The Road Between Gods and Monsters

By Dangerous Walker

Having freed both Sylvae and Hokino, the Foreshadow of Balance find themselves split up as they head to the World of Sophoi.

It is here that their Quest will catch up with them, the Black Queen has her half-dead Varkurn scouring the World as the Chinerthians rip through it on their way to the Portal and battle with the Sylvaen Army.

Each member of the Foreshadow will find new truths about themselves, their Quest and each other. They will visit secret libraries that hold ancient histories, some will travel the Dark World. One will raise an army while another will become a Dragonrider.

Finally together again they will attack the Five Towns and then join battle at the Chinerthian Portal in a bid to break through.

It is a dark and dangerous road to the Portal, one filled with Gods and Monsters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dangerous Walker
• Release date: Nov 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310324888

Dangerous Walker

WELCOME.Welcome to the Library of the Universes.In it you will find many tales; adventures and horrors; love and loss. You will find heroes and heroines of all temperaments and backgrounds. You will fly through space; fight in wars; face beasts and ghosts.And as you read, you will find yourself drawn into this place, this Library of ancient Lore, and discover the truths that lie in the Universes and between them. Tales of ancient Evil that may still rise again and the Good that opposes it.Through the words and the pages will you lift the veil and then, O weary traveler, you might find that which you seeked, though I warn you, you might find more than you wished.But come then, find a seat, make yourself at home. Let me show you some books that might take your fancy and let's go on some adventures, you and I.

Book preview

BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

ADVENTURES IN SPACE

TSAR TRILOGY

1. THE TRIMEDIAN

2. TEARS OF WAR

3. STRANGERS

Pray for Rain (Part 1)

Pray for Rain (Part 2)

THE BOOK OF FIVE WORLDS

1. THE FORSHADOW OF BALANCE

2. FIVE TASKS

3. THE ROAD BETWEEN GODS AND MONSTERS

SOUTHERN HUNTER

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

THE HAUNTING OF BERKELEY SQUARE

PROLOGUE

The Black Queen was furious as she looked from the window of her tower. They feared her, they feared her wrath and rightly so, but this had meant that they had tried to deal with things alone. The uprising in Sylvae had come so quickly that she had not learnt of it until it was all over. They had tried to quell it without her knowledge instead of letting her bring the full force of her power and her armies to crush it. And they had failed her.

The rebellion had then spread to Hokino, and though she had not been notified as soon as she should, she was aware in enough time to command her armies to take hold of the World and begin to muster forces to quell what had begun. She was not worried by the Magician’s Star nor the True King, she had defeated them before and would do so again. No, what worried her more was that there was someone, or someones, out there spearheading it all. Someone had changed the Balance, was changing the Balance and she wanted to know who.

She had sent people out to find out and they had apparently failed, as it was painfully obvious that the Stones of Aremis had been returned to the Star. This concerned her in two ways. Firstly that he, she or they (she thought it was the latter) was powerful enough to best the five protectors and secondly that they were leading the rebellion across the Worlds.

She knew now that there was more to this, she knew that he had used her, but with that knowledge came the power to change things, but it also meant that whoever was spearheading the rebellion could be more than she might otherwise have thought. To her discredit she had only learned of the Three Woes in time to learn that one, TKomptos the Traveller, had been seen here in Chinerthia and that the so-called Fury was once again free in the Worlds. That could not be a coincidence. No, she thought that when she took power her she had stepped into a long-standing war that had been dormant, but now reawakened.

No matter, she had Sophoi between herself and whoever was coming and she would stop them there. The rebellion would be crushed and she would use this war to her advantage. Already she could see ways, already she understood the Book better. The Balance was changing, but that could work to her advantage. She felt alive again, as she had when she had first come here a-conquering.

She would not take chances though. She would send some of the Varkurn to Sophoi, that World of peace and so-called wisdom. They would hunt down whoever was coming while the people would live in fear of her and her armies. It was time to show some of her true might to the new generations who had never seen her terrible fury.

She walked over to the Book. Her precious book, that which had given her powers she had never known, but she was afeared by it. She had looked into the Magic, she had felt great tremors across it, spikes that had not before been seen as well as whispers and tremblings. She looked for the heart of these things, but she could not other than from Alter of Delatarius. There were serious forces out there and if they held the power to change the Balance she should be able to find them, but she could not. The sense was dull, a grey fog. Had she misunderstood the Book? Did it not work for her, but for its own purposes? Or was there someone out there with the power to blind her?

It worried her.

She thought again on her visitor, the trickster, and wondered how far she could trust his words. Such as they were, for they did not shed enough light nor as much light as she knew he had. But he had shed enough for her to go back to the Book and understand more of it. He had given her context within which to read, context that even her wisest counsellor did not fully know or understand.

But she did not trust him. He was up to his own games as she was up to hers and others were up to theirs, but she had an advantage. They all underestimated her, talked to her as if she were below them, but they didn’t know her, didn’t understand her and their misreading, their egotism would be their failure and her success.

She turned back to her Book, she still had much to do as she trusted her Varkurn to find whoever was coming for her and when she had dealt with them she would deal with the others.

CHAPTER I

I have to leave you, d’Gaz said.

You can’t, Connor protested.

It is too dangerous, d’Gaz shook his head. The Fury of Medraza will come looking for me.

Then you will need a Magician to help you, Kaitlin replied.

No, he shook his head further. Btolomy told me that the Fury absorbed his Magic. That’s a new one on me, but even without that defence he would destroy you.

But we know nothing of this World, how will we find Fownan? Connor pleaded.

Enough, Connor of the Shed, d’Gaz scolded. You are not the naïve man that entered the Portal; you have seen lots, survived lots. The two of you will not struggle to find your way. Still, we will travel together to the nearest port.

The least you can do is tell us what you know of the World while we ride, Kaitlin placated.

There were, according to d’Gaz two great continents opposite each other on Sophoi, Haalva and Uto, the rest of the land was made up of islands of various sizes. Hundreds of thousands of them. The Mark here, d’Gaz reminded them, was of wisdom and to a lesser extent, spirituality. To Sophoins technology was merely a tool, understanding that led to inner peace and that was what was important. Some of this came from the fact that most of the population lived on islands isolated from each other. This led to small communities that needed to work together to survive. It was also attributed to the oceans. Most of the population lived surrounded by the ocean and its vastness; it’s never ending to and fro, swash and backwash, affected how the people saw life. Who were they compared to the great and mighty waters?

Like Hokino, the Chinerthians had let the Sophoins continue to rule themselves, yet even more freely than the Hokinoans. Sophoins hadn’t had so much as a battle in hundreds of years and were not seen to be the least bit threatening to Chinerthia. In fact, the Sophoins had taken their invasion with thought and acceptance. This was the way that it was, the World turned and things changed. Sometimes the Ocean was stormy, sometimes it was calm, but it was always as it was.

%%%

They had arrived at the city of Port Haylet late in the evening and had a quiet meal and gone to bed exhausted from the long and bumpy journey on the horse and cart. Connor was greatly pleased to see that Kaitlin had made a full recovery; the Magic returning to Hokino had refilled her. That was the way he thought of it. The Cult of Warena had drained her like a glass of water and somehow the returning Magic to the Magician’s Star had refilled the glass.

After d’Gaz had gone to bed, Connor and Kaitlin had decided to rise early to catch him. They both agreed that he would try to leave without goodbyes and fanfare.

The next morning they were already at a table when d’Gaz came down from his room.

Thought I’d slip away, did you? he asked with a wry smile.

It seems like your style, Connor replied.

Aye, not one for farewells. Or people trying to make me reconsider, he said seriously.

You have set your path, d’Gaz, or rather it has been set for you, Kaitlin said. Sit.

d’Gaz sat and sighed before rubbing a hand across his stubble.

You are more right than you know, Kaitlin.

Tell us, d’Gaz, tell us before you leave. You and Mattaeus know more than you share.

So be it, Connor of the Shed. I tell you the truth that a lot of what I will say is speculation. You must understand that.

Whatever you know, Connor said.

It’s hard to know where to start, what you need to know. Well, the first thing you need to know is to be wary. You are a powerful Magician, Kaitlin and you will continue to get closer to Chinerthia. There is a chance that the Black Queen will sense you. Hopefully the returning Magic of Hokino will help to mask that.

We will be aware, d’Gaz, Kaitlin said.

So, the other stuff, he scratched his stubble. "I think, and I really do only think that this is bigger than our Quest. There are things happening; people like Tocoda and the Fury appearing. Perhaps it is because the Balance is changing, but I don’t think it is that alone. Perhaps this time would always have come and your arrival in the Four Worlds merely ignited it.

You have seen the Princesses, they do not come about for merely human trials, the Balance does not affect them. I fear older foes have a hand in this, have something to gain by the change in the Balance.

So, are you saying that our Quest is not important? Connor asked grimly.

No. You, and all of us have a road that is set; the Worlds are still in the grip of the Black Queen. Our Quest is important in freeing all people from that, but there may be more that we should be aware of.

Why did you not say something earlier? Kaitlin asked.

I’m not sure of it myself. Mattaeus would know, but such things as these he will keep to himself.

Why would he not tell us things that may save us? Kaitlin asked distressed.

Because they do not concern you, only the Quest concerns you, d’Gaz slumped a little. And, look, maybe he hasn’t said anything because there is nothing to say; perhaps I am wrong about it all. The important thing, the thing Mattaeus believes, is that we free the Four Worlds.

I don’t like it, Connor said.

No, Kaitlin agreed.

But it is Right. We started this Quest to gain the Book of Five Worlds and free the people and that is what we should focus on.

Except we are not are we? Kaitlin asked. You say that Bell has gone to this Abterrne and you are leaving us.

d’Gaz shook his head.

It is not the same. These are things that must be done to complete our Quest. We cannot fight our way through Chinerthia with the Fury also chasing us.

So be it, d’Gaz, I’m sure you are itching to get onto the ocean once more.

d’Gaz grinned.

That I am. I’ve always considered moving here to roam the oceans, maybe when this is all done that will be what I do.

Good luck to you, d’Gaz, may the Righteous watch over you.

I think that could be the problem. Remember my words, the Black Queen will know of the return of the Stones of Aremis and she will have her spies out trying to find out how and why.

I will look after her, Connor said and then blushed.

I know you will, d’Gaz smiled. Now let us eat heartily before we travel on.

CHAPTER II

Sylvaens. Dangerous for you to be here, the woman said sitting down.

We look not for company, Lucas warned.

But company you will get. Chinerthian company.

Why would they bother us? Lucas asked.

Rebellion in Sylvae and rumour of it in Hokino. And then here are two Sylvaens near the Portal. It would be enough to ask questions.

We cannot be questioned, Dylan said.

Hush.

The woman smiled. She was tall, perhaps as tall as Lucas and her body was, not fat, thought Dylan, but large and curvy. She wore a dark green dress that had white lines running across and up and down to make squares. The dress was very open at the top and Dylan looked away blushing as he thought it.

I saw you and came over only because Chinerthian soldiers are making inspections along this road, looking for people.

What kind of people? Dylan asked.

Those who might help in rebellions. Here or on other Worlds.

A man and a boy could not start a rebellion, Lucas said drinking some ale.

You’ll be taken just the same.

Or perhaps you are a Chinerthian spy trying to trick us, Dylan said realising why Lucas was so cagey.

Very wise, young man, but I am not. I look for ways to destroy their grip on my World. Stay or come, it is nothing to me, but everything to you.

Dylan looked at Lucas who looked at Dylan.

We can’t get arrested, Dylan said.

No, Lucas sighed. That we cannot.

Then come, we will use the back entrance, the woman said standing.

They too stood up and followed her through the inn and out of a door. Lucas had one hand to his axe, ready for a nasty surprise, but the little alleyway behind the wooden buildings was deserted.

This way.

They followed her through the streets, keeping to back streets and alleyways as much as possible. It was a fairly large town from what Dylan had seen and it was on the road from the Portal. He could hear the bustle from the streets and once what he thought was the marching of many feet. It scared Dylan a little, but he could never be too scared with Lucas by his side.

They had only stopped there to rest a little, eat and get directions. Little did they know that d’Gaz, Connor and Kaitlin had been through there only four hours before them, but they had only stopped briefly as d’Gaz knew the way to Port Haylet. In fact both Dylan and Lucas thought that those three were behind them, not knowing that d’Gaz had known a quicker route and not stopped to help the city on the road out of Golgathlind. They had talked about waiting for them there to catch up, but Lucas had said that the plan was to meet at the Capital City and so that was what they would do. But now everything had changed.

Now they were coming to a house and the woman opened the door and beckoned them in. Again Lucas put one hand to his axe, ready for an ambush, but instead they were greeted with what smelled like fresh coffee.

Is that Ka-Vey?

Could be, it’s what we call Ga Feh. I brew my own, it stinks out the whole house I’m afraid, she frowned.

I think it smells wonderful, Dylan said.

Why thank you, young man, she smiled again. There is something else I brew that might be more to your taste… I’m sorry I know not your names.

I’m Dylan and this is Lucas, Dylan introduced.

I am Dawna. What is it that you say? How do we go?

It is well, Lucas replied. I hope.

Dawna laughed.

It is well, I assure you. Now, Lucas, I also brew my own ale if that would take your fancy.

Lead on, Lucas said taking his hand away from his axe. Surely Chinerthians did not brew ale.

Now they sat at a stout wooden table in Dawna’s kitchen. Lucas had an ale in front of him and Dylan drank a drink made from a local fruit. It was sparkling like a soda and was really refreshing; he needed it after such a long time on a horse.

By thunder, but this ale is good, Lucas said finishing his second mug.

Thank you, Dawna smiled.

And this too, may I have another?

Of course, you must be parched having been in that sandy world.

The grass is coming back, Dylan said excitedly.

Dylan, Lucas warned.

Is it now? I suppose it would now that the Magic seems to be returning.

Now it is your time to talk to us, Lucas said. Why did you help us? You said you wanted to end Chinerthian rule, but I did not think Sophoins fought.

We do not. Fighting is such a waste. That being so, why would we want to be ruled by such a barbaric people?

Do you have people who fight them? Dylan asked.

There have been attempts, but as Lucas says, we are not a fighting people. It is so senseless to us, we don’t know how.

We can fight, Dylan said.

No, Dylan, that is not the plan, Lucas said.

"But it is the plan. That’s why we’re here, to set the Worlds free."

Dylan, Lucas scolded and looked up a Dawna.

He expected her eyes to narrow, to smile in victory and for Chinerthian Guards to burst through the door, but she merely looked from him to Dylan and back again.

What do you mean? she asked.

Do not open your mouth, young Guardian, Lucas warned.

Guardian? she asked and Lucas groaned at his stupidity.

She saved us, she wants to free Sophoi and we don’t know anybody here. We need help, Lucas.

You said you could not be arrested, you really do have something to do with the rebellions.

We do, Lucas admitted. Along with our friends.

Where are your friends?

We got separated, we have to meet them in Fownan, Dylan explained.

I think you better come and see someone with me, Dawna said slowly. He will be able to aid you better than I.

%%%

They rode out of the town in Dawna’s horse and cart. Dylan sat in the back as Lucas drove with Dawna sitting next to him. They talked and, though Dylan could not hear what they said, they both laughed a lot. That was good. He had never heard Lucas truly laugh and he was happy that he was getting the chance. They did not have a lot to laugh about. Only now, hearing Lucas laugh, did he realise how much pressure they had all been living under. He thought about the five tasks they had performed to get the Stones of Aremis back. The Halls of Kymer and huge Kroetins that had guarded the Stone; he thought of the dragon and the Forest of Duncarth where they had fought those bird people and met Cyclo the Wicked. The puzzles they had solved to get there. He thought of the cave he had fought through to get the last Stone. Had got through it alone, had beaten the tests of both strength and mind before nearly being drowned.

And where were they now? Were the others facing more trials? Were they in Sophoi yet? What was his Dad doing? Was he safe? Had he saved Kaitlin? There were so many questions and no answers except the bright green light that had come from the Capital City behind them. Lucas thought that meant they had got the last Stone to the Magician’s Star and that would mean they had won, they were alright, but Dylan wasn’t so sure. Yes, they seemed to have won, but that meant nothing, any of them could have been killed.

He choked back tears as the idea of his Dad dying sprang to mind.

No.

He wasn’t going to think of such things, that wouldn’t help him, couldn’t help him. His Dad would be alright. And Kaitlin, and all of them.

As they neared the end of their journey the wind picked up and the smell of salt in the air was more distinctive. Dylan stood up and steadied himself by holding onto Lucas’ shoulders. He could see the ocean over Lucas’ shoulder, could see sea birds flying around. It was almost the same as back on Earth, except a number of the birds looked big even from this distance.

The Antariun Ocean, Dawna told him.

It’s beautiful, he replied.

And it was, the sea around England was nothing like this; the water was a bright blue and the Sun sparkled across it. There was a sense of distance that he had never felt on the beaches of Eastern England. Out in the distance he could see ships and boats. Some were big, some were small, some were near and some were just a dot on the distant horizon. Even from here he could see that there were also islands.

There are islands, he said.

Oh, yes. I was just telling Lucas. There are two continents, you are on one now, and then the rest of the World is oceans, seas and islands. Who knows how many? Not me, she laughed.

They entered the shore-side town; it was moderately busy with people walking to and from boats that were pulled up onto the beach.

Fishing town, Dawna said. The main port is Port Haylet along the coast.

We will need to get there, Lucas said.

You will, but not yet. Please meet DeWilder first.

They trundled through the street and stopped at a house that looked like all the others. Dawna got down and motioned for them to do the same. Dylan was glad to be off the bumpy cart and he walked in a circle to stretch out his muscles. Dawna went in as he did so and reappeared after a few minutes.

Come, come, Dawna urged from the door, looking up and down the street.

They entered the one story house and straight into a living room. A man walked in from what must be a kitchen as he held a tray of Ga Feh.

Oh, a boy, he said with a start and hurriedly put the tray on a low table and went back out of the room.

Sit, sit, Dawna invited.

They sat on rather comfortable armchairs around the low table with the tray and Dawna handed Lucas a drink.

I’d rather it be your ale, he smiled.

You can come back anytime, she smiled back at him.

Dylan felt a little uncomfortable as the man re-entered with another of the fizzy drinks. A different flavour, but just as nice.

Right so what is this all about? he asked.

I found them in an inn in Tanenden. There were Chinerthian Guards searching inns all along the street. I couldn’t leave Sylvaens to be taken in.

No, no, very well not, the man said having taken a chair.

He was a small, balding man wearing neat clothes that looked out of place compared to those Dylan had seen in the streets. His hair was dark and combed neatly with a neat little moustache.

Especially not the Fifth Worlder, he said calmly.

This is a trick, Lucas cried jumping up and grabbing at the axe he had laid next to the chair.

If it were, she would have left you to the Chinerthians back in Tanenden, the man spoke.

How do you know? Dylan asked.

Magic is not confined to Hokino, is it?

No. We know two Magicians, Dylan agreed.

Two Magicians from Sylvae, you say? Not related are they?

Why? Lucas asked suspiciously.

Please, do sit, the man said.

Who are you? Lucas asked back.

My apologies, my name is DeWilder. How do we go?

It is well, Dylan said. It is well, Lucas.

Oh, very well, Lucas said sitting and propping his axe next to him.

It’s a mighty big axe, the man commented.

Lucas is right though, Dylan said. Why?

There are stories of the Twin Magicians from the Yokum Rebellion and the defence of Columbina Port and after that nothing.

What of it? Lucas asked.

There is a story of a man, a powerful Magician from this World, a place called Danol. He was invited to Hokino, to the Magician’s Star, as an advisor. You know that the people of this World have the Mark of wisdom?

We do, Dylan said.

"So he was wise and he didn’t like the power structure there, but spoke not of it.