*Lorcan Riage*
Lorcan looked over his Kingdom, The Kingdom of Eternal Flame, from the high marble balcony of his castle, Lorcamir the name of castle and city named after Lorcan Riage I, who won the Rising of the Phoenix in 60 A.D., 252 years prior. Lorcan saw himself as Lorcan's reincarnation, he matched Lorcan's description dark black silky hair with golden eyes, six feet two inches tall, lean, quick on the draw and well able to take a punch. He was one thing better than Lorcan I in, that was his popularity with both nobles and commoners admiring him alike, contrasting Lorcan I who often was said 'to be a God amongst men.'
As the sun began to set, Lorcan turned away from the balcony and sighed before gasping slightly at the touch of his wife Melissa Lanyl's warm hands that came to rest on his cold chest. "Come to bed won't you, Lorcan," she smelt of lavender perfume, her hands were warm no doubt from her being tucked in the bed. She wore a light night gown that exuded her figure, her blonde her went down to her hips. He loved her scent it was calming compared to the normal smell of sweat and dung in the courtyard, as when he was training, dueling four men against one. And while hunting, with some of his knights and Lords Boswald Hofully, Alfred Elmoore and Paepon Greyleaf. But it was here, he would often return to Lorcamir with some animal as a prize and be cooked in a feast. Melissa would always compliment him, about how none of his Lords could catch anything like him, even though sometimes it was Lord Paepon's son Tyther, a man with piercing grey eyes and a knack for scoring a fine kill with his long bow, which often meant he brought home the prize. Tyther was only twenty but already bested many men in tournaments double his age in archery. Lorcan looked down at his wife and pressed a kiss to her forehead, "but it's perfectly cosy now, since your here" he smiled, but she didn't seem too pleased "oh really, is it" she said sarcasticly "well it would be warmer under the covers with me in bed" she took a step back and placed a hand on her hip,"come on then" Lorcan began to follow. The way her hips swayed as they made their way towards the four poster bed, it was hypnotic he couldn't take his eyes off her. And as they reached the bed, a knock on the door, followed by.
"King Lorcan, may I have a quick word" the guard asked. Lorcan didn't respond for a moment he was tormented between the idea of staying in bed with Melissa and answering the door. He moved for the handle reluctantly, he reached for it but then the door burst open, "Damnit you're taking forever" Robert said grabbing his arm and pulling him, "sis you don't mind if I steal him for a bit?" She shot him a glare "I'll take that as a no" he responded. Robert Lanyl, the tall elder brother of Melissa, he was a year younger than Lorcan and the same height. Lorcan envied him, he was superior in nearly every way, smarter, faster and a better swordsman. "Where are we going Robert" Lorcan questioned, Robert only smirked "you'll see soon enough, the council was summoned". All those old fools in a room Lorcan thought, what idiots."What power do they have over me I'm the true phoenix" he murmured under his breath.
They approached the big steal doors on the western wing that led to the council chamber. The two guards standing present did a nod of acknowledgement before opening the doors. The doors creaked open slowly everybody's gaze fell upon them, "All rise for the King" Adelstein said. His face etched with weariness, as if he was fighting back the very notion to fall asleep, his gaze then fell to the merchant beside him, his brown tinted skin made Lorcan aware that this man must be from Ulkos, he sighed "At ease" everyone slumped back into their chairs around the twenty foot long rectangular table, "What is so urgent, that I must be brought before you all, in my tunic?" He was hoping for a peaceful evening with his wife but that had been ripped away from him, it left him quite irritable. "Is anyone of you going to speak?", silence remained until Adelstein spoke up "My King, if you may, hear what our friend from Ulkos has to say". Lorcan nodded, what's the worst he could say. The man spoke in a heavy Ulkos accent, "sightings, sightings there was, of great big flames rising high above ships, in.... in the Basin of the Dead". The Basin of the Dead was where a cataclysmic event happened centuries ago and no one knows the full truth of what happened there.
"Sightings? What do they believed they saw?" Lorcan sat there twiddling his thumbs. The Ulkos man responded "maybe some sea creatures from the depths we've never seen before or maybe dragons but they never venture that far out to sea, and it's uncommon for them to travel thousands of miles away from the Misty hills anyway, leaves only one option King Lorcan" he stared into Lorcan's eyes "Phoenixs" Lorcan smiled, foolish man, does he not know that they were all wiped out, in and along with 'The Last Tamer' Dorcan Riage in 1 B.D. "He wastes my time, take him away". Lorcan snapped his fingers. "If that is all may I be granted leave" Lorcan asked. The question hung in the air for a moment, Robert replied "Yes, that is all" his head hung low and he did meet Lorcan's eye line. Lorcan got up from his seat with a shrug he made his way to the door. Adelstein called out "King Lorcan, what will you do about the man's statement". Lorcan spun around abruptly, "Adelstein what I will do is, head to bed and fuck my wife and not ponder on myths and fairy tales founded on a whim by a man from Ulkos". He turned and left the chamber immediately.
But in actuality it played on his mind constantly, what if what the man had said was true, should he go to sea or should he just stay here and enjoy the company of ale and his wife. He lay staring up at the ceiling, Melissa's head lay on his chest her hair splayed across it, her breathing was soft and gently as she listened to his heartbeat. "Fuck, if the man was telling the truth I should have asked him for more details to describe the Phoenix", Melissa threw him a lethargic eye, "and why all of a sudden am I awakened from my slumber", he smirked "seems I was thinking out loud", "damn sure you were" she responded, "I'll try to let you get some beauty sleep" he rubbed her hair, "you better" she said shaking her head. He sighed "who knew being a king was so hard" she looked at him puzzled "and why is that?" He stared out at the stars shining brightly in the night sky "I think I'm going to sail to the Basin of the Dead".