Chapter 2: 2. Marjun’s Plan.
ChapMarjun returned home that day to see his father seated next to the window, flipping through some books about various creatures that existed in the shadow world. There was a stack by his leg and 3 opened on his lap, the pages yellowed and brittle. Being a noble, they had access to resources the ordinary people did not have.
Many often said Marjun looked like the spitting image of his father, Neron, but he could never really see it. While Neron's face was a permanent scowl, Marjun looked more like a frightened mouse. Even so, he'd grown a backbone over the years, he wasn't a scared, vulnerable little boy anymore. Marjun hung his coat up, standing warily by the doorway. He knew how important his father's position in the village was, so he knew how the news he brought would affect him.
"Well don't just stand there and stare, Marjun. If you have something to say, say it!" Neron said brashly, not even looking up from the books. Marjun sneered behind his father. If the man wasn't going to be humble, then he might as well keep the news to himself.
"Marjun!"
"Don't hurry me, father." Marjun replied. His eyes were bloodshot, and that was partly because of anger and partly because he was drunk. "I have brought you good news. It would do you well to put your attitude aside for this."
"You unfilial misfit whom I have fed and housed. Is that how you refer to the man who gave you life?!" Neron demanded, finally looking up, his aging face gruesome with the harsh scowls he always wore. "Is it?!"
"Slow down, old man. Remember that if you die now, everything you own goes to me." Marjun said, sneering down at his father. It was easy to do this, at a safe distance and standing, while his father sat. "I have information that could restore your position before the king."
Neron sat up in his antique seat. The chair was wooden and had a soft cushion wrapped in rich purple satin, a fabric only nobles could bother to afford. He turned to face his son with the fed up resignation only a father could possess.
"Come and sit, boy." Neron said gruffly. He got up and removed an unstable stack of books from the armchair opposite him. Marjun calmly sat. "Tell this old man what you have brought."
"I heard that the king wanted someone to wake the dragon up." Marjun began. "I also heard that the reward for anyone who could successfully do so is one ton of pure gold."
Neron's eyes shone with greed. One ton of pure gold? That was...
"Who told you this?" Neron whispered. "Who told you that? How did you hear of it? Don't tell me that you have been wasting away, idle with the irresponsible young noble masters!"
"Father! Fraco told me." Marjun exclaimed. "You know his father still sits with the king."
Neron scowled. "That sly old monkey! He was supposed to serve this partial banishment with me! He double-crossed me!"
Marjun rolled his eyes. "Don't be so petty, Father. Surely you are past that age. I'm telling you this now so that you can inform the King that you have found someone who is willing to do that."
"Who?"
"He goes by the name of Alex. He is dressed in rich robes, but he had a touch of a peasant's appearance. He does not keep his hair smooth like we do. He looks too cunning and a little roguish. I don't know, father. But he didn't seem to hide the fact that he wanted to wake the dragon. If someone else finds out about this, they could advance past us and take the news to the king." Marjun explained. "You have an edge here."
"Well, I think you should also go out and find the young boy! Don't allow him to be seen or heard by anyone else. Bring him to the house and I will send my servant to get the both of you when the king agrees to see me." Neron said. He quickly sprang up from his royally adorned seat and dusted off his robe. He slid out his leather sandal that had golden straps out from underneath the chair and put them on. "Don't waste any time, boy! Hurry up and find the man!"
Marjun watched his father leave. He waited a few minutes before he left as well. Cantering down the streets of the village on his horse, he watched the fair maidens bristling about from the balconies of their fathers' house. He smiled at them and felt slightly self conscious. They never really looked at him. He was jealous of whoever was able to attract them easily. Though maybe it was more of a him problem, being incapable of really talking to any woman. He used to imagine it would be easy, since they were both human beings and 'females' weren't supposed to be objects for you to manipulate and charm the pants off to get your way. But based on his experiences, maybe being raised differently really did create a divide between men and women.
His horse continued to trot down the village square as he moaned forlornly about his love life, or lack there-of. Little did he know, the man he was about to encounter again was quite popular with the ladies.
Alexander stood before his people. His fellow peasants, to be exact. Realizing what had just sped through his mind, he felt slightly guilty. He stood in the shabby part of the village. The houses there were not built with bricks but rather, built with mud and wood and straw. They had palm fronds for their roofs and hardened clay for thresholds. Occasionally, some would get nylon to drape over roofs against the rain. That was the most they could afford.
Alexander was seated among the unwanted of the village, but at the same time the most essential of the village. Who would work the fields, mend the shoes, tailor the lavish robes if not the poorest? There was a sense of solidarity here, a shared struggle. But any smart impoverished bloke would keep whatever money he had close to himself. He knew how things were done in this aspect of the village. It was steal or be stolen from. Cheat or be cheated. Kill or be killed.
"Friends, I may no longer be here soon." Alexander announced. "There is a task of which I have undertaken."
The men next him dropped the things they were holding. The women nearby also dropped their tools and stared. When you were this poor, gender roles weren't as strict. Everybody worked to contribute to anything they could put on the table. And it was unheard of for anyone to just claim to 'leave' poverty. Cause everyone knew he didn't mean 'home'. Who in their right mind would call this a home?
"What task is this that is threatening to take you away from home?" Julie asked. She was one of the more naïve of young'uns, but the closest one to Alexander in terms of relationship. Although everyone was aware, Alexander was mainly still coddling her up for his own benefit.
"I heard that the king is looking for someone who will awaken the dragon!" Alex announced. "The reward is fulfilling, and I wish to go."
"What?" Julie exclaimed. "Are you insane?"
"What?" Alex asked. "It's my life. I will choose the way I want to live it."
"Friend, you should not even think about that. You mean something to us, even if we mean nothing to you."
"I cannot imagine how. Don't butter me up with your words. This is my choice."
"Alexander, you could lose your life!" Julie stated. "How could you be so selfish?!"
Alex opened his mouth to retort something about how he wasn't being selfish by making a decision for his own self when a voice cut in, loud and obnoxious.
"Leave the young man!" Everyone turned to find Marjun alighting from atop his horse. From his attire, it was obvious that he was of noble descent. "If he wishes to venture into a dangerous path, it is his choice."
Alexander scowled at the intruder. What exactly did he come here for?
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