The Merchant and the Menace Page 7

  “Kael, never embarrass an Elf,” frowned Ader.

  “I wasn’t trying to embarrass anyone,” replied Kael returning the frown. “ I wanted Diom to know I hold no ill will from our encounter.”

  “The Elves take pride in their stealth,” returned Ader with a slight scowl. “By pointing out Diom, you shame him before his men.”

  Kael furrowed his brow.

  “That is ridiculous. They were all clearly visible.”

  “How many did you see?” asked Ader arching a brow.

  “All of them, I assume,” returned Kael. “About two dozen.”

  “I counted fifty Elves at the crossing,” replied Ader with a grin. “They doubled the garrison after Eidyn’s report to the council.

  The old man turned from the boy and let his mount canter ahead. Manfir pulled up alongside Kael.

  “Ader tries to teach you respect,” said Manfir in his deep, stolid voice. “The world is a dangerous place. Confidence is an ally, but it can also become an enemy. What you know is important and certainly assists you in times of trouble. However, it is what you do not know that will get you killed. That and pride. Pride is the foolish man’s executioner.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to be disrespectful to Diom,” said Kael drooping his head. “It’s just that the last day has been so ... serious. I’m happy to be going home.”

  The boy flushed as he considered the Elven soldier.

  “I’m the one who should be embarrassed, thinking myself as capable as experienced men. I must sound like a fool trying to prove how many of the Elves I spotted while men like yourself find such tasks commonplace.”

  The big man’s face remained placid as he glanced at Kael then spurred his giant black stallion forward to keep pace with Ader. He turned over his shoulder and called back.

  “Me? I saw no Elves, Kael. That is why I am ever vigilant.”

  The trio trotted on in silence. After some time, Kael pulled the chestnut alongside Ader. He was curious about many things and was put off for too long. He needed answers. Kael started out cautiously.

  ”Ader, where did you come upon such a beautiful horse?”

  “He was a gift to a friend,” answered Ader. “I am sometimes allowed the use of his strong back.”

  Kael assumed the queen of the Elves gave the old trader the mighty stallion.

  “Where did he get such a curious name?” asked Kael.

  “Kael, do you know the old tongue?” Ader inquired.

  “Some,” said Kael.

  “‘Tar’ means?” questioned Ader.

  “‘Tar‘ is the word for ‘mountain’,” answered Kael brightly. The boy took a moment then grinned. “Ah, I see. He is ‘Mountain of Ader’. That is clever.”

  “I never approved of it,” said Ader frowning. “He isn’t mine anymore than he wants to be. We are friends. When I need him, he helps me. When he needs me, I help him. Others contrived that name a long time ago, but I don’t use it.”

  “Why do you call yourself ‘Ader’ among these people?” prodded Kael abruptly.

  “It’s my name here,” replied Ader.

  “What do you mean ‘here’?” countered Kael.

  “Just what I say. I’m known in different lands by different names. People sometimes speak a different tongue in faraway lands. They change your name to suit their taste. I’m a traveler and a tradesman. I must change my name to fit in comfortably with those I transact business.”

  “But you don’t simply ‘fit in’ at Luxlor. You’re a guest of the king and queen,” exclaimed Kael.

  “So were you,” returned Ader. “The Elves are a hospitable people.”

  “That’s true,” frowned Kael, “but I didn’t burst into the royal court and begin to order princes and kings to do my bidding.”

  “The Elves are an isolated people, Kael,” replied Ader. “Their news of the world is limited. They treat me well because they seek to learn about the world outside their forest. They seek my counsel because I’m old and world wise. They pay me with their hospitality and a certain tolerance of my rough behavior.”

  “I’ll accept that, but you must admit that you’re not the poor trader you portray in Kelky. This horse alone must be worth hundreds of gold coins,” stated Kael.

  “I said, he isn’t mine to trade or barter. Besides, if I arrived in Kelky as a wealthy man, the people would buy none of my goods for fear they were overpriced by a money gouger. Then they would try to sell me theirs at an inflated price, surmising that I held enough coin to be gouged. If I look poor, the locals, including your kindly father, keep their prices fair. That is how the world works, Kael.” said Ader.

  CHAPTER 6: FLAME OF THE MALVEEL

  Again they rode on not speaking, but the forest was alive with sound. They traveled some time and Kael felt an uneasiness creep over him. A chill shot through his body and his heart raced. Ader abruptly stopped. The old man raised a hand as a signal for the others to follow suit. There was an ominous silence.

  “What is it?” whispered Kael.

  “We are close to where you parted with your brother,” said Ader without turning.

  The old man’s eyes scanned his surroundings

  “I see nothing,” stated Manfir flatly.

  “You need not see something to be alerted to its presence,” said Ader. “Proceed cautiously.”

  They trotted forward, cresting a small hill in the path. Kael noted a thinning of the trees ahead. He knew they were close to the northern end of the Nagur. Ader cautiously led them forward.

  “Ader, what is it you fear?” asked Manfir.

  “A great evil is present here.”

  Manfir drew his broadsword from the scabbard strapped to his back. He clutched his horse’s reins with one hand and held the blade out with the other. As the group moved along the path, all the horses grew skittish. Kael leaned forward and spoke soothingly to the chestnut and the little horse calmed.

  A breeze rustled through the trees from the path ahead and the smell of death filled Kael’s nostrils. The boy’s breath quickened and his cheeks flushed. They rounded a bend in the path and were able to see the opening of the forest to the fields beyond. The light from the opening illuminated the path ahead and Kael saw lumps strewn about the road. Immediately he knew they were the bodies of the Elven squad sent by General Chani. His stomach twisted into knots and he covered his mouth and nose to prevent from getting sick.

  The trio reached the battle scene and Ader motioned them to halt and dismount. Manfir dropped from his horse and removed a long shield strapped to the side of the stallion. His eyes never stopped scanning the forest around them. Kael slowly slid from his horse and staggered toward Manfir.

  The ground was covered in Elven blood and bodies. Many were so savagely mutilated that they were unrecognizable. The bodies were scattered across the road and into the woods on both sides of the path. Ader bent close and examined the remains of one of the Elves propped against a tree. The body was burnt beyond recognition and the tree trunk was charred black. Manfir approached.

  “A surprise attack,” stated Manfir. “It’s evident by the way the bodies are spread throughout the area, defending no single position.”

  “What are you talking about?” asked Kael fighting nausea and panic. He averted his eyes from the horrifying corpse.

  “When you are aware an attack is imminent, you choose a location and defend it,” replied Manfir. “These men are strewn about the locale haphazardly. Some men are on the north side of trees, some on the south. Some are on the east of the road, some on the west. These men were surprised and forced to defend themselves with the enemy in their midst.”

  “I don’t care how this happened!” exclaimed Kael, squeezing his eyes shut. “What of Aemmon?”

  “I don’t see your brother among the bodies,” replied Ader solemnly. “A closer inspection is in order.”

  Kael’s chestnut reared on its hind legs, tearing its reins from the boy’s hands. Its hooves flailed the air. Kael
’s eyes snapped open and he struggled to retrieve the reins. The horse spun and bolted out of the woods into the fields beyond. Tarader and the black stallion whinnied and backed toward the forest opening. The trio of men followed the animals’ gaze back down the path into the forest’s interior. Thirty yards away, a large creature emerged from the woods on the east side of the path.

  It was huge. Kael guessed the beast was at least fifteen feet long. Although it stalked forward head held low, its shoulders were almost as high as the head of Manfir’s stallion. Patches of scraggly hair covered its scaly black body. Its head was like that of some giant hound, a short, wide muzzle and a large, black maw. Its dark coloring made it nearly invisible as it emerged from the dark wood. Deep, blood red eyes bore down on the men.

  Those eyes approached slowly and confidently. Manfir readied his broadsword and held his shield up.

  The boy noted something hanging from the great jaws of the beast. The monster dragged it along the ground, a scaly bell partially obscuring its burden. When the beast crept to within fifteen yards of the men it dropped its load and rose to its full height. Aemmon’s body lay on the forest floor.

  Kael froze in fear and shock, unable to scream. The creature crouched and licked the blood seeping from puncture wounds on Aemmon’s broken neck. Its malevolent eyes drifted to the travelers and the right side of its mouth curled into a snarl. A harsh guttural voice called out.

  “This is not the one we seek. I judged it might be, for it possessed power,” the beast nodded into the woods where Kael’s keen eyes saw the lifeless body of another of the creatures with its head neatly severed. “My brother Quirg fell, but its power was no match for Methra.”

  The creature’s chest puffed outward.

  “What is it you seek?” asked Ader calmly.

  “I seek the new Seraph. Perhaps he is here among you?” hissed the beast. “We feel his presence. He creates a heavy pulse in the spirit pool. I must seize him for my master.”

  The creature stepped over Aemmon’s body and moved toward the group. A forked, black tongue tested the air.

  “Hold your ground, Malveel!” commanded Ader as he held up his hands.

  “Your spirit is strong old one. Its pattern is familiar,” pondered the creature as it slowed.

  “Perhaps you remember our encounter on the peaks of the Great Mountain, Methra.”

  The red eyes of the beast went wide. A low rumbling formed in the depth of its belly and seeped out as a hiss.

  “Ader....”, came the voice of recognition.

  “I’m not as young as I was then, but a man changes after a thousand years,” growled Ader. “ Amird the Deceiver saved you from me then. He can’t save you now!”

  “SAVED! I was not saved.” snapped Methra. His eyes narrowed and sparked with crimson fire. “You disappeared from me. Else your bones would be bleaching as we speak!”

  A bright green glow formed around the outstretched hands of Ader. The glow came alive and leapt about on his hands like a flame.

  “Amird allows his bastard children to stray too far from home this time,” shouted Ader. ”It is unfortunate you can’t use those wings to flee from here. I’ll not allow you to escape a second time.”

  The creature rose to its full height and enveloped its body in the protection of its heavy, armor-plated wings.

  “Their purpose has never been that of escape, old man,” smiled the beast wickedly. “I will bring your charred body back to Amird as an offering!”

  Waves of crimson fire burst from Methra’s eyes and shot across the road toward Ader. In the same instant, the green glow around Ader’s hands pulsed and encircled his body. The crimson wave of flame was so bright it blinded Kael as it engulfed the trader. The boy shouted in alarm. However, the wave of red flame diminished and Kael clearly saw the form of Ader standing unscathed within the green globe.

  Methra roared in frustration and moved forward, hurling flame as he advanced. His efforts were rewarded as the deluge of fire penetrated the pulsing green globe, forcing it to contract. Ader’s clothes smoldered and he cried out in pain, closing his eyes.

  The veins in the old trader’s forehead pulsed as he struggled to maintain the protective sphere. In a few moments the green light grew in strength and expanded. The flames from Methra’s eyes once again were left ineffectual by Ader’s shield. They struck the globe and were harmlessly turned aside.

  Manfir backed away from the combatants, putting distance between himself and the dance of fire. His blade was drawn and his shield held high. Kael stood behind the silent warrior trembling. The beast slowly circled Ader, unleashing bursts of red flame at the old man.

  The red flame remained ineffective against the green shield. Inside the pool of pulsating light, the old trader stood with arms raised and hands held high. His eyes remained tightly shut and his brow furrowed in concentration.

  Kael’s heart pounded as he tried to shrink down behind the broad shoulders of Manfir. He closed his eyes, trying to banish the terror that washed over him. A roar snapped them back open as a fresh wave of red flame slammed on top of Ader.

  The boy’s breath came in short bursts, each pant filling his lungs with the acrid scent of brimstone and smoldering tinder. Kael fought hard to control himself. His eyes darted down the Nagur path. He wanted to run, but his legs felt like columns of stone. He wanted to scream, but his desire to disappear was even greater.

  His mind reached out for an anchor to rescue him from this madness. He longed to see his father marching down the path toward him. An image of his mother filled his mind. Aemmon!

  Kael turned and stared at the lifeless form of his brother laying on the dirt path. The boy edged from behind Manfir, drawn to the body. The battle raged before him but it no longer mattered. He stood tall and a tear streaked down his cheek.

  Questions flooded Kael’s mind, but ultimately he was left with just one. Why?

  A roar from Methra ripped Kael’s attention back to the fight. The creature circled right and attacked the old trader once more. Kael felt the hair on the back of his neck tingle and stiffen. Ader’s hands adjusted to the flow of the crimson flame. The green sphere thickened near the points of attack as the old man manipulated his own powers. A new wave of crimson fire splashed across Ader’s shield. This time Kael sensed exactly how the trader responded. Kael’s body came alive. He felt the flow and structure of Ader’s power and found himself following along as the old trader influenced the composition of the sphere.

  Methra struck again and Kael guessed the old trader’s response before it occurred. The boy understood. Ader diverted power from other areas of the globe to suppress each attack.

  Manfir backed into Kael and pushed him further from the battle as Methra’s movements brought the beast closer.

  “Old one, you were no match for me on the Great Mountain and you are no match for me now. Lord Izgra will be pleased when I return with your blackened bones,” growled Methra.

  “He is lord of nothing, and the king of emptiness! His servants are witless mongrels he uses to inflict his pain!” shouted Ader.

  A wave of red flame lashed out at the trader. This time however, the trader reacted slowly to the attack. Methra’s flame scoured the surface of the globe and Kael sensed Ader’s power weakening.

  The boy’s panicked eyes darted to the old man. Ader’s clothes smoldered again and his face was red and sweating. His eyes were tightly closed and his brow knit in furious concentration.

  Methra circled and threw spattering bolts of flame at Ader. The creature’s upturned sneer divulged its thoughts. Methra was winning. He wore down Ader’s defenses.

  “You grow weak old man. Maybe a thousand years HAS changed you,” hissed Methra.

  “A thousand years of watching you and your kind scurry and whine under the heel of a madman,” replied Ader.

  “DIE THEN!” shrieked the creature.

  The bubbling cauldron of Methra’s life force spewed forth a deluge of crimson flame. It shot across th
e forest and engulfed the entire form of Ader and his shield. Kael completely lost sight of his friend, as Methra poured forth his hatred.

  The frightening onslaught subsided and Ader slowly came back into view through the smoke and haze which hung across the forest path. The grizzled old man stood motionless, centered in the tattered and weakened green sphere. Methra stood heaving with exhaustion. The monster was momentarily wasted as well, but his power was evident under the surface, building to erupt again.

  Ader, arms still raised, gasped for breath and crumpled to his knees. His clothes were black and sooty. His beard and hair singed. His face and hands red and blistered. The green light surrounding him flickered and thinned.

  Methra, his head and body slumped low, panted and slobbered like a dog in the summer sun. A wicked sneer played across his face.

  “I have you now old one. I will become Izgra’s favorite for destroying you. I will supplant Sulgor and lead the Malveel,” wheezed the creature.

  Kael sensed Methra’s power returning. The Malveel’s greedy dreams fed his confidence.

  “Your death has been a long time coming,” snapped Methra.

  Kael desperately wished to act. Panic consumed him. He yearned to stop this insanity. He longed to make this creature vanish.

  “However,” hissed Methra, “my errand is to discover the new Seraph and capture or destroy it. Perhaps I shouldn’t kill you, but torture you to discover its whereabouts.”

  Kael watched the red wildfire surrounding Methra sputter and spark. The power grew. The green globe looked weaker than ever.

  “I suspected this boy as the Seraph,” snarled Methra as he nodded toward Aemmon’s corpse. “His spirit was strong. Yet he was no match for the Malveel.”

  Kael recognized the ploy. The pause in the battle allowed Methra time to rebuild his strength. The boy sensed power returning to the beast. Kael’s desperation grew. The mention of his brother’s murder outraged him. He hungered to crush this evil thing. He wished to stamp out this raging fire of hatred. Snuff it out.