Clan of the Ancient Minds (Book Two of The Nebril Riverland Chronicles)

By Leslie Aldridge

My life has certainly changed since I left home. I have almost drowned, flown on the back of a man-bat, and been paralyzed by an Orlog. And now, we have learned a ghastly secret linking these dark creatures with Nebril City. Only the Guardians can put an end to the spiritual corruption that threatens our home. But unfortunately, most of them have mysteriously disappeared, and those of us that are left, are hunted down for reasons unknown.

And now we must wait in the Beyjerones caves until our army amasses before making the journey to Mernwick’s prison to find my bei clu va. The Beyjerone soldiers, the Varsak giants, and the other warriors of the Twelve Clans will make a strong fighting force, but I fear they may not stand a chance against the massive military of Nebril City.

I’m also worried about Ashel. He has been severely weakened by the effects of the black bei and is being tempted by the voice of a powerful foe. His feelings for me are becoming obvious as well, but I have a duty. There’s a man out there who holds the other half of my soul, a man to whom I am profoundly drawn, a man who must be by my side if we are to save the Riverlands.

But how can I choose someone I’ve never met over a lifelong friend?

Clan of the Ancient Minds is the second book of The Nebril Riverland Chronicles, an ongoing young-adult fantasy series. Book Three is due for release in the summer of 2024.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leslie Aldridge
• Release date: Oct 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9780992071141

Leslie Aldridge

As a child growing up in a sleepy rural town, Leslie Aldridge always enjoyed dreaming of faraway lands and exciting adventures. In her younger years, she satisfied her wanderlust by taking several road trips across North America. Now, fully settled into family life, she must live out her adventures through the characters in her stories.When not reading, writing, or engaging in the bane of her existence, otherwise known as housework, Leslie can often be found tending to her vegetable garden. She also enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and anything that gets her outdoors – even shovelling snow.Leslie is the author of The Nebril Riverland Chronicles, a young adult fantasy series. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three daughters and is currently saving up to buy a hobby farm.

Book preview

PART ONE

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CARPER'S VILLAGE

One

The shaking was the worst part. I wrapped my fingers around Ashel’s hand and squeezed until the blood drained from my knuckles, hoping that somehow the strength of my grip would be enough to stop it. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself for what was to come. Each trembling episode ended after just a few moments, though while Ashel was in its clutches, it felt like an eternity was passing. As I shifted closer to his bed, the book I had been reading fell from my lap, hitting the floor with a scraping thud that alerted the Beyjerone doctor to our situation.

He will be all right, Miss Emerin, he said as he shuffled toward me from across the room. He was an older manbat, rounded of shoulder, with a puff of wild hair and wings that drooped slightly behind him. I know you’re concerned, but you don’t need to fuss over him. He’s currently not even aware of your presence.

I know, I said, not averting my eyes from Ashel, wishing the sheer intensity of my gaze could put an end to his suffering. But I need to do something; I can’t just sit here and watch him like this.

Don’t worry; the herbs we’ve been giving him are already beginning to work and soon the tremors will stop. He put his large hand on my shoulder, covering it in warmth, and from the corner of my eye I saw him give me a reassuring smile. As I told Miss Jalya, his prognosis is good. If he continues his medical protocol, his symptoms will remain under control.

Ashel had been in the Beyjerones’ doctors’ quarters most of the night and for the better part of the day as well. The doctors had immediately started him on a strong cocktail of herbs, each dose metered out hourly through a large mug of steaming tea that he could barely choke down and a thick cream that was applied all over his skin. Apparently, controlling his symptoms was the best we could hope for at this point.

I sighed and looked up at the doctor. So, there’s no possibility that he’ll recover completely?

Unfortunately, only the Lamorian Rock can rid his body of the black bei. That is the only thing that will provide complete relief.

If we can ever find some.

We will find it. We have the best soldiers in the Riverlands. I’m sure… His voice trailed off as the door to the doctors’ quarters burst open and two young Beyjerones came through.

Doctor Dalarus, one of them said. My friend hurt himself…I think his arm might be broken.

Oh, goodness, the doctor said, pushing his spectacles higher upon his nose. I guess I’ll have to take a look. He turned back toward me, his graying hair swaying across his forehead, causing his ears to peek through. Try to relax, Miss Emerin. It will be better soon.

As he shuffled off toward the two boys, I calmed down slightly. There was something about his voice that was soothing, like a wise old grandfather whose experience you couldn’t question. I really hoped he was right, that it would be better soon. I had to admit, Ashel was looking a bit more like himself. The dark circles around his eyes were fading, and his skin was losing its grey cast. He was still very pale, however, with dark streaks ringing his hairline and his breath so shallow that, every now and then, I would reach my hand to his chest so I could feel its rise and fall.

I shifted my eyes, allowing them to wander along the length of his body, down to his twitching feet and back up, and finally to come to rest upon his hands. His fingers were thick and palms calloused from years of manual work—building, hunting, digging gardens—why had I never noticed how strong they looked? Now his knuckles were puffy and his fingertips black with whatever evil lurked inside of them. As if they knew I was watching, his thumbs began to jerk and a quivering started in his hands that I knew would continue up along his arms in just a few seconds. What if the herbs couldn’t control it? What if the Beyjerones considered him a lost cause? Surely, they wouldn’t send him to Lock Up too?

I looked across the doctor’s quarters and out of the large window on the other side. There, I was met by the wall of Malhadron Mountain as it rose into the distant sky. I could just barely make out the craggy peaks of the summit, and I wondered if the Beyjerone soldiers were still there, trying to sort out what had happened to the Lumeai. No one had been by to tell me otherwise, so I assumed they were still getting things settled in the mountaintop village.

My gaze travelled around the room. It was large, so I enjoyed being there, as the walls didn’t feel like they were closing in on me. Reyla had returned to his bed in the opposite corner, and was continuing to sleep off the effects of the Orlog attack. Otherwise, the only patient was the Beyjerone boy, who was now waiting for the doctor to come back and set his wing. He smiled shyly as my eyes met his. I smiled back, noting how young his face looked, like that of a human child, though his body was still broad and muscular.

A familiar voice boomed from the hallway. There you are, Haralchuk! I turned just in time to see Wagna strolling through the doorway and grinning at the young Beyjerone. I was wondering if you were all right, after that fall you took.

I’ll be okay, I think, the boy-bat answered. But I guess I need to have a splint. The doctor says no more wrestling for a while.

Wagna chuckled. Well, it happens to the best of us. He then turned toward me. You should have seen it, Emmy. Young Haralchuk here had another Beyjerone kid pinned on the rocks outside; this kid was way bigger than he is too. But just as he was about to be declared the winner, he got distracted for a second…by a girl I think. He stopped and gave the young Beyjerone a wink. Let his guard down just long enough for the big one to throw him off. Then, in an unfortunate turn of events, the momentum carried him over the side of the rocks and he fell on his wing.

He grinned at the boy-bat. Don’t worry, Haralchuk. I know who the real winner is.

Haralchuk smiled back at him with pride.

Wagna turned to me again. You should really check out the next wrestling match, if we’re still here, that is. Did you know that a Beyjerones’ wings are impenetrable? Can’t be punctured by swords or arrows. That’s why they can use them as shields. He scratched his head. Torchuk tried to explain it to me—something about biopolymers or molecules or something—but it was over my head. Anyway, watching them fight each other is truly incredible.

I smiled, his enthusiasm making me feel a little more cheerful. You’ve found a new hobby, I guess.

Well, I’d certainly go back and see it again, given the opportunity. Maybe we can extend our stay here.

We might have to if he doesn’t get better soon, I said, turning my head toward Ashel.

Wagna bent down to get a closer look at his face. Well, he sure don’t look great, but a little better, I think. The shaking stopped yet?

No, he just had another episode a few minutes ago. I realized that I was still holding onto Ashel’s hand, clasping it so tightly that his fingers were turning purple beneath my own. I quickly let go, placed it gingerly on the bed, and leaned back in my chair, as though I’d been calm and composed all along.

That’s too bad. I’m sure it just takes a while for all that disgusting stuff they’re putting in him and all over him to work. Wagna’s eyes scanned the doctor’s quarters as if looking for something. Is Jalya not here? How’d you get rid of her?

I chuckled softly. No matter how hard we’d tried we had not been able to pry Jalya from Ashel’s side all night. I had gone back to our room and managed a few hours of sleep earlier, but when I returned, Jalya had still refused to leave, even though she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

Oches and I finally managed to convince Jalya to go take a nap, I said. He practically had to drag her out of here. She made me promise to come get her if there was any change.

He’ll be all right. If there’s anybody that knows what they’re doing it’s Doctor Dalarus. He leaned close to me and whispered. He’s got a lot of experience, and by that, I mean he’s ancient. Way older than me even.

I looked at Wagna, trying to feign shock. Is that even possible?

He leaned his head back let out a deep laugh. I see this situation hasn’t destroyed your sass, Emmy.

Of course not.

We both watched Ashel in silence for a moment. I was imagining the worst possible outcomes again and wondered if Wagna was doing the same. The soft noise of footfalls interrupted our quiet contemplation. I looked past Wagna to see Reyla quietly padding in our direction.

He doing any better? he asked in a voice still thick with sleep.

A little, I guess, I said.

He looked around as if trying to remember where he was. Any idea how long I’ve been asleep?

Well, it’s almost sundown, if that helps any.

Reyla turned toward the window and studied the increasingly orange sky. Looks like I slept away most of the day. Seems to have helped though; feeling strong as an ox again.

Well, good, Wagna said. Maybe you can get the doctor’s permission to go down to the meeting that’s been called by Professor Madalhandra. Apparently, she’s got some information on the Orlogs that she wants us all to hear. Everyone’s gathering in the meeting hall at sunset.

Interesting… Reyla mused. Well, doctor’s permission or not, I’m going. He walked back to his bed and started pawing through the sheets frantically. Where the hell are my clothes? Did that doctor take my damned clothes so I wouldn’t leave? He knows I wouldn’t go anywhere looking like this! He spread his arms out to bring emphasis to the flimsy sleeping gown he wore, and I stifled a laugh.

Calm down, Mr. Reyla, the doctor said as he entered the room. Your clothing is hanging in the wardrobe in the doctor’s station. I’ll get it for you now, and then you will be released from doctor’s care."

He carefully laid the supplies for Haralchuk’s wing on the table next to the boy-bat and strode across the room.

Released… Reyla broke into a wide grin. Finally!

I wouldn’t be so excited if I were you, I stated. It just means that you’ll have to sleep in a smaller room with the rock walls closer to each other. I think I’d rather be here.

Well, at least I’ll be free to move around as I please. I’ll sleep outside if I have to. Reyla turned toward the clothing that the doctor had lain across his bed and began pulling off his gown. I quickly looked away when I realized that he was wearing nothing underneath.

I could hear him chuckling at me as he pulled on his pants. What’s the matter, Emerin, never seen a naked man before? You should take a good, long look now, cause you’ll never see one better than this.

I think I’ll be okay, thanks, I said while continuing to stare out the window. I imagined the fiery red that now streaked across the sky was likely pale in comparison to the hue of my cheeks.

While Reyla continued to laugh quietly to himself, Wagna made no attempt to stifle his loud guffaws. Oh, Emmy’s still a little shy. Don’t worry, Reyla, I’m sure being around us for a while will change all of that!

The two men continued to have a laugh at my expense, while I stared at the setting sun. Um, Wagna, didn’t you say we have to be there at sunset?

Wagna managed to stop laughing long enough to glance out the window. Yeah, I guess we’d better be going. You ready yet, Reyla?

Absolutely! Reyla jumped up from the bed.

I looked back toward Ashel, studying the black lines on his face carefully to see if there had been any change.

What about Ashel? I asked. I don’t just want to leave him.

I assure you that he’ll be fine, Miss Emerin, Dalarus said from where he was tending to Haralchuk’s wing. He’s completely out of danger now.

He’ll be fine, Wagna echoed. We’ll come by and check on him right after the meeting.

I nodded and stood reluctantly, casting a last glance at Ashel before following Wagna and Reyla out into the corridor. I knew it would be pointless to hover over him; there was nothing I could do anyway, but I still felt bad leaving him alone in a strange place.

However, once I stepped into the hallway, my mind was quickly taken off of Ashel. I had to focus all my energy into not panicking as I navigated the tiny rock-lined spaces that would eventually lead to the Beyjerones’ meeting hall. One long, unbearably narrow alleyway led to another, which finally terminated at a tightly-enclosed set of stairs.

We followed the stairs, a dank and endless spiral, into the lower recesses of the caves, our surroundings becoming darker and more oppressive the further we descended. Reaching the bottom did nothing to offer relief, as another long, narrow corridor stretched out endlessly before us. The only light to be found was given by a few torches, carefully placed at each bend. It danced against the walls, playing a game with the shadows to see who would dominate and it looked to me like it was losing. The air felt damp and thick, and it seemed a struggle just to pull it into my lungs. I prayed that the end of our journey would be found after every corner or twist in the passageway, and each time it wasn’t, my chest felt a little tighter.

I let out a heavy sigh when the doorway to the meeting hall finally appeared, a tiny speck of light at the end of an impossibly dark, rocky tunnel. I watched the Beyjerones that were amassing in front of us striding confidently in from side alleys, each of them oddly oblivious to their wings pressing against the stone walls. We followed them into the meeting hall, a giant room lit by torchlight and packed wing-to-wing with brown bodies.

Emerin, who’s with Ashel? Jalya’s voice squeaked from behind me. Is he okay? Is he still sleeping? He’s not there alone, is he?

I turned to see her face, the tension in it visible even in the dim lighting.

He’s fine, I said. The doctor’s there with him. He says he’s out of danger now.

Jalya’s face softened a little, but her brows were still tightly knitted together. Maybe I should go back there; I don’t like not having one of us there.

Maybe you should just try to relax and come to the meeting, Oches said, grabbing her shoulders and gently steering her toward the doorway. Emerin said that he’s fine, so stop worrying. We’ll go see him as soon as this is over.

I know; you’re right. Jalya took a deep breath and looked around the room. So, do we just sit anywhere?

The room was a mass of brown manbats huddled against brown rock walls and seated on brown rock benches. The light put forth by the torches only added to the monotony of this uniformly-coloured space. My eyes scanned over the Beyjerone bodies as they chatted and laughed amongst themselves. I was looking for a familiar face, or at the very least, a place to sit.

Over there, Wagna stated, pointing to one of the centre rows on the other side of the room.

I followed the length of his arm which led my eyes across the brown haze to Vandalaharis, who was waving wildly at us. We all followed Wagna toward him, pushing past bulging muscles and semi-rigid wings.

Vandalaharis stood when we approached and motioned to the empty space on the bench next to him. I saved you a place to sit, he said. It gets crowded in here very quickly. Professor Madalhandra tried to limit attendance to the researchers and the army. But, of course, others heard that something of interest is going on and now everyone is trying to come in.

I cast a glance back and saw several Beyjerones in army uniforms standing in the doorway, turning people away. It seemed that whatever we were about to find out was something of great importance.

"Are you sure we should even be here then?" I asked.

The manbat looked at me incredulously. Of course, you should! The bei clu and her entourage should attend any and all important events. You need to be kept informed of the latest news.

I looked at Jalya and the men who surrounded us and noticed that Kahj and Isrelda had joined the group as well. My entourage. I couldn’t help but grin. I suddenly felt like a princess.

A voice from the front of the room brought me back to reality. I turned to see Professor Madalhandra standing behind a painstakingly-smoothed rock podium. She was staring intently at the entrance, which was now guarded by a wall of Beyjerone military members.

Sergeant Bandalcris, if we’re no longer waiting on anyone, would you mind closing the doors? We don’t need eavesdroppers hovering in the hallway.

The soldier that Madalhandra had singled out stepped forward and nodded in her direction. He then turned toward the other guards and ordered two of them to close the thick, metal doors. Each soldier leaned on his door and pushed it across a track on the floor to meet the other. The scraping sound that they made indicated their heaviness, and as they clanged shut and the Beyjerone soldiers lined back up in front of them, I felt a renewed sense of panic. There was no way I was getting out of this room until they were ready to let me out.

I sat on the bench between Wagna and Jalya and studied the front of the room carefully to distract myself from my rapidly increasing heartbeat. Madalhandra and the other scientists had erected quite an elaborate display. Next to the podium, stood an enormous pad of paper that was covered with incomprehensible diagrams and held up to face us by a large wooden stand. Beside that was a wooden case with various items pinned to it, some identifiable, some not. The table in front of the case held stacks of thick books that I imagined were filled with information that I had no hope of understanding.

What could they have found out? I entertained myself by coming up with ideas. Maybe anyone who had been through the Orlog’s mind bend would die soon or get sick like Ashel or, even worse, become one of them. I decided to quit thinking. Distracting myself really wasn’t making me feel any better.

Madalhandra’s shrill voice rang out from the podium. All right, I think it’s time for us to begin. I’m sure you’re all anxious to find out why we’ve called you here. She ran her hand through the long grey fuzz atop her head and slowly rocked back and forth, seeming to shift her weight from one foot to the other.

As you all probably know by now, our soldiers have made an incredible discovery. We have in our possession four deceased Orlogs. This is so amazing because now we are able to study them and come up with some answers about what they are and how they came to be in our area.

She turned slightly and held her arm out to call attention to the two scientists behind her. Professors Hanchelbruk and Yousiris and I spent last night in our lab running tests and performing dissections and, as a result, have come to a startling conclusion.

Did she just say dissection? Jalya whispered. I think I might actually vomit. Those things are disgusting enough in one piece.

Shhh, I said and glared at her. I wasn’t sure how she’d ever stopped talking long enough to make it through school. I turned my attention back to the podium, certain that the good part was coming.

Well, Madalhandra said, as she looked back again at her colleagues and ran her fingers through her hair once more. We’ll go into more detail in a minute, but the big news is this… She paused and licked her lips as if she wasn’t sure how to tell us.

Our tests indicate that the Orlogs, well, they aren’t a new creature at all…they’re…well, they’re actually human beings.

Two

I sat upright on my seat, and, for the first time since we’d arrived at the caves, forgot about the oppressive walls surrounding me. Human beings? I was fairly sure that I had not heard her right. By the tone of the murmuring that now reverberated about the room, I guessed that I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Did she say human beings? Wagna asked. Now, I’m an old man, and my hearing’s not what it used to be, but I’m damned sure she couldn’t have said human beings.

She said human beings, I heard a voice say. I think it was mine.

Damn.

Professor Madalhandra stood still for a long moment, presumably waiting for her words to sink in and the crowd to settle down. When that didn’t seem to be happening, she held up her hand to get everyone’s attention. The constant drone of voices trailed off into sporadic whispers and she smiled before she spoke.

I know what I’m telling you seems implausible, but I assure you the tests that we ran are undeniably accurate. These creatures have human DNA; their organs and body systems are unmistakably human. However, and this is the interesting part, they are extremely, and I mean extremely, old.

I looked down at my hands, which were now twisted together in a painful knot, and imagined how they might look if I were unbelievably old. Try as I might, I could not envision them contorted to the wizened knobs that the Orlogs walked on, no matter how old they were. But how could I argue with the studies of three scientists? I didn’t even know what DNA was.

Madalhandra turned from the podium to one of the tables next to her and lifted some sort of box from it, which she turned on its side for our viewing. There were two meat-like blobs displayed inside of it. If you’ll have a look inside the box, she said, you’ll see, on the left side, a human heart. This heart has been preserved in our laboratory for many years, and it belonged to a 61-year-old man.

I felt Jalya stiffen next to me. After years of fishing together, I knew that guts were not something she tolerated well. I could clean a fish, but Jalya would have rather starved.

On the right here, Madalhandra continued, indicating the other blob with one long finger, is the Orlog heart. I know it’s hard to see, but you will have the opportunity to come up and look at the display after the presentation. But you can probably tell, even from your seats, that it’s significantly deformed and shrivelled compared to the other. But, by all accounts, it is still human.

Madalhandra and the other scientists, Hanchelbruk and Yousiris, took turns holding up different organs and body parts for our perusal and insisting that they were human. It was as disgusting as it was fascinating. But Jalya was far more disgusted than she was fascinated, and, by the time we reached the kidneys, she had buried her head in Oches’ shoulder.

I could hear Kahj laughing on the other side of him. Brother, doesn’t this remind you of the deer we carved up last year before we left to travel south?

That’s right, Reyla chuckled, "He was delicious, wasn’t he? But we ate all of those organs; too good to save."

And we didn’t have any of those fancy boxes to put them in.

How is it that all these body parts don’t stink up the room? Isrelda mused.

Kahj shrugged. Maybe fancy boxes hold in the stink.

Would you please just stop talking about it, Jalya mumbled through Oches’ vest.

Yes, stop now, Oches said to his brothers. This kind of talk is making me hungry!

I looked around briefly to make sure that none of the Beyjerones were disturbed by their silliness, but I smiled inside. The moment reminded me of our lectures at school and being disrupted by the antics of the boys. My chest ached a little at the memory of home, so I tried to keep my mind firmly in the present by glaring at my companions as they tried to stifle their laughter. It seemed that boys were the same all over, regardless of age.

The scientists had finally come to the end of their parade of organs, and Madalhandra turned her attention to the large wall of paper that was next to the podium. She retrieved a long, pointed stick from the table and began pointing at various diagrams, which she explained thoroughly with words and concepts that it seemed only the Beyjerones understood. Wagna met my quizzical stare with a shrug, as did Jalya, who had finally unburied her face. Vandalaharis, seeing our confusion, tried to explain things in words we could understand, but I still only grasped a few ideas. The only thing I knew for sure was Orlogs were humans, very old humans.

Now this is as far as we’ve gotten with our research, Madalhandra said, finally lending her voice to words that I understood. What we need to discuss now is what to do with this information. Obviously, we will have to inform the Lumeai. It would be nice to know what their opinion is of all this, now that some of them have seen the creatures up close. That might give us a little more to work with.

General Sanjarus stood up and cleared his throat. Excuse me, Professor, but we do already have some information. While we were on Malhadron Mountain, the Lumeai told us their observations of the Orlogs that were holding them prisoner there.

Madalhandra’s eyes widened, their silver-blue shining bright next to the grey of her fur. Of course…they must have had quite a bit to say about them while you were there. I welcome your input, General. Please…please come take the podium.

The general strode toward the stairs that led to the presentation area, his immense shoulders swaying back and forth with each step. His leg muscles bulged as he climbed the steps and he exchanged smiles with Madalhandra as she stepped aside for him.

Sanjarus turned toward us with a serious look. As you all know, he began, our army has recently returned from Malhadron Mountain after dealing with a disturbing situation. He stopped to scratch the grey fuzz that ran across his chin and scanned the crowd with his eyes. His look implied that he didn’t relish the idea of describing such a situation.

In fact, he continued, some of our soldiers are still stationed there until further notice, as we’re not convinced that the threat has passed.

"We removed two hundred and thirty-six Orlogs from the Lumeai village last night. Fortunately, none of the Lumeai were hurt during the events, but they were obviously quite distraught. The Orlogs had them held prisoner in their meditation area by using their mind tricks to keep them from escaping. We moved these…creatures… to a landmass that is encircled by Soomie Swamp