Rebirth of Rule (Book 4 of the Rule Series)

By James Sybrant

While Selwyn searches for answers to Zarail’s past, the Barbarians try to forge a life in a strange land. Waiting on the dwarves, Selwyn learns of a sleeping army that can only be awakened by their king, if he can find them. At the same time, on the other side of the mountains, Perhold searches for his family, with the help from his friends. They may be in for more than they bargained when they find an isolated valley with unfriendly natives. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of Thuilkin, Arden and his family search the county side of Monbel for Radella’s siblings. They soon discover not everyone is happy about the new queen and who helped her rise to power. In the barren land that was once the Barbarian kingdom, Culfang; along with Ashar and a druid named Leo, look for a way to restore the land. When the dwarves arrive to repair Zarail castle, they make an unexpected discovery in the stone quarry. That discovery brings to light a foreboding foe who traveled with them from their homeland.
Will Selwyn find and wake the sleeping army and rid the kingdom of its monsters, once and for all? Will Perhold find his family, or will he, and his friends, perish in the mountains? Will Arden, Valeris and Jabin find the royal siblings or will fate change their lives forever? Will Culfang and his companions bring life back to the wasted kingdom and restore the Barbarians to their home?

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Sybrant
• Release date: Jul 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301124350

James Sybrant

James R. Sybrant resides in Northwest Arkansas, where he was born and raised. He is the author of My Universe: A Collection of Short Stories: Volumes 1 & 2, Right to Rule (Book 1 of the Rule Series), Rise to Rule (Book 2 of the Rule Series), Return to Rule (Book 3 of the Rule Series), and Rebirth of Rule (Book 4 of the Rule Series). He has read science fiction and fantasy stories for decades, and has been writing for almost as long. He is also a photographer and has worked for the local paper for twenty years.

Book preview

Rebirth of Rule

Book Four of

The Rule Series

James R. Sybrant

Copyright 2013 James R. Sybrant

All rights reserved.

Cover art James R. Sybrant

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedicated to my mother,

Laura B. Sybrant,

for believing in me, no matter what I do.

Chapter 1

Winter was coming to a close in the land of Thuilkin, and the Barbarians were beginning to build a new life in the kingdom of Zarail. King Selwyn invited them to live in the kingdom under his rule, and Halgrund, the Barbarian king, agreed. Since they had no shelter built in Zarail, and the winter was fast approaching, Selwyn let them use the blue and green border towers as their temporary home.

On behalf of my people; I thank you. We will work swiftly to build homes, so we can vacate your towers. Halgrund despised having to say this. It was his belief that the blue and yellow towers belonged to the Barbarians. They were in their kingdom longer than they were in Zarail. However, the Tia’Roth did take them from their rightful place. If they had not done so, the Barbarian people would likely have died out. So he would not say a word about who should own them and be glad his people survived.

Now that the towers are back where they belong, my father and I will have to invite your people inside, before they can enter. Selwyn didn’t like the idea of having to perform such a duty, but he made it his responsibility when he invited them to stay. He hated to volunteer his father, but he was the only other with the royal blood.

Thank you for your kind offer, but it will not be necessary. When the towers were taken, an illegitimate heir to the throne of Zarail was also taken. After spending many years among my people, he took a bride. His blood was mixed with ours when he had children. Over the many years since that blood has been spread throughout my people. So the magic requiring royal blood to enter can be fulfilled by many of my subjects.

I’m glad my services won’t be needed in that area, but if you should need anything else, let me know.

I do not mean to seem ungrateful, but that will not be necessary. We are determined to build a new life by our own hands, even if it’s not in our own kingdom.

As you wish, but the offer will stand as long as I’m king. Selwyn was a surprise to Halgrund; his was the words and actions of an older, more experienced ruler.

When Selwyn told Edred and Rowena about the descendants among the Barbarians, they were concerned.

What if one, or more, of them decide they want the crown? Edred never wanted his son to be king. However, when he found out how badly Selwyn wanted to marry Princes Rowena; he didn’t interfere.

He has a good point; now you’ll have to watch your back. One of them might try to assassinate you. Rowena couldn’t understand why he wasn’t concerned.

If, by some remote chance, one did lay claim, they would denounce it as soon as Selwyn pulled Gytha Cynric free of its scabbard. The royal sword and armor came to him, making him the rightful heir, and the magic of the sword caused others to recognize that right. Culfang explained.

That’s good to hear, but if he’s attacked from the back, he won’t have time to pull his sword. It was a dark thought, but as his father, Edred was always thinking about his safety.

I understand your concern, but he has done nothing to warrant it. Culfang was an elf who was hundreds of years old, so it was hard to argue with his experience.

He’s right, and it will do no good worrying about what might happen. Ashar hadn’t been friends with them for very long, but she knew the elf would give bad advice.

Now it was months later; Culfang and Ashar were out of the tower, and the argument started again.

Well, even if Selwyn doesn’t need worry about the Barbarians, what about the citizens of Dendra? After hearing stories of the Barbarian’s cruelty toward their neighbors, she didn’t know how they would treat these new neighbors.

I hope they don’t cause any trouble for the people of Dendra. Edred knew the Barbarians went there to get supplies for building and farming, but he also knew they hadn’t been around other people for hundreds of years. The lands they left behind were barren, and they had to fight for everything, or at least that was what everyone believed: there was no way of knowing they possessed the missing towers and were well-fed and comfortable, if crowded.

They have a chance to spread out, and rely on themselves and not the towers. I don’t know how long it took the Tia’Roth (the fallen elves) to get them to accept the magic of the towers, but I do know it couldn’t have been an easy choice, since it was magic that destroyed their kingdom. And now they can get away from their dependence on magic and start over, so I don’t expect there to be any trouble. Selwyn was getting tired of defending his decision to invite them into the kingdom. His father and their friends, even his wife, have all told him it was a big mistake. He put his foot down when it came to their friends, but he had to respect his father’s opinion, as well as Rowena’s. Ashar and Culfang seemed to be the only ones on his side. Selwyn didn’t really know why his father kept arguing with him. Rowena told him it was because he was concerned for his only child and wanted to keep him safe. However, Selwyn reminded her that he didn’t seem to have a problem leaving him when they split up on their way to reclaim Zarail. But then she pointed out that his father knew he would be safe with Culfang and Osric. It was hard to argue with her on that subject; she made sense.

Let’s not do this again. Rowena hated to see them go at each other and was glad to be away from them when she was off practicing spells. Once the two of you can get out of this tower for a while; you’ll both have clearer heads. She decided to stop trying to get Selwyn to see things their way; he made a decision and he was sticking to it. Only when there was a problem would he open his eyes to what they had been saying all along.

Selwyn and Edred both sat back in their chairs and took a deep breath. They were having dinner, and Rowena wanted to finish her meal without any more bickering.

I think if you two are going to continue researching your ancestors; you should work in different libraries. Rowena knew her family history well. Seahold’s historians keep very detailed records, and she was taught about her family, as well as the history of the kingdom. However, these two knew nothing beyond stories Edred learned from his father and grandfather. There were also a few stories Fondren had shared with her and Selwyn, but now she didn’t know if she could believe them.

You’re probably right, Rowena. Edred heard other fathers complain about their sons arguing with them, when they reached a certain age, but he never believed it would happen to him. He raised Selwyn by himself, and they were always very close, but now they were growing apart, and he didn’t know how to fix it. Maybe Rowena was right and they just needed to get out of doors for a while.

We wouldn’t even be here if that elf shared what he knows, Selwyn growled.

Why would you say something like that, Rowena asked with confusion pressed on her face.

He has answers we’ve been looking for, and he knows it, but yet he keeps them to himself. Knowing him, he’s trying to teach us a lesson of some kind. Edred sat still, staring off into space, thinking about what his son just said.

Patience, independence, self-reliance, it’s really hard to know what he wants us to learn, if that is what he’s doing. Nevertheless, you’re right, if he knows anything about your family, and its history, he should tell you. Rowena found it hard to say this since she was close to Lenwë, but it wasn’t right for him to hold back answers.

And Gytha Cynric, he knows everything there is about it, and he won’t tell me anything. Selwyn’s face grew crimson with anger.

Why do you think he knows anything about your sword, Rowena asked.

Don’t you remember? He made it and the royal armor of Zarail; granted, that was three hundred years ago. He has told me he can’t remember because it was so long in the past, but everyone knows elves, and dragons, remember everything. Sometimes they might need a little reminder to spark a memory; even so, they never forget.

So give him a reminder that will cause a spark, Rowena suggested.

I’ve tried to get him to hold Gytha Cynric, or a part of the armor, but he claims it won’t help. I would think that if he made it, as he claims, then that would be the perfect spark.

Maybe he’s afraid of it sparking other memories he would rather leave forgotten. Rowena was trying to give them a new perspective that they probably wouldn’t have considered. She didn’t like to think he would purposely hold back information from them.

Culfang is old and powerful, what could he really be worried about, Selwyn asked disbelievingly.

I don’t know; it was just a guess. Perhaps he really is only trying to teach a lesson. Or maybe it’s an unspoken rule that says, as the ruler, you have to figure it all out on your own.

Fondren did tell me that. I just thought he didn’t want to tell me anything because it was once his, and he didn’t want to tell me anything that would make me stronger. Since Selwyn found out that Fondren was a cruel ruler, and since he tried to take over his life, he disregarded everything the man had told him, but now he wasn’t sure what to believe.

I think both Fondren and Culfang are hiding even more than we think. Edred ran his hands through his hair. I think I’ll be going to bed early. I believe a good night’s sleep will help me think better.

I believe I will as well. Selwyn stretched and yawned.

Okay Selwyn, maybe you and I should go see how the Barbarians are progressing. It will get us out of the tower and give us a chance to ask some questions of them. I would really like to know what happened to the guards who were posted at the towers, and they might have answers.

I don’t think they will, since it was so long ago, but I guess it can’t hurt to ask. Selwyn turned to Rowena. And what about you, will you join us?

No, I think it would be best if I stay here. Besides, Culfang and Ashar will be returning from Dendra tomorrow. She will probably want to talk, if she found any of her family.

Okay, I understand; you’re tired of listening to us and would rather not be around us for a few hours. She only smiled at him.

I don’t blame you, and I apologize for the arguments and raised voices, Edred said.

Apology accepted.

If you two will excuse me, I think I’ll have a flagon of mulled mead before I turn in. Good night.

Good night, Selwyn and Rowena echoed. A few minutes later Selwyn and Rowena were off to bed as well.

Fog hugged the ground the next morning as Selwyn and Edred walked to the site of the Barbarian settlement. Foundations of stone were waiting for structures to support. Here and there, seemingly random, logs were being stacked for walls. Only a handful wore a grey roof made of slate. As they walked farther into the settlement in progress, a large stone building stood out like a daisy in a rose bush. As they drew closer to the building, the sizeable and imposing figure of King Halgrund stepped out of a doorway.

Halgrund growled to himself when he saw King Selwyn and his father approaching. He was sure they were there to say they were doing everything wrong. It wasn’t that he was ungrateful; he just wanted to rule his people and let them make their lives as they see fit. If they make mistakes along the way, all the better, because you can’t learn from your mistake if you’re not allowed to experience them.

Good morning, Edred called to him.

Yes, it is at that. Halgrund towered over Selwyn and Edred by head and shoulders. And how may I help you? It came out sounding impatient, but that really wasn’t his intention.

Edred didn’t know what to say. Selwyn, on the other hand, went along as if he didn’t notice.

We’ve come to check on your progress, and hoped you might answer some questions for us, if you can.

I don’t mean to be rude, but will it take long? I have business to attend.

I guess that will depend on how you answer.

Very well, ask your questions.

Thank you. Selwyn looked at his father. He wanted to give him the opportunity to ask his question. When he didn’t open his mouth, or act like he was going to, Selwyn continued. We were wondering if you might know what happened to the tower guards. Were they killed by the Tia’Roth?

That is a question I can answer; they are still in the towers. Selwyn and Edred gave him a skeptical look. The Tia’Roth told me they were being kept alive by the tower’s magic. When they first took the towers to my homeland, they tried to rout them out, but were unable to. The guards have been asleep all these centuries, but now that the towers are back where they belong, they can be reawakened, but only by their king.

I guess we should have explored every floor after all. Edred wanted to check every floor when they first arrived for the winter. However, after finding a repeat pattern of royal bedrooms, kitchens, libraries and bunk rooms, he didn’t think there was any reason to waste time seeing the same thing again and again.

You couldn’t have known any more than I could have, Selwyn said, to comfort his father.

Any idea what floor, or floors, we can find them on? Edred didn’t want to search all fifty floors if they didn’t need to.

All I know is that my people were not allowed above the thirtieth floor.

That still leaves twenty floors to search, but it’s better than fifty.

What about the guards in the other towers, do you know what happened to them? Selwyn didn’t really expect an answer, but thought it better to ask, just in case he did know something.

I did hear a story, but I don’t know if there is any truth in it. It said that many of the tower guards turned to piracy and slavery. They even turned their comrades into slave, those that would not go along with the majority. However, they could have just as easily left for other kingdoms, or sailed to the islands far to the south.

Either way they’re long gone. Edred was thinking about what Halgrund said when Selwyn spoke up and asked another question.

Do you know anything about the people that lived here, the commoners?

Again, only stories, but I heard they were eaten by monsters or killed one another. They hadn’t been there long, but Selwyn could see the Barbarian king was getting tired of their questions. Thank you for your time. We will leave and let you get back to your work. Halgrund nodded hard once, and started to walk away.

If you don’t mind, we would like to look around and see what you’ve achieved. Edred didn’t stray so far from the tower to turn around and go right back.

It is still your land, so do as you wish, but please don’t interrupt any work. It was a struggle for him to say please, but it really was their land, and they could do as they saw fit.

We will not get it the way, but we may step in and help if we feel we’re needed. Halgrund gave a derisive snort and walked away without another word.

At least, he was nice about it, Edred said sarcastically. After spending some time in the settlement they decided they were not needed, or wanted, for that matter, so they left the Barbarians behind and returned to the tower. It wasn’t an all-day outing, but it was better than spending that time indoors.

Chapter 2

Welcome back to The Crowning Jewel, the desk clerk greeted. How may I help you today?

I do hope you have rooms available for one giant, two humans and a dwarf. Thryth, Tiernan, Perhold and Osric just returned from their long journey into the mountains and back to the dwarven capital. They returned with a couple of days to spare before the caravan left for Zarail, and need that time to recuperate.

I do at that. In fact, I have the same room you stayed in the last time you were here, if that’s acceptable?

That’s fine. Thryth didn’t care if it were the same rooms or not, as long as there was a bed to sleep on.

Would you like help with your belongings?

No, thank you.

I almost forgot; you have a message. They looked at each other, not sure who it could be from. The clerk fished a letter out of a small box and handed it to Thryth.

It’s from Mason, the young guard from the gate; he would like us to let him know when we return, so he can join us for dinner. He turned back to the clerk. Can you send a message for us?

Yes, sir, He wrote down their message and rank a small bell. A young dwarf appeared from a curtained doorway. Take this to Master Mason at the city gates.

Thank you, and please, let us know if he sends a reply.

I will let you know right away sir. And baths are ready if you would like to refresh yourselves after your trip.

That does sound like a very good idea. Tiernan was more than ready to wash away the dirt from the caves and mountains.

From there they went to their rooms and unloaded all their equipment before making their way to the bath house, located at the back of the inn. Once they were refreshed, and donned clean clothes, they ventured to the common room. Of course common wasn’t really the right word. It was far from common with all the different-sized tables and chairs, as well as the servers. Human, dwarf and giant were all welcome at The Crowning Jewel.

Once they were seated and ordered drinks, it wasn’t long after that the dwarven messenger boy appeared with a reply from Mason:

Thryth and company,

I will be with you soon after this note arrives. First, I must clean up and make myself presentable.

Mason

Your friend, and comrade, from the war that wasn’t.

What do you suppose he wants, Osric asked.

What do you mean? Just because the man wants to see us doesn’t mean he wants something from us, Tiernan said.

You don’t find it odd that he wants to join us, when we don’t really know him, and haven’t spent much time with him?

He may only want to get to know us. We are from Thuilkin, and he hasn’t met many people from that side of The Great Barrier Mountains. Tiernan pointed out.

He did venture there with Culfang when he thought there would be a war.

True, but he will not likely see those few people he met, again. Thryth also didn’t see why there had to be a reason for him to visit.

We can just ask him, if you’d like? Perhold told him.

No, that won’t be necessary; I guess the paranoia I picked up during the war with Stonehaven is still with me.

I’m glad to see you care about our welfare, but it’s really not needed. Tiernan sometimes forgot Seahold and Stonehaven were at war until recently. He grew up on the other side of The Great Rift and was never involved in war, so had no reason to be concerned about someone being a spy or assassin.

I think we understand your questioning his motive, and I thank you for your concern. However, Tiernan is right; it isn’t necessary.

We’re about to find out what he wants, Perhold motioned to the door, where Mason stood looking around the room. Perhold waved a massive hand, and Mason spotted him.

It’s good to see you all made it back alive, he said to them while climbing up his seat.

And we are glad as well, Tiernan assured him.

Does that mean you ran into trouble? Did you find the mountain giants? I want to hear everything. Mason was as excited as was when he was apprenticed under the captain of the guards.

Alright, Thryth chuckled at his eagerness.

But first let me order a round of drinks. Once their drinks were delivered Thryth began their tale.

Where should I start, he asked out loud. "I guess I’ll begin when we were getting ready to leave . . .

*****

We need to find someone who can point us in the right direction to find your kin. Thryth knew there weren’t many who knew where to find the mountain giants, and some of those were outright liars.

Where would be the best place to find someone who knows where to go? Perhold was clueless when it came to such things.

"I think a tavern