EA#37:
Read From the Beginning or the start of Trial Two or Three or Four or Five or Six
The Mountain in the Clouds, Part Forty
“
We dined, we drank spirits, and we shared stories.
My friends from Titanton had been involved in all sorts of exploits since beginning their quest to serve the greater world.
They had been through several kingdoms, solving mysteries of lost artifacts, saving kidnapped victims, and even ridding a farm of a nighttime menace that had plagued it for some time.
Each of their stories was so unique and captivating to me. Their heroism and cunning outmatched all of their challenges. And they seemed to have had fun in doing so, if fighting beasts can be fun, because they all truly admired and appreciated the company in which they served. It almost made me wish I had forgone my own challenges to have had the opportunity to go along with them these past weeks, or months, or whatever it had been… Time had become elusive to me in this place.
As for King Garamund, his tale was a little different.
“Yes, I spent some days in that place, I believe,” the king recalled. “I was so angry at first. I was mad at you, Magi, and I was mad at myself for being naive enough to let you take me there. Honestly I thought I had been duped, that you were some cunning sorcerer with a vile plan to take over my throne. I began to think that perhaps this was my debt to pay for my crimes against my kingdom. I thought I was getting my fair share.”
Garamund paused and revelled momentarily in his meal. We had fine red wines, game hens and herbed potatoes, a meal I could not have foreseen having in this army encampment. It was surely reserved only for special guests.
The king continued, “But after exhausting myself at some length, and wearing out my thoughts, not to mention falling a number of times… I came to a place of repose and calm. I found there nothing else to do, honestly, after a while. And I had to let go of my anger, first and foremost. It just felt so terrible, in that place especially. It felt so heated, without form or expression. It just washed over me and I had to release it. So I prayed for it to go. And slowly at first, but surely in the end, the anger released. And I stared at some length, finally calm, witnessing the void of space encompassing my vision and the rays of lights swirling on the edge of my perception. Truly, in the end, Magi, that place became a world of wonder for me, of beauty. And the longer I sat there staring into it, thinking of wonder and beauty, the more I saw. And my heavens, Magi, what I saw… What I saw was glorious, beyond compare and beyond even description and understanding to me now. But in that moment, I felt I was home with creation itself!”
A pause followed his story as all those present, including my friends Gill and Riley and the rest, took in his words. Jax and Hayn looked awestruck, and Apalandro raised his eyebrows in curious fascination.
At last I broke the silence, “You are right to call it such, for that it was it was. That is exactly what I found there, too. To trust myself enough to witness a world before me. What I saw was simply the creation of your kingdom, your Castle Greene. But what I hear from you is something more. It seems what you saw in that place was far greater, more magnificent that I could even imagine. And for that I am immensely pleased that you could have such an experience.”
King Garamund smiled warmly at me and raised his cup in the air. I followed suit and we all offered cheers for the story and the friendship.
“So tell me,” I inquired of the king, “What was your answer for your real world challenges? How did your lessons in creation serve you and your kingdom?”
“Ah, very well, indeed,” Garamund announced. “I was immediately taken by this feeling that I could create whatever I wanted, just as in that black void I had made this beautiful world around me. I sought every day to recreate that in my own reality, with my family and subjects throughout my kingdom. And we began projects of every sort, every craft and commerce under the sun. I then reconnected with other lords and ladies across the kingdoms, bridging and fostering relationships that benefited all. The land has thrived since then, and it seems with little effort, truth be told. We have all put our hearts into creating a world together, and the lands are vibrant with life and mirth.”
“So, it seems that with a new intention, a focus of community rather than self, you have actually thrived more easily than ever before?” I gawked..
“Indeed,” the king replied.
“Well, what brought you here, then? For that matter, what brought any of you here?” I asked of all of my friends.
Garamund answered first, “Well, in my growing relationships with the kingdoms, I fostered a strong friendship with King Dramand. I heard many stories of Dral Graf and the terrible things Etl Drilksbat was doing. When asked to help with the war, I must admit I was hesitant at first. I wanted to leave that to my past, foster a future that was more sustainable and civil. But the horrors I kept hearing eventually turned me and I decided to lend my troops and leadership.”
“As for us,” Corporal Riley said after a brief pause, “We had traveled far from Titanton and we found our way into the Barrow Lands seeking to know how we might help. It didn’t take long for us to learn what was going on from stories we heard in Hemsworth Deep, and we immediately sought counsel with King Dramand. Impressed with our stories and good deeds, he asked for us to join his cause. So we did.”
Gill smiled, then asked of me, “And what of you, then, Troy? We’ve all shared our experiences apart. So what have you been up to?”
“Starting, perhaps,” said Garamund, “with why your friends here call you Troy.”
A dozen curious eyes peered towards me expectantly.
“Well, to be honest,” I said. “It’s a long story. And some of it quite personal.”
“Come a my friend,” Apalandro the Scimitar Man urged. “There is a nothing to hide or a keep a secret from us here. We are your friends. Please, indulge a us.”
His thick accent put a smile of my face. It was hard to deny such a plea.
“Well, I could try to tell you about it, I suppose,” I offered. “It might take us well into the night, though. It’s been quite a journey.”
As I was about to attempt a retelling of my story, much like the one I am giving now, I was promptly interrupted by a loud signal horn.
The dining tent quieted down and King Dramand at the head of the main table looked up expectantly but calmly. A moment later a runner came in with a message. The king looked it over quietly, then dismissed the runner.
He stood and called out, “Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse me. And I request my lords and generals to come with me. The rest of you may continue your meal.”
A handful of the guests there stood and followed Dramand, including Kind Garamund nearby. My other friends and I continued to sit, though I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if I should go as well. Somehow I didn’t think I was exactly invited, but a certain compulsion inside told me to go anyways.
The offering was then extended more clearly. Garamund looked at me over his shoulder and said with a raised eyebrow, “Well, aren’t you going to come along?”
I nodded and got up.
“I’ll go, too,” Corporal Riley said, standing as well.
“Sure, I guess you look official enough,” Gill shook her head.
“Yes, do join us, Corporal,” King Garamund offered.
The others remained at dinner, most of them claiming they were simply hungry and would hear of the matter later.
So the three of us went, leaving the dining tent and returning to the officer’s tent with the war plans on the floor.
As we entered, we could already hear King Dramand in the midst of a briefing.
“Things are getting dire,” the king was saying. “The Barrow Lands have never been so threatened. Etl Drilksbat’s forces are overtaking our neighbors and causing havoc among communities. Even now we receive reports of another town burning to the ground before the flags of Dral Graf. Lines of chained prisoners were being marched off to fuel prison camps for the evil tyrant. Or more sinister things, as we have heard… This cannot continue! Surely he knows we are marching towards him, yet he holds nothing back and continues his mayhem. Even in the fall of night. We should redouble our efforts, push through tomorrow, and we will be there before sunfall. The assault will begin on the following light.”
“Do you think that is wise?” King Garamund asked. “If they are attacking towns by night, why should we camp near their lands and leave ourselves so open? Should we not march for two more days, then we can be sure to arrive during midday hours and have plenty of sun.”
Dramand addressed his friend, “I appreciate your concern. We could do as you suggest, and we could hear of more deaths tomorrow night as we dine. And that blood will be on our hands as well. I say we move as fast as we can and surprise them. They may burn helpless towns at night, but I do not expect them to attack the Army of the Gilded Dragon in darkness. That would be foolhardy for any army to do, and highly costly.”
“Your arrogance must be reigned in!” my ‘Magi’ voice rang out.
Garamund whispered gently, “Be mindful, would you?”
Dramand reeled about towards me, eyes wide with rage.
But I couldn’t seem to stop the flow of information and continued to control the space, “You still underestimate your adversary. You think him foolish, less than you. And you overestimate your own powers and that of your army. The Gilded Dragon has certainly proved its might, but legend and glory will not save you here. Drilksbat is cunning, conniving and wicked. His plans are far greater than you care to admit. He is not burning towns to be a school yard bully. He knows you will be weak to it. He knows that you will respond to the call of innocents in trouble. He is roping you in. He wants you within his grasp so that he can overwhelm you with your ignorance. His forces are far more numbered than you are aware, and his capabilities are ingenious. It is a trap, I tell you. I have told you before and I will keep telling you until you listen. But I cannot control you. I cannot choose for you. Still, you would be more foolish to ignore my warning. You will be walking all of your own people into certain doom. There are tricks you cannot even imagine in Drilksbat’s hand. And beasts beyond taming at their disposal. They will have a slaughter if you march straight in.”
Again, this speech sent shivers of silence across those present, myself included. I certainly didn’t like knowing even a hint of some of the things of which I had just spoken. And I had more of a glimpse than I had announced. The information given to me then was of dragons and fires and traps of all sorts. But I was instructed by my inner knowing not to tell all of the details at this moment. It was a process to unravel this information in a particular way.
Which still didn’t seem to be working.
King Dramand finally regained his composure and said this to me, “I will forgive your rude manner only because I know that what you speak of is meant to assist. I feel you are sincere in trying to get my attention. But I cannot believe these things. We know of Drilksbat. We have seen him grow since childhood. He was, in fact, the school yard bully. He was an outcast, always hated, even disliked by his own father, who once ruled this land with a sure but stern fist. We were never close, but we were on tentative terms and let each other be. But Etl, the boy… no, he has always been a fool. He never excelled at anything. And when his poor father met his untimely end, the boy was not prepared to rule. His kingdom has been in chaos ever since that selfish, short-sighted little mind took hold of the crown. No, I cannot believe that he has some seasoned army, or any other tricks up his sleeve. His sleeve has been laid bare his entire life. A layabout, worthless, sniveling attempt at leadership. He’s no…”
“He’s no Dramand, that’s for sure,” I interrupted. Somehow, of all the things I have said so far, calling the king by his name alone was what made the crowd gasp in horror. I continued, “Again, this is a matter of self-worth. Your own, Dramand. You feel that you are the picture of success, the epitome of a good king and the leader of what you feel to be the best of the best, your Gilded Dragons. And these things in many ways may be so, but a certain amount of humility will take you much further than your haughty self-sufficiency. Yes, life has taken many dear things from you, things loved much, but that does not mean that the gods have forsaken you. You are not alone, and you needn’t do this alone. You need to open the door, let others, trust a little more. There is more out there than your mind alone can dream of. Do not feel responsible for Etl’s actions. But you will be responsible for your own. Please, listen to what we tell you.”
Garamund was put to ease a bit, and gave me a warm look of approval. Corporal Riley watched in complete awe, having not seen this side of me before.
But it was King Dramand whom I most closely watched then. He did that thing where he paced back and forth, brows furrowed, hand upon his chin as he mused. He didn’t seem as shaken as my earlier comments had made him, but he truly seemed stuck as to where he stood on things now.
We all waited patiently.
Then at last, Dramand stopped himself, looked up, and asked me, “Magi, whoever you are. Will you tell me what you feel you need to tell me. If you have information that will win this fight for us and save lives, I cannot be fool to pass it by or ignore it. Forgive my obstinacy. I will listen to you now.”
It seemed I’d finally gotten his attention…
“
Thanks so much for reading.
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Blessings to you,
Matthew