The desert sun was beating down, the sand would burn any who would dare to walk on it bare footed, there was no water for miles, and the air screamed and scratched anyone walking through with the sand it picked up. Dhule Sanyal was tired, dehydrated, hungry, and slowed by the memories he carried with him, the home he had lost, the kingdom he had been promised, and the bitter exile that now defined his days.
"Find your own path, Dhule. Prove yourself worthy." Those had been his father’s final words to him after he had been told about the council's decision to banish him. He didn’t know what made them decide to banish him but he could assume he was likely betrayed by his own bloodline. He clenched his fists, recalling the look in his father’s eyes as the ruling council cast him out—neither fury nor sorrow, but something worse: resignation. As though this was always his fate, the son who was never quite enough, while his younger brother was always seen as better, better at combat training, better at political affairs, better at everything. Not to say Dhule would have been a bad ruler but rather that his brother would have been a better one.
The dunes stretched for what seemed like an eternity, dotted with the occasional tree or ancient ruin. Dhule had no destination nor true purpose, only a vague sense of motive, to become a good leader and earn his kingdom back, his mind focused solely on one thought “I will return, and I WILL rule!” As he reached the apex of one of the dunes Dhule found himself stuck, not because he fell into the sand like he had before, but rather because he was frozen in thought.
A shimmer of movement was in the distance, as he saw it his hand instinctively went to his dagger. As he squinted he saw what it was, a pony, white with a black mane and accents. “What’s this horse doing in the middle of the desert?” he thought.
“Lost are we?” Dhule heard. “Or perhaps you are right where you need to be, Dhule Sanyal.”
Dhule’s heart raced as this creature he did not know and had no reason to know his name said it. The pony stepped forward as Dhule stepped back. Dhule realized, as it got closer, that this was likely a monster, given its two purple horns, however he had not studied monsters that fervently. “What are you?” He asked not necessarily expecting an answer but still hoping for one.
“I am many things,” the creature said, “A guide, a companion, or perhaps even a friend, but for now you can call me Veyr.”
“Veyr?” Dhule questioned and repeated as if the name held some weight.
“That is my name, don’t wear it out.” Veyr teased, “You Shushkans sure do have a flair for the dramatic, don’t you?”
Dhule hesitated, he didn’t know if he could trust Veyr, or whatever this creature was called, after all he was betrayed by those he was arguably closest to, who’s to say this strange creature he only just met wouldn’t too. However there is much less this pony, or Veyr rather, could take from him. “I- I need more than guidance, I need my kingdom.”
“A kingdom is far from your grasp Dhule Sanyal, and further are my abilities to grant you one. However a journey is capable for the both of us, and perhaps you can acquire what you wish along our journey.”
Dhule felt these words settle in his chest, he didn’t have time for riddles, or conspiracies, or prophesies, everything in his path was a distraction, stopping him from returning to his kingdom. But Veyr might be the only hope he has to regain his kingdom. “Where do we start?”
Veyr’s eyes lingered on Dhule for a while before turning towards the horizon, “We start by surviving, Kingship is earned not given and you cannot earn anything if you’re dead.”
“I suppose you’re right Veyr, well let’s head off, get on our journey.”
“Not. So. Fast” A shadow sidled up on top of the dune Dhule had just walked down. Little was noticeable on the silhouette of this person what Dhule could tell is that they were slightly above average height and they had a longsword inscribed with runes at their side, sign of either a soldier or an outlaw that didn’t care about the hierarchy of weapons. Dhule held tightly onto his dagger, intimidated by the figure in the near distance.
“To rule you must prove yourself.” The figure stated, walking slowly down the hill until they finished their sentence and flew forward at inhuman speed attempting to decapitate Dhule. Before he could do anything Veyr kicked Dhule out of the way and into a dune, almost knocking him out from the combination of the two impacts. As he was fading in and out of consciousness Veyr was nowhere to be seen but what he could see was a beast dueling the figure, the beast had the appearance of an enormous lion with feathered wings, and on the few occasions it was facing towards Dhule he could see what looked like molten gold dripping from where eyes should be.
“I will follow you to the ends of the world, Dhule Sanyal, but so too will much more and you must be ready for what comes next. I can protect you no longer.” These are the words Veyr told Dhule while he was dreaming.
Dhule gasped immediately as he woke hoping that everything that occurred was a dream. Sadly it was not as he woke up on the back of Veyr, who quickly stopped and turned their head at the sudden noise. “Hello Veyr, was that truly you in my dreams?” He asked.
Veyr nodded, however did not speak.
“What’s wrong Veyr, cat got your tongue?” Dhule asked somewhat jokingly.
They shook their head.
“Then why can’t you speak?”
They looked down partially in shame.
“Was it a one-time thing when we first met?”
They shook their head again.
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Dhule realized that he wasn’t going to get anywhere asking questions to a creature that he couldn’t understand. “I’ll stop pressing you. Can you still guide me?”
Veyr nodded as a glint appeared in their eyes.
“Then where are we heading?”
Veyr motioned forward using their head.
“Then forward we go.” Dhule said with enthusiasm, the first time he felt this feeling in a long time.
Not long after Dhule woke up he saw an enormous obsidian monolith cresting over one of the taller dunes, “Is that where we’re headed Veyr?”
They nodded.
As Dhule and Veyr neared the monolith they could hear the hum of activity inside the town, traders hawking wares, the clanging of metal on metal from blacksmiths, the pulling of tools through ground, a cacophony of workers doing their jobs. Dhule couldn’t help but feel relieved at the sounds of a town, he could refill his waterskin, he could eat a real meal, he could bathe, he could finally, truly rest.
As the two descended the final dune towards the town they could see the architecture or the town, the fence surrounding the front, the cliffs surrounding the back, the houses were squat, built with a mix of clay and stone bricks with thatched roofs. The monolith casted an ominous shadow over the town, one that sent a chill down Dhule’s spine.
Veyr slowed as they approached the entrance, two bulky guards stood outside. Long spears at their side standing parallel to the wielder and the other spear, sand stained cloth covered their faces aside from their eyes that stared down Dhule with mild suspicion, their armor dull from being berated by the sandstorms that roam the Central Wastes.
“HALT!” The guard on the left yells out stopping Dhule and Veyr in their tracks, both tilt their spears to create an X and block the entrance. “What business d’you have in Omhen’s Rest?”
Dhule hesitated wondering what to say. “I’m a traveler, looking for room and board. I have been traveling for days and am tired.” He decided to speak the truth, at least partially.
The guards look at each other before returning their spears to parallel. “Make any trouble and I’ll be escortin’ ya off the cliffs.” The guard that talked earlier threatened.
Dhule wasn’t sure if they would follow through on their threat however he didn’t wish to find out. As he and Veyr walked through the town the atmosphere drastically changed, the streets were crowded but somehow not chaotic, order permeated the town and all of its inhabitants. Vendors lined the streets, hawking their wares, from fabrics to foreign fruits to even weapons, some of which even had symbols similar to the figure's sword.
Dhule felt eyes fall on him, he was a stranger riding a pony, he wasn’t a stranger to attention but right now he didn’t want to be noticed. As the two were walking, Veyr suddenly stopped, looking at the monolith in the center of town, Dhule followed their gaze, also staring at the monolith.
“Is this what we’re here for Veyr?” Dhule said, eyes transfixed on the landmark. Before Veyr could respond Dhule had already unsaddled and walked up towards the monolith, hand outstretched not but inches away from the surface of the monolith. The hustle and bustle of the surrounding markets was silenced in Dhule’s mind. The call of the monolith was irresistible. Just as Dhule’s fingers brushed against the monolith his vision turned white and he was lifted by his armpits.
- ?? -
After regaining his eyesight Dhule turned around to find two guards holding him up while people stared up at him. “What’s going on?! I haven’t done anything! Unhand me I demand it!” Dhule yelled while trying to squirm out of the position was held in.
No one spoke, not even the guards holding him. That is until a tall, muscular woman walked out from behind the monolith clearly just arriving at the scene. “I would beg to differ Mr. -” waiting for Dhule to answer.
“Sanyal, Dhule Sanyal.” he responded.
“Well Mr. Sanyal, you touched the Obelisk of Kings. I’m sure you didn’t know but that act is illegal for anyone who is not a king.”
“I am a king, I am the future king of the Khalux Kingdom!”
“Well a future king traveling on a miniature horse without any accompaniment, very believable Mr. Sanyal. Now if you truly are a king, or prince I suppose, what did you see when you touched the Obelisk of Kings?”
“Wha- Nothing I only just barely tapped it before your men picked me up!”
“Really? Because many people would dispute that claim, did you think that ‘my men’ were just following you around waiting for you to do something out of line, no. You were standing with your entire hand pressed against the Obelisk for almost 30 minutes before these guards got here and even then they gave you multiple warnings before picking you up. If you didn’t see anything then you clearly are not a king nor will you ever be, Mr. Sanyal.”
“Wait no I-I I saw something, I was standing tall in a castle overlooking a huge kingdom, it’s coming back to me now.”
“Oh, how convenient, just before I have them throw you out you remember.” The woman turned around, “You can take him and his companion outside, do not allow them entry back inside.”
“Wait, no, I’m telling the truth I promise, please you have to believe me.”
“On the contrary, Mr. Sanyal, I do not ‘have’ to believe you, and in fact I don’t believe you, and I don’t think that I ever will believe you. Now get out of my city and stay out of my city.”
Dhule and Veyr were escorted out of the city, the former more harshly than the latter. “Why don’t they believe me!?” Dhule exclaimed in anger.
“Perhaps because they shouldn’t.” a voice stated in Dhule’s head.
“Who said that!?”Dhule yelled looking down at Veyr, hoping that they regained their voice.
Veyr cocked their head.
“I am not the pony you travel with Dhule Sanyal, nor someone you have formally met.”
“Then who are you? Introduce yourself, let’s ‘formally meet’ voice!”
“I cannot do that Dhule Sanyal, who I am is something you must figure out on your own.”
“Why not, why do I have to do all of this on my own?”
“You are not alone Dhule Sanyal, you have one companion already with you and will gain more in the future, as long as you keep on your travels.”
“Damn it, I’m done with all of these cryptic puzzles that I have to solve, and I am alone, Veyr can’t help me they can’t even talk what else are they supposed to do other than get me places faster than walking.” As he said this he looked around for Veyr however they were nowhere to be found. “Wait. No. Veyr. I-I I didn’t mean it. I just got emotional. Please. Come back. You were my only friend. I need you Veyr, please, please, please come back.” Dhule broke down into tears as he called for his only real friend he had ever truly had, the only one who liked him for who he truly was not just because he was the crown prince of his kingdom. As he cried and curled into a ball Dhule fell asleep.
