Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

Riddle Game

Every contestant was given a parchment and was said to solve the riddle to proceed further. Amerik saw his parchment; it contained a riddle written in black ink. It was a peculiar riddle, "Eagle flies, fire dies/ the sun sets before it arises/ shadow grows larger than the gate/ eyrie holds the secret of blades." He read the riddle again and again; but could not understand its meaning. He was allowed to use the House of Knowledge for deciphering the meaning of the pictograph and Alavaira helped him to read it.

King Ergonn requested the Grand Seer, not to isolate Amerik; the Grand Seer agreed finally. Alavaira and Amerik were sitting on the outer terrace of the Dei Maneret. It had a great height from which, one could see all the city of Aquillon very clearly. The city was arranged in a systematic grid like network; the palace was located in the middle of the city on a circular piece of land; all main roads were radiating from Scarlet Palace towards various cardinal directions. Blue rays of the setting sun had made the city unique; Amerik amazed to see blue sunrise and sunset on Mars.

"Very nice city, you people have built. I'll never forget this place." Amerik remarked. He looked at Alavaira; he was scratching his bald head.

"What happened?" Amerik asked.

"I am trying to understand the meaning." Alavaira replied; "the riddle is very tough; only our Grand Healer Pailus Acquillum makes such kind of riddles."

"It is talking about Eagles; Alavaira, I have to find out the meaning within two nights." Amerik said.

"Eagle is the symbol of Karzond dynasty" Alavaira said.

Amerik knew it; "Yes, but Eagle flies, fire dies; I heard it earlier also."

Alavaira laughed; "It is our old proverb. It means when an Eagle King crosses the Terra Tenebris, the fire dies or Magma River goes underground."

"Well; Sun sets before it arises; shadow grows larger than gate; eyrie holds the secret of blades?"

"I don't know." Alavaira said.

"When the sun sets before it rises? Eyrie means nest; bird nest or Eagle nest." Amerik said; "Where can I find Eagle nest?"

"On hills or cliffs."

"But they have no gate." Amerik said.

"Gate? Then, it must be Eagle Eyrie. There is a large magnificent arch shaped gate with eagle capital. We call it Eagle Gate."

"Eagle Eyrie?"

"Yes, a watch tower; it is also used to show lights to the ships; Ship-guiding house."

'Lighthouse.' Amerik thought; he asked, "Can I go there?"

"Yes; I'm here to help you in this quest." Alavaira obediently said; "I was also missing a good friend like you, in the past few days." He got up from the terrace and Amerik too followed him. Alavaira put his conical shaped cap on his bald head and walked slowly towards the stairs.

While climbing down, they saw a group of novices and trainee healers were having informal conversations on the stairs. They heard their footsteps and turned back; those were sitting in the middle of the steps; they got up and offered passage to them. One young bald man in purple robe called Alavaira by name and Alavaira too hugged him cordially; "Arhon? Where have you been?" Alavaira asked.

"I went to Amazonia to study herbs and medicine. Do you know, I have got a crystal garland from the Amazonian Academy of Herb and Potion? Do you know, they offer green crystals instead of white?"