Son of The Prisonland (The Myth Shadow Trilogy Book 1)

by Saladin Siddiqui

  After a while, he found the beautiful building surrounded by gardens, which were also heavily guarded. Aylan smiled to see all the securities. What was he scared of? He thought. He was standing behind a big bush, far from the palace. He put the ring on and grabbed the scene towards him. The guards were everywhere, even in front of the drainage line. Aylan remembered what Jeem said about the king’s castle. Those places were also being guarded.

  Aylan sighed. He needed to get into the palace. He thought to try the ring again. As he touched it with his thumb Aylan spoke in his mind, can I be invisible if I wish? All of a sudden, a whirl of smoke surrounded him, and within a fraction of a moment, they disappeared. Aylan looked around and thought, is that it? Then he looked down and saw nothing where he was standing. He reached out his hands, and they were invisible, too.

  To make sure about the invisibility, he tried to go through the bush and got stuck. That means, my physical existence remains, he thought. And that also meant he needed the gate to be opened. Aylan checked out the space between him and the gate. It was all empty for security’s sake. So there was the only thing to do to draw the guards’ attention. He shook the bush to make some loud noise. The gatekeepers instantly looked out from the window and saw what was happening. They shouted orders, and a few guards came out to check what the reason was.

  By the time they approached the bush, Aylan had walked to the closed gate and waited there for the guards to return. As they have returned from checking the bush and opened the gate, he followed the last guard quickly and entered the front yard. The gatekeeper closed the gate behind him. Aylan walked straight to the main house. It was his first time ever here, at his uncle’s palace.

  It was just the breakfast time. So, he decided to go the dining room first. When he entered the room, he saw his uncle, Lord Eko Darsor and his wife were sitting on the chairs and two of the maids serving them. Aylan wished to be visible again and waited until the girls left the room. Then he walked quietly to the table and pulled a chair and sat down casually as if it was his home.

  Lord Eko Darsor thought it was his Daughter. So, without looking up, he said, “Woke up early today, Daliya?”

  “Actually, I wake up early every day Uncle Eko,” Aylan replied, as he was serving himself a glass of milk.

  Lord Eko Darsor looked at Aylan as if he was looking at a ghost. His wife stopped in the middle of swallowing a piece of bread. She started coughing as the food stuck in her throat while she tried to shout for the guards.

  Aylan put the finger on his lips before his uncle was about to call the guards, “There’s no point to call anyone. I’d vanish the way I came in.” He poured some water into a glass and gave it to his aunt. “And maybe, just maybe I’d try to do some harm to you to defend myself.”

  His uncle put himself together and gave Aylan an angry look, “What are you doing here, Aylan?”

  “What a surprise! I actually didn’t think that you’d recognize me, uncle,” Aylan smiled.

  “You’ve got your father’s face and mother’s eyes. How could I not recognize you? But I heard you’re long dead,” Lord Eko said. He moved his eyes from Aylan and looked to the opened window. Then he put a hand on his wife’s shoulder asking if she was alright. His wife, Dilara shook her head, she was okay. “Why did you come here?” he asked again.

  “To know, who killed my parents,” Aylan said in a cold voice. “Plenty of witnesses saw you coming out just before their tent set on fire.”

  “Killed? Fire? What are you talking about?” Lord Eko looked confused.

  “Yes, you heard it right. My parents were killed by setting a fire in their tent and I found the trace of the Dainee, and you made it sure they were safe to do so by stealing the bow and arrows.”

  “He has nothing to do with the killing,” Lady Dilara, Aylan’s aunt shouted with her annoying sharp voice.

  “Yes, that’s true. I didn’t know they’d kill my sister!” Lord Eko said in a broken voice. He seemed very upset to know about his sister’s death.

  “You mean the Dainees?” Aylan asked. “But who is the main culprit? Where do the Dainees come from?”

  Lord Eko Darsor looked hesitated. “I can’t tell you that. I just can’t.”

  “Well, in that case, I’d consider you are responsible for my parents’ death,” Aylan got up from the chair and put his hand on the sword as if he was going to charge him right away.

  “It’s the Queen Mother!” Lady Dilara shouted quickly as she jumped in front of Aylan, spreading her two hands to defend her husband. “The Queen Mother told him to trick your father and steal the bow and arrows. He doesn’t know anything else. I swear off my children’s lives.”

  Lord Eko looked devastated. He grabbed his hair with his hands and broke into tears. “I should’ve guessed it when she said to make them drink the liquid to put them asleep. So that it’d be easier for me to steal the bow and arrows. If I only knew she had the plan to kill them, I wouldn’t even go there.”

  “Fair enough,” Aylan sat down. He could read his uncle’s mind. He actually meant his words. “The Queen Mother would be served the justice she deserves.”

  “You can’t do anything to her,” Lord Eko warned his nephew. “If I haven’t got it wrong, the Queen Mother herself is a Dainee, and if so, she has the power of black magic, which would destroy you easily.”

  “Thanks for the warning,” Aylan said. “I have to try at least. Where are the bow and arrows? If you hand them over, I promise I will not do anything to you or your family. And don’t try to lie to me. I’m an expert lie detector.”

  Lord Eko Darsor gave a long glance to his nephew, to assure if his threat was real. “But if I give them to you, they’d kill me.”

  “Well, you’re not giving them to me willingly. Are you?” Aylan replied, sarcastically. “You will not be in any sort of danger.”

  “They were in our bedroom,” Aunt Dilara said. “I’m going to get them for you.”

  “If you don’t mind,” Aylan smiled. He could read her mind. She was going to alert the guards. “But do me a favor, please. Don’t alert the guards. And call my cousins. I haven’t met them yet.”

  Aunt Dilara flinched. How did Aylan know that what she intended to do? “Okay, as you wish,” she replied with a dry voice. She rushed to their bedroom and came back quickly with the bow and the quiver full of arrows; just to make Aylan feel that she didn’t try to be clever.

  Aylan took them from her and sighed, thinking about his late father. These are the only things remained from him.

  In a few moments, his cousin sister Daliya and brother Daha came in. They looked confused to see a stranger in the dining room at breakfast time. Aylan looked at his aunt to introduce him to his cousins.

  “Children, meet your cousin brother Aylan,” she said in a dry voice.

  “Aylan? I thought he was dead,” Daliya said. She was looking at her cousin brother. They had the same green colored eyes.

  “Well, we assumed that as he was out of touch for all these years. Now he came back and wants to meet you,” her mother replied.

  Aylan got up and walked to his cousins. “If I’m not wrong, you’re now fifteen, Daliya and Daha’s twelve. Aren’t you?”

  “Yes, Aylan,” Daliya smiled. “How did you know about that? You never came to see us.”

  “Well, that’s a big story. But at last, I came to see you. Didn’t I?” Aylan hugged his cousins. “Let’s have some breakfast together.” As he pulled Daha’s hand, Aylan noticed a birthmark on the front side of his right wrist. Aylan kept his eyes lowered to hide his reaction. He felt the presence of the blaze rider as Gatik said. And this birthmark was exactly as Gatik’s. That means Daha was going to be the next Blaze rider!

  Aylan sat down on his chair and pulled two chairs for his cousins. Lady Dilara served them their plates. Normally, it was the maid’s job as she didn’t call them this time. Aylan noticed that she was trying to avoid eye contact with him. When he took his glass of milk to drink, he realized
the reason why. He could feel the presence of poison in the milk. She mixed it when he left the chair to greet his cousins. Ingenious women, he thought.

  Lady Dilara and Lord Eko were looking at him nervously. In their minds, they were praying for Aylan to drink the whole glass of milk. Aylan smiled in his mind and finished the entire glass in three gulps. As he put it back on the table and said, “It was delicious. Mostly because the ‘thing’ you’ve mixed.” He smiled at his aunt.

  The couple looked at Aylan with disbelief. He was supposed to be gagging and white foam coming out of his mouth. But he showed no reaction after drinking the whole glass of deadly poison. They even forgot what to say in this situation. Lady Dilara could just mumble for a moment. Then she dropped to her chair. She looked devastated for failing to kill and getting caught red-handed.

  Aylan finished the rest of the food quietly like nothing happened. Then asked his cousins to stay outside the dining room, he was going to join them in a few moments. When they left the room, Aylan turned to his uncle, “I’m not going to explain how I’ve managed to live after drinking the poison, but warning you not to try to do this sort of thing again.” He gave a glance to Lady Dilara and turned to his uncle again, “You’ve been betraying your own people, thinking only about yourself and the family. But you have no idea what would happen once they get killed, do you? The king needed you to liaise with the villagers on behalf of him, as an Ashalandian. Now, when my father is dead, the Dainees can move freely. Next step, they are going to kill all the villagers. And once it was done, there’ll be no reason to keep you alive. But still you have a choice to save yourself, and I’m willing to share it with you, only if you want to.”

  After a long time, Lord Eko Darsor opened his mouth to speak. At first, he was upset to know about his sister’s death and then was shocked to see Aylan staying alive, he had no idea about what was going on. “You know that I can’t go against the King and his mother. And I know that I’m in danger from either way. But I’ll try to make sure my family’s safe before anything happens. That’s all I’ve to say,” Lord Eko said. “By the way, you just have quickened the danger a bit, by taking these bow and arrows. The Queen Mother is well known for her magical power to see people’s minds. She’d see exactly what had happened here.”

  Aylan got up from his chair. “I’ll fix it for you.” He stood between his uncle and auntie’s chairs and put his hands on their heads. As he closed his eyes, he made a connection with their minds and erased all the conversation they had with him. “Now, they will not be able to see anything. Just be true to her about what you know about me. By the way, I’m going to take Daha as a hostage, to make sure that you wouldn’t try to stop me. Don’t worry; I’m not taking him outside the palace. See you later.” Aylan kissed his uncle and auntie’s hands and left the room.

  Dailya and Daha were waiting for him outside of the dining room. Daliya had guessed that something was happening between her parents and the cousin. So, she looked at Aylan with a question. Aylan smiled at her, “Just take care of your parents, sister. You’re a big girl now. I’m going to borrow Daha for a moment.” He pulled Daha’s hand and waved a hand to Daliya, “See you soon, Daliya.”

  As he was holding Daha’s hand, Aylan made a connection with their minds and explained the whole situation about being the future Blaze rider. Daha started panicking at first, but Aylan took full control of his mind and calmed him down. When they reached the main door, Aylan stopped and asked, “I hope everything is clear to you now.”

  Daha shook his head. Aylan put his hands on Daha’s shoulder, “Don’t worry. Everything will be alright. I’m sorry that, you had to start your part early. But you or me, no one has any choice but to face the reality.”

  “It’s okay, brother,” Daha spoke out at last. “Actually, I’m excited now. Not everyone has the opportunity to have this kind of power that enables you to help others. I think I’m ready for it.”

  Aylan smiled at his cousin brother, “Alright then. See you in the evening.” Aylan touched the ring and got vanished. Daha stood in his place for a few moments and then walked to his parents. They might be worried about him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Aylan returned to Jeem’s bakery. Jeem was ready and waiting for his return. “How was your breakfast invitation?” Jeem asked. Then he noticed the bow and arrows and raised eyebrows. “No way!” he shouted. “Don’t tell me you went to your uncle’s house and walked out with these.”

  “That’s exactly what happened,” Aylan shook his head dramatically. “And, to make that sure, I went there at that time.”

  “That sounds smart,” Jeem said, sarcastically. “But you do know that Lord Eko Darsor has already headed to the King’s castle?”

  “Yes sire,” Aylan smiled. “I wanted him to do so because I need to enter the castle. There are some things in the castle that some of my new friends need badly.”

  “Nice,” Jeem smiled, as he clapped. “You got your father’s bow and arrows back and won a free ticket to the castle, which Laam and I have been trying for ages. But how did you get into the palace? Obviously, you’re the last person your uncle would want to meet.”

  “That’s what I’m going to reveal to you, my friend,” Aylan took the ring out of his pocket. “You see this ring? The owner of this ring was none other, but the late Wizard King Burundas Jadukor. And somehow it came to me. Slowly I’m finding its power, and yes, this ring helped me to get into the palace.”

  “Wow! I heard about the missing things of the King Burundas Jadukor. At last seeing one of them. Can I hold it for a moment?”

  “Not for the time being, you’re going to keep it for me until I meet you at the safer place.” Aylan reached out the ring to his friend.

  Jeem took the ring in his hand carefully, as if it was very fragile. “How does it work, though?”

  Aylan smiled. “Check it out then. You might need it while I’m not by you. Put the ring on your finger.” Jeem followed his instruction. “Now, point to any further things in the room and reach out your hand. Good. Now, grab the air and pull your hand slowly back towards you.”

  Jeem pulled his hand and quivered. Instantly opened his hand to let the scene go away and took the ring out from his finger. “What was that? I thought I felt dizzy.”

  “Nah, you just have brought the further scene closer to you. Try it again, and you’ll get it. By the way, if you wish others next to you to see what you see, just wish for it.”

  Jeem did the same thing again. This time he was ready. So, he brought the wall close to him and checked slowly. All the trays and sacks hanging on the wall were so close to him that he could clearly see the dried flour on them. “Wow, that’s amazing!” he said.

  “Yes,” Aylan said. “I might get arrested during or after the big sport and don’t want the King has it. So, it’s your duty to keep the ring safe.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Jeem said. “Now, hurry up, or we’ll get late for the game.”

  After a few moments, they came out from the house. Laam met them by the gate. He looked a little down, and they noticed it.

  “What’s the wrong Laam? You seem worried about something,” Jeem asked.

  “It’s about Amo,” Laam said. “Half of the council members think I wouldn’t be able to serve the justice because he is my brother. And the villagers will not accept it at all. In that case, I better not to try to prove myself.”

  I disagree with that decision,” Aylan said. “Let them speak garbage. You don’t have enough time to waste. Believe me, once you win the game, all of them will come back to you. Because my friend, it will not be easy for you to win this.”

  “What do you want to say? The game isn’t easy for anyone, anyway,” Laam raised his right brow.

  “You know that the king knows that you’re the future leader of the village. He may not know about your fighting skills, but he’s aware of your personality. You might lead the villagers against him, in case his plan to destroy the village doesn
’t work. So, he wouldn’t take the risk of your win. Is that clear?”

  “Clear. I was expecting some trouble by the way,” Laam said.

  “Good,” Jeem said. “Aylan, I think Bolin’s waiting for you by the tree over there.” He pointed to a distant tree. “Go talk to him. We’ll meet you by the boats.”

  Aylan nodded to his friends and walked towards Bolin. When he approached him, Bolin asked, “Why did you call me here? I know who are you and I’ll be in trouble if anyone sees me here with you.” He was stroking his white beard nervously.

  “You’re already in trouble, my old friend,” Aylan said. “If you listen to me, you can get rid of it. Jeem didn’t explain it to you in the first place for your own safety.”

  “And how is that going to happen?” Bolin asked. He was keeping eyes around to see if anyone was looking at them.

  “First of all, I’d like to confirm about the delivery that you’re going to receive in a few days,” Aylan looked in Bolin’s eyes.

  “How do you know about the delivery?” Bolin asked, curiously. “It is supposed to be a highly confidential.” He can feel the upcoming trouble. Since he was already in a bigger problem from the King and the Queen Mother, he decided to go with Aylan’s plan. Doesn’t matter what it was.

  “I met a messenger a few days ago by the guard tower. He was just returning from confirming the delivery. Instead of a formal letter, the details were in his head, and he was excited about that. His movement had caught in my eyes, and you know, I can read people’s mind,” Aylan explained.

  Bolin took a long time to answer. “I see,” he spoke at last. “And you’re going to capture the delivery, somehow.”

  “Yes. And I’d like you to join us and show your magic.”

  “Us?” Bolin narrowed his eyes. “Who else are with you?”

  “The whole village, Bolin. The King is going to kill them all, and you’ll be the last one to follow since you’re helping him to build the deadly weapon.”

  “I see, I see,” Bolin became nervous again. “I was wondering what is in his mind. I’m with you, son. Tell me what to do.”