CHAPTER SIX

  CATCHING UP IN THE COURTYARD

  While all of the inhabitants of The Holy City had begun to start their day, high priest of The Human Kingdom Lands, Liam Jarstinian, exited his small prayer chamber located at the highest point of The Temple of Unfaltering Devotion. The sun had finally chased away the last of the stars in the sky and the twilight that the high priest had seen when he began his prayers to Elion was now gone, as the bright light continued to creep over the hills.

  Though the prayers Jarstinian gave for himself, the kingdom, and for all of Danaria had not taken longer than usual, the holy leader of The Human Kingdom Lands tarried longer than normal, hoping the god of all creation would speak to him, give him a sign, or even just a feeling that the quest for the Scepter Sword was not just continuing, but going quickly and without loss.

  As he walked down the stairs to his bedroom, Jarstinian’s sadness at the lack of answer moved him to wonder even more about the ones that were on the quest.

  “Garrick. I pray that you, Elias, and Cerelene, have not only found your wizard friend well, but that Elion has provided the dwarven representative,” spoke the high priest in a whisper. Then he laughed softly. “I should not get ahead of myself. The dwarf will come soon, at the right time. Your journey is hard enough without worrying about that.”

  When Jarstinian finally completed the staircase and stepped into his room, he sat down on his bed and stroked his gray beard. “I pray at least that you have found a cleric to come along. Whoever it is, they are braver than any of the Brethren here.” Then he closed his eyes. “Oh that I could have gone with you. I would have loved much to hold my staff in one hand and my old sword in the other…” When he opened his eyes again, Jarstinian looked across the room at the wall in front of him to where the Holy Amulet used to hang. The amulet that housed one of the three Holy Stones of Elion.

  “I never thought I would miss it around my neck…” spoke the high priest to himself. Then he smiled. “Still, it was Elion’s will, and I know, mercenary, that you will keep it close and safe.”

  Hearing footsteps nearing his chambers, Jarstinian rose from his bed and grabbed his staff. Then there was a knock at the door.

  “My high priest?” came a pretentious voice.

  “Yes, Balcon, I am here. Please enter,” replied Jarstinian with an interested look on his face.

  Once he opened the door and closed it behind him, Balcon bowed. “We have a surprise visit from Rialton, the head cleric of Aubrelon. He is in the courtyard with Aldon. He said that it was of the most importance that you see him. Both myself and Aldon said that the earliest time would be after your prayers. It looks like you are finished.”

  “Yes, my friend. Please tell the other Brethren that we will assemble a few hours from now. Then please join us,” spoke the high priest. “Rialton does not visit often and if he is this early, the matter must be important to him or King Brock.”

  “I will not tarry long,” replied Balcon as he walked quickly down the hall.

  When the high priest walked into the courtyard he saw Aldon and Rialton laughing under a tall grove of apple trees. They were discussing something.

  “Reliving the old days in Parnigal?” asked Jarstinian with a nod and grin.

  Seeing the high priest before them, both Aldon's and Rialton’s faces became a little more serious, though slight smiles remained.

  “My high priest. It is always good to see you,” spoke Rialton with a bow. Then after he stood straight again, he gestured at the Brethren beside him and continued, “You know Aldon only as the old Brethren you see today. But I still know him as a fellow young cleric in training now all these many years ago. Has he ever told you of the noble ladies of Parnigal?”

  “No, I do not think he would be interested in stories from so long ago…” started Aldon, as he began to laugh slowly in embarrassment.

  “I do not wish to overstep my bounds, my high priest, but perhaps Aldon and Rialton can tell you the story after this important meeting,” interrupted Balcon, walking up with a perturbed face. Then he looked from the high priest to both Aldon and Rialton with a nasty look.

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  “Are you finally retiring as head cleric of Aubrelon and becoming one of the Brethren?” asked the high priest, trying to diffuse the situation.

  “No, high priest,” replied Rialton, after clearing his throat. Then he looked back at Aldon. “I appreciate that you have given me an open invitation to join you and my old friend here in The Holy City. However, I am still quite happy heading the temple in the capital city.”

  After the high priest plucked an apple from the nearest tree to him, he rubbed it on his robe and then gestured to the benches underneath and they all sat down. When Rialton cleared his throat again, he looked at the high priest and then at Aldon and Balcon.

  “I recently returned from a trip near Tanisgroth. I accompanied Captain Shaddox on a wyvern hunt,” began Rialton. “The monsters were snatching our livestock. I requested of King Brock to let me be the cleric on the chase, as I had not stepped out of Aubrelon for a long time. I miss seeing the beautiful nature of our lands.” Then Rialton looked from the high priest to Balcon. “When I returned, King Brock told me about your conversation.”

  As Balcon opened his mouth to speak, Rialton looked at the high priest and spoke again. “Is it true? The location of the King Priest’s Scepter Sword has been found? You have sent a group to acquire it?”

  “Yes,” answered the high priest, plainly. “I know that King Brock cannot sit back and wait for it to be found. This Lord Grimdall is moving through The Dwarven Mountains and, if not stopped, into The Human Kingdom Lands.” Then he nodded with a smile. “In times like these the king needs to know not only that The Holy City is behind him, but even more that Elion has not forgotten us.”

  “The prophecy…it is true, then?” replied Rialton, tightening his grip around his staff.

  “When Danaria is in its greatest danger, the location of the Scepter Sword, the most powerful weapon bestowed to the King Priest, the first mortal ruler, will be revealed,” spoke Balcon, as if he were reciting poetry.

  As the Brethren’s voice trailed off, Aldon looked at Rialton. “Back in Parnigal, we discussed the legends of the King Priest, the Scepter Sword, and the prophecy, sometimes till the sun came up…”

  “Yes I remember, my friend…” replied Rialton, looking for more words.

  Aldon placed his hand onto his old friend’s shoulder as he looked at him. “You thought it would not happen in our lifetime.” Then he patted his old friend's shoulder and smiled. “Looks like I was right.”

  The sudden sound of an apple being bitten into brought Rialton back from his thoughts. Seeing the high priest waiting to hear what he would say next, the cleric of Aubrelon quickly blinked his eyes three times and remembered the other reason he had come.

  “As Balcon told us, you sent a small group for the Scepter Sword. How many? What did they look like?” asked Rialton, as he leaned forward a little from the bench.

  “Do you think you’ve seen them?” exclaimed Aldon. “We have not had contact…”

  “Nor will we, as the quest is too important,” added the high priest, raising a calming hand in the air. “We cannot let any evil know that the weapon is within our grasp.”

  “Why do you think you have seen them?” inquired Balcon, his normally perturbed face changing to a real look of interest.

  “I met a wonderful cleric during the wyvern hunt, just outside of Tanisgroth. Anya Norelle, the head cleric of Valtross,” answered Rialton. “She and her friends helped Captain Shaddox and the knights of Aubrelon, when they saw that the wyverns were upon us.” Then the old cleric of Aubrelon smiled. “Well, Anya’s sister and friends did. Anya helped me heal the men after.” Then he cleared his throat. “Did you send her and her friends? They were quite an interesting bunch, to say the least.”

  “No, my friend. We did not send the cleric of Valtross,” answered the high priest plainly. Then he nodded. “But please describe the others.”

  “Too bad. Delightful lady, and she was traveling with a Knight of Providence, or I thought he was.” Then he looked down at the ground and shook his head. “I guess I assumed. Old age catching up with me.” When Rialton looked back up, the high priest and the Brethren were looking at each other and then back at him.

  “Was there a man with a black wolf? A mercenary with a mystic wolf,” asked the high priest, staring intently at Rialton.

  “Yes. Rough around the edges, but Anya spoke highly of him,” answered the cleric of Aubrelon. Then he noticed Aldon waving his hand to a Knight of Providence walking quickly to the steps of the temple. Upon seeing Aldon, the knight turned and dashed toward them.

  “Captain Dunsmuir. I belief the cleric of Aubrelon here has seen Elias and Garrick,” spoke the high priest with a smile.

  Outside of Tanisgroth, Stephen!” added Aldon, smiling even bigger.

  “What about Cerelene?” asked Stephen, looking at Aldon. Then the knight looked at Rialton. “What about a red-haired elf maiden. An archer!”

  “Yes. Yes,” replied Rialton excitedly. “And an old wizard as well.

  “So, not only have they found a cleric, Garrick’s wizard friend has agreed to join as well,” said the high priest, grinning widely at Aldon before leaning farther back on the bench.

  “Was there a dwarf, Rialton?” asked Balcon, his face calm and reserved.

  “No,” announced the old cleric. Then he watched as the high priest, Aldon, Balcon and Stephen quieted. “I am sorry. The only other person was Anya’s sister. Looked to be a thief. Perhaps there was a dwarf and I…”

  “No. Do not apologize, my friend,” spoke the high priest. Then he looked at the others. “The quest is only just begun. And we now know that not only are Elias, Garrick and Cerelene safe, others have joined. We must keep faith that Elion will reveal the dwarf soon enough. Whatever the case, they were outside Tanisgroth and are nearing The Cloud Shroud Mountain.”

  “My high priest. I think they have already been there,” replied Stephen with a smile. “I have just returned from Parnigal. The old capital is rejoicing.”

  “They are? What news do you bring?” prodded the high priest. But before he could answer Rialton cut in.

  “The same news I also bring,” stated the old cleric as he stood up next to Stephen.

  “That the dragon Firebaugh has been slain. Only no one knows by whom.”