A/N: This is an AU continued episode after the Talisman written by Terry Brooks. I will use his characters and some of mine own to write this story.
Obligatory Disclaimer: The Shannara world belongs to Terry Brooks. I am not writing this story for profit and I do not wish to infringe on any copyright. I am just creating this story from my wild imagination because I love those books that Terry wrote and I just can not get enough of them. Walker Boh is my favorite character and I have huge dreams for him that I will tell you in this story…So if you will join me for fun and entertainment…please read and review…
The Jewel of Callahorn
A thick lazy mist clung within the walls of Callahorn in the late evening hours while booted feet treaded the cobblestone making their way down the loathsome walkway. Trickles of blood followed just behind each step and the tip of the sword scrapping, tapping and clicking with each cobblestone it touched.
By the time he was old enough to weld a sword in his hand Padishar Creel was seldom without it. The war of the Shadowens had ended and now it was time the free-born to drive the federation back into the southland. Callahorn was to be liberated and the dwarves brought back from the mines that they labored in for the federation, but it was not going to be an easily won victory.
Each morning strategies were planned and each evening just before dusk small skirmishes were executed. Slowly the free-born were making progress at whittling the federation down. Callahorn was once the strong hold of the federation, but after the Shadowen were defeated, the armed forces of the federation dwindled.
Weary from battle, the free-born gathered in the tunnels beneath Callahorn where the mole opened his door to his underground home and allowed the free-born to co-existed with him. Well just as long as they kept their distance from his living quarters and his children that were made of stuffed teddy bears, soft fluffy stuffed rabbits to old worn-out rag dolls that he had found tossed away in the garbage of Callahorn. For the lovely Dawson, the mole gave them sections of his tunnels for them to eat, sleep and live, plan their battle strategies and to celebrate their successes. They had their own doors for their comings and goings that rarely interfered with the moles daily schedules. The mole was always on his last nerve from the constant light of the torches within his tunnels and the loud boisterous sounds that they made. He reminded his children daily that soon they would be gone and their peace of darkness and quiet would begin again, just as lovely Dawson had promised.
For her, the mole would do anything that she asked of him.
Matty Roh held open the curtain with one hand and the other lit the way with a candle that she held. "Bring him in here and I'll see to his wounds."
Morgan Leah smiled while he brought Padishar through the curtain and gazed at Matty from the corner of his eye. Seeing the only empty bed available among the five others that were occupied, Morgan helped Padishar to lye down upon it. Morgen turned his friend's chin with his open hand so he could examine the fine stitch work that Matty had done from last weeks skirmish, a fine line that ran down a small portion on the side of his face and noticed that it was healing up just fine. However, the top of his forearm had another open gash and was bleeding freely after tonight's attack on the federation. "Any more stitches, my friend, and you'll be looking just like this quilt," Morgan teased allowing Padishar to snap his chin from his friend's grasp and glared up at him, saying nothing after a moments pause. "I have wounded, maimed and killed at least a thousand federation men just within these walls since all this has begun. Where you, my friend, your blade has only seen half of that."
Morgan withdrew the sword of Leah, the talisman and held it proudly out in front of him. He slowly admired the gleam of his blade and the deadly sharpest of it. Looking back at Padishar, Morgan gave him a friendly smirk and commented, "You are right and by my counting, only a few hundred men and a couple hundred shadowen; something that your blade could never kill."
Morgan raised a confident brow towards his friend and then began to laugh when Padishar only grumbled beneath his breath. Matty placed a wet compress upon his arm to stay the blood from oozing and the northern-man jerked from the sudden pain that it caused.
Between girded teeth, Padishar looked back at the highlander and then spoke, "May your blade and mine, always stay side by side until this land is free and men and dwarves can walk unchecked against any enemy."
Morgan placed his sword of Leah into its sheath and proudly nodded his head in their noble cause in which they fought until its bitter end.
Upon the next bed over a man leaned upon his elbow and added his comment as well. "And to that Padishar, we Rovers add our blades with yours to see this to its end."
Rhys was a well formed man lean and muscular with bronzed skin tone from living his life upon the land traveling from one part of the Anar to the next. He had long black hair that he kept tied behind his head and eyes dark as night, but within its black orbs the sparkle of stars glistened that gave him a sense of carefree and lightheartedness. He loved life and lived it to its fullest. There wasn't a challenge big enough for him to take on or a mountain high enough that he would not climb. He was a prince among his Rovers, young, strong and devoted to the free-born because without its end to the federation seize their way of life would never be as they would have it…free to move upon the land that they loved.
Padishar stretched out his hand to grasp that of Rhys a man that he could call his brother and could count on even to the ends of his life. Rhys had proven himself to Padishar through the months that he had come to join up with the free-born. The Rover's skill with a sword was unlike anything that Padishar had ever seen, being many years younger than himself. His reflex was that of a cat always just narrowly missing a point of a sword aimed at ending his life. Not only did he save his life, but that of Padishar Creel more times than he could count. When there was a dangerous job that was needed to put the federation on the run, it was always Rhys who came to volunteer his services. However, willing as Rhys was, in his endeavors to take any mission, he did not trust so willing to others and chose who would go with him or who would hold his escape door open. Padishar understood this as he too felt and acted the same way. All but this night when the old, dried out floor boards gave way under the pressure of a skirmish with the guards of the gatehouse tower. Rhys and Padishar fell through along with their opponents they challenged. While the edge of the blade cut into his arm, Rhys foot was only sprained from the fall. Afterwards, the two companions found themselves with a little rest and relaxation while they healed.
With the first jab of Matty's needle to sew his wound, Padishar let out a whooping howl of pain. Morgan and Rhys both burst out laughing at the same time knowing how Padishar liked to think of himself as indestructible. Padishar cast scowling eyes towards Matty as he felt unprepared for the start of her mending. "Next time, you warn someone before you go jabbing needles in someone's arm!" he snarled at her.
"If you don't hold still, you'll be luck if I don't sew your shirt into your wound!" Matty retorted back to him and continued to sew with Padishar gritting his teeth in silence.
A messenger entered pulling back the curtain in the tunneled room and quickly asked for Morgan Leah. "I have a letter for you from Palanor."
Morgan instantly sobered his mood while he reached out his hand to grasp the letter. 'Palanor!' he thought with a raised brow and he knew in an instant that this had to come from the Druid Walker Boh. Excusing himself from the tunneled room, Morgan sot a quiet place where he could read his letter.
Padishar followed his eyes watching the highlander leave and if it was not for Matty digging holes into his skin, he would have followed Morgan to find out more.
It was not until almost dawn when Morgan came back into the room fully geared in his traveling clothes and bag. He approached Padishar and Rhys while they sat with a group of their men going over the plans for their attack for the federation later in the evening, something that Morgan could anticipate with the start of each day.
Padishar pulled himself from the table and walked over to where Morgan stood waiting for him.
"You're leaving?" This was not a question, but rather a statement the he pointed out to the highlander.
"Yes, I don't know how long I'll be gone this time and for what reason. The Druid only stated that I must come alone and as soon as I can make it."
"We need you here, Morgan. We have a few more battles left before this city is rid of the federation. Without you fighting by our side, it will be that much more difficult."
"I'll be back when this business with the Druid has ended. I owe Walker Boh that much and if he needs me like he says, then I must go."
"Seek us by the mines of the federation at the eastern far base of the Dragon's Teeth. That is where they have imprisoned the Dwarves of Callahorn and our last strike to overcome the federation. They are building their forces and calling all their able body men to them. From there we will drive them back to the southlands and out of our western regions." The passion that burned in Padishar voice and eyes gave Morgan a sense that he would do just that and the time of the stronghold of the federation would soon crumble. Morgan was sure of it as he looked the man eye to eye. Nodding with agreement he held his hand open to Padishar and they shook hands saying their farewells.
"Wait Morgan!" shouted Matty, "I am coming with you."
Morgan eyes snapped over to her from across the room and saw her rushing to gather her belongs in her arms. He shook his head despairingly knowing it was going to be hard to say his farewells to her. He was still not sure how he felt about her. One minute she was fighting every bit as hard as any man with a sword and ever bit as capable and the next warm and gentle as any women could be. She was stouthearted and willing to push herself beyond what strength that she could possibly muster. She was intriguing to him by all measures, but his heart was still not sure of how he truly felt for her.
"Not this time, Matty. I need to go alone," he called back to her.
She tossed her things and ran to him. "You promised me that where you go, so will I!"
"You can not enter into the Druids keeps only if the Druid wishes it. He has told me that I come alone. You must go with Padishar Creel. He will see to your safety and I will come to you when I have finished my business with Walker Boh," explained Morgan and took her by the shoulders to look at her.
"Please, Morgan, I do not want to stay here. All I do is sew up wounds, wash bedding and serve meals. I am tired and restless of this and I want to get away and find another adventure with you," she demanded.
Morgan kissed her lips quickly and shook his head. "I'll catch up with you very soon, I promise!"
He turned and walked out of the tunnel with his bag in his hand and his sword draped over his back. "Damn you, Morgan Leah, I hope you fall into a stink hole of which you can not escape!" she shouted and shook her fist at him. Tears poured down her cheeks as she ran to the farthest bed and flung herself across it sobbing into her pillow.
Bare feet scrapped and bloodied ran with wide strides and treading the forest floor as fast as they could travel. With heart pumping and air being forced in and out of the lungs desperately trying to keep with the harsh pace that was being set. Extraordinary fear of death lapping at the edge of her feet knowing it was only seconds at hand. On and on she raced leaping brush and dodging trees to get her away from the beasts that chased after her.
The wolves had already caught her once and had a taste of her blood from their first attack on the small troupe that happened into their dark wooded area that the wolves had lived. Their hunger was ravenous and their sights were solely upon this woman and the magnificence of the chase she gave them. Whether a game that they played with their prey, she had managed to run a great distances bleeding profusely. She did not see the trees in the forest nor bush or thick brush but sensed them as she ran managing not to run into them. Her screams echoed and bounced off rock and tree, but no one came to her rescue.
Long sharp gnashing teeth and ear piercing growls where only a breath away from the stretch of her long legs as she ran.
Breaking through the trees and landing upon the sharp loose rock that surrounded this open area, she ran on looking over her shoulder and feeling the rock cutting into the soles of her feet. She was not aware of a great towering wall that had stretched out in all directions in front of her nor did she see the parapets, battlements and towers. Sensing the feeling of being enclosed, she quickly snapped head straight forward and a huge black blur flashed before her eyes as it flew over her and she fell stretched out upon the ground. She knew her struggle to stay alive was now over with.
Captain Siegmund Grey of the federation regiment stationed at Callahorn opened an urgent message telling him to pull out of Tyrsis immediately abandoning their post completely. The general ordered that the captain's full regiment to leave for the mines that they now occupied in the eastern region at the base of the Dragon's Teeth.
The captain spoke softly to his men scattered about him. "Wake everyone as silently as possible and have everyone fully equipped to leave immediately."
"But Sir; it is the middle of the night, Sir?" one of his men questioned.
"All the better Sergeant. The cover of darken will give us adequate time to slip away unseen and unchecked. Let the free-born devils wake to what is left of this foregone deplorable city!" he ordered.
"Sir; Yes, Sir!" the solider said, snapping to attention with a solute and then turned to gather what was left of their entire regiment.
The sun rays broke the skyline of the horizon and set waves of warmth to awaken the town of Tyrsis to their first day of freedom. However is was still undiscovered by those who still slept in their beds or just beginning to raise to this new day.
Rhys raced into Padishar's room and bent down to shake him awake.
"Padishar!" he loudly whispered in a tone of voice half screaming with excitement as a child waking their parent upon a Christmas morning. When Rhys saw his friend's eyes just barely beginning to open he went on to tell him the most exciting news. "They're gone! Every last inch of them gone!"
Padishar sat up quickly in his bed and stared at Rhys intently trying hard to understand just what he was talking about…'gone'….. Who was gone? His men?
The thought brought Padishar to his feet at once leaping out of his bed and racing for his sword. "I'll cut them apart for abandoning us!" he shouted at the top of his voice grabbing his shirt and pulling it over his head and forcing it down upon him.
Rhys grabbed Padishar by his shirt and shouted excitedly, "No! You fool! The soldiers, they're gone, all of them gone. They must have pulled out sometime in the middle of the night. It's over with Padishar, Tyrsis if freed!"
Padishar's eyes where opened wide with a surprise that his mind just could not comprehend. Donning his pants quickly and grabbing his sword, he raced out of his tunneled room, down the dark forbidding corridors, turning and tracing his steps that he has memorized until he was at the iron ladder leading out onto the street of Tyrsis. His breath caught in his chest and his wild eyes searching each corner where the guards had always stood and then snapping his eyes over the parapets overhead only to see no one was there. He heard Rhys running after him and calling out to him. Rhys was smiling from ear to ear when he came up to him once again.
Padishar turned sharply with eyes squinted and brow wrinkled in anger. "Those cowards!" he shouted out in hatred. "Tyrsis should not have been freed like this!"
Rhys cast unbelievable eyes upon the man who had fought the longest and the hardest to free Tyrsis and his behavior now greatly confused him. He should be shouting out in excitement as he was, verses faced with his friend's wrath.
"Padishar; we are freed!"
"This isn't how we should have been freed!" he snarled. "They stole our victory away from us. We should have won by our swords in their backs and our glory of battle upon every tongue within leagues of this city!"
Padishar lowered his sword to the ground in defeat and sorrow upon his face etched deeply. "I lost good men, Rhys. Men, I was proud to call my brother. Men who fought side by side with me, I watched them die! I held them in my arms and cried from their deaths. They will pay for this, my friend. They will pay until we have brought down every federation solider that dares wears those colors!"
Padishar raced to the guardhouse and climbed the staircase taking two steps at time until he reached the top. Shouting out to his men, he called them to knock on each door of Tyrsis and awaken everyone and tell them to come by the gates so he may speak with them.
Within the hour crowds began to gather, cheers began to roar through the crowd, everywhere people began to celebrate, hugging and kissing each other. Tyrsis was awake and for the first time, they woke to a morning of laughter and goodwill.
"Dwarves of Tyrsis! Men of the races of the four lands! My friends!" Padishar shouted to the crowd who now turned to him and listened high above them in the gatehouse balcony.
"This day you are free to your own will, to your own comings and goings. But where are your men, Tyrsis? Where are your husbands, your fathers, your brothers and your friends?" Padishar continued shouting to the crowd and paused a moment in his speech. "They're locked in chains and iron! They labor and die in the mines for the federation. Enslaved by their taskmasters, whipped and beaten! The federation gathers among themselves trying to build their force to great numbers that no army could defeat let alone defend. Then they will return to Tyrsis and retake her once again. Today we celebrate my friends and tomorrow we must gather ourselves men of all races into the largest army that has ever been seen upon our lands and together we will free ourselves to ever lasting peace that will long rein among the four lands and then we will all be finally free!"
The crowd raised their arms and shouted out to join Padishar Creel in this one great and final battle.