Chronicles of Fardel: The Rise of Syphon -
Hunting Down the Wraith
"The time of reaping the wheat is at hand, the trial of fire will begin shortly. You are the chosen one, only you can delay it. Be strong and of good courage. I will be with you."
Kephiyr woke with a jump smacking his head on the upper bunk. He could remember the dream except what the voice had said. A shiver went through his and he sat up holding his head. He glanced at the clock, noticing that it was still night. He got up and paced quietly back and forth in his five by five foot room. He prayed under his breathe so quickly and quietly he barely knew what he was saying. He was simply lost in thought and emotion so deeply he didn't even notice Feldor.
"Yer up rather late laddy, I was just turnin' in meself, til I noticed yer pacin'."
"I've been asleep already, I had the strangest dream." Kephiyr replied and went into a full account of the dream.
"Hmm and ya can't remember what the voice said eh? Strange I'd figure that'd be the most important."
"I know, but the thing has left me."
"Do ya think Kelpon has somethin' to do wit' it?"
"I don't know, Kelpon may, and it may be another threat beyond him."
"One threat at a time lad, we can only handle so much at once."
"I know, part of me hopes it's Kelpon, the other part of me hopes it's not."
"Why would ye hope it's not?"
"Mainly because of Doon, he's grown on me over the years. I fear the path he may take, he yearns so for his father's love. What if it leads him down an evil path?"
"We all have our paths to take in this life laddy. Doon will take the path meant for him. Elohiym is good and just, He will not allow him an unjust trial."
"Yeah your right. What if those flying beasts have something to do with Kelpon? We're already chasing a wraith around, what if he raises them? What if we fight a war on multiple fronts, can we even stand against that?"
"Peace laddy. All these what ifs; what if you trust Him and take life as it comes? Gets much easier if you do that."
"It's so hard to do that though."
"Not really, did He make this world? Did He make you? Does He love you?"
"Yes."
"Is there anything too hard for Him?"
"No."
"Well that settles it, He's in control and His plan is good. Trust and do what you know to do, the next right thing, that's the jist of life."
"What if you don't know the next right thing?"
"Pray and have patience it'll come to ya."
"Hmm, you've changed a lot Feldor, you're much wiser."
"If I am it is by His grace friend. I simply wanted to find the true God and I did. He has taught me, life has taught me."
"Life has taught me a lot and so has He. But these simple truths you've just shared are astounding to me."
"Simple, yet profound. You may find that some of the most profound things are always simple. Now get some sleep we need to prepare for the Onslow of Tukor tomorrow."
"You're right, goodnight and may He guide your dreams."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"My late friend Mastus, he used to say it every night."
"Hmm, I like it, may He guide your dreams as well."
Kephiyr laid back down and stared at the empty bunk above him.
"Lord, help me trust You and give me the courage to do what I need to do." He drifted off again.
Kephiyr rose early the next morning to the smell of eggs and bacon. Feldor came in with a steaming plate of eggs bacon and grits.
"We got a long way to go best eat and get your strength up."
"How far is Tukor?"
"Two day journey and we'll need some hardware. Catapults etcetera, luckily Tukor used to be and elvish watch post, so the road up to it is easy."
"Do you have a strategy?"
"Tukor is easy, it's fairly small, on a hill, easily surrounded."
"To promise victory is to ensure defeat."
"Now ye can't be usin' me own sayins against me."
"Sure I can, don't be too hasty."
"You're right to rush in would be foolish."
"How do you know where the wraith would go? What if he goes all the way to Gutok?"
"I'm sure that's his plan but that's at least a four day journey going quickly. He's injured, Tukor is his closest haven, we stop him before he leaves. If he makes it to Gutok he'll have to be drawn out, we can't siege Gutok."
"Good plan, we must end this now."
Phex and Cipher stood next to Kephiyr listening in on the plan.
"Are our troops ready for another battle?" Phex asked.
"Yes, luckily we recuperated quickly. The real question is can Kephiyr and his men handle another battle already?"
"They seem determined enough, is their plan right though? Is Diabolos at Tukor?"
"He's not there yet, but that is likely where he'll go first. Call more sentinels in to help us give strength to these men. They need to move quickly or else they will fight on multiple fronts. The orcs must be stopped or Kelpon may use them as unspoken allies."
"You mean take advantage of what they do to further his agenda?"
"Yes, he may not order them, but it won't be long before Kephiyr is on both their hit lists."
Kephiyr went and found Abah and his brother. They were sitting enjoying the last of their breakfast. The scars across Abah's face and top of his head from the Wolfman still threw him for a loop. Especially now that one of his eyes was a different color Kephiyr had to remind himself who he was.
"About ready for hopefully our final march?"
"You bet!" Abah said enthusiastically.
"I got an energy I can't really explain. I'm guessing the plan is to trap him in Tukor?"
"That's the plan, and we need to get moving before he goes to Gutok."
"Well what are we waiting for?"
"You'll need tents, we'll be sleeping outside for at least a few nights. We also need to prepare the heavy artillery. The plan is to bombard them with catapult and arrow fire. Then when they're softened up send in the troops."
"Sounds like a good plan, where do we get the tents?"
"Feldor will provide them just follow the dwarf when he comes.
"Noted, see ya out there."
Kephiyr turned to leave and then turned back again. He pointed to Abah's discolored eye.
"Can you see out of that thing?"
"Aye, not as good as my other, but it's not blind."
Kephiyr laughed and turned to check on the rest of the troops. After a few hours they had gathered and set out for Omar the Dwarven kingdom in Mount Sarcon just a days journey from Tukor. The dwarves had created underground highways for many people and large machines to move on. These highways were held apart by huge columns of chiseled stone. Fine craftsmanship was carved into each of these seemingly telling stories of ancient past. Dwarven kings rose and fell, wars were fought and alliances and fortunes gained. Time had effectively been captured and engraved on stone. As they looked even more was being added by the Dwarven seers of Mendenhall. The history of the world for the world to see, untainted and unaltered as it played out. This was the seers solemn duty for millennia. From time to time a seer would stop, he would stay perfectly still for a few minutes with his eyes closed. Then as if woken out of a dream he would open his eyes and begin work again.
"What are they doing when they stop work like that?" Kephiyr asked.
"Projecting themselves to other parts of the world to gain news. The seers can project their souls over vast distances. Then when they have news they need they return and chisel it into stone."
"What happens when you run out of rocks?"
"There is always another rock and this is but one of thousands of archives. Between Mendenhall, Omar, and Melton we have data reaching back even before the great country Pelishty was founded. It's the most extensive and elaborate history archive of the world. Our archives reach back into the dateless past before the first world power. It's where the legends of the trial of fire and guardians and such come from."
"What is the trial of fire exaclty?"
"The trial of fire is an old prophecy, at the end of time evil will overcome and nearly wipe out all other life. In the end Elohiym will prevail and the good will be brought to paradise. However the date of when it will finally be successful isn't set in stone. There have been three attempted trials of fire because the evil doesn't know it's time. Perhaps there is no set time and all we know is eventually we will fail to stop it."
"That's a scary thought, wouldn't want to be the generation that fails."
"Indeed, that would not be a way I want to be remembered."
"So with the archives and the seers are the dwarves ever surprised by anything?"
"Of course, we can only see what we're allowed to see. And not every dwarf is a seer."
"So not literally everything is recorded?"
"Of course not, extensive not exhaustive. Besides there wouldn't be enough rocks for that."
"I thought there was always another rock."
Feldor smiled knowingly at him and kept going. By the end of the day they had made it to the Elmon forest just outside Omar. The Elmon forest was an enchanted woods, it had very tall viney trees the bark of which was white. A permanent mist lay about the wood that was a pinkish purple color. Fairies flew this way and that looking almost like tiny rainbows as they constantly changed color.
"We'll rest here for the night, we're about halfway to Tukor." Feldor said and began unpacking.
"Sounds good, besides maybe I can catch a fairy." Kephiyr laughed.
"I wouldn't be doin' that laddy. They may be pretty, but they got tempers and they're magical. Attempt to talk to one at most. Try catching one like a wild animal and you might find yourself looking like one."
"Duely noted."
They set up camp and laid down to rest as the sun set. Soon the fairies turned in for the night as well and the treetops were alive with little lights.
On the next morning they were off again, within a few hours they exited the Elmon forest. They now looked out on vast mostly flat plains called the Iren fields. They fields gave way to hiller ground a few miles east of them. However, before them to the south was plains all the way to Zolon. To their Southwest Farmell could dimly be made out but Zolon was out of sight. Zolon lay right against vast mountain ranges that had yet to be explored far. Small patches of forest and the occasional rolling hill broke the vast flatness. The Cordonion River trickled down toward Farmell from Lake Gawleel which was just east of them. Just south of Lake Gawleel lay their destination, the Kodesh Mountains.
It was a relatively small mountain range spanning only a few hundred miles. On top of which stood Tukor. To the west of the Codesh hills lay the ruins of Ceth and Corth, old elven cities that had been destroyed in ancient wars. Of which it is believed Tukor used to be part of as well.
They made their way slowly and quietly as possible toward the mountain highway. Although old and unkempt it was still passable but not without trouble. The going was slow and quiet. Nobody made hardly a peep and rocks were moved very carefully to avoid detection. They certainly outnumbered the enemy but the plan would work best if they were in position before detection.
Close to sundown they finally seen the old city. Spanning about one mile in total and having a stone wall for protection. The wall was roughly ten feet tall but it was broken in places from old battles.
The dwarves lit some torches and began to chant a haunting tune while beating on drums. The hum of the dwarves tune seemed to echo off every wall and stone. A feeling of dread seemed to spread from Tukor until the air was saturated with it. Feldor took in a deep breathe through his nose and smiled.
"I love the smell of my enemies fear. They have no artillery and they know we outnumber them."
The tune of the dwarves suddenly stopped. It was followed by the twang of thousands of bows tangling and fifty catapults firing all at once. More parts of the wall collapsed and the sound of orcs screaming in pain echoed. The ominous dwarf tune began again, orcs began scrambling for cover. Some attempted to attack, but this was easily crushed. The orcs had no order it had become every man for himself. Even with Diabolos there, with two losses under his belt he was no inspiration. The tune stopped again and another volley of arrows and rocks was set loose.
"This is going to be easier then I thought. They weren't prepared at all for our attack." Kephiyr said with a smile.
"Aye, let's make this quick, send the troops; full attack!" Feldor shouted.
The troops ran into Tukor shouting, the first few paving the way through an unorganized group of orcs. It wasn't long before they realized that Tukor only had a few hundred orcs most of which were attempting to run. No catapults or heavier troops, even the atmosphere had been different.
"Are we sure the wraith is here?" Kephiyr shouted over to Feldor.
"Ask one of them, how should I know?" He replied.
Kephiyr knocked an orc to the ground and held his sword to his throat.
"Tell me, is the wraith here, where are the troops that should have been here? Your reward is your life."
"The wraith is here, in the infirmary. We were abandoning this post, most have already left, we were to join them at Gutok tomorrow."
"We caught him by surprise! Head for the infirmary!" Kephiyr lifted the orc up and made sure he had no weapon. "This orc is not to be harmed. Any orc that is running let him run."
Kephiyr made his way to the infirmary where Diabolos was frantically fighting off men. The wraith screamed cutting off one man's head and biting through the throat of another. He cut another man in half and then Kephiyr shot him in the throat. He fell, gasping for breathe and gargling on black blood. His wings twitching uncontrollably.
"Early torment; I knew it was bad timing to be physical." He choked.
"Tell me what you know about the trial of fire!" Kephiyr demanded.
Diabolos laughed through gargling blood.
"You think you've won? You've killed a pawn, their are legions more like me. And still legions more, far worse then wraiths to come. Come here I will show you."
Kephiyr drew near knocking his weapon out of his hand. The wraith simply touched him. Kephiyr fell back and let out a scream as visions of several monstrous creatures passed before him. He came forward again but Diabolos' hand, suddenly black, hit him in the chest. Kephiyr screamed again and to Diabolos surprise had just enough where abouts to chop off his head. After beheading the wraith Kephiyr collapsed and everything went black. He was no longer with his body and was tormented with terrible visions of creatures that towered above a normal man. He suddenly felt enveloped by darkness, as if light had never existed. And he began to be aware of searing pain all over. Terrible beasts would torture him to the brink of death urging him to simply join the darkness.
"How am I not dead? They've tore me limb from limb. They've burned me. I can't die, oh God let me die." He thought but the only noise he could make was screams. All hope was stripped from him and he was cast into a deep pit. There burned, shredded, and torn apart. But his flesh would simply grow back only to be torn again. All the while the horrible voices kept echoing through his mind.
"Join us, join us and it will end."
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