Mars Underneath - The Sceptre of Eternity

Dark Sea

There was no end of water; Sailor Alden looked across the horizon. Neither land, nor a mast of a ship was visible. He thought that their ship might have lost the path in the Dark Sea. He went to the cabin, studied the map very carefully and re-examined the compass direction. The ship was heading towards the north. According to his calculation, the ship should be near Port Odena within the nightfall. Sailor Alden looked confused; he again checked through his binoculars and confirmed that there was no sign of land.

Suddenly a knocking sound on his door distracted him; Alden cleared his throat and said, "Yes"; the half closed door was opened outward and a small boy of four years entered. Alden stared at Prince Deoes of Terra-Aquillaan Kingdom, the only living heir of late King Synus, but the boy was no longer looking like a prince in old grey breeches and dark brown doublet. Only the old ratty scarlet cloak was showing the emblem of Karzond Dynasty. The royal emblem was stitched with red and golden threads on a lozenge shaped piece of cloth on the back of his cloak. An Eagle was looking downwards, sitting on a triangular red mountain, holding the conical summit of it with its claws and spreading its wings on both sides with the tips pointing upwards; the bird's body was stitched with golden threads and eyes with red ones. The people of Terra Aquillaan worshipped Eagle as a sacred bird, because, the Ancient Colonisers’ legendary winged chariots often displayed eagle emblem. Seers believed that, five thousand years ago, five kingdoms on Mars were actually created by the Ancient Colonisers, who came from the Earth and made the planet habitable. Eagle sitting on a triangular red mountain indicated Karzond dynasty's possession over the Mountain of Fire, which delineated the kingdom's southern boundary and separated it from Terra Tenebris or the Land of Darkness.

Though the boy’s appearance was dull, but the trace of his noble blood was depicted through his attitude. There were fury and confusion in his green eyes. The boy's fleshy nose was looking red, he might have rubbed it hard to hide running nose. His chubby cheeks and pink thick lips were depicting impatience and annoyance. He had a wooden sword in his left hand as the little prince was left handed and with his free right hand, he set aside his dark red hairs away from his small forehead.

Sailor Alden stood up from his black wooden chair, came forward, leaving his atlas, compass and charts on the trestle table and knelt down before the boy, "My Prince"; he uttered the word with respect. The little prince asked him restlessly, "Mother is asking when we are about to reach? How far is Odena?"

Sailor Alden looked at the boy and replied, "We will reach very soon, My Prince; please tell Queen Deodara that we'll reach sharp; do not lose patience."

"Mother said that we should be very close to Odena."

The Sailor had no answer to provide; suddenly the Prince pointed his small wooden sword at him, "You too a traitor? Spy of Ergonn?"

"Prince Deoes;" The Sailor blinked nervously and told in a trembled voice, "I'm one of the most trustworthy men of your late father, King Synus; I have taken an oath to keep you and your mother safe from any danger."

"Deoes; come here and put down your toy sword, my boy." A shrill female voice echoed across the cabin. Sailor Alden saw a young woman of average height and built entered through the cabin door; the woman shared same eye and hair colour with her son. Her waist long straight red hairs were tied in a single braid spreading over her right breast. The Queen of Terra- Aquillaan had draped her body in a worn grey broadcloth which once had attractive, colourful floral embroidery over its bodice and expensive laces on its fringes, but now those threads and laces were loose enough to look the cloth less attractive. Her oval shaped calmly face, high cheekbones, aquiline nose, and sharp chin were depicting her serenity in grief. At this tender age, her face had developed some fine wrinkles. Dark patches under her eyes had made her appearance older than her real age. She would not be more than sixteen or seventeen, Alden guessed. She had no jewellery except a gold ring on her ring finger; it was her wedding ring given by Late King Synus. The gold ring had an oval shaped ruby bordered by ten small white gemstones. The ring was probably the only jewellery she possessed.

"I am sorry, Ship Master Alden; he should not speak like that, but I was a bit impatient to know how long it will take to reach Odeana?"

"Your Eminence; I am afraid that we have lost our way in the Dark Sea, but the Compass direct towards the North and my atlas says that we are heading in the right direction, but there is no sign of land." He finally admitted the truth.

"Oh, Mother Red Earth, how many ordeals I have to give?" The Queen sounded disappointed. Queen Deodara was from Kingdom of Sevrot where people worship Mars as Mother Red Earth. However, in Terra-Aquillaan, people worship Eagle headed Sea God as the source of auspicious power and Fire Mountain as the source of evil power.

Sailor Alden smiled sadly, "Very soon our little Prince will claim his birthright and he will defeat the usurper king and his alien forces altogether with the help of your Father's Army."

With a deep sigh, the Queen said, "Hope so, but now we have to reach there safely and you have to fulfil your vow to the king."

Deodara turned back by holding the right hand of her son; "come my boy"; the Prince followed his mother silently and did not turn back to see the old sailor.

After the mother and son's departure, the old sailor rubbed his bald head with the palm of his right hand. He remembered the vow he had taken before the dying King Synus that he would safely deliver his heir and widow to the Kingdom of Sevrot and then he would try to gather forces against evil King Ergonn who had usurped the throne with the help of his evil power.

The old sailor knew both Synus and Ergonn from their childhood when they were young princes and used to call each other brother. Old King Nachoa was a wise and a kind man who was used to address as the King of Benevolence. There were peace and prosperity all across the kingdom and the Sea God was so pleased with his devotion that the Scarlet Sea remained calm throughout his tenure and the Fire Mountain did not emit fire or smokes to destroy his wealth and men.

Terra Aquillaan was a peninsular kingdom. Its northern tip ended at the Scarlet Sea; while its eastern border touched the Eastern Bay and the western fringe merged with the Crimson Deep. Fire Mountain delineated its southern boundary beyond which no Martian human civilisation existed. Fire Mountain was so high and impregnable that ordinary men could not imagine of crossing it. Only Grand Seer knew secret passages of crossing the region and he guided every new ruler of Karzond Dynasty to cross the volcanic plateau to prove his power over the dark forces.

Mount Oganaka was the highest peak of the region, which frequently emitted fire, ashes and molten magma through its large craters. The Dark Caldera was the main crater of the mountain where traitors and prisoners were asked to jump. From the Dark Caldera, a molten magma river flow towards the south; that river was known as Tophette River. People believe that if the King could not please the Sea God; the Scarlet Sea became furious; Mount Oganaka emitted fire and destroyed cities and villages of Terra Aquillaan. However, King Nachoa's thirteen-year rule had no such event and thus, people adored him.

Sailor Alden did not waste his time and went downstairs. He ran towards the Wheelhouse cum control room where, he met his loyal servant Elymonne; a Plebeian boy with typical features of Old Martes clans, red complexion, small height not more than five feet, lean and slender physique with oval shaped head slightly bigger than his body, he had two big black swollen patches in the place of his eyes, a small rounded nose, and thick lips. He was dressed in a long hooded robe made of coarse fabric and it was so old that one could not say its exact colour. Old Martes people did not possess hairs or ears, so they had distinct features, which physically segregated them from Neo-Martes people who had similar features like alien Earthians and called themselves superior to the older inhabitants. Old Martes people had several groups and clans across the planet; some lived in the hills, some in the lowlands and all of them had distinct ways of living.

Elymonne Demos bowed to his Bread-Giver; and looked at him to receive orders. The old Sailor asked, "Elymonne, how far we are from the coast?"

"Bread-Giver, we are heading towards the right direction as you have commanded." The boy replied in a shrill voice.

"Then where did the land vanish?" He asked impatiently.

"No idea, My Bread-Giver."

"You're going to be useless; I have taught you seafaring at my own cost and now you are my thrall. Recall that day, when the Old King's City-Watchmen caught you from stealing bread and wanted to put you on Fire Mountain; I paid your compensation, and spent hundred Marte Coins for you. You have to answer me, boy."

"My Bread-Giver, I am telling you the truth."

He pushed the boy away from the steering wheel, checked maps and charts thoroughly and again checked the compass direction, the boy was not wrong. Then what was the mystery behind it? A land could not be vanished like that. He again looked through the window and did not see any sign of land. The Old Sailor left the Old Martes boy in the Wheelhouse and went on the deck; he thought to call his men and thralls to discuss the issue. He went to the superstructure above the deck and walked towards a golden bell hanging from a red wooden shaft with a golden...