The Marenon Chronicles Collection

Chapter Fifteen





Silas woke up the next morning feeling rested, but his mind continued to run wildly. The next part of his mission was clear. Today, the Blue Gate would be destroyed.

After breakfast, Dublin took Silas to where the others had assembled. All the leaders were together, including the previously imprisoned Julian. Silas was glad, yet somewhat surprised to hear that Julian would lead a reconnaissance group into Mudavé. Darius had been livid at the revelation, but ultimately decided to focus his rage on the fight to come.

It had been decided that Silas should go to the Blue Gate as discretely as possible, so he would only be accompanied by Inga and Kaden. Lorcan had wanted to join their group, but to Silas’ relief, Kaden reminded the Erellen that he was a wanted man in Elysium, and that would be their next destination after the Blue Gate.

Coffman placed a large hand on Lorcan’s shoulder. “We’re not going into Mudavé yet. We’re just checking it out.” Lorcan said nothing, probably knowing he would come across as weak as he had three months before when he had been too afraid to enter the Stühoc city. Silas remembered the tale told to him by Inga, that Lorcan had been captured and tortured by the Stühocs when he was a child. Whenever the demon-like creatures came near him, the warrior became nearly useless.

“Inga, we could really use your help out there,” Julian said.

“Silandrin was insistent that I help Silas,” she said. “But I’m sure we will see you very soon.”

Julian nodded, knowing there wasn’t much use in trying to convince her to come. Her abilities would have come in handy though.

Darius Umar remained behind at Jekyll Rock as his soldiers continued to burn the bodies of the Fallen Dunarians. Honor was rarely given to the dead in Marenon, but Darius had instructed that the bodies of the dead Dunarians were to be burned separately from the Stühocs and Nestorians.

From the looks of it, Jekyll Rock would need extensive rebuilding before it would ever return to its original glory. Silas did not envy the soldiers and citizens charged with such a task. In the distance, he could see Dink and his wife Emma helping soldiers with the cleanup. Dink noticed him looking and gave a short salute. Silas smiled and reciprocated.

Silas strapped the staff of Uriah to his back and mounted Skarret, glad to see the sarian still alive. Inga sat close behind him and wrapped an arm around his waist to steady herself. For the first time, Silas found it pleasing that Skarret refused a saddle. Kaden mounted his sarian, Cole, and waited next to them.

Julian, Nalani, and the other mercenaries each rode a separate sarian, leaving one left to stay with Darius should he need one.

Dublin had ensured that everyone was given a wristband before they departed. The green jewel strapped to their wrists could provide instant communication from any part of the land if they needed it. The old man had nearly been in tears when he saw them off.

“Don’ yeh be makin’ any foolish decisions, yeh hear?” he said to Silas. “Yeh might be the most powerful person in Marenon, but tha’ don’ give yeh an excuse to be reckless!”

Silas assured the old man that they would not do anything foolish. Silas checked his cloak pockets to make sure he still counted six medallions. Satisfied, he gave one last wave goodbye to Julian and the others, and they were off.

Traveling to the Blue Gate wouldn’t take long, but none of them knew what they might encounter. Stühocs may have been dispatched there before the battle at Jekyll Rock with the prediction that Silas would be traveling that way. For all they knew, they could be walking into a trap laid by a thousand or more soldiers. Silas had a suspicion that this would not be a problem given his new magical ability, but he knew he was untested. He hadn’t yet been given the chance to see what kind of power was stored within him.

Silas, Inga, and Kaden flew high in the warm morning sun and scanned the ground below them as they glided over Canor. The city seemed relatively quiet as the people went about, unaware that the tides were changing. Marenon would become a very different place in the coming days.

As they passed the city, Blue Gate Mountain loomed in front of them and the snowy top lent unpleasant memories to Silas. He couldn’t look at it without thinking of the fear and pain of his first day in Marenon.

It dawned on Silas that he had not actually ever seen the Blue Gate from the side of Marenon. On Earth, he had seen the Blue Gate begin to open when Kaden had placed the medallion like a key in the cave wall. But Silas had died before ever getting a chance to step through it. And now he was ready to destroy it.

They circled around the west side of the mountain and glided toward the battered remains of Silandrin’s old dwelling. It had been left in ruins, mostly due to Inga’s magic. A few bodies of the dog-men remained at the scene, but most had been dragged away or eaten by animals.

Inga looked from Silas to Kaden as they dismounted.

“Do you remember where it is?” she asked him.

Kaden scratched his beard and thought for a moment. “It’s been almost eighteen years. Garland and I followed the Gatekeeper from this house.”

Silas held out a hand when a feeling struck him. “You don’t have to show us the way,” he said. “I can feel it. It’s not too far.”

It was as though a magnet pulled him toward the gate, like it wanted him to find it.

Past the broken house lay a dark wooded terrain filled with large evergreens and boulders that had broken away from the mountaintop years before, making a home for the moss and ivy. The birds chirped back and forth to one another loudly, but no other sound could be heard.

Skarret and Cole patrolled the sky above the trees, which gave Silas the assurance that no army waited for them in the distance.

They moved forward, step-by-step, following Silas down the flattened path. The ground seemed as though it had been trodden on a consistent basis, but Silas couldn’t speculate as to who would have traveled the road this much.

Silas could feel the gate drawing him as they began to veer off the path and into the thicker part of the woods. They walked for several minutes, and with each step, Silas could feel the indivisible hands, pulling him toward the gate. He had thought at first that the sense had only been in his mind, but he could undoubtedly feel a physical push toward it.

They continued as it drew them east around the mountain and they found themselves walking down another long pathway. This one was straight and led to the side of the mountain where a bare, smooth wall stood.

No ivy or plant life crept up the wall.

Silas barely noticed that the gate had stopped drawing him in once he realized that they stood only a hundred feet from it. They stared at it in wonder, though there was nothing wondrous about it.

“So much magic has been put into making these gates, yet they are most unassuming,” Silas said. “No art, no grand entrance. Just flat, gray rock.”

“I think Silandrin meant for them to be uninviting,” Inga replied. “Though without the medallion, no one can pass through, I don’t think he wanted anyone near them. They weren’t something he was proud of, I’d say.”

Silas stepped forward and his right hand began to vibrate just before his staff transformed into a broadsword. Kaden drew his sword, and Inga threw up her hands to ready themselves for a coming attack, though nothing happened.

Silas closed his eyes as he called on the magic to reveal the danger that lurked near them, but he could see nothing. He opened his eyes, and searched around him frantically. That’s when Judoc appeared from behind a set of trees and stood in front of the gate.

“Anithistor told me you would be coming here soon,” Judoc said. “He told me to be ready.”

“And do you think you are ready?” Silas asked.

“I think if you are here to destroy the Blue Gate, you will find that you are outmatched. We will never let you touch it. You should have come with more men.”

“So you haven’t heard,” Silas said. “You haven’t heard that there is a new Gatekeeper? You now stand before him.”

Judoc lowered his stare, then reached for his small spectacles with his furry hand. He folded the sides that had clung to his pointed ears and placed the glasses in his cloak pocket.

“Gatekeeper or not, you will not touch this gate today,” he said.

Seemingly from nowhere, a hundred or more dog-men appeared from the shadows of the trees.

Silas could feel his two companions tense at the sight of so many beasts wanting their blood, but he felt calm in his heart. He was the Gatekeeper. It was time to act like it.

“I’m giving you one last chance for you and your servants to stand down,” Silas said. “If you do not, you will die.”

Judoc didn’t respond with words, but with a ferocious bark and growl, he called out for his servants to attack. Each of them sprang into action, but Silas was ready.

His mind had never felt more aware. The first group of dogs jumped at the small band, but Silas was able to pass a sword through them in one fluid motion. He threw up a large green shield around Inga and Kaden with one hand, and with his sword, he shot out a web of lightening bolts, electrocuting ten of Judoc’s minions at once. One after another, they jumped at Silas, but he found that he could now change the staff to become any weapon he desired.

The first one, he sliced through with a sword. The next, he smashed with a hammer. He turned to face three others. With Silas’ desire, the hammer changed into a flail. He barred his teeth as the flail caught fire. In one mighty swing, Silas smashed through the line of them, spreading flames and smoke. He turned just in time to see another jumping toward his back, but Silas held out a hand to stop the dog in mid-flight. Next, he smashed it into a tree with a crushing force. He then concentrated on a branch from the top of the tree and snapped it in half. With the sharp end out, he sent it sailing at the attacker, spearing it through the chest.

Fifty more attacked at once, but Silas threw down his staff and placed both of his arms together and let out a stream of fire that spread in every direction, spewing from his palms.

The man-dogs let out howls of pain as the flames seared their fur and flesh. Few remained, but those that survived ran off in every direction, thankful to have escaped with their lives.

Sweat poured down Silas’ face, but he felt no fatigue. Kaden and Inga stood in awe after witnessing his mastery of magic.

He allowed the green shield to vanish and he turned to face Judoc. He called the staff to float to his right palm.

Judoc swallowed hard as Silas approached. He knew there would be no fight. Silas was unbeatable.

“Just make it quick,” Judoc said. “I’ll die at the hands of Anithistor if you don’t kill me now. I imagine he will be less than civil with my execution.”

“Why would you waste your time with him?” Silas asked. “Why did you serve the Stühocs?”

“They provided me a home here,” he answered. “Anithistor allowed us passage here from the old world.”

“You are a fool.”

“A realization I made a long time ago. If you will please be done with me now, Mr. Ainsley, I would appreciate it.”

“I’m not going to kill you. You will be my messenger.”

Judoc stood silently waiting.

“Tell Anithistor he has awoken a giant. Tell him that I’m coming for him.”

He stared at Silas, then glanced at Kaden and Inga who had walked up from behind. He nodded slowly and walked away without another word.

When he was out of earshot, Kaden spoke next.

“You know he won’t go to Anithistor.”

“I don’t expect him to,” Silas said. “Would you?”

“No. I would run as far away from Mudavé as possible.”

Silas turned his head to the two. “Are you both all right?”

They both nodded fervently.

“You seem to know how to handle yourself well,” Inga said. “I’m not sure why Silandrin thought you would need me.”

Silas didn’t know either, but he was glad to have the two of them there. If anything, maybe Silandrin knew it would not be good for Silas to be alone on this journey.

Silas turned back to the blank wall and reached into his pocket. Without looking, he knew he had grabbed the blue medallion. He stepped forward to the blank wall and looked at the bottom near the ground where he found a small slot for the medallion.

He took one last look at Kaden and Inga then bent down to insert the medallion. Immediately, streaks of blue light slithered across the bare rock and began to spiral toward the center until almost the entire wall was pulsating with the blue light. Eventually, they could each see to the other side. The other world. Earth. If they wanted, all they had to do was step through and they would be back where they had started their lives. The blue light began to fade until it was only a small outline of the clear passage in front of them.

Silas knew the entrance to Earth led somewhere on that mountain in Colorado where he and his grandfather had died months before. He couldn’t help but shake the realization that this had been the same gate Maroke had used to come after them. This had been the same gate Marcus and Theron had used before Silandrin had closed it completely.

For a brief moment, Silas thought he could step through it. If he wanted, he could go back to Earth and forget about all of this. The problems of Marenon would be forgotten. At least, for a time. But he knew that someday the Blue Gate could be used again.

Besides, there was no life for him there. His grandfather had made sure of that. His friends had been few in number because Silas and Garland had always been on the move. Silas had recently learned that this was because Garland had been evading the Sleepers – Marcus and Theron.

“If you want to go back to Earth, now is your chance,” Silas told Kaden and Inga.

“How do you destroy it?” Inga asked, ignoring the suggestion.

That was a good question. Silas had no idea. Here he was, staring at his home planet for the last time, but the power he needed to destroy the connection eluded him. Were there words to say? A spell to cast?

He first tried to use fire against it, but nothing happened. It remained a simple walk-through to another world.

Silas searched deep within his mind. Somewhere there was an answer to the gate’s destruction.

He threw his staff to the ground.

“I don’t know!”

Inga walked up next to him and stared deep into his eyes.

“Silas, you’ve got to clear your mind of any distractions. You possess the power to destroy it. You’ve got to find that power.”

He knew she was right, but it didn’t explain how he should find it. He closed his eyes and tried to search his thoughts. He was distracted. So many new options of magic flew through his brain, but he needed something specific. Silandrin had said Silas would have the power to do it, but where was this power?

“Clear your mind,” he heard Inga say, though her voice felt distant.

He breathed slowly, trying to calm his thoughts, to purge his mind of everything. After a moment, his thoughts cleared. That’s when the words formed in his mind.

He had never heard the language before. It wasn’t of his own tongue, and it wasn’t Erellen, but something else. A certain phrase passed through his mind several times before he decided to speak it.

“Osh tü lorminan, Kül vorheesh-sellan…”

The ground beneath them began to tremble.

“Osh tü lorminan, Kül vorheesh-sellan,” he repeated louder.

The shaking became so severe, that the others fell to the ground, but Silas stood firm. He opened his eyes to witness what was happening before him. The blue light had begun to swirl again, and the view of the other side into Earth started to disappear. The words remained fresh in his mind.

He could see the medallion’s sapphire jewel pulsating the light brighter than he had ever seen it before.

A third time.

“Osh tü lorminan, Kül vorheesh-sellan!” he yelled.

The blue light vanished. The medallion exploded into pieces as the rock wall crumbled to the ground into a dusty heap.

Everything went black as Silas lost all consciousness.

*****

When he started to feel himself walking, he knew he was dreaming. The red dirt path before him stretched long, but he knew his destination. He was walking toward the Red Gate.

“Silas!” a voice called out to him. “Silas!”

He looked in every direction, but could not find the source of the voice.

“Over here!”

Silas looked up in time to see a cloaked figure jumping from a tall boulder to the ground in front of him.

“I see that you know the words of the medallion’s destruction,” the man said.

“What?” Silas asked.

“The words,” the man repeated. “I don’t know them myself. They are from an ancient tongue of the Stühocs. Powerful words. Anithistor used them to create the red medallion and Silandrin used them to create all the others. The fact that the words came to you only proves who you are.”

Silas said nothing, wondering who this man was and how he knew this information.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” the man said.

“Who are you?”

“I’m alive,” Will said with a smile, though he didn’t seem overly happy. Silas thought that is expression seemed forced.

“But who are you?” Silas asked him.

“I’m Will,” the man said. “Will Ainsley.”

Silas’ eyebrows wrinkled. “But you’re dead.”

“That’s what most people think,” he said. “I was never killed, Silas. I ran off into battle and no one ever saw me again. They never found a body because I had been captured.”

“This is a dream,” Silas said. “You aren’t real. I don’t even know what my father looks like.”

“Dreams for the powerful are never just dreams, Silas. “After years of trying, I’ve finally escaped the Stühocs, but I’m still in Mudavé.”

“Why are you still in Mudavé?”

“I fear my recapture. There are more enemies patrolling the borders of Mudavé than ever before. You must have started something. I’m hiding in the Reemlock Mountains.”

Silas knew this couldn’t be real. How could no one have known that his father had been captured?

“Why haven’t the Stühocs turned you?”

“They tried but it was too difficult. They’ve kept me around to use against you. A ransom perhaps. I just wanted you to know that you will not be alone here. I will be waiting to help you. We can finish this together.”

“How are you talking to me through a dream?”

“Magic,” Will said with a smile.

Silas shook his head. This can’t be real.

“It’s so good to see you, Silas. I wish your mother could have seen you now.”

The mixed emotions that racked Silas’ heart were unnerving. Part of him wanted to talk with his ‘father’ forever, but part of him wasn’t sure he would even remember this when he woke. Were these just built up emotions trying to compensate for the feelings of abandonment? Did he even feel abandonment?

“It’s time for you to wake up, Silas. You have more work to do. I will see you again soon.”

The image before him began to disappear like a fog in the early morning.

“Wait!” Silas yelled, but it was too late.

He woke with a start as sweat spilled down his face. He was in a bed. His bed. He looked out his window and could see the remains of Jekyll Rock in the city below. He turned sharply when someone knocked on the door and opened it slowly. It was Kaden.

“You’re awake.”

Silas was having trouble controlling his breathing.

“You’ve been asleep for two days.”

Silas couldn’t believe it. “Two days?”

Kaden nodded. “We were getting worried about you. When you destroyed the Blue Gate, you just fell to the ground; we didn’t know what to do.”

Silas turned his gaze back to the window. He hadn’t forgotten his dream as he had predicted. He didn’t know whether it was real, but his heart told him that his father was waiting for him in Mudavé. His father, or someone else.