Blood Bride (Aarabassa World) (12 page)

For two moonwakes and moonsleeps the brothers celebrated their reunion. Leon, relieved that Raphael still lived, and Raphael proud to show off his great achievements to his big brother.

On the third moonsleep the Queen of the dragons, Raphael and Saurlton met with Leon, his leading centaurs and some Cherok tribe representatives. A plan was necessary for the dragons to return and find the Changeling, to seek what had transpired. The turquoise dragon took upon himself this responsibility. And, anyway, it was time he met with his brother. He felt that the Emperor was in need of his big brother to give him some guidance. Saurlton knew that the time was right, he must pass through his own Wall and meet with his fate.

It had been many crossings of the moons since Saurlton had entered into the Darklands. In his dragon form he travelled through the caves to arrive in secrecy at the hidden exit. Cautiously, he emerged. Unsure if his arrival would be anticipated by the Emperor.

Indeed, it was not the monshaads that awaited him. A warm current of heat rushed at him. Flapping his wings in defense at what he could not see, he noticed a lone figure hovering in a haze of grey mist. It was of human shape and remained still, enticing him to approach it. Was this a new trick of the monshaads, to lure him into some kind of trap? The warm air pushed up at his back. It was not an unpleasant feeling, just strange to find such warmth in this cold part of the world.

He changed his appearance to that of a human, with thick clothing against this wretched cold, sensing that this was a welcoming party, not an evil presence. Standing at the opening of the cave mouth, he could venture no further in his weakened human form. The snows were too deep and the winds too sharp for the softness of his skin. Surrounding him were the wavering figures of lost souls, gradually taking shape from pockets of grey hazy mist. The mysterious dark hovering figure advanced towards him. Saurlton did not fear the ghostly souls, he had lived too long to allow his imagination to mislead his judgement. Yet the gentle peace of the past had perhaps subdued his wits, and he shuddered just a little as the figure drew nearer.

The lingering souls whispered in his ears as they brushed past him, prickling exposed skin. This served to pacify him. Now in a calmer state he spoke to the looming figure.

‘If you are a monshaad then show yourself, you bag of old wind,’ he demanded of his tormentor. ‘You clearly have something to say to me so do not waste my time or you may find yourself confronting an angry dragon.’

‘It is not the dragon I fear,’ the figure retorted. ‘It is that I cannot believe my eyes. They said it was the Ancient Mage but I did not believe them. You must be very, very old.’

‘Old, you say!’ Saurlton felt a twinge of annoyance at the insult. ‘Who are you to accuse me of old age when you dare not even show your face. You sir are a coward and I would rather be accused of old age than cowardice.’

Grumbling under his breath at such  an insulting description, the old mage turned his back on the spectre.

‘Yes, it is you Saurlton,’ the figure laughed lightly. ‘Only you could dare to turn your back in a sulk upon an unknown danger that confronts you.’

The old man turned with a large grin to his features, recognising the tone.

‘King Alfred, I do believe it is you who dares to cause me to tremble.’

The shape took form and King Alfred stood before the Ancient Mage.

‘I see you are in a bit of a pickle stuck out here with all these lost souls floating around.’

‘Oh, I don’t know, they’re all pretty harmless, as you know. Come Saurlton, I wish you tell me of my sons,’ the King said excitedly, wanting news of his family.

‘Why have you not made your presence known to the Changeling? Heather is upon the Darklands.’

‘I have gathered the lost souls and keep them hidden from the hungry monshaads. I have no knowledge of what goes on in these lands, only that these poor souls fear the monshaads more than is considered healthy.’

‘It seems to me that you are once again your own person. I had heard that you yourself had become possessed of that retched evil towards the end of your life.’

‘Indeed I was Saurlton but now I have found my strength. I feel my wife’s presence is not far. We need to fathom out how to pass on to the Realm of the Dead then the Emperor can no longer feed upon the essence of these souls.’

The old man looked at the faded shadows of human souls in torment, stuck between life and death. The human King stood in front of him as clearly as when if he were alive. 

‘I am one of the lucky ones Saurlton. I still remember my family and my life. Some of these have been here so long that their memories have faded and they have no reasoning behind their presence any more. They are confused as to why they are here and who they are. They grow angry at those that they can see who still have life within them. They are also goaded with the fear that if they are consumed by a monshaad, then they will live forever within that monshaads identity, unable to escape.’

The cave walls rippled with the ever moving presence of the drifting souls. With mention of the monshaads, the hovering shapes moaned and wailed in fear. Some even flew at the walls in terror, these were the old ones whose happy human memories had faded and they now only faced never ending nothingness.

Saurlton suddenly felt the chilled air on his skin. His breath blew as a steamy white cloud.  Flinging his arms around his frail body, he beat his circulation to warm up his shivering frail frame. 

‘This won’t do at all,’ he mumbled. ‘I might be old but I refuse to suffer the weakness of age in this pottering body. 

‘You need to change back to dragon form, old man, before you freeze to death and join us in our wanderings.’

‘I need you to take me to the Emperor, Alfred. Can you do that?’

‘Yes, I suppose I could take you there. My friends will remain here. I keep them protected from that evil tormentor.’

First though, I wish you to tell me of my sons. I gave them so little towards the end. The confusion of grief had overcome my senses.’

‘You should be proud of such sons, Alfred. They are now men, all of them.’

‘Nay, even the young one?’ Alfred questioned such speedy progression.

‘Amos has gone to the oceans and then on to the deserts. He may not even know of your death yet.’

He has not been heard of since he left the huphin kingdom. Though I do not fear for him, I think he will show his presence when the time is right.’

‘Surely he should be under protection as the new King to the throne?’

‘He would not have done it any other way, even if he was aware that he is now King. He is a natural warrior that one and I know his presence in the desert is of the utmost importance. The Fire Giant lays dormant there.’ 

Leon now leads the mighty centaurs ready for battle in the mid-mountains. He will fight side by side with the dragons. And finally, Raphael.’

‘I know the Emperor does not hold him at this side of the world,’ Alfred offered. ‘He cannot be dead or I should know of his wandering soul. Is it that witch, does she possess my son?’

‘No, none of them.’ Saurlton looked upon Alfred’s shocked features. ‘He is my apprentice and he is destined to become a fine and powerful mage.’

‘Thank you Saurlton,’ Alfred smiled and brushed over Saurltons hand. ‘Thank you for allowing me to see his strengths. I gave him so little love yet I did love him you know. He held the power to remind me of his mother and I could not bear to look upon his familiar face. Never did he show his anger at my ignorance. I will not leave this world with any regrets but that one, my lack of fatherly love for a child who deserved more.’

No more was said between the two. Saurlton had no wish to take away the guilt that Alfred felt, he knew that Raphael hurt badly over the missed love his father never provided. It was not his place to resolve this quandary.

The Emperor looked up at the grey skies, observing the dark shape of a small dragon circling above him. He knew this was not a serpent of the Darklands and he knew there was only one other that could pass through the Wall, the Ancient Mage.

No longer attempting to enlist the vamplin Lord Fiendrac, Morte Bielz hovered over the female vamplin Lady Vatara. Gathered with her were the rebel commanders who led a vamplin army under her command. They had congregated in a clearing of flattened frosty ground on the edges of the winter camp. The Emperor had been discussing a private matter with Lady Vatara. He was interrupted by the vamplin Commander Sherat, who Mindtalked to his Emperor that a strange shape approached in the dark skies.

The dragon looked down at the dazzling snow on the ground below. The thick layer of white snow illuminated to create a false light. Both moons, in their turn, reflected from the snow to create a feint glow. In this part of the Darklands there was never true darkness. The dragon could see a camp of ichales. Straight roads had been fashioned through the ice packed constructions. He ignored the vamplin children who had gathered at the centre, under the protection of the surrounding army. Noticing the farming of the great white bears, he had no remorse of this practice. He understood the ways of vamplins, they would not kill these fine beasts. At the end of the season the bears would be released, in a weakened state perhaps for lack of the rich blood that the vamplins will have taken from them. They would, however, go into hibernation for many moonsleeps and then begin their own breeding season. Perhaps this was how nature had assisted them to overcome their experience with the vamplins.

There was much movement in the dragon’s sight of vision, this was a large camp busy with the chores of the living. He did not need his keen eyesight to see the gathering at the southern edges of the camp. His senses had already informed him that the Emperor was present among them.

Welcome my brother
, a voice Mindtalked to him.
Long have we been parted, Saurlton. Do you come to show your loyalty in my leadership?

Certainly I would wish to discuss this matter,
Saurlton replied as he descended to land next to the gathered party.

Once on the frosty ground he changed to his human shape, adorning thick clothing so as not to suffer the chill too much. These cold lands were a mighty nuisance to an old man’s body.

The Emperor had already ordered the vamplins to disperse. Approaching his brother he felt a stirred emotion of a long forgotten bitter fondness. He altered his essence to create a human shadow. Saurlton looked upon the silhouette of a cloaked human, head covered in a large hood.

I would like to show you my face brother, so you could see me smile to greet you, but alas I no longer hold the desire to be human. You will just have to believe me that I am truly pleased to look upon your presence again
. Morte Bielz greeted the old man.

‘It would be better if you were a good kind leader of these people and not a leach upon their souls.’ Saurlton could find no kind words to greet this creature.

The Emperor gestured to the twinkling silver dots in the darkened skies.

Look up there brother. I believe Aarabassa to be surrounded by other worlds full of other life. There is life aplenty in existence, yet you would deny me one small world. What is this world but a tiny pinprick in a large ocean of worlds?

Saurlton sat his weary body on a large boulder. 

‘Did not my brother protect me from those that might harm me?’ Saurlton recollected.

Indeed, but he also made you aware of the bitterness in this world of turmoil. Our parents were kind, hard working people but still they withered and died for all their efforts.

‘As all life should. Even we, brother, with all the powers that we hold between us, do not even have an inkling of what rewards we might receive when we reach the Realm of the Dead. You never could accept an ending to anything.’

I merely seek to prolong that which I hold dear. You betrayed me little brother so I no longer hold you dear.

‘Life is precious and dear to others?’

Morte Bielz did not respond to his younger brother’s comment. Hovering on the surface of the ground next to Saurlton he maintained his position on equal terms.

Your betrayal hurt me more than the imprisonment that you imposed upon me. I have not forgiven you in this.

‘I do not seek your forgiveness nor your approval.’

Saurlton stood to face the figure that hovered by his side.

‘Why do you attempt to release the creature which will be your undoing?’

‘You should have more confidence in me.’ The Emperor spoke aloud with an eerie whisper, no longer wishing to continue this fruitless conversation with his bitter enemy. Distancing himself from the Ancient Mage he hovered higher above the lone figure.

‘I implore you Morte,’ Saurlton reverted to the familiar name he once called his older brother. ‘This creature is an Opposition Spell. He was created to undo that which I had done.’

Yes, and you took him from me, when I had found him. I will control Vellar and he will destroy your Wall.

The old man sat back down on the boulder. Such excitement made him weary. Putting his head in his hands that rested on his bent knees, he pleaded with Morte Bielz. 

‘Vellar will destroy the monshaad race. You will be no more Morte Bielz Barronz.’ Only the Ancient Mage dare to refer to the Emperor by his full human title. ‘His mission is to defeat all dark magic. He is the only force on Aarabassa that can end the existence of a monshaad Lord. Why can you not see the danger in what you do?’

The difference between you and I, little brother, is that you cannot control Vellar whereas I can. The balance of magic allowed me to create him to undo what you had done
.
I will have him at my control. I have not rested during all the crossings of the moons. I have increased my powers and readied my people for becoming the rulers of all Aarabassa. Now be gone, old man. We have spoken enough. Take your presence away or suffer my wrath. I will spare none, our blood ties ended when you betrayed me and imprisoned me in these Darklands.

Vamplin soldiers surrounded the old man. Was he to become a prisoner? Perhaps it would be wise to allow himself to be captured, then he be could be close to the Emperor and hopefully stop his brother from progressing with his plans.

He was marched through the vamplin camp. In the distance, he could hear the bears roar in their misery of imprisonment. Vamplin children had crowded to watch him pass, as he was led to the caves. He would be guarded closely until the Emperor decided what to do with him.

The silver stars twinkled in the blackness of the skies. As they neared the caves, the noise of activity subsided and he felt calmer. The vamplins were an industrious race and their camps were as busy as any human village. He entered the dark cave opening, smelling dampness on the stone walls. At least the chill of the cold winds were gone, he could sleep for a while and then make his decision later on what his next move should be.

With the knowledge that Raphael was ready to take his place in the world, he was confident the humans were ready for battle, but if it was possible to avoid battle then that would be a more acceptable conclusion. He had known all along that he could never persuade his brother to end this madness. He lay his weary bones down onto the animal skin they had left him, and closed  his tired eyes. Sleep, he needed to rest, just for a short while.

A grey shadow looked over a sleeping old man. The vamplins had not noticed the spirit of King Alfred drifting in the air when they had left the old man to rest. He could not trick the monshaads but the vamplins could not see the lost souls so easily. He would wait patiently until the Ancient Mage awoke. Somehow, he needed to find a way for the lost souls to leave this world and move on to the Realm of the Dead. The old man did not hold the key but the destruction of the monshaads surely would. Why did the old man not want to be rid of the monshaads?  Brother or no, this had to be the answer. Vellar must be released.