Azagord glanced back over his shoulder and smiled for the first time in his life. ‘Run my friends!’ he cried as he walked toward the Zyranians surrounded by swirls of bright green light. The battle exploded between the sorcerer and the wizards. Fire, sparks, and shockwaves of energy blasted in every direction.
Cassiel led the way out of the door and down a narrow lane that cut away from the prison. Explosions thundered and shook the ground as they ran.
‘This way!’ cried Cassiel. He knew the way back and they followed him. They ran quickly through the laneways and made their way toward the supply gate. Eben looked back and could see the entire Citadel was ablaze with fire and light. He noticed silhouettes in the light coming after them.
‘We are being followed,’ shouted Eben as they approached the gate. Three wizards and a group of guardsmen came into view.
‘Red, the fireworks!’ cried Cassiel. Red took his bag of fireworks and threw it with all his might toward the approaching wizards as Cassiel sent a flame through the air that ignited the bag as it struck the ground. The fireworks started blasting in all directions and created a spectacular multi-coloured barrier of blazing light.
‘Quick, to the gate!’ commanded King Ignis.
They dashed down toward the gate. Falsig stood waiting for them.
‘What have you done?’ shouted Falsig, looking up at the fireworks exploding in the sky and the blazing fires in the distance.
‘Get out of the way, Falsig!’ shouted Cassiel.
‘Where’s my payment?’ cried Falsig, his face was red like a beetroot, and his veins were clearly visible on his neck. ‘We had a deal.’ He drew a large dagger from his belt; the blade shone in the light of the fireworks. ‘You can’t leave!’ he bellowed. ‘I want my payment!’ He stood in front of the supply gate and blocked their way. They stopped in their tracks.
‘There is no gold,’ said Cassiel firmly.
‘The Zyranians are going to hang you up by your toes!’ screamed Falsig, jumping forward and stabbing at Cassiel with his dagger. Eben reacted quickly and threw one of his sleeping darts. A moment later, to the surprise of the entire company, Falsig fell to the ground asleep.
‘Well done, Eben, he needs a good nap,’ said Cassiel.
Red took the gate key from Falsig’s hand as he lay sleeping. A moment later he had opened the gate. They all raced outside and hurried down toward the docks. The Citadel of Zyran shook and burned behind them as they ran.
Baftel stood by his boat staring up at the Citadel; he was mesmerised by the sight. The dark clouds above were glowing from flashes of light that issued up.
‘Cassiel! What’s going on?’ asked Baftel, not taking his eyes from the Citadel.
‘Ahh, we had some help from an unexpected ally,’ answered Cassiel. Baftel stared in shock as they jumped into his boat. ‘We have to make haste.’ Baftel nodded as he hurriedly loosened the ropes. He guided the boat away from the docks and into the night.
Before long they were out in the bay. They looked back at the Citadel as the fiery battle raged on. Suddenly there was a mighty flash of green light accompanied by a great explosion. An instant later the Citadel of Zyran became dark and silent.
‘Goodbye Azagord,’ said King Ignis sadly.
CHAPTER EIGHT
They had sailed west across the Sea of Zyran throughout the night. Few of them slept at all; the feeling that they were being followed kept them on edge. The morning arrived and the sun slowly rose above the horizon in the eastern sky. Baftel often looked back anxiously, but no other boats or ships could be seen. Zyran was out of sight, and the sail was fully raised; a strong wind was blowing them toward Ortaria.
‘It’s a good wind, and the currents favour us,’ said Baftel as he took a seat at the back of the boat. ‘The Zyranians may have power over fire and earth, but the weather and tides are mostly beyond them.’
Cassiel had explained to King Ignis much of what had been occurring in Ortaria since his imprisonment. King Ignis was deeply saddened by the news of how bad the situation was in his kingdom.
‘Monsters roam freely in the wilderness, and the main highways around Ortaria have become mostly impassable,’ said Cassiel.
‘What about the port city of Sevadir; does my cousin Duke Julian still rule there?’
‘Your Highness, I am sorry to say that your cousin Duke Julian died two years ago. The imposter has placed an evil ruler in his place to govern Sevadir.’
King Ignis nodded. ‘It would seem our only hope is to travel to Galdir and the Iron Gate Pass where my army waits.’
‘Yes, I think it would be a wise course of action,’ agreed Cassiel.
‘I know that the imposter was placed there by the Zyranian Order,’ said King Ignis. ‘I also know they will send word quickly to intercept us if we try to dock at Ancora or Sevadir. Our only choice is to dock at a smaller village or to land on a secluded beach and make our way through the wilderness. We can stock up on supplies once we find a village. It is at least a twelve day march out to the Iron Gate Pass, and the wilderness will slow us down. Perhaps we can acquire some horses.’
‘You are right, Your Highness. I’m also sure our enemies will do all they can to try to stop us reaching your army,’ said Cassiel.
Baftel looked up into the sky and saw a sea eagle ascending as the sun rose higher in the east. He glanced toward King Ignis anxiously. ‘They will send the Zyranian Enforcers after you.’
King Ignis nodded sternly. ‘Yes. I would expect them to do that; however, I believe we can avoid them,’ said King Ignis confidently.
‘There is something else you should be aware of,’ said Baftel. ‘I see a shadow like black smoke drifting across Ortaria. Something evil will stand in your way.’
‘Skatheans,’ said King Ignis, flinching as he said the word.
‘What are Skatheans?’ asked Eben.
‘The Skathean Knights are an evil order from the north of Veredor,’ replied King Ignis. ‘They have been the bane of good folk for many ages. For a long time the Fiorian Knights matched their strength and prevented them from entering the Southern and Eastern Lands. Now there are few Fiorians remaining in Veredor, and the Skatheans have come south without hindrance.’
‘I thought Fiorian Knights were a myth,’ said Red.
‘I believe the Fiorian Knights still exist, but their numbers have greatly diminished,’ said King Ignis.
Stella interrupted the conversation and excitedly pointed out a group of five dolphins from the front of the boat. The creatures approached and swam by the small vessel. Eben looked over the edge; they were very close to the side. He reached out; gliding his hand through the water, and a dolphin came very close and was only just out of reach. Eben was sure that the beautiful creature had looked up at him for a moment before swimming onward.
‘They seem to like you, Eben,’ said Red.
He had never seen such beautiful creatures; they looked so graceful and gentle. Before long the dolphins were gone from sight and disappeared beneath the waves.
They continued sailing throughout the day. A brisk breeze brought them ever closer to Ortaria. Several hours passed. Red had fallen asleep and the others were also resting. Cassiel was seated at the front of the boat and was in a deep meditative trance, completely oblivious to what was happening around him. Eben reflected on the recent events as the boat became quiet. He felt that he had been caught up in a whirlwind of happenings and had barely had a chance to think about everything that had occurred since he left Clemensdale. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see King Ignis was standing beside him.
‘May I sit here?’ asked the King, indicating to the place beside Eben. Eben nodded and the King sat down. ‘It was quite a night last night. I must thank you for your bravery,’ said King Ignis, lowering the volume of his voice so no one else in the boat could hear.
‘You’re welcome,’ said Eben.
‘I have wanted to talk to you about your sword; this is the first chance I have had,
’ he whispered.
‘What do you want to know about it?’
‘Where did you come across the sword?’
‘It was left to me when I was a child,’ said Eben, also lowering his voice.
‘I see, and who bequeathed the sword to you?’ asked the King.
‘A man named Carlin at the request of Lady Kaloren,’ replied Eben. King Ignis stared at Eben with wide eyes for a moment.
‘I knew Carlin and Lady Kaloren.’
Eben felt his weariness leave him. ‘Can you tell me who my parents are?’
The King raised an eyebrow and seemed puzzled by the question. ‘You don’t know them?’
‘No, I was adopted by a hunter: Erako of Clemensdale. I have lived for most of my life in the hills in the south of Ortaria. I only recently came to Ancora.’
‘A hunter...’ repeated King Ignis, scratching his chin and pondering Eben’s words. He stared at Eben for a few moments, and a look of surprise was clearly evident in his eyes.
‘What can you tell me of Carlin and Lady Kaloren?’ asked Eben.
‘Carlin was a Fiorian Knight. He died twelve years ago in battle.’ The King stared out to sea and was sad at recalling the memory of Carlin. Eben could see that Carlin must have been a friend to him.
‘And Lady Kaloren?’ asked Eben
‘Lady Kaloren, she was the leader of the Fiorian Knights, the Gatekeeper of Emeril. She was the greatest and most noble warrior in all the lands of Veredor. Almost twenty years ago Ortaria and Zyran were at war with Azagord and his army from Kaznor. I requested the help of the Fiorian Order, and they sent five Fiorian Knights. Kaloren was their leader. Carlin and the other Fiorians worked with my army and the Zyranian Order. They vanquished Azagord’s army after a long and bloody war. It was Carlin who captured Azagord and imprisoned him beneath the Citadel. Kaloren at the time was pregnant, and she stayed in Ancora whilst the war was being fought in Zyran. The other Fiorians went west after the battle, but Kaloren and Carlin stayed with me in Ancora for several months. Kaloren waited on news from her husband; a great warrior who I knew as Elons. He was helping the Irilian Order in a battle against a Northern Sorcerer called Baramak in the Far Western Lands.’
King Ignis paused and looked about to make sure no one would overhear him before he continued.
‘We heard news that her husband had been captured by the sorcerer Baramak who was in league with the Skatheans. Sir Dorn, an Irvarian Knight, came to tell us this terrible news, and Kaloren was deeply saddened. Not long after this time a group of Skathean assassins attacked the palace in Ancora and attempted to kill Kaloren. Carlin defeated them. We later discovered there were various Skathean plots designed to assassinate Lady Kaloren. She was forced to leave Ancora and went into hiding somewhere in Ortaria. Only Carlin knew where she was hiding. He kept it a secret because he believed the Skatheans had spies all over Ortaria. Two years later Carlin told me that she had gone west to search for her husband. I have not seen her for over eighteen years, and to be honest I do not know what became of Lady Kaloren.’
Eben took from his pocket the parchment letter and handed it to King Ignis. He opened the letter and read it to himself.
‘I suspected this was so, and now I can see it is true. I think Lady Kaloren is your mother,’ he said. Eben felt a rush of excitement at the news.
‘My mother. Are you certain?’ he asked, his heart pounding from the revelation.
‘Yes, I am sure. She is a great woman, and I know she wouldn’t have wanted to be separated from you. She would have left you with Carlin for your own protection. I’m certain Carlin sent you to the hunter to ensure you were safe. He did not tell me about you. It troubles me that no one ever came to take you back to your parents.’
Eben felt his elation turn to apprehension. ‘Do you think she is...?’ He felt distraught at the thought that something terrible had happened to his parents and couldn’t finish the question.
‘I don’t know,’ replied King Ignis as he handed the letter back to Eben.
Eben felt like a thousand thoughts of possibilities were going through his head at once. He realised that he would have to go west to find the answers.
‘Your sword; it’s the Ecorian Sword,’ said King Ignis.
‘Ecorian; what does that mean?’ asked Eben.
‘Your sword is one of three swords which were used to defend Veredor. In ancient times Veredor was ruled by a powerful and virtuous lineage of emperors called the Ecorians. That sword became known as the Ecorian Sword because the Ecorian Emperor always carried it. The original name of the sword is the Sword of Light.’
Eben looked down at the sword that lay by his side in its scabbard. ‘Why would my mother leave such a sword with a small child?’
‘I don’t know,’ replied King Ignis. ‘However, I do know that the Sword of Light is a powerful weapon and much more than a simple sword. It was forged out of the essence of the cosmos and has many mystical powers. Your mother wanted you to have this sword, and I know you will have to learn to use it. These are dark times, Eben. Few men stand against the darkness; a powerful evil is growing in Veredor.’
Eben felt a sudden weight of responsibility at hearing these words from the King. He thought back to his time in Clemensdale where he was safe and secure.
‘Azagord said that his master wanted to cast the sword through the Cosmic Gate. What did he mean?’
King Ignis pondered the question for a few moments. ‘Azagord came south to find the Sword of Light and take it back to his evil master in the north. His instructions were to recover the sword and kill the one who carried it. He believed the Zyranians had the sword. Azagord attacked Zyran because of this belief. Only now do I see that Kaloren secretly carried the Sword of Light all along.’
‘What is the Cosmic Gate?’ asked Eben.
‘I only know of the Cosmic Gate from folk stories. I never believed that it existed until I had spoken with Azagord,’ said King Ignis. ‘The Cosmic Gate is a place where Veredor meets with the cosmos beyond. It is the only way to come into Veredor and the only way out of Veredor. The old stories tell that the Cosmic Gate was built by an ancient race to protect Veredor from the powers of darkness. I think Azagord’s former master wanted to cast the Sword of Light out of Veredor so no one could use it against him. This news worries me deeply. If the gate has collapsed we are all at risk. The outer cosmos is said to be a realm inhabited by many creatures of darkness.’
‘Did Azagord say that it had collapsed?’ asked Eben.
‘No, he didn’t say; however, your letter from Carlin to Erako says the Fiorians were hoping for the Cosmic Gate to remain firm, and the letter was written when you were very young. This concerns me: if they were worried about it then, what now?’
‘We should ask the Fiorians Knights,’ suggested Eben. King Ignis cast his eyes downward.
‘After Carlin died and until the time of my imprisonment I was searching for any remaining Fiorians. I never found any.’
**
They had been sailing all the first day and into the second night. The sun was high in the sky on the following day. The sight of the Ortarian coast gladdened their hearts. Eben could see high cliff faces to the north which gave way further south to a rugged coastline interspersed with small bays and inlets. A blue sky and a warm breeze welcomed them as they approached the coast.
‘There’s a small fishing village to the south,’ said Baftel, turning the rudder and angling the boat.
Eben hadn’t slept since the conversation with King Ignis. Learning that his mother was the leader of the Fiorian Knights had sent his mind into a spin. There were so many questions racing through his head. Why didn’t his mother use the Sword of Light to fight the evil if it is such a powerful weapon? Why would she leave the sword with him when he was so young? Where had she gone? Why hadn’t she returned? What happened to his father? What did the Fiorians know? Were there any Fiorians remaining in Veredor? He needed to know the answers.
They slow
ly approached a little fishing village that was set on rocky slopes around a small cove. There were various fishermen’s huts and several small boats that had been pulled up onto the beach. Baftel slowly steered the boat into the small cove, and a few of the villagers stood on the beach and looked out fearfully toward them as they entered the cove.
They softly struck the sand a little back from the water’s edge. Red leapt out of the boat, and waist high in the water, he started to pull the boat toward the beach. Eben jumped overboard and helped Red drag the boat to the shore.
‘Ahoy!’ shouted King Ignis as he stepped off the boat into his kingdom.
The others followed. A few moments later they were all on the beach just down from the village. One of the villagers approached. He was an older man with a short beard, slightly balding, and a weathered face. He seemed somewhat anxious about their arrival.
‘Hello Strangers,’ he said, looking at Baftel, who was the only one of their company clothed as a seafarer.
‘Hello there,’ said Baftel politely.
‘We don’t have anything for you here. It would be best for you to move on,’ said the villager; his hands were trembling as he spoke.
‘We don’t want anything from you,’ said King Ignis diplomatically.
‘I assume you will you be leaving then,’ said the villager.
‘We were hoping to buy horses and some food for our journey.’
‘We only have fish,’ replied the villager grimly. ‘The King has taxed all our possessions. He has left us in poverty.’
King Ignis looked concerned at hearing the news. ‘We won’t bother you, and we will move on in a few minutes. We would be very happy to buy some fish.’
‘We can sell you some fish. I’ll go back to the village and bring some back for you.’ The man turned and walked back to the village and was out of sight a few moments later.
‘These seaside villages were thriving a few years ago,’ said King Ignis, staring up at the huts with sad eyes.