Prophecy and Tales

By Stefan Nikolic

Everything changes and everything will change, for better or worse nobody knows. The only thing they know is that things won't be the same after these events. The world inhabited by this strange group of characters will be turn down and changed from its foundation. The old ways change, disappear and make room for the new ways, where everything that was once valued was thrown into a dark corner.This collection is a mix of essays, songs and stories that have never before seen the light day. Each story represents a different motive and a view on life.

 

In a quiet city, Lablin, the last big town before the Wilderness starts, things aren't as quiet as they seem to be. A group of traveling bards appears for the first time, to be precise, this is the first time any foreign group has appeared in Lablin, let alone stayed in a well-known inn in the middle of town.In a faerie kingdom far way, the faerie king, Auberon stirs from his meditation. The kingdom changes, old mines open, old secrets are revealed.A wizard travels the high mountain pass.In the Narracotta Inn things start to happen.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stefan Nikolic
• Release date: Jul 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201761943

Stefan Nikolic

Engraver, webtoon artist and web novelist. Mostly loves writing fantasy short stories and novels, recently moved to romantic fantasy.

Book preview

INN TALES

I

In a hall of gold that stood high in the trees, in a kingdom that has been long forgotten by men, there lived a Faerie King, Auberon. His gaze wandered around the hall, skipping from figure to figure, behind them, rows of columns were stretched on an even distance. The columns had a decorated top, almost all of them were done in the same inlayed herbal motive, to the ordinary human it looked nothing more than a piece of art. To the faerie folk it meant a lot more. Their whole history was recorded in those strange interlaces and vignettes. On one of the columns, the one that was the closest to the throne, the decorations could barely be seen. That wasn't usual; the decorations made by the faerie folk were a synonym for quality. People from around the world could testify that, for the decorations they were the strongest, but for the weapon-smiting they were third place behind elves and dwarves.

The chance, for something like that to happen, is equal for snow to fall in Gildam, the king thought. There is no way that it could have happened! Not a chance. These pillars are ten thousand years old. There is no chance for that. The problem is the stone. There is nothing else.

He moved his legs forward.

Not a living soul entered that day to seek wisdom. To him it looked it would be a boring day, he always had that feeling.

Nothing interesting, I’m bored.

From the throne, that was dominating the hall; he could see the hall and the other courtyard. The massive Igvirian throne was made from a magical wood from Igvirian region. It looked too uncomfortable but people were mistaken. A lot of the elven kings had wooden thrones, but none of them had magical powers. All faerie thrones are magical. The secret was in the wood, even when cut down, it stayed alive. It lived as long as the king lived. Old branches and dried leaves would fall every fall, only to be replaced with new ones every year in the same day of spring. The cycle continued.

The guards changed alternately, linearly. This irritated him even more. A day, which he thought it would be much different, did start the way he hoped. Something was telling him not to get out of bed.

He was fierce on his throne. From his eyes lightings flashed, he muttered something under his breath. Anger engulfed him more and more, he swiftly turned from one armrest to the other, his eyebrows were almost gathering over the nose.

Where are my sons? What could be so important that they don’t appear?

He waited.

The queen passed by.

Finally, the king said, someone that I can talk to.

He moved forward on his throne.

I won’t bother you, she said with a smile. You have a lot to do.

Where are they?

They are gone.

What do you mean?

They went hunting.

Hunting, are you sure?

Yes.

Of all the things in this world...

I must leave, I’m going to Aleena?

Why?

She gave birth.

Gave birth?

Yes, you are a grand-father.

A boy or a girl, tell me? Don’t keep me in suspense.

A boy...

She left.

He was alone again.

I’m a grand-father, finally something interesting.

The hall was empty.

I would jump, if the throne wasn't three meters above the ground, he thought with a dose of sarcasm. It's almost noon, time for a respite.

A servant wearing a red tunic entered, breaking the king's monotony. He was never breathless, something must be happening. His pace quickened. He knelt in front of the throne, his eyes here focused on the first steps that led to the throne.

Speak, what is that much important? That you are breaking my monotony, the king said, trying to mask the excitement in his voice.

Your Majesty, I bear urgent news. As you know, the Gilderin mines were flooded a few years ago...

And what about them? the king cut him off.

Some shafts have opened again...

So, Irithin has returned. Has he? He has that custom.

No. the miners were digging...they have found something...they don't know what.

Finally, something interesting... The king suddenly jumped out of the throne, dignifiedly crossed the hall, positioned his crown and headed towards the mines. He was almost flying.

The scenery changed as he walked.

He walked for a long time. Only one obstacle remained between him and the mines. A hill, not a large one nor a small one, a normal sized one. On the top of the hill, he could see the whole valley. The entrance was expanded since the last time he was here. The king slowly walked forward. A lot has changed since he was here; the wooden entrance was replaced with a steel one. After the deaths of the miners, they decided reinforce the entrance.

It took them