A high Fantasy epic in short story form
Prince Aero is awoken by the closing of his cell door.
It’s time. Groggily he opens his eyes. As his gaze comes into focus, he sees a sight that he wasn’t prepared for, the dagger.
“Rania!”
“Aero.”
Aero looks up to see her face. She is looking down and away from him. Is she hiding shame?
“Oh…” Aero slightly gasps.
“You made it!” Betta hears a faint voice off to his side.
He turns to see an old man sitting at a desk of some sort.
“How did you know I was coming?”
“I gave you directions just under two weeks ago.”
“What? You’re trying to tell me that you’re…”
“Jackson. That’s me.”
“Jackson was a boy, you’re an old man.”
“There’s just one problem Matt.”
“What’s that?”
“She’s the reigning Queen, if my father finds out you will be executed.”
“I’m not telling him, and you’re probably not going to be around to tell him yourself… so I think I’m good.”
Having not seen a landmark for days, Betta has grown desperate to make sure he is on the right track. Nondescript rolls of grassy hills after grassy hills has been his sight for days. As he flies, he rises to just beneath the clouds for a better vantage point. Using his eagle-like vision upon the horizon, he still sees no landmarks to give him a hint of direction.
He looks down to the ground, for miles there isn’t much of anything living. A few small animals here or there. Something does catch his eye a few miles ahead, a boy sitting on the side of the road. He looks to around the boy for miles in every direction, there is no one else.
“King William, we have news.” Marco interjects.
“Yes, Ser Robert sent a report. How did he get it back so fast? It’s been what, barely two months since the Meego Light disappeared.”
“Yes, he had a rider run on Prince Aero’s personal horse, Steele, just to get this message to you. The animal was pushed to its limits because the news is so important.”
“Well, what does it say?”
“People of Meego! These two volunteers stand against ten of our own to see if Prince Aero’s words are true. It’s a fight to the last man or woman on each side. Are you ready?”
The Meegan contingent holds their swords above their heads. Matthew stands at the ready while Roasa nods yes.
“FIGHT!” Dabir shouts.
“Ser Aero… but, it’s Prince Aero isn’t it?”
It’s Governor Dabir. His voice has become so familiar since arriving in Meego.
“Both are correct.” Aero replies from under the hood.
“Yes, but you did not let us know that when you arrived. You hid that fact from us, why?”
“Prince Aero, you have a visitor.”
“Rania?”
“Ser Matthew, the hero of the Battle of Inland Docks.”
“Welcome to the Great Forge. I am Kobi. I would have brought my own compatriots, but I am the only person here.”
“I know, I have been watching you since the day I first saw you.” Ayepex responds.
“How? I have looked for you ever since that day.”
Ayepex looks over the cliff toward the ocean.
“There, see those two sea dragons sparing on the horizon?” Ayepex asks.
“No.”
“They are fighting for mating supremacy. The one with the red scales appears to have the upper hand. Do you not see them?”
“No.”
“I can watch you from miles away and you would never know it.”
Out of desperation, Aero reaches for the old rusted steel blade at his feet. There is nothing within his grasp that even resembles a weapon besides it. Not to mention, Aero has a feeling that the sword is calling out to him. The ancient magic that is said to be within the blade is a mystery to him; but he doesn’t have time to question it right now.
Relics of the Old Age