THE YOUNG SHALL INHERIT
Aerolan Saga: Book I
By
Larry W Crow and Jennifer L Ricks
Aerolan Saga: The Young Shall Inherit
Book I
Copyright: 2001, Larry W Crow & Jennifer L Ricks
All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained is prohibited without the expressed written permission of Larry W. Crow
ISBN10: 0-9744042-5-X
ISBN13: 978-0-9744042-5-7
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting our hard work.
Interior Map by: Larry W. Crow
Table Of Contents
Prologue
Death Unadorned
Again
Summons
Haughty
Tribulation
Perchance Hope
Impetuous
Pride
Imperium
Anisah
Gathering
Geth'n
Rebuff
Obstinacy
Discord
Garv'n
Travail
Rab'k
Sojourn
Deception
Voravia
Resting Place
Together
Decisions
Parting
Evil Waits
Destiny
Concerns
Pursuit
Treachery
Confrontation With Evil
Unrelenting
Allies
Discovery
Search For A Friend
Solace
Guardian Reborn
Hidden Forever
Borny'a
Captured
Revelation
First Battle
Next Installments
The Authors
Narhtrae: A World in Turmoil
And our thanks:
Larry Crow:
To my loving wife, Penny – who has supported, and encouraged, me all these years to finish what I started
And to my co-author for her diligence, patience and intelligent input throughout the whole wonderful process.
Jennifer Ricks:
To my family and friends who have offered encouragement and support for this work.
PROLOGUE
The intent and not the deed
Is in our power; and, therefore, who dares greatly,
Does greatly.
Arsan'h – Book of Aerolan VII
For those of you who would know the truth, I, Kalbr'an of the Al-Esfer'n, have come to tell these tales of a time after we created Aerolan and after the creation of mankind.
We all shall look nearer, first to a world man named Narhtrae and to a time when there was a greater need for these men to combat the darkness.
If you are a pilgrim on this journey, then you should know what has gone before. Of great universal magic, mystical wisdom freeing life for this world and others; of great tragedies transpiring, by and to the gods and man; of a need for these things about which I tell you now; and of the days to come.
Let us then begin.
I will tell you of the Al-Esfer'n, rediscovered and reborn on Narhtrae, who bring yet another great change in the lives of man, and how they lost their home and regained another.
And too, of the Om-Esfer'n, who would destroy it all.
May this tale bring you fear, but hope; it must, inevitably, bring you wisdom . . .
The world Varkan glowed softly in the light of all three moons floating above. This had always been -- since the creation. The moons seemed always present, at least one hung silently in the heavens each night.
The people of this beautiful world discovered the value in a beneficent life; their passing through this time and in this place was filled with contentment.
Today, there was no living thing for the moons to shine upon.
Today, the air moved softly through the great trees covering the surface, but there was no sound -- only quiet, a vacuum. Nothing stirred, it was mortal life ended.
Time no longer mattered.
In this First Age, when the Al-Esfer'n were populating planets with living beings, Baalsa'n, an Om-Esfer'n, raised objections to the creation of mortal beings. He began to interfere with the projects of the others. He became more vehement in his disapproval with each new world settled.
Then he began to destroy; he conquered. He raged and began to enfold himself in the convictions he had the power to overcome what the others were doing. He became enraptured with evil, banded with others of his ilk, gathered a great force -- a mixture of other diabolical Om-Esfer'n and ogreish mortal beings from many of the planets.
With magic and his huge force of malcontents, Baalsa'n easily overcame the unsuspecting mortal inhabitants and crushed any resistance the Al-Esfer'n were able to conjure to defeat his evil. He wreaked a terrible and gruesome devastation on the inhabitants, and, on the Al-Esfer'n, when he could find them.
With this terrible host, he swept clean all the planets standing in his path.
The attacks surprised the Al-Esfer'n, many of them had taken residence on each of the planets to teach; they were overwhelmed by this horrific force. Most lost their existence.
The Al-Esfer'n gathered to stop Baalsa'n and there were great battles fought. Some won, some lost. In the end, Baalsa'n was the victor.
In the destruction of this life the Al-Esfer'n had given to the worlds and destruction of all they hoped to achieve, there was now only a void - a terrible consequence of Baalsa'n's evil.
Varkan was the last of all known creations to fall.
By a grievous error, these things came about; there had never been a consideration in the plans of the Al-Esfer'n for such evil as they encountered, especially from one of their own.
Baalsa'n was not only a disappointment, but a deadly one. He was conducting a witch hunt for the living. His forces swarmed through towns and villages, seeking those Al-Esfer'n who still lived.
In Taymal'n, a seaport of the Southern Ocean, a small troop of armed soldiers trotted through the streets near the center of the demolished city. Their feet crunched the shards of pottery, glass objects and other household items thrown from the homes destroyed along the way.
These troops moved almost silently and without caution, searching for survivors, not expecting resistance.
One group seemed especially successful in their pursuit.
Rounding a corner, they came upon a barricade of sorts. Piled high were timbers and furniture from some of the homes. Twined through the upper reach-es were electrified wires, small flashes leaped from these, sparking as a slight breeze moved the wires enough to make contact.
The leader of the squad held up her hand and the rest slowed to a stop, dodged into the shadows, glaring into the dark, looking at every window in the buildings still erect, waiting for an attack.
None came.
There were whispers near the leader. She stepped out, holding her hand aloft and then suddenly dropped it. A thump from the firing of a small launcher jarred the ground; the missile flew over the barrier and exploded violently beyond.
A building creaked as it
leaned more precariously, eased over with increasing momentum and, as portions broke away, crashed to the empty street below.
The officer once again raised her hand and gave a spinning motion.
Four of the squad leaped up, charging the barricade. Grunting and swearing as they ran across the haphazard surface, weapons swinging loosely from one hand while the other grabbed for obstacles to help them climb toward the top, they began to scale the barrier. Reaching the top, they squatted, looked over carefully and could see no activity.
They looked down at the officer. She held up two fingers and moved them forward. Two of the men rose quickly and took one step toward the top.
Just as they rose to move across, two rapid, low-powered shots rang out from behind the troops and the two men on the barricade dropped.
Before any of the others could turn to find the source, Areb'l had shifted his weapon into a high yield setting, spun around and fired at a building behind them, completely ripping a window and one corner from the building. The remains crashed downward smashing into other buildings, raising a cloud of dust as it struck.
“Sniper!” he shouted, ducking back into the shadows on the other side of the street. High intensity rapid fire assaulted the buildings near where his round first struck the building. Masonry flew every direction; the building was being demolished by the onslaught.
Quickly, the officer ran into the moonlight, held her hand high and rapidly pulled it down. The firing stopped.
She motioned for Areb'l. He, dodging carefully from shadow to shadow, leaped and rolled behind a battered divan with her.
“What did you see?” she asked him, bending closer to whisper.
“There was a small arms flash, where I first shot,” he answered, pointing to the area, “I saw someone, or something, jump back into the shadows and run back into the building”.
“Good work,” she looked into his eyes, noting the strength in them,”take Luro'm and search.” We're going to stay and clear this away and continue on to the harbor. Meet us there.”
“Yes Sir,” Areb'l nodded, “we'll get this bastard. C'mon, Lur.” He waved to Luro'm to follow him.
He jumped, running toward the area of his assault; the other soldier close behind, dodging from one piece of rubble to another. They ran to the entrance to the alley below where Areb'l had fired.
After they ran down the alley a short distance, leaping over obstacles while keeping their weapons at ready, Areb'l held his hand up.
They stopped, catching their breath, while they listened for any sounds. Just beyond was a low wall, perhaps intended to separate two living areas. They approached slowly, crouching until they reached it.
“What now?” whispered Luro'm.
“We have to go over and keep searching, but Leanna won't be happy if we're not at the harbor soon. I'll go first. Wait five seconds, then follow,” Areb'l answered.
Areb'l placed his weapon across his back, reached up, grabbed the edge of the wall, and pulled himself up and over.
“All clear?” Luro'm whispered.
No answer. He stood a moment, waiting his five seconds then he too climbed up the wall and dropped into a crouch on the other side.
There was no sign of Areb'l.
Where is he?
There was no activity, it was deadly quiet. Luro'm peered into the dark but could see nothing.
Suddenly a flash of light caused him to straighten, his eyes blinking with the pain. A hand, with a whistling murmur, chopped Luro'm in his throat with a powerful stroke. He dropped his weapon, his eyes widened, he reached for his throat. Blood began to burble from his mouth. Slowly he tilted and fell forward on his face, still holding his neck. He was dead before he hit.
Areb'l look around to determine if anyone else was near. Deciding there wasn't, he looked down at the young man lying in death and shook his head.
“Sadness is all war brings,” he murmured, turned and ran along the street a few sections before turning into a smaller alley. Traveling along it for some distance, crossing streets cautiously as he went, he came to a street crossing he recognized.
On the far side and about half a section to his right, was a small tower standing silently next to the rumble of the building formerly attached. At the base of the tower was a door, somewhat akimbo but still clinging to the frame.
He looked both ways, moved around the corner into the shadows of the street, slid along the opposite wall until he was directly across from the tower.
He darted across and stood against the wall next to the hanging door. Behind the door was a makeshift panel covering the opening.
Areb'l reached his free hand behind the door, still watching the street with caution, and slammed his fist against the panel. He paused for a few seconds then lightly knocked on the panel three times, then repeated the sequence.
He waited a moment, held himself against the wall, prepared to run into the shadows if something unexpected happened. But the panel slowly eased away from the doorway and left an opening through which he stepped.
The panel was replaced quietly, but quickly. A small light illuminated the chamber.
There were about twenty people gathered; their eyes filled with certain fear. They were hiding from the holocaust outside, trembling and desolate. His sud-den arrival surprised and frightened them.
Kalbr'an stepped forward and clasped Areb'l in an embrace that spoke of a long friendship.
“You made it,” Kalbr'an, eased out through anxious lips. “Thank you for this.”
“I could not have done otherwise. This is an atrocity. I never wished to participate in anything like this. I've come to help if I can.” Areb'l answered, looking deeply into his friend's eyes.
Kalbr'an turned back to the others in the room.
“This is Areb'l. A good man who has helped us through many of our early troubles,” he glanced around, noticing many of the faces beginning to soften, the fear leaving them.
They suddenly broke the silence, asking questions about outside, all trying to speak at once. Their faces filled with expressions of mourning. Confusion raced about the room.
Kalbr'an raised his hand.
“I apologize for the surprise and know a soldier's entry here was the last thing you expected. But Areb'l has given me his word he will help us –- and there is the one thing we've been discussing here I believe we must decide.”
“Areb'l is the only one here who can survive this horrible and malicious attack – because he is human and a member of Baalsa'n's forces”.
More voices were raised. “How can we know him to be trustworthy?” one young woman asked. Others mumbled their agreement.
Areb'l looking quizzically at Kalbr'an, obviously as curious as the questioners around the room about what Kalbr'an thought of him.
Kalbr'an spoke softly.
“I can only state I believe Areb'l to be sincere; I assume he doesn't lie and I have never known him to do so. He has pledged to me he will fulfill my request. He only asks, when the time comes, he too will be allowed to go on with us to another world.”
“But we are trapped here without hope and must relinquish our spirits for now. We must attempt to place ourselves in a position, at some future date, to resist this brutality, to fight back – but we're too weak now.”
“I have chosen Areb'l to be the Guardian of the Ahar'n and of our lives”.
Kalbr'an waited for another outburst, but there was none. Most knew now what was planned, others still wondered.
“We must release our spirit to the Ahar'n.”
Many in the room gasped, some began to weep.
“We must do this and escape – or all will be lost. I was informed by the last message from Tarnasia Baalsa'n's forces have destroyed every other world on which we have worked so hard.”
Kalbr'an had searched for and managed to save the Ahar'n during his escape. The object of creation used by the Al-Esfer'n to form and build Varkan and other worlds was safe, for the present.
&nb
sp; The Ahar'n revealed no form; its shape flowed within its constraints; colors changed and flashed; a swirling internal mist continually moved across its face, but faded when viewed closely.
It seemed to have no substance, but its magic glinted as it turned. It seemed to have no consistency but resisted destruction by any means known to all Esfer'n.
When first created, it was encased within a small cage formed from an impregnable metal, only allowing a glint of light from the stone; a small chain looped through the clasp. The amulet hung loosely as Kalbr'an held it aloft for all to see.
They looked about themselves, and at each of those standing near them, as though questioning the reasons for this drastic measure, but, in the end, they decided.
They would allow the Ahar'n to absorb their spirits -– each one of them knowing they might not survive, but they knew they could not stay on Varkan.
It proceeded. Areb'l watching, in awe, as each spirit vanished from the darkened room into to object Kalbr'an held.
So, Kalbr'an lowered the object to a small, dilapidated table in the center of the room. Each of the Al-Esfer'n entered it, some quickly, some with hesitation.
Kalbr'an was the last. “Until we meet again. Take care.” He floated away.
Areb'l raised the Ahar'n tenderly, lowered the small chain over his head, and concealed it beneath his armor. He waited solemnly and felt its power envelop him, bringing him joy in what he had promised and a strength he had never felt before.
A few moments later, he opened the casement panel throwing it aside, knocked the door from its hinges, and stepped back into the street.
He looked briefly at the moons overhead, then turned his gaze toward the waterfront and trotted toward it to rejoin his unit.
In the moonlight, a change in his appearance, he wasn't aware of, revealed itself – a long white streak though his hair glimmered as he ran. No one ever asked him why.
Officer Leanna, noticing when he returned, asked about Luro'm. Areb'l explained they had met a group of Al-Esfer'n who they eradicated, but Luro'm had not survived. She only nodded and dismissed him.
For hundreds of years, he hid in plain sight, pretending to be a member of Baalsa'n's forces. He followed the masses each day, helping those he could. And waited.
Few Al-Esfer'n survived Varkan.
DEATH UNADORNED