Lost Empire (3 page)

“
What is your name? Your
real
name?” Eric’s voice was hard as iron.

The man Eric had thought was his father paused a moment, clearly caught off guard by the straightforward question. “Corelle,” he replied, his dark eyes meeting Eric’s. “Corelle Nenkara. Tell me, Eric, does it make any difference what my birth name is?”

“
As a matter of fact, it does,” he growled while taking a step closer, clenching his hands into fists to help ease the trembling. “Don’t you see?” his voice eased to a whisper, “it’s the first time you’ve ever told me the truth.”

Corelle winced at the stinging words. “Eric, I didn’t have a choice,” he muttered. “Do you think this didn’t tear away at me every single day?” He backed up to the wall and began talking to the ceiling. “It—it went too far. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The ruse was meant as an illusion for the other townsfolk. It was not without purpose. We had to keep your identity secret at all costs. It was necessary so I could do my—” his voice cracked hard, “my job.”

Eric gave his head a shake to remove a few locks of hair that crept down over his forehead. “So how did your
job
turn out? Tell me,
father
, am I the perfect son you’ve always envisioned?” he calmly asked. “Like any other dog who finally learned to do tricks on command?”

“
It wasn’t like that!” the man pleaded, nearly groveling. “I let you down, Eric...
me
. Not even the Queen shares in my failure.” He shrunk down to the floor, his hands resting on his knees and his head hung low. “I was supposed to tell you years ago, but I didn’t have the guts. I...I just couldn’t!”

“
How long were you planning to keep a secret of this magnitude?” Eric railed as he threw his hands into the air. “You finally told me only when your back was to the wall and you had no other choice. I trusted you! Every thought I have, every decision I make, is based on my earliest memories—the teachings of my father.” He blinked away the building moisture from his eyes, not daring to shed a single tear for this man. “Everything was a lie. I have no idea who I really am.”

Corelle sprung from the floor like a coiled snake. Before Eric could even blink, a large forearm drove him back against the wall. Corelle suddenly held a crazed look in his eye as he kept Eric pinned with nearly shocking strength. “You are my son! That’s who you are. You are the boy I chased with a switch when you and Jacob ran off for an entire day. You are the teenager who studied hard because I would accept no less than your best efforts.” He finally pulled his forearm from Eric’s throat and backed away. In a far calmer voice, he said, “And now you are the grown man who stands before me. The man who has been wrongfully burdened with the weight of the world; the man whose destiny can be no less than greatness, because anything short of that will be catastrophic.”

Corelle turned and walked towards the open door. Burning questions swirled through Eric’s mind.
Where did I come from? Who are my real parents? When is my real name day? Do I have one
? But all the unasked questions remained locked in his throat. He couldn’t speak a word as he watched the only family he had ever known leave him once more.

Corelle turned back with just a hint of a smile and said, “Eric, I told you who you are to me. Now you need to know who I am. Even if not by blood, I
am
your father. And even if you don’t believe it now, I love you. I pleaded with the Queen for this time to tell you, above all else, that. I hope someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me for failing you.” His dark eyes, though glistening with unshed tears, looked warm and familiar to Eric for the first time. “My time is up, and I must leave. Go now, and be the man you were born to be.” He turned and disappeared from the room so quickly it was as if he had never been there at all. No more than a few seconds passed before Eric bolted into the hall after him. The man was simply gone.

Eric retreated back to his room, beginning to wonder if any of this was even real. Confusion, anger, sadness and regret swirled themselves into a sickening mix of emotion, a new emotion too vile to ever be given a name. He sat at the corner of the bed, rubbing his temples in the hope of massaging away the pain that threatened to consume him. A futile attempt, to be sure.
I’m not sure how much more I can take. I never asked for any of this
. But that simple truth meant little. These burdens were his and his alone. He’d been born into duty, even if he hadn’t known for most of his life. He certainly hadn’t asked for it. Burden?
This is a curse
.

The circular motion of his fingers stopped. With everything that had just happened, he was surprised at how he felt all of a sudden. He felt guilt as intense as it was surprising. How dare he feel sadness over anything as trivial as his own life, a life that had never even really been his to begin with? Millions of lives hanging on the choices he alone made, and he dared to complain of everyday luxuries such as family?

I am a tool—a weapon, nothing more
.
My life is forfeit. Best to accept it
. For some reason, the chilling thought brought him comfort because it left him feeling like he had nothing to lose, and, more importantly, gave him a reason to press on. Throwing on a black wool shirt, he approached the mirror once more. Not unlike the first time, he hardly recognized the man he saw. Hard, dark eyes cold as steel returned his gaze. Void of innocence, he was no longer the boy who had spent his life dreaming he could be more than an ordinary blacksmith one day.
Be careful what you wish for
. He took one last look around the room. It was probable he would never see it again.

Once out in the hall, it became clear his impending departure on this day had to be the worst-kept secret in the palace. Everyone he passed was treating him much differently than usual. Serving girls curtsied incessantly, turning themselves as he passed to make sure the eloquent movements were directed at him the entire time, and even then not taking their eyes from him until he disappeared around the corner. He began to speed up a bit, not really caring for all the unearned attention.

Just before he got to the steps, a thin man with a square jaw and deep-set blue eyes stepped in front of his path. The man wore a huge grin that proudly displayed mostly toothless dark gums. “G-good m-m-morning sir,” he stuttered as his smile grew even larger.

Eric smiled, warmed by the simple man’s innocence. “And good morning to you too.” He could hardly believe the progress made by the so-called mindless savages. All were speaking in full sentences now and many had even been given apprenticeships in several local shops. It was clear they would all be pulling their own weight soon enough. The thought that Queen Ilirra had been able to save all these lives warmed his heart.
Savages indeed
.

“
I-I hear you l-leaving for a while.”

Does anyone not know
? Eric just shook his head and shrugged. “Yes, I will be leaving for a while. And no, I don’t know when I’m coming back.”

The man’s toothless grin beamed once again as he rattled his head up and down like an excited child. “Well, g-good luck.” He turned to leave but only got a few steps away before looking back once more. His eyes were filled with clarity and understanding, an innate intelligence that wasn’t there a second ago. In a deep, clear voice, he said, “Long live the Gate Keeper.” Eric’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. The man quickly reverted back to his childish grinning expression before continuing on his way.

Eric shook his head more than once, wondering again if he had imagined it. After all, it was clear his eyes were not to be trusted this morning.
I think I’m going mad
. He rubbed his eyes before heading downstairs. He marched through the familiar halls of the palace and down a last flight of steps before finding himself standing in front of Berkeni’s door. Not bothering to knock, he stepped in to find many familiar faces seated around the table. It seemed a bit odd to meet in here, but it was clear no one wanted to see the inside of the war room again anytime soon. Besides, Berkeni was well within his element, surrounded by all his mystic tools and devices.

The small man stood at the head of the table with Addel seated to his right and the other three spread out to the left. Ilirra and Azek had isolated themselves as usual, having a “spirited” conversation amongst themselves off in a corner. Jacob was whispering something to Athel as she grinned sheepishly. Jade sat quietly with her hands folded on the table. When they noticed Eric had arrived, Azek guided the Queen toward the table with a gentle arm wrapped around her shoulder. Eric suddenly noticed that Morcel was quietly standing in the other corner. He had been shockingly still and unassuming, even with his massive arms folded over his chest. How could a man so large and intimidating go completely unnoticed whenever he chose too?

Berkeni rubbed his hands together vigorously before gesturing toward an open chair at the opposite end of the table. Eric took his seat quietly. Even though Berkeni was conducting this final meeting, all eyes seemed to be on him. He flashed Jade a quick wink before pointing his chin in Berkeni’s direction, a gesture meant to direct all the attention back where it belonged.

“
As all of you know, this will be our final meeting, and probably the last time we will all be in the same room together, at least for quite a while, I suspect,” Berkeni said as his forehead crinkled up, straining to form a smile he certainly didn’t feel in his heart. “The final arrangements have been completed. We have a loaded wagon guarded by the Queen’s finest waiting for you all outside. The four of you will leave within the hour.” He shook his head as if were having trouble believing his own words. “Addel will take it from here. I only wish to add that I have enjoyed working with all of you. I wouldn’t trade our time together for anything.” He sat back down as Addel slowly got to her feet.

“
I’ll be brief so you can all say your proper goodbyes to whomever you wish.” Her warm smile lessened a bit at her own statement. “To be honest, I don’t have much to add, since the situation really hasn’t changed any. We still know the proper ‘power shift’ is somewhere in the land of Shangti. We don’t even know if the demon will be able to enter through it in 20 years or tomorrow, but enter he will. This is why you must leave now.” She lowered her head. “I wish there was more I could do to aid you.”

Berkeni stood back up again, clearly wishing to add to Addel’s statements. “Yes, it’s true. We don’t know how much time we have, but rest assured Addel and I will be working on that diligently while the four of you get yourselves established in the new land.” Using his thumb, he spun his silver ring a few revolutions around his finger while eyeing Jade. “We plan to remain in constant contact and continually give updates as to the progress we’ve made.” He abruptly folded his skinny arms over his chest as a strong look of determination gleamed in his sharp eyes. “We are all in this together. You four are
not
alone.”

Azek started to stand up slowly, hesitating as if making sure no one else had anything to add before he excused himself. “Well, if we are all finished here... Eric, will you walk with me?”

“
Of course, common,” he replied, standing up from his chair. He had to admit, getting out of this small room didn’t seem like the worst idea. The two of them left and walked down the hall side by side. Eric glanced at Azek periodically as they marched, wondering when the grizzled soldier was going to break the uncomfortable silence. The man’s face was no easier to read than a stone. When they approached his private chambers, Azek opened the unlocked door and motioned for Eric to follow him inside. Eric hesitated a moment, seeing as how he had never been in here before.

Dark blue walls covered with several thick golden-framed oil paintings hung from every wall within the rectangle-shaped room. An almond-lacquered wooden plaque with crossed long swords hung over a shiny suit of a full plate of armor in the corner. A large, raised bed with multiple white goose feather pillows and thick green blankets stood high on four wooden legs in the other corner. To Eric’s right stood a large oval mirror with looping silver trim and thick golden metal legs propping it up off the plush white carpet. An oddly placed crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling made Eric snicker. This hardened soldier’s private quarters were nearly as fancy as the Queen’s.

Eric stifled his laugh immediately when he was flashed an angry look, but Azek’s scowl only lasted a second as he glanced around at his own treasures, suddenly looking a bit embarrassed. “Life’s simple pleasures, my friend. Never underestimate them,” he said as he patted Eric roughly on the shoulder three times. “Now then. I’m not real big on long goodbyes or anything of that sort, but I have something for you that I think might be very useful.” He gestured for Eric to wait a moment before disappearing into his enormous closet. He returned with a plain-looking wooden box, which he flung onto the bed. The rectangle-shaped box with faded gold coloring on each handle looked very old and unassuming. No one would ever believe it held anything of value. He reached down the front of his shirt and retrieved a little black key hanging on a thin silver necklace. This took Eric aback a bit. It was so small and subtle; he had never noticed it before.
Had Azek always worn that key around his neck?