Eric stood near the court’s entrance in awe, jaw slacking as he looked up at the high vaulted ceilings and all of the stained glass painting the ground in colorful light. 

But that’s not the thing that really stunned Eric. 

The ceiling of the court and king’s hall was painted with the most immaculate and beautiful artwork Eric had ever seen. From what he could remember of all of the chapels and cathedrals back on Earth, this masterpiece that spanned a huge dome above the main vaulted ceiling was impossibly well-painted and gorgeous in color and contrast. 

The artwork depicted a single being with arms outstretched, as if descending from heaven, white robes billowing around him. Clouds acted as footsteps for him as he seemed to be stepping out of the sky. Angel-like creatures with wings and a white glow about them flowed out from heaven behind the being almost like flies, being much smaller than this god-like entity. 

“What…” Eric began but found himself speechless.

“This has been here for a very long time,” Sophia said, smiling at Eric’s stunned expression. She nudged him to keep moving though, since he had stopped dead in the middle of the walkway leading into the king’s court. 

“It’s beautiful,” Eric said. 

“This painting was completed even before I arrived on Auron,” Clanker said, startling Eric who hadn’t seen the skeleton come right up next to him and look up at the mural. 

“What do you mean?” Eric said, continuing to move into the court.

“That being,” Clanker said, pointing to the artwork. “Is one of the reasons I came here. This castle was built around this cathedral many years ago. Perhaps four thousand years.”

Eric looked around the expansive court and saw the change in the structure. Beyond the entryway of the court, the walls of the castle seemed to change in color as well as the type of rock. The main castle’s structure was aged and almost looked like rough concrete, but the court’s interior was of a fine, polished white marble with very faint but distinct grey streaks. Eric wished he could stare at every detail of the court, the old cathedral. It was mesmerizing. However, a king who calls cannot be kept. 

The soldiers leading them on motioned for them to move forward closer to the front steps of the podium where the king sat in his throne. Sophia immediately went to one knee and bent her head in respect, as did Clanker. Eric felt a sense of betrayal at the gesture for some reason, not towards him, but the act of giving this king a knee made his skin itch. 

Perhaps it’s my origins, Eric thought. ‘Land of the free, home of the brave.’

With an increasing awkwardness at his delay in kneeling, Eric fidgeted, but then slowly knelt on only one knee, but kept his eyes locked on the king’s. 

The king’s eyes were fierce, a fire in them that matched his position. 

King Arelgore sat straight on his wooden throne gilded with gold. A tall crown of gold and ruby-inlaid gems sat upon thick brown hair that didn’t go far passed his eyes but had great volume, enough to hold the likely heavy crown. 

Red robes with white accents spread out from his legs, showing black slack-like trousers and fine black leather shoes. Underneath a brilliantly-white shirt was a polished gold breastplate. Eric thought it might be uncomfortable to sit with the breastplate like that, but the king gave no indication of such.

His face was hard, discerning, and covered with scars that broke up his beard and separated it into sections of hair across his face. The hair that remained was thick, black, and well-trimmed. 

The King’s eyes finally broke with Eric’s and looked at Clanker and Sophia, lingering on her longer than what was appropriate. 

“I hear rumors,” The King said, voice booming and filled with a deep bass sound. “That strange things are happening in my domain. I am not fond of such things reaching my ears.”

Silence filled the hall once the King stopped speaking. It rang on for a few long, awkward moments. Eric looked around the room, waiting for what to do next. 

“Have you no explanation for these rumors?” The King asked. 

“You didn’t ask a question,” Eric said. The comment got a glare from Sophia as she twisted her head to look at him. He got a smile from Clanker. 

A few soldiers leveled spears at him and advanced a few steps toward Eric and the others. 

One of the rear soldiers, who seemed like an officer of some kind, frowned in anger.

“Have you no respect?!” The officer roared. At the outburst, the King held up a hand and the soldiers backed off, silence settling once more. 

“The man is right,” King Arelgore said. “Though further lack of decorum will lean towards insult, traveler.” 

Eric only slightly nodded at Arelgore’s words. Something about this king made Eric want to be defiant, to show no care for respect. It was as if Eric could sense a darkness in this king underneath the mask he showed everyone. Or perhaps it was more like the throne that he sat upon; a wooden seat shown off as majestic because of a thin layer of painted-on gold gilding. 

“Perhaps I should be forthright,” King Arelgore said. “Are you the Hero of Splinters?”

A murmur spread throughout the court, nobles and other merchants chatting away at the question. Eric could only sigh, again. 

“I am not, King Arelgore,” Eric said, standing up from his kneeling position, earning even more ire from the court. “I am just trying to learn more of…this land. I am not familiar with it, coming from a very different place.”

“Your purpose in Bracharest?” King Arelgore asked. 

“Merely another stop in my journey in the free lands,” Eric said. 

“Have you a quest that you are about?”

“No,” Eric said. “Just that of discovery and exploration.” Eric tried to be as truthful as he could while also hiding the fact that he was an otherworlder. Clanker, though, seemed to have other plans. 

“He is from another world, great king,” Clanker said. “And has very little decorum to be found, unfortunately. That is why he seeks to learn of Auron and hopes to find a way home.”

King Arelgore looked at Eric in shock, eyes attempting to pierce into him and seek out further truths. Eric turned and glared at Clanker, mouthing to him, can skeletons die twice? Clanker seemed to not notice the exchange.

“This seems to speak against you, Hero,” King Arelgore said. 

“I am not the hero,” Eric said. “I simply seem to fill some of the prophecies your world has in its culture.”

“Do you deny that you are an otherworlder?”

“No,” Eric said. “I am from another world. And as my companion seemed to want to reveal, I am hoping to find a way home, since I was pulled to Auron against my will, or perhaps as a mistake. I don’t know yet. My party and I just wish to spend some time in your grand city to recoup and learn more about where I need to go next and to give me time to learn about Auron as well. The rumors you have heard are merely about some…unfortunate events that beset us as we made our way here.”

“Gargoyles are no easy thing to fend off,” King Arelgore said. “Berald, the caravaneer was fairly impressed by the display, and grateful as well. Many others of the caravan have corroborated the stories and rumors of your…feats.”

“Though I have power in this world,” Eric said. “I am no divine figure of legend and prophecy. I just want to get home to marry the love of my life.”

The King looked at Eric for a long, awkward moment. 

“Welcome, Hero of Splinters!” The King suddenly bellowed, an excitement billowing out of him that Eric had not expected to see. “I think it unlikely you are not the prophesied hero, no matter what you think. I proclaim full honors to you and your party, as well as unfettered access to my domain and all it has at my disposal. And I declare there to be a feast tonight to welcome such an esteemed guest into our great city! Let it be done!” King Arelgore stood from his throne and walked down the few steps to greet Eric personally.

He held out a hand to Eric, who took it and shook. The king’s strength nearly pulled Eric’s arm from his socket.

Nice to see a handshake can transcend worlds, Eric thought. 

The court seemed taken aback by the sudden shift in the king, not to mention him descending the steps to greet Eric personally. A portion of the court moved off toward the entry, eager to prepare what they needed for the coming feast. 

“You may take rooms in my castle,” King Arelgore said. “I have many for visiting guests that I think would suit you very well.” 

“I would greatly appreciate it,” Eric said. The King then motioned them to the side.

“Commander Yel,” the King said. “Please take the hero and his party to the finest guest rooms we have.” The soldier nodded, then turned and began walking out of the court, Sophia and Clanker following. Eric followed as well, but a bit slower, trying to get a better look at the majesty of the ancient cathedral court. 

At least I get to sleep in a nice bed tonight, Eric thought.