The Legend of Jay-Troi. The Immortal. Book One

By Daniel Menéndez Cuervo

The incredible life of Jay-troi a sagra warrior trying to find where he belongs in a savage world where danger can come from any place and at any time, strange alliances, long wars and deadly battles...

"The Legend of Jay-Troi. The Immortal" became best-selling fantasy novel in the Spanish-speaking world.

"The legend of Jay-Troi brings together all the ingredients of the best literature of epic adventures"

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Jun 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781547510696

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

In a clearing in the bushes, a few steps from the path to the North where the route gets closer to the wasteland of Saha, where the cursed plain whose herb, as is told, grows higher and stronger than any other land because it feeds of the thousands fallen during the bloody battle of Aglaya, there we stopped to wait for the end of the day. We fed our horses, picked up wood to start a fire and, at night, sat around the fire. Nolet, according to custom, sang some songs.

We were enjoying his voice and forgetting the long and heavy work day when in the thicket we heard some light steps. We were startled, those are not regions where a traveler can feel safe, and quickly we stood with unsheathed swords.

Who goes!, yelled Hos.

We could not distinguish anything in the dark.

Who goes!

A traveler with good will that searches for refuge next to your fire, said a tired and old voice.

Come closer to the fire so that we can see you.

From the darkness a hunched figure emerged, covered by a black and worn out cape. It moved towards us with hesitating steps, leaning on a big staff that surpassed his head.

Six fierce swords against an old walker whose only weapon is this old and tortuous staff that barely help his tiresome walk. Seems an exaggerated welcome.

These lands are dangerous, and the swords quickly escape their sheaths, Hos responded. What is it that you want?

I have told you, a place next to your fire to scare the cold of the night.

Then, sit next to our side.

And so, the stranger did. Not without difficulty, because his strength seemed scarce and his limbs, rigid and fragile like dry branches. Once he sat, he removed the hood that covered his head and we discovered his face. A yellowish sparse beard covered a great part; the rest seemed scored by infinite wrinkles.

What is your name? asked Aral.

I’ve had many and lived too many years to remember them all. What importance should one or another have? Call me as you wish.

Where do you come from?

From far away.

Where are you going?

To a faraway place for a man like me.

Strange answers are those, said Hos.

The right ones for one who has spent too much time wandering the land, that confuses the paths because none of them is headed to the place he wishes and that mistakes the days because they always end at night which opens a dawn and a journey like the one before. How can I answer to your questions if I barely distinguish yesterday from tomorrow?

If it was like that it was for sure that reason would fail, and you would not confuse us with such devious words, replied Hos. Anyway, yours have reasons that force you to answer this way. Little we care where do you come from and where do you go. Warm with our fire and shut up or speak as you wish.

Maybe our elderly guest would like to join his voice to mine while he spends the night in our company, said Nolet.

The stranger looked at him in silence.

"Or it would be best if I continue alone. Do you know, old man, the beautiful ballad of the Immortal? It goes like this:

The rider found a black figure

In the middle of the last road.

Stop, ordered the sinister shadow.

Move, replied the rider.

Foolish, howled the black figure,

You do not know who you are dealing with,

That under these black clothes

Death itself is hidden,

Death terrible and unique,

Limit and end of all created.

The rider uncovered his face

And with a firm and terrible voice said:

Before you stand Jay-Troi.

And death fled terrified."

Nolet paused and prepared for the next verse.

Shut up! the stranger ordered suddenly with rare determination.

What is the matter? asked Nolet. You do not like the song?

I have heard hundreds of times stories about Jay-Troi and all of them are far away in excess of what really happened, but none of them are more wrong than that damned ballad! answered the old man shaking his staff full of anger.

It is a beautiful song and a no less beautiful legend, old man. What truth should legends have? asked Hos.

Legends? Do you believe that Jay-Troi is not more than a legend? An invention to amuse the mob in taverns? A bed story for children? A hero to throw ghosts?

None doubts the existence of Jay-Troi said Hos. He should have been a great warrior in a faraway time of which we only remember vague details. But who could give credit today to the great deeds attributed to him. Should we believe in the existence of a man to whom death cannot reach when nobody ignores that everybody born is destined to die? I have travelled a lot and seen impossible wonders. Even though I have witnessed them and there are witnesses who would testify to have seen the same, still doubt their reality. Nevertheless, it is for sure that no immortal has left mark on this earth where we ourselves walk.

The old man, now calmed, looked at us one by one, slowly, with a strict gesture. When finished he smiled and said: If all your eyes together would have contemplated the tenth part of what mine have seen, your tongues would not be so bold. If you would lend me your ears in this dark night, you will know the true story of Jay-Troi.

Suddenly we leaned interested towards the stranger.

Tell us old man; the night is long said Hos.

BOOK ONE

1

"Jay-Troi was born during the reign of Sial Aon; somewhere in the White Peaks. Maybe some of you have visited these mountains. If that is the case you would know there is no place more inhospitable in this part of the Known Lands, only the territories beyond the deserts, those that in its time gave home to the fierce rians can compare themselves to the White Peaks. They are called the white peaks because snow never dies there. They might as well deserve other names, because they are as terrifying as the darkest and deepest of the abyss. Great is the misery in this land. Even in its deepest valleys, those where the snow finally runs from spring, the soil is barren like rock itself. There a skilled hunter could barely satisfy his hunger with some insignificant animal. This only if the hunter does not become the prey of some fierce creature. In the deepest part of the white peaks the big white wolves hide. Some say that there is not throughout the land in the Known Lands a living being that dares to defy a white wolf. Inside those beasts, demons inhabit that devastated the lands during the first days, before the arrival of men. Despite this, the sagras lived there for hundreds of years. Who knows if any of their descendants still live there? They were brave people, strong frugal men, and restless hunters, capable of existing in the ingratitude of those places.

"Wandering from one valley to another in groups of small clans that season after season went over the mountains in search of food and refuge. These were nomads that built camps there where luck smiled at them and living in them scarce moons, under wobbly leather tents, until luck had forsaken them.

"In one of those tents, Jay-Troi was born, son of Sita-Adar, lord of his clan, after a terrible snow storm, in a horrible night in which the howling of the white wolves could be heard far away from the White Peaks. However, the storm and the howling stopped shortly before his birth. There were other strange signs that accompanied his arrival.

"Since childhood he stood up between the sagras for his crazy valor, ability to climb and sharp eagle vision. He was a restless, curious boy, not willing to follow orders and prohibitions from his elders.

"Besides this, there is little to be told from the childhood of Jay-Troi first years that deserves to be told. Until arriving on his twelfth year nothing that happened is important.

"Until then, Sita-Adar, his father, decided that, Jay-Troi and his first born Hom-Adar, tagged along with him in his trip to the Plains. Some of the Sagra’s clans at spring’s arrival used to go down the mountains to the villages and cities of the kingdom of Iliath. The only purpose of these expeditions was to sell the coarsened leather during the winter. The sagras have never been appreciated by the people of the Plains, always considered savages closer to beasts than men, but their merchandise, and specially their fine leather, rarely were not welcomed.

"In that trip Sita-Adar decided to lead his clan towards the city of Iliath. From the White Peaks to Iliath there is a long and harsh road that begins in the valley of Oria and reaches the Hills of the Sun. It is a forgotten path that even then was not too traveled. The traveler that went over it reached hill Igma, the most occidental of the hills of the Sun, and from there discovered the city of Iliath.

"Never more brilliant was the so called Invincible City shown in those days. It rose, at a short distance from the Great Ocean, in front of powerful cliffs that protected it from the wrath of the sea. Around it, rich and huge prairies extended forming a green immensity only interrupted by the roads and avenues that rushed towards Iliath, the powerful and pride city of the firm and white walls. Over those walls standing the nine Watch Towers. Any visitor would judge them huge and they were barely nothing compared with the five endless Exterior Towers from the Royal Palace. Rising from the center of the city, around the palace and grew dominated by the Grand Central Column, that rose majestic until touching the sky. And all of this shone under the sun as if the city itself was carved in a huge marble rock.

"This must have been seen by Jay-Troi from the top of Igma hill before descending towards the city, fascinated by a wonder that he could not have ever imagined possible, him that had only known the terrible mountains that served as home for the sagras...

What are those sharpened peaks? asked Jay-Troi to his father.

You are wrong, son, those there, are not the peaks of any mountain. They are the towers from the Royal Palace. They are manmade.

What’s their use?

They lack any real use. They are not more than men creations that wish that everybody envies their greatness.

Jay-Troi looked at his father with a confused gesture.

The bigger the towers are, bigger is the value of the men that occupy them, explained Sita-Adar.

Even if they are bad hunters?

Sita-Adar assent.

How strange!

And turning to his brother, Jay-Troi said: I am sure that you would not be able to climb one of those towers.

Not me or anyone that does not have wings answered Hom-Adar.

I could do it, stated Jay-Troi provoking laughter from his older brother.

You are stupid, he said.

The sagras descended on the way to Iliath and joined a crowd that was trying to get into the city. They were people from different places of the Known Lands. Some seeking refuge or better luck and mostly to trade merchandise and do business. The sagras crossed the East Door and walked the First Path; under the shadow of dozens of trees located side by side of the road with tied branches forming a beautiful dome of green leaves. After a short time, they arrived at Heroes Square. That was the convened place for everyone to exchange their wealth. There everything happened within great agitation: the yelling of the ones selling their goods, the rushed dialogs between sellers and buyers and the come and go of merchants and the busybodies. In the middle of such confusion, while Sita-Adar and his men were trying to find buyers for their leather, Jay-Troi and his brother Hom-Adar got lost.

When they discovered they were far away from their own, surrounded by strangers in endless movement, Hom-Adar got scared:

We must find them, he told Jay-Troi

Before let’s go to the towers.

No, let’s find our father and the others.

Oh, Hom-Adar, find our father! You always speak like a scared girl. What are you afraid of? What could happen, a White Wolf runs into our path? You do not believe capable to find the way back?

Hom-Adar looked at his brother with anger. Frequently Jay-Troi, despite being two years younger, probed to be more adventurous than his brother, which irritated him evidently.

Let’s go, he said.

With a resolved pace they set off to the walls of the palace. They used to find orientation in the mountains in an open sky, they were several times confused in the tight and twisted streets surrounding the palace. So, they were forced to rectify the road several times and after some time they thought they did, they reached the walls that guarded the palace. They found themselves in front of a long wall of about the height of five men, built with hand carved stones and set with such perfection that the walls seemed polished like the blade of a good sword.

We cannot get closer to those towers, said Hom-Adar.

What is this wall hiding? asked Jay-Troi.

I imagine something that cannot be seen.

Jay-Troi observed greedy the finishing of the wall.

Nothing stops us from climbing.

You are stupid, Jay-Troi. Can’t you see this wall, so smooth like a frozen lake? You are telling me that you can climb it?

Without wasting time in pronouncing a word, Jay-Troi placed his hands on the wall and started climbing. Ascending with slow and heavy progress, because even for his little and skilled fingers it was difficult to find where to find support on that wall. When he reached the top, somehow fatigued and a hundred times prouder, he turned to his brother who was watching him with admiration.

I have made it! he claimed. Who is stupid now?

What do you see in the other side? asked Hom-Adar.

Trees, responded Jay-Troi without a doubt confused with the perspective that this powerful wall would be built with the purpose of guarding something so vulgar.

Just trees?

Yes... and flowers...

What it was shown before Jay-Troi, was Ilsia’s Garden, a huge orchard where it was said that every plant, tree, and flower of every corner of the Known Lands grew. And while Jay-Troi scrutinized that strange vegetation, reflecting in his face the surprise that was caused that variety of forms and colors, maybe trying to find a powerful reason to justify all of that with such wall, he glimpsed a white figure sliding between the trees.

Someone there, said Jay-Troi

Come back then, it will call the guards! yelled Hom-Adar from the base of the wall.

It is gone.

Get down before it returns.

Jay-Troi made a move to start the descent towards his brother. But he stopped and looked at the garden again.

Come down! ordered Hom-Adar.

No, I want to see what hides on those trees.

Are you mad! Do not be stubborn. You are going to get in serious trouble.

I will be right back. Wait for me there.

How would you get out once you are down there?

If I climbed from this side, I might as well climb from the other side in the same way, said Jay-Troi and disappear from his brother’s sight.

2

Without any difficulty he descended to the gardens using the branches of a tree next to the wall. With safe steps, he headed where he had seen the elusive white figure. He realized soon that it would be impossible to find it, the vegetation was so thick there was no way to find direction in that garden. There was barely space to advance without moving leaves and branches that emerged from those fabulous logs. Then, the bold kid, decided to go back in his steps. In that same moment that he turned to go back, he heard a female voice behind him: What are you doing here?

He turned surprised and discovered a girl, she could not have been older tan him. Dressed up with delicate and elegant white clothes watching him with an arrogant and angry gesture, not hiding the confusion that caused the presence of the young intruder with blonde hair and grey eyes.

Jay-Troi looked at her amazed, never has he seen nothing that could compare that creature and maybe no one had glimpsed anything comparable to her. In those days her golden hair and her impenetrable blue eyes had inspired many chants and poems, and more would be motivated in the following years.

I saw you from the top of the wall, said Jay-Troi.

You should not be in this place. No one is allowed in here. Who are you? Where do you come from?

I am Jay-Troi and I come from the White Peaks, answered him full of pride. What is your name?

Those manners! Not even dressed in the best clothes of the King would you deceive nobody, anyone would know immediately that you are a sagra.

And who would I want to deceive? I am a sagra, yes, and my father is Sita-Adar, lord of the Adar clan. Why would I be ashamed of it?

Because only a savage sagra would dare enter into the Gardens of Ilsia and address in such way to the princess.

So, you are the princess?

I am princess Aglaya, daughter of Sial Aon, king of Iliath, lord of everything around you, answered with anger. That you were raised as an ignorant cannot justify you allowing you to insult me in such manner!

No insult has come out of my mouth.

Your arrogance is infinite! You dare enter this forbidden place and dare address me as if I was a market merchant, not showing the respect you or any other men owe me.

I have been taught to respect my elders. You are not more than a child.

I am the Princess...

Yes, I remember, princess Aglaya, daughter of who knows who.

My father is the king!

And my father is Sita-Adar, lord of my clan! I have told you. And this is the deal that I give girls whether they are princesses or not. That, to tell the truth, are so stupid here and in the mountains, when they are covered in bear skin or wear clothes as beautiful as yours and they call themselves Princesses.

Insolent! I should call the guards.

If you call them, before they even make a move in this direction, I would be at the top of this wall and they could never catch me.

They looked themselves in silence for a moment. She was furious because of the insolence of that kid, and at the same time, surprised at what seemed unimaginable courage. He drew a fun and defiant gesture in his face. He seemed delighted with the growing anger in the princess.

You are not that fast, said Aglaya.

Bet on it.

You should not be so confident. It is not a game to enter these gardens. You are inside the palace, there are guards everywhere. One scream from me and they will come before you can move, and they will kill you.

Jay-Troi looked at the princess, scared. In that moment he realized that he did not know what the vegetation hid. In any moment a dozen men could appear that would catch him not giving him time to scape.

Why have you not screamed yet? asked Jay-Troi conquering his fear.

What would I fear from you to call the Guard? You are not more than a rude intruder. What harm could you cause me?

I have never intended to harm you.

Why did you enter this garden?

Because... I do not know... It seemed fun.

Then, you are senseless by risking your life for nothing.

In that moment Jay-Troi turned frightened. Behind him agitated steps were heard.

Who is there! yelled a soldier that was hard to distinguish in the vegetation.

The boy ran so fast in the opposite direction. He did not realize that in that way he was getting far from the walls and into the garden. Behind him there were screams.

An intruder, get him!

At least four guards were chasing him. Luckily, those powerful men were all big size, did not seemed capable of catching the little and agile sagra. Much lighter and skilled than them, he moved easily in the vegetation. Like that, little by little Jay-Troi managed to put some distance between his pursuers. He even smiled, maybe amused before such adventure, and convinced that before they could catch him, he would have reached the wall with enough advantage to climb it and escape. Then he went around an oak with a thick log, abundant branches and leaned towards the west. That is where the vegetation ended. He had reached the small patio of the north of the palace used by the guards to access the garden. In front of him there was a dozen soldiers.

What is this strange prey that has fallen into our hands? asked the captain of the guard without any surprise.

Before Jay-Troi could have time to turn around, behind him the tired pursuers appeared.

We found him in the garden trying to attack the princess! yelled one of them.

The princess! Damn fools, I should rip your skins in shreds! growled the captain. How can a vulgar brat come into the garden! Don’t your hollow heads have eyes? Catch him right now!

Surrounded by guards, Jay-Troi had no choice to let them catch him. Two of them grabbed him by the arms and took him to the center of the patio, just in front of the captain of the guards. He was a big man, dark beard, and a cruel and arrogant aspect. His presence aroused evident fear amongst the guards. He looked at the prisoner with a lot of scorn and said:

What do we have here? What king of pig is this? I could swear it is a cursed sagra. How could this dirty vermin appear in the Garden of Ilsia? Anyone could give a reason for this unexpected and unfortunate event?

The guards, with their heads down, kept in silence.

Who found him! roared the captain.

We heard some voices in the section of the garden next to the wall, babbled one of the guards. We got closer and discovered this kid with the princess.

Next to princess Aglaya! What has this bastard done to the princess!

I have done nothing to her replied Jay-Troi.

The captain looked at the boy astonished that he dared to answer him.

So, the dog speaks said the captain as he leaned towards the kid." Do not ever do that again unless I have ordered you to do it.

With a powerful punch in the middle of the face of the kid, he knocked him to the ground.

What did he do to the princess? asked the captain to the guards.

Nothing, answered the guard. We arrived fast enough to stop something from happening.

Nothing from happening... Do you think that it is nothing that an animal like this enters the palace gardens without any of you stopping it? Do you think it is nothing that he sets his cursed eyes in the daughter of our sovereign? Why is it that any of the guards was at the necessary distance to avoid this from happening?

You know that she hates our presence, she avoids us, hides and makes us stay away where she can’t see or hear us.

Spoiled brat! whispered the captain to himself. Explain to me what strange prodigy has served this insignificant pig to penetrate this place.

We don’t know, we assumed he could have climbed the wall that surrounds the gardens.

What kind of demon is he that he can climb those smooth walls as sharp as the edge of my sword! Does he still live? the captain looked at the lying body of Jay-Troi and delivered a violent kick. The boy contracted and moaned weakly.

Yes, he lives, he continued. It takes more than a punch to end the life of one of these mountain dogs. Look, even their offspring are hard as rock itself. All of you are witnesses of the punch I have delivered; I didn’t hold back, I could have killed any of you with such a punch. And there you have it, still breathing. Some day we should decide to exterminate this sagra pigs, or, at least, forbid them to pass through the lands of the kingdom of Iliath. They are uncivilized people, unpleasant and dangerous. Bah! Wake him up, tie him up to the post and whip him to death.

Captain, he is just a kid, replied one of the guards.

Fool! Are you willing to suffer your punishment? Yes, it’s just a kid and he could have killed the princess! Do you think that the King would ask his age before ripping your skin with his bare hands, and then do the same thing with the ones that allowed this vermin to come near his daughter? Do as you are told immediately.

A soldier got close to Jay-Troi carrying a bucket with water and emptied it in his face. The boy stunned tried to get up. Two of the guards grabbed him by the arms and took him to a wood pole standing in a corner of the patio. There he was tied up and his back stripped naked.

What are you going to do to me? asked Jay-Troi

We are going to teach you some manners, laughed the captain.

Let me go! yelled Jay-Troi.

Lash him, ordered the captain without any of his men moving. What is it? You fear a tied little boy, or is it that your hearts don’t have enough nerve to administrate the punishment the prisoner deserves?

None of the guards answered.

Cowards! Give me the whip, ordered the captain.

Without any hesitation, he approached the boy and with huge cruelty, whipped Jay-Troi in the back. Before the astonishment of all who contemplated the punishment, the kid makes no noise. That made the captain even angrier, who whipped again even harder. He did not achieve his goal, two bloody marks appeared in the boy’s skin, and not one small sound came from his mouth.

What kind of demon are you, damn pig! yelled the captain out of his mind and at the same time with unmeasurable anger whipped the boy. He even did it seven times without making him scream. He stopped with heavy breathing and astonished, being unable to give credit to the invisible resistance of the sagra.

I will tear off every piece of flesh! yelled the captain lifting the whip to continue with the punishment.

Stop, Falan, ordered a voice.

Princess Aglaya arrived at the patio. Moved towards the pole, arrogant and serene like if she was the owner of the whole kingdom and not the girl that a few moments ago was arguing with Jay-Troi. Falan, the captain, looked at her surprised, still with the whip hanging high.

My lady, he babbled.

Have you not heard my command?

Yes, yes, my lady, of course I have.

Put the whip down and the let the boy go.

I am sorry to tell that it is my obligation to say it will not happen, my lady. He is an intruder, and you know that anyone that dares to breach these walls of the palace must pay with death. And even so in this case, this damn mangy dog has tried to inflict you harm.

He has caused me no harm, nor has he tried. Let him go immediately.

Do not hesitate his intentions, highness. He would have hurt you, fortunately the royal guards arrived on time, if not...

On time you say? The arrival of your men was delayed long enough for him to have killed me at least a dozen times. I will not repeat it, let him go.

I can’t do that, highness.

In such case, would you rather the King knows about your incompetence? Would you like to tell him how the intruder got to me in the garden and stayed there long enough without any of the guards from the palace showed up? If he deserves death, I am certain that some of you will have to join him in this punishment.

Let him go, ordered Falan reluctantly.

They untied Jay-Troi and him having no strength to keep standing, fell in the ground. He was lying, face down, showing his back turned into an unpleasant reddish pulp.

Aglaya got closer to him and with an evident pity gesture she said:

Ask him where his peers are.

One guard kneeled next to the boy’s body, he talked to him and he answered with a short whisper that no one could hear.

He says they are in the market. He must be talking about Heroes Plaza.

Take him to them, ordered Aglaya.

My lady, he won’t survive.

Aglaya looked at the boy with profound sadness and said:

Take him anyway. At least to die amongst his kin.

Without saying another word, the princess retired after giving the captain of the guard a look full of hatred.

Pick this bastard pig up and throw him in Heroes Plaza, said Falan. Maybe he is good enough to serve as food for the dogs."

Two guards lifted Jay-Troi with the intention to stand him up, but he could not stand on his feet. Held by the two men and in an impossible effort due to his condition he was, he yelled: "Falan, my name is Jay-Troi, remember it because I will come back to