The Slave's Exaltation

Areth sat gazing at the sky, sighing. Prince Nithose approached him.

“Areth.”

Areth stood up at once.

“Be at ease, friend. Of all the servants, your demeanor has caught my attention. What’s wrong?”

“Lord, life is meaningless and in vain. I have no friends or family.”

Nithose sat next to him. “I too have felt something similar.”

“But, why?”

“Even with all the riches and prestige that comes with being the prince I have felt alone and trapped. Keep pressing on and you will find something good.

“I am ready to start my duties.”

“Very well. The sheep need to be sheared.” Nithose put a hand on Areth’s shoulder. “Wait.”

At the sheep pen, he took a knife mounted on the wall and began shaving the sheep.

When he was done, he sat against the fence and fell asleep. In a dream Areth was on a grassy plain that stretched on and on. Standing before his was a man in a white robe. “Sage Lotan! Is it you or is this just my own mind?” said Areth.

“My spirit is visiting you. God has seen you plight. Your time of waiting is ending. Soon you will find your dream and God will bless you. Behold I have told you.”

Areth awoke. “Was it really him?” He stood and another servant called out. “Areth! There are swords to sharpen.”

“But I just did over twenty blades yesterday.”

“The last battalion that fought the kingdom of Naramor did not return and their swords were lost with them as well.”

“Very well.”

Areth walked to the blacksmith’s corner and greeted him. “Hello, Terinth.”

“Back so soon? Okay then. I have finished ten swords from this morning.”

Areth nodded and went to a sharpening wheel. He took a sword and used a foot pedal and began sharpening. He thought of Sage Lotan and his words.

After hours of toiling work, he finished.

“Take a break, Areth,” said Terinth.

Areth walked to a tree and sat against it. “I feel as though I am a mere tool or implement made to just work-like a needle pulling thread Then he looked far away. He covered his eyes from the sun. “A caravan. What could they want?” Normally Areth would go looking for his next task, but he felt compelled to go to them.

He waited then he sprinted towards the traveling band of men. It was a group of two wagons pulled by horses and people on foot. They halted and a man jumped off a wagon.

“Do you hail from the kingdom Aderath?”

“Yes, I am a servant.”

“My name is Bronus. I come bearing something that will grant you victory of over Theramor.”

Areth reeled back.

Bronus gave Areth a long item wrapped in sack cloth. Areth unwrapped it revealing a long staff.

“This is the staff of Merlin. With this you can summon a dragon to fight for you by speaking this enchantment. Bronus gave Areth a piece of parchment with writing.

“Take it to king Darvy.” Then they turned back the way they came.

Areth dashed back to the castle, straight for the king Darvy’s doors which were locked. He pounded on it for five minutes and finally a servant opened up. Areth pushed the man aside and ran to the king’s throne.

King Darvy stood. “What is the meaning of this intrusion!”

Areth held up the staff and read the incantation from the parchment and in a flash of light, an enormous red dragon appeared in the chamber.

Fear seized all in the room and panic surged through the people. Even Areth was overwhelmed.

Th dragon faced King Darvy and bowed. “I am yours to command, oh king.”

The beast stayed in that pose until the king began to calm. He went to the dragon. “Do you serve me?”

“Yes, my king.”

“Lord, this magical staff and an incantation form this parchment brought this. I got it from strangers in the wilderness. They said it could be used to overcome Theramor.”

“Amazing! A dragon at my command! Let’s waste no time! Order and attack on Theramor tonight!”

The king’s child looked out the window. “Father, the sun has gone to bed.”

“How do we get the dragon out of the room?”

Areth on a whim, recited the incantation and the dragon disappeared.

Areth had lived as a lonely goatherd, royal servant, sword sharpener, and sheep sheerer. Now he was a providence made deliverer.

That night, ten soldiers marched against the enemy with Darvy and Areth.

An hour later they were seen by the enemy and thirty soldiers ran to them.

Areth spoke the incantation, and the dragon appeared. The foes of Aderath trembled. They fled but the red beast spread its wings and overtook them with a cloud of fire.

“Dragon, bring the king to me alive!”

The dragon barged through the front gates and into the castle as shrieks of horror filled the air.

Twenty minutes later, the dragon came out with its fangs griping the king by its cape then dropped him before Darvy.

“Ten years ago, I came to your kingdom in peace, but you spurned my offer. You slayed woman, children and other innocents from my kingdom. I will show you mercy and not destroy you. Rather you will spend your life in the dungeon.”

“Very well!”

Suddenly, the Staff of Merlin shattered into splinters and the dragon vanished.

Darvy gasped. “The dragon has been taken from us!” he looked down and sighed.

“My lord, the war is done.”

“You are right.”

“What do you command, lord?”

“With your hand, we have won a decade old war. From this day forward, you will be the highest nobleman in the kingdom.”

Areth gasped and nearly fell over.

Darvy nodded.

Prince Nithose approached Areth. “Did I not say?”

“Where did you come from?”

“I followed secretly. Now, my friend, let us go to the royal gardens as two of the most esteemed people in the kingdom as equals.”