The Merchant and the Menace (12 page)

“A savior! A mighty throne! What a story! Izgra has
been fooled by the Scribes and their mindless prophesies,“ chortled the beast.
“I shall snap your neck and drink your blood so you are less a burden to
carry.”

The Malveel rose from its crouch and approached
Kael with an evil sneer. Its gaze remained fixed on the boy’s eyes and held him
in place.

 Methra covered half the distance to Kael in one
step, when unexpectedly the beast’s eyes were averted to something behind the
boy. Kael heard a rustling in the wood and felt the ground tremble. Methra
glanced to the woods and his eyes went wide. A huge figure broke from the tree
line. The boy felt a rush of wind as a giant, three yards tall and wearing a
tunic of brown wool, swept past him.

Methra rose to his full height, nearly the same as
the giant. The creature clawed at the air in front of him and sent searing
flames at the approaching figure. The huge man never hesitated. He stepped
through the crimson flames, knocked aside the flailing claws and clutched the
Malveel about the neck with two enormous fists.

“I will not allow such an abomination in my holy
wood!” boomed the giant. “Your business here is finished ...”

Methra’s claws raked the giant’s powerful forearms,
but to Kael’s amazement they left no mark. Flames leapt from the Malveel’s eyes
and engulfed the giant’s head. This too caused no damage.

“... And it is you whose neck needs snapping,”
bellowed the giant.

Methra’s final hiss was cut off by the sickening
crack of his neck breaking. The flames vanished and the red glow in its eyes
faded to black. The giant casually tossed the dead Malveel to the side of the
path and turned to Kael.

The boy was surprised to see the visage of an old
man. His curly gray hair cascaded to his shoulders and intertwined with his
long beard. Dark piercing eyes stared at Kael from beneath the giant’s bushy
brow. He knelt in front of Kael and inspected the boy.

“You are uninjured,” stated the giant as a fact,
not a question.

Kael nodded his head in agreement.

“That is good. Come,” said the giant placing a hand
around Kael’s back and leading him down the path.

Kael numbly followed, too afraid and overwhelmed to
even thank his savior properly. The boy glanced over his shoulder once to be
sure the Malveel was motionless.

After a brief walk they encountered Manfir and Ader
struggling toward them. The giant stopped and watched them approach. Manfir
helped support a weakened Ader. The old trader’s clothes were tattered and
burnt. His face and hands were raw and blistered by his encounter with the
Malveel.

Manfir’s cloak and shirt were soaked dark red. He
bore deep slash marks from the Malveel's claws, and the bone of his shoulder
was exposed. Blood oozed from the wounds and his face was ashen and pale.

 When Ader reached Kael and the giant, he released
his grip on Manfir and dropped to his knees. Manfir staggered and put a hand to
his sword. The giant scowled at Ader.

“Brother Ader, unholy creatures roam my world.”

“Forgive us, dear Hilro,” rasped Ader, “the times
produce unfortunate events.”

Manfir let the tip of his sword fall to the earth
and he fell to his knees in exhaustion.

“Death is at work in my woods. Unnatural death. I
will not allow it. Look at your comrade. I see his spirit fading as we speak,”
said Hilro pointing to Manfir.

Once again Kael could not explain the sensation,
but something within him felt the life force of Manfir slowly slipping away. He
turned to Ader in panic and realized the trader was nearly spent as well. Kael
needed to do something. These men were fading away in front of him.

He spun to face Hilro. Kael was sure of one thing.
This strange being could help. The giant exuded power. As if in reply to Kael’s
silent plea, the giant moved toward the two men.

“We shall tolerate no more death in my wood today,”
announced Hilro.

Hilro walked over to Manfir and bade the man rise.
The giant’s massive hands cupped Manfir’s face, making the warrior look like a
child. A rainbow of light flowed from those hands and surrounded Manfir.

Kael watched in awe as the fountain of Hilro’s life
force emitted streams of color. They flowed into Manfir’s body. The warrior’s
eyes closed and he dropped his blade as he was bathed in rays of light. Kael
felt the giant’s energy filling the man and making him whole again.

Hilro pulled his hands from the warrior’s face. The
shredded and bloodied remains of Manfir’s shirt lay dangling from his exposed
shoulder. The wound was healed, leaving a large v-shaped scar. Hilro turned to
Ader and held his hands above the trader.

Streams of green light emitted from Hilro’s hands.
They swirled around Ader and seeped into his body. The sphere that encased Ader
returned, strong and bright. The light spun in a whirlwind around Kael’s old
friend, then jumped into Ader’s body, reviving him.

“Thank you,” said Ader as he emerged from the
cascade of light.

The trader’s hands and face were still slightly raw
and blistered, but he showed a remarkable improvement over his previous
condition.

“The children of the ancient race must not be left
as such,” said Hilro pointing to the sight of the massacre. “Use them to feed
the trees.”

“As you say, Hilro,” said Ader bowing his head.

“Ader, I must interfere in your duties. These
matters concern me. I do not care for the like of that in my wood,” stated
Hilro pointing toward the Malveel.

“I understand brother. We must ere be vigilant
against such things,” said Ader.

“Tis time,” said Hilro nodding toward Kael.

“You are right,” said Ader.

The giant briefly looked over Manfir and Kael, then
spun on his heel and strode into the forest. Manfir and Ader approached Kael.

“Are you injured?” asked Ader.

“No,” replied Kael.

“What were you thinking, attacking a Malveel like
that? Have you no sense?” questioned Ader.

“I ... I thought you needed help,” said Kael. 
“Besides, I wasn’t aware I was attacking anything until it happened.”

“Ader, I must agree with the boy. The creature held
you at a disadvantage. You were in danger,” said Manfir.

“My danger is my concern,” said Ader. “We nearly
lost Kael to one of Amird’s lesser servants!”

“He didn’t carry himself as a lesser servant.”
stated Manfir. “He maintained all the power of a Malveel of the first order.”

“We shall face much worse than Methra the Worm in
the days ahead,” scowled Ader. “The Malveel was old and fell out of favor with
his superiors over the years. The once proud Methra was reduced to a messenger
for the enemy...“

Kael wandered away. His eyes drifted from one Elven
body to the next. His breathing slowed, his shoulders slumped and he dragged
his feet as if they were encased in lead. The Southlander turned and stumbled
down the path toward the body of Aemmon. Ader noticed the movement.

“Kael, we must make haste to Luxlor and protection,”
said Ader. “We don’t know what other creatures of Chaos scout the wood.”

Kael slowed his trek toward the body of Aemmon. His
hands covered his face and his body shook with sorrow.

“Kael ... “ began Ader once more.

Manfir reached out and put a hand on Ader’s
shoulder, halting the old man’s words.

“You have seen too much of death over these long
years for it to hold much meaning,” said the warrior soberly. “Stay your
comments and give the boy a moment to grieve.”

Ader looked into Manfir’s eyes as the boy finally
reached his brother. The old trader nodded as Kael dropped to his knees beside
the lifeless body of Aemmon. Kael wrapped Aemmon in his arms and softly wept.

Kael was uncertain how much time passed when a soft
hand upon his shoulder startled him.

“He should be buried like a warrior,” stated Manfir
from above.

Kael raised his eyes and nodded his agreement.
Manfir found a spot near the side of the road. Kael joined him and together
they prepared a grave for the young man’s body. When it was complete, the big
man returned, picked up Aemmon and placed him in the shallow pit. The trio
stood over the grave for a few moments and Manfir murmured a soft prayer. Kael
stood by silently fighting the urge to cry out as Manfir covered the body of
his brother with rocks and dirt. When Manfir completed the task he turned to
Kael.

“Lord Ader and I must attend to the Elves,” said
Manfir. “Linger if you must, but we cannot tarry in these woods too long.”

The two men left the boy to his sorrows and
proceeded to bury the fallen Elves. There was no time to spare and so the dead
were interred in the spots where they fell.

Kael shook as he stood over the grave of his
brother. How could he be gone? How did this happen? Why? Questions flooded his
mind?

An hour passed when Ader approached.

“Come Kael. It’s time for us to leave this place.
There is much work ahead for both you and I. Manfir will return to Kelky to
seek out your father. He has retrieved your mount. You and I must return to
Luxlor.”

Kael turned and looked into the stern eyes of Ader.
He wanted so many questions answered, but at the moment he didn’t have the
heart. He put his trust in the old man and let Ader lead him to the chestnut
mare.

Manfir sat on the back of his black stallion and
nodded to the boy as Kael approached.

“Kael Brelgson, fare you well,” said the grim man.
“Know that you are in my prayers.”

The Black spun north and Manfir spurred him
forward. The warhorse plunged up the forest path and disappeared from sight.

Kael mounted, turned and took one last look at the
grave of his brother. The duo then prodded their horses and rode back toward
Luxlor.

Their journey proceeded in silence for over an
hour. Kael was lost in thoughts of Aemmon. Their life together at “The King’s
Service”. Years of conversation while they finished their daily chores. Shared
dreams and fears. How much their lives changed after their mother’s death.
Their father’s withdrawal into sorrow. A sorrow that hung over the inn for many
years after. What of his father? Brelg would be devastated. How could Kael
adequately explain the horror that befell his brother? What was happening?

“What is happening is hard to explain,” said Ader
guiding his stallion next to the chestnut.

Kael was shocked that the old man read his
thoughts. All of this was too much for him to comprehend, but one thing was for
certain. Ader or Jasper, whatever he called himself, was much more than the
people of Kelky believed, and Kael’s sorrow turned to anger.

“I’m confused,” said Kael staring at the trader
through narrowed eyes, “and you’re part of that confusion.”

The trader sighed and took a moment to let Kael’s
anger pass.

“Kael, do you know anything of history?” asked Ader
somberly.

“Yes, a bit,” answered Kael hesitantly. “My mother
tried to keep us well educated.”

 “Do you know of ancient history?” questioned Ader,
“The time when the world began.”

“I ..... I’m not sure what you mean by the term
’history’,“ said Kael. “I know the story of creation and other religious
tales.”

“You call them ‘tales’. Don’t you believe in them?”

“Who’s to say what is truth and what is fancy. I’m
sure they’re just stories to explain how things are the way they are,” returned
Kael.

“What’s the story of creation?” asked Ader
abruptly.

“Avra decided to create man,“ said Kael. “So he
fashioned the world and all things in it as a place for man to dwell. Then he
set man on the world.”

“Good, but what of the Elves?” coaxed Ader.

“I’m not sure about the Elves,” said Kael. “I never
really considered them.”

“Well then, what about me?” asked the old man.

“What about you?”

“How do you explain my existence?” said Ader.

The boy looked puzzled.

“I am not an Elf,” continued Ader.

“No, you’re not.”

“Am I a man?”

“I ... I’m not sure. Until yesterday I would have
said yes, but no
man
is able to do what you did today,” said Kael.

“No man can do what
you
did today either,
Kael. Did you think of that?” asked Ader.

“Yes.” whispered the boy dropping his head. “That
only adds to my confusion.”

Ader did not press the issue and they cantered
forward in silence. Kael kept trying to make sense of all he had seen and done
in the last day. However, images of his brother intruded his musings and filled
him with sorrow.

“We’ll take this slowly,” said Ader. “You need to
know many things now, and some things may wait. Therefore, I’ll start at the
beginning and I do mean
the Beginning
.