by D. L. Jordan
Berthold pointed towards the end of the field. When Dean came to the field’s end, his eyes grew wide. He pulled himself up, trying desperately to keep his footing as he stared down at the jungle a hundred feet below him. Another few steps and he would have plummeted from the edge.
“Just clip the belt around your waist!” cried Clotilda. Dean did as he was told and Clotilda spoke again. “Now imagine something!” Dean closed his eyes and imagined that he was an eagle.
“I don’t think it’s working,” said Dean. “I don’t feel anything different about me.”
Little did he know, he was wrong. As his eyes were closed, Dean started to lean and accidentally fell off the cliff. As Dean fell, the belt did indeed work. He was now an eagle. When he opened his eyes, he realized that he was falling. He flapped his wings out of desperation. He was soon soaring across the sky, feeling free. All the things below him seemed to be so small and insignificant.
Dean’s eyes bulged with excitement and his heart began to race as he took in the sights around him. He had now become this enduring symbol of freedom. A new and restored sense of hope and faith emerged within him. He felt as if he was in a dream.
After a long flight Dean happily flew around the sky above the field. He then landed back down to the earth near Clotilda and Berthold, transforming back into his original self.
“How do you feel?” King Berthold asked. “Wonderful!” Dean responded with a gleeful smile.
“That’s good!” said Queen Clotilda. “We are now going to practice your agility and balance!”
At that moment, five ramps, three flying axes, and a myriad of green flames arose from the ground behind Dean, creating an instant obstacle course. Dean was in a flurry by doing all he could to avoid them. The three axes flew towards him in different directions. One axe came towards his head, while another came towards the back of his legs from behind. A third axe also came towards his chest.
Dean ran as fast as he could in order to avoid these things, but the axes followed him as he ran. He wiped the perspiration from his forehead and attempted to avoid the first two axes by performing a backflip high in the air, something that he had never tried before. Two of the axes collided into each other, causing them to be instantly destroyed. The third, and final, axe flew towards his head as he was settling himself. He began to run. He tripped and the axe chopped into the ground next to him.
Dean arose from the ground, noticing that the axe had stuck into the ground before shattering to pieces. He had used the Morph-belt to make himself invisible to the sensors of the axe as he tripped to the ground, causing the axe to follow him.
He ran towards the flames. As Dean came closer to the green flames, more and more fire started to appear. He could feel the intensity of the heat sweep over him as he ran. A flame shot up from the ground in front of him. He quickly dodged around it unharmed. Finally he made his way to the near end of the course where he saw the last five ramps.
Dean ran closer and closer towards the ramps as they levitated from the ground and hovered high in the air above him. He jumped as high as he could towards the ramps.
Dean at first doubted himself, thinking that he would never make it to the first ramp. But he was completely surprised. As his feet touched its surface, he climbed onto the ramp and they all instantly started to move at a rapid pace, shifting from left to right continuously beneath his feet.
Dean steadied himself constantly, trying not to fall. He then jumped onto the next ramp and the next one and the next one until he finally reached the last ramp, which shook violently underneath him. While desperately trying not to lose his balance, Dean stomped on the ramp and it started to slowly descend to the ground as he stood on top of it. Berthold and Clotilda stood on the ground, deeply impressed. After such an exhilarating experience, both Queen Clotilda and King Berthold accompanied Dean to brunch in the dining hall to celebrate his impressive dexterity and the end of his first day of training.
***
The next day, Dean was called by Madu to see him in the stables of the palace. When Dean arrived he could do nothing else but hold his nose because the stable smelled terrible. He saw Madu in front of the stall of a large and very fierce looking Tigris that clearly didn’t want to be bothered.
“Dean, I’m glad you have come,” Madu began sarcastically. “Come here and meet Albrecht!” he ordered. Dean cautiously came over to the regent and the Tigris, thinking that he should have known that Madu would pick the most ferocious animal for him.
“Today, you are going to learn how to ride and control a Tigris.” Madu pulled the Tigris out of its stall. As Madu pulled the Tigris by its reins Albrecht fiercely roared, clearly trying to return to his bed of hay. Madu finally managed to control the creature and placed a saddle onto Albrecht’s back.
The saddle of the Tigris was a seat right behind its wings on the middle of its back. Two straps were wrapped around the creature, coming down from one side of the seat and up toward the other on each side. Madu placed a set of reins on the creature and walked Albrecht out of the stables to a vast area of the grounds at the side of the palace. Dean followed behind them both, wondering if learning how to control a Tigris was going to be difficult.
Dean looked back at the palace and saw the onion-shaped domes at the tops of some of the towers, wishing that he was inside the palace’s historic marble halls. Madu finally managed to calm Albrecht down and began teaching the basics to Dean.
“As you might already know, Dean, the Tigris is a very versatile creature which can suit the needs of the average traveler by using its legs for walking or running or by using its wings for flight. Come forward and place yourself on the back of the Tigris!” he rudely commanded.
Dean placed himself on the saddle of the Tigris. Dean sneered with bitter resentment before grabbing Albrecht’s reins.
“Now, place your hands behind his ears and press. You must also know that, when riding one of these creatures, you should always have your knees bent and your arms inward.” Dean let go of the reins and performed the first steps.
“There is also something else you should know. These animals are very sensitive creatures. You must be gentle with them at all times. If you press too hard it can cost you your life.” Dean pressed again, only this time he did it gently as Madu had instructed.
“Now, to make the Tigris walk you must first slap your feet hard on its sides.”
Dean did the second step and, to his surprise, the Tigris became infuriated. Albrecht shook Dean off his back and snarled at him in the same manner he had done to Madu. Dean landed on the ground. His back was aching. He was also shaken as the threatening teeth of the Tigris were exposed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Madu began with a twisted smile on his face. “My memory must have failed me for a moment. I now remember. You must first pat its head to gain its trust and then slap your legs gently on its sides. Silly me!”
Dean angrily got on Albrecht’s saddle once again. Tears of resentment were starting to sting his eyes. With caution, he did as Madu told him.
Dean was successful this time. His legs were behind the Tigris’ wings. He then grabbed Albrecht’s reins once again. The Tigris paced up and down a short distance and slowly started to run in the vast area in a circle. The Tigris started to slow down as it was returning to Madu, flapping its wings all the while as if to say it was ready to fly.
“Now, let’s begin flight maneuvering. The first thing you must know about how to fly a Tigris is that you must use the exact same steps that you used for walking and running…only this time you must visualize in your mind that your Tigris is capable of flight.”
Dean did this third step and felt himself rising. He looked down and saw that Albrecht’s front legs were off the ground but his hind legs weren’t. The Tigris pushed hard with its hind legs and soared gracefully above the grounds.
Dean viewed parts of the palace he’d never seen before as he was in the air, enjoying the wind as it raced past him all the while. Albrech
t soon landed near the Statue of Reasoning where Dean dismounted the Tigris.
He ran his fingers through the hairs of the creature’s back and smoothly rubbed its head. Albrecht pushed from the ground again and flew back into the stables without Madu noticing, while Dean ran back into the palace. Even as Dean sat in the armchair of his room he laughed at the thought of Madu still standing in the vast area, possibly wondering where he and Albrecht had gone until nightfall.
***
Dean attended his physical training for ten more days. Night after night, he went to the comfort of his bed tolerating numerous aches and pains. He was glad when all of it was over. Cacellon mentioned that he would be starting his spiritual training in a month. Dean lay down on the long sofa near the fireplace to keep warm and soon fell asleep.
***
The afternoon sun was shining through the windows of Dean’s bedroom during the fifth day of the month of Terhune. He was soon awakened by the heat of the fireplace and arose from the sofa while looking at the sundial on top of the fireplace. Dean saw that it was two o’ clock and hurriedly put on his clothes.
He made his way to a room that was four floors above his residing corridor. Dean rushed through the pathway that connected two of the palace’s towers. He entered through a door that led to a flight of stairs into the corridor where Cacellon had told Dean to meet him.
Arriving at another door, Dean could see that it was open and that Cacellon stood in the midst of it.
“I wondered when you were coming,” he said. “Come with me. There is much we have to
do.”
Dean was curious about Cacellon’s reaction toward his tardiness, but decided to follow him inside anyway. Dean thought that he was outside as soon as he and Cacellon entered the room. It was a huge room full of plants and green rugs. In a far corner of the room, a tranquil and small artificial stream flowed to the right and a huge vase of flowers was beside it. Dean removed his shoes and stood at a grassy area in the center of the room.
“Today,” said Cacellon. “We are going to practice an art that that was performed by many people around Erlon for centuries. It is the art of meditation. You might already know about prayer, but meditation has been practiced by spiritual leaders by putting their minds at peace. It has helped them to relax in times of peril and influences them to make righteous decisions.”
“What you will learn from this is that our sense of thought determines our actions and beliefs. A leader is a person who motivates and inspires others’ wisdom and experience. Wisdom that is true is often gained by many years of experience, and also from the will to learn from the mistakes of others and your own. But, in order to gain wisdom you must be willing to learn. For the next few days, we are to begin on meditation, development of the spirit, and the formation of energy spheres.”
***
For many days, Cacellon practiced and practiced the art of meditation with Dean. Dean was feeling even more relaxed and wise every time he practiced with Cacellon. He was really looking forward to sphere-forming as the days went on. Dean had never meditated before in his entire life, but now he was really enjoying it.
He gladly accepted this new change into his life. When the day of sphere-forming arrived, he quickly ran to the room full of plants and met Cacellon at its center. Cacellon stepped up moments later from meditating and met Dean at the door.
“Today is the day you have been waiting for isn’t it?” Dean nodded his head. “Well then… let us begin since you’re so anxious. Stand at the center of the room,
please.” Dean did as he was told and stood under the yellow ray of sunlight that plummeted from the sky above the ceiling. Cacellon stayed near the door and instructed Dean to close his eyes and position himself in his meditative form.
Cacellon spoke again. “Concentrate!”
A green sphere full of light, approximately three feet in diameter, appeared in front of Dean. He could feel the energy sphere develop as it was growing and taking form.
“Let the energy flow through your body, giving the sphere form and power.” The sphere grew larger and stronger.
“Now release it upwards!”
Dean gratefully gave up the sphere from his mental grasp. The sphere broke through the ceiling with a jolt. As the ceiling instantly repaired itself, he could see the sphere shoot through the clouds and combust in a powerful green explosion. Dean fell to the floor of the room, his mind weary. Cacellon hurried to tend to him.
“I can’t do this!” Dean said firmly. He wanted to get away, far away from there. He wanted to once again return to the Sabulra home and forget his experiences in The Marble Palace.
“Of course you can do this. Everyone has a purpose and can accomplish anything if they set their mind to it,” Cacellon said, trying to encourage him.
“NOOO!” Dean screamed as he stood up. “Can’t you see? I’m not like everyone else!
Everyone else doesn’t have to spend countless days and nights in a strange, hollow place and be forced to do something that they don’t want to do, to face an evil that intimidates them every day! Everyone else doesn’t know what it’s like to be taken away from their family or to be thrown into another home like an old sack of unwanted things,” Dean choked up while his voice cracked with strain, “wanting with the passing of every hour to return to where you came from! Everyone else has a life of their own to live…me…I don’t even know what I have anymore! I don’t even know why I’m here! I’m just… not like everyone else!”
Dean felt an intense heat grip his insides. He looked into Cacellon’s surprised eyes as Cacellon knelt down to him. Dean then held his own sobbing face in the palms of his hands, clearly ashamed of the way he was behaving.
Cacellon bent down to Dean and took his hands into his own before wiping the tears from Dean’s eyes.
“Even under the black ash of a dead flame, life can emerge. I, of all people, should know that. I am a phoenix after all. What I mean is that… even when all hope is lost, goodness and prosperity can still be found.”
Dean gave a slight smile, finding a glimmer of hope and a shelter in Cacellon’s eyes from his despair. Cacellon then helped Dean from the floor and accompanied him back to his room so he could rest. Dean had finally finished his spiritual training in the palace.
THE QUEEN’S MEMORIES
Queen Lila sat upon her bed as the blissful light of the morning sun shined through the windows of her bedroom. She gazed lovingly upon the small bust statue of a man in a tall crown. The statue sat beside a stout bamboo plant on the top of a desk beside her. The man’s name was Amenhotep. Queen Lila arose from her bed, walked through the corridor into the library, and sat in a chair. As she sat she pondered on the joyful memories of her past.
***
The sun was caught high in the morning sky over the vast empire of Babefemi. It was a hot day and a Pulchran sailboat with one sail, steered by two people on each oar, was coming upon the Babefemian capital of Hetseiga’s harbor. The harbor was a busy place full of merchants and docked ships. Once the Pulchran ship was close to touching the wood of the harbor, a man jumped out of the boat and onto the deck. A rope was tossed to him from another man in the boat to a nearby wooden pole.
A fisherman cursed angrily under his breath after the passing of the boat scared off many of his fish. He raised his fishing pole and set it back in a large bag. Everyone watching looked in amazement at the extravagant ship that had just entered the harbor, figuring that it was someone of great importance. A messenger of the Babefemian court dressed in green clothing spotted the arrival of the boat. The messenger went to see who was aboard the boat with a Tigris walking
beside him. He grabbed its reins and the Tigris followed. A kingly looking man in light clothing descended from the Pulchran ship.
“Who are you and what business do you have here?” the messenger asked confidently. “I am Pharaoh Amenhotep of Pulchra. I have come to inform the Emperor and the
Empress on a very serious matter that wi
ll affect both of our lands.”
The messenger nodded his head assuredly and mounted his Tigris. He turned around to the Pharaoh as his servants, also dressed in light, simple clothing, descended from the ship.
Amongst the servants was a young and handsome man with a silver phoenix pendant that dangled from around his neck.
“Very well, then! Follow me! Do you have any means of transportation, your highness?” Pharaoh Amenhotep smiled and simply said, “Yes I do!” He made a hand signal toward the ship and a group of men carrying a golden litter came out into the harbor. They placed the litter on the ground beside Pharaoh Amenhotep. Before the men raised the litter on their shoulders, Amenhotep slowly situated himself within the comforting coolness of the litter.
More of Amenhotep’s servants stood behind him, “I hope the palace is not a great distance from this point?”
“No, not at all your majesty,” responded the messenger.
Amenhotep and his servants followed the messenger from the harbor into a small patch of forest that led to a large brownstone and wood palace. The people on the harbor looked curiously as they went away into the forest. The Tigris of the messenger had stopped and caught a traveling rabbit in its mouth.
From the small patch of forest, the messenger led them to the entrance of the Babefemian palace. Two bronze elephants with their tusks locked together in combat were in front of a tall
