“Do I really want to go home?” Dan asked himself.
He was standing at a small battered desk in the corner of a small windowless room. While there was no fireplace, it was warm enough being above the kitchens. He would have to move out if summer ever came. A small wash basin and a mirror were in the corner opposite his unmade bed. Beside the door in the last corner was a coat rack where his only cloak hung. A gift from Harline. In fact everything in this room, including the room itself had been given to him. He lived here for the last week on the charity of the King and the people in the barracks. He felt that he should be giving something back. But what did he know about life in medieval times? He was a buyer for an electronics manufacturer, not exactly a glowing resume for this world. Last time he looked there were no computers or diodes here. The open book in front of him was slim and didn't really have a lot of concrete information in it. It was the only thing he had been able to find on gates or portals or doorways. The author had been long on descriptives, but short on fact. With a sigh he flipped it closed. It was readily apparent that the book was a waste of parchment.
Dan thought of home. The apartment he had was small, but it was bigger than this. OK it overlooked the polluted Don river and the always traffic jammed DVP. “At least it has a view.” he said to the four stone walls around him. In his fridge there would be half a chicken left over and he'd be out of coffee creamer. Then a thought struck him. 'Did I leave the computer on?' He laughed “Guess I'm going to be overdue with that video too.” then sighed. It was the third time he had rented that movie and he still hasn't seen it. Friday nights with the guys, at the bar or playing poker. OK he was a terrible poker player anyway. Lazy Sunday mornings reading the paper over a cup of coffee. They drank a form of tea here. It was good, but it wasn't coffee. He would do just about anything for a 'Timmy's' right about now. He wouldn't miss Monday mornings. Then he thought; 'Do they have Mondays here?' Then an image of a slim woman with long red hair popped into his head. Marlene. He wondered if she would miss him. He wouldn't call her a girlfriend yet; they were still in the try each other on for size stage. A couple of dates and a jump in the sack. The sex had been good, but not great. Dan sat in his room for several turns of the time piece thinking of home.
***
Lady Harline stood at the window in her rooms. The Council members were due to arrive sometime tomorrow. She didn't have the full story of what was going on, but she knew it was related to Stephtan, or rather the Steve from centuries ago. The Council had been agitated then and were agitated now. Something was wrong. If Stephtan hadn't been so sick, she would have gone there to demand answers again. He hadn't told her then and he refused to tell now. She thought back over the years to that time. They had grilled her about everything she knew about 'this Steve”. At the time it hadn't been much. He had staggered into her small town confused and wet with dew. Harline had been the first person he had met. It had only been two days before the Council had summoned them both. Then 'Steve' had been called to stand alone before the Council in the Grand Hall. It had been turns before he came out. He seemed angry and pleased at the same time. Something about 'sticking it to the man.' When she had asked what that meant, he only laughed. When the council had come out, they had been furious. Harline thought that was when she first started having feelings for Stephtan. Any man who could anger the council and not be jailed or banished must have strong character. 300 hundred years and he still refused to talk about that meeting. The only clue she had was the name he had taken afterwards. Corhalsh for 'Not the One' or that was as close a translation in Brit as one could get. Stephtan seemed to think it was amusing but the Council hadn't laughed. And now they were coming here! No summons this time. She thought about Dan his strength in magic and how he had come to be here. Blood Craven goblins on the wrong side of the river. A Bone Caster and a troll. The council had also shown great interest in Talynne. More interest than they had shown Harline all those years ago. In fact, now that she thought about it, her interview had practically ended when they found she wasn't a warrior but training as a healer. Then the whole puzzle snapped together and she gasped. It was Stephtan's name that did it.
“Not the One.” she said aloud. Stephtan wasn't the 'one', but Dan most certainly is. And Talynne the first person Dan had met is a warrior. So Dan is the one, but one what? Harline gasped again.
Prophecy!
That was the only thing that fit. That was why the council was worried. But what prophecy?. And recorded by who? They were rare, only one that she knew about during her life time. Only four in written the history of Tanise. Harline started pacing. The Council is worried enough to send members here. That's more than worried. The most powerful group in the known world and they were scared. She thought again of her first reaction to the number and sheer power of Dan's life bands when he was recovering. 'This man would be extremely powerful and potentially very dangerous.' She needed to go to the library and talk to Cassi. If anyone could point her in the right direction, it would be the Librarian.
***
Dan stood beside his mount and watched the sun setting. The hill provided a long wide view of farm land and clouds colored orange and red on the horizon. He could see Kingscrossing in the distance. At least the thick pine forest behind him blocked the worse of the wind, it was already cold enough. He had become tired of brooding in his room. This was a beautiful world and he had seen so little of it. Clean fresh air and snow that didn't turn brown with pollution after a day. He figured that he would have to find something to do with his time here. He had meant to ask Stephtan what he did for a living, but he had been turned away at Stephtan's door. The old man was sick and was not to be disturbed. Dan had wondered the barrack halls till he found himself at the stables. He had watched the stable hands, but he already knew he wasn't suited for that job. When asked if he needed a horse Dan had thought 'why not?'
His horse stamped a hoof, bringing Dan out of his thoughts. “Yes your right.” he told the horse. “Time to head back.” He awkwardly pulled himself up into the saddle. Just as he turned and started past the trees, Dan felt the horse go tense under his legs. Ears flicked back and forth then suddenly it sprang into a full run. Dan almost fell out the saddle, only his grip on the reins had saved him. A figure darted out of the trees in front of the racing horse with a spear. The horse reared and the spear was thrust into it's chest. Dan fell backwards over the dying horse's rump. The suddenness of the attack left him reeling, as more figures darted out of the trees. Dan fought to stand on rubber knees and a goblin grabbed his arm. Dan swung a fist and connected it's jaw, staggering the creature. Then he pointed and the goblin froze as if turned to stone. Without thinking Dan spun to his left and flung out his other hand. A brilliant beam of light shot out of his palm and a large hole was burnt through a rushing goblin's chest. 'I can shoot laser beams?!' He continued to thrust his hands out towards running figures and more beams of light shot forth. 'This is too slow. There are too many.' His horse was now dead, it's legs had stopped kicking. More goblins ran from the forest. To his right they were closing fast. He spun and made a sweeping gesture and a wall of ice shards flew. Screams rang from the hill as the shards sliced through the goblins as if made of glass. He spun back to his left in time to see the flat of a sword blade. Sparks and then blackness. Dan was down and out. The fight had lasted onlyfive sweeps on a time piece.
***
Talynne stood in a daze outside Stephtan's door. No one could find Dan but they were still searching. The old Magus had died. She had been summoned in the dead of night and at first she had been confused, why summon her, she no skill at healing. In his bed chamber, everyone but Harline and herself had been sent from the room. He told both the women what he knew of 'The Stranger Prophecy'. He told Talynne that she was directly linked to Dan in this. His breathing was shallow and she could hear the fluid in his lungs with every word. Somehow Dan was instrumental in a goblin prophecy. Without him what ever the prophecy spoke of would never come to pass. And with out her, Dan would fail. Stephtan had been extremely weak and fell into a coughing fit. Harline moved in and held his hand. He looked her in the eyes and thanked her for the adventure and her love. He turned to Talynne and told her she had to stay with Dan. In a shaky voice barely heard, he told the two women several lines of verse.
“ A man, Stranger to Man and Goblin. Strange ways and stranger ideas. None shall know his mind.
Struck down in sickness his strength shall grow. A cause of strife. Rivers of blood. Bringer of Hope and Despair he shall change both. Uniter of goblin clan. Usher of new dawn.” Stephtan had paused, panting for breath. Harline tried to give him some water, but he waved it away.
“Short and beautiful. Gold and red. The warrior woman in bands of orange. Of two minds. She shall own his heart. Together day shall dawn. Alone hope never realized.” Gasping for breath “You must stay with Dan”. He gripped her hand suddenly with surprising strength. “Don't trust the Council, they are wrong in their belief. Goblins were not always the way they are now.” He struggled for more breath to continue but lasped in to a coughing fit again. His breathing had become very shallow. Between coughing fits his final words to Talynne was to go to Dan. He waved her out with a feeble hand. Harline sat beside him on the bed as she left the room and closed the door.
Now she stood outside Stephtan's door. She could hear a quiet weeping from the other side of the door. He has passed. She turned to the apprentice healer who had summoned her.
“Please, go make the arrangements. Harline will be in no mind for it, leave her to her grief. I'll ask for word to be sent to Cyntryl. He had many friends there” The young girl nodded with a tear in her eye. Both turned and went in opposite directions down the hall. She originally intended to head for Commander Dasheen's rooms but found herself outside Dan's instead. She knocked then remembered that one had been able to find him. Pushing open the door she looked around the small room. More books than furniture but it was clean. And empty of anyone. At this time of night, there was only three places anyone would be. In bed, on sentry or in the kitchens. When she arrived in the kitchens only a few soldiers were finishing up supplying their saddle bags for the days patrol. Then the image of all those books in his room flashed through her mind. The library. When she entered Cassi was standing in her night robe waiting for her.
“Dan is not here.” Talynne stared at the librarian, the question unasked. Cassi took Talynne by the hand and sat her down. “You must listen to me, don't interrupt. I know that Stephtan has passed. I also know that Dan needs you and needs you now. He is not in the Barracks or in town. You can't wait for dawn or the scouts. You must go to him now, no delay.” Talynne opened her mouth to protest, but Cassi over rode her firmly.
“Please listen. You don't have time to wait. You must go to him immediately. Don't wait for anyone. Listen and listen close. Think of Dan, feel for him. Close your eyes if it will help. Here, take my hand and stand up. Don't look at me, think of Dan, do as I say child. Turn in a circle, concentrate.” Talynne did as she was told all the while questions were storming through her head. Cassi grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
“Damn you child pay attention. Stop questioning, control your emotions. When you swing a sword do you think your going to swing it, or do you just do it?” Talynne didn't know Cassi well, but she had never seen the woman so angry. Cassi 's grip on her arms was becoming painful. Talynne took a deep breath and tried to relax. Thinking of Dan she slowly turned in a circle. She thought of the first time he had come into the practice yard. The way he stood sometimes leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. The slight smirk he often wore as if he knew something you did not. Talynne slowed in her turning and raised her arm. He was over there somewhere. She didn't know how and as soon as she tried thinking on it, she lost him. She cleared her mind then thought of his smirk again. Remembering how she felt about it. How she would wipe that smug grin right off his face in the practice yard. Or with a big kiss. She then pointed directly to him. She opened her eyes.
“He is over there and moving away.”
Cassi was pushing her to the door. “Get in your armor and go.” Then the woman was stuffing a saddle bag into her arms while herding her out of the library. “Don't wait for anyone or anything. Get in your armor and go. In the bag you will find a map that will be needed. Not now, you will know when” Talynne stopped and turned to the woman, to yell at her, to thank her, to question her or to just stare, she didn't know which.
“Run child, the goblins have taken him. Run for all our sakes.” fear soaking through the librarians words. Talynne shut her mouth and ran.
***
Commander Dasheen stood beside his horse and looked down at the goblin laying there. Stripped of all clothing and armor, there was no way to tell what clan it belonged. A large hole had been burnt clean through it's chest. There were a number of dead goblins scattered about the hill top. The tracks through the snow said there had been perhaps as many as a hundred. He heard his name called and he turned to look. Jahlin was standing beside a short tree stump waving him over. Dasheen left the reins hanging and walked over. The tree stumped turned out to be a goblin. It appeared to be holding it's jaw and was made of stone.
“Incredible.” the tall thin Magus said. “Look at his stance, slightly off balance and he's holding his jaw, the other arm out stretched. He looks surprised. I think this one got punched in the mouth.” He stepped around inspecting the goblin. “There is no look of agony. The transformation must have been near instantaneous.” He looked to the commander in awe.
“And what does that mean Jahlin. I'm no wizard remember.”
“Total instant transformation! To stone! The power and will would have to be enormous. I can do stone, but it takes several sweeps of a time piece. To do a whole goblin? Incredible.” Jahlin stood looking at the stone figure in awe. Then he pointed to a wide swath of green stained snow. “Those ones over there all died together. The front row had been literally shredded while the ones behind were impaled. With ice.”
“Ice?”
The two walked over to the blood soaked site. Jahlin stood and held out his arm. The blood field started a bare pace from his hand and extended out in a expanding V for dozens of paces to the tree line. The first several strides there was nothing but blood. Then tiny scraps of flesh and bone strewn everywhere. Dasheen a veteran of hundreds of skirmishes and battles had never seen the like. Jahlin was right when he said shredded. As they walked, stepping carefully, the bits became bigger, then became whole parts. The bodies more and more intact. When they reached the trees edge he could see large shards of blood and gore covered ice embedded in the bodies as well as the trees themselves. He reached to pull one out and cut his hand. The ice was as sharp as any sword. Gripping it more carefully, he put a foot on the goblins chest and pulled. The shard was as thick as a finger in the center, wider than his hand and as long as his forearm. Both warrior and mage looked around. He could count twenty or so almost intact bodies. At the front of the wave, it was impossible to tell. Looking into the trees he could see the shards stuck in tree trunks. He took a step to the side to catch the light glinting off them. There were thousands. He looked at the one in his hand and tried to imagine a wall of them.
“What kind of power are we talking about here Jahlin?”
“To travel this distance through bodies and embed themselves in tree trunks? Hundreds of paces per sweep. Perhaps more.” Jahlin looked at the commander. “I doubt the goblins fully realize what they have on their hands. They could be in for some serious trouble.” The Magus pointed further down the tree line. “There is one more thing you should see.” Together they walked along, both deep in thought. They came to a halt at a small fallen tree. The top of the stump was slightly charred with a perfectly smooth curve.
Jahlin said “The goblin you were looking at with the hole in his chest. There are fourteen of them. Line up with our stone friend over there, then bend to shoulder height and look across the stump.” As Dasheen moved he could see other holes in the trees. He bend down to see and could look through a dozen or so tree trunks. He could see blue sky in the distance.
“There are fourteen goblins and fourteen paths of holes. I sent Grithers to follow one. He was gone a full turn before he came back. Said it just kept going.”
“So... what is it?”
“I don't know but it runs perfectly straight. Everything here converges on one spot.” Both men turned to look at the stone goblin. “They took him, but he made them pay first.”
The commander walked back to his horse. He already had two squads tracking the goblins. Now that he had an idea of the numbers involved, he had sent for re-enforcements. The goblins had put a lot into capturing Dan and he wanted to know why. And he knew where to find answers.
“Grithers! Your with me. Lets go see if we can catch those Council members before they get to town.”
***
Talynne thought this was all a little too familiar. Alone with the same damned horse in the cold wind and deep snow. 'There had better not be any damned trolls this time'. Dan was somewhere in front and to the west of her. Being able to track him like this was a little unnerving. But every time she stopped to question this ability, she lost it. Just to see if she could, she had thought of Dasheen, then Harline and then finally that bumbling lout Merc. To no avail. So it seemed that she was tied to Dan and to the prophecy. Too bad it couldn't be a little more specific. Standing at the bank of Dremon creek she wondered if the ice was safe. It was a fast moving creek so she decided against it. There was a shallow ford not far down stream; she could cross there. Dan seemed to be moving still but slower now. All night and now well into the day he had been traveling fast. Well she had been conserving her horse and now she was catching up. They would have to stop sooner or later. When the time came, she could sprint to catch up. It was only a matter of time. She thought back to Stephtan's words. The second verse sure seemed to be her. Short, warrior, gold and red, bands of orange. That was her alright. Beautiful? 'Ok I could accept that' she smiled to herself. 'Good looking at least' It was the first verse that troubled her. “A cause of strife. Rivers of blood. Bringer of Hope and Despair. Uniter of goblin clan.” Stephtan had wheezed. Any way she looked at it, it was all bad. “Lets go find Dan before he does something we all might regret” she said to her mount.
***
Dan awoke to swaying motions. He was laying on his back on a sled. Branches had been cut and lashed together to make a cage around the sled. He could smell horses. He could hear people talking but could not understand the language. And strangest of all he could hear children. He couldn't understand them either, but it was definitely children at play He opened his eyes to see the sled was traveling through forest. All around him goblins walked or rode on horse back. And through it all ran children. Laughing, chasing each other, just being children. 'A whole tribe on the move.' Dan thought. He noticed some were different. Thinner, more sleek, moving with a grace. Then one turned to look at Dan. His mouth fell open. She was a female! Very pale green skin, no there are fine delicate scales, long black hair. He looked to a warrior riding beside his cage, then back to the female. He could see similarities but the contrast was so great, they almost looked like separate species. The males were tough bald rugged and looked rather ugly to Dan. Females were almost exactly opposite. They were, for lack of a better word, beautiful. He looked at the children and he could easily distinguish the differences even at their early age. The girls had a grace about them the boys lacked.
The goblin woman said something to a male on horseback, who then looked at Dan. He nodded his head then said something Dan couldn't understand. When Dan didn't reply the warrior smiled showing sharp looking teeth. He reached back and pulled a skin from a saddle roll. He pulled the cork and took a long deep drink. Then threw the skin through the bars. Dan leaned over to collect it, and held it up in salute to the warrior. Then he took a deep pull himself. Liquid molten magma poured down his throat and Dan almost spewed it out. Gasping and trying to catch his breath Dan looked up at the laughing goblin.
“Smooth.” he rasped. Then he took another much smaller sip. Whoa it was pure fire all the way down. He took one more before he held the skin out. The female collected it then handed it back up to the goblin on horse back. The warrior smiled and spurred his horse to a trot heading for the front of the column. Dan sat and watched the clan as they traveled and thought. He had killed dozens of warriors and yet he was alive. Even more puzzling he was awake and unbound. 'Ok I'm in a cage, but still...' It was then that it dawned on him. No one was afraid. He wasn't really guarded, although he doubted he would get far if he tried to escape. Women and children traveled along side him. He had proven he was a capable magi yet they had made only token means of securing him. As if he wasn't really a prisoner at all. He stood and looked at his wood cage. It wasn't really that strong, he could probably break it if he put a little strength into it. But he had a better way. Putting his hands on the branch in front of him, he concentrated and with a 'poof' all the bindings went up in little puffs of smoke. The cage collapsed around him except the branch he still held in his hands. All the goblins around him jumped back and the children stopped playing to stare at him. Dan calmly collected the branches and piled them up at the front of the sled, then sat down with his legs hanging over the edge. The female goblin stared at Dan but continued to walk beside the sled, although she had added a few extra steps between them. Within seconds five warriors on horseback pounded back from the front of the column, arrows notched in bows. One of them was the warrior with the liquid fire. Dan smirked and shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'oops sorry.' The five watched Dan and talked amongst themselves for several minutes. Then four rode back to the front of the column and one stayed with the sled. While he had put the arrow back in it's quiver, the bow were kept close to hand. Ok, he wasn't a prisoner, but he wasn't free to leave either. So he tried his best to ignore the guard and watched the children play as the sled traveled with the Dark Crow clan through the forest..
***
Dasheen, Jahlin and Harline sat with Pawshaan at a large wood table in the commander's private quarters. Glasses of ale or something a little stronger sat mostly untouched. A lot of questions had been asked and what answers there were had been given. Pawshaan had recited the Stranger Prophecy and Harline had joined in word for word. She in turn told of Stephtan's final conversation with Talynne. The head of the Council nodded.
“Stephtan was clever, it never took him long to figure things out. If I had had my way, he would have been on the Council.”
“He would have refused.” Harline said
“I know, and the Council, well the old Council would have fits had I suggested him.” Pawshaan took a sip from his glass. “Huh. The older Council. I was new then to the Council, when Stephtan first arrived. He scared the daylights out them. And of course being new, anything that scared them, had me quaking in my boots.” The old man smiled in remembrance. “I came to visit him once, not long after he took his new name. Did he ever tell you?” Harline shook her head. “It had only been a few months and already he was an adept. The Council was still furious over his refusal to go back to his own world. When he took on his new name....” Harline interrupted
“Refusal? The council was going to send him back?”
“They wanted to. Or rather, they wanted to try. But he stead fast refused. They were scared of him, and scared of the prophecy. If they sent him back it would never come about. If he stayed, his power was supposed to grow in sickness. They were afraid of how powerful he could potentially become. When I first met Stephtan, he was already quite strong.” Pawshaan paused for another sip. “Of course the prophecy speaks of uniter of goblin clan, and that would scare any one.”
“Scares the life out of me.” Dasheen said. “I've battled enough of the clans to know that we would be hard pressed if they did unite.”
“One thing I realized that day in the grand hall was that Stephtan didn't fit with the wording. Or should I say that the wording didn't fit Harline.” Pawshaan looked at healer. “Did you not wonder why our audience ended so suddenly? Or why Stephtan refused to leave?” The old man smiled “She shall own his heart.”
“And I was no warrior in gold and red.” Harline said “I never knew what was said in the grand hall. He would never talk of it. He refused because of me, didn't he.” It was more of a statement than a question.
The old man's smile was sad this time. “He was in love with a certain young healer apprentice. Of course the Council was too scared and I was too new. There was too much political maneuvering on the Council at the time. No one was going to listen to me.” He paused for another sip.”So first chance I got I traveled and visited with Stephtan. By that time he had taken on his new name. I learned a few things during those few days. Stephtan was indeed 'Not the One'. He could have been a great friend, but I had to keep my distance. I think he knew and understood that. Better than I did at the time. It wasn't long after, I started working to change the Council. Politics were hampered everything.”
“I remember those days.” Jahlin spoke up. “I was a second year apprentice when the council went from twelve to seven members. Everyone thought the council would split. The possibility of civil war was very real” There was a soft rap at the door and a young soldier stepped in.
“Sir, Talynne is not in the barracks and no one has seen her in town. Her kit is gone from the armory and so is her horse.” Dasheen stood staring into space for several heart beats and the soldier cleared his throat, nervous in such company. “Sir?”The commander cursed in a couple different languages then sighed.
“Find all the Captains; in the map room, one turn. And I mean all of them. I don't care if you have to drag them in from Lutes tavern. And find me a runner, I have a message to go to Cyntryl immediately.”
“Sir.” and the young soldier was off and running. Everyone at the table was now standing. Dasheen turned back to the group.
“I think we might be facing war.”
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