King's Quest

PART 3: TO HEIR IS HUMAN CHAPTER 1: A HARDKNOCK LIFE

It is dark, so dark that nothing can be discerned, and if this were not cause enough for alarm, it is also hot. An extreme heat that causes one to sweat from every pore. There is a burst of light, which fades just as quickly as it appeared.

The light flashes again and the sight it reveals is terrifying. A giant three headed dragon is billowing flames into the air. Its massive feet stamp about causing the Earth to shudder. A fearsome beast tp be sure.

There is a scream. It comes from a woman near to the monster. Ropes hold fast her limbs and she is secured to a stake. An offering to the dragon. The flames rise again and with them the screams of the captive.

Then there is complete darkness. Slowly, the scene illuminates as a strange flashing ball takes center stage. Above it there is an even stranger being hovering.

"Alexander?" it calls out. "Awaken Alexander, you are needed. Awaken now." A bright light emanates from the ball and envelopes the scene completely.

The light is gone now and so is the darkness. It has been replaced by shadow. A man sits up in his bed. Poor Gwydion has had a nightmare. His breath is rapid and shallow and his body is covered in sweat.

He rolls his legs out of bed and onto the cold, wooden floor below, a welcome temperature given his sweating skin. He holds his head as he tries to discern the images that plague him. Many times he'd had this same dream, always starting and ending the same and still he had no idea what it means.

He knows not who this Alexander is, but he has the distinct impression that the strange being above the glowing ball was talking to him.

Gwydion wishes he'd had more time to dwell on the matter, but he hears his name shouted and has to respond. As fast as his leg will carry him, he flies to the stair, where he immediately stops dead.

Upon the landing, just below, stands Gwydion's master, the evil wizard known as Mannanan. He's looking none to happy, which is difficult to tell as his face is nearly permanently creased by the scowl he almost always wears.

He is attired in his customary black robes, capped by his pointy black hat and graced by his long white beard. A man who is both cold and cruel.

Mannanan sneers at Gwydion. "Feed my chickens!" he snarls. "And be quick about it!"

"Yes master," his servant returns.

Slowly, a cloud envelopes the evil wizard and his body dissipated into the air, his hard, watchful eyes the last part of him to vanish.

Now, Gwydion is alone. He never knows where his master goes when he disappears and that makes it all the more unsettling. As he has to always be on his toes and alert, for he never know when or where his master might show up. So, he hurries to the front door.

Outside the stuffy house he delights in the bright sun and fresh air. It's a wonder how the house remains perched upon the mountain as it is. A constant reminder to the people below that the wizard is always watching.

Llewdor, is the name given to the country and it's a beautiful place, but Gwydion never gets to see much of it. In fact, the only place he's ever seen, aside from the house he works at, is the small shop in which he buys provisions.

However, even this excursion is a burden upon him, for Mannanan, who never likes his servant to be too far away, always times him and each occurrence is always shorter than the last.

What's more, being on a mountain top means that the only path down is rough and dangerous. So, poor Gwydion, always arrives out of breath and out of time, but the wizard is never cross. In fact, this is the only time he ever smiles. For it meant it's time for a punishment to be doled out.