Quest for Knowledge (Volume 1 of the FirstWorld Saga) by Christopher Jackson-Ash (ebook reader wifi TXT) 📕

“Don’t tell me there is a portrait of you somewhere that ages while you remain forever young,” said Manfred with a forced laugh. Dorian Gray all over again.

“Unfortunately not. Gadiel required information and he obtained much of it from me. I didn’t tell him everything, of course. In return, he offered me immortality in a new young body. Although I knew what happened to Gilgamesh, I allowed myself to believe he would carry out his side of the bargain. He needed me, after all, and I knew that I was destined to live to see this task through. I was fed up being a decrepit, impotent old man.”

I know how you feel. It would be a great temptation. Yet he said aloud, “How could you?”

“He changed me physically. But he has an evil sense of humour. I must forever take this form. I cannot wear any other clothes or the itchiness drives me insane. As much as I desire physical contact with others, or they with me, I am prevented from sating my desires. Should any intimate contact be made, we are both repulsed with a shock like we have been struck by lightning. I will only be freed from this curse when he is destroyed. Do you wonder why I want him dead? To be forced to live for eternity with such a curse would be the ultimate treachery.”

Manfred had to smile. Oh, the price we pay for vanity and lust. Singed genitalia! He tried to keep a straight face. “It’s tragic, indeed. How did he secure your immortality?”

“He gave me a once-only key to the time portal. He sent me forward in time, and I arrived here. He said that I had missed the time of my death, so that as long as I didn’t go back to a time before that I would live forever. I think he wanted me out of the way while he planned his attack on Elannort but wanted me here when he was strong enough to destroy me. He thinks he has outplayed me. However, I have one more trump card that he is unaware of. Some years before Gadiel arrived in Illium, another stranger arrived.”

“Ubadah, King of Tamarlan,” Manfred interjected. “Things begin to become clearer to me.”

“That’s right. I was suspicious of how he could have survived the journey from Tamarlan. I found the secret mark and discovered that he was an incarnation of the Everlasting Hero. I knew then that I had a plan that I could put into action.”

“So you sent him here. Why here and why now?” Manfred was still somewhat confused.

“No, not here, not yet. I knew that the Sundering had been caused by a significant event. By then, I had gathered a few wizards who were working on my behalf. Even in the old days, I had a few on my side. Your brother, Mandred, was one of them.” Curse the name. I thought he was working against me. Perhaps he was. A flicker of concern passed over Manfred’s face. “I see that it still rankles with you. I’m sorry. I had access to the reports made to the Council of the Wise, even though I didn’t attend. It wasn’t too difficult to put the pieces together and work out when and where the Sundering occurred, or that you were there. I knew that the Hero had to be there, so I sent Ubadah back.”

The blood drained from Manfred’s face. “You did what? I don’t believe it. I sent Simon back there too. He is another incarnation of the Hero.”

Dammar laughed. “Oh, Manfred, you are a blind old fool. Don’t you see? They both had to be there. The old prophecy foretold it. ‘When the two who are one return to the son.’ The child who was born was theirs, one of them, it doesn’t matter which. The child had to be born, carrying the genes of the Everlasting Hero so that the future hero would exist to come back and be the father. It’s a great time travel paradox, isn’t it?”

Manfred was stunned. You stupid old dunderhead. How could you not have seen it? It was son not sun. How could you have been so blind?

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know? You were there. How could you not understand?”

Manfred shook his head, sadly. “I don’t know. I was bored and depressed. I only wanted out of there. Mandred knew something. I just didn’t believe it.”

“Don’t be too upset. Mandred was in my confidence. I sent a message to him with Ubadah. It was a risk, but it worked out.” You were lucky he passed to stone.

“But the baby’s birth didn’t cause the Sundering. Mandred passed to stone immediately after the birth, saying his work was done. Simon came back here, in grief over the loss of the mother. I went home to my cave. I never saw Ubadah there. The Sundering didn’t occur until the next day. At the Sundering, all of the wise were flung back to Wizards’ Keep, as if by magic. We existed only in FirstWorld and we had no copies in other dimensions. As far as I know, everything else was duplicated.”

It was Dammar’s turn to be stunned. “That is news to me. I had assumed that it was the paradox of the child’s parentage that caused the Sundering.”

Manfred let his mind wander back to those cold, miserable, boring days with the tribe. “Ubadah must have visited nine months earlier. I was away with a hunting party and missed him. Mandred spoke about it, but I thought he was making it up to tease me. Or to explain how the chief’s daughter got pregnant. That’s it then, Ubadah must have been the father, even though the baby had red hair. That’s odd; I had always thought it must have been Simon’s.”

“The Hero’s genes are recessive, like red hair and left handedness. When they are there, they don’t always show. Now we have two problems. We must identify what needs to be done to ensure that the Sundering occurs.” Dammar paused and looked a bit worried.

“What is the second problem?” Manfred asked.

“We must decide which of our two heroes must die.”

Decisions

Manfred was stunned. “What do you mean? One of our heroes must die?” He was incredulous. The beautiful youth stood up and faced Manfred. Even in his shock, Manfred couldn’t avoid noticing his handsome physique. Pull yourself together, old fool. Remember it’s Dammar inside that body.

The blond boy spoke in his older man's voice, booming with authority and brimming with arrogance. “Don’t you see, Manfred? The only way to defeat Gadiel is with the Everlasting Hero and the Sword – the all-powerful Trinity. Even that will not be enough unless the Sword has reached its maximum potential.”

Manfred shook his head. He was still bewildered. “I don’t understand.”

“The Sword’s power comes from the souls it consumes. They are held in the ruby. Since your version of the Hero has recovered it, I assume it has consumed the souls of a witch and at least two wizards?” Manfred nodded. He didn’t like where this was going. “It has consumed many of the first and second born, not to mention countless humans. To reach its maximum potential it has just one more soul to consume. One of the Heroes must die by the Sword. Only then will the remaining Hero have the power to defeat Gadiel. Ubadah is clearly the strongest and most worthy to live. I propose that Simon Redhead must die.”

“You are crazy! I will never support such a proposition.” Manfred was boiling with fury. How could someone purporting to represent the Balance suggest such a thing? Manfred made a mental note to consider Dammar’s deeper motivations later. There’s more to this than meets the eye.

“Don’t be so naïve, old man. It is our one chance and the reason why fate has brought the two Heroes together at the same time. Ubadah is clearly the stronger and more suitable. He comes from FirstWorld after all.” And he’s your puppet.

“Simon has bonded with the Sword. He cannot be beaten by force of arms. So you might as well forget it.”

“He must be persuaded to put down the Sword in Ubadah’s presence. Only you will be able to make that happen. Think on it, old man. The hounds of Hell are camped on your doorstep. In a short time, they will take Elannort. Wizards’ Keep will not stand for long against them. Everything you have worked so hard and so long for will be lost. It will be your fault. There is a way. Is the death of a single innocent so big a price to pay?”

Manfred seemed to shrink into the cushions of his seat as if the weight of the multiverse had been placed on his shoulders. He looked like a defeated old man, waiting for death. Would you murder your child or your grandchild to save the multiverse? The sacrifice is too great. “Let the Sword take me, rather than Simon,” Manfred pleaded.

“It would do no good. It has already consumed at least two wizards of equal power to you. I understand how you feel. I wish there were a better way, I really do. Take some time to think about it. I will organise myself some quarters and will talk to you in the morning. I won’t say goodnight and sleep well, because I know that you won’t. Ultimately, you will see that it is a small sacrifice to make for the greater good. I will see you early in the morning.”

Dammar turned and was about to leave the room without waiting for Manfred’s reply. He paused at the door and looked back. “You know that as the last remaining Great Sage, I have the authority to command you. I hope it doesn’t come to that.” He left.

As the door closed, Manfred released the pent up emotion inside him. The books on the table went flying to all corners, the Holy Grail was shattered into dozens of pieces, and Manfred was left sobbing into the couch cushions like an adolescent after their first break-up. May the Balance help me? May it help us all?

When Dammar returned, soon after dawn, Manfred was still in the same position. Dammar observed the wreckage. “I see that there is still some fire in your belly, Manfred. That’s good. You will need it before the end. Have you made your decision?”

Manfred sat up. He looked even more haggard than usual. His hair and beard were matted and his face streaked with tears. He spoke in a quiet, yet determined voice. “I have examined my conscience, at length. I cannot accede to your request. It would be immoral. I will not do it.”

Dammar drew his slim, youthful body to its full height. His voice was commanding and it carried great authority. “Very well, you leave me no choice. By the authority vested in me by the Great Old Ones and the Balance itself, I command that you follow my orders!”

Manfred looked at the beautiful youth, and sighed. “Where is your authority, Dammar?” He withdrew his staff from inside his cloak. “A wizard’s authority lies in his staff. I don’t see your staff. I don’t even know if you really are Dammar.