Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

Cordus pointed towards the door. "Be gone with you, Knight of Bellis, or you will feel my wrath!"

Suddenly, Lannon was yanked away from the scene-back through time and space to some unknown destination. He found himself in a throne room, in some huge hall with marble pillars and a dome-shaped ceiling. He knew it was the Kingdom of Bellis. Seated on a throne before Lannon was a huge, bearded king dressed in a white and crimson robe. His face was pale-almost inhumanly so, with dark and sunken eyes. Perched on an arm of the throne was a small, golden dragon with large claws and fangs and malicious eyes-a Goblin like the one whose bones had formed Lannon's sword. Next to the king was a silver chalice that had tipped over and spilled out some dark fluid that looked like blood. For some reason, Lannon was filled with dread as he looked upon this scene, for he knew this was symbolic of the ruin of Dremlock Kingdom.

And then Lannon was pulled away again, and this time he seemed to be falling into some deep void. He cried out in despair, just before he awoke in his tent covered in sweat. Lannon sat up, his chest heaving. The spell of the Eye of Dreams was broken, and Lannon wondered if it would ever return again. After what he'd witnessed, he almost hoped it never did.

Before returning to sleep, Lannon paid a visit to Taris' tent and told him what the Eye of Dreams had revealed. Lannon told the story in great detail, while Taris listened without interruption and with a somber expression.

When Lannon was finished, Taris said, "I think this calls for some tea." He heated some water in his teakettle with a brief touch of his hand and then poured a cup for each of them. He didn't speak for several moments as he sipped the tea, but seemed to be in deep contemplation. Once again he was seated cross-legged in the dead of night, as if he never laid down to sleep.

At last Taris said, "You knew instinctively it was the Eye of Dreams that was showing you those things. The Eye of Dreams knows no distance or barrier. However, as you discovered, it is usually unpredictable and something you will never learn to control. It springs from the deepest reaches of your soul-sometimes from your deepest fears-where your conscious mind holds no sway."

"So the meeting at Dremlock was real and not just a dream?" said Lannon. "I was actually seeing it while it took place, this very night?"

"You were in a dream state," said Taris, "but what you witnessed was probably real. The lines between the dream world and what we consider to be the real world can sometimes blur. Regardless, it means our time grows short. We must settle this issue with the Black Flamestone as quickly as possible and then either return to Dorok's Hand-or go straight to Dremlock. I'm sure the Elder Hawks will bear instructions to us from the Lord Knight."

"In my dream," said Lannon, "the High Council talked of abandoning Dorok's Hand. Do you really think that will happen?"

"It may be inevitable," said Taris. "We'll need all of our Knights to defend Dremlock if Bellis attacks."

"But what about that portal to the Deep Shadow?" said Lannon. "If the Blood Legion regains control of Dorok's Hand, they could open it again, allowing Vorden and his Hand of Tharnin back into our world." At one point, Lannon would have welcomed Vorden's return in hope of freeing him from the grasp of evil. But after what the Eye had recently shown him about Timlin, Lannon had lost confidence in the notion that Vorden could be saved. It seemed Vorden was better off trapped in the realm of Tharnin forever.

"Yes," said Taris, "that could happen, unfortunately. Simply burying the portal with earth and stone was not an effective way to close it, and it could easily be dug open again. But we will do what we must. The Hand of Tharnin is a dire threat, but the Blood Legion is weak right now. Our greatest concern is the sprawling empire of Bellis and their insane king."

Lannon sighed. "How can Dremlock survive all these threats? It seems like too many evil forces are working against us."

"We can endure," said Taris, "because we have the Eye of Divinity and the White Flamestone. However, if our enemies get their hands on the Black Flamestone and learn to unlock its full power, then I fear we will be doomed. So we must gain possession of it and take it to Dremlock. It must be returned to the Divine Essence. The Black Flamestone is chaotic and evil but it belongs to our god, safely beyond the destructive reach of mortals."

"I understand the importance of the White Flamestone," said Lannon, "but the Eye of Divinity doesn't seem like much of a threat to Bellis. If Dremlock is attacked, what can I actually do to defend the kingdom?"

"The Eye of Divinity," said Taris, "can make you far more powerful than any ordinary Knight, if you learn how to master its full potential. And while you are a long way from achieving that skill level, you are making progress every day. Don't question your value to Dremlock, Lannon. You discovered how to kill the Goblin Lords we feared were invincible, and you slew Tenneth Bard with a single attack. Now the Eye of Dreams has grown strong within you and is revealing important events. Tomorrow, you will use your power to help us track down that Specter. Rest assured, you are vital to this kingdom."

"Yet I fear for Dremlock's future," said Lannon. "That Knight of Bellis seemed so sure of himself, so arrogant. He seemed far more confident than our Lord Knight. I could sense that he was certain Dremlock would fall."

"I fear for our future as well," said Taris. "But all we can do is concentrate on whatever task is at hand. Now you must get some sleep, for tomorrow at dawn we search for the Black Flamestone."

Lannon returned to his tent and lay down beneath his quilt. Jerret was still awake and sitting up, though he kept yawning. At first Lannon thought his mind was too burdened to allow for sleep, but then he remembered his training and began meditating-with his focus on getting some refreshing slumber. Moments later, he started to drift off, and he welcomed the comforting embrace of deep sleep. He hoped he wouldn't have any dreams.

Later, Lannon was awakened in his tent by Jerret, who was shaking him furiously. Jerret's eyes were wild in the lantern light and his broadsword was in hand. Lannon could hear shouts coming from outside the tent, and he sat up, reaching for his blade. "What's going on?" he asked.

"We're being attacked!" Jerret yelled. "Everyone, wake up!"

The other Squires awoke and rose-with the exception of Galvia, who remained lying down due to her wounds. Vannas drew the White Flamestone from its pouch, and Aldreya drew her dagger.

"The Blood Legion has broken the agreement!" Jerret growled, rage in his voice. "They're going to pay dearly for this!"

Galvia tried to get up, but Jerret motioned her to remain where she was. "Just stay in here, okay? You can't fight in that condition."

Reluctantly, Galvia slumped back down, groaning in pain.

The Squires stepped from the tent to find a fortress in chaos and confusion. Knights and Legion soldiers were scurrying about with flaming weapons, but they didn't seem to be engaging any foes. They seemed to be frantically searching for something. The rest of the Divine Shield was gathered just outside the tent, and Taris was calling for his Knights to get into formation.

"What's going on?" Lannon asked, as he struggled to make sense of what he was seeing. Clearly the Blood Legion wasn't the problem, as their fighters seemed just as confused as Dremlock's Knights.

"Something is attacking us," said Taris, his voice calm in spite of the circumstances. " All of us. Possibly the Specter, though we don't know for sure yet since we can't see it."

Screams came from the Soldier Barracks, but Taris raised his hand to indicate everyone should hold formation. "No matter what happens, stay in position. We'll let our foe come to us."