A Time for Revenge

Mach stood in the ruins of what he had once called home. Hovering before him was the form of a man, ghostly and nightmarish. Its cloaked figure never touching the ground, yet like him it had no physical form. They stared at each other in the shadows for a time, his eyes never leaving the spectral form. The voice came again, hauntingly silent on the wind. “Come”

It faded backward, moving as if by thought. There was something familiar about this, something that brought back old memories. Quickly he obeyed, moving as silently as the wind. The ghostly form faded through the wall, the wall that led to his parent’s bedroom. Without hesitation he rushed forward, bursting through the doorway into the remains of his mother’s room. The back wall had been burnt, the crumbling side disintegrated in the fires that had spread after the attack. He closed his eyes the sight of the damage. His whole life had been here, his mother’s life had been here. Now it was gone, all of it.

The specter came once again, gliding passed him. It stopped and hovered over his mother’s bed for a moment, looking toward him through its darkened hood. “Come child,” the specters voice called out, “find us”. Suddenly it lowered itself down into the floor and vanished through the bed, its voice fading into the wind. He felt a pulsating Power from beneath him, a Power that felt both controlled and wild at the same time. He reached for the bed, forgetting that he was nothing more than a specter himself. From one blink of his eyes to the next, he found himself sitting on his bed, cross legged, reaching out as if he had been about to lift the bed he had just seen.

He fell backwards as he went over everything that he had just seen. So much information had been given to him, now if he could only remember it all. First off, his home. It had been nearly a year since he had been home. It was time that he returned home and sought out this specter. This could be a trap of some kind. A way to lure him in to his death. But it could also be something else. Perhaps the lost Stone was already there. Could it really be possible that Rubious had attacked Selane, thinking that there was a Stone there, when in all actuality there really had been a Stone hidden there?

That would be something else! But who would have put it there? Could it have been his father? Or maybe Nedmere? The most likely was Nedmere, thinking to keep it safe he would have put it under his personal protection. But how well did that work out? He had only lived for so long?

There was nothing in any of the documents from Juiint that spoke of any of the Stones having been hid in Selane, or anywhere near there. In fact, every place that the historical notes described as being locations for the Stones had been accurate. The one that they were missing still had been stolen a few years back, the Golems that lived within the caves that lay south of Hell’s Fire said as much.

Perhaps it is another item? Perhaps it is a weapon that could be used to stop Rubious once and for all, ending the reign of that tyrant before it could get started. That alone would be worth the trip back home. Anything that could be used to fight Rubious would be welcome. A book of Magic, a staff of Power, whatever it was he would be glad to have it on his side. He glanced outside of his window and saw that night was falling. Whatever was down there could wait one more day. He lay back on his bed, still fully clothed, and closed his eyes. Willing himself to sleep, for in the morning he would begin preparations to head home. A place that he had not thought he would return to until after he had dealt with Rubious.

Before the first sun had risen, Mach was out of bed and ready to set sail. All he needed was to get a ship ready. With a brief message sent to both Bastra and Mendoll of where he planned on going, he set out for the docks with hurry in each step.

He entered the piers to find the exact person he had been hoping to find. Lord Marshal Stamince stood out amongst the sea of bodies, his bulky body towering over the rest. His voice easily carrying over the wash of noise as he barked out orders. And most noticeably, his flaming red hair all but glowing in the rays of the sunlight. If there was any single group of people who were ready to set sail on a moment’s notice, it would be any crew that was run by Marshal Stamince.

“Marshall!” He quickened his pace when he saw the man turn his head, raising his hand over the sea of heads to get his attention. “Marshall, I need your help!”

Stamince smiled at him as he neared, as was his customary greeting. Even when angered the man still always seemed to have a smile on his face. “Good morning, boy. What can I do for you?”

“I need to get to Selane. The sooner the better.” He explained. “Have you got any ships ready?”

“Is a bear’s ass furry?” Stamince answered spiritedly. “Of course I do. Just give me an hour to gather a crew and we can leave whenever you want. I have had the Rising Glory ready for weeks.”

“Good.” Mach marched off without another word, heading directly to the ship that had been renamed the Rising Glory. It had once been The Raven, but ever since they had sealed the pact with Gehnith, with Sirunre as a whole, they had agreed to do away with everything that had once been Rubious’. However, the loss of an entire ship would have been too much. Instead, they had agreed to refurbish the vessel and rename it. With a new coat of paint and sealer, new sails and a new crew aboard, there was nothing about the ship to remind anyone that there had been anything to do with Rubious on it. For all intents and purposes, the Rising Glory was a child of the Alliance.

He marveled at the difference between what had been and what was now. “So, what’s the deal with you heading home all of a sudden?” He turned to find Bastra and Mendoll marching up the gangplank toward him. Bastra was smiling at his remark, knowing that Mach had just recently spoken out against going home. “Didn’t think that you would do that until we dealt with Rubious.”

He smiled at his friends. He had had a feeling that they would not have missed the chance to have come with him. Not only were they loyal and the kind of men who would protect him until death, but they were also his moral compass. He knew that they would do anything to guide him through every ordeal that came before him. “I think there is something there that I need to get before we find him.” He gestured that they follow him. Leading them to the captain’s deck room, he held the door open while the two filed in. The moment he shut the door, he explained. “Last night, I tried again to see where Rubious was. I think maybe I may have, but more interestingly, I was drawn back home by something. A wraith, or shade approached me and told me to come. I think there is something hidden in Selane.” As he explained what he had seen, both of his comrade’s interest increased.

“So, you are saying you think that somehow Dan may have found a weapon of some kind and hid it beneath your house?” Bastra asked, speculation apparent in his tone.

“Yes and no. I think my dad may have known about it, but I don’t think that he put it there” He could not help but think of the specter that had been there and the time he had met Nedmere under the Ruins of the Mage Spire. Though Nedmere had seemed more real, more solid, the presence of the other wraith was not. The wraiths in the Mage Spire were similar to what he had seen last night, except for Nedmere himself. “I think that whatever is down there has been there for a long time. Whatever it is, I intend to get it. It might be a weapon against Rubious, it might be something we can use to defend against him. I don’t know. Not until I get there and find it.”

Mendoll stood staring at the map that lay on the table. It was the only piece here that he recognized from when he and the others had stolen this ship from Rubious. His father’ signature was still on it, a reminder of who he had been. “As good a plan as any. Mind if we tag along?” the Mage looked up at him and smiled. They knew that he would never deny them the chance to join him on a journey unless a more pressing matter needed to be dealt with.

He nodded his answer, which was all that was needed. Bastra turned away from the table and left, a moment later he could hear the Gargoyle shouting orders outside the door. While he and Mendoll continued to stare at the map in silence, he felt the gentle sway of the ship. That meant only one thing, they were moving away from the docks and would soon be on open water. It would only take a few hours before they were docking in Selane. But those hours were going to occupy his mind with one question. What is it that is hidden beneath his home?

The moment he felt the lurch of the ship, indicating the wind had taken full control of the sails, he left the Captain’s cabin for the fresh salt air of the open sea. Already the land was shrinking behind them as they sped their way along, the slow bobbing of the ship washing away some of the feelings of listlessness he had been feeling for weeks. More than anything, this is what he had needed. He closed his eyes to the breeze of sweet air and breathed deeply. This was freedom, this was what it meant to be a sailor. As the men went about their work, he stood there with his eyes closed to the days light. There was nothing but the gentle clatter from the sailors and the soft glow behind the lids of his eyes. If there was Heaven on earth, it would be out here on the open sea somewhere.

He was lost in the feeling until a call came out, the words echoing down from the crow’s nest. “Port in sight!”

Mach’s eyes snapped open to see what he had not expected to see for many months yet. Before the attack on his home, Selane had been a port town distinguishable by its old fashioned charm. Though the homes and buildings were old, they were well taken care of. However, the fact remained that they were still very old homes, most of which had been originally built at least two to three hundred years ago. But the sight before him, the change that had happened to his home in the wake of the attack, had brought a rebirth to Selane. He had known that the capital had sent workers and builders to help get Selane back on its feet, what he had not expected was to find so much of it already done.

The docks had been completely replaced. Stone pillars rose up out of the water to hold steadfast. New freshly cut planks of wood had been carved out to make the piers, extending the docks strength and life farther than what it had before. Along the edges of the docks, placed along the coast where the weight could be easily sustained, tented shops had cropped up as if this was a travelers town. At the moment, three ships were already docked as the Rising Glory loosed its sails and floated in with the tide.

The most significant difference about Selane was not the cosmetic changes. It was the defensive. Before the ropes could be thrown down to the piers to tie off the ship, a garrison of fighters were already marching onto the piers. Each one looked as if they were prepared to defend the town until their last breath and fully capable of fighting off most any force. And if the person in charge is a tactician, this is only a small part of what actually defends this town.

The gangplank was lowered and Mach took the initiative. He led the way with Bastra and Mendoll in tow, leaving the rest of the sailors behind. There was every likelihood that whoever was in charge here did not know him or who he was. Better to play it safe and be nonaggressive than to find himself in the middle of a fight with his hometown. “Good afternoon. May I speak to whomever is in charge in this area? Either the Captain or if there has been a Lord chosen yet.”

From behind the line of soldiers a voice called out. “That would be me, at least it is for the time being.” A walk path opened up, allowing a soldier in heavier chainmail armor to walk to the front. “For now, I have been elected as the representative. The people here have not chosen a leader yet. So I speak on their behalf until they do so. Lieutenant Mathews, Jason Mathews.”

Mach bowed his head in respect. “I do not know how much information is reaching this town. But there has been a coalition of forces in the last year. Sedan and Eldour have joined with each other, along with two specific cities from near the edge of the Great Sea.”

The man nodded. “We have heard of this.”

“Most recently, Sirunre has joined with Sedan and Eldour.” He added as he searched the man’s eyes for any signs of trouble.

“We heard about that.” There was a bit of confusion within the man’s eyes, but there was also relief. “We had thought it a fool’s errand at first. But when the scouts and priests that came here asking for handouts told us about what happened to one of their own towns, and how they were willing to work with outsiders to find the same individual who attacked this place well, a lot of people here were understandably sympathetic.”

That was a relief. He was worried he would have to explain everything from the beginning. “Good, that means the less I have to explain.”

“Mach, is that you!” A half familiar voice came from behind the rows of soldiers. Once again a path parted and from their ranks a familiar face beamed out to him. “I can’t believe it is you? Brother, how are you?” Mach looked back at Bastra, whose face had lit up brightly at the sight of his youngest sibling. Curlat ran forward to stand beside the lieutenant. Thought it had been nearly a year since he had last seen the Gargoyle, the child had grown considerably in that year. When they had last seen each other, Curlat had only been chin high to Mach. Now the Gargoyle looked as if he were taller than him. With his dark grey stone colored skin, the young Gargoyle was a spitting image of his older brother. It was easy to see how alike the two would be once Curlat finished growing. Even now, Curlat carried a small lance across his back. Small, but still as dangerous as any weapon that could be found. “Lieutenant, Sir, this is Mach Derune. He used to live here.”

“Is this true?” Mathews asked, looking from the young Gargoyle to Mach.

“That and more, lieutenant.” He answered with another bow of his head. “I am Mach Derune. My family has lived here since Selane was founded, my ancestor being the one who founded it in fact. But I have come here for another reason.” He straightened himself as much as he could, trying his best to look as if what he was saying was his best quality. “I am King Derune, Mage King of Juiint. Council member of what is now becoming the central party for the new Empire that is forming under our very feet, consisting of the remaining Kingdoms of the old Five Empires region. I am here to search for an item that I believe to be here. I am formally requesting permission for my ship to stay docked at port while I conduct my search. We have silver to spend for the Inn and I am sure there are a few members of my crew who would not mind helping with any training or tactical details that your men may need assistance with.”

The lieutenant smiled broadly. “Your request is accepted and approved. No help will be needed from your men, they may take their leave at the Sea Fairer Inn. Expenses will be sent to the capital. We had a visitor recently who gave us a lot of information. They also had orders from the capital as well.”

“And what orders were those?” Mendoll asked suddenly, his tone was curious. It sounded to Mach as if the old Adept knew who may have sent the message.

Mathews smile widened proudly. “That any group from the alliance, so long as they can prove who they are, will have full cooperation from any city or town within Eldour. Requisition of replacement materials or funds for given items need only be sent in written form to the Treasurer office at the capital.”

“Sounds like my old friend is doing well in his position.” Mendoll chuckled as the Lieutenant turned and gestured for them to follow.

Mach looked back at Bastra and nodded, who instantly turned and walked off to the ship. Mendoll followed him closely, keeping a polite distance. As they walked, he could not help but marvel at how much had been repaired in the year and a half since the attack. They passed by George’s old shop, the smell of the furnace and melted steel stung his nose as the hot air blasted out of the door. Someone was inside hard at work. Life was taking hold in Selane and though it would never be the same as it once had been, it would continue on nonetheless. Just like me. Just like so many others. Tragedies may change who we are, may alter the paths we take, sometimes drastically. But we can still continue on, continue living for tomorrow. Tomorrow is always worth fighting for.

The Sea Fairer Inn came into view shortly after passing the blacksmiths shop. It had been one of the first to be rebuilt after the incident and although the rest of the city was being built with newer and fresher materials, the Sea Fairer Inn still had the old time rustic look to it.

The place had been spruced up since he had last been here. That was before he had gone to Juiint and he had found out that he was a true Mage. Before he had found out that he was the heir to the title of King to the Mages. As he looked at the decor of the Inn he felt pride in what had been accomplished. He was a Mage, by descendant a citizen of Juiint. His mother was most likely from Islat, so by extension so was he. But this was his hometown, this was where he grew up. To see that the people that he had grown to care about had pushed forward after such an atrocity, that they had picked themselves out of the ashes of disaster and rebuilt their lives so beautifully. That gave him hope that one day he would be able to do the same. His future, after this war, looked brighter as he stared at the crowd of people that sat around the tables inside the meal hall.

“Welcome home, Mach.” That was a voice he had not heard since before Rubious’ attack. He looked around quickly to see the old Innkeeper smiling at him. With his short raggedy hair, his stained, but always clean, lucky shirt that he always wore. The man was a sight for sore eyes. He smiled brightly at the old man.

“Johnathan, I thought you were… last time I was here I didn’t see you!” He cried out joyfully.

“We must have just kept missing each other, my boy.” Jonathan answered back just as happily. “Every time I came back, or arrived at Madtu, they kept talking about Dan’s son having just left. Do you have enough time to sit for a while?”

There was no saying anything other than yes to him. He nodded his head and beamed as the smile on the Innkeeper’s face brightened all the more. “Come, have a sit. I have kept this seat reserved for you just in case you ever came back while I was here.” Sitting beside the serving bar itself was a long table, matching long benches laid out beside it. The table itself was far older than any of the others, but Mach knew why. He walked over to it and placed his hand onto the surface, feeling the engravings that had been carved into it. He closed his eyes as the tears came. And although they were tears of sadness, he was happy that this one piece of his past had survived everything.

The Innkeepers voice was low, but with the silence that had fallen over the room it was easy to hear him. “When we all got back, after those cowards left. This place was in shambles. Took us weeks to clear out all the rubble and useless material. But with everything that was destroyed, this one table survived it all. I couldn’t think of a better place to have it than right here, exactly where it had always been.”

He opened his eyes and turned to see Johnathan looking at the table, remembering all the old times, just as Mach was. All those times that his father had come home, had come to this very Inn with his fellow travelers and told stories and shared remarkable experiences with anyone who would listen. Mach had often been found right next to his father, sipping on a cup of squeezed fruit juice. In those days, he had wanted nothing more than to be like his father. But now, now he was something more. He was often told that he was just like his father, that the two of them shared much of the same qualities. He was his own man now and he had traveled his own path. Though there was still a younger part of him, deep down that wanted to do all those things that his father had described. He realized now that what he wanted was to forge his own way and thanks to the people he had met, thanks to his friends, or rather his newly found family, he was doing just that.

“It is a compliment that you kept it, Johnathan.” He said softly. All around, the people who had been sitting and talking were now all standing and looking his way.

Lieutenant Mathews, glanced around and smiled as he noted what it was that Mach was looking at. “Your story was spread around, King Derune. From here all the way down to Wallun, that is how we all found out about that city that got burned in Sirunre. They came asking for anything we could spare, and as they explained why they were asking for goods to help an enemy, they told us all about you.”

Johnathan nodded his agreement. “I heard it while I was journeying to Eldour to ask for additional materials. You have been getting into as much trouble as your old man used to, perhaps more so. I know he would be proud, my boy. I know we are.”

A chorus of agreements came from the patrons of the Inn as he began to notice what he had not before. Though some of the faces were not familiar, there were many that were. Sarah, who ran the floral shop near the city gates was nodding her head, her two children he had seen that day of the attack, running ahead of him and his mother. They had been some of the first to get out of the town that day. Thomas, who helped farmer Kale look after his cattle stood not far from Sarah. He had a scar across his face that had not been there, he wore a sword at his side, which was something that he had never done before. He must have been one of the first defenders that tried to remove Rubious’ forces after the initial attack! So many people were looking at him, pride in their eyes… toward me.

All of them were agreeing with the Innkeeper. “I can imagine what has been going through your head after all these months. Specifically after I heard about Lizza. I just want you to know, that no matter what, you do have a home here. You have fought to defend us, to avenge those that we have lost. There is nothing that we can ever do to thank you enough. We have not gotten around to repairing your old home yet, but give us some time. I promise you that we will have it rebuilt, just for you, if you ever decide to come home. Whenever you decide, it will always be here for you.”

He couldn’t handle it anymore. He had not expected this. All the pain that he had felt ever since the attack, all that suffering that he had bottled up, exploded out of him and was washed away. All this time he had considered so many places he might live if he survived the final battle with Rubious. He had even considered returning here. But never once had he thought he might have a real home again. That anywhere in this world may give him the warmth and love that he had when his mother had been alive. He lunged out and wrapped his arms around the Innkeeper with an “oomph” coming from Johnathan.

He didn’t bother to hide his tears, for the first time he truly was not ashamed of them. This was not grief or pain that he felt right now. It was pure joy. He had come here thinking to find a weapon or item that could be used against Rubious. Perhaps he had just found it. He felt lighter and more hopeful than he had ever been before. The weight of everything that had happened to him felt like feathers now. As if they had taken some of that burden for him, or had given him the strength of a thousand men. He felt stronger now for having come here.

He released his grip and looked around, wiping the tears from his eyes and laughing childishly. Everyone around him looked to him just as Johnathan was, with pride and hope in their eyes. “I can’t begin to say how much that means to me.” He said to the room out large, his eyes wandering from one person to another. “Before my dad died, he used to tell me that his soul was to the sea, but his heart would always be here. That I should always remember that, and know that he would always come home to me and mom. When he died, I never thought that anything worse could happen. But then that day came, then he came and destroyed our lives. When I found out about my father’s heritage, about my heritage, I thought that it would make everything easier. But it didn’t. By blood, I am bonded to those men and women, but my heart has always been here. All this time, ever since that day, my heart has felt like a shattered heap. I never felt like I belonged anywhere after I left here that day. I never thought that could belong to anywhere.”

He looked down at his hands, the very same hands that had buried his mother. The same hands that had wielded the King’s Blade and ended the life of the one who led the attack on Selane. These would be the hands that ended Rubious, or they would be the ones to weaken him enough that another could. “I have said this time and time again, I have made vows and sworn oaths.” He said as he looked up again, the pain in him eased as he looked at the people around him. Friends and neighbors. People he had grown up with. People that cared about him just because he was a little boy from a small port town in Eldour. “But I will make them again. The man who attacked our home, the beast who thought to ruin our lives. I will not stop searching for his whereabouts, and when I finally do find him, I will use every resource I have, I will spend every bit of my own Power to bring him down. If I don’t end his life for what he has done to us, I will sure as the Nine Hell’s hurt him enough so that someone else can.”

“We would expect nothing less from the Derune family.” Johnathan responded. “Now sit, tell us in your own words, just what in name of all that is Holy have you been doing since you left here. How many of these rumors are true!”

Mach could not help but smile all the brighter as the people he had grown up around took turns asking him about his journey. It felt like he was his father for the first time. Sitting at the sailor’s table, telling tales while neighbors bought drinks and food for him. This was the part that was the fantasy, the part that he was sure his father had enjoyed the most about his adventures. Being back home with friends and family, being able to retell those stories. But now he was the one telling them. As he sat there, he noticed Bastra and Mendoll at the door to the Inn. The Gargoyle was pleased, if there was ever a pleasant look on that sour face. But there was something else in his eyes that Mach could see all the way over from where he sat. Every now and then, Bastra would look out the door and up toward the mountain before returning to his conversation with the Adept Healer.

After the fifth time that Mach noticed it, he scrawled a quick note down and asked one of the servers to take it to the Gargoyle. He saw the note passed and then the Gargoyle read it. For a moment Bastra only stared at it, then in one swift movement he turned to Mach, placed his arm over his heart and bowed. When he looked up, Mach could see the gratefulness in his eyes. A moment later the Gargoyle was out the door, his wings already half open. He heard the roar over the voices and a moment later saw Curlat running passed the door of the Inn.

He would be here a few days still. There was no reason why his friend could not go home and see his family. No one should be kept from the ones they love for long.

As afternoon turned into evening, evening into night, he found himself laying in the largest bed he had yet to find. Through his window he could see the Moon of Souls rising, its purple hue casting an eerie glow on the world around him. As he began to blow out the candles to sleep for the night, he heard soft voices on the wind. His first thoughts were that the customers of the Inn were still awake, enjoying the cool night air. But as he blew out the last light he heard a voice call out a name that should not be known to the people here. The name ‘Nedmere’ was whispered on the winds, calling out like a wraith in the night.