Shadowbane: Age of Aelfborn Read online

  Shadowbane:

  Age of Aelfborn

  Paul Francois

  Published by Paul Francois

  Copyright 2016 Paul Francois

  All rights reserved.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  DEDICATION

  For my son, Nicholas, who always continues to amaze me with his intelligence, confidence, and leadership abilities.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I would like to thank the following individuals for their part in the creation of this novel:

  Casey Renee Miller for copyediting.

  Jeffrey Kimbler for his impressive cover illustration. You have a remarkable talent. Not only with creating amazing works of art, but also with teaching those who wish to learn.

  Kelly Francois for content editing and the impressive recommendations of future rewrites. You really shaped this novel.

  Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank God for allowing me to write this novel and still maintain the illusion of wisdom.

  Table of Contents

  PROLOGUE: HERITAGE, HONOR, AND SORROW

  CHAPTER 1: SIBLINGS

  CHAPTER 2: ALL IS LOST

  CHAPTER 3: THE OLD MAN

  CHAPTER 4: ALONG FOR THE RIDE

  CHAPTER 5: THE LOST CHILD

  CHAPTER 6: BURING BLOOD

  CHAPTER 7: ZERISTAN THE WISE

  CHAPTER 8: CENTAUR COHORT

  CHAPTER 9: THE ROAD TO GREENSWARD PARISH

  CHAPTER 10: THE PLAN

  CHAPTER 11: GOLDEN TREASURE

  CHAPTER 12: FIRST KILL

  CHAPTER 13: SHADED

  CHAPTER 14: THE CROSSING

  CHAPTER 15: THE ARACOIX

  CHAPTER 16: ASSAULT ON AELARNOST

  CHAPTER 17: THE DAR KHELEGUR DISASTER

  CHAPTER 18: SEPARATION ANXIETY

  CHAPTER 19: A NEW JOURNEY

  CHAPTER 20: MELLISSAR

  CHAPTER 21: THIEVES’ DEN

  CHAPTER 22: NIGHTLY DISTURBANCE

  CHAPTER 23: BANE CRASHING

  CHAPTER 24: FRIEND OR FOE

  CHAPTER 25: REUNION IN MELLISSAR

  CHAPTER 26: THE AMAZON ENCOUNTER

  CHAPTER 27: VOYAGE

  CHAPTER 28: ARRIVAL ON STORMVALD

  CHAPTER 29: ICY ADVERSARIES

  CHAPTER 30: KORVAMBAR

  CHAPTER 31: BOUND FOR OBLIVION

  CHAPTER 32: UNDEAD DISTURBANCE

  CHAPTER 33: ITHRIANA

  CHAPTER 34: THE TERROR OF TERRORS

  CHAPTER 35: SEPARATE WAYS

  CHAPTER 36: SAVING SCYLEIA

  CHAPTER 37: THE DESERT FLOWER

  CHAPTER 38: ROYAL PREPARATIONS

  CHAPTER 39: THE CEREMONIES

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Prologue: Heritage, Honor, and Sorrow

  More than one hundred years have passed since the Age of Strife began. More than a hundred years since the betrayal of the High King Cambruin, which left him for dead against the great Stone Tree of Life. The world entered an era of chaos and conflict on that dreadful day in Kierhaven. Over time, some have sought the remains of the High King to claim the mighty but cursed sword, Shadowbane. All whom attempted to claim the weapon from the Tree of Life had failed. The tales from the last quest to Kierhaven were disastrous as the fallen Elven fortress was no more. Kierhaven once stood atop the enchanted Mount Telorinadreth. Now, only a vast sea dwells in its place. The great sword had risen and fallen several times over the ages. Many had taken on pilgrimages seeking the heir of Cambruin, but once again, they only discovered sorrow. Even in these times of chaos, life had endured.

  On the outskirts of Aerynth, lay the small village of Fort Viatrus. A humble place where chaos and wars are whispered rumors when children are in their beds. Families here are farmers, not Warriors. One stone structure three stories tall stands in the middle of the settlement. This building is the gathering place for its people. Life here is content and peaceful in comparison to most of the known world. It is the perfect place to raise a family, at least Aedan and Vanya thought so.

  Vanya is an Elven woman from the sea wayfaring Elven tribe known as the Gwaridorn. Due to her heritage, she had a pale green tint to her skin, as all Gwaridorn Elves did. Megildur and Aranel were her only offspring. Her husband Aedan was Human. As such, the children were both of the Aelfborn race, half Human and half Elf. The children did not have the same pale green skin as their mother. What they did have was mystical tattoos covering their bodies. Mixing Human and Elven blood did not always blend well. Typically, Aelfborn offspring have a pale golden skin tone and their facial features are those of their Elven half. Aelfborn have sharp eyes and keen pointy ears but from their beginning, this breed has had a curse upon them.

  The Elven Queen Silesteree Allvolanar placed a curse of madness on her own Aelfborn offspring, whose father was none other than the All-Father himself. In her anger toward the All-Father, for his act of treachery, she doomed all Aelfborn during the Age of Twilight, and henceforth. The tattoos placed on the Aelfborn offspring at birth calm the curse of madness. As for their Human contribution, they inherit greater physical strength than most Elves but Aelfborn are not as tall as Elven folk. The final abomination to the curse, besides the madness, was that Aelfborn were sterile and unable to produce any offspring.

  Since their world Aerynth was in constant turmoil; some days Megildur would follow his father, Aedan, on his voyages to the nearby safehold, New Mellissar. It was a safe haven for Humans, Aelfborn, and even Half Giants. While his father gathered food, clothing, and other supplies, Megildur overheard tales of great nations attacking each other to gain land and resources. Some battles were because of the hatred between warring factions. And for some wars, there was no reason at all.

  Aedan was a strong capable man who the other villagers looked up to. He was the leader in their small but noble settlement of Fort Viatrus. He brought Megildur along as part of teaching the boy responsibility. Aedan always hoped that his son would assume his responsibilities and take on a leadership role within the village. Megildur felt safe and secure when his father was around, due to his keen intellect and Warrior prowess. Though he did not project his combative skills, Aedan did possess excellent ability with an axe.

  Vanya, Aedan, their son Megildur, and their young daughter Aranel lived life hoping that the outer world would not consume their blissful family existence.

  CHAPTER 1: Siblings

  Megildur was young, still yearning to be a man. He stood proud in the fact that he was the man of the family, in his father’s absence. Megildur was not as big in status or in physical prowess, but that did not deter him from wielding his father’s axe, when possible. What he lacked in stature he made up for with valor and kindness, especially when it came to his little sister, Aranel.

  On days Megildur does not accompany his father to New Mellissar, he tended to the daily chores his father ordered before leaving. Megildur cared for the livestock, meaning he fed and watered them. His father instructed him to clean up after the animals as well, this chore he despised the most. The stench of the animals was so foul, he not only tied a cloth around his face, but he also shoved more material up each nostril. He finished the job, but definitely not to his father’s standards. His next chore was to chop firewood for winter, but his sister had other plans.

  Aranel spouted off,
“Megildur, you promised we would go down to the water today.” She was several years younger than Megildur, and her sole responsibility was to be a handmaiden to Mother.

  “I said no such thing you silly girl! Now stop annoying me during my chores or I will have to answer to Father for not completing my tasks!” Megildur loved his sister but she made it impossible to complete his chores when she was around. Vanya emerged from their home, “Mother, can you find a task for Aranel?”

  “Take care of your sister, Megildur. She is young and full of spirit,” Vanya replied to her son. “You were once the little one demanding my time, not so long ago.”

  Aranel retorted, “See Megildur, there is nothing wrong with me.”

  Megildur grumbled, “Nothing a visit from an Orc would not fix.”

  Aranel screamed and ran for her mother, “Mother, did you hear him?” Megildur dropped his axe and ran for Aranel. Due to her size, he restrained her with ease.

  Megildur pleaded, “Wait. Do not tell Mother what I said. Please, my dear sweet sister.” His mother had warned him before about teasing his younger sister.

  “As you wish,” Aranel replied with a sinister sneer. “But it will cost you big brother. I want to go down to the water, right now.” Aranel was now demanding, since she knew her brother could not deny any request of hers.

  Megildur grunted, “No! I am too busy!”

  Aranel screeched, “Oh, Mother!”

  “Alright,” Megildur conceded. “Just keep quiet!” Aranel gave a satisfied smile and bound off to collect her clothes for playing in the water. Megildur knew he would have to answer to his father for not completing his chores. However, having to answer to Mother for being mean to his sister was a greater challenge he would prefer to avoid.

  Megildur picked up a small dagger and lashed it to his belt. He carried this weapon everywhere since Father gave it to him in celebration for being fourteen years old. That was over two years ago. That was also the first time his father told him he was a man now and that his primary responsibility was to protect his family, especially his little sister.

  “Alright you little menace, let’s go!” Megildur commanded Aranel to get moving. He wanted to get back before dark.

  Megildur and Aranel proceeded through the dense forest where their village lay hidden away from the main road. They cleared the last of the trees and both saw the water off to the west. It would still take some time to get closer to the water, but Aranel kept getting more and more excited during the long trek. Once they were close enough to smell the kelp, Aranel ran for the waves. “Be careful you little imp, you are going to hurt yourself and Mother will blame me!” It would not be the first time she injured herself being mischievous and Megildur was to blame.

  Aranel was about to jump into the water in her dress when she remembered how her mother scolded her in the past for getting her good clothes muddy. She scanned the area looking for a safe place to change. Megildur chuckled. “Behind that rock, you’ll be safe there.” He pointed to a large mound of rocks.

  “You won’t leave me, will you?” Aranel asked. Her older brother teased her before. One time he even threw rocks into a puddle of water near where she was standing just to annoy her.

  Megildur scowled, “Just go and make haste, or I will leave now!” She scurried behind the largest boulder and changed her clothing. Megildur scouted the area. Granted they found a secluded area, but he wanted to be certain. Aranel darted out from behind the boulder and ran for the water squealing like one of their animals back in the village. Once content with the safety of the surrounding areas, Megildur climbed upon a nearby rock, perched like a large bird, and began to watch over his little sister playing in the water.

  Megildur stood proud on top of his rock, drew his dagger, and fantasized it was a mighty sword in which to slay his enemies. Slashing and slicing to and fro, the formidable Aelfborn vanquished all who opposed him. He prepared to strike his lethal blow upon the easily defeated Chaos Demon, and then he heard a faint giggle in the distance. Awakened from his fantasy of glorious battles, he saw his sister reposed below the boulder. She failed at containing her laughter.

  Megildur grumbled, “Be gone you banshee!” He stormed off to escape embarrassment. He turned to face his sister; she was still jeering him. “If you do not cease at once, I will take you home now!” With that said Aranel turned and ran back into the water. Megildur smirked and then continued, camping out atop of another rock, further away from his bothersome sister. He continued with his daydream of being a colossal Warrior but kept it to himself, to avoid persecution. Aranel continued playing in the mild waves and diving for shells. She enjoyed lining them along her bed and everywhere else, even in Megildur’s room.

  After what seemed like an eternity, he decided they needed to leave before the sun set. Megildur knew he needed to get home and face his father about his incomplete chores. Also, his father would be even angrier if Megildur brought his sister home after dark. Aerynth was bad enough during the daytime, but at night screams and explosions heard off in the distance were a constant reminder of the turmoil and conflict around them. He shouted, “Let’s go Aranel, and be swift about it. We need to get home!” He picked up his dagger and secured it to his belt again. He waited for Aranel to exchange her wet clothing for her clean dress. She finished, and they began the journey home.

  However, soon after they began their trek, Aranel shuffled her feet and slowed her pace until she stopped walking and sat upon a large boulder. With her head held low, and shoulders slumped, she released a long sigh. A day full of swimming wore the young Aelfborn out, which Megildur did not anticipate. He did his best to get her back up on her feet and continue. The sun was setting and time was of the essence.

  “Get up, we need to arrive in the village before dark,” Megildur pleaded with his sister.

  Aranel whined, “But I’m tired!” She used her sad eyes to beg Megildur. “Give me a piggy-back ride?”

  Megildur lashed back, “I’m not carrying you! Get up or I’ll leave you!” The boy was bluffing, but he hoped his sister would not notice. Megildur just stood there. Aranel held her arms up for her brother to pick her up. After a few moments, he turned and continued walking toward home. It did not take long before Aranel started crying.

  Aranel screamed out as her brother vanished from sight, “Megildur!”

  “Be quiet, you whelp!” Megildur yelled back, reappearing before his sister. “If someone hears you, we both will be in trouble! The woods are full of robbers and Thieves after the sun goes down.” Megildur noticed the sun was fading. “I’ll give you a piggy-back ride if it will keep you quiet.” He rolled his eyes and picked her up upon his back. He had no other choice.

  Between their bickering and slow pace because of Megildur carrying his sister, night set in before they made it home. A large moon filled the night sky, peering up over the trees. The moon was so bright that it even cast large animated shadows behind them. However, another light puzzled Megildur, an intense aurora emanating over the trees, coming from their village. Megildur heard loud noises that were indistinguishable at first. His heart began to race, beating stronger with every step. Something was amiss. Megildur was afraid, but he dared not show that emotion to his little sister. One distinct noise pierced the night air. It was their mother crying out their father’s name…“A E D A N!”

  CHAPTER 2: All is Lost

  Megildur knew that cry meant one thing, trouble. Megildur cautioned his sister, “Aranel, you stay here behind this shrub and don’t move!” He hid her away and moved in to investigate the commotion. Aranel had a look of terror in her eyes, but Megildur had to leave her. If his mother was in peril, he needed to defend her. Once he felt his sister was safe, he crept in. Megildur approached the village and could see that many of the small huts were burning. He positioned himself behind one of the larger trees on the edge of the village. He could still hear screaming and something that sounded like wild beasts. Megildur was unsure what this sound was. He knew if he s
tayed next to the tree, he would not be able to scout the area. He crawled in closer next to one of the burning huts and saw a familiar body lying down. “Father!” He screamed. Megildur slid next to his father on the ground and noticed a pool of blood around his body. There was a gaping wound on his father’s side. His father leaned in to whisper in Megildur’s ear.

  Aedan gasped, “Protect your mother and sister, you are the man of the family now. Do you swear to uphold this vow?”

  Megildur replied, “I swear I will protect them Father!” With that, Megildur could tell his promise brought his father relief.

  “I am proud of the man you have become, Megild…” Aedan whispered to his son with his dying breath. Megildur pulled back to see his father was no longer among the living. Megildur was about to cry but he knew mourning his father would have to wait; he had a vow to keep. He scanned the area looking for his mother. In the dark, it was hard to see his mother or the ones plundering his village. He could still hear the sound of wild beasts but could not tell where it was coming from. He knew their livestock would not make that sound. He tried to remain undetected, but came to the realization…he failed. Someone grabbed him from behind. The assailant turned Megildur around. The figure stood two feet above Megildur, until the attacker lifted him off the ground. Now they were eye to eye. Megildur could tell he was an Elf due to his sharp eyes and ears that gathered to a point. Megildur shared similar facial features with this Elf, though this Elf had pale alabaster skin. He threw Megildur to the ground several feet away and pounced atop of him. The Elf drew his dagger from his sheath and sneered at the boy.

  The Elf bellowed, “I shall end your miserable existence half-breed! May the All-Father be damned for siring a spawn of Chaos like you!” He began to bring his weapon in for a fatal blow. Megildur cringed, believing his life had come to end, but he only partially closed his eyes. He wanted to meet death as his father did, with his eyes open. Megildur felt the close sweep of a blade and watched something severe the Elf’s hand from his arm. The shocked Elf looked up from his severed hand, now lying next to Megildur. The same sword then impaled his chest. He slumped over to the side. Now, Megildur could escape. A familiar hand reached down to help Megildur to his feet; it was his mother.