This is but one of the tales we Corago speak…

Long ago existed two great kingdoms …

They were both a prosperous land living in a time of harmony and peace…

But one day a man of great evil turned his nation against their sister….

With his power he laid ruin to the land….

Then when all hope had been lost and the hour of doom was at hand…

A great man with the head of a falcon appeared as if from nowhere…

Wielding a mighty blade and a golden left eye he locked away the evil saving what was left of the two kingdoms

What became of the sister kingdoms? The power, and its hero? I do not know…

Fact soon turned to legend, legend to myth, and myth to lore. And before long lost to the sands of time…

One thing I can say for certain… Is that some legends simply do not die…

-- --

Since the beginning we Corago have lived on this mountain. Guarding its dark secrets while keeping a watchful eye on the four corners of the world. I myself have lived here my entire life; growing up as a young warrior in training, gaining my armor, until the day I became one of five holy Ephor who uphold law on this mountain island. However things would not remain so peaceful. For an old friend approached. One whose ideals had been warped and twisted so much it would betray its own allies. And it was we Ephor who provoked them.

Amadeus grasped his sword. The cold ocean air wisped by stiffening his fingers as he stood in the sand of the sparing pit. He looked up at his opponent. A tall boy stared viciously back as if an animal ready to kill its prey.

“Begin!” the instructor ordered.

The two boys began slowly circling around the arena. Several other students surrounded the two patiently waiting. The boy pounced forward at Amadeus with his sword above his head.

CLING! The two blades locked together as both boys pushed forward.

Amadeus pressed forward with all his might until the boy backed away into the corner of the sparing square. The crowd silently watched their eyes following every move. The young warrior wildly swung his blade over Amadeus as he ducked beneath the it and quickly hit the boy in the back on the knees with the flat side of his sword bringing him to the ground

“Wasn’t that great” someone commented.

“I thought Wulfgar had that one,” another stated.

Amadeus placed his hand out helping the young warrior back to his feet before turning to his instructor. But something was off. Usually the teacher was first to comment on the fight but this time… this time his attention was to the sea. Amadeus and the other began to slowly approach the building’s deck over looking the rocky shores. There it was. One of the Eastern Empires royal messenger ships. Its golden mass flapped with the wind as it prepared to dock.

“Why would the east be here?” Amadeus thought to himself.

As Amadeus watched the small ship port a feeling of dread moved over him. Something wasn’t right.

-- --

The ship cautiously moved forward staying shy of the jagged rocks jolting from the sea. Amadeus rushed down the sloping street towards the port.

Two Corago knights stood guard at the pier waiting for the ship to dock. They wore silver armor from head to toe while carrying a hulking shield and long pike. But what was always unique about my people’s armor were the different designs each warrior implemented on his set. Golden chains, diamonds and all sorts of unique patterns covered each set of protective wear.

As the ship ported and the loading ramp crashed down on the pier two men walked off the ship. Unlike our people these warriors armor was much lighter, supposedly to help them move faster. Their armor was red with gold as a cone shaped helmet sat over their heads. But the feature no one would forget about them was the golden masks designed to resemble strange frowning faces. They were the Monofu. The Empire's elite group of soldiers.

“The Monofu… here” someone from the crowd whispered. The two Monofu came to a halt when the Knights blocked their path.

“What business do Monofu have on Mount Corago?” one of the warriors questioned raising his pike to the Monofu’s chin.

“Word from the Emperor” a man in red robes and turban tied around his head proclaimed as he walked down the boats ramp.

“You send no word of your arrival and you expect us to” the guard said before being interrupted by a group of fellow knights pushing their way through the crowd.

“The Ephor’s wish to see them,” he said. “Let them pass”.

The Corago guard lowered his weapon as the Monofu and their messenger walked past.

Amadeus looked up at the mysterious warrior.

“Is there even a man in there?” he thought to himself watching as they walked past.

Rumors began to swirl among the crowd almost immediately after the Monofu left. Why were they here? What did the East want? Were they warning of a possible attack?

I’ve always thought of stupidity as a distant relative of curiosity. Something about young men and their curious minds always leads them to stupidity. Something Amadeus knew well.

When the Monofu entered the temple located near the top of the mountain I was lost for words. They walked across the marble floor past the armor of fallen warriors and directly to the center of the temple.

“What brings us so far from home?” one of the Ephor asked clearing his throat.

“Our nations once had a great friendship” the messenger replied. “Times are changing. All our Emperor wants to know is where you stand?”

“So what you are saying is that you want us to aid you in your war with the North?” an Ephor questioned.

“All I need is a simple yes or no to bring back to my lord” the messenger replied. “So what will it be? Do you stand with us… or against us?”

There was a quiet rattle above as Amadeus crawled through one of the broken holes of the temple wall and onto the ceiling support beams. He slowly pulled his body along the panel until he was directly overhead the meeting.

“So you want us to submit to your rule” Punam sighed as he scratched his baldhead. “Sounds almost tempting. However it’s not happening”

Punam reached to his side wrapping his hand around the hilt of his blade. As he prepared to pull the blade from its scabbard a trickle of dust fell from above and onto his robe. Punam looked up to see the top of Amadeus head quickly pulling back and out of sight.

“Go back to your Emperor, tell him Corago will never be his” Punam said turning his attention to the temple guards. “Take these men back to their ship”.

“So be it,” the Messenger hissed.

The temple guard stepped up to the Monofu grabbing them by the arm only to be pushed away.

“Get a move on” one of the guards said pushing the Monofu along and out the door.

“They don’t send any word from their empire in years then out of the blue the Emperor sends a messenger asking for our servitude” an Ephor stated.

“Our mountain does sit near the center of the northern and eastern naval sieges. Perhaps they see our land as part of their war effort” another suggested

“No” Punam said. “Something larger is at play here. And all we can do is sit by and watch until their plans come into light”

Amadeus slowly pull himself back along the support beam towards the small exit hole. As his feet slid off the wooden panel and onto the concrete ledge his shoe brushed against a small pile of gathered dust. The pile of debris fell from above and hit the ground sending the Ephor’s attention upwards.

“Foolish boy” Punam sighed watching Amadeus attempt his escape. “Could you please excuse me for a moment?”

The four others nodded their heads as they headed down one of the temple wings.

“Amadeus, Amadeus” Punam stated shaking his head. “What am I to do with you?”

The young warrior slowly lifted himself off the beam and dropped down onto the tile floor.

“You know your not allowed in here. Why would you suddenly decide to break the rules?” Punam asked. “It’s not like you”.

“I wanted to know why they were here. I shouldn’t have done it and I regret doing it” Amadeus replied.

Punam took a deep breath as he continued shaking his head. “I’ll see you here tonight then. Some shipping containers need to go from the temple to the pier”.

“But it’s not like I make a habit of this. Can’t this just be a warning?”

“Think of this as a warning. Had you made a habit of breaking the rules I would have given you a much harsher penalty”.

My grandson stood before me with eyes of anger. It’s strange how such simple things can make such momentous changes. It’s a decision to this day I’m glad I made.

“Go see your mother. She’s bound to be waiting” Punam ordered.

“Fine” Amadeus sighed.

“Come right back after dinner. And don’t gorge yourself. The work is physical and I don’t want a sloppy job”.

-- --

Nightfall had befallen the mountain when Amadeus entered through the front door.

“Where were you?” Adera asked rushing over to him.

My daughter in-law was a young woman with long black hair. A tall woman, she takes after her father a good friend of mine and a fellow Ephor.

“Because… I snuck into the temple… to see the meeting,” Amadeus answered. “Grandfather is already punishing me”.

“Good” Adera snapped. “What would posses you to do that in the first place anyways. Did you have a death wish?”

“I wanted to see what they were doing here. I just had a bad feeling about the whole thing” Amadeus replied.

Adera sighed as she turned around walking back to the pot of boiling soup.

“Just come eat then go see your grandfather,” she said stirring the large wooden spoon.

Waves crashed against the sea wall as a lone Corago guard stood at his post looking out at the blanket of night surrounding the mountain. As he paced back and forth what sounded like nails clacking against a table grew. The guard slowly approached the sea wall, as the sound grew louder. Suddenly the sound of sea bells rang out from the distance. The Knight rushed across the street towards the ledge to see three imperial ships sailing towards the coastline.

“What in the…” he said squinting at the sight.

A lone Monofu pulled himself up and over the sea wall edge, silently landing as if a cat. He crouched down placing his hand on his blade. As the Corago guard turned his head ready to warn the others the Monofu striked him down with a swift run of his blade.

The guard dropped to the ground as the Monofu waved his hand signaling to other approaching members just coming over the ledge.

Amadeus stood at the front of the large temple doors with his hands around an old iron door handle. As he prepared to knock the door opened with a screeching creak.

“Good you’re here” Punam said as Amadeus entered. “I trust your mother knows you are here”.

Amadeus nodded as the two walked past the sets of propped up Corago armor.

“Before you start,” Punam said. “I wish to show you something”.

“I get a few swings using your sword?” Amadeus asked with a straight face.

“Ah… one day perhaps” Punam laughed. “What I did want to show you was something of much higher value”.

Punam walked across the circular room to a small wooden cabinet bolted against the wall.

“This” Punam said as he placed a key into the lock. “Is something I showed your father many, many years ago”.

“What is it” Amadeus asked swayed his head side-to-side trying to see what his grandfather held.

“Patience” Punam replied pulling a small object wrapped in black cloth.

As he approached Amadeus he began removing the cloth, revealing a dome shaped diamond placed atop a black pedestal. Written around the pedestal was the writing’s .

“One piece of six” Amadeus said reading the ancient language.

“Ah you’ve been up on your studies I see” Punam commented.

“But… it’s just a diamond. They are common on this mountain” Amadeus replied.

“Not this one” Punam answered. “This is one of our peoples most prized treasures… centuries old, since our beginning”.

“Why have I never heard of it then?” Amadeus replied.

“Well…”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

“What in the name of?” Punam shouted as he rushed to the doors.

-- --

I burst through the doors only to realize my horror. Corago… my home… it was ablaze. Being pillaged by those who we would not side with. I could see a dozen Monofu attacking one Corago knight at once, riflemen lighting fire to homes. And below the city sitting atop the water… The Liberator, it fired dozens of cannons at once chiseling away at the face of Corago herself. And I knew her barbaric captain would not be far off. I turned down to my grandson who looked on in as much horror as I did. And what I was about to ask of him, no boy should be burdened with.

“Amadeus” Punam said placing his hands atop his grandson’s shoulders. “Amadeus!”

He snapped to attention shouting, “I need to go help. I can fight!”

“Amadeus” Punam replied. “I need you to do something of utmost importance”.

“I need to fight!” he shouted. “I’m one of the best students they need me down there!”

Amadeus tore himself from Punam’s grip and rushed towards the street only to be halted when his grandfather grabbed him by the collar.

“Listen to me!” he snapped.

“To the peak!” one of the Liberator’s crewmen shouted.

Punam dragged Amadeus by the arm and into the temple before sealing the doors and blockading them.

“This way” Punam said as the two rushed deeper into the temple.

“What about my mother?” Amadeus shouted as Punam lifted an old sword from its prop on the wall.

“Hold this,” he said placing it in Amadeus hand. “There is a small manhole just outside the temple. I want you to go down it and follow the path to the bottom of the island. There you will find an old boat. Get in and follow the current”.

“I’m not leaving!” Amadeus replied.

Punam placed the Corago diamond in the bag he carried while trying to juggle a scabbard in the other.

“Yes you are” Punam said pressing the bag against Amadeus chest and snatching the sword back.

“The waves will take you to the Southern Republic shore. Head inland until you come to the capitol of Virides” Punam said as he placed the sword in it’s shield. “There you will find a man named Rachit. Take the diamond to him”.

“Not with out my mother or you!” Amadeus shouted.

Punam placed the scabbard over Amadeus head and onto his shoulders. “This is bigger then you cam imagine”.

Bang! Bang! “Open up!”

Punam turned the beating door then to Amadeus. “If our people are to see a future you need to leave now”.

“But…”

“Go Amadeus!” Punam shouted pushing him towards the ladder propped against the wall.

Amadeus scurried up the ladder and placed his hands on the support beams. He lifted himself up and quickly squeezed through the small opening in the wall. He dropped to the ground with a thump. Amadeus pulled himself up and ran for the small opening in the earth. He placed his legs in and dropped down into a darkened tunnel smelling of wet grass and humid air. The sound of running water down the tunnel lit his way towards an exit. As he ran he would hear the muffled roar of cannons and screams of his people.

I sat in the center of the temple watching as the doors prepared to fall, my hand on my blade. After one final push they finally toppled down and a dozen men rushed in waving their muskets at me. However these men were not of eastern decent but instead ragged and torn clothes covered their black skin. As they circled around me Demetrius pushed his way through. A supposed pirate lord Demetrius was a man feared by many. Just name the crime and he has done it. He was a man I had absolutely no respect for, a man I would gladly kill with a joyous smile on my face. He had dark skin and an un-groomed beard. His shirt remained loose showing off his muscular chest as golden necklaces decorated his neck.

“So even the most feared man on all the sea has a master” Punam grinned.

“I am slave to no one” Demetrius replied circling around Punam. “You have something I want. Hand it to me now before I kill you”.

Punam chuckled as he looked over the other pirate’s heads. “The eastern leash is looking somewhat tight. You best be backing up before you choke”.

Demetrius violently threw his fist forward knocking Punam to the ground.

“What do we have here” Demetrius said eyeing his sword.

The brute placed his large boot atop Punam’s chest as he lifting the blade from its scabbard.

“Ah-ha-ha” Demetrius laughed as he examined the sparking blade tip to base. “I’ll be keeping this”.

“You won’t… find the gem,” Punam grunted. “I’ve already sent it somewhere safe”.

“Then you are of no use!” Demetrius snapped as he hoisted the blade into the air. “How ironic. Killed by his own treasure”.

With a single thrust downwards Punam was silenced.

Demetrius pulled his newly found sword back and turned to his men. “Find any gem and bring it to me!”

-- --

Amadeus emerged at the rocky shores of the mountain to find a small boat tied to a decaying pole of wood. Untying the rope he pushed the boat forward sinking his legs into the cold water. Amadeus emerged from the cave to see the Liberator anchored in the island bay consistently firing her cannons. Large pieces of rock fell from the mountain and crashed into the bay sending large waves across the water. Amadeus jumped into the boat and watched as the Liberator’s cannon direction moved towards the temple.

“No!” he shouted as explosions rained down on the building.

Large pieces of debris fell from above and smashed into the water sending large waved looming over Amadeus.

The ocean’s hand reached over Amadeus and grabbed onto him pulling him beneath the waves. And so that night would change our worlds history forever. The East had done the unthinkable. And I died, as did my countrymen. Though our lives may have been lost there was still a glimmer of hope. For I had bought the time needed to allow my grandson an escape to the outside world.

If you have read the first chapter I truly thank you for giving the story a chance. I hope you will not stop here as many readers have gone on to enjoy this story and come to the Corago community forum.

If you wish to read the proper chapter the way it's meant to be formated feel free to message me and I'll send it to you. The Fictionpress formating doesn't do it justice. Again thank you.