The Gathering Storm

By Phil Scarbrough

The Gathering Storm poses the question, what would you do if it were shown that your perfectly normal ten-year-old child was not so perfectly normal. In fact, he was perhaps the most important person ever born, and as a result, you would have to fight an ancient enemy that is malevolent and overwhelmingly powerful. This is the medieval world of Aden Braylon, who—along with his Elf mother Valeria, Human father Kael, and brother Devlyn for protection and insight, and ageless Mage Aaron for the key to future/past—must find a way to not only survive that enemy but also lead the fight back. The Gathering Storm is the first book of a sci-fi/fantasy trilogy, A Tale of Future Past. It is told in the style of Sir Thomas Malory and JRR Tolkien with a little David Eddings thrown in for humor. It begins: "Daddy, Daddy, wake up," Aden whispered. Standing by Kael and Valeria's bed he shook Kael's arm. "Wake up, Dad, there're monsters coming outside!" "What?" Kael's brain was still a little addled from sleep. "Wake up!" He shook his arm again. "I'm scared, Dad. There are monsters, big blue monsters, and they'll be here in a little bit!" A story line that can be read purely for enjoyment but also it encourages the reader to imagine and think. All this with an ending that poses the questions, who are we, and why do we really exist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781646284382

Book preview

Chapter One

There’s Monsters Outside!

"Daddy, Daddy, wake up, Aden whispered. Standing by Kael and Valeria’s bed he shook Kael’s arm Wake up, Dad, there’s monsters coming outside!"

What? Kael’s brain was still a little addled from sleep.

Wake up! He shook his arm again. I’m scared, Dad. There are monsters, big blue monsters, and they’ll be here in a little bit!

Hey, buddy, did you have a bad dream?

No, Dad! They’re coming…

Kael sat up and swung his thick legs over the side of the bed. He stretched out his stocky frame and then reached out to hug his ten-year-old son. He could see the fear in his son’s eyes. This wasn’t a dream?

"No, Dad!"

How do you know they’re coming?

"I can feel them. They’re coming to try to hurt us," Aden said intently.

It was then that he noticed the three dire wolves were up and alert.

Oh, lord. Kael sat silent for a few seconds. Can you feel how many there are?

Lots.

How long do we have until they’re here? Um…longer than it takes you to milk a cow?

I don’t know, I think so.

"Okay, go wake up your brother, now! And be quiet. Tell him to come here, and be quiet."

Love…, he whispered, urgently shaking his wife Valeria, "love, wake up! We have got to get up now!"

What’s going on? she asked sleepily.

It’s happening! They’re coming…just like you dreamed, just like in your…um…premonition. They’re almost here!

It took a moment to sink in. The Jharviks are really coming?

I think so, just like you dreamed.

Oh my God! She looked around and saw the wolves pacing. No wonder the wolves are so antsy.

I’ll bet your Elven culture doesn’t have any sage sayings for situations like this. Kael was smiling grimly as he was putting on his cuirass. The Elves, whose culture was considered to be both ancient and wise, was known to have sayings for everything.

Humm. Valeria thought for a moment. We do!

I knew it.

With a quick, knowing smile she said, Coming events cast their shadows before them.

They do at that, Kael said, and again to himself, they do at that.

Kael and his son Devlyn had found the dire wolves on a hunting trip, when they were still pups. Their mother had been killed by a bear, and in another day or two, and they would have been dead as well. So, they brought them home, and as soon as they arrived the wolves, Ghost, Hunter, and Tracker, adopted Valeria as their surrogate mother.

Aden had taken to sleeping with them from time to time, and just as frequently they would find a tangled pile of Aden’s arms and legs and dire wolf legs and tails all huddled in a pile in the morning. Occasionally they’d find Devlyn there too.

One of the advantages of being an Elf was that she could talk to some animals. Fortunately, wolves, dire wolves, and their like were among the animals with which she could speak. Aden, being a half-breed, had already shown signs of sensitivity to the presence and thoughts of others.

Put on your leathers as quick as you can, he said to his wife, giving commands as his old instincts took over. Take Aden and your bow up to the tower roof and pick off as many as you can while it’s still dark. Hopefully we can get out of this before they realize what is happening. He thought for a moment. Sorry for ordering, Love, I guess old habits die hard when it comes right down to it…

Don’t worry, she said, smiling, I’ll chastise you later. Besides, if he is right…

She kissed him then rolled out of the bed and went over to the stand that had her leather armor. She had hoped she would never have to wear it again, but she knew there was always the chance. She had thought she had given up the Way of the Warrior, but when the dreams of this night started to haunt her sleep, she had a feeling she would wear them again. She was an Elf, small and slender for a Human, and her armor looked as if it had been made for a large Human child. It wasn’t really a surprise when Kael took both of their sets of armor out to clean and service. But when he took the time to make a set for their oldest son Devlyn, she knew.

Valeria was the daughter of the Elfish lord Veros Stormcloud, leader of the Starhawk Clan. Kael had risen through the ranks to become the youngest tribune with the Legions of Lysia, the bravest and kindest person she knew. It was said he would have gone far in the legions since at both strategy and tactics he was proving to be brilliant. She had met Kael fourteen years ago when they were allied fighting against the northern mountain tribes. He had lost his wife two years before during childbirth, and she had expected her father to forbid her getting to know him, but he didn’t. When her father didn’t resist, and the Council didn’t either, she should have known something was going on. And later, when she decided against all logic that she wanted to give Kael her Bond, and they still did not object, that should have sent up the red flags. But it didn’t since she was in love, and Kael was too.

As she put her armor on, Aden came back with his older brother. At sixteen, Devlyn was already larger than his father.

Dad, Devlyn said, what’s going on?

Son. Kael kept putting on his armor while they spoke. Your mother’s premonition about the Jharviks is happening. Go put on the armor I made you as quick as you can, then get your knife and ax, and come back here. Devlyn disappeared out the door.

The farm was a combination of stone tower and wood house. The tower was built on a hill, next to a river that curved approximately two-thirds of the way around it. The house was built later, on the south side of and up against the tower. It served both as living quarters and as protection for the entrance of the tower. Though it had once been built for the defense of the region, the tower had long since been converted to storage. There was also a barn and various other buildings associated with the farm.

Kael, Valeria, and they boys had a good life since Kael, at a relatively young age, had retired from military service and settled down to become a gentleman farmer. That he would retire from the military was the one thing Valeria had asked of him if she was to complete her Bond and marry him. Their farm had been a sanctum for Kael, Valeria, and the boys. If not for her and Aden, their story might have been at an end right there. But it wasn’t.

They were big, at least seven and a half to eight feet tall, and their attack came about two hours before dawn. Because of the hill and the river, they came at the tower and house from the one side they could, the south, relying on surprise and numbers to overwhelm it.

Valeria and Aden had just climbed to the roof of the tower and were getting ready to look over the side when they heard two thuds right next to them. She turned to her side in time to see two grappling hooks catch onto the wall. Aden was scared, but she told him to get out his knife and get ready to cut the ropes. The first arrow she let fly found a home, as did the second. She told Aden to cut the ropes while she looked for another target. The Jharviks below looked up and raised their shields, realizing they had a shooting enemy above.

Ghost, Hunter, and Tracker readied themselves for what was to come through the door. Mother had told them a very bad enemy was coming.

At the door, Kael and Devlyn heard the thudding and crashing of the giants. The door was solid, but wasn’t designed to stand up to this abuse. It wouldn’t hold much longer. Kael felt an old rush of feelings just as he had before a battle. His two old friends, anxiousness and then calm, washed over him and left him ready for the fight.

While Kael knew that Devlyn would want to stand by himself, he still felt the urge to protect him. He readied his knife and ax for the fight. The eagerness for the coming contest to just begin and be done with was starting to grow. Kael prepared himself for the assault, and with a crash the door gave way.

Before Kael and Devlyn could move, the wolves were upon the first of the two attackers who stumbled through the opening because one of the wolves tangled with his feet. While Ghost, Hunter, and Tracker dealt with him, Kael knocked the second Jharvik’s sword arm aside with his ax, cleared the shield with a quick side-to-side move, and gave him his long knife to the head. The third and fourth Jharviks entered in a much more guarded stance, the third moving to the left as the fourth one entered. Everything was happening so fast that Devlyn had only just joined the fight. He spun to his right, parried one attack with his ax, and then another with his knife. But the first lesson from his father, after the basic moves, was attack, attack, always attack. With that in mind, after his second parry, Devlyn quickly sidestepped the Jharvik’s sword thrust and took out his knee with his ax. Then with all his might he plunged his knife into the Jharvik’s stomach just as Ghost lunged at him, caught him in the throat, and ended him. Kael’s lesson had paid off. The Jharvik hadn’t expected that kind of resistance from a sixteen-year-old boy.

Devlyn found Kael heavily engaged with the fourth Jharvik, so he got behind the Jharvik and planted his ax between his shoulders. The giant fell to his knees, and Kael slit his throat just before he collapsed to the floor. Kael and Devlyn waited a moment just inside the door for more Jharviks to come through, but none did.

Meanwhile, Valeria scanned the shapes below for a leader. If the Jharviks thought they had an easy target here, then as Kael said, They had another thing coming. She searched for anything that would set the leader apart and found it—hand signals. She let an arrow fly, and it took him right in the throat, near where it met the torso. Before he could fall over, another struck him high in the chest, and left him a twitching mass. Seeing their leader go down caused them to pause long enough for still another arrow to find its mark. Valeria noticed that Aden was just standing in the middle of the roof, unmoving. She called to him repeatedly but to no avail. She was torn between going to him and keeping up the fire when another Jharvik’s head cleared the tower. She notched another arrow and let it fly as he stood up on the edge of ancient fortification. Then she kicked him with all her might, sending him back into the night. Immediately she looked over the edge of the tower to see if the giant had any friends who were also climbing the side of the tower. He had one who had made it about halfway up, but he got discouraged when he looked up just in time to see an arrow just about to close with his eye; he didn’t notice anything with either eye after that. She didn’t see any other of the giants ascending the tower.

Valeria turned and looked at Aden to see if he had moved, but apparently whatever had taken hold of him had passed.

Aden… Aden…are you all right? she whispered.

Yes, Mom. I’m okay.

All right. She paused, looked around again, and said, Why were you just standing there?

I don’t know, Mom. I guess I was kinda in a dream. Before now I could feel them, but now I could hear their…their hearts. I still hear them.

Their hearts?

Yeah, their hearts.

And you still hear them now?

Yup.

How? And how long has this been going on? Valeria asked, again looking over the sides.

From somewhere in the night, a ram’s horn sounded, and a moment later it sounded again.

Just now. I guess it was all the excitement or something. I just know I can hear their hearts.

Quiet a moment, she whispered.

The ram’s horn sounded a third time, and silently the shapes faded into the night. Apparently, the attack stopped, and just as quickly as it started, it was over.

I’ve got to talk to your father, she said, beckoning her son to follow her.

They didn’t expect us to be ready, Kael said under his breath. They didn’t expect us to be ready. Thank you, Devlyn, and thank you, Valeria and Aden. Thank you. Is everyone all right? Kael shouted. Is everyone all right? Kael knew that they were, but wanted to hear their voices. Devlyn was right here in the room with him, and the Jharviks would have had to go through Devlyn and him to get to Valeria and Aden.

Yes, we’re okay, Valeria shouted from the roof of the tower.

Kael thought for a minute, his mind racing as he thought through the situation. He yelled up to the tower, Before you come down, do you see any fires on the horizon? Any sign that other farms have been attacked?

"Yes, yes! Valeria yelled back. As a matter of fact, we are about the only one who is not on fire."

Come on down. Devlyn, help me get a look at these things. Kael was so proud of his boys and his wife. He rolled one of the giants over and could see why Aden thought they were huge blue monsters. Jharviks were very big, and in their armor, they looked the part. The chest plate and leggings were plain enough, but the helmet was hideous. It was covered with all manner of personal totems and four horns. After Valeria had come down from the tower, Kael asked, What do you sense? Are the Jharviks coming back?

Yes, she said after reaching out with her mind and sensing for their thoughts, yes, I think they are. There are so many of them thinking about it that I get the feeling that they wanted the tower as a headquarters, and they did not know we would be ready. I am pretty sure they will regroup and try again. Valeria paused. We have got something else to talk about when we have time. Aden has started to show signs of the Elfish sense.

Kael just looked at Valeria. The Elfish sense? You mean, he’s able to sense things?

Yes. When we were on top of the tower, Aden froze and was just standing there. He said he could ‘hear their hearts.’

He could hear their hearts?

That is what he said.

Aden… Aden…your Mom said you could hear their hearts?

Yeah.

Can you hear them now?

No…well, yes, but they are really faint. When they blew three blasts on their horn and they left, then their hearts got a lot less.

Okay, we’ll talk about this later, said Kael, patting Aden on the shoulder.

Devlyn, who had been looking at the bodies, asked, What were those, Dad?

Jharviks. I’ve seen them before as traders, as merchants, but I’ve never met them in battle before. They’re from across the Inner Sea. He thought for a moment. "They’ve never been hostile before. And now, according to Valeria, they’ll be back and they are very hostile. We’ve got to get out of here and let Baron Uxbridge know. Devlyn, get the horses and wagon ready. Valeria, you and Aden help me collect what we can from the house. When those Jharviks return, we can’t be here."

Why can’t we fight them, Dad? Aden asked. I mean, we just beat them.

We don’t have much time. When they come back, they’ll be a lot more of them, and now they’ll know we’re ready. They’ll be mad, real mad. Now go help your mom pack so we can be outta here before they come back.

Kael and Devlyn loaded the wagon while Valeria and Aden packed what they could of their food and possessions. Kael tied their two packhorses to the rear of the wagon, then he and Devlyn climbed up. With Valeria and Aden on two other horses they were ready to set off. The twin suns of Te’ra had still not come up.

Where will we go? asked Valeria.

First, we’ll let Baron Uxbridge know, and then probably Lord Grey. After that, I thought we might pay your father a call.

I would like to see my father, too, but I had hoped to have better things to talk about.

Well, if we stay here, we’ll have a lot of exciting things to talk about, a lot worse things.

Well, the longest journey begins with the first step, said Valeria with a sigh.

I have a saying too! The worst death is to be talked to death, so here is a chance to escape. With that and the three dire wolves functioning as flankers, the Braylon clan started their trip to Baron Uxbridge’s keep.

This was not a premonition or dream. This had been reality.

Chapter Two

What?

The twin suns of Te’ra were low on the horizon, and there was a light covering of dew on the ground. Had it not been for the circumstances, the dew on the occasional spiderweb hanging between the trees would have looked extraordinary. With the road to Baron Uxbridge’s keep now uncertain, using the dire wolves as scouts gave them all a small degree of comfort. They also made sure no Jharviks were waiting in ambush; it was unlikely, but would be very nasty if it happened. She was communicating with the dire wolves with her mind, but Valeria was distracted as she thought about the events of the morning.

Ghost asked, Mother, what were those man things that attacked our home?

Jharviks, Ghost, they are called Jharviks.

And why did those Jharviks attack us?

I do not know, Valeria responded.

"Wouldn’t a den be safer place for us to live in?" asked Tracker.

Yes, I suppose in this case a den would be safer.

Then why don’t we live in a den?

Because Elves and Humans do not usually live in dens.

Why not?

Because.

Where are we going? Hunter asked.

You know what they say about wolves and questions? ‘A wolf with a thousand questions is like a flea with a thousand teeth.’ Valeria was irritated.

Is that true? No!…Where are we going? Hunter persisted.

What am I, the Oracle with a Thousand Answers? Valeria snapped. She paused for a moment. "I am sorry, that was rude. There has just been a lot that has happened today. We are going to warn Baron Uxbridge that he is about to be attacked, and maybe we will also get some answers."

There was a long pause, and then Aden communicated with her in her mind for the first time. "Are we going to die?"

What? Aden? Aden, is that you?

Yes.

"H-how did you get inside my head…Aden, this is wonderful! How are you inside…?" Her thoughts trailed off.

"I don’t know. I just heard you…you…thinking to the wolves. I suppose I could always hear you, so I just decided to try to think to you too."

There was another long pause. "This is amazing! You are not an animal, let alone a wolf," she thought with a smile.

Are we going to die?

No, no, dear one, Valeria told her youngest. "You could say that is what we are going to prevent."

Oh. How?

This is amazing! Well, first we are leaving home. Secondly, we are going to tell Baron Uxbridge about what happened with the Jharviks.

Why do we have to tell Baron Uxbridge?

Baron Uxbridge is the only one for miles around here who has a chance of keeping the people safe and stopping the Jharviks.

"Aren’t we going to help stop them?"

"I do not know dear one. Kael… Kael. Though Kael was right there, he was miles away, lost in his own thoughts. Kael!"

What.

Aden just talked to me…in my mind! she said excitedly.

Hi, Dad, hi, brother, said Aden waving enthusiastically.

They cannot hear you, thought Valeria.

I know, that’s what makes it so funny, thought Aden, waving like a loon!

He did what? Why is he waving like that? Kael asked, taking a sidelong glance at Aden sitting next to him.

He just talked to me in my mind.

Good lord! Aden… He trailed off, a perplexed look on his face. How? He is half-Elven, but…but even Elves don’t speak to each other, only to animals.

I know was Valeria’s only reply.

You sure they can’t hear me? asked Aden.

"No, dear one, I do not think they can."

Why can’t they?

Because no one has ever been able to, Elf or Human. As far as I know, what you and I are doing, talking like this, this is the first time it has ever happened. I would say because your Dad and Devlyn are not Elves, but I do not know of any Elf that could. Wait a second, Kael…Kael, Devlyn? Can you hear me? I do not think they can.

Aden, Kael said, are you all right?

Yeah, sure. I was just talking to Mom.

What? No, he wasn’t, he was starring off into space, said Devlyn, riding up from the rear and overhearing only the last part of the conversation.

Yes, he was, in their minds said Kael.

In their minds? I don’t understand.

Your mom and your brother just found out they can communicate with their minds.

No way.

It is true, he can, said Valeria.

Devlyn decided that this would be a perfect time to be somewhere else, anywhere, maybe scouting ahead.

Aden just smiled, like the cat who ate the canary.

While that conversation carried on, the group was steadily moving toward Baron Uxbridge’s keep, following the road that ran south, deep through the heart of the forest. The family, wolves included, were on high alert. Being in the heart of the forest with all the trees and underbrush, if there was any place for an ambush to happen this was it, but none came. Apparently, they were still ahead of the Jharviks.

As they were riding through the forest, they came to a clearing that had a stream that crossed their path on the north side of it. It was just a small stream, and after crossing they arrived at the Vauhn farm on the left-hand side of the road. The Vauhns were good friends of the Braylons, and any