by Amy E Hix
Just one step past the two trees was all it took, and we entered the most majestic land I’ve ever seen. More beautiful than the mind can imagine. We had reached our destination. Standing awestruck, I felt a rush of excitement.
The most vibrant green colors blanketed the ground below where we stood. The grasses guided a path into the valley. Rushing waters through the rock impeded streams flowed down the hillsides.
To the left, the waters were lined with beautiful cornus trees, white blossoms in full array, and betulas rising above, shading the ground. Orange-red auroras tapped the surface of the water while various irises—purple, white, and yellow—lined the lake in perfect order. The landscape continued down the steep hills and into the lake below.
Mabashi drew my attention to the far side of the lake, “Over there!” he exclaimed.
Sipping from it were two majestic unicorns, surrounded by five more in the field nearby; the legendary Herd of Virtue. The herd had fought for the Ancients in the Caliginian War a hundred years before we received our summons.
They helped free the people of Maralune from the Caliginos. The Caliginos were ancestors of the Digvi’ja from the Northeastern regions of the Sapiran Highlands.
The unicorns could sense the presence of evil from miles away, day or night, and thus became an integral part of winning the Caliginian War. The Alpha Mare, according to the tales of warriors, would occasionally make an appearance when weary warriors needed to rest in safety.
She would watch over them, standing gallantly against the sky, normally on a hillside far enough from the campsite to avoid interaction with the warriors. When the Alpha Mare was around, the warriors felt almost as if they had taken some sort of drug to ease their minds and calm their racing hearts.
In the Oak Grove to the right, the rustle of the underbrush directed our attention to a band of Centaurs. Standing almost seven-feet tall, the horsemen resembled the pictures we had all seen in books when we were just children.
A quiver of arrows and a short bow lined their backs as they galloped through the trees. Above them, we could see the tree houses in which they lived. Before the Mourtaire Forest was destroyed, it was their home. The Ancients later told us they were planning to rebuild the homelands of the Centaurs once the danger of the Legion was gone.
We didn’t have enough time to take in the whole landscape before she arrived. A lovely faerie, wearing a deep blue robe and bright golden jewelry, sent to guide us into the city. Her eyes seemed to smile, but she kept an otherwise ominous look on her face and beckoned us to follow her. Both of us recognized her as Nalla, the faerie who brought the summons of Minzkala.
In her tiny voice, she told us, “We must not keep Lord Zaaid waiting,” and so we began our descent of the hill.
Twelve
Minzkala and the Ancients
Kaliesto
As we walked behind Nalla on the cobblestone path, Core and Jinx did not stray as normal hounds might in similar circumstances. Mabashi ordered them to the stream, knowing their resistance to take a drink was weakening.
The streams from the hillside gathered into a small pool near us. The pool emptied over the lower cliffs at the northern end creating a crooked path down the rocky cliff. The water occasionally rested on the smaller ledges, where pools like the one near us could gather. Droplets spattered off the lake’s surface as the water hit, and clouds of steamy precipitation surrounded the bottom of the waterfall.
Giant Koi of all colors were swimming throughout. Those nearest the waterfall were in a frenzy for whatever the water might pull down for them to eat. On our way through the valley, we passed several stone benches. They were worn smooth from years of being used.
The path led us back up a slight incline where there was a bridge crossing a large deep stream, serving as a natural moat across the front of the city. Nalla took us through botanical arches, some fifty feet high and nearly thirty feet across, covered in ivies and trumpet vine flowers.
Then we went through the gardens outside the city of Minzkala, where the cobblestone path widened to create a circle amid fountains and wildflowers, with birds of the most vibrant colors we had ever seen singing to us. On the other side of the courtyard was another set of arches that led into the city.
As we passed through the streets, people from all races going about their daily business stopped for a moment to watch us, smiling. The children would run beside us for a bit, unable to contain their delightful giggles. No one seemed hurried, but in this nearly perfect land, who could blame them?
There were Elves of every village I knew of, Humans and Dwarves, Faeries and Nomes, and a few races neither Mabashi nor I recognized. I had no doubt one set were the Minzkalans, remembering all the stories my father and grandfather used to tell. The shops we passed were filled with delicious aromas and had balconies draped in gorgeous arrays of flowers and leafy plants.
I felt humbled by it all. Such a beautiful place, such a peaceful place, yet here we were, dressed in staunch rags underneath the dull armor crafted in the weary lands beyond Minzkala.
To our left, I saw the work of the weaponsmith in Minzkala and marveled at the exquisite intricacies with which he crafted each sword. They carried their own character, each one unique from the others.
The polished blades were left completely untarnished, reflecting perfectly any and all images. The marbled blues and reds and greens on the handles resembled highly valuable gemstones.
We probably smelled hideous, but the people still smiled. My feelings of unworthiness grew as we walked on, and I began to hang my head.
“We are grateful that you have come,” Nalla reassured us as she faced us without slowing her pace, moving as gracefully as if she were facing forward.
“I will lead you to your rooms, where you will find fresh warm water and new armor, crafted by the finest blacksmith in Minzkala.” She turned again to continue leading us after seeing our smiles and a slight rise in our posture.
Near the back wall of the city, she detoured to a small area of stables, full of horses and one Pegasus. The Pegasus was an uncommon sight even within the city of Minzkala.
Minstrels and Bards rode them, for only tranquilizing songs could guide them when in captivity. This one was deep purple, almost black; a magnificent creature. It reminded me of Loren. Ace was her Pegasus. Though it had only been a couple of days since I had seen her, it seemed like an eternity.
Nalla caught the attention of the stable master and said, “Take these two hounds into the kennel and see that they are cleaned up.”
“Names?” the master asked.
“Core and Jinx, Core is the darker one,” Mabashi replied.
The stable master nodded and took a good look at the hounds. He noticed my undaunted stare at the Pegasus. “His name is Cringle, belongs to the Bard up there.” He looked in the direction of the Palace Balcony in the distance.
“Come, Core and Jinx,” the master said in a command tone, and the two gorehounds followed him.
Nalla beckoned us to continue, leading us through a winding path where the inner sanctums were settled. As we traveled up the path, I could see that near the middle of the left wall, there was a temple overlooking the city.
Directly across from it lay a tower, wider than the corner towers, the entrance of which was halfway up the side of the walls. A staircase circled the lower portion of the tower and slowly followed it up.
Both walls were lined with balconies along the ledges of the upper area, adorned with more of the beautiful foliage that filled the city.
In the far corners of the inner curtain were two entranceways that led to two small throne rooms. Nalla led us in through the foyer of the one on the right where we ended up in a room full of white marble pillars reaching up to the canopied ceilings high above us.
On the sides of the room, there were archways of marble, each with an entrance covered in royal b
lue velvet curtains, suspended with golden rods and tassels. Pictures of battle scenes and portraits of great warriors lined the walls around us.
At the end of the room, there were two staircases on either side of the grand throne area. Behind the throne I noticed stained-glass windows through which the orange glow of the Sun, now falling from the sky, illuminated. And on the throne sat an aging, lordly Nome.
Zaaid rose to his feet to greet us, “Welcome to Minzkala,” he said as he opened his arms.
His height was somewhat hidden by the fact that he stood on the platform above us. I found out later that Minzkala was home to nearly all the Nomes in Gael, for they were left few in number after the Caliginian War. At one time, the Nomes had a thriving city in Sapir, but when the Legion began to take over, it was the Nomes who were enslaved first.
Cities of Humans and Elves were attacked and destroyed as well, but these races were able to escape with their numbers still intact, finally settling into new cities in Maralune.
Zaaid and three other members of the Court came from the lands in Gael. The rest of the Minzkalan leadership was from Celestra.
We approached the throne area with Nalla. She bowed her head before Zaaid. Following her lead, we unsheathed our swords and took a knee before him, greeting him like we would a king in Maralune.
“Arise, warriors.” We stood as he continued, “I am honored to make your acquaintance. King Naethan has taken great consideration in choosing his armies and I trust you will no doubt prove to be worthy of his plans for you.”
He took a good hard look into my eyes and then at Mabashi, and seemingly satisfied, turned to Nalla, “Now, Nalla, carry them off into their dressing chambers and let them clean up a bit.” He looked back to us, ‘Return to me when you’ve finished, and we will fill your bellies before we go over a few more things.”
We bowed once more and headed for the middle curtain on the side wall to our left. Through the curtain, there was a corridor with lower ceilings, lined with wooden doors to various rooms. A little further than halfway through the corridor, Nalla stopped near two doorways.
She faced us and said, “This will be your room, Kaliesto,” guiding me to the door on the right. “Mabashi, you will be in the room across the hall from Kaliesto. In these chambers, you will find a large basin of water to clean yourselves, fresh clothing and a new suit of armor to wear. You may leave your old armor as well as your weapons in the chambers. When you are finished, return to Zaaid and he will guide you further.” She bowed her head to us and dismissed herself.
“Well, we’re here,” Mabashi said awkwardly. For the first time in nearly two days, we would be going in separate directions.
“Yes, finally,” I said as I turned and entered my chamber.
I was now alone for the first time since hearing about Cyrow, and my thoughts had grown heavy along the journey to Minzkala. In my chamber I was no longer able to bear the weight. I started weeping uncontrollably. After a few moments of letting it all out, I pushed the tears aside and forced my body to continue getting ready.
There were fresh linen clothes lying on the bed. A set of blackened armor hung on a rack in the corner. As I lifted it to put it on, I noticed it was incredibly light. It fit me like a second layer of skin, perfectly tailored to my unique Elven shape. Focusing on the job ahead of me, I washed my face of any evidence of grief and went out to meet Mabashi in the hall.
Mabashi had on a scale mail and leather combination. He looked slender for a Dwarf. His beard was groomed nicely, and I saw that he had put two braids along the front of it. We made our own way into the throne room.
“Ah, I almost wouldn’t recognize you,” Zaaid said as we approached him once more, this time girded in the finest armor Minzkala had to offer. “Come, let us make haste to the pavilion, for we wouldn’t want your dinner to grow cold.”
He took us up the stairs which exited atop the Lord’s Chamber onto the Palace Balcony. There we had an awesome view of the city. It was darker now and the lights below us sparkled like fallen stars.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. The voices I heard sounded like a small crowd of people. Through the fichus trees and plants along the ledge, I began to see the people gathered on the huge platform that hung over the middle of the city. They were laughing and talking, holding goblets of wine and picking apart the trays of fruits and cheeses from the tables along the ledge.
The pavilion’s roof was made of bronze lattice veiled in wisteria, allowing glimpses of the nighttime sky from beneath it. When the other warriors saw us coming, they couldn’t help but stare. Conversations came to a pause, and Zaaid walked onto the platform to introduce us to the crowd.
“Ladies and Gentlemen of Maralune, I present to you Mabashi, the Dwarven Archer from the city of Khala and Kaliesto, Elven Champion of Jalathiel.”
Champion? The introduction threw me off a little, but I managed a courteous head-bow to the crowd.
The hostess brought a tray of goblets over to us and Zaaid instructed us as we took one, “Help yourselves to a bite before we sit at the table, and feel free to mingle through the crowd. You will find others like yourselves, perhaps some you already know.”
After searching the faces for Cenathor with no luck, Mabashi decided to do just as Zaaid had instructed. His Dwarven appetite would no longer wait. I stayed behind; curious about the Champion introduction.
“Yes, Champion,” Zaaid knew it was coming before I could utter a word, “Sometimes when a person arrives in Minzkala, they are classified differently. King Naethan has the Gift of Celestra. He has recognized your leadership abilities all along and though you may have been trained as an Archer, your fighting skills are much more along the lines of a true Champion.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his explanation and considered it to be a great honor that the King would place me in such a noble class, “And my brothers?”
“Sigge and Raffe are out on a mission for the Court as we speak. I’ve also sent Cyrow’s companion, Zarathustria, out to gather more information on his whereabouts and those of the Cerapithalis that attacked him. We will need to know both locations if we are going to save him.”
I grew more curious about the details when Zaaid said this and he could tell.
“And to answer all those questions you have, Zarathustria was attacked as well. She died in the attack. Afterwards, she was sent to Celestra, where we can repair her body even after death. She was brought back here to finish the work she was meant to do.
“I’m sure the tales of the Ancients offering life-after-death leave many skeptical but know that they do indeed have power over death, and for those who are worthy, they do not hesitate to use it. There are still consequences…Zarathustria will never be able to lead a normal life in Maralune. She must remain with the Ancients.
“If she returns in time with the information we need, we will make every effort to return your brother to you before he has to undergo the Celestrian transformation.” After saying this, Zaaid started walking to the table in the center of the pavilion.
There were fourteen chairs on either side of the long table and one on each end. The armed chairs were plush and comfortable, encouraging guests to relax in them long after the meals were over.
Papered lanterns hanging from the lattice rooftop produced soothing illumination, assisted by three candelabras which sat along the table. It was here that the Court’s meetings took place, amid the splendor of Minzkala.
There was a roasted turkey in the middle of the table. Dishes of steamed vegetables and baskets of bread were scattered throughout. There were even gravy sauces and pickled relishes to accommodate the extravagant feasting habits of the two Dwarves who were there.
As everyone began to sit at the table, some still spotting out their seats, the doors to the palace above us opened and two trumpeters began to call for attention as King Naethan and the other Ancients walked out and d
own the stairs to join the Court and its guests. We all turned and bowed as they approached the pavilion.
“Welcome all,” he began, “Though I would wish this to be a joyous occasion and nothing else, I realize the seriousness of the situation which brings you all here, and how it may burden your hearts. I know it does mine. Yet I am grateful that you all have come…even more so, that you are willing to take on the challenge we face with courage and valor.
“I know that your service thus far has been of great consequence, leaving behind loved ones and suffering pain and injury…sometimes loss along the way. But you have shown that we have a cause worthy of fighting for, and you have proven that this Court has what it takes to accomplish the challenge set before us, to rid the lands of Gael from the evil brought here by the Legion.”
He picked up his wine and continued, “Tomorrow we will prepare ourselves to take on this challenge, but tonight, let us feast together with great hope, knowing that the day will soon come when we may dine together, without fear, in all the cities of Maralune.”
We raised our glasses in agreement to this and sat down to take our fill of the King’s feast. The seven Ancients with the King sat around the table amongst us. Their hoods were removed, revealing the soft blue glow that emanated from them.
Zaaid took a seat near the middle of the table, across from a Lady of Minzkala, Stheta. She was tall, an Imperial Elf with long, curly locks of dark auburn hair pulled into a twist. Stheta wore a fitted robe in an Eastern design, with a short collar that clung to the neck, opening into a slight V-shape.
The two encouraged discussion between the warriors and seemed very interested about their lives back home as well as the journey each of us had made through the forest.
Two more from the Court were seated at the opposite end from the King. There was Mikraejoshi (who insisted on being called Pinky, after the color of his hair, and because everyone who tried butchered the pronunciation) and Kelara, another Imperial Elf with blonde hair tied in braids. Kelara was a young Conjuror and the sister of Stheta.
