The Fire Horse (Chapter two)

High above a plateau overlooking the Fertile Plains, stands Eternos, the capital city of Eternia. Inside the great city, behind its grand foreboding walls of stone lies a tiered city representative of both ancient as well as futuristic history. There was nothing inside Eternos that was ordinary, everything therein was a showcase of power, prestige and honor.

Thusly, the road leading into Eternos lied through the famed falcon's archway where perched in the keystone lay a golden falcon representative of life Eternal. Once through the great archway then lied a complex armillary sphere on a pedestal of marble stone. This great statue with its spherical framework of rings is centered around the very planet Eternos itself of which Eterno's city was in alignment.

The Royal Palace stood at the zenith as well as the center of Eternos, where resided within was the royal family who ruled Eternia.

At this time inside the throne room of the Royal Palace sits the ruler of this era King Miro. Unfortunately for King Miro the throne beside him was bare as his betrothed queen who had passed away not long after the birth of their son Randor. Miro who did not want to be known as a lonely king poured all of his love into his young son. Though when not idling his son, Miro paid close attention to his kingdom, whether it be by balancing taxes, improving infrastructure as well as anything else adversely effecting his populace he wanted to lighten their burden. For Miro knew that as great as it was inside Eternos the outskirts of Eternia could be hard for the common peasant. Though along with maintaining the well-being of his people Miro had his sometimes-unenviable task of geopolitical rule. It was one thing to please his gracious people though another to satisfy the needs of his vassal states and allies.

In particular, the Kingdom of Ignitus lead by Lord Tyr had been fraught with not only complexity within its rule but current events which Miro offered his aide with were hidden within a mysterious framework tough to penetrate. Of course, it was by design to be kept that way for fear of corruption from outsiders. That was why Miros sent to Ignitus a diplomat not only familiar with his kingdoms culture, but who was born of that land as well. As it happened the volatile rule of Lord Tyr was often tempered by a council made up if witches. A council of witches who could stand against Tyrs decisions as well as approve of them. Lord Tyr himself was represented by his Warlock a male witch who was supposed to be impartial and weighed in both the positive as well as negative aspects of the subjects for his lord to ultimately decide upon. The witches had to accept Tyrs final verdict but could contest it within seven days. The verdict if successfully contested would be allowed to be brought to trial again or laid to rest where it could be revived later on. It depended on the weight subject upon Tyrs shoulders for if they were laid to rest and the outcome was poor it would look unfavorable to Tyr. However, Tyr could always blame his Warlock for poor outcomes as he was his supreme advisor.

This was the case fairly recently when a decision was made by Lor Tyr to terminate the advisory capacity of his Warlock based on the strange theft a young royal heir to the throne by the name of Trace who was born outside of Ignitus. The witches cast there blame on the warlock whose decision it was to allow Trace to be taken in. The mysterious theft was of Trace's life energy or rather a part of his very soul. The witch's claim was that the stolen essence of Trace could be used against Ignitus itself by whomever the thief or however they intended. One of the worst possible outcomes was that Ignitus could be cursed. It was then decided that along with Traces Handmaiden that their greatest warrior Rotar take them to find the princes lost essence or twin flame. To complicate matters in place of Tyrs former advisor one of the council of witches chose a witch to replace him. This witch was from a neighboring region called Stone Mountain who as it was revealed belonged to no coven. As it was explained by Miro by his diplomat beside him as he was called in to witness the trial of Tyrs warlock that the quest to find Traces twin flame was a lost cause and that it was more of an exile. Though according to Solas, the diplomat to Ignitus he felt that the quest should be a success, which was why he wanted to ask King Miro to support it. For which Miro was all to obliged to do.

As of yet no one within Eternos knew who Miro would choose to join the prince Traces company. For most of the resources of the Royal Palace have been devoted in finding there lose Man-At-Arms who had been missing for many days since a conspiracy had been found out concerning Miros own son Randor. Miro had made it his utmost mission to not only find Duncan his Man-At-Arms but root out anymore conspirators within Eterno's city.

Though it was in Miros best interest to help Ignitus in anyway that it could as the kingdom had many contentious releationships that needed to be quelled. Ignitus itself was located inside the Mystic Mountains had contentious relationships with many other kingdoms in that area in particular the Fire People. In addition, Ignitus had many other rivals which included the Andreenids, Avonians, Helioans who live in the Northern Ice Mountains as well as the Rain People who lived alongside the River of Rain. It was all very complicated as it effected trade, but Miro offered to help with Ignitus very internal problem at the moment which was the finding of would-be prince Traces twin flame. As told by Miros own advisor a positive outcome if the Traces quest were successful was more inroads in commerce with Ignitus. Though Miro had a more sentimental reason for his decision to aide Trace quest as without his twin flame, Trace would never be truly whole, nor would he live up to his full potential. Therin lies a destiny for the lad that would never be fulfilled thought Miro to himself. As well on a recent voyage out to sea in which Miro sent his son, he called a tour of the Golden Islands he almost lost him due to an attack by a sea monster in control by an old enemy to Eternia. So, Miro offered to lend his aid in a quest to reunite young Trace with his other half. In fact, Miro had already chosen the person he wanted to aide in the search though they did not yet know it themselves. Though they would find out soon.

At the moment King Miro waited on his thrown for the arrival of Traces entourage which was led by Tyr's greatest champion Rotar.

"Your highness!", a young guard called from the door to the court.

No sooner did the guard get Miros attention did they continue, "Your council from Ignitus has arrived!"

In acknowledgment to the guard a pleased Miro waved at him saying proudly, "I am delighted! Let my son guide them to my throne. I am eager to offer my patronage as well before their journey beyond these walls."

Standing next to King Miro was his Visor in a bright blue robe with a long white beard as well as the diplomat to Ignitus Ambassador Solas a black-haired man in red attire.

Outside the entrance way into the Royal Palace was Prince Randor in his royal attire as well as his bodyguard Malcome in his best formal ware.

Royal guards held the visitors at bay with their long pole armed axes as they exited a most fearsome black road machine with large wheels, a long body with the front designed as the head of a red dragon while it's hind a red scaled tail.

Randor immediately told his guards, "Lower your axes men at once these are our guests!"

"My prince, don't you see? We were told that three arrivals would be honored today. I see an additional two among them which makes five.", the guard explained.

"I have eyes.", Explained Randor who added, "Though I see only a small boy beside an elderly man. Now lower your weapons."

The guards immediately obeyed by parting the way forward for the quintet of visitors.

Malcome put his hand upon his friend Randors shoulder to put him at ease. The prince reciprocated by overlaying his own right hand upon his friends.

"You are a bit tense.", Malcome told Randor.

"I'll be alright, thank you.", Randor replied before removing his hand from Macolms. Then Randor turned to greet his visitors, though when he did all that, all he could see was a towering man in red armor.

"You must be Rotar I presume.", Randor said as he looked up at the grinning mustached black-haired warrior.

Rotar gave a smile before he backed up to give a bow as well. Then after straightening his stance once more Rotar warmly told Randor,"I am Rotar, Lord Tyr's champion of Ignitus as well as blazing warrior of wrath. It is an honor to meet you."

Rotar then extended his tree trunk of an arm to introduce a red cloaked woman and young man with light reddish hair dressed in brownish attire with gold trim.

"Alongside me is the golden flame of Ignitus prince Trace alongside him his handmaiden Styx of the coven of Fire.", Then after lowering his arm Rotar told Prince Randor," Along our travel to Eternos we picked up this elderly man along with this child in his care. They were in peril along the black road leading from Ignitus. I will let them introduce themselves to you as well as tell you there grieved tale."

In his guise as an old man with a long white beard, Ahktar introduced himself," I am called Ahktar a humble fisherman from the Andreenid coast. This young lad is named Endo he has stayed in my care for a good while."

Randor raised his eyes when he looked at the young boy Endo then put his hand across Malcom's chest to assure that he said nothing of the peculiar armor he wore as well as the monitor sized helmet on his head.

"Welcome to Eternos.", Randor told the pair from the Andreenid coast," Now everyone please follow me into the Royal Palace as we make our way to my father's...or...should I say the Kings Court."

"One thing first!", Malcome said before Randor lead the way, "I am called Malcome." Randor rolled his eyes as his boastful friend walked in front of the great wall that was Rotar to extend his hand. It was a test from Malcome to show the man mountain what he was made of.

"Let's shake hands, one Royal Bodyguard to the Prince of Eternos to...", Malcome paused perhaps playing that he had forgotten the man's title, "What did you call yourself again?"

Rotar then slowly lent his very large mand outt o meet Malcome before saying,"I hop ethat your grip is stronger than your memeory." Then Rotar engulfed Malcome's hand with his own in a powerful handshake.

Malcome did not grimace as he firmly squeezed against the pressure onto his hand. Neither man would let go of the others hand. It was a display of dominance as well as Malcomes way of showing the Ignitan giant his muscle.

"I fear that I should let go your hand little man.", Rotar warned as he did not plan on letting go until Malcome submitted.

Malcome did not submit until a crack was heard!

Immediately, Rotar let loose Malcom's right hand!

Randor came to his friend who was clutching his right hand while smiling.

"Let me look at his hand!", Traces Hnadmaiden said as she wetn over to Malcome. Then gently did the red hooded women hold Malcoms hand like a clamshell with both of her smaller hand round his. Then the Styx as the women called herself closed her eyes as she clutched the purple hand of Malcomes.

Rotar while not apologizing told Malcome, "You have a really firm grip."

"Please, Rotar take Malcomes arm at the elbow o prop it up.", Styx said as she reached into a shoulder bag before mentioning as she felt into it, "It's a small fracture, like a splinter though I mean to wrap it in a bandage though first I must place some ointment on it."

"Remind me to never incur your wrath friend Rotar.", Malcome said in jest.

Styx quickly went to work rubbing some blue ointment on Malcome hand...then rubbed it in.

"Ahhh...very soothing.", Malcome told Styx.

"It's from the Crystal Forest, the Tree People that live there use it to keep physically fit as well as heal very quickly as you will find out.", Styx went on before her young Trace came over saying, "May I help Malcome with his hand?"

Very abruptly, Styx told Trace to shush before reaching into her bag again.

As Trace backed away from his Handmaiden, Endo stood next to him as if to comfort him. They both looked at each other briefly before looking back at the spectacle before them.

Ahktar mentioned to the two children as he looked on as well, "I occasionally use herbs sold by a friend of mine at Kol. It was too bad we never got to stop by there on our way here. Great for my arthritis."

Finally, Styx was done mending Malcoms right hand after wrapping it with some brown clothe.

"Okay, we have delayed enough...", Randor said before continuing rather gruffly, "Let us proceed."