Grandelyn
Page 16
Chapter 15
The Journey Ends
As the two minions continued galloping their horses in the direction that their compass displayed, the dry brown desert started to appear white and the air became cool and moist. While they advanced they looked up to the sky and began to notice the blue sky turning bright gold.
“Look at the sky, Semp. It's looks like 14 karat gold!” Zodner said. As they moved forth they began to see the riveting palm trees, big green bushes and distant gray mountains. They also saw a building on top of the mountains.
“Look there!” Semp pointed ahead. They kicked their horses to go faster to the site. They could see that land was in fact where the dark-haired maiden said it may be. As they approached, they could see the purple water flow rapidly from one of the land’s distant cliffs.
“Is that purple water, Zodner?”
“It sure looks like it.”
“I've never seen anything like it.” The two men were truly amazed. They could see, even before they got close, that this land was massive. It looked like a small country to them. They looked at the foot prints leading to the side of the land where the abundance of trees were and part of the white gate. Just then they heard laughter. The men got off of their horses and began to investigate. When they came to the scaly gate, Semp placed his hand on the gate bar. The energy from the white bar struck through his arm. He yelled out in pain. Zodner ran to his side.
“This bloody thing shocked me!” He complained. Zodner pulled him away from the gate. They peeped through the gate and could not believe their eyes. They looked at each other with a sense of accomplishment. From their vantage point, they could see the ex-slaves down by the Sea of Amethyst on the beach mainland.
“That's them, Zodner! It’s the slaves!” Semp said, rubbing his hands together.
“Are you sure, Semp? Because that could be anyone, right?” Zodner asked, already suspecting the truth but too anxious to be completely sure.
“Yes, I am certain of it” Semp assured. “See…that one is Margaret... and look! There goes her son, Richet'.” The two men were so proud of themselves for finally ending their treacherous journey and finding what they were looking for.
“Now let's go get them” Zodner said, getting his sword ready.
“How do we get in this place? We’ll be scorched to death by this gate alone.” Semp swiped at the scaly gate.
“We've got to find the main gate entrance, you idiot.”
Semp threw his sword down in anger. “You know what, Zodner, I am bloody sick of you and your insults. After we bring the slaves back I am never speaking to you again.”
“Let's just go get them and we can fight about it later, alright?”
The men began to follow the scaly white bars of the gate, careful not to touch them. As they walked by they could see more of the ex-slaves going about their business.
“This is going to be great. Kalos is really going to respect us after we bring these pigs home. He may even make us main sergeants.” Semp boasted proudly.
“Aren't we already main sergeants?” Zodner asked being condescending.
“Yes, but he'll like us even more.”
They followed the length of the gate until they got to the main entrance. Semp began to push but the door would not budge. He tried harder, to no avail. As Semp struggled, Zodner began stuttering nervously as he pointed upward.
“Uhhh... Semp...look.”
Semp gave another rough push to the door. As he did, he heard a hissing sound. He looked around and saw nothing. Then looked up and saw what had Zodner so nervous.
The glaring opened eyes of the albino Siamese twin dragons were glowing with fire. Semp’s mouth dropped in horror and he began to slowly back up. One of the dragons opened its mouth to roar at him. Semp screamed and tried to run away from them. The dragons ripped away from each other, breaking from their frame, and charged the frightened men.
“What is that? I've never seen such a thing!” Semp cried out. The burning fire in the dragons bellies began to glow and the black and gray smoke seeped from their lips and nostrils.
“Never mind that! RUN!” Zodner yelled. The horses ran away, leaving the two minions to follow. Some of the ex slaves heard the commotion from outside the gates and went to investigate. They discovered that it was the minions from the Savage Kingdom.
Zodner and Semp could hear the loud running thuds of the dragons feet behind them. The squealing from the massive creatures was calling for them and the men knew they couldn't outrun them, so they jumped into a nearby bushel. The men trembled as the dragons looked for them. They could hear the heavy breathing from the creatures and could smell the burning embers. The dragons soon gave up their search, unable to find the trespassers. They returned to the gate entrance of Grandelyn.
Once convinced that the creatures were gone, the men crawled out of their hiding place and quickly went to recover their horses. They then decided it was time to finally return to Ferocities.
A month went by and Zodner and Semp were able to secure another ride from a group of carriage-riding farmers heading east. When they arrived back to Ferocities, they found that their beloved city had drastically changed – for the worse. The bright skies were now dark gray. There was a steady downfall of rain, making the ground soggy and muddy. The streets were filled with snakes of all kinds, both big and small.
“Look at our place! I barely recognize it.” Zodner said. The men let the horses roam for cover as they ran to the palace for shelter. They really wanted to see their Emperor and tell him about the journey they had. They found him in his throne room, obsessively looking at the Soul Realm. He was completely covered in wet snakes, and was stroking Noire. The image disturbed the minions, but nevertheless they let him know that they did find the slaves.
“So where are they?” Kalos growled through his chipped teeth. Semp got down on one knee and knelt down before Kalos.
“We couldn't reach them because two enormous dragons were guarding them; these creatures tried to kill us, my Emperor.”
Kalos allowed a small black snake to crawl up his ear and into his wet matted hair.
“Dragons? You expect me to believe there are dragons?” Kalos scoffed.
“But Emperor, please listen...”
“Just accept your incompetence and leave me” Kalos commanded. The minions knew that they couldn't allow that horrid journey of theirs to all be for nothing.
“We really did see them, my Emperor; they reside in a land called Grandelyn” Zodner intervened while also bowing before Kalos. Kalos looked to them quickly as if he knew what they were talking about.
“Grandelyn?” He asked. “Would you be able to lead me there?”
The two confirmed that they could. Of course, neither one of them wanted to make that long trip again, especially because they had just gotten back home. They only wanted to relax.
Kalos rose, snakes dropping to a pile at his feet. He hastily walked onto the wet balcony, his eyes roaming the Soul Realm with determination. As the rain splashed against his bare body, the wicked smile came upon his pale wet face. He turned back to the minions.
“If these peasants are where you say they are, then let's go get my medallion!”