The Children of Zion

By D.R Hurley

The traitor, Leos, must die!

The people of Cowldonia demand vengeance for his involvement with the Prince's kidnapping. A charge he strongly denies, but cannot prove since his mind has been completely erased.

Faced with certain death, Leos has no choice but to go on the run. Embarking on a desperate struggle to clear his name and discover the true whereabouts of the missing Prince.

But as visions of the past begin to emerge, Leos starts to fear he may not be as innocent as he once thought...

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.R Hurley
• Release date: Aug 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005189785

D.R Hurley

A former reconnaissance soldier who served in the 2003 Iraq war, Mr Hurley has since left the military to become a Fire Fighter in Cheshire, UK. The idea for his novel, ‘The Children of Zion’, was inspired by his time overseas in the Kuwait Desert and later Iraq.His past times include exploring the British countryside with his family, keeping fit and creating fine Indian cuisine with an unhealthy level of heat.He lives in North Wales with his wife and three children, their pet cat, Fraggle and two rabbits, Miss Sugar Sprinkles the 2nd and Lollipop.

Book preview

The Children of Zion

By D.R. Hurley

For Ali

D.R. Hurley

One

Drip,

Drip,

Darkness!

Drip,

Drip,

Fear!

Drip,

Drip,

We feel them smother you. Consume you.

Drip,

Drip,

Lost to us now as you were before.

Drip,

Drip,

But no more.

Drip,

Drip,

Now is the time to stand free from fear.

Drip,

Drip,

Break out of its icy shackles and rise up from the darkness.

Drip,

Drip,

Draw strength from within.

Drip,

Stand reborn.

Drip,

You are not alone, Father.

Drip,

Drip,

‘Hey, I wouldn’t lie in the water if I were you!’

Drip,

Your children are here for you.

Drip,

Drip,

‘Didn’t you hear me? I said get out of the water, now. You might catch something!’

Drip,

Drip,

We are coming...

Drop!

With a sound echoing that of a drowning man taking his first breath from ocean’s deep, a figure came screaming into reality only to find he was sat amidst a sea of eternal darkness.

The echo of a dream slipped quickly from his mind as the man looked hungrily upon the vast blanket of shadow spread out before him with mounting fear.

Breath heaving. Eyes darting. He searched frantically amongst the eerie gloom to find anything that might bring some form of recognition flooding back to his bewildered conscious. But there was nothing to be seen within the roving darkness.

Puffs of warm vapour escaped cracked lips, steaming his surroundings. A steady rhythm of pulsing breath which went unnoticed to his blinded vision.

Where am I? he thought desperately. How did I get here?

His thumping heart beat harder against his chest as a wave of panic suddenly set in, intensifying the pain in his throbbing head.

Dark eyes continued to scour aimlessly throughout the void, but to no avail. He was confused, scared, and looked within for answers.

Nothing!

The man tried again to recall something from the past, but found his mind to be as blank as the tomb to which he was confined. His aching conscious was nothing but a sea of empty waves, crashing violently against his skull.

What happened to me? he thought, noticing the tattered remains of sodden clothes wrapped around numb skin.

His adjusting eyes were soon able to make out the shiny body of water in which he lay. He watched helplessly as the water lapped gently against his feet. Its malign touch was deathly cold, despite its shallowness, and caused him to shudder.

For a while he sat frozen amongst the shadows, paralysed by a fear which sparked dozens of questions within his troubled mind. What was this place? How did he get here? And why couldn’t he recall a single thing about his life?

His blinded gaze shot frantically around the deep void of nothingness, but saw little in return.

The rank air was filled with an eerie silence. Broken only by the constant drip of a leaking pipe somewhere in the emptiness. Small droplets of filth, escaping from cracks in rusted metal, fell silently through the unknown and into the ice-like water below. Every splash was like an arrow to his soul. A shockwave of dread riding through his trembling body. He had to calm down, lest succumb to despair, but how? There must be something he could do.

Amongst the tide of darkness, the man wrapped aching arms around stiff legs, drawing them near, and shivered.

He drew a heavy breath, exhaling slowly. A thing which he repeated several times in a bid to quell his growing discomfort, to little success. He tired once again to search his mind, desperate to recall any scrap of knowledge that might reveal something about his past. But the man failed every time he tried.

Panic continued to loiter at the far reaches of his mind, gnawing at him like a dog chewing on an old bone. His heart maintained its heavy beat, growing faster with every second along with his breathing. The crashing waves of pain continued their relentless assault against his head, becoming so intense it felt like his skull would crack.

He looked around once more. There was nothing he could do. Feared he would remain forever trapped in this infernal darkness. A figure lost amongst the shadow. But it was not to be.

His rigid body became frozen when he heard a bellowing sound. A sound that was a voice.

‘For Tumarr’s sake, didn’t you hear me? I said you shouldn’t lie in the water. Get out of there you fool, or you might catch something.’

The piercing sound startled the man as it sliced through the void.

‘Who’s there?’ he cried back in response, as his tired limbs, now free, thrashed wildly amongst the icy water, trying to locate its source.

The voice called out to him again, its echo seemed to be everywhere.

‘There’s a ledge close by, you should get on it. Who knows what’s floating around in that stench you’re bathing in?’

For a while he remained still. The fear of the unknown much too great. But then slowly he gave in, and began to crawl through the murky fluid. His body ached terribly with every movement, but he pressed on regardless and quickly came to a cobbled wall. Cautiously, the man reached out with a shaky hand and began to search.

There! Just above him at arm’s length, the wall ended.

A second hand joined the first, and together he found enough strength to pull himself free of the water’s freezing clutches.

His battered body collapsed onto the dry floor with a gasp as a fresh wave of pain surged through him. He remained still. Shivering for a time as large pool of water formed around his sodden mass. The throbbing pain in his head worsened, but the smooth firmness of the stone beneath was most reassuring.

‘There’s a rumour going around someone beat up the guards. Wasn’t you by any chance?’

The same voice called out again, but this time there was no reply. Its question made no sense to him.

‘Huh, silence is often a sign of guilt.’ it said mockingly.

The man regarded the voice as it continued to speak. It was female, and sounded young. Was she somehow linked to his current predicament?

‘Perhaps it wasn’t you after all. A shame really. I’d like to have met the one who’d done it. I wish I could have seen it. Nobody’s ever had the guts to do that before.’

A long silence followed before there was any more talk. Eventually, a weary voice replied with the only question that seemed appropriate.

‘What, are you talking about?’

This time the voice wasn’t so quick to respond, but inevitably did.

‘Don’t tell me you haven’t heard? They had an incident outside while interrogating a prisoner-’

‘Prisoner!?’ the man blurted suddenly. He tried to rise but a stabbing pain in his chest stopped him.

‘Yeah, you know. Like the ones that stay in prisons.’ the voice taunted.

‘I’m in a prison?’ the man gasped, ‘For what reason, I’ve done nothing wrong?’ the man’s voice was electric and laced with panic.

‘How should I know? I don’t care. I just heard someone managed to zap a few of the guards earlier. Sounds fantastic doesn’t it!’

A quiet mischievous laugh echoed throughout the darkness. The man sat immobile trying again to find some answers in his mind.

‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t remember anything.’

A brief silence ensued before any reply.

‘Really? Nothing at all? I’m sure I’d remember a thing like that if I’d done it.’

‘I’m telling you my mind is blank. I recall nothing. Except waking up in this place. Wherever it is?’

Another chuckle echoed throughout the void.

‘Well, I can tell you. You’re in a prison, that’s where. And likely to remain here for quite a while, just like the rest of us!’

‘I realise that!’ he growled, feeling his temper rise. The sound of chuckling continued to permeate the air before the voice responded.

‘You should do. The guards don’t like it when prisoners get frisky with them. I’d wager much of the Empire will have changed by the time you see it again.’

The man rolled onto one side then eased himself up, despite his pain. To think his life might now be spent listening to this irritating voice brought even more dismay to his heart.

‘I can’t believe I’m trapped in this darkness with an empty mind, and a ghost that’s trying to mock me. I’ll go mad for sure.’ he muttered.

The imposing darkness became filled with more laughing which riled him further.

‘Ghosts you say. There are no ghosts in here, friend. Rats maybe, and perhaps a couple of other crawlies, but no ghosts.’

‘I am not your friend.’ he said bluntly.

‘Oh? Well how do you know? Thought you couldn’t remember anything?’

‘I can’t,’ he snarled, ‘just shut up and leave me alone. I need to think of a way out of this.’

A sharp huffing sound could be heard and for a time, nothing else was said. The distant sound of dripping water was all that could be heard until the man finally decided to speak.

‘What … is this, Empire, you speak of? he asked curiously, ‘Are they the ones who’ve put me in here?’

The response came quickly this time, and with more than a little disbelief.

‘You’re kidding right? You’d have to be really crazy to not know a thing like that. Unless of course you’re just pretending. You know, so you can get out of here quicker. Well? Come one then, speak up. Which one is it?’ the voice demanded, but was met with silence. The man’s patience was all but spent. He ground his teeth angrily, clenching his fists. It was not his fault he couldn’t remember anything. How dare this voice mock him. He refused to speak further, judging it pointless.

After a few long moments the mysterious voice called again. This time however, it was far less scornful.

‘You know what? I’m sorry. Perhaps I spoke out of turn. How about I come down there and take a look at you. All this toing and froing in the darkness is becoming tiring anyway.’

Intrigued, the man looked up. In the next breath, a bright light suddenly erupted high up in the chamber, startling him. It grew steadily into a lilac blaze then began to move, fighting back the darkness. It floated silently down towards where he was sitting and caused him to panic. He scrambled backwards with a gasp, awaking numerous bruised muscles, until his back pressed into a wall. The light was so bright now it forced him to look away. His eyes unable to cope with the brilliance. An arm rose up, shielding him from the blinding light, and caught the barest glimpse of something set within the orb’s glowing centre.

It glided down to the chamber floor without a sound, halting several feet in front of him. Just as soon as it landed, the dazzling light began to dwindle until it was little more than a faint, warm glow surrounding its master. It was several moments before the prisoner was able to focus on the little girl now standing before him. And longer still until he was able to speak, since his mind fought to accept that which he had just witnessed.

‘Don’t you know it’s rude to stare!’ the girl said firmly.

The man was speechless. His dark eyes widened at the sight of her. ‘Is this a dream?’ he breathed, watching in amazement as the wonder continued.

The child scoffed then began singing softly to herself, rubbing her hands together. Somehow, she managed to form a small ball of light between her little fingers, then released it into the cool air. The gentle action of her movement caused the man to flinch. It amused her to see him stare opened mouthed at the glowing orb floating close to its creator. The sphere span gently as it bobbed up and down, illuminating the surrounding area. Long fingers of silver light radiated out from its surface, touching the face of the man who sat before it. She regarded his dishevelled appearance curiously.

He was young, but stern of face with unusually pale skin. One might think he was albino. An oily mass of thick knotted hair rested heavily upon his brow and his lean body was tall and muscular. Judging from the bruising of his flesh, she could tell he’d been badly beaten.

The girl sighed deeply as the man reached out to touch the floating orb, but was unable since it kept moving away from his intrusive fingers.

‘Oh, you’re a Cowldonian. What a shame. I guess it wasn’t you who’d attacked the guards. Oh well.’ her glum voice matched the look of disappointment on her face.

The man stopped his quest to grasp the orb and looked at her. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked, but she didn’t reply. The child’s gaze was now drawn to the bare skin of his arm.

She reached out, but he withdrew from her touch. The girl soothed his concerns and tried again, moving slower this time so not to spook him. He remained still as she carefully inspected his arm, wincing as she pressed the darkened areas of his bruised flesh.

He took a moment to study her while she did this. Maybe it was the light, but the girl’s skin appeared to be blue. It surprised him greatly. Enough to make him wary of her presence. Yet despite his caution, he felt no danger from the child and allowed her to proceed.

Tracking her gaze, he noticed the purple marks wrought upon his pale skin as if for the first time. Why was she so interested in them?

A small gasp escaped her petite lips as she continued to observe them. ‘I’ve never seen a person covered in so many…’ she said softly, retreating several steps. The silver orb of light following silently above.

‘What’s the matter with you, it’s only a few bruises?’ he asked, suddenly concerned.

The girl took a moment to reply. She looked very upset. ‘They are polar burns, caused from the weapons the guards wield. They must have beaten you senseless with them.’

‘Well that explains the pain.’ he said dryly, rubbing his sore body. She looked at him with pity, but her lingering gaze seemed only to annoy him.

‘Why are you staring at me?’ he said crossly. The girl snapped out of her thoughts.

‘Forgive me. It’s just … I feel bad for doubting you earlier. I thought you were acting. But now I see the truth.’

‘What truth?’

‘It’s well known that excessive use of polar batons causes temporary memory loss, which would explain why you can’t remember anything. But you’ve got so many…’

‘So?’ he said impatiently, ‘What’s wrong with that?’

The girl swallowed, as if trying to force the words out of herself. ‘I’m afraid you might never get your memories back.’ she replied before turning away, unable to meet his glare. The child was clearly distressed, but for reasons unknown. She did not know him. Why should she be so concerned with his condition?

‘Those brutes,’ she said angrily, ‘how could they do such a thing? It’s so careless. So thoughtless. It’s what you get for employing idiot ogres as enforcers. They should all be punished.’

The orb’s glowing light increased, as if linked to her temper. It shone brighter now, illuminating her completely. He could see her clearly, and noticed she was very young indeed. Seven, eight at the most. Her long fiery hair was fixed into a huge side ponytail, hanging over her right ear. It framed a set of large emerald eyes which glistened in the gloom. Her cheeks were round, and her chin was delicate, giving her a fairy-like appearance. He noted she was dressed in the same clothes as him, except hers were in far better condition.

‘What did you do for them to put you here?’ she whispered, more to herself than him.

The man shook his head. ‘I don’t know. I don’t even know where here is.’ he replied, frustrated not to have any answers. A long sigh escaped from his troubled face.

The man slumped and rested his wide chin on blood stained knees. The little girl looked at him for a time before answering and cocked her head, as if listening to some unknown voice.

‘You really don’t know, do you?’ she said softly, finally believing him. She took a few steps forward and crouched, smiling weakly. ‘You are in the Chambers of Ah’mend Darr. A place where people are held before being tried at the high courts of the Iron City.’

‘So now I’m to be tried?’ he said, ‘For what?’

The girl shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Could be anything. Most of those brought here often remain forever. Left to rot. It’s much easier for the Empire to forget a few lives then to have to pay for expensive court fees.’

She looked around the dimly lit chamber and became distant as she spoke. ‘I bet there’s hundreds of decayed bodies littering these foul halls.’

The man looked also, thankful not to be bound in one of the many iron shackles dangling from the stone walls, some of which still clung to skeleton prisoners.

‘What do they think I’ve done?’ he asked quietly.

The girl turned her head to look at him. ‘Well, I did hear the Emperor’s son, Alexander, has been kidnapped. Maybe they think you have something to do with it? Probably executed under Cowldonian law for high treason if found guilty.’

The man’s eyes widened in fear and he began to shake. ‘That’s absurd,’ he gasped, rising to his feet. The action caused him to groan but he tried to ignore the pain. ‘what would I want with an Emperor’s son?’

The girl shrugged again. ‘I don’t know, you tell me.’ she replied whilst reaching out to flick the floating orb. Light spiralled around revealing new parts of the chamber.

‘I’m telling you I don’t have anything to do with this kidnapping!’ the man insisted, his tone becoming more agitated.

‘Well, how do you know you didn’t? Thought you couldn’t remember anything?’

‘I can’t,’ he said through gritted teeth, ‘but I think I would remember a thing like that!’

The child grunted, turning to face him. ‘You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Then tell me, do you even know your name? That’s a pretty important thing too you know, and not something one tends to forget.’

The man paused, his anger draining from his features. After an awkward silence he sighed deeply and shook his head before slumping to the floor, wrapping stiff arms around his legs. He looked up at her but said nothing, unable to reply. It did not matter. He didn’t need to. The empty look on his face was enough to satisfy her answer.

It was several long minutes before she attempted to soften the tense atmosphere. ‘Look, maybe you were just dragged off the street under false pretences, I don’t know. But you don’t seem like a kidnapper to me. And I do know that somebody definitely blasted the guards earlier whilst being questioned,’ She smiled broadly, imagining the scene. ‘Those brutes got more than they bargained for this time. I wonder who done it?’ she muttered sinisterly. A mischievous laugh escaped her petite lips, revealing a darker side not yet seen before.

‘That again, huh,’ the man groaned, ‘maybe it was me. Perhaps you should be careful. It could be unwise to get so close to a dangerous individual like myself.’ he said coyly.

The girl laughed. Her sweet voice echoed feverishly throughout the chamber. ‘I don’t think so. No Cowldonian has ever been able to wield that kind of power. Your Gods forbade it.’

Her statement caused him to raise an eyebrow. ‘Well you seemed quite able.’ he replied crossly, pointing to the spinning orb.

The girl stiffened at his remark. ‘I am not a Cowldonian!’ she said angrily.

The man smiled, enjoying her unrest, but decided to change the subject as a new question formed within his confused mind. ‘What is Cowldonia?’ he asked curiously.

The girl broke into yet more laughter. ‘You really do have issues, don’t you?’ she said, chuckling all the more.

The man however failed to see the humour of it. ‘Didn’t we establish that already?’ he said, clearly annoyed, ‘You still haven’t told me who you are, girl. Or what you’re doing here.’

He rubbed his throbbing head, as if it would help to numb the pain, but it did little to comfort.

The girl smiled, then moved close, placing a tiny hand on his forehead. He flinched at her touch.

‘My, we are jumpy, aren’t we? And you said you were dangerous.’ she said before trying again. This time he remained still, and let her proceed.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked, but she scolded him for talking.

The girl began to sing softly. A sweet-sounding tune that was unfamiliar to his ears. The dialect was unknown to him, but instilled a calming mood. As the song continued, a strange blue light emitted out of the hand she held against the man’s head. A cool, soothing sensation flowed through his skull, relaxing him. He felt sleepy, eyelids suddenly heavy, but tried to stay awake. After a short time, the song ended, and the child’s eyes opened.

She removed her hand from his forehead and smiled. The man was astonished to find the pain in his head was no longer there.

‘How did you do that?’ he asked.

‘That’s not important right now, and neither is my history. All you need to know is that I am a prisoner, just like you. Although my crimes are not so justified.’

She turned around and snatched the orb of light out of the air then sat down next to him, juggling it between her petite hands.

‘Care to explain? It’s not like you’re going anywhere.’ he said with a sly grin.

The girl smiled then began to speak. ‘I’m alone in this land, and have been for some time. Naturally, I’ve had to learn how to look after myself. The other day I was caught by a tradesman trying to steal a piece of fruit from his stall. It was only a melon. He called for a guard and that was that. Now I’m here as punishment. They’ll probably hold me for a few days before releasing me. At least I hope they do.’

The man’s brow creased as he stared at her. ‘Seems a bit harsh for such a petty act. I guess survival is a crime here.’

The young girl grunted and continued to play with the ball of light she had created, trying to balance it on the end of her index finger. ‘I heard one of the guards who put me in here say how a prisoner had managed to put three of his mates in the infirmary. Later, when I saw them throw you in here, I wondered if you were the one they had spoken of. Guess I now know it wasn’t.’

‘Sorry to disappoint.’ he replied, yet her words caused an image to flash before his eyes, making him pause…

…the flicker of a tiny vision shot across the reaches of his empty mind. A memory of pain, anger and uncontrollable rage. A blinding purple light filled his eyes and then…

Nothing.

It was gone before he could make sense of it.

The man stared into the stone floor confused. ‘Why can’t I remember.’ he said quietly.

The girl groaned and threw the glowing orb into the dark. ‘Haven’t we been through that already?’ she asked, watching as the orb quietly drifted back towards her. ‘I guess the guards hit you a bit too hard. And from the amount of polar burns you have, it may be a very long time before you remember. If ever!’

His eyes drifted down to his arms which bore many purple coloured marks. The lilac flames of the guards’ polar batons had bitten deep through his clothes, and licked the naked skin underneath. Most of his body was still numb from the ice-like water he’d been laying in, and the parts that weren’t were becoming sorer with each passing moment.

His dreary gaze shifted to the floating sphere of light, now bobbing above the girl’s head, then across the chamber. His eyes were adjusted to the light enough so he could see further, not that there was anything worth viewing. Just endless walls studded with arched recesses, presumably cells. All empty except for a few bones and rusted iron chains, probably used for restraining particularly restless prisoners. Just in front, the stone floor dropped away, leading down to that dark water he awoke in. Its surface now like glass.

Time passed by. The two sat in silence. The man thought about questioning the little girl further, but was denied the chance when a high-pitched screech rang throughout the chamber, assaulting the ears of both captives.

Metal scraped harshly against stone, ripping through the silence. The noise was instantly followed by a golden pillar of light, flooding in from a now open doorway.

The floating sphere vanished and both prisoners shielded their eyes from the brilliance.

The man looked up at the rectangular doorway and could just make out what looked like a large, blocky figure of a guard that filled it.

D.R. Hurley

Two

City of Umlie, one hundred leagues east of Jyonti. Two days earlier...

‘…and if you look over to your right you can see the marvellous Gardens of Umlie. A beautiful setting overlooked by the Dragoul watch tower, one of our most famous landmarks. Built over two hundred years ago by the famous sea Captain, Raymus Dragoul. The tower not only serves as a guide for all traders coming into the city at night, but also stands as a monument to those who died in the Unification Wars. Ah now, if you cast your eyes east you will see...’

The exuberant Mayor Dallinor spoke proudly about the great city of Umlie’s wondrous history, as the Imperial party continued its annual tour. Much to the boredom of Emperor Lucius Gildane, who always found these annual visits incredibly tiresome, and painfully tedious.

His ageing mind slipped frequently away to the Empire’s capital, Bangarrow, where he longed to be. Wandering amongst the lush pastures of the palace estate. Lucius wished he could be out hunting the roaming deer and wild game, one of his favourite past times. But his duty to the Empire required he attend such dreadful proceedings.

‘Every year the same,’ he grumbled quietly to himself, trying to ignore the mayor, ‘you’d think they would change the program a little.’

The grating sound of metal upon stone filled his ears as he limped along. Fortunately, the steady buzzing of tiny gears and whirling servos issuing from his mechanised leg covered most of the Emperor’s grumblings, though not completely.

Lucius grunted as a sharp nudge to his ribs ceased his complaining.

‘Quiet dear, she may hear you!’ hissed Helena. The Emperor’s wife felt her cheeks blush from a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance at her husband’s constant lack of respect. ‘It’s only once a year and you know how much Alex enjoys these visits. His endless studies rarely give him the chance to travel beyond the palace gates. So please, don’t spoil it for him!’

Lucius groaned quietly, but he knew his wife was correct. His son did spend most of his time learning about the world, yet seldom encountered it. Perhaps he could force a little more interest into this boring episode. The thought did nothing to improve his mood, and he continued to mutter under his breath, until he caught sight of Helena’s disapproving glare.

The party consisted of the Emperor, his wife, and their eleven-year-old son, Alexander. The boy’s personal tutor, Miss Emily Hutkinson, was also in attendance, as well as the usual entourage of ambassadors and governors that often appeared at such proceedings.

A troop of Dragoon soldiers dressed in ceremonial armour escorted the party, led by Sergeant Haze of the twelfth division garrison. The men marched quietly in standard formation, flanking the group so not to get in the way, but close enough to engage any potential threats. Not that there would be.

Haze had taken the liberty to break formation and walk beside Miss Hutkinson, who was holding onto Alexander’s hand. The young boy was skipping happily along as the others walked. Haze took great pleasure in pointing out historical facts to Miss Hutkinson, often inaccurately. But the young lady merely smiled, not wanting to offend the veteran soldier. She knew far more about the city than most, and let him continue out of politeness.

Umlie was not the largest city in the Empire or even the wealthiest, yet it was certainly the most famous. Many considered it to be the jewel of the nation, and the true heart of Empire. A place thousands of people flocked to everyday, be it for trade, education or pilgrimage. For Umlie was a holy land and steeped heavily in tradition.

Built over the sacred Tumarr crossing. A place where, according to history, was the very site Great Mother Hamiya wept for a thousand days after the terrible tragedy which destroyed the family of gods. Hamiya’s tears fell endlessly from her broken heart, tearing the land open to create two of the largest known rivers to span the planet.

The gift of water to the world, in exchange for her life force.

The point where these two mighty rivers crossed was said to be the exact spot on which Hamiya became one with the planet, at the beginning of time itself. Umlie was built around the crossing.

‘Now here’s a beautiful piece of Cowl craftsmanship,’ the Mayor announced as the party stepped into a huge paved courtyard, dominated by a gigantic circular fountain at its centre. ‘This sculpture depicts our Great Mother, awarding the Mi’harna rose to the Cowldonian Patriarch, Baross Kitejaw, for devoting his entire existence into forming the Empire we know today. A man who later became our first High Lord and Emperor.’

The fountain’s captivating presence was such that it held everybody’s attention who saw it, almost forcing them to admire its holy aura. Groups of Cowldonians could be seen huddled around its perimeter, chanting prayers of thanks to mother Hamiya for her sacrifice. Even Lucius was forced to appreciate its beauty, nodding respectfully at the sculpture of his oldest ancestor.

He noted a gentle buzzing around his stomach as he stood and looked down. His leg’s intricate workings continued to function perfectly as they waited. He flexed his toes, releasing tiny puffs of vapour into the air as the metal digits responded. Surely, it was time to move on.

His grey eyes watched dismally as some of the dignitaries began bowing in the customary way of the OWL.

Left hand to head, heart, then extend. Bless the life you gave to us.

The Order of the White Lady certainly appeared to be more prominent these days. Their numbers swelled in recent years for reasons unknown. There were so many amongst the Imperial party Lucius felt compelled to oblige and quickly followed suit, despite his own beliefs.

Helena smiled warmly upon seeing the display and stifled a chuckle. She knew Lucius’s own beliefs lay entwined with the mighty sun god, Belthor, and spent many nights discussing with him the fundamentals of the faith she herself practised. It amused her to see him honour the order openly. Such were the needs of an Emperor to his people it seemed.

She turned her gaze back to the fountain. Watching the crystal-clear water sparkle in the morning sun as it gushed over the statue’s pristine stone. The rock was mined from the distant mountains of Trian’s Namoleon belt, almost two thousand leagues away. A giant monument that rose sixty feet into the air and was said to have been blessed by the Gods themselves. Two great figures stood at its centre. One, a beautiful maiden with hair that hung far down her back. The other, a large man of noble face crouched on one knee. He presented a broadsword to the smiling maiden, who in return extended a flower back to him. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and caused many who gazed upon it immense joy.

‘A truly wondrous creation,’ announced Helena, feeling the need to comment since her husband seemed unable. Or uninterested. ‘the Trian’s bestow a great honour upon our society, to which, Cowldonia is thankful.’ There were a few cheers of acknowledgement throughout the group. Lucius smiled at his wife, and nodded.

‘Right, shall we continue? There’s still lots to see and not much time.’ the Mayor said before leaving. Her black and burgundy robes caught high in the air as she marched briskly off to the tour’s next point of interest.

The Imperial party came to the end of the giant courtyard and started to climb up a wide staircase lined with perfectly trimmed orange flower bushes down its centre, and gold banisters either side.

‘Umlie may be the largest trading point in Empire, but its real importance lies in its schools. Which, as I’m sure you all know, teaches various crafts and skills that citizens from all over the globe can use for the rest of their lives. It is also home to the first founding of the Sect of Sisters, who currently reside over the school’s management and upkeep.’

As the group reached the top of the stairs, the Mayor stepped forth with her arms spread wide and spoke again. ‘My Lords and Ladies I give you, The Schools of Umlie.’

The party was greeted by a truly spectacular site. A huge structure dominated the skyline, which drew many gasps of joy from those who saw it. The building itself was a work of art, a true feat of Cowldonian architecture. Umlie city was built around the lands linking the Hamyian crossing together, but the famous school itself was nestled high in the air, above the river’s turbulent waters. The entire structure sat suspended in the air, atop a series of colossal arched legs, interlinked at its centre like a huge stone spider. Its mass spanned the entire width of the Western Hamiyan river. The legs not only supported the building’s immense weight, but also acted like stairway to allow passage into the schools. Heavy iron doors covered with beautifully carved murals marked the building’s entrance, each one depicting a significant event in history.

The Imperial group stood awed by its beauty, watching the busy happenings below with great interest. Dozens of merchant vessels sailed peacefully underneath the floating structure, alongside ships crammed full of tourists. It was a bustling hive of activity. All of which failed to stir the Emperor’s wandering thoughts.

Lucius gazed nonchalantly across the thriving market area with no sign of emotion. He’d seen the schools a hundred times before, and just wished they’d hurry along with this annoying and rather tiresome affair, so it would end sooner.

He tried unsuccessfully to ignore the Mayor’s irritating voice, but the woman continued to spit out facts and historical events relating to the city. He cast his eyes towards the raised plateau of an airship dock, hanging over the streets that they seemed to be approaching and smiled. At least they’ll be refreshments soon. he thought.

As Lucius liked his lips in anticipation, Helena felt a tug on her formal gown which drew her attention downward. The black fabric of her gold threaded sleeve was fixed with a little hand.

‘Please mummy, I don’t want to see the schools just yet. Can’t I go to the markets below? It really would be far more exciting.’ The young Prince pulled his special face with hopes of sealing the deal. He knew his mother could not resist such a thing. ‘Miss Emily says it would be a good learning experience as well.’ he added suddenly, much to the discomfort of his tutor, who blushed brightly