Eluan Falls: The Tides of Utter Undoing Read online

  “You’re being called back to the palace,” said Tyeche when he came up to the men.

  “On who’s orders?” asked Sturren.

  “Empress Marina wants to have a word with you,” he said.

  “We take orders only from Emperor Heric Caning. No one else,” stood Madri.

  “The Empress understands that. Nevertheless, she is just as concerned about the mission. Abigail was her friend and confidant. She wants to know of your progress.”

  “Tell the Empress we are working on it,” said Madri. He turned away from the man on horseback. Madri and Sturren still had a lot of ground to cover that day.

  Sturren heard the sound before he felt it. It was a swift break in the wind then a pinch in his throat. When he looked down he could feel the tip of an arrow brush up against his chin. His chest grew wet with blood. He dropped to his knees.

  Madri turned back to Tyeche, but it was too late. The little man was in the air. He dived at Madri with a knife in hand. Tyeche’s weapon pierced Madri’s chest. Their bodies collided, and Madri dropped to the ground. The air left his lungs under the crushing weight of his opponent.

  Tyeche stood up. Madri was dead, and Sturren was soon to follow. Tyeche kicked him over for good measure. Out from the alley came Kastor. He was older. His white hair reflected in the sunlight. He put his bow back in the harness across his back.

  “Good work,” said Kastor. He spoke in their native tongue of Louson. Nobody spoke it in Eluan and they could speak freely. He looked back at the house the two soldiers came from. “Would have been nicer if they had finished the job themselves.”

  “You can’t count on demon worshipers,” said Tyeche. “Despicable.”

  “Leave the bodies,” said Kastor. “We have to return to the Empress. She will want to know everything has been taken care of.”

  Tyeche spit in the direction of the house. The three ladies had scared him, but he would never admit it. They were Eluan’s problem. Not his. Not yet.

  Chapter 6

  The construction continued at Insabal’s Canyon. There were no further attacks from the avadons. Heric oversaw much of the development. Like many of his projects, it was moving slowly.

  Then, later in the day, a commotion came from the other side of the field. Yelling carried out all the way to the cliff base Heric and Forman were meeting at with the construction leaders. They turned to investigate the new situation, worried the avadons were returning.

  Instead, it was a messenger. He was covered in rags, but he stood proud. The man’s eyes kept scoping out every soldier that surrounded him. His hands were empty and stretched out from his body. He was defenseless, but he never looked worried, even as the soldiers drew their weapons. The man simply kept repeating, “I am here to see Emperor Caning. I have a message for him. I am here to see Emperor Caning. I have a message for him.”

  Heric watched as the man repeated his words over and over.

  “I am here to see Emperor Caning. I have a message for him.”

  He never yielded to the Eluan soldiers. It was a discipline that Heric was impressed by. Very few men could hold their confidence against the Eluan army. It was also a thought that worried Heric.

  He left the confines of his carriage. Forman followed. The royal guards surrounded their emperor as they approached the messenger. As they got closer the man never budged. The messenger remained at attention.

  “I want to talk to him,” said Heric. Instinctively, the soldiers parted ways. There was nothing left between Heric and the man with the message.

  “What is your name?” Heric asked as he closed the circle around the messenger. Eluan had him surrounded.

  “My name is Jorli,” said the messenger. He never slouched. His eye line stayed on Heric.

  “You realize, Jorli, it’s very dangerous out here,” said Heric.

  “Yes, I saw the battle earlier. You showed great courage, Emperor Caning. Were those the avadons we have heard about?”

  “Yes, and they are not to be taken lightly. Sending a messenger alone through the forest is dangerous. I hope you were paid well.”

  “I had my orders, sir,” said Jorli.

  Heric stiffened up. It was starting to become clear where the man was from. He knew it was only a matter of time.

  “What is your message?” Heric asked.

  “As per the Treaty of Prial, Emperor Caning, you are expected at the Capitol by my commander and leader, Aldrin the Ageless. He will be arriving in a few days.”

  The joy immediately left Heric’s face. The Eluan soldiers tightened the weapons in their hands. Every one was pointed in the direction of the messenger, Jorli. He remained unfazed.

  “Aldrin is not allowed in the Capitol while the Emperor is not there,” said Heric.

  “He is already on his way. I was sent ahead, but I had to come here to find you. You are half way across the world. It is not Aldrin’s fault that you will not be at the Capitol.”

  “He knows better,” said Heric.

  Jorli’s expression changed. He glared at Heric. “So do you.”

  Then, in one swift motion, Jorli shoved a hidden blade from his sleeve into his neck. Blood drained out to the ground. Jorli dropped. He was dead before anybody could react.

  Heric turned away. He had no more concern for the dead man. He and Forman hastily walked back to their carriage.

  “It’s time for us to go,” said Heric. “Get your men. We need to get to the Capitol as soon as possible.”

  Chapter 7

  The rising sun began to warm the air around him. The road was rough against his feet. His shoes had been destroyed some time ago. There was no longer feeling in his body. Every step was like walking on a cloud.

  The man was a stranger to this part of the empire. His black hair reached beyond his shoulders. His beard curled in every direction. What was left of his clothes hung in tears over his body. He dragged a bag behind him. It clanged against every rock he passed.

  He had been walking for days. None of the other travelers paid the man any mind. It was not unusual to see someone in such despair on the roads anymore. There were still so many wandering, lost.

  A caravan of soldiers approached the disgruntled man. They came up from behind on their horses and surrounded him. The dust took a moment to settle. The man continued walking unfazed by the disturbance. Random mumbles could be heard under his voice. He shoved his way through the horses until he was free then kept walking.

  The soldiers followed suit. They surround the man once again, this time giving no leeway for the stranger.

  “Where are you headed?” the commander asked.

  The man mumbled under his breath. None of the soldiers could make it out. The stranger’s eyes never made eye contact. They bounced from one focal point to the next.

  “We are here to help?” the commander tried again. “It’s dangerous to be walking the roads alone. Where did you come from?”

  The mumbling continued. None of it was coherent. The stranger plastered a smile onto his face, like a joke had occurred that only he knew about.

  “If you are unwilling to accept our help then we will leave you be. There are others that welcome the aid of the empire.”

  The commander ordered his men out. They had to continue their patrol. The horses kicked up dust once again. The stranger stood still, his body frozen in place.

  The commander looked back after a moment. They had left the man behind, but he did not begin walking again. The man looked up to the sky as if hypnotized by its vastness.

  Then the stranger collapsed onto the ground. His body lay lifeless, sprawled across the ground.

  The commander shook his head. He couldn’t get the man out of his thoughts. “Pick him up,” he ordered. “We’ll take him with us.”

  Chapter 8

  The Eluan Capitol could be seen on the horizon. The legion of soldiers remained cold at its presence. Despite returning home after their long journey, they still ha
d a duty to do.

  As they approached the city’s walls the men’s horses were urged faster. They were racing into battle.

  The towers donned the welcoming flag. But it was not for the returning Emperor. These flags were for guests of the Eluan Empire. Beads of sweat appeared on Heric’s forehead. This moment was always in the back of his thoughts. Ever since he became Emperor he was expecting a visit. He had hoped it would never come, but he couldn’t fool himself. The Tcher Islands had returned to Eluan.

  Heric halted his men. Forman raced to the front of the group to stop them from going any further. The front gates were only a few hundred yards away. There were citizens coming and going with no problem. Heric waited a moment before he spoke.

  “We are home, but remain vigil,” he began. “The welcoming flags have been raised. We have visitors. The Tcher Islands are here.”

  Everybody sat up a little bit straighter when they heard those words.

  “You all will accompany me to the palace,” Heric continued. “These men are our allies, but do not let down your guard. Do not take a step back for them. This is your home. Do not show fear.”

  The legion continued on. They marched through the streets. People had to scrunch to the sides to allow the passing men. There were no longer any smiles. Each face was expressionless. Heric and Forman led the way.

  The soldiers stopped at the palace steps. They remained in formation. Heric and Forman stayed on their horses. They waited for a greeting.

  The front courts of the palace remained quiet. None of the soldiers spoke, and the few people roaming the front gates were quickly on their way out. Each step was light as if they did not want to be heard.

  After a few minutes, a squire hurried down the steps to his emperor. He kept his head low afraid to make eye contact. When he reached Heric, he bowed several times. It was his way of an apology.

  “Greetings, Emperor Caning,” said the squire. “They… they came without notice. There was nothing we could do.”

  “When did they arrive?” Heric asked.

  “Yesterday,” said the squire, shaking.

  “Fine,” said Heric. “You may go. Return to your home. Tell whoever you see to stay off the streets for the day.”

  The squire ran off. He did not wait for any further commands. Heric turned back to his men.

  “Remain here,” he said. “If any Tcher leaves this palace you make sure they leave the Capitol walls.”

  “Yes, sir,” the legion yelled in unison.

  Heric and Forman dismounted. Heric unhooked his sword from its strap across his back. He tied it to his horse. Forman held on to his weapon.

  “Are you sure about this?” Forman asked.

  “The Treaty of Prial needs to be held,” said Heric.

  “You’re walking into this situation unarmed.”

  “If Aldrin is in there then so should he.”

  “And if he’s not?” asked Forman.

  “Then strike him down.”

  The two men walked up the steps. There were no further obstacles. They walked straight through the palace. Each door was opened for them with urgency.

  They approached the emperor’s grand hall. Outside the doors were eight Tcher soldiers and three Eluan guards.

  The eight men from Tcher lounged in the room. Five of them stood at attention while the other three sat against the wall. They did not have a care in the world. They were the Elite Guard of Tcher. They protected Aldrin the Ageless.

  The three Eluan guards stood at attention at the doors leading into the grand hall. Their hands held tightly onto the swords. Their eyes never wandered off the closest Tcher soldier.

  Heric became furious. “What are you doing here?” He demanded to know.

  The Tcher guards turned their attention to the Eluan Emperor. All but one went back to staring off into space. The Tcher guard, Eviton, stepped forward. He stood up straight. His hands spread out as if to show he was unarmed. He was the oldest of the bunch. Three fingers were missing on his left hand, only his pinky and thumb remained. His bald head displayed a giant scar across the scalp. It reached all the way around his skull. Even the wrinkles that started to show his age could not cover up the blemish.

  “Aldrin the Ageless wishes to speak with the Emperor. It is a pity he is not here,” smirked Eviton.

  Heric walked up face to face with Eviton. Eviton shadowed him by six inches.

  “Your master has every right to come see me. I have more concern with you and your fellow guard. The Treaty of Prial clearly states Aldrin is allowed in the Capitol with one guard. I count eight.”

  “We fight as one,” said Eviton.

  “Then you will leave as one,” said Heric. “Not doing so will be seen as an act of war.”

  “You wish to start the war right here?” pushed Eviton.

  “I will gladly strike down you and your men,” said Heric.

  “With what?” Eviton asked, glancing at Heric’s empty hands.

  Forman walked up next to Heric. In his hand was his own sword. Across his back was another, ready to be put into action by Heric.

  “You are not armed either,” said Heric.

  The two men stared at each other. Out of the entire Tcher elite guard, Heric had known Eviton the longest. Eviton had been around during the war with Prial, many of them died by his hands.

  “Order your men to leave,” said Heric. “I’ll give you a minute to discuss which one stays with Aldrin.”

  Eviton looked back at the other guards. He nodded his head. The others jumped to their feet. The Tcher guards began their walk out of the palace. Heric watched them all leave. He looked each one in the eye as they passed him.

  He had never seen the entire guard before. Aldrin had not been on the main land for over a decade, and Heric had not been to the island since longer than that. The last few times Aldrin had made the journey Eviton accompanied him.

  Two women, Serean and Rilla, passed him first. Their breasts were non-existent, and their hair cut off.

  Jasper followed them. He was covered in chain-mail. A small hump could be seen on his shoulder. It shifted as he walked by.

  Luca snickered as he passed Heric. His blonde hair covered his eyes. Only his teeth showed on his face. They all came to a point.

  Mylo and Worl towered over the others, but only because Worl was sitting on top of Mylo’s shoulders. They walked gracefully together as one.

  Falon was the last to approach the emperor. He was still a distance away. The wall was too relaxing. Before he could walk away Eviton broke stride and left Heric’s presence.

  “Who is staying?” Heric asked.

  Falon came up to Heric. He cracked his neck as loud as he could.

  “He’s already in the hall with Aldrin,” said Falon. “They are enjoying the company of your wife.”

  Falon smiled and kept walking. Heric and Forman did not move until the Tcher guards were out of their sight. Their men outside would escort the Tcher beyond the city gates.

  When the coast was clear Heric and Forman readied themselves for the grand hall. Heric had had enough. Aldrin had been a thorn in his father’s and uncle’s sides for decades. Heric promised himself it would not be the same now.

  They entered the grand hall. Across the room Marina was sitting on her throne to the left of Heric’s own seat. Kastor and Tyeche stood at either side of her. Pacing back and forth was the ninth member of the Tcher elite guard, Genom. His skin was almost as red as his hair. At his feet were two animals. They walked on all fours, but their back legs reached back and dragged on the ground. The leashes wrapped tightly around their necks against their sagging fur.

  At the center table was the honored guest. From the distance his frame made him look like a young boy. Up close was a different story. The years were worn under his eyes. His skin sagged around the neck. His fingers were pruned to the bone. He was an old man trapped in a boy’s body. He was Aldrin the Ageless.

  “Heric Caning, my how you’ve grown,” greeted Ald
rin. “Your beautiful wife was gracious enough to welcome us into your lovely city.”

  “That is very generous of her considering your visit was unannounced,” answered Heric. He gave a quick glare to Marina.

  “An ally of Eluan is always welcome into our borders,” she defended. “When I heard Aldrin was coming I jumped at the chance to meet him. I had learned very little about him until the other day. Did you know his island grows topia fruits? They grow no other place in the world.”

  “What brings you to the main land, Aldrin?” Heric asked. He ignored the ramblings of Marina.

  “A lot has happened this past year apparently,” he said. “I must have missed some of those messages, as per the treaty. I would hate to think you’ve decided to go against your father’s wishes.”

  “Speak for yourself,” said Heric. “You know very well how many guards may accompany you into the Capitol.”

  “My mistake. I guess we all can forget some of the rules we made for ourselves.”

  “What do you want to discuss?” Heric said.

  “Your father was a much better conversationalist,” Aldrin mused.

  “I am not my father. I do not have the patience he did.”

  “It was never his patience that kept me around. It was our history. Something that we do not have.”

  “We have plenty, Aldrin. I was around for your raid in New Salid.”

  “It was a revolt,” Aldrin dismissed. “Wretched people. Thank you for handling it on your end. I took care of the rest.”

  “I am not afraid of you,” Heric said firmly.

  Aldrin shrugged off Heric’s last comment. “And why should you be? As I understand you have something far worse to fear. Your trip across Insabal’s Canyon brought back an invading force.”

  “The avadons,” breathed Marina.

  “Yes, they do sound interesting,” said Aldrin. “They destroyed Myrus. That’s a shame. I liked that city. It lost some of its flair those last few years, but it could have come back.”

  “The avadons are being handled,” said Heric.

  “Are they?” questioned Aldrin. “Guards are posted at every inch of the horizon. Yet people still run scared. They disappeared into the forest, nowhere to be found. It must be horrible.”