Tokus Numas by D.W. Rigsby Read Free Book Online Page B

other sons were near one another, around the throne, with Fin in his red cloak standing across from them. Guards stood at the ready; dead bodies littered the floor. The air was thick, a measure above normal temperatures, drawing heat from those who remained and holding the heat of those who had died in battle. The Father pulled at his neckline, letting air flow, but his armor kept him from making much progress. He took notice of Fin, eager to hear what King Offing had offered before he met his end.
    “He had encrypted the information, but we were able to retrieve most of it. It speaks of one of power beyond our own understanding. This being is called Mittere Ergon and will turn fear into vengeance and bring forth death and destruction,” Fin said.
    The Father was not impressed—his mouth wiggled, and he raised an eyebrow. “So, it is some sort of prophecy, is it? The one to come and destroy—say, me?” He tapped his finger against his chest.
    Laughter erupted and then fell away.
    “It is a prophecy—though more so of the coming of the end of Spearca,” Fin said.
    The Father reached up with one hand and rubbed his left temple. “I wonder if this was one of the sacred scripts of the Numas. I recall one such script, only part of it, where the stars would reveal to all the presence of one with power. Something I learned while I served in a Numa city temple. It’s a story, nothing more,” he said.
    His real thoughts he kept to himself until he was out of earshot of the soldiers around them. This was not the hidden technology he set out to uncover, but was there something to what King Offing said about Petro, ward to King Amerstall? The Father tapped his fingers against the armrest of the royal chair. He leaned forward, keeping his gaze upon his adviser.
    Fin averted his eyes and said, “Father, this prophecy also speaks of a blue fire that will encompass Spearca.”
    The Father ran his left hand through his thick, gray hair. “A blue fire? Hmm. I never heard that one mentioned in the halls of the Numa temple I once served. I do know of this special being, this Mittere Ergon. It’s an interesting tale, but it holds no factual information; and besides, prophecies are almost always interpreted after major events. Strange, don’t you agree?”
    “Of course, sire. There is one more thing of note,” Fin said. “It says that upon the day when the ring of fire appears in the sky, he shall know his true nature.” Fin bowed his head and moved away.
    Even as the Father mocked the ancient scripts, he still wondered if there was truth to this Mittere Ergon. He doubted it, but part of him was curious to know more. It must be of importance if the Numas had trusted King Offing to be their Keeper for the ancient text. King Offing’s devotion to the ways of the Numas, his devotion to protecting their technology—his devotion had never been put to the test. King Offing had given him a place to start—Petro, ward to King Amerstall of Dugual.
    The wealth of Dugual was immense; all the kingdoms contracted through Dugual for scientists, engineers, and the development of new technology. When each transaction was processed, Dugual was paid a margin, and King Amerstall had built up an enormous treasury over many decades—enough coin to defend his lands and to provide protection to the Free City. It was a match made for any king to have, though many did deal in the black markets, where products produced were often subpar unless one paid an enormous amount of dulles.
    He’d been to the Free City on several occasions—once was for the uplinks, which was a joint investment made by all the kingdoms. They pooled the city’s creative minds and used their ingenuity to produce new technology. This new way of communicating was only for royalty, and it recognized important houses and positions. Uplinks gave those in power the ability to walk about and communicate, while commoners used basic landlines to carry their voices across the land.