Parallel Inversion, page 20
part #1 of The Parellyrian Chronicles Series
“When Kenaith first delivered elves into Kulamahar nearly five hundred years ago, and out of the threatening reach of dragons and giants, Levaricent was among his strongest supporters,” Chalomir explained. The other elves and fairies groaned restlessly, but thought better of interrupting their Chief.
“Kenaith charged himself with the continued protection of the souls of elves and fairies of Kulamahar after they were deceased, and we revere him for this. He keeps watch over us from a distance. He promised to return to help us peacefully restore our habitat throughout Parellyria in five hundred years. Four hundred ninety four of those years have since passed.
“But Levaricent, who supported him in the beginning, grew to question Kenaith's true motives. He brought his concerns forward to the Elvish Council, determined that we should band together to oppose him upon his return. He was convinced that giants and dragons would need our protection from Kenaith.
“Fortunately, Levaricent was convinced of the foolishness of his thinking by his wife. Or so we thought.”
“His wife?” Karen said.
“Agent Elinross,” Chalomir replied, pointing to the elf at Karen's side.
Karen turned to look at Elin, who remained expressionless as she stood at Karen's shoulder.
“Levaricent was your husband?”
“He is.”
Chalomir resumed speaking. “For eighty years Levaricent dedicated himself to teaching the humans in Melamina Kingdom the science of magic, and the values of a peaceful way of life. Considering his apparent change, he was even permitted by this Council to pursue experiments with the end goal of creating a super-powered being to deter the attacks of giants and dragons, which were still rampant in Melamina Kingdom, on human settlements. The result of those experiments was the one known as Romanbak. As such, the Elvish Council saw fit at that time to permit Romanbak into Kulamahar, in recognition of Levaricent's apparent dedication to the protection of Kulamahar.
“Unfortunately, Levaricent's true nature was revealed when he attacked and killed his partner, and to our understanding, Romanbak as well.”
“Well, he didn't kill Romanbak,” Karen said.
Her statement aggravated Dornam, the defiant elf whose outbursts continuously interrupted any civil dialogue. “We'll believe that when we see it,” he barked.
“So whatever Levaricent did to Romanbak sent him to my world?” Karen said, ignoring the frustrated Elf Councilor, and focusing on her own agenda. “That's what I want. Can you help me?”
Chalomir leaned back in his chair. “Unfortunately, no one here knows what happened on that fateful day. If Romanbak was really transported to your world, then the only one on Parellyria who knows how that happened is Levaricent himself.”
Dornam saw an opportunity to contribute something potentially helpful. “If you want to confront him yourself, you're more than welcome.”
“Dornam!” Theranise chided.
Dornam ignored the fairy and leaned toward Chalomir, saying something quietly in the Elvish language, which fairies were incapable of speaking.
“It is forbidden to speak Elvish in the Council chambers,” Theranise said.
“It is forbidden to have humans in Kulamahar,” Dornam said, “but I suppose we are ignoring the rules today.” He turned and continued whispering to Chalomir in Elvish.
Karen watched in frustration as the Chief Councilor appeared to be considering Dornam's words. Dornam stopped speaking and smiled smugly and crossed his arms in his seat.
Chalomir addressed Karen once again. “If you wish to confront Levaricent on your own, we will not discourage you.”
Karen could hardly believe her ears. Up until that point, Chalomir had seemed like the only reasonable voice in the room apart from her own, but now he was listening to the least reasonable voice. “How am I supposed to go up against this powerful wizard, who bested Romanbak, all by myself?”
“We will provide you with nelodomite armor to help protect you against his magic,” the Chief Councilor offered.
Karen was puzzled. Nelodomite was the substance that Dalius had told her contributed to Romanbak's disappearance. But then she remembered that he had also said that, prior to Romanbak's disappearance, it was used to absorb magical attacks in the form of armor, before it was discovered to be dangerous, and fell into disuse. But in this situation, nelodomite might prove to be just what she needed to get home, if Levaricent knew how to use it. The Council clearly hoped she was ignorant of nelodomite's involvement in the incident two decades ago.
“Nelodomite armor is extremely rare,” Chalomir said, not having noticed Karen's look of puzzlement. “If you are successful, you will be able to return home, and perhaps you will eliminate Levaricent as a threat to our livelihood. If not, please find Elinross and have her return the armor to us.”
Karen waited a moment to give the appearance that she was considering the offer. “Sounds good.”
“You are welcome to remain in Kulamahar tonight,” Chalomir said, “but tomorrow you must be on your way.” His decision made, he saluted her, and she and Elinross returned the gesture. Elin once again placed her hand on Karen's shoulder, and led her out of the hall.
Karen went to bed that night pleased with the result of the meeting, and hopeful that her return home might soon be forthcoming.
Chapter Nineteen
The sky was overcast when Dalius awoke. His home was filled with the familiar smell of his mother's cooking, so he hungrily bounded out of his room and into the kitchen.
Mike was already at the kitchen table enjoying the meal Aralyn had prepared. He could not recall the last time he had been awake this early in the day. He supposed that his internal clock might be compromised by the shift from Earth to Parellyria. Phellanore's days seemed to be about eight hours ahead of Seattle's.
Or, perhaps, the enticing scent of a delicious breakfast being prepared had roused him from his sleep. Mike imagined that this might be the type of meal that Karen would prepare for him when they lived together; yet another advantage of the impending fruits of his pursuit.
“Morning,” Dalius grumbled as he plopped down into a seat at the table opposite Mike. He looked barely awake, and only managed to get himself to the table under the implied promise of food.
“Good morning!” Mike replied excitedly. “I can't believe I got up this early. Does your mom make breakfast like this every morning?”
“Nah,” Dalius replied, “mostly just when someone's visiting.”
“Cool,” Mike said, as he stuffed a huge piece of meat into his mouth.
Aralyn meandered by and placed a plate full of food in front of her son. “Are you enjoying your breakfast?” she asked Mike.
“Yef, oh, yef!” Mike managed through a mouthful.
“What a nice boy,” Aralyn said, patting Mike on the shoulder as she returned to the kitchen. Mike smiled and accepted the compliment. A pang of jealousy shot through Dalius as he glared at the large athlete scarfing down his mother's food. What could both Karen and his mother possibly see in this guy? He supposed there would be time to find out.
“So how long has your power been out?” Mike asked. He had noticed that Aralyn was cooking over a wood stove, and no lights had been turned on. He and Romanbak had spent a full day in a house brightened only by sunlight.
“Power?” Dalius said, confused.
“Electricity,” Mike clarified. The word failed to register with Dalius, so Mike abandoned the question. “So what's the plan for today?” he asked instead.
Dalius swallowed his first bite and replied, “I figured we'd head into town, see a few sights.”
Mike swallowed what remained on his plate, careful not to let even a crumb go to waste. “What are we waiting for?” he asked. “Except for the food, this place is dull.”
“Romanbak and Niffain are still asleep--”
Mike did not wait for Dalius to finish his sentence. He hastily rose, knocking his chair over backwards in the process, and marched over to the bedroom door of the slumbering dwarf. He pounded on it and yelled, “Wake up, turd!”
Romanbak, who was reposing in the living room, stirred. He sat up and covered his ears with his hands, a little too late. He was still adjusting to the rediscovery of his powers, which included an increased sensitivity to sound, so Mike's voice rang in his ears.
“Mike!” Aralyn scolded. Mike looked at her as she brought her finger to her lips and shushed him.
Romanbak stretched and rubbed his eyes. “What do you want?” he asked Mike.
“I want to get out of here,” Mike replied. “Get up so we can go!”
Romanbak gradually obliged, and Mike, having heard no movement from Niffain's room, returned to try to rouse him again. “Hey, midget-dude,” he shouted through the door, more softly than before, “wake up!”
Niffain rose, made his way into the living room, and complained about Mike's remark before he downed his breakfast. Mike hovered over whatever individual he felt was the slowest at any given time, pressing them to eat faster.
Terimor entered from outside carrying an armful of firewood. He dropped it next to the wood stove and looked up at the fidgety man standing behind Romanbak as the hero put on his shoes. “Someone's impatient to get underway,” he said.
“He's as anxious as a schoolgirl in heat,” Niffain commented.
Terimor chuckled, dissuading Aralyn from giving Niffain the scolding she had intended. Mike was not so discouraged, but rather more uncertain how to respond, in part because he wasn't clear on the dwarf's full meaning. Instead he just laughed along with Terimor, hoping he was not the butt of a vague insult.
Dalius brought Mike to a number of shops and landmarks throughout Phellanore. Both his clothes and his height made Mike a source of interest for many passers-by, none of whom even recognized Romanbak after his extended absence. Mike answered any questions they had, proudly exhibiting what he considered to be his own greatness. He was pleased that the town afforded him the same opportunities to show off as he had in his own world.
As the day passed, however, Mike was not particularly impressed with the entertainment that Phellanore had to offer. The only store that interested him was a confectionery, whose colors and flavors grabbed and held his attention. Apart from that, he was bored by the lack of constant distractions, such as the television, video games, and sports he experienced on Earth. Aralyn purchased a large candy from the confectionery to appease him, but he was still complaining as they exited the store.
“No cars, or electricity, or basketball? It's like you guys live in the Great Depression, or something,” he said, proud to have remembered the name of any era in Earth's history. He sighed, then added, “I miss Baywatch.”
“I'm sorry Phellanore hasn't lived up to your ridiculous expectations,” Dalius said, now certain that Mike was not good enough for Karen. “But it's getting kind of late, and I need to head to work pretty soon.”
“Where do you work?” Mike asked.
“Fhindovar's Tavern.”
Mike made the necessary connections in his brain. “A bar?” he said. “You've been holding out on me. Let's all go!”
“Fhin's is a little rough for us,” Terimor stated, putting his arm around his wife. Aralyn, though she had never been there, was inclined to agree. She had heard stories coming from Fhindovar's, and knew it would not be her scene. At times she felt uncomfortable with her son working there, though she knew he could handle himself.
“Pussies,” Mike said, but quickly discovered himself in a headlock at the hands of Dalius's father. Their height difference meant that Terimor had had to jump up to wrap his arm around Mike's neck and bring him down to an uncomfortable crouch. Mike struggled to break free, but Terimor's grip proved far too intense.
“Okay, okay, I take it back,” Mike said, relenting. Terimor released his hold, and Mike rubbed his neck as he resumed his posture.
“I'll go to Fhin's,” Niffain said.
“All right!” Mike exclaimed. “The tiny guy is in!”
Niffain was growing tired of being recognized by Mike only for his stature. He scowled at Mike, determined to somehow get back at the athlete. Romanbak recognized the increasing conflict between the two, and decided that he had better keep an eye on them.
“I'll come too,” Romanbak said.
“Awesome,” Mike responded.
“I suppose we'll be off, then,” Aralyn said. Terimor stood next to his wife once again.
“You all have fun,” Terimor said, and the two turned to head home.
Dalius, Mike, Niffain, and Romanbak strolled through town toward Fhindovar's tavern as the sun began to set. The light became more pronounced through the clouds as it neared the horizon and droplets of water began spitting from the sky. Mike's good spirits in anticipation of alcoholic beverages had permeated the group, and the rain did little to dampen their mood.
As they approached the building, Finnegan Lanty became visible from his regular perch atop a small bench outside the bar. It was still early in the evening, so he was not yet especially intoxicated. He saw the four men approaching and was prepared to offer them each an evening of pleasure with one or more of his courtesans, but thought better of it when he recognized Dalius and Niffain. Instead he just offered them a polite wave as they entered the building.
They found an unoccupied booth in the corner, and they all sat down except for Dalius.
“I need to start my shift in a few minutes,” he said.
Romanbak rose from his seat. “I'll grab us some drinks,” he offered. Niffain and Mike nodded gratefully, and leaned back in their seats opposite each other.
Romanbak accompanied Dalius across the tavern, taking in the familiar sights and sounds, and even distinguishable smells as they went. He had, in his youth, frequented the establishment, and visiting it again filled him with a sense of nostalgia.
A flood of memories washed over him as he recalled the circumstances that first brought him to Fhin's. He'd spent his life growing up near Melamina City, but after befriending Terimor in school, came to visit Phellanore for the first time. Terimor had warned him about the tavern's less than ideal reputation, but that only served to stimulate his interest. Romanbak had insisted upon visiting the place.
At the time, Fhindovar's was a public house and an inn, with a few rooms above and behind the bar. Over time, the interest in the inn portion faded as weary travelers were not fond of trying to sleep adjacent to a loud bar filled with hooligans. When Fhindovar's original owner passed away, his son took over, and he partnered with local prostitutes so the place would double as a brothel, whose patrons were less concerned with the volume outside the bed chambers.
Had Fhindovar's also been a brothel when Romanbak first visited Phellanore, he would have avoided it altogether. Still, it remained the most popular locale for everyone in Phellanore, the atmosphere of the bar filled with a mixture of both seedy, dishonest characters and respectable patrons. Everyone was there to forget their worries and have a good time, and everyone was succeeding in doing so.
Romanbak, at the time, was a struggling student hoping to take his mind off his studies. He fit right in with the crowd, and returned often. When he became the hero the entire kingdom looked up to, however, he tended to avoid the place, as most would look upon his presence there as indicative of moral ambiguity in their treasured champion.
Much had changed since Romanbak had last been there. His time as a hero had opened his eyes to the true issues that plagued his world, and went well beyond Melamina. He had dedicated himself to his work and to the study of the history of Parellyria so that he might improve it. His twenty years trapped in an alternate dimension exposed him to even more problems that had been unknown to him. The absence of magic and the prominence of sophisticated technology changed his approach to the problems he faced. And the entire time, he had remained determined to find a way back home and use his updated attitude to his advantage should he ever face the instigator of his disappearance.
Romanbak could not deny that he felt somewhat strange and out of place at Fhindovar's now. He had become accustomed to a different lifestyle during his absence from Parellyria. But even so, crossing the floor of the establishment with the son of his best friend, he felt, for the first time in twenty years, like he was home.
“It feels good to be back,” he admitted to Dalius once they'd passed the bar and settled near the entrance. Dalius tapped a young man who was stationed next to the door on the shoulder, and the man stepped away, his shift over. Dalius took his position and mimicked the man's authoritative stance.
“It's great to have you back,” Dalius said.
Romanbak took a deep breath, determined to relish every aspect of his experience. The bar was quiet now, but soon it would be teeming with rambunctious customers engaging in various activities, ranging from the imbibing of alcohol, to the negotiating of shady deals, to the engaging of courtesans doubling as waitresses in the rooms on the floor above the bar, to the all-out brawls that sometimes took place within these walls. It was Dalius's duty to oversee the area and to ensure that nothing got especially out of hand, while still not diminishing the overall atmosphere. With Romanbak also present, he expected that his job would not be difficult tonight. Given what Dalius had told him the night before, however, Romanbak was not so sure.
“So tell me what Levaricent's been up to,” Romanbak said. “Has he attacked many more people since Niffain's father and myself.”
“Nobody's even seen him since you disappeared,” Dalius replied. “Rumors spread that he had fled into the Koyin mountains after the incident. But ever since then the area surrounding the mountains has gradually become more and more desolate. My father always said that animals can sense the presence of dark magic, much as other magical creatures can. There's no doubt in my mind that Levaricent's still in there, and his power is growing and spreading, and that's why wildlife is becoming more scarce.”
