The Ocean Hearth (A "Hymns of Evermorn" Story) by Lionelson NY

Eli’s hands were shivering. It was cold down there, but no one could lend him a cloak. His lips were chapped and his mind was spinning. Sitting against the wall, he stared at the empty cell opposite to his; for right in front of it was a puddle of water that dripped from a moulded ceiling. He was deeply tempted to reach for a scoop of it to quench his thirst. But he was disturbed by the thought of his guts cramping. So he closed his eyes and took slow, deep breaths to regain his strength.

Suddenly, he could see the orange glow of torches nearing him as the sound of trailing footsteps got closer

“How long has it been?” he asked. His voice was coarse, dry as a dessert.

“Four days, Mr. Rivergrove.” Replied a deep, slow voice.

And when they finally reached his cell, he looked up and saw a tall man escorted by two guards. He was vested in marroon leather and a cape. His shoulders were broad and a pin of the Eleazarian emblem was placed on his right chest. He was clean shaven with a strong jawline. Not to mention, his short brown hair was decorated with a golden crown with a blue jewel at its front.

“To be honest, I usually don’t give a damn about crooks” The crowned man said. “Even if the stolen item was mine, I usually let my ministers handle it. But when I heard I had the honour of being robbed by the one of the Seven Thieves of Meridia…well, I need to see him in person”

Eli just stared at the man. His brows furrowed at the sight of him arrogantly standing there with a straight posture. But the man just replied with a sarcastic grin.

“Not much of a talker, I see.” He signalled his guards to open the gates. “Stand him up!”

“Yes, milord!” the guards went in and pulled him by the hand. Eli didn’t hesitate to deliver a sudden punch to one of the guard’s jaw! The cracking sound echoed. But the other guard gripped his arms tighter and forcefully lifted him up. So they dragged him towards the crowned man.

“I am a humble king, Eli. I prefer to talk to townsfolks with our eyes levelled.”

But Eli remained quiet. The guard who just had his jaw punched took advantage of his silence as an excuse to hit Eli in the belly!

“Show your respect to the king!” He shouted as he delivered the blow! It made Eli crouch in pain.

However, the king did not approve of such behaviour from this guard. So he grabbed that guard by the neck and slammed him on the bars! His skull banged against the iron rods, disorienting him for a moment.

“Act without my permission again and I will kill you myself. Do I make myself clear?!” He scolded his guards.

“Yes, milord. Forgive me, milord” the guard plead.

“Stay outside, both of you!”

The guard clumsily got up and stepped out of the cell. The other guard nervously followed and closed the door.

Eli pressed his belly while crackling his neck. Then he brushed the dust of his shirt.

“Very noble of you, King Velron” Eli finally spoke up. “But you shouldn’t mistake me for fool.”

He stared deeply into the king’s eyes, as if it were telling him a story. A story of rage and anger. But the king only smirked.

“Now that we’re finally conversing, perhaps I can finally ask you” Velron replied as he clasped his hands behind his back and walked around Eli in circles. “There are many treasures in my castle, both hidden and unhidden. Why steal the Ocean Hearth?”

Eli became quiet again.

“Are the Reds of Elmswood running out of funds? Tell me, which merchant is rich enough to trade you for the jewel?” Velron continued.

But Eli was as silent as a lamb, staring at the two guards outside the bars. Velron, being quite a short-tempered man, grew impatient and grabbed Eli by the throat!

“Speak when you are spoken to!” he yelled.

“Well…” Eli shrugged the king’s hand off. “Steal the king’s gold and you can build a kingdom. Steal the king’s regalia…and you can watch his kingdom fall.”

Velron was furious. Both of their eyes filled with rage. Their stance was too close for comfort. Even the two guards outside were ready to pull out their swords if needed be. But then Velron took a step back.

“I appreciate your honesty, Eli.” The king was swallowing his voice. “So I have a proposition for you.”

Eli smirked and walked towards the wall where he was sitting before. But Velron continued his offer.

“Tell me where my regalia is and where your comrades are hiding. And in return, I will give you freedom.”

“You expect me to betray the lives of many for my own?” Eli laughed.

“I may even give you a proper home here in Eleazar. You see, I have plans for this kingdom. Plans to make it prosper for all ages to come! Are you sure you don’t want any part of it?”

“The day Eleazar prospers is the day you descend from your throne.” Eli said sternly as he turned to look at the king straight to his eyes.

“Very well then” Velron grunted. “I hereby decree that you be sentenced to death by the gallows! You shall be executed tomorrow noon in the public square.”

He turned his back on Eli and faced the door. The guards opened it upon order and closed it back right after the king came out. The door was locked shut. Eli only watched as they walked away from his cell, taking away the light with them. But before the king stepped any further, he halted; for a question lingered in his mind.

“Rivergrove!” He called. “I must ask. Why does an infamous Thief of Meridia affiliate with the Reds?”

Eli stepped towards the bar and gripped it hard and murmured.

“Dalem.”

But Velron only sneered and left Eli in the dark.

The king walked through the dark corridors of the dungeon, past the old registrar and up the stairs. His boots were dampened by whatever fluid that puddle on its floors. And as soon as he arrived at the dungeon’s entrance, a servant boy knelt down and wiped it dry. Then he sprayed him with sweet fragrance of roses to mask the unbearable stench of the chambers below.

Escorted by his two guards, Velron proudly strutted along the concrete hall and out to a pavilion. It was a long pathway with tall, marble pillars on its side. Inscribed on each pillars were names of the great families of ancient Rodenheim such as Meridith, Stump, Edoras, Sebah, and last but not least, his very own family, Allistair.

He travelled down the stony pavement to a garden which was one of many on the royal compound. It was a rather small and enclosed circle of bushes. It was flourished with flowers of red and white colours. Its walls were crawling with purple Morning Glory. And a yellow-leafed tree, with a trunk broader than a man’s embrace, stood marvellously at its centre.

But the true beauty of the garden was actually a woman standing beneath that tree. She was standing with hands clasped to her chest, praying to the All-father. Her pitch black hair curled over her splendorous golden dress that hugged the curves of her body snugly. And even with her eyes closed, the king was already mesmerized in every way.

“Leave us be” Velron ordered the guards. And they left him. He stepped into the garden and approach the fair maiden. She noticed his footsteps and turned around to see the king with a blissful smile.

“And what are your prayers to the All-father today, Lorraine?” he greeted.

“I was praying for this very moment, your highness” She smiled when she heard his voice.

“Oh skip the formalities. It’s just us here.” Velron grabbed her by the waist and give her a good long kiss. She placed herself in his embrace and rested her head on his chest. As she takes in the perfume on his clothes, she tiptoed and gave him another peck on the cheek.

“I missed you, Ron.” She said, brushing her fingers on his hair. “It was painful for me to wait each day, wondering when you would be back”

“I’m sorry, love. I should’ve sent a raven or two.” He hugged her even tighter.

“Why didn’t you, dear? I was worried. The other night, I was so scared when I heard the thieves broke into our castle. They were right under my nose, Ron. If they were to make their way up to me, I would’ve been-”

“Truly, I apologize.” He interrupted. “There was a lot of work to do in Rodenheim with the logistics, the exports, the legislations ministry and all that crap my brother wants me to handle”

“Well that doesn’t explain why the first person you meet when you reached our shores was a stranger in a dungeon…” She remarked as she slowly stepped away from Velron and walked towards the tree, touching the ridges of its bark.

“I’m very sorry, my queen. I didn’t mean to disregard you.” his voice softened as he saw the worried expression on his lover’s brows.

“All will be forgiven if you promise me you won’t leave home again. At least not now. I need you here.” Her eyes filled with pity. Her lips shaking, trying to hold back her sob. She was scared and alone.

“I promise, I won’t be busy for long. Look…” Velron followed close behind and took her hand. “I just received news from Meridia that their priestesses have had a vision. A vision that there is this new, unexplored land west of the Hungry Ocean. I say we go on an expedition together. Let us have a getaway from these royal duties for a month or two.”

“A getaway, Ron?! Please tell me this is just a joke to lighten the mood.” Lorraine’s tone raised. She slipped her hand out of his grip.

“It wasn’t a joke. It’s been so long since we’ve went on a voyage together and I miss spending time with you. Is that so wrong?” the king was surprised by her sudden burst of anger.

“What’s wrong is that I know very well we are at war, Velron! A war that you started! And still, you dare to travel as if your people had nothing to worry about!” she shouted, her voice roaring like lioness.

“What war?! That attack on Dalhar was merely a strategic move to boost our kingdom’s economy!”

“People died, Ron!”

“They are not people! They are a moon-worshipping cult with blue skin.”

Lorraine was stunned at that remark. She could only turn away shake her head. Velron, angry, grabbed her by the shoulders and faced her back towards him.

“A war is where two nations fight. If anything that was a conquest! One that our Military General had done a great job with. You may be the queen, Lorraine but you have no right to undermine me and my works! And as your king, I demand that you-”

“There he is.” The queen gave him a cold glare. Her eyes started to pool. A few drops of tears trickled down her soft cheeks. “I waited so long for my husband’s return and all I got is an arrogant king instead”

“Lorraine…” Velron’s voice collapsed. The burning rage in his eyes faded when he saw the disappointment in his wife’s face. It was a look that pierced his heart sharper than a knife ever could.

Suddenly, Lorraine noticed a red-haired woman in green standing by the garden entrance. The light freckles on her cheeks brought out her emerald green eyes.

“My king. I believe someone is here to see you” the queen said with a shaky voice, quickly wiping off her tears. She faked a smile and fretted away.

Velron could only watch as his queen walked past that woman, exchanging greetings as though she was fine. What a brilliant smiling mask she wore that the lady in green didn’t even notice her distress. Finishing their small talk, Lorraine left as the other lady approached him.

“This better be important, Lady Quella” the king spoke sternly as he approached the beautiful woman.

Quella Meridith, the Flower of Meridia. There’s no denying that her beauty surpassed Queen Lorraine’s ten times fold. The second daughter of Queen Estra of Meridia, she was also next-in-line for the throne of Eleazar. Confusing as it was, the order of succession in Eleazar was shared between the patriarchy of Allistairs and the matriarchy of Meridiths. It was a royal decree that was legislated since the infancy of the city, back when the bed-ridden King Thremendor Allistair had Prince Varthas to be his Rodenian heir while Prince Velron was still too young to be king of Eleazar. Thremendor was desperate to put a ruler on the Eleazarian throne and so he decided to construct a cyclical succession with the Meridiths to ensure Eleazar would always have a monarch. But nevertheless, Quella’s title of princess was invalid in Eleazar so long as it’s the Allistair’s term of leadership.

But the lady have always had the highest rank among all the noblemen and women. Even the news she bared now is not one that could easily roll off a minister’s tongue.

“The Dalharians are here, your highness”.