Legends Of Dacot ( Rise Of A Forgotten Myth) (2) A soldier walked into stately office, past the men standing in the room, bowed to the average sized man in the large lounge chair behind a heavy looking oak desk and took his station beside to the door. The men, momentarily silent, went back to pleading with the man. “Please, my lord, you must do something.” One man pleaded, while another said calmly, “My Lord, its just a legend, it couldn’t possibly come to be.” While others simply shook their heads in agreement. Only one was silent standing in the back of the group of advisers. He was a dark man. Dressed in a blue vest with embroidered roses and a golden loincloth, only his pierced nose and left ear told the world of his Woest heritage. “People, people.” The King said. ”I will take in to consideration all that was said this day, but for the moment, I would like to speak to my marshal” None of the men moved. “Alone!” The men shuffled slowly out of the room, muttering about court manners and the strange Woestian, newly appointed marshal of the borders of Vuori, in their midst. “What do you think, Jes? What should I believe?” The King said, almost pleading to the tall man. “Has the legend come to pass?” The tall man sighed and circled to where The King looked out the window, behind the desk, as if searching for the boy. Not turning, he said, ”I don’t know, Highness, I’ve heard only part of the legend. But it seems to me that it would be best to be sure of everything before making any decision, which would affect the Kingdom on any great scale. This boy is either a King in the making, or an unfortunate child thrust into the middle of something beyond his comprehension.” A small pause. ”I for one would like to see you upon the throne many years, this you already know, but if this legend has indeed come upon us, what in the heavens can you do?” The man looked now at the King of Dacot, almost regretting his words. The King was looking forward his face a mask barely concealing his rage. “I don’t know, Jes, I just don’t know. My father, and his grandfather before him felt the fear of this day every day of their lives, but I was to ignorant and proud to take this bloody thing serious.” The King, a man of medium stature looked half his size now as he lay crumpled in his chair, was sweating profusely from the stress. “What do you know of the legend, My Lord?“ The tall man said. “Just what my father told me, and what I bothered to learn in school. Basically the legend states that 100 years ago before the crowning of my great-great-great grandfather to the thrown of Dacot, he sired a son with some woman from the race of Warriors, she probably didn’t even know he was prince.“ He said with a look of disgust. ”Anyway, when she did find out who he was, she took her son back to her clan, they were a bit short on men so I’ve heard, there she raised him to the age of 5 when she died giving birth to his sister. The clan raised him to be some sort of great warrior, and the sister grew up to be a powerful priestess. I heard she was beautiful and they named her the head priestess or something like that. The boy, she had named him Meiroch, was said to be the greatest warrior of that time. He found some crystal, which supposedly didn’t look like a crystal, and found the truth of his heritage, went to confront his ‘father’ whom promptly extinguished his claim to any royal holdings and titles by disclaiming him.” “Now Meiroch, who had believed his father a noble man, was angry and embarrassed, you know what kind of anger I am speaking of,” A look of understanding passed over the marshals face. ”He went back to his clan, and began his plans for a war with Dacot. At first no one would believe him, who would dare to make was upon Dacot they all asked, laughing in his face. But that only drove the man on. It fed the fire in him like no wood ever could. So when the first year passed and no war came, the king became lax and basically forgot the whole thing. But Meiroch didn’t, he was training all those who would stand by his side. Men and women, can you believe that? Women! Hah! Well, he came a year after that when no one was ready for it. He quickly dispatched the wall garrison and all the town soldiers, when he and his people stormed the castle the men were in a frenzy, many ran when they saw this group, covered in blood by the way, advancing upon them. And so it was a clear path to the kings throne room. When he got there the king was on his throne, with his wife beside him. Now, Meiroch didn’t want any more blood shed so he ordered his band of Warriors out of the great hall and asked the same of my great-great-great grandfathers men who left in such a hurry its said you could feel the wind as they passed. Once they were alone The King challenged Meiroch to a duel to the death. People say it went on for hours, days some say. But in the end the great hall was a bloody mess, with only one man standing. You can guess who that was. Well, his sister didn’t take it to well and she put a curse or something on Dacot, it was that in a hundred years time a boy would be named for his ancestor and he would come to finish what Meiroch had started. “It wasn’t so much what she said it was how she said it. The land shook and the heavens opened, so the tale says. And lightning struck the earth. And her eyes glowed blue!“ The King was now out of his seat pacing the room, like a boy hearing a story of dragons and magic’s for the first time. “Majesty?” Jes said. A look of doubt on his dark face. “Please, man, call me by my name, we’ve known each other what 20 years, before you left? At least give me some semblance of an identity. Even my own wife wont call me by name, its always, Highness this or husband that. I’ve become especially fond of My Lord,” a look of annoyance crossed the mans face. If the other man was surprised by this, he showed no sign of it. ”Alright, Umil.” The tall man said, smiling. The King was about to say something when a servant walked in carrying a silver platter with a scroll on it. The man bowed to The King and pushed the platter towards the man, who quickly grabbed and read the scroll, paying no attention as the porter backed out of the room. With eyes wide in outrage, Umil thrust the opened scroll at Jes, who read it quickly and threw it aside in disgust. “Your mother wants an audience.” Pointing out the obvious. “I know, I can read you know.” The King said, slightly annoyed at his Marshal. “But why? Why now, when we are almost ruined?” Speaking of the boy. “Surely she must know of the legend, and The Naming disaster must’ve reached her through her one of her many spies through out the city.” “Of course she knows! What more could suit her purposes better than a Legend come to pass?” The King was now beside himself with anger. “I thought you told her not to contact you, Umil. I believe it was under the threat of some GREAT consequence. I doubt even she would ignore that threat. It might be that she sees no way out of your campaign in the northlands.” The tall man said hopefully. “Or it may be as you say, either way, I see no way out of this meeting.” The King looked incredulously at the man. ”What do you mean you see no way out! I am King! No man or woman defies my command, no one commands my presence! I go where I want, when I want. You of all people should know that.” He said, looking knowingly at the dark man. ”How else would I have escaped when we went to the Eastlands? You can be assured I did not ask my mother for permission!” The Woestian was smiling remembering the adventures of there youth. Shirking the duties of Prince and Squire adopting the guise of best friends on their way home from school or simply running through the woods with the regular children. As they got older it became harder to play with children their own age so they began making long treks to the mountains leaving for days, sometimes weeks. Always coming back to terrified mothers and angry fathers. But much to their delight no one could ever seem to stop them, maybe delay them a couple days at most. Their longest adventure had been when they were 19; they stole a small barge, and followed the coast to the docks of Malury three miles to the east of Dacot. They had stayed there for two months working as regular laborers and living the “easy life” as they had called it. That had been there last and most grand adventure. That they had both agreed upon. They had spent many late nights talking of it. Remembering the easy life they had led for so short a time wishing they could do so every day. “Yes that’s true, but in the end didn’t you beg her for no punishment… on your knees?!” he was now smirking in triumph. “Ah hem” A cough came from behind them. Simultaneously they turned, looking at the person responsible for interrupting their fun. A small man in a robe much to large for his frame, stepped from the shadows, “ I do believe we’ve met?” The strange looking man said. The two men looked at the man, and smiled. They greeted him like an old friend. “Where have you been?! Been traveling through time on accident again?” the King said. “No I believe you forbid me to ‘accidentally’ or not” the short man walked to the window behind the desk. “Yes, I do believe I did. But since when have you ever listened to me?” “Um.. Never I think, but I thought I might humor you as an early birthday present.” “Well, then where have you been, Muki? Traveling isn’t exactly your thing, remember? You hate to get wet and I remember something about you hating horses.” the tall Woestian pointed out. “That I do, Jes. That I do. But I wasn’t traveling on horse. I took a boat” the strange man said. Sounding as if that were obvious. ”We went to Mantoga through the Tach-lin straight” “We? Who have you been traveling with? Not that girl you met on that last trip of yours, I hope?” the dark man gave the magician an accusing look. “No, but I did not come for memories, no matter how delightful.” the strange man had a deadly serious look on his face. The two men looked at each other in wonder, how could he know? They had found out only weeks ago. And that was fast by any account. “I’ve heard of the legend, what has happened so far? Are there any rumors in the city? Does the Empress know?” “Of course there aren’t any rumors, the populace don’t even know the legend, and you should know that. Only myself, the head-priests and priestesses of the respective Temples, and the courtesans know the legend in full. And who controls them all? Me, the King, that’s who. When have the Temples ever gone against the crown? And how are we supposed to know if the Empress knows? Her court is weeks away, by the fastest courier we have.” “But we suspect the Dowager of knowing, she has sought an audience with Umil, after the letter of warning sent to her at her estate in Pearl Island.” Jes said. Looking to the king for approval, all he got was a sharp look and a frown of disapproval. “So you suspect the Dowager? What about your spies on Pearl Island, haven’t they sent word? I know that in the south there are armies readying for battle, and I could see no foe. “I think the world knows and is readying to strike you down when you are most vulnerable. I have been to many places in my life and I can think of none, who think kindly of your kingdom, Umil. Had it been your father or grandfather, many would have supported them but you’ve not been in the throne long, and your head is in the clouds not in the crown.” The King looked at the man in shock. No one had ever spoken to him so. * Meirach watched as the other boys in his age group tried the exercise and almost all fail, watching for mistakes and other things. He had been at this camp for almost 2 years now, and was stronger, more agile and patient. His name was called and he walked up to the wall he was supposed to climb with no foot or hand holds, after which there would be a large gap between another wall and this, he would have to jump across making as little noise as possible, run down the top of the second wall, climb through a small window into a room with two “people” sleeping, find and retrieve the cache of gold, and make it back to the starting point without attracting any notice from the ’guard’ below. Have already failed three times he was determined not to fail again. If he succeeded he would move onto the next exercise, learning advanced reading and mathematics. Meirach had known how to count out enough money for the day old bread in the market place, but had never had enough money to count higher than five. He couldn’t read at all, but his mother had read to him as a child, or at least his father said so. “Whoa boy, not so fast, haven’t you been watching?!” the taskmaster yelled. ”If you go to fast you make gravel fall, and you could fall with it!” “Yes, sir!” Meirach yelled from atop the second wall. “And don’t forget to close the window this time!” Meirach heard the last remark but did not respond, for he was already halfway to the window, with the ’guard’ below. As he neared the window, he thought of all the lessons that applied to this exercise, stealth and patience were at the top, with speed and intellect not far behind. As Meirach neared the window he searched for any traces of alarms or tripwire, spotting none he inched closer until he was able to see inside. Inside was a pair of “sleeping” people, not facing the window. He slowly opened the window and carefully avoided the vase on the short table below. And, remembering to close the window, began to search the house, room by room. Looking for anything of any value, from jewelry to caches of gold hidden behind a false floor board. Finding none in the bedroom, he continued his search throughout the remaining rooms in the house. Finding few valuables in plain sight he knew there was a stash of gold and jewels hidden someplace in the house, and went looking for it. After what seemed to be hours of thieving he emerged from the window with a full sack hanging at his side. He had found the cache in a small hallow behind the china cabinet in the dinning room. It was modest by any standards but it was all there was in the house, and the instructor would just have to settle for it. Back at the yard, he presented his sack to the nearest instructor and ran to get his evening meal. Arriving at the mess hall, he paused in the doorway to scan the crowd of boys and girls as they quickly ate their meals before going to their bunks to do their lessons. “Weivv! Over here!” a small boy said from the far corner. ”We’ve saved a seat for you.” Meirach looked at the boy and the table where his small group of friends sat, nodding to each child in acknowledgement. He walked slowly across the long hall to the hairy old man who served the food. “Evening’, Keita’a. What’s on the menu tonight?” Weivv said, looking into the large, steaming cauldron of unknown contents. “Evenin’’, Weivv. How was them lessons? Not to hard I hope?” the skinny old cook said. Meirach shook his head. ”Good, you children don’t need to be taxin’ your selves to hard. Well, the menus nothing much, but then again when is it?” the man now had a look that asked the world ‘what am I doing in a place like this?’ “Ah well, that’s alright. I’ve kinda come to expect the stale bread and watery soup.” Meirach teased the old man as he poured a ladle full of soup in to his waiting bowl.” Gezond, Keita’a. and have a good night as well.” The old man chuckled at the use of the thieves’ farewell. These children were not yet fully trained and already they thought themselves thieves of the highest order. Meirach walked to the table were his small group of friends sat, now with their own plates empty. All were smiling at him, they had already heard the news of his success of the lesson but wanted a first hand account. “Well?” said a slim girl of about 9 years. ”Aren’t you going to tell us anything?!” Meirach smiled at the girl. “You should learn to be more patient, Merel. I will tell you when I am finished with my dinner.” he said as he took a sip of xatha. The girl look disappointedly at Meirach, “I just wanted to hear you tell it. Everyone is saying you broke the record. That’s all.” Meirach looked surprised, ”Me? I don’t think so. It took hours and besides I don’t think I was the only one to finish today, how can you be so sure that it was me they were talking about?” “Well, since when have you ever been so humble.” a large boy sitting across from him said. “Yeah, and besides,” a boy with large spectacles said in a low voice. ”they said your name, they do know it you know.” Meirach was smiling now,” Yes, I know they know my name, Uil. And I was just a little surprised that’s all. I never expected it, you’d think they would tell you when you finished or something, right? And besides how could so many people know in such little time, surely they’re just rumors.” he looked at everyone at the table waiting for them to say something. “Well, I guess the only way for you know for sure is to go ask Task Master Morren. He would know.” Now all the children looked slightly scared. They had called Morren a moron behind his back until someone had slipped and called him it to his face. None had forgotten the punishment and none ever wanted to have to be in such close quarters alone with him again. “No I don’t think I want to know that badly.” Meirach said only half jokingly. ”Besides I think we will know soon enough.” At that moment a senior instructor walked into the hall, pausing as a pair of teenagers to deep into their conversation to notice him, walked into is pat almost knocking into him. He walked towards Keita’a and whispered a few word into the ear as the old man nodded and gestured to Meirach. The squat man made his way slowly through the swarm of children going about their mealtime routine. Even when a child collided with him he did not take his almost hateful glare from Meirach. When finally he did reach the table he motioned the others away and stood waiting for Meirach with a stern look on his tanned face. Looking at Meirach with a look of total loathing and disapproval he sat with a loud thump from his sword hitting the wooden bench. While adjusting his sword to a more comfortable position he swore under his breath. Meirach, having no idea what the man wanted, had stopped eating and was now starring at him. He noted the gold ring on his little finger and the thin gold chain around his neck. After a long silence when they just stared at each other the man finally broke it. “Well, since it seems that you are not going to inquire why I am here I shall just come right out and tell you.” the man said to Meirach. ”It has come to the attention of the Higher council that you have broken a record one hundred years unbroken.” The man said without any emotion on his face. ”They would like to speak to you in a private audience tomorrow afternoon. You should bathe and dress in your finest attire. If you have any questions its best you ask me now rather than have your foot in your mouth the whole time your in there.” The man looked at Meirach expectantly, but Meirach was silent. ”Weivv? Well boy? Have you any questions?” he shouted. “Yes, what do you mean I broke a record? Today? But that lesson must’ve taken hours!” Meirach was shocked. How could he have broken a record?! “Besides how did the council find out? The lesson was only a few hours ago at the most.” Meirach knowing he made a good point waited for the instructor to answer. The instructor had asked himself the same question when Task Master Morren told him to inform Weivv of his appointment and to answer any questions he might have. “Well I suppose they have somebody watching the lessons and such. How else could they know?” The man did not believe in magic, or more to the point he feared it. “But what about the record how could it have gone for so long with out being broken, surely there are better thieves than I.” Meirach said, still not believing he had broken a record. “I am sure you will find that out tomorrow at your audience with the higher council. Now, Are there any other questions? No? Ok, well don’t forget tomorrow- at noon. Meet me at the main building, right? Don’t be late and stay clean. You will be excused from all lessons tomorrow so you can take a bath in the morning and all that nonsense. But be here, CLEAN, at noon. If you are late I’ll be the one they yell at.” The man walked out of the now empty hall, his footfalls echoing in the silence. Meirach walked to the nearest window and looked into the four moons of Ruimte, the bringer of good fortune and the patron of young thieves , which were said to bring the gazer good luck if you could spot one of the large craters. Searching those large orbs of silver and green he wondered at the day ahead. And there he stood motionless in his contemplation. But his mind raced. Still thinking of the next days events, he wandered around the grounds. Without thinking he walked almost straight to the Wall. The lessons events going through his head he sat on the wall and thought of what was to happen at the council. * The men hid in a cave under the Onrien pass, while their leader, Gezant, scouted ahead. Crouching low and staying as quiet as humanly possible, they heard many terrifying sounds from the wood across the stream. Gezant, though heard none of it. For he was not scouting ahead but had been transported by a friend of Toa’s to the thieves high council building for an immediate conference involving Meirach, known to all, save a scattering of important higher ups, as Weivv. “What now? Nothing bad I hope?” he said to the first person he saw. For they all knew him here. He was in fact, among the high councils members. Walking down the long corridors, Gezant, finally able to think, began to worry about the content of this conference. It being a holidayed weekend and all most of the magistrates of the counsel should be out instructing their pupils. And these being some of the greatest days for thieving known to the federation, it was hard to imagine them calling off one of the most important of their lessons. Knowing all that; nothing that Gezant could think of could possibly be good. But when has it ever. Him being known as a great pessimist and all. Pausing a second in front of the entrance to the Hall, his eye caught the reflection of himself in a wall mirror and noticed his arm hair sticking out from beneath his uniform. He began to tug at the cuff of his jacket. Walking into the Hall, he was as struck with awe as he was upon his first meeting. The high domed ceiling with magnificent paintings and tapestry lining the walls, with scents rubbed into the very cotton from which they are woven. Marble floors and columns where of the purest white. Why one had to take of ones boots even to walk on them. With the members of the counsel sitting in balconies set in a semi circle and a single wooden chair set in the center. All the magistrates of the counsel stood, waiting for some reason for them to be there. Most looked to be at least one hundred, and as per the rules of the Federation none younger than 65 may sit upon a dais in a balcony, as stated in the amended constitution of the Federation, as was set forth after the terrible blunder of Mr. High Counsel-man Ongevale. As he walked toward the center of the chamber he looked at each magistrate and bowed the bow of an equal in this chamber if in no other. Upon approaching his seat he was greeted by his neighboring magistrate the Polk de la Hew, a thin man in his mid- 90’s and an appetite for young women. He was the cousin of a famous thief from the 1200’s. Whom it was rumored, stole the crown jewels of the Empress of Suloin. They exchanged the greetings of old friends and equals. His other neighbor was not in attendance and was almost never there besides. Having finally reached his seat he stood as all the others did and waited for the rest of the High Counsel- men to take their seats. “Wonder what this is all about.” la Hew whispered from his position to the left of Gezant. Gezant, knowing what it was, said nothing. Only nodding his head in agreement. He looked around to see whom it was that had missed the celebration and lessons. Most had chosen not to appear at the meeting. A few key members were in attendance, the Polk de la Huette, a nephew of la Hew, for instance. He was among the first and most enthusiastic of the board. He knew that the current monarchy would soon collapse and the kingdom would be lost and so he had introduced the proposition of finding Meiroch’s descendants, supposing any had survived of course. When finally it was assumed that all that were to be in attendance were, the higher members of the counsel, in slow procession, marched to their seats. After all men were standing in front of their seats a loud gong was sounded from somewhere hidden from view. And with a loud sort of sigh all the counsel members were seated. Once again the gong boomed and a small man entered through a door hidden from sight. As he scampered across the floor to the center of the colorful sun inlay on the marble flooring, there were a few chuckles from the audience. Having reached the center he pulled out a small parchment and began reading a list of the itinerary for the days meeting. Most were small matters and only few were of any real import. Just updates on the newly arrived nobles to the area. And a notice to be on the look out for a new “hero” who called himself ‘Atrius’, from the old Dacotian language, meaning ‘one with justice’. * “’Lo, there Aitre, what be the hurry?” an old seaman asked the spry youth bounding past his corner stall, as he did every morn. “’Tis just another day, Cap‘. Nothin’ much to report this early in the day. ” the boy said, as he did every morning. And still running he swerved just in time to avoid the kindly bakers wife, who was always on the lookout for a child to feed or clean. Running past the docks and their workers he hoped he might see his fathers boat returned home after his trip to Vlieger Bay on the other side of the continent. But having run the length of the dock, he knew his father was still at sea.
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