Chronicles of Fardel: The Rise of Syphon

Time had stopped, there was no sense of hours or minutes. No sense of hope or reason. Only pain existed now. He could barely remember anything else, only pain and the insistent nagging voice.

"Join us and it will end."

He didn't even know what it was that wanted him to join. He only knew he wanted no part of it. How long had it been, a day? A month perhaps? Could have been five hundred years for all he knew. The pain was overwhelming and widespread. There wasn't a part of his body that wasn't screaming at him. And yet he couldn't give in. He knew, somehow, that as bad as this was it would be worse if he did.

Then suddenly without warning there was something other than darkness. A light shone and steadily grew brighter. The pain didn't melt away immediately, but the voice had been silenced and gradually the pain subsided. He became conscious of another voice speaking things he could barely understand.

"Where am I?"

"You are in Legionor, you were lost for nearly two weeks. Touched by the black curse of a wraith. No need to tell me what you seen or experienced, I don't want to know. What I do want to know is..." At this terryied as if fearful of the answer. "Whom do you serve?"

Kephiyr tried to remember anything except that horrible voice.

"I... I don't remember much of anything. I... I just know... I just know I'm not on the side of that black voice." A sigh of relief followed by some mumbled talking.

"What's going on? Why... why won't my eyes open?"

"Peace the Black curse will wear off slowly now that we have it under control. Do you remember your name, or what you were doing?"

"My name is Syphon... no Kephiyr, I was... I don't remember."

"That's alright it should come back in time. At least you remember who you are."

His eyes slowly began to open and he immediately saw two people one of whom he recognized. Eloff stood over him and a she-elf was beside him. She was an aqua elf and had gray blue colored skin and turquoise hair down to her shoulders. She wore a white and green fabric that seemed to sway with the light and change color. It was all one piece and covered her from shoulders to mid thigh. As she moved the white would change to dark blue and the green would change hues, even sometimes as light as white.

"Do you know who I am?" Eloff asked him.

"Yes Eloff... but who is she?"

"Don't be alarmed you haven't met her before so you shouldn't know her. This is my wife Airidel. She helped me bring you back you back to our world. Do you know what you were doing, or why the wraith cursed you?"

"I was fighting in Tukor, trying to stop the wraith. I don't know any reason other then that. Did we win?"

"Yes you beheaded the wraith just before you collapsed."

"Good ridense."

"When you are on the mend, you have gifts awaiting your retrieval. The jarls of Zolon, Wolden, Falmell, and Melton have agreed to give you knightly gifts should you awaken. Though you'll have to retrieve them yourself as they desire to see you. You're on the mend already faster then expected. Some even thought you wouldn't mend at all."

Kephiyr sat up to see Doon not far from him.

"You had us worried for a while there Kephiyr. Eloff explained somewhat how the curse was, honestly that was enough. I'll get you some food you must be starved."

"I am. I think in a day or so I'll head toward those countries. If nothing else it will clear my head. Care to join me?"

"Sure I'll join you it would be nice to get out of here for a while."

"I will join you as well, give us some time to discuss upcoming events." Eloff said.

"Great! Will you be joining us as well Airidel?"

"Yes, I will join you, it will give me a chance to get to know you. Eloff always speaks so highly of you."

Eloff snickered a little and glanced down at his hands. Then he let out a sigh as if remembering a deep pain.

"If you'll excuse me I must go wash my hands." He said.

"Why? Your hands are perfectly clean Eloff." Kephiyr laughed.

"No they're not! And it's no laughing matter!" Kephiyr looked stunned at the wizards sudden ferocious anger.

"Pay no attention to him, he's a compulsive hand washer." Airidel said as if to divert attention from a deeper purpose.

"Get some natural sleep Kephiyr, it will help you to heal quicker. If you are well enough we'll leave on the morrow." Airidel said.

And as if by a spell Kephiyr drifted off into a dreamless sleep. When he awoke the next morning he began to prepare to leave and was summoned by Kelpon.

"Fine work my lad, you not only destroyed our enemy, but you gained Intel. I understand you plan to do some traveling now that you're on the mend."

"Yes sire I do."

"Good, good; care to do me a little favor?" Kephiyr cringed but it wasn't as if he really had a choice.

"What do you desire your Majesty?"

"While you are out fetch jarl Brock for me. I need to discuss some things with him."

"Certainly your majesty. May I also enquire as to when and where Parlon will be established?"

"Clever lad, that is part of the matters I wish to discuss with him. I will have an answer for you not long after you return."

"Thank you your majesty."

"You may go now."

Not long later Kephiyr and his three companions were headed toward the docks of Legionor. These docks were just beyond the Mira forest. Ships were coming and going as usual, mostly fishing vessels, some carrying cargo from Farmell or Zolon.

"Hear! What ship among you is headed for Zolon next?" Kephiyr shouted out to the captains.

"Here, over here. The Mirasen is headed for Zolon today." One of the captains shouted out and the four of them boarded the ship without hesitation. Within hours they were on the open sea. The smell of the salty sea air was blowing in their faces. This was Kephiyr's fresh start, soon he would have his own nation, he would be his own boss. However, he knew he would also soon have to fight against the king. If the war and treason didn't get him killed he'd be able to possibly see a new period of peace and freedom.

Thoughts of possible futures seemed to flow past as did the occasional island. Then his thoughts were interrupted with the sounds of singing. He looked back but found that nobody was there. The melody pierced his heart like a sword, going deep as if to his very marrow. It was so soothing that he dropped to his knees almost in a trance. He looked down to see mermaids dancing in the waters just in front of the ship. They sang a wordless tune that sent men into a trance. At least it seemed wordless, and yet it caused one to search his heart.

"Beautiful isn't it." Airidel said to him.

"It is indeed, if only they didn't want to kill me." She let out a laugh.

"You're thinking of sirens not mermaids."

"What's the difference?"

"A siren is basically an evil mermaids but you can easily tell the difference. Their appearance changes, these will not harm you."

"Well what do sirens look like?"

"Difficult to explain, but you've seen mermaids. If you see one that's not so bright, and sings a rather solemn song, that's a siren."

"I thought sirens were beautiful and their song?"

"They are but their song almost makes you believe you deserve to die. Their tails however are a dull silvery color and their hair is dark."

Kephiyr looked down noting that their hair was bright silvery blonde or fiery red and nearly translucent. Their tails were either lime green or electric blue. He and three companions sat at the front of the ship until the sun went down. Talking and eating was all the activity of the day. After Eloff and Airidel turned in for the night, Doon and Kephiyr stayed to watch the stars. The moon did not appear that night for it was a new moon. As they both stared up at the starry sky they both felt a sudden jolt of power. Springing up they both locked their eyes on a mountainous island to their south.

"What is that? Do you feel that? It's like power is radiating from that island."

"Yes, I feel it. I've felt that kind of power before. The wraith had a power similar."

"Really? Maybe we should ask the captain about it."

"Yes, let's do that."

They walked back to the helm where the captain stood seemingly unaware of the island.

"Captain, what can you tell me about that island?" Kephiyr asked.

"What? That island, why?"

"He doesn't feel it." Doon whispered.

"Please, just tell me what you know." Kephiyr replied.

The captain looked at the map then at the island and back to the map. He scratched his head with a puzzled look while looking at both the island and the map.

"Strange. Well I can't really say much, I've never noticed that island before. And the island isn't on the map."

"How is that possible? How long have you been a captain? Have you made this journey many times?"

"I've made this journey more times then I can count. Made my living on the sea since my youth. Usually I'm on the Cephen sea not the Ara sea during this phase of the moon, cause the luner fish come out. Perhaps the island has a luner spell on it, so it's only visible at certain times."

"Why?"

"Well how should I know why? I don't even know if that's true. It's just a thought. You think because I'm a captain I'm all knowing? Ask your wizard friend."

"Well, perhaps we should get some sleep. How long until we reach Zolon?"

"We'll be in Zolon tomorrow afternoon." The captain replied and the two of them retired to their chambers. The next day they met Eloff for breakfast and asked him about the island.

"I don't know anything about it." Eloff insisted, almost sounding afraid. Then he got up to wash his hands again.

"What is it with you and constantly washing your hands?" Doon inquired.

"Never you mind about my hands! I will wash them if I please! And don't you worry about that island. You were probably just seeing things."

"We both saw the same thing and the captain too." Doon replied.

"Oh just quit pestering me about it, I don't know anything!" Eloff snapped and dried his hands.

Doon gave a sidelong look to Kephiyr saying there's something to this he doesn't want us to know. They looked over to Airidel who just shrugged and breathed out heavily.

"Oh come now, you both know something that much is obvious." Doon blurted out, he wasn't used to being told no.

"You meddling little whelp! I'm saying nothing more about it, deal with it! Now eat your breakfast we got a journey ahead of us!" Eloff snapped and the matter was dropped.

By evening they were docked in Ithen the main city of Zolon, right up against Mount Barab. Ithen was built primarily of stone with a twelve foot stone wall to the east. Mountains were to the south and west and the Ara sea to the north. It's palace was built inside mount Barab on its western border.

The Palace delved inside the mountain in roughly one square mile. The ceiling was held apart from the floor by large columns of granite. In fact everything in the palace was granite except what had been brought in from outside. Carved into the granite were tapestries of different shapes. Here and there were sculptures of deer or eagles. The furniture was made mainly of cedar, and many large silk curtains separated the rooms. The throne room had huge granite doors with eagles engraved on them. These doors had no hinges and almost seemed to float on an invisible rotating axis. To the right side of the room the wall was opened onto a balcony that overlooked the Ara sea. Jarl Tolin sat on his throne with his sons Abah and Abeh at his side. Abah had a large eagle perched on his shoulder.

"Kephiyr it is good to see you well." Abeh said hugging him and Abah seconded his emotion.

"I didn't expect you to be here!" Tolin declared and then called a servant to fetch Kephiyr's gift. "Could hardly believe my sons when they told me of what happened. I actually have two gifts for you. The other is in the stables, the only living unicorn."

"Not the only living unicorn." Eloff interrupted.

"Oh that's right the mythical guardians." Tolin mocked.

"Of course your grace is much wiser then I, being far older and more learned." Eloff retorted, whom was nearly eight thousand years old, as opposed to Tolin's fifty seven. They had never liked eachother much, but at that moment the servant returned bearing a sword.

"This is the enchanted sword Aremen, for the wraith killer." Tolin said and handed Kephiyr the blade. It was roughly four feet in length with a silver handle. The blade was sleek and double edged with runes that nobody could read running down the center of the blade.

"Beautiful. My thanks jarl now if I may head to the stables I would be on my way. I have a long journey."

"Of course, you there escort our guests to the stables."

The unicorn in the stables was dazzling white with a harness having his name engraved on it, Brendon was his name.

"Unicorns are more then just steeds Kephiyr. They're shape shifting steeds capable of even flight." Eloff said.

The other three chose horses and the four of them headed toward the gates of Ithen. Once outside the gate they were on a steep wooded incline. Tall pine trees were on either side. A small brook babbled noisily over rocks to their right, and the land spread far and wide. Here and the there were dotted forests, some larger than others. These were favorited camping locations of the locals, as even the smaller forested areas were at least a hundred miles wide. Most of Zolon was visible from this vantage point, only the larger cities were beyond sight. Several tiny villages dotted the rough terrain. Most Zolonites were not much fond of big cities. They came from a very curious branch of the old natives and still held many of the same ideals. One of which was small habitations to keep the land as much natural as possible. Few roads were even laid except in the main cities, only simple sign post dotted here and there helped serve for navigation. Not much direction if you didn't know the land, just the name of a village and an arrow pointing.

"It's not as inhabited as I expected." Kephiyr said questioningly.

"There's more people here then you'd think. The smallest of those villages is approximately nine hundred and seventy souls. The largest about ten thousand souls. And there's more villages then meets the eye. Especially on the other sides of those woods." Eloff replied.

"Why so many small villages?" Doon asked.

"The earth god Baucus is the short answer. And I'm not in the mood for the long one." Eloff retorted.

"Now, now, no need to get fussy already. It's a five day journey to Farmell, are we camping or getting an Inn?" Airidel intervened.

"Camping, at least the first night. We'll see how we feel after that." Eloff replied.

"So Airidel, when and how did you two meet?" Kephiyr asked as they neared the bottom of the hill.

"Oh a long, long time ago. This would be what... six thousand years ago. Back before the last trial of fire. Do you mind if I tell the story dear?"

"Of course not, just exclude intimate details." Kephiyr and Doon were grateful for that; though it wasn't the details they were thinking of.

"Pelishty was still a nation and Eloff was a young Pelishty soldier. Have you heard of Pelishty?"

"Vaguely, just that it was a strong nation long ago."

"Strong is hardly the word, it was a world power. Vastly strong and sadly equally merciless. Anyway, it was a very chaotic day. There had nearly been a riot and there had been an earthquake that rattled the land. We were in the heart of what today is Farmell. All elves were united in those days and the wizards hadn't formed their own nation. That is what made Pelishty so strong. The King was a dictator, a tyrant, and that day some... some men were executed to protect the crown. I found Eloff outside the city by a stream in the evening. I honestly thought at first that he had gone mad. He was frantically washing his hands in the stream and muttering to himself. And he was washing so vigorously that he was rubbing his hands raw. I started to turn away to leave, but something told me to help him. So I picked him up by the underarm and he was blubbering like a baby. You could barely make out what he was saying, the poor dear. So I just held him for the longest time until it finally subsided enough we could leave. He spent the next two months sleeping on my couch. If you can call it sleep, he would rise with a jump at every little sound. He was in such a state of hopeless sorrow I thought he'd never escape. Anyway after some time he... he began to get better and we grew close. After some time we left Pelishty and began our own nation with many wizards and elves that you know today as Elcor. Of course the nation growing was slow and we weren't even considered a nation until sometime after Pelishty imploded. We've been together ever since, one nation, six children, and six thousand years later here we are."

"So you not only saved Eloff, but in so doing you also helped form Elcor." Kephiyr said with surprise.

"I guess so... never knew it would turn out like this. But, never underestimate the power of an act of kindness." She replied with a smile.

"What happened to cause you to be in that state?" Doon asked.

"That is a story never to be told!" Eloff retorted.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to..." Doon began and Airidel patted his shoulder.

"It's okay dear, the wound didn't claim his life but it never fully healed."

"I thought time heals all wounds?" Doon said.

"Poppycock, some wounds time merely engraved so that they never vanish." Eloff replied.

"Well, shall we make camp, it is getting a bit late. We've made a good distance today, already Ithen is a spot on the horizon." Airidel suggested.

"Yes, let's stop for the night and get a fire going." Kephiyr said.

They sat by the fire looking up at the starry sky, having ate a dinner of fried potatoes and bite-sized venison.

"Dear, what about a song to finish off the night?" Eloff said and made a signal at her toward Doon and she nodded knowingly. Then he produced a flute and began to play an almost haunting tune. Slowly Airidel began to sing and her voice rang as sweetly as a babbling brook. Doon looked up at the sky lost in the music, feeling it rush over him like a blanket.

"Well the moon moved passed Lebannon and poured laughter on the cold Kodesh hills. And angels danced on Jacob's stairs, well they danced on Jacob's stairs. There is a silence in the desert, and over Zolon the whole universe was stilled. By the whisper of a prayer, the whisper of a prayer. And the single hawk bursts into flight and in the east the whole horizon is in flames. I feel the thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, and to hear the prairies calling out Your name. I can feel the earth tremble beneath the rumbling of the Buffalo hooves. And the fury in a pheasants wings, there's fury in a pheasants wings. And it tells me the Lord is in His temple and there is still a faith that can make the mountains move. And a love that can make the heavens ring. I've seen love make heaven ring. Where the sacred rivers meet beneath the shadow of the keeper of the plains. I feel the thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain. And to hear the prairies calling out Your name. From the place where morning gathers you can look sometimes forever til you see. What time may never know, time may never know. How the Lord takes by its corners this old world and shakes us forward and shakes us free. To run wild with the hope, to run wild with the hope. The hope that this thirst will not last long that it will soon drown in a song not sung in vain. I feel the thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain. And with the prairies I am calling out Your name."

"Wow you have a great..." Eloff hit Kephiyr to shut him up and put his finger to his lips. He then motioned to Airidel and Kephiyr and the three drew near to whisper.

"Yes she does have a great voice." He winked at her. "But that was not just for entertainment. Doon is asleep let us talk. What are your plans for Kelpon?"

"Well first I need to know who could be on our side."

"I am working on Elcor, very sure I can get them."

"Don't you run Elcor?"

"No, Elcor has a senate, majority vote rules. But I do hold a lot of sway."

"Unfortunately, Naru is choosing to remain neutral." Airidel said sadly.

"Wolden is almost a sure alliance as they have many dealings with the dwarves." Eloff interjected.

"What about Hemen, Farmell, and Zolon?" Kephiyr asked.

"I know this much, Zolon, Beryl, Mel, and Orlo are loyal to the crown. Including Legionor's army that's five armies to deal with. Farmell and Hemen are wild cards. If they turn toward Kelpon we're ruined, if they sway toward us we have a fighting chance."

"Okay, well I'm sure Kelpon realizes the same. If we get them on our side have them fame to be on his. Once they are sure the elves are on their side, we can take Zolon without firing a shot. Send a few battalions in and hold Zolon captive. At the opportune moment spring the trap and destroy one army. Then we place a convoy to prevent a sea assault of Farmell. Then take Legionor and hopefully end this war." Kephiyr replied.

"How long have you been thinking this through?" Eloff laughed quietly.

"A little while, it's risky but it may be the only chance we have."

"Well hopefully we have Elcor, Hemen, and Farmell and their support of the plan." Eloff said.

"What if Kelpon suspects you of treason?" Airidel questioned.

"If He survives the initial plan, I'm sure he will. Farmell would be our head, if he finishes off Farmell we may be done. That will be his first move if he suspects me. I will fake my death in one of the battles, hopefully get put on the casualty list. It's too risky playing both sides and if he thinks I'm dead he won't strike as hard initially. He's cautious and we will use his caution to our advantage."

"So you fake your death to avoid treason?" Eloff looked questionable.

"Better idea?"

"Well it would be nice to have someone on the inside. But I understand, it's not my neck on the line." Eloff replied.

"What if we take Legionor and the war doesn't end?" Airidel asked.

"I can only plan so far ahead, my main concern is keeping Farmell from falling. Wolden also would be a great loss of it fell. Unfortunately every plan I can contrive for the isle countries just doesn't pan out." Kephiyr replied.

"No, the isle countries must be drawn out." Eloff said, and they laid down to sleep.