Carlin sent you to the
hunter to ensure you were safe. He did not tell me about you. It
troubles me that no one ever came to take you back to your
parents.’
Eben felt his
elation turn to apprehension. ‘Do you think she is...?’ He felt
distraught at the thought that something terrible had happened to
his parents and couldn’t finish the question.
‘ I don’t know,’ replied King Ignis soberly as he handed the
letter back to Eben.
Eben felt like
a thousand thoughts of possibilities were going through his head at
once. He realised that he would have to go west to find the
answers.
‘ Your sword; it’s the Ecorian Sword,’ said King
Ignis.
‘ I don’t know what Ecorian means,’ said Eben.
‘ Your sword is one of three swords which were used to defend
Veredor. In ancient times Veredor was ruled by a powerful and
virtuous lineage of emperors called the Ecorians. That sword became
known as the Ecorian Sword because the Ecorian Emperor always
carried it. The original name of the sword is the Sword of
Light.’
Eben looked
down at the sword that lay by his side in its scabbard. ‘Why would
my mother leave such a sword with a small child?’
‘ I don’t know,’ replied King Ignis. ‘However, I do know that
the Sword of Light is a powerful weapon and much more than a simple
sword. It was forged out of the essence of the cosmos and has many
mystical powers. Your mother wanted you to have this sword, and I
know that you will have to learn to use it. These are dark times,
Eben. Few men stand against the darkness; a powerful evil is
growing in Veredor.’
Eben felt a
sudden weight of responsibility at hearing these words from the
King. He thought back to his time in Clemensdale where he was safe
and secure.
‘ Azagord said that his master wanted to cast the sword through
the Cosmic Gate. What did he mean?’ asked Eben.
King Ignis
pondered the question for a few moments. ‘Azagord came south to
find the Sword of Light and take it back to his evil master in the
north. His instructions were to recover the sword and kill the one
who carried it. He believed the Zyranians had the sword. Azagord
attacked Zyran because of this belief. Only now do I see that
Kaloren secretly carried the Sword of Light all along.’
‘ What is the Cosmic Gate?’ asked Eben.
‘ I only know of the Cosmic Gate from folk stories. I never
believed that it existed until I had spoken with Azagord,’ said
King Ignis. ‘The Cosmic Gate is a place where Veredor meets with
the cosmos beyond. It is the only way to come into Veredor and the
only way out of Veredor. The old stories tell that the Cosmic Gate
was built by an ancient race to protect Veredor from the powers of
darkness. I think Azagord’s former master wanted to cast the Sword
of Light out of Veredor so no one could use it against him. This
news worries me deeply. If the gate has collapsed we are all at
risk. The outer cosmos is said to be a realm inhabited by many
creatures of darkness.’
‘ Did Azagord say that it had collapsed?’ asked
Eben.
‘ No, he didn’t say; however, your letter from Carlin to Erako
says that the Fiorians were hoping for the Cosmic Gate to remain
firm, and the letter was written when you were very young. This
concerns me: if they were worried about it then, what
now?’
‘ We should ask the Fiorians Knights,’ suggested Eben. King
Ignis cast his eyes downward.
‘ After Carlin died and until the time of my imprisonment I was
searching for any remaining Fiorians. I never found
any.’
**
They had been
sailing all the first day and into the second night. The sun was
high in the sky on the following day. The sight of the Ortarian
coast gladdened all their hearts. Eben could see high cliff faces
to the north which gave way further south to a rugged coastline
interspersed with small bays and inlets. A blue sky and a warm
breeze welcomed them as they approached the coast.
‘ There’s a small fishing village to the south,’ said
hunter to ensure you were safe. He did not tell me about you. It
troubles me that no one ever came to take you back to your
parents.’
Eben felt his
elation turn to apprehension. ‘Do you think she is...?’ He felt
distraught at the thought that something terrible had happened to
his parents and couldn’t finish the question.
‘ I don’t know,’ replied King Ignis soberly as he handed the
letter back to Eben.
Eben felt like
a thousand thoughts of possibilities were going through his head at
once. He realised that he would have to go west to find the
answers.
‘ Your sword; it’s the Ecorian Sword,’ said King
Ignis.
‘ I don’t know what Ecorian means,’ said Eben.
‘ Your sword is one of three swords which were used to defend
Veredor. In ancient times Veredor was ruled by a powerful and
virtuous lineage of emperors called the Ecorians. That sword became
known as the Ecorian Sword because the Ecorian Emperor always
carried it. The original name of the sword is the Sword of
Light.’
Eben looked
down at the sword that lay by his side in its scabbard. ‘Why would
my mother leave such a sword with a small child?’
‘ I don’t know,’ replied King Ignis. ‘However, I do know that
the Sword of Light is a powerful weapon and much more than a simple
sword. It was forged out of the essence of the cosmos and has many
mystical powers. Your mother wanted you to have this sword, and I
know that you will have to learn to use it. These are dark times,
Eben. Few men stand against the darkness; a powerful evil is
growing in Veredor.’
Eben felt a
sudden weight of responsibility at hearing these words from the
King. He thought back to his time in Clemensdale where he was safe
and secure.
‘ Azagord said that his master wanted to cast the sword through
the Cosmic Gate. What did he mean?’ asked Eben.
King Ignis
pondered the question for a few moments. ‘Azagord came south to
find the Sword of Light and take it back to his evil master in the
north. His instructions were to recover the sword and kill the one
who carried it. He believed the Zyranians had the sword. Azagord
attacked Zyran because of this belief. Only now do I see that
Kaloren secretly carried the Sword of Light all along.’
‘ What is the Cosmic Gate?’ asked Eben.
‘ I only know of the Cosmic Gate from folk stories. I never
believed that it existed until I had spoken with Azagord,’ said
King Ignis. ‘The Cosmic Gate is a place where Veredor meets with
the cosmos beyond. It is the only way to come into Veredor and the
only way out of Veredor. The old stories tell that the Cosmic Gate
was built by an ancient race to protect Veredor from the powers of
darkness. I think Azagord’s former master wanted to cast the Sword
of Light out of Veredor so no one could use it against him. This
news worries me deeply. If the gate has collapsed we are all at
risk. The outer cosmos is said to be a realm inhabited by many
creatures of darkness.’
‘ Did Azagord say that it had collapsed?’ asked
Eben.
‘ No, he didn’t say; however, your letter from Carlin to Erako
says that the Fiorians were hoping for the Cosmic Gate to remain
firm, and the letter was written when you were very young. This
concerns me: if they were worried about it then, what
now?’
‘ We should ask the Fiorians Knights,’ suggested Eben. King
Ignis cast his eyes downward.
‘ After Carlin died and until the time of my imprisonment I was
searching for any remaining Fiorians. I never found
any.’
**
They had been
sailing all the first day and into the second night. The sun was
high in the sky on the following day. The sight of the Ortarian
coast gladdened all their hearts. Eben could see high cliff faces
to the north which gave way further south to a rugged coastline
interspersed with small bays and inlets. A blue sky and a warm
breeze welcomed them as they approached the coast.
‘ There’s a small fishing village to the south,’ said
Similar Books
