Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

The Dark Caldera

The sweet smell of White Crystal flower always attracted Ergonn; but the White Crystal was one of the rarest and most expensive flowers in the world which Ergonn saw only in the palace garden; but he was hardly permitted to enter the garden made for Queen Zealeoness. When he was a child, Synus usually asked him to enter the garden for playing with him; and he used to spend most of his time near the plants of the White Crystal. Though the plants had more thorns than the leaves but still the spider like white flower and its smell attracted him. He had got the smell again and saw an old lady in the blue long robe was standing before him. She was smiling at him by revealing crooked teeth and wrinkled face; her grey hairs were tied in a bun and her hands were holding a bunch of the White Crystal flowers.

"Your Omnipotent, King Ergonn, the Shackle breaker;" She said in a fragile; "A gift from our village. I am the village chief Moorgan."

King Ergonn got down from his horse Windblown; he received the flower and kissed on the flowers; "How did you know that I like the White Crystals?"

"Everyone in our village knows; you're our shackle breaker."

A group of men and women came towards him; some were beating the drums and others were singing something.

"I cannot understand you, Chief Moorgan." Ergonn smiled.

"We are called the Gravediggers; we help in the cremation and burials; but were not allowed to enter the city. We were thralls; but you have set us free."

"Thralls? I knew only Old Martes people were thralls; but you people are Neo Martes ones like us."

"Thousands years ago; one of our forefather sheltered an Old Martes rebel in the village;" She paused; "The King arrived here and asked to surrender the rebel; but he refused. The King's men arrested the man later and put the entire village into slavery. Helping in cremation was our only thing to do; we were not allowed to leave the village; but now it is changed."

Ergonn looked around the village; it was situated in a barren, rocky land beyond the cremation ground. The settlement had small huts with corbelled roofs; houses were made up of black or grey stones. The village had neither farmsteads nor cattle; he did not even notice market place. Some houses had small gardens full of vegetables and wildflowers.

"I like to spend at least a night in this village. When I'll come back; I'll keep my promise." He said.

"Amerik" Ergonn called the Eagle Guard. Amerik came forward and bowed to the King.

"Give them a sack full of gold Martes Coin." He ordered.

Amerik walked towards his horse and asked Emereon; "Pass me a scarlet purse." The Scarlet purses were used in Terra Aquillaan for keeping gold coins only. He took the purse and gave it to the King. Ergonn gave the purse to Moorgan and asked for food, "Please provide us dry food and water for our journey."

"It is our sacred ritual to provide food and water to the King and the soldiers." Moorgan revealed her crooked teeth again. "However, this time the King and his Eagle Guards are not alone; they have brought a bride for the Lord of Darkness." She laughed.

"How did you know that the convict is a woman?"

"We can smell the death." The old lady grinned; "A Princess; otherwise she would be in chains; not in the palanquin."

King Ergonn looked at her thoughtfully; "Yes; now allow me to go." He did not wait for her reply; turned back and asked his Eagle guards to ride on their horses. The King and his retinue, started leaving the village.