Felix & The Shadows
Fortress of Miktur, Draconia, 577 AR*
The 'Champion' hero of the four Nations war blew his brass trumpet from atop of his tall black steed as he galloped into the Fortress of Miktur to gather a crowd around him in the middle of the market square at Miktur, the last free city left in Draconia.
"Citizens of Draconia!" bellowed Felix of Fendar. "Those ruthless Shadows continue to loom ever present all around us encircling our cities, keeping our people prisoner in our own homes and will continue to do so lest we fight the yoke of their tyranny! If we allow our fear of them to dominate our actions we offer them our souls on a platter. We offer them our freedom..."
"The Temple Seers have shown me a future where we no longer live in fear. Citizens, fear not your mortality or envy the power of those cursed Shadows! For you are the master of your own destiny..."
"For it is written in the Elder Codex that long ago our enemy were once mortals like us! Turned into their present form by our heavenly Creator as punishment for all their evil deeds. The doors of eternity are forever closed to them! We have no such fear of death for the Golden Realm in the sky is open to all of us!"
The crowd cheered in admiration and took up arms. Felix smiled for he knew the war was not over yet.
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*'AR' stands for After the Reconquista
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The Tavern
Veija, Sundar, 592 AR
It all began when a young man barged into my Tavern this one evening .
He turned to me and said "I am here looking for Felix".
He had a desperate look in his eyes and didn't look tough enough to be of any threat to my best customer.
"The man you seek is over there." I said to him pointing across to Felix. "I don't expect any trouble from you young man." I warned him.
Felix sat there looking confident and handsome, despite the long diagonal scar on his right cheek, quietly minding his own business, while nursing a glass of Draconian spirits.
The young man rushed to his table to confront him. "Oh dear," I thought. "Yet another young suitor fighting for the honour of another young woman Felix had slept with..." I sighed, thinking of the damage the last fight had done to my tavern.
"Are you Felix of Draconia?"
Felix looked up and smiled. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?".
"Felix, I was told you know about the Shadows".
"Yes, I do." he said. His eyes narrowing, the smile gone from his features.
"Felix, I require information from you. A Shadow has taken my child."
"Do you love your child young squire?" Felix asked.
"Yes, I do. With all my heart and soul."
"Then you are doomed to fail." he said without a hint of emotion in his voice.
The young man's face dropped and tears began welling up in his eyes. I saw that for a split moment Felix felt pity towards this poor young soul. It was a rare glimmer that I had not expected to see from the calculated Draconian.
"You see young man, Shadows are creatures that torture and devour souls. For whatever reason this particular creature now seeks to torture yours." Felix took a sip of his spirits before he continued."If you are mad enough to enter its dungeon to rescue your child despite my warning you should at least know these rules, so that you stand a fighting chance."
"Rule one, any energy you dispense against it will always be used against you. So you must always remain calm. Fear is one tool that they love to use against their prey."
"Rule two, you must think happy thoughts while it taunts you and seeks to use your energy against you. Never take the bait. It will kill you. You must disarm it with kindness. It is your only defense."
"Rule three, they only trouble souls they seek to devour. It will leave you alone if it is not compelled by you. Another reason to seek the neutrality of kindness."
"Rule four, you cannot destroy a Shadow. It does not live in the traditional sense. You can only protect against it."
"At this present time your daughter is trapped with a Shadow. It has her under a spell. To rescue her you must banish the Shadow to break the spell." Felix lifted his glass to take another sip of his spirits. "It may use your child to taunt you. Do not let the affection you have for your child leave you vulnerable to strong emotions."
"The Shadow has one huge advantage over you. You see, all you want to do is be with your child." he said taking another sip.
"For this reason you will fail and the Shadow will have your soul. If your strong feelings are not contained you will be easy prey to this mercyless beast."
"I cannot just turn off my feelings towards my daughter!" the young man protested.
"A shadow is ruthless!" Felix said. Fury flashing across his eyes. "It will destroy you the moment you let its game of manipulation into your mind!"
"How did you battle your Shadow and win?" the yound man asked.
"Young squire, I am sure you heard the legend. I have no heart, let alone emotions. It had nothing to use against me." Felix said in a matter-of-fact way. "But you young man look too weak to face it...I recommend that a proxy carry out this quest for you if it is to have any chance of success..." He said as he flashed the young man a grin.
"Name your price Felix."
Felix laughed. "You couldn't possibly afford me peasant."
The yound man pulled back the sleeve of his tunic to reveal the Royal seal.
"Your highness!" Felix said looking like he had been caught off-guard.
The young man nodded. "And there is a pardon in it for you."
"A pardon? For what?"
"The incident with the nuns at the Braccian Temple for one..."
"Each and every one of those vigins was pleased I was there to assist them" he smiled.
"Felix, this is not a time for games. Will you offer the Crown your assistance or am I going to have to arrest you for befowling Temple virgins?"
"Can I have a moment alone to consider my options?" Felix gave the Prince regent a disarming grin.
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© 2012 H Williams. All rights reserved