by Jeremy Dwyer
My first wish is for your wealth, so life is free and grand,
That every voyage of your life is sailed on a gentle breeze.
May you never be caught by a storm that strikes the sea or land.
I save all my wishes for you: the one I hope to please.
(Refrain)
My greatest wish is for endless joy to fill your days and nights,
That melodies will carry you to distant shores with dazzling sights.
My second wish is for your thoughts, so all truths are known about,
That every page of every book is revealed before your eyes.
May you never be confused, lost or filled with doubt.
I save all my wishes for you: the one who lights my skies.
(Refrain)
My third wish is for your heart, so love is always near,
That every friend is loyal and their endless passion strong.
May you never be rejected or have friendship disappear.
I save all my wishes for you: the one who inspires song.
(Refrain)
“That was a good song!” the third bandit said.
“And my wish came true! Wealth came my way!” the first bandit said, as he still held the pouch of coins.
“There. You have my money. You heard my song. It’s your lucky day,” Nerine said, disgusted.
“Ya’ know what? You’re right. But it’s not your luck day. I can’t let a sweet voice like yours get away. If you can make money with that voice, so can I,” the third bandit said.
“Please. I work hard. I need to take care of myself. Please leave me be,” Nerine said.
“What a waste! I find a good one, I keep her,” the third bandit said, and he grabbed Nerine.
“No! Please!” Nerine shouted.
“She isn’t as pretty as the other ones, but she’s good enough,” the second bandit said. He intended to enjoy her charms that night, but he had definitely met more attractive women.
“There’s lots of ways to make money out of her,” a fourth bandit said.
“When we’re done with her, we can sell her to somebody else,” the first bandit said. All he wanted was the money.
The fifth bandit just leered at Nerine but said nothing. He felt carnal desire for her, and planned to have his way with the young woman when she slept that night. Since he didn’t want to argue with the others bandits about who had rights over the captive woman, he kept quiet and waited.
“Please! I’m begging you. Just take the money and leave me. I’ve given you all that I have,” Nerine said.
“You can still give us so much more,” the first bandit said.
“Much more,” the second bandit said, and he ran his dirty hand from her lips down to her neck line and started to go even further.
“No! Please. Don’t touch me!” Nerine cried.
~~~
Kirdothet had fled from the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings on Udovedaj-Pren Island, driven away by the power of the song from the holy woman. He traveled far to the south and west, down to the continent of Waderav, looking for a place to rest and renew his energies. He heard a beautiful female voice below singing a rather mundane song. However, the qualities of the voice were such that he wanted to hear more.
He descended toward the sound and saw a girl being bothered by a group of five (5) men.
~~~
Nerine tried to pull away and the first bandit held his sword to her throat again. The second bandit came behind her and pressed his own sword into her back. To move would have been instant death, and Nerine now knew this.
“Please! Please! All I’ve done was help you,” Nerine begged.
“I know! And it was good! So you’re gonna’ help me some more…for the rest of yer’ life,” the first bandit said.
“If you want that life to be good and long, you’ll come along without fightin’ back. You’re not pretty as it is, but a few scars will make it even worse,” the second bandit said from behind her.
“Now, close yer’ eyes and go where we tell ya’. It’s gonna’ be a surprise,” the first bandit said.
Nerine was scared, but she didn’t see a choice, so she closed her eyes.
Then, she heard screams, opened her eyes, and saw the bandits – the two (2) who held swords to her and the other three (3) as well – lying on the ground, and their corpses were all burning.
“Your voice calls up into the sky. These men of the ground were not worthy of you,” Kirdothet said to her.
Nerine saw a man surrounded in flames, and he was dressed as a prince, in robes of yellow and red.
“Who are you?” Nerine asked, absolutely surprised.
“I am Prince Kirdothet of the yellow suns. Your most beautiful voice could not go unnoticed. I would not allow you to be harmed by inferior things such as these,” Kirdothet said.
“I don’t understand what is happening. But I thank you absolutely, from the bottom of my heart, for coming here to help me. I could sing a song of your name all day long to thank you!” Nerine said.
“Excellent! There is a song I wish for you to sing. It is one I hope that you know: Praise Every Sun Upon the Sea,” Kirdothet said.
Nerine did know this, as it was an ancient song that was used to teach many different aspects of vocal performance. She knew of no special meaning to it, but suspected that this fiery prince had a form of magic based on sunfire, and that this song would somehow serve him.
In order to deliver an impressive performance to her benefactor, Nerine drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from her vial. She was energized and began singing the requested song:
Illuminate me. Elevate me.
Set ablaze my spirit.
This I ask the seventy.
All around us, ever burning.
For your fire, we’re always yearning.
Many reds suns, cool and calm.
Yellow suns, they’re warmer still.
Hot blue suns, the sky’s Nine Kings.
Owe my soul to these,
I forever will.
Night defeated.
Day reigns eternal.
The Kings are seated,
On thrones infernal.
Praise Every Sun. Exalt its fires.
Shining upon the Seas, None ever tires.
Crossing lands and seas,
Ruling tide and time.
Supreme the many suns are.
To them souls shall climb.
Kirdothet was soothed by this song, and greatly energized. He lit up brighter, and was stronger by far. Yet, he was not to his fullest strength.
“You are most pleasing to me, young mortal woman. What is your name?” Kirdothet asked.
“I am Nerine. I sing to pay my way in life,” Nerine said.
“I will provide for you, if you sing for me,” Kirdothet said.
“I worked at the castle, where they paid me thirty (30) platinum coins for one song. These bandits took the money from me, and threatened to kill me if I didn’t sing for them. When I did sing, they tried to enslave me, and threatened to abuse me,” Nerine said.
“You will not be my slave, but my dearest friend, little Nerine. Please, take me to this castle,” Kirdothet said.
Nerine was frightened at the fiery form and power, but this Kirdothet did rescue her, so she considered him a better traveling companion than going alone. Going back to the castle was a strange thing to do, as she was sent away by Countess Genevieve. She didn’t want to offend the nobles by going without an invitation – or a summons, really – but upsetting the powerful prince who just saved her life didn’t seem wise, either.
“I’ll take you,” Nerine said.
“Whose castle is this?” Kirdothet asked.
“The lord of the castle is Count Perceval. The lady is Countess Genevieve,” Nerine said.
“I shall meet with them, and they shall invite us as guests into this castle,” Kirdothet said.
The pair traveled by foot to the castle. When they arrived, one of
the castle guards saw them and looked, with mouth agape, at the fiery prince who was in the shape of a man, but covered with a flaming aura.
“Who shall I tell the lord and lady of the castle has arrived?” the guard asked.
“Tell them that Prince Kirdothet has arrived, and they are to meet with me at once, and have me as their guest. With me is my lovely young friend, Nerine, whose voice is worthy of the kingdom of the sky,” Kirdothet said.
The guard opened his doorway into the castle, closed it behind him and entered the chamber of Count Perceval and Countess Genevieve.
“Prince Kirdothet is here, and says that you are to meet with him at once. He is with the girl, Nerine, who was here before,” the guard said.
Count Perceval was delighted at the thought that the pretty singer had returned. He had no idea who this Prince Kirdothet was, but his thoughts were of Nerine, rather than matters of politics or royalty.
“Who is this Prince Kirdothet?” Countess Genevieve asked.
“He is of a magical sort. He has way of fire about him,” the guard said.
“This sounds quite dangerous,” Countess Genevieve said.
“He is a prince. We must answer his call,” Count Perceval said.
“Is that the call you are answering?” Countess Genevieve asked him, suspecting what occupied his dirty old mind.
“We cannot refuse a prince, Genevieve,” Count Perceval said.
“Of what kingdom is he a prince,” Countess Genevieve asked.
“He said something about the kingdom of the sky,” the guard said.
“We have to answer him,” Count Perceval said.
“Indeed, that may be true,” Countess Genevieve said. At this, she drank anew of the waters of the Trerada Ocean that she kept in one of her vials. They were highly purified, and multiplied her health and beauty. She still appeared quite young, although some of the earlier effects had faded. Her inner vitality was quite robust, however.
Count Perceval and Countess Genevieve approached the main door of the castle and ordered the guard to open it.
When he did, Prince Kirdothet’s fiery form stood before them, with Nerine standing next to him.
“Greetings, Prince Kirdothet. We are honored to have you as a guest,” Count Perceval said, while leering at Nerine. He hardly noticed the fiery aura surrounding Kirdothet because of the carnal fire that burned within him toward the young woman.
“This is a beautiful castle. You are a hideous man, and most undeserving of it. Leave now, if you wish to live,” Prince Kirdothet said to Count Perceval.
Nerine looked at Kirdothet in surprise, not knowing what to think of this creature who undoubtedly saved her life.
Countess Genevieve was not surprised, having suspected that this was a dangerous being based on the guard’s description.
Count Perceval didn’t know what to think, other than that his castle was under attack.
“I assure you, Your Majesty, that I worked very hard for many years to have this castle,” Count Perceval said. He was lying – he had stolen and murdered for many years to have this castle. He started to notice the fiery aura about Prince Kirdothet and became afraid.
“Leave this castle now! I will not say it again, mortal,” Prince Kirdothet said.
“How can I leave my castle?” Count Perceval asked.
Kirdothet reached out with one hand and a large fireball was sent forth, and enveloped both Count Perceval and Countess Genevieve.
Perceval was burnt to a crisp, and instantly killed.
~~~
The spirit of Perceval awoke in a place of darkness and confusion. He heard a deep and terrifying voice and the voice spoke to him, saying: “Your life was one of murder and theft, lust and deception.”
“Judge me not, whoever you are! I took what was to be taken, and made of life the best that I could,” the spirit of Perceval said.
“You destroyed the innocent virtue of maidens and the lives of young men with whom you traveled. You stole the land of farmers and the earnings of your laborers, whom you paid poorly,” the deep and terrifying voice said.
“Who are you? Where is this?” the spirit of Perceval asked.
“I am Gadamalto, the Master of Spirits in this, the Maelstrom of Vengeance,” the deep and terrifying voice said.
“This is folly! These are names from mythology! Tell me the truth!” the spirit of Perceval said.
“I am no myth, nor is this place. Your evil ways have brought you to me, and I will bring you to everlasting pain!” the voice of Gadamalto said.
By Gadamalto’s demonic cleverness and cruelty, the spirit of Perceval was tortured without end and screamed without end.
~~~
Genevieve was unscathed by the fireball, although her clothes were burning. The purified waters of the Trerada Ocean had bolstered her health many times over, such that the flames did not harm her. She ran away, although she knew this would fan the flames. She went down the stairs into her laboratory, where she removed all of the clothes and doused them with Dead Waters that she kept there among the other waters in various vials, flasks and tubes. She changed into her laboratory clothes, gathered her books containing many experimental notes and calculations, and escaped the castle through a tunnel. She made her way on foot to a nearby village and was, fortunately, not noticed by any bandits.
~~~
Kirdothet was aghast that Genevieve had not been killed, but was pleased that she was gone.
“The castle is mine now. Tell everyone to leave, immediately,” Kirdothet said to the guard.
The guard obliged, and ran through the halls, screaming: “Leave now! The castle has been overtaken! Leave if you want to live!” At this, the housekeepers and cooks and guards and all other staff evacuated the castle, either at the front entrance or through a side entrance.
“Why did you kill him?” Nerine asked Kirdothet.
“He was unworthy. The woman – the Countess, as you called her – was strong. She had some magic against me. Tell me if she returns. Warn her to stay away if you see her,” Kirdothet said.
“How do you know who is worthy?” Nerine asked. She wondered what gave him the authority to act as some sort of deity.
“The fire that burns within me – and around me – tests the worth of each mortal,” Kirdothet said.
Kirdothet did not have the ability to read minds or spirits and weigh their good deeds versus their evil deeds. Rather, he judged by outward appearances, and found the old Count Perceval to be less presentable than others, and certainly less than himself. Hence, he found Count Perceval to be unworthy. He judged the voice of Nerine to be pleasing, and so found her worthy.
“You are powerful. I fear you very much,” Nerine said.
“Good. Then you will live a worthy life, for fear of the consequences,” Kirdothet said.
Kirdothet found his way to the castle courtyard and Nerine followed him, wanting to know what danger she now faced. She was afraid, but didn’t want to be caught by surprise. Since he had already saved her, she figured that his wrath would be directed elsewhere, at least for now.
Kirdothet looked up at the sky, reached up his hands and exercised his powers over the yellow suns. He called out to them in a voice of fire, which could only be heard with ears of fire. The yellow suns sent forth their light upon him. He became brighter and hotter, and they became darker and cooler.
Nerine saw these things, and had no words. Dread fear filled her, as this was a power over the suns themselves beyond her mortal understanding. She was accustomed to the magic of music from the Pirovalen waters, although even that could be surprising in it magnitude. This power over the suns was altogether startling, and she simply stared in terrified wonder.
~~~
In the continent of Volaraden, in the western region, was the Citrine Desert. The burning sands of the desert were rich with precious gems and these were extracted by the residents of a mining town. The land on which the town was built was the property of the Jendaldej Empire
and all the residents were its citizens. The town was centered on the castle of Baron Ottokar and he was the town’s chief administrator over all operations.
In a private room of the castle, the young woman named Indigo drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial. She was thereby energized and listened to the sounds of the stars, as she had been directed, by Baron Ottokar, to give a report of any changes. When the many yellow suns darkened, Indigo sensed this change and became very frightened. She stood up quickly and ran through the castle halls, finding the door to the Baron’s office closed and locked. Indigo tapped on the door furiously and it was unlocked and opened.
While standing in the doorway, Baron Ottokar looked at Indigo and immediately saw the distress in her face. “Indigo, please come in and speak to me,” the Baron said.
Indigo entered Baron Ottokar’s office and the Baron closed the door.
“You appear to be greatly distressed. Please share your report with me that you need not carry the burden yourself,” Baron Ottokar said.
“Baron, the yellow suns of the sky have all darkened. The twenty-three (23) that remain in the sky give nearly no light,” Indigo said.
Baron Ottokar was immediately distressed by this news and asked: “What of the others? Do the red or blue suns give any signs of changes?”
Indigo drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and was energized still more. She listened once again, and saw no signs of changes in either the nine (9) large, hot blue suns or thirty-seven (37) small, cool red suns.
“No. All nine (9) large, hot blue suns have their full brightness, as do all thirty-seven (37) small, cool red suns. There is no change in any of them,” Indigo said.
“No change? So their paths remain the same, as well?” Baron Ottokar asked.
“Yes, both the brightness and the paths of the red and blue suns remain the same,” Indigo said.
“That is at least somewhat reassuring,” Baron Ottokar said.
“Yet, you still seem distressed, Baron,” Indigo said.
