Magic's price Read online

  Spent now, the twain unseen fall into shadow Gifted to strangers all that they had gained. Darklord returns, and by fear is confounded- Flees the avenger, Windrider unchained!

  DEMONSBANE

  Along a road in Hardorn, the place called Stony Tor A fearful band of farmers flees Karsite Border war. A frightened band of farmers, their children, and their wives, Seeks refuge from a tyrant, who wants more than their lives.

  Now up rides Herald Vanyel. “Why then such haste?” says

  he.

  “Now who is it pursuing, whose anger do you flee? For you are all of Hardorn, why seek you Valdemar? Is Festil no protection? Bide all his men too far?”

  “Oh, Vanyel, Herald Vanyel, we flee now for our lives, Lord Nedran would enslave us, our children and our wives- He'd give our souls to demons, our bodies to his men. King Festil has not heeded, or our peril does not ken.”

  Now up speaks Herald Vanyel. “The Border is not far- But you are all of Hardorn, and not of Valdemar. You are not Randale's people-can call not on his throne- But damned if I will see you left helpless on your own!”

  So forth goes Herald Vanyel, and onward does he ride.

  On Stony Tor he waits then, Yfandes at his side.

  With Nedran's men approaching, he calls out from on

  high, “You shall not pass, Lord Nedran! I shall not let you by!”

  Now Herald Vanyel only stands blocking Nedran's way “Now who are you, fool nothing, that you dare to tell me

  nay?”

  Now up speaks Herald Vanyel in a voice like brittle glass; “The Herald-Mage called Vanyel-and I say you shall not

  pass!”

  Now there stands great Lord Nedran, and behind him forty

  men,

  Beside him is his wizard-but he pales, and speaks again- “So you are Herald Vanyel-but this place is not your land. So heed me, Herald Vanyel; turn aside and hold your hand.”

  “Let be; I'll give you silver, and I shall give you gold, And I shall give you jewels fair that sparkle bright and bold, And I shall give you pearls, all the treasures of the sea, If you will step aside here, and leave these fools to me.”

  “What need have I of silver more than sweet Yfandes here? And all the gold I cherish is sunlight bright and clear. The only jewel I treasure's a bright and shining star, And I will protect the helpless even outside Valdemar.”

  “Now I shall give you beauty, slaves of women and of men, And I shall give you power as you'll never see again, And I shall give you mansions and I shall give you land, If you will turn aside here, turn aside and hold your hand.”

  “Now beauty held in bondage is beauty that is lost.

  And land and mansions blood-bought come at too high a

  cost.

  And power I have already-all power is a jade- So turn you back, Lord Nedran if of me you are afraid!”

  Lord Nedran backs his stallion, the wizard he comes nigh. “Prepare yourself, bold Vanyel, for you shall surely die!” The wizard calls his demons, the demons he commands, And Vanyel, Herald Vanyel, only raises empty hands.

  The wizard calls his demons, the sky above turns black. The demons strike at Vanyel, he stands and holds them back. The demons strike at Vanyel, they strike and hurt him sore, But Vanyel stands defiant, to raise his hands once more.

  The sky itself descending upon bare Stony Tor Now hides the awful battle. The watchers see no more. The wizard shouts in triumph-too soon he vents his mirth. For Vanyel calls the lightning, and smites him to the earth!

  The clouds of black have lifted; upon the barren ground Stands Vanyel hurt, but victor, the demons tied and bound. He looks down on Lord Nedran; his eyes grow cold and

  bleak- “Now shall I give you, Nedran, the power that you seek-”

  Now Vanyel frees the demons, and Nedran screams with

  fear, He sets them on the Karsites, who had first brought them

  here.

  He sets them on the Karsites, and on the Karsite land. They look down on Lord Nedran. They do not stay their

  hand.

  Now Vanyel calls the farmers. “Go tell you near and far, How thus are served the tyrants who would take Valdemar. I am the bane of demons, who flees them I defend. Thus Heralds serve a foeman-thus Heralds save a friend!”

  THE SHADOW-LOVER

  Shadow-Lover, never seen by day, Only deep in dreams do you appear. Wisdom tells me I should turn away, Love of mist and shadows, all unclear- Nothing can I hold of you but thought Shadow-Lover, mist and twilight wrought.

  Shadow-Lover, comfort me in pain. Love, although I never see your face, All who'd have me fear you speak in vain- Never would I shrink from your embrace Shadow-Lover, gentle is your hand Never could another understand.

  Shadow-Lover, soothe me when I mourn Mourn for all who left me here alone, When my grief is too much to be borne, When my burdens crushing-great have grown, Shadow-Lover, I cannot forget- Help me bear the burdens I have yet.

  Shadow-Lover, you alone can know How I long to reach a point of peace How I fade with weariness and woe How I long for you to bring release. Shadow-Lover, court me in my dreams Bring the peace that suffering redeems.

  Shadow-Lover, from the Shadows made, Lead me into Shadows once again. Where you lead I cannot be afraid, For with you I shall come home again- In your arms I shall not fear the night. Shadow-Lover, lead me into light.

  MAGIC'S PRICE

  Every year Companions Choose, as they have done before, The Chosen come with shining hopes to learn the Herald's lore.

  And every year the Heralds sigh, and give the same advice-

  “All those who would hold Magic's Power must then pay Magic's Price.”

  Oh there was danger in the North-that's all that Vanyel knew.

  An enemy of power dark sought Heralds out-then slew. But only those with Magic's Gift were slain by silent rage- Till Vanyel of them all was left the only Herald-Mage.

  Yes, from the North the danger came, beyond the Border

  far- The Forest did not stay Dark Death, nor did the mountains

  bar. And Vanyel cried-”We die, my liege, and know not why

  nor where! So send me North my King, that I may find the answers

  there!”

  Then North went Vanyel-not alone, though 'twas of little

  aid

  A Bard was like to be to him; and Stefen was afraid-He feared that he would fail the quest, a burden prove to

  be- Dared not let Vanyel go alone to face dark sorcery.

  So out beyond the Border there, beyond the forest tall, Into the mountains deep they went that stood an icy wall- To find the wall had cracked and found there was a passage

  new, A path clean cut that winding ran a level course and true.

  This path was wrought by magecraft; Vanyel knew that when

  he saw The mountains hewn by power alone, a power he felt with

  awe- But to what purpose? Something moved beyond them on the trail;

  They watched and hid-and what they found there turned them cold and pale.

  An army moved in single file, by magic cloaked and hid- An army moved on Valdemar that marched as they were

  bid-

  A darker force than weaponry controlled the men and place, For Vanyel looked-and Vanyel knew an ancient evil's face.

  Then Vanyel turned to Stefen, and he told the Bard to ride To warn the folk of Valdemar-”They call me 'Magic's Pride.'

  It's time I earned the name-now go! I'll hold this army back Until the arms of Valdemar can counter their attack.”

  So Stefen rode, and so it is no living tongue can tell How Vanyel fought, nor what he wrought, nor how the Herald fell.

  The Army came-but not in time to save the Herald-Mage, Although the pass was scorched and cracked by magic power's rage.

  They fought the Dark Ones back although they came on

  wave by wave. No trace they found of Vanyel, nor of his Companion

  brave-They only found the focus-stone, the gift of Stefen's hand- Now blackene
d, burned, and shattered by the power that

  saved their land.

  They only found the foemen who into the woods had fled And each one by unseen, uncanny powers now lay dead. As if the Forest had somehow bestirred itself that day- Had Vanyel with his dying breath commanded trees to slay?

  And still the forest of the North guards Valdemar from harm-

  For Vanyel's dying curse is stronger far than mortal arm.

  And every year the Chosen come, despite the old advice-

  “All those who would be Magic's Pride must then pay Magic's Price.”