A New Beginning

“The river ran backwards on the day the queen vanished. The trees lost their luster and even the crops have stunted, like nature left with her,” the wizened woman, sitting with other aged men and women in a wide semi-circle, gestured with her gnarled cane. She wasn’t alone in these observations, as murmurs of agreement echoed through the small gathering of people.

An older man in the crowd shifted on his feet. “And that isn’t all. The clouds grow darker with each passing day. It’s been nigh a week since we last had a break of sunshine.” Another murmur rippled through the people.

“I’ve also heard talk that the king is going mad!” a younger man piped in. “My brother is one of the castle guards and I’ve heard him mention the king in fits of screaming and lashing out. Almost took out one of his personal guards with a dinner chair, he did.”

A younger woman spoke out over the growing buzz. “That’s not true. The king has taken ill, yes, but he has only ever cared for us here.” The buzz seemed to quiet down. “As for the king, why would he not be sick? Our queen has vanished, as have many others. What would be the state of your head had your loved ones suddenly gone without evidence?”

“Ye watch that tone here, youngling,” the wizened woman spoke thickly, her eyes squinted with disapproval. The younger woman looked to the ground with a furious expression. “None of this is natural, yet trackers have tracked and the people have looked. The people gone leave no trace behind. Even the fae leave some token or evidence. None of this worrying does anything to help the fact that there are dark times ahead.”

Nicholas stood silently, leaning against a nearby building; an effort to avoid the inevitable questions. He wasn’t the only one staying on the outskirts of this little meeting; many other individuals lurked further away. He adjusted his cloak against the brisk air and flurries of snow. He couldn’t argue the points he had overheard during the Elder Council’s meeting. Fortunately, they spoke only rumors. If they realized how much of the rumors were true…

As much as he may not like the Elder Council, they were helping to keep a level head on the populace. He knew they wanted the control, but for once it was helping. People unable to call on their king had someone to turn to.

A gentle hand on the crook of his arm pulled his attention from the murmurs of those gathered. His gaze turned to her and couldn’t help but notice the concern in her eyes as she looked at the crowd. She glanced at him, turned, and they both walked away. They walked in silence for a few minutes. The sounds of the city rang out over the soft crunch of snow beneath them until he finally broke the silence.

“What has you so tense, Silvia? This isn’t the first time we’ve had unrest I the city.”

The elven woman glanced at him; her soft voice was barely audible enough to hear over their surroundings. Careful as always. “It is not the unrest that bothers me, but the causes of that unrest. We do not need more rumors to spread. We need answers. I could not find anything to show where people are going. They just vanish. Some do not even remember the people who disappear. I cannot fathom how such a thing is possible.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have any ideas with this one. There has to be something we are missing.” The cut look from Silvia was enough to know those words insulted her. Yet, there had to be something he was missing. Something they all had to be missing.

“That is not why I came to get you. There is an envoy to see the king.”

“An envoy? From who?”

Silvia shook her head “He did not say. He seemed…different, somehow. I cannot exactly say why.”

“An undeclared envoy? Nothing to signify from where he came? How many are there?”

“It is only the one man. No following or entourage. Just him. He appears elven, and yet something seems wrong about it. There did not seem to be any magic involved. He also looks different from any envoy I have seen before. You will see. The king, however, is in no mind to receive him. Another episode.” Silence held between them for the rest of the way.

Eventually finding themselves standing outside of the king’s quarters, the two guards standing outside were visibly uncomfortable; the muffled shouts from inside said everything. As Nicholas stepped to the door, one guard reached out a hand for his attention, “He’s…he’s in a particular mood today, Nicholas. Be careful.” The sound of a yell and crash emphasized his words.

Silvia spoke up, “Perhaps you should go greet the envoy? At the least, he could be given quarters until the king is able to speak with him. IF the king will be able to speak without throwing a chair. Or a chalice. Or-“

“That is enough, Silvia. I will speak with your strange friend,” Nicholas stated with slight amusement.

Silvia’s eyes furrowed. “The envoy is not my friend. I have not seen him before.” The guards attempted to hide their own amusement.

“Twenty-six years and you still don’t understand sarcasm,” Nicholas shook his head and walked away. He ignored the repeated argument from her of how sarcasm made no sense and people should say what they mean…a reoccurring sentiment from his friend.

Once they arrived at the open doors of the throne room, Silvia broke away from Nicholas. The silence of the usually bustling area was eerie. Before he could think long on it, Nicholas’ eyes fell on the envoy off to the side, seeming to show interest in the stained-glass windows.

He could see what Silvia had meant. This man wore a long, black-dyed hide cloak that seemed to hang heavier than it looked. As the man turned at Nicholas’ approach, he noticed through the open cloak a strange combination of leather armor with what appeared to be metal. Elegant of feature, pointed ears, long black hair…everything said elven to his eyes. The man bowed his head respectfully, and Nicholas returned the gesture. “On behalf of the king, and the kingdom of Immstead, I welcome you.”

“That welcome is appreciated,” his voice sounded almost as elegant as he looked. “Am I to assume that I cannot see the king?”

“Unfortunately, the king is-“

“Ill and going mad?” Nicholas froze at the interruption. A small, almost warm smile grew on the man’s face. “The hushed whispers of servants are not as quiet as they think. Can you speak for the king? Or at the very least, can you listen and confer with your king?”

Nicholas hesitated. “I can listen.”

The man nodded. “Excellent, then I will be brief. You are well aware of the strange happenings in your kingdom.” Nicholas tensed at the statement. “Before your brain decides to wander, I have nothing to do with it. However, I know the cause. I also know that you will not like it or likely believe it.” The man’s face turned to one of consideration. “Your world is dying. Nature is failing. Your people are not...exactly disappearing…but being consumed by a creature that goes to dying worlds. Well, the creature is more entity than being…but regardless, there is one here somewhere. Distant, at the moment, likely waiting to start its song and feed again.”

The man said all these crazy things like it was just another day. Despite the caring tone, Nicholas couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What do you mean, the world is dying? Why not find this monster and end it, then heal what has been done?!”

The man shook his head solemnly. “Even if you could slay the creature, another would eventually make its way here. There are likely MANY on this plane as we speak. This isn’t just happening in your kingdom, yours is actually less affected. For now.”

Nicholas didn’t respond. His mind raced at the possibility of this…this nonsense! There was a small part of him that wondered if it was possible. “Why are you here? Some harbinger of the end or some such? Why tell us this?”

The man looked up at the various stained-glass windows again as he spoke. “A strange opportunity for the both of us. Your world only has so much time left. To survive, your people would have to go to a new world entirely. As it so happens, I have a new world that will be perfect for new beginnings.” He turned his attention back to Nicholas, “As far as what I get out of this, I simply get to be part of a new world. I will help orchestrate new beginnings for more than just your people. I know this is all strange and wild, but it is true. The choice is yours.” He made for the door. “You have one week before I leave. One week to consider my offer, strange as it is. I will be east. Just remember: time is of the essence.”

Nicholas let him go. He didn’t know what to say. He just stayed standing there, digesting the implications of the brief encounter. Sudden and…terrifying.

“I did not detect any inflections of deceit.” Silvia’s voice came around one of the great columns. She stepped from behind it and stopped a few feet from him. “Though it seems impossible, his words…” Her words faltered.

“His words make sense,” Nicholas finished, his voice thick with concern. “Gather the Hand. I will try to speak to him.” He raised a hand to stop her protest. “I have to try, Silvia. If there is anything left of him…I have to try. I will meet with you all soon.” She swiftly left and, after a moment, Nicholas did the same.

His eyes fixated on the door as he approached, not even looking at the two guards at their post. One guard spoke once he was closer. “He has calmed, finally. Wh-what news from the envoy? Who was it?”

Without taking his eyes from the door, he responded in a hushed voice, “Go home to your families. I am removing the posts from his chambers.”

The guards exchanged surprised looks, “But-“

“Go. Keep an ear out for a summons, men. Until then, be with your families.” The guards raised their fist to chest before hurrying off with whispers. Nicholas drew in a deep breath and went through the door.

The room was barely lit by the slivers of sunlight that came through the curtains. Scattered across the room were broken wood from tables and chairs, clothes and bedding, and shattered bits and remains of vases. The only thing in the room that seemed untouched by the king’s fury was the large painted mural canvas on the wall of the king and queen. A small moan from below it drew his attention. “Have you found her? Have you found my wife, Nicholas?” A form maneuvered itself to a kneeling position in front of the mural.

“I’m afraid not, my king. The search-“

“Then why are you standing in my presence?”

Nicholas averted his eyes, “There was an envoy that-“

“Unless this envoy can tell me where my wife is, then I don’t care.”

Nicholas pointed his gaze at the form of the king. His voice showed his anger. “As a matter of fact, he did have something to say about it.” Nicholas adjusted his footing as a glint of light flashed over a blade in the king’s hand. He pressed on, “He said there is an entity that is consuming the people, some hidden thing that is…the world is dying, according to this envoy.”

“So. You come here…to tell me…Some creature has eaten my wife?” The form of the king stood. The blade scraped on the stone floor. “And you come without its head.” He stepped towards Nicholas, “And you have the gall to bring word of a pointless envoy?!” Sunlight caught the blade as it arched over the king’s head, barely missing Nicholas as he moved to the side, and slammed into the floor. The king slowly stood upright, the little light in the room enough for Nicholas to see pain and regret. The king tossed the greatsword to the floor in front of him. “I’m done, Nicholas. Take it.” When Nicholas did not move, the king turned his head just enough for his eyes to glare, “As your king, I command you to pick up that sword and leave my presence.”

Nicholas slowly knelt down and grasp the hilt, then stood with the blade pointing down. “Goodbye…Falcion.” Nicholas bowed one last time before leaving the room.

He slowed at the door to the Hand’s Council room. He heard them talking on the other side. Nicholas assumed Silvia had filled them in on the situation. He took a deep breath before entering. It took two steps into the room before it went completely silent. His boots sounded loud until he stopped at the head of the table and gently placed the tip of the blade on the floor. He slowly lifted his head to look at the other four and saw each pair of eyes fixated on his hands, holding the hilt of the king’s greatsword.

The deep voice of Kharne spoke first. “Is he alive?”

“Yes,” Nicholas responded simply.

The rich voice of Melonie was next. “Was it given willingly?”

Nicholas closed his eyes. “Yes. His last command to me.”

The soft voice of Elayne, “Are you capable of this mantle?”

Nicholas opened his eyes and looked at the pommel of the sword in his hands for a long, quiet moment. “Yes.”

“Then let it be.”

“Let it be.”

“Let it be.”

“Let it be.”

With each voice uttering the words, Nicholas felt a greater weight on his shoulder. It was necessary if they were to survive this. As the last voice finished, they all stood from their seats and bowed deeply. “Be seated, please. We don’t have much time.” As they all sat, he continued, “I will be brief, as I am sure Silvia has already informed you. I know this is sudden and will be…difficult, but we must prepare everyone who is willing to go. We will not force anyone, but give them the choice. We have one week, then we leave Immstead for this new world, for better or worse. Go now, begin preparations. We have a challenging future ahead of us.”