Caleb's Journey
Chapter 15

A history lesson

“

What good is that,” interposed Lord Lestrade. “I won’t say that I doubt you, for nobody has ever seen a giant or a dragon for that matter. They are the stuff of legend.”

“

You don’t have to say it. I know you thought it. Relax, sip your wine, regain your strength, and I shall give you a lesson in history. Your king’s sages and scholars know very little of the world that preceded the many races. Any dragons that remained, the few that survived that terrible war, were hunted down and killed by our forefathers. Before the human and humanoid races carved up Mithkre into so many territories, like a butcher carves up a pig marked for consumption by his customers, giants ruled the land.”

“

They were the first and greatest of all races, the children of the planet itself. One day when

Uua wept, they sprung to life, a gift from a mother to a son, to have a family to enjoy his home and to give him company. Masters of all they surveyed, they lived humble lives, organized

themselves into tribes, and took only from their father what they needed to meet their simple needs.”

“

Living for eons they spent their lives in an idyllic fashion, living off of the land, creating music, philosophy, art, astronomy, and shaping the world with their strength and wits into a home capable of not only giving them ample stores of food and supplies, but crafting an environment that supported more life. They idolized their father and wanted to return his kindness with gifts of their own.”

“

Banding together they constructed great works such as digging rivers to divert water from lakes as a means of irrigating their crops. They carved out paths in the mountains with their mighty picks to shorten travel distances between tribes. Their greatest purpose seemed to be on making life better for the group since they saw each other as family and lived in this true paradise for untold millennia.”

“

In his prison, watching with hatred and anger at the beauty he beheld, Barometh sought to free himself and to wreak havoc on the giants. While he had tried to break his chains on innumerable occasions, this time he found greater strength in his burning rage. He despised his son for being generous and wanted his son’s might for his own. As he struggled in the NetherRealm he actually opened a tiny portal as he sought to tear a rift in the fabric between the two worlds and enter Mithkre. Mightily he struggled. While he was unable to free himself from his prison the blood he spilled spawned dragons, his children, and they landed on the clouds where they started out as small serpents.”

“

Over time, centuries, they grew and built homes of their own, castles, on the clouds. These greedy, grasping, solitary giant lizards measured their worth by the size of their stronghold. They despised any of their fellow creatures who exceeded them in scope of wealth. Soon after they reached maturity, they became increasingly envious of their brethren below as they saw the vast expanse of terrain over which they exercised a harmonious dominion. Thus, their hatred for the giants eclipsed their hatred of each other.”

“

A great council of dragons gathered with one purpose in mind, to discuss how to obtain the lands below. Some of those assembled argued against such a conflict as they not only considered the loss of their own lives, but also feared the strength of their adversary. There was a heated argument, but in the end, Asim, largest of all dragons silenced the critics by force of will and intimidation. Thus, they all agreed upon going to war.”

“

What a war, it was. All at once the dragons swarmed from the skies. Never had the giants beheld these creatures who came swooping down from the skies, all using some form of attack that came from their mouths, some breathing fire that singed the giants, others hit them with arcs of lightning, a number of them shot forth beams of frozen air, and some of them loosed a dense fog that concealed them from their foes and then ripped them with their mighty talons, spilling blood, the first ever, on the ground of Mithkre.”

“

While the giants screamed in pain and terror, something miraculous happened, their wounds began to heal and close right before the eyes of all. Torn flesh closed over, singed and charred bodies healed, those covered in frost found their movements unfettered and their bodies warmed. All were in shock. Still, overcome with fear and in disarray, for the giants had never known violence or war or strife, the first clan to fall prey to the attacks ran to try and alert their neighbors and flee the wrath of their attackers. Meanwhile the dragons pursued, harrying them with their multitudinous means of assault, but struggled with how to kill them.”

“

Soon, the giants turned, save one, whom they sent as a messenger, and the others rallied together to give battle to their foes. Uprooting trees for clubs and grabbing boulders for missiles, they fought back with great ferocity, crushing skulls with their great clubs and battering wings with the rocks they hurled. Routed, the dragons retreated to their homes. Clearly, they needed a new plan.”

“

It was then that their Dark Father intervened on their behalf. While Asim slept, Barometh appeared to him covered with a veil of flames and fog. He told the dragon that the secret of the giants’ strength lie in their attachment to their father. So long as they stood upon him, he would protect them and heal their wounds. Having dispensed that advice he gave his son a fiendish grin and disappeared.”

“

When Asim awoke the next morning he gathered his war council, and shared the secret of what their creator had revealed to him. They laughed collectively as they plotted to swoop down on the now confident giants and lift them into the sky and shred them. Asim hissed, “If they die, Mithkre cannot revive them. The one who made us told me so. We’ll rend those smug, smelly brutes with our sharp talons and hit them with the forces of nature, we command and then all will be ours, the clouds above and the ground below! All of the dragons present roared in assent.”

“

Soon thereafter they descended from the skies in swarms. Streaking downward, their heads protruding, their wings arched backward to speed their travel, and their legs tucked into their bodies for improved aerodynamics, they swooped towards their target, an enclave of giants. A cluster of oversized reptiles does not have the advantage of surprise and the giants saw their foes returning. Reaching for rocks and tree limbs they hurled both as missile weapons towards the would-be usurpers.”

“

While some of the dragons fell as stones battered them or sharp wood shredded their wings, many of them survived the onslaught and with talons now outstretched, began in forces of two, to snatch the giants by the arms, one dragon per arm, and lift them off of the ground. Mightily the ensnared giant would struggle, but deprived of any leverage they lacked the power to free themselves. Their muscles surged as they tried to wrestle free or to clash the dragons into each other.”

“

For the first group of giants, pure carnage ensued. Frenzied, the dragons tore at their secured prey with their rear talons or lashed them with their tails or if they could, bite them with their sword length, razor sharp teeth. They even tried using their natural breath weapons, if possible to do so without harming their fellow dragons. It was their explicit desire to inflict as much harm as possible upon their enemies. Once they had killed their prey they dropped them to the ground and laughed as the bodies impacted with a thunderous thud.”

“

This scene repeated itself across the known world until the world was devastated, and every giant was slain, save for one, their leader Graygrim Mountaincrusher. He had served as chieftain of his clan and adviser to others, for they had no one ruler. The mightiest of all giants, he fought off many a dragon before they overwhelmed him. For him, they saved a special punishment. Beaten, battered, and bruised, they spirited him up to Asim’s castle. Several dragons held him down as others fashioned thin, magic, golden chains. They shackled his hands and feet with the golden chains, though thin, were not to be broken by him in his weakened condition.”

“

From his throne, Asim issued his edict, “He’s a child of the earth, so let’s return him to his father. Some of you, dig a hole, and bury this piece of refuse in it. Make sure that he never touches the ground. Hang him from his limbs, secured to sunken stone, then leave him in that earthen tomb, to give him the task for which he really was created, to serve as the food of carrion, worms, and other denizens of the dark underbelly of the planet. For as long as Graygrim lives his body shall serve as the meal of these various creatures.”

“

Unbeknownst to the dragons, the blood of their foes had spilled onto their father. He mourned the loss of his first children and used their blood to create children, the races that we have today, the humans, elves, dwarves, and tigans. When the blood of the dragons hit the ground, Mithkre rejected it, but as it was of his father, it overpowered him and the droplets formed the first ogres, gnolls, trolls, and the like.”

“

Their nemeses vanquished, the dragons carved up the domains above and below. Being the greedy, covetous creatures that they were, they soon became envious of each other and their individual wealth. Before too long they turned on each other and many skirmishes ensued, further diminishing their remaining number. At first the new races lived in fear of the mighty creatures as they slew anything they saw, fearing that every other being wanted what they now possessed. As time passed the newer life forms grew in both strength and number. They began to hunt down and kill the dragons whose numbers were so decimated by their own battles that they could not mount a serious united offensive against this new onslaught. The day came to where they were hunted to extinction or have since vanished, giving rise to the dawn of the world we now know.”

She rose as if to signify that she had completed her tale. “With the map to Graygrim’s prison, you have the chance to free him. Nobody knows if the tomb is guarded or if the giant yet lives, for he has been fettered for untold ages. Should you free him, unite him with his father and he will become whole again. Then he can commune with his father and lead you to anywhere you desire. All he has to do is bang his fist against the ground and his father will speak to him.”

Casually she walked across the room to a finely polished oaken chest that was secured with three metal clasps. Taking a small keychain from the pocket of her robe she knelt down, opened the locks, lifted the lid, and removed a worn leather tube. She turned and faced her guests. “The map is in here. Take it, with my good will. If the rest of you will give me a moment alone with Malachael, I will hand it to him. Please, wait outside. That is all

that I ask in return.”

The commander of the knights rose and his subordinates followed suit. Lord Lestrade found it difficult to control his anger and maintain his courtly manners. “Done and done,” Lord Lestrade replied for the group. “Malachael, we’ll meet you outside.” He then gave a bow to Valdona, “Madam, thank you for your hospitality and your aid. It helps lessen the pain of losing my friends to know that their sacrifice has helped give us a key to what might be the salvation for us all. Every war has costs.”

“

That’s your chivalry talking,” she replied with a wry smile. “I do like those courtly manners and false, pretentious tongues though. Make sure you look after this would be redeemed monk.”

He bowed and departed. His followers mimicked his action. Everyone thanked her for her help as they took leave of her. Valdona gave Caleb a wink that made his face color, ever so slightly.

Malachael and his former lover stood alone, face to face. Their eyes met as she handed him the map. Tears began to flow from her eyes and streamed freely down her cheeks. She clasped his hand and he saw her lower lip quivering as she put a question to him, “Will you return to me when this business is finished?”

With eyes downcast, so as to avoid her gaze he gave his answer, “I cannot.”

“I thought you left because you felt you owed a debt to the world that you had to repay? Surely if you succeed you will have saved many more lives than you took and you will have far exceeded in repaying your self-imposed debt.”

“

Thereafter, many more will still need saving and the artifact will require a guardian.” Now he softly touched her cheek, “Dry your eyes Dona. Sleep well with my gratitude and best wishes for the aid you have given and for yourself. I hope it brings you comfort to know that I have pangs in my heart when I recall the peaceful moments we spent together.”

She answered, “I’d rather sleep with you by my side and your love in my heart.”

“

My love is something you’ll always have.” Was his reply

“

But not you. Even if I were to change?” She inquired.

Slowly he turned from her and he placed the scroll in his backpack. “My life is that of a monk now. I’ve taken a vow of celibacy and lead a chaste life,” he sighed as he continued, the emotional pain of it all tearing at every fiber of his being, “it’s not a life for you or for us. Farewell Dona.” Slowly, somberly, he marched walked away from her, his leather boots fell gently on the floor with each step he took towards the door. Gently, he opened the door, and he paused for a moment. Fighting back the temptation to return to his beloved, to hold her once more in his arms, for this might be the last time he ever saw her. He walked out of the door and closed it behind him. Joining his waiting companions, he met their gazes. “Let’s return to our mounts and see where this map takes us.”

Meanwhile, Valdona sulkily, with her head lowered, moved to her couch. She flung herself upon it and wept openly. Clutching the pillows in her arms, she wailed in sadness to give vent to the longing in her heart.