Rise of Centuria Read online

  Simon and Drake took the lead and guided the rest up a steep passage in the direction toward Salidon. After climbing the eastern hillside, Gathar stopped, looked back at the crater and noticed a small cave opening on the western side. They must have missed it when climbing down that side to begin their search. A large rock rested at the mouth of the cave and made it impossible to see from below. He stared at it for a moment contemplating whether to search it or not and decided going to Salidon took priority at this time.

  Nydraia had important news to share and Salidon needed to find out what became of Centuria and its people. Gathar also wondered what happened to King Katimi. He had not seen the king since the initial battle with the demons at Centuria. Was he even still alive? Had he been kidnapped? Was he in hiding? He had sworn to protect King Katimi but couldn’t do so because he didn’t know where he was. It tormented him that his duty was not being fulfilled.

  A small green lizard skittered across the rocks and stopped to look at them just before they entered the Dark Forest. Gathar knew the path through the forest all too well and was saddened that, once again, he was about to travel through it leaving a lost Centuria behind. Buun knelt down next to the lizard and reached out his hand. The lizard, with unblinking eyes, moved swiftly into his palm, up his arm, and onto his shoulder. The group, including Nydraia, was surprised that the lizard did not run away. Buun had a connection with nature that they did not understand. If anything, they were amused with his abilities.

  Simon and Drake nodded their heads and led the group into the Dark Forest. It was midday with the sun at its highest. The canopy that once covered the forest was gone. Dried leaves remained, but they were not enough to provide shade. Drake looked up through the trees as his horse trotted along, felt a sense of dread, and closed his eyes thinking of Megan and her ruby red hair flowing through the air while they danced. He looked over at Gathar to see if he was thinking of his daughter too. The expression on Gathar’s face was serious, his brows furrowed, and his lips pursed. Drake decided it was not an appropriate time to discuss Megan, but he did allow his mind to think about how he was going to rescue her. He promised himself that he would do whatever it took to bring her back home. He looked around at the others. Buun, the lizard still on his shoulder, nodded back at him as they rode.

  Drake was not the only one troubled by recent events. Thoris was deep in thought as well. He felt horrible for the deaths of the warriors the first time he led a group into battle. Gathar had allowed him to lead warriors into Salidon to fight the demons not knowing about the alamours hiding behind the fountain at the entrance to the city. The alamours glowed brighter than ever and, instinctively, Thoris jumped into the fountain water. The warriors he led did not react quickly enough in their defense and perished in a horrific explosion. Drake had noticed Thoris’s change in attitude since the incident and no longer teased him.

  Nydraia kept a watchful eye on the group. Although they had rescued her from the debris she remained highly suspicious of them. It was in her nature and she had difficulty trusting anyone. Her eyes darted back and forth across the environment and the members of the group. Nothing seemed awkward about them. They carried themselves well and didn’t stare at her in return. She wondered to herself if she could ever trust another soul again.

  Chapter Three

  Bursts of orange, red, and white flames exploded where the alamour once stood. All of those who were near felt the intense heat and suffered serious burns. A solid black ring of soot covered the ground and the damaged trees nearby. Angry screams rose from the hillside. The ground trembled as the echoes reverberated through the canyons making it sound like the screams were coming from every direction.

  Ptolemy, standing by a thick tree in the woods, hidden by lush shrubbery, watched intently. The echoes sent chills through his body and his mind started to race. Disturbing thoughts filled his imagination and he lost awareness of what had been ensuing around him until the ground beneath his feet melted his shoes. The earth had gradually become hotter, and he did not notice right away. The shrubbery that provided him cover had dried and withered. The soft soil on which he stood became dry and cracked, and the bark on the thick tree beside him started to peel. The tree moaned, or did it? He looked at it for a moment and blinked a few times because his eyes began to water from the increasing heat. The tree remained still, yet he swore to himself that he heard come something from it. The screams from the hillside became louder and drew away Ptolemy’s attention from the thick tree. He peered over the dying shrubbery for a better look at what was making the horrific sound. His breath was taken away by what he saw and his mouth continued to throb. He mumbled, “What in the world?” Less than one hundred yards away stood a two-headed ogre screaming at itself.

  “Du grober kopf off, fandich das Kanichen zuerst! Es ist mein ze essen!” Each head tried to command the body to do something different. Ptolemy could see the ogre move one way, and then suddenly shift in the opposite direction as if being shoved. Ptolemy heard the branches above him creak, but he did not dare to take his eyes off the ogre. A deep sense of dread and fear, and a slight bit of sorrow, tore at him. The fear kept him from moving. He did not want the beast to know he was there, but he had a feeling that it did. The ground on his now bare feet continued to grow hotter and to erupt near the two-headed ogre, who started toward Ptolemy. Struck with shock, Ptolemy remained still, breathing heavily through his mouth trying to be as silent as possible. The two heads of the ogre turned toward him as it drew nearer. Ptolemy swallowed hard and felt a boulder of terror drop into his gut. Cursing at himself, he moved. The ogre let out another scream, “Auf diese Weise Narr! Nein. Das Feuer breitet sich dort aus!”

  Ptolemy felt the chill in his bones again. Forgetting that he knew powerful magic, he began to run. The two-headed ogre picked up its pace and followed. Ptolemy heard the beast pursuing him and hoped he could escape unharmed as hot twigs and branches snapped between his toes. The pain in his feet from the hot ground and rough terrain was nothing in comparison to the horrific thoughts he had about the ogre catching him. The branches overhead creaked again.

  This time, Ptolemy looked up to see what was making the noise. He saw a shadow of a thin figure carrying a bow and a full quiver. After seeing the shadow, Ptolemy felt his senses sharpen as they did when he was in demon form. Arrows poured down from high in the trees and struck the ogre in the chest, but the ogre continued to chase Ptolemy while letting out angry roars. As quick as a flash of lightning, Ptolemy remembered all the magical spells he knew and the abilities he acquired. He stopped in place, veered around, and cast a spell of bindings at the approaching ogre, “Lega questa bestia.”

  Luminescent blue chains wrapped around the ogre, forcing the arrows deeper into the ogre’s tough hide. It collapsed. When the ogre’s body struck the hot ground it opened and a flame burst up and engulfed the body within seconds. Nothing remained except a pile of ashes, and the magical blue chains remained intact lying on the ground like slumbering snakes.

  Ptolemy took a deep breath trying to calm his racing heart and mind. He could feel his heart pounding against his chest and he was grateful for the magic protecting him. With his sharpened senses returning, the world around him came to life and overwhelmed his every thought and feeling. The shadow high in the trees moved swiftly toward him. He kept his hands up and ready to strike again if needed. The figure did not hesitate and landed quietly on the hot ground beside him without showing any sign of discomfort. At the same moment a crashing sound echoed from a spot nearby. The airship had fallen into the woods. Ptolemy stared at the dark-green-skinned figure standing there, and it stared in return. The figure waited a moment and then moved forward reaching for Ptolemy’s saddle hanging from his belt. Ptolemy jerked to one side, pulled the saddle out of reach, and shrieked, “What is it that you want?”

  The green lizard-like creature let out a heavy sigh and spoke, “Not too grateful for a helping hand, are we?” Ptolemy continued to stare and realized that
the creature’s eyes were orange with vertical pupils. He became mesmerized by them.

  “No,” Ptolemy said with a pause before he continued, “Thank you. Forgive me for my rudeness. This saddle is very special to me and it seems that so many want to take it.” The words flowed from Ptolemy’s mouth with such finesse as if they had been rehearsed thousands of times, and it surprised both of them.

  The lagarto looked at the glowing blue chains on the ground and the pile of ash. “It looks to me that you are able to lookout for yourself, young one.” Ptolemy sensed a bit of sarcasm in the lagarto’s tone and did not respond. “Well, I am Palo.” Palo stared into Ptolemy’s green eyes and waited for a response. Ptolemy flinched and continued thinking about how to respond to the lizard-like creature.

  “I am Ptolemy,” he said after his brief hesitation.

  A strong wind passed through the trees and rustled the dry leaves blowing many of them into the air. Ptolemy decided to reply, “I have no quarrel with your kind nor do I seek trouble.” Palo continued to be impressed by the confidence and mannerisms expressed by the young human. He nodded in understanding and told Ptolemy to follow him back to his home. Feet burning and feeling as if he had no choice, Ptolemy obeyed.

  Palo and Ptolemy climbed steep hills through dense forest. They traveled off the beaten path, away from the burning trees, before entering a majestic city hidden well in the depths of the woods. Tall pyramids made of polished gold and homes with crystal and clay tile rooftops shone brilliantly, blinding Ptolemy as he looked around in awe. He had seen splendid architecture during his many travels with his father and brothers, but what lay before him was more unique than anything he had seen. It was magical. Something about the atmosphere surrounding him brought a sense of peace and tranquility. He continued to look around as Palo brought him deeper into the city. Although Ptolemy did not fit in to the typical inhabitants of the place, nobody looked at him with judgment, prejudice, or disgust. Lagartos were going about their everyday rituals, shopping, trading, and gardening without hesitating to look at the human passerby. A group of female lagartos walked by smelling distinctly of fresh cut tulips. For a brief moment, he thought back to the days in Centuria before the attack of the demons that started a war. Hatred toward the demons surged through his veins and he felt himself flush. Palo noticed and said nothing but continued walking quietly as they approached a hut painted a rich red.

  Dressed in gold and turquoise stone, a muscular and much-aged, very wrinkly lagarto stepped out from the red hut with a largarto named Krangalson, a high chief of the tribal clan Guerreros. “Greetings!” He gave a slight bow and head nod to Palo and Ptolemy while keeping his gaze from his piercing sky-blue eyes on Ptolemy. “What privilege have we earned to have a human in our presence?”

  Palo shifted his weight from one leg to another nervously when he answered, “A ship in the heavens above erupted, and this human, who goes by the name Ptolemy, fell from the sky.” Ptolemy understood that the ancient tongue being used was a sign of respect to the elder and kept his silence until spoken to. Ptolemy glanced into the old lagarto’s eyes and swore he could see them twinkle like stars in a moonless night. Ptolemy blinked and the sparkle he saw was gone. The elder smiled, turned his gaze upon Palo, and continued his conversation. Ptolemy was certain that he not only saw stars in the eyes but an actual constellation, one he had seen in his Book of Stars. He thought of the many images in the book and tried to recall which constellation it resembled. It troubled his thoughts that he couldn’t think of it right away. The conversation between the lagartos became a blur as he let his mind wander for a moment. Realizing he had done so, Ptolemy snapped back to attention, and listened intently, still not able to recall the constellation.

  The elder looked at Ptolemy again. This time the elder spoke directly to him, “Come with me, young one. I have much to show you.” A little hesitant, Ptolemy wondered what he planned to share with him, and stood there dumbfounded. The elder stepped aside and opened his arms, guiding Ptolemy to enter the red hut. Ptolemy decided to accept the invitation and they all went in.

  Once inside, the elder sat at a round table cut from a single crystal of enormous size. The table sparkled from the fires coming from torches lighting the hut. Ptolemy found the table to be mesmerizing. Many things about the lagartos caught his interest. Something about the table made his senses sharpen and his confidence in his magical powers increase. He thought, Does this elder know more about me than he is letting on? Is there magic in this hut that will make me stronger? Wiser? His thoughts were interrupted by the elder offering him some sustenance. The elder coughed and three servants appeared from the shadows happy to help. They poured a glass of juice. The elder, Ptolemy, and Palo, each examined the well-cut crystal carefully for it sparkled like the table on which it sat. The elder told Ptolemy that he could keep the glass as a souvenir, to consider it a gift from the lagartos. Ptolemy smiled and thanked him gleefully.

  “To meet someone with such mannerisms and power, yet so young, is a real treat,” the elder continued. “Your mind is not yet matured and easy to form into greatness,” he spoke softly and meant no insult to Ptolemy. “Why were you on a ship in the skies? Were you collaborating with the demons? Or is there a hidden agenda behind your actions? I sense that you know the demons all too well. Perhaps you have been one yourself. Hmmm?” Ptolemy felt his skin flush as the elder looked him up and down again. “Greatness, yes, it will come to you although you do not seek it. You will do magnificent things and not even realize it. Do not be alarmed for the stars have told us of your coming. I didn’t expect it to be so soon though.”

  “The stars?” Ptolemy asked with surprise.

  “Yes.”

  “How? How do you know?”

  Palo joined in. “The stars tell us many things. They can point us in the right direction and they can lead us down terrible paths if ignored.” Ptolemy wasn’t sure how to interpret these words of wisdom and took a drink of his juice. The sweetness of the fruit satisfied his palate. The others followed suit. Even the servants had glasses of juice and took a drink.

  The elder continued, “We see that you have suffered much in your few years, but be warned, it is not over yet. There are obstacles you will face and it will be up to you, and only you, on how to handle them. The decisions you will face will affect many, so choose wisely and think of others when doing so. You may become a hero of your time, but do not set it as a goal for yourself for it may cloud your mind from the truth.” Ptolemy took in the words carefully. He felt that the elder’s insight was meant for him specifically and, for some odd reason, he felt destined to be there with the lagartos, that it was fate that brought them together.

  Ptolemy had to ask, “What else have the stars told you?”

  The elder became excited with this question, “We must not keep you here long for there is a path before you that is long and treacherous outside our city that you shall start after a good night’s rest.”

  “You speak wise words, but I’m afraid I don’t understand what you are trying to tell me.” Ptolemy finished his sentence and took another drink of his juice. The hut seemed to be changing form around him. Is there something in my drink? he thought as he continued drinking. The juice tasted so good he could not set the glass down. The walls around him turned to dark blue like the late sky during a setting sun. Stars began to appear on the ceiling and the firelight from the torches dimmed. The constellation he saw in the elder’s eyes appeared and it morphed into an image of Ptolemy’s family. A moment of his childhood passed before his eyes for everyone in the room to see. Memories that left an impact on him formed one after another until they were looking at a visual of themselves sitting in a dark hut. The image paused for a moment as if time halted and nothing moved. From the corner of his eye he saw the real elder shift in his seat uneasily. The visual quickly changed to a landscape covered in dry ruins ablaze with fire. Wilted trees, sand, and stone covered the ground as all other forms of nature appeared to be gone f
rom the very existence of the place. A form appeared in the flames and started to grow.

  The elder let out a gasp and the vision disappeared instantly. The room returned to its normal state and the crystal table sparkled once again. Ptolemy turned to the elder who had collapsed from his chair and was sprawled out on the floor. Ptolemy and Palo stood up quickly and tended to the elder within seconds along with the servants. The elder’s eyes were large and had changed to a solid black. Palo took hold of him by the shoulders and gently helped him up to a sitting position.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  The elder briskly turned his head toward Palo so they were facing each other. It was difficult to see if the elder was looking at Palo for his eyes showed no signs of focus. Ptolemy shivered. The look in the elder’s face reminded him of a time when he had felt absolutely terrified. A memory he tried many times to suppress but still couldn’t erase.

  He recalled that moment at the riverbanks with his two older brothers, Mort and Vance, who planned to teach him how to swim. The river was shallow but flowed rapidly. Ptolemy was at the right age to dive into the rapids alone and without aid; a lesson the sons of Gathar had to learn at a young age to teach them to become confident in their own abilities. Many believed Gathar’s swimming lessons to be dangerous…and absurd. Mort told Ptolemy, “We will not leave till you dive in.” The brothers looked at each other and said nothing more. Ptolemy was terrified of the water. He didn’t know how to swim, but his dad thought the lesson would help him overcome this fear. He stood at the riverbank staring at the rushing water with wide open eyes—the same look in what he just saw in the elder’s eyes. Vance walked up beside him and stood there quietly. Then he took off his shoes, gave Ptolemy a slap on the back, and jumped into the water. The current took Vance away instantly. Seconds later he could be seen fifty yards downstream. Ptolemy continued to shake and twiddle his fingers while contemplating the next move. He knew Mort was there to support him but still felt alone and terrified. His childish imagination took a wild ride and left him with irrational thoughts. A gust of wind passed and Ptolemy plunged straight into the water feet first. The current swept him away as he struggled for control. He went underwater, saw bubbles floating to the surface, and remembered nothing else.