Lord Of Dragons (Book 2) (22 page)

Sebine frowned at his words, wondering how they could control their population and remain a flourishing, strong Kingdom. A shudder ran through her body and for some terrible reason her mind pictured soldiers tossing babies from the two hundred foot walls into the desert. She felt sick to her stomach, and lost her hunger in an instant. They wouldn't be so cruel, would they? To her side she could see Tael's puzzled face scrunched up as if trying to work out the meaning of the boy's words.

"How exactly do you maintain this balance?" Sebine was almost afraid to ask, but she found her morbid curiosity stronger than her caution.

"But this is the core part of our religion, of our gods," the boy said, his eyes incredulous. "We worship and follow the precepts of our religion in our daily lives. This is a shame that member of royalty from the Kingdom of Valance does not understand this of our civilization. We are taught in school that this one thing is perhaps the most important thing to our Kingdom, and the reason why we have survived for so many thousands of years, while other cities and civilizations have crumbled."

The boy released a small, mocking laugh, but he caught himself and gave Sebine an apologetic bow. "Forgive me, Your Royal Highness, for my rudeness. But you see, as I am still young, the memory of the lessons from my teachers is still fresh in my mind. My teacher, he said that two thousand years ago, while the people of Valance were living in caves and hunting animals with rocks and spears, and drinking water by placing their mouths into rivers and lakes, we Malathians were standing at the lofty heights of Shaar'el in our observatories studying the stars through finely ground glass telescopes. Can you understand the source of my levity?"

Sebine resisted the urge to issue a snarky retort. "You have a great and illustrious history, to be sure. I look forward to learning more of your ancient city."

The boy wagged his head at that, and guided them up stone stairs that snaked their way up and around many flights until they reached the edge of a bustling square filled with colorfully dressed people smiling and chatting, and some older people sitting around tables enjoyed a simple bread and dipped it in what looked like a lentil stew.

"You see the people are all enjoying the holy days." As they walked, the boy motioned at group of citizens waiting in a line before a small stone temple on the far edge of the square. "They are waiting to pray to the goddess of the moon and seek her blessing. We have many shrines and temples to the goddess throughout the city. And you can see the people abstain from alcohol and sweet drink, and eat simple Raana bread and lentil and rice gruel. There is also no meat consumed during the fast, though we of Shaar'el consume little meat as livestock can hold much disease. We do eat of the delicious river trout that thrives in the great Catris river that flows underneath our city."

Though Sebine was unsurprised to learn of water near Shaar'el, as the maps she had studied showed a the city nestled in a vast oasis, she had a hard time imagining any water existing for long under the scorching hot sun. Which was likely why the ancients built a city over the water to provide shade and protection.

"If you can step inside here, an official of the government of Shaar'el will speak with you before granting you the permission to stay in our city." The boy flashed them an ashamed smile. "You must understand, we need to follow the rules needed to manage so many people, do you not? Let me first make an introduction."

After the boy talked for a long while in a soft, earnest tone to an old, wizened man with a head of thinning, white hair, the old man nodded and motioned Tael and Sebine to go inside a room with a distracting view of the bustling square.

"Please, won't you sit, Princess Sebine? And I'm sorry, what was your name young man?"

"Tael Shalinor."

The old man stopped himself from sitting at an old, leather chain, and raised a bushy eyebrow at the name, and fixed his pale-blue eyes on Tael for a long moment. "Your grandfather is Master Greyth Shalinor? I see... This is proving a most interesting day, indeed. Well, there is little use for any of my questions. Simply hearing you are his grandson changes things entirely. I hope that young boy didn't already leave, for I will be needing him. Excuse me a moment."
 

Sebine cast puzzled eyes at Tael and he gave her an arrogant smile in return, as if touting his power and influence here in Shaar'el. The old man returned with a servant girl who placed a basket of steaming-hot bread and lentil stew on a side table that overlooked the square.

"Forgive my rudeness, you must be hungry." The old man gave them a gracious bow and motioned for them to sit at the table. "I've had the boy go and retrieve your grandfather. Once he confirms you are who you say you are, the government of Shaar'el will grant you entry. Go on now, eat up, the girl will bring you water soon."

The wizard was here already? As Sebine pondered the boy's words, Tael wasted no time in darting over to the table and helping himself to the bread and lentils. Mouth stuffed full of food, he realized his lack of manners, and offered Sebine a piece of the flatbread. She gave him a dismissive shake of her head as she sat at the table and took a hesitant bite of the bland bread. It needed pairing with the lentil stew, so she followed Tael's lead and dipped the bread and enjoyed the subtle, aromatic flavors swirling in her mouth.
 

"Gods, this is delicious!" The tastes and scents were so new that she found herself wondering how they created such a delicate and flavorful dish. "If this is considered simple food for fasting, I'm dying to find out what their regular food tastes like."

A grunt of appreciation came from Tael's mouth as he helped himself to more food. By the time the girl came back to bring them water, the bread and lentil stew was gone. The girl smiled and asked if they wanted more, and Tael and Sebine nodded their heads in unison. Sebine decided that she was going to enjoy her time immensely in Shaar'el, and hopefully that their stay would last as long as possible.

Chapter Twenty-Five

TAEL SPOTTED THE familiar figure of his grandfather striding along with the boy through the now crowded and celebratory square. In the hour or so that Tael and Sebine had waited and feasted on the delicious food, they marveled and pointed at the oddly dressed citizens: priests wearing robes of red hues like fire that shimmered with a light of their own, ladies strutting around in gowns of glittering blue like sapphires illuminated by sunbeams, and men sauntered in dour jackets and pants of earthen tones and seemed like fixtures in the crowd to draw attention to the brilliance of the ladies and priests.

"I'd expected a more serious time of fasting," Sebine said, and Tael nodded, thinking of the Calathian ceremonies of self-restriction and penitence, of groups of priests lashing themselves with long whips while they stumbled through the streets. The priests of Shaar'el seemed joyful and filled with hope and kindness.

"In a way they are similar to those of Rez'el, very sociable and there is much interaction between the priests and the people."

Sebine gave him a wry grin. "But they're not drunk with wine spilling down their faces, and having wild, raving parties whilst naked."

"And how is that a bad thing?" Tael winked at her, and turned as his grandfather entered the room.

"Your Royal Highness." Master Shalinor inclined his head to Sebine, and glanced with suspicious eyes at Tael. "What have you two been up to? I'm surprised you made it to Shaar'el so quickly. Especially with all the foul rumors of chaos and madness in Glar Bay."

"We might have had something to do with the problems in Glar Bay." Sebine gave a devilish smile to Tael's grandfather. "There was a witch there that I didn't particularly like." Tael noticed she stopped herself from issuing a snarky comment on how he'd seemed enthralled by the witch.

The wizard frowned at Sebine, then shrugged and motioned them towards the door. "Of no matter, at least you made it here in good health and sound mind. We've much to discuss. Shall we leave?"

As Sebine and Tael followed Master Shalinor outside, Tael thought about his grandfather's "sound mind" comment, and wondered if it had anything to do with the look of suspicion he had given him.

"How soon will we leave for the north?" Tael said, and his grandfather scowled in response.

"I heard from the boy that you arrived from Rez'el. You have the taint of their earth god inside your mind, grandson. What happened to you there? Did you let the high priestess touch you with her magic?"

Tael's face darkened and he winced at the wizard's critical inspection. Sebine went alongside Tael and took his arm in support. "Master Shalinor, perhaps we should discuss everything in a more private setting?" She aimed her eyes at the crowded square. "I'm afraid our story is unsuitable for public ears. And please do rejoice in the fact that we made it here alive. Our journey was not an easy one..."

The wizard snorted and continued walking, filtering through the laughing and drinking citizens, while his mind seemed to consider Sebine's comments. His lightning-blue robe attracted much attention from the crowd and drew wary eyes from the priests mingling with the people. They climbed several flights of stairs until they reached the top of another inner wall with a wide vista of the lower part of the city and beyond to the silvery desert illuminated by the soft rays of the moon. Master Shalinor paused to gaze out towards the east, and released a heavy sigh that spoke of a grave concern in his mind.

"How long until our enemies from the east march here with the draenyx army?" the wizard said, and eyed Sebine with a querulous expression on his face. "The dwarves have fallen to King Braxion and his army of half-dragon, half-elves. The draenyx were unaffected by dwarven ingenuity, and now the dwarves serve as smith to arm the abominations with sword and armor. The elves don't have a chance against them, especially since it is likely that the dark elves will side with King Braxion against the high elves."

"So then our only hope lies in the northern ruins?" Tael said, but kept his voice low, hoping not to attract his grandfather's anger.

"You still haven't answered my question." Master Shalinor fixed a dark stare at him.

Tael nodded his head. "The high priestess did lay her hands on both Sebine and myself, and I saw a vision of the god of the earth."

"And did you discover his name?" The wizard's face was so tense that Tael thought it would break.

"I did. He revealed himself to me. Listen—"

"Enough, I really don't want to hear any more about those fanatics. I know of them far too well, and of the old master who trained the high priestess. She believes him dead but Faarensal is far from easy to kill. Slice his throat and bury him in the ground, and Gaa'el fills his body up with the nurturing force of life and he'll crawl out of his own grave. Quite a strange fellow, actually. He doesn't seem to like me all that much. I guess we're like two wild jackals who don't want to tangle..."

Sebine stared at the wizard. "Do you know the true names of other gods?"

"Don't go meddling in that foul magic of hers." Master Shalinor cocked his head and studied her with new eyes. "Summoning a god's attention on a soul is like calling a fox to feast on a hen. Look how Gaa'el has feasted on a big chunk of my grandson's energy, and he still siphons power from him now. We'll have to fix that soon or he'll be nothing but an empty jug." The wizard released a heavy sigh. "I was foolish leaving you two alone to make the journey. But I must admit, you've done a fine job getting here and keeping yourselves alive. And I suspect that the Princess deserves most of the praise."

A warm flush came over Sebine's face at the wizard's attention. But Tael knew there was some implied insult towards him in his grandfather's words. What was going on? He hadn't really noticed it before, but from his grandfather's harsh glances, he could feel a tension like the electric-charged air of a lightning storm.

"Tael saved me from being killed in Rez'el," she said, and Tael was glad she refrained from talking about being drunk and naked at the time. "He rescued me from being crushed by falling rocks, from a powerful earthquake that struck the city. So please don't be too harsh on him."

The wizard grunted, and with a satisfied nod, turned and pointed towards a glow of light that came from the top of the city. "We'll be flying up there...you do remember how to cast the flying spell that Master Vhelan taught you?"

Sebine cast the spell without chanting or using her fingers to flourish the spell, and Master Shalinor gaped with perplexed eyes as Tael and she floated into the air. "How did you learn how to cast the spell without using chants and the hand movements? I leave you alone for a while and you turn into a powerful sorceress?"

"It's amazing what one learns when you find yourself shackled and gagged in a dark prison." The Princess shivered at the memory, and to Tael's surprise, he realized she'd never told him how she'd escaped.

With a snap of his fingers, a cloud made of wispy wings formed in the air next to the wizard, and soon he hopped on and soared towards the tip of the city. Sebine followed, flanked by Tael, and he indulged in the breathtaking view of the expansive city illuminated by the gentle moonlight. Shaar'el was formed of nine layers leading up to the top, and he knew it likely that the ancients chose the number of levels to reflect the count of planets circling the sun.