The Rise of the Emperor--The First to Rise Up

Siurbu 2172



Eirathem landed his great dragon just outside the city where six boys sat bound upon the ground. "This is the best they could send against me?" he asked dryly.
"Apparently so," said his head rider, Kaiadon. "This one," he continued, pointing to the second boy, "claims the smallest was with him and was meant not to get into the battle."
Eirathem reached into his bag and pulled a small amount of dirt into his hand. "Water," he said simply.
After the water was added, he stirred the mud with his wand, "Get the smallest on his feet."
Kaiadon walked over and jerked the boy up. The child looked terrified. "This," said Eirathem calmly, "is Casariu'n {the emperor's} mud. If you speak the truth it will harm you not. However, if you lie to me it will burn hotter and hotter until you speak the truth. So you will speak true, will you not?"
The boy nodded his head.
"Aye, Casari," corrected Eirathem sharply.
"A-aye, Casari," the child parroted.
"Hold out your arm," he commanded.
When the child didn't obey immediately, Eirathem grew his wand into a staff and banged it out on the ground, and a stoop wide enough for a man to sit grew out of the ground. "Fehrahndon {head rider}, show this one how we deal with boys who obey not in Casariuhof'n {the emperor's garden}."
Kaiadon sat and pulled the child over his knee. When he had dealt about ten smacks to the boy's bottom, Eirathem said, "That will do. Get him back on his feet."
The child had the beginning of tears streaming down his face. "Hold out your arm," the Emperor commanded again. The boy began to cry harder, but this time obeyed.
"Did you raise your wand against my riders?" asked Eirathem.
The boy shook his head violently. "Answer with your voice," commanded Eirathem.
"N-nae," answered the boy.
Eirathem spread a bit of mud on the boy's arm with his wand. "You speak true," he said, "however if you forget again to speak to me with the proper respect, I will believe you need another lesson in obedience."
"A-aye, Casari," the boy said softly.
"Is your father in the city?" asked Eirathem.
"N-nae," replied the boy.
Eirathem spread the mud showing the boy was telling the truth, then said, "Ten more smacks to his bottom for not showing the proper respect."
Once the boy was back on his feet again, the Emperor said, "I daresay you shall not forget again. Hold out your arm."
The child was crying hard now but obediently held out the arm. "Where is your father?"
"I kn-know n-not, C-Casari!" he cried, "Our fathers were supposed to meet w-with t-the C-Casari; w-we w-were l-left in t-the c-city b-because he l-likes not to b-be b-bothered."
Eirathem shook the remainder of the mud back into his bag then wiped his wand and hand upon his pants. He folded his arms and looked sternly at the boy. "If your father were here, I would set you aside and have him claim you as he left the city. However, he is not, so you shall remain in my care until such time as he reclaims you." Eirathem pointed on a spot on the ground, "You shall sit, and sit quietly whilst I deal with the others. If you obey not you shall get another lesson in obedience."
The boy sat.
Eirathem turned his attention to the remaining boys. The oldest still looked defiant, the second he could tell was worried for his brother, and the last three had differing looks of anxiety on their faces. "What do you plan to do with them?" asked Kaiadon.
Eirathem strode in front of the other five. "They look like myendoi {Myende men} with strong backs. They shall make fine Munde. These Myende, and any others who stand up in defiance of me or my riders shall be given the bonds binding their magic as these have and serve me for a time. These shall serve until my lands have been reclaimed and I invite their fathers to reclaim them. That may be one turn, or thirteen; I have yet to decide. Transport them to my stronghold. They can journey with my Munde and work alongside of them."
"I lay claim to one," said Kaiadon mildly.
"Oh," said Eirathem, "and by what right do you lay claim to him?"
Eirathem knew full well Kaiadon was an heir, but had chosen to allow him to choose the time to reveal it. Kaiadon reached up and loosed the band he had worn all his life and let it fall to his wrist. "You," he said to one of the boys, "on your feet and over here. What does this band say?"
The boy approached cautiously, and as he inspected the band his hands started shaking. "What does it say?" demanded Kaiadon.
"Y-you are the heir of Fifuhus'n {the fifth house}"
"And what house are you from?"
The boy gulped, "F-Fifuhus'n."
"What relation are we?" Kaiadon asked more gently.
"Y-you are my eldest brother. W-we thought you were lost."
"I am very much alive, and well able to deal with you I assure you," he said sternly.
Eirathem said, "You may have him, but the bands remain."

"The first thing I shall do," he said harshly as he grabbed the boy by the arm and headed towards the stoop, "Is let you know exactly how I feel about a boy raising his wand against riders. You could have died you fool of a myendelihto {Myende boy}!"

He strode with the boy over to the stoop, where he sat down and proceeded to turn him over his knee. As he began smacking the boy's bottom, he said, "And while I teach my brother a lesson, somebody shall find a tunic. For you are dragon boy now, and dragon boys wear tunics so that when their rider needs to deal with them there is nothing between that rider's hand and their errant bottoms. And I have the feeling; I will need to deal with you often."
When he was done, he proceeded to change his brother's clothes. Once the boy had been redressed in the tunic he marched him over to where the other boy sat. "Sit there," he said harshly, "on your bottom, hands flat on the ground, head bowed. You are very much in disgrace."
Eirathem said, "We gave them a chance to leave peaceably, and they defied us. So send your riders through the city, and get those people out of there. Give them not time to gather belongings, just get them out. Then go through the city and remove everything we can use. Afterwards, get the brown riders and have them level it. If they need my help to level the city, let me know. This Great City of the Myende shall be no more!"
Eirathem strode over to the wall he had made when he took control of his land. He grew his wand into a staff and ground it into the dirt a bit. Then he used the end to draw two lines on the wall a little wider than the width of a man. He banged his staff between the lines and stone fell away revealing an opening. Changing the staff back into a wand, he made the intricate movements to create the portal only Myende could leave though. Then he strode back to where the boys sat. "Up," he said harshly.
The child rose to his feet looking at Eirathem fearfully and the Emperor said, "Take my hand."

He walked over to where the remaining boys sat. "You," he said pointing to the brother of the boy at his side "shall say goodbye to your brother. He shall remain with me. Neither of you need be harmed so long as you obey." He allowed the boys a few moments together and then called the boy to his side.

He turned and strode over to the head rider. "Did you confiscate their wands?" he asked.

"Aye," said the rider as he walked over to his dragon and pulled the wands out of his bag. Eirathem noticed his brother had been moved and now sat next to his dragon, although the rider still had him sitting in the stance of disgrace.
"How long do you plan to have him sit that way?" asked Eirathem.
"Mayhap for the remainder of his life," said the rider darkly. Eirathem nodded and took the wands from the man. He held them out to the boy. "Choose yours," he ordered. The boy chose his and then Eirathem broke the others. "Now break yours," he said.
The boy whimpered, but obeyed. "Now that you have broken your wand and shown a willingness to obey, I shall take those cuffs binding your magic off your arms."
He removed the cuffs, and handed them to the rider. "Soon, I shall get a bag for you in the ways of old," said Eirathem to the boy. "Each day you mind, we shall walk amongst the trees, where you shall find things of interest you want to keep in your bag. I may also send you with my riders. When that bag is full, I shall take you to the trees and teach you to make a wand with great might. Do you understand?"
"Aye, Casari," the boy said softly.
"You shall call me if there are any other issues," said Eirathem shortly to the head rider.
"Aye, Casari," he said calmly. "I will have the others taken by dragon to you by tonight."
Eirathem said nothing else, grabbing the boy's hand and striding to his dragon.

The Rise of the Emperor--The Fremde meet the Emperor

Siurbu 2172

It was just days after Eirathem had taken control of his lands when he was awoken early in the morning by his dragon's voice within his head. He sat up in his bed, which was just a mat upon the ground as he had ordered the former Emperor's stronghold demolished and they were all now residing in tents. He was forcing the mundo Banim and his family to reside with him so they could learn to trust him. Banim's eldest son, Belllonien, had been given into the care of an elder rider in hopes the man could help the boy learn to control his temper.

However, this morning (if it was even morning yet), Eirathem was not concerned with Banim's eldest son. He said very tersely into the room, "Can she not wait?"

"She is very distressed," said his dragon calmly in his mind.

Eirathem sighed, and rose to prepare for the day. He glanced across the room and saw the mundo {Munde male} tense. "I know you are awake," he said to the prone form, "Up!"

Banim rose himself, taking the time to resettle the blanket over his mate a place a soft kiss on her forehead. "Stille," he said softly, "I shall return tonight with Maestir."

Still yet, he looked nervously at her after he had risen. Eirathem crossed his arms and gave the mundo a very level look. "What is the rule?" he asked evenly.

"So long as I obey, my family shall remain safe, Maestir," said the mundo softly.

Eirathem nodded in approval. "See to your needs. I shall expect you at the side of dracaneu {my dragon} as soon as you may."

The mundo rushed out and Eirathem finished dressing himself. Before he could make his way out of the tent himself a small voice said, "Maestir?"

Eirathem strode over to the third mat in the room which held Taniva, the original girl he had taken, and Banim's second eldest son. "Aye?" he asked tersely as he knelt down and lifted Taniva's chin.

"You promised," she whined.

"It is not safe," said the Emperor. "Should I return in time and hear that you have obeyed, we shall take a short ride then."

The girl began to pout, and Eirathem drew back the covers to land one resounding smack on her leg. "Should I not hear from Daehlfreon's {head patriarch's} munda {Munde female} that you have behaved as an obedient, respectful mundalihta {Munde girl} in my absence, I shall order Daehlfreon to give you the smacks you very well deserve instead of the tale I am sure you will wish to hear," he said sternly.

"Banahfne mie mundalihta {I will be good Munde girl}," said Taniva fervently.

"Ehte mion {You had better}," replied the Emperor shortly as he gently resettled the covers over her. "Go back to sleep. It is much too early to rise."

He shook his head as he made his way out of the tent and to the tents of the riders. The girl alone, of all the Munde, showed no fear of the new master that had come. He was soon at the tent of his head rider, Kaiadon. The man stuck his head out when Eirathem rang the bell attached to his tent. "There is a draca {dragon} in distress," he said shortly. "I know not how long I shall be. I wish for you to send riders to Teinusiuhus'n {the thirteenth house} in my absence. I will join them as soon as I may."

The rider nodded. "Do you wish any to attend to you?" he asked.

"Nae," said Eirathem. "I shall send word if any aid is needed."

The man nodded and retreated back into his tent, and Eirathem strode over to his dragon. As had been instructed, Banim awaited him. In fact the man had taken out the oil and cloth and was attending to the dragon's scales. "That will do," said the Emperor shortly, "We wish not to slide off her back."

The man blushed. "I just thought..." he began.

"My ire is not raised," said Eirathem levelly, "However since it is she who demanded we awaken, she can suffer as well."

"Aye, Maestir," said Banim quietly as he stowed the cloth and oil in Eirathem's bags upon the dragon. Soon they were loaded and in the air. The journey was a long one and finally Banim asked, "Maestir, why did you wait?"

Eirathem had expected the question at some point. He decided now was as good a time as any to explain to the mundo. "I am but the age of twenty six," he began. "It was advised to me to wait until a siurbumiht {turn of might} to assume power as to influenced the minds of the Myende of this land."

"But you walked the land as Vasdaon {grandfather}," began the man.

"Ah," said the Emperor, "so you have realized. Aye, I was Vasdaon. Amongst ehlmoni'n {the old ones} it is believed that the might of our magic rests on the health of the land and the Munde. So I walked my lands and attempted to strengthen both until the time that had been advised of me to attempt to reclaim them in full. Do you understand?"

"Nae, Maestir," said the mundo, "But I have not magic and mayhap that is why."

"Mayhap," agreed Eirathem. He said nothing else. It was a good sign that the man had been brave enough to ask the question. Hopefully soon, Banim and all the other Munde on Eirathem's land would learn he could be trusted.

Meanwhile, in the forest of Fremfuer, Leandrow was chasing after his wayward youngest brother. Eldrith had recently turned twenty-six turns old, and was in fact the same age as the Emperor who was headed towards them. However it took Fremde children four turns to grow in mind and body as much as a Myende or Munde would grow one turn. So, although Eldrith was twenty-six turns old, he acted about the age of a six turn old Myende. Eldrith had decided recently that it was not fair that he was forced to bring his guard with him wherever he went and was escaping at every opportunity.

Leandrow climbed higher into the tree and raced to get ahead of his brother. He then dropped to where he would be lower and unseen as Eldrith passed. When his brother came near Leandrow merely reached up and grabbed his ankle, pulling his screaming brother into his arms. As soon as Eldrith realized who had him, he began screaming even louder, "Nae!" he cried.

The eldest son of Elessar ignored his brother's cries, settling himself upon a branch as he proceeded to throw his wayward brother over his lap. "You run not from me," he said sternly as he proceeded to let Eldrith know exactly how he felt about the matter. The boy's cries brought two more of his other brothers near.

Rhisshil, second eldest son of Elessar, and his younger brother Weryl, sat down to wait. Weryl winced in sympathy as he watched. "Memories?" asked Rhisshil mildly.

"Aye," laughed Weryl. "Leandrow spanks not often, but when he does...." he trailed off.

Rhisshil snorted. "He is giving him a great deal more sound than sting, I assure you."

"It feels not that way when you are over his knee," objected his younger brother.

Their conversation was interrupted by a bellow much louder that their brother's. Leandrow stopped spanking immediately, pulling Eldrith to sit in his lap. The boy clung to him and sobbed. "Cear-rahnne! {I am sorry}" he wailed.

Leandrow didn't respond, swinging his long blond hair to cascade down one shoulder. "Get you on my back," he said in a tone that brooked no argument. "And if you attempt to escape again, I shall take down those leggings and give you the full spanking you so richly deserve."

Eldrith was not about to argue and crawled around his brother until he was behind him with his arms around Leandrow's neck as he clung to his waist with his legs. The eldest son of Elessar stood then. "Let us see what is making that racket."

"You are allowing him to join the adventure?" asked Rhisshil.

"I am going on the adventure. He just happens to be on my back, where he shall remain so long as he obeys."

Rhisshil chuckled and the brothers ran through the trees towards the sound, which sounded like a large animal in pain. They neared the edge of the forest near Nuethus Geradahnge, the great school of magic in the north of Dumaira. Eldrith's sobs had died as soon as he had heard he was to accompany them. and he was looking around avidly. As soon as they walked out of the trees they spotted it: a drab, yellow dragon that was wailing pitifully.

Eldrith began to struggle to get down. Leandrow quickly grabbed his brother's arms to prevent the move. "If you try to leave my back," he said mildly, I shall call for a weardahnd {guard} to return you to Vasda {Father}."

"She is hurting!" said the boy.

"Then if you will still, we shall move closer and you may tell me what you sense," responded his brother.

However, before they reached the dragon, there was a great shadow from above and the Fremde looked up to see another great dragon descending. Eldrith tensed for a moment, then relaxed.

"Tell vastar {brother} what you see," said Leandrow softly.

"She is black, but on the outside she is not," said the boy simply.

“Let us move back in the trees and observe,” said Leandrow mildly.

The three men ran back into the trees and continued to watch the dragon descend. The dragon had two men on it, one the stocky build of a mundo, The other, dressed in all black, was taller, obviously Myende. They both slid off the dragon, the mundo standing by it, while the other stalked over to stand in front of the drab yellow dragon.

It was obvious the man was talking to the dragon, though they couldn't hear over the creature's piteous bellows. But all of a sudden the dragon stopped. The man turned and they watched as he extended his wrist and his wand flew into his hand. Then before their eyes the wand grew into a great staff. The man ground the staff into the ground, and then his voice reverberated through the forest. “I know there are Fremde within. I am Eirathem, Casari of Myencihn. I have no wish to intrude upon the lands of the Fremde, but swadraca {this dragon} tells dracaneu {my dragon} that there are those within preventing her lihto {boy} from coming and bonding with her. I promise the lihto will be harmed not. He will go to Puethion'n, where he will learn to care for his dragon and behave. I have freed dracai'n {the dragons}, and such will happen from time to time.”

Leandrow said, “Weryl.”

“Aye,” Weryl agreed readily as he turned and left at a run. A few moments later, he returned, with a boy trying to drag him towards the edge of the forest He was accompanied by a mage from the nearby magic school. “You are sure of this,” the man said worriedly.

Leandrow said, “Eldrith look at Casari'n {the Emperor}, Tell us what colors you see.”

“Brown and gray,” replied the boy.

“Nae black?” asked Leandrow.

“Nae,” said Eldrith.

Leandrow knew this very well, as Eldrith screamed if he saw someone with a black aura. “This is Casari'n {the emperor} foretold by Thanion. He is oi'vulonmi {without great evil}.”

The situation was taken out of their hands however when the boy slipped from Weryl's hand and ran straight out of the forest to the dragon. The dragon's head was as nearly as tall as the boy, but the child leaned against his nose, gazing deep within the dragon's eyes. Then before their eyes, the dragon began to change, Starting at it's nose, it became blue, the blue shimmering through it to the tip of it's tail. Then the child sailed through the air, to land right side up on his dragon's back. The dragon began to flap it's great wings and soon rose into the air.

The emperor said nothing, turning and striding back to his dragon, and ordering the mundo to mount it. Soon they were rising into the sky as well. “So that is Casari'n {the Emperor} foretold,” said the mage.

“Aye,” said Leandrow. “From now on, you shall allow lihtoi {boys},to go to the dragons. I believe they will be harmed not.”

“He seems very young,” remarked Weryl.

“Aye,” agreed Leandrow. “It is not time yet. We must wait for Lihte'n Teinusiu {the child of thirteen}. Then we shall act.”

He said nothing else, turning and striding within the forest, the others following.

The Rise of the Emperor--The New Emperor Arrives

The thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day of the thirteenth moon of Siurbu 2171

The mundo {Munde male} named Banim watched with all the others in the relative safety of the trees as the only Emperor he had ever known fell to the earth, landing with a crash. Soon after, a great black dragon descended. It was not the Emperor's dragon, but another. The man atop it slid to the ground. He was dressed completely in black, in a leather tunic and breeches. Finger-less black gloves adorned his hands. He had long black hair that was tied in a loose ponytail behind his head.

The man seemed to exude darkness. He stalked over to the dead emperor, breaking the man's wand and letting it fall atop the broken body. Banim watched in awe as the man's own wand grew in his hand until it became a long staff. He stalked over near the trees then, and slammed the staff down on the ground. "I claim this land, the land of my birthright as mine. For I am Eirathem, the True Casari {Emperor} of Myencihn!"

A wall of mud that turned to stone as soon as it was a bit taller than him began to form and spread along the line the first Emperor of Myencihn had marked as his. The new Emperor stepped back and ground his staff into the earth. His voice resounded in the area like thunder. "I suggest if you see a wall coming your way, you move. All those on this side of the wall are now in the land known as Casariuhof'n {The Emperor's Garden}. Myende who wish to leave need only ask and I will give you passage from my land. If you are Munde, I am Maestir."

A Myendo {Myende male} Banim knew to be one of the councilors to the old emperor cautiously approached then. The older man looked calm, considering his former emperor lay in a puddle on the ground and his new Emperor had just erected a giant wall that was growing.

"I suppose," Eirathem said coldly, "You wish to see proof of my claim?"

"You should not have been able to erect the wall if you are not the true Casari," said the man calmly. "However, there will be those who demand proof."

The Emperor reached up and slid something from atop his arm. Once he slid it free, he shook his arm until a bracelet fell all the way to his wrist. He held out his left arm inviting the old mage to inspect it. The man carefully approached, twisting the leather bracelet around Eirathem's wrist to fully examine it, though he was careful never to actually touch the new Emperor himself. He stepped back, looking at Eirathem curiously. "It would be good to hear how the heir we believed to have died in an accident, lived."

"There was nae accident," said Eirathem in a voice dripping with venom. "My father sacrificed my mother, and then attempted to sacrifice me when I was but two turns old. I still remember her screams. Then I remember the pain of the knife he attempted to use to cut the heart from my body. Then I remember darkness."

He continued, "I have been told that since I was so young my magic aided me and I entombed myself, and then fell into a pit where a rhacon {great snake} lived. She held me in her coils, stopping the bleeding with the healing secretions these snakes produce. According to the one who told me thus, I traveled through caves underground to the deep south of this land, to a land even now none of you dare to tread. They say it was there my dragon came to me. However I remember none of this. I remember pain, then I remember darkness, and then...I remember my dragon."

"She took me to Puethion'n {the Land of the Sands}, where I learned to care for her and lived amongst a people called the Fremdafyr. I have reclaimed my birthright for one reason, and one reason only: to free the dragons."

He turned and strode to the pen they called the valley of dragons. In truth, it was a great pit to trap unfledged dragons in hopes they would bond with the elite of Myencihn. There was a great staircase so that those bonded to the dragons could get in and out of the pit. He stood on the top stair and banged his staff upon the ground. "In the name of Eirathem, Casari Myencihnu {Emperor of Myencihn}, I free the unfledged dragons. Fly! Find your children, call them to your backs and take them to Puethion'n so they may learn to care for you as I learned to care for mine."

For a time it seemed as a great tornado had broken, as one dragon after another beat its great wings and took to the sky. After those had risen to the air and flown away, he looked upon the remaining dragons, and the boys trapped in the pit with them. "These boys may believe you are only beasts to serve them," said Eirathem gravely to the dragons below. "However I know better. Call your children to your backs!"

For a few moments all that could be heard was the screams of boys as they flew through the air only to end right side up on their dragons. "Take them to Puethion'n so that they can learn to mind, care for you and fly. Return not until they are ready to learn the Casariu'n {the Emperor's} ways! Fly!!"

Watching from the trees, Banim's heart sank. For he knew now exactly who this man was. And he had no doubt that quite soon the man would exact his revenge against him.

"Make nae mistake," said Eirathem to the councilor. "I AM the Casari. Your Council of Elite is disbanded. You are my only councilor. I have walked this land for several turns. I am well aware of the behavior of all those who called themselves councilors, and that is the reason you will be my only councilor. For now you shall find all those who call themselves overseers upon this and send them straight to me."

He said nothing else before stalking into what was the old emperor's stronghold.

* * *

Later that evening, Eirathem surveyed his lands from the window of the previous emperor's stronghold. There was not much to be said for them. The fields were bare, having been picked clean to feed the elite in the Emperor's City. The Munde, slaves to the former emperor, hid in the forest, starving.

When the new Emperor had taken over the compound earlier in the day, he had ousted the gaggle of Munde women who had served in the former emperor's bed. Now only one remained, a child that looked to be barely seven. She eyed him from the corner with fear, clutching the doll he had given her closely to her. The few sharp stings he had given the girl's legs when she disobeyed had been enough to convince her to mind him.

There was a sharp rap at the door and Eirathem turned, bellowing "Enter!"

Two men walked in cautiously. One was the newly appointed councilor, the other the only remaining overseer, as Eirathem had already ousted all the others. Eirathem strode to the desk. "Come," he said tersely.

The men approached on the other side of the desk. Eirathem pushed the scroll towards the overseer, tapping at two figures on the scroll with the butt of his wand. "These are the number of Munde who died upon these lands in the last turn. It is almost as many as those who lived. I would like to know how you would change this. I have yet to have an overseer give me an appropriate answer."

"I think you will like not what I have to say," admitted the man quietly.

"Continue," said Eirathem coldly.

"If you want them to live," he said quietly, "they must be fed adequately and their health cared for."

"And how would you accomplish this?" asked Eirathem.

The man looked at the councilor apprehensively, and then finally said, "In the south, amongst the villages on this side of Denu'n Rhaciu {the Valley of Snakes}, you will find what remains of Teinusiuhus'n {the thirteenth house}. Should you really wish to aid the Munde of this land, there are those who would serve as healers and overseers. However, they will allow not the treatment the Munde here have had thus far."

Eirathem nodded. He said quietly. "I walked this land for many moons unseen before challenging the former Casari. I watched all. It escaped not my notice that you alone, of all the overseers, rarely used that whip that is at your side."

"I have never found that cutting open a mundo's back makes him work harder or be more obedient, " said the man softly.

"And that is why," said Eirathem, "I chose to save you for the last to question. Should you prove yourself worthy, you shall be my Forsahndon, my head overseer."

"But know this," he said as he pointed the butt of his wand at the man, "I have two rules regarding my Munde: dead Munde are impractical, and hurt Munde are impractical. I understand from time to time discipline may be needed, but the Munde of this land need not suffer needlessly."

The man nodded, "Aye, Casari."

Eirathem flicked his wand and a scroll came flying out of his bag and landed on the table. He opened so the two men could see. "These are the plans for my lands. Nae more will the food produced here go to fill the bellies of the elite. Casariu'n Ceasteron {the Emperor's great city} will be dismantled. If they want a city they can build on the land of another. Soon, those dragon riders who escaped the former Casari will arrive from Puethion'n. They will be in charge of its dismantlement. They will also aid you," he said pointing to the overseer, "in getting the aid you need. We will move towards there gathering the Munde and dismantling the buildings as we go."

"Know this," he said pointing to the councilor, "this will happen. Any who defy or stand against me will be crushed. So when my riders arrive, I suggest you have one take you to this city, and I further suggest you inform them it is in their best interest to leave peaceably. For I will do what I must to reclaim my lands."

The councilor nodded gravely. "But for now," said the Emperor, "Get out there and get those Munde out of the trees and get them healed and whole as best you may until help arrives. Dismissed."

The two men left slowly. Afterwards, Eirathem motioned to the child, "Come here," he said shortly.

She rose and cautiously approached him. He led her to the balcony where he had sat a chair and a short stool earlier. He pointed to the stool, and she sat quietly. He sat in the chair next to it. As he sat, his wand grew into a great staff. He ground it into the earth, releasing a spell so all in the vicinity could hear his words. "What is Casari's first rule?" he asked the child softly.

"Dead Munde are im-....."

"Impractical" he finished for her.

"And Casari's second rule?"

"Hurt Munde are impractical," she said getting the word correct this time.

"And what does Maestir want of his Munde?" asked Eirathem.

"Do as we are told," she answered.

"And what will happen to those who obey Maestir?" he asked.

"Full bellies," she replied, showing what was most important to her.

"And what else?" he asked pulling gently at the new dress he had acquired for her to wear.

"Clothes that fit," she replied eagerly.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"Toys," she said clutching the doll towards her.

"And you shall help the Munde learn Casari's Rules so you can keep that doll, shall you not?"

"Aye, Maestir," she said softly, clutching her precious toy even more tightly.

Eirathem said nothing else, banging his staff upon the ground to end the spell. He knew that this night, in the forest, there were Munde men looking fearfully towards the compound, in fear for the child he had taken. And that was precisely why he had kept the girl. In keeping her, it would ensure their obedience until they learned to trust him.

After a time he rose, motioning for the child to follow him. She looked at him fearfully, clutching her doll close. "You have behaved well today," he said softly, "You may bring it along."

Hearing that, the child came to him and grabbed his belt. He led her to the next room, where he had her lie on a mat he had prepared for the night. Securing the room, he took to his own bed. Tomorrow would be a long day as well.

Tales of Middengard - Prelude

Prelude

Mara

The guardian of earth looked down upon the weeping girl with compassion. She had chosen to appear as a woman, clothed in a beautiful garment of brown, the color of the earth. "Come lihta {girl}," she said, "It is time to stop your weeping and rise. There is much work to be done."

"Sh-she cursed me," sobbed the fremda {Fremde girl}.

The guardian sighed. "She cursed you not."

"I am brown, and wrinkled, and short...and old!" wailed the fremda.

"Mara," said the guardian patiently, "You are old not."

"Why?" sobbed Mara.

"You wished to be a mother," said the guardian. "And a mother you shall be. But it is for you to care for the earth, not the Fremde."

"H-how will I be a mother," cried Mara, "N-nae fremdo {Fremde male} will mate with me as I am."

"You will care for the earth and all of its creatures. I think you will find many who will come to you, who feel just like you do right now, like none would care for them. They shall be your children. And should you find a mate, you may have one lihta {girl}. For there can be only one mother of the earth...only one Mara. Should you grow tired and wish to rest, then you should mate, and allow lihtateu {your daughter} to be the mother. Now rise. There is much to be done. The price Laerahndseli'n {the guardians} are paying to save your world is greater than you know."

And eventually, when Mara had cried herself out she did rise. And she did listen to the guardian who was trying to help her. Unfortunately, many turns later, when she did grow tired, she forgot the first admonition of the guardian. She fell asleep, and there was none to insure her children were following her wisdom. And because she fell asleep, her children, though they were really trying to help her, accidentally unsealed the great evil that Mara and the guardian of earth had worked so hard to seal away. That evil escaped through the fire into the bellies of thirteen dragons that were feeding off the fire the evil produced. Those dragons bonded with thirteen Myende men, who though not completely evil, had evil in their hearts. And those thirteen Myende men sealed the void that had been used to save the world. The dragons died in the process.

One man survived, and made his way back across the mountain to become the first Emperor of Myencihn. The remaining 12 died, and their evil spread into the world.

When Mara awoke, she realized something was very wrong with her world. And she determined when she fixed this mess, whatever it was, which she blamed herself the most for, she was going to indeed going to find a mate and have a daughter. But where she was going to find someone who would be willing to mate with a very brown, short, wrinkled...and yes, old fremdaoghe she had no clue.

The Fremdesaelihta

Siurbu 13

Farina had grown to hate the box. It was barely tall enough for her to sit up in. She missed the water, the sea. Farina was a Fremdesae, with pointed ears and skin of blue, and when she put her feet in the water her legs turned into a fish's tail. But she had slipped off her father's back while he slept, and then had gone to the shore and seen a pretty fish that she had swum after. Now vastar {brother}, who had gone after her, along with his mate, were gone. She should have stayed on her father's back. She should have stayed near the water when vastar{brother} had gone in search for food for them after the great quake that trapped them here. Then the bad man wouldn't have gotten hold of her and trapped her in this box. And vastar{brother} wouldn't have gone to the water trying to save her. Because now she was stuck in this box, far away from her father, who seemed to be unable to hear her cries. Heartbroken, Farina began to weep again.

* * *

The Seer

Siurbu 31

Mara glared down at the young boy. "Mara is very busy," she admonished him. "There are a great many myendelihti {Myende children} and mundelihti {Munde children} who need help. Fremdelihti {Fremde children} have sanctuaries."

"Please," begged the boy, "You have to help her. Please."

"Who must Mara help?" she asked

"Farina. She is a fremdesaelihta {Fremdesae girl}. An evil myendo {Myende man} has her and he hurt her. I see her in my dreams. Vasda {Father} believes me not. Please, Mara. You are my only hope."

It dawned on Mara exactly what the child was telling her. He was a seer. Most likely THE seer she had been searching for. When she got hold of the Taronsel {High King} of the Fremde she was going to throttle him. However right now she had to get this child to safety. Not even the forests were safe for children in these dark times. She banged her walking stick on the ground and a cave entrance opened. "In," she said tersely.

The boy ran into the safety of the caves and Mara followed him. It would be several candlemarks before she got the full tale from the boy. But in the meantime, Mara decided she would have to do a great work of magic. There were just too many hurting children.

"From this moment forth," she said quietly, "any child who reaches their fingers into my earth will drop into my belly. Children in need of help will be taken to safety. They must eat in the rooms with food, swim in the pools, and lie down and watch Mara work in the rooms with mats to sleep upon. Any who attempts to harm another while in my belly will drop to the next level, where they will have to help Mara a bit before being showing to the level above. Children who need help not, or who may have been naughty and are hiding in my belly must do a good deed for Mara, and confess their misdeeds."

She continued, "Those above the age of reason needing the help of Mara must enter the trees and beseech them to guide them to safety. They will be shown the way to a cave, where they will be safe until Mara may come and speak with them."

She banged her walking stick on the ground, setting the magic in place. It was done.

* * *

The Disobedient Myendelihto

Siurbu 2148

The young Myende boy Kaiadon, watched from where he had sneaked into the trees as the leader of The First House, the one who by right should be Emperor of Myencihn, strapped his mate and his young young son to two stone tables. Nearby, a young rider of a black dragon lay bound on the ground.

The dragon rested nearby, seemingly oblivious to the fate of her rider. Kaiadon had no doubt she was among the dragons still eating the tainted meat that kept them docile. The boy watched in horror as the man cut the heart out of his mate's live body. He shuddered, hearing her screams, too terrified to move. The man walked over, putting the heart into a large pot. He approached the second table, beginning to do the same to his son. There was a great quaking of the earth then. The child was screaming, but suddenly the screams ceased as a great tomb of earth covered the child.

The elder mage was knocked off of his feet. The pot he had placed the heart in tipped over, and suddenly there was a great flash of light. Kaiadon fell to his knees, blinded. 'Dracaneu!' {my dragon} he called in his mind.

'Stille,{hush}' his dragon said. 'Sit quietly,' she advised, 'and I will come for you when darkness falls. I will take you away from this land.'

Kaiadon didn't know how long he sat, unable to see, too afraid to move. But suddenly he felt himself being lifted and knew his dragon was calling him to her back. He sighed in relief when he was seated, placing his hands on her. "I can see not," he said sadly.

'It may pass,' she said softly. 'Speak not, in case there are others near.'

Kaiadon obeyed, falling silent. Soon he fell asleep, safe on his dragon, knowing she would not let him fall. When woke the air was quite a bit warmer. "Can I talk now?" he whispered.

'Aye,' she said softly in his head. 'We are well away.'

"I can see a little," he said to her, though everything seemed fuzzy and shadowy.

'We will arrive soon,' she promised.

And soon he felt her making the lazy circles that meant she was descending. As soon as she landed, he rushed to slide down. He faced her to relieve himself, fearful to go any further away.

"What do you think you are doing?" asked a voice.

Kaiadon froze. The speaker sighed. "Finish," she ordered.

Kaiadon blushed, but obeyed, quickly raising his breeches when he was done. He turned. "I can see not," he whispered.

"Not at all?" the voice asked.

"Everything is shadowy," he whispered.

"Tell me why you have come to Puethion'n," the voice ordered.

Unknown to the boy, he was speaking to The Empress of the Sands herself. She listened gravely as the child related what he had witnessed. "If you wish to remain with me," she said gravely when he was done, "You shall show your willingness to obey. Break your wand."

The boy whimpered, but obediently did as he was asked. She grabbed the child's arm, tapping the black band on his wrist. "What does thus mean?" she demanded.

"I am the heir of Fifuhus'n {the fifth house}," the boy whispered.

"And your name?" demanded the Empress.

"Kaiadon," the boy whispered.

"Well, Kaiadon, heir of Fifuhus'n, you are now in Puethion'n, and that black band you wear means not a thing here. I am Wicahndon'n {the Empress of the Sands}, and I lead all. I see from your dragon you have the magic of fire. There are none with more might in fire than those of Puethion'n. Should you submit, I shall see you learn the magics of old, and none shall be able to harm you as that you witnessed. And mayhap," she ended softly, "You may be a great deal more."

* * *

The Seer of the Age

Siurbu 2150

In the Fremde sanctuary of Fremfuer, Thanion watched grimly as his father continued to redden the backside of his younger brother Faeron. "You will stay over my knee," promised the King, "until I hear the truth from you. Who chose to use the sleeping powder?"

"M-Me!" the boy finally cried out.

The King stopped smacking and began to rub soothing circles upon the backside he had just reddened. "Who threw the sleeping powder?" He asked.

"F-faelon," came the subdued answer.

"And why," asked Elessar, "Did my twin boys decide to throw sleeping powder on Paldir?"

"I t-told Faelon w-we sh-should take Eldrith t-to pl-play in t-the t-trees, but P-Paldir w-would let us n-not."

"Is that what you really planned to do with Eldrith?" asked the king.

"N-nae," admitted Faeron.

"What were you planning to do Faeron?" asked the king sternly.

"I-I th-thought if...if I t-took him t-to Wyneu' {my mother's} tree, it w-would t-take Eld-drith and g-give back W-wyneu {my mother}."

Elessar sighed. He pulled his young son to his feet then drew him to stand between his legs facing him. He took Faeron's face gently in his hands, and then looked deeply in his eyes. Faeron trembled slightly as he was judged by his father. Afterwards, the King planted a firm kiss on his forehead and took a few minutes to comb his son's unruly hair away from his face.

"What am I to do with you?" the King asked gently. "I am very tempted to put you upon my back, and there you will stay for the rest of your days. I am very sorry Wysdateu {your mother} is no more. Nothing will bring her back. When we go to the trees, Faeron, it is forever."

Faeron began to sob even harder and the Elessar drew him into a deep embrace. After a few moments, he stood and said, "Leandrow, you will accompany us."

He held out his hands to Faeron, and when the child took hold, he swung him in a great arc until the boy landed on his back. Leandrow, eldest of his sons, rose to accompany them. Leandrow was typical of the Fremde race, tall and lean with pointed ears and blond hair that flowed to his waist.

They walked in silence out to the tree that held the spirit of Elessar's wife. Elessar knelt down so Faeron could slide off of his back. He drew his son to stand in front of him facing the tree. "When it was time for Wysdateu {your mother} to leave us," he said very softly, "I brought her here. Her spirit has already joined with this tree, and when it is my time, I shall join her. Then, in time, our spirits will meld with that of it and this tree and it will awaken."

"However," he said, "I believe her spirit is here, and that she can hear us even now. So I wish for you to tell her this thing you have done."

"Nae!" cried Faeron.

"Aye," said Elessar gravely. "You will tell her. Wysdateu {your mother} loved all her children, and would be grieved to hear you wished any of them harm, would she not?"

"Aye," admitted Faeron softly. After a few moments, Faeron finally began to speak softly, admitting to his mother that he had tried to use his brother to bring her back. By the time he had finished, he was again sobbing.

"And now," said Elessar gravely, "You will go with Leandrow, who will speak with you as Wysdateu {your mother} would were she here, and we will see an end to this."

Leandrow stepped up and held out his hands. Faeron looked apprehensive, but obediently held out his hands so Leandrow could swing him to his back. Then Leandrow calmly walked away, his brother clinging tightly to his neck.

Thanion, who had followed and watched the entire scene stepped up to speak with his father. Elessar looked at his son gravely, "You really must go?" he asked.

"Aye," said Thanion, "The dreams increase, and I must seek the wisdom of the Fremdemyr {Fremde of the air, another race upon Middengard}."

"Should you not stay here where what you see may aid us?"

"And will you listen?" asked Thanion bitterly.

"Did I not this day?" replied Elessar. "I will admit," he said more softly, "I find it difficult to fathom a Casari {Emperor} across the mountain that is without evil, but I will attempt to open my mind to the possibility."

"He will come," said Thanion firmly. "And when he does, he will need our aid. Do you not think it strange, that you have had six children, when most Fremde find it difficult to have one? The time for us to fight the great evil is at hand. Just promise me this one thing," he said fiercely, "If you come across a small myendelihta {Myende girl} with hair the color of blood, you will take her, and keep her safe, not sending her on to the Northern Academy as we normally do. Much rests upon her safety."

"Does she have great might?"

"I have not seen that," said Thanion softly, "though there are many who will believe she does. She is born teinusiu'n {of the thirteen}," he said gravely pausing for a moment, "and she is the Casari's child. The fact that we have kept her safe will aid in his trust of us."

"I would see no child come to harm," said Elessar firmly, for he knew that often the children born at such times were said to have great power, whether they did or not. "We will keep her safe," he promised.

They turned to walk to the stables, talking of inconsequential things. As Thanion tacked up the steed he planned to ride, Elessar asked, "Need I be concerned of the darkness that has touched Faeron?"

Thanion paused for a moment, and Elessar could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "The darkness that has touched Faeron is not the darkness of Endolan, though it surely originates from him. It is as if a dark voice is speaking to him, telling him he is not cared for, amongst other things. In my visions," he continued softly, "You had not discovered the misdeeds of this day and it haunted him. In telling you so that it may be dealt with, I hope to have given him some peace. The time will come when the Fremdesae overcome the Evil of the Sea. If he is still suffering then, I would say to see their wisdom, for I believe they can aid him."

Elessar nodded gravely, then drew his son into a deep embrace before finally planting a firm kiss on his forehead and holding him at arm's length, "You will send word?" he asked softly.

"As oft as I may," promised Thanion.

As Elessar watched his son ride off a tear fell down his cheek. Thanion was only the first he would see leave him. And although he knew it had been right to allow the fremdo {Fremde male} to go, he still grieved. Finally, he turned, and made his way back into the castle. Little did he know that Thanion was going on a much longer journey, changing the face of the future.