Once We Were Kings (Young Adult Fantasy) (The Sojourner Saga) (30 page)

"And what of the West?  Valdshire Tor?  And their perpetual warfare?"

"Yet another of Malakandor's machinations.  For at the time of the great schism, he agreed to grant full dominion to the Eastern Emperor and the High King of the West, upon one condition:  That they utterly drive out the Sojourners and remove the very memory of them.  And that they never permit the people of their kingdoms to reunite.  Yea, the very memory of the era of peace and prosperity, when they knew me and enjoyed my favor, hath been expunged from their history, from their minds."

"How did the remnant survive this long?"

"Because I am with them.  And amongst the people, I still have ancients, prophets and prophetesses who serve, as I had intended Malakandor to before his fall."

"But why did you permit this?  Why did you not destroy Malakandor and all his followers?  Why not erase every trace of evil?"

Again, the thunder rolled, Valhandra laughed.  When he answered, he seemed neither angry nor impatient, but endearing, as though explaining something very simple to a child.  "Dost thou perceive me as so narrow?  So controlling?"

"I don't understand."

"Had I desired to create automatons, hollow beings without spirit or soul, I might have stopped him.  Had I created any of my children devoid of free will, how then could they truly love me as children their Father?  That shall not be forced.  Nay, love must be borne of free will."

"But Malakandor ruined your entire world."

"Nothing is ruined, my son.  For my plans are not as those of man.  They cannot fail.   I am the one true creator.  And though my creatures, of their free will, chose the path they desire—some of which stretch longer and are rougher trodden than others—all lead ultimately to their intended destiny.  And behold, I was, I am and shall always be the same."

The more Render listened to His voice, the more an unspeakable familiarity and recognition filled him.  It connected to a visceral sense of his identity, but at this moment, he could not say just how.  It welled up and drew his emotions, his thoughts, and his determination towards Valhandra, the way a Moshla is drawn to its spawning grounds.

"And now, the question for which thou hast waited thy entire life."

The question?  Could there be only one?  There was so much more that only He could answer: Render's future, that overwhelming need to live a life of significance, of purpose.  What lad his age cared for such weighty matters?  And yet, it had been seeded in his heart for as long as he could remember.  But he also desperately wanted to know about his past, his father, his mother, people who were to him but a dim memory, and yet...

"All of thy life is summed up for such a time as this."

"Sire?"

"Even so, it is not an end, but a beginning.  For thou hast been called to a manifold purpose and before the sun sets on that day, thou shall witness it come to pass."

A brisk gust of mountain air rushed at him and in that instant, he found himself surrounded by the white clouds again.  But he could hear the wind, the birds singing, the leaves rustling.  He was back.

"My son, I have chosen thee to unite my people and reestablish my kingdom."

"But the remnant, they are scattered."

"For this you have been called.  Even now, by Malakandor's design, The Empress Dowager of the East has betrayed her covenant with the High King of the Western Kingdom.  Though she believes she will prevail and conquer the West, Malakandor's intent is that both kingdoms destroy each other."

"Would that be so awful?" Considering how both rulers have persecuted the Sojourners, and how they had deliberately hidden the truth, revised history and thrown their people into darkness, it seemed this might prove a fitting fate. 

"As a father hath compassion for his son, so have I for all of my children.  I would not that any of them should perish.  But they must seek truth, not the lies of Malakandor, who, above all else, is a devourer, a cunning deceiver."

"Would it not be better for the Sojourners?"

"Nay.  For Malakandor will once again raise up a new generation that knows nothing of the sins of their ancestors.  And their wickedness and iniquities would surpass those of their fathers."

"What can be done then?  Their armies are great..."

"They shall be united, Render."

He blinked and gazed upon the vision: both armies clashing, fierce warriors on both sides falling.  "Impossible."

"You and Ahndien shall make it come to pass."

This stopped all the questions floating in his mind.  "How can this be?"

"Not only shalt thou prevent their demise, thou shalt do far greater things than thy mind can conceive.  Together shalt thou vanquish the forces of Malakandor, the might of whose own army far exceeds that of both Kingdoms."

The thought of confronting even one army was enough to make Render's stomach clench.  "But what can the two of us possibly do, alone?"

At this the blazing white sphere swelled, as though taking a deep breath.  "Thou art not alone.  All shall come to pass, but not by thy own strength.  By mine.  Look into the valley, Render.  What seeth thou?"

"I do not know."

Warm and paternal, Valhandra's light enveloped him.  "Behold, the last battleground of the Sojourners prior to the exile.  Look closer still."

By his mere will, and without any strain of the eye, the valley's ground became enlarged in his sight.   "I see...desolation.  Barren land."

"Thou seeth the surface, presently.  But henceforce thou must see beneath, within.  Behold, the final battleground of the Sojourners, who once reigned in justice and truth, who defended truth to the end."

Render had wondered why this place, which seemed nothing but red dirt and sand, devoid of any markers, held any significance these days.  How could it have ever been anything but a wasteland?

"This, my son, is where Malakandor wishes to destroy both armies.  To desecrate hallowed ground with blood betrayed, as he had ten generations ago.  But thou shalt thwart his plan."

"Forgive my ignorance, Sire.  But how?"

"Unto thee, all shall be revealed.  Yet at the appointed time." 

He knew not what Valhandra meant.  But a thought, some unspeakable words were planted in his heart.  And though superficially he could not discern their meaning, in his spirit Render knew that what mattered was the will of their author.  Not only did the name of Valhandra have power, His words did as well. 

To Render, those words which he was commanded to speak—at the appointed time seemed sharp as a double-edged broadsword, cutting through flesh, bone, straight to the soul. 

"Speak the words I have placed within thee.  And you shall see my glory."

"Sire, I am afraid.  Ahndien, Greifer, Branson and I.   We are few."

"Fear not.  Only believe."

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Only believe.

And with that final exhortation, the light burst into countless shards which spread and grew so bright Render could not open his eyes.  And yet, rather than frighten him, it caused him to gasp in delight.

Now enveloped completely in what he could only describe as pure joy, the surge from that burst infused his entire being.  A tingling sensation coursed through his blood as he shut his eyes and yielded to it.

Once again, time as he understood it stood still.  Only, he sensed motion.  Not the kind of motion one feels when running, falling, or riding upon a horse.  Whatever it was, it caused his head to grow light.  Like a warm blanket, golden sleep fell upon him and for the first time in his life, Render felt something he'd never felt before. 

Peace.

It was the sound of Branson, shouting with confused excitement that woke Render from what felt like a long slumber.  Considering where he found himself when he opened his eyes, his back and neck should have ached frightfully.  But they did not.

He sat up and found Ahndien lying across from him, deep asleep.  From a quick glance through the snow frosted branches, he perceived a sphere-like cloud, glowing and rising up from Handara's peak.

Valhandra.

"Well?  Are you going to just sit there, or are you going to help me down?" It was Branson calling out, but from where, it was unclear.

"What?  Where?"  Render shook Ahndien's shoulder and she stirred slightly.

"Oh..."  The Tianese girl who earlier had almost killed him blinked and sat up, rubbing her eyes.  Her voice and entire demeanor had changed.  "How did we get here?"

"Wake up, you two!"  Branson called out again.

This jarred Ahndien.  She sat up, rubbed her eyes again and called out.  "Where are you, Branson?"  Both Render and she peered around the black barks of the trees and the edges of the rocks.  Surely in the open area beyond the thicket, if he was there, Branson would appear clearly by contrast with the snow-covered ground.

But he did not.

"Up....HERE!"

A ball of snow came hurtling down and splattered over a fallen tree trunk.  Render gazed up in the direction from where it flew.  "How did you get up there?"

Crouched low and seated up at the very top branches of a Yuccah Pine, Branson waved at them, shaking snow off the branches beneath his feet.  "I don't...you wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Both Render and Ahndien stepped over to Branson's tree.  Render could not help but let out a laugh.  "We've got all day to listen."

"Get me down from here, now!"

To Ahndien, with a mischievous grin:  "I suppose you could burn the tree down and—"

"No!  No!"  Branson said.  "Not a good idea!"

"Well, I still would like to know how you got up there."  Render shaded his eyes and looked straight up to the top.  "It must be thirty feet up.  Don't tell me you climbed."

"I didn't climb.  Will you please hurry up!"

"Oh come now," Ahndien called out, clearly amused.  "Tell us!  Hurry, because I have such a story to tell you about what just happened to me."

"As do I," said Render.  "How did we all get here?  Weren't we—?"

"If I tell you how I got up here, will you do something to help me down?"  Branson called."

Seeing him up there helpless as a kitten was too precious an opportunity to squander.  But after a slight pause, he finally relented.  "Yes, then.  Tell us and I'll help you down."

With a deep sigh, Branson said, "I leapt."

At the same time, Ahndien and Render both said, "You leapt?"

"How's that possible?" she said.

"Honestly, I don't know.  Render, you said you'd help me down.  Now make good on your word!"

Render folded his arms across his chest.

"Please?"

"Well all right, but we all must exchange stories about what happened just before we got here."  Without a second thought, Render reached one hand up and before he realized what was happening, flew straight up towards Branson.

The lad's eyes grew wide.  "Render, how did you...?"

"I don't know."  He reached out and took Branson by the arm with surprising ease and tucked him under his arm like a bundle of kindling.  "It feels like something I could always do."

Flying down proved more amusing than up because of the way Branson screamed like a little girl, his hands covering his eyes.  "We're going to die!"  Stopped and hovering mere inches from the ground, Render simply could not resist.  "Well, if you are not happy with my service..." He held him away and let go of Branson.

Eyes still covered, he shrieked, not realizing how close to the ground he already was.  "No!"

Branson came down with a gentle bump in the thick snow.  With all four limbs splayed across the ground, he writhed and grabbed and gasped.  When he opened his eyes, he glared up at a laughing Render.  "I don't appreciate that!"

"Consider that repayment for the way you've been from the start."  He held out a hand to help him up.  At first Branson hesitated.  But eventually, a smile cracked across his face and he took it.

For the next hour, Render, Branson, and Ahndien shared their stories.  Render first explained how he had met Valhandra.  But for some reason, he could not recall all that he had seen and heard.

"All I know is that I am supposed to—"

"Unite two kingdoms which have been mortal enemies for centuries."  Ahndien grabbed Render's hand and gazed straight into his eyes.  "He told me the same."

"What did you see?" Render's entire body grew warmer, despite the cold air and snow.  And it was not coming from her fiery abilities.  It came from within.  Thankfully, the redness of cheek that must surely be apparent now could easily be attributed to the cold.

"Many things.  I saw my past.  I saw a great battle.  And I saw..."  Ahndien turned away.

"What did you see?"

"Yes, do tell us," Branson said.

But she put her hand to her lips and shook her head.  Her eyes glistened.  A stray tear fell to the ground and a tiny cloud of steam rose up from the tiny crater in the snow it created.   "I am not to speak of these things.  He has commanded me not to say a word to anyone."

"Do we win the battle?"  Render desperately wanted to know.

"I did not see that far."

"Do we fight alone?"

"Again, I did not—"

"Will anyone come to our—"

"Either I saw nothing or I am forbidden to speak about it!"  Her tears became angry and at the same time sad.  "Don't you understand?  Valhandra has not given us evidence.  It is not for us to question, but to obey."

Branson muttered something.

"What was that?" Render said.

"And to believe."  He looked up and suddenly, wisdom enshrouded his face.  A wisdom beyond his tender age.  "It is not for us to question, but to obey and believe.  That's what He told me as well."

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

From where he stood, Render could only surmise that they were now far from the Sojourners Assembly Hall.  Ahead in the distance, the dry brush swayed, the golden sand shifted across the vast expanse of the barren wasteland, the winds of which groaned painfully in the valley below.