Power of the Dark Lord, Chapter 11 Copyright 2010 by Bert McKenzie
Chapter XI
The first awareness he had was a strong sense of smell. The foul scent brought a measure of consciousness to him as surely as if someone had used smelling salts. Rood opened his eyes, and then blinked them. He slowly realized that he was blind. He had never in his entire life experienced such an eternal blackness. He tried to remember how he had arrived at this state. Slowly, the memories came flooding back to him. He remembered the battle engulfing him and pulling him down. That was all he could remember until he came to awareness.
He felt strangely light headed as he hung in the darkness. Hung? Why did he choose that way to think about his position? He tried to move and found himself restrained by some form of ropes. But his movement magnified itself into soft undulations. His inner sense of balance and direction confirmed his fears. He was indeed hanging, suspended by ropes in the darkness, and suspended upside down by his feet. Why would the trolls treat him this way? Then a terrible realization hit him. He was, no doubt, hanging in their larder, awaiting the proper moment to be killed and consumed. Rood had always been the strong, silent type. He had always pushed his fear into the background and never gave in. But now, in the darkness, separated from those he loved, he began to silently weep. The fear washed over him and pulled the tears from his sightless eyes.
As he hung in the darkness a sound came to his ears. At first he didn't notice it, so softly it came, but it gradually insinuated itself on his attention. The sound was from far away. It was incredibly high pitched, just barely within his audible range. A high, squealing whine rose and fell rhythmically and also repeated itself as if it were echoed and answered again and again. Rood could actually feel the sound vibrating in his ear more than he could hear it. As it grew in intensity he detected an accompanying sound, a soft, sliding scrape. At last both sounds struck him loudly as their source entered the room that held him.
Rood did not know what to do, and hung limply, wondering if death was about to strike. The high pitched squeal had stopped but the sliding scrape began again. It was the sound of some creature moving across the chamber and approaching him. In a burst of insight, Rood suddenly identified the noises. The high pitched call was similar to the squealing cry of the trolls. It must have come from one of them as the creature made its way to this room. And the scraping noise was the sound of the troll crossing the room to stand close to him.
A cold, bony hand touched his chest. Rood then realized that his tunic had been removed. He jerked in response causing his body to swing gently back and forth, bumping into the furry beast. A low grunting came from it. He then felt its clammy hands on him again. It was rubbing and massaging his chest, pinching the skin over his nipples and growling softly. Rood was powerless to do anything. The hands squeezed his biceps and then felt their way down his shoulders to his neck. The bony fingers touched the thin skin covering the artery in his throat and gently felt the tidal pulse of his heartbeat. The fingers then circled his neck as if the throttle the life from Rood, and slowly began to apply pressure.
"Stop!" Instantly the hands were removed. Rood could again catch his breath. But he marveled at what had occurred. The one word command had been issued in high Tuathan, an arcane form of their modern tongue. But who had said it? Someone else must be in the room besides Rood and the creature that had tried to kill him. Rood held his breath as he tried to listen for any telltale sounds that would betray the other inhabitant, but nothing came. He could hear the raspy breathing of the troll and the occasional scrape as it shifted its weight.
Again the cold fingers touched his body. Again the strange voice spoke. "Command I stop!" The hands instantly withdrew. "Be gone!" it said. The room was again shrouded in silence, but only for a moment. "Command I be gone, or die shall thee!" the voice again spoke. Suddenly a wheezing grunt came from the creature standing nearby, then the high pitched squeal sounded and Rood heard the scraping exit of his visitor. The squeals gradually faded into the darkness.
Rood hung in the darkness, wondering what other strange person occupied his cell. And how did it manage to have such power over the troll? As Rood hung suspended in the black, he suddenly could see two green lights. At first he thought that it was a hallucination brought on by his fear and blindness, but as they slowly moved he realized he was actually seeing something. He wasn't blind after all. He glanced up at his body, and could barely make out his chest reflected in the dim glow. He looked back again at the green lights. They were close together, and as he looked, they appeared to him like two eyes staring out of the darkness, only eyes without pupils, and without a face.
"Name," the word came to him from a voice in the darkness. The voice came from the direction of the twin orbs. Rood listened to the silence. Again it was broken. "Speak name."
It wanted his name. Rood balked. A name is a personal thing and can be a world of power. To name a person is to have some manner of control over him. Rood waited and hoped he had heard incorrectly.
"Speak thy name!" the voice commanded. He was powerless to resist. The voice used the power of command. It was a special magic that Rood thought only kings and rulers possessed. But somehow this green eyed monster of dark also knew the secret.
"Rood," came the soft reply.
"Rood. I bind thee," the voice said. "I have need of thee. When finished I, food are thou to they who wait." The green lights disappeared leaving Rood in the utter darkness and silence. He tried to meditate, but his mind kept returning to the words spoken. What need did the voice have of him? And when it was over, he would be troll food.
"We must return to Esbereth," Alee said. His dark skinned companion was trying his best to learn the native language. Stan had managed French and Spanish in high school, and even learned a little Japanese and Arabic while working as a field agent, but this language was different. It was similar to oriental languages in that pitch and inflection seemed to play a big part in the syntax of the sentence, but the cadence and rhythm of the spoken word carried meaning as well. Stan could understand about half of what Alee said to him, but he had a much harder time making himself understandable to the fairy.
"Why?" he asked.
"Esbereth may be under attack by the trolls. It is my duty as a member of the palace guard." Alee also wanted to return home to find out if his friend Faylar was alive or dead. And he wanted to turn this stranger over to the king. But these thoughts he did not voice.
"Slow down, dude," Stan said in English. "I got something about the krohgonks, but that was about it." Alee patiently repeated himself, not really sure if Stan was catching his meaning or not.
"How?" Stan asked. Alee said something unintelligible and pointed north. Stan got up and offered his hand to the strange man sitting in the grass. Alee accepted his grasp and stood. Together they began walking toward the mountains on the horizon. Around noon Stan's stomach began to growl. It was protesting his enforced fast. Alee looked over at him in surprise. "You have sickness of the stomach?" he asked.
"I'm just hungry," Stan replied in English. "You know, food?" He pantomimed eating.
"Estark," Alee said and began looking around. He suddenly pointed out at a spot on the plain that looked the same as any other spot. He indicated that Stan should follow him and he marched out into the taller grass. They were soon in a natural depression surrounded by tall, blue-green fronds that reached several feet above their heads. "This is not good food, but it will sustain life," Alee said as he used the dagger they now shared to hack off several of the taller plants near their roots. He handed a couple of the long stalks to Stan and took a couple for himself. "Eat," he said and watched. Stan sniffed the blue-green stalk he held in his hand and then experimentally bit into it. "No," Alee said as he laughed. "Like this." He broke off the end of the stalk hear the base where he had cut it and sucked on it, draining the liquid it contained. He then turned it over and bit into the frilly, blue-white blossoms that capped the frond.
Stan carefully watched his companion then mirrored his actions. He was pleasantly surprised. The sap of the stalk tasted like the juice from sugar cane. The flowers, on the other hand, tasted like flowers. He didn't care for them at all and quickly went back to the juice of the stalks. "No," Alee said. "Eat this." He indicated the blossoms. "They are what fill your stomach so you feel not the hunger." Stan reluctantly complied.
After their brief meal they continued their journey. By mid afternoon the two were coming into the foothills that surrounded the Crystal Mountains. Stan could see flashes of bright, colored light coming from a spot low on one of the mountains. "What is that?" he asked his companion in halting Tuathan.
"That is Esbereth," Alee replied. "Our destination."
"Can we reach it by dark?" Stan asked.
"No, but we can reach the eastern supply caves." Stan had no idea what Alee said other than his negative reply, but the fairy set off in a northeasterly direction at a rapid pace. Stan had to hurry to keep up with him.
The sun was dipping down to touch the western horizon as the two travelers reached the rocky area of little cliffs and canyons. "Watch closely for signs of trolls," Alee said as they slowly walked into the shadows of the stone walls.
"What signs?" Stan asked. Just as he said this his nose was assailed by a strong, foul smell. Its acrid fumes brought tears to his eyes. He looked down to see that he had stepped on a small, round rock about the size of a baseball. It had broken open under his weight, revealing a green, gooey interior that looked like guacamole and emitted the terrible stench.
"Troll droppings," Alee said, his voice tense with concern. "They have been here recently. Hurry. We must find shelter before it is completely dark. They may return anytime."
He led Stan to a dark cave opening on one wall. "This is one of our supply caves," Alee said. The two quickly ventured into its dark interior.
"If these things like the dark, why are we going into a black cave at night?" Stan asked in English, more to himself than to his guide.
Robin was sitting in quiet meditation on the high terrace that opened from his chambers. The stillness of the night and the serenity of the view, a spectacular vista of countless stars stretched over the dark landscape, contrasted with the turbulence of his inner turmoil. His lover and human friends were gone, his best friend and cousin were away from the castle and for all he knew may have encountered the trolls on the road, his friend and captain of the guard had been captured and no doubt killed by the evil creatures, the second in command of the palace guard was missing in the human world, and the palace was cut off from needed supplies. This was by far the worst crisis he had ever encountered in his short reign, and he had no idea what actions to take. His commands to clear the blocked passage from the castle were what had led to the capture and death of one of his closest friends and best military advisors.
"My lord," a voice called softly from behind. "We await your commands." Robin rose and turned to see Rowana standing in the doorway.
"My lady, I..." His voice broke as tears came to his eyes.
Rowana rushed to his side. "My lord, fear not. You are a good leader. You will see us through this time of trouble."
"I wish I had your confidence," he said with a deep sigh of weariness. "Bring the others here and we shall meet on the terrace. Perhaps the stars that look down on us all can give us silent counsel concerning our absent friends." The girl bowed and went inside to summon the others.
Robin sat on the terrace rail and for a brief moment thought about how easy it would be to lean back and relax into the arms of death awaiting him from the long fall. But he was stronger than that. Melcot, Caseldra and Elnar returned with Rowana. They bowed formally. "Please, take seats, my friends," he said and indicated the nearby chairs. The guard, the sorcerer and his daughter took the chairs while Rowana sat on the flagstones at her mate's feet. Robin suddenly noticed Caseldra for the first time. "My lady, I was told you journeyed to another land in the company of our human friends."
"I did, my lord," she said, looking down at the floor in guilt.
"And where are my consort and the others?" the king asked.
"They remained behind," Caseldra said quietly.
"They will be attended to in good time, my lord," Rowana broke in. "I have already discussed this with the lady Caseldra. She and I shall handle things."
"I appreciate your concern, my lady," Robin said a bit sternly. "But I am the king and I will be apprised of my subjects." He turned back to the wizard's daughter. "My lady, please tell me why my consort and the others decided to remain behind."
"The dwelling was being watched. They had reason to believe that your guard, Akuta had been taken prisoner by the same humans who had captured and tried to kill you some time ago. When we attempted to leave the dwelling they were captured. I managed to escape by use of a homing crystal."
"Then we may assume that Akuta, Scott, Jennifer and Alex are all prisoners in the compound to the south of their village?" Robin questioned.
"Yes, lord."
"Thank you for the briefing. When we have dealt with the problems of this land, then we may mount a mission to rescue them."
"But lord," Caseldra protested. "Their time proceeds much faster. By then they may be harmed or killed. We cannot waste this time to..."
A quick glance from her father silenced the girl. Robin replied to her in a soft voice. "I am the ruler of this land. Therefore my primary duty is to this land. I assure you that I intend no wastage of time. When we have solved our current dilemma then and only then may we turn to matters of the other world. I pray no harm comes to our absent friends. But I have no other choice."
"Can we not send a small group to the other world to...?"
"No," he interrupted her. "We cannot. Every warrior we have may be needed here to combat the plague that walls us in." He paused a moment to change his thoughts. "We must needs discuss our plan to fight the trolls. I would publicly thank the Keeper of Magic for his assistance in our most recent battle. Without his light a great many more would have perished."
"My lord," Melcot spoke up. "Can we mount a rescue mission for Captain Rood at first light?"
"Excuse me, my lord," Caseldra interrupted. "I, too feel his loss deeply, but we must face and acknowledge his passage to the western islands. The trolls will have long since killed him."
"Forgive her, lord," Elnar apologized. "But my daughter has studied of these creatures."
"What can you tell us of them?" Robin asked.
"They dwell in hard rock, living in black caves and tunnels that they fashion within the hills and mountains. They are flesh eating beasts and hunt their prey in packs like the forest dogs. The stories tell that they drain their victims of blood first, discarding it, then devour the flesh. They prize man best of all foods, but will kill and eat any animal. They also lack cunning and can only win battles by overwhelming strength of numbers or surprise. They breed and reproduce with astonishing rapidity and are blind in any but dim twilight or starlight."
"What of their social structure?" Robin questioned. "Follow they a king or take they direction from a leader?"
Caseldra shook her head. "No, lord."
"But these did," he corrected her. "I saw some form of creature appear, different form the trolls. It was like a living shadow of a man with green fire for eyes. It moved among them and they gave it berth. This creature stared across the ravine and I sensed its desire to possess Esbereth."
"I know not what to say," the girl replied to his strange story.
"If these witless creatures can be controlled and made to follow a leader, then all is lost," Elnar whined in fear.
"Then we must capture or slay this leader," Melcot said.
"But how?" Robin asked.
"On the morrow can we not go into their tunnels with flashweed and destroy them?" Melcot suggested.
"A noble thought, but not practical," Elnar said. "Flashweed burns out in minutes. We have not enough to fill the tunnels that must hold such a horde of beasts."
"Then we shall go to harvest more. There is a bed that grows not far on the Plains of Morinar," Melcot argued.
"And how plan you to travel there if the canyon is blocked?" the wizard countered.
"We had all but cleared it this day."
"And if they reblock it this night?"
"Enough," Robin stopped them. "Melcot with first light shall take a party to check the canyon and if clear, shall go to harvest flashweed. Rowana and Caseldra shall see to the armament and battle readiness of all within the palace. Elnar shall search for a weapon or solution in this battle, something that will drive the beasts away."
"But lord," Caseldra said. "Surely you think not that the beasts shall cross the ravine. The legends tell of their fear of the Crystal Mountains."
"And the legends tell of no social order or leadership," the king answered. "I would the legends were correct, but this close to us have come the trolls. They show no apparent fear. And I have mentioned a leader. We know not what or who it is. We must take no chances."
"And what of our loved ones in the other world?" Caseldra asked again. The tears were beginning to build. She worried so much for Jennifer and it galled her to be unable to do anything for her.
"I miss them too," Robin added softly. "I would give anything to know they were alive right now."
"Anything? Like what?" a familiar voice asked. Everyone jumped in surprise and turned. Alex and Scott stood in the doorway. "Please, don't stop," the red head replied with a smile.
"My love!" Robin said and jumped up just as Scott ran to him. Jennifer entered the terrace and headed straight for Caseldra.
"We have guests," Scott said when they had embraced and kissed and embraced again. "Akuta," he called. The fairy emerged onto the terrace leading Sharon Gates and Emile Sorenson.
"Welcome to Tuatha," Robin said courteously. "Although I wish you had come at a better time." The two scientists stood silently, not knowing what to make of the group of strangers standing on the dark terrace, lit only by the distant stars.