Truth of the Fortress
Chapter One – Poisonous Beginnings
Many centuries ago on the planet Aotearoa, there is a village called Whiritoa. Whiritoa is a village that lies upon the sea. One of the planets two moons is nearly almost always seen and holds the tides constantly out on its beaches. The inhabitants of Whiritoa and its region are human life forms that live in peaceful existence in small stone homes with wooden roofs. Most days are spent hunting, fishing and gathering crops grown below the surrounding hills. On occasion the local residents are required to travel across the hills to Wanganui to trade for medicines, tools and livestock.
The trades have to be done in the summer months and early spring as through the winter and autumn seasons the dragons awake from slumber and hunt the plains that separate the two villages.
Paeroa is the capital of the known land and is home to the Kings warrior knights and fortress. Once a year the villages would send an offering of the season’s crops, weapons and clothing they had made as payment for the Kings protection. Unless you were of noble blood, a villager would not travel to the fortress and the offering would be the only contact with the fortress.
It is the end of spring that we join the Barton’s, a happy family who live in Whiritoa. Gerald and Claire are the caring parents of five children, Damian, Thomas, Elizabeth, Michael and Felicity.
The eldest brothers Damian and Thomas are tasked with hunting. Elizabeth, as eldest daughter works with Claire baking and keeping the house and affairs in order with the assistance of the youngest daughter Felicity. Michael the youngest brother has the role of fishing, although he wishes to follow his eldest brothers in the hunt. Gerald holds a high authority position on the village’s council.
We join Gerald venturing home from the last council meeting of the trade months, the village has begun to shackle down for the coming dragon season.
As Gerald nears his busy household, he is hit by the smell of incense and spices. Claire and Elizabeth had been working all day on a magical potion that they will paint the whole house with in the last week of spring. The potion is similar in texture to a clear paint that makes their home invisible to a dragon’s vision and smell. Taking a last look back out at the village as Gerald enters his home, he can see a number of his neighbor’s chimneys smoking as they too cook up their own potion and a few neighbors have already began to coat their homes in the potion.
“Family, the smell of the potion is most alluring. Nay dragons will feast upon us this season” declared Gerald warmly as he greeted his home.
Looking around Gerald did not get a response, rather a worried look from all his family. “What is wrong? You all seem so glum” puzzled Gerald.
Claire left the broth and placed a warm hand on Gerald’s shoulder” It’s Michael. He followed his brothers on a hunt today and was bitten by a Pukeko”.
A Pukeko is a swamp bird that is rumored to protect the graves of the spirits of goblin warriors. There bites release a small toxin into your blood stream that is harmless enough if treated immediately.
“Has he not been treated or seen by the shaman?” again quizzed Gerald to his household, this time with a concerned tone..
“We have. But unfortunately the trades had forgotten to replenish the poppy seed in the last trade run. We have enough to ease the poison, but not enough to cure him” Informed Claire with the fear in her eyes “We cannot send anyone as the dragons will awake and migrate to the plains. It would damn who ever should take the journey.”
“It is our fault father; we should have known he was shadowing us. I and Thomas will take the trail and bring the poppy seed,” declared Damian.
“It is not as simple as that son. I may then lose three children. Besides, the potion would need to be mixed on the journey back. Timing is essential to getting the cure. Neither of you has the skill or knowledge to do this,” Claire desperately retorted.
“I do. I also am of age and can hold my own out there.” Elizabeth startled the family jumping into the conversation “We cannot and will not sit by and let nothing happen. I will go with one of the boys and travel to Wanganui. This is not open for debate. We can soak our clothes in the potion which should deter any dragons.” Elizabeth was a strong beautiful willed young woman. She had never settled in to the domestic life of normal stereo types expected by the village. Her brave words rang home truths to Gerald and Claire.
After what seemed hours of debate it was agreed that Elizabeth and Thomas would take the trail and travel to Wanganui to collect the poppy seed.
Thomas was the second oldest of the brothers. He was book and wit smart. Damian was unhappy with the decision to choose his brother over himself, but Damian was next in line on the council to take over his father and already commanded a lot of respect from the other villagers .For the good of the village it was unwise to send him on such a treacherous mission.
So Thomas and Elizabeth gathered supplies for the journey. Elizabeth had changed from her village robes into Michael’s fishing clothes, which had been soaked in the potion. This attire was more suited to the journey ahead for Elizabeth. A tearful good bye and one last look back into their home they saw Felicity dabbing their sick brother with a damp cloth. This sight reinforced their mission and they were on their way to save Michael and be dammed to the perils that lay ahead……..
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