Chapter 1
“For weeks I have watched the sky to the east grow darker, and today I know why. The darkness grows from an evil far darker than I ever imagined. I find myself terrified at the fact that I am writing this letter, if I am caught with it I will surely be put to death.
It all happened five days ago while I was walking to Selah. I was about to crest the edge of a steep hill when I saw a group of men at the bottom of the hill about two hundred feet away. I dropped down into the tall grass; for I could tell that this group was not to be trusted, because they were all heavily armed. There were six men in the group, they were standing in the road talking, and then they all split up and hid along opposite sides of the road. I watched helplessly as the men set up an ambush.
Then I saw him come riding up the road, the victim of this evil plot. It was none other than Alaric’s only son!
I was just about to yell and warn Alaric’s son when I heard a deep and terrible voice say, “Your time is up.” I covered my mouth to keep from screaming. There, just thirty feet below me, on the hill side I saw two huge creatures. I can only describe them as unearthly, hideous looking things.
I wanted to scream but then, my voice was
gone. I noticed more of the creatures; they
were dark spots in the landscape surrounding
the ambush.
I was truly helpless, I could not warn Alaric’s son of the danger in time, and those creatures would kill me first and then kill him, if I did try to yell; but it was too late anyway; the men had taken aim with bow and arrow and fired. I watched in utter horror as Alaric’s only son fell to the ground, three of the six arrows had found their mark.
The larger of the two black creatures started laughing; the sound was that of evil itself. The men who had killed Alaric’s son were now dragging off his body. The hideous creatures began talking in a more hushed tone; and I only caught a few words. One of them called the other lord Rahm, and they said something about keys of some sort. A few minutes later all of the black creatures got up and started following the men who were dragging Alaric’s son’s body towards Selah.
I waited until I could see them no longer and then I ran home. I, being the soul witness to the murder of Alaric’s son, and seeing who had been there and who had killed him, had to tell someone of what I had seen. That is why I write to you now; I hope that someday, everyone will know the truth about what happened that day.”
I was truly helpless, I could not warn Alaric’s son of the danger in time, and those creatures would kill me first and then kill him, if I did try to yell; but it was too late anyway; the men had taken aim with bow and arrow and fired. I watched in utter horror as Alaric’s only son fell to the ground, three of the six arrows had found their mark.
The larger of the two black creatures started laughing; the sound was that of evil itself. The men who had killed Alaric’s son were now dragging off his body. The hideous creatures began talking in a more hushed tone; and I only caught a few words. One of them called the other lord Rahm, and they said something about keys of some sort. A few minutes later all of the black creatures got up and started following the men who were dragging Alaric’s son’s body towards Selah.
I waited until I could see them no longer and then I ran home. I, being the soul witness to the murder of Alaric’s son, and seeing who had been there and who had killed him, had to tell someone of what I had seen. That is why I write to you now; I hope that someday, everyone will know the truth about what happened that day.”
Sheba set the letter down on the table in front of him. Things
were starting to make a little more sense, Rahm had been their
when Alaric’s son was killed and he was in favor of the killing.
So this meant that Alaric and Rahm were enemies. That must
be a big part of the reason why it was so important that no one
believe those seven men, since Rahm had no other enemies that
Sheba knew of, they must be Alaric’s messengers.
Sheba had spent all of yesterday hanging around Wormwood’s palace thinking about the dream he had had yesterday night; envisioning the people on Kedron’s west bank who were calling to him to come home. Who were they? But the part of the dream that bothered Sheba the most was when that one man on the river bank had whispered, “I am waiting for you.” Sheba could still hear the whisper in his ear and feel it going through his body.
Sheba had then decided he needed to find some answers. That evening he had gone to bed, just like he always did, but then a few hours later he got back up.
When Sheba was a young boy, he used to practice magic on the rats in the basement of Wormwood’s palaces. Once while being down there, he had stumbled upon a room that was filled with hundreds of old books. Later he had asked Tantar what those books were, and Tantar had told him that they were worthless old record books and that he was never to go in that room again; but if they were just worthless record books, Sheba thought, why should he never go in there again, no there had to be something more.
Tantar and everyone else in Wormwood were hiding something from Sheba, and now he was determined to find out the truth.
Sheba was now sitting in that room full of old books in the palace’s basement, they were books about Haven. Plans for buildings, records and maps were what he had found so far, the letter he had just finished reading had fallen out of a store house ledger.
Sheba had spent all of yesterday hanging around Wormwood’s palace thinking about the dream he had had yesterday night; envisioning the people on Kedron’s west bank who were calling to him to come home. Who were they? But the part of the dream that bothered Sheba the most was when that one man on the river bank had whispered, “I am waiting for you.” Sheba could still hear the whisper in his ear and feel it going through his body.
Sheba had then decided he needed to find some answers. That evening he had gone to bed, just like he always did, but then a few hours later he got back up.
When Sheba was a young boy, he used to practice magic on the rats in the basement of Wormwood’s palaces. Once while being down there, he had stumbled upon a room that was filled with hundreds of old books. Later he had asked Tantar what those books were, and Tantar had told him that they were worthless old record books and that he was never to go in that room again; but if they were just worthless record books, Sheba thought, why should he never go in there again, no there had to be something more.
Tantar and everyone else in Wormwood were hiding something from Sheba, and now he was determined to find out the truth.
Sheba was now sitting in that room full of old books in the palace’s basement, they were books about Haven. Plans for buildings, records and maps were what he had found so far, the letter he had just finished reading had fallen out of a store house ledger.
Darrington was now only about an hour away. Gavin thought it felt strange to be riding alone; Thammar was now riding Nimrod’s horse because Nimrod was riding behind Javon, holding him up. Javon was still unconscious, Gavin did not know what the poison from those locusts did, but Javon did not look good at all.
The whole reality of this journey was starting to sink in. Gavin felt he was waking up from a bad dream to find that he was not dreaming; this was really happening.
Gavin’s thoughts drifted back to when Alaric’s messenger had come to him, finding the other six men, and then setting out on this impossible journey. How could they possibly go over all of Shinar, and tell everyone about the end of the world? And now after being chased by those, locust things, Gavin was ready to just stop this whole thing, it was getting to dangerous. Could Alaric not just call a truce with Rahm and they could call the whole thing off?
Gavin turned and looked behind him, the thought had just occurred to him that they had not seen any Watch Eyes lately, the little figures made Gavin’s heart jump every time he saw them. Their dark cloaks seamed to absorb the light around them, making them look all the more dark and evil.
Gavin turned around to look at Javon, I hope he is going to be alright, Gavin thought to himself as he sighed.
Rahm’s sickly butler knocked on the door to Rahm’s throne
room.
“Come in.” Rahm said.
The Butler opened the door, and came in followed by Alex. Rahm sat up, “Yes?”
The butler bowed and replied, “I found this little creepy
thing trying to get into the palace.” The butler pointed down at Alex, who sneered back at him.
“Thank you, you may go.” Rahm smiled a little as the butler bowed and left.
“Do you have a report for me little creepy thing.” Rahm said smiling.
Alex began slowly, “Yes, your majesty.”
“I am waiting.”
“The seven made it past the caves and are now nearing Darrington.”
“All seven of them?”
“Yes your majesty, one of them was stung but he is still alive.” Rahm rubbed his chin in thought. “Do you think he will recover?”
“I cannot say.”
Rahm thought for a moment. “They will probably stay in Darrington for a while, delaying them.”
“Yes your majesty.”
“I want you to take four Watch Eyes from cities the seven have already been to and go to Darrington.”
“May I ask why?”
“There is safety in numbers.”
Alex thought that strange. Safety in numbers? What were they going to need safety from?
“Is there anything else your majesty?”
“Come in.” Rahm said.
The Butler opened the door, and came in followed by Alex. Rahm sat up, “Yes?”
The butler bowed and replied, “I found this little creepy
thing trying to get into the palace.” The butler pointed down at Alex, who sneered back at him.
“Thank you, you may go.” Rahm smiled a little as the butler bowed and left.
“Do you have a report for me little creepy thing.” Rahm said smiling.
Alex began slowly, “Yes, your majesty.”
“I am waiting.”
“The seven made it past the caves and are now nearing Darrington.”
“All seven of them?”
“Yes your majesty, one of them was stung but he is still alive.” Rahm rubbed his chin in thought. “Do you think he will recover?”
“I cannot say.”
Rahm thought for a moment. “They will probably stay in Darrington for a while, delaying them.”
“Yes your majesty.”
“I want you to take four Watch Eyes from cities the seven have already been to and go to Darrington.”
“May I ask why?”
“There is safety in numbers.”
Alex thought that strange. Safety in numbers? What were they going to need safety from?
“Is there anything else your majesty?”
Chapter 2
The seven rode through the streets of Darrington. The
buildings and people here looked as though they came
from every corner of Shinar. Gavin could not see much in
the dark, but it looked like the “night shift” was out and roaming
the streets.
Darrington must be a pretty big city; it was late at night and
Gavin could not see the end of the street up ahead or behind him
now. Laughter erupted from a building behind Gavin; he turned
to look in the direction the noise had come from. Light shown
through the building’s windows, and Gavin could see some of
the rowdy crowd inside. Most of the buildings here were dark
except for that one and a few more up ahead.
“Look there...” Esron pointed to the left side of the street. “...a doctor.”
Gavin saw a sign hanging over the door of a house that said, “Dr. Ron”
“Good, my arms are getting tired.” Nimrod said.
The seven brought their horses to a stop in front of the house. Esron dismounted, ran up to the door and began knocking on the door. Esron banged on the door for at least five minutes before the door opened. There stood an elderly man in a night robe and cap, he held a candle in his hand and looked out at his callers.
“Are you the doctor?” Esron asked.
“Look there...” Esron pointed to the left side of the street. “...a doctor.”
Gavin saw a sign hanging over the door of a house that said, “Dr. Ron”
“Good, my arms are getting tired.” Nimrod said.
The seven brought their horses to a stop in front of the house. Esron dismounted, ran up to the door and began knocking on the door. Esron banged on the door for at least five minutes before the door opened. There stood an elderly man in a night robe and cap, he held a candle in his hand and looked out at his callers.
“Are you the doctor?” Esron asked.
“Yes I am, what is the matter?” The man asked as he looked
at the others who were on their horses in the street.
“My friend is...” Esron thought a moment. “...is badly hurt.”
“Well bring him inside.” The doctor waved his hand.
“Thank you.” Esron said gratefully while walking back to get Javon. Azor dismounted and helped Esron get Javon down, the two of them carried Javon inside, and the rest dismounted and followed.
The doctor showed them through his house to a back bedroom. “Just put him on the bed there.”
Esron and Azor brought Javon in and laid him on the bed.
The doctor unwrapped Javon’s shoulder and studied it. “What happened?” He asked a little puzzled.
Nimrod and Esron looked at each other wondering how much or what they should say.
“It looks like a bite or sting of some sort.” The doctor looked around at everyone. “Do you know what happened?”
“My friend is...” Esron thought a moment. “...is badly hurt.”
“Well bring him inside.” The doctor waved his hand.
“Thank you.” Esron said gratefully while walking back to get Javon. Azor dismounted and helped Esron get Javon down, the two of them carried Javon inside, and the rest dismounted and followed.
The doctor showed them through his house to a back bedroom. “Just put him on the bed there.”
Esron and Azor brought Javon in and laid him on the bed.
The doctor unwrapped Javon’s shoulder and studied it. “What happened?” He asked a little puzzled.
Nimrod and Esron looked at each other wondering how much or what they should say.
“It looks like a bite or sting of some sort.” The doctor looked around at everyone. “Do you know what happened?”
“It was an oversized scorpion with wings.” Esron finally said.
The doctor looked at Esron for a minute, “Well I had better get my things, and my wife to help me; you fellows wait in the
other room.” The six all went back out into the other room
and the doctor went upstairs to get his wife, he returned a few
minutes later, with an elderly woman and they both went into
the bedroom.
The six were in the sitting room; there were two benches and a few chairs that the six men sat in. All of the seats were covered in homemade blankets and a few pillows. The room had a very homey feeling to it. It was obvious that “Mrs. Doctor” was a very good home maker.
There was a lamp sitting on the table that sat in the corner, casting large flickering shadows over the rest of the room. This made it hard to see much, but Gavin could see enough. All of this homemade stuff made Gavin feel a little homesick. Gavin could not help but wonder where his mother and sister were right now.
Gavin sighed and then yawned, he was very tired; after they were attacked by those locust things this morning they had been riding ever since. Gavin leaned his head back and rested it against the back of the chair, blinked a few times and fell asleep.
Esron and Nimrod sat on the bench that was directly across the room from the door that led to the bedroom Javon was in. Nimrod stared at the door for a while, wondering what was going on behind it. He looked over at Esron, who was staring at the floor. Esron looked troubled, almost guilty.
“Esron, will you come help me stable the horses?” Nimrod asked. Esron nodded while getting up, and they headed out the front door.
The six were in the sitting room; there were two benches and a few chairs that the six men sat in. All of the seats were covered in homemade blankets and a few pillows. The room had a very homey feeling to it. It was obvious that “Mrs. Doctor” was a very good home maker.
There was a lamp sitting on the table that sat in the corner, casting large flickering shadows over the rest of the room. This made it hard to see much, but Gavin could see enough. All of this homemade stuff made Gavin feel a little homesick. Gavin could not help but wonder where his mother and sister were right now.
Gavin sighed and then yawned, he was very tired; after they were attacked by those locust things this morning they had been riding ever since. Gavin leaned his head back and rested it against the back of the chair, blinked a few times and fell asleep.
Esron and Nimrod sat on the bench that was directly across the room from the door that led to the bedroom Javon was in. Nimrod stared at the door for a while, wondering what was going on behind it. He looked over at Esron, who was staring at the floor. Esron looked troubled, almost guilty.
“Esron, will you come help me stable the horses?” Nimrod asked. Esron nodded while getting up, and they headed out the front door.
They both walked out to the hitching post, Nimrod untied
his horse, Javon’s, Azor’s and Matthen’s horse’s. Esron untied his
horse and Thammar’s horse and then followed Nimrod who had
already started down the street looking for a stable.
They walked down the street for a few minutes until Nimrod found a stable. He opened the door and led the horses inside. By the time Esron had his two horses inside; Nimrod was knocking on a door that was labeled “Proprietor”. Esron came and stood beside Nimrod, a few seconds later a groggy man in his mid fifties opened the door and looked at them.
“We would like to put up six horses here for the night.” Nimrod pointed back at the horses standing in the stable aisle.
The man looked at the horses and then back at Nimrod. “You can pay me tomorrow.” He closed the door.
Nimrod looked at Esron. “I suppose that means the horses can stay here.”
Nimrod took three horses over and put them in stalls, as did Esron. Nimrod found some buckets in the corner; he picked up two and went out the back of the barn in search of a water pump. To his right was a water pump over a trough; he put a bucket under the spout and started pumping the handle. When both buckets were full he went inside and put them in the front of two stalls; Nimrod continued to get water until all six horses had full buckets in front of them.
Meanwhile, Esron had gone up into the hay loft and had been throwing hay down; he climbed back down and began filling the mangers in the stalls. Esron then went to the corner of the barn where the grain bin was located; he filled a bucket with oats and started graining the horses. He finished and then went to his horse to unsaddle him.
Nimrod went to the stall next to Esron, where Matthen’s horse was stabled and began unsaddling her. Nimrod pulled the saddle off and swung it over the dividing wall, then turned and looked at Esron. “Did you know something about those caves Esron?”
They walked down the street for a few minutes until Nimrod found a stable. He opened the door and led the horses inside. By the time Esron had his two horses inside; Nimrod was knocking on a door that was labeled “Proprietor”. Esron came and stood beside Nimrod, a few seconds later a groggy man in his mid fifties opened the door and looked at them.
“We would like to put up six horses here for the night.” Nimrod pointed back at the horses standing in the stable aisle.
The man looked at the horses and then back at Nimrod. “You can pay me tomorrow.” He closed the door.
Nimrod looked at Esron. “I suppose that means the horses can stay here.”
Nimrod took three horses over and put them in stalls, as did Esron. Nimrod found some buckets in the corner; he picked up two and went out the back of the barn in search of a water pump. To his right was a water pump over a trough; he put a bucket under the spout and started pumping the handle. When both buckets were full he went inside and put them in the front of two stalls; Nimrod continued to get water until all six horses had full buckets in front of them.
Meanwhile, Esron had gone up into the hay loft and had been throwing hay down; he climbed back down and began filling the mangers in the stalls. Esron then went to the corner of the barn where the grain bin was located; he filled a bucket with oats and started graining the horses. He finished and then went to his horse to unsaddle him.
Nimrod went to the stall next to Esron, where Matthen’s horse was stabled and began unsaddling her. Nimrod pulled the saddle off and swung it over the dividing wall, then turned and looked at Esron. “Did you know something about those caves Esron?”
Esron looked up, and starred at the ceiling. Esron sighed and
said, “I tried to warn you that there might be something down
there.”
“Are you saying it is my fault Javon got hurt?” Nimrod felt offended.
“No, I should have pressed the issue harder, but I did not think...” Esron looked back at the saddle he was about to take from his horse’s back; he picked it up and slung it over the stall’s wall and turned his back to Nimrod. “They should not have... I did not think they would attack us.”
Nimrod could feel that Esron was holding something back. “I do not understand, what do you mean “they should not have attacked us”? And what where those things?”
“They live dormant in the cave, so I have been told, and are not to come out unless they are summoned.” Esron turned and faced Nimrod. “The only time anyone has ever been stung is because they were trying to find...” Esron stopped himself.
“What are you talking about?” Nimrod was growing annoyed. Esron turned away again.
“Esron what is going on?!” Nimrod walked out of the stall and into the one facing Esron.
Esron held his breath and then let it out. “Those locust were
said to be placed there as guards.”
“What are they guarding?” Nimrod searched Esron’s face. “When Rahm invaded Haven and Selah, he stole a Candelabrum that held seven candles, one for each necklace that Alaric gave to the men of Haven; but Rahm could not put the candles out, he tried everything but they did not stop burning. So he hid them deep in a cave and set those locusts as guards.”
“Are you saying it is my fault Javon got hurt?” Nimrod felt offended.
“No, I should have pressed the issue harder, but I did not think...” Esron looked back at the saddle he was about to take from his horse’s back; he picked it up and slung it over the stall’s wall and turned his back to Nimrod. “They should not have... I did not think they would attack us.”
Nimrod could feel that Esron was holding something back. “I do not understand, what do you mean “they should not have attacked us”? And what where those things?”
“They live dormant in the cave, so I have been told, and are not to come out unless they are summoned.” Esron turned and faced Nimrod. “The only time anyone has ever been stung is because they were trying to find...” Esron stopped himself.
“What are you talking about?” Nimrod was growing annoyed. Esron turned away again.
“Esron what is going on?!” Nimrod walked out of the stall and into the one facing Esron.
Esron held his breath and then let it out. “Those locust were
said to be placed there as guards.”
“What are they guarding?” Nimrod searched Esron’s face. “When Rahm invaded Haven and Selah, he stole a Candelabrum that held seven candles, one for each necklace that Alaric gave to the men of Haven; but Rahm could not put the candles out, he tried everything but they did not stop burning. So he hid them deep in a cave and set those locusts as guards.”
Nimrod starred at Esron waiting for the rest.
“The locusts are supposed to be sleeping in the cave, they were told not to come out unless they were summoned and not to wake up unless there were intruders.”
Nimrod stood a moment taking in what Esron had said. “A watch Eye must have told Rahm, and Rahm summoned the locusts.” Nimrod looked at Esron. “If you knew this, and you knew a Watch Eye was following us, why did you not say anything to me?”
“I was not sure.”
“You should have told me!” Nimrod was angry now. “Do all the years we fought side by side mean anything? You could have told me of this before we left Rocky Peak and we could have found a different way to Darrington!”
“I am sorry.” Esron looked at the floor.
“That is not going to help Javon.” Nimrod walked over to Thammar’s horse and began unsaddling her.
Esron saw movement, he looked up in time to see the front door of the barn close, he ran over and opened it, and he scanned the street.
“What did you see?” Nimrod asked.
“I thought I saw someone.”
“It was probably the wind.” Nimrod said spitefully.
Esron looked up and down the street one last time and then closed the door and went back inside. He walked over to Azor’s horse and began to unsaddle.
“The locusts are supposed to be sleeping in the cave, they were told not to come out unless they were summoned and not to wake up unless there were intruders.”
Nimrod stood a moment taking in what Esron had said. “A watch Eye must have told Rahm, and Rahm summoned the locusts.” Nimrod looked at Esron. “If you knew this, and you knew a Watch Eye was following us, why did you not say anything to me?”
“I was not sure.”
“You should have told me!” Nimrod was angry now. “Do all the years we fought side by side mean anything? You could have told me of this before we left Rocky Peak and we could have found a different way to Darrington!”
“I am sorry.” Esron looked at the floor.
“That is not going to help Javon.” Nimrod walked over to Thammar’s horse and began unsaddling her.
Esron saw movement, he looked up in time to see the front door of the barn close, he ran over and opened it, and he scanned the street.
“What did you see?” Nimrod asked.
“I thought I saw someone.”
“It was probably the wind.” Nimrod said spitefully.
Esron looked up and down the street one last time and then closed the door and went back inside. He walked over to Azor’s horse and began to unsaddle.
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