Chapter 5 For Love and Honor

After absorbing the decision, the two rulers, warlords, and chiefs etch their names into the clay peace treaty. Everybody signing received a copy of the treaty with the stamp of Gilda in the form of a hawk surrounded by willow twigs. Alaric flies to the Atlantis Mountains to give a copy of the decision to the great god Alano. The great god appears proud of Gilda. Alaric is amazed this palace. He receives a tour after dining at the god’s lonely table. Murals, statues, tapestries, carvings into doorways, and the stone floor appear to be built by ingenious hands. Unexpectedly, Alaric views a portrait of himself upon a bed chamber wall. He wore armor, held a gold sword, and seemed to be fighting a god. Alano predicted when he was dipped in the Pool of Immortality that he would fight beasts, gods, and humans in his future. Alano stresses upon the eager warrior about his impending fame as a hero. The time for his greatness will come to pass when he is ready. To be a great warrior, worthy of everlasting tales, he needs to develop an inner strength first and suffer great peril to show his outer strength. Upon a statue of a beautiful goddess resting in a sitting room is a lovely pearl necklace, even prettier than Narva pearls. Between the pearls are gold charms etched with deer figures. Alano explains it is one of his wives’ necklaces and hands it to Alaric. At first he refuses the gift, it is precious to Alano to have it laid on a statue of his wife. He defends that he has many of her necklaces and can place another on the statue. Stunned, Alaric wraps it around the hilt of his sword. Alano also spoke of how Daxus became a god.

“My wife was made a goddess when I married her. Daxus was raised by me, but only as an immortal. A holy being is created or married by a god or goddess. The other way is if a holy being transforms into an aura, a ghost you might say, and wraps their soul around an immortal to give them holy powers. My wife did such a thing to Daxus.” began Alano.

“Aura? But I thought holy ones never die.” Alaric asked.

“Oh, holy ones can die when they are no longer worshipped by mortal creatures. Like elves go to the afterlife or remain on Lotan as ghosts, holy ones transform into auras. You can imagine how that upset them.” explained Alano.

“Yes, Andos makes his distain well known.” responds Alaric.

“My son Andos is quite troubled that a fight with his wife produced in the end another god. Andos likes to be in control and disagreed with Daxus being given the position to oversee agriculture to help creatures survive the famines Andos likes to send.” added Alano.

Alaric then asks if he were making a mistake by marrying Nix. Elf villagers think if a human dwells in the valley then humans will attack the village. Alaric defends that Nix is part-elf since her mother was part-elf. Her mother was a human nomad and had a brief affair an elf trading along the rivers of the grasslands. She was banished by her family and walked to the elf’s village to learn he had been killed by bandits attacking the trade boats. She was taken in by the high priest and died from fever after childbirth. He learned much elf magic from her and copied her spell books. Nix knows everything about elves and humans. Alano hears Alaric’s pleas for approval on his choice of bride, but offers no solution to this young elf’s insecurities. He only declares that the solution is for Alaric to decide. If a marriage is a mistake, it is both Nix’s and Alaric’s to make. He tells Alaric that a giant will enter his life soon and he will go on a spiritual quest that will show his secrets to Nix. Alaric forgot the invitation he relayed to Ricky the Giant when he got a bottle of lavender oil from. Disappointed, Alaric returns to Leesville. As a farewell gift, Alano presented a bronze helmet. Alaric kept it upturned so he could see. He quickly discovers it made him invisible to mortals, but not to his godly relatives. Grecken the wolf tips his nose on the bronze helmet of Dracon. The Wizard asked if the helmet held a special power. Dracon said it made him invisible when he put it on. He received it in a temple while he was praying for a safe journey and thought his father gave it to him. The Wizard said it was possible. Dracon is now certain his father has been the phantom villagers speak of and has been watching him all his life. They were interrupted by the arrival of Eurick’s grandson Prince Levi. He went home to Akaiyah where his father rules as king to watch the Harvest Games. He has been a pupil of The Wizard for a year now. Homer recalls the tales of Theron the Sailor who supports a large to keep the coast safe from pirates.

Alaric and Alexis sail the rivers and sea becoming rich as kings. Alaric brings Nix to the new colony Litsy, the grand walled Blythan city Kara, and the capital Illium. Illium was in mourning over Emperor Protos passing away in the night and preparing to crown Grand Prince Oilc as the new emperor. Grand Princess Athena wore ashes on her face in sadness as she presented the golden circlet she promised to Nix. Alaric immediately noticed a spell in the object. He tests it waving his fingers over it to conclude a spell to protect the wearer from evil spirits, but at a cost of watching loved ones perish. Alaric thanked Athena for the gift. The widowed Empress Cherilyn remained in seclusion. Alaric asked for an audience. The Empress allowed and he gave her a pearl ring from Narva her husband had requested on his last trip. Alaric and Nix remained for the celebration of the coronation. It was an amazing sight to an elf and girl from the frontier. The royal couple rode in chariots of gold tossing copper coins to the city dwellers. They were seated in the Temple of Athena next to Grand Prince Rychan who had the fits cured and his new wife Anneth from Ithaca. Beside them were his sisters Grand Princess Sieva and Princess Aphrodite. A grand gala in the great hall proceeded the ceremony. Alaric, Nix, and Alexis with fitted with robes and finest jewelry ever made for the royal couple. Athena requested a dance with both elves. Nix dances with Olic and informs him of Alaric’s new house. They danced the night away and Alexis bragged about his new son Athar. Alaric plans a trip to Kadacia after he marries Nix. Athena was intrigued for stories of Amazons and villages in Armorica.

Soon, Nix enters her adult rite of passage in Brightsburg at the beginning of summer. Alaric comes to claim Nix as his betrothed during the human ceremony. Nix dressed in white leather with much fringe along the edges. Her ceremonial dress is covered with beads to symbolize the rainbow goddess’s fertility and matrimonial blessing of the sun goddess. Alaric thought she was the most beautiful creature in the world. The High Priest of Brightsburg holds a blessing spray of horsetail hairs. Holding the handle of the horsetail spray, he dips the hair in a mixture of milk and blood to splash the young women’s hair and dresses. He presents each maiden with a green jade figurine with large hips and bosom to honor the fertility goddess Iris. He claims the maidens have shed blood so they are no longer girls. Mother’s milk will be shed as they bring children into the world. All the parents stand behind the maidens in support. Alaric claims his betrothal to Nix. Honey, to symbolize life in dark times of winter, is anointed on the new women’s foreheads. The new women sing as they hold hands in a circle of how bright their future will be. Alaric is hit with the dreadful fear of losing Nix as he watches her sing with a bright smile.

Covered in grime, Nix washes in her bed chamber up in the attic as the family meet visitors with gifts. Nix returns in an Anakian cotton gown from Alaric’s traded fabrics. She thanks visitors for their gifts and stores them in her chest she will bring with her to Leesville. They leave the house to enjoy the great feast that filled the marketplace. Joyful music fills the air. They return alone to the house alone and rest in the upstairs bed chamber. Nix says it was strange to sleep by herself once Laeos moved out. She also confesses to having Alaric’s child after his last visit, but the boy died the next day. Nix soon finds herself helping out the pregnant Marianna as she becomes less able to tend the gardens around their house. Alaric assures her they will children and grandchildren. Days after the celebration, a giant comes driving a wagon pulled by cattle. Alarmed, the humans gather to defend the town from the approaching giant. The giant man looks confused at this strange behavior toward a visitor. He halts the animals and tries to greet the humans. His beasts are attacked and he is stabbed by human’s knives. Alaric runs to the injured giant to stop the men. One man claims all giants are evil and deserve death for invading human communities. Alaric draws his sword and guards the injured man. The humans back down and retreat to Brightsburg.

Satisfied, Alaric dresses the stab wounds and welcomes him to his campfire heating potions. All the humans give him angry sneers as they pass by. The giant affirms Alaric forgot to mention human hatred for giants. Alaric apologies and explains how long ago a group of giants attacked the village and carried off some of their people. Ricky shows Alaric his flower cuttings and perfumes sitting in jars. Alaric feeds the hungry giant and they sleep under the stars. The following morning, Alaric helps Master Ricky sell his cuttings and perfumes in the marketplace. Alaric guides Ricky to Leesville with Nix. She is on a quest to find the Cup of Hades that brings a mortal being back to life. Alaric is immortal and she never wants to leave him behind. Once they get to Leesville, Alaric goes up the mountain to the Temple of Eris to find records of the Cup of Hades. On a pillar inside the sacred caves was etched the secrets of Hades.

It is told that in the days of Queen Aurora, the griffin king Hades gave a magical cup to the volcano goddess Maya before he left for battle so the mermaids would never reach his treasure. The treasure of Hades was locked after his death by Maya inside Mount Caracol inside Dragon’s Pass. The Cup of Hades gives the person who drinks from it a new life in another form after they die. Two elves hunting for crystals came across the cave to find stone figures of men in the doorway to the cavern. Great gold, silver, brass, and copper treasures lay in a great hall. Also they found a mirror that doesn’t reflect light holding a golden cup. Soon they found a sprite who explained the riddle on the wood frame of the mirror stated that only a brave and wise creature may retrieve the cup. One elf reached for the cup and it came out. They drank from the river and put it back for the treasure is cursed. One elf stole a gold box and became a stone statue at the doorway. The other elf came to the temple to make amends on behalf of his brother and carved out the warnings on this pillar. The tale did not say if the brother was returned to life. The high priestess said he was returned and became a priest here in the temple in repentance. At the temple, Alaric prayed with his amulet from Iris to come with him on his journey. She comes to Alaric in a dream and leaves a map to Mount Caracol sewn into an amulet. She also reveals a secret to the magical cup. Faerie dust will release the cup from the mirror if the warrior is unwise or cowardly. Faerie dust is made when they molt their wings and the tiny feathers shed look like dust. Nix is convinced that Alaric is both wise and brave so he alone may be able to retrieve the magical cup. They follow the Aurora River upstream to Dragon’s Pass in Ricky’s wagon. They travel through valley villages trading Ricky’s wares. At a fork in the Aurora River, Alaric thought he heard singing in the trees. He figured they must be close to the enchanted border of Eridu’s Asgard realm. He steers his companions away from the melody. As Nix and Master Ricky sleep, Alaric examines the map from Iris. He wonders if they went by Dragon’s Pass since they are surrounded by mountains and valleys. Iris appears to tell him to continue northwest to reach Mount Caracol. The goddess turns herself into a mink to guide them further up the river. At daybreak, the human, elf, and giant awaken to a loud screech echoing throughout the mountains.

Later in the day, Nix spots a large dragon attacking a giant snake. They all dash into the bushes. They now are sure they have reached Dragon’s Pass. Alaric hiding from the dragon discovers another young elf also under the same bush. He flinches and the elf places his finger to his lips. The dragon flies up to a mountain peak to feast on the snake. The young elves find their companions and hide in a slope made by roots of a tree. The mountain elves welcome the adventurers to a meal. The surprise encounter seemed to soften these rogues into showing hospitality. The elf that Alaric discovered is named Flint and appeared to be the leader of these ragamuffins following the adventurers from the shadows. Flint bragged about robbing travelers or guided those willing to pay them as guides through Dragon’s Pass. They manage to hide from the dragons flying above the treetops, in addition to human Cliff Dwellers. They were quite interested in Ricky’s wagon and looked for useful tools. Alaric offered Flint iron axes in exchange for guidance to Mount Caracol. This interested Flint and he agrees to show them the way. Iris the mink helps herself to meat cooking on a spit above the campfire. Soon the sun set and the companions sleep under the tree roots. The outcast leader questions why this elf showed no fear of known thieves. Alaric smirks and simply affirms he has fought worse enemies. Then Alaric shivered in the cold night air and the campfire burst into a higher flame. The stunned lad spoke no more the rest of the evening. The next morning, the rogue leader guides the seekers through the pass and then turns northeast. The pet mink of Alaric squeals and wobbles northwest. The seekers start following the mink. Not accepting this rejection of guidance he gave, Flint threatens retaliation from his followers. Alaric says they will not be sacrificed to the dragons today and will continue their journey without him. Flint points his knife at the seekers and demands that they follow him. Nix, Master Ricky, and Alaric quickly drew their swords ready for battle. Iris the mink then runs up to Flint and bites his ankle. Flint slashed at the mink and then suddenly froze in fear. He fell over backwards and Nix saw a frightful expression on his face.

“Come Alaric, we are wasting time playing with a ragamuffin thief.” speaks the mink.

“Did your mink just talk, Master Alaric?” asks a bewildered giant.

“She did, Master Ricky.” replies the elf.

Nix figured out Alaric cast a spell on him when he was not looking. Master Ricky was still confused by all these strange occurrences, but did not ask any more questions. Iris guides them northwest to Mount Caracol. They dodge the flying dragons three more times before reaching a hidden cave behind a tree. Iris explains the tree was a griffin who vowed to guard Hades’s treasure. Maya changed him into a tree so the griffin could continue his vow. Slipping under the branches, the seekers walk into a pitch black cavern. Water echoes dripping on the stones. Master Ricky thinks one branch came to life and tried to grab him. Alaric makes his crystal glow and Master Ricky begins to understand his new friend is a wizard. The unhitched cattle munched on the leaves of the tree guardian from inside the cave and the wagon set outside was covered in twigs. The cool air invigorating them, they follow through the gloomy cave to find the hall of stone warriors. Nix jumps when a warrior shifts his eyes in their direction. Master Ricky dreams someone said to beware of taking treasures out of Maya’s cave because everything is cursed in this cavern. The adventurers follow Iris to an archway. A cloud of evil hanging over the beautifully lit chamber, torches align the walls and candles in front of brass mirrors make the room quite homey. A large table was set for a meal with gold plates and utensils beside gold goblets full of wine. Silver chairs and copper weapons align the walls. Master Ricky picks a grape from a gold bowl and Iris bites his hand. Alaric warns Master Ricky of taking anything from the cave, including eating. Master Ricky puts back the grape. A grand mirror that reflects no light is set between two candles and two wood storage cabinets. A golden rug lies underneath the mirror on the stony floor. Master Ricky grabs at the mirror with no prize obtained. Nix tries next to retrieve the gold cup to no avail. Alaric tries his luck with the fairy dust given by Iris, and pulls out the golden cup belonging to the griffin king Hades. The cavern shakes in a small fury, but nothing falls over. The adventurers stare at each without saying a word. Hearing a river running in the distance, Alaric takes his companions to the underground river. He climbs down the high rocks to touch the cold water. He dips the cup into the stream and gives it to Nix. She drinks the cold water and gives the cup to Master Ricky. He drinks the rest and hands the cup back to Alaric. Puzzled at Alaric’s actions, Ricky questions why he was not drinking from the immortality giving cup.

“I haven’t told you I am immortal, so is Alexis. That is why I did not ask him to come with us. I am sorry for deceiving you. I was afraid how you would react to my immortality.” admits Alaric.

“I am honored to know an immortal wizard.” replies Ricky.

He climbs the rock to return the cup to the mirror. The companions rest by the river for the night. Alaric thought he was dreaming a pair of glowing eyes up on the high rocks gazing down at him. Realizing he is awake, he brightened his crystal to find a young male sprite observing the companions before diving behind the stones. This must be sprite the tale spoke of. A tremor shook the floor as if a nearby volcano exploded. He shot up the rocks to find the creature. He heard soft breathing from behind the boulders. Alaric pulled out some cherries and let them slide down the stones towards the sprite. He ate one that stayed behind. The sprite hissed and giggled. Alaric heard the smacking of lips eating the cherries. The sprite whispers from behind a jagged boulder that he would be turned into stone for stealing from the Treasure of Hades. Alaric claimed the cherries came from the forest before they entered the cave. Saddened, the sprite scowls to reveal that the lady of the cave knows he took the missing Cup of Hades. Alaric claims he put it back where he found it. Iris said not to take anything out of the cave.

“But you cheated getting the Cup of Hades. You used faerie dust to get it and now it is gone. The lady of the cave will punish you, yes she will.” announces the delighted sprite from the darkness.

“I have two other companions who could have taken it after we fell asleep,” proudly states Alaric.

“Then where are they? You were sleeping alone.” questions the sprite revealing his reflective eyes.

Alaric spun around to see his companions missing along with their sleeping blankets and packs. He cried out for Nix, Ricky, and for Iris. Iris the mink springs out of the river and climbs up the rocks. The sprite panics and demands the evil one leave. Iris growls at him and chatters in defiance. The sprite flies away.

“Where did Nix and Ricky leave to?” Alaric asks.

Iris guides him to the warm hall and discovers the Cup of Hades missing from the mirror. They walk through the tunnel to the guard tree and found Ricky turned into stone. Nix behind him looked as if she tried to return the Cup of Hades and changed into stone when she touched his sack.

“I told them not to take anything. Why did they not listen to me?” asked Alaric.

“Why do you not listen to grandfather when he tells you to be patient about your future?” asked Iris right back changing into her natural sprite self.

“Never mind that,” snaps Alaric. “What do I do now?”

Just then he heard a childish giggle in the shadows and a ghost of a boy elf shined in the somber air. Alaric stared at it until it spoke.

“Father,” says the ghost elf.

Shocked, Alaric follows the boy to the sprite standing in the tunnel. They walk through a wall and vanish.

“Nix was with child again,” weeps Alaric.

“Yes, she became pregnant the day of her adult ceremony. What would you have done about it?” questioned Iris.

“I am marrying her in a month and would make our baby immortal so he didn’t die again,” replies Alaric. “I love her, Iris.”

Alaric came back to the stone figures of Nix and Ricky. He tried every spell he knew to undo the curse. He lifted Ricky’s pack with his sword and returned the cup to the mirror. Still, they remained stone. Iris sat upon the floor watching her friend exhaust himself. He finally gave up and sobbed on the floor in defeat. He cursed Maya for her spells and attacked the rock walls with his sword. Iris sat in silence.

“Any bright ideas, Iris? I lose my unborn son, my intended, and my new friend all at once.”

“No,” responds the rainbow goddess.

Alaric sat in tears recalling seeing his unborn son’s ghost call him father. Then it came to him. When a witch tried to kidnap Lanie, his mother made the witch’s soul leave her body into the arms of a demon. Alaric aims his crystal at Nix and recites the soul release spell, “Isis ishta” (Isis’s love). Nix’s ghost falls out of her stone figure. Alaric releases Ricky’s soul next. Mumbles echoed through the hall and Alaric released all the spirits trapped in the stone statues. He then watches demons guide their souls through the cave walls. He waves farewell. He still had some tricks up his sleeves. He beckons Iris to follow him into Maya’s lair. He traces the tunnels and underground river, calling for Maya. Iris halts at a bewitched door. She opens it with faerie dust. Alaric tails Iris into an ornate hall with stone snake and dragon heads scattered around the walls. A grand table was set with all gold plate settings and goblets. A gold throne on a platform with a red cushion sat on one side. Trumpets blare loud enough to wake the dead and shake the banners hanging on the walls. A dark-haired woman in a red gown with a gold crown inset with rubies enters and sits herself on the golden throne. She holds a white ferret in her arms. The sprite totes an injured bird with a damaged wing. Alaric approaches the volcano goddess Maya.

“I believe you called for me, Alaric.” addresses the goddess.

“Yes, I want my friends back. Will you undo your curse so they can return home with me?” begs our hero Alaric.

“No,” answers Maya playing with the ferret. “They tried to steal the Cup of Hades from me. They deserve punishment.”

“Can I have them back anyway? As a favor to me.” asks Alaric.

“Nice try, but you are too late. They have returned from Isis’s Roanoke palace as the Cup of Hades permits.” replies Maya.

“In another form?” questions Alaric.

“Yes my brave, but unwise hero,” responds the goddess. “Even though you cheated by using faerie dust, I allowed the varmints to return to life after Hato’s judgment of their souls. Here is your wife.” Maya hands the white ferret to Alaric. “Here is your friend Ricky. You met my servant Herman in the caves.” Herman hands over the injured bird to Iris and wipes his hands on his clothes.

“Thank you, your holiness. You are kind.” expresses Alaric.

“No, I am not kind,” declares Maya. “I simply hold no grudge against a friend of Iris. I wished to look inside her heart and find where her loyalties lie. I find it strange she has the audacity enter my realm at all. She has nothing to gain by others drinking from the magical cup. I do wonder why she is here in my home.”

“To help a friend. You do know what a friend is Maya, don’t you?” defends Iris.

“Yes, I know what a friend is and I know your former husband lives here too. He is my husband and I deeply question your intentions of entering my realm.” attacks Maya.

“If you are implying I came to see Eris, please do not flatter yourself. Rurik’s spell on Alaric should have proved that Alaric is the father of Kalulah and Kiko. You may take pride in being jealous of me for as long as you like and send Eris’s vampires to attack my worshippers as much as you please. I will not take back your husband if he crawled on his snake belly offering the sun, moon, and stars to me. I do not know what it takes to convince your insane distrust that you can keep my evil cousin for yourself. I want nothing from him. And you may repeat my words to him if you wish. My intentions are to assist my close friend Alaric in his quest, anything more is purely your imagination.” articulates Iris.

“You are free to leave if you promise to never return to my realm,” declares Maya.

“We promise,” answers our hero. “We would not to cause friction between you and us. Farewell, your holiness.”

“Farewell Alaric,” responds Maya.

Iris raised her arm speaking “Ascendo lothan” (ascend to Lotan) to cause her and Alaric to arise to the entrance of the cave where the cattle sleep in dark. He blinked to see the stone figures behind him and stepped out into the sunlight. He guides the cattle outside and hitched them to the wagon. He looks down to see Iris the mink again. Iris explains to Alaric that his animals cannot transform shapes until one day passes. Aunt Isis forbids it. The companions set back home again. They ride through Dragon’s Pass to find the river. Night fell and the companions found a group of elf men setting down the Aurora River. Alaric traded with Ricky’s treasure trough. They ride downriver meeting other raft sailors until time to make camp. Alaric made Ricky a rich giant. They next morning Alaric used his magic crystal to transform Ricky into the giant of his dreams that gets all the girls. Nix was transformed into the beautiful creature he knew before with a human gown of her dreams. Soon they heard enchanted singing and ignored it to continue on. They stopped for the night when a storm crashed in and walked into the trees for shelter against the wind. The enchanted singing became stronger as if it found a victim to seduce. They settle into camp and cuddle under the wagon in their bedrolls. Iris curled up in his blanket made peculiar noises at a gust of wind. He turns his head at a glowing light behind the trees to see a fair maiden with a warrior behind her on a dark horse. Alaric could not resist the enchantment any longer and fell into deep sleep. Our hero awakes in a tree house in mid-morning. A fair maiden sits by a window working on her embroidery. Alaric sighs and the elf maiden rises up to his side. Iris the mink snores softly in the sun. The elf smiles and wishes him a good morning. She presumed he slept well, Ryan said he slept through the storm during the night. Alaric asks if he is in Asgard. The elf nods. He then asks how it came to be that Ryan and her brought Alaric in from the storm. He recalls cross words between Ryan and him last time they met. The fair maiden clarifies Alaric’s honesty when Ryan asked about marrying her made Ryan think twice about rejecting one of Iris’s friends. Alaric was flattered at the prospect of a godly friend, even if he is the god of chaos. Alaric is given his clothes cleaned and dried. Iris the mink stirs and explains he sleeps too long for the rest already had their morning meal.

The maiden departs downstairs. He comes down to meet Eridu sitting at his dining table listening to the giant and maiden’s stories of the Cup of Hades. He invites Alaric to a snack of raw fruit the faeries picked. Ryan properly introduces his wife, Echo. A maiden from the mountains, Echo is a champion of dragons. He met her as she stood guard over a nest as the mother dragon hunted giant snakes. She recalled seeing Ryan before causing mischief with stampedes of deer. He was delighted to be recognized and invited to play with squirrels he knew well. They became good friends for many years before asking for a betrothal from her. Eridu then asks their business here. Nix continues the story and Ryan giggles when Alaric describes Maya’s confrontation with Iris. Eridu gives Ryan a cross glance and his giggles cease. When stories are finished, Eridu supplies the companions with food provisions to finish their trip home. Ryan and Echo guide them out of the forest and bid farewell to disappear back into the forest. The seekers of the Cup of Hades follow the river until they reach a waterfall. Alaric says it is Aurora Falls and follows the trail into Leesville. Ricky spent the night and set out for home in the morning. Alaric invited him to come to Kadacia with him and Laeos at the end of summer. Everybody has fairs and need trade goods to celebrate. He has helped his father make metal pieces to trade far away. Ricky accepted. With his new good looks, he was famous as The Snake Charmer in his village. His life was much a tragic tale. He was a kind giant who would defend his friends heroically, but never stood up to defend himself. He courted female giants who broke his heart and left me to pick up the pieces. He wove fantastic stories of things that never happened on his travels. I called him friend nonetheless. I was one of few who were skeptical of his deceptions and boastful swaggering. When the Elf War razed his village, he turned against me and accused me of destroying his village. Then locked himself inside a cave to endure his sorrow alone. Many giants were killed and his village was burned by Lotan soldiers when they refused to join the Lotans against the Kingdom of Blythe. It hurt me deeply to be shut out of his life, but I had a war to fight. Where Ricky is and what he is doing, I know not. I only know that he was a very good friend when he was my friend and worse enemy to himself.

“Sounds like a terrible with all these villages burning and people killed,” observed Homer.

“It was a terrible war, but had to be fought. It was the war that was to make me a hero and intertwine my life with the royal families forever.” responds the Hermit. “Now where was I?”

“You just returned to Aurora Falls,” answers Homer.

“Oh yes, and the snake charmer got his name.” The Wizard continues.

“So how did Gilda’s judgment start the war?” asked Dracon.

“We are getting to that. You see, Gilda set the boundaries and soon in this tale someone will cross them. But first, you must understand why.” explained The Hermit.

Alaric sets plans of their wedding ceremony into motion for the Midsummer. He travels the mountains and grassland villages. He boards a boat in new Ithacan colony Litsy to travel the coast looking for trade. He sets up shop in the Blythan coastal cities of Kara and Illium. He even made it to the Kadacian coastline and the land beyond it called Vinland full of forests and hills. He heard from Alexis saw the Dark Mountains to the east of the Black Forest and relaxed in the hot springs. A volcano in the center of the range has not gone off for over a hundred years. Much obsidian, diamonds, mica, crystals, and iron ore is found here. Alexis is happy to transport large rocks to trade all over the coast. The Ithacans begin calling the coral reef Narva and dive regularly for its pearls and elegant corals believed to ward off evil spirits. Alaric trades for wood called ebony, incense perfumes that burn like wax, and ivory bone said to be from Sheba on the other side of Nubia. The colonists also bring tales of Ithaca to the elves. It has a rich king, lush vineyards, limestone quarries, and enormous limestone palaces. Many sailors lay anchor along Narva coast to trade for colorful bird feathers, dyes, salt, tin, infamous Narva pearls, furs, and amber. Also, a new musical instrument famous from Ithaca is introduced to the elves, the golden harp. Alaric saw harps at godly homes of Elexi and Daxus, but never thought humans played such objects. In addition to pipes and drums, the elves learn to play gold harps. The Leesville elves and Aurora Falls’s mermaids became very rich from this trade. The Olin Mountains provided much wealth to trade with. On a sad thought, many creatures of the forest disappeared and plants grew less abundant yields. One could say the Leesville elves became victims of their own success. The Chief of Leesville grew wealthy from tribute from his villagers. Alaric grew wealthy giving gold objects as tribute. He took Nix to see his shop in Kara walking the streets and market place. Then Laurel colonists increased as elves and sprites left the Olin Mountains for Ithaca and other islands to settle. Some elves settled into the South Sea villages and sailed all over the seas. The new colonists needed land for crops and houses so they attacked nearby villages. Elf chiefs forging treaties believed they were selling trading rights or hunting rights on their land, not selling the whole village. Forbidden by Gilda’s judgment, they could not go past the forest and spread along the coast. The mermaids on the beaches were of no consequence and prospered with trading fish, clams, pearls, and coral for gold weapons. Gold is the only metal that goes untarnished in sea water. Once the centaurs came in force to burn Laurel to the ground, future treaties were written in two languages. The Lotan King Andros learned to take Gilda’s reforms to heart. Workers built roads, bridges, and forts to protect traders. Strongholds were built and fortified to protect merchants. Brightsburg grows flax for linen clothes and canvas sails. Building wider boats for the sea, Alaric and Alexis sailed to the South Sea with the Ithacans. They followed them to the sea coast and the land of Anakia where soften cotton threads are made. Empress Athena was most happy to receive gemstones from Ithaca, ivory from Anakia, ebony from Nubia next to Anakia, and incense from Sheba. He also found a grand city Wilusa with trade routes to the eastern Aria Mountain people who bring blue lapis stones.