The Dark Citadel: A Classic Fantasy Adventure, page 1
The Dark Citadel
A Classic Fantasy Adventure
This is a work of fiction. The characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Peter Servidio has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.
Copyright © 2022 Peter Servidio
First Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
Table of Contents:
Map of Capris
Chapter One - Hamish Jones
Chapter Two - Obious Doxyll
Chapter Three - Akita Naksumi
Chapter Four - Darwen Healerheart
Chapter Five - Setting the Course
Chapter Six - One Night
Chapter Seven - Preparations
Chapter Eight - The Departure
Chapter Nine - The Dragon Breath Waters
Chapter Ten - The Forgotten Islands
Chapter Eleven - Ferdland Outpost
Chapter Twelve - Into the Orcish Wastes
Chapter Thirteen - The Pit of Sorrows
Chapter Fourteen - A Stop at The Temple of Ah
Chapter Fifteen - To Far Reach
Chapter Sixteen - The Ring of the Pale Rider
Chapter Seventeen - Loss is Real
Chapter Eighteen - The Endless Ruins
Chapter Nineteen - Fighting Back the Darkness
Chapter 20 - Returning to Bek’Thar
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Chapter One - Hamish Jones
The village of Rand, located on the northwestern portion of the main continent of Capris, was a place to retire and farm. Each homestead was a self-contained commune where one could live unbothered and spend their days in private contemplation. A warm easterly wind constantly caressed the fertile landscape.
Hamish Jone’s muscular arms swung the scythe smoothly through the stalks as the sun shone down on the swaying barely. With practiced ease, the scythe’s blade glided left to right with a quick flick of his wrist, and in perfect synchrony, his blade moved left to right. The stalks of barley fell gracefully to the ground. Hamish would have the front acre of the field hedged within the hour at this rate.
Pausing, Hamish withdrew a small piece of cloth from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from his brow. He heard the distant sound of hoofbeats, and they drew his attention to the north road leading to his farmstead. It was uncommon for anyone to visit his home, especially this early in the day. He kept an eye on the horizon.
Having a conversation with himself, he recalled it had been nearly twenty years since he’d seen someone from the capital come to Rand, let alone approach his home.
He saw the rider pushing the steed at full gallop. The rider wore King Eldritch's traditional messenger garb of the Settler's Point's capital. His royal blue jacket trailed behind him. Hamish lost sight of the lone messenger as his view was obstructed by his house.
He let the scythe fall to his side, where it hung by the old and worn leather strap on his right side, and placed the sweat cloth back into his pocket. Heading across the field to investigate, he soon emerged from the hedge line, catching sight of the rider heading away from the cottage and Hamish’s wife making her way back inside.
As Hamish entered the modest dwelling, the smell of his wife’s, Candace, boar stew filled his nostrils. He would be glad to have a quick bite before returning to the fields, but first, he wanted to know the rider's business.
“Candace, who was that?” he asked.
Candace stepped out of the kitchen area, “You don’t recognize one of your king’s messengers? I thought for sure….”
Hamish cut off his wife, “Enough! Just once could you give me a straight answer?”
Turning back to the kitchen, Candace offered, “The scroll is on the counter. It carries King Eldritch’s seal.”
Hamish picked up the finely crafted scroll and examined the wax seal holding the King’s mark, making his way across the well-worn floor. It must be time, he thought.
With a twist, the wax seal crumbled, and he unrolled the parchment. The flowing writing belonged to the Archmage Zander Folis, the top advisor to the king. It read:
It is with a heavy heart I send
this message, my friend.
King Eldritch, at my advice,
is demanding your immediate
presence at the Royal Court
in Settler’s Point. The land
of Capris requires your skills.
I will see you soon.
- Zandar Folis -
Rolling the parchment, Hamish placed it on the table and made his way to the stove where the pot of boar stew set simmering. He grabbed a spoon from the counter and tasted it. Closing his eyes he thought to himself, this is the best yet, before receiving a light smack to the hand by a ladle.
“I just wanted a taste.” He replied, rubbing his hand in mock pain.
“If you want some I can fix you a bowl. But you’re not going to just eat out of the pot. Maybe I can put some in the trough for you if you’d like,” Candance replied, with her right eyebrow raised, staring at Hamish in playful disapproval.
“Well I unfortunately don’t have time to sit down and eat. I just wanted a taste,” he said as he made his way to the barn.
Once inside, he went to the back corner and moved the hay scattered across the floor, revealing a small trap door. Lifting the heavy panel, a large pouch was revealed below.
Hamish’s muscles flexed as he lifted the heavy bag from the hole. Placing it on the ground, he opened the top and withdrew the contents one item at a time.
When he had completed taking out the contents, he looked at the finely polished set of light chainmail and a gleaming, two-handed bastard sword which glowed with a faint golden radiance. Lifting the sword, the familiar feel of the handle was comfortable. It was hard for Hamish to believe it had been decades since he had wielded Sunderbane, but it felt good to hold the weapon in his hands once more.
He donned the armor and secured the sword to his back with practiced ease.
Making his way to the kitchen once more, he saw Candace reading the scroll silently. She barely moved her eyes from the scroll to ask, “Your skill set? I didn’t realize word had traveled to them of your master farming skills. Will you be personally tending to the King’s fields or are you training others?”
She could see Hamish wanted to smile but fought it. Before quietly exiting the home, he kissed his wife on the forehead.
With that, he moved back to the barn, saddling his steed that stood ten hands tall, mounted it, and without another word to Candace, rode out into the midday sun towards the road leading to Settler’s Point.
Hamish took one last look at the life he had made for himself, seeing his cottage slowly disappearing and his wife standing there, Hamish knowing they would not see each other again. Facing forward, he grabbed the reins signaling his horse to gallop faster. The quicker he could get away from Rand, the easier it would be to follow through on his mission.
Chapter Two - Obious Doxyll
“No! Obious, I have told you before, you can not drain all the life from the land. Our world’s nature demands a balance!” Instructor Salo held up his right arm as he spoke, letting the black robe slide up, revealing a withered arm covered in taught and wrinkled skin. “A lesson I learned the hard way! I do not wish the same for you.”
Obious, a frail male no more than twenty years of age, leaned against a withered tree as he struggled to breathe. The Earth around him where he stood was blackened and dead. The Witching Tower could be seen in the background casting its large shadow across the training field.
The Witching Tower stood for nearly ten thousand years as a testament to the natural magic of Capris. Many mages had trained, and many had died on its grounds, for the magic of Capris always maintained a balance. The equation was simple: If a mage took too much from the land, nature would take the mage’s life force in return.
Straightening himself, Obious pushed himself away from the now dead tree. As he responded to his instructor, he could feel the skin on his neck go taught. “I know, Salo. It is just that the power feels so….”
“Complete,” Salo finished his student’s sentence. “But as I have told you before, you must always maintain the balance or Capris will extract its toll on you. Your potential is strong, but you must find control.”
“Class, we must never be consumed by the power, because it will consume you.” Salo said as he walked down a line of young trainees.
Obious stepped out of the patch of dead ground and adjusted his robe. “Try again,” Salo instructed. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he felt the natural power all around him. He willed them into his body, focusing on the tendrils of energy he could almost feel. He then directed the energy out from his hand in the form of a glowing sphere which shot across the open ground and exploded against the far target, leaving nothing behind.
As the energy continued to flow into him, Obious felt euphoric; but he concentrated on what Salo had said and severed the conduit be
Salo watched Obious draw in the power of the planet. The land around him began draining of life, the grass turning from green to yellow and brown, but as the conduit was broken, the color returned to the grass around Obious, just not as vivid as it once was.
“Better, we must all take care to not make the same mistake as those who have fallen before us. At this very spot.” Salo stated.
As the word was spoken, both Salo and Obious had their vision quickly drawn about ten yards to the East, where a small portal began to open. The portal started as a blue sphere no more than a foot in diameter and stopped growing once it was about four feet across and just over six feet tall.
As it reached its final dimensions, an older man with long gray hair, flowing freely in the wind, only held out of his face by a circlet of gold, who donned a full beard, that reached down past his midsection and obscured much of the front of his blue satin robe. The way he stepped through with an air of supremacy. Captivated Salo and the trainees. As his second foot found its place on solid ground, the portal disappeared, leaving the open air behind him.
“Archmage Folis! It warms my soul to see you.” Salo called from his position to the West.”
Lifting his hand in a gesture of acknowledgment, Folis responded, “And mine to see you, Master Salo. But I fear this is not a social call. I am here to declare a summons from the King.”
Salo nodded, “I am ready to do as the king demands.”
Turning to look at Obious, Folis continued, “Aye, I know my old friend, but the summons is not for you. It is for young Obious Doxyll.”
Obious looked confused, “Me?”
“Yes, lad. What say you. Will you heed the call of your king?”
Everyone looked to both Obious and Salo in shock.
Obious looked from Folis to Salo. Salo nodded before Obious responded, “Of course! With my life.”
The Archmage smiled, “It just may cost you that.” And with a snap of his fingers, the portal leading back to the King’s chambers materialized.
“After you,” Folis said as he motioned to the portal.
Obious glanced over to Salo, looking for permission to enter the portal and see if he was coming too. Salo just gave a silent nod towards the portal forming. With that Obious stepped towards the portal, taking one last look at Salo before stepping through as Foils placed his hand on Obious’s shoulder following closely behind.
As the portal closed the others huddled around, whispering, wondering why he was summoned to see the King and more so why the Archmage had teleported here to get him.
“All right, trainees! Back to work, the matter is not of our concern but your studies are.” Salo said as he waved his arms to regain their attention. Salo took one last look towards the Tower and led his class in instruction once more, “your turn Luis, let me see your best. Please mind the power you draw. We do not want to have any fatal accidents today.”
Salo thought to himself as the class continued. What could the King possibly want with Obious? He was barely a man and though he was learning well in his studies why wouldn’t he want someone with more experience? I do hope the young one will be okay.
The thoughts continued to race through his mind for a few more moments until he realized there was no sense in playing the guessing game. Obious was needed for something important and he would have to play his part.
Chapter Three - Akita Naksumi
The Chow’lea had inhabited the world of Capris long before nearly all the other races, except for the Forgehide who were said to be created in sync with the planet. This race of feline humans had always lived in tune with nature. A graceful race, their sleek and muscular bodies wear covered with fine fur. But the true distinction of their feline heritage was their eyes. Their feline pupils and dark yellow coloring were unhidable and gave them the ability to see what others could not.
The people’s weapon of choice was the double-bladed longbow. This allowed them to fight both from a distance as well as up close. And the Chow’lea took their training seriously.
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The sleek and toned arm covered in a soft silky fur drew the 120lb pull recurve bow back with ease. The bright orange feathers of the arrow tickled Akita’s cheek as she inhaled. Holding her breath, she listened to her heartbeat:
Thump…thump…..thump.
She felt the beats slow, and a calmness washed over her as she chose the space between beats to let the arrow loose. The bow’s string snapped forward, gently brushing her cheek and sending the arrow flying through the air. It flew straight and true, spinning slowly as it traveled across the space from where she stood until it hit the target nearly three hundred yards away.
“Well done!” Tel’sar shouted as Akita removed the blindfold covering her feline eyes. Squinting, she saw that her arrow had hit the ten-inch target just left of center.
“Not well enough, the arrow must be at least three inches from the bullseye,” Akita responded. The frustration in her voice not listening to Tel’sar.
Tel’sar took Akita’s humanoid hand and brought it to his cheek. She could feel the soothing purr he offered.
“Thank you, Tel’sar,” she offered, “but as you know, when it matters, there is no room for error.”
“Not even a couple inches?” he chided.
“Not even a couple of inches,” she echoed.
“Alright then, Highness Nakasuni,” Tel’sar used her formal title, “Let’s try once more.”
Akita Nakasuni, Princess of the Chow’lea, slid the blindfold back over her eyes before knocking a second arrow. Tel’sar gave her direction, “You are down wind of the target and four degrees removed from center,”
Akita adjusted her footing and aim by doing a quick calculation in her head. She could feel the breeze coming towards her and lifted the bow a bit higher accordingly.
“Shall I aim for the bullseye or the previous arrow?” Akita asked.
Tel’sar suppressed his smile. He knew she was not over-confident, but it still came across as cocky. “Shooter’s choice,” he offered.
Again, Akita focused on the beating of her heart.
Thump…thump….thump…..thump.
As it slowed, she again chose the space between beats to release the arrow. As it left the bow, she quickly drew another arrow and let that one fly as well. They both flew straight and true, covering the distance with the first striking the target dead center and the second splitting the initial arrow that sat inches left of center in half.
As Akita removed the blindfold, her vision was obstructed by a flash of blue that started as a small orb about ten yards away and slowly grew to the size of a sphere four feet in diameter and about six feet in height.
Archmage Folis stepped out and tipped his hat in greeting as the portal reached its full dimension. “Highness Nakasuni, Windwalker Tel’sar, I apologize for the unannounced interruption.”
“No apology is ever needed from the king’s top advisor,” Tel’sar said, bounding forward and dipping into a formal bow. “It is our pleasure to be in your presence.”
“Yes, welcome Archmage,” Akita added. “You are most welcome in Quenos Ley, always.”
“I thank you, Highness, for the words of welcome. However, they bring no comfort to the news I bare. The king wishes an audience with a Chow’lea emissary post-haste. Matters concerning the old ones.” Folis spoke pointedly.
Tel’sar began to speak, but Akita interrupted him, “Archmage, if it is a matter than can not wait, I will join you and represent the Chow’lea.” Turning to Tel’sar, she continued, “Tell my father I will be meeting with King Eldritch and will report back once we know more.”
With a bow, Tel’sar answered, “As you wish, your highness. We shall not delay this anymore.”
Archmage Folis motioned to the portal, and after Akita stepped through, he followed with practice ease.
Chapter Four - Darwen Healerheart
The Bek’Thul Mountain Range covered much of the northwestern continent of Capris. Their peaks were high and snow-covered, but it was not their height are breadth that held their secrets. Oh no, the Bek’Thul Mountain’s secret lay deep below in the heart of the ground they sprung from. The Bek’Thul gave birth to and were home to the Forgehide, a stout people who were one with the minerals of which they were created.
