Monster Child

Chapter 2

Old Tales of Other Worlds

Author's Note: This is the first episode of Karla's account of her first ever adventure - when she was just sixteen.

I am from the Dark Forest, to the southeast. I was once apprenticed to the Grand Warrior Chadrus. He wasn't always an easy master to get on with, but I was his star pupil, along with a lad named Adalhelm.

I always respected Adalhelm as a rival. I referred to him as "my very worthy opponent," back when we were jostling for the position of star pupil. He was strong, handsome and athletic. With frosty blue eyes and that fair hair that is so prevalent in all the Baronies immediately north of the Dark Forest. I was not the only one of our peers to nurse a crush on him, but I was his only equal in fighting prowess. I had hoped it might be mutual.

One day an emissary arrived from the Grey Isles with tidings of a mission of the utmost importance for my master. His response was that he was too old for perilous missions, but that his two star pupils were now ready. We both agreed, perhaps too hastily. We were young and eager to prove ourselves.

The Baron of the Grey Isles was nicknamed "the Boy Baron," but when we reached his castle we found a young man who definitely had an air of command. We knelt before him.

"Get up, get up, I have no time for grovelling. I get it from my own subjects every day. Now I understand that you two are budding warriors of the greatest prowess. I have a mission of the greatest importance and the gravest danger for you both."

He ushered us into a small side room on which there stood a low, wooden table with a crystal orb. A pattern of a swirling jade mist appeared in the orb and it gave forth a light greater than that of the flickering torches.

"A distinguished visitor will soon be with us," said the Baron reverently.

The mist took shape. A vividly green woman's face appeared. Then we could see her whole head, bright green and smooth and completely bald…

"What is that?" murmured Adalhelm, his blue eyes wide.

"That's the face of a lady, now hush," I murmured. Who knew if she could hear? The apparition's piercing blue eyes had alighted upon us and she seemed to be taking in every detail.

"Rebecca, here are our warriors," said the Baron, "they must be brought up to speed."

We were witnessing a magical means of communication with another world. It was clear to me that there had been magic involved with Rebecca's strange appearance as well. I wished Adalhelm would not stare so.

Rebecca spoke softly to him, "do not be alarmed. I have magically altered myself so as to better fight the terrible destructive forces at work in my own world."

I gritted my teeth. I would have liked to have nudged him for his discourtesy.

Rebecca spoke again, "That brings me to the subject of a great peril in your world. On the Lone Island, the northernmost of the Grey Islands, lies the accursed ruins of Castle Calchas, once the stronghold of a fire demon from another dimension. When the fiend was banished from your world, certain magical resonances sent it out and trapped it in the limbo that exists between dimensions. However, this in turn created certain magical resonances that could allow other horrors to be drawn in to your world. Such a horror has now been drawn. A great evil-doer from my world. We are not sorry to see him go, but I am sorry to say that when he was dispatched from my world, he was drawn to yours and has fused with the trapped demon.

"His name was Gangritch Carcescu. He was one of the most evil men my world has ever seen. He was once the leader of the Dark Disciples, a vile sect dedicated to purging all life. He had become one of the undead before he was banished from our world. Now a demonic form of Carcescu grows in the throne room of Castle Calchas as we speak. It is certain that he will begin his old vendetta anew – attempting to raise a zombie army in order to wage war on the living. Not all the magic in Castle Calchas is evil mind you. You may find allies there."

"This time Carcescu must be destroyed entirely. You must make sure of it, my valiant friends! Simply killing the Carcescu-demon won't be enough, his physical form must be burned to nothing in the chasm of the Earth Fire under Castle Calchas-"

At that moment the torches flickered. Hairline cracks appeared in the crystal globe.

"Not yet!" cried Rebecca, looking very worried, "I still need to tell you about the-"

The crystal globe shattered into fragments and the room was plunged into darkness as the light of the torches flickered and died. I felt a chill to my bone marrow. We could all sense a malevolent presence around us. Adalhelm and the Baron looked stricken. Their mouths hung slightly open. Then the moment passed and the presence withdrew.

"So you see how vital your mission is," said the Baron very gravely. "My knights have more work than they can do, simply stopping the Grey Isles from falling into civil war. I implore you both, go to Castle Calchas and destroy the wizard-fiend that threatens our entire world. Succeed and you will win unprecedented renown."

The next morning we set sail at dawn, in a ship bound for the Lone Island to the north. Adalhelm leaned over the rail, staring into the icy waves. I went over to join him.

"Not much sun so far north," I began, wishing I could make a more interesting conversation.

"Mm. You told me I should be careful in the sun," replied Adalhelm. The wind ruffled his fair hair.

"Yes, too much isn't good for your fair skin. I read that people with blond hair usually don't have naturally tanable skin," I said proudly.

"Most impressive," he said, still gazing at the iron grey water.

I finally detected the note of sarcasm in his voice. I tried a different tactic.

"So this is it," I said, trying to sound bright. Part of me was fearful, but part of me was excited. I was so young and mortal danger was not something I could quite comprehend.

Adalhelm maintained a brooding silence.

"Addie…" I said, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"I know now what they mean when they say there's no going back," he said suddenly.

"I know, I know, but we were chosen out of all the budding warriors. Just us two," I replied.

He scowled.

"Would it help to talk about it?" I asked, gazing into his eyes.

"We're going to where the sun never shines. Right into the jaws of death. Carcescu is literally raising the dead. Doesn't that frighten you?"

"We haven't had to fight zombies before, but I have read a lot about it," I began.

"Oh you and your book obsession," he said with a sneer. "And then there's whatever other foul things lurk in those accursed ruins," he folded his arms and staring off into the sea. "Even before Carcescu, our world was plagued. Monsters of all kinds stalk our lands. Trolls and other such inferior creatures."

"Monsters?" I said frowning.

I tell you, I have always been resentful of that word. Even in those days I was always indignant when people condemned other sentient beings just because they did not fit an aesthetic ideal.

"How could you speak so cruelly about them?" I demanded. "It does not become you, my friend. Trolls are intelligent beings like us, but they're silicon based, not carbon based."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh well, that really changes everything, you knowing the word silicon."

"All good authors realise that it is just social perception that says other humanoids are so different," I retorted, unwilling to let the matter drop. I really thought I could convince everyone with my arguments back then.

"And everyone back home realises that your recitation of those authors would send them to sleep," he replied, smirking.

That annoyed me and I could feel tears coming to my eyes.

But at that moment there was a terrible screeching and wailing. A great, ghostly shape, leprous grey in hue, came hurtling down from the cloudy skies towards us, like a huge carrion bird, but with no feathers. It had massive wings like a giant bat and a vicious, pointed beak as long as my forearm.

"Get down!" I hissed, pulling Addie to the deck and crouching in front of him as the terrible creature swooped over us, snatching with its sharp claws. In that instant, I knew I had to use a weapon to stop its flight. I had a morning star, a wickedly sharp throwing object, which I took out of my belt and flung at the beast's wing as it attacked.

It gave a terrible shriek and collided with the deck. Immediately the guards on board surrounded it, wary of the snapping beak as it thrashed about.

Now that the danger had subsided I felt distinctly shaken. "Are you alright?" I whispered in Addie's ear.

"Perfectly fine, you glory hog," he said, getting to his feet.

"Well what did you want me to do? I'm not a glory hog. I'm not!" I protested, my voice rising shrilly so that I said the last two syllables as if I were a honking goose.

The guards had dispatched the fallen flying beast and the captain and crew surrounded the carcass.

"Look at that," said the captain gravely, "like some monster from before history began. There is some demonic work here, make no mistake."

The rest of the voyage past by without incident. When I tried to engage Addie in conversation at supper below deck, he was distant, but I was distracted. One of the crew was causing a sensation with a rather coarse sea shanty.

When he was finished I laid a hand on Addie's arm and was about to whisper in his ear but a crew member yelled:

"The little Miss is obviously our more distinguished guest, getting her own room whereas we have to make do with bunks in the dorm. Is she our capn's equal?"

"Silence!" Said the captain, glaring at the crew member. Everyone else fell silent.

I was acutely aware that I was the only female on board. The baron had decreed that I should have my own quarters. I could see why the crew might be resentful, but did not know what I should say. I thought I should not criticise his decision so kept quiet.

The next morning I tried to get Addie to go through our inventory of items.

"We have a rope," I began, "now I can throw a morning star best, but if you want some…"

"Oh that's gracious of you," he said with a sneer and stalked off.

"Addie!" I was agitated and ran after him. But at that moment the lookout shouted to announce our arrival on the Lone Island.

As we were about to set foot on the desolate shore of the Lone Island, the captain bade us farewell.

"Our hopes go with you," he said, "we will return for you when the moon is full. If you have not emerged then we will return again at half moon. If you have still not emerged… " Here he paused. "May the luck of the gods go with you," he concluded.

A long, winding path led up to the castle, which loomed above us on the horizon, its many turrets standing proud and erect – all save one. The Great Tower. The Tower with the Throne Room where Carcescu grew in evil might. Dark clouds swirled around it. The very stone appeared blackened and crumbling. A chill wind seemed to cut me through to the bone. I shuddered and hurried after Addie who had overtaken me.

"Do you think it would be worth scouting the ruins around the castle first?" I asked as I jogged to keep pace with him.

He maintained a stony silence.

"This is absolutely stupid!" I cried, "I'm very sorry for however it was I insulted you, but please talk to me."

"Very well," he replied, "just don't claim to be a better warrior than I am."

"I never meant to," I protested. "You are older and have some real experience already. That's more important than throwing a morning star."

"You're wiser than our master," said Addie placated, "you're his favourite and he thinks that makes you 'unprecedentedly skillful and versatile.' As if a sixteen year old girl could be exceptional at anything. Experience does indeed matter more."

Glad to be on speaking terms again, I let the insult to our trainer slide.

The chill wind seemed to lessen somewhat. I linked my arm with his.

"Shall I sing a Dark Forest marching song? It'll keep up our spirits."

Without waiting for a reply I began to sing in the language of the Dark Forest – my native language, but not Addie's, though he could understand it. It is a very uplifting song, although it loses that effect somewhat in translation. Here it is in the common tongue, or near enough:

"The sun he shines full in my face,

And I am brave and bold,

Then I still march through blackest night,

Through deepest dark and cold."

Addie wasn't impressed. "Hush, do you want to announce our arrival to Carcescu with your caterwauling?"

I was a little stung by this appraisal of my singing.

"I thought it was a jolly tune," I muttered.

"That it may be, but you do have a weird singing voice," he said.

The winding path led down, to the subterranean back entrance to the castle. On our back door route, we were to take would begin in the dungeons. We would have to journey up to the top of the tallest tower where the fiend awaited us on his throne of bone and skulls.