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Chapter One, Chapter Twenty Seven, Chapter Thirty Two.
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CHAPTER ONE- STRANGE THINGS 1,2,3,4,5,6 CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN- THE
VALLEY OF THE RED ARKH 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
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INTRODUCTION TO THIS WRITERS EDITION FORWARD PROLOGUE 1: THE LETTER FROM ARGO BELLO 19: BINNEY'S LETTER 22: MAP 23: BOOK ONE- THE VOYAGE: ONE STRANGE THINGS 27: TWO SAFE ENOUGH 42: THREE DISASTER ON THE TELEMBRAR 57: FOUR THE KEEPER OF FELENDEER 78: FIVE THE VOYAGE TO THE FAR OFF CITY 90: SIX THE STELE 106: SEVEN GAZER OF THE STARS 117: EIGHT THE MIDDLE OF THIS WORLD 137: NINE GLYPTICS 158: TEN THE BATTLE OF AVATUS 182: ELEVEN WELCOME BACK MASTER 193: BOOK TWO -THE DARK KING TWELVE THE HOMELAND 217: THIRTEEN A GREAT AND STRIKING EVENT 230: FOURTEEN SHALDARN'S WAR 244: FIFTEEN MYSTERIES RESOLVED 275: SIXTEEN THE 'FELENDEERY' 295: SEVENTEEN THE FIRST BATTLE OF MACHINES 308: EIGHTEEN THE GREAT COUNCIL 329: NINETEEN THE RINGING OF THE CHIME 341: TWENTY TWO KINGS 365: TWENTY ONE ASLEEP! 384: BOOK THREE- THE FAR SOUTHING TWENTY TWO THE WONDERVADE 397: TWENTY THREE BALARID OF 'O' 414: TWENTY FOUR THE BURNING SEA 437: TWENTY FIVE THE ARMINNAR 448: TWENTY SIX LOD EZZURBARA 469: TWENTY SEVEN THE VALLEY OF THE RED ARKH 487: TWENTY EIGHT MAKING THE JEWEL 502: TWENTY NINE AWAY FROM HERE 522: BOOK FOUR-THE THRONE AND THE STARS THIRTY HALF-WORTHY GABBIRS 531: THIRTY ONE THE TOMB KEEPERS HOUSE 547: THIRTY TWO FOURTH BRIDGE 567: THIRTY THREE THE ARMY OF THE JEWEL 584: THIRTY FOUR THE RING DANCERS DANCE 599: THIRTY FIVE A WILD RIDE 613: THIRTY SIX THE FIELDS OF TALIVANAR 632: THIRTY SEVEN AT THE INN OF ARGNEH 638: THIRTY EIGHT THE CITY, THE THRONE AND WAR 644: THIRTY NINE THE SCEPTRE 647: FORTY HOBBLING YEARS 654: APPENDICES 659 |
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BOOK FOUR CHAPTER THIRTY TWO- FOURTH BRIDGE Terra's concern was the Luan Jewel. He wrapped it up carefully inside the green Shvair and tucked it well down inside his backbag. The magnificent white Bir was now in the keep of Ellavine. And in there was the Southern War Crown. What else was to stay in it? And what was not? This was the thing! For, recall there was all their clothes and shoes, and the silver bag of glyptic cubes! And other things besides. The various maps and calendar-scrolls of Salger's stayed in the Bir, but he took the newest, and a supply of Brin-Trisdar ink that he had found among the oddments of the store room. The Southern War Crown stayed hidden beneath their clothes in the Bir; and not for a minute did they ever take it out, or let anyone see it! Salger pushed the silver bag of glyptic cubes down into a corner of the Bir- beneath their clothes and shoes. And their shoes were damaged or worn out and in urgent need of repair. So every pair of shoes was pushed into their backbags! The shoes on their feet were the best among the frayed bunch! The black lock pins to the Bir had long been quietened. Shaldarn had tied them together with leather, so that they were unable to ring or clang! They dangled silently in the middle of his belt. Now he untied them and gave them to Ellavine and she tied them onto the front of her belt. This was not a ceremony; but it dignified this end! It was a changing of the ways. Even for Shaldarn, who never worried about change, felt the power of this change. There was something special in it. They were turning along a bend in their Voyage and new things were about to happen. What lay ahead was dangerous and unknown! Shaldarn felt a great sadness in leaving Tanta. They had a lot in common, despite that; Tanta was a Wilderfane and a foreigner. Ellavine was dear to his heart also, but Shaldarn had charged her with great responsibility; he had made her the Keeper of the War Crown; a gift from him that made him feel better about all this! And if Shaldarn were the one to choose between Balarid and Nepus, he would have surely chosen Balarid, for Nepus he hardly knew at all. Suddenly, they scurried off to the
Drudgers outside! The Drudgers met them with big sad eyes and their long
noses down! As if they knew about all their plans. Terra and his companions
brushed them, and talked to them, as if they could understand. Just maybe
they could! And Shaldarn- who had thrown his arms around the neck of Besera, demanded of Ellavine, "Promise me you will look after Besera. Make her your own while I am away!" There was no answer from Ellavine, there need not be, for her duty to Shaldarn in this matter was taken for granted! They did not look very important! They were a multitude of red, blue and white pants; and brightly coloured Rarm shirts. A clutch of unlikely Wilderfolk on their ways against the Dark King. For them, this last meeting had the feeling of magnitude. Now Balarid had thought to bring a jar of wine out here- and the goblets. So he poured the wine from out of the orange jug into the six misty Simpi goblets. And the eighth one was the golden goblet, and he had it tightly in his hands; and would probably get away with it. He filled them all the way up to their edges; and then passed them out. "To the leaving at last Gabbirs," said Balarid. And they, in protest tinged with good heart, sipped at the edge of their goblets while Balarid gulped down three mouthfuls no less! Then Terra said, "To the Council of Felendeer!" And held his goblet up into the middle of them. To this, they all gulped down the wine until there was not a drop remaining. Then they sweated to its fire! "To our re-uniting in the camp of Jras," said Nepus. And they brought all their goblets together- except Balarid, who said, "To my not being there! But upon the Seas of the Beyond instead!" "Success!" Shaldarn said. "To the winning of the Surkling! To the defeat of the Dark King!" And this time their goblets rung like spoons being dropped. Then, they noticed that Balarid was not taking part; and he said to them- while they looked bewildered, "I am not of the Order of Felendeer! If I was," said Balarid; "My heart would be for the Seas! And you would then make an Order of Felendeer especially for the Illaré- my Gabbirs! And not for war! For adventure!" They stood upon the top stair- where the five Glyptics were etched, and bid each other great good luck and farewell. Then Terra, Salger and Shaldarn stood and watched their comrades going off over the rocks to Enil-Benir with the Drudgers. It was the Middle of the Day, and the sky was blue; and the waves were rippled by a shore wind into fluffy white tops. The double whale prow of Enil-Benir rocked up and down; and the sun made the rigging look like a spider web. Terra and his companions watched in silence; and then after a while, Enil-Benir drifted free of the beach. "Take care Ellavine," murmured Terra. Then the Wind Ship swung about with a single oar each side, and plunged bow first into the blue sea, between the pinnacle-rocks. Terra and his companions waved until the Carazon was a tiny dark shadow upon the water. And the Gabbirs aboard would have done the same. Then, the sail fluttered and the Wind Ship disappeared behind distant rocky spires! Now they went back to the living room of the Tomb Keepers House. They sat about the round table, not wanting to carry on this matter at all! The leaving of the others had nearly ruined their purpose of mind! But, a long moment later; they began to choose their armours, swords and helmets, for they could not take much into the confines of the hole! Terra abandoned all his armour immediately- save his sword. And Shaldarn saw him abandon it upon the floor and warned
him, "We might need your help. Even in a sword fight! This is a
dangerous matter!" But Terra told him, "When you need help from me,
it will be too late!" "Well, I'm prepared for the worst!"
Shaldarn said. And he strapped all his armour on. He was buckling things up when, he suddenly announced; "As far as I am concerned this is war! Every moment from now on! I might have to save you," he said. Then he wrenched his sword from its sheath- the green sword-sheath of old Indomus, and ran his left palm along the top sharp edge, toward the point of the sword. Then he looked up at Terra with his amber eyes blazing; and said in a murderous whisper, "I shall not hesitate to use this!" Then he slid the sword back into the magnificent green sheath. And receiving no answer- not even a look of horror from Terra; he got on with fastening his helmet underneath his backbag. When he was finished, he stood straight- as he imagined soldiers did, and looked as if he was off to war! He stood here, between his companions and declared proudly, "I am ready for anything!" Salger took his helmet also, not that it was much of a helmet; nor were any of them, for they were old-fashioned household helmets with dents and bents. Their stabbards were weakly fastened; and any halfway strong blow would have ripped them off! Salger fastened his below his backbag- like Shaldarn, and it dangled there. His sword was probably as useless as the helmet, although it looked very good at his left side. He did take his Zwar dagger of course; this was always in the middle of his belt, and probably was more useful. Of course, his right pocket was full of scrolls; and in his left was his Gillet. He wore his best Rarm shirt- the one with wavy lines like the sea, and the bright golden Gildo in the middle. He looked magnificent. They were about to leave when Salger waved his right finger at Terra and Shaldarn saying, "I must study the map that Nepus instructed me to make!" So they all sat down about the round-table and it was soon covered by the long scroll that Salger called the map. It was full of scribbles, black
dots and square blotches. And Glyptics that meant- in our words; notions
like; here and not there! Now Salger
turned it this way and that; and then a worried Terra asked, "Can you
make sense of it? Can you?" Salger scratched his temple saying, "I am confused!" Then, he held the everlasting-candle in front of his eyes and declared, "It is time to go! Never mind!" But Terra was concerned and he demanded, "Be clever about it- please! I do not want to get lost in this hole!" Then Shaldarn asked Salger, "Where are the doors that open to the wilderness?" And Salger sighed and held his chin saying, "The problem is; I've forgotten to put on the map which way is the North! I thought, I would remember!" The map contained the passageways under the city of Ard'ir, and the path of the passage to the countryside beyond- that they were to take. Yet, as they all looked at it now, none of this looked remotely like anything! Salger was bewildered! He turned the map several times; and in the end Shaldarn tried to make light of it by saying, "I can't imagine we will ask directions too often, or we'll be turned in!" Now Terra had became fidgety and anxious about all this, but more for the hole than anything. "I want to get this thing of the hole over," he told them. "Get going while I'm still brave!" And Terra and Shaldarn looked at Salger grimly whereupon Salger stood and rolled the scroll up. Then led them off to the end of the passageway, where the door into the hole was ajar. At first, they stretched their necks to peep into the hole. Then they squeezed in and Salger went first- because he had the everlasting-candle. They were all in a little ways, and there was still light from the door; but it was a miserable place! Shaldarn was at the rear and he said, "I shall have to close the door!" And when he did the light was cut off- except for the door join that was ajar slightly since they could not lock it at all! Now it was eerie and scary with just the flicker of the everlasting-candle. The roof was so low they all had to bend their necks, and the walls were so close that they had to go in single file! Every now and then, when they were most avoiding it, their faces or hands dragged along the slimy walls. They stopped and shrunk up into a terrified huddle! And when they had only gone about ten steps Terra declared- in a thin voice, "At least I'm in the middle!" They struggled on a step at a time. This was frightening! And even more so, because at this pace, the slimy hole would go on forever! Now the hole went up by a slippery half-round step and thrice more after this, so that they got the feeling they were climbing! But they were not sure! Then, by a trick of the candlelight, they saw ahead. "We are going dead straight!" Salger declared. "And I think we are almost there! That's the other side!" Then he said, "No its not! It's another slimy wall!" Suddenly it became smelly; and they held their noses; and Terra shivered and said- in disbelief, "I can't think I am doing this!" And Salger just moaned, "Follow me and my light." They had gone on quite a while; there seemed no end to it, and Terra asked from behind- with a wobble in his voice, "How much longer?" "I've lost all direction; but I'm sure we are nearly there," said Salger. Then they suddenly they came upon three slippery steps. And they widened into a chamber. They stood at the entrance, at last able to stand upright properly; but only just, for the roof was but a hand above them. Salger held up the everlasting-candle- in its little cage, as if it were a lantern; and the yellow light spread around the walls like fire! And there revealed were five other passageways! "Well which one is it?" Shaldarn asked. Then he scratched the rock beside him with his dagger and declared, "Well it's not this one!" Salger conferred with the map. He took some time in the dim light of the everlasting-candle; and then he said; "Now the way out to the West must be this passage!" And he pointed to the map. Then, realising Terra and Shaldarn could not see this at all; he pointed to the passageway opposite them- saying, "That way!" So they crept toward it gingerly- in the same order as before, and when just inside, Shaldarn became unsure and asked, "Think we should look at the map again?" Salger ignored him. And they pushed forward several paces until Salger declared- hoarsely; "There is no air in here!" "Then when do we get to the open air?" Terra asked. "If we move quicker- sooner I think," replied Salger. So they struggled faster, with some hope, along the narrow slime-walls of the passage. The passage turned now, so their eerie shadows cast upon the wall looked like others beside them! Suddenly they were cold; and since they avoided touching the slimy walls, they felt they were being chased by their own shadows! "Which way is back?" Shaldarn asked. "We won't be going back!" Salger answered. Then Shaldarn- looking like a demon in the flickering candle flame said, "I hope this is the right way then!" "I'm not going back- anywhere!" Terra declared. The passage began to narrow, in several places, they had to squeeze through, and it was not easy! They were jammed up against each other; and their shoulders and backbags were scraping along the wall, but at all times they avoided touching the slimy walls with their faces or hands! Then, they could feel the passage starting to climb; and suddenly they came across two high steps. They were slabs put there to stop them, and Terra said; "Nepus Yard, did not tell us a lot- did he?" The steps were a Gypt high; and Salger pulled himself up and over the first one, declaring, "They could have been made for giants!" "But no giant would ever fit in this tunnel!" Shaldarn said. "It must have been for the Midor!" Terra declared. "Which means there must have been jewels here. And still might be!" Now they all struggled over the steps- in horror at the slime they had to touch. And on the last step, they discovered the walls were pink Gabbro, and beyond was an entranceway to a chamber! Salger gingerly entered- behind his everlasting-candle. They were glad to stand upright again and stretched their backs. The walls were cracked but dry; and this was a great relief. Now Shaldarn drew his sword, for he thought, among the shadows on the walls was someone else! And just then, the everlasting-candle grew brighter! Now the walls sparkled as if they were the stars! At the far end was another chamber, much larger and guarded by two stone Chiqat- the spotted mountain cat. They were on either side facing toward each other, and raging up on their hind legs with grisly faces and long teeth! They were in a savage killing rage, as they were known to do! Above, an arched plinth across the roof of the entranceway, had thirteen Glyptics raised in stone from it! Salger stood silent for a moment holding the candle up to the Glyptics. Then he scratched his hair and read what they said, "The divine booth of the Kings wine!" Then on a floor-stone, beneath this plinth was another Glyptic. And Salger read what this one said, "The Great Righting line. Here the wine is divided red from white!" Now they had come into the chamber further; and there they saw in the eerie light of the candle, a Red King made of stone; sitting at a long table! And there attending him was a Wine-Keeper made of stone! He was a short and plump figure with large eyes and a pleated shirt to the knees. The King was sitting with his left hand around a large goblet marked with a personal Glyptic. Now they saw that the walls were painted in orange and blue Glyptics, all the way from the roof to the floor! In the middle of each wall was a red sun- the size of a Wilderfolk head. And at the far end, a little wooden door. On the table before the Red-King was a stone arrow pouch, but it was not full of arrows! Instead, with eight writing feathers! Of course, Shaldarn counted them! At the Red-Kings right hand was a scroll with small Glyptics etched in it. Even for Salger, these were mysterious and he guessed that they were a list of the wines. "Here lies the seventh burial chamber of the wine!" Salger said. They looked about for wine but there was none! The only sign of wine being in here at all, were ten dark rings on the Left side of the Tomb. "I think we are lost!" Terra said. "And thank goodness there is no wine; otherwise we might have stayed in this hole a moment too long!" Now, suddenly they became anxious for the little door- except Terra thought it time to depart the way they had arrived. A heavy knurled lock pin went across it and into the stone. Salger tried it but could not move it! Then Terra and Shaldarn grabbed hold of it. The three of them pulled it together; and it took all their strength, but slowly it slid out of the stone. Then remained a last bit, and it took as much effort to pull this out as the whole business from the beginning! At last, the door was free. Now Salger pushed it open, and they were dazzled by the sudden light of day! "Have we made it?" Terra asked. A wide land stretched below them; and Salger declared, "We have made it indeed!" The land flowed with bright green. This was the Talivanar Valley. Northward, golden hillocks rose through a misty green and crowned the far away end of the valley. A little to the West, a brown plateau emerged mysteriously to stand against the blue sky, as if it were a wall. And upon its top, perched rocks like black pyramids. "According to the map," explained Salger, "it is the Miravella." To the East was the golden ridge, upon which straddled the famous stone causeway from Ard'ir- called the Enuar Way. It went northward, and in the blue haze of the North stood the faint shadow of the Tower of Paradia, as if it were a distant mountain. The lands below them were green and tilled, ripening gardens among stands of trees. The flanks were hillocks and plateau that rose westward and eastward. They were golden carpets of amber, red and black. Now they could breathe the good air of this place, and they were suddenly revived by its freshness! Danger seemed impossible in such a welcome place! This was magnificent! Salger sat down and pulled the map out. He guessed, "The Fourth Bridge is some place near- at the end of this valley!" Shaldarn took a long look there and said, "It is further than sixteen Dagards! If that is where you say it is!" They were weary and hungry and they struggled a short way down until they reached four wide rocks. And here they made camp. They slept well enough without any thought for their worries; and it seemed that danger did not exist. They awoke with the sunrise in their eyes. From here, they saw far off, a silver line across the North- the Lefting wall, but it soon disappeared before they could head off toward it. Nevertheless, Salger maintained his bearings were good enough that he would be able to take them roughly toward it. He dead-reckoned it to be north! They reached the edge of the golden fields- where the hills became a slope, and they were full of young wheat grass. It had not long broken from the ground. The stems barely came up to their knees, and they felt as if they were walking in a sea. They saw no one about and gave up any navigating by the map, for they could not make sense of it- if he could not! They walked down Vells, stumbled between breeches, and strode through thick green wheat up to their arms no less! There were hillocks like waves and they walked over one to another, and onto another after that! They avoided any hint of a track or road for fear of being seen. It was a very pleasant walk and there was a smell of fresh wet ground. By the Middle of the Day they saw a cottage; very far to the East- on ground that was higher with an orchard nearby. It was very far distant to go onto without eating and resting so they sat down here among the green wheat. They ate the meagre portions of food they had packed- and if Nepus had shown them what it was; they would have never packed it- let alone eat it. But they were so hungry they ate it all up! It was not until dusk that they came to the sight of the wall! Now they hid down behind anything they could; rocks, clutches of wheat, ripples in the land; and in the end approached it on their hands and knees! They assumed it might be guarded of course! It was in older days! But it seemed to them, to be too low for that- a mere hand over their heads. They peered over it with great trepidation- expecting to see soldiers, and saw instead, only more green folds in the land. And by now, in the fading light, the fields ahead were appearing dark and scary! The bricks in the wall were broken apart and fallen away here and there. On either side of them there were two low watchtowers, a quarter of a Dagard away they reckoned! Now they kept their heads down, but as it grew darker, they saw no torchlight upon the watchtowers! And for good measure, Salger kept the everlasting-candle covered with his hand. Now it was very dark and they crouched down against the wall, not knowing quite what to do next. They had been silent for a few moments, when Shaldarn whispered, "Follow me!" And he climbed up over the broken wall. Terra and Salger followed of course, and they all ended up half-falling down the other side! "We are now in the Lands of Paradia," whispered Salger. They were keen to carry on from here, for there was now an orange glow across the dark fields from the sunset in the West. However, the fear of Ringer Dancers surged into their minds all of a sudden! Their hearts became faint! And this seemed as good a place to sleep as any! Salger awoke first in the morning. He sat up against the wall; and wrote in his calendar, "This is the Day of Indo. We are in the Far Lefting of Paradia. I guess we are not far from Fourth Bridge." It was the middle of the morning, before they departed from the wall. They were restored by sleep but hungry and shabby. They abandoned going to find the cottage with the orchard and instead, strode off toward the blazing sun, through the fields of green wheat grasses- reckoning they would soon find wild orchards. They bounded along- keeping an eye out for strange things; and wondering when they might find food again. They had not gone far, when the wheat grasses suddenly thinned, and there was a narrow road ahead! They halted and looked about, but there was no one to be seen! And they watched for quite a while. Then, they sat down further back, where the grass was thicker- to be hidden, and Salger pulled out the map. But it was all very confusing! And after trying to make each side of the map the side where they were sitting, Salger finally declared in a whisper, "Here is where we are!" It was hard to believe! Terra and Shaldarn looked mysteriously down at his finger on the map, and then Salger pointed in the direction of the road and whispered, "This is the road to Fourth Bridge!" Now they set off again but avoided the road- almost at all cost, and instead walked through the thicker parts of the wheat grass. They watched the road with every step! After a while, they came to a road that crossed from the North. Salger consulted the map and declared, "This is the way to the village of Kij where Nepus Yard said the army of King Priim would march from!" And now they went past here- looking for an army all the time. The way became steeper, and they were on the flanks of a hill; and another was on their right side. Then, as they climbed along its grassy flank with the road below, the wheat thinned and disappeared. Clumps of deep green grass, like flat rocks, called Kikij carpeted the ground now. Then they descended- toward the West, on the flank of the hill. Now they had come to the Talivanar and they could see the running stream there- called the Bix. Shaldarn raced ahead and called out, "I see the Fourth Bridge!" And when Terra and Salger caught up to him, Salger consulted the map and declared, "Indeed! This is it!" The bridge was narrow, perhaps barely wide enough for a single wagon. The stream sparkled under it, as it flowed into green ponds, and then spilled out again over white rocks. It flowed southward, and disappeared into the slow curve of the valley. Northward, the stream came from a waterfall that tumbled down a rocky crest about a Dagard or so from the bridge. On their right was a very round green hillock. It went down northward to a plateau, covered in windswept green grass. Over the bridge was westward; and the bank of the Talivanar was broken into hillocks covered in green grasses. Beyond, on rising ground was a natural palisade that stretched upwards of the stream and quite some way down the stream. An easy climb by a Wilderfallo but a struggle for Wilderfane! It did not look any place to have a battle! There were scarps of broken rock- red and golden for the most part, and dangerous looking! The road from the bridge disappeared through a cleft in the middle. The road climbed up to the brown coloured Miravella plateau, and followed along the Lefting wall to the West. Further, down the stream, on this side, they could see that the old wall had coursed around behind them on the eastern flank of this hill. It went down to the stream and crossed over it- by an arch Terra guessed, but this had broken apart and fallen into the water. Behind it a pond spilled over the stones. On the far bank, the old wall was all but fallen down completely- with rocks strewn about on both sides, and Terra guessed that some battle had been fought here! Higher up, a half-broken lookout looked black against the plateau behind! It was now the Middle of the Day. Now and then, they heard the stream babbling over the stones. Then, the quiet would return. There was not a bird in sight. They were thirsty, and the sparkling waters of the stream drew them down to it. Soon they were standing at this end of the bridge looking at the leaning pillar. It was the right side pillar that leaned; and was only in place there- miraculously it seemed, by the twisted roots and the trunk of a green Arnsaro tree. The spidery tree-roots had grown all along the north side of the bridge. The little bridge- about forty steps long was built rather well and thoughtfully, for Terra noted its construction. But he also saw that the tree-roots were pulling the right side pillar northward. And it was only staying there because the tree-roots held all the stones together. The tree-roots had broken the bridge at this end- all the way across! The tree held up the bridge! "If the tree-roots were to break," said Terra. "The bridge will fall!" In better times, Terra would have examined it closely. He would have studied every stone and taken great pleasure at its construction. All he saw now was the fissure that the tree-root had made on the left side of the span! And how dangerous it was! Terra, Salger and Shaldarn stood at this end of the bridge. On this side of the fissure. And from here, they saw a road- on this side, traversing northward toward here. It was a road they had missed! "That is the way to the mines of Fourth Bridge!" Salger declared. As if he knew everything by now. "I'd give my teeth for a pipe of that," said Shaldarn. "Maybe we will- one day," said Terra. Now they struggled down the stream bank- on the left side of the bridge, to drink from the stream. And here they had a drink from a flat rock- that all three of them knelt down on. After a few gulps up of the cold water, Shaldarn un-strapped his helmet and dipped it into the stream. When it was full of water- which it quickly became, he sat up and drunk without hardly a breath until he was tight in the stomach! Then, they returned and stood on the bridge. All was quiet for a moment! And they had just began to think about their stomachs; and where they might sleep tonight, when they heard a noise from the North- like armour rattling. And they all looked that way! "An army!" Shaldarn said. And sure enough- un-mistakenly, there was an army above the stream- a Dagard away. Columns of soldiers were streaming this way! The thought of the Dark King was uppermost in their minds; but they saw no sign of the Surkling upon the shields and flags! And they recognised no Maws, Thucs, Boffils or Loki! The soldiers were in deep green battle-mail and green tunics to their knees. They carried spears and swords! And there were mounted soldiers carrying flags and shields. Then Salger told Terra and Shaldarn, "I see the Glyptic of Son of Blazeron! On the top right of their shields!" "Then that is Mdarion!" Shaldarn said. "The army of the Zerians; who Nepus told us about!" "Maybe the Master comes to rescue us!" Salger said- hopefully. Now they looked on in silence. Then, on the left flank of the hill, over to the North of them, they saw another army approaching. They had purple tunics and long tall helmets shining in the sun. They carried tall spears and were driven across the hills by Stridermen. Their swords were up in the air and they carried no shields. Shaldarn counted them- as far as he could, and told Terra and Salger- with worry in his voice, "Three thousand of the Green Tunics! And six thousand of the Purple Tunics!" And the Purple Tunics are marching this way!" Of this, there was no doubt! Then from the green tops of the hill on their right, appeared a rush of soldiers. It appeared in their momentary shock, as if they were coming from the sky. There were swordsmen, archers and spear throwers. Their shirts and shields bore the sign of King Priim- the Bix. They were rushing toward the road that joined below them and then led to the bridge. And them! Their helmets were silver under the sun; and their swords, metal bits; battle mail and armour plates sparkled. The three armies would soon collide; and there would be a terrible battle! And Terra and his companions would be in the middle of it! And the battle would be between King Priim and his own- not against the Dark King! Suddenly twenty Stridermen assembled on the road, leading to where Terra and his companions were on the bridge! "King Priim!" Salger called out- although they could not see him among the Stridermen; and did not really know what he might look like anyway! Now Terra and his companions looked at the far side of the bridge and the broken palisade of rocks, where no Strider could follow- easily. "The words of Nepus Yard were coming true!" Salger said. "Except that the Dark King is not here yet!" Terra said. "The Green Tunics; and the Purple Tunics," said Shaldarn, "are marching to capture this bridge! Thus, cut off King Priim! To rescue Indiica! And if this is true, the Dark King is nearby! Invisible!" And then, Terra said- quietly, "This is the meeting place of the King of Paradia and the Dark King! Because we are here!" But before their eyes, the Green Tunics and the Purple Tunics did not manage to cut of the Paradians from where the road crossed! Battle ensued on the hills and along bank of the stream- and in it. The crash and scream of battle erupted into the air and it became furious! The valley rang with metal and the cries of men. The ground thundered; and a dust rose above the fighters. Spears were thrown- and stones, and all three armies were swallowed in a bloodletting battle! Shaldarn put his helmet back on! And then, Terra and his companions turned to look behind them! As if they had been called. They were shocked, for on the other side, on the top of the rocky palisade, appeared the dark forms of the Loki- each with a torch! And then from behind came Maws, Thucs and Boffils. Each carried a dark shield on his right arm, bearing the two pillars of the Surkling! And there appeared Rawfs and Golloribs with their terrible machines of war. They appeared up and down the valley; and soon there were not less than ten thousand of them all told! The Dark King had arrived! Now, the whole far bank was darkened by the wilderling army! Northward, well beyond the bridge, a company of Thucs had clambered up the stream bank. There were ten or more that had waded across it- for it was wide there and the water shallow, and were sword fighting the Purple Tunics, whose Company had no form at all. The deathly screams of Wilderfolk spilt into the air! They were utterly surprised; but more Purple Tunics joined the fight and held the Thucs on the edge of the stream! Terra threw off his backbag and pulled out the Shvair that held the Luan Jewel! And as he unwound the Shvair from it, he told Salger and Shaldarn, "I did not know how this matter would end! Now I do!" They were aghast- and did not really understand him! The Luan Jewel lay there on the green Shvair; and Terra grabbed it up in his right hand! He was about to hold the Jewel up into the sky- to reveal it, when Shaldarn held him back! "No!" Shaldarn said. "This is too easy for him!" And Terra was bewildered; and Salger told him, "Azzarlon is after you! Heir of Quilatroy. Not the Luan! Not us! He does not know the power of the Jewel yet! He does not know of its existence yet! But he knows of you!" "But this is the time!" Terra said. "A battle unfolds! As Nepus Yard told us! This is the place! The Bridge! And we are here!" "We have not a hope," said Shaldarn. "The wilderlings will rush down from where they are perched and over the top of us! Azzarlon will get the Jewel and you'll be killed! And so will we! What hope have we against a whole army of Maws, Thucs and Boffils! Lucky we are; that arrows are not flying at us from the Boffils! There are three armies here, and Indiica is here. You are here. And the Jewel is here! We must use our heads; as Nepus said- every head will be needed!" Now they watched the Green Tunics and Purple Tunics closing! "If we do not do something!" Terra said; "The army of the Dark King will win this day! Without a fight! Then he will bring all this might against the Bezites! And Paradia will be destroyed. We can not watch the fate of this world from this bridge! We can not stand and watch the Green Tunics; and Purple Tunics do battle against each other!" "I am saying," said Shaldarn- still holding Terra by the arm, "This is not the right time! Any longer here, and we will be swallowed up by the Surkling Army. And that will be that! How can the Jewel stop him?" Shaldarn said. "We came to get the Surkling. We should not leave without it!" Terra said. "Perhaps at night we might do this! A more sneaky way than this! A great general always waits!" Shaldarn said. And Salger said- who was watching the Surkling Army nervously, "And a great general always thinks!" Now Salger pulled out his sword, and he lifted it up saying, "I don't think the three of us can defend this bridge!" Now Terra pushed the Jewels deep down into his left pocket! Then he gathered up the green Shvair from the ground; and handed it to Shaldarn. And he was most surprised but was glad to receive it, for it had become his. Then Terra told him, "It is yours!" And Shaldarn threw it up onto his shoulders and buttoned it there. "Now let's get out of here- to somewhere!" Terra said. "To where?" Salger asked- wielding his sword about dangerously and foolishly. And Shaldarn pointed to the hill in the East that they had first come over; and said, "That seems the place!" They were just about to run away to the hill, when Shaldarn halted them by calling out- and pointing, "The Dark King!" They stood fixing their gaze upon the Dark King and his lampblack Strider! The eyes were a blue-fire! And every snort was a purple mist! But Azzarlon commanded her as if he commanded this whole world! Now, Azzarlon appeared the same as he was at the First Battle of Machines- as Shaldarn had seen him, on that fateful day. Upon his head was the black and white striped Bresar head! The jaws were open wide and the curved fangs white! The eyes were Sur jewels. And inside was Azzarlon! He wore black battle-mail that flowed all the way to his knees! And the body of Sarath was protected in black battle-mail and shining breastplates. Down her nose was the plate of wilderling black-sedrain called darain. The sight was nothing short of a nightmare- even for Shaldarn who had seen Azzarlon before! "That's him!" Shaldarn said- as if they needed to know. Azzarlon's eyes were upon them! He slowly raised his right arm at Terra and his companions. They drew close together out of fear. Then he lifted the Surkling up and into the light; every Glyptic was risen silver across the blue-black of the shield. And just as at the First battle of Machines, it pulsed as if it were full of a terrifying power! And in its very middle appeared the two pillars that were the Surkling. They appeared golden for a moment and then dark again! "I don't remember it being that magnificent before!" Terra said. "Sarath!" Shaldarn said mystically- in a warning, "That Strider can fly!" Then, Salger reminded Shaldarn, "And you might do your trick of the Battle of Machines- again!" Salger said. "It might save us!" But Shaldarn shook his head in disgust! "Then I had the Corella stone," he said- the symbol of Bazus! "And then I had the Shield of Xander! Now I have nothing! Not even Besera! As if she were as mighty as Sarath. Then he pulled his helmet on tighter- to hide his face, and told Terra and Salger, "If he recognises me, I'm dead first! We had better think about running!" "How are we going to get away up that hill know?" Terra asked Shaldarn. Now they knew they were caught between Azzarlon and the Paradian armies. They were in the middle of this, just where they did not want to be! "It's really too late!" Terra said. And they stood- Shaldarn, Terra and Salger, in a line across their end of the bridge. "Be prepared for a last ditch stand!" Shaldarn said. Azzarlon commanded his army on a knife-edge. His black eyes stared down at Terra and his companions- without a single blink! The Dark King was here and ready to do battle! And seven other riders- all Maws stood abreast of him now. Each one had a spear with a flag on its edge that was stitched with the Gott. Each with magnificent sharp Azzarite helmets. They were silver with four black feathers down each of the helmet-spines on the back, the owl's eyes in the front, and long wedge nose guards. But panic had caught up on Salger, and he said in horror- as a sort of reply, "Run I say! We can make it to the top of that hill!" "We shall not run!" Terra said. So Salger did not turn and run. He looked at both his companions' eyes, and saw a brightness of hope there! "We can do it," said Shaldarn. "Its worthy of a try!" And this was good enough for Salger and he stayed! "Then lets do it!" Salger hurriedly said. Now Terra showed Shaldarn the place where the tree-roots held the bricks in place. It was on the right side. Shaldarn stretched over the edge, and began furiously cutting with strength beyond anything he had ever been able to muster before! He cut two; then three, then another; and another- and yet another! But these were all tree-roots within reach of his arms! And there were thicker tree-roots further down, but he was unable reach them from here! Salger saw his problem, drew his dagger, groped down there, and hung on with his left hand. He was swinging and cursing, but he cut through three; then four until there was one last thick tree-root. It was stubborn! As hard as rock! "It's been here for a whole Age!" Salger cursed. In this terrible moment, the bridge might have fallen down, with them all on it! But it seemed as firm as ever! Terra stood back from the fissure on this side. Now in all this, Terra alone was standing on the bridge. He stood like a stone defender! He was horrified that he should be standing here at all! But Shaldarn had said- last stand, and so true to his Wilderfallo Fraternity, he would now take up the sword- willingly or by fright. He drew out his sword and pointed it up at Azzarlon! This was very different from Avatus! He did not have that shield anymore- the one he called the Shield of Avatus, the Surkling no less! "Hurry up!" Terra called down to his companions. They seemed to be taking forever. Now Shaldarn and Salger appeared back on the bridge. They stood in a line across it with Terra in their middle- Salger was on his left. The din of the battle between the Green Tunics and the Purple Tunics suddenly clattered in the air. "We must stick together in this!" Terra commanded his companions. "Keep close! And whatever we do- be clever!" "Altogether or not at all!" Shaldarn said. "We must lure the Dark King down here! Onto the bridge- that part of the bridge!" And he pointed with his sword over the fissure. "And hope that the bridge goes down under his weight! For if it does not- we shall be killed fighting!" "Oh this is nothing to do with mere hope," declared Terra. "This bridge will fall! I promise you!" And Shaldarn was frighteningly amused. "Ahead of us is a brick," said Terra- and he pointed his sword blade in its direction. "That is the locking-block! And when I pull it out- the bridge will fall! I was- you recall, a stone worker!" The din of battle behind them was louder by the moment! It was threatening to surge over them- and engulf the bridge. That would be the ruin of their plans. They dear not turn away from facing Azzarlon though. And they stood up defiantly! The three of them alone against the Dark King! Now Azzarlon had Terra in his gaze! All he could see was Terra. And he knew he had found at last the Heir of Quilatroy; and his rotten mind could think of nothing but slaughter! "This is the moment of your ruin Dark King!" Terra called out. Shaldarn and Salger were bewildered. Then, Terra made three steps toward the fissure in the bridge. And he retrieved the Luan Jewel from his pocket and placed it down between his feet. Now there never was- or has ever been such a brightness! It was very beautiful and extraordinary, and Terra had to say to his companions- behind him and quite shocked, "Remind yourself it is an evil thing!" Now they could not stop looking of course, and were as captured by it as any evil person- except they were less evil! There were eight beams of radiant light! Each one from one of the eight crystallites. In the brilliant beams of golden light, Terra pulled up the bridge lock-block. Suddenly, Azzarlon and his Maws charged off down the road toward the bridge! The Maws were behind him on red and grey Striders. Their swords- the mean four-edged Vez thrust in front of them. And held in pouches were spears that had the flags of the Gott and the Surkling unfurled from their shafts! Their armour glinted and their battle-mail was shining! And the Striders eyes were hidden behind armour-plates, with narrow slits for their eyes! They were wild, mean, and thundered into the ground as they raged forward. Azzarlon held the Surkling high up and swung his sword! Now he burst onto the bridge! The odds were great for the Dark King! Just three Wilderfallo! Not even soldiers. It was unfair, and the Dark King raged even more because of it! Now the wilderlings rode with violent grins, and steel in their eyes- inpatient for the running of the blood! Inpatient to kill the Immortal! Inpatient to get the Jewel! Inpatient to win this world! Terra had not yet drawn his sword! Nor put his helmet on! Pitiful it was to do these things against the charge. Now all eight Striders thundered across the bridge! Terra, Salger and Shaldarn stood like a wall! It was their end; or their beginning. It was Felendeer! The bridge must break; or they would be nothing more than bloody bits and broken bones! And that would be swept away by the stream, as if they had never been born into this world! When the end came, it was not a stride too soon! They could see the hooves, and the eyes- of Azzarlon no less; and the teeth; and the tips of the swords! Then suddenly, Azzarlon's charge turned into a fall. Every stone in the bridge tore apart and went down! The ring of loose armour, and flying swords came all at once with the snap of things breaking! The sound was a rush, like a waterfall. The flesh of the miserable wilderlings and their beasts tangled cruelly. Azzarlon and his Maws were thrown into the air. They were airborne for a moment. Azzarlon was tangled with Sarath; and they tumbled straight down with the broken bridge! And stones fell upon them; fell upon them all! It was awful! It was great! They had all disappeared! The magnificent Striders were all but killed! They screamed, moaned and snorted in the stream! It was all very sudden, and the waters below gulped them up, as if the stream was a hungry monster! The last thing that fell was the Surkling! In all this, it became adrift from Azzarlon! It flew through the air propelled by the sudden undirected rage of its Master! And it landed on the broken edge of the bridge! Shaldarn could not believe his eyes! It tottered on the very edge for a moment, and Shaldarn rushed to pick it up! His Shvair swept out behind him- perhaps hindering him, and he went to grab the Surkling- in a heroic effort, but he failed! It went over the edge, but he could see it was caught on the limb of a tree-root! He downed his sword and thrust his arms down over the edge! He touched it- very slightly. Then had it by the tip; and pulled it toward him. But in his rush- all his veins were showing in his head, it dropped away; and rested a bit further down- still on the tree-roots. So he clambered down- Terra and Salger thought he had tripped and fallen! He was now swinging from the
broken edge of the bridge with the four fingers of his right hand! He tried
to reach down- swinging wildly, to grasp the Surkling; but it fell! It fell
all the way down into the mess in the stream. He had failed again! But it was a heroic effort. Now he was hanging here,
unable to get back up on the bridge! And all Terra and Salger could see was
his four fat fingers. Below was a moaning tangle of wrecked Maws, blocks,
bricks, stones, tree-roots, dust, Striders, helmets and brackish blood! Good to hear and see for a Wilderfolk! And somewhere in all that, was the Surkling! It seemed to Shaldarn, he had been hanging up here for ages, but it really was only for a few breaths. Then Salger stood on the edge of his Shvair! That saved him really! But it tore; where it had been torn before- a moment of stark terror! And Shaldarn had never been able to repair it! But Shaldarn grabbed his arm and with a mighty yank upward, he was finally back up on the bridge. "It's time to run now- don't you think?" Salger gasped at Shaldarn. "Indeed it is!" Shaldarn answered. Now Terra took the Jewel and pushed it deep down into his pocket. Then he scampered off the bridge- before the rest fell in. Shaldarn was last to leave the bridge; getting his beloved sword and taking a strange look at the mess below. He wondered why he had come so close to getting the Surkling and not got it! They ran a half Dagard or more down the road! They were well away from the bridge when they stopped. They could go no further this way! Lines of the Purple Tunics stood in front of them; and it looked too dangerous to approach closer! There was a battle raging beyond, at the turn off down the road! They watched until the Purple Tunics and the Paradians became locked in a close quarter battle! The Paradians sent an army of archers and swordsmen to climb upward on the flanks of the hill in the East. They took up positions on the lee of the hill, overlooking the battle below. The very hill that Terra and his companions had hoped to escape to! The Purple Tunics had this side of the stream bank; but they had not reached the Fourth Bridge yet! They seemed hesitant to go there, perhaps because they had seen the wilderlings attack- and the Dark King! They saw him reach the Fourth Bridge first! Their Kmare had turned their soldiers up the road, and they had seen the strange golden light on the bridge- but had no idea what it was, except the rumour was of a wilderling machine of war. They were not aware the bridge had fallen down into the stream! They could see the wilderling army assembled all along the far banks. Waiting, they supposed like scavengers, to move in when the battle drained the combatants! The situation was confusing; there was battle- much of it skirmishes all along the plateau; and on the lee side of the big hill, in front of Terra and his companions. Now Shaldarn thought they might be mistaken for a forward guard of Thucs sent to report things about the Purple Tunics- spies no less! But as far as Terra and Salger were concerned, they were heroes! "Well, this is Great Good Luck!" Salger said as the Purple Tunics marched toward them- swords drawn, spears and all! So Shaldarn was horrified! And he halted his comrades behind his sword; but the soldiers came no closer! What happened next was just as well! For suddenly the Green Tunics, who Terra and his companions saw were the army of Mdarion; under Son of Blazeron- streamed down the hill side and into the right flank of the Paradians! The noise was of shattering swords and shields crashing against each other; and dust went over the battle. They actually caught sight of Son of Blazeron on a well-groomed Strider. Now they were shaken, for Thucs and Boffils were now on this side of the stream! Behind them! And there was Azzarlon in their midst! Upon a Strider; but not Sarath, for this Strider had no armour. He was holding the Surkling for sure- close to his chest this time, and his Bresar skin was missing. He was wearing a sedrain helmet instead, with a plume of black feathers and armour over his eyes! He was looking for Terra who he knew to be out their somewhere! Now the Kmare of the Purple Tunics saw Azzarlon assembling his army on this side of the stream. They saw the Dark King and the wall of shields bearing the Surkling. And they saw the mass of Maws, Thucs and Boffils growing- like some invasion of black ants! And they fled! The soldiers broke their lines and order- if there was any at all. They ran in terror! The Green Tunics suddenly found themselves fighting the Paradians increasingly on their own! Their Kmare too, saw the chance to withdraw- to save the day, for they had no chance of fighting King Priim alone! So the Green Tunics; under Son of Blazeron withdrew back up the hill and across the plateau. Terra and his companions were marooned! Azzarlon was at their backs; the Paradians were in front of them, and up on their hill in the East- covering its flanks with red and white battle-mailed archers and swordsmen! The retreating call from trumpets was sounding to the West; along the banks of the Talivanar, the hill and the plateau as the Purple Tunics and the Green Tunics melted away! Terra and his companions joined them- as a way of hiding from
the gaze of Azzarlon; and fled with them away to the West. Azzarlon and King
Priim were now facing each other and the Jewel of Paradia might yet save the
throne of King Priim! It was a frightening end to a dangerous day!
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