Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

Eagle Eyrie

The watch tower was a thousand years old; its appearance indicated its antiquity. It was a gigantic cylindrical shaped grey stone structure with a giant stone eagle sitting on its roof. The eagle was actually a lantern room; through the two big hollows in place its eyes, it emitted light to the ships. The head of the eagle moves on both sides to warn the ships from submerged boulders of the rocky shore. The open beak of the bird served as the highest watch room of the lighthouse.

Amerik appreciated the architectural beauty of the tower. When they came closer to the tower, Amerik noticed a large arch shaped gateway of grey stone which had no engravings or decoration. There was a large sundial outside the gate with a gnomon in its centre.

"This gate and its shadow help in reading the sundial." Alavaira said.

"Then what the gnomon does?"

"It indicates hours only and the gate's shadow shows cardinal direction."

"Shadow grows larger than gate; Eyrie holds the secret of blades." Amerik chanted the line.

"Yes, we have to wait for the solar eclipse and that time shadow of the gate will direct you to your goal."

"Shadow during solar eclipse?"

"Yes, the Grey Moon cannot cover the sun entirely; but the Evil Moon can; tomorrow the Evil Moon will cast its shadow on the Sun and a Diamond Ring will be created. Faint sunrays will cast shadows larger than the object. It is a rare event; because the Evil Moon appears after many hundred years."

Amerik could not understand where did Mars get its third moon; but Alavaira could not explain what was the Evil Moon and where did it come from. They came close to the tower. A guard dressed in a red doublet, scarlet cloak and white breeches came close to them. He had a spear in his right hand and a scroll in his other hand.

"Name? You are the first contestant who comes here." He said.

"Amerik." Alavaira replied.

"Amerik, the alien." The soldier raised his bushy red eyebrows. He touched his golden helmet and scratched his forehead. He wrote down the name and said, "Go to the first floor; you can stay for the night and can search the premises to find your treasure."

"Oh;" Alavaira said.

"What?" Amerik turned back and saw the silhouette of horses; others were also coming to Eagle eyrie. His heart sank; though Alavaira had partially solved the riddle, but he still had no idea what it actually indicated.

Alavaira asked Amerik to follow him; they crossed the barren courtyard and went to the backside of the tower where a two storeyed house or guards' quarter was located. Its ground floor was for servants or former thralls and the first floor was for the guards or soldiers. Amerik and Alavaira occupied two beds of the dormitory.

"I need to take a bath." Alavaira said; "tomorrow, I'll observe my rituals here only; you'll do your work." He brought out a purple colour coarse towel and went inside the makeshift bathroom.

"I'll do my work; but, what work I'll do?" Amerik asked aloud. He heard the noise of pouring water from the bathroom. The door of the dormitory was opened again; Amerik saw, D'eimeonn, Arold and Emereon entered the dormitory hall.

"So, Amerik the alien; you arrived before us?" Emereon smiled; he resembled his hot headed half-brother Blazerrick.

"Nice to see you here." Amerik remarked.

Alavaira came out from the makeshift bathroom; he wrapped himself in a long purple robe and the towel was in his hand.

"A novice in Eagle Hunt?" Emereon remarked.