Chapter 2

Stepping from his small quarters, down the broken and rotting wooden stairs, he turned the corner to see Gira standing at the front of the entrance.
“Come here, boy.” the brute barked rather loudly. Claudius approached Gira slowly, but confidently. He knew that Gira had better sense than to send him over to Jeskia bruised and beaten.
“You shall stay the night at Torgard’s home. But you must be at your station by sunrise.” Claudius took notice of Gira’s mention of Torgard and complete disregard for Jeskia. He knew Gira was deathly afraid of Torgard and wanted to use this against him in the worst way. But Claudius thought better of it. He nodded his head quickly and stepped past Gira, who stared down at him, arms crossed and nearly growling.

As he stepped away from the home, Claudius felt the weight of a thousand worlds lift from his shoulders, if only for an instant. For a moment, Claudius looked around, contemplating his escape from the land and from Gira. He turned his head to see Gira still standing in the same place, watching his every move. Claudius swore until the day he died he could see Gira’s eyes glow a deep, hateful red. He shook his head as if to break the trance those evil eyes had put on him and walked briskly towards the home of Jeskia and Torgard. As he walked closer to the home of Torgard and Jeskia, Claudius could hear the laughter of men and the sound of music filling the air. A smile began to creep across his face, a novel feeling, really. Claudius felt his shoulders begin to relax and his heartbeat begin to slow. He was at ease for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. As he stepped up to the door, Claudius heard the familiar voices of Jeskia and Sophian singing along with the lute and violin that were ringing out into the night air. Claudius walked through the threshold and was immediately greeted by Sophian, who ran to him in glee, hugging him tightly. “Claudius! So glad you could make it!” Jeskia excitedly exclaimed as she placed down a tray of various fruits, nuts, and meats.
            “Come, boy! Take a seat and listen to our song!” a man said his violin under his chin. Domingo Andrusa was a merchant, like Gira, but much gentler and more joyous. Domingo had come to be known for his generous nature and fair dealings with the locals. When Claudius was first sold to Gira, Domingo would allow him to perform various tasks around his bazaar in exchange for items such as clothing and food.  Domingo smiled softly and turned around to his fellow musician, another merchant that Claudius only knew as Percivus. They nodded to each other and began a a slow, somber melody. Claudius sat at the table, transfixed on the music as Jeskia stood by the table, watching Claudius, smiling. She slowly made her way to him and whispered. “That’s the song of Valak, Death’s Shadow, a mighty spirit who some believe cursed the land of Castelion, transforming its once prosperous land into the barren, scorched Earth it came to be, turning its people against each other in their lust for money and power.”

“Why did Valek curse our land?” Claudius inquired, still entranced by the music. Jeskia’s expression turned almost sours

“Legend has it that many years ago, the Lordborne gathered magic from across the known world and encased it in a beautiful, but dangerous crystal sphere. The legend says that the sphere will grant its owner the power to control life and death itself. Valek disguised himself as a local merchant to steal the sphere, but there was something that even the cunning and brutally intelligent Valek did not foresee. When the Lordborne created this sacred sphere, an incantation was recited that stated only the pure of heart could access the powers within it. Although Valek had the sphere in his possession, he could not unlock its power. In retaliation for what he believed was the ultimate humiliation, Valek cursed Castelion and its people so that none of its inhabitants remembered what beautiful, yet horrible powers the Sphere contained. This spell cast a shadow in their hearts, turning those who resided here into shallow, greedy folk. But word began to spread. Valek was known throughout the land and tales of his conniving and thievery reached Castelion. But, by then, the people had already turned their hearts away from light and good. No one dared to challenge Valek, and the Sphere was lost in his clutches for what now seems like eternity.” Jeskia paused for what felt like a lifetime, uncertain of her next words.

“Your father traveled many miles in search of Valek and the Sphere. Attempting to rid the world of Valek’s evil and the Sphere that could destroy the people he loved the most: you and your mother.”

Claudius could barely breathe. How could she know of his father? Why didn’t she tell this tale sooner? He felt a warmth on the back of his neck as he sat, eyes glazed over in disbelief.

“How do you know all of this?” Claudius barely managed to whispter, still stunned by this revelation.

“Come with me.” Jeskia replied seriously but softly.

 

Claudius stood up, his knees nearly buckling under the weight of everything he was just told. He followed Jeskia to a back room, in it a small, locked chest sat at the back wall. Jeskia grabbed a key from inside a hung cooking pot and unlocked the chest. Searching through its contents, she pulled out a small packet with papers kept inside. Untying the bundle, she carefully removed an envelope tied in red silk. She removed a small pendant from the envelope and placed it in Claudius’ hands softly. Jeskia looked in his eyes deeply.

“This was given to me by my brother….your father.”