Read Paradon: An Unexpected Chronicle Page 46

Capurnicus started to notice things get more quiet, the birds were no longer in the sky, there were no beasts or people. They were all alone in the vast sea; this was true isolation. But it was for the purpose of exploration. Determined go beyond what the rest of the world deemed, Allan and Capurnicus paddled furiously. Everything was in their favour, the tides were calm and there were no storms. It was almost as if mother nature was on their side every step of the way.

  After two and half days in the sea. The pair could see what appeared to be birds in the sky. But they were birds of a variety they had never seen before. There were certainly no coastal birds like that in Livonia. But everywhere, fish were abundant in the sea. “Birds?!” cried Allan excitedly. “Yes I didn’t even think this would be possible. But it could be the west coast that we have just sailed to. Around Paradon from the east to the west” said Capurnicus, in full shock and disbelief, trying to find another possibility. “No this isn’t the west coast. Those birds can’t be found there. And the journey would have been much longer” said Allan. “You’re right, so, where are we?” asked Capurnicus. “We have found the west” said Allan. This was indeed he west. The fog was clearing and a rocky coast was finally in sight. They beached and tied the boat to the trunk of a tree. It was beautiful and pleasant, no negatives, the weather was just right and the trees were so healthy. The beauty of the west could not be expressed in words. “Where to now?” asked Capurnicus. “We should search for civilisation. Just for some time” said Allan. The two of them then scoured the coast on foot. There were old style Human fishing rods, nets, and old boats. There were so many signs of civilisation. “I don’t believe it” said Capurnicus. “I knew something else was out there. This land is too rich to not have any people or beasts or whatever else” said Allan. Just then the two of them heard shouting from the sea. “Hey!” shouted someone. Allan and Elis turned around to see a Goblin and a Troll in a small Human fishing boat. Capurnicus nearly fainted, not out of fear but out of shock. Allan was shocked to see a Troll side by side with a Goblin.

  In Doomenheim they are known to be mortal enemies and would never work together. The fishing boat with the two passengers then beached and the two hopped out. Capurnicus had his hand on his sword’s sheath, ready to draw. Allan too was anxious but did not fear them as much, knowing from experience that if you create a bond of some sort, you will not have to fear a different higher being. The Troll then asked “who are you?” in a polite manner. Allan then said “my name is Allan, I am a prince from the kingdom Hetheil, east of here. This is my companion Capurnicus, he too hails from Hetheil”. “East of here? There is an east. It’s not just water out there” said the Goblin. The Troll then said “my name is Trolgar and this is my friend, Nero and we are from Stunt Village. Prior to us meeting I did not think there was anything else let alone kingdoms and settlements”. “You do not know the half of it” said Allan, jokingly with a friendly smile. “You must come with us” said Trolgar, warmly. Capurnicus and Allan then followed the two Beasts gratuitously. They walked through an apple farm and the farmers there stared at them long and hard, some were worried while others were curious. They finally reached the village itself.

  It was nothing like they had ever seen before, all four of the land dwelling hire beings were talking and working with each other. It was spectacular to see. No tension and the perfect small example of how Paradon could be if all Beasts and Humans got along. An aging old man approached the group. He introduced himself as the leader of the village. But afterwards, tension started build when Helm told Allan and Capurnicus “stay here and never leave, here we are happy and we face no troubles. We would welcome as permanent villagers here”. “We can’t, there are things that we need to do back in the mainland” said Allan. “I am sorry but you do not understand. You will expose that we exist, they will invade and we will lose our freedom and our happiness. We cannot trust you if you leave” said Helm. Helm and the elders of the village have kept the secret from the younger residents that there is a land with other Humans, beasts, war, and treachery on the mainland of Paradon. Helm was a very likeable person but when it came to this, he was not someone you wanted to be around. Helm repeatedly insisted that they should stay, his point not getting across to Allan or Capurnicus. Allan constantly promised in every debate with Helm that he and Capurnicus will not disclose the location of this land and the fact that higher beings inhabit it. Eventually, Helm’s friendly personality overrode his fears and said after calming down “I trust your word as a prince. You cannot tell anyone you found this place”. Allan assured Helm that he wouldn’t. “Today you are our guests, which we don’t normally get. You may stay in Trolgar’s hut tonight. It is quite cosy. Stay however long you wish. Just keep your promises” said Helm as he walked away. Allan and Capurnicus humbly and solemnly agreed.

  Later that night after the feast, Allan and Capurnicus joined Trolgar and Nero in Trolgar’s hut. Allan and Trolgar were only two years of age apart from each other. They told stories well into the night. Stories of their pasts and presents. But Allan’s stories were far more interesting. This was the meeting of two worlds. Allan and Capurnicus were fascinated with the way of life in Stunt Valley where every race was one race. As opposed to the warring races on Paradon’s mainland. This was what Allan wanted to bring to Paradon. He had found the perfect example to base his reforms on. This was the life everyone was destined to live, doing away with war, needless loss of life and the emergence collective development. This was the way of the future and was what Allan was now committed to achieving.

  Allan would spend the rest of his days in exile, training and perfecting his skills in warfare and in labour in the Ranicus Peninsula and in Stunt Valley as well as writing a draft that included how he would reform Paradon once he is king of Hetheil. Alan was immensely determined to do this. His heart and mind were fixed on his goal. But there are still challenges that will soon stand in his way.

  A mile away from the great northern wall. Elis and his three companions were headed towards Doomenheim. Elis was bent on the conquest of all of Paradon by means of war. His plan was to raise a small army of beasts and seize Ohith and throne when the time is right before conquering the rest of Livonia. But this was no easy task. Thankfully for him, this was what Lumbre had been training him for. Well versed in the culture of many beasts, Elis was going to play these rules and cultures to obtain power over beasts.

  Elis and his three companions travelled further and went to the edge of the entire wall. They had to scale it and somehow make it across the water without being seen. They bided their time and on a foggy morning, the four men mounted a small attack on the coastal guards. All four were wearing masks and they soundlessly killed seven wall guarding soldiers and simultaneously swam around the wall with their horses and supplies. They were tough and trained to kill. They wasted no time and travelled into Doomenheim land of the Orcs, Aevorca. Not willing to risk an encounter with larger tribes, Elis and his companions travelled in the lowlands in search of smaller and more desperate tribes. The beast of choice for Elis was the Orc. The Orc was the strongest and most war like race in all Paradon. War is deeply rooted in their culture and history and it is essentially their way of life, Elis’s plan was to give them the war they wanted and the lands they needed in return for their military service.

  There was a small tribe of close to a hundred Trolls the group spotted. They were going to take it over. As much as Elis hated beasts he still needed them as he had no Human support in Livonia.

  Their farms were sparse and there were hardly any animals. They approached the village silently and stealthily. They went into the chieftain's home and held him hostage. They brought him out in front of a gathering group of angry Orcs, threatening to slit the chieftain's throat. Elis made a speech to the Orcs “i am not an Orc. I am a Human. I challenge your chieftain to a duel. The Orc’s rule to a duel with the leader is that any challenger is to be accepted. The winner will lead the tribe and thereafter”. The Orcs stayed true to
their traditions and did not attack Elis as he had stated that he was a challenger. As well as the fact that their people were suffering under their current chieftain’s rule. Sick and fed up the Orc tribesmen did not intervene, leaving their chieftain to face Elis in a duel.

  The two faced each other on open ground. Several times larger, the massive old Orc was confident he was going to be able to kill this unexpected intruder. Elis was equally confident, with all the knowledge on Orc fighting techniques passed down from Lumbre Redwood. The Orc was armed with a club and three throwing axes. Elis was armed with a sword and a shield. They were going to fight a traditional Orc duel where both duellers would run towards each other, the one with the missile equipment must throw and fire as he runs towards his opponent with only a melee weapon.

  The two started to run towards each other. The Orc threw his first axe and it missed Elis who was running at a frightening speed. The Orc then threw his second axe which only managed to glance of Elis’s shield. The Orc threw his final axe and it