“Are you ready, son?” Edaam asked as he walked Elyar to the temple. They had walked in silence for the last twenty minutes or so watching the world slowly fade into shadows.
Jared from his silence Elyar responded, “I think so. There isn’t much to prepare for.”
“Not much to prepare for, but this can be the greatest opportunity to gain a glimpse of Theos. I remember when I was in my trial. I pondered for hours trying to hear the voice. Even a glimpse would have been enough. Then I heard it. A voice from a breeze passed by me. Warmth crept down my spine and a peace I had never experienced washed over me.” Edaam talked about his experience in his trials. Elyar half listened. His feet dragged a little and he kept struggling to keep up with his dad.
Finally, Erast came into view. Lights twinkled all over the town. Some came from windows and Elyar could see many glimpses into the domestic lives of his father’s vassals. Small rays of golden light mixed with purples and reds painted the dusk sky. A few Erastians bowed to Lord Edaam quietly greeting their lord. Edaam nodded his head as he and Elyar walked slowly through the village.
The temple was in the near center of town across from the mayoral town hall. It was a stone structure that stood out compared to the style and majesty of the rest of town. It was one singular circular tower that stood nearly fifty feet tall. There were no windows leaving the entire building as one solid imposing mass. Angular patterns were carved into the structure tracing from the foundation all the way to the top. Elyar wasn’t sure, but it looked like a small pulsing light emitted from the carvings. Elyar began looking at the light as it pulsed in and out. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the building. He had lost himself watching the lights.
Two priests of Kleros stood in front of the temple. Unlike the priests
Elyar had always interacted with, these priests’ robes were more ornate. They wore white robes with a long navy blue cowl over their shoulders.
Similar patterns spread across their cowl as did the temple. Their heads were still bald, but they had tattoo patterns along scalp down to their neck.
“This is where I leave you my son. Stay strong in spirit, and listen for the voice of Theos. He can give wisdom and strength like non other.” Edaam told Elyar as they stood before the grand temple. He had turned to face his son and a somber expression had come over his face.
“Thank you, father, for everything you have done for me.” Elyar responded.
Softly chucking, Edam laughed, “we are making it sound like you
are on your way to an execution. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Elyar laughed back as he waved his father good night. He watched him slowly walk back home before turning around to face the priests.
“This way.” They said in unison. It was an unnerving moment. Elyar followed a little hesitantly. They led him deep into the temple. It felt bigger inside than outside, which was saying something for the building was bigger than anything else in the village. After a few turns and a couple corridors, Elyar was ushered into a small, bare room with only one candle in the middle of the room.
“You will remain in here until morning. If you are awake and the candle is still lit you pass your final trial.”
Elyar nodded not wanting to say anything. These guys made him feel weird. They left and closed the door behind him. Elyar spun when he heard a loud thunk and clicking sound. He tried the handle. It wouldn’t turn. He was trapped until they opened the door in the morning. If they opened it. Elyar thought.
He stood in the middle of the room closer to the door. Looking around he tried to see anything of interest. There weren’t any. He walked over to the flame and stared at it for a moment. It was a real flame. After looking at it for a moment he passed his hand over it like he used to do with the digitorches.
“Ouch!” Elyar yelped. It burnt his hand. He did not expect it to burn him. Digitorches never did. Nursing his hand, he continued watching the flame dance before him.
Elyar snapped his head up and stumbled a step or two. He caught himself, blinked his eyes a few times, and looked around. Nothing had changed. He must have fallen asleep for a moment lulled by the flame.
After that he tried walking around in circles to keep himself awake.
This might be harder than I thought.
Eventually he sat down to try to commune with Theos like his father wanted. He sat with his legs crossed and his arms resting on each knee. He didn’t close his eyes, but he did stare into the stone. He couldn’t risk falling asleep again. Time began to slow. He breathed in and out slowly. He figured he would try the same thing he did when weaving into a rune. He reached his being out into the world. But there was no rune to connect with. He held it out there for a while before he brought himself back. After a few more minutes he got up and resumed walking.
“This is dumb,” Elyar mumbled under his breathe. “Here I am, walking in circles trying to connect to a being I don’t even know exists trying not to fall asleep. Dumbest test ever.” Elyar kicked the dirt and kept walking. Eventually he decided he would try reaching Theos one more time.
He sat down, this time resting on his knees. He leaned back into a comfortable position. He rested his hands on his thighs while rotating his shoulder blades. He breathed in and out. In and out. His mind crept out of his being one more time…nothing.
Wait…was that a brush against his being? Elyar sought the feeling he just felt. There it was! Vague, but real. He kept his being focused on that space. His eyes were closed, but he felt like the room grew darker and darker. He opened up his eyes to see if the candle was still lit. He saw nothing. The candle was gone. The room was gone. He was floating in darkness once again.
Oh no.
Darkness enveloped the world around Elyar. He floated in an abyss of black. His heart began pounding as he looked around him. As his heart beat faster, so did his breathing. He started looking around faster and faster. Suddenly, a pinpoint of light appeared to his right. Watching the light get closer and closer, Elyar’s breathing began to calm. Once the light hit him he could see that it was the temple room. No throne. No sword. Elyar’s eyes opened. He was sitting exactly as he had been before. He took a deep breathe and contemplated why he kept appearing in a room of darkness. Was that Theos trying to speak to me? Elyar thought. But before that thread could go any further Elyar heard a voice to his right.
“Hello, Elyar.” A smooth voice shattered the silence like a hammer to glass. Elyar snapped his head toward the voice. He leaped to his feet once he saw a man leaning against the wall. He was about Elyar’s height with similar black hair. He was muscular with piercing blue eyes. From head to foot he wore what looked like armor, but it was none that Elyar had ever seen. It was a mix of blacks, whites, and greens. Each piece looked like what Koraxian knights wore, but more leaf like. Veins flowed through the armor like petals. It didn’t look alive, but it was intricatly designed and served to both protect and wearer and awe those around him. An ornate blade was attached at his hip. Elyar couldn’t see much of it since the hilt was covered by the hand resting on it.
Elyar stared at the man and no words would come forth. “Maybe if I introduce myself,” said the man after waiting for Elyar’s response. “My name is Rhysander Thalorion and I am your humble servant.” He performed a deep bow with a dramatic arm flourish. Elyar stared at him for a moment longer before responding.
“How do you know my name?”
“Pragmatic response my little lordling.” Chuckled Rhysander as he started walking the room slowly with his hands clasped behind his back. “I have been watching you since we met the other night. My servants have kept me informed.”
“Your servants,” Elyar said with an eyebrow raised. “Who serves you in the Feud?”
“Oh no one you would know,” casually replied Rhysander. He had stopped and was stairing at the candle. “My servants are of no concern
of yours. Just know that I have learned a lot about you. I believe that we can help each other.”
Elyar watched him stair at the candle. “Do you not have candles where you come from?” He asked ignoring what he said.
Rhysander chuckled. “Of course we do. I just love to watch the flame writhe.”
The way he said the last word brought a little shiver through Elyar. What a weird way to describe the dance of a flame. Elyar needed to know who this man was so he stepped a little closer and asked, “how
could I help you? And what do I need help with?”
Rhysander cocked an eyebrow at Elyar’s step. He straightened up and stared Elyar straight in the eyes. Blue as the ocean met mossy green.
“I have a place for you. But can I trust you?”
“Trust me with what?” Elyar blurted out. He didn’t know who this man was and his vagueness was becoming irritating. “You never said how you can help me. Why do I need your help?”
Rhysander gave Elyar a face like that of his mother. It was a face of “you should know.” He then went back to looking at the flame and said, “Oh come now Elyar. You should know your place in this world. You are the youngest son of a pathetic duke. You shall not rise to lord yourself. That right belongs to your eldest brother…what’s his name? Oh right, Yonn. you will live a pathetic life in the shadow of your brothers.” He then looked up at Elyar again. A smile curled across his face that did not convey happiness. “Or you could come to me. I can give you a place in my court. One of power and purpose.”
Elyar didn’t respond for a moment. He hadn’t ever thought about his place in the Feud. Up to now, he had only wanted to pass his trial. What would I do with my life? I have never desired power, but I don’t want to live a life of nothingness while my brothers shine beyond me.
“I still don’t know what you want from me.”
“Oh that is easy. I want you to be there when I need you. That’s all you need to know.”
“Be where? When? Elyar asked louder than he meant to.
“When and where are not things you need to know little lordling. You will be told when those things are pertanent.” Rhysander’s eyes flashed. A bit of red appeared. Elyar took a step back.
“I don’t know you nor your desires.” Elyar stammered.
“Oh, don’t go where I think you are heading. That is not a good path for you lordling.”
“I need time to think. That is all.” Elyar’s eyes had grown a little wider since the conversation started. He was near the wall and Rhysander’s appearance seemed to have grown. The shadow cast by the flame felt off.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t need encouragement. Let’s try this.” Rhysander said and then snapped his fingers while muttering something inchoherent. Elyar’s world instantly changed.
A new scene appeared instantly. This time Elyar wasn’t as shaken.
His body was getting used to the dramatic scene changes.
Where am I now? Confused Elyar started looking around. He was definitely not in the temple anymore. He was in a long, tall, dark room. A dull fire burned in a crumbled fireplace. It was in the center of the room and cast dancing shadows all over the place. Even with the fire most places were covered in shadows.
“uuuuggghhhh.” Came a voice from Elyar’s right. He spun around in the direction of the sound. He saw arm over a turned table. He began running over to the arm. He had to jump over some stone rubble from the fireplace. It was about twenty feet from where he had been. As he got closer he noticed some carvings in the table. It looked familiar.
Why does it look familiar? Elyar thought. When he reached his destination he took a second to look at the table itself. He saw a picture that stopped him for a second more.
I carved that! That was his table! He recognized a carving he did when he was five. It was a small dragon riding a large human. He quickly looked at the arm. He recognized the tattoos. Panic hit him and Elyar looked over to see who it was. Hoping against hope it wasn’t who he tho ught it was.
His heart sank a little when he saw the face. She was covered in blood. Her hair was matted with red interlaced with the usual black. It was no longer in the usual braid but was loose and flung around. She groaned again, but this time it was more like a gurgle. Like her throat was filling with blood.
“Mother?!” Elyar choked out. Barely holding in a sob he ran around the table, knelt beside her, and slid his hand behind her head to prop her up. Once he moved her into a better position, she started to spit blood out and take in a deeper breath. Her hand was on her side where most of the blood was. His cheeks felt wet. His throat became tight like a vice was trying to crush his lungs. He barely chocked out, “what happened? Are you ok? Where is Father? Wh…” Eva stretched out the hand not on her wound and placed it on Elyar’s mouth silencing him.
“You ask to many questions, my son.” She softly chuckled until she was racked by coughing. After what felt like an agonizing minute she was able to breath and the coughing subsided. She couldn’t speak very loud, but Elyar could hear her fine. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Elyar didn’t know if this was real or another dream. Can Rhysander do this? Elyar thought while holding his mother trying to push down the pressure from within.
Eva blinked her eyes and then they snapped at Elyar. His head jumped back a little. Her star was not natural nor had his mother ever looked at him that way. “You should have been here. Why did you leave us?
This is your fault.”
“I didn’t leave!” Elyar panted back. “I didn’t leave mother. I was at the temple. Don’t you remember?”
“You left us.” She said quieter than before. “Left us…left us to die!”
“No mother! I did not leave! I promise!” Her arm went limp. Her eyes still bore into Elyar. Now they were unwavering. But the light had left. Elyar’s head fell into his mother’s bosom as the pressure in his chest finally erupted. tears flowed freely down his face, but no comfort came from his mother. He would never feel her warm embrace again.
“Oh poor Little Elyar.” Rhysander yawned. Elyar slowly looked up green eyes shot with red lines. “What will you do without your dearest mommy.”
“Why did you do this?” Croaked Elyar.
“This, oh this isn’t real.” Laughed Rhysander. “This is a suggestion of what might happen if we don’t come to some form of an agreement, you and I. You see, life has consequences. You take one path and prosperity will be yours. All your wildest dreams could come true. You take the other…” Rhysander paused as he slowly waved his hand over the destro yed hall. “Do I make myself clear?” Rhysander growled.
“Yes.” Elyar said with his head down looking over his dead mother.
He felt
“Good.” Rhysander approached Elyar and whispered in his ear. “Do not disappoint me Little Lord. I do not like being disappointing.” Rhysander straightened up, adjusted his breastplate, and walked to where he first appeared. “Now…lets get you home before mommy and daddy miss you.” With that he snapped his fingers and Elyar found himself in the temple once again. The candle was still lit and Elyar was sitting in the same position as before. He had no idea how long he had been sitt ing there. But time didn’t matter. Not after what he had just witnessed.
Elyar wrapped himself in his small cloak and let the tears slowly fall down his cheeks. He knew what he saw was fake. But the emotions he felt were still real. Holding his mother was real. Her voice rang in his ears, “you left us to die.” He felt small. Smaller than he ever did standing next to his father or brothers. Like an ant standing before a spider.
Helpless.
The door creaked open as the two priests walked into the room. Elyar looked up at them eyes shot red and deep black circles around them. They looked at him, then at the candle, and in unison they parted and held their arms out toward the door. Elyar slowly stood up, tried to steady his breathing, and then exited the door. He never wanted to see this room again.
Once out the front door, Elyar was greeted by his whole family. They stood in a crecent around the temple’s doors in anticipationg. One of the priests accomplanying Elyar spoke to the family, “the trial is complete. Elyar was found awake and the candle was lit. He has been found worthy by Theos. May you walk in his light until you are ushered into his arms forever after.” He then bowed his head and walked back into the temple followed by the other priest.
Elyar was crushed by the embraces of his family. His brothers clapped him on the back saying how proud they were to welcome Elyar into manhood. His mother parted through her goliath sons and placed her hands on Elyar’s face. A hint in her eyes told Elyar she noticed his eyes, but she held him for a moment before whispering through happy tears, “I am proud of you son. You are now a man. Carry yourself and continue making this family proud.”
Elyar placed his hands on hers without moving them. A tear crept down his cheek. He figured he didn’t have any tears left, but there they were. Together, he and his family started walking back toward the Great Hall. He was told a feast had been prepared. Elyar glanced back and thought he saw a raven with black, white, and green feathers flying off. He blinked and it was gone. Did I imagine it?