As the light of the new day reached into the bunkhouse, it received an unwelcome reception. The warriors wanted twelve more hours of sleep. Yet, they knew there was a difference between fantasy and reality. By lying in bed they were wasting valuable time. The warriors were interrupted when Sid started to bark and scratch at the closed door of the bunkhouse. Coaldon staggered to the door to let his friend in. Sid nearly knocked Coaldon over as he bounded into the room. Barking loudly, he pounced on Topple’s huddled body. A deep rumbling sound emitted from Topple’s chest. With irritability, he slowly opened his eyes. He was preparing to transform Sid into a lizard. Sid paid no attention to Topple’s threatening behavior. He tugged on the wizard’s clothes with his teeth.
At that moment, a horse whinnied nearby. Topple’s eyes opened wide. He jumped out of bed and rushed out the door. Rose Petal greeted him with a loud whinny. The horse wheeled and kicked. Rose Petal’s short legs supported a round body showing many years of hard service. Her brown, black and white coat had the pattern of a rose petal over her hindquarters. Her head was short and wide, with a lazy downcast appearance. Topple grabbed Rose Petal around the neck and kissed her. He would not leave Rose Petal to join any of the group’s activities for the rest of the day. Topple and Rose Petal had a mysterious bond that went beyond normal communication. They walked around the farm sharing their friendship. Words were not spoken, yet they found understanding just being together.
After a big breakfast, Pacer called everybody together. He started, “What do we do now?”
Dod responded, “Doria and I agree the farm is no longer a safe place to live. We will move to the Village of Grandy. We will only take what is essential. Coaldon, would you please go with Rosa and find the horses that were scattered when the trogs attacked.” With smiling faces both Rosa and Coaldon nodded in enthusiastic agreement.
Pacer interjected, “We need help leaving the Great Plains undetected. Every effort must be made to eliminate suspicion while traveling to Neverly. Noel’s safety cannot be jeopardized by any mistakes. If the rescue team approaches Grandy from the Great Plains, we will be subject to scrutiny by Wastelow’s spies. Can you help us?”
Dod paused before he spoke, “Two of you can act as our hired hands. The move to the village will justify the help of two hungry vagrants. The others can hide in the wagons until we arrive in the village.”
Pacer commented, “Your plan sounds great to me. We need to leave tomorrow if we plan to arrive in Neverly by the first day of spring.”
The farm was busy with people moving back and forth preparing for the trip. Dod and Doria had to make many decisions on what would stay and what they would take. Several times Doria blinked back tears when she had to sacrifice a personal treasure. Yet, she knew necessity dictated austerity. She did keep several keepsakes as mementos of their good life on the farm. By evening everything was ready for the trip. The family spent a restless night dealing with the changes in their lives.
When the morning sun spread over the farm, everybody gathered for the final farewell. With tears in his eyes, Dod set fire to the buildings. He burned the buildings to keep the farm from becoming a staging point for trogs. Without looking back, the family climbed onto their wagons and started towards the village. From this moment on, the family would look to the future and not dwell on the past.
All the warriors, except Topple, had dressed in vagrant clothing. Their beards and old clothing, plus a coating of dirt gave them the appropriate appearance. Topple could not understand why he should be anybody but himself. Pacer tried, without success, to convince him to put on clothing that would change his appearance.
Topple clearly stated, “I will not cover my gorgeous face with dirt or wear anything but my precious robe.” Topple believed there was some old magic in his robe. He clung to it like a child holding on to a special blanket.
Pacer and Coaldon assumed the role of being hired hands for Dod. They drove the wagons and assisted with repairs. While riding in the wagons, Topple, Brother Patrick, and Earthkin were ready to hide under a tarp to escape detection.
The road to Grandy improved as they traveled closer to the village. It took several hours of steady traveling for the party to reach the first farm. Dod decided to visit with the Rosic family to find out the latest news. The Rosics were happy to see their distant neighbors, but saddened to hear that Dod and his family were moving to Grandy.
Dod stated, “We were attacked by beasts from the wilderness. It is too dangerous for us to live on the farm.”
He advised Jeffda, “You should set up a militia to protect yourself.”
Jeffda responded, “I do not believe a militia would be necessary. We will be all right. Emperor Wastelow and his soldiers will protect us.”
With unfriendly glances, Jeffda watched Coaldon and Pacer. Strangers, especially vagrants, were viewed with contempt and hostility.
Dod left the Rosic farm with a sense of despair.
He stated to Pacer, “The people of the Empire have lived in peace for many years. For most citizens, war is only the subject of ancient stories.”
Pacer followed, “Maybe, we have taken too much for granted. We have had it too easy.”
Dod responded, “Sadly, people do not seem to appreciate their simple blessings. The emphasis has been on personal gains, not the betterment of the Empire.”
Pacer concluded, “The Empire may pay a terrible price for becoming so complacent.”
As the wagon slowly lumbered down the road, they passed many small farms spread across the horizon. The farms were a beehive of activity as farmers prepared for spring planting. The reinvigorating warm spring air purified and refreshed the farm houses. Farm women worked to remove the staleness of winter and replace it with the freshness of spring.
The wagons, pulled by four large horses, made better time as the road improved. The local farmers banded together to put down a rock base under the road to insure year round travel. The sun was setting as the party approached a forested area. At this point the farmlands gave way to the gullies and woodlands bordering Rolling River. Dod suggested it was best to set up camp for the night in a secluded area. The campsite was blanketed by the lush spring grass and surrounded by a wall of trees. A small, gurgling creek meandered through the clearing.
After a quiet night’s sleep, the party was ready for an early departure. The sun rose as the wagons headed down the road. The descent from the plateau into the river basin was steep and winding. A long, narrow tunnel of trees enclosed the road. The quietness caused by the cover of trees created a sense of entrapment. A feeling of isolation and loneliness grew as the travelers went deeper into the forest and dense undergrowth. Coaldon and Pacer noticed the quietness of the forest became deafening. There were no sights or sounds from the birds, insects or animals. When Pacer and Coaldon reached a wide clearing, they pulled their wagons to the side of the road. As Coaldon stepped down from the wagon, a sensation of evil passed through him. He walked several strides from the wagons, but could not detect anything unusual. Each member of the party was happy to take a break from the bone-jarring impact of the wagons.
Dod was checking the horses when a black mist flowed around him. He shouted in fear when he started to lose control of his thoughts. Coaldon was the first to identify what was happening. Coaldon observed the mist penetrating Dod’s body. Coaldon pulled the Blade of Conquest from the scabbard and pushed its tip into the mist.
He ordered, “Be at my command! Remove yourself!”
The black mist slowly flowed out of Dod’s body. Once the mist withdrew, Dod collapsed to the ground in a state of shock.
Coaldon said to the black mist, “Open your consciousness to me!”
The black mist gave a grunt of resistance as it slowly yielded its power to Coaldon. As the mist succumbed to Coaldon’s control, it changed colors from black to a bright red. Coaldon formed a mental link, through the mist, to its master.
Coaldon said in a commanding voice, “What do you want?”
The visi
on of a charming face clouded Coaldon’s mind as an enticing, gentle voice engulfed him.
It said, “With whom do I have the pleasure of sharing this most fine moment? Do not be bashful. We can be good friends.”
Coaldon responded, “Greetings! I am a beggar wandering the Empire.”
The melodious voice probed, “You hide from me. I wish to know your name. I offer you the gift of my great wisdom and friendship. Join me.”
Coaldon started to feel himself drifting into the grip of the wizard’s magic. He held his sword with renewed strength saying, “I locate myself in the heart of the One Presence. I am the nightmare you search to conquer. Your hand aches from our last meeting. Why do you try to entice me with empty words and vile actions?”
Crossmore understood he was being challenged. His brooding pride could not allow any challenge to his power. He erupted, “You dare play games with me! You must be a bumbling fool! I am Crossmore the Great. Your simple mind is only child’s play for me. I look forward to enslaving you as one of my pets.”
Coaldon responded, “You must not understand the danger you are facing. Your defeat is like a storm on the horizon.”
Crossmore’s sweet voice responded, “Oh simple child, do not bask in empty arrogance. You will be mine to destroy.”
His voice then changed from the coo of sweet enticement into the tone of wicked authority. In a booming voice, Crossmore commanded, “I order you to release your soul to me!”
Coaldon fell to his knees as the surge of Crossmore’s power overwhelmed his mind and body. As Coaldon knelt on the ground, his pale, trembling face grimaced in pain. He knew he had to defeat Crossmore’s attack or lose his soul to darkness. He desperately hunted to find a way to escape from the attack. As he searched, a stir of awareness drew his attention to the hint of a blue light. This light illuminated from deep within his being. He cleared his mind of all thoughts except for his focus on the light. Out of the haze grew a quiet pool of blue water. Guided by an unknown impulse, he drank from the pool’s refreshing water. As the water flowed into his spirit, he felt a pulse of power.
Coaldon looked up from the pool to see Crossmore’s hand straining to grab the essences of his soul. He knew he would need to strike a blow against Crossmore. As he watched, the pool of water was transformed into a reservoir of blinding light. This expanding surge of power pushed and pulled violently within him. He felt as if he was being torn apart. Coaldon realized an enormous flood of energy was trying to escape from him.
Out of fear of being consumed, Coaldon raised his sword into the air, focused his attention on Crossmore and released the throbbing force. A bolt of lighting erupted from the tip of Coaldon’s sword and disappeared into the blue northern sky. The blast of energy was so powerful that each person standing next to Coaldon was knocked to the ground. A clap of thunder shattered the silence of the forest.
In the West Tower of the Palace in Neverly, Crossmore stood with sweat running down his face. He looked into the mirror, straining to control Coaldon. He had never faced a person with such power. Then without warning, a bolt of lightening shattered the mirror and exploded in the room. It emitted a blinding flash of bright colors. Crossmore was blown backwards into the opposite wall of the tower. He sagged to the floor in a state of agony. He could smell the odor of his burning hair and clothing. He stumbled across the room, grabbed a pitcher of water and poured it over himself. His clothes and face were powdered with black soot created by the explosion. He staggered to the window to escape the toxic fumes.
As he stood by the window, rage dominated him. The tremor of Crossmore’s anger sent an earthquake rattling through the tower and into the city. People stood in fear as the black smoke boiled out of the tower windows. The citizens measured the degree of Crossmore’s anger by the power of the earthquake. They rushed to find shelter before Crossmore released his vengeance on whomever was nearest.
As Crossmore’s anger dissipated, he looked over the city and into distant lands with a growing uncertainty about his new opponent. His trembling body was bruised, battered and burned. His mind was in a tormented fog of confusion. He had trouble just walking across the tower to the door.
As he stumbled down the long staircase, he said to himself, “It is good for me to have an opponent worthy of my great magic, intellect and strength. I will destroy this slimy blob of scum. I will dominate all living things. Next time, I will be ready for him.”
Coaldon remained on his knees with his head drooped onto his chest. He felt a void of awareness. He was empty of the life energy needed to survive. He could not hear the voices of his friends or perceive his own substance. The surge of energy had literally drained him of all presence. His attack on Crossmore was an undisciplined and reckless release of his essential life matter.
He finally collapsed onto the ground in a pile of ruin. With a serious expression on his face Topple sat next to Coaldon. He realized Coaldon had nearly destroyed himself. Topple placed his hand on Coaldon’s head with the gentle touch of a new mother. He began to chant a litany of words from an ancient elf language.
Topple said, “I hope I can reach deep enough into your soul to pull you out of your nothingness.”
After Topple had struggled and toiled for an hour, Coaldon slowly opened his eyes. He looked around the meadow and gave a sigh of relief. He gave Topple a smile and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
“We won” said Topple in a quiet voice.
Coaldon was loaded into the wagon, and the trip to Grandy continued with a renewed sense of urgency. It took several hours to navigate the road through a series of curves, ruts and potholes before entering a meadow next to Rolling River. The North South Road could be seen in the distance with the usual flow of horses, wagons and hikers. The tree covered banks of Rolling River were attached to the horizon.
Pacer parked the wagons in a clump of trees to rest the horses. When the wagons stopped moving, Coaldon awoke with a gasp of breath, sat up and looked around. As he stepped from the wagon, he was greeted with excitement and big smiles. He had a difficult time remembering what had happened.
It was not long before a crackling, warm fire lapped at the bottom of the cooking pot. Everybody watched with anticipation as the midday meal of meat and vegetables slowly simmered. Dod sat next to the fire with glazed and anxious eyes.
He finally looked toward Coaldon, saying, “What happened when the mist attacked me?”
Coaldon was slow to answer, “Crossmore uses the black mist to search the Empire for news and information. The black mist is an ancient evil Crossmore retrieved from the Chamber of Oblivion. The Chamber is located in the center of the earth where evil creatures and spirits are imprisoned by an elfin power found in the Key of Ban. Crossmore uses the mist to enter his victim’s minds, seeking knowledge and control the unsuspecting person. You are lucky he did not inject his poison of hate and anger into you. By the way, what did you experience?”
Dod’s confused thoughts and emotions limited his ability to answer clearly. “I just remember a dark - ah - cloud - no, spirit - oh, something dirty entering into my mind. I remember hearing a sweet voice inviting me to become his friend. I do not remember telling the voice anything.”
Coaldon said. “You heard Crossmore’s voice. He uses the mist to reach across the Empire. It is difficult to fight off the enticing call of Crossmore’s evil seduction.”
At this point Coaldon proceeded to tell the group about his battle with Crossmore. The young half elf explained, “Once I had gained control of the black mist, I challenged Crossmore without thinking about the consequences. As Crossmore reached into my mind, I first felt the magic of Crossmore’s alluring presence. This attraction must have been enhanced by a magic spell. Several times during the battle, I felt I was losing control to his overwhelming power. Not until I reached for my inner strength was I able to resist his attack.”
He paused before he continued, “At this point, I began to search for a way to strike a blow against him. For some reason,
I found a deep pool of peaceful blue water in the core of my being. As I drank from this pool, a swell of power began to grow within me. At first it appeared like streams of light expanding in ever-widening circles. Finally, the pressure of the energy began to rage out of control. I remember releasing the expanse of energy into the face of Crossmore. At that point, everything became deathly quiet. A void of emptiness replaced the force of the light. I looked around, but I could not see, feel, hear, smell or taste anything. I was not conscious of myself until Topple pulled me from my world of empty realities.”
Topple said, “I will call this most interesting encounter The Battle of Two Minds. By the way, young man, you almost died from the battle. You must learn to use your powers in a controlled manner. I will talk to you later about what you must do to survive such surges of energy.”
Pacer followed, “After the meal, we must leave for Grandy. I suggest Topple and Earthkin wait in the forest for our return. There is no reason for you fine gentlemen to take the risk of visiting the village. I also believe it would be best for Rose Petal to remain in the village with Dod. The danger we will face on the road and in the mountains will be too much for this gentle creature. We will return tomorrow morning.”
The meal was consumed with the casual conversation of good friends. Topple and Earthkin took the needed camping supplies and found a comfortable hiding place. Sid remained with the two campers. The two wagons traveled across a wide expanse of open ground before reaching the North-South Road. Pacer and Coaldon sat in the driver’s seat as they approached the ferry crossing the Rolling River into the Village of Grandy. When the wagons pulled to a stop, the ferry attendant looked at Pacer and Coaldon with contempt. Dod stepped down from the back of the wagon to negotiate the price for the use of the ferry. The attendant recognized Dod, but continued to glance at the two vagrants driving the wagons.
The attendant said to Dod, “Who are these two miserable creatures? Where did you find them?”
Dod responded, “Good evening. It is good to see you. They are just hired workers helping me move to the village. Evil beasts from the mountains attacked us several days ago. It is no longer safe to live on the farm. Do you know of any houses for rent in the village?”
The attendant confided, “I would imagine those beasts were the handy work of the old couple living in Lost Valley. The old man and his half-elf grandson are bad business. By the way, check with Dame Rocksmith about a house to rent. She lives on the south end of Apple Street.”
Dod paid the attendant his fee and crossed the river without delay. The streets of the village were empty of people except for several children chasing a chicken through the grass in an empty lot. Pacer and Coaldon drove the wagons directly to the house of Dame Rocksmith. After introducing himself, Dod chatted with her about the rental. He accepted her terms of rent and directed the wagons to a house next to the river. The old, brown, two-story house was sheltered under a cover of many large oak trees. It was well maintained, with a flower garden and a comfortable porch. The interior was clean and ready for the occupants. Pacer and Coaldon helped unload the household goods from the wagon and into the house. The sun was setting when Pacer, Coaldon and Brother Patrick said farewell to the family. Dod and Doria had long faces as the three warriors slipped out the back door and into the night.
Rosa’s heart sang after she hugged Coaldon goodbye. “I am worried about him,” she thought, “but I feel so happy. What is wrong with me?”
~ ~
Unpleasant Welcome