“No, I suppose the Shin’Ar would not. The Shin’Ar you may be, but I will think on what that means for my people.” The Queen blinked and looked at the herald who announced that dining would begin. During dinner, a troupe of elfin players acted out a history while another recited the story.
“In days of long past, the elfin lives and pride be vast. The Telukukal leave save one who guards, his power strong beyond words. For five millennia he watched over the land, trusted were those who he would call, right hand. Mighty the power of the Zidu’Si was told, Power that came from the weapons they hold. Fashioned for peace not a war did they wage, Not until the day when came the dark mage. The warriors they fought with great power to bare, The dark one they wrestled whose shi was not there. To trap or destroy him was fruitless thus far; it would take a great joining and death of Shin’Ar. The warriors they could not do as they were commanded, the Shin’Ar took back their weapons and the Zidu’Si disbanded. What happened thereafter not a story is known, the Shin’Ar was gone and the lands left to their own.”
“A bit sing-song for my taste,” Avrank said.
“What do you suppose it means, Shuran?” Mallick asked.
“I have no thought. We do not know anything of what happened when the Shin’Ar first disappeared,” Shuran said. From behind him Voreen spoke.
“We know all that is necessary. The Shin’Ar abandoned Ersetu and left us to the dark asipu before he disappeared as well. Since then this world has been in turmoil and poisoned,” Voreen spat. “You wish to start this cycle again and make what is bad worse by far!”
“That is but your interpretation. The hurt pride of your people stands in the way of seeing the truth.” Shuran stood and challenged.
That is when the attack came.
At once Shuran felt the weight of a thousand and more minds intruding on his. Through the dizzying attack he could see his friends being taken away and bound. They were unable to withstand the onslaught of the elves in their heads. Shuran fought to place a wall up against the intruders but was unable to hold them back.
As he began to fall to knee under the pressure he did the only thing he could think to do. He reached for the line of power below the Earth. He allowed it to surround him and ease the pain of the mental attack. Suddenly he was engulfed and swimming in a river of electric force. He struggled to keep his mind together and remember what Codger had read to him from a book in the Vault library.
“Focus on the flow and let it join your thoughts, wrap your will around it and it shall obey,” Codger had said.
Shuran stopped fighting and started to focus. There within his reach he sensed the flow of energy and he grabbed it. The wash of power that engulfed him was staggering and yet it steadied him. He pulled back and then dove into the flow.
He emerged just behind Voreen and placed his hand on either side of his head and surged power into him. Through the connection he was able to reach all the other elves. They had joined their minds to make the attack. Shuran lashed out and sent enough power out to render them all unconscious.
The attack was ended.
“RELEASE THEM!” Shuran commanded the elves holding his friends in bonds including Orian.
They hesitated too long.
Shuran waved his hand and instantly brought his friends to his side through the lines. Shuran reached out and called the bow to him but the Queen held tight and struggled against the pulling force. Shuran then changed the mental grip he used to call the bow and suddenly it was his.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Queen yelled. “You take back what you gave. The very prize that was taken by the first Shin’Ar so long ago!” she trembled with anger and fear.
Shuran steadied himself and calmed, but power still danced upon his skin. “You mistake for a gift, what was only a loan. The gug weapons were never the belongings of the separate races. This bow belongs only to the Zidu’Si elf who stands by the Shin’Ar’s side and only so long as the Shin’Ar allows!” Shuran spoke with an authority he had never before commanded.
Voreen began to stand and gather his wits. “Voreen, great grandson of Grastrell, betrayer of Shin’Ar, you were right to feel shame for your ancestor’s disgrace. He abandoned the Shin’Ar as did the other Zidu’Si,” Shuran said.
“NO! The Shin’Ar left Ersetu to the fate of the unbalanced Essence and dark asipu,” he answered back.
“Understand your own story told this night. The Zidu’Si refused to obey the Shin’Ar and he faced the dark alone to his own demise. He did not abandon you he sacrificed himself despite your ancestors failure,” Shuran finished.
“Enough of this!” the Queen Mother said. “The attack was a final test Shuran Shin’Ar. And it was poorly executed. I wanted to see how loyal you were to your comrades and those you call Zidu’Si, including Orian,” she admitted. “You have proven your right and your strength.”
Never before has any man of the seven races been able to stand against such an attack, never mind best it. You conquered the line without training, you used the concern for others as your motivation.” She paused and stood then bowed before Shuran. “You are truly Shin’Ar reborn. We are at your service.”
Shuran rested a hand upon her shoulder. “Rise please, I do not wish to be treated as anything more than a man,” Shuran said.
“No man known to us would act for the good of others as you have, you risked everything to enter the lines as you did, all to protect your friends and those who serve you. That makes you more than any man,” she said.
Suddenly Shuran felt more uncomfortable then ever before. He shivered visibly. “Has it gotten colder?” he asked Orian standing beside him.
“Not in the least,” he responded.
“Then why, am I so cold? Is it a result of traveling the lines I wonder?” Shuran asked.
Voreen came to put a blanket around Shuran. “Yes and no, your first use did not bring out all you took in!” Voreen smiled.
Shuran suddenly realized he was half naked, wearing burnt and tattered strands of what remained of his clothing.
After Shuran dressed in clothing offered by the Queen’s staff, he joined the Queen at her table for dessert and wine. His Zidu’Si, the twins and Orian were also in attendance.
“Again I wish to apologize for the deception Shin’Ar, it did get a bit out of hand.” The Queen Mother was now presenting herself in a relaxed and informal manner.
“Consider the matter closed Queen Mother,” Shuran responded.
“Thank you, and please when just among friends I wish you to call me Florisia,” she returned.
“And like wise Shuran will suffice,” he smiled back.
“If you will allow it still, I approve of Orian among your Zidu’Si,” Florisia said meekly.
“It would please me if Orian will accept,” Shuran admitted.
“It would be my greatest honor,” Orian answered.
Shuran materialized the Agal Kastu and handed it to Orian. “Then this is your burden and weapon so long as you serve the Zidu’Si.”
Orian took the bow and felt its power immediately.
“Feels good right?” Avrank asked Orian.
Orian just smiled.
Later that evening Shuran and his friends sat up planning their next moves. It was decided that in the least, Shuran would send Dvargan and Grafdrik back to Duranekur. Shuran no longer needed guides since he made it to the elves. Truth was since they were not to become Zidu’Si, Shuran did not wish to risk them.
“I can take you to the base of the mountains where we boarded the ferry,” Shuran said.
“That far!” they gasped.
“Truth I could probably take you further but I would not like to risk exiting the lines in the wrong place. Those mountain caverns your people created seem to warp the lines natural paths,” Shuran answered.
“Close enough,” they both answered not wanting the risk of dropping into a chasm or fiery pit.
“Avrank has the hammer called Manasutur, I have the Agal Kastu, what weapon does Mallick carry?” Orian asked.
“Mallick is not assigned a particular weapon, he is first among the Zidu’Si, my commander of sorts,” Shuran answered. “His weapon would be his knowledge and there is something else,” Shuran said and suddenly a ring appeared in his hand. Handing it to Mallick he said, “Wear this and you shall have access to the Vault’s library of knowledge. Seek out information while focusing on the ring and if the answer is there, the ring will gain you access to it.” Shuran told him.
Mallick slide the ring on his finger and instantly felt the tingle grow to a pulse as the power joined him.
“How did you know of this ring?” Mallick asked and suddenly the answer was in his thoughts. “Ninkashi!” was his standard response.
Shuran spoke of his visions before bedding down for the night. His visions have been growing in strength and intensity. He had already encountered the dwarves and the elves as his visions revealed. By the repeating pattern of the visions he would next encounter the giants somewhere in a valley where the trees, plants, and creatures made the tallest of men feel like a dwarf ten times over. Otherwise he would be surrounded by fire. Both things seemed to happen in different order each time he had the visions.
His sleep that night would see the same vision of the giants, but this time the vision expanded. Shuran stood before a broken altar made of clear pure crystal. Around him his friends and many elves were engaged in battle, but not amongst themselves. They fought an army of large deformed manlike monstrosities, ogres. The ogres were not alone; they were following a legion of soulless men. An army of undead was being led by a dark robed figure. Shuran ran to confront the leader and as he approached, a force of darkness knocked him back. As he looked up toward his attacker, he was pulling back his hood to reveal his face.
”BASTIEN!” Shuran cried out as he woke.
Shuran could not get back to resting. He went into the small sitting room and retrieved a book from the Vault Library that he had once stumbled upon about dark weavings. He wanted to know if it were possible to raise the dead. His vision of an undead army disturbed him deeply. He could not get the images out of his mind.
The undead looked fully alive but no light in their eyes. They weaved Essence so they had to have a shi he thought. Then there was the image of Bastien. He could not shake the feeling of dread. He saw Bastien die, did he not? Bastien did not have the same dead eyes, but they were not his own.
The book told stories of resurrection, but none produced anything more than mindless creatures unable to move unaided. He found a reference to possession by demon. This possession required a body with a shi. Another entry stated that to reanimate the dead, would require a spell to control it by mind along with a darkness to power it. Shuran was tired and worried when the others woke and began to enter the sitting room. He sent the book back to the Vault and prepared a meal from food left in the larder.
After taking breakfast, Shuran spent several moments transferring the twin dwarfs home to the Orenthal Mountains and then returned to Entensiama. Upon his return Shuran was met by Voreen approaching.
“Shuran Shin’Ar, may I have time to speak with you?” Voreen asked.
Shuran held no ill toward the ancient elf, but he did not fully trust him either.
“We will be leaving soon, what can I do for you?” Shuran asked as he motioned for Mallick to stand down.
“I hope there is something I can do for you. I wish to share something that was passed down from my ancestor.” Voreen approached slowly but without intending harm.
Shuran was unsure how he was suddenly able to read the intensions of another. Shuran nodded for Voreen to continue.
“It was said that before the Zidu’Si was disbanded, they prepared to war with the dark abisu,” Voreen said.
“This much I know, what is it you can add to this telling?”
“There was never any history recorded of anyone ever facing this dark one directly. He or she worked behind the power brought against the light.”
“Are you of the mind that this powerful foe is once again behind the actions of the Order of Chaos?” Shuran asked.
“I cannot answer for certain but the followers of light in Britengate have gone to ground. We have seen no sign of them in houses of worship or doing trade in Tarangale,” Voreen said.
“Thank you,” Shuran turned to leave.
“There is something else,” Voreen started.
Shuran turned back to him.
“My ancestor learned the power over the mind and body that was taught him by the Shin’Ar. He passed this story to his sired elves. He always said it would be needed one day to fulfill the promise made when the Shin’Ar might return.” Voreen stood for a moment then turned and left.
“Mallick look for that knowledge in the library, we leave for Britengate before nightfall. I wish to see what is going on there before we track down the giants.”
Shuran and his Zidu’Si headed out toward Britengate, directly South of Entensiama. By foot it took them until a few hours before daybreak to arrive. Shuran did not wish to travel by line. He wanted to check the land for signs of passage or hints of where the Followers of Light may have gone.