Quest of Water and Steel (Gothos Rising)

1. Mysteries

The rain was pounding the marble floors making it slippery to the unwary. The young girls stood side by side with hands raised to receive the cold droplets that would cut the humidity that has rolled across the land of North Territory. Sera being nine- years old was almost identical to her twin sister Asura except the color of her eyes that was a dark blue well her sisters were light. Both girls wore blue orange tunics with matching loose trousers, their hairs done in four plaits, two hanging in front and the two behind their skinny shoulders. Their feet were adored with matching kid sandals made of imported silk from the Isle of Gralos that the feared King Damon ruled and used greatly as a port and trading market.

They were standing hand in hand looking out at the breathtaking valley below them as they did when the weather was like this. It was strange behavior for two little girls to do, but since their dear mother passed on in a sickness and their father who died in the great Battle of the Southlands they only had each other in the entire world. The cold and rainy days was a reminder in spite of the relief it gave. The fate of the two girls would have been to begging and drudgery for them if the great astrologer of the king, Talbus took one look at the little lasses and knew they were special. After confirming his hunch he concluded to the king that they were to be chosen as guardians of two of the sacred stones. After that announcement from the wizen man the king had seized their assets; their father's land, home, and property for payment for the lessons and care the girls would undertake and thereby erasing their former lives. The residence they took up was called the Hall of Clothos, a structure of stone nestled on the edge of mountain protected by steep cliffs and one road leading to its entrance. The measure that the builders made seemed unnecessary since no one, even the enemies of the former king would dare attack this sacred place. Here the six great stones of Alympia lay in a silent circle and its hall is where the guards would be trained.

The six children both male and female studied and learned in a palace filled with rooms for study and contemplation and vast gardens where herbs were grown for medicine and the sereneness was enjoyed. The children would learn the skill that was chosen for them for the good of the land.

"Sera, Asura! Don't stand there gaping at sky like turkeys. All of the others are waiting for you" Amerus, their gray haired tutor chided them, standing in his crisp white toga and leather sandals. Asura let out a long sigh and squeezed her sister's hand and turned running up to the old man and standing there.

"We were wondering where the rain comes from" Asura said her lower lip pouting a bit, her light blue eyes looking up at the scholar. He chuckled and studied her for a long moment. "They are mysteries that no one fully has to the answer to" he replied his light gray eyes flickering to Sera still standing there gazing out thoughtfully. He walked up to her slowly and placed a hand on her shoulders. Her eyes were soulful as she looked up at him pensively, always the more serious of the twins.

"Amerus, I always wondered if they were the tears" she said very softly. Amerus bent down very slowly due to the weakness in his knees and looked at her.

"If they are tears then who sheds them?" he asked her, studying her face. The little girl shifted slightly where she stood and gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Mysteries" she replied after a long pause. "Perhaps they are" he said, the corner of his eyes wrinkling with amusement. These moments were ones that made him question if healing was the skill best for little Sera. It was her twin who was the Guard of the Stone of Wisdom which was only somewhat fitting. Asura had a mind for studying, but she never questioned the world around her which was a pity in itself. He mused further as he led the two girls to the heavy wooden double doors that were open to invite the cool breeze from the rain. At the round table sat on lounging pillows were three boys and one girl, turning their head coming to attention as the teacher joined them with the two girls trailing. It was unusual that there were three girls and three boys to be Guards of the stones but didn't change the trials that would be ahead of them.

Amerus went down the three steps and approached his cushion and sat down arranging his robe. The children were dressed all alike in orange robes, the color of initiation. When they were trained fully in their own specialties they would don the shades of the stones they were sworn to protect. These study sessions were to teach them history, geography, math, and other important learning before they would focus on their own skills. Asura plopped down next to a sour looking young boy with black hair cropped cut to the back of his neck. Emrick was destined to study and protect the Stone of Time to his irritation. At the age of nine he felt he had all the time in the world and couldn't see the wisdom that would come with his soon to be status. He would rather be Guard of the Stone of War, or slashing a sword in the training hall of the Gogothian Knights, the protectors of the land from its enemies. The other three were Retuna, a shy girl who would Guard of the Stone of Elemental. Next to her was Calus, a kind faced young boy who was to guard the Stone of War not yet fitting the role he was to take over in the future. Finally sitting across from Sera sat Talos, Guard of the Stone of the Unseen that would be a challenge of its own for the somewhat sheepish boy.

Amerus snapped his fingers and a wordless servant brought him the large rolled scrolled and blended back into the scenery. With great care he unrolled it upon the round table, the scent of age wafted in the air.

"This is a map of the world we live in that separates the civilized from the barbaric." he said in a quiet voice. He didn't need to raise his voice as the six children looked down at the old map.

"The four provinces of the land, broken up by war and natural erosion" he told them, flattening the old scroll with his wrinkled fingertips. "We live in the Northern Territory that is protected by the Gogathon Knights. They have kept the peace and protected you children until you are ready to harness the power of the stones" he said stretching his hand out, pointing to the place on the map where they are.

"The Eastern Territory is filled with simple people and fields that give us the goods we use every day. We must pay respect to the farmers and gardeners that provide the things we need" he said calmly eyes sweeping over the young ones listening intently. He took a moment to make sure there weren't any questions posed before continuing.

"The Southern Territory is a land of uncultured nomads and outlaws." he said. Calus leaned his elbows on the table, resting the side of his face against his cheek. "I have heard rumors from the servants that they are criminals and thieves" he chimed in his voice filled with curiosity. The elderly instructor peered over at the boy at the other end of the table with his pale colored eyes.

"Yes, that is true. They are people who have been driven to the point of desperation after the great battle that claimed the king's brother Prince Robert the Kind" he said calmly.

"I have heard that creatures live in the Western Territory that snatch people in the night “Emrick asked leaning forward a bit on his cushion, quirking a curious brow causing all the students to rise to attention, all eyes on the scholar. For a few minutes the room was silent as Amerus removed his glasses, polishing them with the front of his robe before replacing them on the bridge of his nose.

"So you have heard the stories about the darker race. It is best that I tell you the true story to dispel any rumors you might of heard."

the scholar turned his back to the group and stared silently at the mural of an old palace spiraling to the sky.

"Centuries ago in this very city the old civilization lived. Sythians and humans lived together in harmony and understanding “he said which caused many whispers behind his back. “The story that has been passed on from our ancestors was that the Syths started the battle which caused great bloodshed and fed their unnatural hunger for blood. Before that moment the Sythians fed off of animals and did not indulge in the arcane feeding on the blood of humans. This great change was a great and terrible event. The Sythians almost destroyed the human race until the great King Ursa called upon a sorcerer, a mage named Bulrius who told him to seek a great stone in the palace of the Sythians. That stone would have the power to weaken the Syths. Ursa was given the map and created a small force of men. They stormed the castle and found the stone on the table under the great hall in a secret chamber. Using the spell that was given to him the king charged the stone and fought the Lord of the Sythians and killed him. The story goes that the Sythian priest, Darius took up the Lord's sword and with all his magic and skill shattered the stone into six pieces so it could never be used again by us humans. They were wrong of course because the six stones from that great stone became those that you protect and serve" he told them finally.

All six children looked at Amerus with a look of absolute awe.

"What happened to the Sythian Lord's sword?" Calus asked c*****g his head to the side.

"No one knows and those who have sought it have never found It." the teacher replied fixing them with a weary glance. "The sad part of this story is that the Sythian Lord and King Ursa were friends once. This great battle turned friends into mortal enemies."

When class ended Asura looked at her sister and walked out of the room with the others to the garden to play and relax. Sera stayed behind to talk to Amerus and approached him from the other side of the table, her fingers sweeping along the smooth surface.

"Amerus, did the Sythian's really start the war? “She asked her blue eyes taking him in. Such a question from someone so young surprised the old man causing him to grimace lightly.

"History is written by the victor, young one. We will never know who started the conflict but we know that it still wages on in our time". Amerus placed his hand on her shoulder and walked out of the room, leaving her pondering the carefully put words.

The sun was shining outside when Sera stepped out causing her eyes to ache from its brightness. Before her was the large marble courtyard filled with rushing fountains and colorful flowers. Stepping down the steps Sera saw her sister sitting with Talos, whispering secretly. It puzzled her at that age why the two of them spent so much time together. Jumping down the steps she walked up to the nearby fountain that was a woman holding a pitcher, pouring into the lower fountain. Sitting on the side of the stone she gazed down at the water at her reflection.

Feeling a slight jolt of a hand pushing her forward she swallowed in a breath as she fell into the water. The young girl didn't realize that she was being held down until she couldn't rise. She heard running feet and with her arms waving she finally caught her breath. Emrick was standing over her, his eyes narrowed.

"You know I should report you to the knights. They say that if you do not drown you are a witch. “He said in a low voice and turned and ran off into the garden hedge maze, leaving the others baffled. There were no adults around to tell of Emrick's behavior. Calus, his brown ponytail moving against his shoulder placed a hand on her arm lightly.

"Are you alright?"He asked frowning a bit. Seras nodded her head, but knew that Emrick hated her but she did not know why. If she knew then the lengths that Emrick would go to destroy her she would have been wearier of his machinations.

The next few days were hard work as the lessons continued and the afternoons were unusually warm. The trying lessons and training were to be rewarded when the Festes Festival was underway. Since the day at the fountain Sera has avoided Emrick the best she could. She couldn’t all together hide from him as they rode down to the village to take in the festivities as was tradition of the Northern Territory.

The festival of Festes was to celebrate the creation of the Gorgothian Knights that protected the land. The village people had prepared things for the large celebration. The men had swept out the streets and the women had set about washing the windows till they shined with the morning sun. Men with carts and wire brushes were sweeping and scrubbing down the cobblestone for the large parade that would commence. Sera, her sister, and the other protectors were placed on horses to be part of the procession. She felt a fearful twinge in her stomach. This would be the first time she would be in the parade since the festival was only every ten years for reasons she did not know. When the time came she sat upon a white mare nervously tugging at the front of her dress as she sat side saddle. The dress she was wearing was unusually colorful due to the festivities.

She was garbed in a forest green gown that tied in the back with a cream under dress. Her long golden hair was braided in its usual fashion, but woven with ribbons. Sera wiggled in her saddle having to ride it side saddle that was uncomfortable and made her bottom itch. Looking over at her twin she marveled at how she could sit still with pose even at their young age. To Sera’s bemusement her sister, Asura looked quite natural upon her honey colored mare, her eyes forward and calmed. This was always the difference between the two sister were their temperaments. Shifting slightly in her seat she looked out at the crowd on either side of the cobblestone street who were cheering and waving the flags of the four territories. Confetti fell from the upper windows of homes and shops and music could be heard from miles from the band. The senior officers of the Gorgothian Knights had the honor of being part of the procession. The others stood on each side of the street in strict formation, but had the luxury of watching the others go by.

The knights were garbed in their shining silver armor with a red embroidered shirt and woven black pants under it. The sword issued to them hung at their sides glinting in the sunlight. Captain Lucrus was standing among the new recruits, branding a nasty scar along his jaw from the war. Being hailed as a war hero he was rewarded with training the next generation of warriors. Standing at his side was his most promising soldiers. At the age of thirteen in the youth recruit program, Dominic Cain was at the top of his class and most obedient member of their close knit warrior community.

Even King Damon had made the young boy part of his court, impressed by his maturity and won over by his flattery. The dark haired looking young man was watching the parade as his superiors passed with an unreadable expression on his face. The older man watched the boy always uncertain what was going through his mind. His eyes flitted to those passing and a smile split over his lips.

“Look boy, it’s the Stone Protectors come all the way from the great Hall of Clothos” he said and raised his gloved hand and pointed to the children on the horses.

Dominic turned his head and looked at the group with mild, polite interest. This expression was unchanged until he saw the dark blue eyed girl on the white mount. Though the girl next to her on the horse was identical it was the dark eyes that interest him. The thirteen years old boy was quiet as they passed then spoken in a serious, calm tone of voice?

“Captain, who is that girl, the one with the dark blue eyes? “He asked, the sound of awe creeping into his voice.

The captain couldn’t help but chuckle at the boy’s reaction his shoulders shook a bit under the metal armor.

“That girl you so admire is Lady Sera. She is the Protector of the special stone of Healing. When she is older she will draw the power from it and help us” he replied wistfully. The young man seemed to be pondering this, rolling this information over in his mind as he stood there.

“Someday when I become a man of honor I will make that girl my wife” he said with firm sureness. Such words would be usually treated as fancies of a young boy, but the look on Dominic’s face was that of a determined adult.

“You have many years to make that so” The captain said calmly, patting the boy’s shoulder.