Chronicles of Fardel: The Rise of Syphon

Syphon took Ember home and returned to his little nook in the graveyard. Tomorrow was his friends' last day, and he wasn't sure if he was looking forward to or dreading the farewell party. He took comfort in one thing, he would still have Ember. Perhaps Doon would come in handy, having a prince as a friend had to come with benefits.

Syphon got a fire going and lit some pipeweed. As he stared off into the fire, taking puffs here and there, he thought of his parents. They had been fairly well-off but not rich, but miracles of small but rather strange sort seemed to follow them. Money would come out of nowhere, as well as provisions in food and opportunities. The same followed him for, in spite of a lack of understanding, he had done his best to follow his father's way.

"Elohiym is our provider; don't fear, only believe. Not our job, nor people, not our skills, or our own goodness. Elohiym and Him alone," his father would say. It seemed like foolishness, but it worked.

Not to say they didn't have grief, obviously they did, but they always had what they truly needed. This God Elohiym had always come through. Even on their death beds, his parents had told him to hold strong to Him and they would see each other again.

"I don't really know how to follow You." Syphon stirred the fire as his thoughts raced. He took another puff. "Yet You've always provided. You've never left me ever in my darkest times." He sighed and took another puff starting to feel the effects. He seemed to be hypnotized by the flames. Then suddenly he looked up and shouted to the sky. "Lead me! I am not wise enough

to know what You want me to do!" He put out his pipe and lay down, staring into the fire. Slowly he drifted off.

He woke up hours later to Effen shaking him.

"What? What is it, what time is it?"

"I got some bad news, Syphon. It's roughly seven in the morning."

"What? You know you should never wake anyone up with bad news.

Syphon rubbed his face and ran his hands through his hair.

"Well, I thought you'd wanna know. Eliza, Ember's mother, died last night. Her heart just stopped, nobody was expecting it. Levillian and Ember are leaving for Phemon tomorrow."

"What!? Great. You mean I'm going to be completely alone?!"

"Sorry to bring bad news, man, especially first thing in the morning." Syphon began to trembling uncontrollably and hyperventilating as tears ran down his face.

"I can't lose her too. I can't, I just can't." He kept saying the same thing over and over.

"Hey, calm down, man you'll have Doon."

"Doon! Doon! Oh great, I'm saved cause I'll have Doon! I'm sure he kisses as good as Ember too. He better, cause he sure don't look like her!"

"Poor choice of words. I realize that I should've sent Bren. He's better at this sorta thing."

"Aye you shoulda! What am I gonna do? The only thing left I love in this world is leaving. I can't survive this."

"You have to! You're not giving up! I know you'll be alone, but I need you to survive. She needs you to survive! She needs you, Syphon, even if it's years before you see each other again. She loves you, Syphon, and as an elf when she loves, she binds herself to you. She will never be able to love another, and if you give up, so will she. Now, get your act together. I was asked to fetch you by her. She needs you right now."

Syphon staggered to his feet wiping tears from his eyes and tried to gather himself.

"So, you mean she can feel what I feel?"

"Yes, she knew the moment I told you; I guarantee it."

"So can I stay connected with her that way? Will I be able to communicate

or feel what she feels?"

"Only when you stop worrying so much about yourself! Focus your thoughts and emotions on her, and yes you will."

Syphon took a deep breath and closed his eyes and breathed out slowly.

"She's crying. She needs me." He quickly ran toward her house needing more than ever to embrace her and dry her tears. The bright sun and singing birds could not lift his spirits as normal. His emotions were running away with him, and at the moment the only thing that mattered in the world was comforting Ember.

He burst through the door not even bothering to knock. And he found her hunched on the couch crying into a pillow.

"My love; I'm so sorry. I'm here for you." He ran and embraced her, letting her cry into his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair and held her close.

"Oh, Syphon, she's gone, she just went to sleep and never woke was the kindest most loving person. Why is life so unfair?"

"I don't know. I've asked myself the same question a million times. I can't give you an answer, but I can cry with you." They held each other crying together for the longest time until suddenly, Ember stopped crying and even had a slight smile.

"Thank you, you have no idea how much that helped."

"You're welcome, I hear you're leaving for Phemon tomorrow."

Ember shook her head yes and began sobbing again realizing that she'd be leaving him soon. But Syphon quickly embraced her.

"Hey, hey it's okay. I'm here, take me with you."

"Oh, Syphon, that's not up to me; it's up to my father. And, and the council at Phemon. They don't take well to outsiders. The only reason we can go is we're elemental elves."

Syphon began to say that they would explain that they loved each other. And how inhumane it would be to have her lose her mother and her love in less than a week. But something kept him from saying it. He wasn't sure what or why, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Beyond doubt Levillian would be for the entire matter, but something was at work beyond his will.

"So, are you burying her in Phemon?"

"Yes, next to her parents."

"May I see her casket, and pay my respects?"

"Of course, she was always quite fond of you."

She lead him to the back room where she lay in a wooden casket with butterflies and deer carved into it. Levillian was kneeling next to it in tears. Syphon took off a silver ring, his last remaining possession from his and set it on the casket. He began to sing softly.

"In the arms of angels, carried away in peace. If only You would speak, offer us comfort and ease. A life cut short like a candle snuffed out. Like a paper without ink, our hearts are empty without you. Yet you smile in joy, saying weep not over me. My pain is gone, my race is won, at peace am I at His feet. Remember my lessons, my laughter, my smile. Store them up in your heart for yet a little while. I'll keep the hearth warm and set out some treats. For here very soon once again we shall meet."

"That was beautiful, Syphon."

"I wish I could take credit. My mom wrote that for my grandmother. I've recited it at two funerals, and remind myself of it often."

"Wordsmith runs in the family, huh?"

"I guess so. My mom used to say grief is the mother of creativity, just as joy is it's father."

"She was wise, I wish I had a chance to meet her."

"Yeah, me too." Syphon began to cry again and they left the back room. "Well, the way we honor our family is by remembering them," Levillian chimed in and poured a little ale for each of them. "I remember our wedding day, she was a hour late because her hair had to be perfect. I was so nervous I threw up. When she walked down the aisle, everybody gasped. I was so proud of her. She carried a bouquet of red and white roses, and her blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the sun." He smiled and laughed. "And when she threw the flowers behind her, they hit a squirrel and it almost fell in the cake."

"Well, I remember when I first met her. I tried to help her in the kitchen. She kept telling me nobody helps in her kitchen. I wouldn't listen, until she smacked me on the butt with a frying pan. Man, that hurt, but I found not only someone who could outcook me, but a really good friend that day. She may have hurt me, but she mended me on more than one occasion." Syphon smiled.

"She always had an open heart and an open door to anyone in need. Even people she didn't like. She'd make them clothes and food and always said if I don't help them, who will? But my favorite memory is how she would read to me for hours. I'd play with my toys and she'd read book after book." Ember cried a little.

"Here's to the best wife, mother, and friend I have ever known, may she rest in peace," Levillian said and drained a glass.

"Cheers." Ember and Syphon raised their glasses a moment and then drained their cups.

Effen, Bren, and Feldor came in just then and paid their respects. The six of them spent all day recounting different aspects of Eliza's life and enjoying each other's company. It was about six when Levillian sighed and pushed his chair back.

"Alright, I need some quiet time with just my wife and I. I need to say a more personal goodbye, go have your farewell party, be back by nine," he said and left the room. So the five of them headed to the Golan Inn.

"So what if Doon isn't there? Do we wait or start without him?" Bren suggested as they neared.

"I say we start without him. We don't wait for a new guy. Plus, who's to say he's even coming?" Syphon said gruffly.

"I second that motion." Effen laughed.

"I say we get er started with some good ol' five card draw and some ale," Feldor said. Bren sighed.

Doon stood on his balcony just staring at the starry sky. He was not supposed to be out of his room. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. He had to get out he just had to... but how? No matter how hard he tried, he could only think of how Syphon had gotten away from those guards. He chuckled under his breath at the thought. Then suddenly a look of realization flashed across his face. He slapped himself in the forehead.

"Of course why didn't I think of it before?"

He turned back into his room. His room was only a bedroom in the sense that it had a bed. It looked more like a library. The walls were bookshelves covered in books. Reading was his passion and he studied just about everything. A desk was in the corner with a book about legendary artifacts open on it. A subject that had always particularly caught his interest.

Doon reached under his bed and pulled out his elven disguise, useless in the castle obviously but outside it would serve him well. He took a deep breath and opened the door and stepped into the hall. The hall had golden walls and a pearl floor with red rugs. On the ceiling were gold and silver chandeliers neatly separated and all having candles. Torches lined the walls along with paintings of the forty amot kings. From the first, King Sarnen, all the way to the current King Kelpon.

Forty-six kings, I'll be forty-one and then pure blood amots will be no more, he thought as he looked at the paintings while slowly walking down the hall. He and his father were the only pure-blood amots left after the last great war sixty years ago. Back then Legionor was but a vague thought. The current system of one king over local jarls had only just begun. Somehow his father still had his title in spite of the amots obviously losing that war.

Three doors down a door opened and Doon quickly ducked into the closest door and shut it quietly behind him. Now he was at the main entrance and could go no farther. Again with golden walls and pearl floors. Tall red curtains were next to him for blocking off the main foyer to his right. He quickly hid himself in their folds because his father was arguing with a gink named Brock to his left.

"I don't care how long it takes. I'll wait the whole fifteen years if I have to! I've already waited this long for revenge. I can wait a little longer!" Kelpon roared. "B-but, m-m-my L-Lord, their ar-army is t-too st-strong for us," Brock stammered.

"I just need a few allies who are loyal to the crown and not their weak morals! After my journey, my find; I have no fear of defeat, I just need and army!"

"What di-did you f-f-find, my L-Lord?"

"Never you mind what it is. It's mine! Suffice it to say I found a legend and it will make me invincible." A sinister grin appeared on Kelpon's face and Doon perked up his ears to listen closer.

Kelpon looked exactly like his son save obviously older and his eyes were purple. He wore a flowing red and white robe and a great golden crown.

Brock, who was the Jarl of Ruden, had pale purple-colored skin, curly short black hair, and bright yellow eyes. He wore a short black robe and a small

silver crown.

Just by looking at him, Doon could see the gears turning in his conniving little mind. Then Kelpon walked off for a moment and Doon could hear him whispering something. He suddenly felt a very strange feeling he couldn't explain. At the same moment Brock was shot in the chest by an arrow. The arrow stuck and Brock stood looking at it dumbfounded. It had no effect, not even pain; Kelpon walked up and yanked it out.

"Any more questions? I can make an entire army immortal. I just need an army large enough to destroy them in the time range of immortality."

"Are th-they c-coming t-tonight, m-m-my Lord?" Brock stuttered.

"Yes, I am relying on your powers of persuasion to get me some allies. I am fully aware that I must wait until the treaty has ended. However, we can begin the process of seeking allies."

Brock glanced up and noticed Doon. He stood studying him a moment

and smiled.

"Brock, get moving, prepare the meeting hall. They will be here soon!" blo "Yes, Y-your M-ma-majesty." Brock bowed and walked off.

Doon slowly walked toward a small corridor, not a fancy place. Just stone walls and a stone floor with torches along the walls. It was unfortunately very much used. Many side passages were on either side.

"One... two..." Doon counted under his breath as he went along trying to remember which passage led to where the garbage was taken. It would be the thirteenth passage that he needed to go down.

"Three... four... five..." He heard talking down the fifth corridor; they were headed toward him. What was in the sixth passage? Think, think... Supplies for various things. He broke into a run. The sounds of pursuing feet behind him sounded deafening as he ducked into the sixth passage. He jumped into a barrel and waited. The feet ran past the sixth passage and on to the seventh. After waiting a few

moments, Doon crawled out and continued on to the thirteenth passage. Down a winding stone staircase and he was there. He crawled into a bag and waited a few minutes. At six thirty on the dot his bag was lifted and thrown

onto the cart.

Doon opened his bag and stared up at the starry sky. The city was so busy, it seemed like the city itself was alive. People talked and bustled from every direction. It was at that moment Doon began to smell his surroundings. Not very pleasant, moldy cheese, rotting fish and who knows what else.

"Ha, you can't keep me locked up like some wild animal," Doon said triumphantly, almost too loudly. The hustle and bustle around him began to die down and he rolled out of the bag.

Doon walked three blocks to the Golan Inn and saw Bren waiting outside

for him.

"The others already started, they didn't think Bren went to hug him and pulled back quickly.

"Wow, Doon you smell."

"I had to escape through the garbage."

you were gonna show up."

"Well, before you join us in the bar maybe you should take a shower." "Agreed."

They walked into the Inn and Doon went to the right to take a shower. The shower was barely big enough to turn around in, the water was icy cold. Doon took a deep breath in and for a moment couldn't breathe out again. He quickly soaped up and rinsed off and jumped out looking like a giant goose pimple. His clothes had also been quickly cleaned by a local wizard.

Doon met them at a table where they were playing five card draw, smoking pipes, and drinking ale. Doon had to go into the story of how he escaped, and where he got the idea. This had caused everyone to laugh. Feldor had unintentionally spilled his drink; something he did often.

"Party foul." Syphon laughed and handed him another ale.

"Is everything going according to plan?" Cipher came up next to Phex, who was sitting unseen next to Syphon. Both of them were plane sentinels, able to watch and manipulate world events through the minds of mortals. However, they couldn't communicate directly or be seen. The world on their side was grayscale, darkness and light made no difference and served no purpose. They were both seven feet tall with large feathery wings on their backs and great swords between them.

get

"The boy still holds strong to Elohiym, hopefully we can find a way to him some training," Phex answered.

"Yeshen, wants him in the castle. He can get training there."

"One step at a time. We just got him and Doon together. How do you expect me to get him in the castle right away?"

"They have a law; if he saves Doon's life he'll live at the castle."

"I'm fully aware; how do you suggest I do that? What's so important about this peasant anyway?"

"He has an unwavering faith and he doesn't scare easy. He may be the chosen one he may not. But Elohiym has given the order. It's not your place to question."

"Agreed, but I'm not sure I can manipulate events properly."

"Get him to take Doon to Averil tomorrow. Goblins will be around there, he can save Doon from them."

"Suppose the goblins kill him? I won't be able to totally protect him on my own. If the goblins are around, there's likely to be wraiths. I'll have my hands full."

"I will go with you. We must succeed and we must do it soon. Events are moving quickly, he needs to train."

"Alright, but let's give him the idea after the party.... Suppose he doesn't act on it?"

"We find another way. Can't quit."

"How long do we have until the next trial of fire?"

"You know I don't have an exact time frame. Fifteen maybe twenty years

maybe more or less. Enough time for him to train and grow."

"Why did he have to lose his love?"

"Perhaps he hasn't. Time will tell. But a lost love is a small price to pay when the world is at stake."

"Fair enough, but what of Kelpon? He is planning war; what if he corrupts him?"

"I don't make the plans. I just make sure they're carried out.

Meanwhile, Doon explained in detail his escape, including what happened with Brock. Feldor just scowled.

"I reckon Kelpon wants revenge on the dwarves. Afterall, we killed off most of the amots in the last war. He was just a youngin then."

"You're probably right, but he has to wait at least fifteen years. The treaty must be ended or the whole of Fardel is likely to unite against him as they did his father.

"Well, boys, let's leave the matter. It's nearly nine. I gotta head home," Ember said.

"I'll walk you home," Syphon said.

"I'll come too," Doon suddenly interjected and the three of them walked toward her house. Syphon kissed her goodbye and then turned to Doon. "Doon, tomorrow is my birthday; will you meet me at my home?" "If I can get back in undetected and get out."

"I have a grappling hook, hook it to your balcony and do the same to get

out tomorrow.

"How did you get a grappling hook?"

"Never mind that just follow me."

Syphon lead him to his home and handed him the hook. Doon looked strangely at his home but said nothing. After he left, Syphon lit a fire and his pipe.

"Why God? Why do You delight in tormenting me? You give me friends and a girl, then You yank them away? What do You want from me? I still believe in You, but I don't know if I can keep going like this. Every day I fight through the pain and hope that there still is hope. Now it gets worse; what next?" Syphon sighed and smoked more pipeweed until the effects made him sleep.