fear had nested deeply into his soul and quietly poisoned him with whispers of failures and promises of loss. Talj could shrug off those pestering thoughts, but the truth remained impartially cruel to his eyes: He was fighting a losing battle, and it was merely a matter of time before death found him -or worse, found the people around him.
"Then maybe it's time I was also completely honest with you." Aklas finally said. "There has been something I have been hiding from both you and Nyr."
"Hiding..? Why?" Talj arched an eyebrow.
"For the same reasons as you: I was scared. But seeing how you've been honest with me right now, it would be a crime against my own morals if I didn't reciprocate." Aklas took a deep breath, readying himself for his next words before continuing:
"When Shaja found me on the battlefield, he understood something. Something that horrified him, but that he acknowledged with dignity: He, along many others of The Spear, would die. However, to ensure that all its efforts against The Darkness wouldn't be in vain, Shaja made a decision that seemed like utter madness to me."
"What did he do..?"
"Take a look." Aklas stretched his arm and, in a flash, summoned an item from his inner realm. An item Talj saw only once in his life, but that he instantly recognized: The Chisel. At first glance, it deceitfully appeared to be nothing but an ore. A long piece of shining light blue stone that was the length of a forearm and just large enough for Aklas's hand to grip it fully. One of its ends was flat, whereas the other was barely pointy, not enough to pierce through flesh. Its edges were rough, as if it was directly ripped off a vein from a mine. However, Talj knew that it wasn't the case. Every edge and surface on that acute object was carefully crafted and shaped, all honed to adapt and contain an immense power.
The Chisel was made of an alloy of two ores: Fortium and Black Diamonds, a combination Talj found fascinating. As a blacksmith, he always loved new challenges in his craft, and mixing fortium and black diamonds was a challenge of gigantic proportions, for both ores had magical properties that repulsed each other and made them highly unstable when melted together. And yet, should one manage to merge them safely and balance them out to the point of near perfection at least, it gives way for a steel so rare and potent that many would pay most of their fortunes just to seize a handful of it.
One of its properties was the uncanny ability to absorb magic and store spells within it. And, should a wide range of conditions be met, that magic could be harnessed out of the object and used as a spell. This property partly explained the tremendous price of the alloy, for it could allow even non mages to perform sorcery and mages to access some spells without exhausting their powers.
This particular stone however was well known amongst The Spear. As Talj eyed the small object, he remembered when Shaja had first shown it to him. The Chisel, the most important artefact of The Spear, and to be used only in eras great crisis, for it could simply close the gate of The Crying Mountain that lead to The Sheath, sealing the entire mountain and its secrets in a barrier so powerful that none can breach the stone walls of The Rise.
Intriguingly, one of its properties is that it only obeyed the leader of The Spear, and only they can pass on The Chisel to another member, making them the new chieftain of the order. The object could neither be stolen and used by force nor used if not given the authority by The Spear's leader.
So if it's Aklas's possession, it means that Shaja passed down his title as our warlord to... Aklas? Talj's mind slowly picked up the pieces of the implications behind what he was seeing. Does that mean that Shaja sealed The Sheath as a way to protect all our secrets from the enemy, and hid the only way to access those secrets with Aklas!? Why? Did he seriously believe that The Spear may have a chance to rise again, despite the stinging defeat it suffered from?
"So, you're now our leader..." Talj whistled. "I should behave then, lest my lord fires me. Although, personal opinion, I don't think firing your only subordinate is going to help business."
Aklas chuckled dryly at the joke and regained his serious demeanor:
"It's been in my possession for years, giving me many sleepless nights where I wondered what to do with it. A part of me found comfort in knowing I shielded the key to our home. The Sheath, even if empty, still houses many records and weapons that the enemy may benefit from. Protecting it was both a reminder of what we've lost and an honor to preserve the legacy of what will be."
Talj sighed before slowly saying:
"You having The Chisel is good news in a way, yes. But how is that relevant to what I said earlier? We're still two vigilantes on the loose-"
"Shaja was well aware of the prophecy, and he was well aware of the dangers that would ensue The Spear's fall." Aklas interrupted his brother. "And yet, in his final battle, he decided to carry on hope. He decided to seal The Spear's heart and hand me the key to opening it, hoping that in the future, even if we'd be reduced to one single living breath, we'd find a way to prevail. I'm sure Shaja had his doubts, and maybe he didn't even think thoroughly before handing me The Chisel. But if the leader of The Spear entrusted me with the legacy of seven millennia of battles, then whether the outcome is decided or not, I would still honor our trust."
The hunter smiled lightly at his brother, a warm and sincere compassion reaching the young blacksmith.
"You know me well, Talj." Aklas went on. "I listen to my thoughts more than my heart, and I always try to stay pragmatic rather than hopeful. And yet... Our oath does not tell us to fight because we'll win, it tells us to fight because this continent needs and deserves a champion that would fight for it. Think of Xara, think of Kinfol... Wouldn't you pour every single drop of your energy into keeping their lives safe, even if it meant defying the current that pushes you downward and force your own victory no matter how unfair the struggle may seem?"
Talj widened his eyes. The words pierced through his heart and sobered him up with a new perspective. He remembered an old story that Nyr had told him, about how a man had survived two nights at sea hanging on a wooden plank, borrowing strength from the hope of seeing his daughter again. Aklas
"I would like to trust in Shaja's decision, even if it seems to be a desperate one. I wish to fight for a better future and do everything to bring it about. I don't know if we can make it to the end, Talj, but I know that if I'm alone, I will definitely get myself killed without bringing any results. So please, will you join me?"
A simple question that carried an immense weight. And yet, Talj knew the answer as soon as he heard it:
"Yes."
This path may be their doom, but he realized Aklas was right. Everyone he loved was behind him, believing that in the shadows he was fighting for them. At the very least, he should prove to them -and himself- how much they were worth for him and honored their trust.
"Good." Aklas said, getting up. "Because it's time to go."
Indeed it was. The dark blue wings of Nyr darted down on them rapidly, a great urgency in his speed.
"Hey birdie!" Talj greeted him. "Did you enjoy your trip-"
"Younglings, we need to move." He said as he got on the ground. "A Dali patrol picked up your trail and is less than half a day's journey away from here."
The words had a magical effect on everyone's minds. Aklas and Talj eyed each other at a glance, worry visible on their faces -mainly on Talj's. They readied themselves to depart as fast as they could.
"Have they seen you?" Aklas asked.
"I believe not, but it doesn't matter. They're hot on your trail! We need to go, now!"
Without further ado, Talj summoned his wolves and the two companions mounted, following the Night Eagle that guided them towards the city of Kalneah.