novelxo Chapter Chapter Nine
Paradise was not to last for Tanis though. As the child reached his ninth year of life, the family decided to have a family outing in the fields surrounding the town. Charina was take the child out to the field and Tanis would follow with Paul’s present. Tanis was supposed to get a surprise of his own at this outing and Tanis could not figure what it could be.
Paul and his mother left the home early surrounded by members of the warrior class assigned to be their bodyguard. In his hands as he hugged his daddy good bye was a wooden blade that Tanis had made him. The small party left and Tanis went to check on his steward to see that all was well before he left to join his family. The steward and Tanis spoke at length on his orders and it was almost noon before Tanis gathered his horse and the new pony for Paul that was to be the boy’s birthday present.
As Tanis began his journey, he hummed quietly watching the beauty of the surrounding wood. A bird leaped into the air startled by something but Tanis ignored it. He figured that an animal was hunting and had just missed its meal. As he neared the field Tanis spied a tree with weird looking fruit dangling from it. He was not sure exactly what he was seeing, so he went to examine the unusual tree. A few minutes more would not be amiss when they would have the rest of the day together.
When he made it to the tree, Tanis nearly fell from the saddle. What he had thought to be fruit was in fact the heads of the party that had left McCryden that morning. Amongst the heads of the warriors also hung the heads of his family. At seeing his wife and child, Tanis leaned against the tree and noisily lost his morning meal. Who would destroy the party of a woman and her child? Tanis rapidly moved to the field where his family should have been. The grisly site before him was worse than the tree had been. Bodies littered the field and only some of them were missing their heads. Tanis searched amongst the bodies looking for clues as to who would have done this unspeakable thing.
Tanis searched for hours amongst the bodies, until in the body of his son he found a spear with a note attached to it. The note read:
Greetings from the Lord of Death, the Dark Knight
Of Argos. I have laid waste to your family as you
probably noticed. I am going to tell you once come
to me ready to die, and I will let you join your
family quickly. Otherwise, you will wish for their
fate. I await your arrival.
The letter bore no signature. It needed none. Tanis now knew who and what had committed this atrocity. Tanis took into his head the thought of revenge and of destroying the Dark Knight. The feelings he had when he had faced his father revisited him as he galloped his horse from that bloodied field and sought his captain of the guard, Perrick.
He found Perrick in the main hall with Artitous. They were debating the best way to defend the castle in the event of a magical attack. Tanis cut their discourse like a knife when they saw his pained face. Perrick placed his hand on Tanis’s shoulder and Tanis grasped it and nearly broke his arm except for the flows of magic solidifying the air around his arm. Tanis let out a howl and plopped down into his chair. His arm still supported by the column of air holding it, Tanis took on an almost humorous stance. Artitous released Tanis’s arm and the man began to cry. His weeping drew the eyes of all who had gathered to him after his conquest of McCryden.
Through his tears Tanis related the story of what had happened in the field where the party was supposed to be and how he had found the tree with the heads mounted upon it. He also showed Artitous the letter from the dark knight. Artitous studied the letter and then handed it to Perrick. Artitous’s face took on a look of hatred Tanis had never seen before. Perrick’s face was quickly painted with the same fury.
Artitous took a deep breath and looked at his old student. “Tanis, this is the beginning of a prophecy that began to be fulfilled with your birth. You are the Phoenix. The one destined to rule all of Dracos. The problem is that none, not even you know whose side of the fight you are going to take. That of the good and the Light or that of evil and the Dark. I could not tell you before but now circumstances have made it impossible for me to keep it from you anymore. It is destiny that you must face the great Magus, warlocks, and warlords. The time has come for you to face destiny. I pray that this event will not tarnish your spirit. You have made an excellent start of things and I wish that you will continue to be fair and just.”
“Just because of the actions of one man you believe that I will turn into the tyrant that my father had been? I am disappointed in your faith in me, Artitous. What of you Perrick? Do you also believe that I am going to be unable to continue my rule in a fair and just manner?” asked Tanis.
“My Lord, I have not now nor will I ever doubt your abilities. I fear for your well being in as much as you may not take as much caution due to circumstances. I fear you may inadvertently harm yourself, not that you may harm others.” Said Perrick. “Besides my Lord, no one could rule as you do. And I would not like to have to train another to take your place.”
At that quip by Perrick all three men laughed briefly and started to discuss the problem at hand. The Dark Knight had issued his challenge. The decision now was how to prepare and who to ask for assistance if Tanis truly sought to attack the realm of the man who ordered his family killed. It was guessed that the elves would come as soon as they heard of the great misfortune that had befallen Tanis. His adoptive father would come to aid him in this battle. Tanis was sure of it. Tanis asked Artitous whether or not they could depend on the aid of the dwarves when the time came.
“My Lord Thalin, I cannot tell you if the dwarves will answer your request. The only thing that we can do is ask them and see if they respond. The Dark Knight is not one to take lightly and he already rules a large portion of the dwarven lands. He may use his control of some of the dwarves to coerce the cooperation of the others against you. Only time will answer these questions. I recommend that we send envoys to both the elven and the dwarven kingdoms and see what response is given.” answered Artitous.
“Perrick! Send out our fastest riders to the elves and to the dwarves. I hope the news they bring is good for I fear we will need many new soldiers before this is over.” cried Tanis.
“It is already done my lord. I figured that was what you would want and made the arrangements. I hope that this is alright with you, or have I once again overstepped my bounds?” replied Perrick.
“Once again you have shown yourself loyal and foresighted in the face of unpleasant events, my friend. You have called me your lord since the day I met you and I still do not understand it. I have never required it of you. You are my friend and wish you to behave as such. As for your foresight in this manner it is very much appreciated as always. I must learn to cope with unpleasant events it appears. Gentleman, please leave me to my thoughts. I have preparations to make for my family. Excuse me please.” said Tanis as he walked from the room.
Tanis stood and left the throne room bound for the apartments that he and his wife had shared. He moved mechanically through the halls not even noticing the servants and soldiers as they passed in the hall. Tanis stopped before the door and looked upon its carved surface. The door was covered with designs but was dominated by a large Phoenix battling the robed figure of the Dark Harvester. He had never really looked at the door, being consumed with his wife. The detail of the door amazed all that saw it. My wife has a great eye for detail. She was the one who commissioned this door. Not a line or stone out of place, Tanis thought as he ran his fingers through the carving and touched the stones.
“Remind me to have this door replaced, Perrick.” said Tanis without looking up. “I felt you follow. Do you have something you wish to tell me? I have asked that you please leave me to my thoughts for now my friend. Please do so.”
“I think it is appropriate Tanis. I do have something I need to say to you. You are allowed to grieve for them. You are human! Feel for once in your life. You loved them so much and now you act as if their loss means nothing. Are you trying to be a monster? Are you trying to make the world think you are stronger than you are? No one doubts your strength. No one doubts your loyalty to your people. Everyone expects you grieve the loss of your child and your wife. Everyone expects you to be angry. Everyone expects you to be sad. You are what you are, but you are also a man who is lost and confused from the loss of those closest to you. When you arrived Charina was to give you a great surprise. Well, now I will give it to you. She had seen her mother again. She had come into the village about a week ago. She had told Charina that she wished to be forgiven for her actions on your wedding day. Charina forgave her and was so relieved that she could finally speak to her and find out what had caused this. Everyone thought the woman had died that day. Well, Artitous survived and somehow so did your mother-in-law. Charina found out something the day after she saw her mother. Charina was to have another child. She was pregnant again. The seer had told her she would never see the birth of your second child. We all knew when she swore us to her secrecy that this was the end for her. She was going to tell you at the party for your son and bring out her mother to ask your forgiveness. You never mentioned finding the body of an old woman, did you? You did find the body of the old woman didn’t you? Tanis?” said Perrick.
Perrick looked to the door to find Tanis on his knees crying into his hands. Slowly Perrick walked to him and placed his hands on Tanis’s shoulders as the sobs racked his body. “Come my friend, into your chambers and rest for now.” said Perrick.
Tanis looked up into Perrick’s face, “How can I rest? How will I ever rest again? My wife and children are gone! I have nothing left in this world. I have nothing left to live for. As to your question, no sir, I found no old woman amongst the corpses of that field. Just the guard, Charina’s ladies, and Paul. No one else. No children and no elderly. Leave me now so I may lay in my bed and wait for death take me as well.”
Perrick laughed at his friend, “Tanis. You are human after all. Grieve for a while then come and see to the preparations to end the monster that caused this pain in you. Remember what it was that is said over our fallen heroes. ‘Remember me in laughter for that is how I remember you all. If you can remember me only with sadness and tears, then do not remember me at all.’ Your family are heroes. Every last one of them because you loved them and they inspired you. They will always be remembered for that. Do not let them have died in vain. Grieve their loss and avenge their passing. Make them not victims, make them martyrs!”
Tanis stood and looked into his friend’s eyes. “My family lay dead. You encourage me to grieve. Today I will grieve. Tomorrow, I start the plans to finally end the reign of terror that is being inflicted upon our world. It is over! Perrick! Find my mother-in-law.”
“Yes sir! See you in the morning my Lord!” laughed Perrick as he ran for the end of the hall. “And Perrick,” cried Tanis after his retreating friend, “don’t call me Lord!”
At that Tanis entered his rooms. Seeing the belongings of his wife and child everywhere, Tanis once again fell to his knees and wept. After some time, grief-stricken and weeping, Tanis finally fell into a fitful slumber and slept well into the next day. His sleep troubled by dreams of his family’s faces flashing before his eyes accusing him of their deaths. Again and again the images flashed before his eyes before he finally woke in a cold sweat.