The view from the mountains was spectacular, nay, it was breathtaking, no, more than even that... it was a reflection of just what God had in mind when he created earth, just one more way of mirroring his beauty and majesty. I was, for the first time in a long time, speechless. As I walked up the mountain, just one in a line of people climbing the hill, I could feel the sheer power of the vista before me refreshing my soul. It was incredible. It was surreal, so much so that I began to wonder, was it merely my imagination?
Suddenly we stopped, the ones trailing behind almost running into the backs of the hikers before. We slowly funneled into an enclosure, surrounded on all three sides by sheer cliff faces.
"Well, that's interesting," commented the group's leader, staring with puzzlement up at at the rocky faces, "the map never mentioned anything about a wall climbing spot."
By then the entire group had congregated in the hollow, most looking up at the cliffs with confusion quite evident on their faces.
Without warning the earth began to shake and all around, young people dropped to the ground, covering their heads or in some cases huddling together with nearby friends. The sounds of splitting earth ripped through the air, shattering the still tranquility that had blanketed the trail before.
Two of the cliffs fell away, leaving nothing but open air in their place. The trail from whence we came was littered with rubble, rendering the path back completely impassable. Before us lay the only way left, a downward sloping trail made of broken pieces of rock and earth, a series of natural steps. Of course by using the term 'slope' it really was more of an inclined fall, almost 45 degrees, and it looked dangerous.
The dust from the earthquake began to settle, and slowly the young men and women began to rise from their huddle crouches. We looked around, amazed at the changes in scenary, but eventually recovered enough to begin moving again. I realized that this indeed was reality.
I started down slowly, along with the ten other people in my group, feeling the way with tentative steps. However as I began to find a rhythm, I started to go faster, until I was literally running down the ridges of sharp rocks, flowing down the uneven stairwell like water flows down a river bed. I would leap off tall rocks, slide down flat sections, pause for long seconds on pointed pinnacles.
Up ahead there was a short uphill section and I didn't stop. Instead I sprang up, leaping up onto the rocks and pushing onwards, moving skyward, springing from right to left, ever onwards.
Suddenly the section curved, the track railed by a large rock. I slid to a stop and clambered on top of the stone to stare out at the mountain side filled with forest green trees. What a paradise, what a fun trek!
Onward I surged, moving with even greater speed and excitement, the thrill of physical exertion driving all thoughts of tiredness from my limbs. The stones blurred beneath my feet as my heart soared in the moment.
It was the most amazing feeling... one I will never forget.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
March 21 - Raided
The pulse of the bass reverberated through my body, cutting through far more than just my ear drums. The music crashed down from the myriad of speakers spaced around the dome above, a bowl that reflected the sound back down on the people who writhed to the beat. The dance floor itself was packed, bodies pressed against each other in the tiny space. Funnily enough, to me anyway, there were almost four times as many males on the floor as females, each small pocket of girls surrounded by a ring of boys, many of whom probably had no idea of how to strike up a conversation, nor would they be able too with the music so loud.
I surveyed all this from my seat, sipping my drink, a Gin and Tonic (which tasted strange) and observing the festivities. It was all fairly new to me, and yet not. I was almost 100% sure that I had never been clubbing before, yet this scene was so familiar. It was laughable and yet incredibly sad.
Looking out at the people dancing in the dark, my heart broke with compassion for them, knowing that the vast majority were here searching for something far more than what they would find. Whether through the drink, the smoke, the drugs or the dance, everyone there was searching for something to fill that void within. That emptiness that no longer existed within me.
My heart broke most of all for the girls, here, in places such as this, seen as objects of desire, not of respect and beauty. You could literally see, in the eyes and actions of many of those girls, just how many of them were searching for a man to lend them some strength, to see them for more than just their bodies, but for their soul. For a man to love them... even amongst the group that I was with, friends I had just met a few weeks ago, their plight was so evident. Each of them yearned to find joy, to find an experience of something worth more, and of men who would protect and defend them, not use and abuse. Of course you often couldn't tell that by how they were dressed or acted... and that was probably the saddest part of all.
All this I watched, my eyes impartially sweeping the room, dancing when I felt the beat, drinking slowly, taking in the experience. Noting how much people were seeking a spiritual, out of body, beyond physical experience. It was so surreal, was I really seeing what I did, or was it merely my imagination?
Suddenly the lights and music were cut, and even as cries of frustration and anger ripped through the air, the glass from the roof exploded. The cries turned to screams and both young men and women dropped to the floor, faces buried in their arms.
Out of the darkness above dropped men dressed in dark counter-terrorist fatigues. They slipped through the air, gloved hands sliding over the fly wires that were attached to something above, pistols aimed at anyone who moved around the room.
"FREEZE!" They cried, apparently in several languages, but I was far too pre-occupied to notice. "POLICE!"
In response I noticed several young men, all seated around a near by round table, reach into their jackets. There were all wearing dark suits and tie less white shirts. Immediately I realized who they were.
'This could get ugly' I thought, my mind flashing over the available options. I came to the conclusion that an all out gun fight could prove hazardous to the large number of innocent civilians in the room, so the question was really who to side with.
Well that much was obvious, as I did always believe in co-operating with the law, except, perhaps, when speed limits were concerned.
My hands flicked open as I activated the spring loaded throwing knife holsters beneath my jacket. In each hand three knives sprung into place and I them clutched between my fingers. With as little motion as possible I flung them at the men in black even as they ripped pistols from beneath their jackets. Two of the 8 doubled over, clutching at the blades embedded in their arms.
I realized that I'd need more knives.
Even as I threw the remaining blades in my right hand, pegging another 3 gangsters, the remaining few had unfortunately noticed me, and now their pistols were pointed in my direction.
"Oh snap," I breathed, slamming my foot down on a near by table as they fired. The table tipped on it's side, the long edge rising into the air to catch the bullets as they flew towards me and my friends.
"Get down!" I bellowed as I dropped to the floor.
As I looked up, the music had begun again and the table had tipped over, liquid was everywhere.
"Are you alright mate?" asked one of my friends, offering me a hand to help me up.
Laughing sheepishly, I smiled, "yeah, completely, didn't get any alcohol on me, really dodged a bullet there I guess."
They all laughed. Perhaps they were closer to getting drunk than I had thought.
I surveyed all this from my seat, sipping my drink, a Gin and Tonic (which tasted strange) and observing the festivities. It was all fairly new to me, and yet not. I was almost 100% sure that I had never been clubbing before, yet this scene was so familiar. It was laughable and yet incredibly sad.
Looking out at the people dancing in the dark, my heart broke with compassion for them, knowing that the vast majority were here searching for something far more than what they would find. Whether through the drink, the smoke, the drugs or the dance, everyone there was searching for something to fill that void within. That emptiness that no longer existed within me.
My heart broke most of all for the girls, here, in places such as this, seen as objects of desire, not of respect and beauty. You could literally see, in the eyes and actions of many of those girls, just how many of them were searching for a man to lend them some strength, to see them for more than just their bodies, but for their soul. For a man to love them... even amongst the group that I was with, friends I had just met a few weeks ago, their plight was so evident. Each of them yearned to find joy, to find an experience of something worth more, and of men who would protect and defend them, not use and abuse. Of course you often couldn't tell that by how they were dressed or acted... and that was probably the saddest part of all.
All this I watched, my eyes impartially sweeping the room, dancing when I felt the beat, drinking slowly, taking in the experience. Noting how much people were seeking a spiritual, out of body, beyond physical experience. It was so surreal, was I really seeing what I did, or was it merely my imagination?
Suddenly the lights and music were cut, and even as cries of frustration and anger ripped through the air, the glass from the roof exploded. The cries turned to screams and both young men and women dropped to the floor, faces buried in their arms.
Out of the darkness above dropped men dressed in dark counter-terrorist fatigues. They slipped through the air, gloved hands sliding over the fly wires that were attached to something above, pistols aimed at anyone who moved around the room.
"FREEZE!" They cried, apparently in several languages, but I was far too pre-occupied to notice. "POLICE!"
In response I noticed several young men, all seated around a near by round table, reach into their jackets. There were all wearing dark suits and tie less white shirts. Immediately I realized who they were.
'This could get ugly' I thought, my mind flashing over the available options. I came to the conclusion that an all out gun fight could prove hazardous to the large number of innocent civilians in the room, so the question was really who to side with.
Well that much was obvious, as I did always believe in co-operating with the law, except, perhaps, when speed limits were concerned.
My hands flicked open as I activated the spring loaded throwing knife holsters beneath my jacket. In each hand three knives sprung into place and I them clutched between my fingers. With as little motion as possible I flung them at the men in black even as they ripped pistols from beneath their jackets. Two of the 8 doubled over, clutching at the blades embedded in their arms.
I realized that I'd need more knives.
Even as I threw the remaining blades in my right hand, pegging another 3 gangsters, the remaining few had unfortunately noticed me, and now their pistols were pointed in my direction.
"Oh snap," I breathed, slamming my foot down on a near by table as they fired. The table tipped on it's side, the long edge rising into the air to catch the bullets as they flew towards me and my friends.
"Get down!" I bellowed as I dropped to the floor.
As I looked up, the music had begun again and the table had tipped over, liquid was everywhere.
"Are you alright mate?" asked one of my friends, offering me a hand to help me up.
Laughing sheepishly, I smiled, "yeah, completely, didn't get any alcohol on me, really dodged a bullet there I guess."
They all laughed. Perhaps they were closer to getting drunk than I had thought.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
March 18th - Ambushed
It was a quiet night, the stiff and cool breeze from the harbor soothing to my skin and soul. I loved the feeling of wind in the darkness, especially when there was a good view to sit back and take in. Around me sat several friends, mates of mine from this new city, chilling out on the sea's edge; talking, dancing, taking photos. It was relaxed, it was still, it was awesome.
We had come out to celebrate a friend's birthday, a simple dinner at a near by restaurant followed by a casual stroll, a well rounded night.
As we walked back to the subway station I continued to enjoy the sensations, my thoughts dwelling on my life, the darkness around, and my friends. Granted I was engaged in conversation, talking gleefully about random and inane subjects, yet I was still taking the time to enjoy the peace that I missed.
We got on a walkalator, heading into a tunnel and I could suddenly feel a rush of coolness against my thin white cotton shirt. The air seemed to carry a touch of malice, and my senses prickled against an unforeseen threat. My silver amulet began to the tingle, going hot, then cold against my skin. Glancing around casually, I noticed that none of my friends could feel approaching danger. Was it merely my imagination?
Suddenly, without warning, globs of darkness began to drop from the tunnel's roof. As they feel, each began to coalesce into humonoid shapes.
It was unlikely that such beasts had good intentions for me and my friends; and as the girls in our group started to scream, I dropped my bag and ripped a sword out from beyond the fabric of space and time. The blade gleamed bright silver, 4 feet of solid steel, razor sharp and double edged. The hilt and guard were plain silver, wrapped in sturdy leather, a weapon made with purpose and without embellishment.
As the ambushers began to finish their transformations, I could see that they were covered in fur and black cloth, tusks jutting from their thick and protruding lower jaws. Their fists were wrapped around large scimitars that shone dully in the flickering light and their eyes glowed with a evil intelligence.
I charged, the world around me becoming a blur for a brief second as I flew across the ground in a single bound, my sword a trail of silver behind me. Even as I encountered the first beast, I ducked low and swung, barely feeling any resistance as my sword sheared through his mid section.
My soon to be vanquished opponent raised his muzzle to the sky and tried to howl, but all that came out was dark liquid. Slowly it crumpled to the ground, and then dissolved, back into the shadows from whence it came.
I slid to a stop, a good ten meters from where my friends crouched in fear. Advancing on them, either ignorant or uncaring of their friend's plight, five other creatures of darkness lumbered, seemingly intent on some ill will towards my friends.
Rage and laughter battled within me as I began to race towards them, wondering if indeed they merely underestimated my strength or honestly had missed what I had done to their comrade.
As my sword flashed again, this time it met steel, and as one the five turned on me. It had been a trap and like a proud fool I had fallen prey to such a simple lure.
Their dull blades leapt in, each intent on crushing my bones and ripping flesh to shreads. I began to dance among the blades, my own sword flicking in and out like a silver snake's tongue, whirling amongst the cauldron of death in a desperate bid to escape.
Blood began to flow from the numerous cuts that I had received, but also that I had inflicted. As I fought I could feel fear bubbling up within, but I was determined not to given in. Slowly I began to establish a rhythm to their attack.
With one last whirl I leapt straight up, turning a massive back flip and landing in crouch between the animals and my friends, sword held cross ways, barring them entry. Up ahead I could see that the escalator was reaching its destination, and some how I knew that when it did, these shades would vanish.
A vicious smile touched my lips as my five enemies looked behind them and cried out in fear, their squeals of anguish sending a shiver down my spine. With a sigh I slid my sword back into the nether from which I had summoned it, and watched as they vanished into the night. Slowly my cuts began to fade as my natural regeneration kicked in.
Immersed in my own thoughts and concentrating on the healing process, I missed the edge of the walkway and stumbled off the end.
"Josh, are you alright?" asked one of my friends, raising one eyebrow.
I looked down at myself, wondering if I had worn a white or red shirt that day, "No permanent damaged," I replied, shrugging without concern as we continued off into the night.
We had come out to celebrate a friend's birthday, a simple dinner at a near by restaurant followed by a casual stroll, a well rounded night.
As we walked back to the subway station I continued to enjoy the sensations, my thoughts dwelling on my life, the darkness around, and my friends. Granted I was engaged in conversation, talking gleefully about random and inane subjects, yet I was still taking the time to enjoy the peace that I missed.
We got on a walkalator, heading into a tunnel and I could suddenly feel a rush of coolness against my thin white cotton shirt. The air seemed to carry a touch of malice, and my senses prickled against an unforeseen threat. My silver amulet began to the tingle, going hot, then cold against my skin. Glancing around casually, I noticed that none of my friends could feel approaching danger. Was it merely my imagination?
Suddenly, without warning, globs of darkness began to drop from the tunnel's roof. As they feel, each began to coalesce into humonoid shapes.
It was unlikely that such beasts had good intentions for me and my friends; and as the girls in our group started to scream, I dropped my bag and ripped a sword out from beyond the fabric of space and time. The blade gleamed bright silver, 4 feet of solid steel, razor sharp and double edged. The hilt and guard were plain silver, wrapped in sturdy leather, a weapon made with purpose and without embellishment.
As the ambushers began to finish their transformations, I could see that they were covered in fur and black cloth, tusks jutting from their thick and protruding lower jaws. Their fists were wrapped around large scimitars that shone dully in the flickering light and their eyes glowed with a evil intelligence.
I charged, the world around me becoming a blur for a brief second as I flew across the ground in a single bound, my sword a trail of silver behind me. Even as I encountered the first beast, I ducked low and swung, barely feeling any resistance as my sword sheared through his mid section.
My soon to be vanquished opponent raised his muzzle to the sky and tried to howl, but all that came out was dark liquid. Slowly it crumpled to the ground, and then dissolved, back into the shadows from whence it came.
I slid to a stop, a good ten meters from where my friends crouched in fear. Advancing on them, either ignorant or uncaring of their friend's plight, five other creatures of darkness lumbered, seemingly intent on some ill will towards my friends.
Rage and laughter battled within me as I began to race towards them, wondering if indeed they merely underestimated my strength or honestly had missed what I had done to their comrade.
As my sword flashed again, this time it met steel, and as one the five turned on me. It had been a trap and like a proud fool I had fallen prey to such a simple lure.
Their dull blades leapt in, each intent on crushing my bones and ripping flesh to shreads. I began to dance among the blades, my own sword flicking in and out like a silver snake's tongue, whirling amongst the cauldron of death in a desperate bid to escape.
Blood began to flow from the numerous cuts that I had received, but also that I had inflicted. As I fought I could feel fear bubbling up within, but I was determined not to given in. Slowly I began to establish a rhythm to their attack.
With one last whirl I leapt straight up, turning a massive back flip and landing in crouch between the animals and my friends, sword held cross ways, barring them entry. Up ahead I could see that the escalator was reaching its destination, and some how I knew that when it did, these shades would vanish.
A vicious smile touched my lips as my five enemies looked behind them and cried out in fear, their squeals of anguish sending a shiver down my spine. With a sigh I slid my sword back into the nether from which I had summoned it, and watched as they vanished into the night. Slowly my cuts began to fade as my natural regeneration kicked in.
Immersed in my own thoughts and concentrating on the healing process, I missed the edge of the walkway and stumbled off the end.
"Josh, are you alright?" asked one of my friends, raising one eyebrow.
I looked down at myself, wondering if I had worn a white or red shirt that day, "No permanent damaged," I replied, shrugging without concern as we continued off into the night.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Imagine Reality
Hey there people who periodically read this blog. Just letting you know that there will be a bit of a change as I start posting up blogs and stories combined. Should be pretty cool. Might take up a bit of my time, but hey.
So, from now on, let's see what it's like to Imagine Reality.
So, from now on, let's see what it's like to Imagine Reality.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The ride of Justice
The thunder of hooves echoed through the trees, startling the birds still asleep in the early morning. Their cries of confusion could be heard for miles around as they burst forth from the canopy of trees, hovering in the morning’s sunshine.
Their racket preceded Juston as he rode his stallion through the forest’s track, leaping the fallen logs and ducking under over hanging branches. Up ahead he could see a light at the end of the tunnel of foliage. Urging his steed to even greater speed, he drew his sword with a flourish and a mighty shout! “Tremble and despair villains! For I have come!”
The young man’s black stallion leapt from the cover of the trees, moving from the shadows into the bright sunlight with a majestic grace. The morning’s radiance glancing off Juston’s royal blue surcoat, emblazoned with his family’s crest, and disappeared in his short raven black hair. Gleaming mail covered his arms, and his shield shone gold and blue, displaying the scales of justice and the cross of salvation, his own personal coat of arms. The sword he wielded was bright steel; hilted in gold and bound with leather, capped by a bright blue sapphire that seemed to shine with its own light in harmony with the Sun.
Looking around as he rode, the young man sheathed his sword with a small sigh, noting that once again there were yet no villains to bring to justice, no monsters to slay. In the past two days, he had yet to find anything worth his time… not even a small imp or minor goblin for him to pass the time with.
“Fear not Truth, I will not rest until I find us evil to vanquish.”
His steed snorted, truth to be told in exasperated dismay, for they had been traveling hard for the past four days. However Truth was well used to Juston’s ways, and refrained from complaining.
“Would you like to try another area of the Kingdom then?” he asked politely, “I hear there are bandits near the Malgrave Forests.”
Juston cocked his head to the side, mulling over his options “but there were definitely reports of orcs in these parts. I heard Father’s spies give the report.”
Truth snorted hard, shaking his mane in frustration. “I told you many times Juston, you should never listen to humans, they take far too long to pass on information. My source was an eagle who came straight from Malgrave, said he saw a raid.”
“Very well,” Juston acknowledged, “to Malgrave we shall go then,” the young man patted his friend’s neck, “then I promise we’ll head back home, you deserve a break.”
Truth sighed with content, “glad you noticed,” he quipped. “You ready?”
Juston nodded, holding on tightly to his reins. “Ready.”
Truth shook out his mane, then let the motion pass on down his neck and into his body. Behind his rider, two huge way unfurled, stretching to their full wingspan of 12 feet before they slowly rose up.
“I think you’ve grown!” remarked Juston as he leaned forward. “You didn’t cover the road when we were coming in.”
“Must be all the weight I’ve been carrying,” Truth replied with a smile. Without another word, the Pegasus snapped his wings down, thrusting the pair of them into the air.
“Whooooeeee!” shouted Juston, pushing his fist into the air as if this was his first time flying. Well used to his friend’s childlike ways, Truth refrained from commenting, and set his course with the sun against his left shoulder, heading south towards the Forest of Malgrave.
The sky was a serene and majestic blue, dotted occasionally with fluffy white clouds that seemed to bounce along in the breeze. Whenever Truth began to feel the sun’s rays becoming too warm, he would whip into a passing cloud, trying his hardest to startle Juston, and emerge from the other side refreshed and very wet. Of course his rider always complained, but really loved the experience, and they both knew it.
Green meadows and furrowed fields flew below them, occasionally accented with grey castles or a small town or two. Further east Juston could just make out the beginnings of the Tasmon Ocean and on the edge, where the water met land, his home city of Astria.
The thought of his home brought delicious memories of vast feasts and splendid parties, stirring the young man’s imagination. Suddenly his stomach grumbled loudly.
Truth chuckled, “perhaps we should delay our jaunt to Malgrave?” he suggested tactfully, “Maybe the bandits have moved and I can get more current information at the castle?”
Juston sighed and drew his sword, staring longingly into its mirror bright depths. “I just want to find adventure Truth, and bring about the justice that I have been called to spread.”
“Injustice and villainy will still be around tomorrow young prince,” replied the Pegasus softly, “you won’t be able to change it over night.”
Juston nodded before he straightened in the saddle. “Then we shall return home!” he announced, “hopefully there will be some lunch awaiting our return.”
***
Truth stretched out his wings to their full span, working out the minor kinks and pains after a full four days of travel. He loved Juston like a brother, but sometimes that boy could be stubborn, and it’s not like he could give his own rider a direct order. The young stallion was so engrossed in his exercise that he didn’t notice his visitor until the man spoke.
“How was the trip?” the guest asked, sitting on a nearby stool.
Truth gave the man one startled look before sinking into a bow, quite a feat for a Pegasus, “your Majesty…” he began.
“No need to be formal young Truth, your mother isn’t so with me.”
Truth nodded and rose, “but that would be because my mother is your own steed my king, your friend for almost 30 years!”
King Mercio smiled faintly as he thought back over the last 30 years. “Has it already been so long?” he asked in a voice so quiet that Truth had to strain his long ears to hear, even in his own stable. “It seems like only yesterday when we met, your mother still a gangly colt, and myself merely a child of 10.”
Truth sighed inwardly, aware that the King was often prone to daydreaming about the past, even at his relatively young age.
“You know that we are bonded yes?” Mercio asked suddenly, peering knowingly over at his son’s steed.
Truth looked a little confused, “all Pegasai are bonded to their riders,” he responded, wondering where these questions were headed. “It is how we have been for many generations, each family according to its rank.”
The King nodded, his long fingers tugging at his short, well groomed beard. “I know you do your best to keep him out of harm’s way, but still I am troubled by the reports I hear of his adventures.”
Truth gulped, yet another mannerism that he had learned from Juston, ironically in a similar situation before his father, despite Mercio’s name. Of course Grace, Truth’s own mother was not as lenient as her name suggested either, one of the running jokes within both families.
“Tell me,” Mercio continued in a soft but firm voice, “did you really fight off a tribe of Orcs in Tirna three days ago?”
“Well, your Majesty,” Truth began, trying to think of a way to answer the question diplomatically. “It wasn’t really a TRIBE…”
“Yes or no Truth,” the King demanded, before adding his ultimatum “or I’ll ask your mother to talk to you instead.”
“Yes,” Truth answered immediately. He loved his mother greatly, yet her wings were as hard as iron, and he did not think she would hold back if the King had told her the news.
Mercio sighed and then stood, walking over to lean against one of the rails along the stable.
“I thought we agreed that it was in everyone’s best interest if he didn’t get into so many battles.”
Truth nodded vigorously, “I couldn’t agree more Your Majesty, however Juston, incase you haven’t noticed, has a rather strong sense of justice.”
Mercio smiled faintly at hearing that, “he takes after his mother,” he whispered, too soft for anyone to here.
“What was that sire?”
Mercio’s smile disappeared quickly, and he slammed his fist into an open palm. “This has to stop Truth, no matter how skilled you both are at fighting monster and brigands, and I do admit you’re both very good, Juston’s life has already been decided. As the Crown Prince and only heir to my throne, his life must be preserved. No more adventures!”
“Your Majesty, if I may…” Truth began, but never finished.
“No, you may not,” Mercio interrupted. “Now your mother wants to speak to you, and it was indeed she who brought this matter to my attention. Said an eagle told her this morning. ”
Truth gulped again. “Should have known,” he muttered, “only animals could spread the word that fast.”
The king turned towards the stable’s main human door, and began to walk. However right before passing through, he stopped. “Oh and Truth,” he added with genuine gratitude in his voice. “thank you for watching over my son.”
The stallion nodded, his own response also tinged with no irony, “my pleasure your Majesty.”
***
“So I copped a real beating on your account yesterday!” Truth complained, “and you? You were merely confined to your chambers, all five of them!”
Juston patted his friend’s neck, a gesture he had been repeating a lot in the last 30 minutes. “If it makes you feel any better, all I could really do was have a bath.”
The pegasus snorted, “you’re lucky I was allowed to eat dinner, or neither of us would be flying today.”
Juston smiled, “lunch and dinner were very good,” he said, “plenty of energy before our next big adventure.”
Truth snorted, hard, and stared at his friend, “we’re leaving again?” he asked in dismay. “We just got back.”
“Father’s spies caught advanced warning of a large bandit force in Verly, apparently comprised of several bandit groups, including the one from Malgrave.”
The news caught Truth’s retort on the tip of his tongue, “really?” he asked, his large eyes narrowing. “That sounds rather unusual.”
Nodding with excitement, Juston began to grin, “that’s what I feel, almost 100 men I hear.”
“100!” Truth exclaimed, his own blood beginning to pound, “that’s more then we’ve ever fought!”
“That’s right!” replied Juston, “it will be the adventure we’ve been waiting for!”
Dimly, in the back of Truth’s mind, those words triggered a thought that perhaps he might be missing something, however the adrenaline had begun to flow, and he shrugged off the unwanted feeling. “We leaving now?” he asked excitedly.
“In a second, I got word out to Cresto and Seilos, they should be meeting us here after taking care of everything.”
Truth snorted his joy. Cresto and Seilos were young sons of powerful nobles with the kingdom, and they also rode pegasai, two of Truth’s cousin’s in fact, both of whom he had grown up with, here in the castle. The six of them had gone on several “adventures” together, enjoying themselves immensely.
A knock sounded on the stable doors, followed by three rapid beats.
“That’s them, come on.”
Juston lead his friend out through the gates and into the moonlit night, where two mounted and cloaked figures could be seen waiting.
“Ho Cresto, ho Seilos,” he called in a muted whisper.
“Well met Juston,” replied the taller of the two riders, “it is a good night for adventure!”
Again that word tried to tell Truth something, but Juston distracted him as he jumped into the saddle.
“Ready,” the young man whispered.
All three pegasai took off, the sound of their wings like a flock of birds being awaken from their nests.
When they were high enough, Juston looked around, “onward,” he called out, “for Justice!”
“Towards adventure!” added Cresto.
“To find destiny!” Seilos completed.
The flapping of their wings faded into the night as shadowy figures moved around the palace grounds; as the prince and his friends left unawares, another force had come in their place.
***
The three young lords and their magnificent steeds cut through the night sky like massive arrows. With coats of black and brown, the pegasai gave away no hint of their presence, leaving no trace of their passage. Even the moon had co-operated, hiding its full radiance behind thick clouds, forestalling any reflection off the mail shirts of Juston and his friends.
Swiftly they flew, only the sound of beating wings and pounding hearts to guide them, for they were soon to be in enemy territory. Though they had each been involved in many battles, even at their young age, the trio were excited, the prospect of adventure, danger and challenge coursing through their veins.
Verly was a town south east of the Astria. It had started as a tiny fishing outpost along one of the major rivers that emptied out into the Tasmon. The settlement’s proximity to the Malgrave forest also allowed for a lively lumber trade, evidenced by the many logs that floated down the river to dried and seasoned in preparation for sale. Over the years Verly had grown from a tiny village to a thriving, if seedy, mid-sized town with a fully complement of amenities, supplies and entertainments for any one with the money or the muscle to demand it.
Right now, it was awash with unsavory characters, and the few honest citizens left in the town were beginning to fear for their lives, baring their doors and closing their shutters. However even those precautions could not help some as violence roamed the streets.
High about the town, Juston looked at the night’s happenings, noting, with righteous anger, the many evil acts that were being committed below. With a steel hiss, he drew his sword and raised it high above his head.
“Is everything ready?” he asked his two Captains.
“As always,” Cresto replied, stringing an arrow into his bow.
Seilos nodded, unlimbering his shield and lance. “Give the signal Juston.”
The young prince smiled and nodded. Rising up in his stirrups, he grasped his sword with both hands, “for justice!”
With the sound of a roaring dragon, fire erupted from the hilt of his sword. The flame rose in dual ribbons up his blade and beyond, lighting up the entire night sky. The sudden brightness shone like the sun on the town of Verly, and even from their height, the young nobles could see men and women stare up in confusion and terror.
Already Seilos and Cresto had began their descent, each dropping like a stone.
All around them in the night sky, balls of flame appeared as other young men answered the call of their leader. Their light filled the air, showing a dozen other nobles from the other major cities, each riding a flying horse and wielding fire at their command.
“Charge!” Juston bellowed as he leveled his incandescent blade at the enemy. Truth took the hint, and folded his wings, sending the pair of them into a steep dive.
The exhilaration of acceleration was always a thrilling experience for Juston, especially right before battle. Clinging tightly to his reins, the young prince swung his flaming sword out behind him in preparation for the first attack. In his wake followed his men, the Scions of Destiny, hand picked for their willingness to fight injustice.
The fight was spectacular. Fire flashed from hands and weapons alike, filling the town with light and explosions of heat. The battle screeches of Pegasai mixed with the shouts of men as steel rang on steel and arrows filled the air.
Truth galloped over the ground, keeping his precious wings in tight, constantly on the watch for danger and enemies. Juston rode, wielding his blade, now a lance of pure fire, with dexterity, searing bandits left and right, yet nimbly avoiding the thatching of the houses.
In a short while, the battle was over, what few bandits left already running for the forest.
Slowly Juston rode to the centre of the town where the other Scions waited. They sat atop their steeds, positioned in an almost fully closed circle, expectant of their leader. Each wore armor of some sort, with the crests of their families on their coats. Some carried bows with arrows that still flamed, others spears and shields. Only Juston wielded a sword, and he sheathed that as he approached, filling the gap.
“Truly today we had a great victory,” he began, looking each of the 14 other warriors in the eye. “Be encouraged, but also alert, for until the end of days, evil and injustice shall always be our enemies!”
“AYE!” the Scions responded in a might shout. “For Justice! Toward Adventure! To find Destiny!”
As one the Pegasai snapped their wings down, causing the Scions to rise as a single unit, the complete circle spiraling upwards.
Below them the townspeople began to stream into the streets, looking up with awe and waving their thanks. Juston smiled, inwardly touched by the show of gratitude. He knew that such a reception would not greet him on his return.
Their racket preceded Juston as he rode his stallion through the forest’s track, leaping the fallen logs and ducking under over hanging branches. Up ahead he could see a light at the end of the tunnel of foliage. Urging his steed to even greater speed, he drew his sword with a flourish and a mighty shout! “Tremble and despair villains! For I have come!”
The young man’s black stallion leapt from the cover of the trees, moving from the shadows into the bright sunlight with a majestic grace. The morning’s radiance glancing off Juston’s royal blue surcoat, emblazoned with his family’s crest, and disappeared in his short raven black hair. Gleaming mail covered his arms, and his shield shone gold and blue, displaying the scales of justice and the cross of salvation, his own personal coat of arms. The sword he wielded was bright steel; hilted in gold and bound with leather, capped by a bright blue sapphire that seemed to shine with its own light in harmony with the Sun.
Looking around as he rode, the young man sheathed his sword with a small sigh, noting that once again there were yet no villains to bring to justice, no monsters to slay. In the past two days, he had yet to find anything worth his time… not even a small imp or minor goblin for him to pass the time with.
“Fear not Truth, I will not rest until I find us evil to vanquish.”
His steed snorted, truth to be told in exasperated dismay, for they had been traveling hard for the past four days. However Truth was well used to Juston’s ways, and refrained from complaining.
“Would you like to try another area of the Kingdom then?” he asked politely, “I hear there are bandits near the Malgrave Forests.”
Juston cocked his head to the side, mulling over his options “but there were definitely reports of orcs in these parts. I heard Father’s spies give the report.”
Truth snorted hard, shaking his mane in frustration. “I told you many times Juston, you should never listen to humans, they take far too long to pass on information. My source was an eagle who came straight from Malgrave, said he saw a raid.”
“Very well,” Juston acknowledged, “to Malgrave we shall go then,” the young man patted his friend’s neck, “then I promise we’ll head back home, you deserve a break.”
Truth sighed with content, “glad you noticed,” he quipped. “You ready?”
Juston nodded, holding on tightly to his reins. “Ready.”
Truth shook out his mane, then let the motion pass on down his neck and into his body. Behind his rider, two huge way unfurled, stretching to their full wingspan of 12 feet before they slowly rose up.
“I think you’ve grown!” remarked Juston as he leaned forward. “You didn’t cover the road when we were coming in.”
“Must be all the weight I’ve been carrying,” Truth replied with a smile. Without another word, the Pegasus snapped his wings down, thrusting the pair of them into the air.
“Whooooeeee!” shouted Juston, pushing his fist into the air as if this was his first time flying. Well used to his friend’s childlike ways, Truth refrained from commenting, and set his course with the sun against his left shoulder, heading south towards the Forest of Malgrave.
The sky was a serene and majestic blue, dotted occasionally with fluffy white clouds that seemed to bounce along in the breeze. Whenever Truth began to feel the sun’s rays becoming too warm, he would whip into a passing cloud, trying his hardest to startle Juston, and emerge from the other side refreshed and very wet. Of course his rider always complained, but really loved the experience, and they both knew it.
Green meadows and furrowed fields flew below them, occasionally accented with grey castles or a small town or two. Further east Juston could just make out the beginnings of the Tasmon Ocean and on the edge, where the water met land, his home city of Astria.
The thought of his home brought delicious memories of vast feasts and splendid parties, stirring the young man’s imagination. Suddenly his stomach grumbled loudly.
Truth chuckled, “perhaps we should delay our jaunt to Malgrave?” he suggested tactfully, “Maybe the bandits have moved and I can get more current information at the castle?”
Juston sighed and drew his sword, staring longingly into its mirror bright depths. “I just want to find adventure Truth, and bring about the justice that I have been called to spread.”
“Injustice and villainy will still be around tomorrow young prince,” replied the Pegasus softly, “you won’t be able to change it over night.”
Juston nodded before he straightened in the saddle. “Then we shall return home!” he announced, “hopefully there will be some lunch awaiting our return.”
***
Truth stretched out his wings to their full span, working out the minor kinks and pains after a full four days of travel. He loved Juston like a brother, but sometimes that boy could be stubborn, and it’s not like he could give his own rider a direct order. The young stallion was so engrossed in his exercise that he didn’t notice his visitor until the man spoke.
“How was the trip?” the guest asked, sitting on a nearby stool.
Truth gave the man one startled look before sinking into a bow, quite a feat for a Pegasus, “your Majesty…” he began.
“No need to be formal young Truth, your mother isn’t so with me.”
Truth nodded and rose, “but that would be because my mother is your own steed my king, your friend for almost 30 years!”
King Mercio smiled faintly as he thought back over the last 30 years. “Has it already been so long?” he asked in a voice so quiet that Truth had to strain his long ears to hear, even in his own stable. “It seems like only yesterday when we met, your mother still a gangly colt, and myself merely a child of 10.”
Truth sighed inwardly, aware that the King was often prone to daydreaming about the past, even at his relatively young age.
“You know that we are bonded yes?” Mercio asked suddenly, peering knowingly over at his son’s steed.
Truth looked a little confused, “all Pegasai are bonded to their riders,” he responded, wondering where these questions were headed. “It is how we have been for many generations, each family according to its rank.”
The King nodded, his long fingers tugging at his short, well groomed beard. “I know you do your best to keep him out of harm’s way, but still I am troubled by the reports I hear of his adventures.”
Truth gulped, yet another mannerism that he had learned from Juston, ironically in a similar situation before his father, despite Mercio’s name. Of course Grace, Truth’s own mother was not as lenient as her name suggested either, one of the running jokes within both families.
“Tell me,” Mercio continued in a soft but firm voice, “did you really fight off a tribe of Orcs in Tirna three days ago?”
“Well, your Majesty,” Truth began, trying to think of a way to answer the question diplomatically. “It wasn’t really a TRIBE…”
“Yes or no Truth,” the King demanded, before adding his ultimatum “or I’ll ask your mother to talk to you instead.”
“Yes,” Truth answered immediately. He loved his mother greatly, yet her wings were as hard as iron, and he did not think she would hold back if the King had told her the news.
Mercio sighed and then stood, walking over to lean against one of the rails along the stable.
“I thought we agreed that it was in everyone’s best interest if he didn’t get into so many battles.”
Truth nodded vigorously, “I couldn’t agree more Your Majesty, however Juston, incase you haven’t noticed, has a rather strong sense of justice.”
Mercio smiled faintly at hearing that, “he takes after his mother,” he whispered, too soft for anyone to here.
“What was that sire?”
Mercio’s smile disappeared quickly, and he slammed his fist into an open palm. “This has to stop Truth, no matter how skilled you both are at fighting monster and brigands, and I do admit you’re both very good, Juston’s life has already been decided. As the Crown Prince and only heir to my throne, his life must be preserved. No more adventures!”
“Your Majesty, if I may…” Truth began, but never finished.
“No, you may not,” Mercio interrupted. “Now your mother wants to speak to you, and it was indeed she who brought this matter to my attention. Said an eagle told her this morning. ”
Truth gulped again. “Should have known,” he muttered, “only animals could spread the word that fast.”
The king turned towards the stable’s main human door, and began to walk. However right before passing through, he stopped. “Oh and Truth,” he added with genuine gratitude in his voice. “thank you for watching over my son.”
The stallion nodded, his own response also tinged with no irony, “my pleasure your Majesty.”
***
“So I copped a real beating on your account yesterday!” Truth complained, “and you? You were merely confined to your chambers, all five of them!”
Juston patted his friend’s neck, a gesture he had been repeating a lot in the last 30 minutes. “If it makes you feel any better, all I could really do was have a bath.”
The pegasus snorted, “you’re lucky I was allowed to eat dinner, or neither of us would be flying today.”
Juston smiled, “lunch and dinner were very good,” he said, “plenty of energy before our next big adventure.”
Truth snorted, hard, and stared at his friend, “we’re leaving again?” he asked in dismay. “We just got back.”
“Father’s spies caught advanced warning of a large bandit force in Verly, apparently comprised of several bandit groups, including the one from Malgrave.”
The news caught Truth’s retort on the tip of his tongue, “really?” he asked, his large eyes narrowing. “That sounds rather unusual.”
Nodding with excitement, Juston began to grin, “that’s what I feel, almost 100 men I hear.”
“100!” Truth exclaimed, his own blood beginning to pound, “that’s more then we’ve ever fought!”
“That’s right!” replied Juston, “it will be the adventure we’ve been waiting for!”
Dimly, in the back of Truth’s mind, those words triggered a thought that perhaps he might be missing something, however the adrenaline had begun to flow, and he shrugged off the unwanted feeling. “We leaving now?” he asked excitedly.
“In a second, I got word out to Cresto and Seilos, they should be meeting us here after taking care of everything.”
Truth snorted his joy. Cresto and Seilos were young sons of powerful nobles with the kingdom, and they also rode pegasai, two of Truth’s cousin’s in fact, both of whom he had grown up with, here in the castle. The six of them had gone on several “adventures” together, enjoying themselves immensely.
A knock sounded on the stable doors, followed by three rapid beats.
“That’s them, come on.”
Juston lead his friend out through the gates and into the moonlit night, where two mounted and cloaked figures could be seen waiting.
“Ho Cresto, ho Seilos,” he called in a muted whisper.
“Well met Juston,” replied the taller of the two riders, “it is a good night for adventure!”
Again that word tried to tell Truth something, but Juston distracted him as he jumped into the saddle.
“Ready,” the young man whispered.
All three pegasai took off, the sound of their wings like a flock of birds being awaken from their nests.
When they were high enough, Juston looked around, “onward,” he called out, “for Justice!”
“Towards adventure!” added Cresto.
“To find destiny!” Seilos completed.
The flapping of their wings faded into the night as shadowy figures moved around the palace grounds; as the prince and his friends left unawares, another force had come in their place.
***
The three young lords and their magnificent steeds cut through the night sky like massive arrows. With coats of black and brown, the pegasai gave away no hint of their presence, leaving no trace of their passage. Even the moon had co-operated, hiding its full radiance behind thick clouds, forestalling any reflection off the mail shirts of Juston and his friends.
Swiftly they flew, only the sound of beating wings and pounding hearts to guide them, for they were soon to be in enemy territory. Though they had each been involved in many battles, even at their young age, the trio were excited, the prospect of adventure, danger and challenge coursing through their veins.
Verly was a town south east of the Astria. It had started as a tiny fishing outpost along one of the major rivers that emptied out into the Tasmon. The settlement’s proximity to the Malgrave forest also allowed for a lively lumber trade, evidenced by the many logs that floated down the river to dried and seasoned in preparation for sale. Over the years Verly had grown from a tiny village to a thriving, if seedy, mid-sized town with a fully complement of amenities, supplies and entertainments for any one with the money or the muscle to demand it.
Right now, it was awash with unsavory characters, and the few honest citizens left in the town were beginning to fear for their lives, baring their doors and closing their shutters. However even those precautions could not help some as violence roamed the streets.
High about the town, Juston looked at the night’s happenings, noting, with righteous anger, the many evil acts that were being committed below. With a steel hiss, he drew his sword and raised it high above his head.
“Is everything ready?” he asked his two Captains.
“As always,” Cresto replied, stringing an arrow into his bow.
Seilos nodded, unlimbering his shield and lance. “Give the signal Juston.”
The young prince smiled and nodded. Rising up in his stirrups, he grasped his sword with both hands, “for justice!”
With the sound of a roaring dragon, fire erupted from the hilt of his sword. The flame rose in dual ribbons up his blade and beyond, lighting up the entire night sky. The sudden brightness shone like the sun on the town of Verly, and even from their height, the young nobles could see men and women stare up in confusion and terror.
Already Seilos and Cresto had began their descent, each dropping like a stone.
All around them in the night sky, balls of flame appeared as other young men answered the call of their leader. Their light filled the air, showing a dozen other nobles from the other major cities, each riding a flying horse and wielding fire at their command.
“Charge!” Juston bellowed as he leveled his incandescent blade at the enemy. Truth took the hint, and folded his wings, sending the pair of them into a steep dive.
The exhilaration of acceleration was always a thrilling experience for Juston, especially right before battle. Clinging tightly to his reins, the young prince swung his flaming sword out behind him in preparation for the first attack. In his wake followed his men, the Scions of Destiny, hand picked for their willingness to fight injustice.
The fight was spectacular. Fire flashed from hands and weapons alike, filling the town with light and explosions of heat. The battle screeches of Pegasai mixed with the shouts of men as steel rang on steel and arrows filled the air.
Truth galloped over the ground, keeping his precious wings in tight, constantly on the watch for danger and enemies. Juston rode, wielding his blade, now a lance of pure fire, with dexterity, searing bandits left and right, yet nimbly avoiding the thatching of the houses.
In a short while, the battle was over, what few bandits left already running for the forest.
Slowly Juston rode to the centre of the town where the other Scions waited. They sat atop their steeds, positioned in an almost fully closed circle, expectant of their leader. Each wore armor of some sort, with the crests of their families on their coats. Some carried bows with arrows that still flamed, others spears and shields. Only Juston wielded a sword, and he sheathed that as he approached, filling the gap.
“Truly today we had a great victory,” he began, looking each of the 14 other warriors in the eye. “Be encouraged, but also alert, for until the end of days, evil and injustice shall always be our enemies!”
“AYE!” the Scions responded in a might shout. “For Justice! Toward Adventure! To find Destiny!”
As one the Pegasai snapped their wings down, causing the Scions to rise as a single unit, the complete circle spiraling upwards.
Below them the townspeople began to stream into the streets, looking up with awe and waving their thanks. Juston smiled, inwardly touched by the show of gratitude. He knew that such a reception would not greet him on his return.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Chapter 1 - Orion's World
Just a summary of an old story... collating the pieces together to illustrate my writing. This is one of my better starts I think.
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Before the torch he stood, eye closed, but ears clearly hearing the sounds made by the guttering flame. Shadows that he couldn’t see flickered along the wall beckoning silently to anyone who would notice. Ignoring the room around, dark but for the light of that one torch, the young man, tall and lean, braced sandaled feet on the ground.
He could feel the heat on his face, the swirl of the air caused by the convection current… but he couldn’t sense what he sought, where the targets stood.
With a disheartened sigh he let his shoulders sag, slowly opening his eyes to see the circle of wooden poles around him, each topped by small sheaves of grass.
“It’s no use, I can’t see them ‘rael, I don’t think it’s going to work.”
Stepping from the shadows outside the circle, the woman named Azrael pulled back her hood, revealing her loosely tied raven black hair which subtly reflected the light. A slight smile played around her lips as she addressed her whining charge.
“You’ve been saying that for days Orion, yet there isn’t any doubt, you’ve been tested and you will use your power. We’ll stay here all month if need be.”
Pausing to regard the young man who, at 17 years of age, could look over her head easily, she sighed. “Just remember what I taught you, feel the world around you…follow the air.”
Orion looked doubtful, but he shrugged once more with resignation and turned to face the torch again. Ever since he had started to feel the convection current flowing up off the fire, he had thought that something would happen. Yet that had been a week ago, and nothing had changed in the last 10 days.
“Remember, follow the air!” Azrael called as she stepped back into the shadows.
Once more Orion closed his eyes, feeling for the heat and the flow of the currents that moved around him. As the hot air rose above the torch, it pulled in cooler air from the sides to replace the vacuum. This created air flow through the wooden sticks.
As Orion followed the air flows upwards, he suddenly had a new idea. Instead of tracing the air up and waiting for it to come down, perhaps it would be quicker to follow it down and outward from that. Sure it would be harder, moving between air points instead of simply following one, but at least it would be less boring then waiting for air to cool.
Beads of sweat started to form on his back as he laboriously forced his mind back down the air flow, towards the source of heat. He could feel the air streaming from the sides, and even further… just beyond his mind’s eye… obstructions.
The momentary distraction caused by that sense of achievement was all it took. Without warning, his consciousness plunged into the flame.
“ARGH!” He screamed, his mind surrounded by heat… and fire that scorched his soul.
“Orion!” Gasped Azrael, leaping forward and beginning her Wind Weaving. Without thought, her tendrils of air locked around his limbs, as she prepared to pull him towards her.
Then she stopped… amazed and truly frightened.
Orion’s hair, black as the night sky, was slowly being changed, from the roots up. A bright blondish orange climbed the straight and spiky hair, reaching all the way to the tips.
The boy’s back had begun to arch back, and his arms were flung out to the side, fingers curled into fists.
“AHHHHRG!!!” Screamed Orion again, and with that sound, his hands unfurled, bursting into flames.
“What in the world…?” exclaimed Azrael as she watched helplessly. She knew that pulling Orion away from the torch could be dangerous, yet the boy seemed to be in a tremendous amount of pain.
As suddenly as it began, Orion suddenly went limp, and dropped to the floor, all fire gone from his body. Smoke streamed from his clothing, from his fists, still orange hair and back.
Azrael quickly moved in to check his vital signs. His pulse fluttered slightly, but it still beat strong enough to show he was in no danger of dying. His breathing was rapid but steady and there were no burns on his skin.
Standing straight, the Wind Weaver called once again on her art, and using threads of air, she carefully laid the boy on his back and lifted him up. It was close to effortless for the small woman, so easily did the flows come, but still she concentrated just like she taught her students, and slowly began to walk out of the room.
To the naked eye, Orion’s limp body floated behind her, no longer smoking, as she made her way to his bed chamber. Once she reached the spartan room, she laid him down, tucked him in and left. Sleep, she hoped, would revive him. Anything else, she was afraid to try.
The next morning Azrael rose with the Sun and went immediately to check on her pupil. Surprisingly he wasn’t in the room. Despair and anxiety coursed through her veins for a split second, before she heard the sounds of sandaled feet padding around the garden outside.
Walking outside into the morning sunlight, she took a moment for her eyes to adjust.
There stood Orion… dressed in his customary black Acolyte’s uniform. His bright orange hair, caught the sunlight… and it almost seemed like his head burned with a torch’s fire. The young man was staring hard into the small pool in which several fishes swam. It became clear, as Azrael approached, that he was looking at his reflection.
“Morning Orion.” She greeted him, stopping a few feet away.
“Am I dreaming Az… Ouch!” He declared, rubbing the place where Azrael has flicked his ear.
“Morning Azrael!” The teacher remonstrated, crossing her arms and glaring at her student. “Training in weather arts isn’t the only thing I’m meant to teach you know.”
“Sorry, morning Azrael,” Orion mumbled before quickly continuing on. “Have you seen this?? Look at my hair!! What happened?? Is this some sorta joke? I don’t remember passing out last night…”
Azrael looked thoughtful for a moment. “You had an accident during training. You caught on fire. I don’t know how.”
Orion’s answering looking was pure astonishment, touched with suspicion. “You’re serious right? This isn’t like the time you told me that the male Acolytes roomed with the female ones.”
Azrael was torn between laughing at that memory and the gravity of the situation. As a result, only a slight smile touched her face, “I’m serious Orion… I think you’ve become an Embermage instead of a Wind Weaver.”
Understanding slowly dawned on the young man, followed swiftly by an expression of awe. “There hasn’t been an Embermage in 200 years!” he declared.
“Correct,” nodded Azrael, smiling at the reaction her charge had plastered on his face. “and as such, there isn’t anyone who can teach you how to control your gift. As your teacher, I will try. However a lot of the work will be your own. I wonder if you’ll be up to it.”
Orion considered his teacher for a moment, then smiled. “My brother told me that life was very simple. We make choices and don’t look back.”
Azrael raised her eyebrow “That doesn’t really answer my question.”
Orion smiled, “that’s what I used to think… but it does in a way. Once you make a choice… it’s your job to follow it through. I’m ready to learn. After all, my brother is the greatest Hydromancer in this City, maybe I’ll be able to show him that I can do things too.”
Azrael smiled again, this time a secret and knowing smile. Sibling rivalry was one of the strongest motivations between brothers, or sisters for that matter. She would have to tell Cerion the news. Her fiancé would be proud of his younger brother, though he would never admit it.
“Alright, take the day off, and I’ll do some research. There are plenty of manuals at Aeris Keep, I’ll see what I can find. Until then, try not to burn things down, and don’t tell anyone ok?”
Orion grinned broadly, showing a startling but not uncommon resemblance to his older brother. “Sure thing ‘rael, you can count on me!”
Azrael sighed deeply. How many times had she heard that phrase… it always meant trouble.
Talleth wandered down the row of shops, smiling broadly and whistling the tune that his father had taught him so many years ago. With his thumbs tucked into his belt and the happy mood he projected, many of the market’s patrons stopped to give him a smile or a wave. One store keeper, a big man with a cheerful grin, even went so far as to toss the tall youth an apple, one which was deftly caught.
“Thank you my good man!” he called, taking a big bite of the juicy red apple.
With an even broader smile, the young man continued down the market, no longer whistling, as he savoured the tasty apple. Things tasted sweeter when they were free.
Behind him a commotion began, resolving itself into the shape of several armed men running down the street. With a glance backward, Talleth stepped to the side, letting the City Patrol pass by, even casting a curious glance after them.
“What do you suppose the fuss is?” He asked a woman to his left.
“It has to be that bandit, Varako,” announced the rather rotund lady, nodding sharply. “He’s been robbing banks, stealing from the city’s treasury, and even had the nerve to steal the Prince’s gift for his sweet heart, the lovely Gabriella.
Talleth’s eyebrows rose slightly. “I heard that the Lady received the present.” He replied offhand, before taking another bite from the apple.
The woman nodded. “Aye, that she did, with a note saying that it was from a secret admirer, one who would always cherish and protect her.” The old lady’s voice crackled with derision. “The nerve of that villain!”
Talleth laughed good naturedly, “Right you are Ma’am, perhaps it’s time something was done yes?”
“High time indeed!”
With a tip of his cap, Talleth moved on down the street, following the flow of people who filled in the wake of the Patrol. With his roguish smile and confident manner, many of the young ladies rewarded him with coy glances and lowered eye lids. It helped that he was quite handsome too, with well groom mid length black hair and a striking green doublet.
The city’s Bell began to tool.
“Ahh,” sighed Talleth knowingly, stepping smoothly into a side street. “The Prince has come.”
Walking further down, the broad shouldered young man glanced around quickly to make sure he was along. Then without a word, he vanished.
***
Cerion stared hard at the mirror, trying to figure out what was wrong with the way his hair was arranged. Short spikes were out of the question, too much like his brother, yet that only left him with long hair that covered his face, something that his fiancé despised.
“You know, if you stay in her any longer Cer, you’ll start putting down roots.”
Not surprised by the intrusion, Cerion stepped to the side to put his beloved Azreal into view.
“Am I really that late?” he asked, sounding slightly plaintive.
“Not really, however I know how long you like to stare at your captivating beauty, so I thought I’d drop by. The bells will sound in a few minutes.
“Minutes!” Spluttered the hydromancer, fumbling desperately for oil to add to his already slick plumage.
“Relax dear, let me,” suggested Azreal as she began to work her wind weaving.
“I thought I told you that I didn’t like it when…”
“Hush dear,” said Azreal as she called a mask into the room from the wardrobe behind.
“Why do I have to wear a mask?” He whined
“Because it’s a masquerade dear.” Replied his beloved calmly. “What is it with your family, you guys love to complain.”
“Really?” How’s Orion? Still learning to control the fire?”
“I think he’s getting the hang of it. I haven’t had to suffocate him in about three days now, and he promised not to combust while we’re at the party.”
Cerion chuckled. “Party? It’s a coronation ceremony my darling! You know, the biggest social and political event this country has seen in almost a decade?”
Azreal laughed lightly, a rippling and extraordinarily pleasing sound that made Cerion’s heart beat a little faster.
“I’d hope so; I don’t do my hair like this everyday.”
For the first time since she had stepped into the room Cerion actually took notice of his soon to be wife. At that moment, he resolved to do so more often.
Azreal was beautiful, nay exquisite. Her gown was deep blue velvet that managed to shimmer in the light of the candles which surrounded them, yet it didn’t shine so brightly as to detract from the lady herself. The hem crumpled into the floor, yet even the crumples seemed like waves from which she was rising to display her remarkable beauty. Her long black hair was delicately piled in soft braids that seemed to intertwine with remarkable complexity and grace, and it ended in a cascade of brilliant curls which both reached long past her shoulders, yet hinted at the curve of her neck. Small diamonds and pearls were woven into her hair, and at her throat was a brilliant sapphire pendant, cut in the shape of a diamond, with a swirl of white gold as the setting.
“All done honey,” said Azreal as she broke the three minute long silence. “You can pick your jaw up on the way out.” Without another word, the Wind Weaver left, leaving the swishing of her gown behind her.
Cerion rubbed his chin ruefully as he strode out of his private bathroom. To himself he thought. ‘I am the LUCKIEST man on earth… and let no one forgot it!’
***
The winds that whipped around the Central Steeple were vicious, cold like ice and fast like lightning. Still Talleth didn’t mind too much, he was used to standing in high places.
He no longer whistled the tune that he had in the after, yet still the melody of that song ran over in his head, the one verse that his father had taught him as a child. It was a re-assuring comfort for the young man, almost like his mental ritual for relaxation.
Taking a look at the city’s clock tower just to his right, the soberly dressed figure counted down the minutes in his head. ‘Any moment now.’
Right on cue, a group of three individuals stepped out from a carriage at the foot of the steeple. All three wore masks, yet the burning red hair of the first to descend gave them away. Even in the dark, Talleth’s eye sight was sharp, and the colors stood out like it was day to him.
Straightening his cloak’s collar, he began to move towards the palace.
With a trade mark grin he began to walk down the roof. “Easy as…”
Suddenly a tile shot out from below his feet, sending the normally self assured young man flying.
‘Damn tiles!’ he thought as he tumbled over the edge. Far below he could see the ground rushing up to greet him. This would hurt a lot.
***
Prince Elstridge peered out at the gathering throng of nobles, politicians and important personalities who now moved with grace and pomp through the Palace ballroom. Drops of sweat, no longer content to bead on his brow, now began to form on his back and his mouth was suddenly very dry.
“Don’t fret at the curtain son!” Called his mother, calmly sitting on a plump teal couch, sipping tea from a porcelain cup, “come drink your tea?”
Elstridge resisted the urge to scream at his mother, and instead walked over to the matching chair which was off to his right.
“For the 100th time mother, I’m not fretting!” He exclaimed, defiantly taking a cup of tea from the table.”
“Is that so?” The stately woman replied. Turning her head slightly to look at her obviously stressed son she continued. “Then why are you shaking so much?”
The rattle of the tea cup hitting the saucer stopped suddenly as Elstridge willed his hand to stop moving immediately.
“I meant your knees son.”
With an increasingly red face, the boy realized that his knees were knocking together. Standing up suddenly, he almost spilt the tea on his shirt, putting it down just in time to avoid the splash.
“I don’t want to be King mother!”
Elmaria Nina Royale thought back to the days when she had been much younger. Although she wasn’t considered old at the age of 46, already she could feel her face changing, and the gray hairs were sprouting quickly matching the blonde that were there first. Still her memory was sharp. When she had been but 17, she remembered well the day of her brother’s coronation and how he too had railed against his own crowning. It was hardly coincidence that her dear brother Elliam had become the greatest ruler that Wilderia had ever known. Well, the enlisting of the alliance with the Keep had definitely helped, but that was only marginal, at least in her own mind.
“Elstridge Liam Royale!” She breathed in her most commanding and authoritative tone. “You have been chosen by the people of Wilderia to lead them into this next season of this country. You have been raised from birth KNOWING that this day might come. Now, at the age of eighteen you WILL ascend the throne that I have minded in my brother’s steed, and you WILL rule with honor, with valor and with the COURAGE that befits a member of our family!”
Elstridge sighed deeply, mouthing the words that his mother had been repeating for the last three months whenever he brought up the topic. He knew she was right. Yet how could he tell her that it was not his right to rule? Or that he didn’t feel up to it. She wouldn’t understand.
“But…”
“I will brook no argument Elstridge! The ceremony begins in 15 minutes!”
The Prince gave up, his shoulders slumping forward. “Yes ma’am.”
***
Orion loved the palace. It was one of the few places where he had grown up, playing and then later pestering his older brother. Despite the seven year age difference and the many responsibilities that Cerion carried, the older of the two brothers always found time to spend with his little shadow; patiently explaining to him the intricacies of weather art or having water fights with equal facility. Indeed the palace staff encouraged such behavior, out of respect for Cerion’s father if nothing else, but also from a genuine affection for Orion, one that everyone seemed to have.
Cerion had a rather more adult view of the place, though he still loved it just as much as his brother. The receptacles for all knowledge and training pertaining to Weather arts may lie in the keep, but it was at the palace where the majority of Wind Weavers and Hydromancers met during the day, completing assignments for nobility, communicating with their Council Members and, of course, gossiping like the other palace denizens.
However for Cerion, this building was where he had found the one thing that he had always sought, a beautiful woman to spend his life with. Azreal.
“You’ve got that look again Cer.” Commented Orion as he held the door for his brother.
“You wouldn’t understand Orion.” Stated Azreal, even as her fiancé offered her his hand with a charming smile. Her dimples made a brief appearance as she continued, “you’re just a bit young.”
Cerion chuckled at the small scowl that crossed his brother’s face. Better then anyone he knew that his brother hated to be talked down to, and even at the age of 24, he still treated his younger brother as an equal in all things. That would hold even truer now.
“Don’t tease him Azreal; my brother wants to enjoy the night! You never know, tonight he could meet someone special. Or one of his many “friends”, you never know with this boy. ”
Orion strove mightily to keep from returning that comment with a sharp smack on his brother’s back, so much so that smoke began to trickle out his ears.
Azreal laughed in whimsical delight. “You look so cute Orion! Would you like work in our kitchen? You’d be a great stove!”
His angry front crumpled under his own humor and so instead the new Embermage decided to retreat with a parting shot. “I give up, how can one so young compete with two wise old Council members? Maybe inside I’ll meet a long lost sibling or someone to help me get you guys back.”
Azreal and Cerion laughed good naturedly, and Orion returned their smile. As they began their ascent up the stairs, the wind began to howl more fiercely.
“Say dear…” began Cerion, raising a hand to his hair. Orion began to laugh even as Azreal sighed. “No problems darling.” She muttered, rolling her eyes slightly, even as she smiled along with Orion.
With only a thought, Azreal began to weave a shield around them to block the gale. The barrier was almost complete when Orion’s head jerked up. “Do you hear that?”
Cerion glanced at his brother before returning his gaze to the pocket mirror that he carried. “Hear what?”
Suddenly something hit the top of Azreal’s Wind Bowl, and then with a pop, the entire structure dissolved, bringing in a fresh wave of cold air and a body that collapsed into the middle of the three of them.
“That, I guess,” Orion said.
“We’re going to be late for the ceremony you realize?”
Cerion barely acknowledged his brother’s remark, concentrating as he was at his examination. Instead Azrael answered in his place.
“I’m sure Elstridge will forgive you for being late Orion, but we DO have to take care of this person you know… cause he’s dying.”
“But we’ll be late!” moaned Orion.
“I see that I also have to teach you something about priorities,” Azrael, noted as she turned back to Cerion. “How is he darling?”
Cerion took a deep breath before replying. “There’s some internal bleeding, but nothing that I can’t fix. Several of his ribs have been cracked as well, but thankfully none of them punctured his lung. I think I can fix him up, but we’ll need to take him inside.” Orion nodded emphatically to that last statement.
“Will he be able to stand the lifting?” asked Azrael, peering at the limp body.
“Shouldn’t be a problem, the ribs aren’t poking anything vital.”
The Hydromancer turned to regard his younger brother and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Chill Orion, if you can these days, we still have plenty of time, the ceremony doesn’t start for another ten minutes!”
Orion was bursting with frustration. “Exactly, ten minutes isn’t that long you know.”
Even as they had been talking, Azrael carefully picked up the unconscious man and they hurried into the castle.
***
9.32 minutes later
***
“I think I’ve stopped the bleeding and set the ribs,” Cerion announced, tired as he was from the precise exertions and pressure he had just undergone.
Azrael handed her fiancé a soft cloth. “Good work honey. Do you think it’s safe to leave him here?”
Cerion looked around, “sure, the office of a Council member should be as secure as any other part of the castle. Now let’s get to that coronation… where’s Orion?”
Checking herself quickly in the many mirrors that hung in Cerion’s office, Azrael glanced at her beloved’s reflection. “Didn’t you notice? He left while you were operating, made some pretentious excuse about using the bathroom.” She paused to regard her own reflection and then turned around, satisfied with the result. “To be fair to the boy though, it’s not everyday one of your best friends becomes King.”
Cerion nodded sagely, also checking his hair in a different mirror. “How do I look dear?” he asked as he absently smoothed down some hair behind his ears.
“Fine darling, but we really should go, or we’ll be late.”
“Right right, in a mom…”
“Now Cerion.” The tone used left no room for disagreement.
“At once dear.” Cerion replied meekly.
***
The moment of truth had come, and Elstridge was still of the opinion that it was all a big mistake. A view that was not shared by his mother, or the troop of soldiers who were his “Honor Guard”. Try as he might, it seemed like fate had conspired to force him through this process. Even so, that didn’t stop him from persevering against all odds…
“I’m sure you can see my point Captain.” He concluded to the Knight in charge, even as they walked down the hallway to the Ballroom entrance.
“Of course, your Highness.”
“That’s good, glad to know we’re on the same page.”
“As am I, your Highness.”
“It would be most embarrassing.”
“I agree, your Highness.”
“So will you let me go to the bathroom then?” A touch of hope crept into Elstridge’s voice.
“Absolutely not, your Highness.” The answer was final and very deliberate.
The Prince sighed deeply, something he had taken to doing a lot more of recently. Commands, requests and even outright deceit had all failed to provide the necessary components for his escape, and now he could see the doors of the Palace’s grand Ballroom, where over 500 people waited for him to arrive.
“Ho Elstridge!” shouted a familiar voice, causing the dejected young Prince to lift his head. Catching sight of Orion, still with his strange new hair style, a smile touched the face of the Prince.
“Ho Orion! I would have thought that you’d be inside already with the rest of the nobles, waiting for me to clap that big crown on my head.”
Orion looked down at his friend from the second story. With a deft jump, slide and roll he vaulted over the banister and down one of the many marble columns that supported the Palace. He drew level to the Guard, all of whom knew him, and looked quizzically at the Prince. “Actually they put it on for you, you know, that’s why it’s called a coronation… a crowning ceremony.”
Elstridge rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at his childhood friend. “Thanks for the reminder.”
Orion flashed a grin, “you still upset about it?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Of course!” I don’t want to be King!” complained Elstridge, even as they were ten meters from the Ballroom. “Could you work some of that Wind Weaver magic to get me out of here?”
Orion raised his hands to show his good intentions as the attention of the Honor Guard shifted suddenly. “I’d love to help, but I haven’t had much luck with the Wind Weaving lately, and plus I wouldn’t want to upset your mother now. Azrael AND Cerion would kill me if I did.”
Elstridge sighed again. “Then all is lost, you were my last hope.”
Orion chuckled. “Don’t worry about it so much. One day we’ll look back at this and laugh about how stubborn and stupid you were.”
His friend’s reply was tinged with dark foreboding, “or we’ll all be homeless and starving, either one yea?”
Orion laughed again and then scampered up the stairs to enter the Ballroom’s balcony. “Good luck!” he called as he disappeared around the corner.
“It’s not me,” muttered the Prince with a mental sigh, “it’s the Kingdom that I have to run.”
***
“Phew I think we made it.” Huffed Cerion, hand placed on the lintel of the doorway leading onto the balcony. “I don’t hear any trumpets.”
At his words, the trumpeters that lined the red carpet leading to the throne began to sound their fanfare announcing the entrance of the King.
“I think you’re deaf dear,” said Azrael with a massive grin even as she breezed past her rather less fit fiancé.
“But…” spluttered Cerion even as he also walked in.
The coronation had begun.
***
The trumpets blared their fanfare, a song of triumph and celebration. As the nobles ceased their polite conversations and turned to look at the door, the heralds finished their piece with a flourish.
Elstridge wanted to kill them, or at the very least inflict some amount of pain so that they could suffer along with him. Instead he kept silence.
Slowly the doors began to ease open, swinging inwards to reveal the Palace’s Grand Ballroom where the coronations of the past had been held. Elstridge could only tremble as he witnessed the seeming thousands of people who had come out to watch his final judgment, the end of all that was good in his life… the ultimate loss of freedom.
Resignation began to set in, as he realized that despite his best efforts and months of planning, he would still have to walk down the length of that hall and face the music, quite literally even. It was a sad awakening, and his shoulders slumped forward miserably.
“Let’s get this over with.” He mumbled and began to walk through the doors.
The trumpeters took up their fanfare again as the Prince walked by, their horns aimed right at the ears of Elstridge and his Honor Guard. In other circumstances he might have complained about the noise, but at this point, deep in the depths of his despair, he barely noticed. The guard did though, and there were several faces with gritted teeth if he had bothered to look.
On the other end of the Ballroom, flowing down like a stone wave, a massive staircase rose, leading up to the second story, and the doorway through which the reigning King would normally enter to sit on the Thrones at the foot of the stairs. Behind that door were the royal family’s personal chambers. It was sometimes joked that the feature should be called the “stairway to heaven” but the general consent was that the name lacked the dignity normal expected of royalty.
All these random facts flew through Elstridge’s mind as he trudged down the red carpet, absently acknowledging the waves and nods that he received along the way. Looking up, he noted several Wind Weavers, each having decided that standing on the floor was for other people, seated on nothing but air and enjoy the great view that their elevation provided. Idly the Prince wondered if the ladies among the Weavers know that anyone who felt like it could look up their dresses. Perhaps that was why some of the younger nobles weren’t paying much attention to him. The thought brought a sad smile to his face
The Throne approached him, even as he drew near to the throne. Today it was all over. His dreams would be shattered. Inwardly he knew that with great power came equally great responsibilities and as such those in positions like his often had a lot less say on their choices then might be thought. However since the time he had understood the role he would play, the young man had spent all his resources in trying to avoid it. However in the end, it was all for naught… this was his destiny… this was his fate.
The trumpets fell silent as he stepped onto the dais and turned to face the crowd before him. The Honor Guard drew up in formation behind and before him, standing at strict attention.
The court waited.
And waited…
Even though his gloom and hopelessness, Elstridge realized that something was wrong. Looking around quickly he wondered if he was meant to say something.
Suddenly a voice piped up, cultured, urbane and slightly embarrassed. “Oh that’s right! It’s my turn!”
Out of the first few rows of on-lookers burst the familiar sight of Tricolum Cornelius. Elstridge had know Tricolum since birth as the man who had been Prime Minister under his grandfather and one of the senior advisors to Elliam, the recently departed King. As the oldest and most respected of all the City’s nobles, it was his right and duty to preside over the coronation ceremony, even if he was 92 and very very forgetful in the short term.
“Sorry there lad, forgot I was up!” Whispered Tricolum as he bustled up to Elstridge.
The young Prince could help but smile at his oldest friend’s words and nodded. “That’s alright, I’m not in a rush anyway.”
“Splendid!” declared Tricolum, totally missing the meaning behind Elstridge’s words, “I’ll begin the ceremony now.”
Tricolum turned to face the gathered peoples. He spoke in a booming voice that belied his frail exterior and dopey face.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, nobles, citizens, Wind Weavers, Hydromancers and anyone else who I’ve missed, welcome to the Palace on this wonderful and special evening.”
He paused to take a breath before continuing, the cadences and sounds of his voice masterfully played to make his words come alive.
“It is my pleasure to introduce Prince Elstridge Liam Royale, chosen successor and nephew to our former King, Elliam Newton Royalle. In the absence of a direct descendant from King Elliam, it had been decreed by both the Council of the Keep and Court of Nobles that Prince Elstridge will be next in line for the throne and would ascend during his 18th year. That year has come, and now I would like to present your Crown Prince, Elstridge Ton Royale!”
A wave of applause exploded from the gathered people as nobles, citizens, Wind Weavers and Hydromancers alike applauded their soon to be King.
Elstridge tried to look Crown Prince like, but in his mind he failed miserably. Even so, he stood straight, just like his mother had told him, and stared out at the crowd with neither smile nor frown.
The ceremony was still going however and Tricolum continued.
“Now, if there is anyone present, be they male or female, of power or of none, noble or citizen… or anyone else who I’ve missed but don’t want to offend who has a GOOD reason why this Crown Prince should NOT be made King, speak now, or forever, as in until you die, hold your peace.”
Now it was mandatory in the ceremony, having been written in big bold letters in the manual, that a silence of two minutes be enforced here. However in the three thousand years of Wilderia’s heritage, never once had anyone spoken up. As such, over the millennia the pause had become less a wait to see what people had to say, and more an opportunity for the, invariably old, Master of Ceremony’s to take a short breath. Normally that took 10 seconds, or at most 20.
“So if there…”
A quiet voice cut the air, carrying far. “Actually, I have something to say,” interjected Elstridge, committing to his final and desperate plan; he had hoped that this wouldn’t be necessary. “Something I think you should all know, something that my Uncle never told you.”
***
His head hurt, that much was readily apparent before his eyes opened. Waves of alternating numbness and aching pulsed through his skull. He most certainly had a concussion.
However when it was when he tried to sit up that he really understood just how much pain he was in.
“ARGH!”
Talleth collapsed back into his make shift bed, and even that motion was enough to set his skull pounding once more and the room spinning more then it had before.
A room?
‘Where am I?’ he wondered, looking around at the strange implements and books that filled the round office. Looking around, his eyes landed on a plaque on the wall. It read.
“To Cerion WaveRunner, on his appointment to Council of the Keep.”
Talleth began to laugh, even as that action brought immense pain to his head. It was obvious now what had happened, and ironic in the extreme. He was almost certain that neither Cerion nor Orion knew who he was, nor what it meant… yet it was blind luck that had brought them together for that first time. Well, that and some slippery roof tiles.
Even as the pain began to reside ever so slowly, Talleth wondered how he survived the fall from such a high tower. Nevertheless, he wasn’t one to question good fortune, or the provision of God, and he attempted to stand.
That proved to be disastrous, however on the third go he managed to remain standing without crumpling to the floor. The clock on the wall said he was late. He didn’t have much time.
***
“Really your Highness?” questioned Tricolum, looking with bemused surprise at the young man. “This is most unusual, would now really be the best time?”
Elstridge took a deep breath, and nodded. “I’m afraid so old friend, I would speak to those gathered as is my right.”
Tricolum nodded slowly, “that it is. Speak on good Prince.”
Elstridge stood to address the people gathered in the Ballroom. Their faces were alive with curiosity as they wondered what this quiet young Prince had to share with them. Most thought it merely a reaction to his nerves, but some, including Queen Elmaria, had worried frowns on their faces.
“Fellow citizens of Wilderia, I am Elstridge Liam Royale, son of Elmaria and Elton, Nephew to the late King Elliam who died three years ago in a rock slide along with my father. He had not married, nor had he any children of his own, and so I was named heir apparent to ascend in my 18th year. Thus I was given the middle name Liam to trace my lineage through our King.”
Elstridge paused; so far what he had said was common knowledge. Now he had reached the point of no return. If he continued, it would forever alter his life, and indeed it may change the destiny of his country. Still, his Uncle had made his wishes clear, and he was the only one who could make it happen.
“What you may not know, is that my Uncle, your late King, had adopted a son to succeed him.”
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd and soon after that cries of indignation and denial. Soon the Ballroom was abuzz like the sound of a thousand locusts as people discussed this new development.
Elstridge raised his hand, and silence slowly returned. He continued slowly, trying hard not to rush through this speech that he had rehearsed for months.
“The King had told me this several months before his accident, when I was but a 15 year old boy. It is no secret that I had not wanted to ascend the throne, and he told me that such would not be the case. His true heir would have been presented to the country on HIS 18th birthday, which is 1 year gone. His name was or is…”
Rather ironically and very suddenly a bright light began to pulsate behind the Prince. Startled, the Prince spun around. There in the center of that light stood a young man, barely a year older then Elstridge, aglow with white light.
The assembled nobles stared…
“My name is Talleth!”
***
Upon hearing Elstridge’s confession, Orion’s first response had been outrage and betrayal, followed rather quickly by guilt for such thoughts. He could only imagine the strain of hiding such a secret for the past years, especially in the arguments that his friend always seemed to have with his mother.
Even so, the quick witted young man had proceeded to move closer to his friend. Orion knew how people thought, and the flashpoint temper that a mob could have. If this flustered enough people, things could get ugly.
For once wishing that Azrael was around to give him a lift to the throne room, he still managed to nimbly squeeze through the press of people, all the while listening to Elstridge’s explanation. But then his friend stopped, even as Orion was hunched between two massive knights. However even he noticed the bright light and stood up straight to see what was happening. He was a mere 5 meters away, but already he knew that it was too late.
***
Cerion started from his seat in the balcony, staring at the glowing light.
“Photographer!” he hissed, mind going back to all the knowledge that he had learnt about these hated sorcerers.
“Azrael!” he called, no longer the bumbling and vain young man that he was when he could afford to be.
Azrael smiled. She loved it when her fiancé was like this. With skillful weaves she picked him up, and sent him catapulting towards the throne along with herself. Even as she caught them both in a net of air and dropped into a crouch at the foot of the throne, Orion wormed his way next to them.
“What’s going on Cer?” He asked, his voice cracking slightly.
Cerion’s voice was grim and determined. “It’ll be alright Orion, I know how to deal with a Photographer.”
***
Talleth stood back to bask in the attention that was being lavished upon him. After all these years of hiding, it felt good to be the center of events, the person to whom ever eye was drawn. It was very different to his usual modus operandi of moving unseen and invisible.
“I see that you’ve figured it out Cerion.” He congratulated, “pity that it won’t help you.”
Elstridge had been frozen due to his startlement, but quickly he regained his wits. Casting a glance at Orion, he straightened. “Guards!” the Prince bellowed.
There was a sharp ring as the the Honor Guard drew their swords, united as one man and began to advance on the interrupting Photographer. The nobles began to pull back, but at the same time, morbid fascination with impending bloodshed kept their eyes riveted to the dais.
“No!” commanded, Cerion, the tone of authority clear in his voice. “Your swords can not hurt him, and your lives will be forfeit should you try. Stand down Captain!”
Hesitantly the Guard looked to their leader who in turn looked to his Prince.
Elstridge’s pride fought for a moment with his good sense, but a glance at Cerion’s face made him reconsider. A wave of his hand and the Prince also began to back away.
“Not so fast… brother” said Talleth.
Suddenly a circle of bright beams encircled the prince, bringing an abrupt end to his attempted escape.
To Orion’s eyes, those beams emitted a strong wave of heat. Even as Elstridge reached out to touch the beams, the Embermage knew that to do so was death. “Don’t!” he shouted. Elstridge gave him one startled look and stopped in mid reach.
Talleth looked mildly surprised. “You realize what they are boy?” He asked, eyes narrowing.
Suddenly directly in front of him, a source of heat began to form. To his strangely dual vision, it seemed that it came from highly concentrated light. In that moment he realized what power a Photographer had.
“Light is energy and intense light can generate intense heat.” He replied calmly.
Talleth laughed, “well done Orion! Now feel the pain which mere light can bring.”
The heat became overwhelming and bright beam of laser like intensity shot out towards Orion.
Light is faster then any other force on earth, even faster then the fastest brain speed.
However Cerion had already considered this possibility. As the beam entered an area not a foot from Orion’s body, it began to distort and lose its focus.
Talleth noticed and the beam faded. With a shrug, he dismissed the shield of incredibly moist air that Cerion had created.
“You can stop one beam Hydromancer… but you can’t stop a hundred. At my thought, everyone in this Ballroom will die.”
Cerion grit his teeth, but then Azrael stepped forward. “However one thought from me… and you will also perish, Photographer… or did you not notice the bonds of air which could rip your body to shreds.”
Talleth’s right eye twitched slightly as he attempted to move his arms. Locked as he was in a cocoon of air, he wasn’t having much luck.
“I’ll remember this Azrael; I still have time to complete my mission.”
Light erupted without warning between the four weather arts users, causing Azrael to lose her concentration for a split second. In that moment, Talleth vanished.
Cerion’s eye’s narrowed. “Orion, can you see him?” he asked his younger brother, aware of the heat sense.
“No,” replied Orion, looking slightly puzzled. “He simply vanished.”
“I was afraid of that.” Sighed the older brother.
“Hydromancer Cerion!” barked the Captain of the Guard. Cerion spun around. “The Prince, he’s gone!”
Orion also had turned and stared at the place where Elstridge had been but moments before. This was very bad.
***
------
Before the torch he stood, eye closed, but ears clearly hearing the sounds made by the guttering flame. Shadows that he couldn’t see flickered along the wall beckoning silently to anyone who would notice. Ignoring the room around, dark but for the light of that one torch, the young man, tall and lean, braced sandaled feet on the ground.
He could feel the heat on his face, the swirl of the air caused by the convection current… but he couldn’t sense what he sought, where the targets stood.
With a disheartened sigh he let his shoulders sag, slowly opening his eyes to see the circle of wooden poles around him, each topped by small sheaves of grass.
“It’s no use, I can’t see them ‘rael, I don’t think it’s going to work.”
Stepping from the shadows outside the circle, the woman named Azrael pulled back her hood, revealing her loosely tied raven black hair which subtly reflected the light. A slight smile played around her lips as she addressed her whining charge.
“You’ve been saying that for days Orion, yet there isn’t any doubt, you’ve been tested and you will use your power. We’ll stay here all month if need be.”
Pausing to regard the young man who, at 17 years of age, could look over her head easily, she sighed. “Just remember what I taught you, feel the world around you…follow the air.”
Orion looked doubtful, but he shrugged once more with resignation and turned to face the torch again. Ever since he had started to feel the convection current flowing up off the fire, he had thought that something would happen. Yet that had been a week ago, and nothing had changed in the last 10 days.
“Remember, follow the air!” Azrael called as she stepped back into the shadows.
Once more Orion closed his eyes, feeling for the heat and the flow of the currents that moved around him. As the hot air rose above the torch, it pulled in cooler air from the sides to replace the vacuum. This created air flow through the wooden sticks.
As Orion followed the air flows upwards, he suddenly had a new idea. Instead of tracing the air up and waiting for it to come down, perhaps it would be quicker to follow it down and outward from that. Sure it would be harder, moving between air points instead of simply following one, but at least it would be less boring then waiting for air to cool.
Beads of sweat started to form on his back as he laboriously forced his mind back down the air flow, towards the source of heat. He could feel the air streaming from the sides, and even further… just beyond his mind’s eye… obstructions.
The momentary distraction caused by that sense of achievement was all it took. Without warning, his consciousness plunged into the flame.
“ARGH!” He screamed, his mind surrounded by heat… and fire that scorched his soul.
“Orion!” Gasped Azrael, leaping forward and beginning her Wind Weaving. Without thought, her tendrils of air locked around his limbs, as she prepared to pull him towards her.
Then she stopped… amazed and truly frightened.
Orion’s hair, black as the night sky, was slowly being changed, from the roots up. A bright blondish orange climbed the straight and spiky hair, reaching all the way to the tips.
The boy’s back had begun to arch back, and his arms were flung out to the side, fingers curled into fists.
“AHHHHRG!!!” Screamed Orion again, and with that sound, his hands unfurled, bursting into flames.
“What in the world…?” exclaimed Azrael as she watched helplessly. She knew that pulling Orion away from the torch could be dangerous, yet the boy seemed to be in a tremendous amount of pain.
As suddenly as it began, Orion suddenly went limp, and dropped to the floor, all fire gone from his body. Smoke streamed from his clothing, from his fists, still orange hair and back.
Azrael quickly moved in to check his vital signs. His pulse fluttered slightly, but it still beat strong enough to show he was in no danger of dying. His breathing was rapid but steady and there were no burns on his skin.
Standing straight, the Wind Weaver called once again on her art, and using threads of air, she carefully laid the boy on his back and lifted him up. It was close to effortless for the small woman, so easily did the flows come, but still she concentrated just like she taught her students, and slowly began to walk out of the room.
To the naked eye, Orion’s limp body floated behind her, no longer smoking, as she made her way to his bed chamber. Once she reached the spartan room, she laid him down, tucked him in and left. Sleep, she hoped, would revive him. Anything else, she was afraid to try.
The next morning Azrael rose with the Sun and went immediately to check on her pupil. Surprisingly he wasn’t in the room. Despair and anxiety coursed through her veins for a split second, before she heard the sounds of sandaled feet padding around the garden outside.
Walking outside into the morning sunlight, she took a moment for her eyes to adjust.
There stood Orion… dressed in his customary black Acolyte’s uniform. His bright orange hair, caught the sunlight… and it almost seemed like his head burned with a torch’s fire. The young man was staring hard into the small pool in which several fishes swam. It became clear, as Azrael approached, that he was looking at his reflection.
“Morning Orion.” She greeted him, stopping a few feet away.
“Am I dreaming Az… Ouch!” He declared, rubbing the place where Azrael has flicked his ear.
“Morning Azrael!” The teacher remonstrated, crossing her arms and glaring at her student. “Training in weather arts isn’t the only thing I’m meant to teach you know.”
“Sorry, morning Azrael,” Orion mumbled before quickly continuing on. “Have you seen this?? Look at my hair!! What happened?? Is this some sorta joke? I don’t remember passing out last night…”
Azrael looked thoughtful for a moment. “You had an accident during training. You caught on fire. I don’t know how.”
Orion’s answering looking was pure astonishment, touched with suspicion. “You’re serious right? This isn’t like the time you told me that the male Acolytes roomed with the female ones.”
Azrael was torn between laughing at that memory and the gravity of the situation. As a result, only a slight smile touched her face, “I’m serious Orion… I think you’ve become an Embermage instead of a Wind Weaver.”
Understanding slowly dawned on the young man, followed swiftly by an expression of awe. “There hasn’t been an Embermage in 200 years!” he declared.
“Correct,” nodded Azrael, smiling at the reaction her charge had plastered on his face. “and as such, there isn’t anyone who can teach you how to control your gift. As your teacher, I will try. However a lot of the work will be your own. I wonder if you’ll be up to it.”
Orion considered his teacher for a moment, then smiled. “My brother told me that life was very simple. We make choices and don’t look back.”
Azrael raised her eyebrow “That doesn’t really answer my question.”
Orion smiled, “that’s what I used to think… but it does in a way. Once you make a choice… it’s your job to follow it through. I’m ready to learn. After all, my brother is the greatest Hydromancer in this City, maybe I’ll be able to show him that I can do things too.”
Azrael smiled again, this time a secret and knowing smile. Sibling rivalry was one of the strongest motivations between brothers, or sisters for that matter. She would have to tell Cerion the news. Her fiancé would be proud of his younger brother, though he would never admit it.
“Alright, take the day off, and I’ll do some research. There are plenty of manuals at Aeris Keep, I’ll see what I can find. Until then, try not to burn things down, and don’t tell anyone ok?”
Orion grinned broadly, showing a startling but not uncommon resemblance to his older brother. “Sure thing ‘rael, you can count on me!”
Azrael sighed deeply. How many times had she heard that phrase… it always meant trouble.
Talleth wandered down the row of shops, smiling broadly and whistling the tune that his father had taught him so many years ago. With his thumbs tucked into his belt and the happy mood he projected, many of the market’s patrons stopped to give him a smile or a wave. One store keeper, a big man with a cheerful grin, even went so far as to toss the tall youth an apple, one which was deftly caught.
“Thank you my good man!” he called, taking a big bite of the juicy red apple.
With an even broader smile, the young man continued down the market, no longer whistling, as he savoured the tasty apple. Things tasted sweeter when they were free.
Behind him a commotion began, resolving itself into the shape of several armed men running down the street. With a glance backward, Talleth stepped to the side, letting the City Patrol pass by, even casting a curious glance after them.
“What do you suppose the fuss is?” He asked a woman to his left.
“It has to be that bandit, Varako,” announced the rather rotund lady, nodding sharply. “He’s been robbing banks, stealing from the city’s treasury, and even had the nerve to steal the Prince’s gift for his sweet heart, the lovely Gabriella.
Talleth’s eyebrows rose slightly. “I heard that the Lady received the present.” He replied offhand, before taking another bite from the apple.
The woman nodded. “Aye, that she did, with a note saying that it was from a secret admirer, one who would always cherish and protect her.” The old lady’s voice crackled with derision. “The nerve of that villain!”
Talleth laughed good naturedly, “Right you are Ma’am, perhaps it’s time something was done yes?”
“High time indeed!”
With a tip of his cap, Talleth moved on down the street, following the flow of people who filled in the wake of the Patrol. With his roguish smile and confident manner, many of the young ladies rewarded him with coy glances and lowered eye lids. It helped that he was quite handsome too, with well groom mid length black hair and a striking green doublet.
The city’s Bell began to tool.
“Ahh,” sighed Talleth knowingly, stepping smoothly into a side street. “The Prince has come.”
Walking further down, the broad shouldered young man glanced around quickly to make sure he was along. Then without a word, he vanished.
***
Cerion stared hard at the mirror, trying to figure out what was wrong with the way his hair was arranged. Short spikes were out of the question, too much like his brother, yet that only left him with long hair that covered his face, something that his fiancé despised.
“You know, if you stay in her any longer Cer, you’ll start putting down roots.”
Not surprised by the intrusion, Cerion stepped to the side to put his beloved Azreal into view.
“Am I really that late?” he asked, sounding slightly plaintive.
“Not really, however I know how long you like to stare at your captivating beauty, so I thought I’d drop by. The bells will sound in a few minutes.
“Minutes!” Spluttered the hydromancer, fumbling desperately for oil to add to his already slick plumage.
“Relax dear, let me,” suggested Azreal as she began to work her wind weaving.
“I thought I told you that I didn’t like it when…”
“Hush dear,” said Azreal as she called a mask into the room from the wardrobe behind.
“Why do I have to wear a mask?” He whined
“Because it’s a masquerade dear.” Replied his beloved calmly. “What is it with your family, you guys love to complain.”
“Really?” How’s Orion? Still learning to control the fire?”
“I think he’s getting the hang of it. I haven’t had to suffocate him in about three days now, and he promised not to combust while we’re at the party.”
Cerion chuckled. “Party? It’s a coronation ceremony my darling! You know, the biggest social and political event this country has seen in almost a decade?”
Azreal laughed lightly, a rippling and extraordinarily pleasing sound that made Cerion’s heart beat a little faster.
“I’d hope so; I don’t do my hair like this everyday.”
For the first time since she had stepped into the room Cerion actually took notice of his soon to be wife. At that moment, he resolved to do so more often.
Azreal was beautiful, nay exquisite. Her gown was deep blue velvet that managed to shimmer in the light of the candles which surrounded them, yet it didn’t shine so brightly as to detract from the lady herself. The hem crumpled into the floor, yet even the crumples seemed like waves from which she was rising to display her remarkable beauty. Her long black hair was delicately piled in soft braids that seemed to intertwine with remarkable complexity and grace, and it ended in a cascade of brilliant curls which both reached long past her shoulders, yet hinted at the curve of her neck. Small diamonds and pearls were woven into her hair, and at her throat was a brilliant sapphire pendant, cut in the shape of a diamond, with a swirl of white gold as the setting.
“All done honey,” said Azreal as she broke the three minute long silence. “You can pick your jaw up on the way out.” Without another word, the Wind Weaver left, leaving the swishing of her gown behind her.
Cerion rubbed his chin ruefully as he strode out of his private bathroom. To himself he thought. ‘I am the LUCKIEST man on earth… and let no one forgot it!’
***
The winds that whipped around the Central Steeple were vicious, cold like ice and fast like lightning. Still Talleth didn’t mind too much, he was used to standing in high places.
He no longer whistled the tune that he had in the after, yet still the melody of that song ran over in his head, the one verse that his father had taught him as a child. It was a re-assuring comfort for the young man, almost like his mental ritual for relaxation.
Taking a look at the city’s clock tower just to his right, the soberly dressed figure counted down the minutes in his head. ‘Any moment now.’
Right on cue, a group of three individuals stepped out from a carriage at the foot of the steeple. All three wore masks, yet the burning red hair of the first to descend gave them away. Even in the dark, Talleth’s eye sight was sharp, and the colors stood out like it was day to him.
Straightening his cloak’s collar, he began to move towards the palace.
With a trade mark grin he began to walk down the roof. “Easy as…”
Suddenly a tile shot out from below his feet, sending the normally self assured young man flying.
‘Damn tiles!’ he thought as he tumbled over the edge. Far below he could see the ground rushing up to greet him. This would hurt a lot.
***
Prince Elstridge peered out at the gathering throng of nobles, politicians and important personalities who now moved with grace and pomp through the Palace ballroom. Drops of sweat, no longer content to bead on his brow, now began to form on his back and his mouth was suddenly very dry.
“Don’t fret at the curtain son!” Called his mother, calmly sitting on a plump teal couch, sipping tea from a porcelain cup, “come drink your tea?”
Elstridge resisted the urge to scream at his mother, and instead walked over to the matching chair which was off to his right.
“For the 100th time mother, I’m not fretting!” He exclaimed, defiantly taking a cup of tea from the table.”
“Is that so?” The stately woman replied. Turning her head slightly to look at her obviously stressed son she continued. “Then why are you shaking so much?”
The rattle of the tea cup hitting the saucer stopped suddenly as Elstridge willed his hand to stop moving immediately.
“I meant your knees son.”
With an increasingly red face, the boy realized that his knees were knocking together. Standing up suddenly, he almost spilt the tea on his shirt, putting it down just in time to avoid the splash.
“I don’t want to be King mother!”
Elmaria Nina Royale thought back to the days when she had been much younger. Although she wasn’t considered old at the age of 46, already she could feel her face changing, and the gray hairs were sprouting quickly matching the blonde that were there first. Still her memory was sharp. When she had been but 17, she remembered well the day of her brother’s coronation and how he too had railed against his own crowning. It was hardly coincidence that her dear brother Elliam had become the greatest ruler that Wilderia had ever known. Well, the enlisting of the alliance with the Keep had definitely helped, but that was only marginal, at least in her own mind.
“Elstridge Liam Royale!” She breathed in her most commanding and authoritative tone. “You have been chosen by the people of Wilderia to lead them into this next season of this country. You have been raised from birth KNOWING that this day might come. Now, at the age of eighteen you WILL ascend the throne that I have minded in my brother’s steed, and you WILL rule with honor, with valor and with the COURAGE that befits a member of our family!”
Elstridge sighed deeply, mouthing the words that his mother had been repeating for the last three months whenever he brought up the topic. He knew she was right. Yet how could he tell her that it was not his right to rule? Or that he didn’t feel up to it. She wouldn’t understand.
“But…”
“I will brook no argument Elstridge! The ceremony begins in 15 minutes!”
The Prince gave up, his shoulders slumping forward. “Yes ma’am.”
***
Orion loved the palace. It was one of the few places where he had grown up, playing and then later pestering his older brother. Despite the seven year age difference and the many responsibilities that Cerion carried, the older of the two brothers always found time to spend with his little shadow; patiently explaining to him the intricacies of weather art or having water fights with equal facility. Indeed the palace staff encouraged such behavior, out of respect for Cerion’s father if nothing else, but also from a genuine affection for Orion, one that everyone seemed to have.
Cerion had a rather more adult view of the place, though he still loved it just as much as his brother. The receptacles for all knowledge and training pertaining to Weather arts may lie in the keep, but it was at the palace where the majority of Wind Weavers and Hydromancers met during the day, completing assignments for nobility, communicating with their Council Members and, of course, gossiping like the other palace denizens.
However for Cerion, this building was where he had found the one thing that he had always sought, a beautiful woman to spend his life with. Azreal.
“You’ve got that look again Cer.” Commented Orion as he held the door for his brother.
“You wouldn’t understand Orion.” Stated Azreal, even as her fiancé offered her his hand with a charming smile. Her dimples made a brief appearance as she continued, “you’re just a bit young.”
Cerion chuckled at the small scowl that crossed his brother’s face. Better then anyone he knew that his brother hated to be talked down to, and even at the age of 24, he still treated his younger brother as an equal in all things. That would hold even truer now.
“Don’t tease him Azreal; my brother wants to enjoy the night! You never know, tonight he could meet someone special. Or one of his many “friends”, you never know with this boy. ”
Orion strove mightily to keep from returning that comment with a sharp smack on his brother’s back, so much so that smoke began to trickle out his ears.
Azreal laughed in whimsical delight. “You look so cute Orion! Would you like work in our kitchen? You’d be a great stove!”
His angry front crumpled under his own humor and so instead the new Embermage decided to retreat with a parting shot. “I give up, how can one so young compete with two wise old Council members? Maybe inside I’ll meet a long lost sibling or someone to help me get you guys back.”
Azreal and Cerion laughed good naturedly, and Orion returned their smile. As they began their ascent up the stairs, the wind began to howl more fiercely.
“Say dear…” began Cerion, raising a hand to his hair. Orion began to laugh even as Azreal sighed. “No problems darling.” She muttered, rolling her eyes slightly, even as she smiled along with Orion.
With only a thought, Azreal began to weave a shield around them to block the gale. The barrier was almost complete when Orion’s head jerked up. “Do you hear that?”
Cerion glanced at his brother before returning his gaze to the pocket mirror that he carried. “Hear what?”
Suddenly something hit the top of Azreal’s Wind Bowl, and then with a pop, the entire structure dissolved, bringing in a fresh wave of cold air and a body that collapsed into the middle of the three of them.
“That, I guess,” Orion said.
“We’re going to be late for the ceremony you realize?”
Cerion barely acknowledged his brother’s remark, concentrating as he was at his examination. Instead Azrael answered in his place.
“I’m sure Elstridge will forgive you for being late Orion, but we DO have to take care of this person you know… cause he’s dying.”
“But we’ll be late!” moaned Orion.
“I see that I also have to teach you something about priorities,” Azrael, noted as she turned back to Cerion. “How is he darling?”
Cerion took a deep breath before replying. “There’s some internal bleeding, but nothing that I can’t fix. Several of his ribs have been cracked as well, but thankfully none of them punctured his lung. I think I can fix him up, but we’ll need to take him inside.” Orion nodded emphatically to that last statement.
“Will he be able to stand the lifting?” asked Azrael, peering at the limp body.
“Shouldn’t be a problem, the ribs aren’t poking anything vital.”
The Hydromancer turned to regard his younger brother and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Chill Orion, if you can these days, we still have plenty of time, the ceremony doesn’t start for another ten minutes!”
Orion was bursting with frustration. “Exactly, ten minutes isn’t that long you know.”
Even as they had been talking, Azrael carefully picked up the unconscious man and they hurried into the castle.
***
9.32 minutes later
***
“I think I’ve stopped the bleeding and set the ribs,” Cerion announced, tired as he was from the precise exertions and pressure he had just undergone.
Azrael handed her fiancé a soft cloth. “Good work honey. Do you think it’s safe to leave him here?”
Cerion looked around, “sure, the office of a Council member should be as secure as any other part of the castle. Now let’s get to that coronation… where’s Orion?”
Checking herself quickly in the many mirrors that hung in Cerion’s office, Azrael glanced at her beloved’s reflection. “Didn’t you notice? He left while you were operating, made some pretentious excuse about using the bathroom.” She paused to regard her own reflection and then turned around, satisfied with the result. “To be fair to the boy though, it’s not everyday one of your best friends becomes King.”
Cerion nodded sagely, also checking his hair in a different mirror. “How do I look dear?” he asked as he absently smoothed down some hair behind his ears.
“Fine darling, but we really should go, or we’ll be late.”
“Right right, in a mom…”
“Now Cerion.” The tone used left no room for disagreement.
“At once dear.” Cerion replied meekly.
***
The moment of truth had come, and Elstridge was still of the opinion that it was all a big mistake. A view that was not shared by his mother, or the troop of soldiers who were his “Honor Guard”. Try as he might, it seemed like fate had conspired to force him through this process. Even so, that didn’t stop him from persevering against all odds…
“I’m sure you can see my point Captain.” He concluded to the Knight in charge, even as they walked down the hallway to the Ballroom entrance.
“Of course, your Highness.”
“That’s good, glad to know we’re on the same page.”
“As am I, your Highness.”
“It would be most embarrassing.”
“I agree, your Highness.”
“So will you let me go to the bathroom then?” A touch of hope crept into Elstridge’s voice.
“Absolutely not, your Highness.” The answer was final and very deliberate.
The Prince sighed deeply, something he had taken to doing a lot more of recently. Commands, requests and even outright deceit had all failed to provide the necessary components for his escape, and now he could see the doors of the Palace’s grand Ballroom, where over 500 people waited for him to arrive.
“Ho Elstridge!” shouted a familiar voice, causing the dejected young Prince to lift his head. Catching sight of Orion, still with his strange new hair style, a smile touched the face of the Prince.
“Ho Orion! I would have thought that you’d be inside already with the rest of the nobles, waiting for me to clap that big crown on my head.”
Orion looked down at his friend from the second story. With a deft jump, slide and roll he vaulted over the banister and down one of the many marble columns that supported the Palace. He drew level to the Guard, all of whom knew him, and looked quizzically at the Prince. “Actually they put it on for you, you know, that’s why it’s called a coronation… a crowning ceremony.”
Elstridge rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at his childhood friend. “Thanks for the reminder.”
Orion flashed a grin, “you still upset about it?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Of course!” I don’t want to be King!” complained Elstridge, even as they were ten meters from the Ballroom. “Could you work some of that Wind Weaver magic to get me out of here?”
Orion raised his hands to show his good intentions as the attention of the Honor Guard shifted suddenly. “I’d love to help, but I haven’t had much luck with the Wind Weaving lately, and plus I wouldn’t want to upset your mother now. Azrael AND Cerion would kill me if I did.”
Elstridge sighed again. “Then all is lost, you were my last hope.”
Orion chuckled. “Don’t worry about it so much. One day we’ll look back at this and laugh about how stubborn and stupid you were.”
His friend’s reply was tinged with dark foreboding, “or we’ll all be homeless and starving, either one yea?”
Orion laughed again and then scampered up the stairs to enter the Ballroom’s balcony. “Good luck!” he called as he disappeared around the corner.
“It’s not me,” muttered the Prince with a mental sigh, “it’s the Kingdom that I have to run.”
***
“Phew I think we made it.” Huffed Cerion, hand placed on the lintel of the doorway leading onto the balcony. “I don’t hear any trumpets.”
At his words, the trumpeters that lined the red carpet leading to the throne began to sound their fanfare announcing the entrance of the King.
“I think you’re deaf dear,” said Azrael with a massive grin even as she breezed past her rather less fit fiancé.
“But…” spluttered Cerion even as he also walked in.
The coronation had begun.
***
The trumpets blared their fanfare, a song of triumph and celebration. As the nobles ceased their polite conversations and turned to look at the door, the heralds finished their piece with a flourish.
Elstridge wanted to kill them, or at the very least inflict some amount of pain so that they could suffer along with him. Instead he kept silence.
Slowly the doors began to ease open, swinging inwards to reveal the Palace’s Grand Ballroom where the coronations of the past had been held. Elstridge could only tremble as he witnessed the seeming thousands of people who had come out to watch his final judgment, the end of all that was good in his life… the ultimate loss of freedom.
Resignation began to set in, as he realized that despite his best efforts and months of planning, he would still have to walk down the length of that hall and face the music, quite literally even. It was a sad awakening, and his shoulders slumped forward miserably.
“Let’s get this over with.” He mumbled and began to walk through the doors.
The trumpeters took up their fanfare again as the Prince walked by, their horns aimed right at the ears of Elstridge and his Honor Guard. In other circumstances he might have complained about the noise, but at this point, deep in the depths of his despair, he barely noticed. The guard did though, and there were several faces with gritted teeth if he had bothered to look.
On the other end of the Ballroom, flowing down like a stone wave, a massive staircase rose, leading up to the second story, and the doorway through which the reigning King would normally enter to sit on the Thrones at the foot of the stairs. Behind that door were the royal family’s personal chambers. It was sometimes joked that the feature should be called the “stairway to heaven” but the general consent was that the name lacked the dignity normal expected of royalty.
All these random facts flew through Elstridge’s mind as he trudged down the red carpet, absently acknowledging the waves and nods that he received along the way. Looking up, he noted several Wind Weavers, each having decided that standing on the floor was for other people, seated on nothing but air and enjoy the great view that their elevation provided. Idly the Prince wondered if the ladies among the Weavers know that anyone who felt like it could look up their dresses. Perhaps that was why some of the younger nobles weren’t paying much attention to him. The thought brought a sad smile to his face
The Throne approached him, even as he drew near to the throne. Today it was all over. His dreams would be shattered. Inwardly he knew that with great power came equally great responsibilities and as such those in positions like his often had a lot less say on their choices then might be thought. However since the time he had understood the role he would play, the young man had spent all his resources in trying to avoid it. However in the end, it was all for naught… this was his destiny… this was his fate.
The trumpets fell silent as he stepped onto the dais and turned to face the crowd before him. The Honor Guard drew up in formation behind and before him, standing at strict attention.
The court waited.
And waited…
Even though his gloom and hopelessness, Elstridge realized that something was wrong. Looking around quickly he wondered if he was meant to say something.
Suddenly a voice piped up, cultured, urbane and slightly embarrassed. “Oh that’s right! It’s my turn!”
Out of the first few rows of on-lookers burst the familiar sight of Tricolum Cornelius. Elstridge had know Tricolum since birth as the man who had been Prime Minister under his grandfather and one of the senior advisors to Elliam, the recently departed King. As the oldest and most respected of all the City’s nobles, it was his right and duty to preside over the coronation ceremony, even if he was 92 and very very forgetful in the short term.
“Sorry there lad, forgot I was up!” Whispered Tricolum as he bustled up to Elstridge.
The young Prince could help but smile at his oldest friend’s words and nodded. “That’s alright, I’m not in a rush anyway.”
“Splendid!” declared Tricolum, totally missing the meaning behind Elstridge’s words, “I’ll begin the ceremony now.”
Tricolum turned to face the gathered peoples. He spoke in a booming voice that belied his frail exterior and dopey face.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, nobles, citizens, Wind Weavers, Hydromancers and anyone else who I’ve missed, welcome to the Palace on this wonderful and special evening.”
He paused to take a breath before continuing, the cadences and sounds of his voice masterfully played to make his words come alive.
“It is my pleasure to introduce Prince Elstridge Liam Royale, chosen successor and nephew to our former King, Elliam Newton Royalle. In the absence of a direct descendant from King Elliam, it had been decreed by both the Council of the Keep and Court of Nobles that Prince Elstridge will be next in line for the throne and would ascend during his 18th year. That year has come, and now I would like to present your Crown Prince, Elstridge Ton Royale!”
A wave of applause exploded from the gathered people as nobles, citizens, Wind Weavers and Hydromancers alike applauded their soon to be King.
Elstridge tried to look Crown Prince like, but in his mind he failed miserably. Even so, he stood straight, just like his mother had told him, and stared out at the crowd with neither smile nor frown.
The ceremony was still going however and Tricolum continued.
“Now, if there is anyone present, be they male or female, of power or of none, noble or citizen… or anyone else who I’ve missed but don’t want to offend who has a GOOD reason why this Crown Prince should NOT be made King, speak now, or forever, as in until you die, hold your peace.”
Now it was mandatory in the ceremony, having been written in big bold letters in the manual, that a silence of two minutes be enforced here. However in the three thousand years of Wilderia’s heritage, never once had anyone spoken up. As such, over the millennia the pause had become less a wait to see what people had to say, and more an opportunity for the, invariably old, Master of Ceremony’s to take a short breath. Normally that took 10 seconds, or at most 20.
“So if there…”
A quiet voice cut the air, carrying far. “Actually, I have something to say,” interjected Elstridge, committing to his final and desperate plan; he had hoped that this wouldn’t be necessary. “Something I think you should all know, something that my Uncle never told you.”
***
His head hurt, that much was readily apparent before his eyes opened. Waves of alternating numbness and aching pulsed through his skull. He most certainly had a concussion.
However when it was when he tried to sit up that he really understood just how much pain he was in.
“ARGH!”
Talleth collapsed back into his make shift bed, and even that motion was enough to set his skull pounding once more and the room spinning more then it had before.
A room?
‘Where am I?’ he wondered, looking around at the strange implements and books that filled the round office. Looking around, his eyes landed on a plaque on the wall. It read.
“To Cerion WaveRunner, on his appointment to Council of the Keep.”
Talleth began to laugh, even as that action brought immense pain to his head. It was obvious now what had happened, and ironic in the extreme. He was almost certain that neither Cerion nor Orion knew who he was, nor what it meant… yet it was blind luck that had brought them together for that first time. Well, that and some slippery roof tiles.
Even as the pain began to reside ever so slowly, Talleth wondered how he survived the fall from such a high tower. Nevertheless, he wasn’t one to question good fortune, or the provision of God, and he attempted to stand.
That proved to be disastrous, however on the third go he managed to remain standing without crumpling to the floor. The clock on the wall said he was late. He didn’t have much time.
***
“Really your Highness?” questioned Tricolum, looking with bemused surprise at the young man. “This is most unusual, would now really be the best time?”
Elstridge took a deep breath, and nodded. “I’m afraid so old friend, I would speak to those gathered as is my right.”
Tricolum nodded slowly, “that it is. Speak on good Prince.”
Elstridge stood to address the people gathered in the Ballroom. Their faces were alive with curiosity as they wondered what this quiet young Prince had to share with them. Most thought it merely a reaction to his nerves, but some, including Queen Elmaria, had worried frowns on their faces.
“Fellow citizens of Wilderia, I am Elstridge Liam Royale, son of Elmaria and Elton, Nephew to the late King Elliam who died three years ago in a rock slide along with my father. He had not married, nor had he any children of his own, and so I was named heir apparent to ascend in my 18th year. Thus I was given the middle name Liam to trace my lineage through our King.”
Elstridge paused; so far what he had said was common knowledge. Now he had reached the point of no return. If he continued, it would forever alter his life, and indeed it may change the destiny of his country. Still, his Uncle had made his wishes clear, and he was the only one who could make it happen.
“What you may not know, is that my Uncle, your late King, had adopted a son to succeed him.”
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd and soon after that cries of indignation and denial. Soon the Ballroom was abuzz like the sound of a thousand locusts as people discussed this new development.
Elstridge raised his hand, and silence slowly returned. He continued slowly, trying hard not to rush through this speech that he had rehearsed for months.
“The King had told me this several months before his accident, when I was but a 15 year old boy. It is no secret that I had not wanted to ascend the throne, and he told me that such would not be the case. His true heir would have been presented to the country on HIS 18th birthday, which is 1 year gone. His name was or is…”
Rather ironically and very suddenly a bright light began to pulsate behind the Prince. Startled, the Prince spun around. There in the center of that light stood a young man, barely a year older then Elstridge, aglow with white light.
The assembled nobles stared…
“My name is Talleth!”
***
Upon hearing Elstridge’s confession, Orion’s first response had been outrage and betrayal, followed rather quickly by guilt for such thoughts. He could only imagine the strain of hiding such a secret for the past years, especially in the arguments that his friend always seemed to have with his mother.
Even so, the quick witted young man had proceeded to move closer to his friend. Orion knew how people thought, and the flashpoint temper that a mob could have. If this flustered enough people, things could get ugly.
For once wishing that Azrael was around to give him a lift to the throne room, he still managed to nimbly squeeze through the press of people, all the while listening to Elstridge’s explanation. But then his friend stopped, even as Orion was hunched between two massive knights. However even he noticed the bright light and stood up straight to see what was happening. He was a mere 5 meters away, but already he knew that it was too late.
***
Cerion started from his seat in the balcony, staring at the glowing light.
“Photographer!” he hissed, mind going back to all the knowledge that he had learnt about these hated sorcerers.
“Azrael!” he called, no longer the bumbling and vain young man that he was when he could afford to be.
Azrael smiled. She loved it when her fiancé was like this. With skillful weaves she picked him up, and sent him catapulting towards the throne along with herself. Even as she caught them both in a net of air and dropped into a crouch at the foot of the throne, Orion wormed his way next to them.
“What’s going on Cer?” He asked, his voice cracking slightly.
Cerion’s voice was grim and determined. “It’ll be alright Orion, I know how to deal with a Photographer.”
***
Talleth stood back to bask in the attention that was being lavished upon him. After all these years of hiding, it felt good to be the center of events, the person to whom ever eye was drawn. It was very different to his usual modus operandi of moving unseen and invisible.
“I see that you’ve figured it out Cerion.” He congratulated, “pity that it won’t help you.”
Elstridge had been frozen due to his startlement, but quickly he regained his wits. Casting a glance at Orion, he straightened. “Guards!” the Prince bellowed.
There was a sharp ring as the the Honor Guard drew their swords, united as one man and began to advance on the interrupting Photographer. The nobles began to pull back, but at the same time, morbid fascination with impending bloodshed kept their eyes riveted to the dais.
“No!” commanded, Cerion, the tone of authority clear in his voice. “Your swords can not hurt him, and your lives will be forfeit should you try. Stand down Captain!”
Hesitantly the Guard looked to their leader who in turn looked to his Prince.
Elstridge’s pride fought for a moment with his good sense, but a glance at Cerion’s face made him reconsider. A wave of his hand and the Prince also began to back away.
“Not so fast… brother” said Talleth.
Suddenly a circle of bright beams encircled the prince, bringing an abrupt end to his attempted escape.
To Orion’s eyes, those beams emitted a strong wave of heat. Even as Elstridge reached out to touch the beams, the Embermage knew that to do so was death. “Don’t!” he shouted. Elstridge gave him one startled look and stopped in mid reach.
Talleth looked mildly surprised. “You realize what they are boy?” He asked, eyes narrowing.
Suddenly directly in front of him, a source of heat began to form. To his strangely dual vision, it seemed that it came from highly concentrated light. In that moment he realized what power a Photographer had.
“Light is energy and intense light can generate intense heat.” He replied calmly.
Talleth laughed, “well done Orion! Now feel the pain which mere light can bring.”
The heat became overwhelming and bright beam of laser like intensity shot out towards Orion.
Light is faster then any other force on earth, even faster then the fastest brain speed.
However Cerion had already considered this possibility. As the beam entered an area not a foot from Orion’s body, it began to distort and lose its focus.
Talleth noticed and the beam faded. With a shrug, he dismissed the shield of incredibly moist air that Cerion had created.
“You can stop one beam Hydromancer… but you can’t stop a hundred. At my thought, everyone in this Ballroom will die.”
Cerion grit his teeth, but then Azrael stepped forward. “However one thought from me… and you will also perish, Photographer… or did you not notice the bonds of air which could rip your body to shreds.”
Talleth’s right eye twitched slightly as he attempted to move his arms. Locked as he was in a cocoon of air, he wasn’t having much luck.
“I’ll remember this Azrael; I still have time to complete my mission.”
Light erupted without warning between the four weather arts users, causing Azrael to lose her concentration for a split second. In that moment, Talleth vanished.
Cerion’s eye’s narrowed. “Orion, can you see him?” he asked his younger brother, aware of the heat sense.
“No,” replied Orion, looking slightly puzzled. “He simply vanished.”
“I was afraid of that.” Sighed the older brother.
“Hydromancer Cerion!” barked the Captain of the Guard. Cerion spun around. “The Prince, he’s gone!”
Orion also had turned and stared at the place where Elstridge had been but moments before. This was very bad.
***
Friday, October 12, 2007
Sounds like fun?
Ivan absently rubbed his thumb against the pommel of the sword hanging at his left hip as he strode down the hall. The events in the throne room had shaken him more then had cared to admit to his younger brother. Despite a well known belief in his own invincibility, he knew that any quest outside of Phel’s borders would be perilous, and then there was his brother to consider. If there was any way at all, he would make sure Davin stayed.
As the knight rounded the corner, he suddenly stopped, moments from crashing into another soldier who had been walking at a much greater speed, unfortunately the other man’s reflexes were not as swift as his own, and the pair crashed into each other and then onto the floor.
“Oww,” remarked Ivan laconically as he brushed himself off and got up. Offering the fallen knight a hand, he blinked twice when he realized who had just crashed into him.
“Revis, where were you off to in such a hurry?”
Revis smiled ruefully before grasping Ivan’s offered arm. Heaving upright, he also dusted himself off before answering. “To get you actually, the men want to see you.”
Ivan sighed, he had been afraid of this. “I was just on me way.”
The journey to the Raven’s barracks was uneventful and silent as Ivan was too lost in his own thoughts of what the new few weeks and months would bring. They crossed the courtyard without incident, however at the entrance Ivan grimaced slightly, put on his helmet and drew the sword at his right hip. Weapon at the ready, he surveyed the terrain. His preparations complete, he sank into a battle stance and waited.
Revis just grinned, happy that his Captain hadn’t lost his wits yet. With a wide sweep, he smashed his mailed fist into the front door.
All around then, men dressed in mail armor with the insignia of the Raven began to appear, from the inside of the barracks, around the courtyard and even dropping down from the roof. It was a rather noisy assembly.
“I hear you guys wanted to see me,” stated Ivan as he eyed his men. “I guess it’s that time of the year again.”
“Indeed.”
From the center of the barracks another Guard stepped out, this one an older grizzled veteran with a silver hilted katana at his right side and a badge on his left shoulder indicating his rank: Vice Captain.
“Good morning to you too Sephis” said Ivan as he nodded to his second in command. “Shall we begin?”
For a brief moment in time there was no movement nor sound save the whisper of the wind. Then suddenly, with no pre arranged signal, the Guards attacked.
From all around they came, charging straight at Ivan, who stood his ground firmly. Like a shining silver wave, they drew their swords and crashed directly into their commander. The ring of steel on steel echoed.
For a moment, the fate of Ivan Swiftblade was unknown, yet after several moments, a small but ever widening circle began to appear, with the Captain in the middle.
His blade moved faster then the eye could see; a true reflection of the name which he had been given on his 18th birthday, 3 years before. It barely had time to catch the light as he skillfully held back ten other Guards who had surrounded him. Spinning and whirling, his blade merely an extension of his body, he parried every stroke and attack. Any that ventured too close were immediately dispatched, but just as quickly two more would appear.
Then Sephis was there, his silver katana drawn and weaving like a serpent. His style of fighting was different then the other guards, trained as they were to fight as a unit, and they backed away, leaving a cleared space for the pair to battle.
“Every year it’s the same thing isn’t it?” remarked Ivan, eyes following the movements of his opponent’s blade. “It ends up just being you and me.”
Sephis grinned. “Maybe this year you shall survive young Captain.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Ivan attacked first, without warning, his blade sweeping low and then high in a series of complicated side cuts. Sephis simply dodged back, then swept in with his katana over his head to protect him against the attacks, but also in preparation for his own offense.
Ivan had seen his Vice Captain use this move many times, and waited for the inevitable thrust at the end. When it came, he side stepped and spun with blinding speed, trying to cut at Sephis’ now unprotected side. His blade met only air.
“Ahh crud.” He managed to say before the blade of the katana caught him squarely in the back. It hurt, a lot.
Seconds later, he could dimly hear Revis reading out the conclusion of the ceremony.
“According to the rules of the Raven, the Guards win! The score is Captain 0, Guards 3.” The Guards burst into cheers, large grins on all their faces.
Sephis walked around to face Ivan, his silver practice katana already back in its scabbard, before offering a hand. “Better luck next year kid, if you survive that is.”
Ivan grasped the hand offered and pulled himself up, feeling perhaps his collision with Revis has been a sign of things to come. “I know I know, you’re going to tell me that I was too fancy right? That this spinning stuff they teach in fencing doesn’t really work?”
Sephis laughed, a deep booming sound, as he clapped an arm around his Captain’s shoulders. “Actually I was going to tell you not to use the same move as you always do. It’s getting to easy to predict.”
The Guards gathered around their officers and headed inside where Ivan’s birthday lunch was laid out. Tankards of beer and cups of cider sat on a table, and each of the 100 elite warriors grasped one as they went by.
Revis handed one to Ivan before calling out to the gathered men.
“Brothers! Today, thanks to Sephis, we have won yet another victory over our Captain!”
The crowd cheered in good natured fun, and Ivan grinned.
“But as you may know,” the standard bearer continued ” Ivan Swiftblade sets off on a quest with his brother, to bring about the salvation of Phel”
The cheering was different, quieter yet more heartfelt.
“I know that we wish to go with him. Yet he has made it very clear, our duty is to protect the King and to protect the city. Therefore, since we can not be with him in body, may we all be with him in Spirit! To Ivan!”
“To IVAN!”
The Guards toasted their captain, but after drinking began to stamp their feet as Ivan raised his eyebrow to look at Revis. A mischievous grin was playing around his childhood friend’s face as he turned to look behind the young Captain. Ivan spun around, ducking even as he did so, just in case.
Sephis grinned, but bowed once Ivan stood back up. “May your spirit never grow weary,” he intoned, “may your arm never grow weak. May you always have friends to guard your back. May you always have the means to defend those closest to you.”
With those words, he pulled a cloth wrapped bundle from behind his back.
“We will always be at your command Ivan, whenever you need us.”
Ivan took the gift, already knowing what it must contain. Pulling the string, he let the cloth fall. Inside lay a sword. The hilt was wide and silver, a spotless matt finish which led to a grip of dark brown leather. The pommel was a deep blue sapphire, one that matched the color of the scabbard.
With one smooth motion Ivan drew the blade, marveling at its balance and feel. The edge gleamed with the light caught from the windows. He thrust it into the air and the Guards erupted into cheers and applause. He stood there for a moment, for a touch of dramatic effect, before slipping the blade back into its sheath. After several moments the noise dropped.
“My gratitude to you all.” Ivan said, nodding as he caught the eyes of many that he knew personally. “This is a mighty gift. I shall wield it with strength and honor.” Ivan paused, looking for perhaps the last time at the gathering of his men.
“But for now, let us not think of departures and farewells, drink, eat! I have but precious hours until the tedium of a formal dinner with King!”
The Guards laughed, and began to disperse.
Ivan sighed but once, before joining in with the party.
As the knight rounded the corner, he suddenly stopped, moments from crashing into another soldier who had been walking at a much greater speed, unfortunately the other man’s reflexes were not as swift as his own, and the pair crashed into each other and then onto the floor.
“Oww,” remarked Ivan laconically as he brushed himself off and got up. Offering the fallen knight a hand, he blinked twice when he realized who had just crashed into him.
“Revis, where were you off to in such a hurry?”
Revis smiled ruefully before grasping Ivan’s offered arm. Heaving upright, he also dusted himself off before answering. “To get you actually, the men want to see you.”
Ivan sighed, he had been afraid of this. “I was just on me way.”
The journey to the Raven’s barracks was uneventful and silent as Ivan was too lost in his own thoughts of what the new few weeks and months would bring. They crossed the courtyard without incident, however at the entrance Ivan grimaced slightly, put on his helmet and drew the sword at his right hip. Weapon at the ready, he surveyed the terrain. His preparations complete, he sank into a battle stance and waited.
Revis just grinned, happy that his Captain hadn’t lost his wits yet. With a wide sweep, he smashed his mailed fist into the front door.
All around then, men dressed in mail armor with the insignia of the Raven began to appear, from the inside of the barracks, around the courtyard and even dropping down from the roof. It was a rather noisy assembly.
“I hear you guys wanted to see me,” stated Ivan as he eyed his men. “I guess it’s that time of the year again.”
“Indeed.”
From the center of the barracks another Guard stepped out, this one an older grizzled veteran with a silver hilted katana at his right side and a badge on his left shoulder indicating his rank: Vice Captain.
“Good morning to you too Sephis” said Ivan as he nodded to his second in command. “Shall we begin?”
For a brief moment in time there was no movement nor sound save the whisper of the wind. Then suddenly, with no pre arranged signal, the Guards attacked.
From all around they came, charging straight at Ivan, who stood his ground firmly. Like a shining silver wave, they drew their swords and crashed directly into their commander. The ring of steel on steel echoed.
For a moment, the fate of Ivan Swiftblade was unknown, yet after several moments, a small but ever widening circle began to appear, with the Captain in the middle.
His blade moved faster then the eye could see; a true reflection of the name which he had been given on his 18th birthday, 3 years before. It barely had time to catch the light as he skillfully held back ten other Guards who had surrounded him. Spinning and whirling, his blade merely an extension of his body, he parried every stroke and attack. Any that ventured too close were immediately dispatched, but just as quickly two more would appear.
Then Sephis was there, his silver katana drawn and weaving like a serpent. His style of fighting was different then the other guards, trained as they were to fight as a unit, and they backed away, leaving a cleared space for the pair to battle.
“Every year it’s the same thing isn’t it?” remarked Ivan, eyes following the movements of his opponent’s blade. “It ends up just being you and me.”
Sephis grinned. “Maybe this year you shall survive young Captain.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Ivan attacked first, without warning, his blade sweeping low and then high in a series of complicated side cuts. Sephis simply dodged back, then swept in with his katana over his head to protect him against the attacks, but also in preparation for his own offense.
Ivan had seen his Vice Captain use this move many times, and waited for the inevitable thrust at the end. When it came, he side stepped and spun with blinding speed, trying to cut at Sephis’ now unprotected side. His blade met only air.
“Ahh crud.” He managed to say before the blade of the katana caught him squarely in the back. It hurt, a lot.
Seconds later, he could dimly hear Revis reading out the conclusion of the ceremony.
“According to the rules of the Raven, the Guards win! The score is Captain 0, Guards 3.” The Guards burst into cheers, large grins on all their faces.
Sephis walked around to face Ivan, his silver practice katana already back in its scabbard, before offering a hand. “Better luck next year kid, if you survive that is.”
Ivan grasped the hand offered and pulled himself up, feeling perhaps his collision with Revis has been a sign of things to come. “I know I know, you’re going to tell me that I was too fancy right? That this spinning stuff they teach in fencing doesn’t really work?”
Sephis laughed, a deep booming sound, as he clapped an arm around his Captain’s shoulders. “Actually I was going to tell you not to use the same move as you always do. It’s getting to easy to predict.”
The Guards gathered around their officers and headed inside where Ivan’s birthday lunch was laid out. Tankards of beer and cups of cider sat on a table, and each of the 100 elite warriors grasped one as they went by.
Revis handed one to Ivan before calling out to the gathered men.
“Brothers! Today, thanks to Sephis, we have won yet another victory over our Captain!”
The crowd cheered in good natured fun, and Ivan grinned.
“But as you may know,” the standard bearer continued ” Ivan Swiftblade sets off on a quest with his brother, to bring about the salvation of Phel”
The cheering was different, quieter yet more heartfelt.
“I know that we wish to go with him. Yet he has made it very clear, our duty is to protect the King and to protect the city. Therefore, since we can not be with him in body, may we all be with him in Spirit! To Ivan!”
“To IVAN!”
The Guards toasted their captain, but after drinking began to stamp their feet as Ivan raised his eyebrow to look at Revis. A mischievous grin was playing around his childhood friend’s face as he turned to look behind the young Captain. Ivan spun around, ducking even as he did so, just in case.
Sephis grinned, but bowed once Ivan stood back up. “May your spirit never grow weary,” he intoned, “may your arm never grow weak. May you always have friends to guard your back. May you always have the means to defend those closest to you.”
With those words, he pulled a cloth wrapped bundle from behind his back.
“We will always be at your command Ivan, whenever you need us.”
Ivan took the gift, already knowing what it must contain. Pulling the string, he let the cloth fall. Inside lay a sword. The hilt was wide and silver, a spotless matt finish which led to a grip of dark brown leather. The pommel was a deep blue sapphire, one that matched the color of the scabbard.
With one smooth motion Ivan drew the blade, marveling at its balance and feel. The edge gleamed with the light caught from the windows. He thrust it into the air and the Guards erupted into cheers and applause. He stood there for a moment, for a touch of dramatic effect, before slipping the blade back into its sheath. After several moments the noise dropped.
“My gratitude to you all.” Ivan said, nodding as he caught the eyes of many that he knew personally. “This is a mighty gift. I shall wield it with strength and honor.” Ivan paused, looking for perhaps the last time at the gathering of his men.
“But for now, let us not think of departures and farewells, drink, eat! I have but precious hours until the tedium of a formal dinner with King!”
The Guards laughed, and began to disperse.
Ivan sighed but once, before joining in with the party.
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