At last the Squires and their trainers were called upon to go inside. They entered in an orderly fashion, with each group followed by its trainer. Just beyond the door was a short hallway of stone. Thick stalks of incense burned in brass holders in the corners, and Birlote torches lit the walls. The shadows and burning incense created an engulfing, pleasant atmosphere-one that demanded silence and respect. The boys instinctively said nothing above a whisper.
An iron door at the hall's end was engraved with the words:
WELCOME TO THE TEMPLE OF
THE DIVINE ESSENCE,
WHERE DWELLS HE WHO BREATHED LIFE INTO
THE COLD STONE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
THE TRUE LORD OF DREMLOCK KINGDOM
Beyond that door was the Temple's sanctuary-a large round room with a domed ceiling. The ceiling bore painted artwork depicting Stormy Mountain, above which hovered the Great Light. Moving down the side of the mountain was the smaller light known as the White Guardian, shaped somewhat like a four-legged beast, with a head that looked too large for its body. The eight stained-glass windows in here told the story of Kuran Darkender's discovery of the Divine Essence and the fulfilling of his destiny. They depicted him having his vision of the god, relating that vision to the other Knights, the search in the catacombs beneath the keep, the evil that threatened them (represented by a shadowy form with fiery red eyes), the crystal chamber where the Divine Essence lay in wait, the god casting the light of truth and blessing upon Kuran, the constructing of Dremlock Kingdom, and finally-the Crest of the Three Towers.
Stone steps on four sides led up to an altar, where stood a silver sculpture of the three crystals that represented the Divine Essence. On the side of the altar were dozens of symbols written in the Sacred Text (which, among all the Squires, only Lannon could read but was too distracted to bother studying). Birlote torches glowed on the walls, and incense burned in every corner. A podium stood next to the altar, a huge leather-bound book resting atop it. Cordus Landsaver stood behind the podium, dressed in his flowing silver cloak, studying the book. Taris Warhawk and Furlus Goblincrusher flanked him. Five Orange Squires stood off to one side, each holding a scroll.
Wooden benches sat at the base of the steps, more than enough seats for all of the Squires and their trainers. Quietly they filed in and sat down, and then they waited in silence for Cordus to begin.
Finally Cordus cleared his throat and glanced up, his face solemn and his eyes stern. His piercing gaze swept the crowd, creating shivers and tense muscles. The Squires fidgeted nervously beneath that gaze.
"Greetings, Knights and new Squires of Dremlock," Cordus began at last. "I've called you here today to prepare you as best I can for what is to come. I chose the Temple, rather than the Meeting Hall in my tower, because herein lie the Sacred Scriptures." He pointed to the symbols on the altar. "I don't expect anyone to be able to read this, for I myself cannot. But the translation dwells within this book."
He held up the book for all to see. "So as not to waste anyone's time, including my own, I shall do this in an orderly and swift fashion. I shall begin with the histories of Gallamerth and then Silverland-all the way up to the present day. After that, I shall read the Five Sacred Laws of Dremlock Kingdom."
Cordus began his tale the way Garrin Daggerblood had, but as he spoke, his eyes grew fiery and his voice thundered out. Extreme conviction lurked in every word, backed by the fierceness of his will. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his tangled hair was plastered to his forehead.
When Cordus at last reached the part where Garrin had left off, a Squire brought him his great wooden mug and he drank deeply before continuing. "Now I've come to the part of my tale," he went on, "that directly concerns our great heritage. The Knights of Bellis, led by Kuran Darkender, were sent here to Silverland to stop the Goblins from transforming it into a wasteland."
His eyes narrowed. "A wasteland, Squires! Here would exist nothing but bloated Iracus Trees and the foul beasts they spawned-and it would grow in strength like the very Deep Shadow itself, creeping beyond the mountains and devouring all that is decent. The Deep Shadow feeds on life-when such life lacks the strength to repel it-yet the dark creatures it spawns feed on wholesome and natural life regardless of its abundance. So in a sense, the children of the Deep Shadow are even stronger than their master, since the force of life cannot harm them. All that the Deep Shadow touches is corrupted and breeds further disease and despair.
"The Knights sought to destroy the Bloodlands completely, yet they needed a fortress secure enough to withstand any assault. They searched for many long and weary months, driven on by a need for a castle of peace and strength amidst the madness of a corrupted land. They found many potential sights for their keep, yet always Kuran Darkender was compelled to move on, until at last they climbed this very mountain. Discovering this hidden abode, they knew they had found the best possible location. They built a small fortress up here, amidst the abandoned Olrog mines. That fortress stands now below Taris' tower, and is referred to as the Old Keep. It is, mind you, a forbidden area, Squires!
"Well, one night Kuran Darkender had a vision that something magnificent lurked deep in the mines below their keep-something that beckoned to him like the music of dreams. The Knights set out to exploring the mines, and uncovered evils that I shall not name-the very evils which brought doom to the Olrog miners. At the cost of many lives, the Knights beat back the evil and discovered our god in a chamber of crystal below. How it got there none can say-but it came to be known as the Divine Essence, and was the final proof that the White Guardian yet lived!"
Cordus paused, studying the faces of his audience. Those faces-even amongst the Knights-were tense and excited, their gaze focused directly on him and nowhere else. He nodded in satisfaction before continuing.
"The Divine Essence consists of three crystals-as shown by this sculpture-that burn with a purple flame. It spoke to Kuran, and told him that his Knights must defect from Bellis and forge their own kingdom, which they eventually named Dremlock after a type of Dragon. This kingdom would make war on the Goblins until none remained. It taught Kuran Darkender and his Knights many great secrets-such as how to feel the Knightly Essence to determine a subject's talent level.
"Yet Bellis would have none of it, and demanded these great Knights remain part of their kingdom. In fact, Bellis was nearing war with the Grey Dwarves and was ready to abandon Silverland to the Goblins. When the Knights of Dremlock refused, Bellis sent all the Knights it could spare and they built Serenlock Castle, named after an even larger kind of Dragon, with the intention of destroying Dremlock.
I've been there, Lannon thought proudly.
"But Bellis was fighting on two fronts, and Dremlock proved very difficult to invade because of its location. Also, our Knights wielded weapons that burned with the flame of magic. We prevailed, and in so doing, we established ourselves as a kingdom to be reckoned with. Ours is, in fact, the only kingdom ever to defeat Bellis in warfare. Now you might be inclined to ask why Bellis would send Knights after us when they had the Olrogs to deal with. The answer is simple. The King of Bellis-Ordamer Kessing-did not always act in a logical manner. He was fiery and stubborn, and certainly less than wise, and he seldom heeded anyone else's opinion. And thus, as happens to most tyrants eventually, he was later assassinated, after Bellis' defeat at the hands of the Divine Knights. His son Belmore-a far more sensible ruler if not as iron-willed-then took his father's place as king and an age of prosperity and goodwill began. But I'm rambling on a bit now and I apologize."