“We understand. We thank you for your visit and your help. If ever we can be of service to you, you’ve but to let us know.” The duke took off his crest ring. “Take this ring. If ever you need us, send us this ring and let us know where and when.”
Saxthor accepted the ring and returned to his apartment. When he arrived, he said goodnight to Tournak, who immediately fell back into a sound sleep.
The next morning Saxthor and Tournak joined the duke in his quarters on the next floor up. There they had a lavish meal and more compliments and expressions of appreciation. Following breakfast, the duke personally saw the men off from the Hadorhof’s massive gate.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace.”
“Should you have any problems with anyone in the city, in all of Hador, just show them the ring,” the duke said. He waved still as they disappeared into the plaza traffic.
“What’s the ring about?” Tournak asked. “I see you have another one. The dragon ring not enough power for you?”
“The duke gave me this ring in appreciation for some help last night,” Saxthor replied.
“Why do I always get half the story?”
They made their way through the city to the wizard’s shop on Okken Street, where a mob surrounded Astorax, touching, feeling, and asking endless questions. Ever the opportunist, Persnella was selling the shop out to the walls. Hendrel was at the door to control the curious and looked over to see Tournak and Saxthor coming toward the shop. All the members of the old troupe now reunited, they greeted each other with hugs.
Then Saxthor and Astorax looked at each other for a second, neither seeming to know what to say. Astorax didn’t care about conventions; he stepped forward and hugged the prince, as well.
“You stood up for me in front of the duke, when other men have maligned me. You saved my life when you knew nothing about me. It says a lot for your faith in Hendrel. I think we three will be bound for life by the relationship formed in those moments in the audience hall.”
Saxthor was speechless and could only return the hug.
“He’s right, you know, you saved us from a terrible ordeal back there,” Hendrel said.
“Have you had something to eat?” Persnella asked, blowing frazzled hair back from her face. “We still have some food on the table if you’re hungry.”
“I thought you sold that, too,” Hendrel said and got a frown for it.
“Yes, thank you. We ate at the Hadorhof,” Saxthor said, turning to the others. Persnella seemed to have warmed up to the invading flock of guests. “It’s time we got on the road. Tournak, did you get enough supplies, or do we need to buy something else for the journey?”
“I think we have everything. I’ll go and check. Bodrin, you and Tonelia come help me pack.”
“We thank you for your kind hospitality, madam,” Saxthor said to Persnella, who now seemed sad to see them leave. She dried a tear.
“I find I like having all my husband’s crazy friends around. Just as I get used to you, you save his life, and all run off.” After a quick, fragile smile, she looked Saxthor in the eye and added, “I can’t thank you enough for saving my Hendrel’s life. I’ll always be grateful to you for that.” She held his hand a moment, squeezed it, then turned back into the shop. The others prepared to move on.
“Hendrel, perhaps you should stay here and mind your store,” Saxthor said. “Your wife has been too long without you, and it’s left her frightened, I think.”
“She understands. I’ve left her with enough money to keep her comfortable for a very long time. The duke’s messenger came first thing this morning and delivered it. I don’t know what you said to him, but it sure made him generous. Besides, Astorax and I’ve discussed it, and we’ve decided that where you’re going, you’re going to need friends.”
“I have nowhere to go in particular,” Astorax said. “Things seem to go better when I’m with you people … well, not always, I mean that dungeon, well …”
“Okay, enough of that now,” Hendrel said. He slapped Astorax on the back and turned him into the shop, much to the disappointment of the herd of children swarming outside. The travelers went inside and packed their gear.
“This pack is too heavy,” Tonelia said. She tried to heft it from the left then the right but dramatized the strain.
“You have the two new outfits,” Bodrin said.
She stopped fussing and bit her lip. “That does lighten the load considerably.”
“We have warmer clothing for the next leg of our journey,” Tournak said, stepping to the door. “There’re plenty of dried foodstuffs packed in the haversacks and some fresh fruits for the first day’s trek. I even bought new arrows for my bow, and we’ve checked everything twice to be sure we’re not missing anything.”
“It’s midmorning, and we need to go, my friends,” Saxthor said. The group put on their knapsacks, took their staffs, and loaded, made for the door.
“Which way, Saxthor?” Bodrin asked.
“We go to the Hadorhof.”
“I never did get to see the castilyernov up close. Is it as impressive as it appears from the outside?”
“I think you’ll find it so,” Tournak said.
Hendrel and Astorax looked at each other. Their less favorable impression showed. They said nothing, knowing they were secure under Saxthor’s protection. Hendrel said goodbye to his wife, and the group moved out behind Saxthor.
When they arrived at the Hadorhof, Saxthor showed the duke’s ring. The guards immediately admitted them and took them to the central audience chamber. Informed of their arrival, the duke came to assist them.
“How may we help you, Prince Saxthor?” the duke asked, again shaking Saxthor’s hand.
Saxthor whispered to the duke, who nodded his agreement. “We’ve already sent the captain on an errand this morning, getting him out of the fortress for the day,” the duke said in Saxthor’s ear.
“Remain in the reception hall,” the duke told his guards. “Saxthor, you and your companions come with me.” He led the travelers back behind the throne and down the spiral staircase to the dungeon. Having the primary key to the secret staircase, he opened the door and led the men down to the sally port doorway.
“Remember to keep close to the rock face for a mile so the tower guards don’t see you. Good-bye, and good luck!” The duke opened the door and let the travelers out onto Dreddrac’s plain beyond.
With that, Duke Jedrac closed the door, and Saxthor heard him turn the lock.
The End
Neuyokkasinian Dictionary
Augusteros (a gus ter’ Os)
Prince Consort and husband of Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin of Neuyokkasin; also name of Crown Prince; brother of Saxthor Claremendak
Ahkenspec (ah’ ken spek)
King of Memtahhamin the remnant of forest elves now isolated and hidden in the western hills above the Morass Desert
Akkin (ah’ kin)
River flowing from Edros Swamps of southern Dreaddrac; Border between Prertsden and Heggolstockin
Aleman (Al’ man) Memlatec’s housekeeper
Armon (R’ mon)
Sail maker and merchant in Tixumemnese; Memlatec’s agent to aid the travelers
Astorax (as’ tor ax)
Creature half man half deer with deer’s horns.
Battara (Ba Tar’ a) Saxthor’s dog (as a boy in the palace)
Betsoya (Bet soy’ a)
Mother of Bodrin Vicksnak; Countess Vickinsoff
Bodrin (Bod’ rin)
Bodrin Vicksnak; Closest friend and companion of Prince Saxthor
Bordabrundese (Bor’ da brun’ dEs)
King Bordabrundese was king of the sandhill dwarves of Hador.
Botahar (BO’ tah har)
Primary inland commercial center of Sengenwha just north of Lake Pundar
Calamidese (Cal am’ a dEs)
King Calamidese VII, king of Sengenwha.
Chatra (Cha’ tra)
Prime minister of a
sovereign court
Calimon (Cal’ i mon)
Family name of dynasty succeeding first dynasty of Neuyokkasin; Augusteros Calimon, Count de Chatronier and Neuyokkasinian Prince Consort; father of Prince Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier
Castilyernov (Cas’ til yer nov)
Castle or fortress
Chatronier (Sha’ tron yA)
Title of Neuyokkasinian prince consort Augusteros Calimon
Claremendak (Clair rem’ n dak)
Middle name of Prince Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier
Dreaddrac (Dred’ drac)
Kingdom of the Evil One at the northern point of the peninsular of northern Powteros continent
Earwig (Ear’ wig)
Upstart, classless woman who sold her soul to the Evil One through witchcraft to overthrow the ruling family of Neuyokkasin. Married to Minnabec III, deposed last ruler of first dynasty of Neuyokkasin Irkin Megla, formal name
Earwighof (Ear’ wig hof)
Fortress home of Earwig and Minnabec III outside of Konnotan
Edros (ed’ rOs)
Swamps of southern Dreaddrac between east and west mountains on border of southern Dreaddrac
Eleatsubetsvyertsin (el eat’ soo bets vyert’ sin)
Eleatsubetsvyertsin Calimon de Chatronier, Queen of Neuyokkasin, daughter of Minnabec II, wife of Augusteros Calimon, and mother of Prince Saxthor
Favriana (Fav rea ah’ n a)
Fortress in Talok-Lemnos guarding southern point of Lake Pundar at source of River Nhy
Feldrik (Fel’ drik)
Fortress in Heggolstockin at the mouth of the Akkin River that guarded against incursions from Dreaddrac and Prertsten.
Fortresska (For tres’ ka)
Castilyernov at mouth of River Nhy and guarding harbor at Olnak in western Neuyokkasin
Girdane (Gir’ dAne)
Commercial city of western Graushdem
Graushdem (Graush’ dem)
Principality between Hador and Talok-Lemnos
Graushdemheimer (Graush’ dem hI mer)
Capital of Graushdem
Grekenbach (Grek’ en bok)
Kings of Graushdem
Habbernee (Hob ber’ nE)
Former friend of Saxthor at court school; ner-do-well who sought to recover fortune in Highback Mountains of Tixos
Hador (HA’ dor)
Dukedom between Graushdem and Dreaddrac
Heedra (HE’ dra)
Neuyokkasinian commercial center at intersection of Rivers Nhy and Upper Nhy. Centrally located on the Vos Plain
Heggolstockin (Heg’ Ol stock in)
Principality at center of the northern peninsula of continent of Powteros
Helshia (Hel’ sha)
Island created by Memlatec off western coast of Tixos as hidden refuge for Prince Saxthor
Hendrel of Hador (Hen’ drel)
Sorcerer from Hador expelled when the dark presence moved in there.
Highback Mountains (HI’ back)
Three mountains standing well above surrounding hills in remote northern-most Tixos
Hoya (Hoi’ ya)
Northwestern most city of Talok-Lemnos on the Pundar River at border with Graushdem and Sengenwha
Hyemka (Hyem’ ka)
Commercial Neuyokkasinian city on River Nhy on the western edge of the Vos Plain
Icktak (ic’ tak)
Greeter elf from Talok-Tak Forest elf kingdom
Irkin (Irk’ n)
Upstart witch-wife of Minnabec III of Neuyokkasin, from city of Wodin. Usually called Earwig
Jedrac (Jed’ rac)
Heggolstockin general, who founded Hador as its first duke at the end of the Wizard Wars. Carved out his dukedom from Heggolstockin and declared his independence from Graushdem.
Keyock (KE’ ah k)
Pigeon king
Kious (KI’ us) King of Tixos
Kieechee (KI E’ chE) Queen of Pigeons
Konnotan (Kon’ oh tan)
Capital of Kingdom of Neuyokkasin
Lemnos (Lem’ nOs)
Name of region in southern half, and lake in north of Talok-Lemnos
Lyttia (Lit’ tE ah)
Daughter of Henri Tulak, king of Talok-Lemnos; wife of King Minnabec II; Queen of Neuyokkasin, also last queen of Talok-Lemnos before absorption into Neuyokkasin
Magwan (Mah’ gwan)
Evil Dragon in time of the Third Wizard War; mother of Dragon Magnosious; Mate to Melnosious
Magnosious (Mag nO’ shus)
Dragon conjured from egg by Earwig to destroy ruling family of Neuyokkasin; Son of Magwan and Melnosious
Medrax (Med’ rax)
Creature conjured by a sorcerer from an animal that combines both animal and man. The creature does the bidding of the sorcerer. Invariably evil.
Melnosious (Mel nO’ shus)
Dragon father of Magnosious from days of Third Wizard War
Memlatec (Mem’ la tec)
Ancient wizard at the Neuyokkasinian court; mentor to Saxthor
Memtahhamin (Mem’ tah hah’ min)
Kingdom of forest elves ruled by Ahkenspec in a forest on the between Lake Pundar and the Morass Mesas
Mendentak (Men’ den tak)
King of Talok-Tak forest elves (all members’ names end in ‘tak) Son of late King Peldentak and Queen Merritak
Merritak (Mer’ i tak)
Dowager Queen of Talok-Tak forest elves, widow of King Peldentak, mother of King Mendentak
Minnabec (Min’ ah bec)
Kings of Neuyokkasin
Munattahensenhov (Mun ah ta’ hen sen hov)
Central mountain and highest peak of the Ice Mountains in Dreaddrac
Neuyokkasin (Nua yok’ ka sin)
Kingdom at the neck of the Powterosian peninsular encompassing the River Nhy and the Vos Plain. Ruled by Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin; home of Saxthor Claremendak Calimon
Nhy (NI)
Major river of the Powterosian peninsular and heart of the Kingdom of Neuyokkasin. Flows to the western sea at the port of Olnak
Nonee (NO’ nE)
Crown Princess of Neuyokkasin, sister of Saxthor, daughter of Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and Prince Consort Augusteros
Occintoc (oc’ n toc )
Ancient empire covering most of the continent before the Wizard Wars. It collapsed in the first Wizard War, leaving the continent to fragment into the early kingdoms.
Olnak (Ol’ nak)
Second largest Neuyokkasinian city; Port for trading with Tixos and Harbor at mouth of the River Nhy
Orc (Orc)
Short, muscled, stupid foot soldiers bred by the Evil One to fight his enemies in battle as armies.
Ormadese (or’ ma dEs)
King Ormadese, King of the Hadorian Mountain Dwarves.
Ornsmak (Orn’ smak)
Communications device created by magic with flexible form, able to travel through air, water or on earth with encoded message. Can only be recrystalized and played by addressee.
Pakwic (Pak’ wic)
Clerk to Merchant of Tixumemnese working for Memlatec
Persnella (Per Snel’ la)
Wife of Hendrel the wizard and mother of Meklin and Hendrel jr.
Pindradese (Pin’ dra dEs)
Pindradese II, Prince of Prertsten
Powteros (Pow’ ter’ Os)
Continent of the story; also largest empire and neighboring state to the south of Neuyokkasin; sometimes, the continent was referred to as Powteros as well.
Prertsden (Prerts’ den)
Principality on western tip of peninsular, south of Dreaddrac, and bordering Heggolstockin and Sengenwha on it south. Aligned with evil of Dreaddrac against the kingdoms of the southern peninsular.
Pundar (Pun’ dar)
River and lake of central peninsular serving as border to numerous states.
Radrac (Rad’ rac)
Enormous wharf rat pet of Witch Earwig; eaten by Magnosious
Saxthor (Sax’ tho
r)
Second (spare) son of Neuyokkasinian Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and hero in the story. Full name Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier
Sekkarian (Se kar’ E an)
Neuyokkasinian general sent to retake Castilyernov Hoyahof from the Dark Lord’s chatra agent
Sekcmet (Sek’ met)
Sekcmet Palace, palace of Kings of Sengenwha in Sengenwhapolis
Sengenwha (Sen’ jen wha)
Kingdom on west side of peninsular facing Tixos
Sengenwhapolis (Sen’ jen wha)
Another name for the capital of the Kingdom of Sengenwha
Socockensmek (SO cok’ en smek)
General of Neuyokkasin served under Minnabec I at the end of Wizard Wars, and Minnabec II. Retired to Tixos and watched for rise of Dark Lord’s forces. Mentor to Saxthor
Sorblade (Sor’ blAd)
Wizard forged magical sword with spell runes that glow in the presence of evil
Tackenbeck (Tock’ en beck)
Plant grown best in the soils and conditions found in eastern Neuyokkasin. Basis of agricultural wealth of the state and best trading product with other nations
Talok (TA’ lok)
Northern region of Talok-Lemnos and north-western lake on the border.
Talok-Lemnos (TA’ lok lem’ nos)
Former kingdom assimilated into Neuyokkasin after death of King Tulak as daughter, Lyttia inherited, and she became queen of Neuyokkasin
Tashia (TA’ sha)
Small city east of Hoya whose army once rescued the Prince of Hoya. Tashian soldiers always supplied the palace guards for the Castilyernov Hoyahof
Tixis (TIk’ sis)
Major River of southern Tixos
Tixos (TIk’ sOs)
Island born from the Wizard Wars to the west of the Powterosian Peninsular. Major trading partner of Neuyokkasin, home of the Highback Mountains. Ruled by King Kious
Tixumemnese (TIx’ U mem nEs)
Capital and port of Tixos
Tonelia (TOn El’ ya)
Tonelia Tezentok; Daughter of dungeon keeper of Castilyernov Hoyahof
Tossledorn (Tosl’ dorn)
Tossledorn Fortress, Graushdem fortress on the Southeastern border with Talok-Lemnos. Built by King Grekenbach III to defend against possible invasion from Neuyokkasin after Queen Lyttia took the throne of Talok-Lemnos from her brother.
Tournak (Tour’ nak)
Tournak Delphendor; Steward to the house of Memlatec, mentor and protector of Saxthor and Bodrin during their flight to Helshia, assistant wizard to Memlatec
The Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Series: Books 1-3 Box Set High, Epic Fantasy on a Grand Dragon Scale! Kindle Edition Page 61