CHAPTER I

Such a splendid dream, Inghamedan was sleeping, he was certain. The Guardians came. When he would have bowed himself before them, they forbade him, and gathered him up taking him to some exalted plane of their own existence. I am an ethereal body floating in the vast cosmos, he thought. I wonder why they do not speak to me? Even in dreams Guardians talk, don’t they? Silently the Guardians conducted him to an outdoor garden with a large fountain ending in a contrived pool. There they bade him with gestures to clean himself from head to toe. Offering him fragrant soaps, linens, and brushes of many descriptions, they left him. Implements to shave his beard lay next to a bowl filled with warm water, and he used them. After an invigorating scrub in effervescent water he emerged to discover large fluffy sheets with which to dry himself. There were emollients to apply, and a simple white tunic that hung to his knees which completed his clarification. His feet were bare. Clarification? he wondered in his dream.

Two Guardians returned, and guided him to a large pillared hall. Again, there seemed to be no walls, but the colors of sunset wafted about the pillars. The floor seemed solid enough, but Ingham was never aware of setting foot on it. Rather, he floated along with the Guardians to a position before the dais whereon sat an individual in sheer blinding light. Instinctively Ingham raised his hand to protect his eyes, but the Guardian on his right took his hand and placed it at his side. The being on the dais reached forth and touched his eyes. After that he was able to clearly absorb the light, and see the features of the being who spoke.

I am Gadrion, he said in a perfect voice. I am sent by the Godhead to declare unto thee that thou art The Chosen Gadrion stepped down to Ingham’s level, and picked up a robe that materialized on a table that Ingham knew wasn’t there when he came to the dias. Gadrion, himself the Arch Guardian, placed the robe above Ingham’s head, and blessed it. With the help of the two Guardians at his side he was then fitted with the robe that settled comfortably about his shoulders. Dost thou accept thy charge to be Exalted One of all the Judges of Light?

The unadulterated joy that filled Ingham lent clarity to his voice that rang out. If the Guardians think I am worthy, he said humbly, I do.

The Godhead sets this mantle upon thee in recognition of thy acceptance. Gadrion then placed a necklet and medallion identical to the one Odeledan wore over his head, and rested it gently against his chest. Where the Arch Guardian touched, the infusion of spiritual elation was more pronounced. From that transcendent joy came a surge of pure power, an awesome weight that would have bowed him to the floor, but the two Guardians held him up. A white dove circled the Guardians, and lighted on

Ingham’s shoulder. This is thy companion in these first days, Gadrion told him. She will be thy right hand, but only for a season. The light then went out. The pillars faded, as did the sunset walls. The Guardians left him. He almost wept at the loss of their glorified presence.

Abruptly he wakened. Ingham sat straight up in his bed. Not surprising, the coverlets were skewed from a night of tossing and turning. First he ran his fingers through his hair, then held them out in front of him. They were trembling. Placing his hands on his chest, he strove for a deep calming breath. Something was not right. His fingers encountered a necklet, and rubbed against the plush texture of his robe. His robe! He leapt from the bed. Odeledan, he cried aloud.

Looking down at his chest he realized that the rough night shirt he wore to bed was replaced by the robe and necklets of the Exalted One. I am the Exalted One of Fentressen, he whispered in his mind. The awe and weight of such a decree left him unable to discern whether he felt mostly joy or sorrow at the pronouncement.4

There was no time for Inghamedan to ponder whether the mantle set upon him seemed heavy. Compared to the uncertainty and doubt that had clogged his mind these past weeks, it appeared light. In the midst of his musing a vision gripped his mind, and opened before him in panoramic view. Ingham could not tell whether he left his body, or was transported only in his mind. He walked the halls of a large fortress built on the rocky crags of the Ayen Sea. The sound and smell of the ocean lapped against the edifice like the relentless lapping of a cat cleaning her fur. There were numerous dark robed individuals inside with

4 Judges of Light -Treachery From Within - Odeledan draws Ingham into his councils, and makes him his Apparent - a title given to the one he has selected to succeed him as Exalted One. It is a choice that must be ratified by the Godhead, but usually stands.

insignia sewn into the hems. They looked to be wearing a copy of the robe worn by Cryptic. I am in Pentagess then, he thought. Simultaneously he was taken through all the interiors of the fortress, but his vision riveted on a healing room where a tall elffar administered to a delf lying near death from terrible burns. It’s Givetedan, he mouthed in horror, but no words came. He looked at the elffar to ask her if there was any hope of his survival. She looked him full in the eyes. He seemed captured in her gaze. Come quickly, she said.

He was then taken in vision to a large central chamber where several of the deep blue robed ones were conferring. There in their midst were two of his own High Ones, the trolls, Comedian, and Skyredan. Oh no, it could not be, he moaned. Surely they have not given themselves to the dark. The Dark Sorcerers, for that is what the deep blue robed individuals were, seemed to be listening to the trolls. One of the party, a tall elf dressed in a red robe suddenly stood. If none of you will help me, he stated, I will face them alone.

We will go, Comedian spoke for both of the trolls, for Skyredan nodded his agreement. We wish to help rid you of this scourge.

The scourge you brought with you from Fentressen, venom spilled from the mouth of one of the dark robed ones. Those fire creatures were here long before the trolls, snapped another in surprising defense of the troll High Ones. As were the bears, offered a third, and added, one of their own lies dying after saving Griaric. It is a death sentence, Griaric, and well you know it. A fourth sneered, I want no part in it. We seem to be safe enough in here.

Judges of Light - Disarmed By Trust - Ingham meets Cryptic as he comes to the gates of Fentressen. He is dressed in a robe similar to that of the Exalted One. All the Dark Sorcerers wear this robe in rejection of Odeledan’s supremacy over them.

Yes Durnic, but for how long? asked Griaric.

The vision then whisked him outside the walls of what he now knew to be Pentagess, the stronghold of all the Sorcerers of the Dark. Outside the fortress, all was in chaos. There were open fissures in the ground. The entire area was charred, or burning. Enormous bears stalked the perimeters of the fortress from either side to the cliffs, and all around. Other animals slunk in the back ground, but although Ingham was unaware of their species, he did have a sense of their presence.

Those are your allies, a voice cooed in his ear. The dove perched on his shoulder.

She is even a part of my visions, he thought of the dove before he was again transfixed by the view before him. While he stood there gazing, an even larger fissure opened right before the gates of Pentagess, and to his horror, beings made of fire crawled up from the abyss and flung themselves at the gate, and at the three who came out to defend it.

The vision faded, and the memory of it was eluding his grasp as he reached for it. I am too late, he murmured brokenly, appendages has already been destroyed. Holding his head in his hands, he strove to draw one more strand from his vision. Comesedan, Skyredan, Givetedan. They were there! I must go at once. He reached out his hand to summon a hand light, and a fireball the size of a black seed melon appeared there instead of the small blue light he summoned. Oh, he whistled softly, and modulated the blaze to its usual small blue globe. My power has grown. First visions, and now this. I had no idea such a thing would happen with the calling. More than ever I wonder what I have done to deserve this gift.

Stretching his arms wide he sent forth a call, a call only the Exalted One of Fentressen was entitled to make. He felt his voice swell on the morning air. Come, he commanded, Come again to Fentressen. It was a centuries old call to all fledges, judges, High Ones, and those with talent who so desired, to come to Fentressen. The call would go out, but those called would not come soon, he knew. He said his morning prayers in his heart. The first chance he got he would pray for hours, but that would have to come later. Pentagess might already be under attack. Widely he sketched a journey door to Pentagess with a prayer repeated over in his mind, May the Godhead grant me the wisdom to do what is right.

He burst through the door at a run. Once through the journey door he saw that his vision was not yet a reality. The vision was true in this one aspect, outside the gates of Pentagess the landscape was charred. However, the land round about appeared relatively calm. Great bears did stalk the perimeters, but they paid him no heed. Nor did they regard the dun colored elk who came and bowed his head before Inghamedan.

Speak to him, the dove cooed in his mind.

How did you . . .

I came with you through the journey door. Speak.

You wish to speak with me, my brother? Ingham felt foolish speaking with an animal. The dove was somehow different, she communicated mind to mind. She did not seem to be of this world.

The majestic creature raised his head. We are charged by the Guardians to aid you. As we promised Odeledan, in your extremity we would come. Our way was beset with wolves, and bears created by the enemy. Fire monsters, and other foul creatures bar the way to Pentagess. Be aware. The elk waited for no further conversation, but leapt away.

How can you aid me in my quest? Ingham called after him.

Out of the charred ruins on either side large cats came. Mountain lions, ocelots, panthers, and leopards. Bounding over the ruined grass hopped deer, elk, moose, rabbits, and loping along with them came racoons, skunks, and moles. Animals he could not identify joined them. They fell in line beside him, and made their way, along with Ingham, to the gates of Pentagess.

Up in the sky flapping wings drew his attention. Flits, large and small flew in formation overhead and sped ahead of him. The white dove mind spoke. The flits go to battle with you.

Off she flew. Ingham marveled, I have suddenly acquired the ability to converse with animals.

The strange cortege made for the gates. White wolves, screamed the cats. Bounding over the burned stumps, and fallen rocks of many buildings, they came. The indomitable mountain cats, however, raced ahead, sleek muscles bunching and stretching as they dispersed to take on the wolves. Snarls, yelps, and vicious growling, along with the hissing of the big cats could be heard. Ingham reached for his sword but realized that he didn’t bring it. Instead he summoned again the fireball in his hand and threw it at the head of a wolf who leaped for his neck. Two more wolves closed in for the attack. One was dispatched by a cougar, and Ingham lashed at the other who tried to sink its fangs into his leg.

Muttering a few words, he warded himself, and a few nearby animals. With a whoosh of a rushing wind he felt the blue aura spread from himself to include all his animal allies. What! he exclaimed. His talent was greater than what he heretofore personally experienced. I shall have to think on this later regarding my new powers, he thought. His warding was vibrant and pulsating, still, they were hard pressed. The snarling and snapping wolves kept coming. Smaller animals the like of which Ingham was unfamiliar kept flinging themselves against his shields, and they frothed at the mouth like rabid beasts.

In front of him a far seeing hawk swooped and called a warning. Sliders, he called. Ingham looked up to see in the air above large carrion crows attacking swarms of flits. Flinging his warding to include the flits, they renewed their attack against the crows. Frantically the crows sought a way past the barrier the flits established between them and the Exalted One.

Summoning fire to his fingertips, Inghamedan sent the fire spinning into the melee of snakes blocking his road. Blast after blast he sent into the writhing creatures, and they exploded with a smoky red-green fire. Another device of the enemy, he thought before the small creatures attacking him covered his warding like a blanket.

Inside he felt his ward weaken, and called upon the Godhead for strength. Grasping his medallion in one hand, and flinging fire from the other, he began to spin. Ever faster he spun, and the animals attacking his warding began to fly off him and disintegrate into the same red-green smoke as the snakes. The enemy’s spelled wolves fighting the animals took their toll among those who so valiantly fought them when Ingham’s shield weakened because it also weakened about them.

Snarling and growling the bears turned from their amble along their guard path in sudden awareness to press the attack.

Get help. Ingham begged the dove.

The dove took to the air, all too soon she was fighting to evade a flock of crows who crossed her path preventing her from flying to the fortress. Several of the larger black flits flew at her. One nipped her, and she lost altitude. Spurting blue flame she struggled on, but even though she broke away from their onslaught, she could not outdistance the crows. Out of the air from the east came a gigantic flock of eagles whipping the air with their giant wings, and calling. The air was filled with the sound of battle. The dove broke free as the crows turned to meet the challenge of the eagles. The dove flew beneath them and sped for the gates. One of the crows nearest her gave chase, but was cut off by an eagle who had banked and swooped behind the dove. Feathers floated down from the sky and wafted in the wind made by the mighty wings as the battle continued. Several valiant birds fell, and many crows evaporated into green smoke.

The dove made the battlements. The noise from the battle must have attracted the notice of the dark mages, for they were beginning to be dotted with spectators gesturing wildly. Ingham could not hear their cries above the roar of the animals. It does not really matter what they are saying, I have to reach the gates. I hope the dove can find the trolls.

Running, loping, and leaping the larger animals made for the bears. More bears from the woods appeared at a run to fight the enemy’s bears. Other wolves from the forest also joined the attack. Ingham could only assume that these animals had not aligned themselves with the EDUTH. The enemy’s bears lumbered to meet the threat, and engaged the animals standing tall on their hind legs lashing at them with claws. Deer and elk raised their hooves to batter at them. Rams lowered their heads and butted against the bears. Wolves nipped at them, while the brown bears from the woods met them standing tall. Timid rabbits ran between their legs. The smaller animals bit and scratched at their feet and legs. It was a sight never before seen on Furth, but Ingham was given no opportunity to watch. He raised his hand, and blue fire issued from him. He felt a falter in the balance, and the wards shielding him began to waver.

Before him the ground opened up, between himself and the gate. Fire in the shape of men clambered out of the fissures. Ingham felt anger licking in his veins. Instantly he felt them battering against his defenses. Made up of the oldest elements of Furth their power was as strong as the earth itself. I will not long be able to hold out against their onslaught much less vanquish them. He battled against them even harder sending water balls against them as blue as his fire. He felt the bile rise in his throat. Before him was the hideousness of the enemy exposed.

These creatures are made from pure elements of nature and altered to this evil purpose. I wonder if even Icon could command them now. Guardians, he called, help me. Well he knew the Guardians could not interfere with the choices of good or evil made by the people of Furth. He was alone out here, except for the animals, and he took deep breaths to restore his sense of purpose. The ground rumbled and shook beneath his feet as he prepared to face the fire monsters alone. How shall I use the Balance to defeat you? he cried. It took all his concentration to beat back the heat and conflagration battering at his wards and blackening the ground about him. He began to feel the heat as the fire monsters sought to squeeze the life from him by fire.

As he flung more and more water up from the ground to diffuse them, open pools appeared around his feet belching magma like blood from the wounds of over extended misuse of the Balance. Deep pits of moving earth shuddered about him as he fought to maintain his ward against the creatures. At last out of the iron gates of Pentagess came running the two trolls, Comedian, and Skyredan, High Ones of Fentressen. With them came the elf, the dark sorcerer called Griaric, dressed in a long red robe. They carried large pots of water that sloshed over the sides as they ran. Arriving behind the fire creatures, the elf poured a line of water to act as a barrier to contain them. Ingham doubted there was enough water in the ground to contain these creatures so contrary to nature.

Comedian, and Skyredan sprinkled their water over a pile of stones, and picked them up in their hands waving them in the air. The trolls were taller than the fire creatures, and when they raised their arms above them taller still. From the rocks in their hands flew droplets of water that soon built in strength until a deluge resembling fountains and falls of rushing water spouted from them. The creatures were distracted by the water, and turned to confront the new contenders giving Ingham a small respite.

The elf in red wore his gold hair tied at the back of his neck, but some tendrils escaped about his face only to be singed by the horrible flame as he called water forth from the ground and began flooding the creature that attacked him.

Guardians inspire us, prayed Ingham. Ward yourselves, he called. I have an idea. Jumping over a fissure that opened at his feet he grasped the hand of the elf in red. Adding his talent to the elf’s he called forth water from the tortured ground, from deep streams, and from the sea that lapped the shores. More and more dark robed figures came running out of the gate

clasping hands with those two, and summoning water they could see already welling up from the ground.

The fire monsters were exploding with large quantities of steam only to build themselves again and attack. Comedian flashing blue wards picked up one of the monsters and threw it into a large pit of water that exploded with steam shooting the water high into the air only to have the monster reform and drop on his head. Skyredan took his rocks bursting with water to the creature and laying a rock either side of his head lifted him off Coms, and flung him to a fire pit.

Around them the animals began to vanquish the bears. One after another the enemy’s animals began to vanish in the dense steam and smoke giving off that peculiar green cast. In the air the crows would have dived into the faces of those fending off the fire monsters, but the valiant eagles and flits continued to engage them, and more and more crows dissipated into green smoke.

The trolls joined hands with the other mags adding their talent to the melee. Together they chanted calling up the water from the deeps. Out on the sea a large wave was building far from shore. As it moved inward, it gathered speed and depth. Breaking against the cliffs with a mighty roar, it sent water leaping high. Large sprays of water broke against the fortress, and ran over the cliff top spilling into every fissure and crevice. From the depths water rushed up to meet the demands of those calling it.

Water rocketed into the air, and steam billowed about the fire creatures. The tortured earth spewed both water and magma as lightning flashed overhead then lanced down to pierce the ground and crack. Big balls of hail bounced from the sky as more water from the ocean lashed even higher . So fierce was the wind that robes whipped and dragged on the bodies of those fighting the elements. Their warding failed in the face of so much tumult in the Balance. Hair, faces, hands, and eyes were scorched, and burned. The earth rocked beneath their feet.

In the name of the Almighty Godhead, roared Inghamedan, I order you to stop. Such was the command in his voice that all the mages who came forth to help ceased their spelling at once. The fire creatures wavered, weakened by the water, and moved back from the Exalted One. Run for the gates, shouted Ingham. Some of them still holding hands they ran for the gates barely making it inside before the rollicking earth threw them to the ground. Behind them the ground buckled and heaved. Water and magma shot up into the air higher than the eagles flew. Many of the eagles, and the other flits were caught in the blaze, the rest sped westward to the trees. Those animals who survived the confrontation with the bears ran westward away from the upheaval.

A loud rumble filled the air one last time as the ground split asunder. Around the water line poured by the elf, the land gave way. Water poured in from the ocean, and isolated Pentagess. The mountains to either side slid into the ocean in the tumult. From beneath, the fortress of Pentagess was shoved skyward. Then the walls of Pentagess itself began to shake, and crumble. The iron gate blew off and fell into the abyss. The High Ones, and mages alike dug their fingers into the soil seeking a hold against the buffeting. Furth seemed to be taking back her control. The fire creatures dissolved into molten flames and returned to the fissures from which they came.

Several minims more the ground revolted; long minims passed while each person clinging to the ground feared for his life. Then all sound rumbled to a stop. The water sank back into the ground, and the fissures stopped belching flame and magma. The mages, High Ones, and the newly appointed Exalted One drew shakily to their feet. Most of them were either burned, or singed. All were soaked from the water they summoned. All about them lay devastation. Pentagess was completely sundered from the land, and rode high above the cliffs where the newly configured ocean surged against the exposed rock. The earth movement from the toll taken by the Balance had moved them out into the ocean several thousand feet.

Givetedan, wailed Comsedan, and ran to the rubble. Other of the mages took after him going to look for their own fallen comrades. Ingham and the red clad elf stood alone surveying the damage. Around the small island, that was now a ruined fortress, the water from the ocean hissed and spewed. There was no way off.