The Adventures of Brandar Odaron
Book 1: The Hidden Continent
Chapter 8 Of Bereth And The Eastlands
Bereth had with him a large following of Dwarves from Barador, Kazzar, and Morrin, among other Dwarven strongholds. And since the Anaurian Mountain Range was the Dwarves’ natural homeland, they went by ways which only they would know, and thus surrounded the enemy in the valley. Then did Bereth win a wide victory there, though the Seven knew nothing of it until much later; for when they had rested enough that they could eat something, and drink Dwarven mead, praising the provender as if it were the food of the Gods, they were taken into warm fire-lit caverns where they slept two days and nights without waking.
Bereth was called Sir Longhand by his late father, Barad of Kazzar, due to the great strength in Bereth’s hands, which he had even from birth, but which he enhanced by many years at the forger’s art. And Bereth was the Inheritor of his father’s battle-axe, Ankiramarth, one of the Magic Six of the Palaklar. I, Maneldor of Romin, made that axe, and imbued it with mighty magicks for use in the Eastmarch, and presented it myself to Lord Barad in the days of the First Invasion from the West. Ankiramarth was thus instrumental in saving Andaria from destruction at that time. But like all of the Palaklar I have made, I placed within it a magic that extends the life of its owner, even to several the normal span of years for the owner’s kind. Hence, Barad lived for five lifetimes of his folk, while ordinary Dwarves live at least three-hundred years. And Bereth his son was eight-hundred and sixty years old when he rescued the Emissaries from the clutches of the enemy.
It was Bereth who rebuilt the city of Keval, which had been destroyed in the Second Invasion. And he renamed it Barador in honor of his renowned father. But in later days, Barador would become the most famous city of the Dwarves of Anauria, as Bereth spent so much of his vast wealth therein that, in some high places, it would indeed come to have streets paved wholly with bricks of gold. Yet, that is another tale. For now, I shall continue with the story at hand, in which the Dwarves played a significant part, and not merely for their rescuing of the Seven.
Bereth learned of the Third Invasion at its beginning from Andarian refugees who fled into the mountains; some of whom sheltered with the Dwarves, where Bereth kept all of those who came to him in his very own palace. Yet, those refugees had long since passed from sickness or old age by the time the Emissaries came to Barador. But Bereth did not in those days consider himself strong enough to go to Andaria and devoted himself to shoring up his own defenses, building up his armies, and securing alliances with the other Dwarf Lords. He must also protect his realm from the evil things of the mountains, most especially the Drakes; excited to blood-lust upon sensing the carnage westwards. And he had also to protect the mountains from the invaders who would send parties of Men or Durwolc into the mountains to spy upon the Dwarves. However, by the time the Seven Northron Emissaries came to him, and told their tale, with Brandar pleading with him to send aid to Andaria, Bereth’s following had grown great.
Long had Bereth been contemplating sending forces into the Eastmarch, as the Durwolc there were growing ever greater in number, threatening his own borders. And if Andaria fell, then war would come to him whether he was prepared for it or not. Thus did Brandar’s story spur Bereth to go as soon as could be to the aid of Andaria, and thus did he call for the full muster of all Anauria, and then set out to do battle with the enemy. Besides that mustering, however, Bereth commanded that all of the people of his realm must prepare for war. And he sent messages to all of the other Dwarf Lords, suggesting that they should do the same. He also asked them to send all the warriors they could spare to go with him to Andaria. And seven of those Lords did just so; sending company upon company of their best to Barador, and thereby increasing Bereth’s strength tremendously, as those Lords kenned likewise that, should Andaria be defeated, all of the Anaurian Dwarves were next to be assailed. It would be best, then, to send warriors down into what they called the Flatlands as soon as could be.
Now, when Bereth had heard Brandar’s tale, and sent messengers to the Lords of the Dwarves of the Mountain Realms, he assumed that Brandar and his men would come with him and return to their homes. But when he was about to send messengers to the Elves of Eastwold, to ask them also for aid, Brandar stopped him, saying: “My Lord. Pardon, I beg. But if you send messengers East, allow me and my men to go with them, for I wish to speak with the all Lords there as I have done before you. And I would beg of them likewise to send aid to Andaria.”
Thus, Bereth sent with the Emissaries only guides, as he deemed no messenger from him would speak more urgently to the Elves of Eastwold than Brandar begging them to send aid in force of arms to Andaria, which would mean sending Elves to a war not their own, where many may fall upon foreign soil.
So it was that the Emissaries survived and went to the Eastern Lands and the Coasts while Bereth Longhand went down from his mountains leading an innumerable host and drove the enemy from the Eastmarch. And there came afterwards a great army of Eastwold Elves who assisted with defeating the rest of the enemy in Andaria, and therefore, both Dwarves and Elves together brought an end to the Third Invasion.
After that, Bereth remained in Romin for nigh a two fortnights, and spoke often with King Tarl in the Royal Chambers. And upon a time, Tarl asked more about the Seven, at which Bereth said: “I had been gathering my forces in Barador for years, but was not yet ready to go to war. Yet, because of the stirring up of the Durwolc by the passing of the Emissaries through the Eastmarch on their way to my realm, though I did not know of them then, I feared that the enemy were at last coming to assail my people. Thence did I gather what warriors I could in haste and went out to await them in the valley which lies before the Northern Slopes of the Mountain of Keval. Thus, I was waiting above the Ancestral Stairs and sent Guardians to watch the Lower Pass, and to spy upon the foothills, lest the enemy discover the way up into my kingdom.
“The Guardians of the Pass indeed observed the Emissaries coming from the Hills of Xalaria, and witnessed the fighting between the Seven and the Gnoll at the feet of the mountains. Yet, because of the Northron’s stolen raiment my Guardians did not at first know that these were Men from Andaria, for the enemy has often engaged in trickery these many years. And seeing also the potent magicks of the Seven, the Guardians, few in number, hid themselves while the Seven ascended the Stairs.
“When first I received news of the Seven, I guessed somewhat their purpose, and had lanterns lit to give them a beacon of hope. The Gnoll, however, heeded not this warning, and continued their pursuit. And that is how I met Brandar and his men, for they climbed up to me and I saved them. But while they safely slept away their weariness I sent forces into battle in the valley and destroyed each of that enemy who dared set foot in my realm. And I let not one escape. But against the encampments in the foothills, of Gnoll and Gress, and Westrons and Southrons, I was not then prepared to go.
“After a few days of rest, Brandar was ready to give me his tale. And his story struck a chord in my heart. Then was I resolved to complete the mustering of the Dwarves of Anauria, and make them ready for war. Yet, Brandar refused to come with me, his being intent upon continuing east, which turned out for the best, after all.”
When the Seven had been but one fortnight with the Dwarves, they traveled due east from Barador, arriving at length in that most ancient Elven city of Greenway, in the Free Land named Eastwold, which the Elves name Zuvekushar, and where dwells their greatest king, Tingor the Eld. And Tingor is a very old and wise sovereign, knowing much of what transpires in the world, even of the Long Siege. Thus had Tingor himself been preparing an army to send to Andaria, owing that, if Andaria should fall, the Dwarves were not likely to hold out forever, nor keep the enemy from going north or south of the Anaurian Mountains, so that his own kingdom would be threatened, as would all of the Eastern Lands. And Tingor was also struck by Brandar’s tale, and heeded the man’s pleas, and soon sent forth that army. But here again, Brandar refused to return to Andaria, saying he desired to speak yet with others of the Free Peoples of the East, which was indeed the truth. Yet, he realized that he could not hide his heart from this Eld, who had seen the faces of the Gods of Old, and could read the minds of Men. So, Brandar revealed that he now desired to fulfill another quest, which was to seek passage over the sea in search of the ancient home of the Gods of Old, and find there a way to approach them, and beseech the Gods to rid the world of MorLome, and restore then to the Northrons their long lost homes upon the far and fruitful land of Rillguman.
Oddly, this was the first the Volunteers had heard of this new quest. And they stood in awe nearby, listening intently as Brandar spoke with the mighty Elven King. “Forsooth, Lord,” said Brandar, “know that I have such a burning desire to assuage that I cannot deny it. And lo, even should such a desire be the death of me, I shall not put it aside in this life. Nay, I cannot, for it is the very thing which keeps me going, and gives me reason to keep filling my lungs with the unseen air of Ghelion the Anon.
“Verily, I would go and find these Gods, who allow things evil to be, and ask of them why they remain hidden to the Children of Eiowaeh, though wielding power, it is said, in Esaereh, as the wind bends the trees. And I would beg of them their aid in our struggles with the Sorcerer of the West, so that the rightful home of my people may at last be restored. But when this I have done, or have made the attempt, then shall I return to Andaria, and there take up arms in the Westmarch as once before I have done.” Thus spake Brandar to Tingor. But little more would he say in the open. Then Tingor inquired of the Volunteers their own desires; whether they wished to follow their Chieftain to the Coast or go back to Andaria. And all but Alak and Erek, at first reluctant, pledged to follow Brandar wither so ever he wished to go, even to the edge of the world. So then Alak and Erek pledged likewise, and proved loyal to the end of their days.
“Very well,” said Tingor. “It seems that you are set on this course. Yet, be now warned. The Gods of Old are not to be found or seen in Esaereh, the World Around Us, as once they were; for long ago did they forsake their former raiment and shall not take it up again. Neither shall they set foot once more upon the ground we Children yet tread, and upon which once indeed they trod. But this does not mean that they are not mindful of the world they have made, nor of us and all the creatures placed upon it. Nay, they are ever mindful of it, and work ever for its benefit.” Then Brandar felt the gaze of Tingor as if it were a deep and probing magic. “Go therefore, if you must,” the wise Tingor continued. “But do not speak ill of the Gods, lest you set them against your quest. Rather, pray for their blessing. And mayhap, in some manner which you do not expect, they shall grant you fulfillment. But I, for my part, counsel against this course, though I shall not hinder you, and shall aid you in all ways in which I am able. Horses and provisions I shall give, and guides to direct your path in these lands. And may the Gods be with you.”
At other times did Tingor attempt to dissuade Brandar from embarking upon his new purpose, which was later to be named Brandar’s Quest. But Brandar would not change his mind. Then the Elven king gave the Seven gifts of gold and silver coin, and fine horses, and supplied them with goods for their travels, and friendly guides familiar with all of the roads of the Eastern Realms. And Brandar said that he would seek passage over the sea from the Mariners on the Coast, but Tingor doubted that the Mariners would take the Seven farther than the coast of Wilderland for any wealth in coin. So, the Emissaries departed and began going among the lands of the East, begging of their Lords to send warriors to Andaria, even traveling by ship along the Coasts to the greatest cities by the sea, until Brandar received a letter from myself, informing him that the Third Invasion had been brought to an end by the coming of the Dwarves of Anauria, and soon afterwards the Elves of Eastwold, so that Brandar’s mission was fulfilled. Yet, he sent a letter of his own in return, saying that he would not come to Andaria at that time, for he desired to go exploring upon the sea, and that the Volunteers had agreed to go with him. Then we spent three years sending letters to one another, whereupon I read of his adventures fighting the pirates of the South.
When the Third Invasion was done, and Brandar was free to do as he wished, he went to the city of Sealoam to find support for his intent to go exploring in the world upon the sea. But the King of that realm was loath to give any of his ships for such a venture, nor would he hire any out to the Seven, though he agreed to ferry them to the port of Sandhaven, where they may seek work as Guardsmen upon merchant vessels plagued by the pirates of Fehvahr. Thus did the Seven take up the task of protecting ships against pirates, rumored to be selling stolen goods to the Kulahnians, who were Southrons in league with MorLome. And because of that, Brandar took heart that he and his men were continuing their fight against the Sorcerer of the West, even after Andaria had been saved form the Long Siege.
Here, the Seven had no magicks with which to ward off those pirates, as the gems I had given them had lost all their powers. So, the men used only their swords, the same that they had brought from Andaria, and would carry for the rest of their days, for those are the brands which later became the Magic Seven of the Palaklar. And how that came about shall be told in this tale. But all of the doings of the Emissaries in doing battle with pirates are too numerous to give here. The fullest accounts are in the Chronicles of Andaria at Romin. I shall therefore write briefly how the Emissaries came to sail out of the memory of Men, after the days called The Emissaries’ Resistance To Kulahn.
So proficient were the Seven at fending off pirates and marauders, who, until then, would often fall mercilessly upon merchant vessels and seaports, that the Emissaries came to be in high demand. And thus did they receive superior wages, and won many rewards serving aboard ships loaded with goods, and protecting the ports while goods were being loaded and unloaded. But they sailed no further than the island of Quiechios, in those days. Yet, during these adventures the Seven took to sending letters to their friends and kin in Andaria, relating their latest deeds. Then the Seven became famous far and wide, where their exploits were put to story and to poetry and to song voiced in all the Free Lands of Weyilendeh. Thus did the Emissaries become, for a time, the heroes of youngsters everywhere. But they were so busy with fighting pirates, and learning how to sail, that they rarely paid attention to their notoriety.
Now, the Seven were at this work for more than three years, where they saved all their earnings until at length buyiing for themselves a ship from the Men of that island. And that was a small but worthy ship named Wingaron. But since the Seven had by then learned well the skills of sailing, they rigged Wingaron so that seven men alone could work it, by sail or by oar, with no other help. And the ship was large enough for thrice such a crew, so that it was capable of stowing a great many supplies. Then did they stock it to the brink and sailed away, expecting to spend many days upon the sea.
Thus did the Seven set sail upon the Wide Yerhiesc, the Great Eastern Ocean, saying to the Islanders that they were “making for the far off continent of Wilderland,” which the Elves also named TarCaldor, while the Men of the isles call it Dolgondil. Yet, rumor had it that the Seven intended to continue east from there and at length go even into the Enchanted Mists at the very edge of the ocean; a thing considered foolish by all who heard of it. And the last to see them go were Men and Elves standing upon the docks of Quiechios, who believed that the Emissaries would never be seen again. And all of the merchants were saddened, for no others could match the Seven at fighting pirates.