Azra of the Burning Sands: Azra

PROLOGUE:

Azra of the Burning Sands

‘I sense something strange about that boy... I think he will change many things...’

-Ibri Igzal’Kahn, a teacher of Azra, when he who would be known as Azra of the Burning Sands was still just a youth

ANTIA – ANCIANTOS EMPIRE – THIRD GALAXY

SALLOCK – BAZRA DESERT – HALLI

10,064 YEHVS BEFORE THE KASNA CURSE

YEHV 9777 OF THE ANCIANTOS EMPIRE

Deep in the wastes of the great Bazra desert, of the continent Halli, there stood an ancient city without gates or doors. It was surrounded on all sides by a brown mud brick wall, hiding all but the tall spire in the middle from view. Lulled by the apparent weakness of a mud brick wall, many raiders over centuries tried to breach it, convinced that inside the city without entrance, untold riches awaited them.

But their attempts were all in vain, the mud brick wall would not come down, despite all they would try against it. Battering rams broke before the wall ever showed as much as a dent. Explosives blasted the sand in all direction, but the wall would not waver. Digging beneath it just proved that the wall was as deep as it was tall. The occasional brave fool who would try a ladder would find, once he was half way up it, fierce desert winds sent it crashing to the sands below.

Eventually the fortress was placed into the realm of myth and legend; despite its actual existence. It became something untouchable. Caravans would detour for days around it – rather than glance upon the walls. It was considered by many a relic of some long forgotten age, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The Fortress of Sallock was the Mahgic user’s equivalent to a capital city. On the world of Antia, in the Desserts of Bazra, deep inside the continent of Halli, the Fortress of Sallock had stood for thousands of yehvs, and only the Wyzards and sorcerers of the world knew how to enter it.

They weren’t eager to share that secret.

On the inside of the mud brick wall a small whirlwind of sand kicked up, followed by a flash of blue flames. It died down just as quickly as it had kicked up. Standing where it had just been, was a man of average height, dressed in red robes, lined with blue trim. He was Azra, a Wyzard. His  dark hair, hung past his ears and was considerably mussed up. Its natural wave was apparent, even though it had a very distinctive wind-blown look. The man had an almost stocky build. He was neither exceptionally fit, nor was he overweight. There was nothing exceptionally heroic about him and he stood with a certain air of impatience.

He looked around. He was standing in a plaza, surrounded by Archways of stone, some with shimmering fields of light between their frames. Around him other men and women in robes walked dutifully to their destinations. Occasionally one would stop and disappear in myriad of ways, be it wind and fire, a flash of light, or other manners. Other's would step into or out of one of the Archways. The central tower of the city was visible in the distance, down a wide and straight street

A shorter man in a white robe rushed up to Azra.

‘Azra, you’ve come! Ahaki is waiting for you in her chambers,’ said the smaller man.

‘Thank you. I’ll be on my way.’

‘I will take you.’

‘I know the way.’

‘I will take you nonetheless.’

Azra sighed and followed the man.

They exited the walled plaza, through a open gateway, and entered a sandy courtyard. They cut across the sandy courtyard and moved towards a two story building with stained glass windows across the courtyard from the plaza. All around, buildings were standing in a hodgepodge of placement and architectural styles. Each building mirrored the favourite architectural style of the Wyzard who used it. Summoned fully formed from the minds of the Mahgician, they tended to be highly stylized and reflecting of the Wyzards tastes. They also tended to highlight why Wyzards weren’t architects to begin with; their impossible natures not allowing them to exist in anywhere but within the walls of Sallock.

Azra made a look of distaste, examining some of the outlandish buildings.

The short man opened the door to a building, designed like a library of the city of Niran on the southern continent; famous for their glass wares and crafts.

Azra entered the room. Sitting in a wooden chair, with a book on the table in front of her, Ahaki looked up at the two men.

‘Thank you, Nid, you can go,’ Ahaki said to the shorter man.

‘Thank you. I take my leave.’

Nid bowed to her and made a smaller courtesy bow to Azra; who didn’t bother to look, before leaving the building.

Azra walked slowly towards the chair on the other side of the table.

‘It seems the taste of my fellow Wyzards gets more grandiose every time I’m summoned back. I’m sure I saw someone living in a reproduction of my sister’s palace. It was a smaller one to be sure, but still, did they really think that living in a miniature palace was somehow going to earn them respect? Do we not have any sense of humility?’

‘You are haughty as ever Azra,’ Ahaki smiled.

‘I’ve yet to find a reason not to be.’

Azra sat down in the chair and looked idly around the room. Its walls were filled with books of many subjects, collected over many yehvs and copied to rest in Ahaki’s own personal library.

She was an older woman, her dark hair showing streaks of grey in places, and her wrinkled complexion reflecting both many yehvs of thought, and the realities of the desert climate.

Azra looked back at Ahaki.

‘So why have I been summoned this time?’

‘Your city is going to fall under an attack Azra.’

‘The Zharin Raiders have been hitting us almost non-stop since my brother-in-law, the King, saw fit to use most of my garrison to reinforce his war against the Kingdom of Hallon.’

‘Careful how you speak such things; you know not all the Wyzards here are happy with your royal heritage.’

‘I could no more have chosen whom my sister married, than I could choose to be a stone. By now if my companions haven’t come to that conclusion, then I have yet more reason to view them dimly.’

Ahaki bit her lip to keep back a retort. ‘The war between your kingdom-’

‘My brother-in-law’s kingdom,’ Azra corrected.

‘Your brother-in-law’s Kingdom then... and the Kingdom of Hallon has been a sore spot in this community for cycles. It has forced many Wyzards to face off in the field of battle in the name of duty, and many of them wish you would do something, use your influence, to end the war... or at least limit it.’

‘There is something more to this war. It’s not just this world and you know it. Surely you’ve heard the rumours?’

Wind howled up briefly outside and died down again.

Ahaki sighed, ‘Yes, I’ve heard. We’ve tried to stay aloof from the affairs of the greater worlds, but it seems they’re coming to us anyway.’

‘Try as you might, pretending that desert a Kallik isn’t there isn’t a good defence against its sting.’

‘No. But if you could... maybe you could shed some light on why your brother is at war?’

‘This again? How many times is the council going to demand reasons before they get tired of hearing the same one again and again?’

‘They are suspicious, these are dark times.’

‘Darker yet that they can’t trust one of their own. As I have told the council many times, the war was started when forces from the Kingdom of Hallon crossed our holdings in the Bazra Desert, went through a mountain pass, and marched into our heartlands. They didn’t directly attack anything, but they kept moving around our territory. An envoy was sent to tell them to leave or risk war. They refused. So we ordered a nearby battalion into position to show them we meant business, and to run them off if necessary. The treaty between our two lands clearly states that no military force was to ever cross the borders of the other.’

Ahaki spoke, ‘And when they didn’t back down, a battle ensued in which one of the seven Princes of Hallon was slain while leading his forces in battle... the youngest I believe... Prince Azam.’

‘Yes, so now there’s no hope of an appeal. King Shanta of Hallon refuses to hear us, because one of his sons is dead.’

‘So we both know that is what happened, and we both know that is the same reason you will give the council. So how about, as a friend, we try to figure out why this happened.’

‘You think I haven’t tried?’ Azra sat up straighter in his seat. ‘You think I haven’t racked my brain late at night trying to think why Prince Azam would do something that foolish, knowing he could die, and knowing it would mean war for his Father? Do you think I haven’t wanted an answer so I could spare my sister the heartache of losing one of her sons or daughters to this blasted war?’

‘I know it’s hard on you, Azra. I didn’t mean to upset you.’

Azra sighed and slumped a bit in his chair. ‘I know. I’m sorry Ahaki,’ Azra sighed. ‘But I’ve got nothing. Now, you said you had information on an attack on my city?’

‘Your city, on the Northern border of your kingdom – in this desert no less – is in danger.’

‘We’ve been in danger since I lost most of my forces to reinforce one of the King’s armies.’

‘Something is about to change though. The Raiders have a new leader. As near as we can tell, he’s a Sorcerer. We don’t know where he’s come from though. He wasn’t taught in any of the schools on this world, as near as we can tell. And, though the council may not always like you, Azra, that is enough to get their notice, and as such they’ve decided to warn you about it.’

‘But not themselves I notice. They have to get you to give the message.’

‘Would you have listened if they had told you?’

‘It’s entirely possible I wouldn’t have.’

‘Exactly. But anyway as far as we can tell, this Sorcerer is looking for something out in the desert, and seems to think he may find it either in or around your city.’

‘Looking for something?’

‘As you know, our world is one of the oldest in the connected worlds. As such, there are lost secrets here even we aren’t aware of. Some such secrets probably date back before the creation of the Hyper-Wormhole-Cannon, before this region of space became connected as it is.’

‘Our Hyper-Wormhole-Cannon is still under our control isn’t it?’

‘Yes. We still have it shut to outsiders from the war, yet this Sorcerer managed to get in. This is worrying the council.’

‘I admit I’m a little worried myself.’

‘If someone could get here unknown by us, then that means that the Hyper-Wormhole-Cannon is probably compromised. Letting a ship with a Sorcerer on it through should be impossible. The council has control of the Hyper-Wormhole-Cannon, but each Kingdom on this world also has their own representative on the Hyper-Wormhole-Cannon, and right now there are only two Kingdoms at war on this entire planet. Chances are, the person that let someone like that through comes from one of the kingdoms.’

‘The council is above reproach?’

‘They hardly want to let legitimate Mahgic users into the community. Why would they let an outsider in, especially a dangerous one involved in the grand war outside our system?’

‘Indeed.’

‘No, I think this threat was let in by someone in the Kingdoms. Do you know of anything in your own realm?’

‘I’ve not heard or seen anything that would suggest something like that. But to be fair, the whole court is all embroiled in this war with you and Hallon. Something could probably happen and we’d be none the wiser. What about Hallon? Do you know anything?’

‘Nothing substantial, but apparently Prince Azam was behaving strangely before his death.’

‘Strange enough to march an army into lands where he would die?’

‘There is that. I’ll look into the situation in Hallon. I still have friends among their court’s Wyzards. I’ll let you know if I find anything. In the meantime, you should go and prepare your city for the inevitable attack.’

‘When is this attack supposed to come anyway?’ Azra asked.

‘Midday tomorrow.’

‘That’s some remarkably good intelligence you have. Who’s your source?’

‘The Sorcerer has taken no measures to guard his movements. It is not difficult to find out what he is doing. Maybe you should be heading back and prepare for the attack? I’ll keep looking for information here in the meantime.’

‘Maybe I will. I’ll be off. Thank you for your time, Ahaki.’

Azra stood up and walked towards the door. He stopped by it, then asked, ‘Do I need to stop by the council chambers for another grilling and subsequent chew out?’

‘Not today.’

‘A small mercy granted to me. Good luck.’

‘Stay alive, Azra.’

‘Like some foreign Sorcerer at the head of a ragtag desert nomad army could kill Azra of the Burning Sands.’

Azra smiled a smile full of self-confidence and walked out the door.

VOLUME I:

Desert War

War Council

‘We will establish an Empire of Light and Good, to bring hope and peace to the suffering, and healing to the corrupt... ours will last for thousands of yehvs and echo through the halls of eternity long after we are gone... we will call it... Anciantos...’

-Altharia Sullok, one of the founders of the Anciantos Empire, 9777 yehvs ago, on the capital planet, Anciantos in the Third Galaxy

JARRIDON – BAZRA DESERT – HALLI

A stately house stood facing a large bazaar within a walled city of the Bazra Desert. The walls were high, with three main gates built into them. On the corners and along it's length watch towers stood tall, silent monoliths watching over the city.

Atop the walls, men in silver and red armour patrolled along it's length, holding long spears at the ready, with swords at their sides, and shields on their backs. They held themselves with certain tenseness.

The streets below were relatively clean of desert sand, but a light wind stirred up the grit that was within the walls. These main arteries of Jarridon were presently void of any people, except the occasional guard in silver and red uniform.

In the courtyard of the house, a small group of men were arranged.

Inside the home, Azra stood in the foyer. Brown, stone, pillars lined the open hall, and a polished, marble, floor filled the room wall to wall. A large set of double, wooden, doors served as the entrance, while a stairway – and two doors on either side – led to the rest of the house.

Azra was talking with four people. One was a young woman with golden hair and sharp, green, eyes. She was Princess Kialandria Minna, better known simply as, Kia. She was one of the Princesses of Minna, and Azra’s niece. Kia’s hair was long, going half-way down her back. Her green eyes were alert and keen. She was very beautiful, sought after by Princes all over the known worlds.

Kia stood a head taller than Azra. She  wore silver armour, with a crest in gold on the back, and on her right shoulder. The crest was her family emblem – the royal crest – a mountain cat’s head roaring, surrounded by a band of fern leaves. Kia had a bow and quiver on her back. She was standing nervously, with her arms at her side.

She looked so young.

Next to Azra, dressed in red robes – just like he was wearing – was Jahnyz Kohv. She was a hard-looking young woman with short, brown, hair. Her eyes were grey – and while she wasn’t the most beautiful girl Azra had seen before, she was pretty in her own way. She held no weapons and had no crests on her robe.

She stood, silently... impatient.

Also speaking with Azra was John Fort. He had a dark beard, and was wearing the same red and silver armour of the guards patrolling the city walls. He had a crest too, but not the same as Kia. The soldier wore a crest of a white urrh-glass with no sand, ringed by a round vine.

The same crest was above the staircase in Azra’s house.

Azra wore a ring with that crest on a black gem stone.

He fiddled with the ring absently.

Standing next to Princess Kialandria, was a shorter woman with wavy blond hair and a round face. She wore red armour with a gold trim, and had the royal crest emblazoned on the front, and on a medium sized shield that was strapped to her back. A long sword was at her side. A dagger rested on her other side. She stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Azra.

She was Cina, protector of the Princess.

She took her job extremely seriously.

‘The attack is to happen today?’ she growled.

‘Yes. At midday,’ Azra responded.

‘And yet I and my keep still stand here?’

‘She insisted,’ Azra shrugged.

The woman looked at Kia. ‘Lady Kialandria is this true?’

‘Uncle Azra tried to get me to go home, but I refused. The roads are unsafe.’

‘We could have used the Archway milady,’ Cina pointed out grimly.

‘Cina, Lady Kia was correct not to try the Archway,’ Jahnyz interrupted, ‘if a sorcerer does, in fact, lead the enemy army, there’s no telling what curse he may have set to have prevented that. If he has his hands on a stolen focus crystal, or some other artefact, the Archway could very well be suspect.’

‘That would assume a great deal of foresight from an enemy that couldn’t even hide his plans from Azra,’ Cina grumbled. ‘If the dear Wyzard’s Apprentice can give me proof of any such risk then I may be more inclined to listen. As it stands, it is my duty to keep Princess Kia safe from harm. As an experienced solider, I know that becomes difficult when the city you’re standing in comes under attack!’

Jahnyz was about to speak but Azra put up his hand. ‘No need Jahnyz,’ he said, looking at Cina. ‘Asking my apprentice to detect a modification on the Archway is unfair. She hasn’t had that training yet, nor do I, for that matter. You’d need a master of the Energy or Void aspects to hope to detect such changes. But, more importantly, if we use the Archway to send you and my niece back home to the capitol, and the Sorcerer is a master of Energy, he may have the chance to sense the frequency of the focus crystal for the capital, being as close as he is. With most of our troops off fighting the war, do you really want a Sorcerer, with an army, having a clear path right to the King? What is your first duty?’ Azra answered for her. ‘Your first duty is to the King! Your second duty is the King’s child. Sending her back home like this would mean you may put your first duty at risk.

‘But that said, as soon as I know how powerful, and what aspect this Sorcerer is, I’ll let you know what the best plan of action is. It’s entirely possible he isn’t skilled enough to detect the Archway in use. If that’s the case, you, Kia, and your men will be the first ones out of here.’

‘I’ll hold you too that Wyzard,’ Cina warned.