1The world was crumbling around Leon in slow motion. All around, horror greeted his eyes. Bandits, dragging women by their hair through the streets and slitting men's throats. These beasts knew nothing of compassion or love, their ravenous eyes showed that. The bandits leered at Leon with those luminescent yellow eyes and smiled dark grins. They broke down doors and laughed while children screamed in terror.
And Leon could do nothing about it.
That was the most difficult part. every woman he saw injured made his heart desire to slow Blackheart, leap from the horse's back, and fight the evil that bastardized his city. But he knew he couldn't. Erikah's safety was more important now and even if it wasn't, Leon wasn't strong enough to defeat these beasts. Beneath their fists stone was like sand and they moved with such speed that Leon was surprised their horses managed to outrun them.
He looked over each of his shoulders to assure himself that both Erikah and Blaise followed him still and allowed himself some form of relief in their presence. Then a great roar echoed throughout the city like that of a furious god and drove a frozen stake of into Leon's heart. The three horses reared backward, almost bucking their riders from the saddle.
"What was that!?" Leon shouted as he regained control over Blackheart.
When no response came to him he looked back toward his companions again. Erikah seemed to be just as jarred as himself, but it was Blaise that drew his attention. All the blood had drained from his face and his hair looked like flames. His blue lips sputtered and stammered, trying to spit out whatever it was that had caused this.
Leon meant to ask him what was wrong but then saw an oncoming legion of bandits. He cursed harshly and shouted his friend's name. Blaise looked at him in shock as if he'd just awoke from a dream.
"We have to go!" Leon shouted, pointing at the envoy approaching them.
Blaise and Erikah glance behind them, saw the bandits, and dug their heels into their horses' sides and driving forward. Leon followed closely after.
Agony pierced Leon's calf and he let out a pain filled scream. He glanced down and saw the sharp tip of a javelin dug into his leg. With wide eyes he pulled the spear from his leg and quickly felt the blood soak the tattered cloth of his leggings.
"Am I...to die here?" He asked softly, feeling another javelin pierce the air only inches away from his head. The face of the boy he had killed came to his mind and a tear slid down his cheek. "I don't want to die."
A heat came over his body at that point like a rolling flame. His body seemed to be searing as though he had a great fever. Leon could feel the warmth fanning out from his body and he swooned. His vision began to funnel down, blackness filling the edges. He receded from the world, all noise dropping to no more than a faint mumble.
"Pull out your sword" A whisper said in Leon's mind.
Feeling to ill to not follow the command, Leon pulled the sword from his sheathe. To his surprise it was glowing with heat and he realized what he must do. He leaned in the saddle, dropping the reins completely and ripped off the bloody remains of his lower pant leg. He pushed the flat of the blade against the wound and screamed again.
The pain was nearly unbearable and yet Leon continued to hold the blade until the wound was fully cauterized. It was then and only then that he promptly blacked out.
By the time Leon awoke, the horses had pulled the three of them several miles out from the capital. They had come to a small bluff off the main road which was surrounded by trees which swayed and creaked in the light breeze. The air was cool and moist.
Blaise and Erikah were in front of him, looking over at Darabont and the nebula of smoke which spiraled outward from it's center. The light of the dark flames filtered into the sky and turned the black night into a flower of pain.
"That's home..." Leon whispered.
His allies turned to him sadly and he saw their faces were smudged with the combination of soot and sweat. Clear tracks fell through Erikah's face from her tears. Her stormy eyes were dull and lifeless.
"I hate that look." Leon thought.
"At least we're safe." He said.
A spark ignited Erikah's eyes and her eyebrows knotted. She looked at Leon angrily and tears spilled from her eyes.
"Safe? Safe? What does that even mean? How can we be safe? My father is dead and an outlaw sits on the throne! The king! The knighthood is broken! We will never be safe again! No one will..." She shouted.
"But..." Leon murmured, abashed by her fury.
"Let it be, Leon." Blaise said, extending a hand in his direction, "She's right, anyway. As far as we know, we're the only two knights of Darabont left in Ardon. The order of Ardon is just a fractured memory now. A few men may have escaped but as far as solids go, this is it."
He looked at Erikah.
"But she is wrong about something." He said. The princess looked up at him through locks caked with sweat. "The people will be safe again. We will be safe. You are Ardon's rightful queen now, Erikah and a queen must never give up on her people."
She looked at him with wide eyes and twitching lips.
"N-no, I can't." She said reluctantly.
"Oh you can." Blaise said firmly, pointing at her, "Because you are this country's first, last, and only hope. Your family has sat upon the throne for five thousand years. Are you going to sit and fall to the sideline now? Let lordship over Ardon fall to this bastard?"
"I'm just one person!" She shouted at him. Leon pulled the tome he'd taken from the royal library from his bag.
"And you have us!" Leon entered, "Blaise and I. And we may not start out strongly but we will get there. By the thirteen lords above us, we will reclaim the throne. I don't have all the answers but this book will help us."
"How can a book help us?" Erikah asked.
"Blaise, you know how I predicted the attack?" Leon said. The redhead nodded, "I dreamed about it. In my dream, a man told me a war was coming. And in the dream, he said this book would help us."
"What is the book about?" Blaise questioned.
Leon glanced down at the the thick book. Across the scarlet cover was a title, scrawled in faint gold ink.
"The History of Ardon."
"It's a book about Ardon's history. Something in here will give us the key." Leon said.
"All right. You read the book, Leon. But for now, we have to think of some other way." Blaise advised.
"The cities." Erikah murmured.
"What?" Leon asked.
"The big cities. Servi, Hanston, Koeman, Coen, Ren. All of them owe fealty to Darabont and must supply the royal family with troops when it is requested." She said.
"Oh. Yeah. Fuck, I'm stupid." Blaise said in self deprecation, "It would do us well to use the armies in Ardon."
"Yes. But we should get some downtime to organize our thoughts." Leon said, "Panic is just a stones throw away. Let's go to my hometown, Dorm. It's a small place in the countryside and we would never be caught there."
His allies nodded silently in agreement.
"I say we get moving immediately," Blaise said, "we're more likely to be caught this close to the city and I can't handle the scenery right now."
"Agreed." Leon said.
Unknown to Leon and Blaise, they were all ready being followed. Aubra and Roland made half the distance they managed to before the knight called for them to stop.
"Come now, Roland, you know how the moonlight gets into me." The assassin said as he turned toward Roland with his arms outspread. The pale light of the moon struck his face and silver hair and made it glow with the same colorless luminescence. His green eyes gleamed with good humor and his face was streaked with red blood.
"Moonlight within you or not, I almost died today. Thank the thirteen that you had that tonic," Roland said, falling heavily to the ground and sighing with relaxation, "we should have used horses."
"If we could have gotten them." Aubra quipped, "I have no doubt that Carnos was very protective over the horses. I'd be surprised if he hadn't put the momonsters under lock and key as well. Fast mounts are always valued in war."
"You and your snide attitude," Roland chuckled, "How do you expect anyone to like you when you act like that all the time?"
"Why would I care about something like that?" Aubra asked lightheartedly while staring at the moon. The light caught his cheek bones and made thin fangs of shade hang on his face, "What matters is the task at hand. Whether or not I'm liked has little to do with that."
"And what about when that task is over? Will you sidle away and live in loneliness for the rest of your life?"
"There will always be a task that needs completion," Aubra answered, "I will carry on until I die."
"What if you don't die in battle? Will you continue your work when your beard wraps itself around your ankles? Most men dream of retirement. Why do you dream of never ending work?"
Aubra looked at Roland out of the corner of his eyes and shrugged.
"Even if I live to be one hundred no one will come along that's better than me. Is retirement your dream, Roland? Retiring to the countryside with a fine woman. Just like our teacher?"
"Of course I do. Like any sane man would." Roland joked.
"And why is that?"
"When I have performed the whole of my duty, I deserve a time of peace. A time to relax in the world and take a wife. Father sons and daughters. Love is the greatest emotion there is."
"I need no lecture of that," Aubra said distantly.
"Right." Roland said, "Anyway, I'm getting some sleep. You will be pleased, hard times are coming and that means a lot of work."
"Very well." Aubra said, stalking to a tree and sitting against it. He continued to gaze up at the sky."
...Thus the warring tribes period closed, with the first king of Ardon, Artemis. This marked the end of the calendar that had been, and marked a new one. The years were reset, starting at zero. Times were quiet in Ardon for many years.
Gerza came in the year 250. No one knows how it was birthed or where it came from, only that it was pure evil. A being of pure darkness. The Gerzian war thus took place, between the Ardonian military forces and Gerza itself. The military, however, was ill prepared for war, and was all but decimated before the destroyer's might.
King Thomas, distraught by the impeding destruction of his kingdom, allowed his adviser, Pardimane, to form an alliance of seven powerful sorcerers, known as the sages. These sages investigated all possible avenues to defeat Gerza. Their research resulted in the discovery of the eye's light ritual. The ritual, if performed correctly, would create the light's eye, a powerful talisman that would grant the wielder strength beyond belief. Many things were required to create the talisman, most of which have been kept secret in order to stop enemies of the kingdom from producing their own.
One ingredient, however, was revealed. The lives of six powerful sorcerers. The sages agreed to sacrifice the majority of their order to create the talisman, leaving one of their most powerful, Agatha, to defeat the the demon. Pardimane, the head of the sages and Agatha's lover, pleaded with her to fracture the light's eye when all was done, to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
Agatha battled with Gerza but was unable to defeat the spirit on her own. She used her magic, instead, to lock him into an alternate world, where he would be bound forever.
Following her mentor's advice, Agatha split the light's eye into three pieces, scattering them about the kingdom. King Thomas, grateful for the saving of the kingdom, created the official order of sages, which could operate outside of the king's orders on several things. The prime reason for this group was to defend the light's eye talisman from outside threats, including those that could come from within the kingdom.
Two thousand years have passed since then, but the order of sages is still alive and well. With the decree of King Robert II all mages began to be hunted in the year 1426, which continues to this day. Sages were of course, being outside the rule of the kingdom, were permitted to retain magical ability.
It was in the year 412 that Taylor the swift discovered that the fragments themselves could become bound to a human entity. A threat had arisen in the northern countries, and the military needed all the strength it could get. A fragment of the light's eye called out to him, and he was given the strength of the two sages that inhabited that sector. This strength gave him the ability to drive back the invading forces.
Because of the guaranteed strength granted by the fragments, the shards began to put the ones that would use them through grueling test to prove their worthiness of the might. Thus, any person holding a piece of the the eye's light talisman, marked by a band of sunset gold around their forearm, has already proven themselves to be an exceptional warrior, even before they had their strength improved by the talisman!
Dorm was a small village, more a constant establishment of hunters than a true town. Hides hung next to clothes on lines and several wells were dotted around the town. A ring of trees surrounded the village to protect it from the dangerous storms that blew in off the sea to the East which lay only a few miles away. The only opening to Dorm lay on the Western side in a thin bottleneck.
Leon, Blaise, and Erikah entered this way in a single file line and nostalgia pulled on Leon's heart. To see the small village after so long in the great city of Darabont was a welcome change. The simple buildings of stone and wood were welcoming in a rustic way. The three trouped down the yellow brown path that was the town's only road toward the house of Leon's uncle. Every horse hoof sent up a lazy cloud of dust. The sun came down softly and lovingly.
He saw many women in dresses kneeling in gardens. They turned to look at the newcomers with curiosity. Each of them recognized Leon and gave him a wave which he promptly returned. The sounds of playing children danced through the air and brought a smile to Leon's lips.
As the group came to the end of the path, Leon glanced at the cemetery to the right. A familiar melancholy came over him and he allowed himself to revel in it for a few moments.
"Uh, Leon? You okay?" Blaise asked.
"huh? Oh, sorry. Just thinking." Leon said quickly, "Come on. Uncle will be pleased to meet you."
He urged his horse toward the house on the left of the path and dismounted. He walked up the stoop and knocked on the door three times in quick succession.
There was silence for a few seconds and then the door unlatched and opened, revealing Gerard Spiers, Leon's uncle. He was of average height and quite trim. A wire brush mustache grew on his upper lip, the first touches of gray playing upon the black. The same effect was mimicked in his short black hair. Wrinkles had begun to set into his face and made him look at least five years older than his actual thirty five. He was dressed in gray cloth pants and a shirt of the same color.
"Hello, Uncle." Leon said happily.
"Leon! It's good to see you!" Gerard said, stepping forward and embracing his nephew. He ushered Leon and his allies into the house before asking, "What brings you here?"
"You haven't heard?" Leon asked in shock.
"It makes sense." Blaise said, "We were the first riders out. There's no way they could have known by now."
"Known what?" Gerard asked irritably.
"Uncle..." Leon started, not knowing how to begin. He looked at the large map of Ardon on the far wall and grimaced, "The capitol was taken. King Alton is dead. We only barely escaped."
"The king is dead?" Uncle asked, dumbfounded. His voice had dropped to hardly more than a whisper. "No...it can't be...King Alton was exceptional in combat. That's not funny."
He walked over to one of the chairs and sat down.
"I wish it were a joke." Blaise said.
"But it isn't. Hope isn't lost though. I would like to introduce you to princess Erikah." Leon said, gesturing toward the auburn girl.
"By the gods..." Gerard whispered as he stood from his chair. He walked toward her slowly, as if she would burst into flames if he approached too quickly. He fell to a knee before her and bared his neck.
"My queen! I swear to serve you by the whole of my heart and will! We will bring your family back to the throne where it belongs!" He pledged.
"I-I-, uh, thank you." Erikah stammered, flustered by the show of loyalty.
"I'd rise and fight for you myself, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be of much use." Gerard said. He bent his arm at the elbow and closed his hand into a loose fist, "I can't get it any tighter than that. Back when the treacherous plague wound it's way through the world, I was assailed as well. I was luckier than most; it only took the strength of my sword arm. These days I can hardly do more than write with it.
However, I do have a brain, and a fine one at that. When I realized my strength could no longer be skill, I sought to make it knowledge. I know most of Ardon's wildlife and have become a fair tactician. Furthermore, I still have my knowledge of swordplay and would be able to instruct most men. Just tell me when we begin our march and I will prepare for war."
"Uncle, there will not be marching," Leon said, then, sensing his uncle's confusion, "We may have found a way to defeat Carnos without an army."
"Without an army? Boy, what kind of war is fought without an army?" Gerard asked the group.
"Just sit. We'll explain everything to you."
"So these eyes of light? You know where they are located?" Gerard questioned Leon.
"Yes, Uncle. The book told me." Leon said.
"Interesting. It could be useful. But what if the pieces have all been taken?" Gerard asked.
"What do you mean?" Blaise broke in.
"What do you mean what do I mean? These weapons of ultimate power have existed for thousands of years and you mean to tell me that it's completely unlikely that anyone has them right now? Your chances are slim at best." Gerard said, "Leon was never much of one to think things all the way through."
"Well we have to try, damn it!" Leon said with an angry edge to his voice.
"Calm down. I never said you wouldn't try. Just that you can't rely entirely upon it." Gerard said, "Now, if you two will excuse us."
He bowed to the princess and ushered Leon into his study. The room had been off limits to Leon for most of his childhood, so the boy still possessed a sense of naive wonder about the room. The room had a wooden floor which set it apart from the soft dirt of the rest of the house. Tapestries hung on the sections of wall not covered with bookshelves and were adorned with runes and all phases of the sun and moon. A desk was pushed against one wall and a piece of yellowed parchment was spread across it. Mounted on the wall above the desk was a sword that shown with a blueish sheen.
Gerard went to this paper and rolled it up, handing it to Leon.
Leon unfurled it and gazed down at the paper. It was a map of Ardon and stretched from Ren on the Eastern coast to Servi in the far West. In the slender lettering of his uncle, Leon read various notes written in black ink. They had information about the cities, their leaders, the trade goods common in the area, and the fauna of the region.
"I want you to take that. I imagine it will be very useful." Gerard said.
"Thank you, Uncle." Leon said graciously. He turned to return to the foyer but was stopped by his uncle's voice.
"Wait. There's one more thing." Gerard called.
Leon turned back to the older man. Gerard walked around his desk, below the sword and looked at it for a solid minute. He then pulled it down with his left hand and faced Leon. Leon felt a lump grow in the base of his throat as he realized his uncle's intention.
"You know this was your father's sword." He said.
Leon could only nod.
"Blacksmith of unrivaled renown, I say. Remember the stories I told of him?"
"Yes." Leon choked past the lump, "My favorite was the one where he fought alongside the knights."
"Yes, yes." Gerard said fondly, a mist coming over his eyes, "This was his master piece. The metal of this sword is unlike any other. Steel combined with the mythic twilight ore. It was rumored to be the gateway to the heavens, know that? Your father ventured for weeks to find that ore in the path of daggers. I pray it serves you well."
He handed Leon the sword and a tear slid down the boy's cheek. He choked back a sob and smiled at Gerard. Leon could feel the indents in the strips of leather wrapped around the handle. Ghosts of a previous user, his father. In those hollows Leon could feel his father.
"Thank you." he said with a nod.
"Now let's get back to your friends. I imagine they wouldn't much care for us to be in here forever."
"Yes," Leon agreed, "But, Uncle, are you sure?"
"I wouldn't give it to you if I wasn't, would I? Besides, what good will it do me? My arm has less muscle than a toddler's." Gerard said, "Take that blade and cut out a legacy for yourself. Bring honor to you name."
He stopped for a second and stroked his chin.
"So you've been knighted, huh? Royally?"
Leon nodded.
"Guess that means we're nobles now. Sir Leon Spiers. Has a good ring to it, don't you think? Your parents would be so proud." He said, placing a hand on Leon's shoulder, "I'm proud."
Leon glowed with pride but could only smile at his uncle.
"Do make them more proud." He said, "They've earned it.
"I will." Leon promised.
Gerard said no more and simply walked from the room with Leon in tow. Blaise eyed the new sword in Leon's hand and raised an eyebrow but did not ask.
"Now we have much to discuss." Gerard said, seating himself in a creaking wooden chair.
"So we do." Blaise said, sitting down as well.
"The closest of these temples is close to Eldres, which lies through the path of daggers. Those mountains are bad enough as it is but I've heard that a wyvern has taken up nest around there."
"Wyvern?" Leon asked.
"It's an avian creature mostly indigenous to mountain regions such as those found in Mandain. They are 8 parts scavenger and 2 part hunter. It's not afraid to get dirty to get a meal. Oftentimes mistaken for a Mandainian dragon it is actually closer to a bird." Uncle said as if he were reciting text from a book.
Leon looked curiously at Blaise, who's face had turned bleach white. He thought of asking what troubled him but before he could, Erikah began to speak.
"That's certainly well and all. But we don't really need a lesson about nature. We should get out and go instead of just sitting around talking about the wyvern." She claimed.
"Patience. In order to defeat your enemy you must know your enemy. I always used to tell Leon that. Here's what you need to know: Wyverns are capable of emitting a supersonic wave that will drive almost anyone who hears it into a state of temporary insanity. OOHHHH! Didn't know that , now did ya? Sure woulda been a shame if you hadn't had a boring nature lesson and you guys ended up killing your closest allies, wouldn't it?" Gerard interrogated smugly.
"So we gotta plug our ears while going through the path of daggers? Sounds easy enough." Blaise said confidently.
"If only it were as easy as that. Like I said earlier, they aren't opposed to working for their meal. If it sees the confusion isn't working and it's hungry enough it will attack you head on."
"I see." Erikah said lowly, "We should leave soon. The longer we stay around the more likely we are to not want to leave."
"That is true." Gerard answered, "But I suggest you stay here tonight. The night is approaching and you don't want to go through the path of daggers in the dark."
"All right. We'll leave tomorrow." Blaise said, "We thank you for your hospitality."
"Of course." Gerard said with a warm smile, "Leon. Before you leave, you may wish to spend some time around the the village. The people have missed you."
"Oh, all right." Leon said, "I will. I just have something I've gotta do first."