The Alabaster Throne (The Fall of Atlantis Book 1) Read online

  “Her eyes. They’re black,” Tal said.

  “A deep brown. It comes from her grandmother. Her mother has the same eyes. It’s a curse on their family. If Praset wasn’t a favorite of your father’s, the queen would no doubt send Anilisa from her presence. But the workings of court aren’t a matter for us to discuss.”

  “Do all barbarians have dark eyes?”

  “Most do. It’s one of the ways we can see they are cursed. Dark hair and dark eyes, as the gods did not see fit to dress them as the sun and sea.”

  Tumat launched into his prepared lesson. Today he spoke of the herbs which were good to eat, where they were grown, and how they affected the body. He spoke of omens of birds and how you could use their behavior to let the gods guide you to make decisions. He told a story of war and how inept and foolish the barbarians were to stand against the will of Atlantis.

  Tal sat and listened, but he took glances both up and down as Tumat prattled on. Meleus’s eyes never left the old tutor as he absorbed each word. And young Siande sat as if under a spell, still as a mouse afraid of a cat. But every so often as Tal glanced at her, her eyes would meet his and for the first time in his life, he wondered about the world beyond Atlantis.

  Chapter 2

  Tal walked through the forest. The trees were bright and grew tall, but an amber haze cut off the horizon in all directions. In fact, there was nothing but trees. Trees and short grass which carpeted the forest, but there was no underbrush, no bushes, no tangles. Just trees as far as he could see. The forest faded off into the haze with no sense of ending, but he felt comfortable.

  This was odd because he was sure he was lost. He was sure he would never find his way out, and being lost in the wilderness was the one thing he dreaded above all else. He had heard stories of people who were lost in the wilderness and could never find their way home again. He didn’t feel lost, though. He felt safe. He felt secure. He felt like he belonged here. He’d never seen this forest before and there were trees he didn’t recognize. There were trees which couldn’t exist, they were so beautiful and enormous.

  There were evergreens, which he was familiar with from his few trips to the mountains, but they grew alongside larches and maples. Those trees only grew in the fields near the farms on the giant plain of Llahesc. But here they all grew together and were perfect and harmonious.

  Some of the trees bore fruit or nuts, others just shaded the sky with their tall branches and boughs full of leaves. He wondered why he was here and how he knew he shouldn’t be. He didn’t know this place and yet it felt like home. Was he in danger?

  “You’re perfectly safe.”

  Tal turned and saw the man who spoke. He was dressed in a simple garment and he sat on a fallen tree.

  But the tree wasn’t fallen, it was bent over. The man stood and the tree became upright. Tal blinked his eyes. The tree didn’t move it simply changed.

  “Let’s walk a bit,” the man said.

  “Who are you?” Tal asked.

  “It’s a dream, Tal,” the man said. “I’m talking to you in a dream. No matter what name I gave, you would understand no more or less because it’s a dream.”

  “That’s not true. Dreams are important and we can understand much when we dream. The priests tell us dreams can be dangerous, they can tell the future and the truth.”

  The man nodded and smiled. “That is true. Dreams can tell the truth, and they can show the future. Today, however, it’s just the truth.”

  They walked in silence for a few minutes. Tal didn’t see any landmarks the man walked toward, but he led them as if he knew every tree.

  “What do you remember before you went to bed?” the man asked.

  “I remember being down at the square where they were preparing the celebration. Mother had sent women to the kitchen to cook for the feast tomorrow.”

  “Will there be a feast tomorrow?”

  “Of course. The food is being cooked now and Galius will return from battle.”

  “And when Galius comes through the gate, where will you be?”

  “With mother and father. We’ll be seated at the table when his chariot arrives in the square. Father’s very excited about his triumphant entry.”

  “And your brothers and sisters?”

  “They’ll be there as well.”

  “Then you’ll feast when he comes through the gate?”

  “Of course,” Tal said. He frowned and came to a stop. “Why are you asking me these things when you already know them?”

  “To make sure you know them. I know they’re true but I also know you don’t understand why they’re true.”

  “Why are they true?” Tal asked as they started walking again.

  “I like you, Tal, and I want you to understand whatever I tell you is the truth.”

  Tal felt the man’s words were true more than he knew a fire was hot.

  “I believe you,” Tal said.

  “You heard something today. In Galius’ room, you heard something which makes you doubt what you know.”

  “General Praset said Galius would return through the gates and be honored by father. That a crown would be set on his head.”

  “And your mother said something in response to the general’s comment.”

  “I didn’t hear her correctly. I was shrunk back behind the curtain, and I couldn’t hear what she said.”

  “You did Tal. And you know it’s true. You knew it when she said it, and you know it now, but you can’t bring yourself to face the truth.”

  “Mother said Galius would be lowered into the water.”

  “And what does that mean?”

  “Galius will be dead.”

  “Why would he be dead? How can he be honored and dead at the same time? How can both be true?”

  Tal dropped his eyes to the ground. “It means he’ll be killed in battle. He’ll be honored because he died in service to Mestor. He will be lowered into the water and we will feast at his funeral.”

  “It’s true, Tal,” the man said. He knelt next to the boy and opened his arms. Tal fell into his hug and let this stranger hold him while he sobbed.

  “I want you to know I didn’t hide the truth from you, I didn’t tell you it would be well. It won’t be well. You’ll mourn, and you’ll mourn more because you knew the truth before you could see it.”

  “But how could mother know?” Tal asked. “If there’s an accident in the battle tomorrow and Galius is killed, how would mother know that?”

  “That’s a truth for another day. The truths you must understand today is I tell you only the truth and you know in your heart what is true. Now you understand these things, you can’t ignore the truth. You have to face it, you must accept it, and you must live your life according to the truth. Do you understand?”

  Tal pulled away from the man and stared at him. Telling the truth was an obligation, his father said. But as a Prince he was only obligated to his father and mother. And the High King of course.

  “If the truth doesn’t give us what we want, and leads us into trouble or into loss, then why follow the truth? I’m not obligated to it.”

  “It saddens me, Tal. You think where you want to go is better than where the truth will lead. It is true those who do not follow the truth often find themselves in places where they desire to be, but where you desire to be is not always the best place for you.”

  “I don’t understand. The priests say where we desire to go, we should go. The royal families’ desires are the best desires for the people of Atlantis.”

  “Not always. Sometimes it is. Sometimes the leadership of Kings lead the people to a greater understanding and a greater purpose in life. But desires often lead to destruction and the more someone desires something, the more dangerous it becomes. Do not look to your desires to lead you, but seek the truth which is buried in your heart. The truth will always lead you to a better place than your own desires.”

  “Will we talk again? asked Tal.

  “Yes, we will,” th
e man said. “But now we’ve walked a long time. Your mind is rested and your body grows restless. It’s time to awaken and face this day. It’s a day you will remember for a long time, but never forget, the truth will always lead you to a better place.”

  Tal opened his eyes. The dim light of morning greeted him and he heard sounds of others as they performed their morning duties among the royal apartments. Tal went to the window in his room and looked out to the sea. He looked to the sea every morning. It was the ritual he was raised with. The sea was life, it was what gave Atlantis its blessing and power. The western sky was still dark and the shadow of night still hung over the waters, but dawn was about to break open and spill its brilliance onto the day. Meleus would soon be in to awaken him.

  He tried to remember his dream, but the images faded from his mind as he grasped at them. He could see the forest and the man, and the odd way the trees kept going forever. He tried to see the sky, but he never looked up beyond the leaves of the trees that he could recall. The ground had seemed to him a well-tended garden without anything else to remember. The man was indistinct, a perfect looking man and acceptable in every way but nothing which would have caught his eye had he seen him in a field or in the city. He wasn’t particularly old or young, but his eyes had authority and his beard was grown to the right length for his face. There was nothing about him that made Tal feel in any way different than comfortable.

  Tal thought about the message the man taught him. It was odd, he couldn’t recall much of what he saw, he just had vague ideas of where he had been, but he remembered each word of their conversation. He knew the most important thing to remember was the man only spoke the truth and he wanted Tal to always seek and follow the truth wherever it led.

  Tal chewed on his lip as he thought of Galius. At this hour he would be awake and preparing for battle. By noon the battle would be over and Galius would head back to Mestor. But Tal knew in his heart Galius would never smile his bold grin or say the fiery words which made all the people love him. Galius would be killed today in battle. And somehow, their mother knew it. She said Galius would be lowered into the water.

  The door to his bedroom opened and the light from an oil lamp spilled into the room.

  “Oh, you’re up,” Meleus said.

  “Just now,” Tal said. “I don’t know why I woke early but I did.”

  “You’re excited about today. Galius will return and be feasted!”

  “That must be it. Let’s go to the square and see the preparations. I’m sure they’ve already got the tables set up.”

  The two boys ran out of the room and down the stairs of the apartments. The temple of Balket was already bright with the fires which would be used for the sacrifices. When Galius returned, he would present to the King captives from the field of battle as slaves. The king in turn would offer them back to the gods, and they would be sacrificed by the high priest to bring blessings upon Mestor.

  The boys reached the large square before the palace as long fingers of color threaded through the clouds above the eastern mountains. The central courtyard would have merchants and traders set up with their wares out by now on any typical day, but for a celebration of this size, the king had ordered everyone out. Long tables were set up and food was already in place as the workers and the laborers decorated and arranged the area. They ate as they worked, for the feast would last all day, that night, and well into the next morning. Food and drink would be available to all who came and there would be no restrictions until the king himself arrived at midday.

  Tal’s father was a good king and served his people well, at least in Tal’s mind he did. But he believed in the old ways, and the structures and rules which had been handed down through the generations. The laws written on the golden post on Mount Atlas were the basis of his rules, but he held to the traditions of his forefathers. He believed the people should obey him with complete and immediate action, and he in turn would love them and care for them to the best of his ability. He expected this of the people, and he expected this even more of his family, but he was kind and gave generously to the people when they pleased him.

  Mestor was wealthy because of its proximity to Del’rak and the control of access to many unique woods, spices, animals and crops. Though not as wealthy as Atlas, Gadeirus, or Mneseus, those kingdoms controlled much of what was known as the inner sea of the barbarians, Tal’s family was still powerful and well respected; wealthy beyond any but a king could imagine.

  Large bowls of an orange fruit sat on the nearest table. They had been cut open and their sweet fragrance drew the boys over. They each grabbed two pieces and wandered into the square. They dodged the servants which hurried to and fro, arms laden with decorations, food, or even animals. Carts pulled up to the edge of the square every few minutes and their cargo unloaded for the celebration.

  When Olatic, Tal’s oldest brother, had been placed in command of his first battle, the feast lasted for three days. Bulls were brought in from the finest herds to be sacrificed for the wonderful victory. Olatic was considered one of the greatest military minds that Mestor had ever seen, and Galius showed even more promise according to the generals.

  King Fa’amuil was proud of his sons. He was still short of his elder years himself, and was considered a talented battlefield commander, so to have two sons who could lead armies as well was a great blessing from the gods.

  Bator’cam, however, did not show such promise. The third son of Fa’amuil had a keen mind, and was shrewd with his words, but showed little skill with the spear or the chariot. He preferred the company of his tutors over the training ground of the soldiers and Tal believed he would be happier learning from the priests over leading men into battle. He often spent his time at the temple with their mother, and would repeat back the lessons he had learned with fervor. There were rumors he grew fearful at the sound of battle and his training with arms would come to an end soon and he would spend his time learning the rituals of the temple.

  But Tal longed to be like his two oldest brothers. He wanted to go to the training yard where he could practice with a spear and learn to drive the chariot. He wanted to know the rules of battle and understand the strategies of war. Tumat was a fine teacher, but his lessons bored Tal each day. He wanted a life of excitement.

  Galius had allowed Tal to come and watch his training at times. Often it was just hard work in the yard, with the officers drilling the same moves over and over. Other times it was like being with a tutor. Tal learned that battle was strictly formalized, the rules structured to not offend the gods. The prime law of Atlantis was kings could never fight amongst themselves, and this extended to their families as well. So the commanders of each battle were carefully selected before the battle began. No member of a royal house could be in a battle against another member of a royal house without permission by the High King.

  With King Fa’amuil’s two sons as commanders, he held the advantage over most of the kings who had a single son or, as was the case of King Comris of Diaprepes, no sons that were capable of leading an army.

  The first rays of the sun had fallen on the palace and worked their way down to the square when Queen Jala and her women descended the stairs from the royal apartments. The workers increased their pace as they saw the queen approach.

  The queen used a firmer hand than her husband when it came to servants. She found insults and slights in the slightest error, and to displease the Queen meant a swift, severe punishment.

  Tal devoured the rest of the fruit he held and rushed over to meet his mother as she entered the square.

  “Good morning, Mother,” he said.

  “Good morning, my son. I’m surprised to see you up this early. From what I hear, it isn’t unusual for you to lie in bed until mid-day.”

  Tal winced at her chastisement. Sometimes he lolled in bed, but it wasn’t as bad as his mother implied.

  “I was excited for today. Galius will return in victory and Father will place a crown on his head,” Tal said.r />
  The queen lifted her face into the sun, closed her eyes, smiled and took a deep breath. “Yes. It will be a grand ceremony. But we have much to prepare for and must be diligent if we are to be ready.”

  She motioned for one of the women near her and took a cup as it was offered. Tal knew it was the dark, aromatic caft which his mother enjoyed warm in the morning, but was very rare and expensive. His father and Olatic were the only ones he knew who drank it daily.

  As the Queen moved into the square, Tal motioned Meleus to follow.

  “Come. When the square fills up, we’ll return and do what we want, but if we stay here now, my mother will find work for us.”

  The boys ran off to a side garden where they sat and watched the fishing boats leave the harbor to seek out their daily catch. There were three trade ships, but they remained anchored in the harbor as there was a high tide that morning. They would launch in a few hours as the tide started to drop and winds shifted to their favor.

  It was nearly noon before the boy’s hunger drove them back to the square and the tables laden with food. Tal’s mother had apparently not given him another thought and hadn’t sent someone to fetch him from wherever he had hidden himself.

  As they slipped through the crowds, Tal saw his younger brother and sister, An’toko and Hela, at a table near his mother. She was attended by several of the women of the court and were occupied with mirth and merriment. He waved at his siblings and slipped back into the crowds before they told his mother he was back. If she had seen him, she would’ve pulled him to the table and made him sit there until their father arrived, but Tal wanted to go experience the festivities without being watched and lectured about his duties.

  The boys were at a cloth merchant when they heard the first blast of the horn from the gate of the city. The crowd stopped and turned to the sound. The merchant took the time to move his valuable cloth back into the baskets and joined everyone else as they listened for the sounds of distance horns. Tal shifted his feet and bit his lower lip as he waited. And then he heard it. The wind fought the thin sound of the distant horn, but the crowd cheered out loud when it reached them. Galius was on his way back to the city and the celebration would begin in earnest within the hour.