Ancient Prophecy (13 page)

“We have all accepted the risk in our travels,” included Jenneva. “Besides, our Junction resides a great journey from here and will not be affected by your laws.”

Queen Alysa frowned with worry. “You do not understand,” she stated. “The danger is not just to the travelers. The danger is to the Universes, themselves.”

“Perhaps you had better explain,” interjected Alex. “We intend to return to our own Universe with or without your leave. If you feel that this travel endangers you, then you owe us the explanation of why.”

“Of course,” King Solva sighed. “From the beginning of time, our records tell of the existence of superior life forces before us. These life forces held great powers, far greater then any known then or now. The forces were of good and of evil. The forces of good were represented by the Mage and the forces of evil by the Demon. In the early times, the Mage visited Elderal frequently and taught the elves much about life, magic, and knowledge. The Mage was the very foundation of our knowledge. The Demon seldom came and never stayed long for he feared and hated the Mage. The Mage taught us much and our libraries still retain most of his writings, although our magicians find many of them vague and puzzling.”

“Are those libraries here in Sorelderal or elsewhere?” asked Jenneva.

“They are here,” answered King Solva. “When we left Elderal, we brought the old records with us so they would not be destroyed by war. It was from the Mage that we first learned of Universes. He delighted in creating new Universes and spending time in them teaching the creatures that sprung up there. That was until the Demon learned to create Universes, as well. The Demon’s Universes were lands of horror with misshapen creatures. Instead of teaching his creatures as the Mage did, the Demon tortured his creatures and toyed with them.”

“Was traveling between Universes dangerous then?” asked Prince Tergota.

“No,” replied the King, “unless you traveled to one of the Demon’s Universes. The Mage felt pity for the Demon’s creatures and tried to help them, but this enraged the Demon and soon the Demon started attacking the Mage’s Universes. The Mage and the Demon battled and the Mage won. The Demon skulked off and was not heard of for many ages. The Mage stopped creating Universes and strove to aid the ones created by the Demon. It was a time of great learning for the elves. I believe that Elderal was one of the Mage’s favorite Universes and he spent much time here, even more time than the Universe he created for humans.”

“The Mage created a Universe for humans?” asked Jenneva.

“Yes,” replied King Solva, “your Universe was created by the Mage, as was ours, but that was long before the great battle. Eventually, the Demon returned stronger than ever. Wherever he had been, he had managed to strengthen his skills. The Demon sent plagues against the land of Elderal. Dark mists he created to blot out the Sun. Hordes of insects stripped the life out of forests and game died for lack of water. Streams and rivers boiled dry. The fish of the sea floated dead upon the surface of the water, their decaying bodies bringing disease to the elves. The elves started dying, but the Mage was not around.”

“Weren’t your magicians able to help?” queried Jenneva.

“No,” answered the elf King. “The Demon was too strong. Eventually the Mage returned and was heartsick with the destruction wrought by the Demon. He battled once again with the Demon, but Alutar was stronger now.”

Jenneva gasped, “Alutar? The Demon’s name was Alutar?”

King Solva looked quizzically at Jenneva but continued. “Yes, Alutar is the name of the Demon. For many days the battle raged and every day both of the great forces got weaker. Eventually, the Mage realized that he could not defeat the Demon and yet his nature would not let Alutar win. The elf magicians were called to help the Mage with their puny skills. Hundreds of elf magicians attacked Alutar with only one goal in mind. They were instructed to destroy Alutar’s ability to view Junctions. Still, the battle raged on for days and the Mage began to weaken. Alutar destroyed most of the elf magicians before they accomplished their goal. The Mage, with his last sane breath, created a new Universe for Alutar and imprisoned him there without the ability to find a way out.”

“So, Alutar still lives,” speculated Alex.

“Yes,” sighed King Solva. “That is why your traveling can destroy us all. Alutar does not know how to find the way out of his Universe, but if he sees someone else using a Junction, he can follow them and finally be released.”

“What of the Mage?” asked Jenneva. “Does he still live? Why did you say his last sane breath?”

“The Mage lived,” conceded King Solva, “but not as you would imagine. He breathed and he could walk and talk, but he no longer possessed his skills. For months the elves cared for him, but his mind was destroyed. No,...damaged is a better word, for he could still think and reason but he had no memory of who he was or where he was.”

“Then where is he?” pleaded Jenneva. “Did he die later or is he still living in Elderal?”

“Neither,” admitted the elf King. “The few remaining elf magicians decided that they had done all that they could do for him. Their ranks were so depleted that their knowledge was insufficient to help the Mage recover. Finally, it was decided that the only hope for the Mage was to send him to the human Universe in the hopes that he had trained more magicians there and that they would be able to help him recover. No elf had ever joined the Mage on his journeys, so they could not be sure of what to do with him once he was through the Junction. One of the Mage’s dearest possessions was a cloak made for him by the humans. It was a bit of a joke in Elderal and even the Mage found humor in wearing it, so he was dressed in the human cloak and was taken through the Junction. The elf that took him to the human Universe heard Alutar speaking to him when he passed through the Junction and the decree to never use Junctions again was instituted. Now you know why you can not return home.”

Despair filled the hearts of the visitors. The trip taken to bring peace to the elves and dwarves had been accomplished, but to bring that news back home could endanger the entire Universe.

“Why was the human cloak so humorous?” asked Prince Tergota.

“The Mage was very happy traveling in elfin garments,” answered King Solva, “but the humans wanted very much to give a gift to the Mage for his help and teachings. They tried to create a cloak superior to the elfin cloak, but they did not possess the skills to do so. The Mage was such a loving father to everyone that he wore the inferior cloak proudly, even though they spelled his name backwards.”

Alex started to ask the elf King about how the elves from Elderal happened to stumble through the Junction later, if they already knew about them, but the question was cut short when they noticed that Jenneva had fainted.

It took several minutes to revive Jenneva and King Solva apologized profusely the whole time for having neglected lunch. He ordered refreshments and suggested they take a break from all the serious talking while they ate. Jenneva finally awoke and looked very ill. Alex held her and tried to give her food, but she refused.

“King Solva,” she whispered, “could the Mage still be alive?”

“I do not see why not,” answered the King. “The records show the Mage lived for thousands of years in our history and they even remarked how he never appeared older. I believe he is immortal, the same as the Demon, but surely he would be known in your Universe if he ever regained his wits.”

Alex looked quizzically at Jenneva as she spoke. “He recovered his wits all right, but not his memory.”

“What do you mean?” asked King Solva.

Jenneva shivered and declared, “I studied under the greatest magician in our Universe and his name is Egam.”

The animal-like scream howled down the mountainside and reverberated through the valley. Dimitri quickly looked up at his fellow Black Devil, Wasar, who was investigating the Junction they had found. Dimitri stood transfixed as Wasar’s form glowed brilliantly and shielded his eyes from the bright nova. Wasar’s body started emitting wisps of black smoke, slowly at first and then increasing until they created a small black cloud rising over the Black Devil’s body. Dimitri watched in a trance as Wasar’s skin began to liquefy, gelling in clumps on his arms and legs. Wasar’s nose melted and seemed to drift slightly to one side as it began to drip slowly, dropping to the rocks at his feet. The bits of flesh burst into flames as they struck the ground and continued to etch into the rocks like a fiery acid and still the screams intensified.

Stunned to inaction, Dimitri was torn between shielding his eyes from the human inferno and covering his ears to block out the inhuman screams that had turned into a wailing, pleading cry for death. Wasar turned slightly towards Dimitri and stretched out his hand, large globs of flesh cascading off the outstretched limb. Dimitri jumped back, but he could not tear his eyes away from his shrieking ally. The black cloud over Wasar increased sending wafts of the stench towards Dimitri who scrunched his nose to avoid the scent of the smoldering, putrefying human torch. Wasar’s ears liquefied and dripped down his neck as Dimitri stood in shock until suddenly he was struck by one of Wasar’s exploding eyeballs. Dimitri turned and ran for his life, leaving his friend to disintegrate into a pile of smoldering lumps.

The Black Devil ran down the mountain path watching over his shoulder as Wasar continued to pursue him. Dimitri tripped and stumbled, his body slamming into a tree. Wasar continued towards him with outstretched arms that were nothing more than bones now, bones and straggling bits of dripping flesh. The screaming slowly diminished to an animal growl, no longer a pleading for death, but now more like the snarl of a flesh-eating carnivore intent on fulfilling its hunger.

Dimitri struggled to his feet and began running again, now paying more attention to the path in front of him than the no longer human creature chasing him. Breathing through his mouth to avoid the stench of burning flesh, Dimitri felt like retching and his mouth and throat seared as if inhaling an acid mist. Deep rumbling laughter roared out behind him overshadowing Wasar’s snarls.

“Run, mortal, if you can,” the voice bellowed, “but you will serve me sooner or later. All will serve Alutar whether they live or die. Run and tell your masters that Alutar will command them, now that I am free.”

Dimitri shivered as the chilling voice raced along every bone in his body. Faster and faster he ran, sweating and shivering at the same time. Dimitri frantically wiped the beads of sweat off his face and arms checking to see if his flesh was dripping or it was only droplets of perspiration. Dimitri ran and ran until exhausted, he slammed into a low lying tree branch and stumbled to the ground. He lay there a moment gasping for breath, his muscles crying out in agony. Dimitri knew he could go no further, no matter what happened to him.

He gazed back towards the mountain path he had descended and saw the growing black mist spreading into the valley towards him. The cloud was so dark that light could not penetrate it and slowly it crept towards him blotting out the shape of the mountains behind it. Gasping for breath, Dimitri clawed at the tree and raised himself to his feet. He knew he could not go any farther and yet he must. He stumbled off in the direction that would return him to Sarac’s castle.

The Black Devil continued to run, past all logic of human endurance, his mind focused only on reaching help. His feet pounded along the trail, but he was long past the point of noticing the pain and stress of running. His body on automatic, his mind only saw Sarac and his fellow Black Devils. He tripped again and his body went flailing into the ravine, his last thoughts were of inhuman torture and the denied pleasure of death.

Dimitri awoke with a start, fear coursing through his mind. He gazed up at the inverted faces of the two Black Devils, his body chilled and wet from evaporating perspiration.

“Dimitri, what is the matter?” quizzed one of the faces.

Dimitri strained to sit up and the two faces knelt down next to him. Alon and Frej, Dimitri realized, recognizing two of his fellow Black Devils. Dimitri rapidly swiveled his head, searching for the black cloud and he found it, larger than any cloud had a right to be. Shaking, he nervously grabbed Alon’s arm.

“Help me up,” Dimitri croaked. “We have to get back to Sarac. Quickly!”

“You should rest,” declared Alon. “Frej and I were just on our way to investigate the strange black cloud. Where is Wasar?”

“Nooooo,” screamed Dimitri. “The black cloud is death. No, it is worse than death. Wasar is dead...No, not dead, but beyond help. Help me get to Sarac before we are all doomed.”

Alon helped Dimitri to his feet, stabilizing the weak Black Devil. “Frej, I will help Dimitri. Run ahead and get an ogre and cart to carry him. Hurry, we will continue on the path until you return.”

Frej took off at a run while Alon threw Dimitri’s arm over his shoulder and helped his associate along the path toward Sarac’s castle.

By the time the ogre and cart reached the two Black Devils, Dimitri was asleep on his feet, being held up by Alon. The ogre picked Dimitri up and laid him in the cart. Alon looked up and saw the black cloud still spreading in every direction, though still several hours away from them. He watched as the ogre jogged off with the cart carrying Dimitri and then continued on his way to the castle.

Dimitri slept on the bumpy journey as the ogre’s great strides whisked him swiftly to Sarac. He awoke briefly at the ogre village when his cart was handed off to another ogre and drifted painfully back to sleep. His sleep was restless and filled with visions of Wasar in varying stages of decay, but in each nightmare Wasar had outstretched arms reaching for him and always he heard the bone chilling sound of Alutar’s voice.

It took several days for the cart with Dimitri to reach Sarac’s castle. He had no idea how many ogres had been used to keep his journey going, but he was physically refreshed by the time the trip ended. Mentally though, Dimitri was exhausted. The continuing dreams and thoughts of how he was going to explain everything to Sarac drained him.