The Stones of Talarana I - The Shadow of the Tyrant

by Alessandro H. Den

  Chapter II

  Wind of changes

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  The Cathedral of Rocks was an atypical in many respects: it was tens of meters below the Earth's surface and over to be built in limestone, was of enormous proportions and was virtually inaccessible to anyone not authorized. The Cathedral also had another unusual feature: it was stripped of ornaments,, however, unnecessary windows and paintings, with the exception of a single, small box, located right on the central altar. Other two were the peculiarities of construction: first there was practiced any kind of worship, secondly treasured one of the most important secrets of the planet. For centuries, the secret was kept safe, protected by a large group of guards with orders to stop anyone who was not a member of the royal family. A dozen guards renodiani was at that moment to surround the casket, illuminated by the flickering light of lanterns emerald green. The small garrison, well trained, it was virtually independent could have survived there for years but the impossibility of what necessitated the periodic partial return of the men addressed to it.

  The future charge to the protection of the box, previously chosen from among the most qualified members of the army of Renodia, underwent a rigorous selection during which they were subjected to demanding tests that put a strain on their body and their mind. Mankalar, the captain of the guard and twelve recruits were underground joints to relieve the captain Olgasth and half of his men, the garrison was composed of twenty-four men in all a captain more than every three months, along with new recruits, it replaced the other. Mankalar was not exactly what you could define a good-looking man, at least since the fifties, and had now passed since, for half the year, was held there in that place forgotten by everyone. The muscles, once vigorous, it was so inevitably collapsed with the weight of years and life completely sedentary. In that place so remote and quiet which reigned almost total was impossible not to indulge in idle consumption of wine and food. When, ten years earlier, had been intended that office, no one would ever expect the total lack of stimuli to which it was subjected instead. On the surface, he had nobody waiting for him: he was a widower for a long time and had no children. Its existence, the remaining years to live at least, would have been so entirely devoted to the work of close surveillance, made of endless guard duty, the common meals and frequent hangovers. If to this is added the obligatory lack of female companionship, it was not difficult to understand why the replacement of men there were so frequent. Mankalar sighed, turning to observe the twelve men who made up his entourage and for three months would have been under his command, many were young, probably came from the cavalry of Prince Deidar, others were mature and experienced soldiers. He scrutinized all the cards of his men, and one of them had been strangely impressed: it was a young, not very experienced on the battlefield, but that during the selection had been shown to possess extraordinary physical abilities. In addition, in a footnote, was signaled its unique physical characteristics, a unique feature for a human being have the iris totally white. Mankalar looked at him again, did not look threatening, on the contrary, it seemed pretty harmless as he sat quietly crouched in a corner of the metal cart that was carrying them to the Cathedral. She had never spoken to him on the way, it was probably a taciturn and reserved person. However it would not be easy for a person with that character live for months in a terribly small, where collegiality was an obvious choice and moments to be alone with themselves were practically nonexistent.

  A metallic clang and a weak whistle warned the captain and his men, including a soldier silent, that their underground journey had ended. They went down a few flights of stone stairs and came to a great hall, occupied by two solid oak tables and four large benches. As the environment was limited and somewhat humid, Mankalar had reached the point of considering it's almost like his second home: the real one, on the surface could be considered no less than his bare stone room and his bed no less comfortable. Also did not regret meals eaten in silence, or the sleepless nights, occupied by a thousand memories that crowded my mind. There at least the distraction was assured. The humid air and the smell of closed entered familiarly into his nostrils. He called in a loud voice Olgasth. A few moments later, the captain of the guard coming out, followed by a dozen men, crossed the wooden door at the far end of the room, access to the dormitories. The two captains shook hands warmly: in his youth had been comrades in arms, and after they had agreed to jointly responsible for monitoring the place and especially what it guarded. Olgasth was very similar to Mankalar, except for the expression perpetually ruddy painted on the face. The two troops executed mutually the renodian salute, then Olgasth and his men took their leave and then return to the surface. The other dozen men appeared soon after to get busy with the preparation of the meal, setting the table the plates and serving dishes on the plates. Mankalar dismissed the new arrivals, who after laying their belongings, took place in the tables. Mankalar sat, as usual, at the head, and after the speech at the new recruits, pounced on his plate, followed and imitated by his twenty-four men.

  The meal had ended in peaceful general hilarity, he observed the captain Mankalar satisfied. He dismissed the twelve men already sent them in the large dormitory for their turn to rest while, followed by his men, he was about to reach the actual Cathedral of the Rocks. Their footsteps echoed in the deserted halls and corridors lit by lanterns. They passed ancient stone portals, and went down a few flights of stairs, preceded by the guide Mankalar, reaching a mighty wall decorated by the bas-relief of a unicorn.

  The twelve men looked around, curious about the reason why the captain had suddenly stopped, although no one had obviously decided to question him about this. Mankalar turned to the troops. "This is the gateway to the Cathedral. It is not any door, as you can see, but it is a sort of magical protection for intruders. When we got were momentarily raised all the protective spells, but this is the only one of them impossible to eradicate. Only humans and Hesperides can cross it. This leads, in the case of direct attack remains the last bastion and the last line of defense between us and those who want to steal the secret of the Cathedral, after which it would be the turn of the weapons, the use of which I know that you are very experienced. That said, I think we can start with the crossing, "he concluded dry. The new guards seemed quite cheered by the existence of such a defense, of course, would have discouraged any evil being to get down in there. Mankalar whispered a few words and with a sweep of his arm removed the seal. A dazzling light sprang from the unicorn and the wall opened, first with a hole, and then to such an extent as to pass comfortably four men at a time. The light faded, but a sort of barrier was in a confused glimpse of the interior of the Cathedral, persisted between the two doors. Mankalar positioned himself on the right side of the door and watched the entrance of his men in ranks. Finally came the soldier with white irises: his step seemed unsure and forehead was wrinkled, as if doubtful outcome crossing. His attitude suspicious not just the captain with his eyes sought the man when the guard in question crossed the barrier. Without warning, a new bright light sprang from the door, followed by a fierce cry that intimorì the captain. Confused by the light he could see the guard desperately writhing in spasms, until she saw him even deform until it assumed grotesque contours. On the other side of the barrier eleven guards were in a panic, caught off guard by the strange occurrence. Mankalar himself began to fear for the safety of himself and his men, that in ten years he had never seen anything like it.

  Without warning, a new bright light sprang from the door, followed by a fierce cry that frightened the captain. Confused by the light he could see the guard desperately writhing in spasms, until she saw him even deform until it assumed grotesque contours. On the other side of the barrier eleven guards were in a panic, caught off guard by the strange occurrence. Mankalar himself began to fear for the safety of himself and his men, that in ten years he had never seen anything like it.