A Hero Comes Home
LaanXoan began her rounds with Pathorg's Shoppe
She entered and she could hear pounding against anvils
As she stepped into the work area, Pathorg smiled up at
His guest. "My Queen," He bowed as she approached him.
She grabbed his shoulder with a sigh, "You know, I don't
Need you to bow to me Pathorg." He smiled and stood
About 4 inches shorter than her, his bald head shining from
Sweat. "Your father used to tell me the same thing. Consider
It my silent way of not obeying you." He snickered to himself.
"Come, you must see this armor. Here, this is especially tailored
For you, my Queen." His eyes twinkled like the stars on a cloudless
Night as his chest puffed out with pride in his craftsmanship.
The armour was dark and light, it appeared to have its own motion
Even when stationary. The light was lost in the dark and reflected off
The light, as if magnified. It was unlike anything she had ever seen.
She put it on not surprised at its perfect fit. "Pathorg, this is truly
Amazing. What material is this?" Pathorg smiled half crooked.
"Lets just say your grandfather sent you an early birthday gift."
Lulu came up and placed a cape, made from the same material only
Wooven into a chain mail cape. The Queen hugged them both
Believing she was truly blessed to be surrounded with such
Amazing, caring people. "You both are too generous." She kissed
Them on the cheeks. Lulu spoke, "You were always like a daughter
To us, Laan. You should know that Pathorg and I love you very much.
I hope that we all survive this. But in case we do not, I want you to know
How much you mean to us. Pathorg and I never could have children.
You and this kingdom are all the family we have." The lil old lady started
To tear up a lil as she said. "Na koo zee ba danuke twee." LaanXoan responded
Softly as she hugged them, "And I also love you both very much." Pathorg then
Showed the Queen the armory they have been working on. The metal had an
Unusual glow. LaanXoan gazed at it for a while but didn't think the
Phoenix feather was the only extra element. "Pathorg, why does it glow like
that?" She asked him as his smile broadened. "My Queen, that is our very
Own Mercurian Lumininite. It is a rare metal which we keep locked for
Special occasions. Well, I couldn't think of a better occasion than this."
LaanXoan looked at him with inquisitive eyes. "Special
Properties?" "Observe." The old man said as he put the armor on the
Ground. The armor texture morphed...and soon it blended in with the
Floor. "That is amazing Pathorg! Anything else?" The old man smiled
At the Queen, "Well it depends on the beholder." "What do you mean?"
The old man picked up the armor and put it on. Suddenly, his body
Started to change, into his youthful self, strong and tall.
"It has the ability to amplify your life force back to its peak."
The Queen and Lulu looked at him like they had seen a ghost.
"Now, what I am not sure of is how long the effects last."
"That isn't just from the feather is it?" The Queen asked.
"No, but because of the feather combined with the spring where
This metal is mined, I am guessing produce a fountain of youth
Type effect." "Amazing." The Queen said, as Lulu laughed a little.
Pathorg looked at her as she chuckled, "Well it be a fibbing
Fountain of youth effect, you have never been that tall."
Pathorg's brow furrowed. "Shush woman, Torbit faul twoo."
She laughed herself into the kitchen to fetch some tea.
LaanXoan laughed at the cute old couple as Pathorg took
The armor off. "We shall be done in 4 hours my Queen."
"Excellent work my old friend. I will let Garag know he
Can start sending the warriors here for final fittings."
She hugged him once more and yelled good bye to Lulu who
Was still giggling in the kitchen. "Also send the rangers
And Wizards, we have fashioned a thinner version of the
Metal into wizard robes and ranger gear." "You are a genius
Pathorg." Pathorg smilled his crooked smile. "Thank you
My Queen, but I am not a genius...after all, we are no
Better than Odysseus." "Indeed my old friend...indeed."
She headed out the smithing shoppe and started for the town
Center. There was a roar of commotion, as she entered the
Center, her mouth dropped. There were tables set up all over
The place, kids making arrows, mothers sewing robes, fathers
Building machinery. She stopped at the closest table, "Seth,
What is going on here." Seth bowed, "My Queen, we were so
Inspired by you, we are crafting our way to freedom."
He pointed to the first row of tables. "That is the
Archery section. The town fletchers gathered and brainstormed
And came up with this." He pulled out what looked like several
Arrows and bolts strung together about 30 to 40 a batch.
Then he pulled out his crossbow and inserted the first bolt
into it, she noticed immediately the modifications to the
crossbow. Then he began to rapid fire at a nearby target
The rangers were practicing on. She gasped, "Amazing."
Seth smiled and showed her the arrows and bolts. "Those are
Smaller than before." The Queen said. "Yes, they will
Be almost invisible when shot at the speeds these can travel."
"So, if the enemy doesn't see the danger..." Seth finished her
Sentence, "They cannot avoid it. But come, we have more
Inventions. Look," He pointed to the guard walks on the top
Gate. There was a sheet of glass/mirror like circular objects
Strung together with pullies and ropes on each end. "What in
The name of Zeus is that?" She asked him. "Well, the glass
Blowers thought, if we could somehow temporarily blind their
Rangers, it would allow us time to attack them with ours."
"Reflecting the sun's rays into their eyes." "Yes. Oh but the
Best thing is over here," He took her to the alchemists and
Engineer area. "Guys, can we demo our top secret weapon for
The Queen?" They smiled and got the little doll dressed
In black wizard robes just like the Black Prince. "Seth,
Stand back a little more." Seth extended his arms in front
Of the Queen as they backed up. Then one of the guys threw
The doll onto a patch of grass, and then the ground exploded
And dirt and doll parts flew everywhere. "Hades fire, what
Is that?" The Queen asked. "That my Queen, is what they call
The SOL bomb. The engineers have made a special casing
Sensitive to weight. When the casing starts to collapse
Due to weight from above, the explosive bomb ignites thanks
To a special liquid and design from our Alchemists." The
Queen was speechless, her people were coming together to
Come up with military inventions to help give them an edge over
The Black Prince's army. She didn't tell them that they
Were outnumbered 3 to 1, but the Mercurians being the
Innovators they were, were coming together to beat the odds
Through their own skills and knowledge. She was taken back by it all.
Then, the guards started to yell "Open the gates, Open the gates!"
The Queen ran to the gates and when her eyes met Dorian's, she knew
Something had gone horribly wrong. Then she saw Zephina...
Then Webby. There was a sudden silence in the Kingdom. Zephina
lifted Webby off of her back and into the arms of the Queen.
The Queen carried him through the town center to the alter,
Tears streaming from her eyes. The Oounakii followed in a
Single line behind her. The Mercurians held each other and
Some of the kids started to cry, "I don't want to die mummy."
They were picked up and held by their moms as if that was
The last time they were to ever see each other. Garag and
The Generals followed behind the Oounakii. When the Queen
Got to the alter, she laid Webby's cold blue body on the
Priest's bench. She kneeled beside him, tears flowing
Freely. She could not take her eyes off of him. He was
14 in human years, barely grown. He was like a son to her
Even though she had only known him for a year, he held a
Special spot in her heart. The Mercurians gathered around
The alter in a semi-circle. They all held their heads down
As the Queen turned to them and spoke, "I am sorry Oounakii,
For the loss of our brother Webby. I am also sorry to all
Mercurians, that this is a harsh reality of what we are
About to face. When I first found Webby," She had to stop
As her voice was breaking up, and she had to fight hard
To hold back her tears. "When I first found Webby,
He had just been beaten down by some of his own kind because
He had yellow hair on his back. They no more knew his name
And almost killed him over his appearance, because he was
Not like them. Even when he was bleeding badly as I helped
Him up from the ground, he smiled with blood dripping from
His lips and said," She had to stop and compose herself again
Sniffling and then clearing her throat, "He said Don't worry
About me, they can hurt me all they want but they will never
Break me. I never forgot that day. For such a young man to
Have such courage, such will to survive, is why Mercuria is
His home. Let us not forget him as we face our enemy. He
Died a warriors death, and shall have a hero's welcome.
Tonight we will gather in his honor and remember his spirit."
Garag came up to her, "But my Queen the war." "Garag, I do
Not care, we will honor our fallen. We have time. Also,
Make arrangements to bury him after the gathering in the north
lot." "But, that is the royal lot." "I know...he is my family."
She looked up at Garag with eyes glowing with sadness. He
Nodded and obeyed. She motioned for the Oounakii and her
Generals to follow her to the Magical Library, where she would
meet with Theos, Mythist, Garag, the Oounakii and her Generals.