Sea of Souls, page 22
The company turned and marched back down the pass. Toryn kept his eye on the blue, glimmering dome over their heads as they approached the threshold of the curse. As soon as they entered, the shield shuddered, but the company maintained their pace. Toryn’s legs began to weaken. Elrik and Lorek grasped his arms and took some of his weight. But the dome began to splinter. Toryn spoke through his clenched jaw. ‘Not far now. Keep going.’ The cracks widened as if a great weight crushed down upon them.
Toryn’s legs gave way. Elrik caught him. ‘I’ve got you.’ A section of the shield fell away. Shepra whimpered. Outside, a battle raged. Ghostly knights fought against gangly creatures taller than shrouls. Their long, scrawny arms wielded jagged swords and maces with barbed edges. Shields and armor shattered, but the knights battled on. Half of Toryn’s shield crumbled, bringing the ghostly combatants crashing among the company. Toryn cried out. ‘Almost through, keep—’
◆◆◆
‘We made it.’ Toryn opened his eyes. Night had fallen, but the snowy slopes of the Kolososs reflected the faint light of the moon onto Elrik’s face. He beamed. ‘All thanks to you, Tor.’ Elrik whispered, but his words echoed as if carried by the ghost of his breath down the cool valley. He patted Toryn’s shoulder. ‘That was some magic trick, eh. Don’t suppose you could bring some heat from the south. Gundrul thinks it’s best not to light fires.’
Shepra leaped onto Toryn’s lap and licked his face. He looked back along the route they had come. ‘Did you see the battle?’
‘Battle?’ Elrik grinned. ‘The only battle I saw was Gundrul trying to stay on his feet.’
‘Perhaps lucky you didn’t.’ Toryn shivered. ‘This place still suffers the pain of what happened here once.’ The pass appeared peaceful, but Toryn wondered if the ghosts of the fallen still fought their battles beneath the glimmering light of the mountains. He turned. Ahead, a smooth slab of rock jutted out from behind the slopes.
Elrik grimaced. ‘That’s just the top of one wall.’
Toryn reluctantly looked back to Vortimo. ‘I need to get closer. Then I’ll be able to tell for sure if the Amayans yet live.’
‘We thought as much.’ Elrik held out a hand and helped Toryn to his feet. ‘Janae is ready.’ He leaned closer. ‘I think she’s looking for a chance to prove herself. She seems ashamed she couldn’t complete her task earlier.’
Toryn winced. ‘She has nothing to be ashamed of. To come this way alone was beyond most of us.’
Elrik nodded. ‘Janae’s coming. Besides, if two of us accompany you, we can carry you back if your legs fail again. Ha! Remember when I used to carry you over the stream because you didn’t want to get your feet wet?’
‘Perhaps a wise precaution.’ Toryn smiled. ‘Who would have thought we’d end up in a place like this, eh.’ He looked down. ‘And who wants to get their feet wet? Especially in the streams that run through this valley.’
Shepra licked Janae’s hand as she joined them. She kept her eyes on the dog as she spoke. ‘I can find no tracks that could be Amayan, only Nordleng boots and those of other creatures I rarely see. Alas, I suspect at least one droog and a shroul. But shrouls freeze the ground as they tread making it difficult to determine numbers.’
Elrik sighed. ‘But no sign of Amayans?’
Janae shrugged. ‘They’re light on their feet and notoriously difficult to track… if at all.’
Toryn asked. ‘How many Nordleng do you think came this way?’
She met his gaze. ‘I would say perhaps forty in total, but at different times.’
Toryn held out a hand. ‘Then please, lead on. I would be grateful if you could go ahead and check if they watch the approach.’
Janae lifted her hood and wrapped it around her face. ‘Follow twenty paces behind. If they’ve posted a watch, they’ll need the eyes of a hawk to see me.’
They did as instructed and watched Janae disappear around the bend. Toryn looked up to the steep slopes, half-expecting to see shrouls or cobtrolls stalking their progress. All around, the mountain snow glimmered pure white, but the slopes opposite Vortimo were gray. Did the fortress defile the moonlight? He spat. ‘The air tastes wrong. The last time I felt like this was in the Wend Gap. Hamar and I found a Singing Stone. That didn’t end well.’
Elrik whispered. ‘Here she comes.’
Janae hurried back. Her wide eyes shone as she reported her find. ‘There’s no watch, but if I were in that place, I wouldn’t see the need either. It’s… it’s immense.’
Toryn peered ahead. ‘I imagine they don’t get many visitors.’
The three rounded the bend and stood at the foot of Vortimo. Toryn gawped. The fortress appeared to belittle the great mountain from which it had been hewn. It took a moment for Toryn to comprehend what his eyes beheld. A curved wall connecting two lesser peaks formed an outer defense. Behind, the castle keep looked as if the very gods had rammed a sheer slab of rock into the mountain side. A few cracks broke up an otherwise featureless, monolithic wall. The only windows visible were two rows of arrow slits three-quarters of the way up. Toryn craned his neck. Inside the keep, two dark towers rose to the level of the mountain peak. He groaned inside. How could any hope to assail this monstrosity? But Draegelan had done just that. Toryn stood in awe. Draegelan must have commanded a mighty force to breach its defenses, let alone drive out Ormoroth from his stronghold.
He lowered his gaze to the outer defenses standing between them and the steep road leading up to the fortress. In any other part of the realm, the wall alone would be considered impregnable, yet here it appeared redundant. But perhaps the obstacle was meant to taunt and dishearten those foolish enough to believe they could take Vortimo.
The clouds departed from the strip of sky above the pass. The moonlight revealed a great iron gate at the center of the outer wall, sealed shut following Draegelan’s remarkable victory. But centuries of wind funneling through the mountains, aided by ice and driven rain had breached the wall to their right. A pile of rubble lay where a crack had opened into a wide gap to form a convenient, if steep and uneven ramp.
Toryn looked to his companions. ‘I dare not enter the Song up here. I need to get to the other side of that wall. From there, I can get a good look at the whole fortress and find the Amayans by other means. I don’t ask you to come. You can wait here if you wish.’ But they would not have it. Both willingly followed him up the rubble, and Toryn was most grateful for their company. While not as unsettling as the cursed road, standing at the foot of Vortimo overwhelmed them, almost to the point Toryn believed he would be crushed by its giant, towering walls.
They scrambled up the rubble and through the wall. The long, winding road leading up to the main gate was fashioned to leave attackers vulnerable to projectiles from above. Toryn imagined columns of heavily armored soldiers, locking shields over their heads, fighting for every inch as rocks came crashing down from the ledge at the top. And for those surviving the ascent, the main gate resembling a mouth with sharp teeth, awaited them. He wondered once more how Draegelan had managed to win this battle.
Toryn found a position in the shadows and scanned the high walls. He let the farsight take him through the odd cracks in the slab of rock. He soon found what he needed to know, but not what he wanted to see. He ushered Elrik and Janae back through the defensive wall and returned to the waiting Gundrul and company.
29. IN THE MAIDENS' NAME
‘Uluriel must have known I would come to Abernost.’ Nyomae patted Sea Mist’s nose. ‘The Nordleng have been watching this place. They attacked within a day of my arrival.’
Elodi dismounted. ‘Yet I imagine they were not expecting to be disarmed so easily.’
Nyomae smiled. ‘Thankfully Uluriel had not fully prepared them for what they would face. But she appears to know my mind before I do. I must wrest the advantage back.’
Elodi rubbed down her horse’s steaming neck. ‘Will your work here achieve that?’
‘Permit me to answer once out of earshot.’ Nyomae glanced behind. ‘We must assume not everyone is who they appear. But what news of Bardon?’
Elodi lowered her voice. ‘Bardon and the surviving Elites are in good hands.’ She handed the reins to the stable boy. ‘But how long it will take them to recover from their ordeal is another matter.’
Nyomae waited for the boy to lead Sea Mist inside. ‘It cannot take too long.’ She grasped Elodi’s hand. ‘The storm is coming. Their power grows. They will not wait long to strike south.’
Elodi slowed. ‘Have you heard from Toryn?’
Nyomae ushered Elodi through a door and into a small study. ‘He has located the Amayans—’
‘That’s a relief.’ Elodi sighed. ‘If we are to have any…’ she noticed Nyomae’s frown. ‘Is it not good news?’
Nyomae ran her hands along the wall beside a bookcase. ‘While it is heartening to know the Amayans live, I fear they are much weakened by a determined and well-armed foe.’
Elodi’s breath caught in her throat. ‘Is Toryn aware of this threat?’
‘That I cannot tell. He and his company stand in the shadow of Vortimo, which obscures my—’
‘Vortimo!’ Elodi groaned. ‘Why would they enter that cursed valley? It has been sealed for centuries, and for good reason.’
‘He was tasked to find the Amayans. Vortimo is where they are trapped. Toryn is strong and can offer some protection to his companions. But his proximity to that place presents another problem. I can no longer sense his presence, and therefore unable to assist.’ Nyomae turned back to Elodi. ‘But this is not the reason I called you here.’ She placed her palm upon a stone in the wall and muttered beneath her breath. The wall moved.
Cool air rushed through the gap into Elodi’s face. ‘Am I to assume this is why?’
‘Partly.’ Nyomae took a torch from the wall to reveal a steep stairwell leading down. ‘There were rumors of a hidden vault in Abernost, but Sylvena dismissed them as frivolous chatter.’ She ducked through the gap. ‘I will go first to light your way.’ Her voice echoed. ‘But as you can see, Sylvena was wrong, and not for the first time.’
Elodi joined her on the top step as Nyomae whispered another command to seal the doorway behind. ‘And was it Draegelan’s scroll that led you here?’
‘Eventually. The writing was somewhat obscure, but for a reason.’ Nyomae continued with her story as they descended the narrow, winding stairs. ‘Draegelan was wary of anyone stumbling across his musings so did not make it easy. But he has eventually led me here.’ She smiled. ‘Not to mention with a little help from the Maidens and Nym’.
‘I’m intrigued.’
‘As still am I. I believe I’m the first to enter this place since his passing.’
Elodi looked down. ‘These stairs were certainly not made for ease of access.’
‘Precisely. And not built by stonemasons, but by those wanting to keep this vault a secret. It was here before the Seat of Learning was established. I believe Draegelan sanctioned the building of Abernost on this spot because of this vault. And he named it after Aber, an Imaari who made a vital discovery that may be our salvation… or lead to our downfall.’ Elodi went to ask, but Nyomae seemed keen to press on. They arrived at the foot of the stairs. Nyomae’s torch appeared to dim and cast no light beyond her face. She touched Elodi’s arm. ‘Stand still for a moment.’ She waved her palm and doused the flame.
Elodi blinked in the dark. She gasped. ‘The walls! They glow.’ The air warmed as a golden light illuminated a long hall with curved walls and a low ceiling just a few feet above their heads. She ran her hands along the smooth wall. ‘Is this glass? What causes it to shine? I did not know we had such skill.’
Nyomae smiled. ‘We don’t. This was not built by our hands. This is the work of the Elorym.’
Elodi gaped as the light spread to reveal a space twice the size of the Great Hall of Archonholm. ‘Our long dead ancestors?’
‘Long dead, yes, but not the ancestors of most. Although yours, and perhaps partly mine.’ Elodi frowned. Nyomae continued. ‘I believe the Amayans are descended from the Elorym. And my kind, through our studies, may retain some of their ability to hear and use the power in the Song.’
Nyomae led Elodi towards a small, wooden desk and a single chair at the center of the hall. ‘This is where Draegelan spent his days before struck down by sickness.’ She pulled out the chair and offered it to Elodi. ‘Apologies. You have ridden hard to answer my call. Please sit.’ She picked up a jug from the desk and poured a glass of water for Elodi. Nyomae sighed. ‘I have to admit I felt a sense of pride to sit in Draegelan’s seat.’
Elodi gladly accepted the offer. ‘If only sitting in his chair could impart his knowledge and power upon us.’
‘In a way it may do just that. I have learned much from the Elorym. Much that is painful to learn… but learn it I must.’ Nyomae perched on the desk. ‘Now. Where to start. You recall I told you of Sylvena. Against both mine and Idraman’s wishes, she went north in search of a relic which we later learned was a trap.’
Elodi placed down her glass. ‘And you know what this relic is?’
‘Alas, Sylvena was deceived. She believed it to be a source of power that would aid us. I don’t know where she came upon such knowledge as she did not reveal it to the Order. But she made an error in her interpretation of the Verse, one of Ormoroth’s Verses at that. The relic was a great iron pillar, known as the Angorlith.’ Nyomae’s hand ran across the scroll. ‘According to the archives it was set by Ormoroth, fashioned to despoil the heartbeat of the land.’
Elodi watched the light reflecting on the water in her glass. ‘And where is this pillar?’
‘The legends say it is set deep beneath the tallest mountain in the land.’
‘Caranach?’
‘Caranach may be the highest peak in the known land, but there is another. I once heard tales of a gigantic mountain crowned with a fortress of ice, thousands of feet tall.’ Nyomae shuddered. ‘I remember its name: Vorkirik. It’s far to the north where it is said the Evil One sat upon his throne. While I’m uncertain whether that is true, the Nym revealed Ormoroth cast the Angorlith in a great furnace beneath Vorkirik.’
‘And this iron pillar corrupts the Song to this day?’
‘Fortunately, the Elorym perceived its forging, thus set the seven stones of the Amanach to counter its corruption. As the Elorym suffered in their wars with Ormoroth, they saw fit to assign a force to protect the stones.’
Elodi’s scalp tingled. ‘The Amayans.’
‘Indeed. Your ancestors were great warriors trained by the masters of Elorym lore. But the seven stones are now six, and their power appears to be in decline. The Amayans draw sustenance from the stones, so your powers also wane. Their location was hidden from the mortal world, yet now our guards stumble upon them by accident. Uluriel, through the Archon, was able to locate the stone at the Wend Pass. Toryn witnessed its end. If we lose more, our enemy will grow yet stronger while we become weaker.’
‘And what of your kind? Are you also descended from the Elorym?’
Nyomae nodded. ‘I believe that is so. As the Elorym came to accept their fate, they formed the Amayans and the Imaari. The Amayans to protect the stones; the Imaari to resist the corruption within the Song. In their wisdom, the Elorym divided our powers. Thus, it would not be such a blow if either an Amayan or an Imaari fell to the enemy.’
‘Wise indeed.’ Elodi looked about the hall. ‘And what became of the Elorym?’
‘Let me show you.’ Nyomae stood. ‘It will aid us in our battles to come if we know of our collective past.’ She led Elodi to a bed beside the wall. ‘Here. A small comfort Draegelan allowed himself. It may be best if you lie down. The fate of the Elorym is a little distressing.’
◆◆◆
Elodi opened her eyes. She rose slowly from the bed. The tears she shed for the plight of the Elorym had dried on her face. She stared at Nyomae in the golden light. ‘Is all lost? What chance do we have if the might of the Elorym could not resist Ormoroth and his warlocks.’
Nyomae sighed. ‘We can be thankful Ormoroth remains banished from this realm. But even without him, his forces pose a serious threat.’
‘Can we use the power of the Elorym?’
Nyomae sat beside her. ‘Ah. Now we come to why I called you here. I have learned how to access the depths of the Song previously beyond my reach. I can now see deeper into the past, and to places farther afield. But I get ahead of myself. Aber, the man this place honors, found a curious Verse within the Song. It became known as Aber’s Verse, but at the time it was perhaps more in jest than respect. In his later years, Draegelan devoted much time to its study. And I have found what he learned… and I have come to appreciate why he chose to conceal that knowledge here.’
‘Then it is a power you are reluctant to use?’
‘To a certain degree. But I believe I can safely deploy some of his knowledge that could aid our fight.’ Nyomae looked to the ceiling. She took a breath. ‘I have discovered the means to determine the Maidens’ Name of the lesser of our adversaries.’
Elodi gasped. ‘Does this mean…?’
‘I could cast them from this world.’
Elodi released Nyomae’s hand. ‘But if the Maidens know the names of every living being, could they not have exiled Ormoroth?’
‘Alas, they could only create, not destroy. And the dark creatures such as droogs and aralaks fashioned by evil ways, possess no such name. But once the Song was corrupted, the means to unmake is now open to others. But I fear to invoke this power against the likes of Uluriel. To utter the Maidens’ Name of one so powerful could open a gateway to the oldest parts of the Song, and possibly even the Great Void. If I falter, my enemy could drag me down with them. That would be a risk I’d be willing to take if I could remove Uluriel from this realm. But… that is not the only danger. Opening the gateway works both ways. I could, with the slightest mistake, make it possible for Ormoroth to return. Invoking a Maidens’ Name comes with great danger. It is not an act I would use unless all else has failed.’
