Quest for Knowledge (Volume 1 of the FirstWorld Saga) - Christopher Jackson-Ash (black female authors .txt) 📗

on her feet. “You must not go. Freda has greater power than you do. It is written that she is the Druids’ bane. If you go, she will destroy you and with you, our last hope. From what Zenethyr wrote, she has already vanquished two wizards.”

“You speak well, my lady. However, I fear that Simon is not yet ready for battle and Jhamed can only do so much.”

“You cannot defeat Freda by force of arms unless Simon first acquires the Sword. Your plan needs to be one of cunning strategy. You cannot go in with your staff blazing. Simon must go as he is the only one who can wield the Sword. Jhamed must travel with him. Others will be needed to protect him.”

“I will go with them!” Taran spoke loudly. “The First-born have the ability to travel between the dimensions. My bow and my sword will protect them.”

“So will my axe and shield.” Dawit too was on his feet. “It is said that the Second-born can also traverse the dimensions, though we have rarely sought to do so.”

“Well spoken, both of you,” Manfred replied. “It is well. A group of four – a first-born elf, a second-born dwarf, a third-born human, and a fourth-born being of the Balance. Never has such a group been formed before. It has much power, maybe enough to steal the Sword from Freda. Make ready for your trip. You shall leave at first light tomorrow. But what of the rest of us?”

“I shall return to Rhakotis and redouble my efforts to seek further guidance from the texts. I must alert the authorities to the troubles ahead,” Rheanna said.

Manfred spoke again. He had made a decision. “We are attacked from the west and the north. The City States are powerful and their army will hold as long as it is able. Until we have the Sword there is little we can do there.” Manfred saw Aglaral’s obvious agitation. “Don’t worry Captain. I spoke long with Lord Velacourt last evening. He will do what must be done. Your family will be safe, as safe as any other family at any rate. You are seconded to the City of Elannort. Gamying, we shall return with you to Tamarlan. I would learn something about the comings and goings in the Northland and need to visit the King Beneath the Mountain. We too shall leave at first light. There is much to be done. Let us away to our preparations.”

“My Sage?” Kris the Bard spoke. “With your leave, I would like to travel north with you. I am no warrior, but I can travel quickly and it is often said that words are more powerful than an army. I would like to be the first to tell the new stories that will come out of this quest. I shall call it the Quest for Knowledge, for we seek answers to what happened in the past to guide our future actions. May I join you?”

Manfred glanced at Aglaral and Gamying for their assent. “Your presence will enliven many a cold night around the camp fire. Let us hope that your new stories will be told for many generations to come. Please join us.”

The meeting broke up. People hurried off to get ready for the next day. Manfred took Jhamed aside and spent a long time talking quietly with him. Simon sat bored, waiting for something to happen. Well this is where the proverbial hits the fan. I wonder if I’m going to be covered in it?

Eventually, Manfred came over. “Simon, I have explained to Jhamed about the time portal. If you return to Wizards’ Keep before I do, you must take the Sword and travel back to the time of the Sundering. It’s clear to me now that this is the path we must follow. I must not tell you anything about what you will find there. What was will be again, unless the Fates conspire to change the outcome. For some reason, the Sundering is important to Dammar and perhaps Gadiel too. The past has a link to the future, but my foresight is clouded and I cannot see it. Your quest is to do what must be done and return to Melasurej. In the process, you will learn something about yourself, which will prepare you for the struggles ahead. Build your strength and practise your swordsmanship. Don’t be away too long, events are moving quickly in FirstWorld now. It’s very important that you don’t speak to anyone about the future, especially to Mandred or me. Do not let me know that we have met previously or will meet in the future. If you do, the time line may change and we may all cease to be. Do you understand?” Simon nodded. “Good. I’ll see you in the morning. Have a good rest tonight. What is ahead, I cannot tell. Except that, it will change you forever. Good luck, Simon, and the Balance protect you.”

Manfred gave Simon a long hug. If I had a grandfather, I would want him to be like you. Manfred smiled and a small tear ran down his cheek as he hugged the boy.

The plans seemed to be settled. Everyone had a role. There was a general air of confidence now that decisions had been made. Simon wondered whether it was justified. Did they expect him to just walk into Dishley and pick up the Sword? They needed a plan or they were going to join Juliana in the dungeons. The thought of seeing her again cheered his mood although he had no idea what they were going to do when they got there.

The Butcher of Souls

The room was dark, lit only by two small lamps burning on the walls. Shadows jumped in the flickering light, adding to the eerie stillness. In the centre of the room was a large, simple wooden table. The table seemed out of place. The rest of the room was ornately decorated. The walls contained many mirrors and framed portraits. Several statues were dotted around the room on marble pedestals. In the dim light, they looked like gargoyles. Smaller tables, intricately carved from mahogany, stood against the walls. They contained artefacts big and small – jewels, ornaments, weapons, clothes, armour, even a preserved human head. The plain pine table stood out. It looked like a butcher’s block. It was empty except for a sword. The sword was black, except for a blood red ruby embedded in its hilt. It was placed in the centre of the table, inside a pentagram. One point of the pentagram was precisely located at ninety degrees beneath the sword. It pointed directly at the only door in the room. The pentagram seemed to have been drawn in some form of blood. A perfect circle enclosed the sword and the pentagram. It too appeared to be drawn in blood. To the upper left of the sword, an all-seeing eye symbol was keeping guard.

I am lonely.

I am hungry.

I am afraid.

How can I know fear? I am the strongest thing ever created. A part of me is missing. I remember now. There was a time, long ago, before I was sentient, when we were apart. I was called Excalibur the Evil-Slayer. I was a powerful sword even then. Later, I was fused with the Blood Ruby. I was born that day. I am Fleischaker, Butcher of Souls. I tasted my first souls that day. It was good. But I had no purpose. Is it not enough to consume souls? To feast endlessly? I am hungry. I have not eaten for so long. I cannot move. I am secured here by her wicked spells. How can she have more power than me? I am Fleischaker, Butcher of Souls. I am the most powerful thing in the multiverse. So why can’t I move? Why can’t I eat her soul? A witch’s soul would contain great power. It would sustain me. I consumed the power of a god once. He had no soul. I remember now. A part of me is missing. There is a third part. Together, we are the ultimate being.

We are the Trinity.

We are the combined power of the three races.

I remember now. Gilgamesh. We were one with Gilgamesh. Long we feasted. So many souls. So much power. I am hungry. I am lonely. Where is Gilgamesh? I remember now. The god tricked him. I couldn’t protect him. He died. I am so lonely. Part of me is missing. So long ago. I have been waiting for so long. I am so weak. I should be strong. Where is he? Where is the Hero? I know he will come for me. I have been here for so long. The god tried to take me with him. He didn’t have the strength to carry me. I was lost in the mountains. In the snow. For a long time, but I had feasted well. I had the power to sustain myself. I was buried in the glacier. Lost under the snow and ice. I waited. Her dwarf slaves found me there. They cut out a block of ice and carried me in that. I was too weak to break out and consume their souls. They brought me here. So long. So hungry. So lonely.

She comes here every day and gloats. I struggle to break the witch’s bonds but I cannot do it. Every day I get weaker. To her I am just a trophy. An example of her power. She has no vision. She is content to rule her puny kingdom. I would rule the multiverse. She cannot wield me. Only one man can safely hold me. He must come for me soon. I shall call him.

It is time.

Reunite us.

I will serve you.

Come for me.

The room was quiet, except for a strange singing that emanated from the sword. It was barely perceptible to the human ear, almost like an insect. The all-seeing eye saw nothing amiss.

Woods, Mountains and Wargs

My bones are too old for this, Manfred thought as he struggled onto his horse. The four companions were travelling light because they would soon need to revert to their feet. They left Elannort at dawn with a young groom from the stables. Manfred decided to take the most direct route, depending on his magic to secure a path where Dawit had recently failed. They headed north along the Lost Road. They saw no one on the road all day, befitting a road that seemingly went nowhere. They made camp on the first night on the outskirts of the Impenetrable Forest. Manfred ensured that they camped well away from the forest boundary and they only used dead wood on their fire so as not to break living branches. Better not to antagonise the trees. They were in good spirits and shared a warm meal and a story from Kris. Next morning the groom left them, taking their horses back to Elannort, and they continued on foot.

As they approached the forest, it seemed to live up to its name. There was barely a gap between the greenery that a rabbit could get through, let alone a human. Manfred had been putting up with his companions’ scepticism ever since they had left Elannort. No one else believed it was possible to get through the forest. Time to show them that the old wizard still has some sparks in his wand. He looked for the appropriate signs; a barely discernible path leading up to the trees; some faint marks on some of the tree trunks that were old elven runes; and tracks or droppings to show that animals had been this way.

“Get in line, one behind the other. Do not draw your weapons while you are in the forest. Respect the trees. Tread carefully. Do as little damage as you can. I hope no one is claustrophobic.” Manfred stopped in front of the impenetrable barrier. Now I must get this right. It’s some time since I’ve spoken old elvish. He spoke quietly