Children of the Sun and Moon
CHAPTER THIRTY
The group made camp at the edge of the forest. They had arrived as the sun was setting and everyone was amazed at what lay before them. Miles and miles of sand started right where the forest ended. One moment you are in thick trees, the next nothing but sand.
“This not be possible,” stated Grund, staring at the vastness in front of him.
“This is Death’s Boundary,” remarked Glavlin. “The magic which created the Void expands as far as here. If we had gone west towards the Unmoving Mountains, you would have seen a vast forest turn into a vile swamp. That again is from the magic which has separated the Central Lands from the rest of Melarandra.”
“Will all this change once we complete our task?” asked Koral.
“When your task is truly completed, many things which have not been seen for many years, will again be visible. The shape of the land surrounding the Central Lands will vastly change,” came Maeve's cryptic reply. “Magna Pass will again be travelled,” she added quietly.
“Creatures which were banished from here will again be able to move about these lands,” continued Glavlin. “This forest will continue all the way to the rock formation which was the original Death's Boundary. The desert will start on the other side.”
“And what of the swamp to the west?” questioned Eric.
“The swamp was always there,” commented Darly. “It is larger than it once was and has become more vile and dangerous over the years. However, I am sure at least part of it will remain.”
“Yes, magic somewhat exists in the swamp, so part of it will most likely remain,” came Gillock’s voice from behind.
The entire group started and turned to see the wizard. “Be about time!” exclaimed Grund.
He moved the group to the campsite and started a fire. “We have no need to worry tonight,” he said when he saw the concerned looks on some faces. When everyone had settled down, he began to speak. “First I am going to apologize for leaving as I did. Elizanne was in great peril and I had to intercede.”
Koral and Eric were about to start asking him questions but Gillock put up his hands. “She is fine, and with your father,” he said to them. Both relaxed and sat back to listen to the rest of what he had to say. “I will not bore you with all the details, but there are some things you must know. Duke Dubar is planning to start a war with your father and the crown is the goal. He was going to use your mother and the fact your family possesses magic to persuade the Tower to help him. Lucky for the king, General Traug has renounced his position within the Order and has joined him. I can only assume it's the reason why the Easterners were here was to join up with the fight. I fear the fact they have sailed off is only going to delay the inevitable.”
Everyone sat in silence, taking in all Gillock was saying. Nak broke the silence. “Whenz youz finishes quests, troublez comes.”
“What do you mean?” asked Eric.
“Myz queenz. Shez wants thronez. Wez meantz stops youses butz Nak changez minds. Queenz banishs ussses,” replied Dilmek.
“Iz haves magicz toz gets usses throughz voides,” stated Nak.
“I had known some type of magic was going to be needed to get us all through the passageway which takes us into the Void,” said Gillock. “Is it a spell?”
“Amz spellz,” he replied.
“I see. Malena put a spell on you so you could always travel between our world and the Void. It must have been a very complex spell.”
“Peoplez diedz, demonses cames, cutz me. Myz bloodz mixedes withses demonses ands deadz. Monthsez tookz.”
It was clear by the tone of Nak's voice he was not at all happy about what was done to him, and to create the spell. Gillock could sense the sadness in his voice.
“You speak a word, and all those with you are able to travel into the Void. Is this right?” asked the wizard.
Nak nodded. “Youz knowses spellz?”
“Yes,” said Gillock. “And it's a horrible one.”
Everyone waited to see if Gillock was going to elaborate but it became apparent, after several moments of silence, he was not. Gillock was not planning on saying anything more about the spell. Instead, he was thinking about whether or not he should let Koral and Eric know about Brin, but decided against it.
“We should eat. It is two days travel across the desert and we will need to make sure to make camp during the hottest part of the day and travel during the evening,” said Glavlin.
Malena sat looking at the nothing which was her view from the window in her chambers. By now, Moray would have run off to Lakin, and she had no idea what that meant. For many years, demons had been her allies, doing her dirty work all the while helping her become more powerful. In the beginning, she had desired to rule the Central Lands, but that quickly changed once she realized the powerful nations which existed beyond the Unmoving Mountains, Deaths Boundary and even to the east through the Cyprian Forest. Her dreams turned to ruling all of Melarandra, and it started with finding the Wizards School. She now realized if she had kept her desires small, she probably wouldn’t have been found out, and banished to the Void. She still had no idea how Gillock had managed to surprise her, and cancel her powers, but it no longer mattered.
Destroying Gillock was still on her mind, as was ruling the Central Lands. Malena observed what was going on beyond the Unmoving Mountains, and saw the chaos there. War was happening, and looked to destroy the realm. Perhaps she could use it to her advantage.
Malena had lost Moray, Lakin was no longer her ally, but she now had Vernia. She also knew once she was free more allies would be easy to gather. More determined than ever, Malena knew she must be patient. Eric and Koral would be entering the void within a few days. Once they had completed their quest she was going to push ahead with her plans. Figuring all of her plans were finally going to come into being she could not help but be happy. Clearly, the gods were finally on her side. Smiling to herself, she decided to retire for the evening. Only a few more days.