The Forest of Allund Read online

  THE FOREST OF ALLUND

  By

  WILBUR ARRON

  The Forest of Allund is a work of fiction.

  Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at publication time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

  Copyright © 2018 by Wilbur Arron

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  For permission requests, contact the author at the email address below:

  [email protected]

  ✽✽✽

  Dedication and Acknowledgements

  I wish to thank the following people for their assistance in producing this work:

  Danielle Fannin: Who helped me get this book into a finalized readable form and who helped organize the beta reading team that turned a sometimes-rambling story into a readable novel.

  Ben Bova: Who over 40 years ago taught a young student, fresh out of college, the mechanisms of writing, and most importantly, why that student loved science-fiction and fantasy.

  Hayao Miyazaki: Who provided the inspiration for this book.

  Cover Artist: Keith Draws www.keithdraws.wordpress.com

  ✽✽✽

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter 1: PRODIGAL

  Chapter 2: HOMECOMING

  Chapter 3: FRIENDS

  Chapter 4: UNEXPECTED EVENTS

  Chapter 5: INTERROGATIONS

  Chapter 6: DECEPTIONS

  Chapter 7: VISITORS

  Chapter 8: ACTIONS

  Chapter 9: REACTIONS

  Chapter 10: RESULTS

  Chapter 11: RESOLUTION

  Chapter 12: INTERLUDE

  Chapter 13: CHANGES

  Chapter 14: DISCOVERY

  Chapter 15: REVERSAL

  Chapter 16: PRECIPICE

  Chapter 17: PLUNGE

  Chapter 18: DIRECTIONS

  Chapter 19: JOURNEY

  Chapter 20: JUDGMENT

  Chapter 21: RETURN

  Chapter 22: REVELATION

  EPILOGUE

  APPENDICES

  MAGE CODE

  GLOSSARY

  CHAPTER ONE

  PRODIGAL

  I was home.

  For the last ten days, I had either walked or ridden in farmers’ carts to reach here. I had arrived at the port city of Aegae after my sea journey from Lantia[1]. In the distance, the barren, desolate peaks of the Central Mountains rose like a huge stone wall. Snow was still on the peaks on this early spring day. I had not seen them since I left ten years ago. My studies had taken me far away from here, but now I finally returned to the main gate of Korpolis[2].

  As ever, there were four guards at the gate dressed in armor and carrying short swords, hoplons[3], and long spears. As I approached, I saw something was wrong. Black mourning cloth covered the shaft of the spears. The people going in and out of the main gate looked subdued; some were in tears and others tore at their hair and clothes. The people were walking slowly and, as I got closer, I saw all were dressed in dark mourning clothes and black sashes. They were all in mourning for someone. I stepped behind one of the smaller shops outside the gate and opened up my backpack. Quickly I took off my street clothes, slipped on my new mage robe of pure black color, and walked up to the guard at the gate. He looked at me angrily for I was not dressed in mourning.

  "Forgive me," I said humbly. "I come from this polis[4] and have just arrived back after being away for ten years. Why is everyone in mourning?"

  The guard looked at me strangely and said in a hushed tone, "We are in mourning for our late Oligarch[5] Clytomedes. He died fourteen days ago. Today is the tenth day of his funeral games."

  "The old man is dead?” I said in surprise. "I remember as a boy playing with his son Cleon in the gymnasium. He would come over often and exercise with us. He would show us how to throw the javelin. I am so sorry. I must get a mourning sash. It is not proper for a mage being dressed like this. Is there some place nearby where I can purchase a sash?"

  The guard stared at me through his bronze helmet. "Ten years away," he repeated. "Have you been in exile?"

  "No, no," I said. "I attended the Mage Academy on Lantis[6] and graduated in the autumn. I have just returned. . ."

  "Alexio Sopholus," he blurted out. I was surprised anyone remembered me after this time. "You have come back,” he said and looked me over. “You are much healthier looking than when Malcor took you away.” He took off his metal helmet and I saw into a face as young as mine but very hard looking. He looked familiar, but I could not place him.

  "It is I, Iolaos; I exercised with you and our new Oligarch Cleon in the gymnasium years ago."

  How much he had changed, it stunned me! We called him The Bull in the gym, now he actually looked like a bull. He was a podi[7] taller than I was and twice as wide. We were friends until I got sick but then we grew distant, as I did with most people in the City. I dropped my travel bags and grabbed him by both shoulders. "I do not believe it," I told him, my voice trembling.

  "Come, we need to get you properly dressed before someone takes offense," he told me. He turned to face his other three guards on duty and barked out an order. "Watch the gate while I find this man a proper mourning sash."

  All three guards presented their spears at attention. I picked up my bags and followed him.

  We went through the ten-podia-thick city walls and then into the main street, rushing through town. Some people looked strangely at me — a mage is a rare sight in this town. Others looked angry with me for not being properly dressed. We rushed to the town center and into the market square. Iolaos made his way through the crowd to a clothing stall. When I saw who was there, my heart skipped a beat. The old woman at the stall was Mother Areaus herself. She had been old when I left, but now she looked as ancient as the Central Mountains.

  "Mother Areaus," Iolaos called out. "Look who has come back."

  The old woman stared at me with black eyes, and she broke into a broad smile. "Alexio," she cried out and, like Iolaos, hugged me. I was afraid to squeeze her. I was scared I might hurt her. Now my eyes started to water as dozens of people in the market turned toward us.

  "Mother Areaus, Alex has just arrived and did not know of Clytomedes' death. Do you have a mourning sash for him?"

  "Of course," she said and looked behind her and took a sash out of a box. I reached in my pocket and gave her a silver Obol[8].

  "That is far too much," she said. "You may have it for free," she told me.

  "No," I said and refused the return of the coin. "I well remember after my parents died and no one in town wanted anything to do with me except Malcor. It was you who gave me scrap cloth to make clothing. Consider this a small part of my thanks to you for that favor. Besides, while I was waiting for spring to sail home, I worked in an armory making mage-hardened swords and spear tips. They paid me well for my efforts. Keep the money."

  With that, I t
urned quickly and walked away before she could argue. Iolaos followed closely. "That was good of you," he said.

  "It is only money," I said and then looked across the market square at the palace. The new oligarch would be there. I turned to my old friend, "Iolaos, do you think the oligarch would be offended if I presented myself at the palace to give my condolences to him?"

  "No," he shook his head. "You and he were friends even after your illness. I am sure he would be happy to see you."

  We walked across the square. I stopped at the front gate in front of half a dozen heavily armed guards. I bowed in respect. "I am Mage Alexio Sopholus of this polis. I have come to offer my condolences to Oligarch Cleon on the death of his father."

  "Yes, Mage Sopholus," one of the guards said respectfully. He turned and walked quickly into the outer courtyard of the palace. I remained standing still. A few moments passed, and I heard a loud voice call out from inside the depths of the palace. "Where is he?" the voice cried. I looked past the guards and saw two people walking quickly. One was a young man dressed in the pure white robes of an oligarch and wearing a golden olive wreath on his head.

  The other was a young woman walking next to him. I thought it was his wife until I noticed the half circle scar over her left eye. I remembered that scar. The oligarch’s young daughter Melina had fallen into the river while we were playing as children, and she had cut her forehead on a rock. It almost killed her. I could not believe that scrawny little girl had become a beautiful woman who could rival Helen herself. My mouth dropped open, but I closed it quickly. The man rushed forward, no mistaking his blue eyes, strong chin, and heavy muscles. He had become a man while I was away. As he approached, I put my right hand over my heart and bowed to them.

  "Oligarch Cleon, allow me to offer my condolences on the death of your father. I well remember his time with us when we were boys." I looked up. "I must also confess I do not believe that little girl I knew before has become this beautiful woman."

  Cleon came up and stood me up straight. "The gods are strange," he exclaimed, “But it is true. You have come back a mage."

  "And a man," Melina said with a smile. I went to bow again when Cleon and his sister embraced me as Iolaos did earlier. I was ready to thank them when I heard a scream come from behind me. I turned quickly and saw a young man running away from Mother Areaus’ clothing stall and into the square.

  "Stop him!" someone shouted. "He stole the old woman's money and hit her in the head."

  Despite my training to control my emotions, that made me angry. The young man was running across the square faster than the guards could follow. He was not fast enough to escape me.

  I closed my eyes and walked forward saying the invocation and concentrating on the market around me. Soon the town disappeared and all about me were points of light representing the other realms of this universe. I reached in and tapped some of the power in these realms and let it course through my body, building in intensity. It took only an instant to reach enough power. I opened my eyes and extended my arm at the fleeing figure. "Aeras[9]," I called out.

  Immediately a ball of almost invisible wind flew from my outstretched hand across the square, hitting the fleeing thief. It fell on him as if he had just walked into one of Poseidon's storms. His feet blew out from under him and he rose into the air. I pulled my hand back and he crashed to the paving stones like a felled duck. He hit the pavement and lay still for a moment. I approached him with my arm still extended. He saw me coming, slowly rose to his feet, and pulled a fighting knife from his belt.

  I gestured again and said "Pyra[10]." A ball of blue flame formed in my right hand. "Put that knife down," my voice bellowed through the square, "Or I will turn you into a pile of dust."

  I was about to release the blue ball when the man threw away his knife. By then I could hear rapid footsteps. The first to approach was Iolaos who, with one blow, knocked the man senseless. Another man came up behind him. It was a man I saw standing near Mother Areaus when I bought the sash. He looked at me. "He took her coin and then hit her in the head when she tried to call out. She is lying unconscious on the ground. I fear he might have killed her."

  "Take me to her," I told him. I followed rapidly behind him, forgetting who was next to me. I rushed through the crowd that parted in front of me like the waves part in front of a stout ship. I reached the stall I had been to only a moment ago and saw the old woman lying motionless on the ground, bleeding from her forehead.

  "Call for a physician,” I ordered.

  I bent over to put my hand on her forehead and then concentrated my power carefully. Life magik allows the mage to see into another's body. The training allows you to feel how the body functions. To see what is wrong. In Mother Areaus' case, the heart was not beating strongly; the organs in the body were failing. She was starting to slip away.

  "Vios[11]," I called out and concentrated harder. Unlike nature magik or metal magik, life magik needs subtle application. You cannot just use any source of energy on an injured person. The energy I send into a body to heal must be milder, more diffused, for a body to use. Otherwise, you overpower the body causing it to stop, rather than help it regain its vital functions. I was as gentle as possible and slowly let the energy flow into her: first strengthening her heart, and then gradually pushing back the damage of her injury. It was slow, careful work, but sometime later, I do not know how long, I felt someone tug at my robe.

  "Mage Alexio, it is I, Phillipos of Cos. She is safe now."

  I opened my eyes to see an elderly man I had also known as a boy – our senior town physician who trained at the School of Asclepius at Cos. He was the one who saved me when the plague hit. I nodded and sat down on a nearby chair. Healing magik always is more personal and takes the most out of you. I watched Phillipos examine the old woman and then look up with satisfaction.

  "Take your mother to her bed and see she does not get up from it for two days. Feed her nothing but soup and water," Phillipos ordered to the man I had followed here. “And see that she drinks no wine. She will be fine otherwise. In fact, she may outlive us all yet."

  I turned and saw the young thief I had knocked down. He was on his knees, held down by the strength of Iolaos. Again, I felt anger. "You," I pointed at him. "Pray to whatever gods you believe in that this woman recovers. Otherwise, you will learn there are many worse things in this world than the oligarch’s dungeons or the executioner’s iron collars."

  I thought the thief would sink through the paving stones in fear. Many of the townspeople near him made the sign to ward off evil. I tried to get up and suddenly felt dizzy; I staggered for a moment, but a set of strong hands grabbed me and held me upright. I turned and saw they belonged to the oligarch.

  "Rest, Alex," he said in a comforting voice.

  I suddenly remembered I had other things to do. "I am sorry, but I have to find rooms for the night."

  "No," Melina said and turned to face her brother who nodded his approval.

  "No, my friend," the oligarch said with a gleam in his eyes. "You will stay with us in the palace, and tonight join us at the second table of the banquet to honor the winners of today's games."

  "Thank you," was all I could say, still feeling out of breath.

  They led me back to the palace and as we walked in, Melina summoned two servants. "Take Mage Sopholus to a vacant guest room. Bring his bags and clean his clothes. Give him a hot bath. He will join us at the banquet tonight.”

  "Thank you again," was all I could say to my two hosts before the servants led me away. After my hot bath, a nap brought me back to normal self.

  The next two days were a whirl of contests and feasts. I served as one of the judges of the poetry contest, although I am as poetic as a dormouse, so I just said which one I thought sounded best. As evening arrived on the twelfth day, the games ended. Soon afterward, the old oligarch's remains were taken from his room and brought to the square. A great wooded pyre was constructed, and the old man's body put on top of it. Cleo
n gave the funeral oration in a loud, steady voice. In it, his son read out the honors granted to his father, including those he garnered in battle and those voted to him by the City Assembly. He read a list of the many gifts he made to the temples and to the City, including his title of Euergetes[12] and he pronounced his father to have been a megalopsychus[13]. Finally, as his final duty as Clytomedes' son, Cleon lit the fire, and within moments, a huge conflagration of fire consumed the body. By morning, only the ashes remained. Mourners gathered up the ashes and placed them in a sealed jar. They would rest in the oligarchs’ mausoleum in the necropolis outside the city walls. That ended the official mourning period.

  The next morning, polis business started up again. Cleon asked me to join him at an informal breakfast with Melina and some of the City Guards. We ate a light meal of bread, honey, grapes, olives, and cheese, washed down with well-watered wine.

  "So, what will you do now?" Cleon asked.

  That was easy to answer. "I promised Malcor when I left that I would take his place as caretaker of the Forest of Allund[14] and that I would watch his animal friends and look over the western approaches to the polis. Tomorrow I will go there."

  Iolaos spoke up from his dining couch. "Travelers have told me they have seen smoke coming from where Malcor's hut was. Someone may have taken it over."

  I turned to face Cleon, "When Malcor's testament was read after his death, did it not say I inherited his property?"

  "It most certainly did," Cleon said with authority. "That property and all of Malcor's things rightfully belong to you. Those were his wishes."

  "If they don't move, come see me," Iolaos said. "I will get three of my guardsmen together. They will leave one way or another."

  "Thank you, my friend, but one of the first things a mage must learn is to control his temper. The law says I must ask politely first, then seek justice in the court if they will not go. Only if they refuse will I take action to remove them." I looked at Cleon. "Also, by law I must show you this," I said to the oligarch. "I did not want to do so while we were in mourning for your father."