The Shadow of All Worlds

  ***

  A valley opened up in front of Kae at dawn. It was filled with people, some sleeping, some tending small fires, others talking quietly. More than a few had dirty, bloody, bandages tied over wounds on their heads, arms, legs, chests. Despair, mingled with sadness and lack of home entered Kae’s mind through his separated self. These were the survivors of the Red Lady’s attack, and Kae had known he would meet them, since his separated self had found them not long after Kae had sent it out towards Ebulon.

  He rode down slowly until he reached a man sitting alone by a fire. The man drew a battered and chipped sword as Kae approached, but his arm shook under its weight.

  “I mean you no harm,” Kae said and raised both his hands, palms outwards. But he only dismounted after the man let go of the sword.

  “What happened to you?” Kae asked.

  “Many things,” the man began his voice incredibly strained, sounding like the turning of gravel. “First the Orc Confederation swept through the lands burning and destroying every human settlement they came across, so we fled to wherever we could. Most of us died during the winter, but those of us who somehow still breathed began moving to more fertile areas, places where fruit was beginning to bloom and wild game came out of hibernation. With the Orc Confederation forced back into the Rainlands for a little while it looked like we may have been able to survive, even thrive given time. But then a large army of new monsters came to attack us, killing thousands, wounding more. We had to flee our settlements yet again,” the man said, staring into the fire.

  “The Red Army?” Kae asked. His separated self was there, spying, when the Ulnath had ordered the attack.

  The man peered at him suspiciously. “How did you know?”

  “I’ve heard talk of them,” Kae lied. “But you are safe now? They have not pursued you.”

  The soldier shrugged. “Safe from the monster army, but not from hunger. We chose this valley to hide in because of how desolate it is. Only there is not enough food here to sustain us. Many are already wishing the attackers killed them. At least that would be a quick death, starving to death takes time.”

  Kae ignored the redoubled feeling of helplessness, of hopelessness that came with the man’s words.

  “I ride for Ebulon to warn King Yadi of the armies attacking the people of this land,” Kae said. “I am sure he will send aid to your people.”

  The man spit into the coals, sending sparks flying. “Yadi will not help us. He did little to bring us shelter and warmth after the Orc Confederation attacked his kingdom. But then again, hatred won’t keep us warm or alive. If you are heading there tell them that…that any help would be most welcome.” A fire seemed to ignite in the man’s eyes. “Yes. Please tell King Yadi of our plight. I have seen too many people die to just sit around and wait for more to die.”

  Kae rose. “I will.”

  This was what Protectors were supposed to do. Help the innocent and the wounded. Not guard a power hungry Head Priest on a personal, evil quest.

  He spurned his horse into a gallop as soon as he reached the end of the valley. If the horse was strong enough, he could reach King Yadi in just a few days.

  Chapter 13

  Within the great Tower of Ebulon, King Yadi and his entire escort had gathered within one of the many halls. There was a weariness in the air, the desperation of the last couple of months was beginning to take its toll on their minds and bodies. There was not a single person that didn’t grunt or groan as they took their seats around the enormous table, the collection of sounds ringing through the air like an applause of listlessness.

  The king wasn’t excluded from it, he was just as ragged as his entourage. His beard, once cleanly kept looked more like the uneven bark of a dead tree. As he slowly looked around the room he wondered if anyone else was imagining a great feast, fine wine, bread and meat, and all the other ghosts of gluttony. But the table was bare of any food, the only drink mere jugs of water. Yadi had subsisted on the simple stews that all his people had to survive on and he was sure he wasn’t the only one seeing ghosts of better days.

  He rubbed his eyes, attempting to rid himself of dream desires, which were about as effective as trying to sow a field with a single drop of water. It felt like this was the 1000th time they had gathered to discuss matters of the realm, something each of them was all too aware of.

  “What is to be made of the report by Edo Volis?” King Yadi began. “Of dragons gathered and the two creatures that supposedly rode them.”

  “Actually the report from the lieutenant indicated that only one of the riders was a creature…a large rat of some kind…” It was clear by his tone that Atfan the advisor found the notion more than a little strange. After a moment of awkward silence another advisor spoke up.

  “In all seriousness, my King, I do not think the report should be believed.”

  “You think he is lying?” King Yadi asked, his tone serious yet not aggressive.

  “Not exactly,” the advisor began. “But he did live in those mountains for three months during the heart of winter. An impressive feat to be sure, but I believe extreme fatigue and a lack of a proper diet played tricks with his mind.”

  King Yadi took a long breath, a sound wired by weariness. He certainly understood the notion, even now his mind was telling him a scent of roast beef was in the air, although he knew the last piece of beef had been eaten over two months ago. Still, a small illusion like that was one thing, seeing dragons and a strange creature riding them was something else entirely.

  “There is a problem with such a notion my King,” the golden bearded shadow mage known as Ruian began. “According to the report by the lieutenant, this Edo Volis didn’t even know what a dragon was, apparently they don’t even exist in his world. He referred to them as giant flying lizards…”

  King Yadi nodded, agreeing with his point. “I find it a little difficult to believe that, having never seen a dragon before, he would be able to hallucinate one. Dragons are a breed too terrifying to come from mere imagination.”

  “Still, my King,” the skeptic advisor began. “Three months in the mountains is a long time for someone to be on their own. Maybe he didn’t imagine the dragon but he imagined something riding it. As Ruian pointed out, having never seen a dragon before, maybe the weariness, lack of food and fear conjured the image of the riders, a part of him hoping they could be controlled.”

  Again the notion made sense, but it still didn’t sit right with King Yadi. He didn’t know this Edo Volis, but the sheer fact he was able to survive, as well having come to this world to help Ebulon added a great deal of weight to his words, at least as far as the king was concerned.

  “Maybe, he shall be able to clarify what he saw after his stomach is filled with Ebulon food.” King Yadi barely acknowledged Captain Juruz, knowing that the captain was frustrated that his king allowed Edo Volis to rest within the city, considering how stretched their food supplies already were. “I don’t think the word of this Edo Volis should be dismissed so easily.”

  “My King,” Captain Oeger said. “Perhaps Edo Volis was merely mistaken, perhaps he did see the dragons, but what he thought were riders were something else.”

  “But even if he was mistaken about the creatures riding them, it would mean that he saw dragons gathering it is almost unheard of them to do that. It isn’t mating season after all.” A female advisor added.

  “Perhaps they were fighting over territory, few dragons get along. Maybe what Edo Volis saw was actually disfigurements, scars from wounds so severe that the flesh healed in a disfiguring way,” Regent Jenner explained.

  “That isn’t too far out of the realm of possibility.” Captain Oeger said. “As some of us know dragons are awfully hard to kill, I have seen one with half its spine ripped out, but it survived, the half of the spine out of its body eventually grew scales, making it appear as if it had two tales.”

  “That is true,” Atfan said. “I think he was just mistaken.”


  King Yadi looked to the tall, sharp bearded mage known as Soin as he asked, “Did the search of the mountains by the mages show any sign of the dragons?” Exhaustion really had taken its toll, his mind had too many thoughts in it to think clearly, this was the first question he should’ve asked.

  “The search of the mountains didn’t reveal anything my King,” Soin said.

  “You see,” Aftan added. “It seems this Edo Volis was just hallucinating after all.”

  “I don’t think he was,” Soin said, usually waiting to be addressed before he spoke. “There was something odd going on in those mountains.”

  “Did you not just say that you didn’t find anything?” Regent Jenner asked, slightly bewildered.

  “That’s correct and that is the strange thing about it. We found no trace of any dragon but we found several lairs where a dragon had recently been.”

  “Now that is odd,” Captain Juruz added, his mind deep in thought.

  “Again this adds credibility to what Edo Volis reported, he did mention that they seemed to be heading deeper into the mountains.” Captain Oeger pointed out.

  “Admittedly we didn’t search that far,” Soin explained. “You’ll forgive me my King but I didn’t believe it was wise to go so far into the mountains, there was a very good chance of becoming lost.”

  “No apology necessary, Soin,” Yadi said truthfully. “The last thing I need is to lose more good men and women.” He took a long breath before he added, “If the riders were just mistaken identity what reason could so many dragons have for travelling deeper into the mountains?” His question was only met by a long silence, no one could think of a plausible excuse.

  “If I may, my King,” Aftan began. “Perhaps it is best for the time being to focus on what we know, not what we don’t?”

  King Yadi didn’t like the idea of leaving the question unanswered, but Atfan was right, they already had enough problems without speculating on the habits of dragons.

  “Very well,” said the king. “What is the latest report on food supplies?”

  “Well there will not be any feasts in the immediate future but there is enough food to keep everyone alive for about 5 weeks. However with winter at its end there will be an opportunity to send out hunting parties to gather wild meat and fruit, every body will have to stay on strict rations for a while, but if we can manage to do that, the kingdom shan’t starve,” Captain Oeger said.

  “We will have to stretch our man power even further if we are to gather enough fruit and wild meat.” Regent Jenner pointed out.

  “Well I am hoping that repairing the city walls will be finished by the end of the month, that will allow us just enough man power to gather more food at a quick enough rate.” Captain Oeger explained.

  “It seems the only thing we have a great deal of is weaponry,” Captain Juruz pointed out, having been appointed keeper of arms by the king himself not long after the battle of Ebulon.

  “But not enough hands to wield them,” Regent Jenner countered. Captain Juruz gave Jenner a stern look, one that strongly told him to be quiet. This time the Regent didn’t feed the hostility and kept quiet.

  King Yadi motioned to speak once more when the doors to the hall were rushed opened. The sound of the doors lurching open grasped the attention of everyone in the room. A young messenger ran into the room, her blue eyes widened by concern, her breath hasty.

  “My King,” she said. “My lords.” She added, attempting to control her breathing.

  “What is it?” The king asked as concerned as all of his advisors by how pale she looked.

  “Lieutenant Ulka of the 7th brigade is in the courtyard, he urgently requests that you meet him there, my King.”

  “Why didn’t Lieutenant Ulka come to see the king himself?” Captain Juruz asked, having known Ulka quite well, this seemed quite out of character.

  “Because, captain,” the messenger began before looking back at the king. “He has something to show you, something he said that should never haunt your halls.”

  King Yadi looked around at his advisors, and there wasn’t a single expression that wasn’t consumed by concern. King Yadi stood up thanking the messenger for the news. Not needing to be commanded, his escort followed their king as he left the hall. Yadi noticed how many of the maids and other servants were glancing out of the many windows of the tower, he could hear the occasional whisper from them, but what they were saying didn’t make any sense. His concern only grew when he saw that even the tower guards were beginning to move towards the windows.

  “Back to your posts!” Captain Juruz commanded and the guards instantly followed his orders. Now he became nervous, the guards and soldiers of Ebulon weren’t easily surprised or concerned, but they all seemed filled with both. Now at the lowest level of the Tower, the king and his escort moved quickly towards the doors.

  Once they were open the king slowed right down for he could see what lieutenant Ulka had brought with him. King Yadi moved cautiously, his own face becoming the same mask of concern that the servants and guards had worn.

  On the back of a cart pulled by a horse Ulka had brought with him a corpse. The problem was, the King had no idea what the corpse was. It had the frame of a man, but there was nothing human about it. Its ragged clothes seemed quickly dyed red, although it might just have been covered in blood. The corpse smelled terrible, which wasn’t surprising. But its matted fur and almost wolf-like features were hideous.

  “What is that?” The question was so powerful that King Yadi couldn’t pinpoint which of his escorts had actually said it.

  “What is going on here, Lieutenant Ulka?” The king asked, unable to look away from the strange corpse.

  “My King,” he began. “An army consisting of women, men and creatures like this one have been attacking both our mines and refugee camps.”

  “What?” King Yadi recognized this voice as belonging to Atfan.

  “I am afraid it is true, it is an army dressed in red, they come without warning, often killing all of the women and taking away the men, we are not sure exactly for what purpose, but…”

  “What is it, Lieutenant?” Captain Juruz asked, seeing the despair on the face of his former underling.

  Ulka shook his head as though to shake away his own confusion. “This corpse, was once a refugee.”

  King Yadi narrowed his eyes in shock. “This thing was once a human being?”

  “How do you know that it was once a refugee?” Regent Jenner asked, placing a hand over his mouth. He had never gotten use to the smell of death.

  “This army dressed in red attacked a refugee camp near one of the mines. The Ebulon soldiers were too few in number at the time to intervene. But Lieutenant Nemmin and myself were able to track the army in red, after they had attacked another settlement, and capture this refugee. His mind seemed to have snapped, and his loyalty to someone called the Red Lady was absolute. It didn’t make any sense, a day or two before he was screaming and trying to get away from the army of red. But when we rescued him, his loyalty was indisputable. The small pieces of information we were able to gather from him came under torture and even then he didn’t say much more.”

  When only silence answered him, Lieutenant Ulka opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by his former captain.

  “How do you know this man was from a refugee camp?” Juruz asked.

  “Commander Alatearame had allowed a large number of refugees to settle within forestlands not to far from eastern mines as well as another camp just north of it. After the first attack in the forestlands, we were quick to investigate the northern camp, and this is where this thing once came from.”

  “She allowed them to settle?” Juruz asked, believing that was an accident just waiting to happen.

  “Yes, Captain,” Ulka replied, conflicted between his old loyalty and new found respect for his new unit. “She felt it best to have communication with them. It would lessen hostility, not to mention the f
act that she could keep an eye on them,” He elaborated, knowing his former captain deserved the explanation.

  “You saw this man become this creature…with your own two eyes?” Regent Jenner asked.

  “Yes I did, Regent,” Ulka said. “We had him chained up, still trying to get information from him. It was a gradual transformation, we didn’t know what was happening. The fur had already begun to consume him, and his features became narrowed. The Commander was worried that it was a type of sorcery so we gagged his mouth. By the next morning he had become this beast, the Commander herself put a spear through his throat. I was glad that she silenced his grunts.”

  “What do you mean?” Ruian asked, his knowledge of magic was second to none, but no magic he knew of could do such a thing.

  “All night that is what he kept doing, grunting. It was haunting and loud, even through the gag.”

  “What is going on?” Atfan asked, his tone empty and distant.

  “Perhaps it is the work of the Sack Swords. Maybe Match Head Ged assembled every refugee that was useful to him, and perhaps he gathered more than just warriors, maybe he found a sorceress that believed in his cause?” Captain Oeger asked.

  “It isn’t out of the realm of possibility,” Soin pointed out. “Many human kings had a sorceress under their command. It could be that this Red Lady came from a city that Matchhead Ged had once defended. Sorceresses tend to be very powerful so their loyalty to their kings must be almost unbreakable. It could be she is returning the favor to Matchhead Ged. Still, what kind of magic could do this?” When silence fell it was clear no one had an answer to the question.

  “That could explain why the raids on the mines stopped about a month ago, perhaps Matchhead Ged found this sorceress and decided to make himself an army, using her powers,” said Captain Oeger. Though she had heard what Soin had said and believed in his knowledge, the pieces of the puzzle remained jumbled in her mind.

  “That would explain why they were attacking the mines, but not the refugee camps.” Captain Juruz pointed out. “It doesn’t seem like something he would do, all of his troops were refugees at one time. Attacking their camps would only anger the soldiers he already had. It doesn’t seem like a smart thing to do from a military standpoint and Matchhead Ged isn’t a fool.”

  “Maybe the Red Lady isn’t working for him at all, then,” Regent Jenner pointed out. “As we know the Sack Swords attacks stopped a month ago maybe they were the first victims of this Red Lady? Maybe she is in business for herself. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a sorceress did such a thing.” The mage known as Soin shook his head, taking a step closer towards the strange corpse. “Whatever magic did this is of the darkest kind. If I had to gamble on it, my bet would be this is lich magic, although I have never heard of such a spell.” The rest stayed very quiet. Liches were as rare as they were powerful, even most orc tribes were said to fear them.

  “The only problem with such a notion is that liches take control of the dead not turn men into beasts, this is a much different kind of magic.”

  Soin thought about these words, before speaking carefully, “If it isn’t from a lich, then the only possible suspect would be orcs…although they have little need for a witch, they have magic all of their own.”

  “Maybe she was able to extract such magic from them. A lot of fighting has been happening in the Rainlands between the orcs and the goblins, maybe she was able to capture an orc shaman and discover a way to use their magic.” Captain Oeger countered.

  “I don’t believe she is working for Match head Ged, the colour of the Droakins was always a light green, if he was going to uniform his army he wouldn’t be using red.” Captain Juruz explained.

  “Too many questions and not enough answers,” King Yadi said, more to himself than anyone in particular.

  “Tell me, Lieutenant, are the attacks still going on?”

  “That they are my King, it is one of the reasons why I was sent back to Ebulon alone. Commander Alatearame urgently needs reinforcements if we are going to hold onto the mines. With each attack this army of red has swollen in ranks, there are even Ebulon soldiers that swear loyalty to her now.”

  “Our own soldiers?” King Yadi asked.

  Lieutenant Ulka nodded. “It is as if they are under some sort of spell. I should also mention that in all the attacks the lady in red is never seen. The commanders of the army are always women, but they are dressed in white.”

  King Yadi looked back to the corpse with a shake of his head. None of this was making any sense. “There is more my King, apart from the women and these grunts there have been reports of a male warrior with large yellow eyes and a strange red mask, three feline like creatures and a very young man that fights with his bare hands, using them like claws.”

  King Yadi studied the lieutenant’s eyes, seeing both fear and confusion within them, the same fear and confusion he was sure was now in his own eyes.

  “Lieutenant,” Yadi began. “By order of the king you are too inform Commander Alatearame to withdraw from the mines and return to Ebulon with every soldier and worker at once.”

  “Yes, my King,” Ulka replied.

  “Wait a moment, Lieutenant.” The powerful order came from Captain Juruz.

  Ulka did as he was commanded. Captain Juruz stepped forward towards Yadi as he said, “My King, you want our troops to abandon the mines after all the hard work and labor that went in to forging them. Send troops out to strengthen the guard on the mines, show this army of red that Ebulon isn’t afraid of them. I will gladly lead the reinforcements myself.”

  King Yadi could see the anger in his eyes, he knew how disenfranchised many of his troops had become. But there were other factors, ones that the king simply couldn’t ignore.

  “No Captain,” Yadi replied, showing the strength of his own voice. “We have no idea who this enemy is, what we do know is they have the ability to transform men into monsters and force loyalty from refugee and Ebulon soldiers alike. I will not send troops into such a situation, I will not give this Red Lady a chance to swell her ranks with my own soldiers. Something foul is happening here Captain. It is too big of a coincidence that dragons have been gathering, ridden by a rodent no less, at roughly the same time that this army of red showed up. No, our best chance for survival is to consolidate our forces behind Ebulon’s walls. Until we know exactly what is going on those are my orders.”

  He finished his speech by looking at Ulka. The Lieutenant could tell Yadi wasn’t pleased by Juruz’s anger. The Captain stepped back, taking sharp breaths and biting his tongue in frustration. It simply wasn’t in his nature to run away from an enemy. The king knew this decision wouldn’t bring him any popularity with his troops, but at least they would live long enough to understand why the order had to be made. The kingdom had survived the Confederation of Orcs, he didn’t want to have gone through all of that just to lose his people and his knights to this new threat.

  “I shall return to the mines at once, my King,” Ulka said before mounting his horse, taking the cart with him. Before he had even disappeared from sight Yadi took control of the situation as best he could.

  “Atfan,” Yadi began. “Inform Captain Torrin of the situation and tell him to send every guardsmen that was once a sapper to the construction areas, we need to rebuild our walls as fast as possible.”

  “Yes, my King,” Atfan said before moving swiftly away.

  “My King may I make a suggestion?”

  “What is it, Regent Jenner?” The king asked.

  “If this army of red is attacking refugee sites it is possible that in their desperation the refugees who survive the attacks may end up descending on Ebulon itself.”

  “That is a definite possibility.” King Yadi agreed.

  “With this in mind it may be best if you called Malik for help.”

  “That disrespectful whelp?” Captain Juruz asked. “What good would he be?”

  “I’ll admit the man is not th
e most tactful person, but he was the one who got farmers and market men to stand and defend the second entry point during the Battle of Ebulon. I believe that he might be able to do the same with the refugees. If he could convince them to stand and fight against this army of red, instead of running away from it then we wouldn’t have to worry so much about the refugees attacking.”

  Yadi could feel Juruz’s marble eyes boring into him, but he also knew that the Regent made a very good point.

  “It would also help deter them from becoming loyal to this Red Lady. The words of an Ebulon soldier or even miner wouldn’t be able to do that,” Yadi replied.

  “My King,” Captain Juruz said through gritted teeth. “Have you forgotten our prior discussion on this matter? We do not know who can hear the call, what if someone or something apart from this Malik hears it? Then we would have far more to worry about than this Red Army, the Sack Swords, the refugees or the orcs returning to attack.”

  King Yadi studied the Captain’s eyes in which the anger had been replaced with a sense of panic. Which meant a lot, considering Juruz wasn’t easily rattled. It was a valid concern, but out of the possibilities the refugees attacking seemed more probable.

  “We need to ensure that the ranks of this Red Army aren't swelled further, and I believe this Malik can help prevent it. I shall make the call.”

  Captain Juruz shook his head, anger returning to his eyes as he walked away from his king, not caring that he hadn’t been dismissed. Yadi didn’t say anything about it but he knew that the loyalty of his own troops was wavering. Only, right now he couldn’t do anything about it, he had to focus on the task at hand.

  He looked out towards the world beyond Ebulon, wondering what exactly was happening beyond his city. Regent Jenner could tell that Captain Juruz wasn’t the only one that found his decision unfavorable he found many of the guards and even Captain Oeger looking at him with sour expressions.

  Convincing himself that it was only the king’s opinion that mattered he said, “My King, I should go and wait by the second entry point for Malik to come. I am quite sure that I can convince him to help us.” He was actually anything but sure realizing that he had put his neck on the line, and so would have to find a way.

  “Indeed,” Yadi said. “The rest of us shall return to the hall. Armed with this information we have to make plans in case of an attack.”