Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

Lannon floated into the Soldier Barracks and found all but a few of the Legion Soldiers asleep. He entered the Council Barracks and saw that Timlin was asleep and under heavy guard. He could see the aura of the Deep Shadow around Timlin. The Eye of Dreams revealed it as a purple glow. But the aura was troubled and shifting, as if uncertain of its destiny. Lannon saw that Timlin was not hopeless after all, because there were powers greater even than the Deep Shadow. Timlin was on a collision course with a strange destiny of some sort. Lannon could not tell if that destiny would lead him to a good or bad end, because the future was murky.

Aside from the new revelation about Timlin, there was nothing interesting going on and Lannon quickly grew bored of spying. He floated back out onto the fortress grounds. He gazed up at the sky, through a barrage of large snowflakes. He wondered if he could travel to the clouds-to the moon even, if he so desired. He rose into the air, higher and higher into the swirling snow, but suddenly the feeling of motion stopped. He realized he was still floating just above the ground.

Traveling to the moon was apparently impossible, but Lannon thought he might be able to travel anywhere in the world. But the Eye of Dreams was not something Lannon could control for very long, and he suddenly found himself being pulled through time and space against his will.

The Eye of Dreams first took Lannon to Dremlock Kingdom, where a meeting of the remaining High Council members was taking place in Dremlock Hall. Their faces were tense as they sat at a long table. An Orange Squire was busy keeping them supplied with water, ale, and snacks. The fireplace was roaring and several lanterns lit the hall, revealing the huge paintings of famous Knights. The Crest of Dremlock was displayed on two of the walls-the three strange crystals that represented Dremlock's god, one in purple and white (the Riding Crest) and one in black and silver (the Kingdom Crest).

Lannon could not feel the heat from the fireplace or smell the incense that burned on the tables. All he could do was watch what was taking place. He wondered if this was how ghosts existed-completely detached from everything yet still able to be an observer. He was slightly apprehensive at first, wondering if the Knights would somehow catch a glimpse of him and demand to know why he was spying on them. But he soon realized they had no clue he was present.

Cordus Landsaver looked exhausted, his eyes bloodshot as he squinted at a map in front of him. Lannon hovered beside the Lord Knight and gazed down at the map. It showed the continent of Gallamerth in detail, including all of its kingdoms, with many places marked with red ink. Lannon marveled that even the great Cordus Landsaver had no idea that Lannon was positioned right next to him. The spying potential of the Eye of Dreams was astounding. Lannon suffered no guilt over spying on the Lord Knight, because he felt he'd been brought here for a good reason and that something important was about to be revealed.

"So Brothlor Kingdom has surrendered to Bellis," said Cordus, rubbing his forehead. "The last of the Six Guardian Kingdoms is now an extension of Bellis." The Lord Knight wore his magnificent, shining breastplate that displayed the original Crest of Dremlock-the three great towers. His unkempt black hair and beard held grey streaks that seemed new to Lannon. He was still an imposing figure, with his fierce blue eyes and muscular body-but he seemed diminished somehow, terribly burdened by stress. Lannon didn't like what he saw at all, and he wished he were at Dremlock in the flesh.

"So what is left?" asked Krissana Windsword. "The Six Guardian Kingdoms have fallen. That leaves only the barbarian kingdoms of the coasts, along with Borenthia, East Hammer Haven, and Dremlock. When will Bellis ride to our gates?"

"I would guess quite soon," said Barlow Whitesword. He was a short and stocky man, balding and clean shaven. He was the Lord of the Brown Knights and always wore his armor and shield when out and about. He was simple and not extremely intelligent in matters beyond combat and strategy, but he knew the Sacred Laws of Dremlock to the letter and he was stubborn in adhering to them.

"It is not likely that Bellis will ride against Borenthia," said Vesselin Hopebringer, the ancient Lord of the White Knights. He smoothed out his long white beard with a wrinkled, trembling hand. "The Birlotes are still too strong to be conquered easily. It would take decades of warfare. And the Birlotes keep to themselves, so Bellis can simply ignore them for now. East Hammer Haven is heavily defended as well, and the Grey Dwarves also keep to themselves. I would say Dremlock is certain to be the next target. The time has come to act."

Lannon wondered why the Eye of Dreams was showing him this meeting. He'd already known that Bellis was a concern. But the mood in the hall was dark, and Lannon suspected the situation had become dire. But what could he do about it? He was far away from Dremlock, caught up in his own grim situation. It seemed the Eye had dragged him here just to torment his mind all the more.

"We must call back our forces from Dorok's Hand," said Barlow. "We have too many valuable Knights there that could help defend Dremlock."

"Abandon Dorok's Hand?" said Cordus, scowling. "It took considerable effort to secure that fortress-the death of many Knights. Now we just retreat and leave it for the Blood Legion?"

"We struck a deep blow to the Legion," said Barlow, with a shrug. "And they lost many warriors at Blombalk Fortress. They are weak."

"True," said Cordus, "but instead of finishing them off, it would seem we're now forced to abandon our war against them when we are so close to victory." He sighed in frustration. "The timing of this issue with Bellis is terrible."

"The attack on Dorok's Hand was a noble effort," said Vesselin, "but the situation has changed. The threat of Bellis is too great for us to focus on anything else. Tenneth Bard is dead and the Blood Legion is weak. The Hand of Tharnin is no longer a threat. King Verlamer is now our greatest enemy and surely is a servant of the Deep Shadow."

"I still don't understand," said Krissana, "how the King of Bellis could have fallen under the influence of the Deep Shadow. Bellis is far away from the troubles of Silverland. Is there any news on how this could have happened?"

"No, it remains a great mystery," said Cordus, gazing at the map. "Somehow, a powerful servant of Tharnin was able to breach that mighty kingdom and get close to King Verlamer-close enough to whisper in his ear and change his destiny. Bellis is so strongly defended against the Deep Shadow that it seems impossible, yet clearly it has happened. Unless…he is simply insane. In either case, he clearly isn't going to stop the expansion until all of Gallamerth is under his control."

"Brothlor Kingdom lies just beyond Silverland," said Barlow. "That means Bellis already has a large army right on our doorstep. Rather than assemble one massive force against us, they may opt to send smaller armies to weaken us. They may attack Dorok's Hand and try to lay claim to the White Flamestone. Regardless, we could be attacked very soon. Clearly, the time has come for us to take action."

"I agree," said Krissana. "Perhaps we should call back all of our forces and fortify the kingdom, then wait for Bellis to come to us."

"Yet that would be devastating to Silverland," said Cordus. "Especially with these new Goblins attacking towns. Still, I believe we must withdraw at least eighty percent of our Knights and bring them here. We will need the Eye of Divinity and, most importantly, the White Flamestone."

"And then we sit and wait," said Barlow, with a wry smile, "as the massive armies of Bellis close in on us." He shook his head slowly, his eyes looking haunted. "How can Dremlock withstand such forces?"