5.8
“Attila the
Hun”, Merlin narrates the life of one warrior in the history annals. They were
on the way by coach drawn by horses on their journey to the so named Bastion. The
horses were winged like the fabled Pegasus, and they flying across the skies. The
coach had a top cover of a flexible design to be folded back when desired.
There was a screen of leather to intercept the water spray thrown by the heels
of the horses. The driver sits on a perch; elevated and with side boards. “He
was the ruler of the Huns from 434 to 453 when he was supposed to die from the
hands of his own wife.”
Merlin paused
and then corrected himself.
“I apologies
for that last statement.” Merlin cleared his throat. “The worlds we are in
differ from the one which you came from. Attila did not die from his wife’s
hands, but he actually disappeared one night. Neither the body nor his death
was ever verified but some had claimed he had ascended to the skies.”
“Attila had
come to the rescue of his people in their greatest needs. It was claimed that
he that held the sword of Mars given to him by the God of War, Mars. He had given
the sword to his son, Prince Csaba who ruled after his death. The Prince was
also said to inherit all his treasures, and rumors that one of it was the Ark
recovered from the vaults of the Roman. After the death of Prince Csaba, the
Huns people were without a formidable leader. The enemies of the Huns invaded
their lands. When the Huns were close to defeat the enemies taunted them with
the words, that none will come to their aid. The legend said that the skies
opened up with the sight of the stars appeared and the new army of Prince Csaba
appeared. He appeared not once but three times to save his people. Since then
the Huns had dispersed and then came the legend that some had moved to a Dacian
area called Erdely.”
“There the
Huns changed their name to that of Szekely and soon occupied the land with the
migrating Saxons. They soon build the seven cities that was to ringed the area
and be named the Seven Fortress.”
“That could be
our Bastion.” Merlin concluded.
“Father, on our
world the Seven Fortress was the lands of the Blood Prince.” Irina spoke out.
She recalled the rumors that the land there was forbidden to strangers, and
many visitors have not returned on their visits there. For those who were
there, claimed that the people of that area were cold and unfriendly. Even King
Richard troopers shunned the area, and only patrol the outer borders.”
“But not here.”
Calvin added in. “Here, Richard II had invaded that land. He had conquered the
cities, but not during the people. They rebelled during nightfall, and they are
winning but like all battle front, they are losing a lot of warriors.”
“Thank you,
Calvin.” Merlin took over the conversation. Calvin was his own apprentice, and
was planted with Ian as his spy. He knew of Ian’ treachery but he had tolerated
it until then. He was not exposed to any physical intimidation until his recent
imprisonment changed his mind. He had underestimated Ian, his own son.
“Father, what
made you think you are right this time. The Seven Fortress had been occupied
and you still believe it’s
there.” Irina
sat back on the caravan seat.
“There are recent
rumors that the Seven Fortress was not built in isolation, but it had a complex
underground network below. The fables told of the Eight Fort lies below it. It
was the mausoleum of Attila. Prince Csaba kept all his father’s treasures
there. I did tell Ian and for that he invaded the land.”
“So now the new
link to the Sword and Ark.” Kassius sounded out in sarcasm. “Merlin, I want to
believe you but you made us look like fools. You send us here to a trap, and we
ended up rescuing you.”
“No, Kassius. I
did not send you to a trap. I created a trap within a trap to imprison you. I
wanted you be caught, so that you could get in. If you had come in like the
others, you might have been killed by now.” Merlin smiled at the assassin. “I
opened up a portal for us, and invited some friends to help us. Is that
offering too little for your faith in me?”
“Master, we are there.” Calvin called out.
“And its dawn below.”
Then Calvin continued
on.
“I think we have
some more issues.” Calvin pointed to the clouds below. There was a dirigible
below, with the emblem of Richard II. It was a frigate model and it was
shelling the city below.
“I thought there
was no such ship here.” Kassius complained.
“I may be a
sorcerer, but I am not the soothsayer.” Merlin rebuked. “But I am always
prepared for any eventuality. Some of the time.”
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