Orbis

Chapter 14

Underligrvojl stood proudly as the westernmost border of Menhelm, boasting the reputation of housing the greatest cavalry the realm had ever known. A thousand riders, each possessing incredible skill, called this place home. But it wasn't just their equestrian prowess that made Underligrvojl legendary. It was also the sole sanctuary of the fabled unicorns within Menhelm. Landon, Sean, and Colby amused themselves with tales of the Unicorn Riders, an elite cadre of maidens personally chosen by Lady Waldomer, daughter of the esteemed Waldomer.

"I am genuinely concerned that Underligrvojl might lose many maidens while I am here!" Sean playfully remarked, much to the delight of the two older men.

Carved into the rockface of the Red Mountain, which marked the boundary between the forest and the Great Canyons, was the renowned Stallions Keep. Lord Waldomer had not convened with his peers since the funeral of the former King, fueling rumors that he had succumbed to madness, tormented by irrational fears that plagued his mind. As the men approached the swinging bridge leading to Waldomer's Keep, they encountered a troop of guards. Barrington couldn't help but wonder how someone besieged by fear managed to traverse the bridge each day. The guards promptly relayed their arrival to the Lord, who met them halfway across the bridge.

Barrington barely recognized the elderly man with a receding hairline and a long gray beard. Waldomar appeared to be a mere shadow of the warrior who had once led the cavalry against Ubzul. His once agile physique now carried a paunch that he absentmindedly stroked. The amiable Sheamus guided the men to his keep, entertaining them with stories of his youth and promising a magnificent feast in their honor. Stallions Keep, once inhabited by dwarves until they had extracted all its riches, left Colby in awe. Its grand hall was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two hundred men, he thought to himself.

Sheamus seemed to engage in a friendly competition with Sean, as they heartily consumed roasted boar accompanied by ample quantities of ale. While recounting the exploits of his youth, Sheamus showed no signs of mental trepidation, though he drank too heavily for Barrington's liking.

Concerned that Waldomer's consumption of alcohol would render him senseless, Barrington decided to broach the reason for their meeting early.

"Did you receive word of the attack on Seeupoort?" Barrington interrupted Sheamus'.

Sheamus nodded sheepishly. "I know of the attack."

Barrington's voice was anger tinged as he confronted his former ally, "Why did you not send word or join us on the battlefield? Have you become a coward in your old age?"

"I could not, even if I wanted to. I am a prisoner within this keep," A slurring Waldomar confessed, leaving the others dumbfounded.

Waldomar went on to explain that months ago, the Dark Elf Voadavar had ensnared him and his daughter with a powerful spell. Should Waldomar leave Stallions Keep, his daughter's life would be forfeit. Furthermore, Voadavar had cursed the village of Elmfjord, subjecting it to relentless harpy attacks every night and ensuring the villagers could not escape. Voadavar's threats warned that any villager venturing beyond Elmfjord would meet a grisly demise. Waldomer tried to send word to the other lords and even the King, but Voadavar had spies capture all the messages out of Underligrvojl.

Voadavar had turned it into a twisted game. Night after night, the harpies would launch their attacks, aiming to capture and torment a hapless villager. If Waldomer's daughter, Helena, could fend off the harpies until sunrise without any villager falling prey, the curse would finally be broken. However, the cycle repeated itself mercilessly, with the villagers returned to their tormentors the following night. Helena and her loyal riders valiantly battled the harpies night after night, but Voadavar's cunning strategies kept shifting the rules in his favor. "Helena has bested those wretched creatures countless times, but Voadavar constantly changes the game," Waldomer lamented, his spirit dampened.

"The only way to end this madness is to emerge victorious in the contest and slay Voadavar," Barrington declared, his words met with agreement from the other men. "However, it is an arduous task, for he seizes control of anyone the host body touches. We would need to trap his soul in a vessel containing the Amulet of Wracus, even if it means risking the life of an innocent," Waldomer sighed, burdened by the weight of their grim reality.

"Do you possess this amulet?" Colby inquired, curiosity evident in his voice. Waldomer proceeded to explain how his men had acquired the amulet from Alacord. His hope had been to imprison the elf within a prisoner's body, the amulet serving as a binding tool. Unfortunately, they had yet to find a way to lure Voadavar into the captive's vessel.

Amidst the conversation, Sean Barrington remained silent, attentively absorbing Lord Waldomer's words. Although his younger brother had been the more scholarly of the two, Sean possessed an equal capacity for reasoning and cunning.

"I may have a plan to defeat Voadavar. However, I must confirm with you: do the unicorns truly possess the miraculous healing abilities they are rumored to possess?" Sean queried, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Leaving a encouraged Waldomer behind at Stallions Keep, the three men set off, armed with a letter for Helena. Sean's plan was fraught with peril, yet it carried a glimmer of hope. And as Barrington contemplated his son's audacity, he couldn't help but swell with pride, reassured that at least one of his sons embodied the indomitable spirit that defined their family's legacy.

The men reached the gates to Elmfjord in the afternoon. Helena had barricaded the small town and prohibited the guards from allowing anybody to enter. The men waited patiently for her to meet them as she had been preparing for the evening's ritual attack and was visibly agitated. 'Nobody is to enter by order of Lord Waldomer.' She said dismissively as she turned back.

. Colby, using his most charming voice, interjected, "We have a letter from your father, milady." Reluctantly, she took the letter and read it with little interest before scrutinizing the men. In that moment, Sean's eyes locked with hers, and he couldn't help but give her a mischievous grin. He suddenly realized how stunning she was-the auburn hair tied in a bun, shimmering under the afternoon sun. A brief blush tinted her cheeks, swiftly replaced by her resolute demeanor. "You do understand that once you enter the village, there's no turning back?" she warned ominously, her green eyes reflecting the torment endured by all. "We are aware of the dangers," Barrington replied. "Besides, we come bearing gifts!" Sean chimed in, gesturing to their laden saddlebags. Helena commanded the guards to open the gates, and the men entered the city, following the stable-hands to the stables. The villagers kept their distance, warily avoiding the strangers. The children lacked the spirit to play and sat listlessly by their homes. Sean couldn't help but wonder how many of them had suffered at the harpies' hands in the past months. They had encountered harpies before in Bjornveld, and the village had eventually turned into a desolate wasteland until the harpies grew bored. In the paddock, five magnificent unicorns stood, possessing the finest equine bodies adorned with long, spiraling horns on their foreheads-deadly weapons in combat. Each unicorn was diligently attended to by a young woman-the maidens, as Sean recalled. The unicorns were known to be restless and untameable by any man. Without the reassurance of the maidens, they would not remain in the village - the lives of all the villagers including him depended on them being close. Sean decided he would not be troubling any maidens in Elmfjord.

Helena joined the three men at the paddock, where the mystical power of the unicorns protected them from Waldomer's body-snatching abilities."So, you truly have no idea who he is?" Barrington inquired, their gaze encompassing the village. "No. He chooses a different host every day. He hides in plain sight until the harpies arrive, and then he acts as the judge in what he calls the 'Game'," Helena explained.

'Has he ever picked you?' Sean asked realizing that she was much taller than her father was. 'I don't think the spell allows him to.' She said unsurely. None of the villagers could remember Voadavar's possession.

Sean carefully outlined his plan to her. 'It's ludicrous! We could end up killing the whole village if something went wrong.' She exclaimed. 'Besides I already have a plan to win the Game.' Helena said as she dismissed Sean's plan.

Sean watched in disbelief as Helena walked away, leaving them to consult with her command. 'What do we do now?' Colby asked. 'I guess we try to kill some harpies.' Barrington said nonchalantly. Deep down, Sean knew that defeating the harpies alone wouldn't secure victory in the game. Their sole chance lay in capturing or eliminating Voadavar himself.