The four companions entered the street bustling with activity and Garret steered them north through the masses of people who now inhabited the streets. They traveled straight down the main, always heading north, always walking up hill. Even from the inn they could see that the street ended, some distance ahead, at a massive stone structure. Garret had told them they needed to walk twenty three blocks north towards Castle Valdadore, then skirt the castle wall, following it to the east and then north again six more blocks.
As they traveled up the road they watched the castle before them grow, as they had previously watched the city grow. The castle sat upon the top of the hill that the city was created upon, and from its vantage point it looked down upon the city surrounding it. It was a giant stone structure consisting of giant towers and walls. Behind the walls arose dozens of large spires with stone staircases spiraling around them all the way up to their pointed tips. Upon each spire’s pinnacle, flags blew lazily in a breeze that was not evident upon the streets below. Several of the spires were joined by arched breeze ways that hung perilously in the air, looking dangerously fragile from the street below. Upon the walls and twisted staircases and even upon the breeze ways small figures could be seen walking or rushing from one place to another. The stone of the castle walls was not painted as had been the wall surrounding the city. Instead each stone was polished to a shine revealing hidden flecks reflecting the sun in hues of gold, magenta, and silver. The small flakes of metal in the stone made the entire structure appear to shimmer and sparkle as the sun struck its surface. The castle was a breath taking sight to withhold, and as each of the four companions took their last steps from the street into the courtyard surrounding the massive castle, each of them held their breath while admiring the glorious creation that stood before them.
Directly across the courtyard from where they stood was a massive gate. To either side of the gate stood at least a half a dozen guards, each fully armored, and fully armed. Several stories above the road, through narrow slits in the wall, several dozen more armored men could be seen watching the street below them. From this perspective, using the armored guards on the ground as a reference, Seth estimated the wall to be approximately fourteen stories tall, the gate itself rose nearly eight of those stories. The towers and spires rose over a dozen stories beyond that of the wall. The towers were placed behind the wall at a regular interval, and all appeared to be equal in height. The spires on the other hand appeared to have been built irregularly, each of them raising into the air to different heights, and sometimes appearing to clump together in pairs and trios. A couple of the spires jutted out from the towers themselves and rose alongside the towers into the air. It was an amazing sight. Some of the stone structures appeared to be defying gravity itself as they spiraled off into the sky attached to the other structures by thin spidery walkways. The four stood staring at the castle before them in awe of its glory, the rest of the city forgotten to them for many minutes.
After the four companions finally absorbed as many details of the castle as was possible from this vantage point, they continued around the castle’s wall to the east. Counting the roads as they passed, they counted eleven roads before they came to the corner of the castle’s wall. Turning north once again they paralleled the castles eastern most wall and continued down the road six more blocks. Garret had been leading them, Ashton at his side when he came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the street nearly causing Seth and Sara to run them over. Garret turned this way and that, looking all around him in every direction. He looked around the square as far as he could see. He also looked down the road that they stood near, the sixth road they had counted since the corner.
“It should be right here.” Garret stated, still looking around.
“What should?” Seth asked his twin.
“The Knight’s training grounds.” Garret answered. “Sasha said it was almost six blocks down this side of the square.”
“What did she mean by almost?” Seth again questioned his brother putting emphasis on the word.
“I’m not sure, but I didn’t ask either, I assumed we would be able to see it easy enough.” Garret stated.
Seth turned around looking back the way they had come. He sized up the space between them and the previous road they had passed and looked all along the side of the square in between. None of the buildings along the square appeared to be near large enough to train knights in, and so Seth continued his search. Looking across the square to the castle wall Seth found what he was looking for. They had been so busy looking away from the castle wall, counting roads and such they had missed another gate in its wall. This gate had no guards around it fore it had no need of guarding at present. The portcullis had been lowered at this gate closing it to all traffic, but the castle within could be seen through the iron bars. Seth began to wander back towards the gate, holding firmly to Sara’s hand he pulled her along with him. Garret seeing his twin set off towards the castle, shrugged his shoulders to Ashton and the two followed to see what it was that Seth had noticed.
Approaching the iron barred gate Seth could hear the clangs of steel on steel and the grunts of men’s exertions. Pulling Sara even quicker than before Seth led them straight up to the bars and peering between them, Seth gasped in surprise and reeled back from the sight. Sara, curious as to what Seth had witnessed too pressed her face between the bars. Seeing what lay beyond she too gasped and stepped back shaking her head in disbelief. Garret and Ashton were just approaching as they witnessed both Seth and Sara’s reaction to something beyond the curtain of iron. Both of them too looked beyond the bars into the clearing beyond. Both of them inhaled loudly and took a step back to look at one another.
“Did you see…?” Garret asked, unable to finish his question.
“Yup.” Ashton replied. “I have never seen it before, though my mother described it to me. I have to admit, I was not sure if she was just telling me tales to keep me quiet, but now I see for myself the stories were true.” Ashton stated.
“But what… err…who are they?” Garret managed to ask.
“Those are Valdadorian Knights, the blessed of Gorandor.” Ashton stated.
“But they can’t be human, so what are they?” This time it was Seth who asked.
“They are human Seth, well at least those two are.” Ashton stated shrugging his head in the direction of the iron bars. “Their size is part of the blessing bestowed upon them by their god. The first man to receive this blessing was the original King Valdadore, and if you remember the story teller’s story in Stone Haven, then you will recall that the First King was able to become four times the size of a man.” Ashton stated knowingly.
“So the crazy old bastard was telling the truth?” Garret asked amazed.
“So it would appear.” Ashton replied.
They each again approached the bars, and pressing their faces between them, watched the giant men within performing some sort of battle practice. After a few moments Garret pulled back from the bars, and the others noticing his absence then turned to relocate him.
“Those guys are about two and a half times as big as me I would guess. Their swords are about as wide as I am for crying out loud. Yet you’re telling me that they get even bigger than this? Where would they live?” Garret bombarded Ashton with questions.
“Well let me see if I can explain this well enough. Wait I have a comparison.” Ashton began, and with a deep breath continued. “Ok, you know how I pray, then I repeat words in another language, then I glow when I am healing?”
Ashton’s three companions nodded to his question their individual acknowledgements.
“Ok the knights do something similar.” Ashton continued his narration. “They are usually normal size like you and me, but they pray to their god, and he blesses them with incredible size and strength. My mother told me the largest of them still alive was the King himself, and He can become nearly four times a man’s normal size.” Ashton said taking another large breath as he finished.
“Do all Valdadorian Knights get the same blessing?” Garret asked, yet another question popping into his mind.
“No I don’t think so, but each of them is blessed by Gorandor, and each of them receives some sort of blessing to make them better on the battlefield.” Ashton again answered.
Garret seemed to think about the answers a moment as his face twisted in upon itself momentarily. Apparently coming to some conclusion, Garrets face once again smoothed out, and he pressed his head into the bars again for another look. His companions followed suit.
Two enormous men stood in the manicured field opposite the wall of the four companions. Both of the giants were armored from head to toe in gleaming polished steel armor. Each of the giants too held a massive sword the length of a man and a half, and a shield of equal length. They lunged back and forth landing blow upon blow on each other. Most blows glanced of their shields, but scratches and dents on the giants’ armor bore witness too many blows that had gone unchecked. With every step of the giant men the companions could feel the iron bars reverberate with the impact the ground was forced to endure. Garret was soon daydreaming about how hard it must be to forge a suit of armor so large, when he realized the bars pressing to his head no longer vibrated. Snapping his attention back to the field before him he witnessed one of the giants raising his hand to halt the other’s advancement. The men squared shoulders with one another, and touching their swords together at the tips, they bowed their heads to one another. Lowering their massive weapons, they exchanged words and each of them nodded as if agreeing on something. That was when things got interesting again. Garret and his three companions watched as each of the giants began to shimmer, and their bodies began to lose shape as they appeared to lose definition around their edges. The more the shimmering encompassed the men the more unstable they appeared, and with two large booms wind gusted heavily into the four companion’s faces forcing them to close their eyes momentarily. When the wind vanished as quickly as it had come they reopened their eyes to reveal two armored men of average height walking away from them, across the field beyond the gate. Each of the companions watched them go, each of them wishing they had been able to keep their eyes open to see the transformation.
The group continued to watch for many minutes in hope that more knights might appear, but no more forthcoming, they eventually stepped away from the gate and decided to continue on to their next location. Garret and Ashton led the way as before, following the eastern wall of the castle towards the north all of them talking excitedly.
Seth and Sara followed their companions through the street towards their next destination. Sara, clinging tightly to Seth’s hand slowed for a moment to put some space between them and their companions ahead of them. Seth, curious about Sara’s change of pace looked to see her expression, and again he found the teasing smile upon her lips.
“Oh no what now?” Seth asked jokingly.
“Well I was thinking it’s probably safer if you don’t receive that particular blessing.” Sara stated.
“Why is that?” Seth asked her in return. “It seemed pretty amazing to me.” He added.
“Yes it is amazing but look at it from my perspective. Let’s just say that in the near future we are joined, as we both hope we will be. Following that I am finally able to give myself to you, and who’s to say that one day I don’t bed you so well that you start saying things like “oh god oh god” and then Kaboom, I get split in two and die in our bed.” Sara stated trying in vain to look serious as she explained.
Seth started laughing so hard he snorted, and Sara unable to contain herself any longer giggled both at her explanation, and then at Seth’s snort. They were laughing so hard they had stopped walking, and realizing they had fallen some distance behind, rushed to catch up with their companions. Seth was so taken aback by Sara’s descriptive narration, that every time he thought of it or even looked at her he would start laughing again, and this would cause Sara too to start laughing anew. Several times they shared a look, followed by laughter, and received questioning looks from their companions in front of them. Each time they would wave it off explaining that they could not explain why they were laughing.
They walked to the northern most corner of the castle and turned back to the west, still following the castle’s wall. After making the turn to the west Garret and Ashton walked a few dozen more steps, and gradually slowing they came to a stop.
“Well here we are.” Garret stated.
“Where is here?” Seth asked his brother.
“Temple row.” Ashton was the one to answer as he turned to point opposite the wide street of the castle. “Sasha told us the temples span from here all the way to the western wall of the castle, there are supposed to be nineteen gods and Goddesses represented here, each with their own temple.” Ashton recited the words spoken to him earlier by the inn’s owner.
“Ok so what do we do now?” Seth again asked.
“I am going to visit the temple of my Goddess.” Ashton stated.
“I have to go learn about Gorandor.” Garret added.
“What about you my angel, is there any temple you care to visit?” Seth asked.
“Not particularly my love, I will come with you if you have one you would like to see.” Sara answered.
“Well honestly I had just thought to walk the street and admire them, but I suppose if one should stand out I might go inside.” Seth stated and then added in a whisper for Sara’s ears only. “After all, we have to get joined somewhere, might as well pick a place.”
Sara nodded happily, and smiled lovingly to the man she adored. They said their farewells and agreed to meet back at this corner in a couple hours, and then they parted ways.
Seth and Sara watched Ashton lead Garret away down the wide street where they eventually vanished among the other people traveling up and down the road. Losing sight of his brother, Seth tightened his hold on Sara’s hand and led her slowly in the same direction his brother had gone.
Seth led them to the nearest temple, almost directly across the street from where they had separated from his brother. The building was a magnificent structure covered from the road to the highest arch with intricate stone carvings. Each of the carvings that sprawled up the walls depicted scenes of nature and various animal and plant life. The door to the temple sat between the trunks of two large stone trees. The trees’ branches were interwoven above the door and at the doors peak was carved a nest. Standing inside the nest was a majestic looking bird, its stone gaze peering down at the two people in the street who stood gawking at the temple. The building was beautiful. It was as if it were a part of nature that had petrified here beside the road. However as beautiful as it was, the stone gaze of its protector made Seth uncomfortable and so he decided to move on. With Sara walking beside him Seth again traversed down the street to where the next temple sat. Though the buildings were large, they were placed so close to one another that it was not long before they once again paused to admire another temple. This temple too rose majestically from the ground, covered with carvings and sculptures of its own. It looked much like the first temple in design, only here the scenes of nature were replaced by various symmetric symbols carved into the stone walls. Above this door was a carving of two hands. The hands reached palms out toward one another holding between them an open eye. This too made Seth uncomfortable, but even so he waited until Sara was done admiring the building before leading her once again to another.
Sara and Seth visited the doorstep of temple after temple to admire the painstaking detail that was poured into building each one of them. Even after stopping to admire each and every temple on the street, they realized they still had a significant amount of time before they were to reunite with their companions. They were stopped at the last temple on the street, and had inspected it thoroughly when Seth once again turned to walk away. This time in the direction they had just come, but before he could take a step, Sara squeezed his hand asking for his attention.
“Did you see any you were interested in?” Sara asked. Her amber eyes pleading.
“I’m afraid none of them really stuck out.” Seth replied. “But there are a couple that seemed more appealing than the others.” He added in an attempt to not destroy Sara’s hopes.
“Really?” Sara asked enthusiastically. “Which ones?”
“There was the one with the teardrop above the entrance, that one felt the least uncomfortable. Then there is the one with the weird symbols and the eye. It was a little creepier, but it was kind of intriguing. Then after that one I think the temple with the big dragon statues at the entrance.” Seth told her honestly, letting his discomfort with the temples be known.
“I know the gods and worshipping isn’t anything you hold in high regard Seth, but would you stop to take another look at those three for me?” Sara asked, still clinging to the hope that he might choose one and in doing so allow them to make plans to be joined.
“For you my angel I would do anything.” Seth answered earnestly.
Sara led Seth back the way they had come, a slight bounce in her step. Seth couldn’t help but notice the happiness mingled with hope in her eyes as they walked. He did not want to disappoint her so as they walked he again gazed upon every temple they passed. They stopped again at the temple guarded by the immense stone dragons. Nothing on this temple made Seth feel uncomfortable. The dragons did not stare at him with empty eyes. They did not menace him with bared teeth. The thing about this temple that Seth did not like was the fact that dragons were just fairytale monsters used to frighten children into obeying their parent’s rules. Seth imagined if the temple was inhabited by people worshiping a god that was depicted by a dragon, then he must assume that their religion had a lot of strict rules the followers were frightened into following. As Seth decided upon the temple he could not help but notice Sara watching his reaction. She seemed to recognize his decision before he could speak it, seeing something in his face he had not intended to show. Knowing Seth did not like the temple, Sara again led him down the road to their next stop. She still had a bounce in her step, though it had diminished greatly. Seth hated that he was making her unhappy, and could not stand to look upon her in his guilt. He instead chose to look to the temples they were passing. It was then that he noticed something he had missed previously. The temples were exactly the same as before, but as they walked away from the dragon temple and approached the next one Seth noticed a structure between them.
It was nothing magnificent, it was not even large. No grand statues or carved scenes marked its entrance. Nothing wrapped its walls at all. The structure between the two grand temples was as plain and bare as the road beneath his feet. Looking down to actually make the comparison, Seth realized he had stopped. Looking up from his feet he found Sara staring at him with a questioning look in her eyes. Smiling to reassure her he hadn’t forgotten how to walk, he gestured towards the small stone building between the temples.
Sara scrutinized the small stone building hiding in the shadows of its neighbors. It was made of bare stone with a wooden door. The door had a word carved into its surface, but from this distance she could not make it out. Besides the door no other detail marked the front of the building. Sara marveled at a sudden realization. She knew instantly that Seth would want to inspect the building further. The building, Sara felt, was a lot like her. It was small and plain, it appeared all but forgotten by the people who once took care of it, and nothing about it was remarkable. Like her, the building was a lost cause. Seth seemed to like lost causes, after all he loved her. This in mind Sara returned her gaze to the man she loved and smiled at him already guessing his decision.
“You want to go take a look?” Sara stated more than asked.
“How did you guess?” Seth answered with a look of surprise.
“I think I know you well enough.” Sara stated honestly.
“Well then, let’s go have a look.” Seth said.
Seth led Sara to the door, their hands clinging tightly to one another. As they reached the door Seth paused to read the inscription upon it, but found he was unable. The characters of the word were alien to him. Written in a different time, perhaps in a different language, the words meaning was lost upon the two attempting to decipher it. Seth turned and looked deeply into Sara’s eyes, and seeing her hope once again blazing in their depths, he grasped the handle upon the door. With a loud sigh Seth pulled the door open and warm air rushed past them from within. The scent of jasmine and other various spicy scents tickled their nostrils as they stepped into the small room through the door. Letting the door close behind them, they examined the room before them. It was empty except for two torches that were held in iron bands fastened into the walls to either side of them. Ahead of them, the only structure within the room was a staircase. Stone stairs led down into the earth and ended at a lighted room below. Besides the fact that the room below was lit, no other detail could be ascertained from the top of the stairs. Without speaking Seth led Sara down the stone staircase. They descended slowly towards the light, attempting to see what lay beyond. Reaching the foot of the stairs they peered into the room before them blinking frequently as their eyes adjusted to the bright light. The air here was thick with incents, and Sara coughed lightly trying to clear it from her throat. Even her cough reminded Seth of an angel. The room was larger than either had expected. It was not an elaborate room, having no furniture or decorations. The walls hung bare except for more torches running its length on either side. The room too was bare except for stone pillars that stood at regular distances supporting the ceiling above them. Looking across the long room Seth noticed one single statue standing at its far end looking back at them. Seth noted a familiar feeling about the statue, and wanting a closer look he began to cross the room towards it leading Sara by the hand. The back of the room was not as well lit as the entrance had been and being as such the statue was cast in shadow. Seth noticed that even as he was growing nearer he could not see the statue clearly enough to discern its details. As Seth made the halfway point across the room he thought he heard a foot scuff on the stone somewhere and slowed his pace to look around for its source. Spying nothing but the stone pillars Seth decided he must have been mistaken and turned his head once again toward the statue. Seth stopped abruptly before colliding with his intended target. Regaining himself Seth looked to the stone figure before him and gasped in realization. The stature before him was of a person he recognized. Not only did he recognize the stone features, but he remembered the voice that belonged to the stone woman before him. He remembered it, because it had only been a handful of days since he had spoken to her in a dream.
Before Seth stood a stone statue of a woman bearing a stark resemblance to his mother. Where before the woman’s hair had been braided in tight rows to her head, now it hung loosely across her shoulders. The statue stood, a calm look upon its face, its eyes fixed on Seth, who returned its gaze. Seth could not believe his eyes. In fact he closed them briefly only to reopen them revealing the same face as before. Without thinking about what he was doing, Seth reached out to touch the statue, a strange compulsion guiding his hand. Pressing his fingertips against the cool stone figure Seth heard a whisper. Removing his hand he turned to look at Sara to better hear her words, but Sara stood silently watching him with a curious and hopeful look upon her face. Thinking this odd, Seth returned his gaze to the statue in front of him. Again his hand rose as if of its own accord. Touching the stone again Seth could hear the whisper, only this time it was louder and more coherent. He closed his eyes to focus better upon the sound and found himself in a familiar stone room. The room was circular with no windows or doors just as it had been in his dream. He turned in the room mentally, conscious that it was simply a vision in his mind. Finding nothing out of the ordinary he again tried to listen for the whisper. No whisper came, instead as if standing directly before him, he heard the woman’s voice from his dream so many nights before.
“Seek me out amongst the oldest buildings of Valdadore.” The disembodied voice said into the room created by Seth’s mind.
“I have.” Seth replied not knowing what else to say.
“Go then. Call to me when you have need of me. Serve me and I shall reward you.” The voice said almost as if it were a command.
The circular stone room vanished taking with it the voice leaving Seth within the darkness of his mind. Seth’s eyes fluttered open and he found himself shaking as if from cold. Sara had come to support him, wrapping her arms around him gingerly from behind. Seth twisted in her arms attempting to turn to face her. Sara realizing his intentions loosened her grip upon him letting him turn. Seth turned, still in Sara’s embrace, and sought out her angelic face. Looking into her deep amber eyes Seth smiled to reassure her. Sara released his waist taking a step back to analyze him further. The shaking had ceased and Seth watched as Sara looked him from head to toe.
“I’m ok Sara.” Seth said.
“What was that all about?” Sara asked with a concerned expression.
“I’m not sure I can explain it correctly, but I will try.” Seth stated trying to plan his explanation so that it would make the most sense.
Just as Seth began to speak again a movement from something behind Sara caught his attention. Leaning slightly to his side he peered over Sara’s head to reveal a man cloaked all in black just a few paces away from them. Instinctively Seth sidestepped Sara and brought himself between her and the man that was now approaching slowly. Seth placed his hand on the hilt of his sword in silent warning to the other man.
“No need for that young master.” The man spoke with a thick accent causing his words to sound akin to a hiss.
“Why do you sneak up on us then?” Seth asked in a demanding tone.
“It has been some time since we have had a visitor to the temple, I was trying to see if you were vandalizing the statue.” The man hissed again.
“We mean no harm to your temple sir, in fact we were just about to leave.” Seth said, adding the last part as an afterthought.
The man again stepped forward towards them as if to get a better look. The man was staring intently at Seth’s face when he froze in place with a loud gasp. Regaining himself the man bowed low to the ground.
“Forgive me Sire for I did not recognize you. Nor was I aware you would be arriving with a guest.” The man spoke quickly making his hissing hard to interpret.
Seth was thoroughly confused at this point, sure the man was mistaken
“I am afraid you must have me mistaken for someone else.” Seth stated his thoughts.
“No sire, though you may not know it I have been expecting you. The mistress showed you to me and told me to await your arrival. I should never forget your face she told me and I did not. She too told me to give you something.” The man said quickly not stopping for a single breath.
“Who are you and what do you speak of?” Seth asked demanding an answer.
“Forgive me master, my name is Borrik. I am the last surviving follower of her holiness Ishanya.” The man stated beckoning towards the statue behind Seth. “She showed me a vision of you, in the very clothing you wear now. She told me you would come and she sent me to retrieve an ancient relic for you. I have it here with me now.” Borrik stated reaching one of his hands deep inside his robe.
Borrik reached up with his free hand and pulled back his cowl revealing his withered face and greasy black hair. He was neither old nor young, but somewhere in between. Around his eyes were dark circles that made it appear as if he had not slept for many days. His face was nearly clean shaven except for a small patch of hair beneath his lower lip, and his nose had a distinct knot in it where it had been broken long ago and the bone had not mended properly. His eyes were charcoal gray, and his pupils abnormally large as if unable to focus. Borrik took another step towards Seth and pulled his hand from his heavy black robe. He then presented his hand to Seth, and within it lay a small book. The book looked to be nothing of great value. The black leather cover had a tear in it, and its edges were worn or missing altogether. The edges of the pages that were visible through the ruined cover were stained shades of yellow and brown. Seth did not reach to accept it.
“What is it, and what does Ishanya want of me?” Seth asked the man named Borrik.
“It is a book sire. A book penned in the hand of a powerful servant of Ishanya many generations ago. It is a catalogue of sorts of his many services to the mistress, a journal of his powers, of his creations. That is what the mistress told me though I am unable to read it for myself.” Borrik stated remembering the words of his Goddess.
“What of Ishanya, what is it she wants from me?” Seth demanded.
“This I know not master. Only I know she told me you would seek her temple. She told me get the book for you at any cost, and so I have. She says for me to serve you now master for you will soon do her will upon Thurr. That is what she told me master. That and nothing more I swear to you.” Borrik stated with honesty.
Sara had come to stand beside Seth with a look of concern mixed with a look of confusion. Seth took his eyes off Borrik only for a moment to meet her eyes. He could see she was afraid, and he wished to ease her fear. Seth did not trust the gods, he felt what was near to loathing for them. Now it seemed however a god had taken interest in him. This Seth knew could not be a good sign. Though Ashton had a Goddess. A Goddess he loved and worshipped and it seemed to make him happy. All this Seth thought about before speaking again.
“Do you have a place we can sit and talk?” Seth asked Borrik still refusing to accept the small book.
“Yes master, past the statue there is a hall. Through the hall there is a room with a table and some chairs.” Borrik stated gesturing towards the darkness.
“Will you take us there?” Seth asked unwilling to enter a dark room first as it could be some sort of trap.
“Yes sire I will do as you command.” Borrik said again bowing low to the ground.
Borrik walked past Seth and Sara. Circling around the statue he continued on into the darkness. Seth followed next pulling Sara along behind him. They traversed the short hall and stepped into a room where a single candle sputtered upon a table. Borrik plucked the candle up from where it sat and used its small flame to ignite several torches that clung to the walls of the room. As the light increased the room was revealed. Inside the room was a long table with a dozen chairs situated around it. There were two ways out of the room. The first was the hall they had entered through, the second was a wooden door across from the hallway that at this time remained closed. Deciding it was safe, Seth pulled out a chair and gestured for Sara to sit. Sara quickly sat in the chair he offered, wanting to quickly learn what was going on. Seth then waited for Borrik to seat himself before sitting beside Sara. Organizing his thoughts Seth looked to Sara before he began to speak.
“Many nights ago I had a dream. Only it was not like a dream, it was as if it was more real than even when I was awake. In the dream I was at first alone in a round room. The room had no doors or windows. I could see plainly but there was no source of light. I searched for a way out but there were none to be found. Giving up my search I had turned around and before me there stood a woman. I know now that the woman was Ishanya. She told me to seek her out in the oldest buildings in Valdadore. I did not know that she had meant a temple, and thinking it a dream I had no intentions of pursuing her wishes. When we came here to the temple I recognized the statue and when I touched it I could hear her voice. She again spoke to me. This time she told me to leave. She told me to call upon her when I had need of her. She said that if I served her, she would reward me.” Seth told his tale looking always to Sara and waiting for her to respond.
“So the Goddess spoke to you in your dreams, and even though you did not intend to you found the place she wanted you to come?” Sara asked to confirm her understanding.
“Yes.” Seth stated simply.
“Then you touch the statue and she tells you to serve her and in return she will reward you. That must be when you started shaking.” Sara said to Seth.
“Yes that is right.” Seth answered.
“Then you Mr. Borrik say that the Goddess sent you on an errand to fetch a book. The book you are to give to Seth because the Goddess told you that he would serve her. Now you bring the book to him, and tell him that you are to serve him instead of the Goddess?” Sara asked
“Almost M’lady.” Borrik hissed. “I serve the Goddess by serving him.” He stated gesturing towards Seth.
“What do you get in return?” Sara asked knowing a piece of the puzzle was still missing.
“The mistress told me that in time my new master would be able to reward me with a great strength and lasting life.” Borrik answered quickly.
“May I see the book?” Seth asked.
“Yes master it is yours to protect now.” Borrik answered holding the book out for Seth to take.
“Please call me Seth.” Seth replied taking the book for Borrik’s extended hand.
Seth carefully opened the cover to expose a badly stained but otherwise blank page. Flipping to the next page he found it too was blank. Seth quickly sifted through the entire book letting the pages flip open one after another. Each and every page was free of ink.
“The pages are blank Borrik, what kind of trick do you try to pull here?” Seth demanded rising to his feet.
“No trick Lord Seth I assure you. I cannot read the pages either my Lord, but maybe if you ask the mistress she will reveal its contents to you.” Borrik stated certain he was correct.
“Where did you get it?” Seth asked.
“It was hidden among ancient books in a secret library protected by those who know its origins.” Borrik replied.
“Who are they and if no one can read it then how many know its secrets?” Seth asked still standing.
“I know neither what they call themselves nor who they serve Master Seth, but I assure you there are several less people who know about the book than there were before I sought it out.” Borrik said stating the last part proudly.
“You killed for this?” Seth said taken aback.
“Yes master Seth, it was the only way to retrieve it. They would not have given it to me freely.” Borrik stated a determined expression upon his face.
“What is so important about it then that people would die to keep it safe?” Seth again demanded.
“As I said master I know not what it contains but I can tell you this much. The man who wrote the invisible inscriptions that the book is said to contain was once nearly seated where the King sits now.” Borrik stated, he the only one worshipper of Ishanya remaining who knew the books history.
Seth mulled all the details over in his mind. The Goddess had gone out of her way to choose him for some reason unknown to him. If ever he did call upon her perhaps he could use this knowledge as leverage. She chose him, not the other way around. She had also given him a book containing something important, but he was unable to read it so that seemed pointless at this time. These details were important, of that Seth was sure. More importantly however was the reward Borrik was promised, a reward that Seth was supposed to eventually give him. Seth was to give him a reward that consisted of some sort of strength and lasting life. The details swirled in Seth’s mind and he filed them away to dwell on later. He looked to Sara and noticed she too was wrestling with all the unexpected events and details and as Seth watched her face suddenly lit up and she smiled widely.
“What is it angel?” Seth asked.
“Well it seems you do have or will have ties to a religion.” Sara stated leaving the thought unfinished.
“Hardly something to be happy about Sara, you know how I feel about worship.” Seth stated not grasping her point.
“I know love, but it also means that in some way you will probably belong to a temple and so we can be joined.” Sara stated quickly her smile beaming at him.
“Well there is that.” Seth replied returning her smile.
Seth was amazed that with all this news surrounding the unexpected revelation Sara was able to find a silver lining. She never ceased to amaze him. Stuffing the book in his tunic Seth again turned to face Borrik.
“So what of us now Borrik?” Seth asked the man.
“I cannot tell master. I imagine it is up to you to decide when or if you will call upon the mistress. Then maybe you will see more clearly what it is she wants or requires.” Borrik answered.
“What of you then Borrik? What shall you do in the mean time?” Seth asked.
“What do you wish of me Master Seth? I am to serve you.” Borrik stated a look of questioning appearing on his face.
“What is it you would normally do?” Seth asked.
“I live here at the temple master. I am its sole keeper.” Borrik replied.
“Then I suppose you should continue your duties here for now Borrik.” Seth told him, then added as an afterthought. “I do have one service you could provide for me if you are so inclined.”
“What is it you would have me do master?” Borrik asked happy to serve.
“I want information. Gather up any book or scroll that contains information about Ishanya or those who served her and deliver them to me at The King’s Herald.” Seth commanded.
“You shall have all you wish before night falls Master Seth.” Borrik vowed to the man he now served.
Seth was still on his feet when he bid Borrik farewell. Reaching out his had to assist her, Seth helped Sara from her chair and they quickly left the temple. Returning to the sunlight Seth and Sara stood outside the wooden entrance to the temple dedicated to the Goddess Ishanya. Seth did not move as to return to the street. Instead he turned to face Sara a look of defeat upon his face.
“I don’t think we should mention this to my brother or Ashton.” Seth said quietly.
“Why is that my love? Don’t you think that perhaps they might have some insight as to all that has occurred?” Sara asked her face a mask of concern.
“They might indeed angel, but I would like to know more myself before burdening them with my troubles.” He stated.
“If that is what you want, then I will not mention it.” Sara said honestly. “So what do we do now?” She then asked.
“Well it appears to be about time to meet the others so I guess we will go do that.” Seth stated noting the suns position in the sky. “Later, after Borrik delivers the information I asked for, I suppose we will have some reading to do. I don’t think it will look suspicious if we retire to our room early tonight do you?” Seth asked with a crooked grin on his lips.
“No indeed my love. In fact if we are to be spending a lot of time in our room then perhaps we can do more than read.” Sara said with a giggle, her teasing grin appearing briefly.
Seth took Sara’s hand and they walked from between the temples into the street ahead. Rounding the corner to the left they quickly navigated through the throngs of people and worked their way down the long street. Seth ignored the people gathering in the street as well as the row of temples to his left. He guided them on instinct alone, all the while sifting through details of his conversation with Borrik. Seth found it discomforting knowing that a god had sought him out. Why would a god choose him over another person? What was it the god wanted of him? Seth knew enough about the gods to determine that they did not act on a whim. Ashton had stated that the gods needed followers or worshippers to exist, though it was not a proven fact. If it was a worshipper Ishanya wanted she had chosen the wrong disciple. Seth was not inclined to blind worship. The gods were each known to grant special blessings to their most devout followers. Seth had witnessed this with Ashton and again earlier this same day with the enormous knights inside the castle. A god’s blessing could come in any form ranging from the most mundane ability to amazing feats of immense power. Seth recalled how it had felt to wield the power of Ashton’s Goddess. The power had not been his to wield, but none the less Ashton had loaned the power to him in a sense, allowing him to feel it course through his body. Seth recalled the feeling as if it had only just happened. It was a feeling he had enjoyed immensely. It was both pleasurable and intoxicating. It was a feeling Seth secretly hoped to one day feel again. If the Goddess wished to grant Seth a blessing of magic he could not imagine himself refusing it. He would not lower himself into a position of mindless worship for the blessing however. Of this much Seth was certain.
Feeling Sara’s pace slow, Seth refocused himself on the world outside his mind. Finding they were near the predetermined meeting point he too slowed his pace to match that of the woman he loved. They walked slowly, hand in hand, the last remaining steps to the corner of the castle wall. Stopping at the corner Seth and Sara took turns looking around to try and spot Ashton or Seth’s twin. It was a futile search as the street was now growing very crowded with people. The sun had passed its apex and people were out in masses ready for the evening’s festivities. Small booths were beginning to spring up in various locations down the street and people crowded around them. Seth had never seen so many people before in one place, the feeling made him a bit uneasy. Seth liked to keep an eye on people. Naturally he was a bit untrusting of others with a few exceptions. He found it difficult here to relax with so many people wandering around aimlessly. Feeling uneasy was a treatable ailment however, and Seth knowing well the drug he needed to ease himself, pulled Sara snugly into his arms. He held her there in a tight embrace gazing down into her liquid amber eyes. He was instantly soothed, the anxiety stirred by the crowd washed away leaving nothing but her eyes. Seth was an addict, and Sara was his drug of choice. Seth continued for some time gazing into Sara’s eyes, losing himself in their honey colored depths. The world unfocused around him and he was temporarily lost within her gaze.
“Have you no shame?” Garret hollered from a short distance. “You two have a room. Use it will you?” He joked loudly.
Seth pulled himself from the depths of Sara’s eyes and turned his head to watch his brother and his friend emerge from the crowd. Both Sara and Seth watched their companions approach, smiling to them in welcome. Releasing his grip on Sara, Seth again took her hand in his and they both turned to face their companions.
“How was your exploring?” Sara asked Garret in her angel’s voice.
“It was very informative. Thank you for asking.” Garret replied smiling.
“How about you Ashton? Was the visit to your temple a good one?” Sara again asked.
“Yes it was Sara.” Ashton answered, a boyish grin on his pale face. “The temple here is beautiful and many followers took time to speak with me. My mother’s description did not do it justice.” He added.
“What about you two did you visit any of the temples?” Garret asked both his twin and Sara.
“We visited them all briefly.” Sara answered honestly.
“How was it then?” Garret asked his gaze now fixed upon his twin. He knew well his brother’s distrust of the gods.
“It was much the same as yours I should think bro. It was very informative.” Seth answered with honesty but careful not to hint towards further detail.
“What do you suppose we should do now?” Garret again asked, looking as before towards his brother.
“I had thought to return to the inn to eat.” Seth stated making up his plans as he spoke.
“Do you not want to see the festivities brother?” Garret asked. “There will be plenty of food out here.” He added as if to persuade his twin.
“To be honest Garret I do not feel well, and I suspect that I would not be good company. I think I will return to the inn and retire early tonight, perhaps I can witness the festivities tomorrow.” Seth replied knowing well his ailment was of a mental nature rather than a physical one.
“You want us to join you?” Garret asked with real concern.
“No need for that. Enjoy the festivities, perhaps take note of some things you think I will enjoy and tomorrow you can show them to me.” Seth said knowing his brother did not want to return to the inn.
Garret nodded solemnly, realizing his brother’s mind was already made.
“Well if you are certain then I guess I will see you in the morning.” Garret stated and then added with a smile. “Don’t keep him up all hours of the night and wear him out too much Sara. We need him to feel rested tomorrow.”
Sara replied with a playful scowl, and waved as Garret and Ashton turned to once again join the masses of people milling about in the street. Watching them once again vanish among the crowd Sara turned to face Seth.
“Not feeling well? Perhaps I can perk you up a bit.” Sara stated as she stepped into Seth’s body.
Rising on her toes, Sara pressed her lips to Seth’s. She kissed him more passionately than was appropriate for a public place, but she cared not what others might think of the display. Letting her lips fall from his, she shrank back down off of her toes and took his hand in hers. Seth smiled appreciatively before turning to walk back the many blocks to the inn.