Myth

Prologue

The Legend of Myth

As told by the philosopher Glazgo,

(A fine man, but somewhat excitable and given to strange ideas)

There are many constellations in the sky above this land, our land, the wonderful land of Allaria. They are all beautiful, but the most beautiful of all is the constellation of Myth. A great golden star, surrounded by six lesser stars in a halo of light and brilliance, it shines above our land like a beacon of hope.

There are many legends about how it came to be, it’s significance, and why, some years ago, the golden star in the center disappeared. Already, some are saying that there never was a center star at all, that the legends concerning it are false. How quickly we forget.

The legends of Myth are as numerous as the people who tell them. However, I, Glazgo son of Glopzite, at the age of ninety seven, in the fourth year of the reign of King Anthus Rudbeck the Mighty, declare that, after extensive study and research, I have uncovered the truth.

This is the tale of the great dragon Myth, who brought much to this earth, both grievous and beneficial, and became the constellation so named. It is a true tale. I have much evidence in the matter, which I will reveal to any who are so ill-bred and uncouth as to question my word, specifically one self-proclaimed High Philosopher in Chief by the name of Stephanio, a most pompous and disgusting old man, who has the mind of a weasel, the tongue of a snake, the laugh of a hyena, and eats all the honey cakes at dinner parties. I hope he chokes on one and dies. But I digress. This is the legend of Myth, as told to me by several very reliable sources, one of whom lived in a cave and ate only snails.

*****

Long ago, when the world was young and wild, there was no magic at all. It was buried deep in the fire of the earth and hung dormant high in the heavens. The forests and wild places were empty and quiet. No dangers haunted the high hills. The only thinking beings were humans, and even they did not think too much. All men were safe, but life was dull and tedious.

Until, one day,

 the heavens bent down,

 the fires of the earth sprang up,

 and for a moment,

 they touched.

One ordinary falcon was caught in the middle.

And changed.

This was how Myth was born. She was a great golden dragon, born of pure Magic, beautiful and vicious. The world of Man trembled where she went, wreaking havoc on towns and cities. The ground trembled when she roared. Crops flattened from the wind of her passing, and forests withered from the fire of her breath. However, Magic does not only destroy, it also creates. As Myth travelled about the world, the magic that clung to her rubbed off on the things around her.  When she breathed her fire upon people, many died, but some changed. They became the first Faerie, also called Elves, able to use magic and live for centuries. They were cast out of human society, forced to live in the woods, where they built their own society, beautiful and powerful and hidden from human eyes.

During this time, Myth gave birth to five creatures. The Siren, the Phoenix, the Ice Creeper, the Sea Serpent, and the Griffin. These creatures spread throughout the world and inhabited all the wild places. Many people scoff at the idea that this could happen, since Myth was the only dragon, but bear in mind that the term birth can have many meanings. In this case, it is most likely that Myth did not create these creatures so much as she changed creatures that were already living, giving a part of herself and her magic to give them strange forms, abilities, and some greater intelligence or presence of mind than is normal to find in dumb beasts.

The Siren, for example, has many properties of water, such as the enchanting liquid voice, and also many properties of a fish, such as gills, scales, and fins. The Sea Serpent is quite like a snake, the Ice Creeper like a leopard, and so on. To learn more of these creatures, their habits, abilities, and characteristics, refer to Glazgo’s Book of Fascinating Magical Creatures that Defy the Laws of Nature for further study.

In that time, there were still true Heroes living. One by one, however, they came forth to fight Myth, and one by one she killed them. The last Hero of all was Gilead. He knew that he could not best Myth while she was at her full strength. So he concealed himself and waited until she was about to give birth to her sixth creature. Then he leapt out from his hiding place and stabbed Myth deeply with his enchanted sword. (refer to Glazgo’s Book of Historical Magical Items for further study.) It did not kill her, but it wounded her most grievously, so that the Darkwing was born only half alive, a creature of shadow and fear. It could not eat, drink, or sleep, but neither could it die, unless it was exposed to the full light of the noonday sun. It fled screaming into the darkness. Gilead tried to kill Myth, but she escaped him and flew high into the night. She flew so high that she became nothing but a burning golden star, forever looking down on earth from afar. Her constellation is still there today, surrounded by the stars of her children. (refer to Glazgo’s Book of the Significance of All the Stars that We Know Of, An Exhaustive Study, for further study.) As for Gilead? No one knows. Some say he died after a short and violent life, others say he was killed by Myth. And some, myself among them, think that in his fight with Myth he survived her fire and was given long life like the Faerie. Perhaps he is even still living today.

*****

Chapter One

A Baby in a Sack

***

The Black Market trade of Magical children may be wrong, but Great Firth, who cares? It makes money.- Thetius Smoke, First Treasurer of his Majesty King Rudbeck the Mighty.

***

The moon was barely a sliver. The thin half circle shed no light on the beach, a swath of black sand overshadowed by dark, tangled trees. All was quiet except for the soft swish of waves, the stirring of leaves in the breeze, and the muffled splash of oars.

The eight men in the boat were quiet. The small sack in the boat was quiet too. However, when the boat bumped on the beach, it hiccuped and wailed. Shut it! hissed a man, and kicked it. It was quiet.  

You sure this is the place?

Yeah. It for sure landed near here.

Unless it fell in the bay. You ever think of that?  

I would’ve seen the steam.

Oh yeah. I guess so. Let’s get started then. Look for burnt patches.

There was a brief scratching sound, then a match flared and was passed around. Once everyone had lit their torches, they spread out along the beach, peering into the dark forest. Suddenly, one of the torches began to swing in a circle. All the other men made their way over. Their combined light illuminated a patch of burnt and broken branches near the top of a tree.

It just grazed the tops here, see? Which means it should be… maybe thirty feet in? Depends on the angle.

Let’s go then. Who's got  the machete?

Like all deserted woods, the trees writhed with unnerving darkness and whispers. The men were relieved when, twenty minutes later, they arrived on the edge of a crater. The trees on either side had been blasted away. In the center of the crater was a bubbling pool of what looked like molten gold. Little streaks of red and silver danced across its surface. Every time a bubble burst, golden sparks were thrown up into the night. The man in the front whistled softly.

Amazing. Never seen the like. Gold ones don’t fall ‘cept maybe once in a hundred years. We better hurry before someone else gets here.

Two of the men stepped up to the edge, one with a long pole and the other with the small sack, which was crying again. They attached the sack to a hook on the pole, and swung it out over the pool. With a swish and a plop, the sack fell in. The men jumped back as a wall of gold fire shot up into the night. Then it was gone, and the forest was plunged once again into darkness.

The pool was gone. The sack was gone. The only thing in the crater was the baby. One of the men cautiously edged his way down into the crater and picked it up. It’s eyes were open, and they were a bright, glowing gold.

Hey Tom, How much does a gold Starfall child sell for?

I dunno. Probably a couple thousand pieces.

The men grinned at each other.

We’re gonna be rich!

With a thousand pieces, we could buy a palace!

We could buy the king’s palace!

Won’t the mother notice, though? The house we took her from was a rich one. It won’t do to have an angry baroness on our heels.

She won’t catch us. She wouldn’t recognize this baby now, anyways. She’ll probably just think that the Faerie stole her baby. Besides, when a person buys a Starfall, they never ask where we got it. Buying stolen goods is illegal. People who are rich enough to buy a Starfall are always stuck-up nobles who would hate to admit that they’ve committed a crime.

Okay. Let's go then. Market opens in three hours.

They put the baby into another sack, climbed into the boat, and paddled away. Under the trees, dark eyes glowed, watching them row away. Moonlight glinted off of a pale hand, lifted as if in farewell. A soft chant, in a language no human had ever spoken, hissed after the boat, making the sleeping child stir in her sleep and whimper softly. A faint light glowed through the sack, near where the child’s head was. The boat rocked.

*****

A soft breeze was blowing through a silver wood. The stars were the same as those hanging over the boat, but here the moon had already sunk to the edge of the horizon.

The inhabitants of the wood were elsewhere that night, watching a boat row away into the darkness. Their great city stood empty and silent. But one heart still beat in the empty wood.

In a place where the trees grew dead and twisted, one man stirred in a fitful sleep. With a strangled cry, he woke and stared about him with haunted eyes. His arms were covered in old, knotted battle scars, and lines of despair ravaged what should have been a handsome face. The man would have seemed young, not a day past his prime, except for the deep, ancient darkness in his eyes. It was the darkness that only comes from hoarding hate in the heart for a long, long time.

He stood up slowly, his eyes instinctively searching the sky for the source of all his grief and hatred.

It wasn’t there.

He froze in utter disbelief. At first, he seemed confused, but then the truth dawned on him, and his face drained of color.

Not again. He whispered. Fear flickered across his face. It was only there a moment before he mastered his emotions, and the fear was replaced with determination.

He went looking for his sword.

Chapter Two

In Which a Voluntary Kidnapping Occurs

***

Why are you asking me for a quote? I don’t have a quote. Go away.- An old hermit named Ham who lives in the Hills.

***

This is the girl?

Obviously. Do you see any others?

She’s a Starfall, you say?

Yep. Sure is.

Ellia stood perfectly still and pretended she couldn’t hear them. She hated it when people stared at and talked about her as if she weren’t there. The Squire and her master, Baron Opulus, both turned and looked at her. The Squire studied her with greedy eyes. She felt sick with fear. If this man bought her, her life would be terrible. She had seen how he treated his servants. How much worse would he treat a slave? Please don’t buy me! She thought desperately. She met his eyes and glared at him. You don’t want me, You don’t want me, You don’t want me.

A queer tingling feeling raced down her skin. It felt silky and slimy at the same time.

You don’t want me. She whispered. Her voice seemed to echo and hiss as it slipped into the Squire’s head. He squinted, blinked, and frowned.

Why aren’t her eyes a funny color? Aren’t they supposed to be gold or something?

What do you mean? Of course they’re gold! Opulus turned and looked at her. His expression changed to confusion, and then anger.

See here girl, what’s the matter with your eyes? He slapped her, as if that would help. The Squire snorted. "Nothing the matter with her eyes. She’s got perfectly normal blue eyes. He glared at Opulus. I should’ve known. A real gold Starfall would never be sold for so cheap. This girl’s completely normal! You’ve cost me a full day’s journey for nothing!" He turned and stormed out of the hall, ignoring the baron’s protests. That was weird. Ellia thought. She felt weak with relief.

However, her relief was short-lived. Opulus was livid.

Useless! He roared. No magic, No skills, and a horrible attitude! Not to mention all the trouble you bring down on us from those awful Kurdians! They don’t know you’re useless, do they? They all think a gold Starfall must have marvelous powers! Powers worth sending raiding parties all the way down here to get you! Do you have any idea how much I have to pay for soldiers to protect you? DO YOU? And yet the King would have my head if I let the Kurdian king get his hands on a Starfall, and every time I try to sell you something goes wrong! Maybe I should just leave you out for the wolves!

He turned towards the door.

MASON!

Sir? A large, beefy guard with a speckled gray moustache stumped into the room. Ellia’s heart sank. John Mason was the most brutal of all the hired guards living in the manor. Sharon, the cook’s daughter, had received a terrible beating from him after she spilled soup on his jacket.

Please, I didn’t do anything! she pleaded, but Opulus merely sneered at her before turning back to Mason.

Take this miserable creature to the whipping post and beat her until she shows some magical ability.

Yes sir. He grabbed her by her arm and dragged her out of the hall.

As she was being dragged across the courtyard, Ellia kicked, scratched, and bit. After all, she was going to get a whipping anyway, so why behave? She was so busy kicking him that it was several minutes before she realised that something was wrong. Hey, you big idiot, the whipping post is that way.

Mason just ignored her. He continued to drag her in the wrong direction, towards the gates. He kept glancing back across the empty courtyard as though afraid that someone might be watching him from the manor’s windows. Ellia began to suspect what was happening. It was not the first time that someone had attempted to kidnap her. She felt relieved, since he couldn’t possibly escape all the other guards, and it looked like she wouldn’t get a whipping after all. However, when they reached the outer gate and still had not been challenged by anyone, she began to be nervous.

You’re going to get caught. she said uncertainly. The other guards won’t let you take me.

Mason just laughed. The other guards were the ones with the idea.

Oh no. Ellia thought. This was bad. With no guards, this kidnapping might work. She didn’t like Baron Opulus, but according to Sharon, her best friend, the Kurdian king killed people regularly and wore a crown of human wrist bones. If he found out you were useless, he’d chop you into little pieces and cook you in a stew! Sharon had cackled.

Not a nice thought.

Ellia considered screaming and fighting, but then they rounded a corner and she immediately discarded that idea. Five guards were standing outside the manor walls, holding six horses, already saddled and ready to go. One of them frowned at Mason.

You didn’t tie her up?

No. Why would I? The Baron’s never been nice to her. Why would she want to stay here?

I dunno. But we’re kidnapping her, and she’s a Starfall. She might be dangerous.

Mason snorted. You’re such a wuss, Tuck. She’s about as dangerous as a kitten. Nothing I can’t handle.

Ellia began to be annoyed. For the second time today, people were treating her as if she wasn’t there.

Hey! What’s going on? I thought you guys served the King! What happened to your loyalty?

The guards seemed amused.

We’re not selling you to the Kurdu, if that’s what you think. The guard named Tuck told her. The king of the Kurdians isn’t the only one interested in acquiring your kind. Our good king Rudbeck the Mighty recently bought three Starfalls as his personal attendants, and the queen is feeling jealous. She’s offering a hefty reward for anyone who can bring her a pretty girl Starfall for her handmaiden. She’s always trying to beat her husband at everything, so she’ll be mighty happy with you. He grinned at her.

Ellia was confused. But I don’t have any powers.

Tuck shrugged. I wouldn’t be so sure about that. They might show up later than most, but the queen won’t care about that. All she cares about is looks, and you’ve got the only gold eyes in a hundred years.

Ellia was about to protest further, but another guard cut her off. We don’t have much time. Are you coming willingly, or do we have to tie you?

Ellia considered this. The Queen might turn out to be nasty, but Baron Opulus was awful. Besides, she didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

I’ll come.

After several days on the road, Ellia decided that she liked being kidnapped. The guards were a jolly lot, and she was treated far better than she had been at the manor. Every day she got to ride with Tuck, since he was the thinnest, and he was very nice, telling her everything he knew about the castle and the royal court. At night the guards would make stew and tell jokes around the fire. Ellia had never before eaten such good stew. Baron Opulus had begrudged her every scrap she ate. She was only ever allowed to eat the food that no one else wanted. One of the guards, named Wopscallion Malacus Gumphria, but called Wop, was a very good cook, and could turn almost anything into a good meal. Ellia wished that they would never get to the palace, but instead just keep traveling like this forever.

Chapter Three

In Which Our Heroine Spits Some Ice

***

"The fear of Wild Places is a disgrace to the honour of Man. Has anyone actually ever seen a Darkwing? Of course not! They’re just bits of shadow. So, if you can’t see them, the logical conclusion is that they aren’t there."- The Philosopher Sithia.

***

After four days of travelling, they came under the shadow of the darkest, thickest, trees Ellia had ever seen. They towered over the path, and creeped with a slithering, almost tangible darkness. Where the path turned into the wood, they seemed to reach out over it with roots and branches, as if trying to block out travellers. The sight sent a chill down her spine, and the men spoke in hushed tones. Even the horses were nervous.

Keep real quite. Tuck whispered in her ear. "Yonder’s the Shadow Wood. It’s full of wild animals, Faerie folk, and all manner of queer creatures. We best make no noise when we pass through, otherwise they might do things to us. Word is there’s even been an Ice Creeper sighted in there."

Ellia shivered. She didn’t know much about Creepers, except that they were a legendary creature like a large cat made from snow, fog, and ice. Their breath could freeze a grown man, and their teeth and claws were icicles.

Where does the darkness come from? she whispered. Now that they were closer, she could see that it was unnatural, moving through the trees in smoky ribbons, twisting and curling although there was no wind. Tuck glanced swiftly around, then leaned closer and whispered.

"Darkwings. It’s shadowed enough under the trees that they can live there even in the daytime… If you call what they do living."

As they entered the trees, the darkness writhed, and a heavy blanket of silence seemed to fall over them. Suddenly, Ellia knew that she was being watched. Through the shadows a few paces away, she half-glimpsed beautiful, terrible figures. They seemed very young and yet immeasurably old at the same time. Where did they come from? She wondered. Out of the corner of her eye she saw burning cold eyes watching her. The owner of them raised a pale arm towards her. In the back of her mind, a vivid memory suddenly surfaced.

The moonlight glinting off a pale arm, raised as if in farewell… a soft chanting… the child stirs in her sleep… the boat rocks... Suddenly, a dark voice shattered the scene. WE ARE WATCHING YOU.

Ellia jolted awake. Had she been asleep? She looked into the trees, but there were no faces in the darkness. There was also no unnatural silence. What was that? She wondered.

Did you say something? She asked Tuck. He frowned at her and shook his head, confused. Ellia wondered what she could have been remembering. She had never even been in a boat. Weird. She must have been imagining things.

They continued to travel in darkness for what seemed an eternity. Trees loomed on all sides, tall and dark and strong, like the pillars of some ancient, underground hall. They were beautiful in their way, and Ellia could imagine living here, in constant night and stillness. There were no leaves on the ground, although there were long silver ones in the trees. It seemed as if time stopped here, that the leaves had never fallen, would never fall, unless they were torn from the trees by force. It was cold. There was no wind. The only thing that moved was the darkness, and the only thing that changed was the path; winding this way and that, climbing up and down through the silent wood. No one spoke. The horses clomped steadily onwards. Ellia was tired, hungry and saddle-sore, but she dared not dismount and walk alongside as she usually did. They passed small, moonlit clearings where strange flowers glowed and the darkness was less deep. They saw large things and small things slip through the shadows, but nothing challenged them, or seemed to care that they were passing through.

As the hours passed, however, the darkness began to seem more and more sentient. Wings flapped, leaves rustled, and soft hisses sounded from behind them. Once Ellia even felt something like hot breath on her face. The men were no longer relaxed. During the Faerie’s silence, Ellia had longed to hear noises, but these noises were worse than the silence had been. She could feel the Darkwings, and other things too, drawing closer, growing angrier. Ellia felt that they were moments away from attacking. She braced herself, hunched over, waiting for something to happen. A wing brushed her arm, and she yelped in surprise.

The sound seemed to infuriate the creatures. The hissing rose to a blood chilling screech. Dark shapes darted forward, slashing and biting at the travellers. Ellia felt Tuck hunch over her, shielding her, as the horse broke into a gallop. Through the gap between the horse’s head and Tuck’s shoulder, Ellia could see the others getting farther and farther away.  The creatures were closing in on either side. The other riders disappeared around a bend. Suddenly, something leaped from a branch and into the path in front of them. It let out a horrible scream, and the horse stopped frozen in mid stride. It’s chest and front legs were coated with ice. In front of them crouched a great cat made of icicles and frost. It snarled, and even the Darkwings behind them retreated in fear. The cat looked at them, and Ellia held her breath. The horse struggled, bringing her to her senses just before the cat screamed again. They dove from the horse just in time, as a barrage of icicles hurtled over their heads. In a panic, Ellia realised that she was separated from Tuck, on the wrong side of the horse. The Ice Creeper stalked towards her. She couldn’t run, she couldn’t hide. So she picked up a stick and yelled Go away!

It didn’t work.

The Creeper pounced. It’s weight landed on her chest like a boulder, knocking her to the ground. It’s claws stabbed into her shoulders, sending icy pain shooting through her body. It’s breath was freezing on her skin. She could feel ice forming on her face. She couldn’t breath.

Deep inside, she felt a cold pressure building up, as her breath ran out and her vision grew dim.  This is it. She thought. I’m going to die. Then she screamed.

The ice over her face shattered, and the cold rushed out of her lungs, forming icicles that flew from her mouth straight into the snarling face of the Ice Creeper. It leapt back with a startled yowl, icy fur standing on end. It dashed into the trees and vanished. Shaky, cold and bleeding, Ellia realized that she was crouched on all fours, and stood up. The Darkwings had retreated into the trees, but she could still hear them, waiting for the right time to attack. She screamed at them. No icicles formed this time. The cold feeling in her lungs was already fading, but a cold wind shook the trees, and the Darkwings drew back.

Tuck appeared around the horse, which had almost succeeded in freeing its front legs. His eyes were round and scared.

What happened? he demanded, "Are you alright? Was that another Ice creeper that I heard screaming?"

I don’t know. Ellia shrugged, then regretted it as pain flared in her shoulders.

The Ice Creeper attacked me but then another one screamed from the bushes and it ran away. Tuck shook his head in rueful astonishment.

"Just our luck. Most people live their entire lives near this forest and never ever glimpse an Ice Creeper. We get attacked by two of them!"

Yeah. Ellia agreed, pretending to be unhappy, but inside she was brimming with excitement.

I have an ability! I can… shoot icicles?

She wanted very badly to share this revelation with someone, but experience had taught her never to share information. Especially not with kidnappers, even if she liked them.

The last of the cold feeling faded from her lungs, and with it her adrenaline. She suddenly felt all the pain and exhaustion come flooding back, and she collapsed.

It was the morning of the next day when they finally limped out of the trees and rejoined the others. As they tended to the wounded and made breakfast, a guard named Silas came over to bandage her shoulders.

"Tuck said you got attacked by an Ice Creeper, and then another one came and scared