Born of Fire: The Dawn of Legend (15 page)

Rex watched her disappear in the dark cellar when BaRone suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

“You two are getting along well, I see.”

Rex turned to look at him. “What?”

“You and DiNiya,” he replied. “You two have been inseparable since you arrived.”

“She’s been showing me around and teaching me things.”

“Really?” replied BaRone, leaning forward with a furrowed brow. “What kinds of things?”

Rex suddenly felt a twinge of panic run up his spine. “No, I mean she’s been explaining how things work here in your world…I didn’t touch her, I swear.”

BaRone broke out in a boisterous laugh as he slapped his hand down on the counter. Rex just stared, not sure what was happening. “Don’t look so worried, my boy, I’m just trying to get you to loosen up a bit is all. You’re always so tense.” He continued to laugh.

“Oh…yeah…funny,” said Rex, irritated that he allowed someone to get the best of him like that.

BaRone’s laughter began to subside as DiNiya came back upstairs. “What’s so funny?” she asked, looking back and forth at each of them.

“Nothing,” her father said with a smile and a shake of his head. “Did you put it with the rest of them?”

“Yes, but they’re starting to pile up down there. You should get them translated soon so you can take them to the market to trade before we get too many.”

“You’re right,” he said, sighing and cracking his neck. “It’s just that research scientists are a bit scarce in these parts these days.”

“Why’s that?” Rex asked.

“Well, most of the ruins have been studied in great length here in KaNar, so now most archaeological work is conducted in other regions, the western end of the continent in particular, near the coast.”

Rex nodded thoughtfully as he took in the information. He was highly curious about what this sort of science would entail here on EeNara, although he was far more interested in paleontological research being conducted, especially when what he always associated most with was still very much alive.

“I suppose I could always look into possibly getting someone near the ClyVen region,” BaRone said in an uncertain tone.

“Isn’t that in the North?” Rex asked.

“That it is.”

“But you just said most of the people you would need for this kind of job would be west? Why not just get someone from over there?”

“Because you would be hard-pressed to find a researcher over there who wasn’t already knee-deep into a project. It’s damn near impossible to pry them off whatever it is they’re working on.”

“I see,” said Rex thoughtfully. “Well, I guess ClyVen would be the better option then.”

DiNiya had been watching their little exchange silently, choosing not to say anything just yet in favor of Rex learning a little more about the world before she did. At last, she decided it was time to cut in. “You apparently forgot to mention that the tribes of ClyVen are not exactly the friendliest. They don’t like outsiders very much, with the exception of a select few merchants who deal in the trade of knowledge.”

“What does that mean?”

“The tribes of ClyVen are keepers of many of the ancient arts, including the old tongues.”

“The first SaVarians took refuge in ClyVen during the war, and there taught many of their ways to the tribes there,” BaRone explained. “After the war, they left those frozen mountains behind in search of a new home. In time they spread out across the globe, eventually evolved into a single culture, and in doing so, made the tribes of ClyVen the keepers of their old ways.”

“Problem is that now they barely allow anyone up there,” DiNiya said with a sigh.

“I myself have been fortunate enough to be granted access for trade there, but only three times.”

“I’m sorry, Rex,” DiNiya said. “I’m still not doing a very good job of teaching you about the way our world works, am I?”

“No need to apologize,” her father said. “He is a part of our tribe now, which means it is up to all of us to teach and watch over him.” He looked over at Rex. “Hope you don’t feel like we’re smothering you.”

Rex shook his head, not really knowing how to respond. He was not used to this sort of attention. Thinking back, he could not recall a time when people were particularly welcoming of him. However, there was still the matter of him feeling like he was missing or rather forgetting something. Every time he tried to recall the memory, the now-familiar pain in the back of his head would swell up. He worried that he might never regain his memory and wondered what that would mean for him. Who would he be without the complete memory of who he was? Regardless, as far as he could tell, there was nothing for him back where he had come from, and these people seemed to generally care for him for whatever reason. For the moment, he was going to try to be content with the situation, even if he did not know what to expect from one minute to the next.

“Rex,” BaRone interrupted his thoughts. “You still with us?”

“Yes, sorry. I get lost in thought sometimes.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” he said with a smile. “Just don’t forget about us.”

The sound of the wooden shingles made the three of them turn their heads towards the door, where they saw a figure wearing a dark green cloak and hood standing in the doorway.

“Why, hello there,” said BaRone happily. “I was wondering when we would see you again.”

The figure nodded in his direction then approached the counter. BaRone held up his arm and met the young man’s. He then turned to Rex and smiled. “Rex, I’d like you to meet someone. This is ShinGaru.”

Rex studied the figure as he pulled back his hood to reveal a thin-faced young man of a lean frame and somewhat shorter stature; he was dark-skinned with pronounced features and long black fur. Rex was curious by the gracefulness in which he carried himself, almost as if he was a feather floating on air. Bowing in his direction, the young man who BaRone had called ShinGaru raised his arm to Rex.

Rex, still uncomfortable with the greeting, raised his arm in hopes that he was successfully mimicking the gesture, and placed it against ShinGaru’s. He felt the peculiar warming of his body, which happened whenever two flames came into contact, as well as what felt like a small surge of adrenaline, which vanished when they broke contact.

“It is a pleasure to meet you…”

“Rex,” he replied.

“Hmm,” ShinGaru said thoughtfully as he regarded the new boy with reserved curiosity. “That is an interesting name. Not one I have ever come by. I hope you do not take any offense by my saying so, but it almost does not even sound like a real word.”

Rex frowned. “I assure you it’s real.”

Placing a hand on his shoulder, BaRone turned to Rex. “ShinGaru here offers you no insult. What you must understand about him is that he is one of the Northern Continent’s foremost scholars. At his age, he has already led several archeological expeditions and specializes in EeNara’s ancient history. So it would stand to reason that if someone had a name that was, say…not of this world…he would spot it immediately.”

“While BaRone is embellishing my station more than a little, as usual, I can assure you that he is correct in his assessment that I did not mean for you to feel insulted by what I said. I am truly sorry if I accidentally implied such.”

Shit, is he for real?
Rex thought as he took in the picture-perfect example of what one would discern as a “proper young man.”
Calling this formal would be an understatement
.

“Please,” ShinGaru continued, “if you would, could you tell me the linguistic origin of your name? I am attempting to trace the evolution of EeNara’s current spoken language back to its original root languages.”

“You believe there was more than one?” BaRone asked, surprised.

“Stands to reason, given the structure of ours.”

“Well, all I know is that it’s Latin for ‘king,’” Rex said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Latin,” ShinGaru repeated thoughtfully as he mulled the word over, searching for any form of familiarity with it. Finally he sighed. “Well, I’m afraid that name is not familiar to me through any of my studies. Still, it means that my theory is sound and that there was at least one now extinct language spoken on EeNara prior to this one. My question is how you came to have such a name?”

Rex shifted on his feet and looked uncomfortably to BaRone then DiNiya. He was still uncertain about answering questions of where he was from and how he had arrived here. In truth, he did not know if it was even supposed to be public knowledge at this point or how far DiNiya and her father had spread the word about him. He knew that many people in KaNar were aware that he had recently arrived, but as to whether they were also aware he was essentially an alien from another world was still unclear. Fortunately, he did not have to suffer over the question for long, for as he began to feel the telltale sign of a panicked sweat coming on, BaRone spoke up.

“Rex has come to us from a long way away. Unfortunately, he was injured during the course of his journey and has lost some of his memory.”

“I see,” said ShinGaru. “I am sorry, I had no idea. Please forgive me for my intrusiveness.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Rex said simply.

“We’ve been looking after him since he arrived about five days ago. We hope that with time and care, his lost memories will eventually return. DiNiya here has been doing an excellent job of helping him adjust to life here in KaNar,” he added, flashing her a broad smile.

DiNiya turned slightly red and waved her hands dismissively. “It’s really not a big deal,” she laughed. “All I do is point to things and explain. I’m really just a tour guide.”

Tour guide
, Rex thought.
That’s putting it lightly. If it wasn’t for her, I would probably still be gasping at everything.

“Nevertheless, it sounds like you’re in good hands here, Rex,” ShinGaru said.

“I think I’m starting to see that,” Rex replied as he smiled at DiNiya, who did the same.

“So what brings you to our humble little corner of the world?” BaRone asked. “I didn’t expect to see you for at least another half year, what with all the requests for your presence in the capital these days.”

“Going over old scrolls and stone reliefs that have been picked and prodded at in the museum of the Northern Capital may be interesting to those seeking a complacent career in this field, but I have my sights set on something a bit more—how should I say?— adventurous.”

“ShinGaru, I’m stunned,” BaRone said, looking slightly taken aback. “I would have never figured you for the type to go thrill seeking.”

“And you would be correct in that assessment of character. However, real science is made by those who continue to push deeper into the unknown, and not by those who continue to republish findings that were made generations prior simply to hold a higher station in the guild.”

“Guild?” Rex asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“Yes,” ShinGaru replied, giving him an odd look. “The Science Guild. The ones located in the four capitals.”

Rex knew he had made a severe tactical error, for lost and confused he was supposed to be, but also of this world. This would mean having at least a basic understanding of what was considered common knowledge.

In an effort to quickly cover up this slip of the tongue, BaRone stepped between the two boys. “What can we do for you today, ShinGaru?”

ShinGaru held his gaze on Rex for a moment longer before turning and answering. “Well, I’m planning a solo expedition to the Rainbow Caverns and could use a good map of the area. I know you specialize in this sort of thing, so naturally I came here.”

BaRone stroked his beard. “Hmm, I’m not sure I still have any maps of the Rainbow Caverns.”

“None of the other shops have any either,” ShinGaru sighed. “You usually always seem to have what they do not when I need it most. I was hoping this time would be no different.”

“You know me. I’m always happy to help, but I can’t trade you what I don’t have…Hey, wait. What do you mean none of the other shops have it either? I thought you said you came straight here?”

ShinGaru grinned bashfully while DiNiya giggled behind her father.

Suddenly DiNiya stopped laughing and pushed herself off the counter. “Wait a moment—I think we may have what you’re looking for, ShinGaru.”

“What do you mean?” BaRone asked. “There aren’t any maps of those caverns in any of the geographical surveys we have.”

“But we might have one with the maps of ancient ruins.” She headed to the back of the shop where she disappeared from sight.

“You’re lucky,” said ShinGaru. “I would kill to have a research assistant half as competent as her.”

“Lucky?” BaRone said with a laugh. “At this rate, she’s going to steal this place from right out underneath me.”

The two of them continued to talk at great length about the caverns while Rex stood by, silently absorbing all that was being said. He was intrigued by comments about enormous underwater caves made of polished stone of different colors as a result of the varying mineral deposits left by the tides over the course of millions of years. He wondered what such a place must look like, and if, like the other places DiNiya had told him about, he would ever get a chance to see it with his own eyes.

When DiNiya finally returned holding a large scroll, ShinGaru’s face lit up. “You found one!”

“So it was with those of the ruins?” BaRone asked.

“Actually, I found it tucked in with the agricultural ones,” she said, glancing up at him. “Seems somebody miscategorized it.”

“The result of a rushed youth perhaps?”

“Or a senile old man,” she shot back with a sly grin.

Her father laughed. “You’re probably right. Regardless, it would appear you are in luck, ShinGaru.” He looked over the scroll quickly before handing it to the young man, who in turn handed over a small cloth bag that was tied at the top. BaRone, after taking a quick peek inside, smiled broadly.

“Thank you very much, my young friend, and good luck to you in your travels. Please be safe,” he added, sounding a bit more serious.

“Thank you, I will,” ShinGaru said before turning to Rex and DiNiya. “It was good meeting you, Rex. I hope we can have a chance to talk more next time I’m in KaNar.”