Silverdream & Bloodfire Prologue

Here's the prologue to my novel. Hope you enjoy it. Any comments or suggestions for improvement are welcome and appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Prologue

The Coritus shall come in flowing white
With the symbol of your Salvation;
At the time of great oppression,
Thy Savior shall appear.

The amber stone in the golden Spiral
Shall be the only weapon, but
The evil Ruler will not be able to abide
The force of the Krycus.

The mood seemed as dreary as the weather outside when the High Priest and Grand Sorcerer, Kantis‚ read those prophetic words aloud to the convocation of chief priests and initiates in the badly lit‚ dank inner chamber of the ancient temple to Kilessa‚ Goddess of Destiny. Erected 300 rotations ago outside of the quiet coastal town of Ocess‚ approximately a three days’ journey south of the capital city of Kerodzon, the temple served the western part of the southern country of Serras. Being disguised once because of bandits and then due to the Emperor’s ban of worship made the inner chamber the ideal location for the clandestine meeting.

Made of old stone and wood, the secret room felt drafty and cool. The time for the flowers and trees to bud and blossom would not happen for several more sevens and snow still covered the ground. Heavy clouds on the horizon promised more snow soon. The builders of the ancient temple had placed no windows around the chamber. The candles, secured to the walls by black iron sconces, gave the only light. Many candles had burned there and a heavy coating of wax had run down, covering the top of the rusted black metal bases. Kantis stood behind the sacred desk, reading from the yellowing, well-worn pages of the sacred writings. The priests and initiates sat on high-backed wooden chairs, the only other furniture in the room.

Once finished reading, in the silence Kantis heard the drip-drip-drip of leaking water from somewhere beyond the chamber. He looked down at the other twelve priests and the two brown-robed initiates sitting in two semi-circle formations in front of him.

In the middle of the front row, the two youngsters looked up at him with a combination of awe and sadness on their youthful faces. Kantis knew what they thought. He knew how old and frail he looked, especially in his haggard, gray eyes. He unconsciously touched the likeness of the Krycus, the massive golden medallion hanging around his neck on a long, heavy golden chain. A skilled craftsman had worked the precious metal into an etched spiral that wound inward to an amber stone placed in the center of the medallion. The medallion itself rested against his long white robe, which denoted his office in the priesthood. He waited for the retort he knew would come.

“So, Kantis, after all these rotations under the oppression of Emperor Aton, you still believe in these children’s tales?” Fellos brushed his thin, graying black hair and chuckled mockingly as he shifted his bulk in his chair. The chair creaked in protest. Despite his girth, the light blue robes, designating him as priest and sorcerer, hung loosely on his frame. Being the oldest of the twelve priests, most believed once Kantis passed on, Fellos would succeed him. Kantis knew Fellos could not wait for that day to come.

Kantis stared back into the icy brown eyes and mirthless grin and prepared himself for the confrontation he felt approaching. “It is because of Aton’s oppression that I believe in these ‘children’s tales,’ Fellos.” Kantis straightened his old gaunt frame, causing the candlelight to reflect his long gray hair and white beard. The previous day, Kantis had received word of Aton’s armies devastating several villages who refused to pledge their allegiance to him, taking slaves and killing those who fought back or those too disabled to be of use. “Who is going to stop him? You? Me?”

“No one can stop him.”

“Someone has to,” Kantis answered. “That is why I have summoned you all here.” The High Priest paused and then added, “The Holy Ones have been testing us. Each of us must remind our people to trust in Them and to call upon Them to send us the Coritus.” Kantis sighed inwardly and shook his head. He could smell the sour odor of skepticism and fear in the dank air. They were fools. They found it easier to wallow in oppression than take a stand against it.

For the last fifty rotations, ever since Fellos had earned the right to be a priest, Kantis and he had disagreed on what parts of the Illiat, the Sacred Writings, the people of Elydir should believe. It hurt and frustrated Kantis that most of the young initiates and clerics doubted that the Holy Ones and the Coritus even existed. The fact that they considered him an old fool mattered little to him.

Kantis believed.

Fellos sat in his chair in the front row to Kantis’ left. He began whispering to the other priests near him. The High Priest heard a few snickers in response to what Fellos said. He had heard some of them say how they thought his mind had started to fade, speculating on the strength of his magical powers.

“Enough!” Kantis regretted the outburst, but it had the desired effect. The laughter stopped, replaced by an awkward silence.

“Why has there always been disagreement?” One of the initiates stood up from his chair, turned around and looked at each of the priests. The lack of facial hair testified to the fact that Palonn was still young enough to be undisciplined. His long brown hair, separated into six braids, went all the way to his waist. Since everyone going through the seven lower levels of magic wore brown robes, the six braids indicated he was a sixth-level student, or initiate. With his blue eyes, Palonn looked hard at the priests, pointed behind his back toward the Grand Sorcerer. “Kantis is High Priest and has been for as long as any of us can remember. Why can we not trust his teachings?” Since given the chance to speak with Kantis personally at the initiates’ first gathering, Palonn had revered Kantis.

“Because,” the other initiate replied, “some of us can make up our own minds. We are not as gullible and trusting as you are.” Sauros looked at Palonn with disgust written across his face. Because Sauros had been alone most of his young life, he felt he could not trust anyone but himself. Three rotations ago, at age twelve, he began learning magic. Even though only a rotation older than Palonn, he felt close to becoming a great magician. Even the lights that shone on his six blond braids made it seem as if power emanated from him.

“Be silent, both of you. And, Palonn. Sit!” their teacher and master magician, Laetpha, commanded. Although Laetpha’s brightest pupils, Palonn and Sauros had never worked well with each other. Of course, Sauros never worked well with anyone who disagreed with him.

Kantis looked on as the teacher adjusted the pale green robes over his narrow shoulders. “Now, I am sure you both know the discipline for violating your silence vow during our assemblage.” Laetpha moved behind them, his hands on the backs of both chairs, and studied both initiates with his hard, coal-black eyes. An uneasy silence hung over the room as the others waited for the initiates’ answers. They knew the punishment awaiting the two youngsters.

“Yes, Master Laetpha,” both boys responded. Having both been in enough trouble, they, too, knew what to expect.

“Good. We will take care of it later.” Although a very stern disciplinarian, the priest disliked punishing his pupils in public.

Laetpha turned to Kantis, who sat watching his confidant. “My apologies, Lord Kantis. Although these two are my best pupils, they still need to learn discipline.”

“Of course, Master Laetpha.” The Grand Sorcerer stood again. He smiled as he said, “We must never forget that we were young once. Now, I believe it is time we ministered to our charges. Or, does someone else have anything else to discuss?”

When no one spoke, the High Priest and Grand Sorcerer brought the unproductive concourse to a close. Going over what had just happened as he left the hidden room after the others, Kantis sighed.

The same old controversy all over again.

But, if they are right and I am wrong, then all of Elydir is doomed.