The Severaine

Chapter Fourteen The Summoner-1

Chapter Fourteen

The SummonerBy the time Daniel reached Elder Robert, the benefits of a restful sleep and a good meal had almost vanished leaving him feeling sluggish. His legs felt heavy, his feet almost dragged across the floor as his body demanded more of the sleep it had for so long been denied. As he entered the sitting room, where Acha and Eiji sat listening to one of Elder Robert's many outlandish tales, he did a quick shadow count. Everything seemed to be in order, for the time being at least, but still, he couldn't be too careful. The shadows were nothing if not deceitful, they could be hiding inside another for all he knew.

They rose from their places at the table as he entered, and all conversation fell silent. He felt the weight of their stares as they each examined him, creating their own account on his condition this morning. Daniel's jaw clenched, being under constant scrutiny quickly became both tiresome and annoying.

“Shall we get this over with, where's the egg?” Daniel raised his eyebrows. He had been unable to cull the frustration and impatience in his tone. His focus on Elder Robert was every bit as intense as the stares he had been recipient to, almost as if expecting him to admit he had simply woven another outlandish tale. He was surprised to see his features glow with a broad smile as he bent to retrieve something from beneath the table. He glanced to Eiji and Acha, they were still watching him, their expressions guarded, ready to gauge his reaction.

A hypnotic shimmer passed over the iridescent surface of the large circular egg as it was placed upon the table. It was easily the size of an infant, but given all he knew about dragons it made him question the tale further. He leaned in, watching his reflection twist and deform. It looked to be nothing more than a giant pearl, one which would fetch a high price indeed. Even Acha and Eiji, who had already seen it, were once more mesmerised. Daniel reached out, his hand tentatively touching it. He was just about to declare it a blessing from Amphitrite when he felt something beneath its surface move. He pulled back in alarm, his eyes wide in disbelief. Elder Robert stood with his arms crossed. The wry smile, accompanied by the gentle nodding of his head, was more revealing than any words he could have spoken.

Daniel lowered his gaze to it again. If this truly was what he said, then it could have found no better home. Many, like he himself, would never believe this man's tales. After all, Elder Robert had a fable for every occasion, a dragon's egg was beyond the height of belief. Daniel stepped back as he straightened his posture. Its hold on him broken.

Acha looked to him in surprise, she had nowhere near the passion for such things as Daniel had, and still it had taken her some time to tear herself away. What stood before them was a species thought extinct, and here, on the table in a small cabin belonging to a village elder, sat a new generation of a lost race. How he failed to appreciate the enormity, to be lost in its potential, was beyond her understanding. She had been physically trembling, and Eiji had mirrored her silent awe. How could he possibly look at it with nothing more than what appeared to be a cursory intrigue? The two of them had lost so long to their disbelief and excitement, much to Elder Robert's amusement. They had spoken in awe about all this could mean, for them and the future. Dragons were real, alive, how could he be so unaffected by this revelation?

“When you return the egg they will repay their debt by granting you one request. The dragons are the guardians of the Star of Arshad, maybe you should read up on it a little?” he suggested with a knowing smile.

“The what?” Eiji questioned, the name seemed somehow familiar; he was sure it was something his master had once mentioned. He probed his mind but recalled nothing other than the fact it was believed to be an item of historical significance.

“It is a stone—” Daniel's monotone pitch resulted in a quick and harsh interruption from Elder Robert, who glared at him, but not without concern.

“Don't kill the story!” The Elder shook his head disapprovingly. The twinkle returned to his eyes as he continued. “When the earth was but a baby cradled in the arms of the first Gods, a great power was born of the land. When time began the Star of Arshad was no more than a grain of sand suspended in the centre of the Mountain of the Spirits.

“As time passed this sand developed into a great crystal. Its strength growing as it absorbed the powers of each god who fell. As long as it remained in the mountain, if ever the Severaine was sealed, the beings we now refer to as myths and legend would remain upon the planet's surface, sustained by the powers within the crystal. The Star allowed the creatures that needed magic to live, to survive but only should it stay in its home in the mountain.

“The young Gods were always envious of Gaea, she possessed an item called the Spiritwest that allowed her to tame the fierce powers of the Severaine, but when mankind convinced the Gods to seal it, the Spiritwest was also sealed. When the possessor of the Throne of Eternity was overthrown the Severaine broke free, the seals of the Gods broken as the throne stood empty.

“The new Gods wanted to retrieve the Spiritwest, but it was a feat impossible in that time. There were things they needed, and only two were even in existence, and one was not viable. It was something only one of the Gods who perished could create, a sun seed, but even then it had to be nurtured into life. You see its flowers were the true part of the key, none remained who had the ability to create the seed or nurture the fruit, and so the force was lost forever. But the god, never really wishing to betray Gaea had been clever. He had passed one of the few seeds that were created to the elves for safe keeping, any others he created were planted, but such things grow slowly and never did they flower.

“The Gods of our time convinced a mage to take the Star of Arshad from the gnomes and it somehow came to rest in Kalia, the island of the dragons. If the Star was returned to the mountain, should you succeed in sealing the Severaine, all creatures of myth and legend would remain on this planet.”

“Then why don't the dragons return it?” Eiji questioned.

“Well, the mage who was known as Cyra, she formed an alliance with Kadmos Rosu, the world-renowned dragon slayer, and found a way to bind the dragons to Kalia. They used it as the Gods had instructed, to banish the dragons, for they were creatures even Zeus himself feared.

“Once the task was complete Cyra chose to keep the star's power for herself. A mortal possessing it can harness the powers of the Gods, or so the rumours go, but there was one dragon not affected by this curse. One rumoured not to be of this world. This dragon managed to pluck the stone from her grasp but could not approach the Mountain of the Spirits due to the powers of the curse. Since such creatures were feared he could ask none to take it in his stead, so it took the only action it could, and took the Star of Arshad to Kalia.

“Personally, I don't think it was a dragon at all, I think it was a Hydra, they can live on both land and sea. I remember a good few years ago at Semiazá port I met a beautiful young lady by the name of Ateleiotos Thanatos. A pure and innocent girl, a walking vision of beauty, she had come to save the port that was under attack from a hydra, or so they thought. She was gifted with the ability to speak with animals but—”

“The dragons,” Daniel interrupted coldly.

“Oh, sorry, I was rambling.” He looked to Eiji and Acha who seemed disappointed his tale had stopped. “There was no hydra, just old magic wearing thin,” he finished quickly winking at them. That was not the real story, but pretending to believe such things kept him safe. “So the star was taken to the dragons, but the curse was never broken that confined them to the island, meaning they could not return it.”

“So how do you know about it?” Acha questioned, still fascinated by the tale.

“I was told by them of course… well almost, they sent a fairy to find someone to protect an egg left behind in the Forgotten Plains. I was like Daniel in my time, I knew of many myths and legends and was friends with many creatures. So I was the one the fairy sought.

“Although we are talking many centuries after their sealing of course.” He cleared his throat. “The egg had been in no danger. When the fairy reached me, it was so exhausted from the journey it collapsed without speaking a single word. I carried it with me for weeks until it recovered. She asked me to retrieve the egg and guided me to its location. I was asked to care for it until the time came for it to hatch. When that time came I would be able to return it, but I am too old now to make such a journey.”

“So if no one can locate this island, and it appears on no map, and doesn't exist in this world,” Daniel listed his points on his fingers, “how do we find it?

“Collateral, of course.” He grinned. “It's a little tricky, the access is well hidden.”

* * *

Collateral's graveyard was an unusual place. It was found on the far reaches of the western section, and it was not a place easy to access. There was only one entrance into the well-kempt, walled off enclosure, but reaching that entrance was more challenging. The streets, as so often seemed to be the case, twisted and turned back upon themselves. Dead ends seemed to obstruct their every path through the complex maze until, finally, they had reached the tall wall which surrounded the sacred area.

The fields stretched beyond the horizon, but how much of this was real and how much was an illusion created by the barrier surrounding Collateral, was unclear. It was filled with countless stone monoliths, and upon these the names of the dead were carved. When a person died here their bodies were burnt and their ashes returned to the earth. Only those who lived here were honoured within this memorial, but looking out over the immeasurable expanse of stone pillars, it became apparent how many people had actually lived, and died, here since Collateral had first been created, assuming there were names dating back to that time.

They carefully made their way towards the area possessing a larger monument than the uniform structures which filled the surroundings. It towered higher than any of them stood, crafted from a smooth black stone. Upon its surface white impurities could be seen, blemishes against the ebony skin of the obelisk. It was beneath here, Elder Robert had said, the path to Kalia could be found. They glanced around cautiously before Daniel and Eiji made an attempt to move the giant structure. They strained and groaned but found it unyielding. Acha placed the egg down carefully and moved to join them. Even with their combined efforts the stone failed to give even a little. They tried each side in turn until fatigue saw them needing to rest.

“It's probably someone's tomb,” Daniel panted, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Elder Robert has always been a little on the… eccentric side.” He leaned back against the stone trying to calm his breathing. He could feel his whole body trembling, not so much that anyone would see, just enough that he could feel it. He had been hoping his earlier rest would have meant he could stall sleep for some time, but the encroaching tiredness was apparent, it descended like a hungry beast. His body, having now tasted its first real rest in some time, craved more. He feared his ability to keep it at bay.

“But the egg is real,” Acha protested.

“It sure is. Visiting the dragons?” A familiar voice startled them, intruding on their private conversation with his unwelcome presence. Acha grasped the egg as if to shield it but wondered why she had reacted in this manner. Perhaps it was his unanticipated appearance. It was surely impossible for someone to be so close without them having seen their approach. Eryx's eyes narrowed, examining the egg as a faint glimmer of recognition seemed to cross his eyes, almost as if he recalled the events which led it to be trapped within this world. “You won't get in like that.”