The Darklight

Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly

On the outskirts of Never, lived the Kareesh. The Kareesh drank water from deep wells, water which came from the heart of creation. The Kareesh drank this water, and wandered far away from Never, into the desert land. Into the desert land.

Conan was old, and in many ways young again. King of Aquilonia in the power of Heaven’s Might, Conan had all he wished, and bedded any fair maiden which caught his eye.

But at the bottom of the well of Zamora, he entered the Never. And the Never cascaded into the wilderness beneath. The underground world.

The earth above was red, deep ocreish red, from the ‘Kraad’ sandstone, which took any meagre source of light brought to it and enhanced it, reflected it on eternally. A torch lit would light the realm e’er. Nobody doubted this.

Cept the Kareesh.

They believed in the darklight, which would dim the Kraad, and bring darkness again to the underworld. Yet not in Never did Darklight exist. So the Kareesh, on manhood, wandered to the desert, having drunk deep water, to search for the Darklight.

So they might once more sleep.

A wizard had cursed them, to wander forever, in search of the darklight. And until then they would never rest, for they had offended him greatly. And, in his own words, ne’er a Kareesh could yet find the Darklight anyway, yet surely it also must be their own.

Conan had fallen into the well, and was dead in the heart of Never. Yet a Kareesh took pity and brought him into his home and nursed him back to health.

‘Truly you are a brother to me,’ swore Conan. ‘I shall find the Darklight as your own, yet not.’

And he drank deeply of the water of Never.

And he searched….

And he searched…

And he found the darklight, beyond the wastelands, in the deepest hole of the deepest pit, a black majestic piece of crystal.

And he returned to his host.

And they placed the darklight in the heart of Never.

And the curse was broken.

And the Kareesh slept once more.

Yet the Wizard knew…

The End