The Crown Of Yensupov (Book 3) (39 page)

Magnosious arced back his neck. His head shot forward, snorting fire to incinerate the dais and those before him.

Saxthor darted behind a stone column as the flames shot on either side of him. Magnosious’ head drew back, preparing for another blast. Saxthor dashed off the dais, racing across the smoldering grass toward the dragon the instant the flames ceased. Before Magnosious realized his prey had eluded the inferno, Saxthor was beneath him with Sorblade raised. With the strength of both hands, he stabbed the great dragon between scales. The powerful sword glanced off with a metallic ring, striking deep between the right front foot’s toes. Magnosious screamed.

The prince willed the power of the dragon Yamma-Mirra Heedra from his ring into Sorblade. With all his might, he thrust the glowing sword up into the dragon’s throat as its snout breathed fire amid his scream.

Magnosious attempted to roar, but Sorblade had cut through his throat, and his own flames engulfed his scaly head. The great beast burned to charred bone as Saxthor and the remaining guards stared in shock.

The citizens began to return to the stadium in ones and twos, staring at the ponderous bulk of black and smoldering carcass the length of the stadium.

*

What a fitting burial mound for the wretched Witch Earwig, thought Memlatec, the only one to recognize her at the moment of her demise. Her own dragon squashed her.

*

The next morning a lone stranger made his way through the city that was still asleep after the night of rejoicing and horror. He made his way past the stadium ruins that surrounded the smoldering mountain of bones. Limping, he continued through the streets to the royal palace.

After working his way past a series of servants, the stranger presented himself to the Lord Chamberlain.

“I should like to see Prince Saxthor.”

“The prince cannot be disturbed after such a night as last night,” the chamberlain said, his tone most emphatic.

“But I assure you, the prince will want to see me, in any case,” the stranger said.

The chamberlain hesitated, but seeing the determination in the man’s eyes, he tiptoed through the palace and made his way with the stranger to Prince Saxthor’s apartment. He tapped on the door.

“Enter,” Saxthor said.

When the chamberlain opened the door, to announce the visitor, Saxthor bolted out of his bed and rushed past him to embrace the stranger.

“Hendrel!” he cried. “Can it be you? We saw you dead in the tunnel, burned to ashes.” There were tears in both their eyes. It wasn’t possible, but there they both were.

“Dwarves, relatives of King Bordabrundese, watched the battle and snatched me after the wraith’s bolt shot through me,” Hendrel said. “They opened the tunnel’s rock wall and pulled me to safety. The dwarves nursed me back to health after the rest of you, thinking me ash, resumed the quest. Only recently was I well enough try to catch up with you. It seems you made it home without me.”

Saxthor hugged his long lost friend again, and then stood back to look at him. “I still can’t believe it. Boy, will the others be surprised.” Saxthor wouldn’t permit Hendrel to leave his sight.

*

A week later, after the adventurers had a chance to recover, Saxthor woke one morning and began to shuffle about. Immediately, his new attendant, Belnik, knocked on the door.

“Enter.”

“Your Highness, the Royal Court Wizard Memlatec is waiting for an audience. The wizard said to tell you he needs to see Your Highness as soon as you awaken.”

Saxthor fastened his belt. “Where is Memlatec?”

“He’s waiting next door in your sitting room, Your Highness.” Belnik bowed and extended his arm to the door.

“I have a private sitting room now?” Saxthor asked. “I’ve moved up in the world.”

He went to meet with Memlatec. Memlatec rose and stood tall in his rune-edged robes, when Saxthor entered.

He’s not aged at all since I was a boy, thought Saxthor. That’s good to see. However, his furrowed brow is of concern. Saxthor closed the door behind him.

“Your Highness, I hate to disturb you after all you’ve been through, but the threat from the north grows with each passing day. We must reassemble the Crown of Yensupov to counterbalance the Dark Lord’s power.”

“It seems as if my whole life has been for this event. I’m ready to see it done.” Saxthor summoned Belnik. “Please go to my father and request that the Prince Regent grant me and my companions a formal audience in the great hall this afternoon.”

At the appointed hour, he dressed in his formal court robes, strapped Sorblade on his sash and took the dearly won jewels in a plain leather bag with him to collect his friends on the way to the great hall.

The five companions, plus Delia and Twit, marched proudly through the palace and entered the audience hall. To the blaring of trumpets, they strode up the central aisle past Neuyokkasin’s high nobles, foreign ambassadors, and the royal ladies of Sengenwha. On the dais with Prince Regent Augusteros and Princess Royal Nonee was Memlatec, Royal Court Wizard of Neuyokkasin, the greatest of the continental wizards.

Saxthor ascended the dais when his father told him to come forward. In the presence of his father and Memlatec, Prince Saxthor removed his simple necklace with its empty loops and handed it to Memlatec, who had given it to him as a boy of twelve. He then took out each of the powerful crystals: Loyalty, Sincerity, Courage, Faith, Honesty, Hope and Love, handing each to Memlatec in turn.

As Memlatec took each gemstone, he chanted an incantation and the corresponding rune on his robe’s border glowed. With each spell, the great wizard slipped a jewel into its rightful place in the necklace. When all but the last two, the aquamarines were in the loops, the necklace was complete. The jewels sucked the light from the great hall and began to glow. A brilliant light shone from each in a rainbow that filled the chamber to the astonishment of the assembled nobility. The necklace rose of its own accord and in the glowing light, transformed from a necklace into a solid gold crown with the jewels firmly implanted. Two stems rose as vines from either side to entwine in a peak, each curling back.

Memlatec inserted the two aquamarines within the tendrils.

Before the awed court, the glowing crown’s rainbow of colors blended into a brilliant white aura. The crown floated, of its own accord, to settle on the head of him, who was crowned King of Neuyokkasin by his proudest of fathers.

Epilogue

The Crown of Yensupov restored, King Saxthor Claremendak Calimon is now established and prepared for the looming war with Dreaddrac’s sorcerer-king.
The War for Powteros
sequel continues with the war that threatens to destroy the Powterosian world.

The End

Augusteros  (a gus ter’ Os)

Prince Consort and husband Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin of Neuyokkasin; also name of Crown Prince; brother of Saxthor Claremendak

Ahkenspec  (ah’ ken spek)

King of Memtahhamin the remnant of forest elves now isolated and hidden in the western hills above the Morass Desert

Akkin  (ah’ kin)

River flowing from Edros Swamps of southern Dreaddrac; Border between Prertsden and Heggolstockin

Aleman  (Al’ man)  Memlatec’s housekeeper

Armon (R’ mon)

Sail maker and merchant in Tixumemnese; Memlatec’s agent to aid the travelers

Astorax  (as’ tor ax)

Creature half man half deer with deer’s horns.

Battara  (Ba Tar’ a)  Saxthor’s dog (as a boy in the palace)

Betsoya  (Bet soy’ a)

Mother of Bodrin Vicksnak; Countess Vickinsoff

Bodrin  (Bod’ rin)

Bodrin Vicksnak; Closest friend and companion of Prince Saxthor

Bordabrundese  (Bor’ da brun’ dEs)

King Bordabrundese was king of the sandhill dwarves of Hador.

Botahar  (BO’ tah har)

Primary inland commercial center of Sengenwha just north of Lake Pundar

Calamidese  (Cal am’ a dEs)

King Calamidese VII, king of Sengenwha.

Chatra  (Cha’ tra)

Prime minister of a sovereign court

Calimon  (Cal’ i mon)

Family name of dynasty succeeding first dynasty of Neuyokkasin; Augusteros Calimon, Count de Chatronier and Neuyokkasinian Prince Consort; father of Prince Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier

Castilyernov  (Cas’ til yer nov)

Castle or fortress

Chatronier  (Sha’ tron yA)

Title of Neuyokkasinian prince consort Augusteros Calimon

Claremendak  (Clair rem’ n dak)

Middle name of Prince Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier

Dreaddrac  (Dred’ drac)

Kingdom of the Evil One at the northern point of the peninsular of northern Powteros continent

Earwig  (Ear’ wig)

Upstart, classless woman who sold her soul to the Evil One through witchcraft to overthrow the ruling family of Neuyokkasin.  Married to Minnabec III, deposed last ruler of first dynasty of Neuyokkasin Irkin Megla, formal name

Earwighof (Ear’ wig hof)

Fortress home of Zerwin and Minnabec III outside of Konnotan

Edros  (ed’ rOs)

Swamps of southern Dreaddrac between east and west mountains on border of southern Dreaddrac

Eleatsubetsvyertsin  (el eat’ soo bets vyert’ sin)

Eleatsubetsvyertsin Calimon de Chatronier, Queen of Neuyokkasin, daughter of Minnabec II, husband of Augusteros Calimon and mother of Prince Saxthor

Favriana  (Fav rea ah’ n a)

Fortress in Talok-Lemnos guarding southern point of Lake Pundar at source of River Nhy

Feldrik  (Fel’ drik)

Fortress in Heggolstockin at the mouth of the Akkin River that guarded against incursions from Dreaddrac and Prertsten.

Fortresska  (For tres’ ka)

Castilyernov at mouth of River Nhy and guarding harbor at Olnak in western Neuyokkasin

Girdane  (Gir’ dane)

Commercial city of western Graushdem

Graushdem (Graush’ dem)

Principality between Hador and Talok-Lemnos

Graushdemheimer  (Graush’ dem hI mer)

Capital of Graushdem

Grekenbach  (Grek’ en bok)

Kings of Graushdem

Habbernee  (Hob ber’ nE)

Former friend of Saxthor at court school; ner-do-well who sought to recover fortune in Highback Mountains of Tixos

Hador  (HA’ dor)

Dukedom between Graushdem and Dreaddrac

Heedra  (HE’ dra)

Neuyokkasinian commercial center at intersection of Rivers Nhy and Upper Nhy.  Centrally located on the Vos Plain

Heggolstockin  (Heg’ Ol stock in)

Principality at center of the northern peninsula of continent of Powteros

Helshia  (Hel’ sha)

Island created by Memlatec off western coast of Tixos as hidden refuge for Prince Saxthor

Hendrel of Hador  (Hen’ drel)

Sorcerer from Hador expelled when the dark presence moved in there.

Highback Mountains  (HI’ back)

Three mountains standing well above surrounding hills in remote northern most Tixos

Hoya  (Hoi’ ya)

Northwestern most city of Talok-Lemnos on the Pundar River at border with Graushdem and Sengenwha

Hyemka  (Hyem’ ka)

Commercial Neuyokkasinian city on River Nhy on the western edge of the Vos Plain

Icktak  (ic’ tak)

Greeter elf from Talok Tak Forest elf kingdom

Irkin  (Irk’ n)

Upstart witch-wife of Minnabec III of Neuyokkasin, from city of Wodin.  Usually called Earwig

Jedrac  (Jed’ rac)

Heggolstockin general who founded Hador as it’s first duke at the end of the Wizard Wars.  Carved out his dukedom from Heggolstockin and declared his independence from Graushdem.

Keyock  (KE’ ah k)

Pigeon king

Kious  (KI’ us)  King of Tixos

Kieechee  (KI E’ chE)  Queen of Pigeons

Konnotan  (Kon’ oh tan)

Capital of Kingdom of Neuyokkasin

Lemnos  (Lem’ nOs)

Name of region in southern half, and lake in north of Talok-Lemnos

Lyttia  (Lit’ tE ah)

Daughter of Henri Tulak, king of Talok-Lemnos; wife of King Minnabec II; Queen of Neuyokkasin, also last queen of Talok-Lemnos before absorption into Neuyokkasin

Magwan (Mah’ gwan)

Evil Dragon in time of the Third Wizard War; mother of Dragon Magnosious; Mate to Melnosious

Magnosious  (Mag nO’ shus)

Dragon grown from egg by Earwig to destroy ruling family of Neuyokkasin; Son of Magwan and Melnosious

Medrax  (Med’ rax)

Creature conjured by a sorcerer from an animal that combines both animal and man.  The creature does the bidding of the sorcerer.  Invariably evil.

Melnosious  (Mel nO’ shus)

Dragon father of Magnosious from days of Third Wizard War

Memlatec  (Mem’ la tec)

Ancient wizard at the Neuyokkasinian court; mentor to Saxthor

Memtahhamin  (Mem’ tah hah’ min)

Kingdom of forest elves ruled by Ahkenspec in a forest on the between Lake Pundar and the Morass Mesas

Mendentak (Men’ den tak)

King of Talok Tak forest elves (all members’ names end in ‘tak) Son of  late King Peldentak and Queen Merritak

Merritak  (Mer’ i tak)

Dowager Queen of Talok Tak forest elves, widow of King Peldentak, mother of King Mendentak

Minnabec  (Min’ ah bec)

Kings of Neuyokkasin

Munattahensenhov  (Mun ah ta’ hen sen hov)

Central mountain and highest peak of the Ice Mountains in Dreaddrac

Neuyokkasin  (Nua yok’ ka sin)

Kingdom at the neck of the Powterosian peninsular encompassing the River Nhy and the Vos Plain.  Ruled by Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin; home of Saxthor Claremendak Calimon

Nhy  (NI)

Major river of the Powterosian peninsular and heart of the Kingdom of Neuyokkasin.  Flows to the western sea at the port of Olnak

Nonee (NO’ nE)

Crown Princess of Neuyokkasin, sister of Saxthor, daughter of Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and Prince Consort Augusteros

Occintoc  (oc’ n toc )

Ancient empire covering most of the continent before the Wizard Wars.  It collapsed in the first Wizard War leaving the continent to fragment into the early kingdoms.

Olnak  (Ol’ nak)

Second largest Neuyokkasinian city; Port for trading with Tixos and Harbor at mouth of the River Nhy

Orc (Orc)

Short, muscled, stupid foot soldiers bred by the Evil One to fight his enemies in battle as armies.

Ormadese  (or’ ma dEs)

King Ormadese, King of the Hadorian Mountain Dwarves.

Ornsmak  (Orn’ smak)

Communications device created by magic with flexible form, able to travel through air, water or on earth with encoded message.  Can only be recrystalized and played by addressee.

Pakwic  (Pak’ wic)

Clerk to Merchant of Tixumemnese working for Memlatec

Persnella  (Per Snel’ la)

Wife of Hendrel the wizard and mother of Meklin and Hendrel Jr.

Pindradese (Pin’ dra dEs)

Pindradese II, Prince of Prertsten

Powteros  (Pow’ ter’ Os)

Continent of the story; also largest empire and neighboring state to the south of Neuyokkasin; sometimes the continent was referred to as Powteros as well.

Prertsden  (Prerts’ den)

Principality on western tip of peninsular, south of Dreaddrac and bordering Heggolstockin and Sengenwha on it south.  Aligned with evil of Dreaddrac against the kingdoms of the southern peninsular.

Pundar  (Pun’ dar)

River and lake of central peninsular serving as border to numerous states.

Radrac  (Rad’ rac)

Enormous wharf rat pet of Witch Zerwin; eaten by Magnosious

Saxthor  (Sax’ thor)

Second (spare) son of Neuyokkasinian Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and hero in the story.  Full name Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier

Sekkarian  (Se kar’ E an)

Neuyokkasinian general sent to retake Castilyernov Hoyahof from the Dark Lord’s chatra agent

Sekcmet  (Sec’ met)

Sekcmet Palace, palace of Kings of Sengenwha in Sengenwhapolis

Sengenwha  (Sen’ jen wha)

Kingdom on west side of peninsular facing Tixos

Sengenwhapolis  (Sen’ jen wha)

Another name for the capital of the Kingdom of Sengenwha

Socockensmek  (SO cok’ en smek)

General of Neuyokkasin served under Minnabec I at the end of Wizard Wars, and Minnabec II.  Retired to Tixos and watched for rise of Dark Lord’s forces.  Mentor to Saxthor

Sorblade  (Sor’ blAd)

Wizard forged magical sword with spell runes that glow in the presence of evil

Tackenbeck  (Tock’ en beck)

Plant grown best in the soils and conditions found in eastern Neuyokkasin.  Basis of agricultural wealth of the state and best trading product with other nations

Talok  (TA’ lok)

Northern region of Talok-Lemnos and northwestern lake on the border.

Talok-Lemnos  (TA’ lok lem’ nos)

Former kingdom assimilated into Neuyokkasin after death of King Tulak as daughter Lyttia inherited, she queen of Neuyokkasin

Tashia (TA’ sha)

Small city east of Hoya whose army once rescued the Prince of Hoya.  Tashian soldiers always supplied the palace guards for the Castilyernov Hoyahof

Tixis  (TIk’ sis)

Major River of southern Tixos

Tixos  (TIk’ sOs)

Island born from the Wizard Wars to the west of the Powterosian Peninsular.  Major trading partner of Neuyokkasin, home of the Highback Mountains.  Ruled by King Kious

Tixumemnese (TIx’ U mem nEs)

Capital and port of Tixos

Tonelia  (TOn El’ ya)

Tonelia Tezentok; Daughter of dungeon keeper of Castilyernov Hoyahof

Tossledorn  (Tosl’ dorn)

Tossledorn Fortress, Graushdem fortress on the Southeastern border with Talok-Lemnos.  Built by King Grekenbach III to defend against possible invasion from Neuyokkasin after Queen Lyttia took the throne of Talok-Lemnos from her brother.

Tournak  (Tour’ nak)

Tournak Delphendor; Steward to the house of Memlatec, mentor and protector of Saxthor and Bodrin during their flight to Helshia, Assistant wizard to Memlatec

Tulak  (TU’ lak)

King of Talok-Lemnos during reign of Minnabec I and II, father of Queen Lyttia and Minnabec III, grandfather of Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and great-grandfather of Saxthor Claremendak

Vicksnak  (Vick’ snak)

Title of Bodrin Vicksnak ‘s father, Count George de Vicksnak

Vicksylva  (Vick sil’ va)

Country estate of the Vicksnak family

Virax  (VI’ rax)

Vortex Virax, living vortex anchored in the sea outside the Veil of Helshian Mists to ensnare and suck down boats attempting to pass through the veil; Created by Memlatec