Minzkala

by Amy E Hix

  “One of the Magistrates speaking with High Warlord Kraevit mentioned something about a conflict with the northern mines, a group of people that cause problems with Killian and his Orcs. Could they have been talking about Hill Giants?”

  “The Orcs wouldn’t fear Hill Giants. And the giants are mindless and random. They live reclusive lives in the mountains. It’s strange that you say that.” Zaaid had a perplexed look on his face at this point.

  “That’s pretty much it. From what I could tell, they think we will enter Sapir through the Bay and travel northeast through the valley once we discover they’ve moved. We can probably expect quite a bit of resistance going that route.”

  “How far along are they with their movement to the Highlands?” Stheta asked her.

  “I have no clue.”

  There was silence around the table as Zaaid and Stheta thought about the information she had presented.

  Zarathustria looked down at the table waiting for a response from Zaaid and then back up at me. She had a look of empathy backed by determination in her eyes. It comforted me to think she was just as focused on getting Cyrow back as I was. Well, almost as much.

  Instead of further discussion, Zaaid excused himself from the table, “There are things about your report that only the King can answer for me,” then he looked at me, “I’m sorry I don’t have a plan for getting your brother back right now, but the other information Zarathustria shared has changed things a little. I’ll get back with you very soon on what we plan to do.”

  I nodded respectfully at his decision. The wounds to my shoulder and hip were completely healed when I woke that morning, but the knots that tore me up inside were growing.

  Even if Cyrow had died, at least I would have closure. I didn’t wish that, of course. I just wished the pain and uncertainty would go away. I kept telling myself to “buck up”, and I tried to prepare my game face for the others, who were beginning to arrive now that Zaaid had entered the palace.

  As they filed in, the first thing they all did was welcome Zarathustria back. Fouad and Mank also greeted me before heading over to grab some coffee from one of the side tables. Mabashi stopped at the food first, then sat beside me, coffee and pastry in hand.

  “Mabashi, meet Cyrow’s companion. This is Zarathustria,” I said, as Mabashi was well into scarfing down his food.

  Mabashi swallowed his bite and told her, “It’s nice to meet the real Illusionist he was traveling with.”

  “She’s actually an Enchantress now,” I commented on her advancement in rank.

  Mabashi paused from eating to tell her the story of our encounter with Elonaer.

  “Wow. I knew their orders were to follow you, but I didn’t expect them to do it like that,” Zarathustria said once she heard all the details.

  “Honestly, I don’t know why the Cerapithali stay under the command of the Digvi’ja. The Warlords constantly abuse them, and from what I can gather, the Cerapithali have the numbers and the power to revolt against them.”

  Mabashi nodded and turned his attention back to his food. I began to tell Mabashi about the news about my brother. “Even though Zaaid didn’t say it, I really think that’s going to be our first mission for Minzkala.”

  “That’s promising,” Mabashi said, “I hope we get to hear a game plan soon then.”

  Conversations were picking up around the table and things seemed a little livelier. Vespa had shown up without her partner, eager to grab a quick bite to eat.

  Then suddenly, there was a commotion in the streets below us, from the townspeople. It was too early in the day for such excitement, so it caught our attention.

  Some made their way slowly to the ledge to see what was going on below, but I stayed in my seat. I thought it might be more warriors coming in, perhaps Mabashi’s friend, the Conjuror; but then I remembered what Zaaid had said about two more days.

  I heard Fouad say, “They’re back.” Back? My thoughts immediately turned to my brothers and I wondered if it could be them.

  Standing at the ledge already, Zarathustria looked at me with wide eyes and a big smile. She couldn’t wait. As soon as I got there and looked down, she grabbed my arm and pulled me with her as she levitated us down into the streets to meet my brothers.

  I noticed an emerald green Pegasus with them. It was Ace! Loren was with them! Zarathustria lowered us down and my eyes began to get watery as I hugged my brothers. When I got to Loren, I couldn’t let go.

  “But…how?” my question came through my shaky, but joyful voice.

  Loren held me tighter and whispered, “Someone thought you might need a little cheering up.”

  I pushed her back a little and laughed while a single tear fell, “Well, that someone knew just what would do it.”

  I quickly wiped the tear away before my brothers noticed. We headed back up to the Palace Balcony, stopping only to hand Ace over to the Stable Master. I was beginning to pull myself together as the shock of our reunion slowly faded.

  When we reached the pavilion area, Mabashi smiled at me. Even in Kenkara, the thoughts of leaving home seemed to weigh me down. Add to that the news of Cyrow and my pitiful fighting attempts in the forest.

  But now, Mabashi seemed to see a different me standing before him, and he told me as soon as I was close enough, “You’re starting to look a little more like a Champion now. It’s about time.”

  After sitting around the table for a while, Stheta led me, Mabashi and Loren up to a small platform on the left side of the Palace Balcony. It sat higher than the wall by about ten feet and allowed us to see over the walls of the city and into the land surrounding Minzkala.

  She showed us the telescopic devices attached to the ledge, thinking we might enjoy looking around as we waited for Zaaid to return. The other warriors had talked about being taken on a horse ride through the countryside in the previous days.

  The three of us spent a few minutes talking. Mabashi and I shared the story of our journey through the forest with Loren. And she explained that through the night, Sigge and Raffe had picked her up from Jalathiel and they had ridden back to Minzkala.

  She rode Ace while the twins rode Roc fledglings from Minzkala. To speed their journey, Raffe had called for the south winds to pour through from behind them, granting speed unlike any she had experienced.

  When they heard their names, my brothers joined us on the platform. They pointed out all the fascinating creatures below.

  There were two great mountains in the distance, home of the Rocs. We saw what appeared to be a mother with her fledgling. When my brothers went on about the great size of the fledgling they rode, we figured the mother must have stood at least twenty feet or higher.

  There was a small village on a hill, closer to where we had entered Minzkala. It had been hidden from view on our way in. Using the telescopic device, we could see that the inhabitants of the village were Faeries like Nalla. They were all colors, zipping around through the air. The buildings of their village were set high in the trees on the hill. Down below, the trees thinned out into the open grassland where we had seen the Herd of Virtue the day before. When I spotted one of the unicorns, I pulled Loren over to look.

  In a more heavily wooded area to our right, just below the two mountains, Mabashi noticed Giant Treants, and in the grove near them, beautiful Dryads caring for the forest. Throughout this land of legendary creatures, birds and woodland animals also flourished.

  It was unlike any of the lands in Maralune. There were no signs of death and decay, no fear, no war or famine. Only life.

  It wasn’t long before the palace doors opened once more, this time with the sound of trumpeters. Out from the doors came the King and his Court.

  Everyone gathered together to listen to the King. The table was now full. King Naethan sat in his chair at the head with Zaaid to his right. Warriors lined the sides in every chair. Stheta, Kelara
and Pinky were sitting at the far end.

  “I trust you all received some much-needed rest last night,” he smiled as many of us nodded.

  “I had hoped to keep you all with me in Minzkala a little longer to prepare you for what lies ahead. Instead, we will begin our journey in the morning after the last two warriors arrive. I will be joining you this time.”

  “Maybe they’ll go after Cenathor like they did Loren,” Mabashi smiled and whispered.

  Pinky and the two Ladies of the Court sat up tall and looked at each other with delight when they heard that King Naethan would be going as well.

  “The Digvi’ja are attempting to throw us off by moving their forces to the continent of Sapir. We are going to allow them to think this is being accomplished by taking a trip to Vahael in the meantime to retrieve Kal’s brother, Cyrow.”

  My brothers and I smiled, and I grew much more interested in the King’s words. “Once he is retrieved, we will return to Minzkala to prepare for what we will face in Sapir. In the meantime, I will be sending the warriors from Rhalas to the northern coastline of Sapir, where they will travel through the mining caverns and meet us at the northern foothills in the Highlands. Let their journey be upon your minds as they will no doubt face the evil beasts that have been allowed to run rampant in that part of the world. Today, you will visit the city shops to gather any supplies you might need for the journey to Vahael. Feel free to spend time in the training sites along the outer curtain to work on your skills. Tomorrow at dawn, we will meet on the north side of Minzkala.”

  King Naethan looked at Zaaid when he was finished. Zaaid gave an announcement that there would be a weapon’s ceremony that evening in the Lord’s and Lady’s Chambers. Then we were dismissed into the city.

  Sixteen

  Suiting up for Battle

  Kaliesto

  Mabashi went to the stables to check on Core and Jinx while Loren and I visited the shops looking for herbs and bandages. We found a shop that sold battlefood—various breads and cheeses, teas and wines. When consumed, they had the same effects as the spells of Enchanters and Spirit Healers, but for much shorter durations and to a lesser degree.

  Mabashi found the Fletcher and began stocking up on shafts, tips and fletchings. Then he stopped by a local Enchanter’s shop to buy imbuing powders.

  My brothers found Loren and me. While we all stood around looking at a few of the swords at the Blacksmith’s, Loren ran into a music shop and bought a new strap for her mandolin.

  Vamble and Welkin were over at the Blacksmith’s tent and started playing around with the swords a little while carrying on a conversation with us. We decided we would meet up a little later to duel at the training sites. Of course, we would go without guardians and hounds to make things fair.

  Valkryiex and Zarathustria were walking around together and saw Loren outside the music shop. Valkryiex invited her to join them, and when I overheard them from a few paces away, I said, “Go, have a good time.”

  They rushed off to the Jeweler’s and began trying on the various headpieces. One had three small silver chains that hung along the forehead with tiny onyx stones strung throughout. It had been inbued to grant a focused effect while casting or playing music. It was perfect for any one of them, but in the end, it was Valkryiex who claimed it. The black stones matched the Skadowan glasses she always wore.

  Loren chose a golden headpiece that hung over her ears and beneath her hair. It had a solid bar that crossed her forehead. There was a large tsavorite garnet in the middle. The merchant said that it would cause her songs to echo out for miles, allowing them to be heard from across battlefields full of war cries and clanking swords.

  Zarathustria was content with the one she was wearing, a special Enchanter’s piece that granted her the ability to overcome even the most intelligent of beasts with her entrance ability.

  She did, however, pick up an amethyst ring to wear on her center finger. Rows of leaf patterns, each lined with the amethyst stones, now filled the whole first section of her finger. When she put it on, she was able to levitate higher in the air.

  I saw Shelija and Fouad at a spell shop. They were gathering the reagents they would need to use their new gifts of magic. Shelija was browsing through a spellbook in the shop to find out what she needed for her new Mass Invisibility spell.

  With it, she would be able to cause everyone in the area to vanish from sight for up to thirty minutes. And Fouad could now permanently enslave any demon, but he needed a special collar for the beast and was told the spell shop was where he would find it.

  After purchasing their items, they said they were heading out to meet Mank. He had told them he would be somewhere near the Herbalist’s.

  I walked over to Loren to see if she was about ready to go. Mabashi and the others started heading to the training sites, too, so we followed them.

  Once there, we paired off to practice together. Careful not to use up the supplies we had just purchased, we were all engaging in light practice, mostly working with our swords and staves.

  I noticed Mabashi looking at the palace balcony at one point, and I saw Zaaid guiding two new warriors around, pointing out various points of interest.

  “Ahh, there he is,” I heard him say.

  He smiled knowing that Cenathor had made it safely. Now he would have time to visit with his old friend.

  As they approached us, Cenathor took Mabashi into a manly embrace, “How are you, friend? I see the years have been good to you.”

  “Not too bad,” Mabashi chuckled out, “Eventful or uneventful trip here?”

  “Uneventful. Before nightfall on our first day in the forest, a couple of Centaurs were sent out to expedite our arrival. Not a Cerapithalis in the sky the whole way.”

  “Ahh, I wish we had had the same good fortune. Come, meet Kal.” He brought him over and introduced him to me, making note of the facts surrounding my brother Cyrow. Then we met Archaos, who had stayed behind with Zaaid as Cenathor greeted his old friend. Mabashi thought he was familiar, but he couldn’t place Archaos.

  “I was stationed in Khala just before I received my summons. You probably saw me around your city,” Archaos told him.

  He seemed pleased at the introduction because the Imperial Elf was an Archer like himself. Mabashi now had a training partner, though he and Archaos would move to the side areas to practice their aimed shots on targets instead of dueling.

  The rest of the afternoon was spent there, brushing up on old skills, learning new ones, and forming a working relationship with one another.

  Afterwards, we all headed to our chambers to get ready for the Weapon’s Ceremony. We were split into two groups to save time with the presentations and to provide a more formal arena in which to carry out the ceremonies.

  Kelara took Loren away from me explaining that she, too, would have a new set of armor for the upcoming war against the Legion.

  Once we were cleaned up, we met back inside the Chamber Halls, lining up in formation to face the throne areas.

  In the Lord’s Hall, there were weapon racks full of various swords, daggers, maces and staves, all ready to be handed out symbolically. Mabashi and I stood wide-eyed at the display, making note of each feature the weapons carried.

  All of them looked even more brilliant than what we had seen down in the square. Zaaid and Pinky stood near the front, one on each side of the racks. With a small description given of each piece before it was presented, they began to call us up, one at a time, to receive our new items.

  The Blade Maven, Vamble, was presented with a pair of razor-sharp katanas. There was one set left on the racks that I knew was intended for Cyrow.

  Mank received a flanged mace. The end of the mace was more like a four-sided axe, guaranteed to maul through even the toughest armor.

  A small dirk was given to Fouad. Demon Masters seldom pulled out a weapon, but this one
would help to increase his detection of demons.

  Staves were given to the Spirit Healer twins. Made of oakwood and towering high above them when mounted on their backs, the head of the stave had an orb snugly fitted inside a curved appendage that looked like a cobra’s hood. The orb was glowing with prismatic colors, sparks of light surrounding it. They were told it could be used to call on the forces of lightning should they need to deal additional damage.

  Cenathor’s weapon was also a stave; golden and larger than those of the Spirit Healers. This larger size suited the Human, for in height, he stood nearly a foot and a half taller than my brothers. The end of his had a large blood garnet surrounded by at least twenty smaller stones of all colors, each in a facet woven around the twisting golden frame.

  The Archers, Mabashi and Archaos, were presented with special scope bows. They were also given a new quiver for their arrows, one that carried almost an endless amount of ammunition and reduced the arrows’ weight.

  The most beautiful two swords left went to Welkin and me. The handles were adorned with exquisite hand detailing, embedded with sapphires, emeralds and rubies. Welkin’s blade was a steel color, like most swords, but mine was golden celestial bronze.

  Zaaid said it was a King’s Sword, only the second of its kind. The seriousness in his voice made it unnecessary to say who had the first. My sword was slightly larger than Welkin’s, long and wide. It reminded me of a Decapitator. It was a Champion’s sword.

  Similar weapons by class were passed out in the Lady’s Chamber Hall. The two Enchantresses received staves that would make a target docile for a period. That would allow them to focus their attention elsewhere until they were ready to deal with the target. It would also give them enough time to control the mind of the target if that was required.

  Loren and Valkryiex received a new set of battle drums, the music of which would drive us to fight with increased speed and determination.