Dragon Quest - I - Chapter 5, Parts 0-1
Chapter 5 - The Rescue of Princess Laura
Another short entry. Parts 0-1, pp. 182-185.
Aleph and Galthira continued on their journey after departing Domdora, heading for the eastern edge of Alefgaard, towards the great swamp.
They took the old Melkid Highway north and cut across east by the old Garai Road. They crossed a run-down inlet bridge that connected north Alefgaard with the eastern portion of the continent. If they headed straight north it would have taken them directly to village of Maira. However, the two adventurers curved south and east after crossing the bridge, leading them to the swampy forest.
The area that the old Alefgaardian highway led them to was once well-known as the largest grain-producing area of the continent, but the Catastrophe of 1348 erased the road and transformed the life-giving plains into a harsh, poisonous wetland. There were rumors that the old road once led to a port town that connected to the island of Rimuldar, at the road’s very end.
Now, however, the town had turned to rubble and melted into the poisonous forest. Further, the once gentle channel that split through Rimuldar Island had been forever changed by the crashing of violent salt-water waves.
Travelers who wished to travel from Alefgaard to Rimuldar Isle had to now take a boat from the northern Alefgaardian coast, sail out to the open sea, then head straight south, to arrive at Rimuldar Island’s eastern cape.
One would be lucky to find a boat heading to Rimuldar even once a month, however.
The month of the Dragon was changing into the month of Kings. The season headed once
more towards winter.
1 - Predictions
“What did you say!?” Devil Knight yelled, aghast. “The baby was a fake!?”
Candles burned in the small room, flickering against the dark. Between the lights the knights of Devil and Shadow sat across from each other.
After a taste of the Dragonlord’s wrath, they were in pursuit of Aleph. Perhaps they should have launched an attack immediately, but there was the small matter of confirming whether or not he was truly of the blood of Loto.
Just as they were told by the High Mage Zaltotan, the only way to erase their lord’s unease and doubt in them was to procure proof enough to make the Dragonlord understand. To cast light on the truth of fifteen years ago, to prove that Aleph truly is the descendant of Loto and must be exterminated, would only cause more doubt and distrust.
183
“Unfortunately, yes,” Shadow replied, looking directly at Devil.
“That can’t be!”
“Wait, and listen,” interrupted Shadow, as he took a deep breath and began to speak. “It was fifteen years - no, sixteen now, the first day of the month of Kings. That day, three men appeared at the house of a newborn babe in Domdora - they left an old map, the Stone of Life, and a chimeara’s wing, and departed. That night, you attacked that village. But the child’s mother used the chimaera’s wing and transported the babe nearly to Radatome. He was picked up and raised by a blacksmith, who just happened to be passing by. Quite possibly he was the only survivor of Domdora. And of the blood of Loto, as well.”
Devil growled deeply, his lips trembling. He was so sure that the babe’s corpse he offered to the Dragonlord had been the right one, and the shock was great.
“And Zaltotan,” Shadow spat indignantly, “he was right. If we only accepted his information, we could have saved ourselves some time.”
Devil wasn’t listening. A fierce rage was growing in the back of his throat. “Damn them all! I won’t forgive this!” he bellowed, with sharp eyes and gritted teeth, as he jumped up.
184
“Hold!” yelled Shadow, and held him back. “If we kill him now, what will become of our plans?”
They exchanged fierce glares.
“Not until we ensure that the princess is the true Princess Laura,” Shadow said, shaking his head to signify he must not be killed -- not yet. “This is why we’ve wasted all this time until now.”
Devil growled again and threw off the Shadow Knight’s hand, but breathed a deep sigh of resignation.
“At any rate, they will arrive at the forest swamp in the eastern mountains by tomorrow. Do your best to lead them here. I will go and see our leader.”
There had been message after message from Zaltotan informing them that the Dragonlord had lost his temper and told them they should report in, near-incessantly.
“I’d like to ignore the summons, but it is Zaltotan we’re talking about. He might get it into his head to tell our liege the one thing we all fear.”
185
“But perhaps you shouldn’t go on your own,” reasoned Devil. He was worried about the Dragonlord’s temperament. If his faith in the Knights dropped any further, they might be facing Katusa as their superior once again.
“I know what you must be thinking. However, one of us must stay here. Special care must be given. Now, don’t worry. I’ll give his highness your regards.”
“But, Shadow--” began Devil. Shadow’s words were hardly a comfort. The Dragonlord was not the type to be so easily deceived.
“Not to worry, his end will come. It will only be a matter of time,” eased Shadow.
Devil Knight sighed once again. “I understand.”
“I will return as soon as my business if finished. Farewell, brother.”
With that, the knight of Shadow disappeared into the darkness with a gust of wind.
Another short entry. Parts 0-1, pp. 182-185.
Aleph and Galthira continued on their journey after departing Domdora, heading for the eastern edge of Alefgaard, towards the great swamp.
They took the old Melkid Highway north and cut across east by the old Garai Road. They crossed a run-down inlet bridge that connected north Alefgaard with the eastern portion of the continent. If they headed straight north it would have taken them directly to village of Maira. However, the two adventurers curved south and east after crossing the bridge, leading them to the swampy forest.
The area that the old Alefgaardian highway led them to was once well-known as the largest grain-producing area of the continent, but the Catastrophe of 1348 erased the road and transformed the life-giving plains into a harsh, poisonous wetland. There were rumors that the old road once led to a port town that connected to the island of Rimuldar, at the road’s very end.
Now, however, the town had turned to rubble and melted into the poisonous forest. Further, the once gentle channel that split through Rimuldar Island had been forever changed by the crashing of violent salt-water waves.
Travelers who wished to travel from Alefgaard to Rimuldar Isle had to now take a boat from the northern Alefgaardian coast, sail out to the open sea, then head straight south, to arrive at Rimuldar Island’s eastern cape.
One would be lucky to find a boat heading to Rimuldar even once a month, however.
The month of the Dragon was changing into the month of Kings. The season headed once
more towards winter.
1 - Predictions
“What did you say!?” Devil Knight yelled, aghast. “The baby was a fake!?”
Candles burned in the small room, flickering against the dark. Between the lights the knights of Devil and Shadow sat across from each other.
After a taste of the Dragonlord’s wrath, they were in pursuit of Aleph. Perhaps they should have launched an attack immediately, but there was the small matter of confirming whether or not he was truly of the blood of Loto.
Just as they were told by the High Mage Zaltotan, the only way to erase their lord’s unease and doubt in them was to procure proof enough to make the Dragonlord understand. To cast light on the truth of fifteen years ago, to prove that Aleph truly is the descendant of Loto and must be exterminated, would only cause more doubt and distrust.
183
“Unfortunately, yes,” Shadow replied, looking directly at Devil.
“That can’t be!”
“Wait, and listen,” interrupted Shadow, as he took a deep breath and began to speak. “It was fifteen years - no, sixteen now, the first day of the month of Kings. That day, three men appeared at the house of a newborn babe in Domdora - they left an old map, the Stone of Life, and a chimeara’s wing, and departed. That night, you attacked that village. But the child’s mother used the chimaera’s wing and transported the babe nearly to Radatome. He was picked up and raised by a blacksmith, who just happened to be passing by. Quite possibly he was the only survivor of Domdora. And of the blood of Loto, as well.”
Devil growled deeply, his lips trembling. He was so sure that the babe’s corpse he offered to the Dragonlord had been the right one, and the shock was great.
“And Zaltotan,” Shadow spat indignantly, “he was right. If we only accepted his information, we could have saved ourselves some time.”
Devil wasn’t listening. A fierce rage was growing in the back of his throat. “Damn them all! I won’t forgive this!” he bellowed, with sharp eyes and gritted teeth, as he jumped up.
184
“Hold!” yelled Shadow, and held him back. “If we kill him now, what will become of our plans?”
They exchanged fierce glares.
“Not until we ensure that the princess is the true Princess Laura,” Shadow said, shaking his head to signify he must not be killed -- not yet. “This is why we’ve wasted all this time until now.”
Devil growled again and threw off the Shadow Knight’s hand, but breathed a deep sigh of resignation.
“At any rate, they will arrive at the forest swamp in the eastern mountains by tomorrow. Do your best to lead them here. I will go and see our leader.”
There had been message after message from Zaltotan informing them that the Dragonlord had lost his temper and told them they should report in, near-incessantly.
“I’d like to ignore the summons, but it is Zaltotan we’re talking about. He might get it into his head to tell our liege the one thing we all fear.”
185
“But perhaps you shouldn’t go on your own,” reasoned Devil. He was worried about the Dragonlord’s temperament. If his faith in the Knights dropped any further, they might be facing Katusa as their superior once again.
“I know what you must be thinking. However, one of us must stay here. Special care must be given. Now, don’t worry. I’ll give his highness your regards.”
“But, Shadow--” began Devil. Shadow’s words were hardly a comfort. The Dragonlord was not the type to be so easily deceived.
“Not to worry, his end will come. It will only be a matter of time,” eased Shadow.
Devil Knight sighed once again. “I understand.”
“I will return as soon as my business if finished. Farewell, brother.”
With that, the knight of Shadow disappeared into the darkness with a gust of wind.
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