It is said that there is no discovery more jarring than the realisation that one’s own father is a mortal man made with human flesh. And when one’s father is the king, it makes the realisation even more jarring.
Prince Gul Tyne had just come to this realisation and all he felt was unbearable, horrible, heart-wrenching sorrow. As he wept over the lifeless body of his father, his sorrow drowned out everything else in his life. His father, King Dane Tyne had ruled Alathia for forty years and the kingdom prospered under his reign, but the king was old and died peacefully while he slept. His father’s stone tomb was cold, but Gul felt nothing. Nothing but sadness. Death was indeed a merciless creature.The stone door at the far back of the expansive tomb opened up with a harsh grinding noise and in walked the prince’s good friend Layn.
“Gul,” he spoke quietly.
“I’ve asked not to be disturbed, Layn,” Gul began quietly. “Is that so HARD?” He demanded, his final words growing to a shout.
“I understand that you need time to mourn, but-”
“You don’t understand, do you?” Gul said accusingly.
“Gul,” Layn began.
“He was my father. He taught me all I know: how to write, how to think, how to fight.” Gul paused. “How to lead.”
“You’re the king now,” Layn reminded him gently. “You’ve taken your father’s place. Alathia is yours.”
“I DON’T WANT A KINGDOM!” Gul roared. Layn flinched as if every word Gul shouted was a slap to the face. “I WANT MY FATHER!”
Then he fell down on his knees and cried openly, his tears dripping onto the stone floor.
“That’s why I’m here, Gul,” Layn said. “I know how to bring your father back.” Gul fell silent.
“There is a way.” Layn looked at Gul hoping for a reply. He got nothing. Layn continued. “There is an ancient art that the elves named ma’soth.”
“No.” Gul shook his head. “That’s necromancy. The laws of Alathia forbid it.”
“It is performed by taking power from the dark sun realm and can be used to bring the dead to life,” Layn told him.
“Even if we knew how to do it, there’s no guarantee it would even be successful.”
Layn was silent.
“I won’t do it, Layn. He wouldn’t want me to.”285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphZOttQEWp
“As my lord commands.” Layn said silently. Then he left the chamber, closing the door with a loud thud that echoed throughout the chamber for several seconds before falling silent.
And Gul wept again, his tears dripping onto the floor with loud snaps.
The stone door opened up and Gul’s pregnant wife, Marta, quietly walked up to him. She put her hand on his head and gently stroked his long black hair.
“Are you alright, my love?” she whispered.
“No,” he answered.
“What do you need, darling?”
“I need him,” Gul sobbed. “Whenever I didn’t know what to do, he was there to help me,” Gul choked back a sob. “And now he’s gone.”
Marta kneeled down and embraced him.
She held his head in her hands and looked into his dark grey eyes. “Be brave.” She said. She kissed his forehead and held his hand. “I know you’re going through a hard time, but you need to be brave. All of Alathia needs you.”
“I’m not ready.” Gul said mournfully. “I’m too young.”
“You are ready,” Marta assured him. “I know you are. And twenty-one isn’t too young. Your great-grandfather was only twelve when he was crowned king.” She kissed him again and smiled.
“You need to be brave, even when it’s hard, that’s what bravery is.” She gently touched his cheek and gave him a light kiss on the forehead.
“I love you,” she whispered. Then she stood up and left the tomb, leaving Gul with his father’s body. A small tear left Gul’s eye and fell down his cheek and onto the stone floor. Gul sat in silence for a while before speaking.
“Layn,” He said out loud.
Layn walked through the doorway and entered the chamber.
“You were waiting, weren’t you?” Gul asked him.
“Yes,” Layn confessed.
“You knew I’d give in.”
“My lord speaks the truth.” Layn affirmed.
Gul stood up with a loud sigh and slowly walked over to Layn.
“Where do we begin?” Gul asked.
“I don’t know. But there’s someone in this castle who does.”285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dCMaF6VAL
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The dungeons of Tyne Castle were built to contain the strongest and most feared of men and women. Each cell was imbued with powerful magic that even the mightiest sorcerer would find difficult to break through. As Layn led Gul lower and lower into the dungeon, Gul found himself in parts of the castle that he had no idea ever existed.
“Where are we going?” Gul asked Layn as they went past the twelfth dungeon level, which was further into the dungeons than Gul had ever been.
“Seven years ago, your father sent me and three other knights on a witch hunt.”
“Yes? Go on.” Gul urged.
“Well, the witch in question was experimenting with the power of the dark sun to create… monsters. She would take humans and twist their souls. Sometimes she would try to bring the dead bodies back to life.”
“Just tell me who we’re going to see.” Gul said impatiently.
“That very witch,” Layn said. “Hopefully, she’ll tell us how to perform ma’soth and resurrect your father.”
“Are there any guards down here?”
“No.” Layn assured him. “The magical boundaries are so powerful that they don’t need guards.”
“If anyone catches us doing this, we’ll be living down here ourselves,” Gul said, worried.
“The only people down here are prisoners.” Layn stated.
“Let’s hope we don’t become one of them.”
They continued to descend the steps until they came to a cell so dark that it looked as if darkness itself was discharging off of it and spreading to the rest of the dungeon.
Layn and Gul slowly approached the cell. A quiet, high voice came from within.
“Sir Layn and King Gul.” The voice spoke.
“What would an honoured knight and the new King of Alathia want with little old me?” The voice laughed. Gul strained his eyes and looked into the darkness until he could see the faint face of the cell’s occupant.
“It’s a little girl!” Gul exclaimed. Is this what my kingdom has become? Now we imprison children? She was small and wearing a cloak that partially obscured her face.
The little girl laughed again, “Do not let your eyes deceive you, Lord Gul.”
“Indeed.” Layn agreed. “This is merely a mask. Nobody knows for sure what she looks like.”
“Who is she?” Gul asked.
“You could at least act like I’m present,” the girl said, annoyed. “My name is Melin, by the way.”
“Well, Melin, we need your help.” Gul told the girl.
Melin paused for a moment before bursting into a fit of laughter.
“Is something funny?” Layn asked.
“Not funny, It’s hilarious!” Melin screeched as she rolled around on the floor, clutching her sides. “The new king and his most loyal knight, who are the ones who put me here in the first place, need MY help!”
She began laughing so hard that tears ran from her eyes.
Gul sighed and looked over at Layn who just shrugged his shoulders.
“My father is dead,” Gul said quietly.
“I know that,” Melin scoffed. “Everyone knows that.” Melin sat up, suddenly very serious.
“Well what do you want me to do?” she asked.
“We need you to bring my father back,” Gul said.
Melin tried to keep a serious face, but failed. Once again she was on the floor, laughing.
“Can you just…. be serious for five seconds, please?” Gul begged.
“But it’s hilarious!” Melin guffawed. “The reason I am sitting in this cell right now is because I tried to do that myself! You realise that there’s absolutely no chance of bringing your father back to life?”285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bE7DjC29R
She wiped tears of laughter from her eyes and pressed her face up against the bars of her cell, grinning.
“You really have no idea how the dark works. The dark cannot stop death. The dark is death. If I try to bring your father back to life, the best thing you will get is a shade”
Gul considered that for a moment. The dark arts were forbidden in every country. Even the savages at Beggars’ Point never dared to attempt the evil form of necromancy. Only witches dabbled in the void.
“You’re my only hope of bringing my father back,” Gul said.
Melin smiled, “I refuse,” she said, relishing the moment.
“Open the door.” Gul commanded.
Layn hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“The magical boundaries will keep her from getting out, correct?”
“Clever.” Melin noted from the cell.
“Open the door,” Gul said again.
Layn slowly walked up to the bars of the cell, inserted the keys, and opened the door. The door swung forward with a long, metallic creak to admit them. Melin crawled away from them and curled up in a corner of her cell until the darkness engulfed her completely.
“No.” She moaned. “Nononono.”
Gul entered the dark cell and drew his sword, Gladion. He pointed it in the direction he assumed Melin’s face was.
“You will bring my father back.” Gul commanded her.
“My face is over here,” Melin told him. “About six inches to the left.”
“Come here.” Gul ordered forcefully.
“No.” Melin replied. “I like it here in my cold, dark corner.”
“Layn, come here.”
Layn entered the small cell and the light from the small torch he was holding illuminated all of the cell, except for where Melin sat. It seemed as if there was a dark cloud covering the entire corner, blocking it from view.
“Stop that.” Gul commanded.
Melin laughed. “Why? Having trouble seeing?”
The cloud slowly spread throughout the whole cell. Where Melin used to be was nothing except an empty wall.
“Where did she go?” Layn asked.
“I’m right here,” said Melin’s voice.
Gul and Layn both whirled around and the torchlight illuminated the young witch sitting on a small bench up against the wall. “Are you afraid of the dark, Lord Gul?”
“No. I fear nothing” Gul replied.
“So bold, Lord Gul. So confident.”
Melin pointed her finger at Gul. “Do you know what the Dark Sun is?” she asked him.
“Of course.” Gul stated.
“No you don’t,” Melin scoffed. “If you did, you wouldn’t even have considered doing this. Do you know exactly why I’m in this cell right now? I was making shades. I took some dark that had been fermenting for a good few decades and I began feeding it souls, trying to make it sentient, trying to make it possess a human body”
“And you succeeded in bringing them back to life,” Gul said, annoyed.
“Not as human beings,” Melin said. “As hosts for the void,” Melin smiled again.
“But you don’t exactly care, do you?”
“No.” Gul growled.
Melin laughed. “Then it will be your downfall. You royals are all fools”
“Bring back my father.”
“I already said no,” Melin said stubbornly. “And clearly, you have no idea what you’re doing.”
“What’s that on your hand?” Layn said suddenly.
Melin hid her hand under her black robes. “Nothing,” she said.
Gul walked forward and grabbed her wrist. On her middle finger was a gold ring with a small purple stone on it.
“Release me,” Melin hissed.
Gul grabbed the ring and pulled it off her finger. He glanced at it for several seconds before asking: “What is this rune?”
The rune in question was a four-pointed star, surrounded by bizarre symbols. The rune made a black outline on the face of the ring.
“Clearly you didn’t pay attention in your royal history classes,” Melin mumbled. Gul handed the ring to Layn.
“What is this ring for?” Layn asked.
“Put it down, you fool,” Melin made a wild grab for the ring, but Layn forcefully pushed her away.
“Back, witch!” He yelled.
“What is it for?” Gul asked. He held his sword an inch away from her throat. “I’ll not ask again.”
Melin hissed. “It’s concentrated void, in the shape of a stone,” she said, looking daggers at Gul.
“Now tell me how to use it,” Gul ordered.
Melin sat staring into space. Then, she began chuckling to herself and nodding. “You must have a very strong soul, Lord Gul,” she looked at him with a strange gleam in her eyes.
“Take a dagger and carve the rune on the left side of that symbol onto your father’s forehead. Then, press the ring to his heart and recite the incantation: Vinda y’kath Dahgla.” Melin laid down on the bench and stared at the ceiling. “That should do it.”
Gul looked at Layn and they both left the cell.
“What about me?” Melin screeched behind them.
Gul sheathed his sword, “You’re staying here until my father breathes again.”
“You’ll be making someone very happy with this!” Melin’s voice echoed off the walls. “But it definitely won’t be you!”285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gvEowtzUN
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Back inside the tomb, Gul looked over his father’s body. Would he want me to bring him back? He thought to himself. Am I doing what is right or just what I want? With a shaking hand, he drew out his dagger and slowly carved the dark sun rune on his father’s forehead. He drew out Melin’s ring and pressed it to his father’s head, as told. He drew in a shaky breath and said: “Vinda y’kath Dahgla.”
Nothing happened.
“It didn’t work,” He whispered. “The witch lied.”
Suddenly, the ring in his hand grew hot, as if it had just come out of a fire. Gul gasped and dropped it on the floor. The tomb filled with a heavy, acrid smell. His father’s corpse began forming glowing purple cracks around his arms and his head. Purple fumes rose from the body like smoke. The cracks grew brighter, the smell thickened, the purple smoke filled the tomb. And his father’s body exploded in a bright flash of purple light and spread through the entire castle.
Deep in the dungeon, Melin sat in her corner.
“You fool.” She whispered as the light consumed her.
In her private chambers sat Marta. As she was calmly reading. She heard a loud booming noise and a purple light illuminated her room for a split second and then disappeared. She quickly stood up and glanced around in wild alarm. Nothing seemed wrong; the castle still stood. There was a small thump outside her window. Marta opened the window and looked outside. She jumped back from the window with a gasp of horror. There was a dead bird on the windowsill. Most of the bird’s skin was melted off and it stank horribly.
She rushed out of her room and looked left and right down the corridor; the hallway was littered with corpses. Marta bolted out of her room and down the hallway, around the corner there were more corpses and the next one after that, everywhere Marta ran, there were corpses and the stench of rotting flesh. Marta ran through the castle, her eyes watering from the smell, searching for any living person. She rushed into that castle ballroom and found more corpses. All the servants, maids, lords and ladies that had once been alive were now dead. 285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2QG3r8IbH
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