Bridgeworlds: Rise of the Magi (30 page)

31

Misaki

Far to the east, beyond the Brugmos Sea, there was a thriving empire of many kingdoms. The Raphad who had come long ago to this continent had called it Tanniyn’erets, which meant “Dragon Land” in the old tongue. This was because the Great Red Dragon was the ruler of the land when they came here. Later on, they left and took back with them the taint of the Great Red Dragon to their lands in Drakonge. The Great Red Dragon followed them and infested Drakonge, but the Raphad never knew why the Dragon had left his own lands and come to theirs.

It turned out that many who had become slaves of the dragon had risen up against the Drakoni, led by a little girl who was said to be gifted with the power of the Creator. That little girl was now known simply as the Empress. Her name had been forgotten centuries earlier. She was of the Yaarma, but the Yaarma of Tanniyn’erets did not look the same as their Western brothers and sisters on the continent of Seven Kingdoms. Their eyes were slanted, their hair black as night, and their complexion, while not truly white, was not as dark as others.

The Empress wore a red silk robe that fell to her ankles. It was wrapped around her thin but muscular body with the left side over the right, and the robe was secured with a black silk sash. She wore split-toe socks with flat sandals made of rice straw.

The Empress sat in the arched window frame of her giant castle. Snowflakes had begun to drop from the sky earlier that day. Almost everything was covered now. For over a century her people had fought the Drakoni, and it seemed that the enemy army was endless. The more Drakoni they killed, the more came from the north to replace those that had fallen. Every day they gained ground against the Empress’ army. But yesterday they had retreated. In fact, there was no report of them throughout the entire countryside today.

The empress said a quick prayer to the Shepherd for the families of those who had fallen in battle and for those soldiers who had been wounded. As she looked up at the full moon, she saw the shadow of an owl pass under it. Owls were not indigenous to this part of Tanniyn’erets so she knew it must be
him.
He hadn’t visited these lands from the Seven Kingdoms since she’d been made empress. She was sure that he had news of high importance, or he wouldn’t have come.

The owl landed, and a little man about one foot tall, with a long white beard, wearing a decorated mushroom cap, stepped off it. He wore a green cloak with the emblem of a tree on the back. The Empress knew him as Graemah but to the Seven Kingdoms he was simply known as The Elder. He was the oldest, most powerful, and wisest creature on Soterion.

The Empress bowed to him as she stepped closer. “You honor me again with your presence, dear friend.”

Graemah then bowed to her. “I see that the Drakoni have withdrawn their forces. Empress, I can offer you an explanation.”

She smiled knowingly and replied, “The sword was brought to Soterion wasn’t it? By the Miyka that was not a Miyka. And the Great Red Dragon has been defeated.”

Graemah nodded. “You know of the prophecy I gave in Emerailda when I was king?”

“And there shall come a time that serpents begin to take the lands of the seven kingdoms. But hope will come with a sword brought to Soterion from another world by a female Miyka who is not a Miyka. A secret order shall be formed that will include a giant, and the giant will defeat the Great Red Dragon with the Sword of the Spirit. After these things come to pass the gambler will be healed, and he will go forth to the Dragon’s lands to find the sleeping sister in hopes of reuniting her with her brother. Then the Dragon will wake again, and the sword will be stolen, but hope will not be lost. For the Shepherd will walk the land, and he will sacrifice his life for the safety of his flock.”

Graemah looked surprised. “That is much more than I foretold.”

She nodded. “It’s the Shepherd; he speaks to me.”

Graemah touched her hand. “Then you know what it means.”

“Yes, my brother is here. He’s established the secret order. He calls it the Order of the Magi. They’re spreading quickly across Soterion. I’m prepared for the trying days that will come. I may not see him for some time still. The Shepherd tells me his heart is hard.”

“If there’s anyone who can break the proud, it’s the Shepherd. I know this from experience.”

She nodded, “Omar was always like me. Fortunately the Shepherd found me at an early age. I know Omar like I know myself. He’ll have to fall far before he’s able to admit the truth. He blames the Creator for taking his parents, and I’m sure he blames him for taking me as well.”

Then she gave Graemah a serious look. “Will you watch after him, please?”

“To the best of my ability, you’re Grace.”

She smiled at him and softly said, “That’s all that I can ask. So is the gambler on his way?”

“He’ll be here before spring.”

“Then there’s much we must do to prepare. The first things have been accomplished, and the Master’s purpose is advancing. There’s so much more to come. Finally, we’ve seen the rise of the Magi!”