-Chapter Thirty Five-
Lana, Sand, Bishop, Casavir and Zhjaeve gathered the next morning, riding out early to seek the dragon Ammon had told them about. He had hoped they might find some aid in reforging the silver shards. They rode for several days into the Never Mountains, through the winding rocky trails before finally arriving at lolling grass clearing. In the center was a still pond with a giant blood red crystal spinning suspended above.
Zhjaeve looked around stoically. "Know that this place is sacred to the dragons. They seek the power this place holds. We must use caution."
Bishop snorted, "No kidding."
Lana walked up a small embankment away from the clearing, the others closely on her heels. They came around a jutting rock to find themselves at the base of a slim pathway high above a large pool of water. The others hung back as the rogue cautiously made her way to the path's edge. As she was about to turn to leave, a glittering wall of crystal crashed behind her companions, barring the path way behind them. A booming voice echoed against the rock walls ringing with anger.
"You dare to disturb me here. Were I not chained to this deathless existence I would scatter your shattered bodies to the winds for your trespass. Instead you roam unchecked within my remains, like parasites. What promises shall you make, this time?"
The head of an enormous shimmering white dragon emerged from the depths of the mountain wall. Bishop jumped back in surprise, butting into Casavir.
"What ranger? You have never seen a hundred foot dragon head before?" Casavir chuckled. Bishop sneered in reply, hastily moving a few steps away from the paladin.
Lana stood fearlessly calling her reply, "You are the great wyrm himself then. We have been looking for you."
The mountain shook as the dragon rumbled deeply. "You no doubt come on behalf of your masters. It will do you parasites no good."
Lana shook her head in disagreement. "We come to bring you no harm great one and we come for no masters. We seek assistance against a dark shadow, one you fought long ago."
There was a long silence from the dragon. "So the darkness seeks to return."
Zhjaeve stepped forward. "Know that the King of Shadows has returned. If he is not stop…"
Another deep rumbling shook the cavern. "While I hate the Illefarn, that is but a pale flame compared to my hatred for the King of Shadows. I have not heard that cursed name for a lifetime..."
Lana and the great dragon spoke for some time before coming to the needed information. She thanked the wyrm with the promise to end his days of limbo in exchange for his knowledge. The dragon had told them to return to where the sword was broken and there it might be reforged.
"Damn it to the hells! That means returning to West Harbor again." She pushed past her companions as the crystal wall dissipated into nothingness.
The group slew two small black dragons and destroyed Nolath's heart as promised. Destroying the large suspended crystal allowed the dragon to finally have the eternal rest he sought vainly for uncounted years.
The quest completed, they made for the keep to resupply and begin journeying to seek out the lizardmen, Khelgar's clan, and the Circle of the Mere in hopes of securing the alliances of those peoples.
Before they dared begin the search to secure their alliances, Zhjaeve, Lana, Bishop, Casavir and Sand made the return trip to the Ruins of Illefarn. From there, they could return to West Harbor which had now been engulfed by the King of Shadows. The journey would be grim but the sword had to be remade before anything more could be accomplished. The silver sword was what everything else relied upon.
They rode in silence most of the way, contemplating the horrors that lay before them. It took a week of riding to return to the Song Portal. Everyone dismounted, feeling the echoes of their last visit shrouding them. Lana's face was ashen as she pursed her lips before stepping through first. Casavir quickly followed, Bishop only a split second behind with Sand and Zhjaeve bringing up the rear. They stepped into the empty ruins in the swamp with a mutual sense of relief and headed back to West Harbor.
The last time they had been in the town had been gruesome but what they found this time eclipsed it. The blackness hung like a veil over everything, choking the air and making it hard to breathe.
They had to battle the shadows of several townfolk, those they had laid to rest on their last journey. It was disheartening but they pressed forward searching out the charred patch of ground they sought.
A young child stood watching them. He stood alone in the center of a clearing. Lana stopped abruptly and gasped. "Danan!" She stepped toward the boy but Bishop grabbed her arm to restrain her.
"It's another shadow fool," he growled quietly into her ear.
Lana shook her head, shaking his hand off. "I know, but there is something different." She cautiously approached the boy, one hand extended as trying to touch the boy. Her face was a mask of sadness and longing.
"You're not hollow like the others," the boy stated flatly.
She shook her head, "No child. I remember you. You're Bevil's brother."
The boy tilted his head, looking curiously at Lana. "Do I know you? I don't remember."
Lana stepped closer. "I am Lana Thell, Daeghun's daughter. Danan, this place isn't safe for you child," her voice said, trembling with emotion.
The boy nodded but had a determined and disagreeable expression. "I know but I need to find my ma."
Lana leaned forward, one hand reaching as if to grasp the boy. "Danan, your mother isn't here. You need to go now."
The boy whimpered, "Where is she? I need to find her."
Lana nodded. "Alright, then we shall find her."
Bishop had moved to her side as she spoke with the child. "Lana, let him go. He's a shadow. Just… come on damn it."
Lana looked at him her eyes swimming with unshed tears. "We have to help him. Leave me alone."
The ranger stood up, pressing his lips tightly together angrily.
Lana stepped to the child's side. "Come, let us find Retta. She will be worried sick about you."
They walked together, Lana's companions shooting each other looks of bewilderment.
Retta stood alone on a slight rise. She ran forward, her face an expression of fear. Her eyes darted between her son and Lana. "Danan! You should not be out here alone. Come to me son."
Danan stopped in his tracks, sidling up to Lana. "But Ma, what's wrong with you? Are you sick?"
Retta halted. "Of course not, now come on."
The boy stayed at Lana's side, looking up to her. "Is that my ma?"
Tears ran down Lana's cheeks as she shook her head in denial. "That is not your mother child." Her voice came out a choked whisper.
Retta's face contorted with anger. A dark cloud of black swirled around her, her body growing and twisting. Retta's form disintegrated and a large black shadow with burning red eyes emerged.
Lana screamed. The sound of her voice caused the hairs on the back of Casavir's neck to stand. Her voice was full of rage and grief like a tormented banshee. Her scream echoed across the small village, a howl of torment like nothing the paladin had heard. Goosebumps ran up his arms and he shivered.
She cut down the beast in a flurry of red and blue flashes with almost no aid from Bishop and Casavir. Her furious attacks left almost no room for assistance against the shadowy creature. As the shadow fell, Lana stood over it sobbing. Her breathing came in jagged rasps, her chest heaving as she bent at the waist, hands on her thighs. She stood, her back rigid, arms held out to her sides. The rogue's blades fell to the ground with a clatter of metal as her fingers unfurled from the hilts. Throwing back her head, she let out a cry that came from the deepest depths of her soul.
"NOOOO! DAMN YOU TO THE HELLS! NO MORE!" Her chin fell to her chest as her hands dropped. Her knees collapsed and she hit the ground in heap. She fell to her face, knees still tucked underneath her shaking torso as her crying racked her body. Casavir knelt beside her on one knee, wrapping his arm around her. At his touch, she sat upright and threw her arms around his neck almost toppling him over.
She clung tightly to him continuing to sob. He ran one hand gently across her hair, whispering softly to her.
Danan walked over and stood silently beside the pair. "That was not my mother."
Casavir looked up as Lana's sobs finally slowed. She looked to the child, "No Danan, that was not your mother." The rogue regained her feet, gathering her blades as she stood. She looked gently at the boy. "Apparently you are not shadow either."
The young boy looked fearfully at Lana and Casavir. "But what will I do now?" His lip trembled slightly.
"Know that your will is strong. It binds you to this place. Simply let your eyes close, and use your will to free yourself. Think not of your attachments, this place - only of yourself, and then rest - at last," Zhjaeve said quietly.
Danan closed his eyes. He stood silently for a moment before shimmering and disappearing.
Casavir wrapped one arm around Lana's waist, pulling to him. "Let us finish this and leave this place once and for all."
They moved onward finally standing over a blackened patch of grass. Zhjaeve drew herself up, inhaling deeply. "This is the place, I can feel it. The scar runs deep." Lana absently ran her fingertips over her own scar. "Know that it is here we must mend the blade anew and close the wound. Is your will here?"
Lana nodded uncertainly. She set her backpack down to remove the all too familiar leather bundle. Kneeling, the rogue carefully unwrapped the shard pieces, laying them out to form the rough shape of a sword.
Zhjaeve looked at the shards then to Lana. She knelt cross-legged on one side of the blade, indicating for the rogue to do the same. "Your mind must be focused, clear. Your thoughts, your heart will be the furnace upon which the blade may flow."
Lana pursed her lips tightly together before replying. "I am prepared. Do what must be done."
Zhjaeve placed her hands palms together, closing her eyes. "Very well. Grasp the hilt and close your eyes. Hear not just my words, but the meaning behind them. In this place broken upon shadow, carved deep in earth what once was sundered, from two peoples born."
At the gith's words, the shards began to gleam brightly circling Lana in a whirl of light. Sand, Casavir and Bishop each took an involuntary step backwards. The shards resettled themselves, gathering at the hilt in Lana's hands to form a fully forged blade. It shimmered white hot in her hands.
"By the will that guides the hand and by the hand that guides the blade." Zhjaeve sat silently for several more seconds before rising. Her eyes shone almost hungrily as she looked to the blade in Lana's hands. "It is finished."
Lana stood holding the blade lightly by the hilt. The expression on her face was a mixture of wonderment and loathing. She gave no reply as she stared at the newly reformed blade and again ran a finger down her chest. Lana snatched up the leather wrapping hastily winding it around the blade then shoving the bundle through the back of her bandoliers.
"Let us make haste home. There is nothing left here but death and decay." Everyone nodded and quickly made their way back to the portal and the keep.
After returning, Lana unwillingly used all of her spare time to practice with the new blade. She had to wield it with both hands at first but quickly returned to duel wielding. The rogue practiced with Bishop, Casavir and even Nevalle on occasion. There were several times she would go to an open field alone or with Casavir at a distance to learn and use the special attacks the silver sword was capable of.
The sun had barely risen over the hills of the keep. The sun was going from dark blues to the pinks of early morning. Lana slumped down onto a tree stump, silver sword in hand. Sweat plastered stray hairs to her face, her shirt cling to patches across her torso. Lana sat on a tree stump slightly panting as she grabbed the water skin, drinking deeply and allowing small rivulets of water to trickle down her throat. She wiped her mouth roughly with the back of her hand. "Have I mentioned how much I don't like this blade Cas?"
Taking the water from her, he drank deeply. After pouring some of the water down his sweating face, he set it down, chuckling. "You have mentioned your dislike for that blade a few times. Several in fact. Why such dislike for it? It is just a blade." Casavir reached for the tunic he had discarded earlier, wiping his face with the rough cotton then dropping it into a heap on the dirt. He dropped to the ground, propping himself up with arms outstretched behind him. Water and sweat glistened on his naked flesh, his chest rising and falling heavily.
"It may be only a blade to you maybe but it just… it just doesn't feel right. We have spent all this time, years in fact in search of this mystical thing and I'm the only one who can wield it against some mythical demon. Now that blade is here and the reality of it all is, well, too real. It is for this blade we all fight and in me is the hope for everything." She shrugged.
"Doesn't that sound a bit farfetched to you? I'm just a person like anyone else. I'm nothing special but here we sit with this great shining sword."
"I cannot pretend to know how you feel, but I understand the seemingly overwhelming situation With this blade, you can stop the King of Shadows once and for all. That is an enormous task but remember you do not stand alone. It is not just you with a sword. I for one will be behind you every step of the way along with many others. This is how heroes are created; they are not born but made through small things. The war is won through constant but uncelebrated battles."
Lana nodded grimly. She stood, resheathing the silver sword at her back. "I think it is time to return. I need to bathe and so do you."
Casavir smiled widely. "Agreed, but only if you allow me to accompany you."
She smiled, slapping him playfully on the arm. "Is that all you think about? It's early!"
He grabbed her around the waist with both hands, planting a large wet kiss on her mouth. "It's never too early for some good clean fun. It looks like you could use some help scrubbing your backside."
"Always willing to come to my aid aren't you my paladin?" she giggled. She broke free and loped toward the keep gates. She turned, casting a look of uncontained glee over her shoulder. "Well what are you waiting for, hurry up Cas!"
Chuckling, he hastened to catch up to her.