Ursula’s Quest:
Book Two Of The Witchcraft Wars
by
Tracey Alley
SMASHWORDS EDITION
PUBLISHED BY:
T. L. Ali on Smashwords
Copyright © 2010 by T. L. Ali
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Cover Art by Ronnell D. Porter
Dedication
This book is dedicated with love and thanks to two of the nicest, most genuine women it has ever been my pleasure to know….
Cynthia Old, more than a sister but a true and loyal friend – for all the good times and whose never-ending support, encouragement, advice, assistance, and love has meant more to me than words could ever convey.
And for my dear friend, Liz Moore for decades of loving friendship, late night conversations, fun, laughter, and always being there for each other through the good times and the bad. Very special thanks for a late night Kindle email.
The Message
The tangy smell of autumn pricked at Ursula’s nose and all around her she could smell the tang of the Eastern Sea in the chilly early morning air. As she walked along the parapet of the castle walls towards the massive Horned Gate in the west, the rising sun was behind her casting long, eerie shadows across her path, elongating her form beyond recognition.
In the distance she could see the squat, shining headquarters of The Tears of Ilmater. It was a sight she normally found reassuring but somehow, on this particular early morning, she felt as though the building were some kind of omen or reproach although she could not say why she felt that way.
A slight breeze caused her thin linen nightdress to curl sensuously around her body as she walked but Ursula ignored it. She also ignored the tiny prick of wondering in the back of her mind as to why she was out walking the palace walls so early in the morning wearing nothing but her sleeping attire.
Approaching the Horned Gate, she could feel the steady thrum of the approaching dragon’s beating wings stirring the chill autumn air long before she heard the regular thwack of its massive wings. Turning slightly to face the huge black dragon as it approached she wondered at herself; that she felt no fear, only a surge of love so powerful it took her breath away. Ursula knew this dragon. In a way she could not even begin to explain to herself or to anyone else, she knew this huge beast to her very soul. When the dragon’s huge mouth opened wide she was hardly surprised to hear the great creature call her own name, “Ursula, Ursula.” Somehow it had been exactly what she had expected. The enormous black dragon was searching for her, just as she, in some indefinable way, had been searching for the dragon.
When the sudden darkness and deep chill descended upon her position on the Horned Gate she knew it had nothing to do with the majestic beast still flying slowly towards her. With great reluctance Ursula turned away from the beauty of the dragon and turned into the darkness, waiting patiently, although what she was waiting for she did not know. Soon enough her beloved father’s voice filled the darkened air, calling her name just as the dragon had done.
“Ursula, delight of my old age, my child, help me. I am lost, The Kingdoms are in danger. You must help me, my child. Find the key. Search the ruins, walk the labyrinth, find the key. Look not for me. Find the key and I shall be found, The Kingdoms saved but you must find the key, my child, find the key….” her father’s voice trailed away, leaving her alone with the now hovering black dragon. Deep in her heart she knew the importance of her father’s message yet still the now hovering black dragon entranced her. Gently she reached up with one dainty hand to touch the magnificent beast; its scales were warm to her touch, pulsating with life. “My love,” she breathed the words out and as she did so finally awoke, the dream lingering.
Ursula slowly opened her eyes. Still gripped by the intensity of emotion provoked by the dream, she made no immediate move to rise from her narrow bunk. A quick glance at her surroundings confirmed her initial belief that it was not yet sunrise for the luminescent fungi that lined the walls and roof of the subterranean cavern she now called home still glowed with their night light. From experience she knew that as dawn approached the fungi’s light would gradually fade, becoming little more than a dim glow during the daylight hours, although a glow strong enough to see and work by.
As befitted her station as Vestland royalty Ursula had a small, semi-enclosed cavern to herself, which afforded her some small measure of privacy. The cavern itself was not luxurious, naturally; containing only the narrow bunk she slept on and a small chest for spare clothes. Like everyone else living in the vast network of caverns she used the communal bathroom, ate at the communal dining area and passed her time in a blur of hard work.
Like the many other refugees here at the compound she worked at assisting the Knights of Ilmater and the Monks of the Black Lotus as they prepared for the impending war caused by her older brother, Ulrich's treachery. A war, it was whispered, that neither the Monks nor the Knights were certain could be won, yet a war that would undoubtedly affect the future of all The Kingdoms of Kaynos.
Playing over the strange dream in her mind Ursula became increasingly certain that the dream was both true and important. Somehow, in a manner that defied all known logic and even all known forms of magic, she knew that her father, High King Erich, had communicated with her in the strange dream. Furthermore she was equally convinced that decoding the dreams cryptic message would be, in some manner, vital to the outcome of the impending war.
Ursula suddenly saw clearly that her beloved father’s disappearance had actually been the first step on the road to the coming war. In fact, as she lay there, she felt increasingly sure that deciphering the message from her father would mean the difference between winning and losing the war, the difference between slavery and freedom for The Kingdoms.
Ursula gave a deep sigh. If she was right, and she knew in her very soul that she was, then she had no option other than to bring the dream to the attention of the leadership. Since her arrival here a month ago she had studiously avoided her teacher and mentor, Solomon, head of the Black Lotus Monks. It had been an easy enough task given the amount of activity that was occurring within the caverns on a daily basis. Now, however, Ursula knew she must face her mentor and admit to a truth she had desperately been trying to deny.
Without conscious thought her hands drifted down and clasped gently over her small yet distinctly swollen belly, lightly caressing the unborn child within. A child that Ursula’s vow of chastity, made in order to become a Monk of the Black Lotus, meant was expressly forbidden. Even worse than breaking her vow it was a child conceived without the benefit of a temple wedding, and furthermore to a man of no status. It was a child who should have been a prince but instead would be an outcast in her native Vestland. An unborn baby that never should have been. A child that was the product of a love she could never have denied. It was a baby that Ursula found she already loved with a fierce protectiveness that shocked her.
Once her pregnancy was revealed she would immediately forfeit her role as a Monk of the Black Lotus. She would be forced to abdicate her position as Princess of the Blood of Vestland and would become a virtual pariah amongst her own people. As she stood there contemplating her fate, and that of her unborn baby, Ursula began to tremble. Her own downfall she could face, she had known the risks she took each time she lay with him, but the fate of her child was almost unbearable. What exactly she had intended to do regarding her unexpected pregnancy she had not been clear about. Then her forced flight from her older brother Ulrich's murderous rage and the subsequent preparations for war in these subterranean caverns had rendered any and all half-formed plans redundant anyway.
She was still trembling slightly, but with the proud blood of seventeen generations of Vestland royalty running through her veins, Ursula began to dress and prepared to confront Solomon and Lord Michael. Whatever her fears for herself or her child she could not and would not ignore the message of the dream and its importance. The fate of The Kingdoms, her beloved father and her country likely lay in following the dreams cryptic instructions. If she and her unborn baby had to be the sacrifice that saved The Kingdoms then she knew that she would make that sacrifice, regardless of how much it pained her.
Dressed simply in loose linen trousers tucked into soft leather boots and a flowing linen overshirt Ursula's pregnancy was scarcely noticeable. There was only a tiny hint of her slightly swelling belly showing through the loose shirt. But Solomon knew her well; he had known her since she herself was a babe in arms. Her mentor could not fail to instantly recognize her condition and she dreaded to see the look of disappointment she was certain would cross his careworn face.
Sitting on the edge of her narrow stone bunk, padded only with soft furs, Ursula began to plait her long, white blonde hair. She prayed silently, for courage, for forgiveness, while she tried to prepare herself mentally for the coming confrontation with her mentor. In her heart she knew her sin had caught up with her, but she also knew that her sin was her own. She would not condemn The Kingdoms to save herself or her unborn child.
An Early Morning Meeting
Ursula's small chamber, like all the other private accommodations within the cavern, was set high in the walls overlooking the central area beneath. There were several of these caverns dotted around the edge of the cavern, reserved for those in positions of leadership or given to those few families that had managed to escape intact from Ulrich's ever increasing tyranny.
The floor below of the subterranean complex was divided into several sections. The central and by far largest section of the complex housed rows and rows of hastily constructed cots where the Knights of Ilmater and the monks of the Black Lotus slept side by side with the other Vestland refugees. Behind the large sleeping area was a short tunnel which led to a wide, open space with access to some of the many underground springs that ran through the complex. The floor there was dotted with several small pools in the rock making it ideal for bathing even if it was slightly lacking in privacy. It was not an easy life in the caverns yet Ursula thanked the gods daily for providing such bounty.
Beyond the sleeping area, through another short tunnel, was a large work area divided into two sections. The larger of the two sections was used by the monks and knights to continue their training and daily exercises, an essential precaution given the current state of The Kingdoms. The smaller part contained a small medical facility and a hastily constructed altar to Ilmater. Nearby, accessed through yet more tunnels were other areas set aside for the preparation of food, study of the scrolls both ancient and new, and other essentials of daily life in the caverns.
Clever use of the cavern's natural curves had created storage areas where food, weapons, blankets, and medicinals were stored for communal use. The well stocked subterranean caverns were a tribute to the farsightedness of the Black Lotus monks and Solomon’s leadership. They had seen, far in advance of anyone else, the need for a place of refuge and had spent much time in secret preparation.
Further back in the caverns was another short tunnel that led to a more private work space. It was towards this area that Ursula now turned, knowing that was where she would find not only Solomon but also Lord Michael Strong. It was these two men who had assumed leadership of the refugees. Somehow she would have to convince them of the validity of her dream. Should they accept her conviction of the dreams truth they may even have the answer to the some of the dreams cryptic instructions.
Although Ursula was already certain she knew at least part of the answer, the location of the key her father had spoken of in the dream. In the dream her father had instructed her to 'walk the labyrinth' and 'search the ruins'. There was only one place in all The Kingdoms that could possibly fit that particular description. It must refer to the great Temple of Life that was said to be hidden somewhere in the deserted bleak and rocky terrain of Kemet's outer desert.
As she approached the inner work area Ursula could feel herself trembling again. Not with fear but from a deep sense of self-doubt. Lord Michael and Solomon were two of the most powerful men in all The Kingdoms. The fate of the world lay in their hands and she, princess though she may be, was still only a girl of barely twenty-two summers, unfinished in her training as a monk and now never to finish. Ursula forced herself to slow down and breathe deeply. The information she had was of value and would not be rejected.
The inner sanctum was, in comparison with the rest of the vast cavern, quite small. To one side of the room stood Solomon and Lord Michael, talking quietly as they examined the large map of The Kingdoms spread out before them. Although dawn was still yet far off it was apparent both men been awake and working for some time. Hesitantly, even a little shyly, with her head bowed as was proper before her mentor and teacher, Ursula approached.
She need not have worried about the reception she would receive. Both Solomon and Lord Michael listened closely to her as she related the dream, first without interruptions and then asked her to repeat the dream for a second time, this time asking pointed questions. Neither man questioned Ursula regarding her conviction of the dreams importance.
“Your Highness,” Lord Michael Strong spoke in his usual soft manner but she sensed the very real urgency in his voice, “you believe you know what this dream means do you not?”
“Yes Lord Michael I do or at least I believe I understand where my father wanted me to go. I think he was speaking of the Temple of Life,” she spoke quietly with complete conviction.
“The Temple of Life,” Lord Michael looked questioningly at Solomon who was nodding his head slowly in silent agreement with Ursula's statement. All three of them looked down at the ornate map spread before them, eyes fixed on the outer desert of Kemet. At that moment they were interrupted by Ming, Solomon's most trusted aide and the second ranking monk of the Black Lotus.
“My lords, I hope I am not intruding,” Ming began, her low voice almost musical, “but I have brought some food for you to break your fast.”
Ming was a stunningly beautiful woman, long straight blue-black hair framing an almost impossibly perfect face. Her smooth skin was the color of burnished bronze with large dark eyes and a full-lipped mouth. Dainty and delicate in appearance Ming was nonetheless a highly skilled and deadly warrior as addition to being a learned scholar and lore master. Although she was not much older than Ursula herself there was no doubt that Ming had earned her high position within the Black Lotus.
Ursula smiled at Ming; they had after all been childhood playmates and were still friends, although their relationship had become slightly strained after Ming had elected to join the Black Lotus monastery instead of marrying her older brother Einreich, who preferred to be known only as Slade. No one apart from Ursula herself, not even their beloved father, knew that the true reason Slade had left Vestland was his heartbreak over Ming's decision. At the time, although her heart had ached for her brother she had still understood Ming's choice; after all it had been a choice that Ursula herself had always believed she would also make.
“Thank you Ming,” Solomon spoke gravely, “but leave the food for the moment, Princess Ursula has had a disturbing revelation. Something I think you need to be aware of,” so saying Solomon quickly and succinctly recounted Ursula's dream and then waited to hear what his beautiful chief aide would say on the matter.
“The Temple of Life,” Ming said thoughtfully when Solomon had finished speaking, “that can be the only possible location but I do not understand the reference to the key?”
“There I believe I may be able to assist,” Solomon answered, “although we are dealing here in the realm of myth, legend and fable. According to the sages, clerics and priests of Kemet the Temple of Life was designed and built by all the gods working together for the first and only time in their existence. According to the ancient scrolls the reason the gods worked so harmoniously together was out of a sense of self-preservation. Legend says that the site of the Temple is actually the gateway from this world to the world of the gods, thus the Temple was constructed to protect that gateway. Inside the Temple’s heart lies an elaborate labyrinth, a labyrinth designed by the gods themselves, at the centre is supposed to be a key. The ancient scrolls all say that the key will open the gateway and allow mortals full access to the land of the gods and needless to say allow the gods full access to our world also.”
While Solomon was speaking Lord Michael had brought over chairs for all of them to sit comfortably. He then turned his attention to the fresh bread, fruit and cheese that Ming had brought. Holding an apple in one hand the Grand Knight of Ilmater scratched at his chin idly with the other.
“Solomon, I too have heard the legends and stories about the Temple and the key but the real problem is that scrolls also say that the Temple of Life is completely destroyed...”
“Exactly,” Ursula forgot herself enough in her excitement to interrupt Lord Michael, “that is why my father instructed me to 'search the ruins'. If the Temple is destroyed then all that would remain is ruins.”
“Yes Your Highness,” Lord Michael did not appear even slightly annoyed at Ursula's interruption, “but if all that is left is ruins then what chance exists that any key, even if such a key had existed, would still be found?” Michael paused, allowing all of them time to consider his words before he began speaking again, “I do not disagree with your conclusions, Ursula my question is simply whether or not there is any truth to the whole tale. Nor do I doubt that High King Erich has communicated with you, by some manner that we have no knowledge of, but recent events have shown me that there is still a lot I know nothing about. So, we accept as given that somehow, in some way, High King Erich has managed to deliver a message to you in your dreams but can we simply accept that the message itself is accurate?”
A slightly stunned silence settled over the group as they each considered Lord Michael's words.
“That is true enough, Michael, but can we take the risk of ignoring the message?” Solomon finally broke the silence. Lord Michael gave a deep sigh and ran his hand through his heavy mane of silvery white hair. Ulrich had moved so quickly against the knighthood, so brutally against the populace that there had been little time for introspection. When Lord Michael had first returned from Glantri it had been to find all of Vestland under Ulrich's complete control, the knights and monks expelled and refugees poring out of Noorvix city on a daily basis. Since that day Michael had worked tirelessly with Solomon as well as senior members of the knighthood and the monastery but that had left him with no real time to think and plan beyond the obvious impending war.
Ursula may well have been given a key to the witch Shallendara's ultimate motives but for the first time Michael recognized that he felt quite simply overwhelmed with the immediate task of preparing his men and the people under his care for the coming war. Michael thought back to his recent meeting in Glantri with the mage, Lord Nexus. Nexus had been convinced that uncovering the real truth behind Shallendara's motivation for stirring up the war was of more paramount importance than the war itself. The Knight sighed heavily once again.
“Solomon,” Michael spoke slowly, “from the first moment I began to hear the rumors over two full years ago now, I have worked to try and change the outcome, worked to prevent a war. Now we all know that is impossible, Ulrich and his allies are gathering their troops; the very face of The Kingdoms is changing. Since my return from Glantri I have been completely devoted to preparing our people, seeking out possible alliances, essentially the mechanics of warfare. It seems to me that in doing so I have lost sight of Shallendara and what she is really after.”
“Yet Michael, ask yourself, could you have done any different? Without you to lead us the war will be lost before it begins. It is my suggestion that we send a small team to investigate whatever truth there may be to this message while we continue our efforts here.”
“I dislike scattering our people Solomon. With troops mustering in several locations travel is not a simple matter any more. We know that Ulrich has a large portion of his forces searching for us in an attempt to cripple us before the war even begins.”
“True, but can we ignore the possibility or the hope that this message may offer?”
“Lord Michael, Master Solomon, if I may interrupt,” Ming said softly, “I agree with you both but I also feel very strongly that the message is of great importance. For that reason I would like to volunteer to explore the ruins of the Temple of Life. I truly do understand your concerns Lord Michael but I believe a small force may be able to slip through the lines in order to explore the Temple.”
“And I would like to go also,” Ursula interjected before the Knight had a chance to reply, “I do not know how it is that my father communicated with me but I know that he did and I know in my heart that the message may well be vital. Ming and I could travel together, we are both skilled enough to make this journey alone and if we leave immediately we may even be able to return before full summer. Perhaps the war can still be prevented.”
“Then go with my blessing,” Michael said eventually.
Ursula’s Confession
Once Ursula and Ming had received permission from Lord Michael and Solomon to make the journey to Kemet the remainder of the day passed in a blur of preparations. Ming made the suggestion that they leave before dawn the following day; even though night and day meant little in their underground cavern; and Ursula had agreed. Neither her mentor Solomon nor Lord Michael had passed any comment on Ursula’s condition and she had begun to wonder if the two men were even aware yet of her pregnancy. Ming would certainly know, especially once they began travelling together but for the moment the princess simply enjoyed the respite from revealing the truth of her situation.
She did, however, wonder about the wisdom of making this trip while pregnant, but reasoned that it was still early in the pregnancy and therefore it should not affect her ability to fight if, or more likely when, the need should arise. With the weight of their mission before her, she had not expected to sleep well that night, but apart from the return of the dream she slept soundly. Strangely she found that she was comforted by the dream; at the very least she felt reassured by the knowledge that her beloved father was still alive somewhere, was able to communicate and that there was something that could be done to help find him and bring him home to Vestland.
Ming was waiting for Ursula at the far end of the cavern complex. From here there was a winding set of tunnels that stretched under the Castellan-Kemet mountain range to Pirama, the northern most of Kemet's desert cities. From there they would be able to board a swift boat to the Kemetian capital, Deshrek, a journey of less than three days. Ursula knew that they would have to present themselves to the Council of Clerics to seek permission to explore the Temple of Life and she had been having serious doubts as to whether that extremely strict body of men would grant it to them. If the Council refused to grant their request she was not sure what they would do next.
“Ming,” Ursula said as they walked, “have you made any preparations for what we should say when we appear before the Council?”
“No,” Ming answered sounding vaguely surprised, “Why should I?”
“I believe the Council will be difficult to convince of the need for us to explore the Temple of Life, they rarely grant permission to outsiders to visit any of their many temples and...”
“We will not be appearing before the Council, Ursula. There would be no point, they would neither listen to us nor grant our request and we would be promptly escorted out of the Emirate with our chance at fulfilling this mission lost completely,” Ming interrupted.
“But, but Lord Michael...” Ursula stammered in shock.
“Lord Michael is a Knight of Ilmater, bound by all the rigid codes of that discipline. It is always his way to go about things in the traditionally accepted manner. You and I, however, are not knights; we are not bound by the same code. Therefore we can do things differently.”
“You cannot mean to simply go directly to the Temple of Life?” Ursula said after a pause, “ We may not be knights but as monks of the Black Lotus we have our own code of honor.”
“Ursula, you are, forgive me for saying this, but in many ways you are still very young and very idealistic. Yes, the monastery has a code of honor but we are far more flexible in our approach than the knighthood. Even if we were not there are times when one's code must be broken in order to achieve what must be done.” Ming paused briefly, then added “Besides it seems a little strange to me that you of all monks should speak of a code of honor.”
“What do you mean?” Ursula blushed furiously; she could actually feel the blood rushing to her face. Ming could only be referring to the fact of her pregnancy, a topic that she had hoped to avoid, at least until their mission had been completed.
“Ursula,” Ming stopped and reached out a hand to Ursula's arm, “You are with child are you not? I doubt that the men will yet be aware of it but I certainly recognize the signs, all too well.”
“Yes,” Ursula said eventually and hung her head allowing her long white, blonde hair to fall over her face, unable to look at her friend and superior in the monastery. She was certain that Ming would now reproach her for breaking her vows.
“Ursula, Ursula, did you truly think you were the only one?” Ming pulled the young princess close to her in a comforting hug, “You are not the first, and neither will you be the last monk to find the vow of chastity too difficult to bear. Some of us make the mistake but once and continue in the monastery, others leave for good and lead happy, normal lives as scholars or teachers. After all even a partly trained monk is considered by many to be a valuable asset. There is life outside the monastery and as for you. You are the Princess of the Blood, heir to the throne, and you have far more prospects than the many others who have found themselves in the same situation.”
“But my child and I will be outcasts, pariahs under Vestland law, I conceived without benefit of a temple wedding,” Ursula said softly, finally speaking aloud her fears for the first time.
Ming did not speak for a long time, her face set as though remembering an old pain.
“But Ursula,” she finally said, “remember your position. Should we win this coming battle you will be Vestland's Queen, it will be you who decides what the law should or should not be. Besides, in your case, I'm sure that a temple wedding can be easily arranged.”
“Not as easily as you might think, my beloved is far away from me and I have no way of knowing when or even if he will return,” said Ursula slowly, although Ming’s words had sparked a tiny seed of hope within her.
“Wulfstan,” Ming spoke so softly it was as though she was breathing out the word, “Captain of the Royal Guard, he is the baby's father?”
Ursula nodded miserably, the full weight of her shame had now been revealed to another. For a long time Ming said nothing, merely stared at Ursula, her face an inscrutable mask.
“Well there are worse choices you could have made for King Consort,” Ming said eventually.
“Do you truly think...” Ursula could scarcely finish the thought.
“I truly believe most things are possible if we put in sufficient effort. Why should you not be happy? However, before anything can be possible though we must first succeed in our task. Your dream must be important and we must find out why and how to use that information.”
Ursula nodded as they began walking again, the future was a closed book and in the meantime there was work to be accomplished. Ming and Ursula walked all day and long into the night, stopping for breaks occasionally but never for very long as they wanted to move as quickly as possible. Fortunately their years of training allowed them both to move very rapidly without tiring. Eventually, at approximately the time the three moons would have been high in the sky, they decided to stop for the night. Once again Ursula was visited by the strange dream, which was troubling, perplexing and comforting all at once. Ming, on the other hand, appeared to sleep soundly untroubled by dreams. The following morning they left before the sun was up and walked again all day and well into the night.
The Emirate of Kemet
Late in the afternoon on the third day of travelling Ming and Ursula reached the end of the mountain caverns. Once they had slipped through the narrow opening into the heart of the Alasiyan Desert the heat beat down upon them as though it were full summer rather than the beginning of spring. The Emirate of Kemet was almost entirely made up of desert with a narrow stretch of fertile land running on either side of the life-giving Elin River. Without the river the Emirate of Kemet simply would not exist.
Kemet was a strange land, especially in comparison to the vast grassy and fertile plains of Vestland. It had huge mountain ranges to the north and south, effectively cutting the Emirate off from its neighbors, Vestland in the north, and Laxdale in the south. To the east there was a thin stretch of sandy coastline that edged the fertile ground of the Elin valley. On the western side Kemet shared a border with both the Grand Duchy of Karameikos and the elven kingdom of the Daorokin Republic although the high mountains and rocky terrain meant that any attack or attempted invasion from the west was a virtual impossibility.
Within its own borders Kemet had several largish cities sited along the banks of the Elin River with the capital, Deshrek, situated almost exactly in the centre of the Emirate. The very geography of Kemet had made it an isolated kingdom that did not readily accept visitors and fought any foreign invader with a deadly and surprising fierceness.
Scattered throughout the Emirate's vast desert and lush valley were many enormous temples to the many diverse gods and goddesses the people of Kemet worshipped. All of Kemet's awe inspiring temples were made of stone or marble, beautifully carved and decorated, and maintained by the large body of men who made up the priesthood of Kemet's various deities. Kemet permitted no priestesses; in fact women had little or no status within the Emirate.
However, at least according to the legends, the most impressive of all of Kemet's magnificent temples was the now ruined and abandoned Temple of Life. It was said to have been constructed long ago, around about the time of the Great War, which had torn the once united land of Kaynos apart. It was also, again according to the legends, said to have been built by the gods themselves, and now the legends claimed that the Temple lay in ruins deep in the heart of the rocky landscape of Kemet’s western Alasiyan Desert. If the stories and rumors regarding the Temple were true then no one had ventured to the Temple’s location in hundreds of years.
“How long do you think it will take us to reach the Temple?” Ursula asked, blinking slightly against the sun's harsh glare.
“I'm not sure,” Ming answered thoughtfully, “I'm not exactly certain where the Temple is located. There is little written down about the Temple, other than a vague reference to something the scrolls call 'the narrow way'.”
“That means we could travel for days and still not find the Temple of Life,” Ursula said in despair.
“No, I don't think so. I believe if we travel under the light of the three moons and head south-west then we are likely to find it sooner rather than later. The legends state that it lies in the heart of the Alasiyan Desert so if we head in that direction we should eventually find the ruins. Or, at least, I hope that is the case. If not then it is likely our mission will go unfulfilled, we don't have an endless supply of rations and neither one of us is particularly adept at survival in the rocky desert.”
Ursula did not answer, the full weight of the task she had insisted upon was beginning to weigh heavily upon her. She stood, gazing around at desert in almost every direction, except, of course from the mountain caverns from which they had come. To the east she could just make out the first of the huge guard towers that undoubtedly watched over the city of Pirama in the far distance. To the south and west, however, there appeared to be nothing but endless expanses of desert. How, she wondered in despair, were they ever to find the Temple of Life in this barren and desolate place?
“Come Ursula, we need to make a start,” Ming said quietly.
“I am beginning to feel almost as though this is an impossible task, how can you stay so positive?”
“Because I believe in your dream,” Ming answered, “I believe it was important and if it is as important as we believe then I believe we will be guided to the Temple. Of course,” she laughed briefly, “I could be very, very wrong but we will only find out if we try.”
“True enough,” Ursula replied with a small, nervous laugh, “let us be off then.”
Together Ming and Ursula walked across the desert until all three moons were high in the night sky. To Ursula, who had never travelled outside of the plains and forests of Vestland, the glories of Kemet's star filled night sky were indescribable. As they prepared their camp for the evening she found herself constantly watching the wheel of the many stars above her. Ming, however, appeared unmoved by the beautiful display.
“Have you travelled much since you took your vows Ming?” Ursula asked eventually.
“It is required,” Ming answered absently as she unrolled her bedroll.
“Yes I know that,” the young princess gave a small laugh, “but where have you travelled? As you well know I've never been outside of Vestland and, apart from when we were younger, rarely outside of the Royal Palace for that matter.”
“True,” Ming said thoughtfully, after a long pause, “Do you know, Ursula, there are times when I still miss the life I enjoyed in the Palace. Your father and your mother, High King Erich and Queen Urda were truly generous people who cared for me when there was no one else, for that I am and will always be grateful. As for my travels, I have probably seen most of The Kingdoms, with the exception of Ieriendi and Kemet, of course.”
“Do you know why Kemet is such a closed land?”
“Like many people the Kemetians fear the unknown. Also the country is an extremely isolated land geographically, which in turn has made the people isolated and they have come to enjoy their lonely existence. Very few Kemetians ever leave the Emirate and visitors are rarely welcomed,” Ming settled into her bedroll as she spoke, “it is sad though, as the people of Kemet have so much to offer the rest of The Kingdoms.”
“What do you mean?” Ursula asked as she settled into her own bedroll. Ming did not answer immediately and Ursula turned on her side to watch the woman who was so close to her own age of twenty-two summers, yet seemed much so older and far wiser.
“You have not yet completed your final vows,” Ming began eventually, “as I have. As you know my own program within the monastery was accelerated, largely due to Master Solomon’s faith in my abilities. Your access to the great libraries has, so far, been restricted. Much of what I'm about to tell you comes from scrolls in the more restricted areas of the libraries. In truth, I probably should not share this with you but I have never truly believed in the strict secrecy that persists within the monastery. Apart from which you are, for all practical purposes, my liege lord in the continued absence of your father and traditionally the rulers of Vestland have always had access to the secret archives.”
“Do not tell me if it means breaking any of your vows,” Ursula said quickly, “it is only an idle curiosity on my part.”
“No, it will assist with the task we have undertaken for you to have as much information as possible. You have heard the legend of the Temple of Life, that it was built by the gods themselves but what you may not have heard is the legend that all of Kemet is said to have been created by the gods. The very fact of their isolation the Kemetians believe proves that their kingdom was, as they say in their own words, ‘lovingly crafted for their enjoyment’ by the gods. Many of their myths and legends are similar to the myths and stories of the other human kingdoms, our own included, but there is one which stands out. The Kemetians believe that the barrier between humans and the gods is largely imaginary. That people, in particular the Kemetian people, are the children of the gods with the ability to themselves become a god if they follow the correct path.”
“What?” Ursula was truly shocked. She had always been taught that all the races were the creation of the gods and that the gods could be called upon for help and assistance when required but it had also been made clear to her that the gods dwelt in a realm far from The Kingdoms and the two could never meet.
“Oh yes,” Ming said fully understanding Ursula's surprise, “the people of Kemet have vastly different beliefs to those that you have always known. Their religion is designed not so much to worship the gods as to learn how to become like the gods. They believe that the promised life after this one is only for those who have failed to achieve godhood. You know that the Emirate is ruled by the Council of Clerics and the Sultan is little more than a figurehead but what you may not know is why they continue to keep Sultan Ali-Akbar as their ruler when he holds no true power. The reason for this is that the Kemetians believe the Sultan to be a living god. The whole point of the Emirate's royal family is that their bloodline is said to be descended from Smene, the only human to ever have achieved godhood. Thus the royal family and the Sultan in particular are worshipped as living gods while the priesthood takes control of the more mundane politics of running the Emirate. They do not disrespect the Sultan in that he is only figurehead, they respect him as a living god that they need as a figurehead. Do you see the distinction?”
Ursula did not know how to respond to Ming's revelations. Somewhere in that history she was certain there was an important message but she was, quite simply, too tired from the days march to think what it might be. Rolling over she lay on her back gazing up at the stars, trying to remember why Ming’s tale had resonated with her so deeply. It was almost as though she had heard the story before but she could not remember when or in what context. The memory was tantalizingly just out of reach and Ursula was sure it was important but as hard as she tried to capture the memory it remained elusive. Still thinking she soon drifted from consciousness to sleep.
Desert Pirates
It felt as though no time had passed before Ursula was abruptly and completely jerked awake. She lay still for a moment, wondering what it was that had woken her. Faintly, very faintly Ursula heard again the sound that had stirred her from sleep; there were people moving stealthily nearby, trying to creep up on herself and Ming. Desert pirates, she thought to herself. She had heard of the infamous band of thieves who preyed upon the pilgrims and priests who journeyed throughout Kemet's Alasiyan desert but had not expected to encounter them so soon into their journey.
Barely moving Ursula glanced over at Ming and saw that the other woman had also woken at the sound of the approaching pirates. Ming's liquid dark eyes were open and slowly, once she was certain that she had Ursula's attention; Ming closed her right eye in a slow wink. Ursula smiled in the silken darkness; the wink was a signal, dating back to their youthful adventures, indicating how Ming intended to attack once the pirates were within range. Ursula closed her own right eye to show her understanding of Ming's instruction and waited for the right moment.
Although Ursula knew the pirates would each be armed with wicked sabers while she and Ming were both unarmed she still felt confident of the outcome. Not only had Ursula undergone the compulsory military training required in Vestland but the monastery trained all their recruits in the most deadly forms of unarmed combat. The desert pirates would be in for a very big surprise.
A sudden, sharp scream punctuated the silence of the desert; apparently a pirate had tripped one of the blade traps that Ming had set before they settled for the night. That was the signal that Ursula and Ming had been waiting for and with a single, smooth movement the two of them rose from their bedrolls and dropped instantly into a fighting crouch. Ursula's nearest attacker was surprised by a sudden sharp blow from the palm of her hand, with all the force of her training behind it that instantly broke his nose. As he reeled back, howling in pain, she followed up the blow with a well-aimed kick to the groin and watched in satisfaction as the pirate slumped to the desert floor.
A second pirate swung his saber towards Ursula at neck height, but she swayed backwards, narrowly avoiding the blade. She then followed through with several hard punches causing the big man to reel back from the force of her blows. A third pirate was approaching her cautiously from her left flank, forcing Ursula to step backwards in order to keep both men in clear sight. From behind her Ursula could hear Ming dealing with her own attackers but Ursula could spare Ming only a passing thought, she had to concentrate on the two pirates that were steadily closing in on her.
The bigger of the two pirates made a sudden jump forwards, his blade held high in front of him, catching Ursula slightly off-guard. She moved out of his range awkwardly, catching a glancing blow from his saber on her arm. In a blur of movement Ursula pushed forward until she was behind the big man and delivered a decisive blow to the back of his meaty neck. The blow should have felled him instantly but the pirate simply shook his head and turned to face her once again. Fortunately another sudden scream rang out, it was another one of the pirates that had been caught in the second of Ming's blade traps, which momentarily distracted the big pirate allowing Ursula to deliver a devastating, killing blow to his exposed temple.
As Ursula turned to face the pirate on her left she felt a sudden steady thrumming through her feet, as though the desert floor had inexplicably come to life. One glance at the panic-stricken look on the pirate's face told Ursula that whatever was causing the desert to heave was not unknown to the pirate but was decidedly unwelcome. The pirate shuddered once, and then made a half-hearted and clumsy thrust towards Ursula with his saber that she dodged easily. He turned suddenly and ran off into the night with the few remaining pirates that were still standing following close behind.
Stepping back slightly Ursula turned to see that Ming had killed three of the pirates, leaving two caught in the blade trap, both of them bleeding heavily onto the desert sand. The deep thrumming sensation in the sand of the desert was definitely growing steadily stronger and was now accompanied by a low-pitched droning noise. The very abrupt departure of the pirates suggested that whatever was responsible for the noise and sensation was not something they wanted to encounter.
“What is causing that heaving of the desert and that noise?” Ming questioned one of the pirates caught, bleeding heavily, in one of the blade traps.
“You will find out soon enough, you impious foreigner, and you too will die like us,” the pirate spat out, his accent thick and heavy but still understandable.
“Tell me and I will let you live,” Ming tried again.
“I would rather die and see you die as well. Besides there is no hope for escape,” at that the pirate began to laugh hysterically.
Ming turned to Ursula with a questioning look on her face but the young princess had no more idea what might be facing them than Ming. All she could say for certain that whatever it was it was definitely coming closer. The heaving sensation was now so pronounced that Ursula could actually see the desert floor rising like an ocean wave and the droning hum was growing steadily louder. Ming scanned the horizon for a place to hide but the nearest possible shelter lay at least several hundred feet away; there was no guarantee they would get there in time. With a strange sense of foreboding Ursula snatched up one of the fallen pirate's sabers and prepared to meet whatever was causing the growing wave.
She barely had time to brace herself before Ursula saw a gargantuan wormlike creature burst free from the sand. Its' bloated head had no eyes nor ears but a single, gaping tooth-filled mouth that stretched open wide. Before her horrified eyes the giant worm swooped down upon one of the injured pirates and began to swallow him, slicing into the man’s flesh with its razor sharp teeth. For a moment Ursula was too horror-struck to move; she simply stood watching as the engorged creature feasted upon the still living man. His cries of pain and terror finally pierced through her panic and she darted forward with her purloined saber to attack the giant, sand-colored worm. Even though her strike was true the deadly blade simply bounced off the creature's rubbery skin making absolutely no impact.
Behind her Ursula could hear Ming attempting her own attack as another of the giant worms burst free from the desert floor. All too quickly the first creature finished its meal of human flesh and rose up to an almost vertical position. Ursula watched its giant head moving slowly first one way and then the other. From her vantage point she was able to see clearly exactly what it was the creature was doing; it was searching for another victim. At that point she noticed the small antenna like protrusions near the top of its head which were quivering slightly in the still air. Ursula suddenly realized this must be the creature's way of smelling out new victims. As it turned its great head towards her, she also realized abruptly what it was that the creature was smelling out; blood, her blood dripping slowly down her arm from the graze she had suffered in her short battle with the pirates.
“Blood, Ming,” Ursula called out, “they smell blood and attack.”
“I cannot pierce their hide,” Ming yelled back, a note of desperation creeping into her voice.
“They must have a weak spot, even dragons have a weak spot,” Ursula cried out, forcing back the fear and the rapidly building panic she was feeling. From behind her she could hear the other trapped pirate’s hysterical laughter give way to high pitched piercing screams as he fell victim to the second of the great worms. She understood now why the pirate had not been interested in cooperating with them when Ming had offered the opportunity. Bleeding as heavily as he was, the pirate would have known he would soon be a victim of the worm whether Ming had released him or not.
As the worm's gaping maw closed in towards her Ursula stabbed out again with her saber and again the sharp blade failed to even prick the worm’s thick hide. She dodged aside its attack barely in time and the worm’s great head hit the desert floor. Without stopping to think Ursula vaulted upon the huge worms back, saber still clutched tightly in her hand. Gripping with her legs Ursula rode the great worm as it reared up once again still searching for its prey. Seated firmly on the giant creature's back Ursula began to climb higher, closer to the worms head, certain there must be some small point where the creature would be vulnerable. From the corner of her eye Ursula saw Ming mimic her action with the second worm, the creature fortunately still distracted as it continued to devour its meal.
As she climbed higher Ursula finally saw what she was looking for; a round, pulsing spot located just behind the creature's antenna. Calling out to Ming, Ursula described the spot and holding tightly to the worm with her legs she plunged the blade deep into the spot. For a brief, heart-stopping moment Ursula thought she had been mistaken as the creature initially appeared to be unaffected by the blow but then it slowly fell forwards, crashing onto the desert sand below with enormous force and Ursula barely had time to vault clear from its back. The second creature fell just as quickly from Ming's well-aimed thrust.
Panting from fear and exertion Ursula climbed slowly to her feet, absent-mindedly wiping the blade, now thick with sticky green blood, on the leg of her loose linen trousers. Surveying the carnage wrought by the strange creatures she was filled with sudden nausea. Unable to help herself Ursula turned quickly and vomited heavily onto the sand.
“Are you all right?” Ming asked.
“Yes, I..., that was my first true battle and,” Ursula could not bring herself to finish, she felt so deeply ashamed of her reaction.
“It takes all of us that way,” Ming said gently, “very few people can see and deal out death without it affecting them. At least, not the first time. You will in time grow more used to it, to the fear, the smell, the noise and confusion. You have the makings of an excellent warrior Ursula; do not doubt yourself just because the sight and smell of death makes you sick to your stomach.”
“Thank you,” Ursula said with a weak smile.
Nexus Reflects
In an upper room of his elegant three story home situated on the outskirts of Glantri city Lord Nexus waited patiently for his messenger to arrive. It had been more than a full turn of the three moons since his meeting with the knight, Lord Michael Strong. In fact it had been five full ten-days. In that time, however, the mage had not been ignorant of the events occurring throughout The Kingdoms. His large network of spies, his prodigious skill with magic and his habit of listening to local gossip had managed to keep him remarkably well informed.
Nexus had known, for instance, the exact moment when his pupil Nikolai had achieved what had previously been thought to be impossible and escaped from Zeaburg prison. Nikolai had made his escape not only with the half-ogre, half-troll creature called Trunk, who was in fact the transformed young knight Sir Patrick San Decroix, but also with the young Vestland princeling turned druid known only as Slade and an assortment of other prisoners, in whom Nexus had no interest.
He had been informed of Ulrich's brusque and high handed reception of Lord Michael and the subsequent banishment of the Knights of Ilmater from Vestland. Nexus admitted it had surprised him a little that Ulrich had not killed Lord Michael outright. He also knew that the displaced knights had joined forces with the monks of the Black Lotus in a network of underground tunnels from where they prepared together for the coming war; information that the recently crowned High King Ulrich would surely love to possess.
Nexus had prudently chosen not to attend Ulrich’s coronation, knowing that the elven witch Shallendara would be the guest of honor and the time was not yet right for direct confrontation between the two of them. The time for that confrontation would come, he knew this to be a certainty, but it would come at a time of his choosing. Walking over to the window, which looked out onto the incoming road, he also knew that the information his messenger was bringing would be vital in assisting him to choose exactly when he would need to come face to face with Shallendara. Although Nexus sensed that their meeting would have to be soon; already he could feel the winds of war sweeping across The Kingdoms.
The knight, Lord Michael, had hoped to avoid the war entirely; now Nexus believed that even the Grand Knight of Ilmater could see that the war was inevitable. Already Shallendara and her allies; and the mage reminded himself that the elven witch had formidable allies, were gathering their troops, preparing supply lines and moving into position. Soon enough the last of the spring plantings would be finished, the first hint of a long dry summer would appear and those battle ready and battle eager troops would sweep down and attack. Although not, Nexus reflected, for the reasons Lord Michael believed.