The Last Icebreaker, Part V
Hollri! Uzhim! Nameless Creatures!
That follow in thy liegelord's train
Turn about! Avert thy path!
Return unto thy custom'd haunts!
Is not the Glacier large enough?
The White Sea's northern shore?
Onward, to the Altinea
Sheltered by Himile's mantle
Harlios continued to sing the Ritual of Formal Challenge. His voice boomed and echoed, as if a giant's roar across a vast canyon. But when he looked to the left side or the right, he was alone.
"Where is Kalikos?" he wondered. "I do but follow in the path
she blazed. He felt the power of Rashtingall behind him, magnifying
his voice. He suddenly knew that whoever he might challenge, his foe
would hear him and be forced to answer. His spine began to tingle.
Leave the Southlands to themselves
Disturb not their ordered seasons
Winter comes and has it's turn
Seek not to prolong Dark Season!
Winds shall blow across the southlands
Bearing mist and fog and snow
Valind need not strive unduly
For the south to feel his strength
The image of a man appeared suddenly before him, fading away in an instant. A small man, on a gigantic horse. The stallion gleamed with an inner light, obviously housing the rider's ally. The man wore a gold necklace, draped across his naked breast. A golden amulet hung there, so bright Harlios could not make out it's shape. The man held his reins in one hand, and a glowing bow in the other. Silvery arrows gleamed from their quiver.
Shocked, Harlios began to stutter.
Honor n-now.....the other gods
In their....s-season, give them due
Nature treads eternal.....p-pathways
W-winter is enough for you....
"That was Kalikos!" gaped Harlios. "I'm not on the HeroPlane, I'm
on the GodPlane! What _have_ I done?"
He stumbled in the ritual a final time, then paused to pull himself together.
Mortal Man! I see thee clearly Come to challenge Winter's King In thy hubris, over-vaunting You shall learn your proper place Inandana DaughtersBlood Came this way not long ago Nevermore shall she return To the Southlands, whence she came Thinking to engage my weak son Beaten down by losses many Instead she found my kinsman's thane Argrath! King of Dragon Pass!the wind. But these waves glinted and glittered; Valind's forces on the march. Behind them a dreadfull sight began to form, a whirlwind spinning slowly. Larger and larger it swelled, as it became more solid, more visible to mortal eye.
"OH NO!!" cried Harlios in his mind; his mouth was sealed.
Orlanth's Champion! Bold and Fearless! Dear my brother, to lend such aid He has thrown off Lunar fetters Now my time has also come A wave appeared on the horizon, like long grasses rippling in
Inandana has escaped me Her spirit fled the Realm of Heroes From her howls I'll eke no vengence All her comrades joined her rout Strong and generous is Argrath So with Hend, my battered son Went to Kalikos for battle To vent his fury, not all spent Long they seiged the glowing Palace Kalikos no weakling foe Till at last the walls were breached And red slaughter then unfolded Harlios tried to speak, but was unable. The strength ofRashtingall held him fast. He had challenged, and stopped. Only for a moment, but it was enough. Valind was answering his call and he could not interrupt. He only hoped that when Valind paused, he could finish the Formal Challenge; else he would face an ancient, angry god.
But the battle was still grim fought Retreating slowly, inch by inch IceBreaker strong with doom'd fury Heedless of her streaming wounds Blow by blow she slew my hollri Uhzim fell dead by the score Finally came forth Orlanth's favor'd Gesturing his comrades back Engaged he then in final combat She who thought to tame the wind Argrath battled Kalikos And struck her down! the scarlet trull!began to take on man-like proportions.
"Drel!" called Harlios in his mind, as the whirlwind slowed and
aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwww.............
"Fool," he thought, "Drel is frozen in Timelessness. That would
be protection in the Realm of Heroes; few there could muster the power
needed to affect one so heavily under the Stasis Rune. But Valind is
more than strong enough. Drel is a sitting trollkin; he will be
crushed without even knowing what happened."
Then Winter's host knew deep bloodfrenzy Figthing on with doubl'd strength Sacked that fine and gleaming Palace Dyed the walls a crimson hue But alas! in their fell fury Slew all things with such dispatch That not a one was taken prisoner Routed all, these foemen too. The misty figure of a man towered over the advancing host.Broadly built, with icicles in the place of hair and beard. Another form hovered behind, almost shapeless, compellingly Dark. Harlios wrenched his eyes from Himile before they could focus better, fearfull that his mind would break. Valind leaned forward, reaching out with one arm. An arm that seemed to grow longer and longer, the grasping hand ever larger....
Who shall pay for long trespasses? Who shall I vent my rage upon? Tormenting until the end of all things When Chaos finally conquers all? You have challenged VALIND, fool! You shall serve for this grim task As Valind's hand descended Harlios felt cold winds swirlround him. He knew that he would never finish the Formal Challenge, only the power of the Black Rock kept him from freezing as it was. When Valind finished his counter-challenge, he would sieze the tiny mortal. His great hand loomed ever closer.
Harlios cast madly back into his memories, seeking a day he had long sought to forget. The Class of Inner Light. A whimsical name for courses in philosphy and other obscure lores intended to bring on Illumination. He sought the Riddle of the Feathered Cloud; his one great humilation.
Even if you wriggle forth From 'neath my grasp, with Chaos wiles Thou shalt not escape this Doom As my own prey now I mark thee Thou shalt ever be persued Aye, even into mortal realms Now I reive thee of thy Callings And I name thee, LAST ICEBREAKER!! ---- ------------ His limbs went numb instantly, as he heard Lady Jarveneshspeak again. His mind exploded into grey streamers, he felt his body spasm in pain.
Then nothingness.
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