Mercuria, The Metallic Kingdom
Nestled in the navel of the Himalayas, lied her cherished home
A kingdom few ever graced eyes upon due to the unkind mountains
A natural moat to guard against unwelcomed travelers.
As she reached the gates, a most welcomed sight of splendor
The shiney sparkling of the kingdom walls, reflective dances of light
And the sweet smell of melting metals, it was good to be home.
Entering the Gates as the guards bowed before her, the citizens of Mercuria
Smiled and bowed welcoming home their fearless Queen
As kids screamed in excitement over Xenna's purring flames.
Her first stop, the smither's corner, she dismounted and headed in
To speak her cherished friend, Pathorg, the most skilled blacksmith in
The world who could possibly rival Haphaestos.
"Pathorg, my friend, a word with you if you would in your private chambers."
The old man looked up at the Queen, his soft gray eyes magnified with spectacles
He escorted the Queen to his office, and closed the door behind them.
"How may I serve you, my Queen." The humble Pathorg bowed before the Queen.
"Pathorg, how many times do I have to tell you I do not need you to bow before me.
Rise, as I have important matters to discuss and need your skills."
The old man rose and took a seat at his desk as the Queen sat in front of him.
"The Black Prince approaches, I will need you to forge our army new armor
With this submerged in the liquid salt." She showed Pathorg the Phoenix feather.
Pathorg's jaged smile broaden for the word of work excited him. He took the feather
And studied it. "The feather of a Phoenix, I have only heard of this ancient technique
Bonding the feather with the metal amplifies the life force of the beholder.
Making it appear if you would to have intelligence, reacting to defend, smite, or avoid
Without thought, becoming one with its master. Oh this is truly a glorious day
For Mercuria. With this, our army will have an advantage unlike any others."
"Precisely my old friend, precisely. In addition, I need a favor right now."
She took out her pocket knife and pricked the inside of her cheek in her mouth
Drawing a drop of blood and placing it on the Cursed Sword.
"I need you to bond my blood to this sword." The Queen handed the sword to Pathorg.
"Oh my." He gasped as he held it in his hands, careful not to let the blood fall from
The hilt. "I recognize the work of the great god smith, but this material is not like
Anything I have seen in all my years." Pathorg marveled at the sword, studying it closely.
"No my friend, it is made from the dead trees of Hades." She said as she watched Pathorg
Dip the sword with blood into the pool of heated salt, bonding the blood instantaneously
To the sword. He cooled it and then handed it back to the Queen. "Most curious."
He said, pushing up his glasses and then placing the feather into the vat of liquid salt.
"I shall need a day for my men to forge the armor for our warriors my Queen."
"Understood, if you need anything, speak to Garag, who will make sure your requests
Are acted upon." She rose, and excused herself but first kissing the old man's cheek
Making him blush slightly. "You are too kind my Queen, too kind."
She left and headed on foot to her castle. She sent a messenger to gather her generals
In her study, for an emergency meeting. They started to file in one by one as Garag,
Her most trusted head General of the calvary, stepped forward whispering to her.
"I have heard you sense a traitor amongst us." He spoke softly as to not draw attention
To them. The Queen nodded and motioned with her eyes to take a seat. He acknowledged
And sat down. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have called you together in our gravest time of
Need. As we speak, the dark prince marches towards our great kingdom, armed with
Weapons of darkness we have not seen since the age of Chaos, and our ancestors first
War with the Blatorgs, the ogre wizards to the north. Therefore, I need us to strengthen our
Hearts, cleanse our minds, and energize our centers, to prepare for a most epic battle,
One I am sure will go down in history whether we live or die, as the greatest battle
In all the realm." As she spoke she opened her senses, absorbing the energy of her
Generals, searching for the traitor. "Sieger, Mythist, Altreon, and Garag, please step forward."
The generals rose and stood in line before her, as she paced back and forth in front of them.
"Seiger, the wizards will need to be brought together, I will need a word with them in private."
As he bowed, her sword met his neck decapitating him, the head rolled to a stop, the body dropped
To its knees and fell forward. The glow from the sword turned red as a white cloud like essence
Seemed to disappear into it, and the blood evaporated, as if the sword was drinking it whole.
The shock amongst the generals mounted as they stood frozen in fear, eyes fixated on the Queen.
She pulled back the robe off of Seiger's neck, to reveal two glowing yellow eyes, which she blinded
With her sword. "I believe, the traitor is no more. Altreon, please load him up into my chariot, along
With his head, do it quietly though. I do not wish to draw attention to this incident. Also, send for
a dozen live lambs from the nearby farmers. I want those also on the chariot. I have to leave shortly."
With that, Altreon bowed, picked up the head and threw the body over his shoulder, heading towards
The stables. She turned to her generals. "You are dismissed, prepare for battle. Mythist and Garag,
I need you to stay." The rest of the generals exited the room with great haste, not wanting to
Meet the same fate as their brother. She turned to Mythist and looked her in the eyes.
"I will need you to lead the wizards. I will also need you to uncover any white magic that we may
Find strength in. I am sorry to put this on you my friend, but I need someone I trust to lead the
Wizards and make sure we do not fall into the dark magic of the Prince." Mythist's iceblue eyes
Glowed as she bowed and left the room. The Queen poured herself and Garag a glass of Mercurian nectar
And sat next to her most trusted General and confidant. "Garag, Pathorg may come to you with requests.
I need you to see that he gets everything he needs as he prepares our army's weapons and armor."
Garag nodded as he took the nectar from the Queen. They both shot it down as the burn trickled down their
Chest. "My Queen, our people are not warriors but skillers. I fear that our men do not think they have a chance
Against this army. There is a rumbling that you have brought this upon us selfishly, that your travels
have made you mad, and you are not acting in the best interest of our kingdom." Garag said. No one
Had the courage to speak to the Queen with such tact as Garag, which is why she respected and trusted him above
All others. "I do not blame them my friend. Perhaps I should clear the air and address the kingdom. Make
Preparations for me to speak to them tomorrow just after Apollo's ride across the heavens. I will try to
Address their concerns and see if we can clear their heads for battle. Have everyone gather in the great courtyard."
She was not sure what she would say to them at the moment, but she knew Garag was right, her people were craftsmen, not warriors.
The stout Garag bowed before the Queen, his broad shoulders the likeliness of Hercules, his long black hair flowed
Forward over his face, Garag was the most handsome Mercurian in all the land, yet he had never married.
A warrior to the core, his marriage was to the kingdom and his Queen. His beauty surpassed only by his loyalty and bravery.
He left and the Queen steadied her hand against her sword, praying to her mother silently before heading to the
Stables, her senses awakened, her eyes glowing green, and her heart pure with love and purpose.
She made way to the waiting Altreon, and her Chariot full of tasty morsels.