Read Online Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands by Daniel White - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Daniel White
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leaned forward. “You see, Aldrick,
wielders once stood above humans. It is a common belief that our storm
comprises half of our very being, but back then many claimed it to be the
superior half.
“So, Malath being promoted to chancellor meant that he suddenly
had command over a vast majority of the peoples in the land. He even held sway
over the high council. They were advised to follow his guidance on all matters
of social and political discourse. The system was egregiously flawed. All the
time though, it was the elder wielders of the Synod who pulled Malath’s
strings.
“In following years they became more accepting of humans’ rightful
place as equals among them. They sought a democratic society, a peaceful one.
But as much as their arrogance lessened, Malath’s grew. He feared that these
new ways of thinking would threaten his position as chancellor. Resentment grew
in him, a dark fire that could not be doused. Madness took hold. Members of the
Synod began to disappear inexplicably. Common folk were found dead in the
streets, murdered by storm.
“Your parents soon realised that Malath was responsible for this,
along with Selayna and his ever faithful, brainwashed scholars. Though it was
hard for them to accept, he had become an unspeakable force of evil. Like
themselves, he possessed a unique ability no other wielder did. He could defy
death, manipulate it… reverse it. He threatened to use this to ‘cleanse’ the
Narathlands of the filth of humanity.
“He planned to venture to Darkna—a hallowed temple of old which
stands at the edge of the legendary Vuldenfar Chasm. There, a great power
exists that would greatly strengthen his storm, allowing him to resurrect an
entire army of ancient warriors from the Life Afterwards to carry out his
murderous intent.
“Your parents knew they needed to act, but knew also that it would
be futile to confront Malath on a level battleground. In his madness, his
powers had been rendered ever stronger than before. Their options were few.”
Jon raised a finger. “But, as fortune might have it, some months earlier
Gilthred had stumbled across an invaluable object while on a scholarly
expedition in the west—a peculiar stone, one with a profound attribute. It
could hold storm within it. They discovered this when Isobel practised her
sapping ability on Gilthred while holding the stone in hand. Typically, his
storm would soon have returned to him, but this time it did not. It had been
absorbed into the stone. For days they tried to retrieve it, but to no avail.
The stone was of the hardest material known to them and could not be
penetrated.
“For a time they attempted to conceal the fact that Gilthred’s
storm was lost to him, but inevitably this was exposed, though no one was able
to offer a plausible explanation nor a solution. Not even the eldest and wisest
of the Synod could unravel the stone’s mystery.
“While it had caused them such inconvenience, its power gave your
parents an idea—perhaps it could be used to entrap Malath’s storm. This was the
only way to permanently remove him as a threat to the Narathlands and punish
him for his blind self-righteousness. They confronted him at Darkna. I was
there—one of the wielders delegated to safeguard the temple at the time, and
the power held within.
“Words would not sway Malath from his intentions so Isobel did
indeed drain his storm into the stone. While doing so, Gilthred and I shielded
her from his followers. We defeated many, Selayna included, but your father,
being without power, was overwhelmed.” Jon eyed Aldrick sorrowfully. “Your
father died fighting for the people of the Narathlands, Aldrick. He gave
everything.”
The room was silent. Aldrick couldn’t speak. The world had fallen
away around him.
“Isobel had successfully taken Malath’s storm,” Jon continued.
“This terrified his followers, so they fled, whisking him away with them. It
was the last time anyone saw any of them. Without
wielders once stood above humans. It is a common belief that our storm
comprises half of our very being, but back then many claimed it to be the
superior half.
“So, Malath being promoted to chancellor meant that he suddenly
had command over a vast majority of the peoples in the land. He even held sway
over the high council. They were advised to follow his guidance on all matters
of social and political discourse. The system was egregiously flawed. All the
time though, it was the elder wielders of the Synod who pulled Malath’s
strings.
“In following years they became more accepting of humans’ rightful
place as equals among them. They sought a democratic society, a peaceful one.
But as much as their arrogance lessened, Malath’s grew. He feared that these
new ways of thinking would threaten his position as chancellor. Resentment grew
in him, a dark fire that could not be doused. Madness took hold. Members of the
Synod began to disappear inexplicably. Common folk were found dead in the
streets, murdered by storm.
“Your parents soon realised that Malath was responsible for this,
along with Selayna and his ever faithful, brainwashed scholars. Though it was
hard for them to accept, he had become an unspeakable force of evil. Like
themselves, he possessed a unique ability no other wielder did. He could defy
death, manipulate it… reverse it. He threatened to use this to ‘cleanse’ the
Narathlands of the filth of humanity.
“He planned to venture to Darkna—a hallowed temple of old which
stands at the edge of the legendary Vuldenfar Chasm. There, a great power
exists that would greatly strengthen his storm, allowing him to resurrect an
entire army of ancient warriors from the Life Afterwards to carry out his
murderous intent.
“Your parents knew they needed to act, but knew also that it would
be futile to confront Malath on a level battleground. In his madness, his
powers had been rendered ever stronger than before. Their options were few.”
Jon raised a finger. “But, as fortune might have it, some months earlier
Gilthred had stumbled across an invaluable object while on a scholarly
expedition in the west—a peculiar stone, one with a profound attribute. It
could hold storm within it. They discovered this when Isobel practised her
sapping ability on Gilthred while holding the stone in hand. Typically, his
storm would soon have returned to him, but this time it did not. It had been
absorbed into the stone. For days they tried to retrieve it, but to no avail.
The stone was of the hardest material known to them and could not be
penetrated.
“For a time they attempted to conceal the fact that Gilthred’s
storm was lost to him, but inevitably this was exposed, though no one was able
to offer a plausible explanation nor a solution. Not even the eldest and wisest
of the Synod could unravel the stone’s mystery.
“While it had caused them such inconvenience, its power gave your
parents an idea—perhaps it could be used to entrap Malath’s storm. This was the
only way to permanently remove him as a threat to the Narathlands and punish
him for his blind self-righteousness. They confronted him at Darkna. I was
there—one of the wielders delegated to safeguard the temple at the time, and
the power held within.
“Words would not sway Malath from his intentions so Isobel did
indeed drain his storm into the stone. While doing so, Gilthred and I shielded
her from his followers. We defeated many, Selayna included, but your father,
being without power, was overwhelmed.” Jon eyed Aldrick sorrowfully. “Your
father died fighting for the people of the Narathlands, Aldrick. He gave
everything.”
The room was silent. Aldrick couldn’t speak. The world had fallen
away around him.
“Isobel had successfully taken Malath’s storm,” Jon continued.
“This terrified his followers, so they fled, whisking him away with them. It
was the last time anyone saw any of them. Without
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