Prologue: So Ends the Sunriders

  The tale of the Keeper is known to all. My older brother told me of it when I was very young, before he ran away. In the beginning, many generations after the creation of mankind, the Creator saw the need for protectors and guides of men. And so, he created the Athelward. Possessing power beyond other mortals, they used their orbs of light to combat evil, build civilization to unmeasured heights, and heal the wounds of the world. They acted as councilors for all disputes. Yet, with such power, these guardians were tempted to use it for evil. And so, they were given a leader, the Keeper. The Keeper was said to possess power beyond any of the Athelward and could access information known only to the Creator. He was the guide of the Athelward order and they, in turn, were the guardians and guides of men.

  Such an existence could not last. Some six hundred and fifty years after the founding of the Houses and two hundred and thirty-one years after the founding of the United Houses, the Keeper disappeared into seclusion within the capital of the empire, locked away in the Tower of the Sun. No one knows why he has abandoned his role as protector and guide of men and the Athelward. Now conflict rages across our lands and the manors in the outer lands have sought to break away from the cruel and unfair treatment under the empire. The United Houses have not taken this well.

  Oh, Creator! Where is the Keeper to bring peace to our troubled people? Why has he abandoned us?

  *

  Year 712 FH (Founding of the Houses)

  The bright harvest moon shed its light across a flowing river amongst lush farmland and palm trees. Yet another light shone equally as bright atop a hill that overlooked the river below, setting an orange glow to the silvery backdrop.

  A fortified mansion made of clay brick and timber, set against a cliffside, was burning as the flames roared across the imposing structure. It was an impressive size for a family estate, three stories tall in places where towers rose and stretched several hundred yards in length and width. The fortified walls with several towers dotted about its surface were made of thickened clay bricks, giving the impression that the luxurious mansion was actually a fortress. Strange as they seemed, so high and imposing and yet attached to such a dwelling, their use was not diminished in the fight that was taking place. Within the firelight, bronze spears gleamed above the battlements with an intense glow, as if the soldiers held weapons of fire, gifted by deities from another realm. Their bodies too had bronze plating which caused them to gleam like the stars above. Arrows hissed and chinked against the ramparts as volley after volley was fired at the defenders, the occasional thunk and cry indicating that one shaft had hit more than just stone or bronze armor.

  Below, the attackers too were dressed in similar armor but of much finer make, polished till they shone in the firelight. Their battle lines were stretched across the front of the fortified mansion which extended from one jagged cliff to another in a semicircle. They had the defenders trapped on the cliffside in which they resided. Giant ballistas fired massive arrows over the walls, flames licking on their tips, and they soared like miniature comets to strike the mansion. Amidst the chaos of the attackers, who hid behind wooden palisades and bronze shields to take cover from returning enemy fire, one figure strode out calmly, completely unarmed. His armor was not bronze but steel, shining silver as the moon, smoothed far beyond human smithing skills. He moved toward the gate as the arrows from the defenders rained down.

  From within, Lord Efrat Sunrider stood in the center of the courtyard, sword and shield in hand as he directed his men from in front of the gate. “More men to the wall tops! Keep that volley going on the longbows! Use fire on our own arrows if you have to!”

  “Yes, my lord Efrat!”

  “You! Get the servants to bring more arrows to the walls for support!”

  “As you wish my lord!”

  “Where are the spears I called for?!”

  “Lord Efrat…”

  Efrat Sunrider turned to see a figure in a simple tunic of gray, wrapped in a dark cloak and hood, approach him. He forgot the defenses at that moment as he strode forward to put a hand on the figure's shoulder and leaned in to be heard as he spoke softly. “Tell me it is done.”

  A long gray beard poked out and a weather-beaten face nodded. “It is, lord. The passage is ready for use.”

  The tension eased on Efrat’s face as he nodded. “Take my children there now. You get them and yourself out of this keep and to the river. Steal a boat and get downriver into the scrublands. There are dozens of small cities to be lost in.”

  “Lord Sunrider, you must come with us. It is you they want-”

  “I will not leave my home! It is both of us that they want. But they shall only have one.”

  “There is no reason to stay!”

  “These are my people! I shall stay. They will only search harder if I am missing as well.”

  A harsh volley of arrows hit the battlements above the gates and cries rang out as the gate suddenly shook as something struck it. It was engulfed in a sheen of red crackling energy, extending from top to bottom of the stout wooden frame. The gate began to groan as the timber buckled and strained, pulled from the outside, even as the wood began to smoke and blacken. Efrat turned to the old, hooded man and clasped his arm. “Remember your promise to me…don’t let this be the end. Now get my children to safety! That is my last command as your host!”

  The old man bowed and retreated toward the burning mansion as Efrat turned back to the quickly buckling gates. “Where is my wall of spears and shields?! To the gate!”

  The old man moved around the back of the mansion, to a stone storeroom that remained undamaged. He flung open the doors and called within. “Come Sunriders, it is time to leave. Follow me.”

  Out of the storeroom came three more figures. El’Azar stood tallest, the eldest son of Lord Sunrider. He was handsome and well built, a figure ready to take his father’s place as lord of a manor when his time came. After him came his sister, Ari’El, who was much shorter than him and quite beautiful even at her young age of fourteen. She dragged a young and frightened twelve-year-old boy with her, Amos Sunrider, youngest of Efrat’s children. His wide eyes took in his burning home and he let out a broken sob.

  “It will be alright, Amos” came the comforting voice of his sister. “Torun will take care of us.”

  “Come quickly,” said the old man, Torun, “I have a passage out of here ready for you that will lead to the river.”

  El’Azar started. “But father-”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “He has commanded us to run, and we obey him. Trust your father. Remember your promise to him!”

  The group fled around the burning building to enter through the front door which belched forth smoke. “I can’t go in there,” cried Ari’El and Amos crouched to the ground, terror etched across his features.

  “It will be well, Ari’El,” said Torun. “It is just a bit of smoke. We will make it if we stay low.”

  A splintering crash was heard and they turned to see the figure of their father outlined in front of the gateway as it shone brightly. The red light had intensified as the gate split apart and opened outward. One door completely fell off its hinges and flew out while the second swung crazily on a half hinge and hung lopsidedly out into the smoke-filled air. Efrat stood tall and readied his sword and shield as a figure emerged from the smoke. A faint outline was the only distinguishable feature at first. Then, a pair of glowing red eyes pierced through the smoke as the figure emerged.

  It had the appearance of a man, in steel armor that was polished as smooth as a rock in a river from the beginning of time. The mask on the face was brutish and demonic. It had a crown of sharp, tiny spikes circling the head. A slight protrusion defined the nose and the mouth didn’t exist as the metal closed around it as if gagging the wearer. The eyes, topped by metal eyebrows that made it glare, were ovals of red light, shining forth with a malevolent fire to match the two glowing orbs held in the hands of its wearer. Its hands were at its side, each holding a glowing orb of crackling dark red energy. Arcs of electricity flowed around them. A black cape punctured by burn holes swirled around the figure’s back as he strolled calmly into the courtyard even as a group of spear and shield men ran to back Lord Sunrider.

  Torun pushed the young Sunriders into the burning building, calling to El’Azar, “Hurry! We are almost out of time!” The young man followed reluctantly.

  The black figure stopped before the crowd of armed men, his head barely turning to study all before him. Efrat stepped forward. “Your road of vengeance ends here, demon!”

  The demon didn’t respond but lifted his arms to stop the mass of men charging through the gateway after him. They fanned out, forming a wall even as Efrat’s men formed behind him. Both sides froze, the air filled with sounds of battle and the panting of adrenaline-filled men. Efrat spoke again. “You come in vain. There is no Keeper here and I will not submit my manor to the United Houses. Be done with your mission and let this war end with my blood alone.”

  The demon cocked its head and finally spoke, its voice deep and echoing from behind layers of metal. “The war is already over. Now comes the cleansing.”

  “I agree,” muttered Efrat. Lifting his sword, he cried, “Archers, fire!”

  On the wall, archers rose to fire down at the massed troops below. Few reacted quick enough to block the arrows with their shields as a dozen fell to arrow fire from above, screaming as their faces and necks were pierced. The demon lifted both orbs and they expanded into a shimmering shield of red light above. The arrows bounced off, sparking as the metal tips struck the surface and flew in all directions, their tips burnt off. Efrat’s sword lowered. “Charge!”

  He barreled forward, his men following close behind to hit the startled forces of the United Houses. The demon turned his gaze downward and flipped his shield of light to face the oncoming foes. With a step forward and push of his arms, the shield of light leaped forward and hit the wall of shields rushing toward it. The men braced as the wave of energy struck their shields and continued their headlong charge. Efrat raced to the demon as his target waved his hands, extending a line of energy in front of him then twisting it to create another shield. With a wave of his fingers, the energy began to crackle, and then it was launched forward. Efrat was almost on top of the demon when the energy struck him along with a dozen men close by. Their shields half melted all except for Efrat’s shield which was forged of a special metal to resist the Athelward’s powers. He was still flung through the air with the rest of his burnt, screaming men.

  The lines of soldiers crashed into one another, spears and swords clashing on shield and armor or sinking into flesh and bone. The cries of conflict escalated as Efrat rose to his feet, winded, and his foe approached, orbs of red ready in hand.

  *

  Torun ushered the two young children through the smoke into a small storeroom and to a ladder that led to the tunnel under their home. He beckoned to El’Azar who stood above him. “Come El’Azar! We must hurry!”

  “I am not leaving my father.” The stubborn young man’s face showed determination and rage. “I must defend my home and take my place at his side!”

  “Do not be foolish, your father has told you to leave! You must obey him! You must survive!”

  “I will use what you have taught me and defeat our enemies. If I really am who you say I can be, then all will be well! Get my siblings to safety! Take care of them till I return, Torun!”

  The screams of Ari’El could be heard below. “No! El’Azar come back! Don’t leave us!”

  “Don’t go…please don’t…” was Amos’s contribution as tears streamed down his face.

  Torun watched the young man disappear into the smoke. He tried to climb back up the ladder but slipped and tumbled to the bottom where he almost crushed the two children. He groaned and struggled to his feet as the pair wailed at his side. “I’m fine. Come children…let us away to safety.”

  *

  Efrat’s men were being overwhelmed by sheer numbers and any that dared to confront the demon was hurled across the courtyard by blasts of energy or struck down by swiftly thrown orbs. He parried a spear thrust and got in close to stab the man in the side. An orb flew from his right and he lifted his shield just in time to block it. A second one flew in and a third as he began to collapse under the pressure. The demon was approaching, all defenders fleeing before him, as he hurled orb after orb, pounding into Efrat’s shield. Each blow shattered against his shield, sending crackling energy in shockwaves around him. His legs began to buckle and his arm was jerked to the side. An orb passed his defenses and blasted into his armor. It melted under the blow and his side was burned from the impact. He gasped, hunching over as the figure created one last orb and splayed its fingers out when it launched. Efrat was engulfed in a red, shimmering cage and lifted high into the air above the demon by its power.

  The glowing eyes showed no remorse, its head cocked to the side again. “So ends the Sunriders.” The fingers curled and Efrat’s body began to burn and his skin blackened as he sizzled from within the encasing. His scream of agony filled the courtyard.

  An orb of dark blue light flew from behind Efrat and struck the demon, sending him staggering backward. A second orb, then a third flew and the off-balance demon was flung backward, a shimmering flash of light the only indication that an invisible shield of energy around him had acted as protection from the orbs. Efrat collapsed to the ground, free from his prison, and lay unmoving. El’Azar rushed to his side and clasped his hand. “Father!”

  “I told…you to run,” came the gurgled reply.

  “I will stand with my house in destruction or victory.”

  “There is…no victory.” More coughing as blood rose from Efrat’s throat. “Leave! I am already dead!”

  El’Azar rose from his father’s burnt diminishing body and faced the demon. The luminescent being faced him and hissed, “You are not the false Keeper.”

  “No…I am not,” snapped the young man. “The rumor about a Keeper being here is false. I am the one the rumors were about. But a true Athelward will be enough for you to deal with.”

  The eyes flared all the brighter from within the mask. “We shall see.”

  They each created orbs of light, dark red vs dark blue, and leaped toward one another, orbs flying and shields raised.

  *

  Torun struggled out of the tunnel in the cliffside with his two young charges. Together, they fled toward the river and a dock that resided there. A boat was still tied to a post and he ushered the children within. “Quickly, young ones! Amos, you must help me row the boat.”

  Once the small boat drifted into the center of the stream, there was little need for oars as the current carried them away from the battle. An explosion caused the trio to look up. Above the walls of the mansion and through the smoke, flashes of blue and red could be seen, bringing color to the gray ash and smoke in the air. The red and blue flashes escalated as the boat continued downriver. “What will become of us,” cried Amos softly.

  Ari’El shifted to his side and put a comforting arm around his shoulders. “We will stay together. Maybe find other nobles who will help us. All will be well…will it not, Torun?”

  “Of course. We will find a place to hide and live elsewhere. There are plenty of cities on the edge of the United Houses that aren’t directly under their control where we can live. We will never have to fear them again. You will see.”

  Amos gazed at his burning home disappearing through the trees, and closed his eyes, listening to Torun’s continued mutters. “All will be well…you will see.”