"She's... sinking... the... city," he yelled.
He threw out his arms and sucked out all of the light and vanished into thin air. A whipping wind storm shot through the city, wiping out everything in its path. Debris floated upward as the ground fell out from under it. The comet’s power helped Queen Ambrosia stand perfectly still while chanting. Even as the island fell, she was as firm as she had at first. The last words she uttered were that only a blood heir could enter the secrets of the forgotten city.
The Teorran fountain fell into the center of the ground below, allowing the islands to plummet into a new existence. Enormous rock walls encompassed the fallen earth covering everything under hundreds of feet of earth. It left only a few of the spires that were still intact standing, as a reminder of what the glorious city once was.
The Tavern
Seconds before a deafening crack of thunder rolled across the sky. A flash of lightening crossed the darkened skies
that frequent this isolated island. The ever-persistent clouds never gave much warning, before unleashing their wrath, making this part of the sea barren of much life.
"Let's get a drink before we ship off, we’re only half way around the Turbulent Reef." Merrick said.
He lashed the mooring line to the dock as Shaz scaled the plank. Shaz pulled his tunic tight around his neck and walked briskly toward The Screaming Siren Tavern. They trudged up the hill shielding their eyes from the wind and dirt. Before they made it half way up the path, the heavens opened and dumped the heavy rain. The soft dirt quickly turned to mud. Merrick gripped the heavy latch and flung open the door, which smacked against the stone wall with a BANG.
A pitch black jaguar prowled in behind the men like a shadow. No one noticed her until her bright yellow orange eyes cautiously scanned the room. Jagwynn accompanied Shaz everywhere he went, since he'd found her in the forest and raised her. It was however, more than an owner and a pet. She understood his thoughts better than anyone else. It was as if she could read them.
The tavern hardly felt quaint, but it was warm. Sailors, deckhands, and the occasional outlaw, stop here to get a quick reprieve. The Screaming Siren was designated as neutral territory. Small wooden tables were strewn throughout the tavern in no particular order. Large silver platters of meats and bread covered the tables. The pungent odor of alcohol mixed with sweat and tobacco filled the air. Each time the heavy wooden door swung open, eddies of cold air wafted throughout the room. Half burned candles in sconces let off as much feeble light as they could. Long wood planks hung over large tables and acted as crude chandeliers, which were covered in spent wax.
The massive ornately carved fireplace filled one full wall. The waning fire warmed the tavern with its simmering, crackling embers. Serving wenches busily moved from table to table, helping hungry, thirsty and the occasionally rude and grabby customers. Their floor-length colorful skirts brushed and swooshed around as they maneuvered around.
"Quickly Shaz, before Yerild sails off without us," Merrick said.
Merrick pulled off his wet cloak and tucked it in the crook of his elbow. His broad width navigated through the crowded room toward the bar.
"Do you think Captain Yerild is crazy enough to set sail in this storm?" Shaz asked.
Shaz ran his fingers through his long pale blonde hair and pulled the soaking wet locks from his handsome face. He slipped off his cloak, revealing a slender but muscular build. Several patrons mumbled to each other as he and Jagwynn worked their way through the smoke-filled room. Shaz was used to being gawked at, his whole life he'd been the only one he knew with blonde hair.
"Yerild is a wild card. I wouldn't put it past him, son," Merrick said, he slapped a copper on the counter, "Two laagers, please."
Shaz saw a hooded figure with large beady gray eyes and a nose that resembled a beak, sitting in a corner. Its hands appeared crippled and its frame was bent in half. It was if he was half-man-half-crow. Jagwynn arched her back as a low rumbling growl broke her lips. Shaz reached down and scratched behind her ears to calm her. The bird creature withdrew into his hood and hissed back at the jaguar. A shiver ran down Shaz's back as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Shaz wasn’t sure why he felt that way and shook it off as nothing but nerves. Shaz sidled up next to Merrick at the bar, when he saw a second hooded figure, in the opposite corner of the room. The man sat up and stared in is direction. His hood covered most of his face, which made Shaz uneasy.
"Where are you two gents from?" asked the barkeep.
He set two tankers on the bar. Shaz took the frothy beverage and gulped it down. The second man stood and began making his way toward them. He was tall, strong and had an heir of authority about him. Ceros pulled back his hood and opened
his robe, resting his hands on his hips. Bright colored cloth draped and encircled his stately frame starting at his forehead and ended at the floor.
"I would like to introduce myself," he stated in a low voice. He bowed to each of them, "My name is Ceros. I'm a High Cleric to The Sun Goddess. It is imperative that I talk with you both at this moment, privately."
He indicated to his booth.
"Um..." Shaz said.
He looked at his father who held up his hand to silence him.
"Please Shaz, may we talk?" Ceros asked. Shaz sized him up, noting his curved sword and its size. "It is imperative that we talk at this instant. Merrick, I'm sure you appreciate the magnitude of this day."
"Father, what is he talking about? What about this day?" Shaz asked with one eyebrow raised, his words slow and deliberate.
Merrick stared at the stranger. He knew Shaz was not a boy anymore and sighed. "I guess Yerild's going to have to wait after all."
Ceros motioned for them to sit and slid in across from them. An unfamiliar feeling took over Shaz’s senses. He searched the room and found that the beaked figure in the opposite corner was no longer there, but he could still feel its presence. He found it skirting around a table of outlaws pretending to talk to them.
"Let me first tell you how pleased I am to finally meet you," Ceros said.
His lips half bent into a well-groomed grin under a dark beard. Shaz's mind circled back to the man sitting in front of him, "Obviously you've not been made aware of your unique situation," Ceros said.
"It was his mother's wishes," Merrick said.
"Not tell me what?"
"Shaz, you've been chosen by the Sun Goddess," Ceros stopped Shaz from asking another question, "You possess special abilities that can assist the Dodjen in their fight against the rising evil in our land."
"Dodjen?" Shaz asked.
Shaz kept the birdman in his periphery as he tried to assimilate the new information.
"The Dodjen are a secret society commissioned of the Sun Goddess. We've been around since the dawn of time. The scales have been tipping ever so slowly towards the darkness since the rise of the wicked necromancer, Gavin Rhill. He leads a large and powerful army called the Velsharoon," Ceros said.
Shaz found himself nodding, as though he already knew this,
but how
? He thought.
"You are a literal descendant of The Tooatha De Danann, an ancient people blessed with extraordinary gifts."
"But I don't have any gifts," Shaz said.
The creature was now standing only a few feet away. Shaz wondered why Merrick and Ceros didn't show concern
.
The pit in his stomach continued to grow,
Could they even see it,
he wondered.
"Merrick isn't your blood father,” Ceros said. "He raised you as his own, but Reinholt is your blood father and you are the heir to his kingdom."
The words hit Shaz like a ton of bricks.
"But I love you as my own son, Shaz. Believe me," Merrick said. He squeezed his sons shoulder.
Shaz knew he did. He never doubted that, “I know father.” He paused a moment listening to the heavy rain against the small window above him, "Is Reinholt still alive? Where is this kingdom?"
"I know this is a lot to take in. I will answer all of your questions in due time. But let me first tell you of the Sev-Rin-Ac-Lavah."
"The what?"
"The Sev-Rin-Ac-Lavah is four separate ancient artifacts that hold tremendous powers. It’s said when these four items are united they evoke the powers of the universe," Ceros said. His eyes glossed over as though he were looking into the future. Ceros shook his head clear and said, "Gavin Rhill is obsessed with finding the Sev-Rin-Ac-Lavah. He desires to use its powers to become as the God's."
"Is that even possible?" Shaz asked.
"It is, but only a war wizard can do that. You, Shaz, are the only one that can join the Sev-Rin-Ac-Lavah together," Ceros said. "You must destroy Gavin Rhill and the Velsharoon, before he becomes too strong. And destroy the Sev-Rin-Ac-Lava." his words nearly cracked under their own pressure.
Shaz sat through a long silence and asked, "What happens if he becomes too strong?"
"He will destroy the world. You must reunite the Tooatha De with its council of magical creatures so that won’t happen."
"Magical creatures, right," Shaz said.
"This is serious, Shaz. This is real. You'll find out all too soon and you must be ready for it. Oh yes, I almost forgot," Ceros felt around in his various pockets. "This is for you." He pulled out a small blue stone.
"What's this?"
Ceros whispered to the stone in a different language and the stone glowed.
"This is your birth stone. It allows you to inherit the sword, a small part of the Sev-Rin-Ac-Lavah," he handed it to Shaz.
As the stone contacted Shaz's skin, a loud crack erupted from the sky, shaking the tavern. Jagwynn scurried from under the table. Shaz and his father leapt to their feet and drew their swords in one fluid motion. They stood with their backs to the other and surveyed the tavern.
“What in the world was that?” Merrick asked shooting a glare at Ceros.
Some patrons covered their heads while several others hid under tables. The constant tingle on the back of Shaz’s neck was gone.
Where is the bird man, it was here a moment ago, did he disappear?
Shaz thought as he studied the figures in the tavern.
"Ah," said Ceros. "Now he knows."
"Who?" Shaz asked.
"Gavin Rhill," Ceros said.
"What does he know?" Merrick asked.
"Better yet, how?" Shaz asked.
The bird man?
he thought.
"Never mind that, sit." Ceros said. They returned to their seats hesitantly. "Does Mathieu still have the box and satchel entrusted him?”
Shaz wondered why Ceros didn’t seem bothered by the noise, and why the tickle on his neck was now gone.
"Yes, I will proceed with the instructions given me."
"Good," Ceros said, "Let's eat." He waved to a tavern wench.
"I'm sorry but we have put off our crew for too long." Merrick said.
He rose from the bench. Shaz scooted out after him and they left the tavern.
***************************************
In the secret depths of the forest, enormous intertwined trees sat at the foot of a rocky mountain. Outlines of the forest were so rich and fleecy that an opening could hardly be detected. Hidden by shadows over a melodic hush of forest noise, six hunters blended into the shrubs and underbrush. Shaz stood in the thickest part, breathing in the aroma of the raspberry bushes which shot up in clumps. They climbed around the trees, springing bright blood red luscious berries that dangled from long spindly vines.
Small rodents scurried about, bristling leaves and twigs which disguised the sounds of their feet. The richly saturated sun hung high in the sky shooting soothing sprigs of amber light through the interwoven hues of greens. Gloomy vaults high in the trees secured a scattering of immense ferns. Ever since he had returned from the island, Shaz felt different.
Colors were more vivid, sounds more intense, feelings stronger and scents more defined. He found the Nukpana, a two headed stag with short fawn colored hair and dark spots on its back, under a large shag tree. Shaz held up a clenched fist. He pursed his lips and made a combination of bird calls and clicks. Five calls returned giving him their locations. Shaz slowly took the bow off his back and latched the string.
Understanding wind speed, warmth or coolness, the distance rise and fall of the aimed arrow all determined the accuracy of its placement. The Nukpana are incredibly fast, with two heads they can hear and sense twice that of a regular stag. Riddick, Shaz’s best mate, was covered with dusty chalk covering his bright red hair and freckles. He was lying on a large boulder at the far end of the clearing.
His bow and arrow were all that stuck out. Another hunter was positioned lying on his belly with his legs encircling the high tree limb. The other two men positioned themselves to the rear and sides of the beast, standing against tree trunks or under large bushes. The wind brought coolness as it picked up specks of mist from the rushing falls nearby and carried it toward the hunters.
Slow your heart beat,
Shaz said to himself. Taking in a deep breath, he focused on his heart and listened to the blood beating in his ear, until it was the speed he wanted. He licked his lips and puckered. He blew through his curled tongue and whistled. Each hunter took aim. Shaz slipped an arrow into the grove. He settled his bow into his arm. His fingers gripped the taunt corded band and he pulled the arrow against the string.
It's now or never,
he said to himself.
Sweat ran down his temples and onto his brow. He narrowed his vision on the beast. The forest blurred away leaving a narrow tunnel of white. He focused on his breathing and stilled his mind.