Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands Read online

  HALFSTONE

  A TALE OF THE NARATHLANDS

  Daniel White

  Copyright © 2016 Daniel White

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-0-473-34822-9

  Edited by Patricia Murphy and David Calver

  Cover design by Ihor Tureha

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  For you.

  Contents

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  1 AN UNWELCOME ENCOUNTER

  2 SUN AND RAIN

  3 THE WIELDER’S AERA

  4 BE WARY OF THE SHADOWS

  5 STORM

  6 TRAINING

  7 ALLIES

  8 DARK AND DREADFUL THINGS

  9 THE LONELY PROVINCE

  10 PIRATES

  11 BLACKBED

  12 HOPE LOST AND FOUND

  13 THE SYNOD’S SANCTUARY

  14 THE CAVE

  15 AASHKARA

  16 ILLUMIR

  17 THE SHARD OF HEART’S STORM

  18 GAMBLE OF THE FATES

  19 GALDREM

  20 BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SEA

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  A very special thanks to Sam Blood, Jill Fernandes, and Jordan Powell.

  1

  AN UNWELCOME ENCOUNTER

  A few strands of the sun’s last light caught evening mist. The remainder of the clearing was shrouded by the enclosing forest. It had always been a favourite location for Aldrick and his brother, Kaal, to visit while they were hunting. Often hungry rabbits and boar would forage among the brambles and tussocks that scattered the ground within. Today Aldrick was alone, as Kaal had remained behind to help their father, Braem, herd sheep on the farm. Equipped with a modestly crafted bow and a small number of arrows, Aldrick had left the house intent on scouting the weatherworn peaks of the Mountains Rain. These served as a colossal backdrop to the farm, which stretched down the lower, more fertile slopes of the mountains and beheld the tender coastline of the Remnan Ocean. It was a lengthy venture to the peaks and upon realising the time of day, Aldrick had wagered that he would not make it there and back again before nightfall. Instead, he chose to visit the clearing as it was no more than a half-hour walk away, nestled in the bowl of a small glacier-carved gully. As the falcon flies it was very close, but a vast cliff face blocked immediate passage to that part of the forest. The quickest way to reach it was to walk south through wheat fields, cross a wooden bridge that led into the forest, then follow a thin path that traced the rim of the cliff into the mountains, passing close by where the clearing hid.

  Aldrick was standing at the edge of the clearing which, until this day, had felt all too familiar. At present he was frozen to the spot, unable to move. Something that had never been there before, that he had never laid eyes on, stood ahead of him—a deathly shadow through the mist. The beast was immense in comparison with any animal he was familiar with. It towered upon four great legs at a height clear of twice his own and besieged a ground space of no fewer than ten huddled stags. Although bulky, its body was sleek and catlike. Deep black hair composed its entire figure. From within, two narrowed eyes simmered orange. These were both fixed on him. The only movement in the entire clearing was the occasional wisp of condensed air from the beast’s nostrils as it breathed in timely intervals. It was calm, composed. Aldrick was not. He knew exactly what it was. It was a ka-zchen—an ancient creature of prey, indigenous to the plains of the distant northern lands. Though they had once roamed wild, many were broken into servitude and used to slay their masters’ adversaries. They were coined ‘dark assassins’ as they would dispatch their prey in swift and ruthless attacks beneath the blanket of night. Aldrick had learnt all this from Braem when he was a child, ever eager to hear the thrilling tales of the Narathlands.

  His breath was stolen, not from sheer terror alone, but from the wonder of witnessing such an infamous, now mythical, killing creature. Why was it here in this forest he knew so well? His mind began to race. What if it was hunting him? What could he do if it attacked? If it did he would surely make easy prey. His heart throbbed savagely against his congested chest. This was a profoundly grim situation. He could run, but how would he possibly lose it if it pursued? There was no doubting that it would. Maybe he could seek shelter—climb a tree. He wanted to search for a nearby footing but feared that taking his eyes off the beast’s own might provoke an attack.

  Amidst the shock and fear he remembered his bow was in his hands, an arrow resting loosely on its grip. An attack was his best option. Not to try and kill the ka-zchen, for he would surely fail, but simply to distract it and buy him a few more crucial seconds to flee.

  He needed to gather himself. His shot must be swift and the aiming precise enough to stall any immediate counter attack. There was no room for fault. The many hours Braem had spent teaching him how to handle his bow would now be put to the test.

  “Be calm,” he told himself.

  The knowledge that he was alone, armed only with the bow, was taunting his confidence. Like the sweat upon his brow he felt the moments slipping away. It wouldn’t be long before the beast was upon him. His only chance was now. He took a breath and then in one, fluid movement, lifted the bow and drew the arrow. With the steel tip aimed between the beast’s fiery eyes he released the arrow, turned and bolted. He heard a roar and then the thudding of paws as it came after him. Branches snapped against his body. The ground was unearthed beneath his feet. His bow and cloak were lost behind him as he fled from death. Through the trees he sped, the beast in close pursuit. Panic clotted his mind. He was thinking only of safety, of preservation. He was struck by the painful realisation that he could not find this at home. He could not lead the ka-zchen to his family! If it was he the beast was hunting then it was he who was burdened to see an end to its terror.

  Stumbling back upon the forest path, Aldrick reached down and seized the fallen branch of a dying tree, then wheeled around. The ka-zchen was seconds from him. It pounced. With all his might he swung the branch, striking the side of the beast’s head and one of its outstretched claws. The distracted animal’s hulking shoulder smashed into his chest and he was thrust backwards, toward the cliff edge. In a desperate attempt to avoid falling to his doom he snatched at the air for something, anything, to grab hold of, but found nothing. This was it. This was the end. He began to fall, the ka-zchen toppling over him. In this instant he jolted to a sudden stop. Hanging down from the edge of the cliff were some protruding tree roots. Luckily, his arm had found its way into a mesh of them and his shoulder had caught his weight. He was saved. The ka-zchen, less fortunate, plummeted toward the ground. Its huge, helpless body struck rocks beside the streambed and it was no more.

  Aldrick’s body ached. His heart burst with every beat. He was suspended just below the top of the cliff with all of him, save for his lucky arm, dangling toward the ground. A searing pain erupted in his shoulder. The speed at which it caught the roots had dealt him damage. One dull predicament had led him here to the next. He had no strength left in him to climb back to level ground. Instead, he hung in pain, squinting down at his home far below. He wanted to call out, but the impact of the ka-zchen’s body had knocked the wind from his own. For the moment he could do nothing but pray that the tree roots supporting him would not give way. He let his body relax. Perhaps, he thought, in time his family would come looking for him, although in reality he knew there was little chance they would set eyes on the cliff. From the house he
must look no bigger than an ant where he hung, and with the fading light it was doubtful that he would be distinguishable against the rough and shaded stone. He was on his own.

  The burden of his weight began to take its toll. From a short distance above him came the muffled snapping sound one hears when pulling plant from earth. He felt himself dip a small distance. Soon the roots would give way entirely and fate him to share the ka-zchen’s misfortune.

  “No!” he cried defiantly. He would not perish after surviving those past moments, after having witnessed the most remarkable and unearthly thing to occupy these lands in recent memory, after having survived it. He had to find a way back to secure ground. He had to get back atop the ridge. He would not die now!

  Currents of wind began sweeping up the cliff face, swaying his body where he hung. Let it guide my hand, he thought. He reached up and grasped at whatever he could. Soon his body was turned, facing the sky, the trees. He was closer now, the wind his ethereal guide from below. While he climbed his shoulder throbbed, but he would not give in… almost there. One hand found grass and leaf. With a great heave the top half of his body resurfaced. His legs followed. He sprawled his spent body upon the ground and lay there, gasping for breath. His mind flickered with images of what had just happened. He recalled first seeing the ka-zchen, then fleeing from it. Falling, climbing… salvation. He was alive. He was here. The ka-zchen was not; it lay dead below him. It was over now. He could relax.

  Aldrick remained upon the ground for some time, staring blankly upward. Wind gently rustled through the canopy as dusk seized the day. Regaining some sense of clarity, he pushed himself to his feet and, with his left arm supporting his right, made his way slowly down the path. In the failing light it was difficult to follow, but a familiarity with it and an unhurried pace made his step true. He had time. So long as he was home soon his family would not worry for him, though the story he was to tell would bring more than his own restless night in the household.

  He had crossed the bridge and was making his way through the last wheat field before the house. It stood a modest dwelling, but it was spacious and sturdy. The walls were built of thick boulders, shaped to fit neatly together and conserve interior heat. In winter, due to the alpine altitude, these were required more than for the houses in the coastal village Rain, a short way to the south. The roofing remained of a likeness— thatched with burly wooden beams for support. For more than twenty years the house had stood strong, never once failing to provide ample shelter for his family.

  As Aldrick approached, soft orange firelight met him through a gap between curtains. It was a greater comfort than ever before. He was home. For a moment he stood at the doorstep, beneath the eminent stars. He was blessed to be here in this place—with the warmth of a loving family and a sustainable home at hand. He lifted the latch and entered.

  He was welcomed by the sounds and smell of a sumptuous dinner in preparation. Ahead of him, a lively fire crackled on the hearth and shed light to all corners of the living room. By it sat Braem and little Bree. They were in the midst of a playful quarrel. It appeared Bree had hidden something from Braem and was pressing him to guess its location. Aldrick smiled.

  Braem looked up at him. “Ah, Aldrick, returning in time for a meal I see. Perhaps, if luck was with you, you return with tomorrows?”

  “Hello father,” he replied with a wearied voice.

  Braem stood, attention falling upon his battered appearance. “You’re hurt.” He came and showed Aldrick to the fireside. “Seat yourself.”

  Seeing his state, Bree abruptly lost her playful mood.

  “Aldrick,” she squeaked, eyes fixed upon him with fear and concern. “Aldrick, what is wrong with you?”

  “Bree, go fetch your mother will you, and bring your brother some water. Now please.” She hastily ran from the room. Braem found a seat and surveyed Aldrick with calm concern. “Aldrick, what happened out there? You look a mess.”

  “I am mostly all right,” he replied. “I encountered something in the forest that would easily have finished me had it not been for fortunate circumstances.” This was the truth; it was not skill that had spared his life. He had not intended to lead the ka-zchen off the cliff. He had simply ended up in the right place in the right moment.

  “Tell me this wasn’t the work of a boar runt,” Braem said, forcing a chuckle, “I know they can be a pain.” He frowned. “You are always careful, though. Your state eludes me.”

  “The cause of it will elude you further.”

  Bree returned with Phelvara and Kaal close behind her. She handed Aldrick a mug of cool water before making way for their mother to assess him. Kaal looked on, also allowing her to speak first.

  “Aldrick, oh Aldrick, what is this?!” Phelvara exclaimed in her motherly, overly fretful voice. She stooped and clutched Aldrick’s good shoulder tightly, surveying his state. “Are you all right?!”

  “Yes, I’m fine. You needn’t worry.” He glanced around at them all. “I have something to tell you, though.” He hesitated, knowing well that he was about to incite alarm and quite possibly panic. “It was a ka-zchen.”

  There was a deathly silence. No one moved but Bree. She huddled behind her mother, sensing something was wrong.

  “Go to your room, darling,” Phelvara ordered.

  Bree grasped her hand. “No, I won’t!”

  “It was in that clearing in the forest,” Aldrick continued, gesturing in the general direction with his free hand. “It was huge. I didn’t really know what to do. I tried to distract it with an arrow, then ran. It came at me by the cliff. I managed to hit it with a branch, but it knocked into me and we both went over the edge. Luckily, I got caught up in some tree roots.” He felt his heart begin to race again as he relived those moments.

  Phelvara turned to Braem. “Braem, a ka-zchen?! No!” Her voice was shrill. She was in disbelief, hysterics.

  Braem looked at her and then back to Aldrick. There was fear in his eyes. It was a rare sight.

  “You are very sure it was a ka-zchen?” he asked.

  Aldrick nodded. “I am.”

  Braem rested an elbow on the table and stared into the flickering fire. “This is… bad.”

  Kaal now spoke. “A ka-zchen? Like in the old stories? Aren’t they all dead? No one has seen one in years… not here. Aldrick must be wrong.”

  “I didn’t throw myself off the cliff for no reason,” he retorted, annoyed. His brother was often doubtful of his words.

  Kaal didn’t reply, just continued to eye him sceptically.

  “Aldrick, you said it fell down the cliff, yes?” asked Braem. “I am hoping you saw it die. We cannot have it prowling here.” He spoke with containment, his fear subdued by reason.

  “Yes, it fell. It landed by the stream. I didn’t see it moving. From that height I assumed it must have been killed.” Doubt crept into Aldrick’s mind. Was it dead? Had he too hastily dismissed a threat that might return to haunt them? “We have to check!” he exclaimed.

  “Yes, we must,” agreed Braem. “But you must stay here. Vara will see you are cared for. Kaal and I will go.”

  “Braem, no. It’s too dark now. Wait for the morning, won’t you?” pleaded Phelvara. She clutched a terrified Bree in her arms.

  Braem looked at her gravely. “This cannot wait, Vara. We have to be sure.” He turned to Kaal. “Come.”

  They readied themselves quickly. They lit torches from the flames of the fire, armed themselves with bows and hunting knives from a cabinet by the door, then left into the night. Phelvara told Bree to mind the cooking, then tenderly ushered Aldrick to his room. He felt blissful comfort as he collapsed upon his bed. After seeing he was resting, Phelvara left to heat water for his injuries.

  Now alone, Aldrick found his mind flooded with questions and concern. Was the ka-zchen dead? Where had it come from? Why had it come here? He turned onto his back and rubbed his eyes, ill at ease.

  When Phelvara returned she sat by him and wiped his face with a wa
rm cloth, cleaning scratches he had received as he fled through the forest, then gave him a soothing ointment made from garden herbs to rub into his inflamed shoulder. She had always been an exceptionally caring parent, pausing whatever she was doing to make sure her family was well and content. Yet while she tended to him now, her face was a deathly white. He had received far worse injuries as a child, but the fact that these ones were the result of an encounter with a ka-zchen was visibly causing her much anxiety.

  “I just can’t believe this has happened,” she said, leaving his side and walking to the window.

  “It’s all right, Mother. I am sure the ka-zchen is dead now,” he said as confidently as he dared. “It probably wandered down here from the north. I strayed upon it by chance.”

  He hoped it had just been chance, yet he couldn’t shake the thought that the beast had been lurking there for a reason. Why else had it been troubled enough to enter a crowded forest that constricted its passage? This had been the reason it did not easily catch up to him while he fled—it had found sprinting between the trees more trying than he.

  Phelvara left the window and made to exit. “I’m going to check upon Bree and wait for the others. You stay and rest. We will eat later.”

  He wanted to wait with her. He feared for Braem and Kaal and needed to know that they were safe, that the ka-zchen had indeed perished. Not only that, but he wanted the reassurance of knowing they had witnessed the beast with their own eyes and did not doubt his far-fetched and nightmarish tale of encountering it. Phelvara’s instructions to remain put were wise, however. He was in no state to leave. He made himself comfortable and closed his eyes.

  Aldrick heard the front door open and close, then voices. Braem and Kaal had returned. Phelvara was with them in the living room. Feeling a sudden spurt of energy, he pushed himself to his feet and made his way to them. They stood together by the fireside, talking in hushed voices but grave tones. Bree was watching them with one eye from behind her door.