Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 19

“Hello Nacalitus” the creature saluted me in the most kindly voice in all of Rheudinia and I opened my eyes to find the dream god sitting by my side with his usual charming smile. “Now am starting to get jealous of sharing the same face with you” he said humorously as he pulled my ear, I smiled and bowed in obesiance.

“It’s been seven years great One” I complained and he nodded quite carelessly in agreement.

“Seven years and you have grown into a fine man worthy of admiration” he replied and floated up to stand above me, “Get up son, I would like to show you something important” immediately I jumped to my feet and noticed that my weariness had disappeared, I felt invigorated.

“Where are we going this time great one? I’m rather of age now so it would be quite inconvenient to fly me all the way to Astore” I told him as we moved along the walls of Zeclub towards the forest North West of the Kingdom and the Isuz chuckled loudly to my words.

“Quite some humour you got son but we are not travelling that far this time” He replied still leading the way ahead of me. We walked a long distance along the Wall and got to a low grassland before the forest. This particular biome was such a spectacle to behold; extremely large trees stood from the end of the grassland and were thickly dispersed across the hill far ahead. There was a narrow macadam-road running from the beginning of the grassland through the forest as far as I could see.

“Are we going through that?” I asked

“Yes we are. Are you scared?” He replied turning round to take a look at me and I shook my head immediately, frowning vigorously as I did.

“I have not seen a forest before except on paintings and from the shores, not really seen one this close” I replied him honestly and he gave me a weird stare.

“Don’t get too excited son, you would be seeing larger forests than this in the years to come. Now come along” he said tersely and moved into the forest as I followed closely behind.
The terrain within the forest was dark devoid of Haimen’s splendour; the crowns of the trees battled for sunlight and didn’t leave some to fall to lower plants beneath. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t a single plant shorter than the massive trees, it looked like the forest trees were all cultivated at the same time. Our path was filled with heaps of dead leaves as far into the forest as my visibilities could reach. This biome seemed so cold and ghostly, the only sounds I could hear were my heartbeat and the rustling made by the reaction of my feet and the dead leaves, even the Isuz ahead of me made no sound. It was a longer walk than I expected into the forest as we continued moving uphill and after what seem to me as days we came to a large river which ran out of the forest and off a cliff into a waterfall.

“So are we going down the waterfall?” I asked the great one when he approached the cliff.

“No, we are going over there” he said without looking back at me, he was pointing ahead across the river and far beyond him was a dark large mass that stretched high towards the sky. In the sunlight, the mass seems to evolve reddish fumes from above it.

“And what’s that?” I asked. As I came to stand beside the Isuz, I couldn’t help but notice and adore the beauty of his body; Sylverine was truly a god in all aspect.

“Let’s find out” He said and immediately elbowed me; his attack caught me totally unaware so I fell off the cliff. I can’t really remember if I screamed or shouted as I fell but before I hit the water, the Isuz caught me strapping his hand across my chest and took into flight away from the waterfall and the river.

“That was a grim joke, why did you do that” I screamed out of a mixture of both fright and anger as we flew across the river and I could hear the Isuz above chortle at my rampage.

“I just wanted to teach you the most important lessons in life and you are making a big show of my lessons” the Isuz words confused me gravely.

“And what lessons would being pushed off a cliff, teach me” I asked as my anger subsided solemnly within me, there was apparently nothing I could do about it anyway.

“Be alert at all times son, that’s a major key to survival” the great one said and his words left me speechless. He had spoken a lot of wisdom in those diminutive words and I couldn’t help but nod in agreement to them, it was the first advice I heard from the dream god or any god in general and one that I would forever remember.

“Fair enough, lesson well learnt” I replied. Now my anger had turned into smiles and the rest of our journey across the sky was travelled in serenity. Soon we were near the dark fiery mass that seems so far away and I could actually see that it was a very tall mountain and a volcanic one too as mixture of red and black fumes shot out of its opening.

“Where are we?” I asked the Isuz as we got nearer the crater of the mountain and I noticed the terrain we soared into was quite preternatural.

“Haven’t you ever heard of Mount Javr” the Isuz asked as we floated down into the crater but I couldn’t reply because there was so much noise in it. The heat emitted by the volcano was so unbearable and fumes kept rising but even with this I could see the red molten rock boiling down beneath us.

“Mount Javr disappeared off the surface of this planet about ten thousand years ago when Mighty Aisuz punished me for the deaths at the fortress in Astore” he said after dropping me on a rock some distance above the boiling lava and landed beside me, although I couldn’t really understand why he got punished for the killings in the fortress at Astore but I wasn’t in the mood to ask. The rock on which we stood was almost glowing hot, it burnt painfully through my footwear making me very uncomfortable and the only thing I wanted to do was get out of the volcano. As I did some kind of dance to lessen the pain in my feet, I noticed something shinning in the fumes some distance below the rock we stood on; it glowed like golden caligraphs were inscribed all around it and it looked very weird. I stood petrified to the spot gazing at this mystical object; I was certain I had never seen anything like it before.

“Well, well, well… I guess you have found exactly what we came here for” the Isuz spoke awaking me from my reverie. Startled, I turned to where the voice sounded from and found him staring at the mystical object too, precipitately I shifted my gaze back to the object below us and suddenly I felt connected to it, like it called me incessantly by name in voices that sounded more like the whispers of the night.

“Do you hear that, it’s calling you” the Isuz said and at first I was stunned wondering how he knew but then I thought, he is a god isn’t he? He knew exactly what I was thinking and smiled.

“What is that thing?” I asked casting a sideways glance at him

“That is exactly what made Mount Javr disappear” he replied

“So it’s magical” I spoke loudly to myself

“Yes it is son and you are going to get it but not today” he said tersely and immediately my countenance changed, we were standing just some feet away from the mystical object and I couldn’t just stretch down and grab it. Honestly I wished never to come back into this inferno not even for anything more important than this magical object but I knew except the Isuz was kidding with me, I had no option.

“Why can’t…” I could say before the Isuz grabbed me by the shoulder suddenly and dived off the rock towards the red hot fluid in the belly of the mountain. Everything happened so sudden but I remember screaming at the top of my vocals as we were just about coming into contact with the boiling rock, then in a wink of an eye everything became dark and serene. I was expecting to feel burning pains all over my body from the heat of the molten rock but preternaturally; I could only feel some pains in my left forelimb. Slowly, I opened my eyes to notice I was on the ground in my chambers back in the Zeclubian Palace and at that moment I realised I just had another dream after several years.

TO BE CONTINUED…….

Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 18

“What happened where?” Another voice sounded more deeply from the doorway and immediately I knew who it was as Jafrad turned and bowed. The Suz was standing at the doorway, looking surprised at the havoc the fairy had caused.

“Jafrad, what exactly do you intend doing with this mess?” King Bdollium asked the fairy and he stood still scratching his head like he couldn’t understand a word of all the Suz said.

“Father, what happened to Su Kus?” the words flew out of my mouth before I could think but I was glad I asked. I was expecting the Suz to look really shocked at my request but he just gave a sigh and moved towards my bed.

“Jafrad, please give us a moment, I would be attending to the Suzzac now” he said relieving the fairy of his duties for the moment, without hesitation the cute creature gave a bow and left the room pulling the door to a close behind him.

“Now we are alone, you can ask me anything you want to my little Suz” Father said as he sat beside me on the bed and at that instant, I lost my voice. I opened my mouth to speak but could hear nothing coming out because my thoughts went completely blank. Father smiled and held my shoulder like he knew exactly what was going on in my mind.

“You want to know what happened to your mother Su Kus?” He asked softly and all I could do was nod resolutely, I couldn’t find my tongue still.

“Su Kus went on a journey, a very long voyage across the realms and you are too young to understand right now but you would someday. I want you to know that she loves you just as much as I do and someday where she is, we would be too” he said softly as his hands moved gently to the back of my neck and I could feel them trembling as he spoke. The Suz voice was mixed with so much passion that it sounded like it vibrated through his hands but his countenance displayed something completely different. Though at that age I couldn’t understand what voyage would keep my mother from seeing her child but since I was going to see her someday, my curiosity was perfectly fed.

“I love you Father.” I said as I leaned forward to give the older man a hug, he smiled and ran his hands around my back, squeezing my frame tenderly.

“I love you Son more than you could possibly imagine.” he replied and at that moment nothing in the world else mattered. It felt like reality had vanished before my eyes and the festive rhythm playing in the Suz’s chest was the only thing I could understand, this was one of the best memories I would always treasure of Suz Bdollium.

“So what did you get to wear on that memorable day? I guess it’s the diamond studed damask jacket because you always look so adorable in them” Princess Mozzarella said as the Suz took a brief pause from his narration and sipped from the golden cup beside him.

“I can’t remember what exactly I wore that day but I’m pretty certain it must be the damask, Father loved them so much to an extend it was rumoured all over the Kingdom that it takes only a gift of white or golden damask apparels to get into the Suz’s grace.” He said and chuckled.

“And that was just a rumour, wasn’t it?” the Suzia asked again and the Older man motioned his head in agreement.

“It was just a rumour but believe me child, rumours aren’t all mendacious, there’s always an iota of truth in them. Even at times rumour are more exposing that the truth itself, neither take them lightly or very serious my dear child” the Suz replied his daughter and without wasting time he continued with his narration.

Days flew by like the breeze of the waters and each day I was being fashioned into the Man I am now, a good judge of character, a great swordsman and a well learned scholar of magic, the three points of a Warrior’s triangle as Father used to call them. At the age of sixteen I was granted freedom to roam beyond the palace grounds in the company of two captains and though I wasn’t all that pleased but I enjoyed my tours through mighty Zeclub. It was the perfect avenue to show the citizens the kind of Suz I would become, i made a routine of going into the marketplace and helping the elderly merchants sell their wares. And I was pretty good at that even though I felt that I sold that much because I was Suzzac, but even if I wasn’t king I would have made good fortune from being a merchant. Then came one fateful day, I got back into the palace so weary after competing against my escorts and some of Zeclub’s greatest swordsmen at the shore near the north entrance of the Kingdom, a tournament I founded and it took place weekly. This particular day, I lost in the final match against one of the captains which was becoming rather usual and got flung into the chill waters of flasras as punishment for my loss. We all had so much fun that day that I got back to the palace rather late and completely exhausted. It was my usual habit to go to the Suz’s chambers and feast with him before retiring to my part of the palace but this particular day, I went straight to my chambers. I was so tired that I ignored the salutations of the palace attendants and soldiers which must have been completely unusual, I was so tired that I didn’t know how I got into my room but I’m pretty sure I fell to sleep as soon as my body came into contact with the softness of my bed.
Just as I closed my eyes, I heard sounds like calls of sea creatures and movement of waves against the water audibly through my ears; it felt strange because it was utterly impossible to hear sea tides from within the walls of the palace. After some hesitation my eyes pulled open lazily to find myself sitted on the shore some distance away from the north entrance of Zeclub. Solemnly I turned round to observe my terrain and there was no mortal in sight, even the guards at the North gate were not there and like a magic spell confusion floated into my mind. The clouds were already meant to be dark without sunlight and I was supposed to be on the soft bed of my room in the comfort of the palace, so I could not explain what I was doing on the cold white sand of the shore beneath the splendour of Haimen. Just as knowledge was invented by the creativity of Mortal man, so also was confusion and when Man suddenly doesn’t find understanding for certain phenomenons that he once had knowledge of, he falls into the pit of confusion and I was the latest inhabitant.

“What sort of magic is this” I asked myself in anger, I still felt tired and very weak.

“Magic? Magic is Tomedov’s play thing, the exact instrument that led to his doom. This is a dream, my play thing” a masculine voice said to me and I could recognise it instantly, I kept turning around to see where the voice came from but there was still no one in view.

“I just hope you’re looking for something else not me because I’m here within you. You know exactly what to do if you wish to see me” the voice sounded succintly again and I smiled, he had just given me the clue. Immediately, I closed my eyes and made my wish, instantly I felt a creature landing beside me.

TO BE CONTINUED….

Son of Sylverine:The Series – Episode 17

“It’s okay son, you are safe now” another voice spoke to me and I could recognise it, it was King Bdollium. For a while, I was scared to open my eyes but later I grew the courage and did. I was back in my room in the palace of Zeclub and father was carrying me on his laps, holding me very close to his chest.

“I saw Sylverine” I said looking up to his face lit by the flickering flames of the chamber’s torches, he nodded in agreement like he knew exactly what I saw and I could see the outline of a smile spreading across his face.

“I know son, I know”

“He showed…” I manage to say before I was interrupted; the King put a finger to my mouth.

“Shhh! You have to sleep now Naca, you can tell me everything tomorrow” the Suz said smiling at me, I shook my head in agreement though I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t narrate my dream to father at that moment but I obeyed and placed my head gently against his chest. Solemnly, the events of my dream played randomly across my mind, the handsome face of the Isuz felt so real and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought. Deeply lost within my thoughts I could hear the throbbing of the King’s heart as it became melody to my ears and it rocked me in his laps till sleep flew by and stole me away.
At the first light of dawn the next day, I woke early and found myself back in my little bed; the King had left for his chambers. Quickly, I got off my bed, got into a silk robe and stole into the royal chambers to wake father with the tales of my dream the previous night. The Suz was up early as usual and he listened to my narration without interrupting, sieving every important piece of detail from it. I grew up to have no other friend and companion than my father and I actually didn’t have a need for one but well I won’t say I really had the opportunity to make friends since everywhere beyond the palace wall was marked off bounds to me. The relationship between us grew so intimate that the Royal attendants would call me the third Suzzac of Suz Onyx and father played his part as King, Father, Brother and friend perfectly well. Anytime he isn’t at court attending to Kingdom matters, you’ll find us by the warm spring in Onyx’s vineyard either rolling upon the beautiful green lawn or sword practising with wooden swords. Suz Bdollium would always be remembered as a great King of Zeclub but above that, he was a wonderful father and friend. My childhood was so filled with happiness and love that I never had a cause to think of mother except on rare occasions where I had to stare at her sculpture in the garden of the Sus. At that tender age of five, I had been thought a lot of things, things children years older would never know and the art of imprinting or artistic expression was the skilled I grew favoritism for. I would sit on my little throne and table beside the Suz at court and draw or paint things from my mind and father would look astounded at my genius, sometimes I would even carve creatures and give them to guests at court. Each day I grew more intelligent and each day, I had the same dream over and over again for five more years until I could master every single action detail and when I turned ten the dreams stopped. The dreams had become a fundamental part of my night and I felt I had done something to instigate the wrath of the Isuz when it stopped occurring. During this period without the dreams, my mind drifted unexplainably to mother, Su Kus and although the Suz never made mention of what happened to her, I conceived the thought that she left Zeclub with the gods and for years I never had a reason to think about her but when the dreams disappeared, I thought of her again and wondered what charming virtue she possessed.

“She must be an Eesuz” I kept telling myself each time the thought of her crept into my young mind. This sudden attachment to mother grew so strong that I became so curious to know who my mother actually was and the reason she left me to be cattered for by the Suz alone.
One beautiful day, exactly two dawns before the day of the waters, which was then celebrated within the palace as the day of Sacrifice, the reason for that celebration I didn’t know until years later when I became a man. I was being dressed by my cute red skinned quite humourous he-fairy, named Jafrad.

“In this you’ll look more silly than a purple pumpkin” he said in a voice that sounded more like creaks and flung a piece of my beautiful Ecclesian made diamond studded violet damask jacket to a corner of the room. He had been so engrossed in his little exercise almost all morning and I knew he wouldn’t come up with something for me to wear, Jafrad like Gnome was very weak in making up his little fairy mind on anything, that’s the virtue that made them both very loyal and hilarious.

“You can use magic to make new ones for me” I said trying to persuade him from causing more havoc to my room but he just turned round towards me with raised eyebrows.

“No Suzzac, you were taught the Magic code. Magic isn’t meant to be used for personal gains but “he replied before I interrupted his little recitation.

“…but for the greater good, I know but you haven’t found me anything to wear still, you are tearing my room apart Jafrad” he stopped what he was doing suddenly and turned towards me.

“Apologies Suzzac but it’s for the Greater good” he creaked again and resumed his task with invigorated awe. Jafrad wasn’t the kind of fairy that listens until he is being screamed at and I wasn’t in the mood to scream at him at that moment. I sat idly in my bed and watched the creature satisfy itself to my detriment, solemnly the thought of mother filled my mind once again, it rolled like a hurricane and there was nothing I could do to fight the depression it brought along, it was a weird feeling of loneliness.

“How I wish mother was here” I muttered mindlessly.

“How I wish too, Su Kus the great Eesuz of Ecclesia. She was just perfect until…” Jafrad creaked startling me with his words and I moved my gaze quick enough to catch the gloom upon his handsome face before he turned it away from me.

“Until what? What happened?” my voice rang high as my face flushed with eagerness.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 16

Days grow old but never grow grey, seasons running into each other like athletes in a race. The days of our lives are like writings on the wall, but we are all blind to see these walls so we perish in the search of knowledge that needn’t be found and glory that we don’t deserve. If the intelligence of man was really at the same level with the gods, he would have seen that this life, nature and everything beautiful and ugly in it is nothing but a mirage. An Illusion designed to make our lives either easy or complex depending on the ignorance we mix it up with. Our lives could thus be written as caligraphs on the papyrus of happiness or the mouldering ruins of destruction but the stylus to write the tales of our existence is like fate in the hands of destiny under the auspices of time and space. The fool takes to his fate and suffers in its malignant hands but the wise transforms all disadvantage into achievements and with hope he climbs high to Sium to dine on tables made of aurum with the gods and Mighty Aisuz. People had always drawn a conclusion that I was special, different and that I had ultimate control of my destiny but little did they know that I am no different from them; I live each day with a hope to see tomorrow and not a fear of what it brings. Destiny can’t be controlled, it’s a channel directing the course of our lives but it can be modified to flow into paths we wish for it to go.
Years went by like scenes of a boring farce and the son of the legend grew like every other child, perhaps every other Zeclubian Suzzac. He took classes in several matters and Suz Bdollium did not fall to get him the best teachers in all of Rheudinia. He was special and all his teachers were well pleased with him, he was so unique that they began to refer to him as the wise one. Though the King did well to conceal the mystery of his birth and who he really was, the ability of this young lad was beyond physical, drawing a suspicion among even his teachers. He learnt of all the gods of Rheudinia and all their history at a most tender age of four and had a natural likeness for the dream god, which made the Suz quite disturbed. The young boy would demand to be told stories of the great one only and that of Lord Tomedov once in a while; he was so obsessed with the Isuz that he demanded for paintings of the god only in his room. These unusual actions began to grow suspicion all over the land of Zeclub and surrounding kingdoms and it got so worse that the Suz had to cancel several of his classes especially those with renowned wizards and magicians.

“Father, you are speaking in the passive, like you were told” Suzia Mozarrella interrupted the narration again with her smile which was always charming.

“Do you expect me to remember things I did when I was four? I am not Gofer you know. Yes, I was told most of the tales of my childhood” the Suz replied quite frankly and continued his narration, he sounded like he was getting rather annoyed at his daughter’s almost regular interruptions.

One night when I was around five, I had a particularly weird occurence. As usual the Suz would carry me to my bedroom when the matters of the day were over but instead of retiring to his royal chamber on this particular day, he made himself comfortable on a rest chair in the room and narrated a story to me till my ears were too tired to listen anymore. And just as I closed my eyes to the weariness of sleep, I suddenly found myself standing alone in the royal court and there was so much sunshine in the room that I couldn’t help but cover my eyes. Then I heard sounds like several flapping of wings descending ahead of me beyond the Zeclubian throne and soon I could see a full grown man standing among beautifully coloured birds just beside the Throne. This strange man emitted so much light that I could see only the outline of his amazing body. Precipitately, I began to retreat towards the doors of the royal court creating as much distance as possible between the stranger and I. All of a sudden one of the birds with the man flew towards me and in fright I took to my heels running to the door, screaming for help as I did. It was easy getting to the door but it became futile as it wouldn’t open and it looked like nobody could hear me from the other side. The bird landed on my shoulder and though it felt so scary to have a bird bigger than my head perching on me but it just sat and blinked innocently. At that moment, I could hear the man laugh at my frustration as I turned around to face him and the sound of his voice shook the floor beneath my feet; I began to get really scared. Solemnly, the light around him reduced and behold standing before me was the one and only Isuz I had always wished to see in my dreams. Suddenly I felt excited and surprised at the same time and he smiled charmingly at the sight of whatever gesture sprinted across my face.

“Isuz Sylverine!” I exclaimed, eyes widened in excitement, he smiled and came towards me.

“Hello Nacalitus, did I scare you?” he asked in the kindest voice I have ever heard as he knelt infront of me, slowly I nodded my head in agreement but I was sure he was scaring me still.

“Am sorry I did” he apologised as he lifted me in his strong arms; his smile persistent like it was carved eternally into his godly face. With me sitted comfortably in his arm, he moved towards the court doors and inscrutably they pulled open on their own accord as we got towards them. We floated through the corridors towards the main entrance of the palace and I noticed there weren’t anyone around, no soldiers or attendants, not even one of the palace boys or even the Suz and his royal council, the entire building seem totally deserted.

“Hold on tight,” the Isuz said to me as we got to the porch of the main entrance to the palace and moments later we were ascending towards the bright blue altocumulus sky soaring out of Zeclub and the lands to the west of Bathesdi. We travelled a long distance over the waters east of Rheudinia until I began to feel sick at the speed of wind opposing us. Soon we were flying over the waters of Calitura towards the land of Astore and I noticed there was some strife going on in a fortress to the south of the Island.

“Look! Over there! There’s an uproar” the five year old Naca said innocently as he pointed downward to the mayhem beneath. The Isuz took a quick glance at him and smiled.

“Yes, and that’s where we are going” he said tersely. Moments later, we were descending into the fortress on Astore, the fortress of Galliza. And the uproar going on in the fortress was the legend of Astore repeating itself. I could see a look alike of the man that carried me fighting against a woman, Eesuz Isshura. Suddenly, everything began to move quickly before my young eyes, the look alike struck the Eesuz in the back and she vaporised with a terrifying scream. Just as the Eesuz disappeared, everything around us paused for a moment. Then all of a sudden the events began to move like a rewind through time and space, quickly the Eesuz appeared again and her fight with the Isuz’s looked like it was going backwards. Time and space rolled anticlockwise and I watched curiously the events that occured ahead of me. In about an hour, the legend of Astore re-occured before my eyes but it was quite difficult for a five year old like I to understand the importance of the details. I just stared like I was watching one of the court dramas, the only difference was the sight of real blood and use of lightning which were very horrifying sights to behold. I can’t say I watched all the events because I closed my eyes in fright through most of the details.

“Hey! Open your eyes son” I heard that gentle voice of the Isuz say to me and I obeyed. The Isuz was squatting before me with his hands upon my shoulder and I noticed we no longer were in the fortress at Astore. We were now standing on soft white sand that looked like the shores of Zeclub but there wasn’t the great and mighty wall but a magnificent gold building with large gates and the aura surrounding the building was glorious.

“Did you watch all I’ve shown you?” he asked me, his smile still persistent upon his godly integument and I shook my head in disagreement.

“It was scary and father always warned me not to play with real swords but why did your brother kill that Eesuz?” I asked, my face dropping in a sad stare and the Isuz ran his fingers through my blonde hair with a charming smile.

“Your Father is a very wise man, I guess you are too young to understand the complexity of existence, cheer up son, it’s just a matter of time. Now look at that,” he said pointing at the magneficient structure far ahead of us.

“Do you know what that is?” he asked and I nodded quickly in agreement.

“A palace?”

“Smart boy, it’s not just a palace but mine and any time you want to see me, you now know where to come.” he replied winking at me.

“Really, I could come any time?” I asked in confirmation as excitement grew in me and the Isuz smiled charmingly in agreement. I was so excited that I leaped in joy and the Isuz laughed at my little gesture of euphoria.

“Common, run ahead and take a tour of the place. I would be right on your heels” he said pushing me gently ahead and I ran excitedly towards the awesome structure. Just as I came into some distance of its magnificent doors, it pulled open inwardly and I was accosted by blinding white lights that made me scream, covering my eyes with my little hands.

TO BE CONTINUED….

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS

Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 15

but before he could an end to his brother’s life, one of the captains grabbed a spear from the hands of one of the soldiers that stood outside the court and threw it at the Suzzac. The spear hit its target in the back and pierced through his heart, coming out through his ribs, it was a perfect aim. The Suzzac grunted and fell towards the Suz but quickly, he raised his legs and flipped the younger man over. When he stood, he took a solemn stare at his brother’s body which was now bleeding from the chest and closed his eyes in meditation. The captains and soldiers rushed into court towards the Suz and bowed.

“Good aim Soldier, the king spoke, his eyes still closed, “You should have left him to me.”

“Am sorry my lord but the Suzzac was going to strike you,” the captain that threw the spear replied kneeling before the King. The Suz turned his head to look at the captain and turned back his gaze at his brother’s body.

“He wasn’t even close but I think his days were long overdue,” he said in a voice that sounded like it was mixed with grief. Then he moved towards the body and covered its eyes, at that same instance tears streamed involuntarily down his face.

“I promised father that I would never lay my hands on you but fate had destined your end already. May you find peace in the land of the ghosts.” He soliloquized sorrowfully and sobbed quietly. For a while he perched over his brother’s body in tears, and then he stood up wiping the tears off his face and turned towards the captains and soldiers.

“Prepare the body for burial and send messengers into the kingdom, summon the whole of Zeclub to court. Tell them, the Suz has words for them and get someone to clean this place up.” He said and walked out of the court amidst their bows.
It was a blue day upon Zeclub and the only day two members of the royal family would be buried in the history of the land. Though the Suz was trying very much to keep it low but he felt the people, citizens of the land had the right to know. So he went out to the front of the palace where several citizens of Zeclub were gathered awaiting him.

“The Suz approaches” a loud masculine voice sounded just before a loud blast of horns as King Bdollium stepped on the porch of the main entrance into the palace followed closely by members of the council of Elders, then the Queen Mother and the captains of Zeclub behind an entourage of Ecclesian royalties who came for the queen burial earlier in the day. As he appeared before the throng, they went down on their knees and bowed before him, every one of them man, fairy and child.

“Arise good people of Zeclub, I appreciate that you all left your jobs and homes to heed the voice of your King on such short notice. I know you would have heard news, rumours about the tragedies at the palace and I would like to set the rumours right.” He raising his hands high above him and his words brought murmurs all over the ground. He could clearly see the uncertainty in the eyes of his people and began to contrive in his mind a way to make them understand in diminutive words without giving any cause for speculations, although the business of the palace is only that of the Suz but an honourable one would his best get his people well informed about major proceedings at court.

“You should all know this day is a very sad day in the history of our great kingdom and I decree that no sound of merriment should be heard in all of Zeclub and its provinces. Yesterday, the dark messenger conveyed our dear Queen and Suzia of Ecclesia, Su Kus to the land of the ghosts and perhaps her passing on brought about the strange thunderstorms experienced last night.” As he said this, the murmurs increased until it became so loud a gong had to be hit to bring the throng to serenity. After waiting for the crowd before him to fall silent, he continued.

“I also announce with deepest regret the passing on of my brother, Suzzac Jodan who I believe most of you are displease with”

“He was a traitor, he was supposed to be dead a very long time ago with that evil court magician” a female voice interrupted the King from among the crowd and it was followed by loud cheers. The actions of the people of Zeclub made the King sore, King Onyx would have never imagined that one of his sons would be disapproved by the people, for in his heart he had bred the finest of men, though he couldn’t hide the fear that Jodan was going to be a problem but he had an optimist’s heart and wished that the younger Suzzac would find his own purpose and quit hunting after his brother’s right to the throne, a wish that didn’t come true. Swiftly the events of the Court magician’s execution came to his mind. Quen was King Onyx court magician and he was also Jodan’s accomplice in an attempt at his brother’s life, an attempt which turned futile and the magician took responsibility for. He remembered how he begged for the old man’s life to be spared, telling his father it was his life he attempted and Jodan was as guilty as he is and also the words his father told him,

“A man is a man, he doesn’t change, circumstances may fade his potential but the man would still remain and as long as Quen lives, our lives are in jeopardy, you, I and even Jodan who he seem to favour” this words rang through the Suz and tears lick out the corner of his eyes, they were true not about the magician but for his brother.

“A man would always be a man,” he said to himself and now he understood why after several years Jodan still made an attempt on his life, his brother was born dark in the heart and nothing could change that.
Suddenly, the harsh sound of the gong startled him and this was followed by a loud voice roaring at the top of voice.

“Silence!” and everybody went quiet like it was an order, “The King still speaks!” the voice continued, it was that of a Zeclubian captain. Quickly, the Suz wiped the tears in his eyes and cleared his throat.

“Even in all these tragedies, Zeclub has been given a blessing, something that supersedes all the traumas.” At these words, his face glowed with a smile and the priestess stepped forward with the pink woolly bundle of blankets in her arms. The Suz took it from the Queen Mother and raised it before the throng.

“Dear people of great Zeclub here behold your Suzzac, Nacalitus of Zeclub” he shouted from the excitement in his heart at the sight of his Son. For a while, the palace ground fell into serenity like they didn’t hear the Suz words. They heard but it was too incredible for their mortal hearts to believe. Suddenly there were loud cheers from amidst the throng and quickly, it spread through the crowd, in a matter of time the whole palace rang with cheers of excitement.
It was a happy ending to a very sad day; tears of sadness and pain were replaced with that of joy and a hope for a better future. Destiny has an inscrutable way of sprouting buds of happiness when we believe our hopes are lost, we see our life like it’s meant for the Hangman and all of a sudden its ours again with a radiant prospect, once again we feel alive. And when mortals believe solely in this beautiful thing called ‘Hope’, they would ascend to a level where impossibilities fade away, a level where man becomes a god. Later that day Jodan was buried and words of his departure was sent to his family in the outskirts of Ecclesia along with a plead from the Suz for them to come back home to Zeclub but his messengers never found the Suzzac’s family neither did they find anyone who knew them.

“What? Father he had no family?” Princess mozzarella asked, quite surprised at her father’s words. “So what was he doing all those nineteen years in Ecclesia?”

“He spent all those years trying to amass an army large enough to bring his brother down” the old man replied with a pitiful stare, “What a waste of purpose and an entire lifetime.”

“Jodan never learnt his lesson alive, he took his ignorance with him to the grave.” the princess said and shook her head in pity for her uncle, she took a stare at Sud and he had an emotional look on his face too.

“Now that is a lot of story about King Bdollium, Jodan and Su Kus. With the death of the Suzzac, an era ended and another started, the era of the Nacalitus.

TO BE CONTINUED….

Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 14

Laughter rang for a while in the court and it faded out when the court doors was pulled open and a female attendant strolled into the large room. She was dark skinned, slim and exceptional tall, and had long blonde hair which was rolled up into a bun. She looked quite beautiful in a flimsy pink gown and even the Suz couldn’t help but stare a while at her. She paid homage to him and moved towards the princess, knelt beside her and whispered into her ear.

“I remember Adree but as you can see I’m currently attending to more important matters. Send a message through the royal courier with my apologies and promise to be in attendance tomorrow.” she replied tersely and quickly, the attendant gave a nod and strode quickly out of court.

“Adree! Have someone bring wine to court for his majesty and my lady.” Sud ordered at the beautiful dark skinned attendant just as she got to the doors, she turned round and bowed in acknowledgement.

“I was supposed to be at the female games this evening but that can wait till tomorrow since I’ve been in attendance since it began four days ago,” princess mozzarella explained to her father and Sud who seem to stare at her like they were waiting for her to share Adree’s words with them.

“I hear your team is doing well in the games” her father said just as a man dressed exactly like Sud came into the court with a large beautifully crafted metal vessel and a golden tray with three cups on it. Quickly, he dropped the tray on the secretary’s table and took the largest cup in the tray, a gold cup laced with diamonds at its thin stem, poured a cupful of purple liquid from the vessel and handed it to the Suz. Then he took another smaller gold cup poured the purple fluid into it and handed it to the Suzia.

“Thank you Xiros, you can leave now.” sud spoke, smiling at the attendant as he was about to pour him a drink too. The attendant gave a nod and bowed to the King, then he hurried out of court.

“Yes father, you asked about my team?” the Suzia asked immediately after the court doors were pulled to a close and the Suz shook his head in agreement, “The team is doing great. They won all the races including the Griffin race, you should have been at the tournament yesterday, it was Team Suzia all the way but they couldn’t beat the Captains Team in Swords and Arrows. Even still, they are still topping the logs.” she narrated to her father and he smiled in approval, Sud shook his head slightly too.

“Now, can we go back to the tale, father.” she asked the King in a seducing tone and pursed her lips. The Suz smiled at her gesture and placed his cup on one of the chests by his side.

“Yes my princess, your wish is my command” he replied her and turned to Sud,”Are you ready Son?”

“Yes my King!” Sud replied quickly with a bow.

“Over the years, many wizards and sorcerers had searched predatorily for the son of the prophecy, the nacalitus of the dream god as he is called but all their search had ended in futility. Over Ten thousand years and several stories had been written of mortals who had searched all the lands to the west of Bathesdi especially Zeclub for mount javr, Sylverine’s fortress and perhaps the Naca. So when the son of the prophecy finally arrived, the Suz was obligated to keep it a secret between himself and the priestess of the temple for the safety of the child and perhaps the entire Kingdom of Zeclub.
A day after the birth of the Suzzac, in a short family ceremony Su Kus was buried. Her grave dug beside that of Su Afradia, King Bdollium mother in the garden of Su. Returning from the ceremony, the Suz ordered that Jodan be brought before him at court. It was exactly nine months that the Suzzac was captured and incarcerated in one of the palace rooms and he hadn’t set eyes on his brother all these while. So he felt surprised that the Suz summoned him to court so early in the day, it definitely was an important matter. Perhaps his days of existence were almost over, he thought and his mind kept juggling from one thought to the other. When he entered the court in the midst of six armed soldiers, the King was standing beyond the Zeclubian thrones, tracing the painting of the colourful birds on the wall with his fingers.

“He is here, my lord” one of the soldiers with the Suzzac alerted the King of Jodan’s presence. Instantly, he turned round to face the court and waved his hand to dismiss everyone at court. With bows they exited the court and closed the doors, leaving the brothers all to themselves.

“I summoned you to court, to give you news.” the Suz said as he descended towards his brother.

“News? What sort of news interests a dead man? If my time is due, I gladly accept my fate” Jodan replied abruptly and the Suz shook his head in disagreement to his words.

“Cheer yourself up Jodan; there won’t be anymore deaths in this palace. Infact I bring you good tidings, news that would gladden your heart”

“I never knew royal jesters do spread good news too, for nine months you imprisoned me in that hole, fed me like an invalid and kept me away from my family. So what good news can you possibly conceive? That you have considered to let me go free being the good brother that you always are and” he nagged and paused, totally confused on what to say next. The Suz walked round his brother in smiles and held his shoulder.

“You’re right, I’m letting you go and it isn’t because I just feel like but rather that the gods have given me a child, a Nacalitus” he said with so much excitement that his voice vibrated. Jodan for a while felt that his auditory was playing tricks on him; precipitately he turned towards his brother.

“You have a Son now?” he asked staring into his brother’s face and the King gave him a nod. Suddenly, he gave his brother a hug which surprised the King.

“I’m sincerely happy for you” he said and he sounded happy indeed as tears of joy flowed down his cheeks. Now he knew his ambition to be King was truly over, Bdollium now had a successor.

“The gods gave me the child of the prophecy, Nacalitus Sylverine” the Suz told his brother excitedly and immediately, the younger Suzzac’s countenance changed, his eyes widened in bewilderment.

“The child of the prophecy? The Naca? How is that possible?” Jodan asked in a frown. King Bdollium was too excited to notice the look on his brother’s face, he moved towards the thrones and knelt infront of it.

“All appreciation should be given to Sylverine but it’s the sacrifice of Su Kus that must have brought about it. I would miss my Queen and” he said before he was interrupted by a strange sound, like metals were dragged along each other. Quickly he turned round to find his brother pointing a sword at him. For a while he couldn’t understand what mystery was evolving before his eyes, a man that was happy about his Son now drew a sword at him.

“What is this madness Jodan?” he asked grimly, a curious look in his eyes.

“Why would the gods give you the Nacalitus?” he asked with a frown,”I always knew the gods were partial, they made you King and also gave you the son of the prophecy. The gods made a mistake; I would make sure I send back their gifts to them”
The Suz stood for a while startled at his brother’s words and couldn’t understand why such evil still existed in his brother’s heart; it was like he was cursed with it.

“I wasted so many years believing that you would turn from the path of rebellion but I guess that would not happen in this life” the King said and immediately, Jodan charged at him but before he could strike the Suz, he rolled away and ran towards one of the statues in the court, the statue of King Onyx and withdrew the royal sword by his side, Jodan was right on his track. Just as he removed the sword, he climbed up the statue and flipped away from it. And as he did, Jodan’s strike hit the statue at the knee, chopping off some pieces of sculpture.

“You don’t even honour father,” the king teased from behind him and Jodan went completely berserk. My father and his brother were trained by the best swordsmen in all of Rheudinia but like I was told, the King was more dedicated to the cause than his brother so he was a better and more experienced swordsman. The sound of clashing swords alerted the captains at the door and they had to come into court to feed their curiosity. Lo and behold, there before them was their Suz and his brother but it wasn’t really clear if they were actually battling or sword practising. The soldiers were confused because though the fight looked fierce, whenever the Suz dispossessed Jodan of his weapon, instead of striking him, he would step back and allow the younger Suzzac to regain his sword then they would continue to duel. The sword play continued and the King had the upper hand but suddenly the tables turned like fate punished him for not putting an end to his foe. He dodged one of Jodan’s strikes, stepping back as he did and tripped over one of the small tables in the court, instantly he fell losing his weapon as he did. At that moment, Jodan it was his time to end it all, now or never. Quickly he jumped at his brother raising his weapon high

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 13

It was so unbelievable seeing the son of the prophecy before his eyes, the boy that would possess the spirit of the dream god and accomplish the legend of Astore sleeping peacefully upon the priestess’s hands. Precipitately, King Bdollium bowed himself to the ground before the Queen mother and the little boy in her arms, the next Suz of Zeclub. Suddenly, the thought of his queen came into his mind and along with it came excitement; he wanted to show his gratitude to her for giving him the best thing in the entire universe, the Nacalitus.

“Where’s Kus, Queen mother?” he asked as he stood back to his feet but instead of replying the king, the old woman bursted in tears and sobbed uncontrollably. Without wasting anymore moment with her, the King sprinted towards the room that had the altar and just as he was about to open the doors to the room, it was pulled open from within. A procession of several female priestesses clad in white gowns came through the door carrying someone wrapped in fine white linen, their face completely soaked in tears and whoever they carried remained still. Suddenly, the king stopped moving and opened his mouth to speak but the words dried upon his throat. The priestesses noticing the Suz standing petrified before them stopped moving too and laid the body down ahead of him.

“The Isuz gave you his special gift for yours” the Queen mother said from behind him, she was still sobbing. The king slowly dropped to his knees covering his face with his hands, the news he heard was so incredibly to believe. For a while he prayed in his heart that his queen would stand from where her still body laid ahead of him, he was looking for a miracle. Slowly he crawled towards the body and raised it to his knees, tearing off the linen that was used to seal her face. She lay peacefully in his hands, pallid and so beautiful; it was so hard to believe that she was dead. The Suz’s eyes grew wet with tears; solemnly it streamed down his face and dropped on the body before him.

“Get me Zakkad the prestidigitator!” he barked at no one in particular, his voice degrading into sobs.

“There is nothing Zakkad can do for her now. She gave her life to the gods to give you a son, the greatest sacrifice ever witness by the gods of Rheudinia.” The Queen mother said as she placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Afterwards he fell quiet, sobbing silently as he held the body of his queen tightly to his body. His mind soared into time and space, wondering why Queen Kus sacrificed her life which he appreciated much more than a hundred sons. Pain filled him up and thoughts after thoughts kept flowing into his mind, he loved his queen and for a while he wished he died in her stead.

“Sylverine! Why her? You could have taken my life instead of hers” he shouted out raising his face to the ceiling of the temple, the body still strapped to his chest.

The human mind was created to feel pain and sadness at the loss of a loved one; it’s like a chain binding us to one another. When someone very endearing to us dies, it feels like a part of us had been torn from the whole being and in several cases, our beings never become whole again. As the King mourned the death of his Su, her ghost rose out of its lifeless encasement and stood staring at the Suz’s gesture of pain. She tried to put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him but her hands went straight through him.

“You would be fine my love.” She whispered into his ear and instantly the Suz turned his head towards where she spoke from, it was obvious he heard her voice but couldn’t see her. It was so painful to see tears on her husband’s face has he knelt with her body pulled close to his chest so she moved away from him face blanched. Quickly, the ghost floated towards the priestess to take a look at the child in her hands, her eyes softened with a smile at the sight of her little cute Suzzac. The child still laid peacefully in the old woman’s hand and for a while she wished to touch him, to hold him and sing to him a Zeclubian lullaby but it was now impossible.

“Kus its time to leave” A bold but gentle masculine voice said to the ghost sounding from the room with the altar and immediately she put her finger to touch the face of the child.

“The gods bless you my dear child” she said and moved away from the priestess and in a moment she disappeared through the doors that led to the room that had altar.

The Su was buried alongside predecessors of her title in front of the Zeclubian palace in the place now known as the garden of Sta and days later a life size sculpture of her was placed upon her grave, a monument that stands in the garden to this very day.

“And that’s the story of my birth.” The old man narrated and reclined into the comfort of the large Zeclubian throne.

“Quite interesting father,” the Suzia said with an acknowledging nod,”You always told me that story when I was a child.” she said stretching up in a yawn. The Suz turned his gaze suddenly at her, his face mixed with exclamation and curiosity.

“When you were a child? So what are you now?”

“I’m a woman now father, a woman.” she replied and elbowed Sud who was so filled with laughter, the King also joined in the laughing spree.

Son of Sylverine : The Series – Episode 12

King Bdollium came into court dressed unusually gorgeous, like he was having a festival and everyone bowed as he strode towards his throne. With the stares and whispers among those at court, it was obvious everybody was surprised to see the Suz in such beautiful apparel; it has been years since he wore anything as gorgeous as that. As the Suz sat he surveyed the court and after a while, his stare fell to his brother sulking in the shame of his defeat.

“There’s just a thin line between thraldom and liberty, this is one of the major lessons you have to learn in life. I remember just like yesterday when I was so excited to welcome you to this court and see what that welcome had turned into. You my brother a prisoner of war in your own home” The Suz spoke to his brother and smiled, slowly the smile turned into loud chuckles and laughter, the sound of mockery. Jodan stood blanched at his brother’s mockery and solemnly the truth began to settle into him. It is usual for mortals to have regrets; it’s the truth that had been staring us in the face all along but we wouldn’t heed to until it’s probably too late. If Jodan was supposed to be King, destiny would have raised him to the thrones of Zeclub and nothing King Bdollium does would stop it, that’s the truth his perverse mind couldn’t see. The feeling of shame and guilt got so overwhelming that tears leaked down the corner of his eyes but he got a hold of himself before adding more embarrassment to his plight.

“Are you contempt now my prince?” King Bdollium asked looking conservatively into the Suzzac’s face but the younger man did not respond.

“I loved you like a brother, forgave your wickedness and wished that you would change but it got worse. You of all know that anyone who attacks the royal crown must be hanged and that’s what your fate had written for you but I would give you an option, a brotherly option.” The king stood from his throne and trod towards the Suzzac.

“I would give you a year to live, just one year and at the end of these days, if a child is born unto me, you would live but if not you head straight to the gallows.” He said and afterwards placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“May the gods favour you.” He said and immediately walked out of the court leaving Jodan to the mercy of the captains and some elders at court. As King Bdollium exited the room, Jodan made a sound like he was gasping for breathe. Suddenly he could hear the beat of his own heart like it was beating right through his ears, the words of his verdict also sounded in his head making him feel nauseated, slowly all the sounds he heard and the feelings in his body fell into confusion. Just some moments afterwards, he slumped. The captains bursted into laughter as the Suzzac fainted, quickly two of them carried him out of the court into one of the rooms in the palace and three soldier where placed at the entrance to the room to keep guard of the royal prisoner.

“So grandfather didn’t kill his brother though the younger Suzzac deserved to die, that sounds like a trait my dear father had inherited too.” Princess mozzarella complimented her father and the old man smiled exposing what remained of his deteriorated dentition.

“Kindness runs in the blood down to even you my Suzia,” Sud whispered to the princess and caused the pink in her cheek to appear. There was something so special about the relationship between the chief attendant and the Suzia of Zeclub, they both showed gratitude to gestures thrown at each other.

“Thank you Sud.” She replied, her voice sounding so lovely and affectionate.
Days went by, months after months and so did the belly of the Su rise. Three months after her mysterious dream, there appeared a sign on the Queen’s stomach just beside her navel and it was shaped like a thin rod with diamonds at both ends, a sign like the wand of the dream god. Eight months after her dream, the Queen was temporarily moved to the temple of Sylverine and there she stayed till the night of her delivery. At the ninth hour of the ninth day in the ninth month, Su Kus began to cry out in excruciating throes. Quickly the queen mother hurried toward her as she kept screaming.

“Mother get Bdollium, its time!” she screamed at the older woman and immediately, the priestess summoned the temple’s only male steward to inform the Suz. The words had not ended in the steward’s mouth when the King jumped out of his royal bed and made way to the temple, the steward following intimately in pursuit. Just has he got out of the palace, a loud thunderstorm started. There was no rain but the thunderstorm continued, quaking through the foundation of Rheudinia and flashes of lightning illuminated the dark nightly sky. At the time the queen fell into labour, with loud flushing sound fire rose out of the altar at the temple of sylverine. In the same moment all the doors to the temple closed so no one could either go in or come out of it, even King Bdollium was stranded outside. But the king understood the sign and bowed himself to the ground. The thunderstorms continued loudly over Zeclub as lightnings kept striking around the temple. It was a fearsome sight, even inhabitants of kingdoms around could feel the presence of the thunderstorm and lightnings, and they wondered what was happening in Zeclub.
This phenomenon continued until the Su gave birth to her baby, then the fire coming out of the stone piles at the altar stopped. At the same moment, the thunderstorms and lightning stopped preternaturally and the doors to the temple pulled open on its own accord. Immediately, king Bdollium raced into the temple but met the priestess some distance away from the entrance carrying some thing wrapped in white wool tenderly against her bosom. The king noticed the Queen mother was sobbing as she came wearily towards him, he stopped in his tracks and confusion filled his mind.

“Jesme Nacalitus Sylverine; Here’s the Son of Sylverine.” She said amidst tears, raising the object in her hands towards the Suz with a slight bow of her head and he stood before her petrified with astonishment at the object before him.

TO BE CONTINUED

Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 11

After what seem like ages, she gained consciousness and opened her eyes, this time it pulled open quite easily, it was back to normal. There was darkness everywhere but she was quite able to see everything around her because of several dim sources of light. Then all of a sudden, she felt pressed against a creature that was exceptionally warm, a man and he held her strapped tightly to his chest.

“It’s okay now, you’re back dear.” A deep masculine voice sounded above and the voice seems to vibrate through her as it did. Slowly her mind could recognise the voice, it was her husband’s. She raised her head to see him peering down at her, his countenance charmed by the smile radiating upon his kingly face.

“You need to rest now.” He said and kissed her temples, at that moment she remembered she had a vision or dream as she couldn’t yet agree which it was but unfortunately she couldn’t remember a single thing she saw during her time in another realm. Several times she tried to find clues to remind her but nothing came forth, it was like that part of her existence had been burnt out of her memory. Voluntary tears began to stream down her fair cheeks, she felt so hurt and completely empty.

“My lord, I had a dream, an excellent one and I can’t remember it, even just a tiny bit. How unfortunate I am.” She sobbed lowering her head in shame. Gently, the Suz moved his fingers to her chin and raised it up towards him; his face now glowed in smiles.

“You are not unfortunate my love, you are blessed. Cheer up, Sylverine has answered our prayers.” He said placating her and wiped the tears of her cheeks.

In Vestronorian myths, it is believed that when mortals wish desperately for a thing from the gods and that mortal falls into sleep and dreams of something relevant to his wish but when he awakes, he cannot remember his dream, his prayers has been answered. The dream is believed to be erased by the gods so mortal man wouldn’t take actions to alter the answer before its manifests. This myths are very much believed to be real even though many scholars had discredit most of the ancient myths, thus terming them as untrue and hypothetical. Mortal man periled with the knowledge curse would always try to understand the ways of the realms, a feat even the gods have not accomplished.
At the Suz’s words, a smile swayed across her pretty face and she dug her face into his chest. It felt wonderful hearing that her wish had been granted, nothing could compare to the joy she felt, not the beauty of the moons shining brightly in the dark ocean far above nor the sweet smell of her husband’s chest not even the melody that played through her mind. She felt like she could finally breathe the air of liberty, at last her sacrifice had been accepted.

“This is great news dear queen and it would do quite well in improving the moral of the soldiers on the battle ground tomorrow, I have been working with the captains on their battle strategy over and over again. I think we could actually win this war without losing a single Zeclubian warrior” The Suz said like he was doing a soliloquy, he felt excitement brewing uncontrollably in him. At first it looked like the queen didn’t hear him but all of a sudden, she pulled her head off his chest and stared him straight in the face.

“The day of the waters is tomorrow?” she asked and the king motioned his head in agreement.

“You have been asleep for two nights. Tomorrow we put an end to Jodan’s threat once and for all,” he said with so much enthusiasm but the queen’s face blanched, her mind drifted through time and space.

“What if……” she tried to say before he stopped her with his finger upon her soft lips.

“Nothing is going to happen to me because I’m not going down to battle tomorrow. I would be by your side all through the day, let’s just wish Sylverine favours us against him.” The Suz said, and his Su smiled, revealing the beauty her gloom had captured all these years.

“He would favour them my king. He wouldn’t want my unborn Suzzac to live without a father.” She replied smiling more radiantly now. The king stared at the happiness in her face like he had never seen anything like it, then slowly his head moved towards hers, he sought her lips with his till they made contact. For a long while, they were engaged in kisses, each lip trying to devour the other. How long they kissed wasn’t important, what mattered was that they were close to each other all through the night engaged in succession of romantic events.

“Hmm, What sort of events?” Princess Mozzarella asked rather playfully, eyeing her father as she spoke, the old Suz smiled, cleared his throat and continued his tale.

Some times I wonder the essence of violence, war, battle and I can’t really settle my mind on reasons why both the gods, mortals and most creatures engage themselves in acts of violence. Then I come to dissolve that violence is the curse of living, like a structural fault at creation, a mistake by the Creator but then my mind comes to the knowledge that Mighty Aisuz, the creator is the most perfect of beings if he can actually be called that. So where did that fault in nature incept from? The cause of it we would never know, no matter how much we try, uncertainties would continue to exist. The next morning rose swiftly into the history of Zeclub, the day of the waters arriving once again and another bloodshed was imminent. At the sight of first light, the captains of Zeclub were already outside the walls with their army in the thick morning fog and the gates into the Kingdom were completely blocked.
At the Sixth hour, just as the fog was clearing out of sight, the captains could see Jodan’s army marching towards the walls. The Suzzac rode ahead of them on a strong black stallion dressed like a King. Just as Jodan noticed they had company at the other side as he had expected, he stopped and raised his right hand up. Instantly, the seven Zeclubian captains raised their hands too, this was in accordance with Zeclubian tradition. The tradition of raised hands was to be observed among parties at war which do not have words to say to each other, it just shows that they are both prepared to battle and are asking that the gods judge their warfare.

“Fall to formation, Defence!” the Captains ordered in loud voices as they quickly withdrew back into the army after the ceremony of raising hands was completed. Immediately large metal shields appeared all round the Zeclubian army making it look like a large elongated dome of metals in front of the great Walls of Zeclub. Just as the building of the dome was completed, whooping sounds rent the air and afterwards came a storm of arrows upon the Zeclubian army just as the Captains had expected. The arrows kept raining down for a long while but not one soldier of the Zeclubian army was hurt by it, their strategy was working perfectly. After a while, the arrows stopped and there was silence, it looked like both armies were trying to anticipate the opponent’s next move. Jodan’s army stood quiet trying to observe what had happened at the other side of the battleground and the fog wasn’t making it an easy task to do, while the Zeclubians stood in their Metal fortress listening to every sound around them. Suddenly, the sound of a large horn rent the air and immediately, Jodan’s army charged towards the walls of Zeclub but the Suzzac’s stallion stood confined to its position and with him the ten warriors that followed him into the city.

“Attack Formation!” the Zeclubian captains roared just after the sound of the horn, and their order was followed by a loud dong. Immediately, several openings were revealed in the walls of the city high above the metal dome and in these openings were archers with flaming arrows waiting to release their weapons. The fog worked excellently against Jodan’s army for they couldn’t see the openings in the wall or the archers that stood in them.

“Javat!” the captains ordered loudly and instantly, the archers released their weapons. The fog grew red with fire and it rained brimstone upon Jodan’s army, both soldiers and their horses were not spared. As the fiery storm began, the metal dome also began to move solemnly towards the adversary. The arrows kept flying in like fierce waves of the waters of ponchrious upon the shores of Zealos, causing mayhem as it came to ground. A very large part of Jodan’s army was either injured or killed by the flaming arrows and those who survived were consumed by the warriors in the metal dome. Fire mingled with the fluid of life as the Zeclubians were winning the war without even losing a soul, though several of the Zeclubians were injured but none was severe. Now the battle was getting sore for Jodan’s army and quickly they retreated, fighting as they did but it was obvious the gods of Rheudinia was against Jodan for the Zeclubian dome kept advancing. Moments just after the sun came into the beautiful altocumulus clouds, Jodan was captured along with what remained of his large army and they were all led back into the city guarded at both sides by Zeclubian warriors. As they got to the palace, the Suzzac was separated from his army and the captains led him into the palace to face the punishment he deserved. As he was led into the royal court, Jodan felt a pain in his back and slowed down to regain his strength.

“Don’t touch me infidel.” Jodan snapped at one of the captains that wanted to help him and quickly he straightened.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Son of Sylverine: The Series – Episode 10

“Stop!” the Suz ordered waving his hands as he stood to his feet before the slightest violence could erupt before his eyes. “Put those weapons back to its sheaths.” He said and moved towards his brother.

“Brother if you want me to step down for you, am so sorry to hurt you but I won’t and I could have you hanged for speaking those words you just did and I won’t either. I made a promise to father upon his dying bed never to lay hands to hurt you and I intend to keep that promise though you’re making a great difficulty of it.” He said and held Jodan’s hand as the younger man moved to brace his sword. For a moment their faces locked into each other and tears streamed upon the eyelid of the King, the evil in his brother’s mind hurt him immeasurably. Suddenly he let go of the Suzzac and retreated some steps back.

“You can go in peace Jodan.” Immediately Jodan’s cohort turned round and quickly moved out of the court but the Suzzac didn’t move a foot, he shot a gaze straight at his brother and smiled.

“I asked nicely and you turned me down like I expected. Bdollium here in this court is my bracelet of life and I’ll fight you to get it. I would fight and defeat you, and then we’ll see who precedes you and your Zodiac by the day of the waters. We’ll meet again brother.” Jodan replied then he turned and walked fearlessly out of court, leaving voices whispering all round the Zeclubian court. For a while the Suz stood completely dumbfounded, his spirit saddened by his brother’s words, the very thing King Onyx tried all his life to avoid was a war between his sons and at the moment only the gods of Rheudinia could stop it from happening.

“Silence!” He roared and like a curse, the entire court fell into serenity, “You all heard my brother, a war is coming and you all better get prepared. May Sylverine be with you as you defend the Zeclubian honour.” He continued, and then raised his left hand up.

“To Zeclub with honour!” he roared and the soldiers roared back raising their left hands too and immediately afterwards he dismissed them.

In Zeclub and most kingdoms in Bathesdi, a prince has the right to challenge his brother to a duel and rip the kingdom from him but this can be achieved only if the people of that Kingdom agree with him. Although several people had fought against this system of governance but it had become a tradition that can’t be wiped and it had also yielded some good results too. For several centuries, Zeclubian Suzzacs had always fought each other for the throne and even King Onyx who was considered soft-hearted battled his brother King Cypress to gain the throne. King Cypress could be described as a ruthless lawmaker, modifying all the laws of the land, twisting them till it became totally unbearable for the citizens. Taxes roared high and even the council of Elders couldn’t stop the King from executing his throttling laws, the populace shrivelled up in penury while the King made himself wealthy with their fat. These attitudes led to a revolt against the royal crown and even when King Cypress was suppose to soften; he hardened up, threatening to charge the protesters with high treason. With this decision, the council of elders were convinced that their King was raving mad and immediately summoned a meeting with the younger Suzzac Onyx who was at the time a renowned merchant at Zealos. After much persuasion, Onyx agreed to speak with his brother hoping that the Suz would reduce the burden of the people for his sake but instead of listening to his brother, King Cypress charged the Suzzac with high treason and ordered the soldiers to seize him. Immediately the council of elders came to Onyx defence and ordered the soldiers to stand down. The council’s action drove the King mad, he wiped out his sword and attacked his brother, though soft hearted, Onyx was a master swordsman and sorcerer too. The brothers battled while others in the court stood and watched. The council knew the gods would favour whoever should rightfully be king, so they held their peace. After battling a long while, Onyx defeated the king, decapitating his useful forelimb but before he could relieve him of the royal sword, the Suz struck himself in the side with it and died. And since that day, the day of the waters had been declared in Zeclub as a memorial for its only king to commit suicide since the foundation of Rheudinia. Due to King Cypress’s tyranny, the council disagreed that a statue be put up for the Suicidal king but still his brother erected a statue in the royal court and it stands to this very day.
Jodan unlike his father King Onyx did not have the support of the Zeclubian people and would have been rightfully condemned if he was hanged for high treason but King Bdollium wasn’t spiteful, he believed his brother would turn a gold leaf. But sometimes the goodness in our heart blinds our visibilities from the truth that even the pronunciation of the word ‘change’ hasn’t altered in a million years, so it’s not meant for all of us.

“What is this evil your brother is brewing? He wants to kill you and take the throne.” Su Kus said in something that sounded more like a whisper to the Suz who stood facing the doors of the court completely lost in thought. Her voice startled him but before he could turn round towards her, she ran out of the court sobbing as she did. The royal family had fallen into gloom for some years now and they had done excellently to cover up the pain they felt but Jodan’s words had just heightened the grief. Queen Kus kept moving as fast as her legs could carry her, racing from one section of the palace to another leaving both human and fairies in awe as she floated by. Her thoughts were completely clouded with visions of the event that occurred in the court some moments ago, tears flowed down her face as she exited the palace through the entrance on the west and moved towards a large building adjacent to it, the temple of Sylverine.
In those days, women were the only mortals allowed to offer sacrifices to the great one, they called them ‘Queen Mothers’. Though many scholars believed the dream god forbade men from offering the sacrifices but the women did it just as a remembrance of the death of Zetura, the dream god’s lover. As the queen floated into the temple, a pulp old looking lady accosted her with an embrace, then pulled her to a porch beside the entrance and sat her on it.

“Dear child, tears are meant to cleanse the eyes and not the face.” The old lady consoled her with a smile as she wipes the rivulets on her face with her palm.

“Queen mother, I want to speak with the Isuz,” she said still sobbing uncontrollably. The old woman pulled her closer and held her face tenderly in her palms.

“It’s going to be alright dear child.” She assured but the queen pulled herself away from the lady and moved off the porch.

“It’s not going to be mother; you can’t possibly understand what I’m going through. I just want to speak with the gods, I really need to.” She pleaded with the priestess still sobbing.

“The gods? You know you don’t have to come to me if you want to talk with the Sar.” The old lady replied raising her face towards the Su still confined to her position on the porch.

The great one had messengers, ‘Sanai’ as they are called in the Zeclubian tongue and the most famous of these Sanais is known as ‘Sar’. Although no one alive can really describe this creature because no one has seen it in a very long time but it comes to mortals who acknowledge and worship the great one whenever they are in agony. Even as no one has seen it, no one has heard its voice but when the windows and doors of the room close suddenly and the sun or moon rays form something like a hand on the door or window, Sar is present. Several mortals even worship this inscrutable creature as a lesser Isuz to the dream god.

“You just have to sit in your room and wait patiently, the grief in your heart would attract the Sar to you” the Priestess consoled.

“Mother, it’s not the Sar I want to speak with; it’s Sylverine the Isuz himself.” She clamoured still in tears and immediately the queen mother stood and embraced her.

“Oh Kus, only a priestess can speak with the gods and you know that so very well,” she explained to the younger woman resting on her shoulder. “But if you insist, may the gods favour you.” She said with a smile blowing across her aged face as she kissed the Queen. Su Kus kissed her in return and made way for the door ahead of the temple entrance. The door opened into a large room, as large as the royal court but there were no statues or thrones in this room. It had different paintings on its walls and a large pile of colourful stones with hot air rising out in the middle of the room. As the Queen entered into the room, she closed the large wooden door behind her and moved solemnly towards the pile in the middle of the room, the altar of the dream god. Just as she got very near the altar, a large column of hot gas rose out of the pile with a loud noise which made her jump back precipitately. She didn’t go any further but went down on her knees before the altar and closed her eyes, then she began to move her lips like she was talking but nothing came out of her mouth. In silence she meditated, her entire being trembling in agony as she knelt before the altar of the great one and about the ninth hour, she fell asleep.

Out of the vanity of uncertainty she heard the sound of bells, twittering birds and the laughter of a male child all at the same time; it was such sweet melody to her ears that she didn’t bother to open her eyes so she won’t miss any part of it. Then for a while she felt like she was levitated and laid on a soft feathery structure.

“He is yours now,” A sweet masculine voice said sounding very distinct to the melody she was listening to and immediately, she tried to open her eyes but they wouldn’t obey her. Her eyes felt like they were glued and the more she tried to pull them open, the tighter they felt.

“No, don’t do that dear, relax, let the stream of joy fill you up, sleep Kus, its going to be alright. Sleep Bathas metli nacalitus.” The male voice sounded again soothing her and gently, like a magical charm, everything she heard faded into uncertainty.

TO BE CONTINUED…