Tales of Tyde

Chapter 7: The Test

After agreeing to do their test the council asked me to leave the room, so they could decide what I should do to prove my claim to the throne is valid. Not that I was worried, but my gut got that tingle I get when something bad is about to happen. With Colonel Baz’ power struggle I just knew it would be the test of a lifetime chosen for me to fail.

After their “careful” considerations, the council decided that I should retrieve the spear of Osirin. It is said that it belonged to Atlas the first king of Anudore, given to him by Poseidon himself as a symbol of power and prosperity to pass down to his heirs through generations. History says that Atlas hid Osirin from the world after his last victory, entrusting its location to his direct descendants with a warning to never retrieve it unless absolutely necessary.

“If you are who you claim to be then you’ll have no trouble bring Osirin home.” Colonel Baz said.

“How do you expect me to retrieve Osirin without any idea of its location?” I asked

“Only the heirs of Atlas know how to find it, so I suggest you start looking. Until you have it in hand we have nothing more to discuss.” Colonel Baz sneered.

Colonel Baz’ P.O.V.

I have no doubt that she could be our true Queen but I have lost all faith in the royal family after they abandoned us to fend for ourselves. Her heritage is clear in her features but I will not let another child of Luther’s lineage to rule over us. I lost my father and two older brothers in the siege of leviathan. And now this little princess shows up expecting everyone to bow before her without even a simple explanation or apology for what her family did.

As long as I’m here she will not ascend to the throne easily if any at all. I know Atlas hid Osirin to protect his lineage from a curse, although I don’t know where it’s hidden, I know how dangerous it is to retrieve it. Let’s see Princess Tyde retrieve it with her lack of knowledge and fighting skills. With her gone we can go back to our lives and I’ll comfortably watch as General Sym and his family becomes our ruler.

Madam Ara’ P.O.V.

I suspected Colonel Baz to have something up his sleeve. He and a few other high ranking families have been angry at the way the monarchs vanished during our time of need, especially after they sacrificed their lives and the lives of their beloved to protect them. However, I am not angry about the test they chose for Tyde.

She is our queen and a warrior by blood; this could be a great start to her training and it will end any doubts of her being the queen. I’ll instruct Mica to guide her as much as he can. I also hope this quest will also reveal who he really is.

Tyde’s P.O.V.

I have no idea where to begin. I can’t believe I thought this was going to be a walk in the park. Now I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to figure out where the hell I should be looking. The only thing that comes to mind is to check Madam Ara’s archive. I know nothing about Great… grandfather Atlas and in order to get into his mind I’ll have to get to know him; so I’ll start there.

I read for what felt like days when I came up on a poem in his old journal. It sounded so much like the poem my father would recite to me before bed, just a little different. “Down in the deep below you’ll see, fleets of shimmer, fleets of glee, fairness, freedom, and melody as the cheerful sing and swim with ease. For none can catch them, none can see, only the ones who are one with thee. Treasures hidden in fields doom; where the blood of Atlas freely blooms.” This must be a clue; I just need to decipher it. Sym and Coralia can’t help me with the quest, so I hope Mica is good with riddles or I may never figure this out.

Mica and I were bursting our brains for hours when I he said he never knew a warlord would be so good at poetry and riddles, hearing that gave me an idea of where to look next. We went to the last battleground Atlas fought on. Something happened there that provoked a change in him and I believe there is no better place to hide a treasure than on cursed lands feared by people near and far.

When we were approaching the battleground I heard mica chant something in a language I couldn’t understand then told me it’s to ward off evil. We looked around a little until I stumbled on two perfectly aligned dead corals in front of a massive rock that seems out of place. After closely inspecting the rock Mica pointed out some runes at the very bottom of the rock.

After he translated the ancient text, the rock sank into a pit of darkness leading to what I know is the doom the poem mentioned. When we started descending, I couldn’t see anything and starting thinking about how useful a flashlight would be in a situation like this. Almost immediately light came out of nowhere illuminating our way.

“You’re glowing Tyde.” Is what Mica said, making me look down to see that my entire body was now glowing. “I’m a flashlight? No way…”

“Calm down Tyde, we have no idea what is down here with us so it’s best to remain calm and quiet to not attract any more attention than your glow is already doing. He couldn’t have said it any sooner. I suddenly felt a giant presence hovering over me making every fibre in my body go crazy.

I couldn’t see what it was but it felt dangerous and as if he could read my mind he grabbed one of my hands, and we both bolted off in an unknown direction in an attempt to avoid whatever monster that was lurking in the dark.

We bolted until we came to an opening with light projecting from inside. Not wanting to take any chances with the unknown we both rushed in hoping to get shelter as the opening was barely big enough for the both of us to pass through at once.

By the time we were inside we heard a growl coming from the direction we were just in causing us to turn to face the giant glowing eyes peering in at us angrily.

“What the bubble was that?” Mica Yelled

“How would I know, I have as much information as you do.”

By the time we caught our breaths, I saw a fin reaching thought the opening towards us. I couldn’t warn Mica in time and it got hold of his waist dragging him out as quickly as it came in.