In the land of Dreyas
The silvery grey porous sands of port Beiva turned red
covered in Delarian blood, two thirds of the men dragged into
the depths of the sea, the rest were just ripped piles of flesh.
’Prince Arden;’
Drops of blood rolled down the eyes from his temple as
Arden opened them to find himself looking at General Mehur
with a dreaded look on his face desperate to revive him. He
tried to get a hold of himself as the surroundings went blurry.
’We have lost more than three quarters of our men and
will need to get you back to Menore now sire,’ Mehur tried to
help the prince up.
’We mustn’t let….,’ Arden tried to rise but collapsed to
the ground.
’Pardon me sire, we have to tend to your wounds, will
have to retreat and get you back to the palace before it is too late,’
Mehur gestured the men to secure the prince and looked away.
Arden grunted in disagreement, but the general was too
preoccupied to heed him, he was looking to the astragals of the
lighthouse, making sure his men were following orders. Soon
the lights started fading and appearing in a rhythmic tone.
’That should suffice….,’ he then turned to Arden ’Spare
me sire, I am well aware that you wished to end this tonight
and were unwilling to reach out to the Anmarians for help but
I’m afraid it is inevitable. The message has to be sent by his
majesty the king’s order, you were deliberately kept in the dark
regarding this, we have paid in blood for our pride and cannot
afford to sacrifice anymore to this ruthless enemy.’
’Heed to…,’ Arden was unconscious before he could say
another word and the men carried him away.
A few moons later… Anmara.
The silence of the night sky was broken by the screeching
calls of Garuk, the royal falcon, as the fierce bird rose into the
sky like a piercing arrow, it came down spreading its feathery
wings cutting through the wind, nothing that moved could
escape its gaze nor its piercing talons, its curved beak, ready to
devour anything that resists, but it wasn’t out for a hunt
tonight.
The full moon’s rays poured into the prince’s chamber
through the portico, where he stood with a glass of wine,
admiring the view of the city. The lights from the streets below
seemed like stars in the night sky, the city was named Orelia to
portray the city of the Sun, and the view from the castle was
the one to behold.
Anmarian’s prayed to the Sun for health and
nourishment of their lands ever since the first ancestors to ever
ive on the Isle. The three isles of Dreyas were in constant
conflict with each other, the people fought for Anmara’s lands
that were lush green and the wildlife abundant till an alliance
was forged between the people of the Isles, but Anmara
remained the strongest and hence commanded the alliance.
Prince Theoden was seventeen and the only heir to the
throne of Anmara. He was just over six feet with light brown
silky hair falling to his shoulders, his eyes like a hungry leopard
ready to pounce but dreary as he was drunk most of the time.
He had a soft voice that added to his charms and the kingdom’s
maidens would throw themselves at him. But no one was ever
good enough for the prince. Unlike his looks his attitude was
rotten. He was reluctant to live in the same castle as his parents
who were a constant nag in his teen years.
He had quarters built for him at one corner of the castle
grounds with a view of the city where he would escape every
evening wasting himself away. The quarters were built
nonetheless worthy enough to accommodate every luxurious
whim of his and were filled with art pieces and sculptures depicting
the conflicts and the alliance.
Theo grew up hearing stories of these from his
maternal grandfather, Ghahor, the chief advisor to the king.
He never knew his paternal grandfather, who he idealised from
the tales he had heard. He was too proud of being the son of
Anmara, the fact that it led the alliance and the power his
father’s crown, that someday would be his, wielded.
Theo relished his drink, as he adored the beautiful sights
of Orelia as he did almost every evening accompanied by his
confidants, Sela and Dena.
’May I suggest that it is late and would be better to retire
for the night sire’ Sela requested in a low voice.
’You may not.’ Theo turned around emptying the
glass down his throat, ’How dare you?’ he tried to walk into
the chamber towards Sela but slipped on the step down and
dropped into the chair beside.
’Forgive me sire, but you need to be wary, gossips about
you are going around the city, we know you well as we grew
up together, but the people might misunderstand, and this is
not good. You are to be king one day….,’ Sela rolled his eyes
There was a faint screeching of Garuk in the background,
’Wonder why Garuk is out at this time!’ Dena looked at
Sela.
’He is not usually, do you think….’
Sela was interrupted by Theo.
’Instead of being indebted to be staying here alongside me,
the future king of Anmara, why do you bother me with such
nonsense,’ Theo snapped in a drunken tone holding out his cup
and gesturing Dena to fill it. ’Don’t you remember why I
moved here in the first place? Your brother knows better to
serve his prince,’ he added as Dena picked up the pitcher to fill
the glass.
Theo pointed out that Sela and Dena were allowed to stay
at his quarters as he was close to them whenever he had a
chance. He overlooked the fact that Sela was one of the
generals and Dena was his deputy.
Sela had performed so remarkably during his training that
he was made a general as soon as he returned. He was the
youngest amongst the generals. The king wanted someone to
look after and mend his son’s ways. Sela knew the prince
closely since he was young, hence he was assigned to the prince’s quarters.
Dena excelled in political debate and was offered a position on
the king’s council, but he chose to be his brother’s deputy so
that he could take care of Theo. Theo never understood their
concern for him nor acknowledged their talents. He enforced
his right on them, as though they were born to serve him.
’That is enough for tonight,’ Sela glared at Dena gesturing
him to stop it.
’Keep it going!’ Theo yelled like a pouting child.
’Can you hear that, Dena? Garuk seems to be flying this
way. I wonder if it is anything urgent. GO…. CHECK…!’
Dena could feel the urgency in Sela’s tone as Garuk was
the king’s personal pet and would not be sent unless there was
something of high priority, which was very rare.
Garuk’s screeching stopped as he perched on the curved
ridge of the balcony. Dena grabbed the roll from his talons.
“Hmphphpph,” he grunted as the talons hurt him.
He didn’t even notice that his bruise was bleeding, he was too
anxious to be bothered by it.
Garuk screeched one last time and took to the skies.
’This is worrying,’ Dena mumbled as he unfolded the roll
in haste.
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