Though Darkness Comes: Book 3 of The Remus Rothwyn Chronicles

By T.P. Grish

Having fled to Norlathaa to hide themselves, and the mighty Shard of Palrinah, from the foes who mercilessly hunt them, Remus and his companions must navigate the deadly political landscape of double-crosses and power grabs that confronts them.

The Steelwielders and Paragonites pursue the holy item of power, taking advantage of the sweltering corruption that plagues the monarchic government of Norlathaa, spreading a web of eyes and ears. Other factions stalk the shadows of the temperate land, agents of the great Cities, and Fey tribes congregate in their lairs, enacting a great magick to counter the rise of whatever group of Humanity claims the artefact.

Old friends and enemies become intermeshed in the conflict, and Remus, Elaina and Perfidian must find safe harbour in the bard’s homeland, struggling to understand the meaning of home and the ramifications of power, and, ultimately, to seek a way to end the threat the Shard of Palrinah bodes for Glenryth, once and for all.

The Remus Rothwyn Chronicles is a dark, epic fantasy series with mythological elements and a nuanced world with complex perspectives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.P. Grish
• Release date: Sep 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311545510

T.P. Grish

T.P. Grish devoured fantasy books since he was a kid, particularly liking character-based fantasy novels with exciting sequences, complex stories and a lode of deeper meaning. Although he also loved fantasy movies and hobby gaming, his dream to write his own fantasy novels was always at the forefront. Today, he is a PhD doctoral student and part-time business writer who can't help but daydream about writing novels for you to read.

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Though Darkness Comes: Book 3 of the Remus Rothwyn Chronicles

By T.P. Grish

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.

Copyright 2014 T.P. Grish

Cover Art by Alexandrescu Paul

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Bibliography

PROLOGUE

While the lands of Corsen were rough, supporting a restrained vibrancy, the view of Norlathaa offered emerald fields of rolling grass, beyond the golden shore and the ramshackle buildings erected on it.

The good cheer of the sailors diminished somewhat as they prepared to reduce the sails and prepare the crates to be unloaded, minds burdened with the hard work and grueling routine ahead. Sailing through the ocean, with no view of land, offered the mind a unique freedom, one which all on the boat had enjoyed for the last couple of days.

Now Remus, Elaina and Perfidian stood on the port deck watching the shore, having already prepared themselves to disembark. The ship maneuvered to anchor at a flimsy wooden pier, turning its left side to the mooring. Remus stood with his left hand clasping the bulwark, obviously apprehensive about the road ahead. The top end of the artefact stuck out of his cloak, resembling an ordinary spear.

Elaina resisted the temptation to glance at the artefact. Their continued safety rested on keeping the wondrous magick item a secret, and she knew how much of a burden Remus bore, literally on his shoulders. Elaina felt a pang of sympathy. She knew her old friend was taking on the grave emotional burden of their safety on himself, although during the last two days, she had tried to emphasize that the artefact was a shared burden and risk, to be carried by the three of them.

Elaina also staved off the urge to take a backward look at the entrance to the below decks cargo hold, which, although half-filled with trade commodities, had been large, clean and spacious enough to provide a comfortable, dim environment for the journey. There was no time to look back. Very powerful foes were at their heels, and as soon as they landed, they had to quickly discern a route and set out.

She glanced at Perfidian. They would be reliant on him, as a native of Norlathaa, to guide them to a safe place. The bard stood, hands behind his back, a wistful smile struggling through self-doubt. Elaina wondered what complex thoughts raced through his mind as he faced returning to his homeland, deadly foes at his heels.

She couldn't imagine just how complex those thoughts were. The truth was, despite the physical joy a return to the familiar Norlathan clime inevitably bubbled up, Perfidian wanted to get off the boat even less than Remus and Elaina. As he stared at the coastline, the bard worried about the journey ahead, formulating logistical plans, remembering the roads and towns of his homeland. But, part of his mind dwelled on the fact that he was returning to the same Norlathaa he had left, one he had not made his peace with. Although he had left his homeland full of wonder and excitement at what the world held, little of that youthful enthusiasm remained.

He had discovered what life outside Norlathaa held, and it was not any better than the life he had left.

Creaking and lurching, the boat shifted into position to find shelter at the pier. A cry of 'Ho!' issued from the port deck, as a sailor threw a thick rope, the knot slipping deftly over the mooring pole; and a heavy splash from the starboard side reported the drop of the anchor. Hastily, the gangplank was opened. The means of conveyance onto the pier was a thick removable section of bulwark wall reaching almost to deck level, and it was unfurled to nestle firmly against the wooden planks of the pier.

Perfidian took out a money pouch, counting out bundles of coins and placing them in the hand of the captain, who nodded and placed them in his own money pouch, a thick leather satchel tied to his belt. After thirty coins had changed hands, Perfidian and the captain exchanged perfunctory farewells, with the captain immediately turning to issue orders to his crew. The three companions walked onto the pier, leaving the ship behind.

The settlement was larger than it looked from the boat, with trees and foliage blocking the view of many of the buildings. The forest and its ferns had been clumsily cleared from the town proper, and the buildings were made of crude wooden planks, or rough stone. Commerce and industry prospered, however, with produce being sold and men and women carrying boxes and hammers, walking to and fro. Several new houses were under construction.

'This town is called Stillwater', Perfidian stated evenly, 'The captain and his crew will sell some supplies here, and then sail onwards down the coast, to other, larger settlements. There is a city called Erstwul far down the coast, which they no doubt will visit. I have been here to Stillwater once, but it is not from whence I caught a ferry to Corsen'.

As they walked a path through the town, there approached a man with the dirt of a days work on his face, but wearing a well-kept, practical tunic. He positioned himself so he was standing in front of them, but not blocking their path fully. 'Hail travelers, welcome to Stillwater. I am Jonas, chief builder here in town. Where do you hail from?'

Remus and Elaina were unsure how to respond. Although the man was polite, he had a serious expression on his face, as if etiquette necessitated an answer. Although suspicion and curiosity towards travelers was a factor in Corsen, travelers would rarely be approached, unless hostile intent was already formed. Rather, information would be gleaned from the traveler as they visited watering holes, inns and taverns, and the gossip would spread to all the folk in town.

Perfidian seemed at ease, however. 'Hello there, I am Bryon of Wenbry, in the north of Norlathaa, and these are my colleagues and partners from Corsen, Willem and Saria'.

'Aye, I hope you'll pay a visit to our markets and inns, I will let people know to extend their hospitality to ye', the man said, nodding and walking off.

Perfidian guided the group to a large outdoor store selling victuals and supplies to travelers. Many troughs had been set up, covered by tarpaulins of orange cloth which were hoisted on wooden poles. In them were fruit and meat, fresh, dried and smoked, pre-packed rations and utility items such as ropes.

Perfidian called the owner, a cherubic man with an apron of the same material used for the tarpaulin. 'How can I help you, sir?'

Perfidian bought four pounds of traveling rations, and Remus picked up a sturdy pot for cooking food or storing water, as they needed a replacement. Paying the tab, Perfidian whispered to Remus and Elaina, 'Time is of the essence, let us not dally in Stillwater, but hit the road immediately'.

Remus and Elaina nodded, and the trio began swiftly walking out of Stillwater, following a serviceable cobbled road that descended into the thick forest. Remus could not help feel that eyes were staring at the magick item he had strapped across his back, a nervous, tingling feeling. However, when he looked around, he could not observe anyone staring, as the item appeared to beholders as nothing more than the end of a spear.

He felt something else, as well, a build up of magick energy that would occasionally release in a pulse that he could viscerally feel. It was as if the item was reacting to him. Remus decided he would not tell his friends, not until they all had the time and opportunity to examine the item. Until then, it was his burden to bear. He admonished himself that when the time came, he would entrust his friends with the information, and with his fears; that he would no longer behave like the lone hermit he no longer was.

Tension had been building since Norlathaa was in sight, with Remus and Elaina eager to ask Perfidian where they could weather out the coming storm, but unable to ask until the trio were alone. Though he stared at the road ahead, Perfidian felt those stares on him, so he spoke first.

'Norlathaa is a mixture of new and old, opulence and poverty. Many small villages dot the landscape, and in the periphery of many of those villages are isolated cabins, whose residents only occasionally venture into town. The frontier spirit is still quite strong'.

Schoolroom lessons about the well-known period of history where Norlathaa tried, unsuccessfully, to annex and colonize other lands through the power of naval armies, sprung unbidden to Perfidian's mind.

'So we find one of those cabins', Remus reasoned.

Perfidian nodded subtly, 'The trick is gaining initial trust with the other villagers'.

The forest was thick and wild to the sides of the road, but the trees were spaced less densely than in the wilds of Corsen, the grass and ferns shorter in stature. Wild beasts roamed, and the occasional deer could be seen in the distance. There were less beetles, less hovering mosquitoes and fecundity; rather there was a pine leaf musk, butterflies, moths, bees, colourful birds and squirrels. Only once did they hear, in the distance, bizarre hoots and growls that indicated Fey.

Night fell differently in Norlathaa, although the sky was still a mosaic of sparkling ebony, it was not framed by the thicker trees of the Corsen jungle. The greater open space of the forest cast more shadows, and made it difficult to find a crevice in which to make camp. Under the moonlight cast by the twin moons of Jorlac and Tiberum, they found a copse of thicker trees which encircled a small clearing, not far from the road.

Soon, a bright fire was lit, and Perfidian brought out the sack containing rations. He handed a squarish pastry to Remus and Elaina, putting one for himself on his lap, then portioned out a twist of sausages each. Taking a bite of the pastry, Remus raised an eyebrow. It was full of dried fruit and jam. It tasted reasonably good, but was quite unsavory compared to the food used as rations in Corsen.

'Sweet tarts and pies are very well liked here', Perfidian informed them neutrally. He glanced at Elaina, who was eating one of the pork sausages and staring at it curiously. 'The sausages are pickled in a brine for a week before they are sold, to preserve them. Folks tend to prefer that over smoking'. The bard chuckled. 'We are not always as practical and efficient as you stout Corsenii, although we have our customs'.

Elaina shrugged and continued eating. The Norlathan food did not taste too bad. Mention of struggle reminded Elaina of the story Perfidian had told she and Remus, in the dark period after their return to High Peaks, almost a year ago. It had been a story of Perfidian's family, and why he had traveled to Corsen.

'If you wish to visit your family here in Norlathaa, we would understand', Elaina said gently. 'Opportunities to rebuild bonds and mend fences rarely come in life'.

Perfidian looked as if he had bitten down on a bone, although Elaina knew the rations contained none. He merely stared at the fire, nodded and said 'We will see'.

Remus said 'If you feel it would be important for you to reconnect, then we can find a way to pass by your home village. It is up to you, Perfidian, we are behind you either way'.

The bard made no response, but continued eating his victuals. Long moments passed, the three of them finishing their meal, sharing the rations, and taking swigs of their waterskins. Remus stood up briefly to collect loose branches, maintaining the vigorous fire.

Absentmindedly, Remus reached over his shoulder, running his right hand over the shaft of the shard. That drew the attention of Perfidian and Elaina.

'We... should probably examine the item', Remus stated nervously. After a moment's thought, Perfidian and Elaina assented, faces betraying their apprehension and fear.

Finding and taking the artefact, so the Steelwielders and Paragonites could not utilize the magick item to wreak further havoc and war; had been their goal, one that had, after a long and arduous journey, been successful. Now, their acquisition of the item had sent them running for their lives, out of the reach of violent forces. But, they had not yet had the opportunity to examine the artefact, beyond the moment of discovery in the arctic tunnel below the Aysalk Mountain Ranges.

The artefact was strapped to the leather holster that lay across his upper back and under his cloak, to the right of the butt of his arquebus, which was strapped to the same holster. Remus grabbed the wooden shaft of the magick item, pulling it up and out from under his cloak and holding it in the open, in the flickering light of the fire.

* * *

Weylin chafed at the notion of having to avoid the Pertyn city guards, memories of his experiences of dealing with the guards in High Peaks flitting through his mind. Guards were the same in any settlement; dullards in armour following orders.

However, the secular authorities and governments of cities had taken exception to the passage of large armies through Eruthia, and most of the Paragonite forces had been turned back or asked to disband. The Paragonites were beloved in this land, but the governments did not want any religious war being waged without the participation and consent of the secular authorities. Anything else would make them look weak in front of their citizenry. The Paragonite higher authorities had ensured that some elite squads would make it to the fleet, which was still being scrambled on the west coast of Eruthia. Many palms had been greased, many officials intimidated.

'Greetings there!' came the expected refrain from a city guard patrolling the hinterland of Pertyn. He obviously was not fond of guard duty in the sweltering peasant villages that surrounded the city of Pertyn, and his helmet had long ago been removed, sweat streaking his face and matting his black hair.

'Can we help you?' sneered Brother Gaius, looking down his aristocratic nose. Although Weylin knew Gaius primarily for his ruthlessness when training members of the Order, he did reek power and authority, and that helped with certain situations.

'No intention to bother you, sir, but I am under orders to turn back Paragonite war parties that are traveling through this region'.

'Paragonite 'War Parties'?' Gaius scoffed, 'Paragonites are part of Eruthia, unless I missed an important notice from the Emperor himself? I am simply a Paragonite missionary, traveling with my aides, doing the good work of our faction. I know nothing of the armies traversing through our land, although I have heard of them. I am not privy to that information. Surely you would not harass an old man doing sanctioned work?'

The guard swept a brief look over the trio. Weylin smiled casually, while the Prodigy stared ahead blankly- as he usually did. 'No, you are free to go. Enjoy your travels'. The guard turned, wiping his face with a kerchief, and continuing his patrols. The sword scabbard tied to his belt clanged against his steel legging plates as he walked.

'We should be close to the coast', Gaius dismissively instructed Weylin, ignoring the Prodigy; who would mindlessly follow them however long they walked. He had been broken and reshaped well. Weylin quelched a familiar pang of sympathy that sprung up unbidden. The Prodigy was a useful tool now, not just for the Temple of St. Palrinah, but also for him.

Outrage and optimism mingled freely in the Paragonite cloisters these days, outrage that The Shard of Palrinah had been absconded with by the group of three strangers, comprising two men and one woman; and optimism at the new era that could dawn, if the holy artefact was rightfully retrieved.

Much speculation had been entered into about the identity of the three thieves. It was believed that they were probably Steelwielders, for the self-evident reason that their foes in the war would have reason to take the artefact for their own use, denying its possession to the Paragonites; and it was known that the Steelwielders were actively looking for the Shard of Palrinah. Further supporting that line of thought was the reported use of an arquebus in the battles that took place in the Aysalk Ranges. The Paragonites would have to keep their eyes and ears open, however, as there may be other human factions involved, and a squad of three was unusually small for a force backed by a major faction, even with the need for stealth; although perhaps their number had been whittled down whilst traversing the perilous Aysalk Ranges.

Paragonites at all levels were scrambling to mobilize their resources both in the short and long term, micromanaging their resources and influence to get as many weapons and boots as they could to the coast, to follow the three thieves by boat, and to push back the enemy in the Corsenii-Eruthian border war that continued to flare unabated. Platitudes and promises were mixed in with the usual propaganda, visions of the golden age the relic of her most holy St. Palrinah, would bring.

Of course, the Steelwielders would be on the chase, as well, and they too could be expected to bolster their forces in the border war. The clash on the border was now simply a situation that had to be dealt with until the artefact was recovered. Worryingly, the Church of St. Lusian could be expected to show its hand soon, as well. The secular authorities of the great Cities would not risk chasing the forces into Norlathaa, risking an official nation-wide war. They likely did not even know what it was that the factions chased! However, they would be none too happy with the forces traversing through their lands.

There were many eggs to juggle, Weylin mused.

CHAPTER ONE

Moonlight and campfire combined to brightly illuminate the shard-like gem perched on the end of the artefact. Elaina and Perfidian could feel the thrumming of power through the air, a thrumming that Remus felt keenly, and nervously, through his own arm. It was almost as if the magick power bursting through the item could be seen through the spectrum of colour.

The gem was attached to the modest wooden pole through an interweave of platinum and gold, that was supernaturally polished and clean. Though rustic, the wooden shaft bore not a single nick, scratch or splinter, nor a spot of rust or decay. Lengthwise, it was roughly the size of an average spear shaft.

Remus handed the powerful item to his friends for their personal inspection, with Elaina grasping it first. She gasped as she clasped the wooden shaft and lifted the weapon, feeling the power within. She partly closed her eyes, concentrating on the arcane energies bound inside of it. A sizzling snap was heard as a