The Dragons Egg : XXVI : The Mountain Quakes : Aed/Gil : Preview

XXVI

The Mountain Quakes

Aed/Gil

Aed stood before the magnificent tree with hot blood trickling down the side of his face. Behind him the rest of the company followed the wolf prince and the hostage through the heavy foliage, until they came to stand beside their leaders, their eyes wide and their mouths open.

“The tree of Meer,” Welsam said aloud. “How strange and ancient it looks.”

“It is said that the tree of Meer was the first upon this earth,” Uff said to the group as he made his way towards it, wiping his blood soaked brow. “Great kings and queens of old are said to be buried beneath its roots, which are said to wander as far as the tip of the north, east and west. If you listen closely enough you can hear the voices of the great spirits.”

“What of this seed?” Cadr asked as he put his newly cleaned sword within its sheath. Aed turned to his friend and shrugged.

“I have no idea what this seed holds within it, all I know is that in the vision Branna told me to place it within the earth before the tree,” Aed returned as he bent to the ground and laid a hand upon a wide root covered in bright green moss. He closed his eyes briefly as the rest of the company began to explore the great open space. He could feel a strange force through his fingers and within his mind, he could see faces, many many faces. As he focused on the faces, he began to hear voices as though he were within some great arena of old and he stood within the centre, and the women, men and children surrounding him in the auditorium were calling out his name. A tap upon his shoulder awakened Aed from his vision.

“Come there is little time,” Uff said as he looked about him. “Ulff will have heard the cry of the manticore and will send out a group of scouts.”

“What am I to do?” Aed asked as he unclasped the necklace and brought it down into the palm of his hand.

“You must plant it within the earth at the foot of the tree,” Uff explained as he helped Aed up.

“Should we not attend to your wound first?” Aed asked the wolf, whose spare hand was upon his side. His silver eyes a little dull, Uff smiled tightly.

“It can wait,” he said as they both made their way up to the foot of the tree.

“How does this work?” Aed said as they carefully made their way through the thicket of roots which seemed to spread out in every direction.

“I don’t know, I have never done this before,” Uff answered with a shrug.

“How encouraging.”

Aed stopped beneath the great tree, which seemed to stretch towards the sky like the peak of a mountain. To Aed’s eye it looked to be at least a hundred and fifty feet tall. A stiff breeze rushed through the forest as Aed placed his hand upon the old trunk, his fingers nestling between the ridges. He felt that strange and yet familiar force as he bent down and dug a small ditch within the earth. Uff stepped away from Aed, giving him much needed space. When finished digging a small ditch, he carefully placed the necklace within the earth and quickly covered it before standing up, his eyes upon the great tree. At first nothing happened and he turned to the company with a confused gaze.

“Give it time!” Cadr called out with a hand in the air. Before he could utter a response a great root shot out of the ground and wrapped itself about Aed’s ankle causing him to cry out in fear. The strength of the root forced him to the ground in which another great root shot out from the ground and began to wrap itself about his body, pulling him down into the earth below.

“Aed!” Welsam cried out from afar as he struggled to keep himself above ground, his body being pulled downwards until the light of the day have vanished and he was being sucked under. He could not move as he felt the moist soil cover him entirely and now felt the terror of suffocating as he was pulled evermore downwards. His world turned to darkness until he fell through the soil and into a space. He fell upon a hard ground and heard his bones crack with pain. He cried out as he tried to lift himself up. Letting out pain filled breathes he looked about him and found himself the center of what seemed to be a council. He observed three men and women, all of whom varying in age and looks. To his left, a man who sat between two elder women seemed to stand out, his hair long and silver and his frail frame dressed in a great robe of silver.

“Where am I?” he asked aloud, biting down on his lower lip.

“We are the council of Meer,” the elder man answered finely, his eyes a sharp coral blue.

“The Kings council?” Aed asked as he tried to straighten his body to full height.

“No, we are not the Kings council,” the elder man returned as he took to his feet. “We are the elders of Meer, the first of people to walk this earth. We are the eyes of the birds that fly over you, the leaves of the trees that fall upon your shoulders, the harsh waves of the sea that batter the rocks, the light of the ancient stars that guide you and the soaring mountains that protect you.” Aed felt his mouth open slightly at the grand answer and found himself mute. “I was the first King of this once great and magical land, my name is Cuno. Those who sit by my side are the great Kings and Queens of old, before the line of Elieor.”

“Why am I here?” Aed asked as he took in the faces of the council members, astonished and if truth be told a little perplexed.

“You planted a seed from the tree of Meer within the soil, you have been called to us,” Cuno said with authority. “The seed of your wife Branna, yes?”

“Yes…”

“Your destiny child has been written before the stars of this world, and now it is time for you to see what lies ahead,” Cuno said grandly as he walked towards Aed, a head taller in height. Aed blinked furiously at the elders words, unable to fathom the fact that his destiny was real. “Much darkness lies in wait, much ruin you will face and your hands will be painted red with the blood of your revenge.”

“Revenge?” Aed whispered as the elder guided him across the room with many mirrors and led him to a fountain of water as pure as the white rains. Cuno stopped before the fountain and turned to Aed with a serious look in his magnificent eyes.

“Not all paths before us are simple and paved with beauty, love and hope. Many lead us towards our end, some to war, some to death and others to greatness. Your path will lead you through all of these pains, but greatness shall robe itself about your shoulders and the world will forever remember your name.” Cuno turned his eyes to the fountain. “You must bury your face within the water.”

“But I will drown?” Aed said quickly.

“No you will not drown, son of Aedan,” Cuno said as he gently pushed upon Aed’s shoulders. His chest rising and falling rapidly, Aed let his face fall into the water and at once he was thrown into a chasm of colour. Turning his head this way and that, Aed felt himself fall until he once more hit the ground. All about him a great army of soldiers composing of men, women and wolves were standing with their weapons thrown into the air before a great city that was defended by an even greater wall. He felt the body of a horse behind him and turned, his eyes lifting to lock upon his own gaze. For his other self sat upon a great white horse, dressed in leather and chainmail, his face painted in red and blue and a great sword within his left hand. Aed looked into his other’s face, it was filled with anger and bitterness, no light lay behind his eyes and his body was stern and hard. He was a different man, not built with the kindness he was so often praised for, but built with hatred and revenge. Behind Aed was a great mass of men upon horses, some holding great flags and others with horns upon their chests or upon their lips, bellowing aloud a great and deep roar of battle. As soon as he had been transported to this vision he found himself turning about, the scenery around him changing in the blink of an eye. He was within what looked to be a prison, with many iron cast cells surrounding him. As he observed the frail and beaten prisoners the sound of footsteps could be heard from behind. Turning he saw the flicker of lights come from the stairwell and soon his other self appeared with two men, one being Cadr and the other Uff. Walking past him with blood upon his face and hands, Aed made for the cell at the end of the corridor. Quickly Aed followed his other self and watched on as his other self opened the door of a dimly lit cell. Throwing it back, he entered with a beacon and walked over towards the left hand corner, were a small and frail women, who looked but of middle child years was crumpled up, her hands and feet bound by chains and her bony body but barely covered. With a great hammer of his sword, his other self relieved the young woman of her chains and swiftly lifted her up into his arms and threw her over his shoulders, her cries vibrating about the cell, the pain of her body moving in such a way causing her irreproachable agony. She had long golden hair and piercing blue eyes, features that most men and women of the north shared. Without a word, Aed passed him by and made his way out of the cells, followed closely by Uff and Cadr. Again he began to spin about and the scenery changed until he found himself within a forest once more, the night dark and the space about him clear of any trees. As he tried to quickly acquaint himself he heard a female shrill and turned to face a woman, who was of his height. She was young, her hair as black as the ravens and her eyes as black as the night. She wore a red gown and her hands danced about her, a great blue light coming forth from her fingers. Directly before her Aed caught sight of his other self, desperately fleeing the light that was aimed in his direction. He had with him a long and short sword and was cleverly weaving his way towards the woman, who Aed believed to be the black witch. As he danced about the bolts of light a woman ran forth from the trees, a woman who bore a striking resemblance to the one his other self had rescued from a cell. She cried out to Aed and with her own hands a gentle white light came forth as she became embroidered with the witch, her own powers overwhelming Ethla, who fell to the ground in weakness. As she fell, Aed from behind stabbed her in the back with both of his swords. The young woman cried out in grief as the witch fell to the ground, black blood pouring forth from her mouth. Aed looked at his other self, blood smeared across his brow and hands and felt confusion. What was to become of him? And where was his brother and wife? And who was the young woman?

As he began to search his mind for answers he felt himself within the fountain of water and drew himself from it, gasping out loud taking in a deep breathe, turning to Cuno who stood with his arms folded.

“I…I need answers,” he said, his body bent over as he leaned his hands upon his upper legs for support.

“What concerns you?” Cuno asked calmly, his youthful face unmoving.

“Where is my wife?” Aed cried out pitifully as he straightened himself.

“Your wife will shortly die,” Cuno returned, a sadness passing his eyes.

“No! No in my vision she does not die until our child is but a young girl!” Aed said with desperation.

“Visions seldom prove truthful, they are instead guides, and the vision you were given guided you here,” Cuno said patiently, his eyes roaming Aed’s face. Aed turned to the other council members who sat quietly.

“This cannot be true! How can you know such things?”

“We are the elders, the guardians of this world, the Gods speak through us,” Cuno said grandly. The elder came to Aed and looked down into his face with kindness. “Branna’s destiny was to find you and bring you here to us.”

“No! She is not a piece in your game, she is my wife! She is more than a thing or a guide, or whatever you call it!” Aed said angrily. “I will not allow her to die!”

“Your wife will die this night as the sun rises,” Cuno said quietly. “It is her fate.” Aed pushed the elder away, causing the other elders to whisper loudly.

“How can you be so calm? So accepting of my fate? Why are you taking my wife from me?”

“We are not taking your wife from you,” Cuno said with sternness. “The blade of another takes your wife’s life and there is nothing that we can do to stop time. I am sorry for your loss, but the path you walk will soon change course. It is your destiny to kill the black witch.”

“I care not for a witch!”

“Now you do not,” Cuno said as he turned from Aed. “But soon you will. Your thirst for revenge will save Meer from falling into the hands of Ethla. Your destiny will save the Kings of the north and you will bring together those who have been divided and torn apart by oppression and inequality. Your pain, your hatred of Gods, your bitterness at life will in the end lead you back to who you once were.”

“I care not for battle or destiny!”

“And yet you will have to face it.”

Silence fell upon the room as Aed tried to deal with the threads of thought that soared through his mind at a million miles an hour.

“My brother…why is he not in my future?” he asked quietly, his soul numb, his mind too raw and his heart so deep that he couldn’t source it from its watery depths.

“To the fate of your brother, I do not know,” Cuno returned. “His future is murky and I cannot see its path.”

“Then he lives?”

“He may live,” Cuno said with hope. Aed closed his eyes and cursed this day.

“Who is the woman?”

“Her name is Tiluthea, and she is the bastard daughter of Beon and Ethla,” Cuno said darkly. “She is being held a prisoner since her coming of age, as she has pledged her allegiance to the light. If she is saved, she will become a great priestess of the north and her children will become pillars of peace. And she is the heir to Galgor.”

“And I am to save her, why?”

“She will prove useful to your cause, and she will aid you in killing her mother,” Cuno said with folded arms. “If she so chooses to embrace her destiny. If she does not, then the path will alter and her future along with it.”

“How many people know of her?” Aed asked as he ran his fingers through his hair.

“Only a handful, mainly those of Beon’s council,” Cuno said as he turned to Aed. “Be ever mindful of the men that stand by Beon, their intentions and objectives are not all as they may seem. You must protect the girl until she is strong enough to fend for herself. When you have found her, you must bring her to Ballour, his high priest Anvin will protect her.”

“This cannot be…it cannot,” Aed whispered aloud. In his mind he knew that he must return to his wife as soon as possible, he would not allow her to die, not whilst he drew breathe, future be damned, and Tiluthea be damned!

“Time can only move onwards, Aed of Aedan,” Cuno said as he came to once more stand before him. “And time is running out. Your part in the future of Meer is vital, failure to save the princess will only lead to ruin and destruction.”

“It is time Cuno,” came the deep voice of another male elder. “He must return.”

“Our time is near,” Cuno said with sadness, his eyes cast over the elders. “Take the seed you placed within the earth and when the time is right, return to this spot and plant it under the rays of the sun. A new and stronger tree of Meer shall grow and it shall govern and protect the new age of meerins.”

Aed could not respond as his body was once more entangled with great roots. When he had been transported to the ground once more, he simply lay for a few minutes in digestion of all he had been told and shown. When ready, he dug out the seed and placed it in his right hand and lifted himself to his feet and turned to his friends and captors, all of whom seemed to be focused elsewhere. As he made his way over to Cadr, he felt the earth beneath his shake violently and found himself struggling to keep his balance.

“Aed!” Cadr cried out as he clutched as his arm and pulled him over to his side. “The mountains! Look!” Aed turned about and looked up past the top of the trees and saw to his great horror a gigantic mass of snow and rock falling from the fourth peak, the mountain in which the cave of Belnun was located.

“The witch!” Uff cried out as the great avalanche made its way down the mountainside. “She has the bones!” As the wolf prince cried out, the ground beneath Aed began to open up, the earth shaking violently as he fell to the ground, losing his balance. To his side Welsam fell atop him. Aed hearing the trees about the open space sway and break took a hold of the young scholar and kept his head down close to his own.

“The tree!” Cadr cried out. Aed lifted his eyes from the shaking ground and looked towards the tree of Meer. It had split into two parts, the left hand side falling loudly into a great open crack within the earth. A terrible wind stole over the forest as the earth stopped quaking and the air about the company fell into silence. Around him he heard the wolf’s in their animal form begin to cry out aloud, their noses in the air.

“Gil!” Aed whispered as he brought himself to his feet and looked towards the third peak in which the wolves cave was located. The shape of the mountains had changed, and where there was once black rock, now white rain covered it and off in the far distance to the right, Aed could hear a great swish of what he thought to be water. Welsam upon his feet, planted his shaking hands upon his cheeks, his breathe heavy and deep. Cadr came to Aed’s side and placed a hand upon his shoulder, his eyes upon the great mountain range. A great many trees had fallen, and many a thick branch had snapped away from other trees which still stood upright. But the great tree of Meer which had stood tall for thousands of years had fallen apart, and was destroyed, the great roots from under it now contorted through the earth. The wolves still crying out ran across the open space but for the greatest of them, who came to stand before Aed, his great animal shape morphing once more into his human shape. Uff’s silver eyes were filled with fear and grief as he stood quietly before Aed, whose own mouth had been rendered wordless from the trauma.

“Your tribe,” he stuttered quietly as his eyes filled with tears. “My brother…”

“Never has such disaster hit the mountains before,” Uff said with disgust. “Our caves lay directly beneath them…”

“What are you trying to say,” Aed whispered darkly, a tear falling from his eye.

“They wouldn’t have survived the impact,” Uff said quietly.

“You cannot mean that, my brother is within those caves! We must return to them and find them!” Aed said with a passion.

“Friend,” Uff said calmly. “I know your pain and I feel your anger. Believe me when I say that the mountains are too treacherous for us to pass. Our families, your brother and friend,” Uff turned his eyes to the overwrought Welsam and angered Cadr. “They will be with the gods now.”

“How can you be so calm?” Aed said with pain.

“I assure you friend, I am far from calm in this present moment,” Uff said with a growl. “I have lost my family and tribe but a few minutes ago. I am simply assessing what it is that we should do now.”

“We should look for survivor’s,” Cadr with flashing eyes.

“No!” Uff said loudly. “The mountain pass will have been destroyed and covered in a thick blanket of snow. There is no way for us to get to the caves. The day is coming to an end and the night is dark. A terrible deed has been done and must be avenged! You and your friends must find a way back to your village and warn them.”

“But how? We do not know the way?” Cadr argued hotly.

“I will have two of my men bring you back to your village, I and the rest will try and make for the mountain pass,” Uff said with furrowed brows. “You must wait for our return.”

“He is right,” Welsam said quietly, forcing Aed’s eyes to turn to him. “We know not the destruction of the white rains upon our people, we must return to them with haste and warn them.”

“Friend,” Uff brought Aed away from the others and looked down into his eyes. “Everything you have told me has thus far been true, if it is the will of the gods that you must kill this black witch, then the time has come to draw swords and avenge the deaths of our people. The time of the wolves is over, the time of men is drawing near. We must be ready. Aed feeling the tips of Uff’s fingers press into his, looked up into his face.

“He was right,” he whispered with emotion.

“Who was?” Uff returned with worry.

“Cuno, he showed me my future and thus far all has come to light,” Aed said. “My wife will die this day.”

“Not if you can get to the village on time!” Uff said with a pleading gaze. “There is no time to spare, you must flee now and wait for my return!” The wolf turned from Aed and made his way over to two of his companions.

“Come Aed,” Cadr said with a knowing gaze. “We must do as he says.”

As the three men stood close to one another, their gazes upon the destroyed earth. Two young wolf men came to the group.

“You must follow us, and do not stray from our sight, the forest is grieving and will not be so forgiving to imposters,” the young wolf on the right said. Aed turned and found Uff’s gaze for a brief moment.

“You will have your revenge,” the wolf said aloud before morphing into his animal self and running out of sight with his fellow companions, their wolf cries filling the air sharply. Aed turned back to his own company and with bitter intent followed the guides as they cautiously made their way through the forest, the earth displaced and the trees bent and broken. As they turned west, Aed could hear the devastatingly painful cries of many a bird and animal, the devastation of the forest so incomprehensible he felt himself in shock.

*

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