Wednesday, November 05, 2003
“Are we riding all the way to Mindara?” Elias asked.
“No, the King is in Entre for the summer.” Lord William answered and maneuvered his horse to the front of the entourage.
The morning sun shone bright dispelling the last of the mists much to Elias discomfort, summers in Ilrian are well known for its heat and humidity. Elias eyed the Ilrian beside him, Ilrian clothes were suited for the climate light and airy, the sleeves parted from the shoulder to the wrist holding the illusion of formality in their casual dress.
The road was hardly paved his horse frequently stumbled on a misplaced rock and root, Elias wondered at the state of disrepair, Ilrian was hardly Riadon in richness but it was rich enough to construct its own roads.
Finally after an hour’s travel the forest cleared and the castle rose before them, stone construct and dangerous sharp towers. It was not one would think a summer palace should be, it had more the look of a fort than anything.
Boys who looked younger than twelve rushed towards the entourage assisting them from the saddle, Elias handed his bridle to a young fair-haired boy, the boy smiled at him impishly then guided his horse to the stables.
When, suddenly, Lord William cried out. “My Lord Prince!”
Elias jumped, he looked to Lord William in puzzlement but the Earl of Brosi did not look to him instead Lord William strode to the stable boy to whom Elias gave his horse.
“What pray tell are you doing?”
“About to stable the horse, my Lord.”
Lord William scowled. “You are to do no such thing, my lord Prince,” he waved his arms and a much older stable boy claimed the horse. “You will accompany us to the court at the introduction of Prince Elias.”
“Why, Elias, age yourself younger and Prince Cristos could be you!” David said, grinning his infuriating grin.
“Mark my words, David, one of these days. You will wake-up covered in red paint.” Elias whispered.
“Words, my prince.”
Before Elias could reply they were before the court, the morning light was welcome to the court for light speared in through the large arched windows providing a refreshing change from the castle at home. It being morning most of the courtiers were absent. Elias scanned the murals of a past age still brightly colored, the interiors more than made up for the fortress like feel of the castle.
The others bowed and made obeisance to the king, Elias however bowed as conscripted for one royal to another, equals.
King Erlan rose and returned the bow. “Prince Elias, be welcome.”
“Thank you, your majesty.”
“And you, my stubborn son, what am I to do with you?” Erlan said, addressing his son who had the gal to step beside his father.
“Reward me with a pony?”
David nudged Elias’ ribs Elias stoutly ignored his brazen mentor.
“No. I shall allow your mother to handle your impishness.” Erlan looked stern but for the mischievous shine in his blue eyes. “Take him away.”
Instead of guards two old women descended on a horrified prince.
Erlan returned his attention to Elias. “And you, prince, shall I too send you to your mother?”
“I hardly think it, necessary, King Erlan, as I am here with her favor.”
Erlan laughed, and said. “That is a good answer, prince.” Then the king straightened and his gaze sharpened as if a call determined its time for duty. It was a thing Elias envied from his father and brother. “Leave us.”
Elias saw David and his guards hesitated, Elias signaled with his hands and David nodded and followed Lord William out of the hall.
“Come nearer so we might speak with confidence.” Said Erlan, his coat red colored vest glinted darkly in the light. Elias wished again for a material like the Ilrian’s in this heat, sweat collected at his back and his brow, he wiped it away and came forward. “What are you here for, Elias?”
“A pilgrim, my king.” It was the answer his mother told him to answer, a pilgrim was not an unusual thing to have. It was also far safer to say than a quest for the orb.
“A good answer, but far from the truth.”
At that Elias heart stilled for a second. “My Lord?”
“You’re here on a quest, not a simple quest I gather for David Lightstone is in your company.” Erlan said, watching him. “You’re therefore on the hunt for the orb of Yrdle.”
The cold certainly did not spring from the hall but from Erlan’s words. Was Erlan then his first obstacle? He dearly wished it not so. Elias started to speak but found no voice to utter words of excuse and bewilderment. He was trapped in his own lie and need for it to remain so.
“Be at ease,” Erlan said, finally sitting on his throne. “I am not here to harm you. If I had men to spare, or even myself I would have joined your venture, and in my instance I would search for the Lost Orb of Ilrian. I am here to advise you on the routes to take,” Erlan stretched his hand to the table next to him and took a map. “At all cost you must avoid the borders of Crastral, it is heavily guarded and perilous, the Albinion border however is friendly until the truce hold. I can provide you with fresh horses and some proviso needed for a long quest in return, I only ask that you search not only for the Orb of Yrdle but also for the lost orb of Ilrian.”
Elias looked at him, thunderstruck. “You wish me to search out for your orb? May I ask to what reason? Ilrian is not suffering from famine not like Yrdle.”
Erlan met his eyes, grim and shadowed. “I fear that the prosperity of Ilrian may wane, it may be an unfounded fear but it is a feeling that plagues me at night. I would not chance for Ilrian to fall into dark times such as there was during the Breaking. Will you take this quest too, Prince Elias?”
Common sense would be to decline King Erlan’s request but if he were such a person with such sense he would not be so far from home, in a foreign hall and a wise, grim king asking for his favor. So, Elias said. “Yes, I would take the quest as my own.”
It was as a burden was shorn from Erlan’s shoulders and he clapped his hands, across the hall servants burst forth. “We would have our breakfast here.”
The servants scattered to fulfill Erlan’s orders.
“We have still much to talk about, but first, is there a wish you need fulfilled? Clothes for these humid climes?”
Elias hesitated and answered. “I would like clothes from Ilrian, especially in this heat, however I would like one request filled.”
“Speak it and it shall be done.”
Elias breathed deep before saying. “I request escape from my guards, a quest of this delicacy must be handled alone, I know the perils of this quest but it would be better served if done alone.”
Word count 2,386
Monday, November 03, 2003
Almost two weeks passed when the call sounded, Elias was in his cabin asleep, when he heard the gong sound, loud and strong. Elias climbed the steps and blinked at the activity before him reminding him of the day Sante Rela set sail for Ilryan.
“Land!” A voice bellowed, the call was repeated several times on the deck, the snap of sails and roped and feet on wood was never more vivid than on this day. The morning sun was just on the horizon but the fog has not yet cleared.
Elias saw it then, his first view of a port outside of Dera, it was a landscape of green, brown, and surf and ships and beyond Elias fancied he saw structures of stone and tops of towers. He felt giddy and anxious and happy.
A thought occurred and snuffed his general feeling of well being. “David, does the king of Ilryan know I’m arriving?”
“Of course. A courier was sent before your departure, the king knows of your arrival. It’s only proper.” David said leaning on the rail beside him.
“Since when were you concerned with proper?” Elias scowled.
“Since we’re in a foreign land and I’m not leaning on any royal favor.”
That was the last conversation they had, what came next was the hustle and bustle of a retinue and the special favors one gets as a son of a king. The wharf was bigger than Elias thought and the smell of rotting fish pervasive, something he never thought would be associated to such a country as Ilryan.
Elias was overwhelmed here he was on the edge of adventure, everything he’s ever dreamed of as a child. So entranced was he of the buildings, of the diverse set of people he failed to notice anything else until he an unfortunate collision.
“Oh! I’m sorry!” Elias stammered, a young woman of exotic dark coloring and long hair glared at him.
“Watch where you’re going!” She said, “Now look what you did!”
Elias did and was flabbergasted to see scrolls and books spilled around them, wet. “I’m terribly sorry!”
“I’m sure you are.” Her voice was chocolate smooth, and the sarcasm flowed but the twist of her lips erased the sting from her words. Elias opened his mouth to reply only to be thwarted by a troupe of soldiers apologizing, lecturing and forbidding.
“I’m sorry, it’s just… the lady’s things…” He said in obvious helplessness.
“The lady?” Said David and began hollering orders, the soldiers scrambled and began to pick-up the fallen items.
“You’re very noisy, aren’t you?” The girl said retrieving her papers and walking stick.
“No—“
“My Lord, what has happened?” It was Lord William of Brosi.
“We were just helping this lady—“ Elias turned to introduce the girl and found himself staring at a bewildered soldier. “Who has vanished.”
William of Brosi looked over his shoulder, shrugged and said. “Come, my lord, the King is expecting you.”
Elias turned about and stammered an answer there was no other choice, Elias sighed nothing was going according to his plan but of course hours later he shouldn’t be surprised to find himself tied to a tree.
word count: 530 words
Sunday, November 02, 2003
So. Today is the start of the novel writing month. A bit of an intro to this story, it's a fantasy quest novel in the tradition of Tolkien's world and Patricia Mckillip's Riddle Master Trilogy.
I'm Monic Almario by the way and all the fiction written in this blog, unless specifically said so, is mine. Copyright.
Chapter One
It was on a clear summer day when Elias of Yrdle set on a quest to seek the Orb of Obsidian stolen from his family ages before. He set sail on Sante Rela, patron saint of the Lost; he found no irony in this because he spent a few agonizing days in his room. It was his first time at sea, or at any part farther than the four stonewalls of Dera.
When Elias found he could stand the rocky dance of the sea Elias came up for air and found the most spectacular sight at clear horizon and the wash of foam against the ship. A smile crept in, and he inhaled the sea air, salty and free.
He was to go questing.
"What?" A rough-hewn voice demanded beside him.
Elias turned around, startled and saw a man taller him. His face was craggy and scarred. "I was just... talking to myself."
"Finally got over your sea queasiness, young Lord?"
Elias flushed. "Yes, Yes I have, Captain Corinth."
"It's a foolish notion you have, questing for the orb." Corinth said, "It'll not be found you mark my words. I reckon it is time for you to venture out Yrdle, be a man."
Corinth nodded at him and pounded at his back then made to shout at a few sailors slacking about. Elias frowned at Corinth's implication that he wasn't a man, at 23 years of age and was no longer a boy.
"Let's practice." He told David, the captain of his guards. Bodyguard in short.
David grinned. "Sure, lad."
They brought out their swords and started swinging at each other, it was a disorienting feeling sword fighting at sea the field rose and sank and creaked Elias snaked along side David's sword and scored a hit before he fell head long into a pile of wooden crates.
The world spun and sank before him until David, grinning his sword hefted on his shoulders appeared before him.
"You lose."
"Only because we're at sea!"
Suddenly he felt the sharp edge of David's sword on his neck, Elias looked up at him, surprised at David's angry expression for a moment fear crept into his heart. But this was David, his sword master surely he wasn't a traitor, an assassin.
"'Only because' will get you killed." David said gray eyes narrowed and angry. "And you proposed to go on this quest alone, when that simple maneuver and circumstance could have gotten you killed if I was really out to get your pretty head!" David sheathed his sword and pulled Elias up. "You're to go on other lands and meet people of less savory character. Wise-up, lad."
"I know!"
David studied him, and clamped his hand on Elias' shoulder he was suddenly grinning again. "Good!"
They returned to the cabins but Elias could not shake the feeling of foreboding at the feel of David's sword, its sharp steel, it's coldness. David would never betray him nor his family he was sure of it. Still the foreboding remained and before he ducked inside the cabins he looked up at the sky a clearer blue he’d never seen and convinced himself he was dreaming.
ETA This post was published on November 1, 2003. Blogger is doing some wierd thing to make it not post on November 1
