by D N Meinster
"Remember this, Rikki. The barrier may have been passively trying to stop you, but I could actively do the same. And you will not get beyond me so easily."
Rikki nodded, but realizing he still could not see her, she spoke. "And if I stay until then – "
"I will not stop you," he inserted.
"It's a deal." Rikki stepped back inside the castle, and Hatswick closed the door behind her.
Chapter Six
The First Kingdom
36 Years Before Neanthal (36 B.N.)
King Aergo rested his hand on the railing of the balcony. The dark metal had absorbed much of the sun's warmth, but not enough to burn the skin. It contrasted nicely with the cool breeze blowing in from the Unending Seas. He closed his eyes as another gust grazed his face, sending a salty scent up his nose. His flowing silver hair fluttered back with the wind. This was the most relaxing place in all five kingdoms, and it was right outside his bedroom. He came here all the time, even in Winter. As his responsibilities grew, he needed someplace to spend time away from that weight, where he could be alone with his thoughts. There was no place better.
Aergo Tunsev towered over most men. He was nearly seven feet tall even when he wasn't wearing his black buckle boots. His skin was tan no matter how long he spent out in the sun, and his light gray eyes were checkered with spires of dark gray. His crooked eyebrows were always in plain sight, for his hair was pulled back behind his ears so that his forehead was always exposed. His nose was straight, though it seemed that it might start hanging in front of his pale lips if it grew any longer.
His ensemble lacked the decadence of earlier royals. There was no crown on his head, nor any jewels on his person. He preferred a king stand out not by excess but by symbolic color. In that way, a king could be seen to have more of an equal footing with those he governed. A majority of them did not parade around in trinkets, so why should he?
He was normally dressed in a dark green cloak that was as shiny as it was durable. It was also quite heavy, and he didn't wear it when he was in his own quarters. He left it inside his room, along with the napping Queen. Aergo didn't need more than a loose white top with short, puffy sleeves when he was on his balcony. He also had on soft black trousers which he was prone to sleep in. Despite his location, he didn't want to risk anyone seeing the King without pants.
Castle Tornis was located at the very center of Kytheras, the only kingdom that was just one giant city. The castle rose high above every other structure, giving Aergo a marvelous view. Looking out from his balcony, he could see the rows of buildings that comprised each city block. Though they all appeared the same from so high up, the King knew the variety of their inhabitants. Some were homes, while others were shops for all sorts of materials that were either made or traded. There were blacksmiths, healers, food and spice merchants, milk carts, bars, fisheries, etc. Kytheran occupations were nearly limitless, but most tended to work in the ports.
Aergo could make out all the ships docked in Merriment Bay, but the workers were too far off to see. They were undoubtedly scrambling, as Autumn was nearly half over. There was no knowing how frozen the seas would become in Winter, so they had to do as much as they could before then.
Beyond the ports, Aergo could see the outlines of the Twilight Islands. The seasons never affected the Islands as they did the rest of the kingdoms. They had a tropical climate that kept the waters around them as warm as their populace. It could be snowing in Kytheras while the sun would be blazing on the Islands as if it were Summer. If he could've picked where to build Castle Tornis, it would have been on those islands.
Aergo shook his head. He hated to play favorites among the kingdoms since he united them. Each kingdom was really only a subkingdom now. They were all part of something much greater: the First Kingdom.
All of the kingdoms had never before been united. They were always squabbling with each other, warring over land and resources. But there was no need for conflict. While kings before him had visions of ruling the land, they believed the only way to do that was by conquering all of Ghumai. Aergo knew better. Unification could not be brought about by force. Conquer one land and its inhabitants would never stop fighting for independence. There would only be more bloodshed.
Instead of war, Aergo used diplomacy to unite most of Ghumai. He offered incentives for unification, including opening all the borders and removing trade restrictions. They could each maintain their own sovereignty, except in special circumstances where Aergo felt the need to intercede. And Aergo convinced them all, except for Faunli. The stubborn Fauns refused to relinquish any authority to Kytheras. Aergo still wished he could have brought them in without war.
Once all the kingdoms were united, he began referring to the land as Kytheras instead of Ghumai. It was a subtle reminder to the other kingdoms that the times of separation were over and there was one land that had dominion over them all.
Nevertheless, hierarchy among realms was never Aergo's goal. For the first time in history, all people could stand together under one banner. For the first time, all could call themselves Kytherans, no matter where they resided. For the first time, the only borders were the natural crevasses in the earth, not the lines drawn on maps. This was, to Aergo and many of the same mind, the first true kingdom. Everything before it was factional trivialities.
The First Kingdom. Aergo knew some despised that he referred to it as that, specifically the Fauns. But their negativity could not disabuse the notion. This kingdom was the only one that could ever be considered complete.
"My love," a voice called out from behind him.
Aergo turned to see his gorgeous and very pregnant wife standing on the cusp of the balcony. She was wrapped in fine red cloths that draped off her arms and nearly touched the floor. Her curly brown locks had become disheveled during her nap, and her eyes still appeared tired despite an abundance of sleep. She seemed hesitant to step further outside, either fearing the cool wind or the bright sun.
"What has awoken my Queen?" Aergo asked.
"A servant boy," Queen Eloris replied. A look of disgust flashed on her face. Aergo thought it must have been one of the boys she didn't like, until she ran over to the railing and hurled right over the side of the balcony.
Aergo rushed over to her. He clasped his hand on her back and peeked to see what was below. "Those horses are in for a rude surprise," he quipped.
"Apologize to the mages for me," the Queen said. She slowly crept back to the bedroom.
Aergo followed his wife back inside to the Royal Bedroom. It was an elegant room, with dazzling colors peppered about, from the decorative rugs to the shades of swirling gold painted on the walls. The curtains around the bed were drawn back, and the door to the room was ajar. Not a few feet in front of it was a young boy in a simple attire that clashed with the room's decor.
Leaf was dressed in a fuzzy white robe that was buttoned up from right below his chin to his ankles. He was still emaciated, despite the years he had spent living in the castle. All the feasts he attended could not make up for his years spent on the streets. Orphans like Leaf weren't predisposed to attempt schooling, so King Aergo had begun offering them positions in his home. He was shocked how many turned him down, but Leaf had said yes.
"My liege," Leaf said with a slight bow.
"The Queen does not appreciate being disturbed," Aergo said, winking at the child. He glanced back over at his wife, who had sunk back into the mattress. Yet she had not closed the curtains, almost certainly curious of what the boy had to say.
"Apologies, Your Majesty," Leaf said. "But this is of most importance. The expedition has returned."
Aergo's eyes lit up. "They're more than a few days early." He wanted to break out into dance. He shot a look at the Queen, who did not seem to share in his enthusiasm. She had declined so deep into the bed, he wasn't sure he would be able to lift her up. How she even got herself out of that position seemed a mystery.
The King would have to settle for unleashing his ex
citement on the boy. He grabbed Leaf by his sides and boosted him into the air. He swung him in a circle before plopping him back onto the ground.
"Let's go welcome them back," Aergo proposed. He grabbed his coat and scrambled out the door, putting it on as he proceeded down the hall. Leaf ran after him, trying to keep up.
Three hundred and ninety-eight days. Aergo knew the exact number because he had counted them. It was more than a year and a season since the two expeditions set out. One went across the land; another went out on the seas. Finally, one of them had returned.
No one had ever charted the entirety of the Enduring Mountains. They were a menacing force that stretched across the continent, setting a natural western border for Faunli and Belliore. Technically they were considered a part of Terrastream, but not even the Streamers ventured far into the mountains. They had as little idea what was beyond them as everyone else.
King Aergo had sought to fill in the empty spaces on the map. Courageous and curious men had answered his call to go on these journeys. Even some from Belliore, a notoriously hermitic bunch, volunteered. The Bellish understood the pursuit of knowledge better than anyone else.
The diversity of these groups was an encouraging sign for a kingdom newly united. Time and resources could be spent on ventures other than war, and one of the first seemed to be a success, not only in the number of enlistees but in the willingness to work together. These societies had spilled each other's blood for ages, but they were prepared to seek out a common goal side-by-side. These moments thrilled the King, for they wiped away any doubt he had about the unification.
Aergo knew the mountain team's arrival was imminent. A post bird had delivered a note days earlier that had notified him of their reentry to the populated realm. Still, the speed at which they had made it back to Castle Tornis was shocking, especially since they had made the journey on foot. He hoped to find as many men back as he had sent out.
There had not been any word from the Cartographer, the vessel which had set out on the Unending Seas, but that was to be expected. The indeterminate vastness of the seas was a cause for leeway in the length of time for their voyage. He only hoped they had brought enough supplies to last.
The King stepped out into the first-floor corridor and spotted another servant with a tray of food in his arms. "Jestin!" Aergo shouted, trying to get his attention.
Jestin stopped and looked back at the King. "The dining hall!" he shouted back.
Aergo nodded and rushed in the same direction as the servant.
For some reason, Castle Tornis had been designed so that the dining hall was in the very front of the building while the kitchens were in the very back. This had made preparing for substantial meals incredibly tricky, and it usually required a mage's assistance to keep the food warm. No matter how fast a plate could be sent from the kitchens to the dining hall, it would always be cooler than its consumer desired.
Aergo was stepping on the back of Jestin's heels as they entered the dining hall. It was a room meant to seat more than five hundred people, with square wooden tables and accompanying chairs occupying every inch. There were strips of translucent glass windows on the back wall, allowing a view into the castle's courtyard. But none of the guests bothered to look outside. All eyes were on the entrance, and the plate Jestin was bringing in.
Aergo tried to count heads as all the members dashed to grab a slice of bread or a meatball. They cared more about their empty stomachs than the presence of the King. Given the circumstances, Aergo did not take offense to such actions, and he maintained a plain face despite some displeasure.
Aergo took a seat at an empty table, squirming into a rather uncomfortable chair, and tallied his company. There were sixteen men around him, four less than had set out. He studied the bags that had been piled on the floors. Many of them were in tatters. Even the ones without holes were in far worse condition than when they had left. The same could be said about the men. Beneath their wild and tangled hair were dirty faces that lacked the enthusiasm that was present when he last saw them. Everything about them showed signs of weariness; not only their bloodshot eyes, but their sunken demeanor as well. Their cloaks were in just as bad shape, with noticeable tears and missing sleeves. Aergo felt a bit guilty over their condition. He had sent them out there, and they clearly weren't the same.
The only man who looked almost completely unchanged was Cillian. He was clean shaven, and his heap of brown hair was well kept. There was nary a stain on his deep orange cloak, and his tawny staff still glistened. This mage had not looked after his fellow travelers as well as he had looked out for his own vanity. Yet that was the only reason Aergo had sent a mage out on each expedition. Their gifts could aid in survival better than anything else the King could supply. Perhaps Cillian had been the wrong mage to send.
Leaf came running into the room several minutes after the King. The travelers' stench stifled him as he tried to catch his breath. This foul odor was prevalent in the sewers but rarely found in the castle. Leaf covered his nose with his hands and shot his head around until he spotted the King.
"Glad you found them," Leaf mumbled, approaching the solitary King.
"It won't be hard for anyone to find them unless we get them washed up," Aergo said. "How could no one have helped them on the way back?"
Leaf slowly moved his hands away from his nose. "It's still a tumultuous peace, I suppose," he replied.
Aergo gave Leaf a bewildered look. "Use smaller words."
"Sorry," Leaf said.
"You might damage some of the fragile egos around here," Aergo said. He smiled at the boy and stood up. The troupe had been given enough time to stuff their faces. "Which of you would like to tell me about your journey?" He glanced at Cillian, who avoided eye contact.
"I will," a graveled voice said from among the men. An unoccupied chair flew out from the table that it originated. "Take a seat."
Aergo moved to the displaced chair, which was no better than the one he had just vacated. He was willing to overlook being given orders, but he hoped the traveler did not repeat this insubordination. It would be regrettable if he had to discipline an individual who had ably served the King, but there were only so many times one could be insolent in public without facing consequences.
This man on the other side of the table had stunning blue eyes, but the rest of him was just a shaggy beard with a nose sticking out. "I guess I'll start with the most important question," Aergo began. "What's on the other side of the Mountains?"
The man smirked. He bent over and reached into his tattered bag, pulling out a glass bottle filled with a clear liquid. He slammed it on the table. "Do you recognize it?"
Aergo grabbed the bottle and examined its contents. "It looks like water."
"It is," the man said. "But not just any water. It's the same bloody water you can get right from the ports. That's what's on the other side."
Aergo felt his heart sink at the news. He placed the bottle back on the table. "How can that be?"
"Ghumai – err, Kytheras, is basically one giant island," the man said.
"Technically a continent," another shot out.
"Still, we're all just surrounded by water," the man said. "Water and mountains. You know, there's no beaches on the other side. There's just peak after peak until you get to a cliff. And you look down and there they are, the Unending Seas. And there's no islands in the distance. Just water. And around you, just more mountains. I never want to see another damn mountain for the rest of my life."
Aergo rested his forehead in his palm, disappointed by the news. This was an unexpected development and made the whole expedition almost pointless. He was hoping for so much more. There could have been untouched terrain to build upon. There could have been a whole other society. But nothing? The world suddenly felt a whole lot emptier, as did something inside the King.
"How come there are four of you missing?" Aergo asked.
"It's a long journey," the man answered. "Plenty of time for things t
o go wrong."
"I was looking for specifics."
The man stared at the King a while before speaking again. "There's lots in those mountains you might expect. Harrowing paths. Rocks that break when your foot touches them. Lost one that way. Fell straight down; so far we couldn't see his body."
Aergo turned toward Cillian. "Couldn't you help in a such a situation?"
"Your mage found it better to help himself," the man answered. "Didn't stay with the group that often. Took paths he thought were safer. He was probably right, though."
Aergo felt more pangs of guilt. He had chosen Cillian specifically, and he had let them all down. This was one mage that would never again have his trust. He hoped his choice to serve the sea expedition was more suitable.
"There are creatures in those mountains," the man continued. "Monsters that shouldn't exist outside a nightmare." A look of horror appeared in the man's eyes as he recalled the encounter. "They were big. Lots of legs. And they blended in perfect with the stone. Our swords weren't much use. We lost three to these beasts. Lucky your mage finally made his way back to us. He scared 'em off."
"Are they worse than what's in the sewers?" Leaf asked.
"I'm pretty sure these could eat what's in our sewers," the man replied, causing Leaf to shiver.
Aergo turned again to the mage. "Why didn't you stay with them?"
Cillian responded with a snort and became completely transparent for a split second. A moment later he was gone from the room, leaving no trace of his presence.
Aergo's mouth hung open. "That jackass shifted right out of here. Jestin, go tell the Grand Mage to find Cillian and confiscate his staff." Aergo stood up, now addressing the room. "I want to apologize to all of you. Not only for the inept mage I sent with you, but for this feckless quest I asked of you."
One of the travelers stood up. "Gimble of Belliore," he said. "I realize you may not recognize me. But I volunteered and do not regret it for one instant. We never knew what lie on the other side of the Enduring Mountains. Now we know."
