Sibling Rivalry: Part 17 – A Family Rediscovered
The troll’s efforts in chipping away at the ice took in a mere hour what would have taken them ten. It left without another word.
“We should not have let it escape,” said Ilmarė. “I don’t trust those monsters.”
“The Singarthan was just a warrior following orders,” Quintus said softly. “He was no monster.” He turned to Vlad. “Please, take me over to the chest.”
Vlad carried him over. Quintus passed his hand over the clasp. It glowed with a warm, ruddy light.
“Our efforts have not been in vain.” Quintus’ voice cracked. “We have unearthed the legacy of an honorable and just family and have put right an ancient wrong that was committed. According to family legend, after the end of the God’s War, the champions of the Gods were chosen and were touched by the power of Their Valinor to create the Val families.”
Ilmarė sneered. ”I know this story all to well.”
“The chosen of Nier, however, fell in battle against the forces of the Unspeakable One. Rather than take him from his rightful place in the Paradise of the Gods, Lord Nier chose to anoint both of his children, Virdan and Emman, with His power as one was equally as worthy as the other. While both manifested power to control Lord Nier’s holy flames, Virdan manifested power that augmented his unmatchable prowess in battle. Emman manifested those abilities that best complemented her grace and speed. Then the Gods left Mankind to craft a magnificent new empire.”
“Though the Val families had been blessed by the glory of your so-called Gods, they still held in their bosom the baser emotions that even to this day hold sway over all mankind,” said Ilmarė ruefully. “I remember their petty squabbles as if it were yesterday.”
“The Lady Emman was an untamed beauty, wild and passionate like the val’Sheem, but equally thoughtful and graceful, a worthy bride of Imperators -- or so the first lord of the val’Assante’ felt. In order to woo her, the first Imperator gave the val’Emman family and all its subjects the fertile land to the south of the Corlathian Mountains, in the area now west of the Coryani Empire. This infuriated Lord Virdan, who had originally been promised those same lands. During one tempestuous night in court, Lord Virdan demanded the lands of his sister and was not only denied, but also ridiculed by the entire court. Incensed, Lord Virdan cursed the Imperator and vowed that neither he nor his would ever be part of the Imperium. That night, the entire val’Virdan family as well as all its vassal families and subjects abandoned the fledgling Imperium and struck off to the East.”
“If I remember my history correctly,” said Sebastian, “Lord Virdan founded his own small kingship in the lands stretching from what is now northern Canceri east to the city of Erduk in Hinterlands.”
“Correct. The Imperium prospered, expanded, and eventually abutted the lands of the val’Virdan. Though they were unequaled in battle, after many years of prolonged fighting, the val’Virdan family finally fell to the combined might of the Imperium. Their lands were absorbed into the Imperium and the Imperator decreed that the val’Virdan family would be enslaved and forced to defend the empire that they so hated. Centuries of abuse at the hands of the Imperium eventually resulted in the forging of Leonydes val’Virdan, the Sword of the Heavens, and his resultant insurrection against the Imperium.”
“That explains a lot,” said Vlad. His people had fought Leonydes before.
“During the Sword of the Heavens’ attack, the forces of the val’Emman family were targeted for complete annihilation as the hatred of Lord Virdan had been nurtured across the years, through stories told to children and then repeated to their children and so on. A disgruntled military officer, Jharek of Chendo, made a pact with the Sword of the Heavens. His legion, whose name has been lost through the ages, would lead a portion of the Nierite army through the mighty city’s defenses and capture it with a minimum of bloodshed. The Sword of the Heavens agreed, but the plan went awry and the city was instead sacked.”
“I expect nothing less from a Nierite,” said Vlad.
Quintus looked at him strangely. “General Jharek, whose name is now synonymous with traitors, was appalled. He had envisioned being appointed prince of the territory. Instead, he precipitated the destruction of the city and the eradication of the culture of the area. He and his men marched from the city, the weight of their deed weighing heavily upon them. Whenever they were asked the name of their legion, they merely answered, “We are the Doom of Chendo”. Eventually they arrived at the city of Enpebyn and tried to redeem themselves by becoming the eternal guardians of that city.
“Redemption does not come so easily,” said Beldin.
“Unbeknownst to Jharek, at the command of the Prince of Chendo, another legion had fled the ruin that was being visited upon that doomed city. With them, they carried a chest containing the sum of all the writings and teachings of Chendo. This vessel, called the Ark of Knowledge, was in their possession when they were set upon by a Nierite legion somewhere in this area. A lone survivor from the Nierite legion eventually made it back to the First City and told his tale before dying from exposure and his injuries. He related the battle and told of the Nierites’ destruction, but the Pride of Chendo’s victory was short-lived as a terrible blizzard moved in. Only his faith in Nier was able to keep the frigid weather from killing the young soldier out of hand. He reported that the last he saw of the members of the Pride of Chendo, they were going up the mountainside -- trying to find shelter where none existed. And thus the last of that noble family and province was wiped clean from history and any mention of it was expunged by the decree of Leonydes val’Virdan himself.”
“And that’s the Ark of Knowledge?” asked Vlad.
Quintus nodded. “What I first called the Ark of Knowledge is correctly called the Ark of the val’Emman. Once sealed, only one of the blood may open it without destroying its contents.”
Quintus passed his hand over the lock once again. The latch glowed and a loud click rebounded through the icy chamber.
“Years ago, when we were in Grand Coryan, I did not know where the Ansharan Gate was, do you recall?”
Ilmarė nodded. Vlad strained to remember.
“That is because I am not from Grand Coryan at all. I lied to you, ashamed of my heritage. I am a descendant of the val’Emman as are probably many who now call themselves val’Virdan.”
Quintus triumphantly threw open the lid. Instantly, a crystal jewel the size of a human fist floated up out of the chest, sparkling with a warm ruddy glow from within.
“And now, with this, the Mentagi, the legacy of the val’Emman family can be rediscovered and their descendants may take their rightful name once again!”
Quintus grasped the Mentagi crystal. A brilliant white light spread from his hands to his arms, and then engulfed his entire body. He floated up in the air. The divine energy was so bright that they all covered their eyes.
When they opened them, Quintus stood before them on his own two legs. He looked like a warrior of old, accoutered in the armor and weapons they discovered hidden in the ice.
“Quintus,” said Ilmarė. “You have been reborn!”
Vlad peered at Quintus. “And your eyes are gray. That means…”
“Quintus is now a val,” said Sebastian with a smirk.
