As Tyrius and the General approached, the sentries quickly swung open the gates and slammed their fists on their chest plates, saluting the General as he and his company of men passed by. Beyond the gates they passed through a vast garden full of vibrant flowers and elaborate hedging with a large decorative fountain in the center.
The fountain was an extravagant piece of art, gifted to the current king, King Lionel Eldergate XIV, by one of the local masons as a tribute to his remarkable victory at the end of the last great war twenty-five years prior. It depicted the king in his prime, sitting atop his armor-clad war-horse Genova, as he slayed the great King Gerome Greatfoot of the Southern Kingdom in the Battle of the Northern Pass.
That was the last conflict the world had seen and has since been known as the war to end all wars. It was also the primary factor that led Eldergate to become the most bustling, economic center the world had ever seen since its primary Southern rival had all but diminished after its devastating defeat in the war. Since then, every city aspired to be as powerful and profitable as Eldergate; many smaller kingdoms even using its design as a template to start their own sprawling metropolis, albeit not as successful or persuasive.
Eldergate was a shining gem in the world of Hurea, mostly because of its location. It was established during the first Age as a mining outpost, making it one of Hurea’s oldest known cities to still be vibrant and growing. It was nestled in the outskirts of the Outer Woods surrounding the Mystic Mountain, partly because of the historical significance of the location – being the origin of the creation of the Mystics, according to legends – but mostly because of its access to seemingly infinite resources that were found within the Mystic Mountain, Outer Woods, and the fertility of the surrounding lands.
On top of the resources, the location was strategic. It was surrounded on three of its four sides by dense forest, impossible for any army to penetrate effectively, leaving only one side to defend which was heavily fortified by the front gates, said to be impenetrable by many. Nevertheless, none had been foolish enough to try in over a quarter century, leaving the city to bask in its economic prosperity year after year, the threat of war a distant worry of the past.
Finally, the company reached the large stone staircase leading up to the front of the palace. Its sheer size and beauty belittled all that lay before it. The entryway towered fifty feet above the tallest man with thick wooden doors that seemed impossible for any one man to open. Its numerous towers seemed to penetrate the sky itself, rising into the clouds and into the vast blue beyond.
The stone walls were the same majestic white as the wall beyond the gardens, nearly blinding when the sun struck it just right. They were polished smooth and fitted so perfectly together, that not even a sheet of parchment could be inserted between any two stones. No moss or vines grew on its surface, as it was constantly maintained by the hundreds of servants who daily inspected the grounds around the palace, scrubbing even the dirt deposited from the wind on a stormy afternoon.
As they approached, the doors slowly opened in invitation as if beckoned by an invisible force. Tyrius and the General led the company into the grand entry chamber, seemingly unaffected by the staggering height and vastness of the room. They stopped short of a large carpeted granite stairway in the center of the room. The floors were polished white marble and had countless veins of silver ore that ran in every direction, flaunting the mineral wealth of the kingdom.
Suddenly the sound of a door opening and urgent footsteps echoed throughout the room. Seconds later a small stout man with thinning, slicked back hair began briskly walking down the stairs to the company of soldiers.
He was dressed in his usual Royal attire of a black top and bottom suit with white gloves and polished black shoes. His demeanor was that of high-class, although in truth he was raised in the lower parts of the city and had earned his wealth through hard work and the right connections. Now he was the head of the palace staff and commanded a legion of servants who came immediately at his beck and call. A position he much enjoyed and was as source of great pride for him and his family.
When he reached the bottom step, his attention focused immediately on the elderly man at the head of the group.
“What brings you here, Master Tyrius? As always it is an honor.” he said with a slight bow.
“We have found something very curious at the Forgotten Temple.” replied Tyrius, returning a slightly higher bow, as was customary in such a meeting.
“The Forgotten Temple? Does this concern the orb?” asked the man, clearly concerned at the mention of the temple and all too familiar with the prophecies surrounding the mysterious object.
Everyone knew of the prophecies, as they had been passed down from generation to generation since the dawn of time, albeit mostly as a children’s story; but there were some who took them very seriously, especially by the Royal Family and those they were close to.
Tyrius walked up to the small man and began talking in a more serious, hushed tone.
“Gone,” he said. “This could mean only one thing, Master Arjen; the time of the prophecy has come. Our kingdom, no…our world, is going to be facing many challenges ahead if the prophecies are true. I must speak with the King at once” replied Tyrius.
“Very well…I will go and inform the King. Please wait in his study, I presume you remember the way?” he said with a slight bow, and he quickly rushed up the stairs and disappeared down a hallway that led into the King’s personal wing of the palace.
Tyrius
