Darque Wants (45 page)

CHAPTER TWO

              Katrina never could have predicted what was coming when the mountain started smoking.  She was gazing out of the window of her bedroom at the palace when she first saw it.  At first she thought it was a cloud rolling over the mountain, but it just got longer and rose higher into the air.  Eventually, the wind carried the smell of sulfur to her nose.  She covered her nose and mouth with the silk sleeve of her dress and ran downstairs to speak with her parents about it.

              When she arrived downstairs, she saw her father speaking to his advisors in hushed tones.  From their frantic gestures, she could see that the advisors were in a panic.  Her father, however, had a look of deep concentration.  She crept forward to hear better what they were saying, but was careful not to disturb them.

              “Five days, at the most! Then we are all doomed if we do nothing,” one advisor said.

              “Your highness, you must heed the warnings of the mountain.  The smoke is just the start of it.  Before the week is out, fire will rain from the sky, the ground will shake, and all of Atlantis will perish,” said another.

              “This has been our homeland for thousands of years.  This kingdom has survived wars, famine, and droughts. Why is this any different? Surely there is a place of safety,” King Pieter pointed out.

              “Not this time, your Majesty.  This Rain of Fire will be the end of Atlantis.  We are all doomed,” said the first advisor.

              “No. I will not abandon Atlantis,” King Pieter said, slamming his fist on the arm rest of his throne. 

              Katrina saw her mother, Queen Anna, enter from across the room.  “My love,” the Queen said, “you must not be so stubborn.  You have conquered many enemies, but you cannot fight a mountain.”

              “I don't need to fight it.  I only need to survive it,” the King said stubbornly.

              “Keep in mind, darling, that Atlantis is more than the ground we stand on.  Our nation is our people.”

              Katrina loved how her mother was always so level-headed and calm.  Her father could be quite stubborn and most times it was the Queen's job to get him to see reason.  After a moment of thought, the King finally said, “Find Captain Erik.  Tell him to prepare every ship we have for departure.  If this land burns, Atlantis will live on through her people, even if we have to find a new home.  We shall leave this place and we will survive in a new land.”

              In those five days, it was chaos at the palace and all over the kingdom.  Katrina spent that time packing her things and preparing for her voyage to the new world.  At night, she would dream that she was in the middle of a burning forest.  It was obvious to her that a great battle had taken place there.  She would walk through the devastation and find a strange man kneeling on the ground.  For reasons she didn't understand, she knew that this stranger was someone important to her.  “Pick your head up, Kirrowind,” she would whisper to him. “This does not need to happen.  You and I can stop this.  Stay strong.”

              She spoke to her father's advisors about her dreams, but they assured her that the smoke from the mountain caused many people to have strange visions.  Despite their reassurances, she still found it odd that she had the same dream night after night.  Then, on the fifth day, just as predicted, the ground began to shake.

              Katrina was in the palace garden when the first tremor hit.  It was violent and knocked her off of her feet.  She tried to stand again, but the shaking of the ground prevented her from finding stable footing.  When the shaking finally stopped, Katrina stood and raced back inside. 

              Inside the palace, people rushed in all directions.  Katrina shouted at the crowds, asking if anyone had seen her father, but nobody paid her any attention.  Everyone was just trying to find their own safety. 

              Suddenly, the sky went dark.  Katrina's heart stood still in her chest.  At first, it appeared that it was snowing.  However, when the wind blew in through an open window, Katrina discovered that it was ash.  There was a sound like an explosion and the earth shook yet again.  Katrina screamed as she fell to the ground again.  She closed her eyes, curled up into a ball and began praying that all of this was just a bad dream.  When the shaking finally stopped, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

              “Come on, Princess. It's time to leave. I'll escort you to the ship.”

              Katrina looked up into the kind eyes of Captain Erik, her childhood friend and now personal Captain of the royal
Sea Dragon
.  Erik pulled her along with him to the harbor, pushing others out of the way.  Katrina tried to close her eyes to the nightmare around her. 

              People pushed, ran, and screamed as fireballs fell from the sky.  Houses and shops burned to the ground in ravaged, unrecognizable heaps.  The elderly were left behind to die and there was a child abandoned by her mother crying in the middle of the street.  Katrina tried to reach out to it, but Erik continued to pull her along.  Tears streaked a trail through the ash that darkened her face.

              That terrible day was nearly six months ago, and things had only gotten worse in Katrina's opinion.  Part of her almost wished that she had died in the Rain of Fire rather than be held prisoner on this ship for so long.

              Katrina was up early that morning, as soon as the sun began to shine through her window.  She kicked the blankets off of her and walked over to the full length mirror hanging on her wall.  She inspected herself carefully from head to toe.  The only good thing about the ship was the weight she had lost.  Back home, she had gotten a bit chubby due to all the fine food at the palace. Now that they had a limited bit of food on board, she had gotten slim and toned.    

              She stripped off her night clothes and walked over to her cupboard to pick out a dress for the day.  She found one she liked that still fit her well and put it on.  After fixing her hair properly, she headed out onto the bridge of the ship where she found her father speaking with Captain Erik.

              “So how long do you think it will be?” King Pieter asked.

              “We should be there by late afternoon if the wind stays the way it is,” Erik responded.

              “Be where?” Katrina asked, interrupting.             

              “Good Morning, Princess. Forgive me, I did not see you. You look lovely,” Erik said hurriedly.

              “Well, we can't all look like filthy pirates just because we are trapped on this boat,” Katrina joked, commenting on the way all the men on the ship had stopped grooming their hair and beards.  “Where are we going to be this afternoon?”

              “The Captain thinks we will be hitting land today.  He says the birds off in the distance are a sure sign of land,” King Pieter said as he wrapped his arm around his daughter.

              Katrina could barely contain her excitement.  She jumped up and gave her father a kiss on the cheek.

              “I'm going to go pack my bags!” she exclaimed as she ran off to her room.

              Once she was out of sight, the King excused himself and returned to his private quarters.  Alexander, the First Mate turned to Captain Erik and jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow.

              “Why don't you just tell her? Everyone can see the way you look at her. You love her,” Alexander said.

              “I am just a humble ship captain.  She is a Princess.  What chance do I have?” Erik said sadly.

              “You might have a low station, but you are practically family.  You grew up in the palace.  Your father was King Pieter's favorite member of his private guard.  You and Katrina have always been best friends.”

              “That's all true Alexander, but these things must wait for now.  We have to discuss this new land,” Captain Erik said with a small smile forming in the corner of his mouth.

CHAPTER THREE

All the residents of the Valley gathered at the Counsel Tree.  Kirrowind was told to stand next to his father's seat as the people of the Valley sat in a semi-circle around them.  Once everyone had been seated, Strotwater stood up and addressed the crowd.

              “Citizens of the Valley, I have asked you all to come here to bring you news.  There is something coming from across the Great Sea.  We have never had strangers come to our land before.  When we first received word of this from our scouts, I spoke to the Mystics about this issue.  My son, Kirrowind, then came to me with disturbing news.  He had a vision that this strange thing from the sea brings violence with it.”

              There was a gasp from the crowd when they heard the news.  Voices shouted, “We must flee” and, “Perhaps we can reason with it,” from above the noise.  Again, Strotwater spoke up.

              “After meditating on this matter, I have decided on a course of action.  We may be able to avoid war if we greet this stranger in peace.  However, if its only purpose is to cause death then we must also prepare for that.  I will meet the stranger on the beach as it arrives and attempt to strike up peace.  They Mystics will join me.  Kirrowind will lead a force of volunteers to combat the invader if peace negotiations fail.”

              Kirrowind stood up with a jolt.  “Father, I cannot lead something like this.  I have no experience fighting a war,” he protested.

              Strotwater softened his voice to address his son. “I believe in you.  You are the best Hunter in the Valley.  We have not seen war in many generations.  None of us remember the old wars.  However, if anyone can teach us again, I believe it can be you,” he assured Kirrowind.

              “I hope you're right, Father.  I will try my best,” Kirrowind said reluctantly.

              “Then it is settled.  Everyone return to your homes and gather what you need.  Any man who wishes to fight, meet at the beach at noon.  Those who wish to stay behind, be prepared to flee from the Valley if this all fails,” Strotwater said to the crowd.

              Kirrowind was the last to arrive at the beach.  There was a large group, but Kirrowind wasn't sure that it would be big enough.  All of the Hunters had arrived armed with their bows and hunting knives.  There were also several Farmers and Builders who had volunteered to fight.  The Farmers had come armed with pitchforks and scythes from their farms.  The Builders had brought hammers and pickaxes from their workshops.  For a group of people who had never known real violence, it was a fearsome-looking pack.

              Kirrowind stood in front of the crowd and shouted, “All right, everyone! Listen, I know that none of us have ever done anything like this, but the way I see things, it's not much different than hunting a big animal.  It's going to take teamwork and everyone knowing their jobs.  Above all, it's going to take courage.  My hope is that we can just watch from where we are now and then go home. No fighting and nobody getting hurt.  However, if this thing from the sea does mean to hurt us or the Valley, we are the only ones who can stop it.”

              There was a rumble of approval from the crowd.  At least everyone was listening.  “The way I see things, our best chance of survival is if we keep the enemy as far away from us as possible,” he continued.

              “So, I can see that all the Hunters are here and I also see a few Builders and Farmers.  How many Builders and Farmers do we actually have here?” Kirrowind asked.  He saw hands shoot up in the crowd and silently counted them out.  There were thirty.  In addition to the seventy Hunters, that gave him an army of one hundred plus himself.

              “Ok, here's the plan: Hunters are going to position themselves in the tree line at the edge of the beach, but stay close together. No more than three trees between archers.  Farmers, dig a trench about three paces behind the Hunters line.  Dig it just until it reaches your shoulders. Then, grab your weapons and be ready to defend in case the thing makes it through our arrows.  Builders, I want you in the trees above the trench.  If the trench fails, I want the biggest stones you can find raining down on the thing.”

              Kirrowind was fairly satisfied with this battle plan.  It played to the strengths of each tribe and seemed like it could actually work.  If it failed, then the odds were that he wouldn't survive to regret his strategy.  He positioned himself in the center of the line of Hunters and fixed his eyes on the horizon as the Farmers got the trench dug and the Builders got themselves into position.

              From the tree line, it was only twenty or so paces to where Strotwater and the Mystics stood.  Another twenty paces from that and you would be standing in the sea.  Whatever walked onto that beach would be an easy target for any Hunter.  The sun was beginning to set behind the trees and Kirrowind also thought that would be in their advantage.  The enemy would have to gaze into the sun to fight them.

              Kirrowind was starting to feel confident about their odds when he noticed what looked like clouds coming up over the horizon.  Before long, there were even more and bigger clouds.  They were moving all together like a pack of wolves.  Just below them was a large boat.  It almost looked like the boats the Fishers used, but this one was much, much larger.  What he had previously thought to be clouds were large sails that the boat used to propel itself.

              As the boat got closer, and bigger, Kirrowind could see that it was not alone.  There were many boats traveling with it.  He had to swallow a lump in his throat as his confidence dropped.  His small army of one hundred brave souls was going to be annihilated by whatever was on those boats. 

              Eventually, the boats stopped where they were.  Everyone on the beach watched and waited with baited breath.  What was on the boat and why did it stop? Kirrowind looked around at his people and could see the worry on their faces.  They all looked back at him, seeking some sort of reassurance.  He knew that he didn't have answers for them, but he could at least keep a brave face for them.

              “No matter what happens, we stand and we fight.  To the last man we defend our homeland,” Kirrowind shouted to his men.  This bit of bravery and determination seemed to steel the nerves of the rest of them.  However, Kirrowind was not ready for what came out of that boat.

              After a long time waiting, Kirrowind noticed that smaller boats, closer in size to what the Fishers used, were coming up to the shore.  Inside each boat was about twenty people.  However, these people were not like anything anyone had ever seen before.  They had light skin and had as much hair on their faces as they did on their heads.  They were covered in hair and cloth and fur from head to toe. 

              The man at the front of the first boat had a long, dark beard that matched his long, dark hair.  He wore a long cape of a dark red color along with a black shirt and matching pants.  He was also wearing big heavy boots.  All of these things seemed odd to Kirrowind and the rest of the people on the beach. 

              When the boats arrived, the man at the front was the first to approach the welcoming party.  He seemed just as perplexed by Strotwater and the two Mystics as they were by him.  The stranger held his hands out to the sides and smiled.  It was clear that he was unarmed and was trying to be friendly, but the rest of the men coming out of the boats were armed with long, shiny spears and axes.  Kirrowind kept his eyes open as he tried to watch for the first sign of danger. 

              The last person to leave the boat was the one that surprised Kirrowind the most.  There was something familiar about her.  He had no reason to recognize her, but something in his gut told him that he knew her from somewhere.  She was small, almost dainty.  Her hair was well-kept and flowed down her back, pinned out of her face by shiny metal things she kept on the sides of her head.  She wore a long dress that was deep purple in color. 

This woman kept Kirrowind's attention trapped.  Maybe it was her dark red hair, a shade which he had never seen before, or maybe it was the way the dying sun reflected in her stunning green eyes that caught his attention.  Then, it hit him.  He suddenly remembered why she seemed so familiar.  This was the same woman from his dream.

CHAPTER FOUR

              Captain Erik gave the order for the fleet to drop anchor and prepare to go to shore.  As the order relayed from ship to ship, Captain Erik looked at the shore through his telescope and noticed something that he had not expected.

              “King Pieter, I think you should come take a look at this,” he said as he handed the telescope to the King.

              “What is that? I can't make out the details with this damned sun in my eyes,” the King asked.

              “Well, it looks like people. Because of the sun in front of us, I can't make much out either, but it looks like people.  I can spot three on the beach.  They must have seen us coming.  Whoever they are, they seem to be peaceful,” Erik responded hopefully.

              “I wish I could agree with you, Erik.  However, this is a new country and we can't afford to take chances.  If it was me on that beach, I would have my army hiding out in that line of trees just past the beach as an ambush.  I'll bet my crown that these people are doing the same thing, those crafty devils.”

              “What do you recommend we do, Sire?”

              “Send the order for every ship to send along as many soldiers as they can.  You and I approach the three on the beach peacefully, but let the soldiers know that they should prepare for battle just in case these natives intend on doing us harm.”

              Captain Erik gave the orders just as Katrina came up from her bedroom.  She ran up to her father's side on the bridge.

              “Father, I felt the ship stop. Have we finally arrived?” Katrina asked.

              “Yes, my daughter.  We have finally found land.  It looks like some natives are waiting for us on the beach, though.  Captain Erik and I are taking some soldiers to meet these natives and perhaps we can find a new place to call home.  Otherwise, we go to war.  I guess we will find out when we get there.”

              Katrina usually felt uneasy when her father spoke of war.  He was so nonchalant about it and it bothered her that he could feel nothing about one of the worst things in the world.  However, she ignored it on this day.  Nothing could dampen her excitement.

              “Oh Father, may I please join you? I have been on this moldy old boat for six long months and I have dreamed of nothing else but standing on solid land again,” Katrina begged her father.

              “I don't think that is such a good idea, sweetheart.  These natives may be plotting against us.  Your mother would kill me if something was to happen to you,” King Pieter answered.

              “Father, I'll be fine.  If anything happens I can just get back in the boat and row back to
The Sea Dragon
.  I just can't stand it on this ship any longer.”

              “Fine”, King Pieter sighed. “Just one condition.  You are the absolute
last
person to set foot on shore.  You
do not
cross in front of the soldiers.  Do you understand me?”

              The King always had a hard time saying no to Katrina.  She was his only child and his little girl.  No matter how stern he had to be as King, he always had a soft spot for his precious daughter.

              Katrina shrieked with joy and hugged her father. “Oh thank you, Father! I will be good, I promise!”

              With that, the row boats were loaded up and dropped into the water.  Katrina was stuffed into the back of the very last boat.  Normally she would have complained about such cramped travel arrangements, but she forgave this temporary inconvenience since she was finally going to be on dry land again.  In addition to finally being off the water, she was going to have the opportunity to meet the native people of a new country.  She wondered if they ate the same foods as she was used to in Atlantis.  Did they also have spacious castles with rolling farms like they did back home? Would there be girls her age for her to talk with and spend sunny afternoons with? Was there perhaps a handsome young prince that would sweep her off her feet? Would they marry and have many beautiful children that would grow up to rule this new land?

              She pondered these questions to herself as the soldiers rowed the boat closer and closer to shore.  Soon, they were preparing to reach the beach.  Katrina could barely contain herself.  She craned her neck to try to see what the new land looked like and what the natives looked like.  To her frustration, all she could see were the backs of heads.  As the soldiers unloaded the boat, Katrina was finally able to stand up.  She knew that she was not allowed in front of the soldiers, but she could at least stand to the side of them to get a good view.  What she saw was the last thing she expected.

              She saw her father approaching what appeared to be human, but was certainly not human.  There were three things on the beach with furs wrapped around them that only covered minimal skin.  The outfits could barely be considered decent.  It at least kept the privates covered, but not much else.  They were also barefoot, which surprised Katrina.  It was clear to her that these people were very primitive.