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Prolific Writer
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The Garden State... geez, where have all the flowers gone?
Posts: 484
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The Last Apprentice
Take my story seriously and I'll return the favor. This post includes the prologue-ish thing and the first chapter. Ta.
*~*~*~*
The Last Apprentice
Part One: The Dragon that Eats the Sun
by: Suu Maxwell
And here is the dragon that eats the sun
The master of the blade
The keeper of the mountain hold
Black hair flying
Blue eyes shining
He dares not to bow his head before the great Helios
A look, a glance, and all is well.
How do you do it?
How do you hold your stance and defy the mountain lord?
Is there some secret memory behind those eyes?
This fierce dragon who eats the sun
And spits it back out, again and again
He will never be conquered.
The black-haired man tucked a strand of that same hair behind his ears. Blown by the wind, it caught on the tiny silver ring in his ear, tiny but ornate. He frowned and tugged the strand free, tucking it back again away from the slight breeze. His hair was long - a little past his waist - but some parts around his face were shorter. He sighed.
From this high up on the mountain, the land looked peaceful and serene. Every tree in the vast forest at the base of the mountain looked healthy and bright, ready to change their colors and shed their leaves. The land beyond looked fruitful but, in a way, almost virginal, as if no human soul had ever set foot there. And there, at the very edge of the horizon where the land faded into mist, he could see a gold shimmer, the only proof that the vast Southern Desert even existed.
Alas, this land was in no way peaceful. Perhaps the saddest thing was that no one could remember how it began. For three hundred years, the Southerners and Northerners had been at war. Well, there were times of peace, sometimes even as long as ten years, but then a minor dispute would set it all off again. And the Southerners had been winning for the last two hundred years.
When Zion was born.
Chapter 1 - Something There that Wasn't There Before
The Council consisted of the top twelve Dragon Masters. They were experts in all three forms of the fighting arts. They each had a partnership with a full-grown dragon. They were all at least two centuries old. Though the title of Council Leader was unofficial, it had been clear since the Council's formation that someone had to be in charge. Their current leader was a man named Helios, partner to the golden dragon Sundance.
He was only 410, but his hair was pure white, and long. His eyes were a light sky blue, though they were currently closed. He smiled as he felt something, remembered something, heard something that the other Council members did not. He sat up. The past hours had been extraordinarily boring, but now he was in for a real treat.
"Master Eclipse. What brings you to the Council?" Helios called out.
Eclipse stood in the center of the World Stone, a stone carved with the four directions and symbols for the many gods of the Northern people. He stood proud and tall, completely ignoring the protocol of bowing when addressed by Lord Helios.
"Helios, I'd like to make a request."
The Council leader stifled a grin as the others whispered at the Master's audacity. "Please do, Master Eclipse."
"I'd like permission to hunt down Zion and destroy it."
"Permission denied. Anything else?" How could Eclipse keep a straight face? Helios was grinning, but could manage to keep the laughter inside.
"Permission to hunt it down but not destroy it?"
Hm. Perhaps Eclipse was here to actually get something out of him, not just shock the Council members. Usually he would have brought his apprentice with him if it was anything important. "Eclipse, the Council has been debating about what to do with Zion since the South began using it."
"Which was just under two hundred years ago, and most of the Council is new and doesn't remember."
"Eclipse. You're hardly one hundred yourself."
"Please?"
"Fine."
"Permission to dismiss my apprentice?"
"Permission... permission denied, Master Eclipse." The Council was lost and it would take a lot of explaining. Eclipse was right - the Council members had been switching around a lot recently, as the ones who survived the latest war had died of old age. The new ones were still unsure and, it was clear, did not know Eclipse. He was around the same age as they were, and even though Eclipse was more a loner, usually they had at least heard of him.
Damn kids. Maybe he just wouldn't explain anything at all.
But that last request... What was Eclipse trying to say? The dismissing of an apprentice was a personal matter. It was not something to be brought before the Council. But who can understand a man like Eclipse? In all the years Helios had known him, he had never understood what went on behind those icy eyes. Most Northerners had light blue eyes, but Eclipse's were like ice, piercing and unfathomable.
~
Eros had started his apprenticeship late, and only Eclipse had been crazy enough to take him on. The young man could remember exactly how it went...
Eclipse had been late, of course, arriving at Corazon over three quarters of the way through the day. Most of the apprentices were gone, and as usual there were more hopeful youths than willing teachers. Eros could remember being nervous and scared, getting more and more doubtful as each apprentice walked off with his new master. He felt - out of place, a full four years older than the oldest boy there. Not to mention his eyes and hair were dark, strange among this plethora of ice children.
And suddenly a tall, thin man strode into the center of town, completely different, completely new. He was wearing his Master's robes like he was born wearing them, he had a sword strapped to his side and another on his back, and his hair was jet black. It wasn't a combination of hair and eyes and features that pointed to the South, like Eros, it seemed just a freak twist of genetics, an abnormality that set him apart. And oh, did he wear it proudly! It was long, and it clung to him, even though he had tied most of it back. He had a look of... not anger, really, more like disdain, as if he, too, were a fish out of water - but a fish that would die happy.
He glanced over the remaining apprentices once, then strode towards Eros. "Your name?"
"Eros, my lord."
"What can you do?"
"Well... I can shoot pretty well - "
"Are you any good with a sword?"
"Not really." Eros wanted to say he was the best in everything, but couldn't bring himself to lie.
"Magic?"
"I don't know, I haven't really tried."
"All right then. Do you have a bow, arrows, et cetera?"
Eros nodded.
"Show me how good a shot you are."
He took his bow, a precious Martellato, and a single arrow from the quiver. He glanced around the city square.
"What do you want me to aim for, my lord?"
"Whatever you can."
"But, my lord..." Eros cleared his throat of the nervousness. "If I don't tell you what I was aiming for beforehand, you won't know what I'm shooting for, so if I miss, you'll never know."
Suddenly the strange Master grinned. "Good one. All right then. That sign, over there." He pointed to a green healer's sign hanging in the street.
Eros took aim. It was an easy shot. He hit the sign squarely in the middle of the leaf symbol painted on it.
"That was too easy, wasn't it? Well. We'll have time enough to sort that out later." He turned and began to leave, turning back as he realized the boy was not following him. "Are you coming or not?"
What a strange way to be chosen! Eros hurriedly picked up his gear and started off after his new Master.
"Master?"
"Yes?"
"May I inquire as to your name?"
The Master gave him an indescribable look. "Eclipse."
"All right. Thank you, Master Eclipse."
~
In spring, Eros would turn eighteen, be promoted to journeyman, and start traveling. Eclipse sighed. Eros was the best apprentice he's ever had in a long while, perhaps ever. He was sweet and caring, a good cook, a passable student... a smile crossed the Master's face. Even if the lad wasn't the best with the sword, he tried hard. And, of course, there was always archery.
Eclipse had tried archery, a long time ago, during his journeymanship. He'd failed miserably. He was the best swordsman of the North, and he couldn't shoot a bow.
But Eros... Eros was as born to the bow as Eclipse was to the sword, perhaps even more. He was amazing, and far too modest about it, so Eclipse thought. He tried to teach his Master, but it was difficult, both because of Eclipse's incompetence, but also because Eros was a natural - and not the best at explaining what he knew instinctively. Eclipse understood - it was only after many years of frustrated apprentices that he had learned how to teach.
When did he start calling him Lofty? True, the name Eros didn't flow off the tounge as easily as one would have liked, but still. All of a sudden, he realized his young apprentice had aquired a nickname. Lofty. There was no sense in it, and yet it suited him. It gave him something special to call the lad, something unique.
And when did "my lord" turn to "master," and "master" to "sir," and "sir" to simply "Eclipse"? Who knows these things. Who knows the workings of this world, and the people in it? Eclipse looked to the sky and found he was left with questions and no answers, yet again. Others may look to the gods for truth, he thought, but the only answer I've had from them is silence.
~
"Lofty? You there?" Eclipse called out as he ducked through the entrance to the cave.
"Lofty?" An unfamiliar voice said, dripping with disdain. There was a man sitting in the darkness across from the stove, sharpening a stake with his knife. "Is that what you call your apprentice?" The stranger managed to sound amused and insulting at the same time. He had long, wavy golden hair and sharp blue eyes, very typically Northern. His face was thin, almost to the point of being gaunt, and his frame was lean but muscular.
"What do you want," Eclipse replied icily, searching for something to light the lamps with.
"I'm a journeyman, come to learn." His voice was oozing with sarcasm. "They said the greatest swordsman of the North lives here," he said sniffily, as if he didn't believe it.
Now that the lamp was lit, Eclipse could see the young man's journeyman outfit, surprisingly immaculate for the number of days he must have been traveling. He straightened to his full height and glared down at the seated journeyman. "You have come to the right place. I am the best." Eclipse moved to the other side of the room and lit another lamp. "And who are you?" he continued, loading it measure for measure in icy insult.
"Autolykos Tanakos, Lykos for short. Third year journeyman."
"Thrilling," Eclipse bit back sarcastically. "Where's Eros?"
"I thought you called him Lofty," Lykos said with a nasty grin.
In the time it took to blink, a length of razor-sharp steel was threatening to pierce his throat. On the other end, Eclipse was glaring fiercely at him, with all the chilliness of a mountain stream.
"I do not know who your former Masters were, nor do I particularly care. But whoever should have taught you respect was defincient in his duties. In this conclave, you will not talk to me as if I am your inferior. You will not talk to me as an equal unless you can best me in the ring. You will talk to me, as I am, your superior." Eclipse sheathed his sword, still locking glares with the blond journeyman. "And now I say to you again - where is my apprentice?"
"Haven't the foggiest," Lykos replied sullenly. "I don't even know who he is."
"Xenith?" Eclipse turned to the room's only other occupant. Xenith was a dragon, and though she was as smart as (or smarter than) any human, she was young for a dragon, and only about the size of a large dog. She lifted one black batlike wing to uncover her eyes.
"I was sleeping," she stated, clearly annoyed at the commotion.
"Where's Eros?"
"Ranges, duh. Where else?" she went back to sleep.
Eclipse chose not to pick a fight with the young dragon and swept out the door, heading out back into the forest. He knew exactly where his apprentice would be found.
There was a magical section of his extensive training yards, originally meant for swordplay. It responded to the attacker as a series of people or animals would, bringing on more targets the more of them you "killed." It was a very hard practice ground, and Eros was nowhere near that level on the sword. But for his archery skills, it was perfect.
The sword master stopped for a moment, hidden in the trees, just watching. Eros has chosen to shoot at animals today, and was aiming at an imaginary deer far off in the distance. Eclipse's trained mind automatically noted form (excellent) and style (superb), checking for flaws (none), etc. But his eyes roamed, and he found his stare catching on the young man's shoulders, and the way his hair fell into his eyes, and his perfect look of pure concentration...
Suddenly, the object of Eclipse's wandering mind turned and spotted him. "Eclipse!" he exclaimed, his face breaking into a breathtaking smile.
"Lofty." Eclipse nodded, smiling slightly.
"When did you get back?" Eros began to gather his arrows.
"Just now. I take it you haven't met Lykos?"
"Who?"
Eclipse grinned mirthlessly, recalling their exchange earlier. "A journeyman has found his way into our enforced isolation, my dear Lofty." He slung a casual arm around the young man's shoulders as they began the trek back to their cave. "Usually, a Master has 2 or 3 journeymen hanging around at any given time. However, our humble little home is, as I said, quite isolated... I do believe this is the first journeyman to visit in your whole time here!"
Eros nodded, smiling at Eclipse's fanciful speech. The Master might have been annoyed and tired before, but he was certainly in much better spirits now. "Yes, I believe it is."
"Splendid. You'll love him."
Lofty glanced up questioningly, nothing the touch of sarcasm in his master's lighthearted words. They reached the cavern, and Eclipse gently shoved his apprentice inside, following on his heels.
"Eros, Lykos. Lykos, Eros."
Lykos was sitting in the same chair, but his stake was considerably smoother and rounder. He looked up briefly, raised an eyebrow, then went back to his woodwork.
"Hello," Eros said in a small voice, unsure of what to make of this stranger. Eclipse lessened the awkwardness of the moment by pointing at the stove.
"Dinner, my cherub. The fairies of the hearth beckon."
"Certainly, Master Eclipse." Eros gave his Master a genuine bow and set about his task, smiling at Eclipse's flowery words. He certainly didn't mean a word of it, that's for sure.
My cherub.
~
Helios listened, eyes closed, as the other Dragonmasters took off on their respective dragons. As the beat of wings faded away, he sighed. Everyone else had a home to go to, a wife, a family, a house full of love. He had nothing.
Well, almost nothing. His dragon, the glorious golden Sundance, alighted on the World Stone, encompassing it's entire width.
You still have me, Sundance said, speaking straight into his mind. Am I so insignificant?
"Of course not." Helios dropped down onto the World Stone. "I was simply musing, Sundance." He stepped gracefully onto the dragon's back. "Simply lonely. Seeing Eclipse always brings back memories."
Sundance soared over the craggy mountains towards the forest, where they lived. From this vantage point, Helios could see more than just a gold shimmer in the distance - there was a wide band of red on the horizon, a glimpse of that great Desert, his long-time adversary.
He couldn't help feeling that a time of great change was coming. A time of war. But this time, it would be different.
Helios sighed. Eclipse was up to something, that's for sure. Find Zion? Helios had been hard-pressed to convince the Council that Eclipse was an old friend and should not be called in for breaking protocol. They were also confused as to why Helios had not consulted the Council with a request relating to Zion. However, Hephaestus, the only remaining member of the old Council, had been on his side. Hephaestus was familiar with the mercurial Eclipse. He had come to court to make stupid requests often, back then...
You're thinking about the past again, Sundance said, as they landed in the clearing next to Helios's cottage. Helios dismounted, then leaned his head against his dragon's scaly neck.
"Yes, I am. Four hundred years of memoires tend to weigh on the mind."
You need a journeyman, or an apprentice.
"A journeyman, perhaps. Not an apprentice."
What better way to let go of the past?
"Sundance."
Helios.
"I can't."
There was silence for second, then Sundance said, he's moved on.
"I don't think he has."
Perhaps. Sundance remained unconvinced. What about his apprentice, then?
"What?"
He was trying to tell you something.
"Then why didn't he just TELL me? I'm tired of all his puzzles."
He plays his games, that's his way.
"Well if he won't tell me, I won't listen!" Helios was shouting now. He stormed into his house, slammed the door behind him, and took a deep breath. He fell numbly into a chair, cradling his aching head in shaking hands. And now he had estranged his last companion. Just wonderful.
I'm not angry with you, Helios. I am sorry. I should not have antagonized you when I know it has been a rough day.
Helios nodded. He couldn't think anymore. He needed sleep, and lots of it. His feet dragged his body into the bedroom, and he collapsed into bed. He made a mental note to find a magical means of storing memories so they don't fill up one's mind. And with that, he slept.
*~*~*~*
A/N: whew. That's really long. I hope you want more, cuz I have a lot more of it!!
__________________
Your father may be father to all the boys, but still...
He's not the man who sired you; so marry who ye will.
Proliffick ~.^
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