The Jewel of Andar by O. H. Reads - HTML preview

Chapter 6

Two days later the opposing forces met at what had become the battleground for Kor-Etath and his challengers, the field of Ethira. Word had spread throughout the races that Kor-Etath had assembled his army and many were the races who felt that Andar was on the edge of war. The Skellians had been strangely quiet on the whole matter and had made no overtures or contact with any of the other races. It was well known that they would be the first race to fall if Kor-Etath triumphed again. Their fear and uncertainty had hung like a cloud over their cave homes. This day could possibly be their last day on Andar. And if the Skellians fell, who would be the next race? These concerns seemed to spread throughout Andar, affecting the crowd of races that had come to witness the battle. Many of them had come armed.

Kor-Eln stood on his side of the open area. Just behind him and to his right stood Mandu. Just behind him and to his left was Vornur. Behind the three of them stood all the other races of Andar that had taken part in The Contest. Surprisingly, there were also several villages of dar-Skellians who stood with them. The crowd of races made for a large and imposing force that stood behind him. Even so, they were not as large as the army that stood opposite them. Looking at the ranks of dar-Skellians across from them it was obvious how Kor-Etath had reigned supreme for so long. There were close to ten thousand of them, dressed for war. They held spears and shields, and at their sides were strapped swords. The dull bronze color of their armor in the early morning light gave them the appearance of ghosts that had materialized out of the ground. A large tent sat in the middle of the force. From there would come Kor-Etath.

"Look well, Kor-Eln," Vornur said quietly. "Standing before you and behind you are all the forces of Andar. On this day will the future of Andar be decided. Should you defeat Kor-Etath, you will have command of all those behind you. Kor-Etath's army is larger, but without him they will scatter like smoke in the wind. Should you fail, the army that you see will sweep across Ethira and cut down any that remain here."

"No pressure, huh?"

Vornur looked at Kor-Eln. Mandu placed a hand on Kor-Eln's shoulder.

"Understand," she began, "that Vornur speaks as a Roduran. We will follow you, all of us, to whatever end there is. Kor-Etath has ruled for a thousand years, and those who have served him have prospered. It is not just Kor-Etath who will lose power today if he falls. That he and all who serve him have come to fight is not unexpected."

"But did you expect to die here?"

The reassuring smile she had shown him before did not come. Her eyes turned from him toward the large encampment.

"We hope that Vornur's words sound true when the day is done. Know this," and she turned back to him, "today is a new day for Andar. The races stand united behind you. We will see to it that even if all of us leave our lives in Ethira today, Kor-Etath will be among us. Know also that in this life, or whatever comes after, I will be yours, Kor-Eln."

"And I will be yours, Mandu. I will fight today all the harder because I want to enjoy this life with you."

Across the open space the army of Kor-Etath rose and stood at attention. It was impressive. The flap to the tent was opened and Kor-Etath stepped out. He wore only a tunic and pants. In his right hand was a sword that shone like fire in the early morning light. Kor-Eln felt himself reflexively step back, even as far from his opponent as he was. Kor-Etath wore no decorations, but he carried himself so certainly that it was hard not to look at him like the demigod he had become to the races of Andar. Beneath the tunic his body was firm, but not overly muscled. He was not built for brute force. Kor-Eln looked at his opponent and saw nothing that he could use to assure himself. Even at a distance of some two hundred feet he could tell that Kor-Etath was even several inches taller than he was.

Kor-Eln removed the cloak he had been given by the Manturs. As he did, the jewel on the hilt of the dagger caught the light of the twin suns and for a brief moment a flash of red covered all of Ethira. There was an audible gasp from both sides of the field and for the briefest of moments something that could have been doubt could flashed across the face of Kor-Etath. It was gone quickly and replaced by a thin-lipped smile. From where he stood, Kor-Eln could not tell if the smile was of respect or something else.

Kor-Eln handed the cloak to Mandu and stepped forward. They met in the center of the open field, only a few feet separating them. The two stood facing each other silently for a moment.

"Tell me, Outworlder," Kor-Etath began in a voice that was almost conversational, "did the Skellians tell you what happened to all the others who came before you? Did they tell you how their headless corpses were left here in Ethira? Did they tell you that the last one was from your own home world?"

The last question was finished with a sneer so evil that Kor-Eln felt his skin crawl. Kor-Etath did not kill because he had to, but because he liked to.

"I have heard," Kor-Eln said simply.

"Then you must know that you are throwing away your life. When you lie here, dead, know then that my army will march on Andar. We will spare none, not even the dar-Skellian woman or the Roduran."

"That is not the way the Pozeran told me it would happen," Kor-Eln replied.

There was no mistake in reading the expression on Kor-Etath's face this time. It was real concern. Kor-Eln told himself that if he lived through this, he would have to learn what he could of the Pozerans. He drew his sword. Upon seeing the sword come out, Kor-Etath regained his composure. The sword was something he could deal with on his own terms.

"You are a fool, Outworlder.  You come here and fight for a race that is not your own.  Do you really believe that you can bring balance to Andar?  Do you really believe that there can ever be balance on Andar while the Skellians live?  They created this world we live in!  They caused the races to fracture and fight!  You cannot bring balance to Andar, you can only bring chaos."

Kor-Eln heard the words and hesitated.  Only for a moment.

"I would sooner have chaos than the death you would bring.  This is not your world to rule.  We will have peace on Andar.  And it will not be yours."

"We shall see."

The two swords came together in the middle of Ethira and what should have been a triumphant sound of metal against metal rolled across the quiet area as a muted thud. It was as if the two met in a vacuum with no sound escaping. It had the effect on both sides of watching an animal die of agony, and so all remained silent.

Kor-Eln found himself fighting defensively. Kor-Etath was obviously a far more experienced swordsman, and he was stronger. Already Kor-Etath had drawn blood from a cut on his arm. A moment later another cut was slashed across his chest, followed closely by one on his leg. None of them were deep, but together they were a sign that at the present course of events, Kor-Etath would be the easy victor. If he was going to survive and beat Kor-Etath, Kor-Eln would have to fight offensively and take some chances.

The first chance came courtesy of Kor-Etath himself. Kor-Eln had stepped on a loose stone as he backed to avoid a thrust and so stumbled. Kor-Etath rushed in to take advantage. Kor-Eln, unable to raise his sword in time, dropped to his knees and ducked his head. The tip of the blade went just over his lowered neck. Kor-Etath had over-reached, and Kor-Eln took advantage. He stood, throwing Kor-Etath off balance. He came around with his sword swinging and cut a lengthy gash in Kor-Etath's left arm. At sign of the dark red blood a shout went up from the races of Kor-Eln. It was the first sound that had been heard in nearly twenty minutes and Kor-Eln felt himself buoyed by it.

Kor-Etath took a couple steps back and stared, almost in disbelief, at the blood coming from his arm. He tried to lift the arm and flex it, but it was too painful. He looked up at Kor-Eln and gave a grim smile.

"That is the most serious wound I have ever suffered," he said, his voice sounding not nearly as confident over his heavy breathing. "It would seem that on this day fortune has chosen to favor the lucky over the skilled."

Kor-Eln could not bring himself to answer, knowing that it was indeed luck that had provided him the opening.

The two stood for a moment, facing each other. Kor-Eln wondered what was happening when suddenly he felt a pricking sensation at his right hip. He looked down. Nothing. But when he looked back up, Kor-Etath was advancing. The two clashed again.

Kor-Etath pushed the attack, and a moment later Kor-Eln dodged a thrust only to be knocked to the ground by a fist thrown with Kor-Etath's left arm. As he rolled over, he felt the blood come into his mouth from a cut somewhere inside it. A shout rose up from Kor-Etath's army.

Before Kor-Eln could rise, Kor-Etath delivered a kick to his gut that rolled him over and knocked the wind from him. Kor-Eln found himself laying on the ground, gasping for air, and looking up into a soft pink sky. His mind drifted back to thoughts of the world he had come from. Then those thoughts blurred and all he could see was Mandu's face. He knew, in that moment, that if he died, she would die too. He rolled away and just avoided a slash from Kor-Etath's sword that made dust rise from the ground. Kor-Eln rose to his feet, still a little out of breath. Kor-Etath seemed a little surprised.

"You have more spirit than those before you," Kor-Etath said. "Indeed it has been my greatest fight."

Kor-Eln gulped for breath and stood up.

"Thanks," he managed to mutter. "Same to you."

The two joined again. This time the movements of both were slower. Kor-Eln was still trying to regain his breath, but it was obvious to Kor-Eln that the wound on Kor-Etath's arm hurt more than he was letting on. As the blood continued to flow, the sword thrusts seemed to carry less force and move more slowly. Then the pain started in his hip again, this time more intense. Around them the wind began to blow, but neither noticed it.

"It is the Korisheray," Vornur said to no one in particular, but loud enough to be heard by Mandu next to him. "Kor-Etath is calling the Bringer of Death."

Mandu looked at the Roduran, then back to the battle. She tried to reach Kor-Eln in his mind.

"Pull the dagger," she thought. "Unsheath the Jewel of Andar and save our world."

But the spell of the Korisheray blocked her. She could not reach him. She watched, helpless, as the light from the suns seemed to fade just a little.

Kor-Etath was slowing drastically now, the blood loss from the wound taking its toll on his exertions as Kor-Eln regained his breath. A certain ferocity seemed to cling to him though, and a look of confusion showed in his features. Kor-Eln held the upper hand, but the pain in his hip was increasing now and he found himself limping. He had not been struck by Kor-Etath's blade since the cut on his arm, nor had he been struck at all, but he felt himself weakening to something that seemed to drag the energy from him. Kor-Etath aimed a wicked slash at him and the pain he felt made him stumble as he backed away. Kor-Etath noticed. With a renewed energy he stood straight up and smiled.

"Do you feel it, Outworlder? I know you do. It is the Korisheray, Bringer of Death. You will fall, Outworlder."

Kor-Etath strode forward, his confidence as overwhelming as the pain in Kor-Eln's hip. Kor-Eln gave ground, limping back. For the first time he noticed the biting cold of the wind.

"It is useless to resist," Kor-Etath said, almost laughing now. "You can only die now. You are not Kor-Eln. You are only another outworlder who will die here in Andar, forgotten by the races of your world and this one. Only there will be no one to bury you. Your headless body will lay here as a symbol that none can resist Kor-Etath."

Kor-Etath swung his sword again and Kor-Eln raised his to block it. As he did the pain in his hip was so sharp that he dropped his free hand to it. At that moment he felt the dagger. He looked down and saw the red stone glowing. He pulled the dagger from its sheath. The pain stopped. So did the wind. Kor-Etath's smile vanished with them. Kor-Eln stood up. The field of Ethira seemed to be bathed in a red light.

"Your reign is over, Kor-Etath."

Kor-Eln began his attack. Kor-Etath backed up against the onslaught. A moment later Kor-Etath's sword was knocked from his hand. Kor-Eln plunged his sword into the gut of his opponent. Kor-Etath's eyes went wide in shock and pain. He slumped to his knees. With his other hand, Kor-Eln plunged the dagger into his chest.

"Now is the time for the reign of peace to begin," Kor-Eln said through clenched teeth.

Kor-Etath managed a weak laugh.

"Fool," he hissed as his life ran from him.  "Son of a fool!  You send this world to war."

"Better that...than you."

Kor-Etath coughed weakly.

"My army will destroy you," he gasped.

"If it does, you'll never know."

Kor-Etath took one last breath, closed his eyes, and fell over.

Kor-Eln wiped the blade of the dagger and sheathed it, then wiped his sword. He turned to Mandu and gave the smallest of smiles, half in victory and half in relief. She did not smile back. Kor-Eln turned. The army of Kor-Etath was forming ranks. Kor-Eln rushed back to stand at her side.

"His reign is over, and yours was too brief," she said sadly. "There is no jewel that can save us from his army."

"We do not go down without a fight," Kor-Eln replied. "Vornur," he said, turning to the Roduran. "Give the word. We stand for Andar here, now."

"Races of Andar!" Vornur shouted. "Stand and fight! The army of Kor-Etath must fall with him!"

The races shouted and raised whatever weapons they had. Kor-Eln raised his sword and turned back to the advancing army. Ellrun was leading them across the field. The other Roduran stopped long enough to pick up the blade of his fallen leader, raised it above his head, and began to run. Two steps later he dropped in his tracks.

"Manturs!" someone shouted.

Kor-Eln whirled around. The races had parted in the middle and an army of Manturs advanced. There were perhaps a thousand of them, advancing quickly and with bows drawn. Several hundred of Kor-Etath's army were felled by more arrows as the Manturs came clear of the crowd of the races of Andar. More than a thousand of Kor-Etath's army were dead before the two armies closed. One Mantur stopped by Kor-Eln. It was Ruan-urn.

"How can there be balance on Andar without the Manturs?" he asked.

"There cannot," Kor-Eln said with a look of intense relief. "I believe this is yours."

He held out the dagger to Ruan-urn. The Mantur pushed it back toward Kor-Eln.

"Keep it for now," he said. "I will ask for it when it is time. Will you join?"

Kor-Eln nodded. He turned to the races.

"We fight with the Manturs for Andar!" he shouted.

As a mass, the races of Andar rushed forward toward the army of Kor-Etath.

* * * * * * * * * * *

For a battle as crucial to Andar as it was, Kor-Eln felt it was all over too quickly. The Manturs had been so quick and so thoroughly efficient that it had appeared at times like a wanton slaughter. Within an hour Kor-Etath's army had been decimated and all those who had not thrown down their arms in surrender had been executed. It was something Kor-Eln had not wanted to do, but Vornur and Ruan-urn had both told him that any resistance from the army would be a source for potential war later on. Kor-Eln had stayed to make sure there were no revenge killings, then he was led to Jankor.

The races formed a massive crowd behind him as he walked to the stone palace with Ruan-urn, Vornur, and Mandu beside him. A song broke out behind them somewhere, a tune that had been sung only in secret for three thousand years, a song of the time when Andar would become a world where the races once more lived in balance. Kor-Eln was surprised at the number of individuals who knew the words. The crowd stayed behind him, and as they walked along it seemed to grow larger and the song louder. As Kor-Eln climbed the steps into the palace, the crowd followed. Vornur led him down the hallway and into the throne room. There they stopped. At the foot of the stairs to the throne stood a lone individual. She turned to face Kor-Eln, Vornur, Ruan-urn, Mandu, and the crowd that was filling in behind them.

"Step aside, Mer-Vetang," Vornur said.

The Skellian that faced them was not the small, large-eyed creature of the dark mountain caves, but a tall, strong, beautiful Skellian, a reminder of the race that had once stood as the proudest on Andar. Mer-Vetang looked as she had in the cavern, a certain power radiating from her and crackling in her eyes. She was as alluring as she was dangerous. Kor-Eln wondered what hold Kor-Etath had held over the Skellians and Mer-Vetang. She was so different now.

"Why?" she asked back, her voice echoing in the suddenly quiet room. "So that this outworlder can rule us? I think not."

"I am not here to rule Andar," Kor-Eln said. "I am here-"

"Because we summoned you," Mer-Vetang cut in. "Summoned you to perform a single task. Now that your task is complete, you are free to go. Would you like to return to your world? We can open a doorway this night and send you back to your home."

"This is my home now. With Mandu, Vornur, Ruan-urn, and all the races of Andar...in balance."

Mer-Vetang looked from Kor-Eln toward Ruan-urn. She seemed only slightly less confident when looking at the Mantur.

"A Mantur. Once your kind roamed Andar freely. That was before the time of our rule. Tell me, Mantur, did you not hear the stories of why your race went into hiding? Did you not learn how it was that a race of Pantuens, different from all others, surrounded your city and kept your race from rejoining all others? Did Ruan-dul not tell you that it was the Skellians who defeated your race, drove you from the light of Andar, and created the Pantuens that kept you and your kind separate from all others?" Then, derisively, "You have changed little, Mantur. Trouble me not."

Ruan-urn said nothing in response. Kor-Eln was struck once again by the fact that most of the races of Andar showed no expression on their faces. He thought about asking Mandu if she could read Ruan-urn's thoughts when Mer-Vetang spoke again.

"What will it be, Outworlder? Do you wish to return to your own world, or do you wish to stay here under Skellian rule?"

Kor-Eln looked at Mer-Vetang. Then he turned and looked at Mandu, Vornur, and Ruan-urn. They looked back at him in silence. The entire crowd behind him was also silent. Kor-Eln turned back to Mer-Vetang. She glared down at him. Loud enough for all to hear, Kor-Eln at last spoke.

"I do not know what power Kor-Etath held that kept you from taking this form, but it was enough to do so. As the one who at last defeated Kor-Etath, I must hold at least some of that power as well, even though I do not know what it is or how to use it. I state now, for all the races to hear, what I stated before. You will live on Andar with all the races or the Skellians will be of Andar no more."

"You will not deny me the throne," Mer-Vetang replied.

As the words came out, a darkness came upon the throne room. In the dim light, a yellow glow seemed to radiate from Mer-Vetang's body. Kor-Eln felt the pricking of the dagger at his side. He recognized it immediately this time and pulled it from its sheath. The red jewel gave back a glow of its own, and the red light fell over the entire room. Mer-Vetang involuntarily stepped back. Then she stepped forward, head high and a challenge in her eyes.

"Will you strike me down, Outworlder?" she asked, daring him to do so. "Will you take the place of Kor-Etath and begin here, in front of all the races, the final death of the Skellians? I give you no choice. I will haunt your steps if you do not. Of what material are you made? What sort of ruler will you be?"

Kor-Eln stepped forward, dagger held in front of him. Mer-Vetang involuntarily took one step back. Then Kor-Eln charged. Mer-Vetang jumped to one side and rolled down the steps to the throne. Kor-Eln continued up the stone steps. He stood in front of the throne, dagger held high.

"No!" Mer-Vetang shouted. "The throne is mine!"

He brought the dagger down with all his strength into the throne. The room seemed to burst into fire and for a moment no one could see. Then the light of the day returned. The throne lay in two, split down the middle.

"You fool!" Mer-Vetang shrieked. "Curse you and your world!"

"We will have balance," Kor-Eln said firmly.

"Balance is a word for fools!" she shouted back. "There has never been balance on Andar except when the Skellians ruled! And we will rule again! Jankor is not the only seat of power on Andar!"

She turned and ran from the room. Kor-Eln watched her go. He was not sure if he should chase after her or not. What he was sure of was that as long as Mer-Vetang lived, there would be danger. That much she had promised.

Then he turned to face the crowd. He motioned to Mandu, Vornur, and Ruan-urn. They came up the steps and stood by him. Then he motioned to a Pantuen, a Veroneer, and one of each of all the races. As they all stood on the steps before the broken throne of Jankor, Kor-Eln addressed them.

"Today has seen the end of the reign of Kor-Etath. Let us all remember that if we do not exist in balance, another of his kind will come to rule us. Keep this in your minds and hearts; teach it to your offspring so that years from now, when this day is but a memory even to Andar itself, the lessons learned from Kor-Etath and his kind will still be remembered and Andar will never fall into such darkness again. Let us work today, tomorrow, and forever to keep Andar as it is meant to be."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Preparations were begun that day and a feast was held that night. Despite his protestations, Kor-Eln found himself seated at the place of honor at a large table in the palace with his friends and allies around him, including Sur-Lal, Dar-Ven, and Ger-Koth, who also had been transformed into their previous appearance. During the meal Kor-Eln turned to Ruan-urn.

"I believe this belongs to you," he said, offering the dagger again to the Mantur.

Ruan-urn took the dagger and placed it in his sheath. He then handed Kor-Eln another dagger. The handle looked familiar, but the entire blade was made of the Jewel of Andar.

"To the new ruler of Andar," Ruan-urn said quietly. "A gift from the Manturs."

"It is best to accept," Vornur said quickly before Kor-Eln could respond. "You have made many friends, but you have also made many enemies. Mer-Vetang spoke the truth when she said that there are other seats of power on Andar. Know that she will seek one, and that there are other Skellians of this world who would join her. If they should find one, they will come again to Jankor."

Kor-Eln nodded at Vornur, then nodded at Ruan-urn as he accepted the dagger and placed it in its sheath.

"And to the one at his side," Ruan-urn continued.

He presented a necklace to Mandu. The metal was the equivalent of gold on Andar, woven into a pattern that resembled a vine growing around a tree. At the end was a small pendant, about the size of a teardrop, made of the Jewel.

"Thank you," Mandu said, placing the necklace around her neck.

"I wish that I could offer you something in return," Kor-Eln began, "but I have nothing. I-"

"You have given us back our world," Ruan-urn cut in. "There can be no greater gift."

"There is one," Kor-Eln said, and he turned to Mandu. "The real Jewel of Andar."

THE END