Morin Tulan the mystical city talked about only by the elderly and religious as a place they only seemed to hope existed; the ancient worlds utopia. Streets lined with gold, massive columns covered with rare marble infused with magic and gems the size of a man’s head, once coveted by dragons as plentiful as the air itself.
None of it was true. Delvakhan saw no gold streets, only hard dirt and mud covered with snow. The only columns he saw were the trees that were peppered with simple aged stone structures. Rock he noticed, that were no different than those he saw everywhere else.
All of them arrived at the village, through different means. Mora and Burakani followed another tunnel very similar to the one Delvakhan found. In fact they reported a similar fire to the one he described to them. Empress Elidra, following the vision of the ghost of Vrok Mortalis ordered the remaining men to follow her. After scaling the dense crags, Elidra found herself standing face to face with a priest who stated he was ‘waiting for her’. Once they arrived all experienced the same silence of the voices that filled their heads. Quickly each shared what they had seen about the village and everything they saw.
Sitting at its center was a small natural steaming spring with smoky water surrounded with lush grass and foliage creating wall offering privacy to those within the water. Delvakhan daily visited the waters, thankful of the warmth and enjoying the peace of it. Immediately next to it, just pass a thin line of trees was the temple that sat above the giant fire he had found just few days previously. The temple, warm and comforting, was a common and simple building which blended in well with the surrounding area. Heavy snow on its roof only helped conceal the building from a distance. Delvakhan took some solstice in knowing it would be just as hidden for the Rhiyan forces that may be looking for them.
Brother Jol, the man Delvakhan first ran into, explained they were glad the King of the South had finally arrived as was foretold to them. Now they only waited for their council of devouts and prophets to return with guidance. Regardless and with the agreement of Brother Jol, they agreed it would be wisest to stay at the village until the snow began to retreat. Just beyond the village Brother Jol reported there was a giant drift of snow that not only helped hide the village but also prevented them from going any further away.
Heavy in thought, Delvakhan turned toward the spring only slightly aware of the sounds of gentle splashing which echoed rather loudly for only split moment. As the sounds repeated, the King of the South was taken from his thoughts and focused on the water. Carefully and quietly he moved behind the foliage yet kept a clear view of the waters surface. Peering from behind a bush Delvakhan watched as a naked female figure broken the water’s surface slowly with her long flowing hair quickly tossed behind her head. Gently and playfully she played and sang with the water, almost as if she were communicating with it. Her voice was beautiful as it floated to his ears. Her suddenly laughter caused his lips top open and then press into a slight smile. As he watched her skin and the nipples of her breast react to the still cold air surrounding the landscape, even above the steaming waters, Delvakhan was suddenly ashamed as he found himself focusing on her womanly features. Breathless by her loveliness his body stood rigid as his thoughts began to swirl leaving him near the point of passing out. In startled surprise Delvakhan found his eyes looking directly into hers, as she lifted her own to meet his. Without saying a word her eyes left his gaze and she slowly withdrew from the water, which he noticed calmed the moment she stepped from its presence. Quickly she put on her clothing he hadn’t noticed were laying on the grass just at the waters edge. While she dressed, her back was intentionally toward him. Within several minutes she walked away, turning toward him once and offering a smile, causing his entire body to react as if he were standing in a fire. Kneeling he dropped his head into the water quickly then pulling it out. Looking up to the morning sky, he felt the cold air begin to react to the water as the image of the woman burned into his mind. Breathing deeply, he stood and made his way back to the temple.
Walking down the hall, Delvakhan paused before he walked into the room he and the others spent their last few days in. At first it was filled with wonder about where they were and what happened. When they asked for confirmation or denial, those of the temple offered them nothing. Far too often they were met in silence. But that wasn’t what made him uncomfortable; it was the set up of the room and how they were addressed. It was actually a throne room with a lavish chair and surroundings specifically for Delvakhan. Mora, Baron Burakani and the Empress Elidra formed a council in front of him addressing an almost empty room. The small contingent of Rakshar soldiers provided regular patrols and guards for the village and the temple. Every time Delvakhan entered, they would snap to attention and address him in formal fashion. Even the others followed suit and did the same with the calling him Excellency, Liege and every other title they could think of.
With one last sigh, Delvakhan pushed open the doors and entered the center of the temple. Immediately everyone rose to their feet and dropped their heads in salute as he walked to his chair. Heavily he sat in the throne and dropped his head into his hands, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, only to have them return to the woman he saw in the spring. Shaking the image from his mind, Delvakhan slapped his hands to his knees and looked at the others.
“Is there anything new?” Delvakhan questioned without any real interest as his eyes looked around the room yet again. He envied the soldiers almost hidden against the walls, each looking forward.
“My Liege, Brother Jol came to us while you were out walking. Their council will be joining us at some point this morning.” Baron Burakani stated as he turned to face the King of the South. There was an almost smile across his lips as he spoke. “It would appear they have news for us as well as news for the Empress.”
Immediately Delvakhan looked to Elidra and noticed she was intently looking only at the door. Her heel tapped at the ground in quick succession and her fist was clentched, although almost entirely hidden in her lap.
“What do we know about this news.” He questioned.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They are evasive and seem to delay everything without reason or concern for anyone else.” Mora stated with harsh irritation heavy in her voice.
“They are an old people heavy with religious conviction.” Burakani countered. “We should be patient.”
“To the darkness with it all. You aren’t missing a daughter.” She snapped back glaring at the Baron.
“Even with information, what can we do?” Burakani questioned back. “We are here until the cold recedes, so any information will sit as we do.”
“Any information that leads to my daughter will not stop me from doing what I must, with or without the cold, the snow or a million soldiers in my way.” Empress Elidra’s voice was low and stern. Slowly she turned and looked directly into the eyes of Delvakhan. “The question will only then become; what will you do about it King of the South.”
Before Delvakhan could answer a man entered and bowed just inside the door and bowed deeply. “My Lord the Council of the One wishes to address your court.”
“By the light, get on with it.” Delvakhan waved them in.
In slow deliberate moves a group of a dozen people robed from head to toe entered the room and formed a line in front of Delvakhan and the others. From the center a single person walked forward while the others collapsed into three rows. Taking a knee and dropping his head low, the bearded man lifted his hands forward toward Delvakhan.
“King of the South, spoken to us and promised to us from ages long before this one, we now offer our knowledge to you for whatever questions you may have.” The man spoke with a soft voice, yet powerful and aged.
“I was told you had a message for both the Empress and myself. What are these messages?” Delvakhan questioned.
“Your message I have delivered my Lord. The child Khelidra was taken to Sarna in accordance to the Rhiyan prophecies.” Still kneeling with his hands toward the King the man continued. “We are here to answer, please ask what else you must know.”
“What were those voices we each heard.” Delvakhan questioned.
“They are the messengers of much older ones that have been sleeping since the last time Rhiya walked the land. Kept in slumber until the prophecies call to them, they only reach out to those of magical gift.” The answer came quickly without any hesitation.
“I have no such gift. Why did I hear it?” The King of the South stood from his chair and walked behind it, laying his head on his arms along the chairs back edge.
“You are a child of prophecy. All of you are, as such each of you have gifts from the God’s making you special and unique. You simply have never learned how to use it properly.”
“We don’t have time for this. Why must we stay here.” He questioned in exasperation.
“Once you have learned to use your gifts, you will no longer need our protection. You came to us and we must protect you, it is our charge as we are in service to the King of the South.” Still the mans voice was soft and clear.
“Enough of this, I am tired of doing what everyone else tells me I have to do. You are in service to me, then I want two questions answered. Why did that mural on the wall talk to me in the same voices I have heard since we came to the coast? How do we get past the snow? You know too much to be stopped by anything like that. I have seen how you keep this place warm.” Delvakhan moved as he talked from behind his throne and now stood directly in front of the man laying prostrated before him. “I am done with this.”
“My Lord, the voices were welcoming you. They are not aware of how strong their power still is. However they know you have been informed and as such they stopped. They only served to lead you hear.” Straining his neck to look up at Delvakhan the man’s eyes were filled with sorrow. Tears formed at the corners of his eyes as he continued to speak. “Yes, there is a way beyond the snow, but should you leave before you have been trained, you will die.”
“At least I die to my own accord. Mora, gather our men, we are heading for Sarna.” Delvakhan turned and looked at Elidra offering her a smile. “We have a child that needs to be returned to her mother.”
“Please my Lord reconsider, by the time your training is complete the warmer weather will have arrived.” The priest jumped to his feet and followed Delvakhan. “So many things are connected to you, we must protect the prophecies.”
Delvakhan spun and grabbed the man by the collar of his robes, pulling the priest directly in front of his face. “We are leaving because I want to leave. You can keep your prophecy, my decisions are my own.”
Falling to the ground sobbing the man’s tears fell heavily; his voice full of sorrow. “Please my King at least take one of us with you. When the time comes for you to use your power, we may be able to act on behalf of your gift. We can at least protect you in this way and preserve the prophecy. By the Light of the One please my Liege.”
“If they are there and ready when we leave, I will not stop them. I was saved by that woman.” Delvakhan pointed to Empress Elidra. “I will return that favor, your prophecy be damned.”
****
“I couldn’t do it myself. I couldn’t lie to my king, so I tasked another with talking to King Delvakhan. However, I have followed your request Holy One.” Brother Jol addressed the robed man who stood straight with his back toward the brother. “They have left and she is with them.”
Slightly the head of the man nodded and then returned to his silent stance. Pausing a moment then taking a step forward Brother Jol lifted his hands in question. “I don’t understand why you wanted him to believe we wanted him to stay.”
“Because it was the only way he would leave. The turmoil of his mind will not allow him to accept any training. He must walk his own path, even when he would refuse just because someone advised him of such.”
“Master Amadagu must things be so complex? Can we not just say what is.” Brother Jol questioned.
Sighing heavily Amadagu turned and placed his hands on Jol’s shoulders. “I have tried that again and again. This time I am forced to try something different. Go now, attend to your training. I will not be here when you finish.”
Once Brother Jol left the room Amadagu sat and wrote in a journal. Taking a moment he looked over his last words.
‘By Xhuri may I be forgiven for allowing the King of the South to follow the path that will lead to his death. I hold out in hope this time the children will be saved.’
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