The Gateway (Harbinger of Doom Volume 1) (2 page)

“
Oh no, not again,” said Tanch.
“Please don’t let it start again.”

“
The wailing,” said
Claradon.

“
Gods preserve us,” said
Tanch.

Frantic servants scrambled hither and fro
covering the war room’s windows with thick draperies, pillows, and
great tapestries to drown out the unnatural din that demanded
entry. Claradon paced back and forth near the head of the ponderous
oaken table that dominated the room; a vacant expression covered
his face and sweat beaded on his brow. Ob berated the servants for
their slowness then climbed up on the chair that Brother Donnelin
had made for him and plopped down into the seat, his chainmail
armor clanking against the hardwood. The finely crafted mahogany
chair was so tall that when the old gnome sat in it, his head was
nearly level with those of the others. A servant passed him a bowl
of softened wax from which he plucked a finger full to stop up his
ears. “Ah, now that’s much better,” said Ob. “Now I can think
straight again. Claradon, I’ll be wanting your tale of what you
know of your father, and of this foul wailing and, and I’ll be
needing it quick. So gob up your ears with a slab of this stuff so
your head’ll be on straight, then start your telling.”

Claradon made use of the wax then continued
his pacing, ignoring Ob.

Dolan Silk found a seat, promptly leaned back,
and put his boots up on the table’s edge, seemingly oblivious to
the skirling sounds that still found their way inside. Ector and
Tanch sat to Dolan’s right, and each made use of the wax in turn.
Before taking the seat across from Dolan, Lord Theta propped his
massive battle shield against the wall. The old shield was sorely
battered from untold battles, yet so highly burnished was its
surface, much to Dolan’s credit, that one could clearly see their
reflection within its depths.

A disheveled servant crashed into the room.
“Master Claradon, Sir Gabriel has returned. He’s on his way
up.”

Claradon sighed in relief and found a seat
near the table’s head.

“
Thank goodness!” said Tanch. “Sir
Gabriel will know what to do. He’ll clear up this troubling
business.”

Soon, they could hear Gabriel shouting from
down the hallway. “I can’t leave you people alone for even a few
days without all hell breaking loose. My first damn hunting trip
all season. Where are Aradon and the boys? What the hell’s going
on? What’s this damnable din? Someone answer me, for Odin’s sake!”
Guards and servants scattered before his wrath. One servant tripped
and landed on his face as he passed the war room’s door. The
flustered retainer barely managed to scramble out of the way as
Gabriel stormed into the room, his left hand gripping his sword
hilt. As he entered, he rapidly scanned each face, as if searching
for someone. His eyes widened as he spied Lord Theta, but his gaze
lingered for only a moment before he turned his attention to the
others.

“
What’s going on here?” said
Gabriel, “What’s this noise and who’s gone missing? Someone speak
up,” he said, his withering gaze clearly focused on
Claradon.

“
Father is missing. So are Brother
Donnelin and Par Talbon and all the Rangers. It’s a long story. I
sent out the scouts at first light. No word yet. The garrison is
gearing up, and I’ve tripled the guard in the Outer
Dor.”

“
By Odin,” said Gabriel. “This is
what I get for taking a holiday.” But his aspect softened as he
moved to Claradon’s side. “You’ve done well.” They clasped arms in
a firm embrace. “Aradon is in good hands - Par Talbon is most
capable and Stern and his men are amongst the best woodsman north
of Doriath.”

“
Pardon my interruption good
Sirs,” said Tanch, “but protocol requires that I introduce a
visiting dignitary.”

At this, Theta adjusted the meticulously
groomed moustache that dominated his rugged features, rose and
strode confidently toward the new arrival. Theta’s ornate plate
armor was enameled deep blue and damasked with a proud and noble
standard upon its breastplate. His long stylish cloak, although
open at the front, partially obscured the two exotic curved swords
sheathed at his waist. Dolan scrambled to his feet and followed his
master.

“
Sir Gabriel Garn, this is the
Lord Angle Theta, a renowned knight errant from a far off land
across the sea. Attending him is his manservant, Dolan
Silk.”

“
When I heard thy name bespoke,”
said Theta, “I thought thee mayst be the Gabriel I knew of old. Now
I see that I was correct, though I have feared thee dead these many
years.”

“
Death hath not caught me yet, my
Lord, though it pursues me relentlessly. It be good to see thee
again,” he said, falling into the archaic dialect that Theta
used.

“
Friend of old times,” said
Gabriel as they firmly clasped hands.

“
Friend of old times,” responded
Theta. “Tis good to see thee also.”

“
How is it you know this here
fellow, Gabe?” said Ob. “We just met up with him on the road the
other day and he tells of how he never set foot in Lomion afore
this week. Besides, in all the years I’ve traveled with ye, I’ve
never laid eyes upon him, nor heard tell of his name.”

Gabriel frowned and paused a moment, locking
his gaze on Ob before responding, “We served together many years
ago my friend. But those are stories for another time. Now, who can
tell me the details of what has happened here?”

“
The timing of your arrival Sir
Gabriel is most fortuitous, as Master Claradon and I were about to
relate the tale to Lord Theta, Ob, and young Master Ector who only
just arrived themselves. If you gentlemen would be so kind as to
take your seats,” said Tanch in his most deferential tone, “perhaps
Brother Claradon will begin the tale.”

“
Start talking, boy,” said Ob.
“Where are your father and the others?”

“
Claradon,” said Gabriel as a
servant passed him the wax bowl, “Start at the beginning, and leave
nothing out. Good thinking about the wax.”

“
The wizard’s idea, of course,”
said Ob. “Nobody better at avoiding pain or work.”

“
Harrumph,” went Tanch.

Claradon somberly related the mysterious
events of the past few days. He told of how five nights previous,
horrible, guttural sounds began to emanate from the Vermion Forest
to the west of Dor Eotrus, the magnificent fortress in whose
central tower they were now gathered. The patrician diction in
which he spoke marked him as having studied under some of Lomion’s
finest scholars. Similarly schooled, his brother Ector’s coloring
and slightly ill-favored features branded him as one of Lord Aradon
Eotrus’s sons. Happily, Claradon was said to somewhat resemble his
mother.

“
The sounds began around midnight
and continued unabated until dawn,” said Claradon. “Later that
morning, father sent a patrol of soldiers to investigate. They
discovered a strange area within the wood, completely desolate and
devoid of life. The place was flat, perfectly circular in shape,
and some fifty yards in diameter. They say the ground within
consisted only of hardened gray soil and dust, featureless save for
some scattered stones. They found no invading army, and no strange
animal or troll spoor; no clues whatsoever as to the origins of the
sounds or the circle. The men withdrew and returned without
incident to the Dor. Later we learned that residents of the
outlying farms had heard similar sounds the night before we first
heard them at the Dor.”

“
Where in the Vermion did they
find this circle?” said Gabriel.

“
Two hours ride through the wood,
nearly due west.”

“
Then it’s near the old stone
ruins.”

“
That’s what I thought as well,
but the men say they didn’t come across them. The following night,
the strange sounds resumed. As before, they commenced around
midnight and continued unabated until dawn.”

“
That wretched wailing kept the
whole Dor up all night,” said Tanch. “Without the wax it was
unbearable. My poor ears were --”

“
That night, however,” continued
Claradon, “from atop the Dor’s towers the moonlight revealed a
dense fogbank centering on the desolate zone. The next morning,
father sent out a second patrol to investigate the strange
phenomena.

“
When they got back, late in the
day, they reported that the diameter of the desolate area had
expanded to over one hundred yards. Again, nothing else was
found.

“
Father decided the area should be
investigated during the evening hours. He felt whomever or whatever
was causing these strange goings on was hiding amidst the
fog.

“
The next patrol left at dusk and
was led by father himself.” Looking toward Theta he continued, “He
was joined by House Eotrus’s high cleric, Brother Donnelin, Par
Talbon our House Wizard and his apprentices, our three rangers,
eight knights and a half squad of archers. Before he left, father
ordered that in the event - in the event that he did not return - I
was to await the return of Sir Gabriel or Ob before taking further
action. Father had sent scouts to locate you,” gesturing toward
Gabriel and Ob, “shortly after the circle was first discovered, so
we hoped you’d be returning soon.”

“
Get to the point, boy,” said Ob,
“What became of the patrol?”

“
I’m getting there; have patience!
Very late in the evening, shortly before midnight, the guards atop
the battlements spotted the fog. It appeared to have expanded still
further from its extent the previous evening. Shortly thereafter,
the horrible sounds began anew. This time, though, they were even
louder. Then began a series of bright flashes of light and at least
two thunderous explosions that shook the keep. Par Tanch and I were
atop the central tower, watching.”

“
What make you of them flashes and
explosions, Tanch?” said Ob. “Was it a storm over the wood, or
something else?”

Tanch hesitated, and looked over at Theta and
Dolan. “I’m not sure that—“

“
Do you think the arcane arts were
invoked?” asked Gabriel.

“
I -- well, I wouldn’t
--“

“
It’s all right, such things are
known to our guests; you should speak freely.”

“
Very well then. Yes. I have no
doubt that they were magical discharges and that the fog itself is
of a sorcerous nature. Lord Eotrus’s party clearly engaged some
enemy force within the fogbank and powerful spells were thrown by
one side or both. My apologies, Lord Theta, but I didn’t think it
appropriate to mention things arcane. Besides, this is all so hard
to imagine. A Lord of a noble house attacked on his own lands by
sorcery. It is unfathomable. The nerve, the audacity,
the--”

“
The sounds,” said Claradon,
“continued until first light. Father’s patrol failed to return,
their fate unknown. A full day and this much of the night has
passed since their disappearance, and the fog and maleficent sounds
have continued in the same pattern. We all saw the fog from the
high tower only minutes ago. Tonight marks the fifth night since
the sounds were first heard.”

“
What are we to do?” said Tanch.
“Oh my, we--”

“
We have other problems as well,”
said Claradon. “Rumors are spreading through the Dor. They say -
they say that father is dead. They say they’re all dead and that
whatever’s in the damnable fog will soon attack and kill us too.
The people are beginning to panic.”

“
Bah,” spouted Ob as he rose and
pounded his small fist on the table. “Who cares what them folks
say, they don’t know nothing from nothing. Your father’s alive,” he
said, his voice wavering and his face contorting as he tried to
stay his emotions, “till I say he’s not. Do you hear me, boy? We’ll
be going to them woods and we’ll be bringing him back, I say.”
Quaking, he sat back down, and loudly blew his bulbous nose into
his handkerchief.

“
Those ruins,” said Tanch,
“There’s nothing there but a few scattered pillars of some peculiar
black stone, and one crumbling building. Looks like some sort of
old temple perhaps. Sir Gabriel, you remember, we rode out there
once together. You must’ve spent half the day staring at those
ruins. That wretched place made my very skin crawl. And it wasn’t
just me, the horses felt it too. We had a difficult time keeping
them calm near that fell place. As I recall, there was no game to
be found within a mile or more. That’s why we never hunt out that
way, you know. The whole time we were there, I felt like we were
being watched by someone or something that wasn’t there – as if the
place was haunted.”

“
Bah,” said Ob. “Don’t start
spouting fairy stories Tanch. Ain’t no such thing as
hauntings.”

“
I’m not saying it was haunted,
Ob. I’m just saying that’s what it felt like when I was
there.”

“
So who’s been doing all the
wailing, and yelling and such each night?” said Dolan.

No one responded; no one seemed to have an
answer.

Lord Theta leaned forward and spoke in a
strong measured voice, “Speak more of these ruins,
Gabriel.”

All eyes turned to the foreigner and then to
Gabriel.

“
Par Tanch is correct,” said
Gabriel. “Tis a dark and evil place. As for the ruins themselves,
they’re old, very old. Ancient.” He stared across the table at
Theta for several seconds, seemingly considering whether to
continue. “I believe that they were not human made.”