Journey of the Horn

Chapter 2

That night the whole family gathered for dinner. Father and Mother sat at the heads of the table as usual while me and all of my siblings along the sides, all 225 of us. A lot of us are multiples if you are wondering. I believe the most my mother has bor at once is 17. It is a Satyr tradition to have as many children as possible, and with good reason. Endalasia is so dangerous that only about 5% of Satyrs live to adulthood. So there is a special wine made from the Kilforman berry, which only grows in these mountains. Just one shot of its wine times one's fertility by six. It has been almost 21 years since Mother and Father have had it. Alpine was the last one, it will soon be his 20th birthday.

We all sat around the table talking of the day's events at least that we cared to share. Some of us brothers were keeping ourselves busy by trying to get away with wrestling each other eventually knocking each other out of our seats. While our sisters practice their music or other forms of art, except for the ones that occasionally joined in our fighting. Then father stood up from his chair as some of us went to walk out of the dining hall. "Halt!" Father yelled more demanding than anything. Like a army general. "Girls you may go, but boys stay here. We need to have a little discussion." He just looks at us with a bit of a scowl. Many of us had the fur on our legs stand on end when he says that. Usually when Father calls for our attendance we have done something wrong or needs us to prepare for battle. But we comply and sit back down as Mother and the girls leave. "Now as you all know we satyrs don't choose our heirs according to age or rank. But rather by conflict and destiny. You have all heard the legend, but I shall tell it to you once more just in case you don't remember." He says sounding like a old, and cranky school teacher that really shouldn't be a teacher at all. "Two kings and a lord hold strong. Their only enemies each other and time. For a ring the next lord soon will find. One will know of its presence after the great migration of Pheasants (golden dragons). They will fill the sky with golden glow, and only then will one know. Of all princes one shall rise to power and rule. Once they find the ring so true. For the first to emerge with his prize will be the one to rule the skies. Only one will rise, only one will find. The ring of the Satyr Lord."

We all listened as our father told us the legend. It is one I know well, but haven't heard in many years. It tells of how the Satyr Lords come to rule. But of course Alpine is the first to ask questions, with his arms crossed and hooves up on the table. "And why should we care about this old wives tail? I don't even know what it means. It's not like that's actually how you pick a heir to the throne." My father just scowls at him "Alpine, haven't we taught you anything. Feet down and arms at your sides young man!...." Alpine shrinks a little as he puts his arms and feet down. "And furthermore that is how we choose our heirs. How do you think I got my ring? And you should care because not only is it a part of your heritage but also you could very well be the next lord. Am I understood?" He says very sternly almost scolding him. "Yes sir." He replies trying to shrink even more. "Good, now that we have that settled....the time has come my sons. The Pheasants have started their migration once more. We are in the process of locating the rings proximity as we speak. Soon one of you will be crowned the heir to the Satyr throne."

Many of my brothers looked at each other in excitement and anticipation. While me on the other hand, I was terrified. I don't think my brothers know exactly what this means. Soon we will be thrown into battle, but not against any unknown enemy but rather against each other. Father used to tell me stories of how when he was young he almost got killed by many of his brothers and succeeded at killing many more, and all while searching for the ring. I didn't want that to happen to me and my brothers. I wanted things to stay the way they are. No grudges, regrets, or blood on our hooves coming from our own kin. But it was coming and I couldn't stop it.