Echoes Of A Gloried Past (Book 2) (12 page)

“Eric and Braden will look after them,” Vaughn said. “And Gavril seems quite sensible, which leads me to the reason why I sought you out in the first place.”

Colind sat up. “Which is?”

“The Hythariam ambassador,” Vaughn said.

“Tersellis,” Colind said. “I’ve only just met him, but he seems to be a sensible sort.”

“He is quite intelligent,” Vaughn replied. “He has been spending quite a bit of time speaking with Jopher.”

Despite Aaron’s lack of enthusiasm with princely types, Colind knew they were key in preparing for this war. Prince Jopher Zamaridian of Zsensibar, no longer the petulant child, showed the makings of becoming a good man in his own right and would be an asset toward aligning the kingdoms. At least Jopher would be able to bolster their position and lend some credibility in convincing his father, the King of Zsensibar, of the impending invasion. 

Colind wouldn’t be too surprised if Iranus requested that he resume his place as Guardian of the Safanarion Order. They were an order of extraordinary people whose primary focus was protecting the lands of Safanar and her people. At the peak of their influence, they had members from every kingdom spanning their corner of the world. That is until the fall of Shandara. There wasn’t time to reach out to see how many of the old members were even still alive. While the Safanarion Order was aligned with no particular kingdom, they were founded in Shandara, and with his own imprisonment, he suspected the others had faded quietly into the background to avoid being hunted by the High King and the Elitesmen. Most had assumed that Colind had died all those years ago, but perhaps there were more members like Garret, who stumbled across Aaron’s path and followed him in the off chance that he was somehow still alive. 

The Order was founded by Daverim Alenzar’seth shortly after meeting the Hythariam. The ruling family of Shandara was always striving for the betterment of people as a whole, but Daverim’s genius was in founding an independent group that wasn’t tied to any kingdom. Perhaps he should think of them as nations? A term he had heard Aaron use to describe the kingdoms here. 

Colind now believed that Daverim suspected that the Hythariam left on their dying world would find a way to reach Safanar, but he and Reymius had been too preoccupied in their youth with changing the world that they lost sight of the looming threat hidden among the shadows. Colind had spent much of his time in the dawn of his imprisonment wondering if the Hythariam that were left on their home world had a role in the High King’s rise to power. There was nothing he could prove, but the itch to find out was still there, and he meant to scratch it if he could. 

Then there was Mactar, the master architect in the fall of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the history of Safanar. He was going to need an entirely different block of wood to whittle if he were going to crack that nut. He shoved thoughts of Mactar aside, another time for that one.

“Are you still with me?” Vaughn asked.

Colind shook off his reverie and nodded for Vaughn to continue.

“Tarimus,” Vaughn began. “We don’t know where he is or what he is doing at the moment.”

“I know,” Colind said. “I think we’ve got enough to contend with for now. I’ve spoken with Aaron at length about this. For now, I believe Tarimus is focused on seeking retribution from his jailer. Something I wouldn’t necessarily want to get in the way of.”

“My Lord Guardian,” Garret spoke, “we cannot lose sight of Tarimus, not this time.”

Colind sucked in a deep breath and released it. “What would you have me do?" he asked. “We have more pressing matters and cannot afford to go traipsing around the continent after Tarimus. I’m not proposing that we forget about him altogether, but just for the moment while we work to unite the nations of this world. Also, do not believe for a second that I have forgotten Tarimus’s role in Shandara’s destruction. He will be brought to justice, I assure you.” 

They grew silent as Jopher arrived on the far side of the deck. He laid out a staff and sword before him. They watched in silence as he began to practice the slow forms that Aaron had taught them. The same forms that both Vaughn and Garret practiced when time could be spared. As for Colind, he was too old and had too little time to contend with that. He could draw upon the energy around them without the help of the slow forms. 

Colind turned his attention back to Vaughn and Garret. “How do you think Cyrus will react when he learns that our good captain has pledged himself to Aaron?”

“I wouldn’t be so naive as to say that he would be overjoyed at the idea,” Garret said. “But I don’t think he will have a problem with it either. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think he might ultimately embrace the idea. Rexel has ever been aligned with Shandara.”

“And he understands what is at stake,” Vaughn said. “He has been quietly preparing for war since we left. With Rexel’s central location, I’m sure there will be other leaders there that the ambassador will be keen to meet with.”

As if they had summoned him, Tersellis joined them on the deck.

“Good morning, gentleman,” Tersellis said. Having learned of their plans to help align the kingdoms of this world against the looming threat from Hytharia, Tersellis demanded to be the one to work with the other kingdoms. It was Colind’s understanding that Tersellis was historically passionate about engaging the people of Safanar to share knowledge with them, but the motion was voted down. The sharing of knowledge would be a good thing, but Colind couldn’t fault Iranus, and the others of the elected council for voting to wait. Colind shuddered to think what would be done with the Hythariam technological wonders in the hands of the High King and the Elitesmen.

“I’m glad I found you all together,” Tersellis said.

“How are the engines coming?” Colind asked.

Tersellis smiled. “Very good. Their engineer, Hatly, is a quick study. I knew that once we showed the Safanarions how the engines worked, they would be able to build their own in short order and, I suspect, improve upon our design. But don’t tell the others I said that,” he finished with a wink. 

“Excellent,” Colind said.

Tersellis’s face grew somber. “It seems as if the world has been holding its breath building up to this moment. And now we’re finally able to go out into the world and hopefully bring these people together. It shames me that the threat from my homeland is the catalyst for such actions.”

Tersellis was not a young man, but it was so hard to tell with Hythariam. According to Iranus, Tersellis was well over a hundred years old. Old enough to bear witness to fall of Hytharia. 

“It is what it is,” Garret said.

The Raven lurched forward, gaining speed rapidly. The thrust from the engines gave a quiet whine instead of their normal roar, something in the way that they utilized the energy from the crystals to recycle themselves. Colind expanded his senses and saw the gleaming currents along the wings of the airship. The large balloon keeping the ship afloat in the air now had smaller cone-shaped engines on the sides and one on the top. 

Tersellis’s wide smile infected them all. “At this speed, I would expect we should be able to reach Rexel by the end of the day.”

They had long left Hathenwood behind them and skirted the borders of Shandara, which allowed for little chance to encounter the Ryakuls. The landscape sped by as the engines churned the airship onward until Colind noted the tall spires of Rexel’s palace in the distance. A trip that had taken Aaron almost a month to reach Shandara, they had been able to make in a day, which was truly a marvel. He felt his chest tighten as the sight of Rexel loomed closer. He and Reymius had been close in age and full of reckless abandon in their youth, and Cyrus, too, later on. A single tear paved its way down Colind’s cheek then became lost within the stubble of his gray beard.

Rexel was full of activity, but the presence of so many airships caught Colind’s attention. They had built the first airship in Shandara before the fall, and it gladdened his heart that not everything they had worked for was lost in the fires. The Raven flew faster than any other airship even when they slowed their approach as they came closer to the city. The crew of the Raven waved proudly to the crews of the other ships as they approached the airship yard to the east of the palace. The return of one of their own was greeted with great enthusiasm, but the presence of the guards armed to the teeth could not be missed. There was a city of tents outside the city proper, with fields cleared where temporary barracks were erected for the troops training nearby. Vaughn was right: Cyrus was taking the return of the Alenzar’seth seriously. Cyrus was no fool, and for that Colind was grateful.

The guards on duty at the airfield directed the Raven to a secluded spot on the far side. When the Raven finally landed, the ship was surrounded by a sea of dark-blue-uniformed guardsman adorned with silver hawks upon their chests. Colind’s eyes took note of the banners along the way and was surprised to see the flag of Shandara raised with Rexel’s own silver hawk. Cyrus was not being too subtle about his alliances. 

As they got closer to the city, Captain Morgan flew the flag of Shandara with the dragon emblem grasping a single rose in one of its claws.

“What does the rose symbolize?” Jopher asked.

Colind smirked. “Life,” he said. “The Alenzar’seth have always been fond of making statements.”

Jopher nodded silently. 

“My Lord Prince, if you will,” Captain Morgan said from the gangplank leading off the ship. By tradition, the senior ranking nobleman was afforded the honor of disembarking first.

Jopher stood to the side and bowed his head to Colind. “My Lord Guardian,” he said. 

Many of the crew, including the captain, bowed in respect and voiced their approval. Colind bowed back in return.
It appears that more of Aaron’s traits have rubbed off on you, young one.
Colind descended the gangplank to the wide open gaze of Prince Cyrus.

“Am I dreaming?” Prince Cyrus asked. “For if I am, I wouldn’t want to wake up for anything.” The Prince wrapped his arms around Colind in a firm embrace. “It’s good to see you again, old friend.”

“You as well,” Colind said.

“I see our mutual friend succeeded in reaching Shandara,” Cyrus said. “Where is he?”

“We have much to discuss,” Colind answered.

They were joined by the others, who all bowed in respect toward the prince. Captain Morgan saluted with all the practiced formality of having been in the military for the length of his life.

“Your Grace, I must humbly ask to be released from your service,” Captain Morgan said.

Prince Cyrus narrowed his gaze and then looked up at the colors flying on the ship. “Why, Nathaniel?”

“I’ve pledged my service to the Alenzar’seth,” Nathaniel Morgan said. “He has saved this ship and all of our lives a number of times. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and my crew, but in this I must follow my heart, and it tells me to serve Shandara.”

Prince Cyrus put his hand upon Nathaniel’s shoulder. “In this we are aligned, my friend, and know that you always have a place here in Rexel.” Cyrus glanced up at the ship. “The Raven looks different whence she left?”

“Yes, your Grace,” Nathaniel said. “The engines have been upgraded with the help of our new friends, and that’s not all. I have the plans so we can perform those upgrades to the rest of the ships in the fleet. You see, I come bearing gifts.” He finished, gesturing toward Tersellis and his two Hythariam bodyguards as they came to join them.

Prince Cyrus’s eyes widened as he met the Hythariam’s golden-eyed gaze and bowed respectfully.

“Peace be upon you, Gate Keepers of the West,” Tersellis said. “We have much to discuss, but know this: the Hythariam are proud to ally with the people of Safanar.”

“Peace be upon you,” Prince Cyrus said, returning the formal greeting. “Please join me so that we may take our ease and discuss the important matters that must be addressed.”

They were escorted by a group of soldiers dressed in plain, dark blue uniforms.

“My friend, why do these soldiers appear different than the Rexellian Corps?” Colind asked.

“That is because they are not Rexellian,” Cyrus answered. “Some of them are, but the soldiers you see in blue are made up of different kingdoms who have agreed to take up arms in our cause. And a number are formerly from Shandara or direct decedents of those that are.”

Colind frowned. “Our cause?” 

They came to a plain room a short way from the airfield, big enough to accommodate all of them. Spreading around the room, some chose to sit in the proffered chairs, while others including the Hythariam remained standing. Only when Prince Cyrus sat did Tersellis take his seat, which Colind nodded at in approval.

“Yes, our cause,” Cyrus answered. “War is coming. If we know anything, it’s that the heir of Alenzar’seth would be the herald for war returning to these lands.”

“I see,” Colind said. “You are, of course, correct. War is coming, but our enemy is not only the High King and the Elitesmen. It’s time you learned the truth of why Shandara fell and why it’s critical that it be reclaimed.”

There was a small commotion from the doorway to the room as an older woman entered, dripping of authority, as most bowed in her direction.

“Sebille, please join us,” Cyrus said. “My wife.” He said to the Hythariam.

The Lady Sebille stopped, her steely gaze swept the room and widened in shock as it came upon Colind. She slowly circled the room until at last she came before Colind, who stood waiting and took her hand.

“My Lady,” Colind said and placed a small kiss upon her hand. Though the years had been many since he had last seen her, he was happy to see her grown into the woman she had become.

“Uncle,” Sebille whispered into a hushed silence then turned to Cyrus, who smiled. “Uncle,” she cried and pulled him in for a hug.

Colind smiled, hugging her in return. “Back from the dead, little flower.”

He watched as his niece sat next to Cyrus and took his hand in hers. It gladdened his heart to see them both happy and alive. He had missed so much because of his imprisonment, but he denied the dark thoughts threatening to intrude upon this happy moment.