The Sea of Valour -The Ocracidia Series 1 by Lottie F Yinka Page A

sparkled and shone in
red and gold - the colours of Zedia and though the light was very
bright it didn't hurt Cezar’s eyes.
    Cezar watched the light
expectantly. For moments nothing happened then a soothing feeling
came out of the light; it enveloped and caressed him all over.
Reminding him of times when he was upset and his mother would sooth
his fears away.
    At that moment Cezar felt
happy, at peace and without a care in the world; he didn’t want the
feeling to stop. But then an image stepped out of the light and
though Cezar had never seen the goddess Zedia in the flesh before,
he knew the moment the image appeared before him, that it was
her.
    She wore of a flowing grey
robe, her hair was bright red like fire and around her head she
wore an onyx crown which had dazzling precious stones and shinning
pearls; her eyes were blue-green like the colour of the sand on the
shores of Ocracidia and she smiled the most beautiful smile. In her
left hand she carried a long red and gold trident.
    Zedia took a couple of steps
towards Cezar leaving behind her was a trail of purple and white
orchid flowers. Cezar was certain it was the goddess; he felt
apprehensive not because he was afraid but because he knew that it
was something important when a god or goddess appeared to a human.
Aside from his father Oscar, Cezar had never before heard of Zedia
appearing to anyone.
    Cezar took a number of steps
back and almost tripped but Zedia stretched out her hand and caught
him. Her hand was warm, light as a feather and her fingers felt
very delicate. Zedia helped Cezar gain his balance, she steadied
him then let him go.
    ‘ Thank you,’
Cezar said.
    Zedia smiled. She touched his
forehead right between his brows and a tingling feeling travelled
down Cezar’s spine and into his fingers and toes. His head felt
light and his whole body burnt with an excitement he had never
before experienced as each part of his body came alive. It was as
if all his senses had come alive. His eyes became clearer as he saw
how beautiful the goddess was. His ears heard the gentle rustle of
her gown on the ground and her scent which was gentle, surrounded
and filled him with a feeling of love. Cezar felt a strong surge of
power in his head which he felt came from Zedia’s trident. It made
his eyes widen with delight and left a sweet taste in his mouth.
His palms and feet felt a little warm and he felt fuzzy. Cezar’s
eyes twitched and for a moment he closed his eyes; when he opened
them, Zedia was gone and on the ground before him was one purple
and white orchid flower where the goddess Zedia had stood.
    Cezar realised he had just had
a visitation from the goddess Zedia; he picked up the orchid
flower, put it in his pocket, and ran towards the doors of the
temple; convinced he had to be in the meeting.

Chapter - 2 The volunteer

    The temple was horse-shoe
shaped with dark onyx marble stone steps all around that doubled as
seats; the walls were the colour of the blue green sands on the
shores of Ocracidia.
    Twelve fire torches hung from
the walls and two huge marble structures of the beautiful goddess
Zedia stood beside a pulpit from which Oscar, Cezar's father spoke.
Everything in the temple was beautiful. Though Cezar had been
visiting the temple all his life, it was as if this was the very
first time he was seeing the place because he saw everything in a
new light.
    Still trembling from the
encounter with goddess Zedia, Cezar sat down at the back of the
temple gathering. He did not want to call attention to himself nor
did he want his father to see that he was present.
    He was convinced that Zedia
only wanted him to listen, after all what contribution could a
thirteen year old boy make to an elders’ meeting about fighting or
defeating a god.
    Oscar's voice was loud and
clear.
    ‘ The only way
we are to save our land, is to break Diagus' spell and free Zedia
from the land of Goreloth,' Oscar said. He took two steps forward
stopped and looked at the elders