Fate Rides Wicked: Volume I of the Lerilon Trilogy (39 page)

As they dismounted, Aquendar commented, “Their
population is very dense because of the favorable weather
and farming conditions around the capital. This leaves
little room for buildings.”

“They must struggle to keep it clean,” said Sir Xalt,
whose own capital, Polentak, could get very filthy at times.

“It’s a quick adaptation they made. They have a
furnace in one section of town, which provides heat to all
of the buildings during the winter. The fuel is all the
garbage generated by the people. We did not share in it
because we stayed underground. Last night was very
cold.”

Tych and the other non-humans look surprised, because
this fact had never been revealed to them. The prince
exclaimed, “They have a city wide heating system!”

“Yes, they have all sorts of mechanical advances forced
by the city density. They use the heat to force water up
from underground into the city water wells. They would be
a good study for other cities if they didn’t hoard it jealously
in their vaults.” Aquendar handed his horse to a stable boy
and several others followed. Learning from previous
experience, every expedition member slung his or her
saddlebags over the shoulder. “Follow me,” Aquendar
finished.

They walked in a nearby door and down a narrow, well
lit hallway to another door. Aquendar reached to open it
then stopped. He put his ear up against the door and
listened. He waved Tych to come join him.

A man was speaking. “In conclusion, last night a crime
against humanity was committed. Captain Druery and one
of his men were slaughtered by a group of monsters,
traveling the continent tricking kings into giving them their
armies. It is time to stop such barbarism. We must hunt
them down and kill them.”

Aquendar gestured Tych aside, opened the door and
stepped inside. “This man speaks out of turn!” he yelled.
“Is there not an agreement between Fendol and Concrof
that all messengers of the King of Concrof shall be given
safe passage to Fendolak and vice versa?”

King Fend of Fendol stood up. “Yes there is,
Aquendar. Why do you mention it?”

“I am a member of that group described by my friend
here as monsters. It surprised Druery considerably to see
me on the street alive last night. That surprise stemmed
from the fact that some of his men and the border guard
captain’s men ambushed our party on the main road to
here, even though we carried messenger status from
Concrof. Tych, come here.”

Tych stepped into the throne room. The gathered
nobles gasped at his silvery skin. “I bear the status of
messenger from Concrof.” He held up a parchment
granting it to him. “I and my expedition fell prey to an
ambush a day’s ride from Fendolak. We left the attackers
tied up by the side of the road. Last night we were
informed about the border guard captain’s involvement and
knew he would free them when he passed them the next
day. I think you know Aquendar and the kind of men he
would follow.”

King Fend nodded his head and some of the soldiers
moved closer to the orator that had been slandering the
expedition. “What is your title that you have earned the
respect of King Colin and what did he give you?”

“I am Prince Tych di Corl of the Endarils. I have
command over all the armies except Fendol, Seftrel,
Vrefez, Lake and Murlan, but I haven’t been there yet. I
am here to ask for your army to march against Rangdor’s
forces and wipe them off the face of Lerilon. I personally
will defeat Rangdor.”

Laughter broke out but only lasted a minute as the king
held up his hand. “Bring in the rest of your expedition.”

The other members filed in and lined up behind Tych.
“Behind me stand representatives from every benevolent
race on the planet. They have followed me through
Western Evil, risked their lives for each other and become a
leadership force for the army I will send against Rangdor.”

“Rangdor has sorcerers and magicians. How do you
expect your army to beat them?”

“I am honored by your correct usage of sorcerer. I and
one of my companions are wizards. Before he was
seriously wounded in Concrof, a magician traveled with us.
Also in my group is an illusionist. From all the daril races
will come many magicians of all skill levels to battle
Rangdor’s magicians and demons.”

“Do some magic.” The king crossed his arms and
waited.

“Fine,” said Tych as he appeared next to King Fend.
“Or perhaps you wouldn’t like me that close,” he said from
a windowsill high up the throne room wall. “I’d rather be
near my group, however,” he said from Lendril’s side.

“I will give you my army. Rangdor’s forces are
destroying the standard of living for my people and it takes
much to protect our technology from them. We are a very
cerebral people and we know the dangers of a servant of
Rangdor getting information about our achievements. The
military uses would be disastrous to all the kingdoms.”

“Could you bring some of those military possibilities to
the northern plain with you? Rangdor will die and
technology, as you call it, could make the difference.”

“Yes, but it will come last of all and it must be a
surprise to all but those here.” The king stepped down
from the dais and turned to his back left to a door. “Come,
join me for lunch.” As he led Tych to lunch, he leaned
over and whispered, “Actually, all you had to do was show
Commander Findra. She and I go way back. She
represented the mendar when we renewed our treaty.”
Tych’s eyes opened wide. He had forgotten completely
about the relationship between the mendar and fendolians.

The expedition left the next morning for Woodhaven,
the home of the mendar. It took less than two hours with
the pemilons speed boost and they paused outside the
obvious entrance. The field turned to tall trees, almost too
perfect in appearance to be real. An aura seemed to
surround the nearby road and they just felt like pulling up
and slowing down.

Mere seconds passed before a small band of warriors in
mostly brown armor appeared before them. The front
mendar stepped forward. “Prince Tych, we have been
waiting for your arrival. Your expedition may enter and
follow us.”

The expedition started into the woods and a trail
appeared that had not been visible from the outside. Like
liquid the group of soldiers flowed around the outside of
the group and led them down the path. In a few minutes
they reached the village. Unlike Greenhaven, most of the
homes sat on the ground because of the ice that could form
on the bridges in the air. The enormous clearing had a
canopy of tree branches above it that swayed open from the
same magical forces that formed it.

Light filled the air and the smell of sap reached them.
With impressive speed, all of the mendar younger than one
hundred appeared before them. They began to sing in a
cadence similar to trees swaying in a light breeze.

Welcome, Welcome,
all of you are
Welcome to our
humble home

One of the taller boys stepped out and said, “It has been
a long time since neftir or humans visited our home and we
are deeply honored. To our royal cousins, high above all
darils, Tych di Corl and Lendril di Rutif, go our highest
accolades.”

In the time before Evil,
when all the world was new
only a dragon or endaril
could be found, but few
Then Lendela brought death
to the winged lizards in the sky
and though they still had breath
their race seemed doom to die

The endarils grew in might
and in number they flourished
until you could at night
find one where you wished

Then great darkness came to Li
on the shoulders of Rangdor
who came to set evil free
and on endarils slam the door

Some followed his dark path
and the credarils grew
bearers of evil’s great wrath
with an end no one knew

Our evil cousins Oaktree
did his best to restore
and the mendar were free
turned good forever more

Again Oaktree tried and
the thrandrils were saved
to south went that band
and our future was paved
Now all four tribes are
small and spread wide
crushed by human power
one forced to hide

Still we faced Rangdor,
evil and eager to see
the darils done for
not leading from sea to sea

Then came a great birth
from the greater endarils
that gave us self-worth
and hope for the end of our ills

Now Prince Tych di Corl
leads all of the land
and with a lift of his sword
he rides with his band

Rangdor now trembles in his abode,
his northern realm of night,
for Prince Tych of this ode
grows to make the world bright

Hail the mighty warrior of Li
through his power we will be free
Hail the mighty warrior of Lerilon
through him, Rangdor will be gone.

Tych dismounted and took a bow. The brown-skinned
children laughed and most scattered. A few came forward
and took the horses. The pemilons relaxed in the presence
of these friends, free from the danger of humans. The
expedition walked towards the entrance of the village,
unsure of what to do next. Suddenly, two columns of
soldiers came running out and split in front of the group.
When the two score had taken up position, a very tall man
and woman stepped in front of them, dressed in brown
armor with the brown green and silver crest on the front.

Both dropped to one knee and the man said, “Welcome,
My Lord, Prince Tych di Corl, Child of a Conscious
Unified Mind, Son of King Morg. Welcome, My Lady,
Princess Lendril di Rutif, Lover of Tych, Daughter of
Good.”

Tych placed his hands on their shoulders and said,
“Stand, my friends, King Lefil and Queen Appotila, Oldest
Children of the Endarils. We are all equals in the world
because the problems we face are all the same. I would
seek your advice on how to eliminate one of those common
threats...”

The royalty stood and Findra took all but Tych and
Lendril on a tour of her village. Buynar and Worlef
stopped at the homes of their families and promised to join
them later. The King and Queen led the endarils to a two
story castle that intertwined a little with the trees in the
same fashion as the homes of the thrandrils.

King Lefil wanted to hear about their journey right
away. Tych took turns telling it with Lendril until they
reached Concrof. Tych told of Quez’s brush with death
and the King stopped him.

“So you are short a magician then?” asked the tall, thin,
brown-skinned man.

“We hadn’t thought of it that way but I guess you could
say that. The expedition just continued without him.”

“May I make a suggestion, My Lord?”

“Yes, please do.”

“Ask your parents to let Cert make the rest of the trip
with you. She could use some experience of the outside
world.” Queen Appotila nodded forcefully as her lover
said this.

“My first thought is ‘yes’, but then I think of my very
protective mother and Corl’s resistance.”

“Listen to you. In the spring you’ll be taking on
Rangdor, but you’re afraid to confront your own parents.
You know you can protect Cert in this wild world and Corl
may surprise you.”

Lendril leaned over to Tych, placed her hand on his
shoulder and said, “Tych, let's give it a try. It would be
good experience for her and we might need another
magician.”

“Yes, we’ll pay my parents a visit tonight.”

Morg and Greentree jumped in shock to find Tych and
Lendril sitting on their bed playfully kissing. The younger
two stood and hugged their parents, and then Morg asked,
“What brings you to the Hidden Kingdom? I thought you
were out riding the continent and gathering your army.”

Tych told the rulers about their journey so far and
related the injury to Quez. “We realized in Woodhaven
that we need a new magician to replace him.”

The trepidation could already be seen on Greentree’s
face as Morg responded, “Who were you thinking of
taking?”

Trying to sound sure of his choice, Tych said, “Cert.”

Greentree started shaking her head with her face set in a
scowl. “No, I won’t allow it,” she said, “it’s too dangerous
out there and I don’t trust humans.”

“Mother, she will be safe among us and we have
several humans in the expedition. Yes, the Hidden
Kingdom is safer but the experience would be good for her.
We’ll have her back in less than three months.”

“If it is so safe, my son, than why is Quez recovering
from near-fatal wounds? I don’t want to see Cert end up
that way.”

“Quez was injured while I was a captive and four of the
expedition’s most important members were trying to rescue
me. If the others or I had been there the battle would have
been less dangerous and Quez would still be with us. I
have learned my lesson and I won’t be caught again. It is
time for Cert to learn some lessons, though I will be
personally responsible for her safety.”

Her face had relaxed. Morg said, “I agree with your
mother that this is very dangerous. However, I also trust
you. If Corl thinks Cert will be alright with your
expedition, I will go along with it. Is that acceptable, my
lover?”

Greentree looked at the floor and said, “Yes, I will go
along with the opinion of the majority in this case.”

The idea of majority decision-making struck Tych as
powerful. As they headed up the stairs to the tower, he
thought about how he might apply it to the world after
Rangdor. Before he could form any ideas they reached
Corl’s door and Greentree knocked. The door swung open
and they entered.

Corl turned in his chair to greet them. He wore a light
green cloak, which was obviously his favorite judging by
the frayed edges and faded character. “What can I do for
you, my children?”

“We need a tie broken, father. Tych wants to take Cert
and finish his expedition with her in the group. I hesitantly
agreed but Greentree needs your support.” Morg waited for
a response.