world's illness."
"In a sense, it does," said Zelok. "As you
saw firsthand last evening, my kingdom falls victim to violent
storms. My people have grown sick, and despair eats at every
heart."
"It is indeed horrible," Seth agreed.
"Magic is failing us, and rumors of the end
are whispered in every dark corner of my realm. I have even heard
of the decline beyond my borders."
"The problems you face are not yours alone,
my liege," Seth regretted to announce. "I have seen the weakenings
in many places this past month. The Realm of Dan's water supply has
dwindled, and the crops do not mature. My king's magicians have not
been able to conjure one spell since Beldas's disappearance.
Humankind's ability to create magic is less enduring than that of
the elves."
Zelok sank back in his chair, looked at the
door, and saw Lorn standing very still. "You there, dwarf," Zelok
called.
"Me, sir?" Lorn asked timidly.
"You're the only dwarf here," the elf-king
laughed. "Come closer, please." Lorn crossed the floor slowly and
stood by Seth's side, too shy to speak to royalty any more words
than were absolutely required.
"May I present Lorn of Beowulken," Seth
announced.
"You honor my court, dwarf of the Beowulken
Valley," Zelok replied. The king turned his thoughts back to the
matter at hand. "We are more than knowledgeable that the absence of
Beldas in the heavens has caused great imbalance." He set the
goblet on the table and folded his hands across his lap. "There has
been resolution from no one thus far. Beldas' fate must be known,
whatever the cost."
"Seth?" Lorn whispered. The knight turned to
face him. "Is it that serious?"
Zelok answered for Seth, saying, "It is a
matter of survival, my little friend. No one will be spared if
something is not done to set the world right. No race will
endure--not even the dwarves. The twin moons give the entire world
its magic and prosperity. The weather, the tides, and every small
link for life depend solely on the heavens' concord. I am not wise
enough to say just how much time we have left, but the end draws
near--and quickly. In this sickness, my kingdom will become flooded
and the Dunane will be wiped away from Londor." Zelok's emotions
began to surface. "As long as I sit upon my father's throne, I will
not let my people die."
"I assure you, the Council will not let this
happen," Seth said, trying to comfort Zelok.
"Yet I have not received counsel from
Mudalfaen, my lord Highbinder. This is why I am taking it upon
myself to investigate Beldas's disappearance." He paused. "This is
where you come into play."
"My lord?" Seth asked, unsure that he had
heard aright.
"Sitting at my side are two who set out this
very day to restore dignity to my kingdom and to the rest of the
world. You, Sir Seth, are their newest companion."
"An expedition?" Seth gasped. "This, then, is
the letter's command?"
"Precisely."
"Then I shall honor it and do as you
say."
"Good," Zelok replied with a sly grin. "Does
the dwarf wish to follow?"
"Without a doubt," Lorn answered quickly. He
did not want to be left in Dunane without Seth. The elves would
make his stay such an utter misery that he would rather venture
into a world of unknown hazards than remain. "I will follow
Seth."
"Splendid," was Zelok's pleased response. "I
originally had three to leave my halls before you arrived. One that
I really had hoped for could not make it. But four is a worthy
number, I should say. I did not expect…Council assistance." Zelok
sat up in his chair. "Now, the time has come for your companions'
introductions. The human you see here is Sir Malander of
Muldane."
Seth acknowledged Malander, but Malander did
not move. He was robed in all black, even to his gauntlets and knee
boots. His hair was dark, short, and pushed forward, barely falling
onto his pale forehead. What Seth found most compelling about
Malander, though, was the black mask that covered the left side of
his face. It was somehow secured without a strap and was
"In a sense, it does," said Zelok. "As you
saw firsthand last evening, my kingdom falls victim to violent
storms. My people have grown sick, and despair eats at every
heart."
"It is indeed horrible," Seth agreed.
"Magic is failing us, and rumors of the end
are whispered in every dark corner of my realm. I have even heard
of the decline beyond my borders."
"The problems you face are not yours alone,
my liege," Seth regretted to announce. "I have seen the weakenings
in many places this past month. The Realm of Dan's water supply has
dwindled, and the crops do not mature. My king's magicians have not
been able to conjure one spell since Beldas's disappearance.
Humankind's ability to create magic is less enduring than that of
the elves."
Zelok sank back in his chair, looked at the
door, and saw Lorn standing very still. "You there, dwarf," Zelok
called.
"Me, sir?" Lorn asked timidly.
"You're the only dwarf here," the elf-king
laughed. "Come closer, please." Lorn crossed the floor slowly and
stood by Seth's side, too shy to speak to royalty any more words
than were absolutely required.
"May I present Lorn of Beowulken," Seth
announced.
"You honor my court, dwarf of the Beowulken
Valley," Zelok replied. The king turned his thoughts back to the
matter at hand. "We are more than knowledgeable that the absence of
Beldas in the heavens has caused great imbalance." He set the
goblet on the table and folded his hands across his lap. "There has
been resolution from no one thus far. Beldas' fate must be known,
whatever the cost."
"Seth?" Lorn whispered. The knight turned to
face him. "Is it that serious?"
Zelok answered for Seth, saying, "It is a
matter of survival, my little friend. No one will be spared if
something is not done to set the world right. No race will
endure--not even the dwarves. The twin moons give the entire world
its magic and prosperity. The weather, the tides, and every small
link for life depend solely on the heavens' concord. I am not wise
enough to say just how much time we have left, but the end draws
near--and quickly. In this sickness, my kingdom will become flooded
and the Dunane will be wiped away from Londor." Zelok's emotions
began to surface. "As long as I sit upon my father's throne, I will
not let my people die."
"I assure you, the Council will not let this
happen," Seth said, trying to comfort Zelok.
"Yet I have not received counsel from
Mudalfaen, my lord Highbinder. This is why I am taking it upon
myself to investigate Beldas's disappearance." He paused. "This is
where you come into play."
"My lord?" Seth asked, unsure that he had
heard aright.
"Sitting at my side are two who set out this
very day to restore dignity to my kingdom and to the rest of the
world. You, Sir Seth, are their newest companion."
"An expedition?" Seth gasped. "This, then, is
the letter's command?"
"Precisely."
"Then I shall honor it and do as you
say."
"Good," Zelok replied with a sly grin. "Does
the dwarf wish to follow?"
"Without a doubt," Lorn answered quickly. He
did not want to be left in Dunane without Seth. The elves would
make his stay such an utter misery that he would rather venture
into a world of unknown hazards than remain. "I will follow
Seth."
"Splendid," was Zelok's pleased response. "I
originally had three to leave my halls before you arrived. One that
I really had hoped for could not make it. But four is a worthy
number, I should say. I did not expect…Council assistance." Zelok
sat up in his chair. "Now, the time has come for your companions'
introductions. The human you see here is Sir Malander of
Muldane."
Seth acknowledged Malander, but Malander did
not move. He was robed in all black, even to his gauntlets and knee
boots. His hair was dark, short, and pushed forward, barely falling
onto his pale forehead. What Seth found most compelling about
Malander, though, was the black mask that covered the left side of
his face. It was somehow secured without a strap and was
Similar Books
