Phantom Regency
Chapter 15

A Lament for Galmar

Final war rages

Sea Kings conquer

Castle Kings wrath

Bringing fire

From the sky

Cities burning

Water rises

Islands flooding

Eagles screaming

Twenty Million

Die in a day

O Galmar

Cradle of life

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Pride of land

Greed of man

Undoes us all

Anonymous - circa BGE 19

Eamor found himself standing at the top of Yoshun’s Peak. With him were two youths, one in his teens and one much younger. The older looked like the Regent, Xim Vlademor, but with a brighter, happier countenance. The boy was Eamor as a child, but glowed a soft yellow-green color. Eamor could feel power emanating from him.

A sudden sick feeling of fear engulfed Eamor. His hair stood on end. His heart pounded. A huge lizard-like creature lunged at him. The young Regent stepped in its way and was consumed in one bite. The lizard was then destroyed by a man in shiny, silver armor.

The next moment an awful piercing hiss filled the air. A giant, flying dragon swooped down at Eamor. Riding on its back was Captain Dread in full armor. The boy Eamor shot green lightning from his hands at the creature. Dragon and rider burst into flames and plummeted from the sky. Eamor’s younger self collapsed in a heap at his feet. Eamor knelt before the still form. Sobs of grief racked his soul as he realized the boy was dead. He had never felt such anguish. The body began to fade and shrink. In its place was a shiny metal orb. Eamor reached to pick it up.

He came to, bathed in sweat and shaking. He was on a narrow ledge along the path up Yoshun’s Peak. He had blacked out in mid-stride. It’s a wonder he didn’t fall off.

He had never felt such strong emotions during a dream before, especially not a waking dream. They had always been just observations. This one felt like he was living it. He sighed heavily and resumed his climb.

His initial exhilaration at finally climbing Yoshun’s Peak was gone. He also questioned whether he should have insisted Talon wait at the bottom. He felt heavy. His heart was racing in fear. He began to doubt that Sky Man would meet him. He was less and less sure of his destiny.

He looked out over the foothills. Morvan Castle was just a dot on the plain below. His thoughts turned to his mother and Uncle Rylen. They believed in him. They never doubted. He found fortitude in the thought. He began to climb again with a cold determination. There was a natural ravine spiraling around and zigzagging down the face of Yoshun’s Peak. This had been chiseled and shaped by men over the years so that it was possible to climb with little or no special equipment or skill.

He reached the summit at nightfall. There was a hollow in the peak about the size of a small cottage. He stood there awestruck. This is where the ancient Aralians dreamed of the stars. This is where his ancestor Yoshun first encountered Sky Man. He wondered if Sky Man himself would ever appear to him.

He was exhausted and set up camp. He asked Sky Man for dreams in the night and fell into a deep sleep.

He awoke early, having slept soundly, with no dreams he could remember. He rose and stretched and looked out over the Deep Sea. He could make out Aralia Station on the coast. He saw a large sea ship heading out from the dock.

Go look over the Forsaken Sea.

A thought echoed in his head. He hesitated. The hollow he had camped upon was open to the east, north and south. To look west he would have to scale the slope behind him.

Go look over the Forsaken Sea.

Eamor walked over to the slope. It loomed about twenty feet above him. It got increasingly steep and had few footholds. He started to scramble up. He slipped a few times but eventually reached the top. The wind was howling and Eamor feared he would be swept off. He pulled himself up on what was the very peak of the mountain. He straddled a ridge of rock no more than ten feet long. Below his right leg was his camp. Below his left leg was a dizzying view of the rocks below, tumbling down to the edge of the ocean itself. He had not known that Yoshun’s Peak was right on the edge of the island.

He looked out across the water. It was surprisingly calm and stretched unbroken to the horizon. Eamor knew that it continued all the way around Galmar to the other side of the encircling islands. He realized how small the cradle of life really was. It occupied a small part of a small planet in a vast galaxy. That Sky Man chose this place was unfathomable and humbling.

His vision clouded and his senses faded. He had a vast, sprawling vision. He saw himself leading thousands of people to a distant planet out beyond even Sky’s End. He saw the tall fair girl of his dreams. She was by his side. Averil, Swoop and Talon were there as well. He saw himself fashioning great ships with four phantom cylinders each. He saw the galaxy splintering into dozens of pieces, each assailed by a giant serpent. He sent the new ships to fight giant dragons. He saw the dragons assaulting the Nexus. He saw himself taking the Nexus from them.

He understood that this was his destiny. He was descended from Yoshun and would be Regent. Sky Man had shown him what was ahead. How was he going to live up to this destiny? He felt the need to go to the Watchers and learn what to do and how to do it. If he was going to follow the vision he…

“Eamor!” He heard a voice call.

“Eamor!”

He shook his head and opened his eyes.

“Eamor! Come down!”

He looked down to the hollow below. It was Captain Dread! He was not in armor but his sword was in hand.

Eamor began descending. There seemed to be nothing else to do. He was not afraid. He had a sudden conviction that even Dread could not stand in the way of his destiny. He prepared himself for a fight. He had sparred with the captain plenty and they knew each other’s fighting style well. What Dread did not know was that Eamor had received instruction on his recent voyage from the greatest warrior in the galaxy. Eamor was certain that Talon was far more dangerous than the captain. He was reasonably certain he could beat Dread if it came to a fight.

Dread was standing by Eamor’s camp. “I knew that I would find you here. It figures you’d eventually find your way home.”

Eamor stood before him silently.

“Why did you have to leave? You had a place with us. Your gift could have saved the galaxy. Why did you throw it all away?” Dread’s voice was passionate. His face was intense.

“I won’t come back. Sky Man…”

“I don’t want you back!” Dread shouted. “You left me! You betrayed me! You’re just like…” His voice faded. He reached into Eamor’s pack and pulled out his sword.

“I never thought it would come to this,” he said as he tossed Eamor his sword.

Eamor caught it and stood silently, his eyes locked on Dread’s. He understood Dread’s anger and violence. He knew the rage that inhabited his heart. He was not afraid of it. He felt sorry for him. He felt pity. He felt love.

“You were a father to me.” Eamor said.

“I was,” was the reply.

“I am sorry.”

“Me too,” Dread said sadly and then moved in to attack. His anger had abated and he fought with the same cool precision as always. Eamor countered and their fight began to resemble a dance. Each move begat another as they circled each other, fighting warily. Eamor was determined not to lose control. One false step would mean the end against such a skilled foe.

Dread slowly gained the center of the hollow as Eamor was forced to circle closer to the edge. Eamor began to unleash some of the new techniques Talon had taught him. Dread was surprised at first and had to give ground. His countenance hardened and a determined gleam shone from the pirate’s eyes.

Dread stepped back and stared into Eamor’s eyes. Dread’s eyes glowed yellow. Eamor felt light headed and lost his balance. He fell at Dread’s feet. He prepared for a desperate defense but with the upper hand now, Dread would soon finish him. He felt a strange tingling in his left hand. As he countered Dread’s first blow with his sword, he raised his hand instinctively.

Green lightning flashed from his hand and sent Dread reeling. Eamor scrambled to his feet. Dread recovered his balance and began to laugh slowly.

“So, you think you have power now?” He raved. “You know nothing of true power! Zen-La-Shon has given me the phantom fire!”

Dread dropped his sword and raised both hands. Red bolts of flame shot from them and struck Eamor. The force of the fire pushed him over the edge onto the narrow path a few feet below. Eamor groaned in pain and looked up. Dread was standing on the edge of the hollow above him.

“The fate of the galaxy lies in my hands, not yours! I am the liberator! I am the chosen one! My power will be unstoppable! Once I have the orb, even the Sky Man himself cannot stand in my way,” he ranted, wild-eyed and panting. His eyes glowed yellow again.

He raised his hands above his head. Suddenly, the rocks to his left exploded, sending a shower of stones down on Eamor. Dread fell back out of his sight. Eamor looked out from the mountain and saw the Sky Lady drifting in over the foothills. Another cannon shot hit the hollow above him.

The ship cruised slowly over head. A hatch in the bottom was open and a large net unfurled. As it drifted by, Eamor grabbed hold and was snatched from the ground.

As he flew away, he looked back for Dread. There was no sign of life amid the smoke and debris. He wondered if Dread was dead. Surprising grief and loneliness flooded his soul.

A few minutes later, Swoop dropped him on the ground and landed on a small hill nearby. Eamor walked over and met Swoop and Talon at the main hatch.

“Hey kid! How was the ride?” Swoop asked beaming.

“Great, thanks. I guess we are even now. Why did you come back?”

“No choice. Nine Dread cruisers have the planet blockaded. They took exception to my departure and pursued me back down. The price for their folly was five gunboats. As long we keep our profile low they will search for us in vain.”

“Are you okay, Eamor?” Talon asked.

“I’m okay. I had some crazy dreams. I need to go see Ailan.”

“Yes, Swoop is heading to Sky’s End if we can ever get off this rock.”

They walked into the ship talking about how to escape the pirates. Talon was in favor of scouting out Aralia Station.

“They are up to something at the coast,” Talon said, “Remember the sea ships we saw on our approach.”

“They are after something important, something big out in the Deep Sea. When I was with them we pirated some deep diving equipment.” Eamor said, “But I can’t worry about that. I have to go into Morvan. Talon, will you go with me?”

“I do not see…” Swoop began. “Oh, never mind. You will chase your legend whatever my sage advice may be. I remain with the Lady. Signal me if you need an additional rescue.”

Talon and Eamor hiked down to the village. They stopped first at Averil’s family farm. Eamor anticipated a glad reunion, but he was surprised instead by the news that she had left planet months ago.

“She got on the phantom waiting list years ago, and saved enough money doing odd jobs to get a fresh start. We couldn’t talk her out of it. Said this just wasn’t home anymore. She always had bigger dreams than this forsaken place could give her,” her father related.

They walked into town, keeping their hoods and cloaks tight. Eamor was not eager to be recognized. Dread’s people could be around. The town was practically deserted. Many of the shops were boarded up and few people were in the streets, even at midday. They went to see the blacksmith, old man Grex. He always seemed to know the gossip and had been friendly with Eamor and Boldic. They walked into the dimly lit shop. It seemed to be deserted.

“Mister Grex! Are you here?” Eamor called.

A door opened at the back of the shop. The old man entered, a hunting rifle leveled at Eamor.

“You! You’re one of them now, aren’t you? Get out of here!”

“No sir, I left the pirates months ago. I didn’t… I am just back to visit my mother. I…” His words dissolved into weak tears.

Grex relaxed his grip on the rifle. “I couldn’t believe you left with them. Averil kept saying it was for the best, but these are nasty people. They came through last year and rounded up all the young and strong. Took them down to the coast for the Sky Man- knows-what. Who’s your friend?”

“This is Talon Vasloch. He is my rescuer and protector.”

Talon spoke up. “Are there pirates in the village now?”

“No,” he spat, “but there are plenty of folks here that would sell their mother to them. This town is dying faster than a fatted hog on Harvest Fest.” He lowered the rifle. “Your ma is buried outside the castle wall where she died. Go see her, then get out of here. There’s nothing left here, now.”

“Thank you, sir. Is there anything I can do for you?” Eamor asked.

“No, my sweet Fern died last winter. I’m just livin’ out my last days.”

Talon reached into a pocket. He handed the stunned old man a credit voucher. “Make something of your last days. It is never too late to make a difference. May Sky Man light your path.”

They walked to the castle. The ruins of the wall that had fallen on them were strewn all over the ground. A few paces away was a stone cairn with a small marker.

“I’ll be back,” Eamor said and headed for the grave.

Talon watched as he approached it and knelt. He saw his shoulders heave as he grieved. Tears sprang involuntarily to Talon’s eyes. He had never personally lost a loved one. He was distant from his family, but they still lived. He marveled at how much this boy had endured.

“Is it really fair to ask him to go through with what is still ahead?” He asked Sky Man. He vowed in his heart to be the best friend and guardian Eamor could ever have.

Eamor returned, red-eyed and solemn but there was something settled in his countenance. He had grieved as a man, not as a boy. He had left his childhood behind with his mother once and for all.

They walked silently back through the village. As they passed by the abandoned mill, a hand grabbed Eamor on the shoulder. He turned to see who it was just as Talon threw the man to the ground and drew his ion gun.

“Halen?!” Eamor said.

“Hi, Eamor,” he said sheepishly, “Can I have a chance to talk?”

Eamor was too tired and sad to be angry. He sighed. “Halen, how could you? Why didn’t you talk to me first? I thought we were…”

“I… I was afraid. I wanted to make points with Dread. I wanted to make sure you couldn’t leave. I don’t know…” His head sunk as he talked. He suddenly looked up and met Eamor’s eye. “I have to get out of here. Dread is mad! I don’t want to do this anymore. I wish I had never… Eamor, forgive me. I am lost and confused. I… I need help.” His eyes were misty, his face earnest.

“We need to get out of sight.” Talon said to Eamor. He addressed Halen, “Are there any more of you around? I hope not because if anything goes bad, you are the first to die.” He motioned with the gun and they began to walk off together.

“No, no. I am here alone. I’m supposed to be on the coast. Dread knew you were here. He is looking for you.”

“He found me. I escaped with some help.” Eamor sighed. “He may be dead.”

“That would be great news. The coast is crawling with pirates. Practically the whole operation is here. They have the planet sealed off.”

“We know. Could you help us escape if we took you with us?” Eamor asked.

“I don’t think…” Talon began.

“No Talon, we need to trust him. I’ve never seen him like this. We will help you Halen, but we need to get off Galmar.”

“The Exsie is over the south pole. I can order her to stand down. If Dread is still alive, hopefully he will not be aware. If not, we should get away before anyone suspects.” Halen said.

“Good, let’s get you to the ship.”

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