Varheiman Myths: The Dragon And Her Fire

The City Of Halem.

The lit in the humours and wonderment of the traded tales from the recent adventure. Velina, when learned about Edgard from Alistair, put her in a hard time to believe whatever he had just told her. She'd have rather preferred to stay oblivious. Whereas, to Rhineas it didn’t really bother him since he was certain about what he wanted. And Alistair being himself couldn’t rescue himself from the claws of despair.It was wise to spare some of that ale from the Untainted gardens, it was scanty but enough to put him into the numbness.

Rhineas saw Velina feeding grass to the horse in the mild new light of the dawn. Alistair disappeared leaving his horse tethered around the hut, Velina stood feeding it as well. Rhineas tied the leather bands of his sandals, brushing his long flaming red hair behind.

‘Morning mother.’ Rhineas chirped.

‘The Knight has risen to battle!.’ Velina replied cheerfully , supporting the big basket of the remaining grass at the side of her waist.

Rhineas strode towards her, he held the basket in his hands and said, ‘Let me get this.’

Velina smiled at her son and ruffled his hair, the laughter burst in the air.

Rhineas later on went looking for Alistair, drawing every gaze of men with familiar faces, but yet he knew them scarcely. He'd now slung the scabbard to his left side around his peach tunic which itself was a misfit above his poor quality leather breeches, and yet a big Knightly sword was certain to attract the attentions. There was a group of girls, which, Rhineas noticed and assumed to be of the same age as his, looking at him and giggling amongst themselves.discomforted ,Rhineas flushed and fled away from them. Alistair was not yet to be sighted, he yielded the search and decided to go back. Not far away, flock of men cheering and shouting in elation on the streets gathered, it dragged Rhineas close to the scene. A voice bowled from the midst of the crowd, ‘Up on your feet, man. Is that what you all the brawls got?.’ A familiar voice, indeed utterly familiar voice. Rhineas pushed through the crowd, on of the men cursed Rhineas and glared at him coldly, he backed up.

‘Sir Alistair of Bustia!’ Rhineas exclaimed

The men disappeared in a hurry, Surmising Alistair for a Knight of the City ranger. Alistair was powdered in mud, some of the dust buried in his thick beard. He lay sprawling his one leg and another bent from the knee, hunching forth on it while his elbow rested upon his knee. Rhineas stared at Alistair in disbelief, corner of his brow arched upwards in ridicule.

‘What is it that i may suppose you were doing here?’ Rhineas asked.

Alistair looked at him exasperatingly. ‘Fight bet. I was exceedingly close to winning two silvers.’ He pointed out.

Rhineas grabbed Alistair by his arm and pulled him up. ‘God, we need to find you a job.’

Alistair scoffed darkly and said, ‘Don’t trouble, boy. We are going into the city.’

Rhineas gazed up at the high limestone rampart, holding the entrance, environed the great city, making it look like the castle itself. There was a broad balcony on the top of it, from where the archers kept a great watch with their eagle eyes. The entry gates were made of wood with iron binding them together. The thickness of the doors was as broad as a man's shoulder frame, the strips of iron held the several layers of wood bound together above one another to make the doors immensely wide. There were frighteningly sharp and dense spears pointing out. Rhineas peered past the gates exuberantly. He'd always been told that he would never pass them and enter the kingdom. The people of Talle has always kept away from the gates for some mysterious and strange reason, that none of the villagers had ever learnt  not that any one ever bothered to. The few people who were allowed in the city from the village were the, lords of Talle who spent abundant time in the city anyways. And the merchants who took the harvest of the peasants to the city market, but frequently the village market was demanding enough.

The platoons of city rangers was organised in an great discipline, they stood alert with vast awareness lined up across the entrance armed with spears and a shield. The two Knights held the command at the side of the gates.

‘Who is to pass through the gates?’ One of them asked.

‘Sir Alistair of Bustia.’

‘Your business of visiting, sir?’

‘I was sent with a ship of diamonds to Grehol. Now I've returned to report the arrival of the ship at the port.’ Alistair wondered if it was convincing enough.

‘I believe the boy is with you, sir?’ The Knight shouted behind his helm, his voice reverbed through the armour.

‘He’s an prentice, gentle sir.’ Alistair said. ‘He’s an Halemer himself.’

‘Alright, you may pass sir.’ The Knight permitted.

As usual Rhineas was disgusted by the lies of Alistair, but they always made a way forth. Rhineas saw that the streets of the city were very elegant and posh ,they were not muddy, and glinted against the morning crisp of sunshine. The cobblestoned streets made a hard and sharp sound when the hooves touched them. The redolent scent of spices and perfume of the men and women passing by hung in the air. The vast richness of the city reflected upon from every stone of the city. The high towers that rose over the castles of the important people had given the skyline an utterly significant impression. Everyone was dressed in silk ,even the labourers doing low jobs appeared wealthier than a villager. The women had a very distinct charm ,unlike the woman of the village, they were dressed fashionably, some draped the silk around them as blouse and a mantle below covered down from the waist, leaving the area around navel bare, which was adorned with a leather belt around it.

Alistair winked at some of the ladies who were sitting on the pavement raised above the side of the streets. They giggled at Alistair.

‘Hey Knight, would you show me your long sword?’ One of the woman asked teasingly.

‘Oh, I would love to, but work first, darling.’ Alistair determined.

And the women's laughter chimed along with the business of the city.

The city had wide streets with bustling people, and carriages driven around mostly with the horses ridden by the soldiers. In the east a big temple devoted to Emone looked deserted, Rhineas wondered in astonishment. The white sculptures of Emone were now patched with slight yellowness, which had dulled radiance of the sculpture. One of the sculpture caught eyes, because that was the only sculpture which was shining luminously and the marble was intact white, the god emerging from the flames, carved intricately.

The city had a lively and  bustling soul, but something made Rhineas feel the despair behind the happy faces of the citizens, an anonymous calamity had taken place here. The shades of black dust had left stains on the outer pillars of the temple.

‘How is it that the temple of Emone is deserted in his own kingdom?’ Rhineas mumbled.

‘The king is not encouraging the worship of Emone anymore.’ Alistair replied.

Rhineas stared widely his face scattered in daze. ‘Why would he do that? He is the son of fire.’

Alistair laughed softly. ‘The king has been involved with the dark forces from the Kingdom of moon praying to Zohua, god of the night and brother of Emone to keep his throne. Something had happened with the king after great war, Medralin the tower of the first bloods was dismantled by Emone from this city which disappointed Edgard and a conflict had occurred between them. Edgard wanted to pass the wisdom down to his bloodlines to protect  and strengthen it, just as the Greryls of Grehol. Edgard felt the impartiality of Emone for not letting him keep the wisdom, so he has decided not to worship him anymore. But forming an alliance with Zohua wouldn’t make it any better, Zohua's dark forces have been keeping people from worshipping their own god, some kingdoms are even on open rebellion against Halem but they are dreaded by the strong army and dark forces. Edgard has been too frightened himself to get down off his palace. he is frightened of his warden Emone, the people await their king, the son of fire to fly across the sky on his Dragon and lead them to glory. If they don’t see him soon ,the city itself might rebel against him.’

Rhineas didn’t believe this but marks of black soot in the white marbles of the temple wouldn’t lie.

Alistair continued, ‘The people of the city are worshiping Zohua for the wisdom of dark forces allowing them to explore the vast magical realms.’

‘Doesn’t this make Emone furious?’ Rhineas wondered.

‘It might.’ Alistair paused and looked in Rhineas’s eyes, ‘He has chosen a new king for his kingdom.’

‘Its not even slightly possible my friend.’ Rhineas confirmed for the hundredth times.

‘Do you know that before the great war, your village was a part of Halem.’ Alistair said.

‘I didn’t. My mother didn’t tell me.’

‘The village was parted from the kingdom because Edgard feared you would come and claim the throne someday, and having Emone by your side would get all the people of Varheim to support your claim. Indeed he knows that you are his first born, and the prophecy says the first born of thee shall rule Emone’s kingdom. Your unwillingness won't stop this from happening, it’s inevitable.’ Alistair said sternly.

‘I swear this would be my last adventure with you Alistair, and then we part. I just had a strong desire of seeing a Dragon closely.’ He admitted.

‘Aye, let's see boy what lays forth us.’ He said grimly.

Rhineas had never heard of these stories concerning the king, he had never heard of any other god but Emone. Zohua was just a name for him. Chorus of distinct voices echoed over the streets around a plain pillar surrounded by stony walls, vast group of people gathered in a circle around the pillar and enchanted in an unfamiliar language. Rhineas gazed at them blankly, one of the woman's gaze from the group met Rhineas's, she looked at him with her outrageous eyes, a glint of fear in them. Rhineas felt a cold spasm of fear flowing down his stomach as well, the woman’s eyes followed Rhineas. He felt threatened by the way she looked at him, Alistair recognized the fear on Rhineas’s face and followed his gaze ,looking at the group of sorcerers praying to Zohua, around the pillar where the Medralin was, now people had erected a pillar there to honour the remains of Zohua. The woman looked away when she perceived Alistair looking at her way.

‘They are the sorcerers of the dark forces. Devotees of Zohua.’ Alistair said hiding his fear, not the fear of sorcerers, but the fear of them recognising who Rhineas was. Rhineas’s flames cannot be kept discreet. It gleamed even from the distance of yards. If they knew, then the king would know and if the king knew, the soldiers would be off ,looking for Rhineas, might also kill him. Alistair himself had been sent to take Rhineas out but, he wouldn’t dare anger the god of fire. he'd been afraid when Rhineas had asked him about something he was hiding ,this was the thing he was keeping Rhineas from knowing. There were soldiers who were looking for him discreetly since the day he was born and the day he would enter the city ,he'll be looked upon as a threat to the crown. Alistair knew that the boy is wittier than his age, and he'd expected he would ask this question.