Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

Red Field

Each group was formed with nine contestants; Emereon noticed that in their group apart from his three brothers, Amerik the alien; Kaimur Eyeball, a nephew of Oligarch Eyeball; D'eimeonn, the former palace thrall; Arlod Suas Montem, one of the younger brother of Harold Suas Montem; Vannes Redmoos, a nephew of Chief Belicoseon, the former head of the Eagle Guards; Cynus Neumos, nephew of another Eagle Guard Aldelade Neumos were included. Blazerrick was not happy with the arrangement; he told his brother Zephyr that Ergonn should not put Sargoshi brothers with alien, thralls and a merchant's son. He should create a separate group for Warlords' sons, especially whose father held the rank of a General. Emereon knew that Blazerrick was too much proud of his lineage and considered himself the next Chief Warlord of the Island of Sargoshi; but everyone knew his father preferred Gracyen as his heir and that was why he liked to put them in Ergonn's service. However, Blazerrick was not ready to accept the fact.

The first trial was the The Trial of Body which would test physical fitness of the contestants. Sword Master Neivelle was explaining their task. Neivelle looked at Amerik with disdain and detest, but then tried to concentrate on his work. He started telling about the contest, "Every contestant has to reach to the graveyard of the Eagle Guards situated on the Garret hill. You'll be provided a map, a whistle, a packet of food and a pouch of water for the task. You are expected to cross three hurdles to reach to your destination and after that you have to lit a torch from the Torch of the Eternal Flame, which was burning constantly in the sacred memory of the former Eagle Guards." He paused for a while.

"If any contestant wishes to leave the competition, he can, but he will not be allowed to participate further. For getting help in case of emergency, please blow the whistle, but remember you can blow your whistle only once. For the second time, you may get the help but you'll be out from the contest." He paused and again said, "Expected time of finishing the contest is one day and one night; after that another team of nine members will go"

The Grand Seer rang the bell, the contest commenced. Emereon and his brothers started running with other participants. The Sun above their heads was hot enough to create sweating on their bald heads. He was wishing to have hairs on his head, but in Sargoshi Island warriors were expected to keep their heads shaved. He also wished to drink some water, but did not dare to consume the precious water so early. Blazerrick too was looking exhausted but Zephyr was a good runner. He noticed that Amerik had crossed them, then Cynnus and Vannes.

"What the hell you are doing? All are overtaking us!" Zephyr asked his brothers, "If we lose the contest like this, Father will kill us."

"Let him kill; he'll do that today or tomorrow." Blazerrick said, "Otherwise he's Gracyen cannot inherit him."

"Bold"; Zephyr slowed down his speed; "it is no time to discuss about family dispute."

"Hey, Brothers; cannot we challenge Gracyen? Cannot we follow Ergonn's example?" He asked.

"We can and we'll; but now run." Zephyr advised.

"I don't like to join the Eagle Guard; you have to serve unless and until another set of the guards are chosen and you have to stay here during your service period, and..."

"You cannot marry during your service period." Zephyr said.

"But you'll get a good salary, tax free land and mansion; good marriage prospect with rich girls after a decade." Emereon tried to say.

"Hey, this is good for you, run don't waste your time, brother; and you too Zephyr." Blazerrick smiled slyly.

Zephyr told Emereon to run ahead; he wished to speak to his brother in private. Emereon felt left-out and resumed his speed; his half-brothers never considered him as one of them. However, it was no time of thinking about family dispute. He increased his speed and crossed the Kaile Pasture. Then he entered the Scarlet Ville. This village supplied food and drink for the palace dwellers. He had come here earlier, but today the village looked like a deserted place. Many people had gathered to see the contest; but he expected some spectators here also, especially women and young children. Then he remembered the Grand Seer had asked the villagers to leave their dwelling for a week, because contestants might take additional food and water from them.

'He is so impartial!' He thought and resumed his speed. Suddenly he saw Amerik, the alien from the Earth, he was not running but looking at something. When he came close to him, he saw Amerik was looking at the nearest huts; those huts were in bluish flame. He noticed that the other buildings of the village were already reduced to ashes. Those ashes were not dark reddish in colour, but blue ones.

"What is going on?" Emereon asked, "Who did it and how?" Amerik turned back, he fearfully said, "No idea Superior."

"Call me Emereon, my brothers are far behind." He patted his shoulder and said, " Amerik run fast, don't waste your time; this village is temporarily abandoned, so, there should not be any casualty."

"I found this." Amerik showed him a piece of grey cloth; "It is a piece of a cloak; women's apparel probably." Emereon said, he too noticed that a half burned bullock cart was placed next to the hut with flame. However, they did not find anyone near around, but the muddy red soil had a sign of dragging something heavy in the roadside bush.

Both of them left the road and stepped into the bush. It was a thorny bush with small golden flowers. Amerik requested Emereon to resume his race and Emereon too decided to do it; but suddenly, he saw a woman's body inside a bush. Amerik and Emereon dragged the body out and placed it on the road. The face had many cuts and bruises, but still the face was familiar enough to recognize.

"Zealeoness" Both of them uttered together.

"It is a political murder Amerik, she is no friend of the king. Don't waste your chance and don't make the King your enemy." Emereon advised.

"No, I'm a human being first; I cannot leave the body like this." Amerik brought out his whistle and blew it. He requested Emereon to resume his race; other contestants were running ahead of them.

Emereon resumed his speed, he crossed the Scarlet Ville with a heavy heart; an Earthian showed sympathy to a Martes woman who once put him in servitude. Really, Earthians were difficult to understand. He noticed that he had entered the Red Wood forest located at the village territory. Red Wood forest had sparsely spaced tress of Red Wood, a kind of Martian coniferous species with tall structure and pale red leaves. Red Wood was named by Ancient Colonizers after a similar kind of tree found on their planet, but this Martian tree provided not only wood but also flowers and fruits with medicinal values. Red Wood forest here was not a natural one, but a plantation.

The hill land was not too far; if he ran at this speed, he would reach there within sunset; he would be able to finish the race earlier than others. He noticed that the plantation ended abruptly and a vast red field appeared before him. It was neither pasture nor barren land; the field was dark red in colour. Emereon slowed down his speed. Suddenly he saw a hawk was flying over his head with a rat in its beak; the creature was struggling to free himself and suddenly fall from the hawk's beak. It fell on the red field and to Emereon's surprise, the creature gradually sank beneath the soil.

"Quicksand!" He uttered, "Our first obstacle." The name Red Feild had derived from this quicksand area only which was nothing but a vast field of quicksand. Emereon was trying to find out alternate ways of crossing the quicksand zone.

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