“Imagine how appalling it was!” Jaerod went on in a near-whisper. “The struggle when two armies wielded Everoot and Deathbane against each other. It was murderous. It was devastating. Refugees fled Sol-don-Orai. The borders were closed, trapping those who remained inside to meet the fate of the Empire. The Sorian who had guided them and preserved them – who had built them up from a small trading nation to the greatest power on this continent – they no longer listened to him. They were trapped by their need for the magic. When war consumes a kingdom, reason and hope gutter out first. And so the Sorian who created Sol-don-Orai destroyed it.”
“Sons of fire,” Thealos whispered under his breath. He couldn’t believe all that he was hearing. His ears burned and his throat clenched tightly. They had never taught the full story in school.
“The Sorian killed them all?” Allavin asked, his brow wrinkling.
Jaerod nodded, clasping his hands together. “He stopped the rains. With the awful power they can command, the Sorian caused great winds to blow over Sol-don-Orai out into the sea. The clouds formed but were cast over the sea before the rain could nourish the land. He invoked the drought and the Everoot dried up. The healing and regeneration stopped. And while the remaining armies fought over water, the motes of dust swirled in the air and began killing everything in the path of the winds. Within a few weeks, the Empire of Sol-don-Orai was no more. And the land became uninhabitable. The greatest, richest nation, crumbled into dust.”
“The Dust Plague,” Thealos said, nodding in agreement. He looked to the others in the room. “We are taught that it was Forbidden magic that destroyed the humans there.”
“Indeed,” Jaerod replied. “Deathbane is Forbidden. And that is one Rule of Forbiddance that I would certainly agree with.”
Thealos stared at the Sleepwalker. “The rest of it then, Jaerod. Tell them why we must go on to Landmoor. Is it too late yet to stop the Bandits from controlling the Everoot?”
“It is too late to stop them from seizing it,” he answered. “But not from keeping it. The Shae witnessed the destruction of Sol-don-Orai from afar – from the safety of the trees. But even then there was fear that the war would spill over the sea and into this valley and drown the Kingdom of Avisahn in its wake. The Shae did not want to destroy the Everoot like the Sorian intended to do. It is Silvan magic – Earth magic from their home world. It has a proper place and must be used appropriately. Deathbane was Forbidden to them. That had to be destroyed. And so the Shae appealed to the Mages of Safehome for an artifact. One that would defend them from the smallest motes of Deathbane or the great evil of the Sorian. They requested this artifact to keep the struggle of the Everoot away from the valley.” Jaerod pursed his lips, silent now, pondering. “An artifact was given to them. They called it the Silverkin Crystal. It was never used. It is still in the Shoreland – still at the Shae Watchpost in Landmoor where it was intended to be the first line of defense in case the struggle came here.” The gray eyes sought Thealos’. There was more – Thealos knew there was more. The door creaked open.
“Jaerod!” Talbin warned from the doorway. “A company of Kiran Thall just rode into Castun!”
XXIII
Could be Secrist’s men,” Sturnin Goff said, looking at Jaerod. “Or maybe from the Shadows Wood. I think I’d like my sword back now.”
“They won’t be from the main regiment,” Jaerod answered, glancing back at Talbin. “There were no orders to march on Castun. It must be another company.”
Thealos stepped forward, his stomach twisting with the shock of all the news. He felt an urgency to get to Landmoor, before the Bandits could take the city. “How long should we stay?”
The Sleepwalker frowned, angry at the sudden interruption. “I don’t want to be penned in here with so much happening near Landmoor.” He scanned the faces of those around the table. “What I told you all tonight is not common knowledge in this valley. The Silverbornes of Avisahn would have records of the Everoot and the destruction of Sol-don-Orai. The older members of the Sunedrion might even recall the deal they struck with Safehome. The humans of Dos-Aralon have forgotten why they came here, or where they came from.” He crossed over and put his hand on Thealos’ shoulder. “I cannot fetch the Silverkin Crystal. Only a Shae can retrieve it. And there are those in Avisahn who will speak against getting involved, unless there is proof. The Crystal will be that proof. I am a Shaefellow, Allavin. Now you all see why Thealos and I must go to Landmoor – we would stop this kind of destruction from happening. But I can’t do that alone. And Thealos shouldn’t have to carry the burden himself.” He looked to the others. “We need you. As many as are willing.”
A hush fell over the room. Thealos felt everyone’s eyes on him – there was newfound respect and admiration for what he was doing. He liked the taste of it, though his heart hammered with fear inside his chest. An artifact of Silvan power to stop the threat in the valley. Only a Shae could get it. Again it struck him that Jaerod was using him as the focal point instead of himself. He swallowed his own nervousness.
Thealos gripped the edge of a chair and faced the others. “I would be grateful for any help you offered,” he said, looking them each in the eye.