Halen, The Azurian - Vengeance Part 1

‘They are like giants, no emotion and soulless. Do not trust any of them son.’   Ten years ago, Halen’s father had died. Unable to summon a Diadem or an Elder in time to heal his mortal wounds, Halen watched his father slowly succumb and die. Jaren his father, had been sent home for his final days with his family from Evannar where he had been posted and wounded in combat. His last words echoed in his mind as he traveled with his detachment to Evannar, the border town at the eastern edge of Torentia. As a young man newly enlisted in the Host of The Autumn Lancers he hoped to avenge his father but kept this a secret; vengeance Azurians understood but was not tolerated in the Autumn Lancers, they were to conduct themselves with integrity.   Halen had never seen a real giant, they lived far from the Land of Torentia in other lands. He had heard them described many times in bedtime stories from his mother and during the years all Azurians spend in the University of Ruinia as their primary education growing up; they were massive, tall and almost impossible to kill. These were not the giants his father had spoken of at Evannar. Shifting in his saddle after many hours on the march he hoped they would arrive soon, his back ached from an entire day of traveling. It was their fourth day out from the town of Darc where he had been training for the past six months, Evannar was a four day journey and the aches and pains were becoming overwhelming.   “We are almost there, another two hours I’d say. We will see Brightmont River within the hour” Ty spoke beside Halen.   Nodding at Ty’s comment, Halen continued to scan the dense forest around them. So different from his home, the Emerald Forest was much darker and denser at its heart where they had been traveling for the past four days than its southern border where he had been born. Demaev was a small town several days’ travel south situated along the Bay of Attara and between the borders of two major forests in Torentia; the Emerald Forest was on their northern border and the Enchanted Forest on their southern border. The southern borders of the Emerald Forest were not as dense as it was here, and the Enchanted Forest was far more spacious with beautiful leaves of light green variegated with white veins. The citizens of Demaev believed their town to be the most beautiful town in Torentia because of these two forests.   “Nervous?” Ty asked with a sidelong glance at Halen interrupting his thoughts.   Halen sighed; Ty knew about the death of his father. He had been a young man at the time and recognized his family name. “Somewhat, more just ready to give my back a break. This journey has been grueling to say the least and I’m sure Penri would love a rest” with a loving pat on his tiger’s head, Penri yowled softly at the attention.   “Penri is just fine, she could go another day and twice the distance, this” Ty waved one arm “was an easy journey, just wait till we get called to reinforce Onell. It’ll be no pleasure journey” Ty winked at him.   This was an easy journey? Training had not been easy at Darc when he’d been a recruit but sitting hours in the saddle? Constantly on the lookout? His lance had become heavy like stone… Easy? Halen shook his head, sometimes he had a hard time with the old warriors who made such claims. Yet as he looked at Ty with his light blue hair streaked with white and his lined face… he did not look as tired as Halen felt…   “Trust me. The Patrols will teach you that in time.”   Patrols. That was their sole duty at Evannar, to patrol the border of their Kingdom against their most hated enemy: Eons. “I get it, I’m young and will learn” rolling his eyes at the older warrior. Ty just shook his head as they continued along in column, two by two with an outer guard patrol. Halen could see them from time to time, each mounted upon a dark maroon tiger with black stripes blending well with the dark foliage and red bark of the trees of Emerald Forest. A perfect camouflage.   As the two hours of travel crept by the sun sank slowly behind them, elongating the shadows of the dense forest making it more difficult to see but as darkness crept upon the forest lights began to glow. Each warrior had a Lumen Orb they slung from a chain on their saddles and one as a necklace around each of their tigers’ necks they were mounted upon. Azurians knew where the Orbs came from, but no one knew how they worked, only that as the sun set the light would grow in intensity and illuminate the dark. Every time a youth would ask ‘what makes them glow?’ They would receive the same answer ‘how does our own magic work?’ and with this, Azurian children (for the most part) had to be content. Later in their youth they would learn where the Lumens came from; the land of Numis far away to the north in the lands Azurians called the Twilight Lands, for it was said to be eternally in darkness.   It made a strange kind of sense to Halen that the Sordeans who lived in this eternal twilight would be able to make Lumens, much of his curiosity had been burned away in determination to enlist and avenge his father over the years but little thoughts like these remained. As they neared Evannar, Emerald Forest began to thin, and lights of the bustling town came into view. Evannar was large like all their border towns, not because of its citizens but the garrisons of the Autumn Lancers whose sole purpose was to protect their border. Inevitably a town would spring up in the wake of a new garrison, for generations this had occurred until the towns were firmly established almost a thousand years ago.   The column of warriors, several hundred of them moved into the town and down the main avenue heading to the garrison. Variations of Lumen Orbs were everywhere, large and small illuminating the streets, businesses and homes of Azurians. Finally, they had arrived, Halen knew over the next few weeks the town and garrison would be bulging at the seams. One detachment to be relieved of duty as another took its place, he was 3rd Company relieving 1st Company so they could rotate back to Darc where many would take a much needed time off to visit family and friends elsewhere in the Kingdom. Halen knew he’d be here in Evannar for the next three years of his duty, but it would be the transitioning time that would strain the town’s resources. It took several weeks to transition control from one Company to another.   “Finally! Time to rest Penri” Halen grinned, scratching Penri’s ears as she purred.   “Time to work youngen, when did you think the changeover starts?” Ty looked over at him with a wicked grin and when Ty saw reality sink in, replaced with shock, he laughed “You’ll learn!”   “You can’t be serious! We’ve been riding four days straight from dawn till dusk!” Halen couldn’t believe they would get no rest, poor Penri! He had trained with her since she was six months old and as with all Autumn Lance warriors, they had a deep connection with their tigers, which is what made them such brutal warriors; tigers and Azurian fought as one. Each tiger trained to his warrior’s call, body language and commands. Though they could not speak with their tiger companions as the hated Eons could, Halen knew Penri understood him. He didn’t want to see her any more worn out!   “Relax, even if you pass out, she will carry you home. Have you forgotten your training boy?” Halen could tell Ty was becoming irritated, which was rare for the old man. Breathing down his own irritation he tried to rationalize what Ty had said.   “No” Halen snapped and just as he wanted to say more the company commanders were passing along orders, Halen listened and when his unit was called, a group of forty of them moved off in the direction their commander had pointed. They would be attached to the ten warriors their commander had pointed too, to lead them through the trails and routes to take when on Patrol.   One Azurian moved forward of the ten as Ty moved forward on his mount to meet with him. Ty was a senior in their unit and spoke with the unknown warrior. The rest waited as the two unit leaders spoke. Ty turned around and barked orders splitting their group of forty into groups of ten where two from the old group would lead each of the ten from the new group. Halen went with his group to meet the two Patrol warriors who would be leading them.   Evannar was not right on the border of their Kingdom, the border was five miles distance from the garrison which was a mile to the east of the town. His group followed the two Patrol leaders as they led them southeast for a few miles. Halen constantly scanned his surroundings; the forest began to thicken again as they moved out of the limits of Evannar. He was nervous, Penri could feel his nervousness as well and he knew he should remain calm, center himself and keep vigilant but the night and forest was playing tricks on his mind. Suddenly the group stopped jolting Halen out of his watchfulness. A 1st Company warrior beside him noticed his jolt.   “I remember my first night Patrol, care for advice?” The unknown warrior looked over at Halen.   “I guess”   Chuckling under his breath the unknown warrior spoke “Trust your tiger, she is more aware of her surroundings than you are. She will warn you of danger.”   “Will we see them?” Halen asked tentatively, he not only wanted to sate his curiosity with seeing one, but his bloodlust flared in wanting to kill one. Something of his thoughts must have been seen by the unknown warrior because his face turned grim and authoritative.   “Listen closely and take heed what I say; they are vicious warriors. If you see an Eon, you better hope you are not alone. They will spare her” he pointed to Penri “but they will not spare you. It is better to avoid engagement and listen to your patrol leaders. Do you understand?” He spoke harshly.   He could not respond because the group set off for their night Patrol, but his words echoed in Halens mind, mingled with his father’s dying words… Were they even a Saharian? They seemed more beast than man, of all the Races on Genivan Halen saw Eons as less than human. He would gladly kill them all.   The land of Torentia shared a volatile border with Eons in the land of Lithe, many times it had almost come to all-out war. The western border towns dealt with invaders from the Dray Faction; Minotaurs were not human, nor did they look human, did not act human and loved to cause pain and misery or so Azurians were taught in their military training. Those who would be sent east were told a different story. Every Azurian knew the ancient history of Genivan how an ancient race visited their world and gifted six tribes of Saharians (natives to Genivan) special gifts and magic. Eons were one of these tribes gifted with magic from the ancient race. Many Azurians wished to eradicate Eons, of all the Races Azurians hated Eons the most.   Halen had listened intently to his training in one area, anything regarding Eons, the ones responsible for his father’s death. These were the giants his father had referred to. They were tall, at least seven feet tall with eyes gold like an animals and hair bright blonde to dark blonde with the speed of a tiger. Azurians were by far inferior to them in strength, speed, endurance and agility. They could heal faster than any other Race on Genivan, they seemed more and more like animals in Halens mind. He had no problem thinking of them as lesser humans, it seemed to Halen the ancient race had gifted Eons a disproportionate amount of inner magic, but Azurians were adaptable. Their mounts alone evened the grossly inadequate contest between Eons and Azurians, their training at the large town of Darc near their capital city was designed to train them in this way.   Days and days of patrols, always right on the border. Halens unit also rotated on a longer Patrol ranging along their northeastern border along the Elm Mountains to the town of Elmsmont, where they would stay for five days and range back south to Evannar. On one of these longer Patrols Halen’s unit were on their final day reinforcing the Patrols around Elmsmont when the clarion call of a horn sounded.   “It must be the Drek Lycan, hurry Halen we don’t have much time” Eagen called to Halen in the next stall. What terrible timing Halen thought, Penri was not saddled, and they had just returned for the evening.   “We’ve seen their tracks for days now, I am surprised we didn’t come across one yet” Halen spoke as he quickly finished scrubbing down Penri who was purring and pawing at the ground. She knew the excitement meant they would be going out again. Halen mentally shook his head, six months of training at Darc had not prepared him for the reality of Ty’s admonishment six months earlier on the way to Evannar. Penri’s stamina was a lesson in humility for Halen, even though they had ranged far today, through the difficult terrain and foothills of the Elm Mountain Range, she was ready for more.   “Easy girl, let me saddle you first” Halen joked with his tiger, he was ready as well. For months nothing had occurred, just one miserable Patrol after another and now finally! Some actions, the young ones like him, he knew were ready to break the stall doors down; they wanted action.   “Let’s go!” Eagan shouted at him, just as he cinched Penri’s saddle.   He leapt into the saddle, grabbed his bow and lance from a wall rack and raced out to follow Eagan to the assembly area. The mountains in the distance had taken on the dark tones of bark, various shades of brown with snowcapped peaks in the dying sunlight… suddenly there was a massive beast in the distance over the foothills, all the warriors heard its cry: a dragon. As Halen and Eagan arrived at the assembly area, every eye was on the gold and scarlet beast calling out its rage. No one moved. No one spoke as the dragon circled over an area deep in the foothills.   The dragon, so far off in the distance must have been massive, Halen had ranged through those same hills and knew the proportion of the dragon compared to the distant landscape. He shuddered, Ancient Full Breeds were known to be terrifying creatures, why the ancient race had brought them very few could answer and those few were not with Halen. Suddenly the dragon’s flight dipped and dived, a faint screech and the dragon winged off. It wasn’t clear to Halen at the time, but in its taloned grasp was the Lycan they were meant to find and kill.   “We won’t be going anywhere near those hills now” Halen finally let his breath go, hearing Eagan do the same.   “Not a chance, did you see Commander Yari’s face?” Laughing quietly under his breath, Halen turned to see Eagan trying to hide his laughter. It was bad to make fun of their commanders if the wrong person heard it, but Halen smiled too. Commander Yari was the most arrogant Cleric Commander; he had met Neophytes and Clerics many times before and every one of them exuded arrogance, but Commander Yari was the worst he’d ever encountered. They quickly quieted as their Commander resumed order and began speaking.   “All Patrol units besides those assigned night Patrol are dismissed. Go about your evening duties” and with that Halen and Eagan headed back to the stalls to once again unsaddle their tigers.   “I heard Fran say she heard chatter upfront the dragon killed a Lycan, do you suppose it was the one we were assembled for?” Eagan asked as they made their way back to the stalls, all around them was movement, those returning to the duties that had been halted upon the horn blast. Many warriors, servants and townsfolk walked by.   “I couldn’t see the dragon very well, but it did appear to have something in its grasp. Hey, don’t dragons hate Lycan? Or is that wyvern? I can never remember” Halen thought back to his training, wyvern and dragons lived at high elevations in most of the mountain ranges on Genivan but they were not the only wild beasts in the mountains, there were Ancient Half Breeds as well though only Pegasus and Griffin lived within Elms Mountains, Cerberus were further to the north in the Kitath Mountains. They were taught about every Ancient Full and Half Breed that lives on Genivan, where they live, what they eat and who or what they dislike. Ancient Full Breeds they were told to avoid at all costs, Half Breeds tended to avoid Saharians as a whole and not quite as dangerous.   “I think it’s both. I don’t think I could distinguish one from another, even their habits are so similar” Eagan ended with a shrug.   “I could, one has four legs the other does not… easy right?”   They reached the stalls and continued debating the finer points of the little details they actually knew about Full Breeds. As they finished an hour later, they heard it rumored that the Lycan had been killed by the dragon. Elmsmont was safe for now… unless a dragon decided to attack. Both shuddered at the thought, it was rare for a dragon to attack as they hunted deep in the mountains.   As Halen laid himself down to sleep, he could not shut his mind off of the images of the great beast. One of the Races on Genivan he was told actually Linked with dragons, though he’d had schooling and training on Genivan’s history, it still boggled his mind that anyone would want to be within shouting distance of a dragon. He had serious doubts about that now after seeing a dragon, how much of what they had been told was accurate? The hated Eons were one of them, a Saharian but yet were more beast than Saharian and to even acknowledge a Zarythian, another Saharian Race, could Link with a dragon… preposterous!   He had also not seen any Eons on Patrols around Evannar, a small group had come to the borders, but it was for trade and not battle. His only glimpse had been a brief and at a distance, why would they even tolerate trade with them! Eagan had become a good friend of his over the past six months and they both speculated why Azurians would tolerate this, they killed Azurians! They should wipe them out, all of them. Eagan agreed with him, his sister had disappeared on a border patrol some three years past. She was much older than Eagan by ten years, she was a rare Azurian who could summon all elements, she had just completed her training and was inducted into the Omni Guardian Order.   He and Eagan shared that sorrow, Halens father had died at Evannar and Eagan’s sister had disappeared. They both talked of vengeance, eradicating Eons from Genivan but they were conversations only between the two of them. Azurians loathed Eons but if they did not attack, they treated with them and traded with them in neutrality, peace was the goal but all Azurians knew peace was a myth. It was a delicate balance, if they attacked the Eons full blown it would rouse the other lands to the Eon’s aid. They were all Saharians, they must find a way to work together or, so they were told.