Ancient Prophecy (12 page)

King Tring and Queen Trana of Dorgun swept into the circular chamber, flowing crimson robes with gold borders trailing behind. King Tring was taller than most dwarves and his intricately carved gold crown with large rubies adorning each upswept pinnacle made him appear even taller. Even though Queen Trana’s crown was a simple golden circlet with a single red ruby in the front, she still towered over the King. The royal couple marched into the chamber and the assembled visitors appeared to go unnoticed until the King and Queen were seated.

“King Tring, Ruler of Dorgun, and Queen Trana bid welcome to their visitors,” heralded the dwarf messenger.

King Tring raised a jewel-studded hand and indicated that the visitors may be seated. Prince Tergota, instead of sitting, walked forward to the center of the amphitheater and bowed to the King.

“King Tring, Queen Trana, I, Prince Tergota, descended from the line of King Arak and King Frakis, bring greetings from King Tugar of Talman,” he declared while holding forth the Dagger of King Arak upon two upraised palms.

King Tring nodded and the dwarf messenger gently lifted the dagger from Prince Tergota’s hands and presented it to the King. The King studied the dagger and returned it to the messenger.

“Rise, Prince Tergota of Talman,” spoke the King. “Rise and introduce your fellow travelers.”

Prince Tergota rose and introduced the members of the party as each came forward and bowed to King Tring. Throughout the day and into the next, the visitors related the tales of their travels and the theory of Universes. King Tring did not seem as surprised about the existence of other Universes as the elves had been. Prince Tergota also noticed that Price Rigal was treated as a visiting dignitary with none of the usual hostilities frequently present between the two races. The dwarf Prince felt a need to question these aberrations.

“King Tring,” Prince Tergota began, “I am pleased that you have treated Prince Rigal with proper respect, but I must admit that it puzzles me. Have you not had troubles with the elves?”

The dwarf King scowled at Prince Tergota’s question, but after a few moments he smiled. “No, Prince Tergota, we do not have any problems with our relationship with the elves. King Solva of Sorelderal is a close friend and our peoples trade freely with one another. We understand that the Dielderal have an unusual hatred for dwarves, but they have never come as far south as Dorgun and we have no need to travel that far north. Prince Rigal is as welcome in Dorgun as any of your party.”

“You do not appear to be surprised at our description of Universes and Junctions,” continued Prince Tergota. “Is this a theory that is known to your people?”

“We know the theory of Universes,” declared King Tring, “but travel between Universes is forbidden.”

“Forbidden?” exclaimed Prince Tergota. “Do you not desire to visit Lanto and walk in the lands of your ancestors? I know that I certainly do.”

“It is forbidden!” shouted King Tring leaping to his feet, his face distorted by rage. Queen Trana reached out her hand, gently consoling the dwarf King. Alex watched the dwarf King start to regain his calm stability. The shaking of the King’s limbs moderated and his face ceased twitching. Alex realized that there was more than anger in the King’s words, MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in there was fear. Alex moved next to Prince Tergota and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Your Highness,” Alex began, “please accept our apologies for speaking of things that we do not know enough of. We have no desire to violate your laws or to cause strife in your home. If we have overstepped the bounds of your hospitality, we apologize. Your welcome to us has been most gracious.”

King Tring composed himself and sat back down. “No, my friends, it is I who must apologize. I fear that you know little of traveling between Universes and the dangers inherent in that travel. It is time for you to journey on to Sorelderal to speak with King Solva. Queen Trana and I will accompany you on the trip.”

The King issued orders and dwarves started scurrying around preparing for the journey. The King and Queen sat in a two-wheeled cart beautifully decorated in crimson with a gold fringe around the three open sides. Two sturdy-looking dwarves drew the cart and the procession was led through the tunnels by a band of torch-bearing dwarves.

About fifteen minutes later, the procession burst into the brilliant sunlight on the south side of the mountains. Six dwarves continued to lead the parade carrying a banner with gold picks crossed on a field of bright crimson with a golden border. Prince Rigal hoisted the banner of Elderal and the colorful entourage wound down the mountain path toward the lush forest below.

From their vantage point on the mountainside, Alex could clearly see large towers and tops of buildings protruding out of the forest canopy below. The parade traveled down the mountainside and into the dense forest. The trail leading to Sorelderal was wide enough for wagons to proceed side-by-side if they wished and was better maintained than most Targan roads. Alex reflected on the close relations between Dorgun and Sorelderal as they passed dwarves and elves together on the forest road. Trading wagons were using the trail in each direction and most appeared to know each other.

The road was fairly straight and the distance to Sorelderal was not very far. Soon the forest opened into a massive clearing dotted with large stone buildings. As in Elderal, Sorelderal was planned to include nature as an essential part of the city, with parks, flower gardens, winding paths and pools carefully placed throughout the clearing and the surrounding woods. Unlike Elderal, stone buildings were abundant. The parks were dotted with fountains containing exquisite metal sculptures.

Alex gazed left and right as they rode into Sorelderal and inhaled deeply. The fragrance of honey mixed delightfully with a thousand floral scents mingled with the appetizing smell of roasting meats and rich spices. The quiet roar of a nearby stream competed with the serenity of a thousand bird voices and musical elf talk. Groups of elves could be heard singing in the parks as they passed. The dress of the elves was unlike anything Alex had ever seen. Where in Glendor or Elderal the elves normally confined themselves to the colors of the forest, Sorelderal was ablaze with every color of the rainbow. The men and women of Sorelderal were dressed more gaily than any people he had ever seen. The well laid out paths were spotless and the populace appeared to move along at a leisurely pace.

Sorelderal was larger than any Targan city and the trip through the city actually took longer than the trip through the forest from Dorgun. King Tring halted the procession at an enormous round tower whose base was larger around than Targa’s Royal Palace. Alex gazed skyward and could not see the top of the smooth white tower.

King Tring helped Queen Trana out of the cart and the party gathered around them.

“This is the Tower of Peace,” declared King Tring. “The tower stands at the center of the city and was built by elves and dwarves together. King Solva awaits us at the top, eager to show you the view of Sorelderal.”

The dwarf King led the procession into the Tower of Peace and down a straight pathway that led to the center. The tower had corridors running off of the main pathway that appeared to be ever-smaller rings encircling the inner chamber of the tower. After a few minutes of walking they came to the large, round inner chamber. The room reminded Alex of a large wheel lying on its side with a hub that you could walk entirely around in the center. Surrounding the hub was a spiral pathway that led up towards the top of the tower. The pathway was wide enough to accommodate two sets of mining tracks climbing up into the tower with plenty of walking room between them. The tracks started in the large round chamber and there was an elegant wagon sitting at the end of one of the sets of tracks. The wagon was richly upholstered and had a seating capacity of twenty.

A pair of elves welcomed them to the Tower of Peace and showed each member of the party to a seat in the wagon. The elves scrutinized each member as they escorted them to the seats. When everyone was seated one of the elves walked over to a pipe, which seemed to disappear up into the tower and struck it several times with a silver hammer. He belatedly added one additional stroke to his hammering and smiled. He indicated that the unicorns would be able to safely walk up the pathway and wished them a safe journey.

In just a moment the wagon started sliding up the set of rails, climbing into the tower. The momentum of the wagon increased until they were moving slightly faster than a person would walk. The unicorns had no trouble keeping up with the smoothly climbing wagon. The center hub had little windows occasionally visible from the wagon and Alex could see a cable moving inside the hub. Alex leaned out of the wagon and peered at the track in front of them. In the center of the track he could see a similar cable threaded through a series of smooth metal loops. Looking behind the wagon, Alex could not see any cable and wondered.

He leaped out of the coach to the walkway that Kaz and the unicorns were using and inspected the track. The metal loops that were in the center of the track were not completely closed. The wagon immediately picked up speed and Alex ran past it to get a look at the cable in front of it. The cable was fastened to the wagon by a metal loop that extended down below the floor level of the wagon. Smiling, Alex slowed to regain his seat on the coach. As Alex regained his seat the wagon bucked and slowed almost to a stop. Alex sheepishly avoided the glares of his companions and, thankfully, the coach began picking up speed again until it was proceeding at the same pace it had been before Alex got adventurous.

Movement in the windows of the hub caught Alex’s attention and he looked over quick enough to see a platform with huge rings of stone going down the center of the hub. Alex was impressed. The elves were using an extremely large adaptation of counterbalance to move the wagon up the tracks. The elf’s hammering was meant to tell those at the top how much weight to put on the platform.

The coach came slowly to a stop at the top of the tower and Alex gazed up at the circular ceiling, which was painted in a mural depicting elves and dwarves working together to build the tower. The whole top floor of the tower was devoted to viewing the surrounding lands. Tall, slender stone columns supported the roof and the wide openings between the pillars presented a panoramic view of Sorelderal in any direction. Alex noticed the lack of a hub on this floor and looked at the wagon to see the cable disappearing through a slot in the floor. There was another coach here waiting to be sent down.

King Tring and Queen Trana led the group over to King Solva and Queen Alysa and performed the ritual introductions.

“I hope you are not offended by the informality of this greeting,” began King Solva, “but I presumed that this setting at the top of the Tower of Peace would be appropriate for a group so foreign to Sorelderal. Let us take a few moments to view the beauty of Sorelderal and then we shall become better acquainted.”

Alex and Jenneva began a slow walk around the circumference of the viewing platform. Alex felt as if he was on top of a mountain peak as the forest spread itself below him. The lush canopy spread for miles in every direction. The coastline was visible in the distance undulating alongside the deep blue waters of what would be the Sordoan Sea back home. He gazed at a river running out of the mountains, through the great forest, and across the plains to the horizon. Looking down, the buildings of Sorelderal were tiny and the people swarming between them mere dots.

Alex thought that in time of war the enemy’s every move could be observed from the tall tower.

“We really have never had an enemy to observe,” whispered King Solva, unnerving Alex with a start.

“How did you know what I was thinking?” queried Alex.

“I didn’t really,” answered the elf King, “but I recognize a soldier when I see one and can well imagine your thoughts of observing the enemy. The tower was built with a different mission in mind, a mission of peaceful existence with our neighbors. The founders of Sorelderal and Dorgun wanted something so massive and beautiful that it would stand as a monument through the ages for peace and harmony. The dwarves and the elves labored for over a hundred years to build this tower. When the elf and dwarf founders arrived here it was a time of great troubles in the North. The elves tried to convince the dwarves that both nations could live in harmony with each other, but there were misgivings. It was agreed that a great tower would be built by both peoples and that each would agree that they would refrain from any attacks until the tower was complete.”

King Solva spread his hand toward the magnificent vista and continued. “A hundred years of working side by side in peace bought a lot of time for the two peoples to learn to understand each other. By the time the tower was completed, the need for a non-aggression pact was forgotten. The elves and the dwarves were like brothers and could not imagine ever seeking to overthrow the other. If I could, I would arrange for my elf brothers in the North to build an even greater tower.”

Alex saw the sadness in the elf’s gray eyes. The Sorelderal viewed the continual bickering between the Elderal and the Dielderal as a waste of life.

“Come,” brightened the elf King, “let us join the others and hear the tales of our long lost brothers.”

Once again the tales were told on into the night and the next morning talks were renewed again.

Having brought the elves up to date on their travels, Prince Rigal asked, “King Tring has told us that traveling between Universes is forbidden in Dorgun. Is it also forbidden here in Sorelderal?”

King Solva smiled sadly. “Yes, indeed that is true. There is too much danger involved in making the journey from one Universe to another. I am afraid that you are stuck in this Universe. We can allow you complete freedom in traveling wherever you wish to go, except we cannot allow you to return to your homes.”

“You have no right to stop us,” exclaimed Prince Rigal. “We have journeyed here to bring closer relations between the dwarves of Talman and the elves of Glendor, just as you live in peace with Dorgun. How can you boast of this great peace and then deny it to our Universe? You have no right!”