Destiny (44 page)

Time went by, a time for reflection and rebuilding: for the Bearers, for the rest of the heroes, for Rogdon, for the Norriel and for all Tremia. A difficult, sorrowful time, yet with hope —a time for curing wounds, souls and nations.

And just as Haradin had promised, his summons arrived. It came a year after the parting. Haradin’s Keepers found each of the Bearers and delivered the message. None of them was surprised at their arrival, as they were all aware that the Keepers remained watching over them, faithful to their task of protecting them without intervening in their daily lives. The Five hastened to answer the call.

The first one to arrive at the Flying Pony Inn in the city of Ocorum was Haradin. As the host, he wanted to be there to receive them all. He was greatly looking forward to holding them in his arms and making sure they were all well. The Mage stopped at the door of the inn. It was twilight and night would soon be falling. His guests would arrive in the shelter of darkness. He knocked on the door —three dry raps. Immediately he heard the bars slide back, and the door opened with a creak. Kindly old Baldor greeted him with a smile of welcome.

“What an honor!” he said. “The Great Battle Mage of the King, the Hero of Rilentor, Savior of Rogdon, Defender of Tremia, you honor me with your presence.” He bent double in a deep bow.

“Come on, Baldor, no ceremonies,” the Mage said, smiling. “
Haradin
will suffice.”

“I don’t know that I can, my lord, the honor is so great… The titles are from the people. That’s how they all know you now...”

“I’m sure you can,” Haradin said. He winked at the innkeeper in amusement.

Baldor blushed, then moved aside to let Haradin in.

“Have my guests arrived?”

The innkeeper shook his head. “You’re the first.”

“Very well.” Haradin walked into the common area, where Baldor had prepared a huge table with food and drink for more than a dozen guests. The whole room was well lit with oil lamps and candles, as the windows were shut and barred.

“I see you’ve prepared a feast worthy of Kings,” Haradin said. He smiled at the sight of both the food and the care with which Baldor had prepared the table.

“Just as you asked, my lord… you were very generous… I couldn’t do less…”

“I don’t want us to be bothered. Or overheard…”

“Don’t worry, the inn’s been shut and barred since yesterday and it won’t open again until you give me the word. A day, a week, a month, whatever you need. We’re alone, my wife is in Rilentor taking care of her ailing sister, so it’ll only be me serving you. And you know you can trust me completely. My eyes are blind and my ears deaf.”

Haradin smiled. “I trust you, Baldor, you’re a good man. That’s why I chose your place for this little clandestine reunion.”

“You honor me.”

“Now how about a glass of Nocean sweet wine while we wait?” He gave Baldor a friendly slap on the shoulder.

“Of course, right away. Who are we expecting, sir?”

“You’ll soon find out. I think you’ll be thrilled.” There was amusement in the Mage’s expression.

Haradin went up to the table and tasted the wine while he waited. A joyful nervousness filled him. He was in a very good mood, a happy one even, and the times being what they were this was a novelty for him.

He did not have to wait long. Several sharp knocks on the door announced the arrival of a guest. Baldor went to open the door while Haradin stood up to receive the newcomer. The innkeeper opened the door, then after a moment of doubt stepped back to let the guest in.

A figure in a hooded cloak walked in, followed by another whose face was also hidden by a hood.

“You don’t greet your friends any more, Baldor?” the figure said. He pushed the hood back to reveal his face.

“By the Light! Komir!” the innkeeper cried in astonishment.

“How’s the only honest innkeeper in all Ocorum?”

“Sp… speechless...” Baldor muttered as Komir hugged him.

The other figure also pushed the hood back, revealing a golden cloud of hair and enormous eyes the color of the sea, which lit up the room.

Aliana went across to the Mage and hugged him affectionately. “How are you, dear Haradin? I’ve missed you so much.”

“From what I can see, not as well as you two. You look wonderful,” Haradin replied. He looked at both youngsters and noticed how they both seemed full of life and happiness. It was so evident that even a blind man would have noticed it. Their faces were tanned by the sun and they had matured, even though they had not lost the joy and innocence of youth. But he could see it in their eyes. They were no longer insecure and inexperienced; they had grown wise beyond their years, since everything they had gone through was engraved on their souls.

Komir went to the Mage and hugged him tightly.

“You look well, my friend the Mage. Time doesn’t seem to pass for you. I don’t know how you do it, but you look exactly the same as you did a year ago.”

Haradin shrugged and smiled. He pointed at Komir’s white hair, which he wore tied at the back. “I see you couldn’t do anything about that.”

“No, I’m afraid not, that and a couple more things,” Komir said. He indicated the left side of his body, which looked a little shriveled compared to the right side. “But it’s a small price to pay after everything that happened. A price I pay willingly.”

“We’re very well, in body and soul,” Aliana said with her gentle smile.

Baldor offered them drinks. The innkeeper had not finished pouring when two more people came to the door.

“Come in,” Haradin called cheerfully.

Two new hooded figures left the shadows of the night outside and came into the light. They joined the others and pushed back their hoods. Two young women, one red-skinned, the other green-skinned, smiled at the group.

“Asti!” Aliana cried joyfully, and ran to hug the Usik.

“We met in the square just a moment ago,” Iruki said, and greeted Komir and Aliana.

“I see the plains suit you, Iruki Wind of the Steppes,” Haradin said, and hugged her in the Masig style.

“Mother Steppe always takes care of her children,” she replied as she returned the greeting.

The five greeted each other, exchanging hugs and smiles. Baldor offered the new arrivals something to drink.

“Me, want water,” Asti said, and came to stand beside Aliana.

“It’s a joy to see you all again,” said Haradin.

“It certainly is,” Komir agreed.

The joy of the meeting filled the hall, and the Mage and the four Bearers exchanged news and signs of affection.

“But if this meeting is going to be a real one, I think we’re missing a Bearer,” a voice said from the door. They turned to see Sonea looking at them teasingly, arms akimbo. The little Librarian threw herself at the group, and all came together in a single fraternal hug. The dramatic events they had lived through had brought them together so strongly that they all felt like brothers and sisters.

“Let’s sit at the table,” Haradin said.” There’s so much to talk about, and no better way than doing it while we enjoy this food and drink.”

The five Bearers sat around the table, with Haradin presiding. All of them started talking at the same time, asking after each other’s lives, seeking news of the last year.

Baldor trotted from one end of the table to the other making sure their plates were piled with food and their mugs filled with drink. “The Bearers, by the Light! What an honor,” he muttered under his breath. “The Heroes of Rilentor, the Saviors of Tremia, here in my humble inn… nobody would believe me if I told them.”

Haradin cleared his throat noisily. “If you’ll allow me… my friends… please…” The Bearers paid heed gradually and their chattering faded. “Why don’t we have dinner, and catch up with everybody’s news at the same time? Agreed?”

“Yes, of course,” Aliana said.

“Who’s going to start?” Sonea asked with a smile.

“As I’m the oldest, perhaps I should begin. Besides, there’s a risk that this excellent wine will go straight to my head,” Haradin said.

“Huh!” Sonea said. “That would be something. A drunken Mage, now that would be worth seeing!”

“Not just a Mage,” Aliana laughed, “but the most powerful Mage of Tremia. It could be a catastrophe!”

“Yes, Haradin, best for you to start,” Iruki said.

The Mage turned towards the door, which was still ajar.

“Are we expecting anybody else?” Komir asked.

Haradin gave a mysterious grin. “Perhaps,” he said.

“Your note said you wanted to bring the five Bearers together again,” said Komir.

“That was my intention, and here you are. So I’ll tell you what I’ve been up to this long year.” Haradin gave a long sigh. “It’s been a very tough year, and I won’t pretend otherwise. Rogdon has been left in ruins, the Kingdom, its lands and its people. It’s been a year devoted to protecting what little was left and beginning to rebuild, with very little hope to start with, what with all the sorrow at the loss and suffering —but a little brighter with every passing day. The first thing King Gerart ordered was to take care of his people, and that’s what we did. At the same time, we had to secure the Kingdom. The few surviving troops, with the King and your humble servant, secured the lands of Rogdon. We traveled from North to South and East to West to ensure there wasn’t a single invader, mercenary or outlaw left to take advantage of our weakness. Those were very long weeks, but we scoured Rogdon of all the remaining rabble, you can rest assured of that.”

“What happened to the Dark Lady’s Sorcerer, this Isuzeni?” Iruki asked with a gleam of hatred in her eyes.

“Yes,” said Sonea. “I’ve often wondered myself what might have become of him.”

Haradin nodded slowly. “We couldn’t catch him. He left Rogdon in haste with the remains of the Black Army. Gerart was uneasy; he feared he might regroup his army and come back. He sent scouts to follow their trail. A couple of months later there was a report from the east coast, from one of the five city-states. Isuzeni and the survivors of the Black Army had boarded their ships, raised anchor and sailed back to their continent.

“Didn’t anybody stop them?” Komir asked. “The alliance of free cities?”

“What reason would they have had?” Haradin replied. “Isuzeni had paid them well, very well. It’s bad business to kill a good patron who still has a lot of gold left. And whether we like it or not, the cities are free and they live for trade. Gold is more valuable there than blood or steel. Most likely Isuzeni offered them more gold to safeguard his retreat, and that’s what they did.”

“Come back?” Asti asked, looking worried.

Haradin shrugged. “I don’t know whether he’ll come back. You never know with that kind of man… I imagine he’ll have enough trouble staying in power in his own land now that the Dark Lady is no more and he doesn’t have a proper army any more. But if he manages to take power, there’s no way of knowing what he’ll turn to afterwards. And we must remember it was he who took this continent to war, with his cunning and his amazing powers of strategy. We’ll have to watch out for him, because the shadow of the Far East might return one day.”

“I’ll be waiting if he does, and this time he won’t survive,” Iruki said menacingly.

“Me with Iruki,” Asti said.

The Mage smiled. “I see the Bearers keep their wild and indomitable spirit. It cheers my soul.”

“And what about the great Nocean Sorcerer Zecly?” Aliana asked.

“That, my dear, is one of my greatest worries. We found Mulko the Regent of the North dead, but no trace of the great Sorcerer. Along with the King, his Lancers and the Norriel, we traveled to Silanda. From there we crossed the southern border and went into Nocean territory in search of the Sorcerer. But Zecly and his minion the dangerous spy Sumal are extremely cunning and were already out of reach. They reached the walled city of Allbard, the capital of the north of the Nocean Empire, a day before we could catch up with them. We had to turn back. I would have given my left arm to capture Zecly, since he’s extremely dangerous, and what’s more was responsible for the death of my good friend Mirkos the Erudite, but it was impossible. Attacking the city would have been suicide.”

Komir turned to the Mage. “If I’ve learnt anything from all this experience, it’s that revenge doesn’t lead you to a safe haven.”

“And how right you are, my young friend. We’ll watch out for him, as he poses a threat, but right now the Noceans are very weakened. They lost most of their sorcerers and all of their legions. From what we’ve learned, Emperor Malota is finding it hard to keep the Empire united. He won’t turn his greedy eyes on Rogdon for a while.”

“And those Norghanian hyenas, the men of the snow?” Iruki asked. She was unable to hide the hatred she felt.

A familiar voice at the door answered. “Perhaps I may be able to shed some light on that.”

They all turned towards the door.

Sonea recognized the blond Norghanian Forest Ranger. “Lasgol!” she said in surprise,

“I invited him to our little gathering. I thought you’d like to see him again, and he has some interesting news from the north,” Haradin said.