This has been placed on the behalf of Alkador during his absence.
The Sword of Justice:
The Lost Guardians
Chapter 3 - Illian Tournament
A new place means new faces; new skills and new friends.
"What about you?" You say as Aaron looks at you with a blank face, expecting an answer rather than a question.
"Ithaca is ahead!" Roars the guard atop the crow's nest.
With Aaron and you distracted, you run towards to the bow to stare at the horizon, to stare at the small speck of darkness that begins to rise. The darkness begins to change colour, into a multitude of dark shades, being buildings and a large city port beyond the great bay of water.
"It's so big!" Smiles Pipi, whose eyes seem to bulge out of her head.
"Unbelievable!" Laughs Brian, as the land moves closer, growing larger, the sun shining onto it perfectly.
"Is that…Ithaca?" You say, staring in awe.
"Yes, it is!" Smiles Aster. "The land of gold and heart!"
As the port rises into full view, everyone seems to jump in joy, seeing another land never before seen. The sound of a flickering flag makes you look to the crows nest, where Shrin’s flag; the two circles joined together, carefully nestled atop a triangle seems to match that of the Ithacan flag. A silver tower shield with a golden sun right in the middle seems to be the better of the two flags.
Looking back at the welcoming land, you see hundreds of ships line each possible space at the port, some leaving, but many coming in. Must be this tournament. Jenti seems to appear behind you, with a thick red cloak, handing it to Aster.
He puts the cloak on carefully, wrapping it around his body. He takes something else; a golden crown and places it on his head, gems shining brightly. He looks nothing like the Aster you would see fighting.
One of the Ithacan guards on the ship blow a curled horn, sound roaring throughout the world. With the ship’s speed slowly, you grab onto the railing on the starboard side, moving closer to the wooden port that seems to be almost there. A shower of ropes are thrown onto the port, other Ithacan guards taking them and quickly tying them on. A large wooden beam with side rails is quickly placed on the ship and everyone makes their way off.
You look ahead towards the city, staring at the wooden and brick houses that rise, with few tall buildings and mansions rising here and there. No town is this big, none even in Shrin.
What’s the rush? You wonder as a person in full steel plated armour marches along the wooden docks, moving towards your group, with two Ithacan guards behind him.
“King Aster, we greet you to Ithaca!” He bows down, taking Aster’s right hand and kissing it. Is he mad?!
“Thank you General” replies Aster who notions for the man to stand up.
The General turns around in a blur, escorting your group deeper in the city. The stalls and people pass by, staring at you and your friends, as if you were never before seen. A gap opens for the files of guards, with you and your friends in between. No one says anything, but just looks ahead.
After ten minutes of market stalls at each corner, they change to large brown and grey building stores, with people bustling in and out. Looking ahead, you see a large fortress wall, before a giant wooden door, that lies flat on the ground.
As you walk through the door, you step into the largest courtyard ever, full of soldiers and with many people dressed in armour and weapons in their arms, training for something, and training for the tournament. Some of them look pretty fierce. That man has a spiked quarterstaff!
“Almost there” says the General who glides through the courtyard, breaking the line of marching guards into another pattern.
What should Alex do? Why?
1. “Aaron, answer my question from before”
2. “Are any of you entering the tournament?”
3. “Where are we going?”
4. “I wonder how hard it will be fighting these type of people?”