The darkened land, p.1
The Darkened Land, page 1
The Darkened
Land
by
Larry Paris
To God Be The Glory
© Copyright 2017 by Larry Paris
Revised 2019
All rights reserved
Edited by T. E. Bradford
Cover art by Mary Campagna Findley
Maps by Jeremy Bullard The Tiled Hand Cartography
Farrah’s Song by T. E. Bradford
Copyright 2019
Used by Permission
ISBN 9781386079651
Table of Contents
Dedication................................................1
Seven Towers.............................................2
Light....................................................4
The Valley of the Swift Waters..............................11
The Telluvian Flats........................................20
The Black Tower.........................................27
The Einar...............................................34
The Einar and the Hashimort................................41
The Aidan...............................................47
Attack of the Solveig......................................56
Assassins................................................61
The Trip to the Chasm.....................................69
The Bridge..............................................74
The Council.............................................83
Training................................................91
Fairvale.................................................98
The Great Stone.........................................107
The March to the City.....................................114
New Armor.............................................125
Diaphanous.............................................130
Desires of the Heart......................................137
Love and Trebuchets.....................................141
Farrah.................................................149
Of Councils and Command................................158
Vacillation.............................................165
Stealth.................................................176
Prisoners of Sarx.........................................182
The Day of Battle........................................189
War Horns..............................................197
Epithumay..............................................205
Attack on the Aiden......................................214
The Standard Bearer......................................222
The Great Evil..........................................231
Aftermath..............................................241
Sarx...................................................252
Honors of the King.......................................261
A Wedding and a Proposal.................................267
Lachlaniel and Aurora....................................273
Many Partings...........................................281
Farrah’s Song...........................................289
Maps..................................................291
Pronunciation and Meaning of Names........................292
Glossary...............................................295
Dedication
To my wife who stuck with me through
thick and thin for thirty-nine years
and many, many tears
Acknowledgments
I am deeply indebted to those who encouraged me through many years of off and on part-time writing, to those who read what I had written while the book was unfinished. I also wish to thank my editor T.E. Bradford for excellent help and insight. To my wife who bore me on eagle's wings when I could no longer go, I add to my thanks, “I love you.” Above all to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who lifted me out of the pit, set me on the rock, put a pen in my hand, and said, “Now write,” I am truly thankful.
Seven Towers
Seven cities of might
Seven towers of light
In the land of was
And will be
One that was great
That loves no more
One that loves still
And serves her Lord
One that is dying
And one that is dead
One that is poor
With crownéd head
Two that hold on
When hope is thrust through
The enemies within
Have done it to you
When darkness o’er
The land has sway
Seven great cities
Will stand in its way
The evil that reigns
As some of them fall
Will tremble in terror
Of the King's call
Then rising those cities
Will stand strong and free
Evil is vanquished
And all men will see
Seven cities of might
Seven towers of light
In the land of was
And will be
Light
For Lachlaniel this was to be a day like no other. It started when a light broke the perpetual darkness. Of course, Lachlaniel didn’t know it was light. He had never heard about light before, and if he had, he wouldn’t have known this was it.
What’s that! Where did it come from?
He walked down the familiar path into a new world of visual sensations. As he walked, he realized the light was moving too. It disappeared in the trees ahead.
I can't lose it!
He ran, following the path through the woods and found he could see its familiar twists and objects. He paused to stare at a branch that overhung the trail. He’d cut it off many times only to have it grow back year after year. He ran on. There was the rock in the trail he used to stumble over when he first moved here.
He was getting closer but suddenly stopped. Colors filled his vision for the first time — the greens of the fir trees, and the red, gold, and rust of the autumn leaves — colors for which he had no language. They burst upon his unsuspecting mind. He laughed out loud. A breeze coming down the path swept the leaves into a waltz. Touching his feet, they pulled him along crying for joy as he went. The colors faded as the light moved further ahead. The waltz ended as gray took the place of gold. He began running again as joy followed the light and left him with the fear of losing this new wonder.
He found himself once again shrouded in darkness because the light must’ve rounded the turn in the path ahead. He couldn’t lose it now. He ran as fast as he could. His side ached. He rounded the turn and could see a man far ahead on the path. The light was coming from him. The man was too far ahead for Lachlaniel to continue at this pace. He slowed to a walk to catch his breath. The stranger was taking his time. Even walking Lachlaniel was gradually catching up. The closer he got the more wondrous the sights.
Finally catching his breath, he called out, “Sir!”
The man stopped and turned. He was portly, and his gray beard hung to his waist. His eyebrows were like eagles' feathers, the left one arched with inquisitiveness and consternation.
“Yes?” the man said, his left hand pulling his colorless gray cloak about him to hide the light as best he could while his right gripped a walking stick as gnarled as his hands. “What do you want?”
“What is it that's coming from inside your cloak?” Lachlaniel asked.
“It’s called light,” the old man snapped as he turned and continued on the trail.
“Where did you get it?”
“I found it.”
“Where does it come from?”
“A stone.”
“A stone?”
“Yes, a stone,” the man growled as he stopped and turned to face Lachlaniel.
“But I mean, where did you get the light?”
“I don’t have time for all this.”
“But how can I get a stone like yours?”
“Cross the Godwin River. You can find them there. Now leave me alone.”
The man quickened his pace and took his walking stick in both hands in a menacing fashion. Lachlaniel stared after him for a long time. He turned back down the trail toward home.
Blackness settled in around Lachlaniel. He felt as though someone could see him in spite of the darkness. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and he found himself running down the path. As he broke out of the woods, the feeling left him. Perhaps it was being back on his own land. Perhaps it was just getting used to not seeing again. Perhaps....
“Hello,” a deep melodious Voice called.
Lachlaniel jumped.
“Who’s there.”
His muscles tensed for action.
“A friend,” said the Voice.
It was a soothing sound, like a breath of fresh air. Lachlaniel's muscles relaxed in spite of himself as he breathed in the fragrant aroma of some unfamiliar fruit blossom.
“What do you want?”
“I came to help you. You met the man with the light.”
“Yes.”
“Wasn’t much help, was he?”
“No.”
“You should take what little h e gave you.”
Lachlaniel’s lips tightened, and his eyes narrowed.
“Oh. And what was that?”
“Take a trip across the Godwin.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you’ll find what you need there.”
Lachlaniel wavered between skepticism and trust.
He’s only saying what I’ve been thinking.
“And that is?”
“A stone, of course.”
“If you’re so sure there are stones there, why don’t you cross the Godwin?”
“Oh, but I have.”
“Then where’s your stone, where’s the light?”
“I don’t need a stone; the dark and the light are the same to me.”
Lachlaniel tensed again.
“Did you follow me through the woods?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t the one you were running from.”
“Then there was someone watching me, following me.”
“Not someone, something. There are creatures and people that hate the stones and the people that have them. Now that you know about the stones, they'll be after you too. You should pack a few things and some food, and leave for the Godwin immediately.”
“But I don’t know the way.”
“Take the north road.”
Lachlaniel waited for more, but there was silence. “What then?”
“One step at a time.”
“You’re going with me then.”
“I’ll be around.”
“Who are you?”
“I told you. A friend.” The Voice was as soft as the wind in the trees.
Lachlaniel waited, but there was silence. He hadn't heard the sound of footsteps, but when he called out there was no answer.
What now? Do I just take this stranger's advice and head up the north road? If I want a stone and the light it gives, I guess I do.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end again.
There’s something out there. One of the creatures? I’m not waiting around to find out! I'm getting out of here just as fast as I can!
Lachlaniel ran into his house and began throwing things into his pack.
What should I take? Will this be a long trip? The Godwin must be further than three days down the north road. I've been that far myself. The weather is still good for traveling, but if I'm gone longer than a couple of weeks, it could turn cold.
He wavered between carrying the extra weight or not when he caught the sound of sniffing at the front door. It was one of the creatures, and now it had his scent. The feeling of anxiety he’d felt in the woods returned. His thoughts raced.
A weapon. A club? No. A knife. There has to be something better. A scythe? The scythe is in the barn.
Now whatever it was, it was clawing at the door. Perhaps he could sneak out the back. He quietly closed his pack.
Anything that isn’t already packed is staying here.
He started to slip into the back of the house when he heard the creature break away from the front door and head down the path to the road.
Should I head out? Surely the animal will be waiting for me somewhere. I've got to get out of here.
He headed out the back to the barn. He wouldn’t be unarmed. He would take the scythe. The air was very still and heavy. Strange scents hung in the air. There was a pungent acrid smell like singed hair and burned flesh mingled with that light sweet aroma like a fruit blossom he had smelled earlier when he was talking to that voice. He quickly retrieved the scythe, and holding it at the ready, he cut across the field to the road as swiftly and as quietly as possible. He slipped over the fence and out into the lane. He headed toward the fork in the road that would take him north.
He hadn’t gone far when he stopped in his tracks.
What was that?
He listened intently but all he could hear was the wind in the trees. It was picking up and beginning to gust.
Perhaps that’s all it is. Just the wind. I'm just imagining things.
He started down the road again. The trees creaked in the wind. If there were someone or something on the road behind him, it would be hard to tell. He quickened his pace. He was nearing the fork.
There is something back there!
He ran trying all the while to think of some place along the road he might hide. Suddenly, he was knocked off his feet. His pack went flying. Claws ripped across his back as he went down. He screamed in pain as he rolled onto his back. Instinctively he brought the scythe up. It was just in time. Huge jaws snapped shut inches from his throat. Growls and gnashing teeth filled his ears. The smell of singed hair and burned, rotting flesh filled his nostrils as well as the creature's putrid breath. He tried to push the thing away, but it was all he could do to keep it at bay. Short legs flailed about his arms. The claws ripped into his skin. He tried to get his feet and legs into the fight to no avail. His heart pounded in his ears. Sweat poured off his body in spite of the cool breeze. His arms shook with the strain. The creature's nose brushed his and though he pushed harder it brushed his nose again. In another moment.... There was a sharp thump like a hoe digging into stiff clay. The creature fell to the ground beside him. Its blood soaked his tattered sleeve. He laid his head on the ground, breathing hard and shivering.
What happened?
“Who’s there.” He recognized the deep bass voice. It was Ewald, the woodsman.
“It’s me Ewald, Lachlaniel.”
“It’s lucky for you I came along,” Ewald said as he groped for Lachlaniel’s arm in order to help him up.
“Thanks.”
Ewald's hand gripped Lachlaniel’s arm and slid down it to firmly grasp his hand. He helped him to his feet.
“A good sized wolf.”
Lachlaniel reached down and touched the matted fur. The smell assaulted his senses, and his head began to spin. His knees buckled and he pushed on the carcass to keep from going down. The feeling faded and he picked up a foreleg as he stood up. He found that Ewald had the other foreleg and was pulling the carcass off the road. Together they pulled it into the bar ditch. It was indeed a good sized wolf.
“It’s going to be a long winter if the wolves are already bold enough to attack.”
“He didn’t attack because he was hungry.”
Lachlaniel tenderly touched the wounds the claws had made on his arms
“Why then?”
“Do you know of something called light?” Lachlaniel asked.
“Never heard of it.”
“How can I describe it?” Excitement filled his voice as he thought of what he had seen. “It’s something that allows you to understand what the things around you are with your EYES!”
“What do you mean? Eyes don’t do nothin’.” Ewald sounded skeptical.
“They do if there is light!”
“What’s this light like?”
Lachlaniel thought for a moment. “It’s unlike anything else. If your eyes have light you can tell the shape of things without touching them. It was on the trail by my farm. I didn’t know what it was, so I went after it. My eyes used the light to tell me about the path that my feet had always told me about before. They told me about the rock I used to trip over. The branch that hangs over the trail needs trimming, but I didn't have to run into it to find out. It was the most incredible experience.”
“Let’s go back there. I want to experience this ‘light’.”
“We can’t. A man on the trail had it, but he told me where I could get more.”
“Where?”
“Across the Godwin River. That's where I'm headed.”
“I’ve heard of the Godwin.” Ewald’s voice slowed and his thoughts filled with nostalgia. “My old grandmother used to tell me strange stories when I was a child about the land beyond that river. But what does all this have to do with the wolf?”
“The beast must have followed me out of the woods. Someone warned me that there were people and things who hate the light and that I was being followed. The wolf came to my door shortly after I began packing to leave.”
“You’re going in search of this ‘light’?”
“Yes. I don’t intend to live here without it. Why don’t you come with me?”
“I’ve lived thirty years without ‘light.’ I don’t think I really need it.”
“If you had been there, you wouldn’t hesitate to go with me. It is the most marvelous thing. It defies description.”
