Chapter 8 Alaric the Great

Alaric floated into the harbor of the Blythan capital Illium and informed the guard at the dock he needed to see the Emperor right away. The guard informed him that the royal family were hunting at their estate outside the city and will return later in the month. He believed the Grand Prince was at the palace ill with fits with the young Prince Rurick and his nurse. Alaric agreed to see the Grand Prince. A worker tied his boat to the dock. He carried his son into town and ignored the astonished stares of the human villagers. He watches drunken sailors reel and weave down the narrow city streets. He stopped to buy milk from a vendor and surprised him by speaking the Blythan language. Many elves had come into Blythan cities because of the famine and few spoke Blythan. The odd looking elf strapped for battle walked to his trade partner organizing the latest shipment in the warehouse. Merchants examined the merchandise and made their offers. He decides to move into his office of the warehouse filled with clay tablets and linen scrolls. He watches the sunset that had returned to normal and looked for signs in the horizon. The moon appeared pale again in the golden twilight as he settled into his office. He was given blankets and a straw mattress by his business partner. He fed his son some milk and ate a meal he collected in the marketplace. He gazed at the emperor’s fortress gleaming in the moonlight. It was hard not to notice the stone building dominating the landscape from a small hill. He rehearsed what he was going to say to Grand Prince Rychan the next day. A vision of Nix crept into his dream. She was walking bare foot in a green meadow full of wild flowers in a pale green gown and white apron, with her loose yellow hair blowing in a breeze. He begins to wonder if she is communicating from the afterlife. She always wore shoes for as long as he could remember. She smiles right at Alaric and strides away from him up a hill with large boulders at the top. He did not recognize the scenery. She sits upon one of the rocks and spreads out her dress. She had no scars or painted emblems on her skin he knew her to have. She finally addresses Alaric as he follows her to the crest of the hill.

“Be brave, my love. You can win the ruler to your side, humans love war. You only need confidence to ask this favor on behalf of the Borderlands. Have faith that Iris knows what she is doing. She says you will discover how much strength resides within yourself. My hero Alaric, we have faith in you.” speaks Nix in an unusual voice.

Nix fades and clouds surround our hero. Iris appears in the foggy atmosphere and holds his hand.

“I told you I love you. Do you feel better now? She will come back to you when she when the Lotans and Blythans stop fighting each other. I have foreseen it, my friend.” said Iris.

Alaric then awoke to Eurick crying. He fed and changed the infant, then swayed him as he sung a lullaby. Eurick gurgled and at last falls back to sleep. He slumbers into the morning as Alaric ties him to his back. He carries the boy around town looking for food and cooked over the fire pit in his office. His business partner helped load the treasures to show His Grace onto a horse. He walked to the palace and guards allowed him into the garden since the family was away. His Grace would meet him there. When he arrived in the garden he was amazed at their new fountain. He then noticed a puppy and bent down to pet it. The puppy suddenly took off towards a small boy wearing golden robes and beaded shoes.

“You must be the elf here to see Uncle Rychan,” speaks the boy.

“Yes I am,” said Alaric to the child reaching his thighs. “You must be Sieva’s boy. I know neither Rychan nor Aphrodite have children.”

“You are funny, elf,” giggles the child. “Uncle Rychan and Aunt Anneth have a baby now since a soldier’s wife died in childbirth. The soldier was so sad he jumped off a wall and died to join his wife. I never want to love like that. Love does bad things to people.”

“Then I feel sorry for you. I love a great many of people who died and I’m still alive. My wife died in childbirth and gave me a son here. I have not jumped off a wall because I want my son to know who his mother was and raise him to be a good man.” responds Alaric.

“What do your friends call you, master elf?” inquires the child.

“How rude of me for forgetting to introduce myself, I am called Alaric the Great.” answers Alaric.

“My name is His Highness, Prince Rurick, named after the morning star god.” answers the boy.

“As a gift to Grand Prince Rychan’s new child, I shall give him this bird.” said Alaric as he tossed a stone into the air and it changed into a bird.

“Amazing, can I have one?” asked Rurick.

“Certainly, Rurick.” said Alaric as he created another bird.

“Thank you, Alaric the Great. Bird, tell my uncle Rychan that he must see this funny elf at once. I like him.” orders Rurick.

The bird flies up to a terrace where a dark figure hides in the shadow of a drape. It repeats the message to the figure and flies back to Prince Rurick. Alaric greets Rychan walking onto the terrace. They then follow the guards down corridors and up spiral staircases into a large banquet hall. Breathing deeply, the dull musty air smells as if it never touched the light of day. Escape is not an option. Fear swells in his stomach tightening his throat. He clings to the hope of saving his people as he steps forward to face the Grand Prince to discover his fate. A bearded man in green robes who holds a golden colored staff announces Alaric’s entrance.

“His Grace, Grand Prince Rychan welcomes the elf Alaric the Great!”

They walk towards the wood throne where Rychan sat surrounded by noble advisors. He explained his tragedies and showed his son. Rychan agreed this was urgent business and ordered them to the estate called Ashleigh. But first, he was introduced to Princess Kia and her wet nurse. They later arrived in chariots driven by guards to a stone house set in vineyards and gardens. They rested in the drawing room eating fruit presented by the maidservants. A messenger arrived from the Empress’s brother whose estate sits near Rosewood Ravine. Several villages of his realm have been attacked and requests assistance. Alaric felt relief his cause might not be lost. The women were first to return from hunting. A grand feast for their company is ordered from all the birds and deer they shot. They fawned over the baby Eurick and Athena offered to find a wet nurse for him. During the feast in the banquet hall, he discusses the Brightsburg attacks. Princess Sieva asked if Rurick was getting over his sniffles. Alaric said he was doing quite well. The Emperor retorted that he will consider the matter and announce a decision tomorrow. Alaric settled into a guest bed chamber and listened to the wind blow through the trees full of yellow leaves. Eurick cried and he fed him some milk. Athena entered the room and inquired after the infant. Alaric put him back to sleep with a full belly and nestled into his goose feather mattress covered in furs.

“Being a widower now, could you be persuaded into a marriage with my widowed daughter Sieva?” asked Athena.

“I just lost my wife in childbirth, I’m not marrying anybody right now.” replied Alaric.

“Pity,” reacted Athena and got up to leave to suddenly pause and sat back down. “Perhaps, it is someone else you desire more.”

“Possibly, but rejection is certain.” replied Alaric grasping her hand and then whispered into her ear. “I have no desire to be your son-in-law. I desire a closer arrangement.”

Athena pulled away and expressed her disappointment. She left Alaric alone in his feather bed and returned to her own bed chamber. The next morning he went riding with Emperor Olic who would express disappointment in his refusal of his daughter. He understood he was in mourning and did not press the matter. He did discuss sending troops to his brother-in-law Lord of Alexandrial to squash Brightsburg. Alaric was welcome to sail to the Narva coral reef and meet up with the troops traveling around the mountains. In the meantime, Alaric would return to his office in the city and prepare ships to sail to Laurel. In the morning blue twilight he checked the heavens for any signs of his impending voyage. He had gathered coins to pay the wet nurse caring for Eurick. He arrived at the palace to find Emperor Olic holding a grand morning meal for the sailors going to Brightsburg. He asked Athena how many coins it took to pay Eurick’s wet nurse. He presented the coins on the table. She noticed one had her father’s face on it. Alaric let her keep it. She handed a replacement coin to the pile and pushed the coins back to Alaric. She declared she will pay the wet nurse from her pouch as a gift to him. Alaric took back the coins commenting how he had learned not to argue with a determined woman. He placed Athena’s coin in his sacred pouch containing a lock of hair from Nix. Everything else that Athena gave him later had been taken away from him and the coin is all he has of her friendship. She agreed that when Eurick had been weaned that he would be given to Iris to raise. While he was visiting at her palace, Iris had taken Eurick to be made immortal. He left strict instructions not to ever remove the crystal hanging on his neck. He had to confess to Athena that his crystal made him immortal and he could die as he chose by removing it away from his body. On the day before embarking to Lotan, Olic invited the soldiers to a morning meal in the great hall. The Emperor then made a toast.

“Lord of Alexandrial has written that the savage Lotans have pillaged his territory and appeared to return to Lotan through the mountians. May you seek these vermin out and destroy them. Tomorrow, I, Emperor Olic of Blythe, will hereby revoke Goddess Gilda’s treaty with the Lotans and send our people to war. Now, pray with me to Eris for victory. May the gods grant us vengeance in the battle to come.”

Visiting the Temple of Athena for the usual prayers before embarking, Alaric noticed a strange large stone circle. It documented the seasons and days throughout the year. Empress Athena explained that it was a calendar the astrologers spent four years carving to keep track of the sun and moon time periods. It is divided into twelve months, thirty days apiece broken into 5 day weeks, with extra days added to keep the calendar accurate with the seasons. To the Blythans, it is year 397 since they came from their destroyed island. To the Lotans and elves it is year 1092 since the founding of the elf village Ashleigh that brought the nomadic human Lotans into agriculture. Athena loves their Ashleigh estate and to climb a limestone hill on the edge once used as a watch tower for when boats came up from the Doggerland rivers before it was drowned in a sea wave. Alaric remembers that story how an elf man was saved by a mermaid as he clung to a tree branch and settled on the drowned mountains called Mermaid Islands. Athena asked about the people of the South Sea during the morning meal. He said nobles there now wear pleated and robes dyed in blue and yellow. Athena desired Alaric make her a new robe for winter using this pleating process. He came by her bed chamber to measure her for the new robe. She was eating her morning tray and dismissed the servants. Her maidens left to her closet rooms to choose that day’s wardrobe and jewelry.

“You said when I offered my daughter that you desired a closer arrangement,” spoke Athena.

“Yes, I said that.” answered Alaric.

“Then, take your closer arrangement.” she said standing up and stretching out her arms.

He measured quickly and wrote down the measurements. Athena then kissed his cheek. He asserted her husband would chop off his head for this. She replied her husband would burn her for this. She assured him that she was barren and not had a child for years. He whispered close to her ear that he believed the barren one was her husband. Has he gotten any of mistresses pregnant? Athena turned white and froze in shock he would say such things to her. He then held her a moment to smell her hair.

“Lavender oil?” asked Alaric.

“Yes, from Nubia.” answered Athena running her fingers through his hair. “You are in pain. Please take my comfort you deserve for all the things you have done for me. Nix was a good person.”

“You had to say her name,” observed Alaric bursting into tears.

“I am so sorry, Alaric.” said Athena as she kissed his cheek.

Alaric embraced her tightly and picked her up off her feet to drop her on the bed. When his passion faded, he excused himself before they were discovered. He worked feverishly constructing the new robe with Anakian cotton and Nubian glass beads. His business partner’s servants helped sew the garment. He brought his business partner’s wife to aid in the fitting. Athena adored her pleats on the material and glass beadwork. He dropped off the finished garment with the chamberlain and prepared to leave. Athena paid a visit to his office to reveal how her finished robe fits her the night before he left for Lotan.

“In the middle of the night?” inquired Alaric. “I sewed it together. I know what it looks like.”

“It might need to be altered. How do I look in it?” asked Athena turning around.

“You are very beautiful,” he replied.

“Alaric, what is it that you want? I can give you anything you desire.” inquired Athena.

“Give me a Nix to love and I will have everything I want,” answered Alaric.

“Is an Athena to love that awful to you?” asked Athena.

“You don’t love me, you admire me for being an foreign elf you cannot keep.” he answered.

“That is cruel. I hold you dear to my heart since you were a boy I met in the marketplace. I want to comfort you as a friend, what must I give to you to win your favor?” asked Athena.

“You always had it. I came to trade at the palace every year to see you, not Olic. All I want is…you. But, I cannot keep you. I’m very tired, Athena, and need to get some sleep before sailing away tomorrow.” replied Alaric as he settled onto his mattress.

Athena removed her jewelry and new robe to settle onto Alaric’s mattress. Alaric awoke at dawn to look for omens in the sky. He saw a good fortune as they leave Illium. He gazed at Athena asleep on his mattress in the glow of the moonlight. He prepared in fire pit a flat bread that would be sweetened with honey. He gave Athena milk and bread. She enjoyed the fruit perserves and honey on her flat bread. He took Athena to the palace gate and bid farewell. He completed his preparations for the voyage throughout the day. The boats packed full of provisions, the royal family bid farewell in their finest robes covered in gold embroidery. He gazed upon Athena waving at no one in particular and spotted the Emperor turning his head to Athena. He averted his gaze to little Rurick so eager to be a soldier jumping as he waved at the departing ships. His sailors then broke into song.

“Alaric came from Olinville

Killed dragons and griffins at his will

Saved his niece and met the moon

Have no fear, he will return soon

He buried his love under Aurora Falls

For revenge our hero stalls

He comes to ally with Emperor Olic

With his son he befriends Prince Rurick

Alaric the Great we sing our praise

Brings us victory in the coming days”

“That my children is how the Elf War began. But it continued for another reason, to gain more territory. It did not end until territory was surrendered.” finished Alaric.

“Tells us about the Elf War. We have never experienced a war before.” requested Dracon.

“War is ugly. Men march in glory down city streets in parades, but die screaming in agony for their mothers. War is humbling. To survive while everyone around you falls makes you lost why gods favor you instead of the good men that died. War is frightening. You do not know fear until one hundred arrows are flying toward you or a hundred chariots are charging toward you. Do not worry, there will always be another war. The next war will begin when the last one has been forgotten. Everyone wants to be a hero.” announces Alaric.

“I can tell you. I heard these stories so many times I can dream them in my sleep.” answers Eurick.

After a few days, they reach Laurel and settle into town taking over the finest homes. Since many elves from the Dark Mountains and Lotan villagers made a new home here, they gave the soldiers a warm welcome. Modred has attacked their walls, but never got inside. Alaric traveled around to gather warriors to find many elf villages burned to the ground. He forged a treaty with the nomads who said Brightsburg swelled in strength and people flocking to it to buy grain. The trails were often covered with dead bodies of people looking for food in this famine year. Many lie next to collapsed livestock. His sailors spent much time burying the dead in shallow pits to cover them with mounds of dirt. The Lord of Alexandrial arrived in Laurel with a small army of about a hundred soldiers, half in chariots. Alaric gave him an exaggerated bow and declared he was exactly how his sister described him. Alaric’s human sailors riding horses rode onto Brightsburg. When they arrived at the Otter Creek ferry, a league from the town, Alaric wished to scout the houses before their dawn attack. He sent Balor, Hariem, Alexis, and himself to discover if the raiders had returned home. He walked with his companions through the burial mounds where Nix’s parents were to lay a handful of flowers. The night air was heavy with moisture and the moon disappeared behind clouds. The raiders celebrated in a tavern with Modred making a speech how rich they were selling grain to the nearby famished villagers. Nobody will miss the elves. They depart and walk back to the army camp to share the good news. At dawn, the attack commenced and caught the Brightsburg residents off guard. The slaves retrieving water from the creek spotted the army first to run off and hide in the bushes. Then village dogs barked and a night guard raised the alarm banging on a large tin tub used for washing. As the villagers stirred from their sleep, Alaric had flaming arrows shot at their thatch roofs. He was certain he saw the chaos god Ryan smirking upon one of the rooftops. Some of the raiders strung their bows to return a volley, but the horsemen jumped over fences and smashed everything in sight. The residents fled into the fields and Alaric’s men captured some to make slaves.

One slave was a leprechaun from Kadacia Alaric found hiding behind a well. Alaric assured him that he would not be harmed. He also stopped a temple priestess from being ravaged declaring she held special magic and anyone harming her would be killed by the gods. Resting at night, he discovered the leprechaun was captured by nomads and sold to the Cliff Dwellers. Then during the famine, he was sold to nomads and brought to Brightsburg. The priestess had arrived in the summer from Akaiyah where her mother was a priestess educating orphans. She thanked her savior and inquired about her special magic. Alaric said he felt it coming from her girdle tied around her waist. The soldiers looted the burned buildings taking livestock back to Laurel. They stacked the bodies and set them on fire so they would have no body to reach the afterlife and spirits forced to walk the earth forever. Nobody found Modred’s body and it was believed he escaped like a coward. Alaric returned to Illium presenting the spoils to His Majesty. Athena had one slave play a harp singing tales to her. Alaric kept the leprechaun, a goat his nephew claims was stolen from him when Laeos was chased out of town, the town priestess, and a chest of treasures as his share. He freed the child leprechaun to educate him to be a shaman and warrior. Alaric failed to free the priestess because he desired her magic girdle made of gold strands that protects the owner. Such powerful magic cannot be undone and Alaric had to convince the priestess to willingly gift him the girdle to give to someone else. When she refused, he continued to keep her as his slave. Later, he asked again for the magic girdle, not for him but for someone needing protection. Again she refused because it protects her from him and his soldiers. He gives up and asks her to be part of his prayer ceremonies. He had her sew his winter clothing and polish his armor. He tutored Vim every day in herbs, history, and rituals. He played soldier with little Rurick every chance he got. Little Eurick was now in Iris’s palace. Athena explained the wet nurse and her husband were found dead while Eurick and their baby went missing. Iris paid Alaric a visit on his way back to Brightsburg. She said the humans were playing with Eurick’s magic crystal and the man used it to kill another human. She took Eurick and gave the baby to the temple priest to care for. She would care for Eurick until his war ends. Alaric thanked her.