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Chapter 1, The First Trick
- written 10th Mar 2007 by nshah
- view the story page
The chapter reveals Pernicus' death two years in the future before exploring the start of the friends' journey to the ends of the earth
Tags : fantasyLeonidasPernicus
Leonidas leant over the body of his dying friend.
"Forgive me Pernicus," he pleaded as a tear escaped from the corner of his eye, "you followed me to the ends of the earth, and I failed you."
Pernicus forced himself to face the sound of his friend. He could feel the life slowly and unavoidably seep from his body.
"There is no need to forgive. This was my path, for......"
2 years earlier
"......the Gods have choice, and man has none". Leonidas looked at Pernicus and laughed.
"You know I don't believe in any of that," he said defiantly. "Our lives are our own to lead and ruin! Tomorrow we set sail for the ends of the earth, and there we shall find the Gods and taunt them."
Pernicus peered into his ale, silently doubting Leonidas' assessment of the forthcoming journey.
The morning arrived too quickly for Pernicus. Loyalty to his childhood friend was the only reason for his presence on the voyage. He had his misgivings, and had made those perfectly clear to Leonidas. Pernicus compared the Leonidas he had met as a child to the one he would soon be accompanying around the world. They compared well he mused - he had changed. He studied his reflection in the water as he washed his face. I am who I should be he thought. His mind had embraced his age; Leonidas' fought to stay young.
The sky was blue and the sun shone with eternal hope. Leonidas shouted instructions to his crew, a group of good men he had shared his life with for the best part of six years. Finally the day has come, he thought. He had waited patiently for the opportunity and means to even contemplate such a fantastic journey. Years defined by hard labour on numerous dangerous voyages. He knew he had been lucky to make it this far. The lady had betrayed many of his compatriots.
As of now though, he was his own man, a captain of a beautiful ship - the good ship Aratea - with a crew he had hand picked from the many acquaintances he had made over the years. He smiled to himself.
"I stand by a happy man" Pernicus said as he made his way to Leonidas' side.
"Indeed you do," replied Leonidas, "because today, my life starts." Pernicus laughed, "I never thought you'd do it. The dreams, the hopes, I thought they would dissolve in time and be abandoned with your childhood. You have proved me wrong, and for that I am happy."
"If you're happy my friend, then words cannot begin to describe how I feel!"
They had parted ways for the first time six years ago. Whilst Leonidas had been sailing the seas and clawing his way to his dreams, Pernicus had remained in their home town, acting out the life society had given him. During their separation, he had battled endlessly to grow money from the little land he had. He had struggled as had all his ancestors. His hope was merely to produce enough food to live on. He had dispensed with his dreams in favour of reality.
For men of their meagre wealth and upbringing, attempting to make a life different from the one that was offered to them was a laughable hope at best. They had grown up in a small village surrounded by dust and burnt by a powerful sun. The great cities were far enough away to be things of legend and hopes were scarce. Most of their childhood was spent on the fields. Children were a resource. Too few and a family did not have enough workers to farm their land. Too many and there were too many mouths to fill.
They had met on one of the few days a month they were able to play. The sun had descended, seeds had been planted and freedom floated in the air. Leonidas' had been inquisitive from the start, and together they had explored the vastness surrounding the village; the rolling hills, the ravines and the rivers. But when the time came for transition from child to man, Leonidas had chosen to explore further than his surroundings and had urged Pernicus to do the same. Pernicus chose to be who he should be.
Leonidas watched as the last crate made its way to his vessel. He surveyed his surroundings slowly and purposefully, savouring this moment; his rebirth. "Let's go!" he exclaimed as he slapped Pernicus' back.
They boarded the ship, and with the wind blowing kindly, eased themselves into the ocean's embrace. Much of the voyage would be in uncharted territory and was one of discovery and adventure. The maps they had acquired would soon be irrelevant and then they would be on their own.
"Forgive me Pernicus," he pleaded as a tear escaped from the corner of his eye, "you followed me to the ends of the earth, and I failed you."
Pernicus forced himself to face the sound of his friend. He could feel the life slowly and unavoidably seep from his body.
"There is no need to forgive. This was my path, for......"
2 years earlier
"......the Gods have choice, and man has none". Leonidas looked at Pernicus and laughed.
"You know I don't believe in any of that," he said defiantly. "Our lives are our own to lead and ruin! Tomorrow we set sail for the ends of the earth, and there we shall find the Gods and taunt them."
Pernicus peered into his ale, silently doubting Leonidas' assessment of the forthcoming journey.
The morning arrived too quickly for Pernicus. Loyalty to his childhood friend was the only reason for his presence on the voyage. He had his misgivings, and had made those perfectly clear to Leonidas. Pernicus compared the Leonidas he had met as a child to the one he would soon be accompanying around the world. They compared well he mused - he had changed. He studied his reflection in the water as he washed his face. I am who I should be he thought. His mind had embraced his age; Leonidas' fought to stay young.
The sky was blue and the sun shone with eternal hope. Leonidas shouted instructions to his crew, a group of good men he had shared his life with for the best part of six years. Finally the day has come, he thought. He had waited patiently for the opportunity and means to even contemplate such a fantastic journey. Years defined by hard labour on numerous dangerous voyages. He knew he had been lucky to make it this far. The lady had betrayed many of his compatriots.
As of now though, he was his own man, a captain of a beautiful ship - the good ship Aratea - with a crew he had hand picked from the many acquaintances he had made over the years. He smiled to himself.
"I stand by a happy man" Pernicus said as he made his way to Leonidas' side.
"Indeed you do," replied Leonidas, "because today, my life starts." Pernicus laughed, "I never thought you'd do it. The dreams, the hopes, I thought they would dissolve in time and be abandoned with your childhood. You have proved me wrong, and for that I am happy."
"If you're happy my friend, then words cannot begin to describe how I feel!"
They had parted ways for the first time six years ago. Whilst Leonidas had been sailing the seas and clawing his way to his dreams, Pernicus had remained in their home town, acting out the life society had given him. During their separation, he had battled endlessly to grow money from the little land he had. He had struggled as had all his ancestors. His hope was merely to produce enough food to live on. He had dispensed with his dreams in favour of reality.
For men of their meagre wealth and upbringing, attempting to make a life different from the one that was offered to them was a laughable hope at best. They had grown up in a small village surrounded by dust and burnt by a powerful sun. The great cities were far enough away to be things of legend and hopes were scarce. Most of their childhood was spent on the fields. Children were a resource. Too few and a family did not have enough workers to farm their land. Too many and there were too many mouths to fill.
They had met on one of the few days a month they were able to play. The sun had descended, seeds had been planted and freedom floated in the air. Leonidas' had been inquisitive from the start, and together they had explored the vastness surrounding the village; the rolling hills, the ravines and the rivers. But when the time came for transition from child to man, Leonidas had chosen to explore further than his surroundings and had urged Pernicus to do the same. Pernicus chose to be who he should be.
Leonidas watched as the last crate made its way to his vessel. He surveyed his surroundings slowly and purposefully, savouring this moment; his rebirth. "Let's go!" he exclaimed as he slapped Pernicus' back.
They boarded the ship, and with the wind blowing kindly, eased themselves into the ocean's embrace. Much of the voyage would be in uncharted territory and was one of discovery and adventure. The maps they had acquired would soon be irrelevant and then they would be on their own.
Tags : fantasyLeonidasPernicus