Chapter 3-
The story of Lorax
The year was 50
A.T (After Thorgan) the city of thandor is at war with the city of thismal. The
war was been waged since the last revolution of the sun. Both sides stood over
the fields of Darthon awaiting orders. The sun beat down on both factions. Only
a slight breeze helped them to bear with the heat. For five days they fought
each other neither side pushed either back. They were locked in a stale mate
and neither thought they could lose.
The people of
thandor were a race of proud warriors. Each citizen was willing to give their
life for the prosperity of their people. Their skin was no redder than any
thismalite. Who however held true to naidni ways and found their path to the
enlightenment the elders spoke of. The enlightment was a spiritual connection
with the earth and the universe. This enlightenment was achieved by the
brothers of aura at first. The brothers upon the time of the first
enlightenment lead the first group to thismal. Where the buffalo were plenty,
land fertile and could fine-tune their skills.
Thandor the
seventh and his brothers of aura followed the buffalo out of thandor. Those
amongst the naidni people who were scared to leave the empire, stayed with his
brother kena. As the city of thismal grew, the brothers of aura sat together
and the clerics were born. A unit of aura gifted children trained to fully
harness their abilities. Although their children were already in the
brotherhood, the next first born would be the first generation of cleric.
The brothers
realized over many births. The first born was always blessed with the highest
level of aura amongst their kin. On rare occasions that wasn’t the case, which
was why the brothers set up cleric challenges for the citizens. Test
specifically set for each ability that could only be completed by the best.
Only the strongest thismalite could pass the test the brothers configured.
Now with so many
thismalites posseing aura. They had to find a way to control and train the
young in the proper ways of dealing with their abilities. From the start of their
tribe to the city that it was now. They saw many crimes and hardship caused by
the misuse of aura. The forming of the clerics changed the way thismalites
thought of the abilities’.
The clerics were a
new form of the law in the land. Not quite brothers of aura but more than
soldiers. They were in the middle of the aura hierarchy in thismal. High
classed thismalites and lower classed ones. All bound to one code, to protect
and use their abilities for good.
The first couple
generations of clerics were misunderstood and treated as outcast. Many of the
lower brothers didn’t respect them and the soldiers treated them the same. The
people however loved them. They were of the people and for the people.
Thismalites from all walks of life protecting their own communities from wrong
doers. Using their abilities for the better of others around them. The clerics
built the first jail in the naidni empire. The younger clerics ran it before
they were allowed into the streets for service.
Ranks were made to
organize them. Five colors were chosen to represent their status. Red, blue,
yellow, green and brown. Red was for the fire clerics, blue for the water
clerics, yellow for the mind clerics, green for the air clerics and brown for
the earth clerics. The lighter the color meant the lower the rank. Each cleric
was dotted with a color on their forehead. They were also given greenion cloaks
as a symbol of their status.
Greenion cloaks
were woven from linen and dust from the meteor shards. They were originally
used by zartanites to keep the naidni captives with abilities under control.
The cloak weakened your aura and now clerics used them to mask their strength.
The cloaks were a reminder from the brothers of aura to keep their humility.
Whenever a cleric removed the cloak, they would have to live with whatever
decisions they made after.
The first month of
every cycle the head clerics choose among the young children. They picked a few
to join them and learn their tasks. To any thismalite the choice was a great
honor to the family of the chosen child. Lorax Desparto was chosen one cycle
and he moved up in stature quickly. The aura that he produced amazed all that
came in to contact with him. Lorax was a strong naidni and showed his
leadership countless times through his training.
Elifan the
righteous noticed his progression. He watched him grow and saw his connection
to the universe. Elifan also saw rage in him that was very uncommon for the
naidni people. He hoped that the level of enlightenment Lorax would obtain
would cause the anger to vanish. Over the years of lorax’s time inside the
clergy sanctuary, Elifan guided him in mediation. Lorax found favor in Elifan’s
eyes and soon found himself observing meetings of the high council with Elifan.
Elifan the
righteous was the son of king thandor the knowing. He was the purest blood
clergyman, the first to reach the stage of enlightenment. Elifan was blessed
with two children fraternal twins. His son and heir to the throne Eliros and
his daughter Eleanor. Their mother had died giving birth so Elifan raised them
by his self. As they grew Ellaros grew a hatred for Lorax. He despised how his
father Sheppard Lorax as if his own. Although Lorax could never get the throne
his level of enlightenment surpassed Eliros’s. This made Eliros see him as a threat.
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Lorax
sat Indian style in the chambers of mediation. The walls were covered in
artwork depicting the stars and the universe. Thandor had mapped out many
constellations. Over many cycles enlightened clerics added to his finds to
construct the hall. A pillar stood in the center of the room. On top of the
pillars was a rock. When thandor achieved his enlightenment it was said that a
piece of the moon fell in front of him. Certifying his place with the universe.
The roof was paned with glass allowing the moonlight to shine directly on the
rock.
Eleanor
walked into the room. Lorax broke out of his trance.
‘We really should stop meeting
here” he said
“And what? make me miss a cleric at
work!” Eleanor teased
Lorax
stood up and turned to her with a smile. He caressed her reddish brown skin and
ran his hand through her long black hair. With a smile they looked in to each
other’s eyes. Eleanor’s was big and brown with a shimmer.
“Let us not defile such a spiritual
place, let us go to the garden of tranquility.” Lorax said guiding her to the
doorway.
They
walked down the corridor holding hands. Eleanor’s face beamed with happiness as
she looked at him in the moonlight. The garden was filled with beautiful
flowers. Each one complimenting the other in the vast colors. All the flowers
allowed anyone who entered the garden to become at peace. The name of the
garden was an understatement to the solitude and harmony it brought over you.
The
two strolled in the garden and stopped to kiss. They felt the unity with each
other at once. The room seemed to spin as they let go of their deep embrace.
Lorax pulled her back in close and caressed her face with his right hand.
Eleanor’s skin was smooth and flawless. The moon lit the garden and warmed
them. A gentle breeze blew her hair and Lorax smirked. Eleanor giggled and whipped
her hair back giving him a kiss.
“You should return to your room
before were caught” Lorax said grabbing her hand and walking to the entrance
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Elifan
sat on his horse next to his generals. Ellaros sat on a horse to his right and
Lorax to his left. Elifan kicked his horse and started galloping forward.
Soldiers moved out the way and filled back their positions as he rode to the
front. Elifan rode pass the banner men holding the thandorian flag. The flag
was black with a half moon and sun in the center. It signified the unity
between day and night. Elifan sat on his horse in front of his army. He scanned
it matching eyes with many soldiers.
“Since the time of enlightenment
the thandorians have been jealous of our prosperity. Many men have fallen over
this war. Their death will not be in vain. We are the chosen few and will not
back down even in a corner. My blade won’t stop swinging until I’m slicing the
cowards backs. Ill die defending our land for the future of our tribe. Our
children will sing hymns about today and how we prevailed. Will you fight with
me brothers and push them back over the hill!” Elifan shouted pulling his blade
out. His horse rose up in the air with him.
The
thismal army erupted with a roar. Swords, axes, shields and bows raised into
the air.
“Ride with me brothers and drink
with me tonight.” Elifan yelled as he charged into battle with his army
following.
The
battle began. The thandorians held their ground. They watched as the thismal
soldiers ran down the planes. They yelled and roared as they stampeded toward
them.
“Now” Gando yelled raising his hand
in the air.
Thandorians archers released their
arrows. The sky blackened as the arrows rained down. Thismal soldiers fell as
the stampede continued. Few soldiers were impaled, others continued as they
watched their brother’s fall. The thismalites finally reached the front line of
the thandorians army.
The
two armies crashed together. The sun hit a high point in the sky. The planes
echoed with the sound of men crying in pain. Thismal dogs of war growled and
weped, as they attacked thandorians and were sliced by them. The yells of the
men still standing kept the battle alive. Horses kneaded as they ran through
the battle.
“We make our stand here brothers!”
Elifan shouted as he sliced a thandorian.
“The day will be ours for the
taking!” Gando said raising his sword and running toward Elifan.
The
two kings met and exchanged swipes with their swords. Their horses circled each
other allowing access to the other. Gando kicked Elifan off his horse. Elifan
fell off and his horse ran. Gando intended to give him the final blow from off
his horse. Elifan blocked it with his sword and pulled Gando down off his
horse. Gando rolled away and regained his balance. They looked at each other
and raised their aura up. Gando glowed red and blue while Elifan glowed brown
and blue.
The
battle continued around the two kings. They both took a look around them at the
chaos. Then they looked back at each other and grabbed up their swords. Gando’s
sword was forged from steel and his fiery aura set it ablaze. Elifan’s sword
was forged out of ice. On the butt of the sword was a hammer formed from stone.
It made his sword bottom heavy but could break a man’s ribs with one blow. They
began to exchange blows both men were far from their prime. You could see the
exhaustion from every blow they exerted.
They were both huffing and puffing and they danced around the
battlefield. Finally they both connected their swords together. The heat off of
Gando made Elifan sweat as steam rose up from their swords meeting. Neither one
of them would let up to other.
“How much more blood must be shed
for peace?” Elifan asked
“As long as you do not pay homage
blood will be shed” Gando yelled pushing onto his sword pushing Elifan back.
“Ok just end this madness” Elifan
said
He lowered his
aura and put his sword back into its sheath.
Gando threw his hand up in a fist and a man blew a horn that echoed
through the planes. The soldiers in the battlefield slowly stopped fighting.
They slowly stepped back from each other and waited for orders.
The
sun began to set and a huge bon fire was roaring in the middle of the field.
The fallen soldiers were wrapped in white linens and their weapons on top of
them. A group of clerics including Lorax walked among the dead. They poured the
oils of passing over each body to prepare them for the ceremony. Soldiers
chanted and danced around the massive fire preparing to send their brothers to
the other life.
As
the moon shined down on the two armies. For the first time since the
enlightened period. Thismalites and thandorians stood side by side. From the
outside looking in you would never of known the two factions were warriors who
had been fighting a bloody war. They drank, hugged, danced and reminisced of
old times together. The naidni soldiers came to attention when the horn of
mourning started to blow. Soldiers put their hands over their chest in respect
for their fallen brothers. Other soldiers walked over to their brother’s
corpses and raised one at a time up. Each corpse was brought up to the fire and
placed on top. One by one they erupted in the fire. The sparks of the fire
flurried in the air. Flames danced around the soldiers. The crackling of the
wood and bodies echoed in the night. The smell of the fallen soldiers filled
the air. The white smoke coming from the bodies covered the battlefield.
Gando
and Elifan met each other in front of the fire. All the soldiers focused their
attention on them. The cleric’s continued bringing the bodies and placing them
in the fire.
“Today we stand not as enemies but
as brothers. For years we have fought and lost many good men. Tonight we honor
our fallen by pledging peace and prosperity for years. As we place the last of
our dead into the fire. We shall never forget what took place today. The lives
lost, the cries of your brother, or the end of a war. These men will not of
died in vain. Now brothers dine with me in remembrance. Drink with me for the
joy of peace and prosperity!” Gando yelled
Every
soldier on the field cheered and banged their swords against their shields.
“Join me in my teepee brother!”
Gando said to Elifan.
Elifan
walked in and sat beside him. He grabbed a box from off the floor and opened
it. Gando pulled a long wooden pipe out the box. The bowl at the end was the
size of a golf ball. He grabbed a bag of hash out of the box and began filling
the bowl. The noise of the soldier’s merriment filled the air. Two of Gando’s
servants opened the teepee. One brought in a small table and two bowls filled
with meats and breed. The other held two satchels of firewater. The servants
placed them down in front of the men and walked out.
“Will you smoke the pipe of peace
with me?” Gando asked as he lit it up
“Of course I shall brother” Elifan
said accepting the pipe and smoking
“To ensure peace I offer my son
Domori to wed your daughter” Gando said
“It would be an honor to have the
two of them wed” Elifan said
“Ah ha ha ha” Gando boomed out with
laughter. “ Good good brother”
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Lorax
sat in the meditation room as he did most nights. The only difference with
tonight’s meditation was he couldn’t focus. It was the night before Eleanor was
to wed domori. A million thoughts raced through his head. He was overwhelmed
with emotions he was taught all his life to repress. He hadn’t seen Eleanor in
weeks as she was preparing herself. Tonight would be the last time he could
ever see her again. She was running late. Eleanor was never late to meeting
him. Lorax stood up and started to pace. Maybe she wouldn’t come.
The
sound of footsteps snapped him out his daze. He was expecting Eleanor to enter
the hall but Ellaros did. Lorax’s face was quickly turned to an irritable look.
“Your hinest what might you be
doing here at this hour?” Lorax asked bowing
“Just enjoying the nights air, are
you troubled brother?” Ellaros asked
“No I was just finishing my
session. You may have it if you like!” Lorax said
“Well I bid you good night sire”
Lorax said bowing and walking out the hall
Eliros
looked around the room and walked over to the rock. He sat down and took his
form. The sound of footsteps took him out of focus.
“Is their anything else I can do
for you Lorax?” Eliros said without turning around.
“Do I disturb you brother? Was
Lorax here?” Eleanor asked as non-chalantly as she could.
“Yes he was. He just left, why are
you up so late before your big day my dear sister?” Eliros asked turning around
to see her face.
“I couldn’t sleep but since you are
using this room. I’ll just go to bed!” Eleanor said turning around quickly to
leave.
“Why don’t you meditate with me,
it’s been a while since we meditated together” Eliros said
“No thank you I’ll just go back to
bed, I’ll see you in the morning brother” Eleanor said walking out the hall.
Lorax
sat in the garden just staring at the moon. He was so deep in thought he didn’t
hear Eleanor walking up behind him. She wrapped her hands around lorax’s eyes
surprising him. His startled reaction made her giggle. He turned around and
just embraced her. He smelled her hair and kissed her soft lips. Lorax looked
deep into her brown eyes. Eleanor’s smile left her face as she looked into his
eyes and saw the sadness. She held him tighter and kissed his chest.
“I have to go now, you will be my
escort to the palace right?” Eleanor asked looking deep into his eyes.
“Yes! We will meet again in the
future!” Lorax said, “ I love you”
“I love you too!” Eleanor said
kissing him lovingly.
Eleanor
took the red flower she always wore in her hair out. She put it in lorax’s
hand. He began to say something but she put her fingers over his lips and
kissed him. Lorax took the flower and put it in his pouch. Eleanor dragged her
fingers from his face to his chest as she walked away. Lorax turned and faced
the moon again. He did not want her to see the tears streaming down his face.
A
nosey Eliros stood in the shadows overlooking the garden and the two lovers. He
walked down the corridor with a sick smile on his face. He walked into the
garden. Lorax broke out his trance and wiped his face before he turned around.
“I ask you again brother. What
troubles you brother?” Eliros asked with a smile
“Nothing sire I may need to sleep.
I bid you goodnight,” Lorax said bowing and tried to walk past Eliros who moved
to block him.
“She is our ticket to peace and I
will not have some common mutt courting my sister. If you even look at her
tomorrow in anyway that displeases me. I’ll have you for treason. You’ll never
see her again and soon I’ll be king. Don’t stress though I’ll have a place for
you. Maybe my jester or servant, something along that line!” Eliros said
grabbing lorax’s arm stopping him from walking past.
“I understand sire,” Lorax said
with huge eyes. He turned and continued back into the castle.
The
sun was in the sky and the royal wedding procession was beginning. Eleanor was
seated in her carriage. Four pole bearers held her up, each one held a slab of
wood protruding out the carriage. The escort started moving and musicians
started playing. The thismal kingdom was alive today as people celebrated the
wedding. Citizens lined up to see the princess pass by. She waved and smiled at
the people. Women and little kids threw flowers at the carriage.
Eleanor
through her excitement searched the escort for Lorax. He rode on a white horse
not to far from her carriage. She smiled his way but he didn’t smile back.
Lorax turned his head and looked away. It troubled Eleanor but she couldn’t be
emotional now she had to hold her composure. The caravan reached the thandorian
kingdom. Trumpeters blared to announce the arrival of the princess.
The
escort entered the kingdom and soldiers saluted the princess and bowed as king
Elifan passed. The thandorian city was as much alive as thismal was. Flower
pedals flew around and danced in the air. Men and women danced in the streets
next to the carriage as it made it’s way toward the palace.
The
escort stopped at the feet of the palace steps. Eleanor was helped out the
carriage and started to make her way up. Elifan dismounted his horse and walked
next to his daughter. She grabbed his arm and put her hands through it. Eliros
and Lorax made their way behind them. Eliros flashed Lorax a smile and Lorax
looked down at the steps he was walking up.
Gando
and Isabella walked out their palace to meet their guest. Kingdom followed
slowly behind him. Eleanor removed her shawl and their eyes met. Domori couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
“Welcome, welcome come in” Gando
said gesturing to them to enter the castle.
“Your more beautiful then I
pictured” Isabella walked over to her and caressed her face.
Gando
and Eliros walked toward the castle. Eleanor and Isabella followed behind them.
With Elifan and Domori trailing behind them. Lorax slowly and quietly followed
the group. Eleanor and Isabella broke from the group and went right. The men
turned and went left. Eleanor gave one more glance back expecting Lorax to turn
around but he didn’t. Eliros did though and with a smile he connected eyes with
Eleanor. She turned around quickly and turned the corner with Isabella.
The
queen and princess walked down the corridor. Isabella opened the door in the
middle of the hall. In the room maids waited in chairs, they stood up as the
queen entered and bowed. A long white dress was prepared and laid out on the
bed. Eleanor walked over and ran her hand over the dress. She admired the
fabric and gave Isabella a look of joy.
“I’m glad you like but we have much
work to do” Isabella said clapping her hands.
The
maids immediately ran over to Eleanor and started working on her. One maid
measured her. Another maid started on her hair. Yet another maid started dis
robbing her. Eleanor’s young supple breast bounced as the maids twisted and
turned her.
“Now that we have some private
time, I need to know who you are?” Isabella said sitting in a chair and staring
Eleanor in her eyes.
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The
moon hit the high point of the night sky. The ceremonial drums boomed through
out the city. The head cleric stood atop a small mound. The mound was tall
enough that he towered over the crowd. He was dress in his ceremonial white and
red robe. Gando, Isabella, Eliros and Elifan sat side by side above the head
cleric. Gando raised his hand and the drummers stopped.
“Today we gather to bond two naidni
together. As we stand under falina’s watchful eye. We receive her blessing’s
and ask her to carry there two with her guidance. Let us begin the ceremony”
lomur said as he held his hands out toward the moon.
Instantly as he finished his
sentence the drums started back up immediately.
King Domori walked out the castle
and made his way towards the bottom of the mound. He wore his official uniform.
It held the crest of thandor over his chest. His legs felt like jelly and he
could hear every step he took. King domori’s feet seem to drown out the sounds
of the tribal drums. His only focus was on his fathers face. Their eyes met and
Gando nodded at him while he caressed Isabella’s hand.
King
Domori reached the front and stood in front of lomur. Lomur put his hand on his
shoulder and they both looked back down the isle. Eleanor walked out of the
palace. She wore a white shawl over her face that matched her flowing white
dress. The maids carried the tail of her dress as she walked. Halfway down the
isle she turned to see Lorax standing at the back of the ceremony. Their eyes
met for the first time since they left thismal.
Eleanor
continued down the isle and stood in front of lomur. She turned to face Domori
and he lifted up her shawl. The drums immediately stopped and lomur placed his
other hand on her shoulder. Domori was amazed at Eleanor’s beauty he couldn’t
help but smile. Lomur started talking but kingdom heard nothing that he said.
He was too transfixed on Eleanor to focus on anything else. Lomur raised his
hand off Domori’s shoulder and that snapped him back to reality.
Lomur
signaled for a cleric to come. The cleric brought him a bowl filled with
firewater.
“As we begin to rejoice for these
two souls, let the first drink unify them,” lomur said handing kingdom the
bowl.
King
Domori accepted and took a swig. He smacked his lips and shook his head. Then
handed the bowl the Eleanor and she accepted. Before she took a sip she scanned
the crowd once more for Lorax. It wasn’t hard his eye’s burned through her. She
took the swig and looked again to see Lorax walking off. The crowd cheered and
the feel of Domori touching her face brought her back. He ran his hand over her
soft brown cheek. The anticipation was killing him. He leaned in and kissed
her.
Gando,
Isabella, Eliros and Elifan stood up and began walking down the mound. The
drums and flutes began to play. Domori and Eleanor walked down the steps
together. The crowd threw petals of flowers in the air over them as they
passed.
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Lorax
returned to thismal and continued his training as a cleric. He became more
focused in his work. The anger that he held inside whispered to him all the
time. It consumed him slowly although it pushed him to accomplish great tasks.
At night he just mediated to falina. Asking questions he knew he would never
get the answers too. It became his secret obsession.
Ten
years had passed and Lorax had moved up in rank. Eliros made every attempt to
make his life miserable. Yet Lorax never complained or even questioned Eliros.
It didn’t matter how menial that task was Lorax did it. How ever Eliros
attempts were blatant and Lorax grew respect among his peers and other high
officers.
These
attempts to sabotage Lorax didn’t pass over the king’s watch. He never meddled
with the affairs of the two. When questioned he refused to answer and never
asked either of them, for he knew Eliros’s jealousy of Lorax. Elifan could just
not see why he considered Lorax such a threat. Although Eliros had proven
himself to be a worthy king on many occasions, He feared his jealousy would
consume him.
Elifan
was getting old and realized he needed to pass the throne down to his son soon.
He didn’t question if he was ready. He questioned if he would be respected.
Eliros name had been brought around the royal circle in not the best topics.
His bachelor lifestyle didn’t co inside with a kingly mannerism. He was 23
cycles and without a wife.
Eliros
was a strong warrior now and had commanded armies to stop zartanites and yield
their territorial push. He put Lorax on the front line of every battle. Even
during celebrations while he amused women. He had Lorax fetch him things and
stand guard. However lorax’s strength and abilities continued to grow.
Every
night after Lorax meditated he sat by his bedside. A table held a glass
container on top. The container held the flower that Eleanor gave him before
she left. It looked no more different then it did when she took it out her
hair. He wondered what she looked like now. It made him laugh cause he doubted
she even thought about him. It was forbidden for a cleric to touch a woman until
they were prepared for the after life.
The
city of thismal stood between a rock and a hard place at the moment. Too the south
the ever-ready armies of foratu, to the north the taru could choose to expand
at any time. Eleanor was still without child. Elifan sat and drank in his
counsel room by himself. He thought of all that had transpired over the years.
As he took a swig he thought of his wife.
Elifan
loved etena with all his heart. He couldn’t see himself with any other women.
It was over 20 cycles that he lost her. Yet he could still remember what she
smelled like. Her laugh echoed in his head from time to time. At times he would
see her smile. The memory was so vivid Elifan thought he could touch her.
Elifan
stood up and walked to his balcony. The moon warmed the night and the wind
complimented it with a breeze. Lorax sat Indian style in the courtyard
mediating. Elifan looked down on him and thought
“He could make a great king some
day”
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