Chapter one

Marwyn

Marwyn had hard time believing that he was born a commoner. As far as his memory took him,  he only remembered the furnaces, the heat and the clashing sound of the hammer on steal. The smithy was his home. And this forger, Martin, his father. But something told him it’s a lie. He never took this up to him. Or anybody else, he couldn’t understand why he felt so. He had less skill for forging. The steel moved like toothpicks in his hands. Swift and watery movements came easy on his wrists. But no one fought with him- he was a low born. No highborn sword would fight a commoner. But Marwyn often dreamed of fighting the nobles at the castle ground at great festivals. Or so he was certain, someday he’d be a swordsman, a famous one in the whole kingdom. So he had to train .But with whom?

Marwyn walked up to his father who was working on a sword’s hilt. “Father, Will I be able to wield a sword and fight at the castle ground?” It was not the first time that he had asked that question and his father had given him that grim look and said, “A smith’s son forge swords, not wield them!” However this time his father made no notice of his question and got on with his work.

Marwyn knew the meaning  of the silence and took no pain to utter another word. He walked to the furnace and watched the flames devour the metal. The fire always astonished him. There was nothing quite like it. It cleanses everything and turns out to be pure. After all they worshipped fire. The whole kingdom worshipped fire. He had seen the symbol of the kingdom of Agnisia- a dragon emerging from fire. He had also wondered about dragons, but never could confirm their existence. But it was believed that the bonfire on the Fire Castle was breathed by a dragon and ever since has never died out. The day the fire dies out will be the complete death of the whole kingdom. But he had seen the castle guards pouring oil to keep the fire burning atop the castle. But he hoped there would really be magic and magical creatures- and dragons most of all.

Marwyn was woken up by a sudden burst inside the furnace. He fell back and realized it had just been some dirt in the firewood that reacted too much. He pulled out a metal from the fire and dipped it in the water before reaching for a hammer. But before he could get a slam on the steel, thankfully the smithy door opened with a bang and came in Lorell, another low born pal of Marwyn. Lorell was a thin, dark boy of fourteen, Marwyn was fourteen too but he had a well built body of brown complexion and a manly face with strong jaws and pointy nose. Lorell walked in ignoring the Smith’s curses for being harsh on the door. He sat beside Marwyn and whispered into his ear. Once he finished he brushed his hair off his forehead and stood up as if he wanted Marwyn to follow. Marwyn was double as quick. He dashed for his coat and got out of the smithy slamming the door past him and Lorell. His father, the smith, came storming out behind them cursing all the way. Marwyn paid no heed, and kept running with Lorell towards the cradle rock and up the ascent. From here they could watch the roads. Roads connecting the towns &villages of Aagnisia, All which ended at the four gates of the Fire Castle. The roads were well paved, had sidewalks and street lights lit by oil lamps. They had streets cutting, creating junctions where markets flourished. They could see the crowded streets, the merchants howling their item and prices. But, now Marwyn had something else to look at. And that was on its way from the high town towards the outskirts of the kingdom, possibly towards Megh, the seat of the emperor, to which the other kingdoms were subordinated to. Marwyn never travelled south to Megh or north to the city of Fire where the Fire Castle stood, he had actually not explored out of Rome, his small village.

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Down the road, the palanquin was now visible, held by four strong men of the Castle guard. Four riders escorted them from back and forth. Marwyn looked hard inside the palanquin to get the sight of the inside through the curtains. All he could see was the profile of a beautiful lady- he knew it was the queen, from the Marne clan. Marwyn himself was from the Marne clan, only low born.

Eight clans formed the Aagnisia kingdom- The king was from the Hol clan. And Aagnisia was some kind of a democracy where the king was selected among the clans in turns. As far as Marwyn knew, there had been kings from all the eight clans and very few times of trouble in politics. He had not heard about a war involving the kingdom or any clash of between the clans except for personal arguments over horses, mines or women. But the king looked into it and made sure the matter was sorted out. It was the most peaceful among the five kingdoms. But Marwyn had heard about a sixth kingdom they knew nothing of. It existed only on stories, as far as he knew, said to be the most prosperous of all. Where they were all high born, had no slaves and poverty was unheard of. Beyond the five kingdoms, they knew very little- To the west end they had the kingdom of Varunis, the kingdom of water, beyond which was the vast ocean. To the east end was Govardh, the kingdom of mountains- these mountains kept the realm immune to attacks from east. The south end was guarded by the kingdom of Wind, Maruth. Beyond Maruth was the long stretch of woods- Hrall’s abode, it stretched between the seas and the mountains of the east. And in between dips into Megh, the kingdom of skies, which almost lies in the crossroads. All the kingdoms had their clans and a different polity. However to make trade easier, the kings agreed on common currency for the realm- they had coins- Triangular gold ones called Toms, Square silver ones called drakes and copper circular ones called mint. Each kingdom had their banks which issued, lent and took money. Coins issued in a kingdom had their symbol stamped on them; however had the same value in the entire realm.   

Marwyn and Lorell watched as the party moved through the streets. When they were out of sight Lorell got up, “C’mon, Marwyn, there is no point in watching the royal party”, he took to descend the cradle rock, “We’d never get to them anyways, watching them simply makes the thought worse.”  Marwyn stood up, “If there is no point watching them, lets follow them.” “You talk like a fool Mar’v, You think following them would help you become one of them? It’ll only make your father boil with anger, if he doesn’t find you home before nightfall.” “Lor’l, I’m talking about leaving Rome, Lets creep in the party and move unseen, Those merchants and slaves following them won’t even get a scent of who we are. Guessing by the road I think they move south to Megh.” Marwyn found Lorell staring at him like his father, “Who do you think we are? Who’s gonna feed us on our journey? Are you asking me to leave my parents as well?” “Lor’l, I need to escape from this cursed smithy, this is not what I’m born for, I believe so in my heart, I can’t go alone, And I’ve no one else to ask,” Marwyn looked back to the roads. “We are fourteen, Mar’v..” “..and soon we will be men, Lor’l” Marwyn snapped before Lorell could complete. Marwyn has long been thinking of leaving and tonight he had a chance. The royal party wont be hard to catch up with if they leave soon. He had no one to say good bye. His father, he never really thought he was the forger’s son- he had his reasons, Martin had never respondedto queries about his mother, and Marwyn seldom found the affection in the smith’s eyes. He knew he had to persuade Lorell or be gone himself.  And things were moving towards the latter. Lorell had too much to leave behind- his parents, his little sister, his pet dog ‘Ripp’ who was as big as a hound and as fierce. Marwyn thought persuading Lorell would be wrong to do. What part had he in his ambitions?

“I’m going Lor’l, I have to” Marwyn walked down the cradle rock towards the smithy. He opened the backdoor and got in to find the smith fast asleep. He opened the highest closet and pulled out a scabbard. He pulled out the long sword. The fire from the furnace glowed on the steel..