Steven Burke - The Dark Tide

The Seda could no longer restrain their urge to attack the orcs and they gleefully joined the fray. Several hundred white, brown, and even black bears burst through the specters unharmed to join the battle. The giant eagles stopped their barrage of boulders because of their allies down below. They changed tactics by going into dramatic dives and tore at the leaderless fiends with great delight. The ground became darker as the battle wore on and looked like a massive black dot from the sky.

***

The messenger owl that belonged to the elven king Ciel flew high above the western cliff of Landen toward the city of Prowburgh where the monarch resided in hiding. The capital city was a likely target for the opposition, so King Leroy felt that it was best to remove key leaders to different cities and towns throughout Landen. It allowed for better control of the war effort and it also proved to be an excellent strategic move because it would be difficult for their enemies to completely wipe out all of the leadership in one fatal swoop. The king’s faithful owl knew that it was important to report back to the elven king of the events that were transpiring in the Black Forest.

The sky over Landen had finally cleared and the sun burned hotter than what was normal during the fall. The leaves on the trees were beginning to turn colors from the drastic change in weather. The owl searched for the home where the elven king resided as he soared through a sea of red, orange, and yellow leaves below him. The eastern part of Landen, which was closest to Lake Lachlan, was full of several different kinds of trees. The beautiful bird went into a sharp decent and landed softly in a tall willow tree which stood next to a beautiful two story home. The building was constructed of some of the finest lumber in Landen and it had a simple beauty to it which would not attract a lot of unwanted attention. The huge golden owl hooted softly to get the attention of King Ciel who was sitting at the window staring out at the serene landscape.

The king stood up so abruptly at the sound of his messenger bird that the book in his lap fell to the ground. He cast his eyes towards the call and saw the tired looking owl in the willow tree next to his window. He nodded significantly to his messenger which clearly meant that he would be outside shortly to retrieve the urgent message. The bird hooted dolefully to acknowledge the silent command and closed its eyes against the bright sun overhead. King Ciel quickly put on his armor, which is something he had to do anytime he ventured outside these days, and casually made his way down the stairs to the main floor. Several of the king’s guard snapped to attention as their leader entered the anteroom next to the entry.

“I will need four of you to accompany me outside” the king said in a determinedly bored voice. He did not want to give them the idea that he was about to do something important. He waited patiently for his guards to lead the way outside.

“Sir!” snapped four of the king’s guard. Two of them opened the door and allowed the other two soldiers to walk out in front of the king. The guards holding the door held up their hands so that King Ciel did not immediately follow. They wanted to make sure the immediate vicinity was clear. After a minute of scanning the yard and the nearby trees, the signal was given to allow the vanguard to proceed out into the open.

“I appreciate your cautious nature captain” the king said to the captain of the soldiers stationed at his temporary home. He was indeed thankful for the care he was seeing which made him sad at the same time. So much had been lost and the price for the caution was too high. He shook his head slightly to rid himself of such depressing thoughts. His mind was constantly reviewing all the major events that led to the current situation. His heart ached at the loss of his youngest daughter which reminded him of the death of his wife. All he had left in the world was his eldest daughter Kishi…the very thought caused a single tear to form and slowly leak out the side of his right eye.

Once the king was clear of the doorstep, he made his way to the willow tree that had an anxious owl resting high up in the tree. There was an old wooden chair at the trunk of the massive tree that was listing to one side. The tree was central to a couple of houses just like the one the king was in. Ciel adjusted it so that it was level with the ground and took a seat. He crossed his legs casually as he stared out to the eastern skies. The king’s guard took up their positions and turned their backs to the monarch so he could enjoy some quiet reflection as he sat there.

“ My dear friend…what news do you bring? ” asked the king after he connected to his faithful messenger’s mind. His demeanor was calm on the outside and the single tear had been subtly wiped away. His soldiers had become used to the frequent visits to the tree. It was where their leader went to think and often cry. They understood that his burden was great and the loss of his loved ones was weighing heavily on him.

“ The bears and eagles have attacked the orc General Tomo and his massive army while they were in the western part of Renshaw. The Seda surrounded the intruders without making them aware of their presence. As I left the battle, those wretched spirits joined in the attack ” replied owl dutifully. He did not want to linger in the forest because of the destruction of his beloved woods.

“ What? The bears and eagles are working together with the Seda? I thought our spirit neighbors from southern Renshaw would join the orcs…not kill them. ” He was having difficulty not showing his emotions as he carried on this silent conversation. His features tensed as he tried to make sense of the report thus far. The soldiers immediately sensed the drastic change in their leader’s mood. They all became alert and started looking for an immediate threat.

“ I have more detailed information for you master. The orc general is dead along with their only commander. They trespassed on the unholy grounds of Kylrilion. I believe that the axis army has been annihilated by now, or that they will be shortly. ” The owl hooted quietly high up in the willow. He was tired with all the long flights to report to his master. He understood his role and the need to see everything. He was tired of being the target for any enemy to fire at. He just wanted to rest, even if it was just for a few hours.

The king did not reply to these final remarks. He motioned to one of his guards to come to him as he continued to mull over the news he had just received. He instructed the soldier to send a small detachment to the western cliffs to determine whether or not the orc army reported to be in that vicinity was still there. He wanted to hear details of what was currently taking place in that region as soon as possible. He did not share with him the information that he had just received. He felt that an unbiased external confirmation would be best in this situation. He stood up as he finished his orders and returned to the house. He went straight to his room and locked the door so that he could continue to think uninterrupted. The soldiers went into action once their king had secluded himself.

“So, you have heard the news” a deep voice said from the shadows by a large bookcase.

“Who are…” began the king as wheeled about with his fine elven swords drawn. His swords sliced through a fine mist as he tried to locate the intruder.

“Peace unto you Ciel Tiranidrol…we have much to discuss” replied the guardian as he walked into the light that was coming in through the window. He had a placid look on his face that hid any emotion or intention as he looked at the elven king. Ciel hastily put away his swords and bowed himself on one knee with his head bowed toward the floor.