Shamlin's Fall

Before history was documented, the Druids were a people of magic. They lived on their own island to the north. The other races came from the mainland in search of enchantments from the Druids. Countless Druid villages flourished during this time, then one day their magic became tainted. The taint made it impossible for their magic to have predictable outcomes.

The Arch-Druids from each village gathered on the Moon-less night to seal magic. When they got to the pool, their ancestors told them of a temporary solution to their problem. Their healers did not have any problems with the outcome of their magic. The ancestors told them to seal the magic from all male Druids who were not healers.

The Ancestors told of a time when the magic would return. But first the people must endure three trials first: disease, deception, transformation. Only then, could the true ruler restore magic to the nation.

***

Many centuries later in the heart of winter, Shamlin sat on the porch with a book in hand. He peered up long enough to watch his brother following his father to the fire pit. Few Druids were awake at this time of the morning. A scout came running to them, bowed, and then began to speak. “Diviciacus, there is an intruder on the beaches. It is an odd creature. Long hair, dark skin, and it has some sort of war paint on its’ face.”

“A human,” Diviciacus spat. “Search the coast for more. I want it brought to me.”

The scout bowed again and then ran off. “Father, permit me to bring the human to you,” Tybalt said.

“No.” A few other Druids emerged from their huts to set out clothing to warm from the suns’ rays. Others were stacking wood into the fire pit beside the two men. “It is too dangerous for the future Arch-Druid. Shamlin will go.” The Arch-Druid glanced over to Shamlin who was staring wide eyed at him.

“But, father, Shamlin cannot do anything right.”

The elder turned away and headed for the largest hut in the village. “My decision is final. Enough of this topic Tybalt; you have much to learn today.”

Shamlin watched as they left him behind once again. He sighed and peered out into the woods. It was an hour walk to the beach. He snapped the book shut and left it leaning against the wall. “I pray the human comes peacefully.” Without another delay, he took off. His father was not a patient man. Tybalt, of course, had been right. Every task that Shamlin had he managed to somehow ruin. None of the scouts would even take him on a simple perimeter check anymore.

The woods were unusually still as Shamlin trampled through the undergrowth. The birds remained on the branches despite Shamlin's foot getting stuck on a root. Splinters showered around him as he fell. After breaking his fall, he continued running. He ducked under a low hanging branch and stopped. He examined it closer. “What caused this?” The branch was almost completely severed from the trunk of the tree. He took a few steps closer and a ruby-eyed beetle the size of a wild boar crawled out of the tree. He blinked and suddenly the beetle was gone. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and goosebumps covered his skin. He spun around in search of the monster.

He could find nothing out of place, even the severed branch was healthy again. He could not shake the feeling that it was still there. But he continued his journey through the woods never-the-less. He needed to locate the human. He could worry about the monster later. It had left anyway. He hoped that the human spoke the common tongue instead of the native language of the mainland. The native tongue was easy to read, but he had not had much practice speaking it since he was a young boy.

He pushed a few branches out of the way so that he could see the beach before he went forward. He watched the human for a few moments. He had done a lot of reading about humans before. This would be a new experience for him. It was standing up, staring out at the sea. He could see no ships that it could have come from. “I was wondering when one of your people would come.”

“You are a woman.” He said as he marveled over the silkiness of her voice. She bore an accent that he had never heard before. It made him crave more. He could listen to her talk all day long for the rest of his life and not tire of the sound. The way she stressed the w’s rolled off her tongue like music.

She spun around and placed her hands on her hips. “Well, what else would I be?” Her long gold skirt swayed in the wind. “What is your name?”

He watched as her long raven hair danced with the light salty breeze. He started speak but stopped himself. He shook his head to rid himself of these thoughts he was having about this woman. “No, I will have your name first, intruder.” Shamlin took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest. “And your purpose here.”

She giggled at him. “I am Carleena, and I’m here in search of answers to a problem.”

“What is the problem?”

Abruptly, she turned away from him. “That is not your concern. Now, leave me in peace. I mean your people no harm.”

For a few more moments, he continued staring at her. Her figure was much more curved than the women of his race. He had so many questions for her, but he knew she would give him no answers. “The Arch-Druid will want to hear that for himself. You must come with me.”

“I will do no such thing.”

He sighed. “My kin will not ask nicely if you do not come with me now. They will kill you if they feel threatened.”

She turned back around and crossed her arms. “I don’t look threatening.”

Shamlin rolled his eyes. “Or you could just wait until the warriors show up and force you to go to the village.”

“Very well, I’ll do as you ask.”

Their walk was silent. All the books he had read said that humans were greedy and not to be trusted. This one seemed to be decent, but his books had never been wrong before. He wanted to trust the human, but he also did not want to trust the human. Before he noticed, they were back at the village.

Shamlin entered first with the girl following. Standing before a large fire in the center of the village was Diviciacus with Tybalt beside him. His eyes were wide. Behind them stood almost a dozen scouts, armed and ready for a fight.

“Wait here and say nothing.” Shamlin whispered to the girl. He dragged his feet through the dirt as he approached his father. He knelt before him. “Father, I have brought the human as was requested.”

For a moment, the only sounds to be heard came from the fire as it angrily beat against the logs. Then his father chuckled. “Shamlin finally does something right? I thought I would most surely die before this day came to pass.” The rest of the Druids around the fire joined in the laughter.

Shamlin took a deep breath and lowered his gaze to the ground. “Your mockery is uncalled for!” Carleena shouted as she stepped between the Arch-Druid and Shamlin. The laughter instantly came to a stop.

“You will only speak when spoken to, human,” Diviciacus spat. “Shamlin, the healer and her apprentice have chores for you.”

Without another word, Shamlin rose and began to walk away. “You cannot treat him like that. He has a big part in the prophecy to save your people. Shamlin is more important than you are, Arch-Druid.”

Diviciacus chuckled. “My people need saving you say? I hate to tell you, but we are thriving. Many babies have been blessed to us this season. Food is plentiful. What could we possibly need saving from?” He turned his back on the woman. “You have until the sun sets on the third day to be off my island or we will hunt you down.” He looked to his apprentice. “Tybalt will escort you back to the beach.”

Shamlin did not stick around any longer. He went to the healer’s hut and his mother handed him a long list. He read over it and nodded to her. His mother was a healer and his job was to collect the herbs for her since no one else wanted to teach him a trade. He scampered out into the woods searching for the first few herbs on the list. Joy of the Mountain, Adders Fork, Blood of a Titan. He sighed. All herbs in the coldest region of the forest.

Myrine was the only one who would have considered training him in a trade. But because he was a man he was forbidden from being a healer. He pulled a couple small leaves of the Adder’s Fork. This herb was a rounded, shiny green leaf that grew close to the ground. His mind wandered back to the prophecy that the woman had spoken of. He yanked a couple more leaves out of the ground and tossed them into the basket he had hanging on his arm. “Save them from what?”

He glanced up and there was a giant red-eyed beetle standing a few feet away from. He shouted, dropped the basket, and scurried back until his back was pinned against a tree. His heart hammered in his chest. It was staring right at him. He held a hand over his chest trying to calm his heart. His lungs burned, he thought they would burst into flames at any moment. Sweat poured down his forehead as the beetle took another three steps closer to him.

Just as it reached a prickly leg out to him, the beetle disappeared. Then standing before him was the smiling face of Carleena. “I didn’t mean to scare you that badly.” She giggled at him. “You okay Shamlin?”

He let out a breath that he didn’t even know he had been holding. “What did you do to the monster?” He finally managed to ask.

“What monster?”

She backed away from him and offered a hand to help him up. He took it and she pulled until he was on his feet. “It was huge! How could you not have seen it?”

She stared at him and took another step forward. “What did it look like?” He gave her the best description that he could while he still was trying to catch his breath. “That sounds like a spirit of some sort.” She ran a hand through her long wavy hair. “Have you ever been to the Moonwater Cave?”

“Never. It is forbidden.”

She rolled her eyes. “You Druids and your rules. It’s no wonder you’ve never heard of the prophecy.”

“What is the prophecy?”

Carleena began to speak, but was stopped by another woman standing between them. She stood protectively in front of Shamlin, glaring at the girl. “Be gone, witch,” Myrine shouted. “Leave my son alone.”

“Myrine, we have been down this road before. It is time. There is nothing that you can do. For now, though, I will respect your wishes.” The young girl transformed into an old woman with wrinkled skin and long grey hair. “Come to the Moonwater Cave if you want answers, Shamlin.” A cloud of gold smoke surrounded the woman and she was gone.

Shamlin crossed his arms. “Mother, what is she talking about?”

She took a quick breath. “Nothing, now we are going home and you will never speak of this again.”

“But-”

“Enough Shamlin.” Her voice was harsh. She wrapped her hand around his wrist in a death grip and dragged him back to the village. No one took notice of them as they walked through the village. She pulled him to his bedroom and shoved him inside. “You will remain here unless I give you permission to leave. You will leave only to gather herbs for me and my apprentice and you will take two scouts with you at all times.”

He shot her the iciest glare he could muster. “That is unfair. I have done nothing wrong.”

His mother sighed and slammed the door shut. She would hear no more out of him today. That witch had destroyed everything that she had been building since Shamlin was a boy. It was bad enough that the witch knew her darkest secret, but she didn’t need to destroy Shamlin’s life as well.

Shamlin paced in his room. There was not much that he could do without leaving the hut. Druids were not big on keeping a lot of possessions. His father would not even notice his absence because his hut was on the other side of the village. He sat on the blankets he had on the floor and stared at his window. He continued watching until the sun set. Then he continued watching until he heard his mother and brother retire to their rooms for the night.

Druids did not like the night. They avoided even stepping out as far as the fire that all the huts surrounded after the sun set. He had heard tales of a village of Druids that only went outside at night. They had all passed during the many years of plague. The moon was high in the sky now. The rest of his village would be asleep.

He grabbed a small bag from the other side of the room and shoved a few healing potions into it. He also fastened a dagger to his belt before he went to the window and gently slid it open. Inch by inch he pulled the blinds open. There was a creak and he stopped dead in his tracks.

He squeezed his eyes shut and listened to the sounds of the house. Once he was sure that no one had woken up, he pushed the rest of the thin wooden panels open and jumped out the window. This was his only chance to get answers. If he were caught now, his mother would have him confined to camp with a guard at all times. As soon as his feet hit the ground, Shamlin bolted to the forest. On his way to the Moonwater Cave he kept seeing the red-eyed beetled. He could have sworn that they were following him. ‘Are they connected to the prophecy?’ He wondered.

The trees thinned out and a magnificent cave stood before him. The cave walls were littered with jewels and strings of ivory beads. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and reached all the way down to the dirt. No one had been to this place in years. The healers and Arch-Druids used to meet in the Cave to share stories with their Ancestors.

He took a deep breath before pushing the cobwebs to the side. He stepped in. Not a sound could be heard from within the cave. He took slow purposeful steps. Rumors said that those who were not healers or Arch-Druids fell to their deaths in this cave. His vision failed and he was left feeling his way through the cave with one hand on the wall and the other on his dagger. The walls were smooth despite the jewels that lined the walls.

“I knew you would come.” A woman called out to him.

He jumped at the sound and ripped the dagger from its’ sheath. He held the small blade in front of him. “Who are you?” He took a couple steps back.

She chuckled. “You certainly have a short memory.” Bit by bit Shamlin’s sight was restored. The old woman was sitting in front of a small pool of water that flowed a radiant white. It was mesmerizing. “Hey, pay attention to me. The pool will try to tempt you away from life if you stare too long. After the Ancients sealed magic within the pool, it became tainted. Only a few were able to resist the evil in the pool.”

“Is that why the cave became forbidden?”

She shook her head. “The pool also provides answers to any questions. Your mother didn’t want you to fall prey to the answers you might seek. Haven’t you ever wondered why Tybalt is the one becoming Arch-Druid when you are the first born?” She glanced into the water. “Or maybe why you’re the outcast of your village?”

“He proved himself, I have not. There is nothing more to it.”

Her gaze returned to him. “There is more. The cave was forbidden because your mother fears the prophecy about you. You are the one who will restore Druid-Magic to all Druids and you will rebuild the nation.” She paused. “You are to become the Supreme Arch-Druid to rule over all the tribes.”

“Why would she fear that?”

Carleena patted the spot beside her. He didn't move for a moment but reluctantly sat beside her with the dagger still in his hand. “She has done some terrible things that will be exposed. She also believes that your life must be sacrificed to restore the magic.” She dipped her finger in the pool and watched the images the water reflected. “I’ve seen that you already have some Druid-Magic.”

He shook his head. “That is impossible. Men cannot have magic.”

The old woman drew her hand back. “The Ancients all had magic. You can see the evil spirits that plague this island. You must rid your people of them.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

She grabbed his hand and shoved it into the water. He tried to pull away but the pool waters tugged at his wrist. Silver shimmering hands erupted from the pool and yanked him into the water. The water swirled around him and began to glow red. He could feel the anger it was radiating. What took so long? It screamed at him. Why have you let us all die? He opened his mouth to scream, but the water rushed in.

He was drowning. You were supposed to save us! A powerful torrent smashed into him and forced the last bit of air from his lungs. Images began to pass before his eyes.

The first was of Tybalt standing above a corps with a bloody dagger in his hand. His eyes flashed red and the corpse went up in flames. Stop him before he claims more Druid life.

The next image was of his mother. She was kneeling beside the pool crying. The taint starts with the imposter. He tried to speak, but the water silenced him again. Her greed for you is what caused Tybalt to become.

The image moved. He watched Myrine sneak into other villages and unleash the red-eyed beetles. Once the Druids were dead, she collected their blood. It took her many villages to gather enough blood. Then she returned to the pool and poured it all into the clear waters. The water thrashed violently for minutes until a baby floated to the top.

That is what happened to the others. You will avenge us. His vision went black and he began to drift away. Awaken, Ancient-One.

Sunlight peered in the cave and Shamlin opened his eyes. He bolted upright. He was alone. ‘Where did she go?’ He wondered as he pushed himself to his feet. He stared down at his hands. They were now a light blue, not the pale white anymore. They began to tremble and his vision faded. Darkness. That was all he could see.

"Shamlin! Shamlin are you here?” He flinched at the loud calls from a voice he recognized all too well. “Shamlin, mother said you would be here. You need to come back to the village. I need your help! Something terrible is happening.” He listened to the thumping footsteps as his brother got closer. “There are giant beetles-” He stopped. “What happened to you?” He barely recognized the boy he had grown up with.

This man had defined cheekbones, long white hair, and red eyes. “Brother, I cannot tell you what happened yet. Take me to the village.” He grabbed onto Tybalt's shoulder and leaned on him. “I cannot see.”

“You-you unleashed the beetles!” He jerked out of his brother’s hold and backed away. “What are you? Some sort of demon?”

“No, brother, the beetles have always been there. Mother unleashed them. I am trying to restore our people.”

The soft click of a snap was all Shamlin heard before he was tackled to the floor. “Liar!” Tybalt pressed his knife to Shamlin’s throat. “I will hear no more from you, demon.” A blast of pure energy came out of Shamlin’s hands and sent the other Druid flying across the cave.

“Please, stop Tybalt.”

Tybalt stared into the Moonwater Pool and then it all made sense. “You took magic from the waters.” He coughed and crawled to the pool. “I want it.” He shoved his head into the pool and a moment later he came up for air.

NO! The water inside Shamlin screamed.

The droplets on Tybalt's face absorbed into his skin. His appearance shifted to mirror Shamlin’s, but with pure black hair.

“No.” Shamlin whispered as he felt the aura in the cave change. The air was heavy. Shamlin crawled along the floor until he found the wall. He propped himself up against it. “You have ruined everything! The pool only held the taint! The blood you were born from. Why would you want that evil? It was sealed for a reason.”

“You seem to have taken the power as well.”

Shamlin sighed. “I had no choice. The water forced me to take it.”

The other Druid chuckled. “Perhaps that is why you cannot see. Embrace the darkness. It will show you more than you could imagine. I can already feel the power and knowledge flowing through me. It is amazing.” He drew in a deep breath and a ball of fire appeared in his hand. “I can hear them.” He whispered. He closed his eyes and threw the fireball at Shamlin, hitting him directly in the face.

Shamlin had no time to react. He could only scream in agony as the fire scorched his cheek. The only thing he could hear was the sizzling of his flesh and the wild, frantic, beating of his heart. He didn’t hear the fading laughter of his brother as he left the cave. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Shamlin lay on the floor for a few minutes letting tears roll down his face. After a couple of moments, he pushed himself up and crawled out of the cave. At the mouth of the cave he pulled himself up the rest of the way and stumbled through the forest. He could tell he was nearing the village because of the screaming he was hearing. “Shamlin!” He jumped at the proximity of Myrine’s voice. “What happened to you? Where is your brother?”

“What is going on? Why is everyone screaming?”

Myrine remained silent and pulled him into the nearest hut. “You’ve been to the waters. I was trying to create Tybalt to seal the evil of the magic in. You’ve been to the waters. I was trying to create Tybalt to seal the evil of the magic in. You must understand. Once I completed that, the Druids I killed would all be restored. But the taint in the pool became overwhelming and it refused to let me proceed.” She sighed. “The beetles became visible, probably after the pool gave you magic.” She placed a leaf over the burn on his cheek and muttered something under her breath. “Once the beetles disappeared, your father turned into a beast and died. A handful of other Druids are changing as well.”

“Why does the pool call you an imposter?” He snapped.

Myrine stared down at her hands. “Carleena, the witch, is my sister. I am not a Druid.”

*** Over the next few weeks, Shamlin tried to help his people with the magic he had. Myrine had tried to teach him how to use it. No matter what he did, more of his people fell prey to the sickness, as they called it. He was named Arch-Druid. His mother was the last to fall ill, but she did not turn to a beast like the rest. She faded until she was nothing but bones.

His people were dangerous. They lost their sanity when they transformed. His mother described them as ogres. Legends told that ogres were a cruel race that had been destroyed hundreds of years ago. He closed his eyes and let his head fall until his chin was against his chest. He would find a way to save them. ‘I need to find Carleena.’ He snuck through the trees.

He had become accustomed to being blind. The paths through the trees were muscle memory to him now. He was still quite clumsy, but he could manage on his own.

He arrived on the beach and plopped down onto the sand. Beside him the sand shifted as someone sat beside him. “What happened after I left?” It was Carleena. He did not say anything. “Oh, I see. Tybalt caused this.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “I can’t help now. I will give you a friend who can though. When the time is right, come to my island across the Frozen Sea and I will train you in magic.” The witch waved her hand and a dwarf appeared in front of them. “This is Oegryn. He has been my friend for many years.”

The dwarf stretched. “Ye could have given me warning to grab my sword before summoning me here.”

She smiled at the dwarf. “Go with Shamlin. Help him find answers.” Carleena said and snapped her fingers. A magnificent ship appeared in the sea ready to start an adventure. A long boat appeared on the shore and Carleena was gone.

The dwarf stomped off leaving Shamlin sitting alone. “C’mon boy, winds won’t stay nice once the sun sets.”