Dennis McCiernan - Into the Forge

Phais paused, and Talarin said, "And that is why, my dear Waerlinga, Adonar and Mithgar are free, whereas Neddra is not, for Neddra and its peoples are creations of Gyphon, and his will holds dominion o'er all, whereas Adonar and Mithgar are the works of Adon and Elwydd."

"Forget not Vadaria, Alor Talarin," said Phais, "for it, too, is a shaping of Elwydd."

"Vadaria?" asked Beau.

"The world whence come the Mages," replied Phais. "Or did before the destruction of Rwn." As the buccen's eyes went wide, Phais added, "As Dara Rael has said, there are many Planes of existence and many worlds therein-from the world of the Hidden Ones, shaped by Elwydd but now abandoned by those folk, to the Dragonworld of Kelgor, shaped by… we know not whom… mayhap by the Great Creator Himself. Yet I stray from the gods' debate…" Phais turned to Rael.

Rael turned up a hand. "The pith of the debate was that Adon argued for the right of all peoples to freely choose the paths they would follow, whereas Gyphon spoke for the domination and control of those He named 'inferior beings.' "

Beau now stood and stepped to a different portion of the tapestry and climbed upon a chair, and Tipperton said, "I take it then that these Black Mages side with Gyphon, for as you have said, they seek dominion, control, power over others."

All the Lian nodded in agreement, and Loric said, "They have become allies of Gyphon, yet should Gyphon Himself gain the upper hand, he will utterly dominate them as well, much to their everlasting sorrow, though they believe it not."

Beau, standing on the seat, peered at the figure representing Gyphon. "Why, He isn't a pure single color at all, but instead shimmers like oil on water."

"Aye," responded Talarin. " 'Tis because He is the Great Deceiver, showing a given person or people whatever face need be until He has them in His grasp. Then and only then will His true nature show, and it is monstrous."

Hurriedly, Beau drew back from the tapestry, clambering down and resuming his chair.

"And this Modru in Gron, the Black Mage fighting against High King Blaine, he's been deceived by Gyphon?" asked Tip.

Talarin nodded, saying, "Beguiled, seduced, though he, like all the others, knows it not."

Beau frowned. "Say, now, let's get back to Tip's original question: what does all this have to do with Gyphon gaining total dominion over all of creation?"

Rael sighed. "With the destruction of Rwn, which held the only known crossing to Vadaria, the world of the Mages is sundered from Mithgar. The world of the Hidden Ones is abandoned by them, though some foulness remains behind. And although the passage to Kelgor remains open, it is said that Dragons will not be dominated by even the gods themselves, albeit Dara Arin believed and still believes the Dragonstone, ere it went down with Rwn, was one token of power which would give mastery o'er even them.

"It is said the gods themselves draw power from the very Planes. Hence, the one who controls two of the three primary Planes reigns over all. Adon is Master of the High and Middle Planes, and therefore is Master of all. Yet Gyphon rules the Low Plane, and Neddra therein. Thus, should Gyphon gain dominance o'er one of the two remaining principal worlds of either the Mittegarda or the Hohgarda-gain dominance o'er Mithgar or Adonar-then He will displace Adon, to the woe of all existence."

"Well," said Beau, "why doesn't Adon stop Him? -Stop Gyphon, I mean."

Rael turned up a hand. "Adon intervenes not in the lives or destinies of any, not even in the life of Gyphon, evil as He is."

Silence filled the alcove, none saying aught for a while. At last Tipperton looked at Rael and said, "And Modru is Gyphon's acolyte, His chief lieutenant in Mithgar?"

Rael nodded.

Tip took a deep breath and blew it out. "And so, if Modru defeats High King Blaine…"

A look of profound distress fell across Dara Rael's features. "Then Gyphon rules all, wee one. Then Gyphon rules all."

Pale dawn light filtered in through windows as a soft tapping sounded on the chamber door. Clambering down from the lofty Elven bed and wrapping himself in a blanket, Beau tiptoed through the seeping light and across the cold wooden floor, hissing a wordless complaint with each chill step. Unlatching the door, he opened the portal to find Loric and Phais on the threshold, freshly laundered clothing in hand.

"Oooum," Beau yawned and stood back out of the way and motioned the Elves inside.

"Time to break fast, my friends," said Loric, moving across to the bed and holding a bundle out to Tipperton, that buccan sitting up and rubbing his eyes, "after which we will find ye suitable quarters, a place to stay until the season turns."

Tip reached out and took the clothing, saying, "Oh, Loric, do you mean for us to remain in Arden Vale until spring?"

"Indeed," replied Loric, catching up the bedside lantern to light it.

Beau, footing his way back across the cold floor, said, "Say, now, that's a while off, and if we're to deliver this coin anytime soon, we need to get cracking."

Phais closed the door after and followed Beau as a yellow glow filled the room, banishing the dimness. "Ye cannot go in this season, my friends, for winter bars the way."

Beau groaned. "I just knew it would be blocked in the winter." He clambered onto the bed beside Tip and under the remaining cover, flopping and flapping the one he had used for wrap in a futile attempt to spread overtop all.

"Thou art right, wee one," said Phais, handing Beau's clothing to him. "The city of Dendor lies far beyond the Grimwall, and the most direct and swiftest way through the chain is now barricaded with snow."

Beau, sorting through his bundle and mumbling to himself, said, "Dendor in Aven, that's where Agron lives."

Tip pulled his jerkin over his head. "And the straight way east is now blocked and we'll have to wait till spring?"

Loric nodded. "After the thaw, when the road through Crestan Pass is clear."

"Say, now," said Beau, "the thaw, that's what-two, three months off? Isn't there another way? Slower, perhaps, but passable? I mean, the Kingsman who was delivering the coin, well, wouldn't he have known about this Crestan Pass, it being blocked and all?"

Loric shrugged and looked at Phais, and she said, " 'Twould seem so. Yet mayhap he was riding south for Gunarring Gap, to circle 'round and then north."

Tip glanced at Beau. "If we had our ponies, we could go that way."

Beau nodded, his lips pursed in regret.

"But we do not," continued Tipperton, now struggling to slip into his breeks under the cover.

Seeing his plight, Phais smiled and then deliberately turned her back to the bed. And both buccen threw off the blankets and quickly began to dress, Beau saying, "Well then, bucco, I suppose we'll just have to walk, though it'll take us awhile to reach Dendor. Oh, my aching feet."

Tip, pulling on his socks, said, "I suppose you are right, Beau. But by the time we get there, the import of the coin may have little or no meaning."

"Be not distressed, wee ones," said Loric, "for Alor Tala-rin has heard thy tale and knows of the need to deliver the token in a timely manner. Even so, he cannot perform miracles; he cannot banish the ice and snow standing across thy way. Still, knowing Talarin, he will find means to aid ye."

Both buccen hopped down from the bed and sat on the floor to pull on their boots. Phais turned back 'round and said, "After breaking our fast, we'll look at the maps and decide what to do, for I deem that waiting for the thaw and riding directly east will prove to be more expedient than traveling far south through Gunnar and all the way northward again."

Fully dressed, the buccen caught up their quilted jackets and followed Loric and Phais to another long, low building, where they found Elvenkind at meal. Taking up trenchers and spoons and knives and a cup, they moved through a serving line and received biscuits and butter and a flagon of milk and bowls of porridge sprinkled with pine nuts. They took places at a long table, both Tip and Beau kneeling on the bench rather than sitting, for the table was sized for Elvenkind rather than Waerlinga. Loric passed an earthenware jug of milk to pour over the porridge, along with a small crock of honey to sweeten the meal. Too, Phais filled their cups with hearty tea, adding milk and honey to the drink.