The Ruler of the Tailthon: The Alliance of the Free

The Ruler of the Tailthon:

The Alliance of the Free

The Ruler of the Tailthon: The Alliance of the Free

By

Harrison Voss

Copyright © 2013 Harrison Voss

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Cover Design: Lorna Yvon

Content Edit: Leslie O’Brien, GoldenwestEditing.com

License Notes: This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this eBook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, people or places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Dedicated to my family, friends, and Harry, for staying by this tale since its first telling.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Regarding the Creatures of this Tale and Ragnoreth

Chapter 1: A Most Welcome Stranger

Chapter 2: Investigating a Secret

Chapter 3: The Truth Revealed

Chapter 4: A Great Betrayal

Chapter 5: The Flight to Forsome Mountain

Chapter 6: The Burcker under the Mountain

Chapter 7: An Unfortunate Surprise

Chapter 8: A Fire in the Night

Chapter 9: A Short Delay

Chapter 10: The Awaiting Shadow

Chapter 11: The King of the Marble Hall

Chapter 12: The Alliance of the Free

Chapter 13: The Valley Path

Chapter 14: A World of Darkness

Chapter 15: An Old Threat

Chapter 16: The Road to Thasin

Chapter 17: Thasin: The Wood of Light

Chapter 18: A Fatal Decision

Chapter 19: The Siege of Light

Chapter 20: Many Departures

Chapter 21: The Journey Ahead

Introduction: Regarding the Creatures of this Tale and Ragnoreth

This tale that is about to be given to you contains many fascinating and wondrous creatures. Most importantly though is that this tale takes place on a world called Ragnoreth. Ragnoreth is a large realm that is in a place of its own, where time seems to have taken away all knowledge of it from our current day world. This is the only account of the realm and perhaps the only one ever remembered.

Ragnoreth is full of wide and prosperous farmlands, endless sun-filled deserts, barren ice wastelands and wide white shores. The most important physical features of Ragnoreth are its forests and most of all, the tall, jewel-filled mountains. Mountains are home to many successful civilizations in Ragnoreth. Now, onto the creatures of Ragnoreth. This realm is full of creatures such as ungeists, man, goblins and aeterni. In this world, there is a common misconception between two creatures, ungeists and goblins. Ungeists are tall, strong and disgusting creatures. They are very hairy, extremely strong and menacing. They are not very smart, but their strength seems to make up for their lack of intelligence. Now when it comes to goblins, these foul creatures are very common in mountain regions, tending to stay away from the sun. They are as tall as ungeists, but slimy, green and tend to crawl on four limbs. Like ungeists, goblins are not so intelligent, but their fighting ability easily makes up for it. Other foul creatures mentioned in this tale are trolls, tall, menacing and unintelligent beings, and wolverins. Wolverins are wolf-like creatures that are big in size and walk on two limbs rather than four. A very different thing about wolverins is that they can speak the Common Language, the most used language in all of Ragnoreth. Dragons are common creatures, as well as the legendary phoenix. Phoenixes are very strong and do not commonly associate with the common creatures of the world, but would when called upon or wish to help. They are by far, the fiercest yet wisest creatures on Ragnoreth.

In a more fair light, there are beautiful beings called the aeterni. The aeterni are tall, slender, intelligent people with an inner light that seems to illuminate at times. They are born warriors, but are truly creatures that strive to stay pure, though they understand how difficult it is to do so. The aeterni are by far the most fair as well as angelic creatures on Ragnoreth, capable of abilities that some may believe is magic.

Now one of the most prominent creatures in this tale is burckers. Burckers are small, quiet, intelligent beings that live in a country called Rickle. Burckers are unknown to beings that live outside of Rickle, but are heard of in the Great Stories told throughout the world of Ragnoreth. Burckers are taller than dwarves are, and only a little shorter than aeterni with the average height being 4 feet 7 inches. The tallest a burcker could be is 5 feet tall. Burckers tend to wear dark-colored clothes with bright colored jackets and knee-high boots with brown trousers. They usually have dark or golden colored hair (depends upon the commonness in the family tree) as well as very thin eyebrows. Burckers also have bad eyesight when it comes to seeing far away and some of them wear viewing spectacles (glasses) in order to see well. Burckers enjoy smoking tobacco (except for burckers in the southern part of Rickle), but most of all, burckers love to drink, brew ale and ferment wine. An odd thing about burckers is that those from the northern part of Rickle are quite different from those from the southern part. For example, facial hair in burckers is very uncommon in the north, but common in the south. Those in the southern part love to build and mine for there is quite an abundance of mountains there. Those in the north, however, enjoy peace and quiet and love nature. There is a large countryside in the north and all the burckers there love the plants, trees and animals. In the First Era, burckers were great warriors who fought with the dwarves, aeterni and man against the corrupted wizard Oison. Oison was defeated but killed thousands of burckers in the process. Since then, Burckers have kept to themselves away from the outside world. Any burckers that act violently or too adventurous like dwarves, man or aeterni are looked down upon in society.

Chapter 1 A Most Welcome Stranger

In a grand house on the top of a large hill in Rickle lived a burcker. This burcker’s name was Pippin. Well, his full name was Charles Bergon Pippin, but his friends and family thought that Pippin fit him firmly. At the age of forty-three (which is quite young for a burcker), Pippin was already a very rich and successful person. He achieved his wealth by accidentally striking gold in Forsome Mountain, a tall and massive mountain on the border of southern and northern Rickle. He of course did not find it on his own, but found it while hiking with his best friend, Buckwell Doron.

Pippin settled in Buckhill, a village in the northern part of Rickle, which has many kind and friendly folk, as well as an incredibly large countryside. Buck on the other hand decided to go live in Forsome Mountain, beginning a new mining project there. Pippin had taken plenty of gold from the mountain, including a gold sphere, which peculiarly was the first thing he found after it fell on his head.

You see, Buck and Pippin loved to go camping together, and would regularly adventure far away from home as a way to escape the doldrums of burcker life. In this particular instance, their escape would forever be a turning point for both friends. Buck had discovered a cave while they were looking for a place to set up camp. As soon as Pippin entered the cave, a gold sphere fell on his head. For some reason it was resting on a small ledge above the entrance to the cave. Curious, the two friends delved deeper into the cave only to discover walls lined with shining gold. Unfortunately, Pippin and Buck barely talked after they found the gold as Pippin had retired and remained quiet while Buck became incredibly busy with his work. The two shared letters over the years right after the discovery, but as time continued to pass, they ceased sending them as the two burckers lost common interest in maintaining their friendship. Still, at times when Pippin was left with quiet thoughts, he would wonder about his friend, only to have it fade away as he became once more immersed in his local life in Buckhill.

But getting back to Pippin. One afternoon at just about lunchtime, he was reading a book on his great balcony on the top level of his house. It was a beautiful day, with the birds chirping and the wind rustling about very calmly. The book he was reading of course was of much interest to the burcker and his friends, as it was an old account about a burcker captain who was marching his army across the world in battle against the evil wizard Oison. Pippin loved reading these old war accounts, however they were found strange among most burckers; thus, he was forced to do such reading in secret so no one would think of him as odd. On top of these old accounts, Pippin very much enjoyed the country, and seeing the children play and the parents walk with their dogs. Looking down from his balcony the burcker couldn’t help but notice an old man walking up his hill. Quickly the burcker called out to him.

Hoy! cried Pippin. Who goes there? Hastily he ran downstairs.

Is that really a way to talk to an old man? Well if I was a little younger, I would be up there in half the time and you would not be so happy, quipped the old man as the burcker neared the entrance. Pippin opened the front door of his house and climbed out. The voice was quite familiar to Pippin and he cried out at the old fellow.

Wait one minute, I know that voice. Take off your hood this second! The old man did as he was told and Pippin knew whom it was at once. It was Solm the Illuminating. Solm was a wizard of much greatness. He wore a long cream-colored robe, gold cloak, grey hat with a feather in it and a jewel covered belt. He carried a tall white staff, which had a golden jewel within its head, as well as a sword hanging from his belt behind his cloak. He had a long bushy beard, a strong, serious looking face and a smile that could light up the whole countryside. Solm was a wise man, as well as a powerful wizard, but most of all he was a great counselor and one Pippin could confide in about anything. The sight of Solm lightened Pippin’s mood very much.

It’s wonderful to see you, Solm! yelled Pippin as he ran down the hill to greet the wizard.

It’s wonderful to see you too, my boy! replied Solm. To Pippin, Solm was like a grandfather who came to visit on occasion. Pippin’s parents were the first burckers in all of Rickle to act kindly towards Solm. Pippin was but a small boy when Solm first came around and he has known him his entire life. When Pippin was but twenty, his parents died and Solm came to visit Pippin more frequently. A year after his parents died, Pippin struck gold in Forsome Mountain. Still Solm would come to visit Pippin even after he had made a great life for himself. By now, many burckers in Buckhill had gotten used to Solm’s comings and goings.

Come now, let’s go inside, said Pippin. Pippin led Solm into his house through a great golden door. Solm had to duck to get into the house but could stand once he was inside. The house was a mansion even for the race of man with tall ceilings and wide spacious rooms that took a bit of time to walk around. Solm stepped into a grand foyer with a ceiling that seemed to reach the sky. Pippin led Solm down a long marble hallway to the living room. The room had a sofa with two chairs opposite it and in between was a smooth wooden coffee table. The floor was covered with a thick red carpet and on the right wall was a fireplace. In front of the fireplace was a small table. The table placement seemed odd to Solm, but he kept that thought to himself. Pippin opened the windows behind the sofa, which let in a wonderful cool breeze. He gestured for Solm to sit down upon one of the chairs. Pippin remained standing.

Shall I get you some tea, Solm?

Oh no, I’m fine, but thank you for the offer.

Okay, then I suppose I’m fine too, Pippin sat down on the chair next to Solm and began to speak to him. Now, Solm, you must tell me everything that’s going on in the outside world, you must!

Well, there’s not much to say to be honest. Aeterni and man still hunt together and dwarves still keep to themselves in their mountains. Not very exciting I think.

Tell me about you and the wizards. What are you all doing nowadays?

Well Curham the Knowledgeable is still wise. Redger the Observer is still observing nature, while Gedger and Dersil the Intelligent are well, intelligent.

No, no, no that’s not what I meant. Have there been any uprisings or attacks lately from the evil Dark Wizard?

Do not speak of him, you know that! I will say that there have been a few unsettling events that happened in the west, but that does not concern you! Solm paused and the look of annoyance was erased from his face. Now, I could go for some tea right now, is that offer still up?

Why of course it is, I’ll be right back. Pippin got up and trotted off to his kitchen. While Pippin was away, Solm looked at some of the tables in the living room. Pippin did not realize that he had left out so many old maps of countries in the west; and these maps reminded Solm of what he was here to do. With a sigh, he leaned heavily on his staff and skimmed the maps. To the north was Merrian, the dwarvish mining capital of the world, southwest of there was the aeterni country of Ronlan and to the west were the countries of man. That was the most important area in his mind. He flipped to another map when he heard footsteps near the doorway. Pippin had arrived with the tea and a few small teacakes. Well, here we go all set for your tea? It’s a little hot now so be careful.

I’ll be fine, thank you very much for the tea, Charles.

Charles? You haven’t called me Charles since I was a little boy. Is everything all right, Solm? You seem a bit tense.

Well, to be honest I am a little beside myself. May I ask you Pippin, do you still have that gold sphere you found in Forsome Mountain all those years ago?

Why yes, I have it high on the mantle in my study. Would you like me to get it for you?

Yes, I would.

I’ll be right back. Pippin got up and went to his study. A minute later, he returned to the living room with a large gold sphere in his hands. Here you go, nice and shiny. I polished it yesterday. Pippin handed the sphere to Solm who took it with shaky hands. It seemed to Pippin that the old wizard could barely hold it up. Is everything all right, Solm?

Yes, everything is fine Pippin. Well, looks fine and shiny to me, here you go. Solm handed the sphere back to Pippin.

Well, Solm, I hope you plan on staying the night because it’s the afternoon right now and nearing evening.

But it’s only lunchtime.

Whoever said that lunchtime wasn’t near evening! exclaimed Pippin with a laugh.

Well that’s all right then. I wanted to stay here for a few days if you don’t mind.

Not at all! Stay as long as you want, there are plenty of guest rooms in the house. And so, Solm stayed with Pippin for the next few days, mainly going into Pippin’s study and looking at old maps and charts. During the day, Pippin usually went to help Farmer Avot who lived nearby plant crops and spend time with the animals. Oh how Pippin loved animals. His childhood pet was a golden-haired dog, named Samwell, who had a crazy yet loveable personality. He lived until he was about twenty years old (which is a normal death age for a dog), but it devastated Pippin. For the next few months, Pippin worked for Farmer Avot for a few cents, to take his mind off Samwell, and soon created a connection with the animals that lived on Avot’s farm. One day while Pippin was feeding the pigs, he heard a great boom and saw a great puff of purple smoke come billowing from the roof of his house. Pippin had no idea what was happening and sprinted to his house only to find Solm running down the road towards him. What on Ragnoreth happened, Solm?

I didn’t mean to alarm you Pippin; all I was doing was some simple play magic. Nothing serious you should worry about, explained Solm with a great smile.

What are you smiling about? What did you do? Please show me.

Aren’t you supposed to work on Farmer Avot’s farm, Pippin?

Good Vorkin! I completely forgot! He’ll kill me if he figures out I’m gone. Okay, Solm, you are clear for now, but when I come home you’ll show me what you did.

Fine, Pippin, fine. With that, Pippin ran off back to the animals hoping Avot didn’t learn he was gone. With a sigh of relief, Solm walked back towards Pippin’s house. What Solm was doing was simply an experiment with a spell, nothing much. He could have blown up Pippin’s house, but he was a professional. He knew what he was doing. That is exactly what he told Pippin later that night and Pippin was fine with it. Over the next few days, Solm continued these experiments while also continuing to make Pippin frightened or want to scream at Solm to stop with the spells. Solm finally agreed to stop experimenting, but what Solm was doing was extremely important to him and the other wizards. One night Solm told Pippin that he had to leave the next morning. The two were sitting at the dinner table enjoying a nice roasted turkey for dinner.

I’m thinking of leaving tomorrow, Pippin, he said.

Really? Why, you were only here four days.

As you know most of my doings are in secret Pippin and I’m afraid I can’t tell you.

I suppose it is wizard work then, correct? replied Pippin.

Yes, you are correct Pippin, but do not worry, I should be back soon.

What is it you do Solm when you are off in the world? Do you go on adventures, meet with other wizards or try to help the kingdoms of man, aeterni and dwarves? In truth, all of these things are what Solm does while he is away, but he couldn’t tell Pippin that. It went against his order. Well, to be honest, I do meet with other wizards and we discuss matters that help try to repress wars between all the people of our world, but besides that I don’t do much else.

Oh, well that’s interesting. It was not the answer Pippin particularly wanted, for he would have liked to know that Solm goes on adventures and that maybe someday, Pippin could go on one with him. Well, thank you for your honesty, Solm, he sighed. I hope that your work goes well and that you will be back soon.

Thank you Pippin, Solm said with a smile. Now what’s for dessert, I am still very hungry.

Solm, you ate almost half the turkey, how could you still possibly be hungry?

A wizard needs his energy for whatever the future holds. Even if that means I have to eat dwarf food. Solm began to laugh, and Pippin did too.

Pippin then got out a great chocolate cake and the two ate it and it was gone within ten minutes. Pippin didn’t make it to his bed that night and fell asleep on the chair in his study beside the fire. Solm came in to wish him good night and found him asleep. Solm looked above Pippin and saw the golden sphere on the mantle, glistening in the light from the fire. Let’s hope you are not what I think you are, you old sphere, said Solm softly to himself. Solm lifted Pippin and took him to his room where he laid him gently on his bed. Solm then turned and went to his own bed to sleep. It rained very hard the next day, but still Solm left in the morning. He walked off towards farmer Avot’s farm where his horse, Lightbeam, had stayed while he visited. Pippin saw Solm leave through his window, but as Solm walked away, Pippin got the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Chapter 2 Investigating a Secret

Solm left Pippin’s house in quite a hurry on that rainy day. He was headed for the great city of Reathen Folo, the capital city of Gindoria. Reathen Folo was dwarvish for city of riches. After all, it was quite a rich city. The city walls were made completely of shining silver and the grand citadel at the top of the city was made of silver and gold. The city was given a dwarvish name because it was built from materials from a once grand dwarf capital long ago plundered and scattered by men for its bounty. Solm rode with great speed on Lightbeam towards the marvelous metropolis.

It was a little less than a two-week trek, full of resting; passing through rivers and forests until he finally came upon the dazzling silver city. The design of the city was unique and large. It was built upon a stone hill, not quite a mountain in height or shape but rather a meshed together pile of unused rock. Delved into the sides of the hill were four levels that completely encircled the hill. The higher the levels went, the smaller they became, though it was also the case that the higher up one lived, the higher the social class. The bottom level was for the peasants and commoners, while the second level was for the more successful folk such as artisans, traders, merchants and others. On the third level were those well connected with the royal family and usually the more aristocratic families. On the top and final level the citadel sat, resting upon the flat stone pinnacle of the hill gleaming like a silver and gold star. Before the building its courtyard stood, overlooking the vast lands before it. It was here, in the citadel, that King Arzoth along with his guardsmen and councilors resided.

On each circular level, there was a gate on either the northern or the southern face of the street that led up to a higher level. To get up through the city, one had to bypass long hollow tunnels that acted as ramps going through the stone hill that eventually sloped onto a higher level. At the end of each tunnel stood a gate made of fine metals and steel. The gate for the second level was on the north side, while the gate for the third on the south. The tunnel that led to the gate of the second level stood on the southern side of the first level, while the tunnel onto the third level started on the northern end of the second. The next gate to the citadel was on the northern end of the third level. That gate led through a long and winding tunnel filled with torches, which went to a ramp like the others on the northern end of the fourth level that opened up to the citadel. The first wall that sat prominently around the base of the hill protected the first level and was short compared to the others. Still, it was tall enough for protective walls in general and was the strongest of all those in the city. Reathen Folo also had tunnels connected to the underground burial chambers beneath the hill where tombs of kings of old remained.

Solm arrived promptly at the gate to the first level and knocked upon the great gold gate with his staff. He was met by a guard in a tower high above him.

Who dares enter the city of Reathen Folo? demanded the guard.

The great wizard, Solm the Illuminating, you may also know me as The Shining Wizard. I have been given authority by the King to enter the city at any time.

The Shining Wizard! Of course, you may enter. Please forgive me for not trusting you instantly, but there are many foul things about in this land now. We can never be too safe. With a great clang, the gate opened and in trotted Lightbeam. Lightbeam rode past the main plaza on the first level and to the gate on the eastern end of the first level. He then went through the open gate. Lightbeam trotted up a ramp and into the second area of the city. The sky was clear blue and the sun rose high over the city shining its light upon the gleaming silver. The ringing of bells sounded that it was midday and rang out throughout the city. Solm rode Lightbeam through the street of the second level until he finally came upon a great library.

Solm dismounted from Lightbeam and asked a nearby guard to take him to the horse stalls. The guard, with much kindness, did what he was asked. Solm then climbed the gleaming steps into the library. The library was grand, containing three levels of books, maps and stories. The ceiling was lined with lamps and shelves were scattered about the room. Solm went down a stone staircase to the lower level of the library. With the assistance of a librarian, he was led to a doorway on the opposite end of the room, which led to another staircase and a small, secluded room.

Solm thanked the librarian, and lit up the end of his staff to illuminate the chamber. On one end of the room was a desk and chair. To the left of it was a small shelf full of scrolls. Solm took a handful of scrolls and laid them on the desk. He leaned his still glowing staff on the wall on the right of the desk and sat down in the chair. He opened up all the scrolls and looked upon them. There before him were maps, stories and logs that told of battles from long ago. A few of the logs even contained information from warriors who participated in the battles. Solm quickly skimmed through the scrolls looking for something important. Finally, Solm came upon a scroll, which described exactly what he was looking for. The scroll was the written recollection of a soldier years ago during a monumental battle. Solm began to read the scroll aloud to himself, analyzing each word and sentence carefully.

December 21, 1, Second Era,

Here in my study I recall the traumatic account of the Great Battle as experienced through my eyes. My wife has pressed me for months to do it, and though I try my best to press those horrid memories back down, she forces me to pull them back up. Her curiosity will be the death of me. For my children’s’ sake if not their own, I abide to this task. On the cold night of September 14, 3001 First Era, the Battle of Arcback began. I, Rushern Ebonise, was but a simple soldier in the hundredth line of the army of Gindoria. The aeterni and burckers were at the front, with captains of man giving war cries and raising their swords. The skies were black and the wind blew with great fierceness making it utterly cold. Lightning crackled in the sky and a foul stench filled the air. Finally, the first lines of our army crashed with the ungeist armies. All of us fought with great strength and courage, but none fought better that day than King Thoson of my land. He fought with great boldness and command, running to and fro helping fallen soldiers and protecting the weak. It seemed that we were winning until they arrived. Great black dragons, with long flaming wings flew down from above grabbing soldiers in their mighty claws. The riders of the dragons were clothed in black, with great maces that they let fall upon soldiers who got too close to them.

Thoson decided to redirect the attack towards the Black Tower, where the Dark Wizard Oison thrived. I helped slay the guards of the tower by killing several trolls. Thoson began to bang upon the mighty tower doors with a great stone ram. Soon the doors broke and we began to move in, but before we could enter, a dazzling bright light illuminated in the threshold. A light so beautiful no words can begin to describe it. But the light was false. For it was a spell created by the Dark Wizard who revealed himself using the light as a cloak. He was no taller than a man was, but his appearance was hard to make out save for the jewel that glowed violet with evil and hung around his neck. He was so dark and evil that he seemed nothing more than a blur of shadow. With his mighty sword of fire and great dark staff, he slew all before him. Calling upon many spells so quickly the ground began to collapse, fire fell from the sky and lightning struck at a rapid pace.

Cries came from soldiers who were lit on fire or fell into great gaps in the ground. I barely escaped a great gap by jumping back and away from it. I then moved forward even closer to Thoson and the Dark Wizard. Thoson had the strength to withstand this power. He lunged forward with his sword towards the wizard who easily countered the attack. Fighting off many ungeists and goblins, I saw the king fight the Dark Wizard. Sadly, the king was no match and with one swipe of his staff, the Fallen Wizard broke the king’s shield throwing him to the ground. As the Wizard went in for the final swing, the king took his sword and lunged up towards the enemy’s chest. He stabbed him and cut the chain that the great jewel hung upon.

With a loud cry, the wizard fell and a bright light covered his body. The body then burst with some strange illumination and the wizard turned to dust, disappearing from the battle. The fighting was done. Nothing remained of the foul wizard but his mysterious jewel, which lay upon the ash covered ground. King Thoson picked up the jewel and took it as his own, as he did so a light emitted from the jewel that entranced the king and he stood motionless before the jewel. I began to think he was in trouble, but he shook his head and was fine. As I looked upon the king and his victory prize, I believe I saw strange markings cover the violet crystal and his reflection mirrored in the jewel….

The log continued with more details pertaining to the soldier’s complaints about his wife and family; nothing that interested Solm. Questions still lingered in Solm’s mind. He continued searching scrolls and passages until he finally came upon a passage that told about the death of Thoson. The jewel was then given to his son, who gave it to the dwarf kings of Ezmyn Mun as a treaty during the Dwarf and Man War of 119 (Second Era). It was there that the log ended. Solm remained perplexed and searched frantically for some sort of dwarven log. There was nothing. It then made sense to Solm as to why there was no further information on the dwarf activity with the Jewel: the dwarves had it. He needed to travel to the mountains of Ezmyn Mun to find the information there. It was then that the wizard decided it was time to leave. After thanking the guards, Solm departed from the great library. He walked down the street to the stable where the guards gave Solm his steed. Lightbeam trotted back down the city, past the second level gate. As he reached the first level, the sky suddenly became dark.

Cries came from people within the city, Evil is among us! and Darkness has finally clouded our beautiful city. Solm grew weary of their cries. Dark clouds hung over the city and thunder boomed above. Solm continued down the road towards the main gate where he was halted by a few chief guards. They told him it was not yet safe to leave. Black smoke rose in the West towards Forlom Valley. Loud chanting was heard in the distance. To Solm, it sounded like ungeist cries.

It can’t be, mumbled Solm to himself. Completely disobeying the guards, Solm commanded Lightbeam to head up a pair of silver steps on the right side of the gate, which led to a battle view along the wall. Guards jumped out of the way to avoid being stepped on. He quickly reached the top and stood on the wall next to the eastern watchtower that was built into the side of the gate. Solm gazed into the distance. It was true; a small ungeist battalion was approaching Reathen Folo. Acting as quick as he could, Solm headed back down the stairs and used a powerful wind spell to blow open the gate.

A guard shouted at him, What are you doing old man! It seems the Shining Wizard has gone mad!

I am not mad, you harken soldier! shouted back Solm as he rode out of the city. On he rode through the grass fields with the wind rushing in his face and blowing him back until he came quite close to the nearing ungeist battalion. He quickly passed beyond the small ring of low hills to the nearing enemy attack. The cries became louder and louder and the booming of great drums became more prominent. "Illuminar Faren Zulack Weatheron Earthoch Cûn Ban-Inan!" with that magical chant, Solm lifted his staff and a blinding beam of golden light fired from the staff’s head. The golden beam flew high into the sky and disappeared in the clouds above. All the people of Reathen Folo that gazed over the wall or through the windows of their homes fell silent. After much time, the dark sky began to crackle, and golden lights flashed through the black clouds. A moment later, jets of golden light fired out of the sky and encircled the ungeist battalion. The enemies stopped moving, but covered their eyes for the light blinded them. The jets began to close in and consumed the ungeists thus lighting them aflame or turning them instantly to piles of ash.

The Illuminating Wizard has done well! cried a captain from the wall. Solm smiled at that and made a flash of white light come from his staff signaling the defeat of the ungeists once more to the people of Reathen Folo. The old wizard knew that while he may have defeated an ungeist battalion, there was much more to come. Solm turned Lightbeam north; he rode straight for the dwarven land of Merrian. Within that large dwarven land were many independent mountains, some of which had to be part of Ezmyn Mun.

***

Pippin enjoyed relaxing in the early summer, but it was impossible for him to do so now. Solm had been gone for several weeks, more than two and nearly three. The burcker wondered if he would ever return and if so when? Another lingering question was what was he doing. By now, Pippin was quite used to the wizard running off on strange errands and doing what only the Vorkin would understand, but now everything seemed different. The way he kept doing those magical experiments, nearly blowing his house up, and that he rushed off after staying for only four days was cause for concern.

Now Pippin was wandering on the edge of the forest behind his house, walking along the grass field. He often looked into the forest as a child and made up stories about beasts that lived there. Solm would always try to get him to go in, build up his courage, but Pippin never would. By the time his parents died, Pippin had overcome his grief and turned it into an aggressive anger that the burcker used to plunge into the forest. He spent so much time investigating and wandering that he had gotten lost and almost had to spend the night there. What pulled him through, however, was the parallel he felt in one of the adventure books he read. The hero was a trapped wanderer in a desolate wasteland filled with dragons, large arachnids, serpents and other foul things. The hero of course was a trained knight of men, but knew little of how to combat such malevolent monsters. He felt that if he continued to roam and simply fight off these beasts he may survive, but time proved that wrong. He died on the edge of the land he was trapped in, stolen from freedom and victory.

It was those kinds of endings that made Pippin throw a book across the room or even cry, but as the burcker had stumbled into the woods, he felt as if he may experience the same ending as the knight. Only then as shadow had taken the forest and all was dark did Pippin finally exit the forest, leaping through a parting in the trees only to end up falling down a hill on the other side. He was miles away from Buckhill along the Oliven River and deathly tired. Still he was jumping with joy that he had survived and his grief and anger over the demise of his parents subsided. All he wished for then was to spend time with friends and be happy, for he realized in that moment that life was too short and it should not be dwelled with dull anger. One should spend their days as happily as possible, for the world is full of enough darkness and hate.

As Pippin looked into the forest, he felt his wonder for Solm’s doings begin to quell. As he had said then, he said again now, I shall not dwell on such causes of anger. I am sure the old wizard will be fine. Pippin smiled and turned away from the forest. He walked back to his house and around the hill on which it stood. Passing through his gate the young burcker made his way towards the village square where he might find Tom, Harris or any other friend of his.

***

Solm’s ride towards Merrian was fierce. He arrived in the dwarven land less than a week after he left Reathen Folo. Merrian was an incredibly hilly as well as mountainous kingdom, with the old wizard heading towards the capital mountain of Mineric. The wizard had to go through a rather long process of being checked out in order to enter the underground city. The beautiful dwarven metropolis was grand and sprawling. Beneath the mountain laid tall black stone buildings topped with sapphires or rubies. The streets were full of dwarven folk trading and selling many items, and even farther beneath the mountain was a mine. It was there that sapphires and rubies, as well as much gold, was scavenged and brought up.

The Illuminating Wizard guided Lightbeam towards the palace, which was nothing more than a tall, spiraling tower.