Legend of the Auruman- Chapter Five

Chapter Five

          Sydney could think of not a single thing to say to the Auruman, nothing civil in any case. She felt so ill at ease, felt like she was slipping into madness, and worst of all, she didn’t really even mind- it kept her anger stoked, which was the only thing propelling her on into the arresting beauty of the land before her. She was still trying to formulate something to say when she noticed her feet were no longer treading a dirt path, but a cobbled street instead. In front of her was an outrageously elaborate version of a fairytale castle. The imposing structure was made completely of golden colored brick and set in amongst the trees. The trees seemed to be growing not among the castle, but throughout, making the structure a part of the landscape, not an imposition on the landscape.

“What is this, the set of Wizard of Oz?” Sydney grumbled.

“I am unfamiliar with this Wizard of Oz?” The Prince remarked, perplexed. “I know the Wizard of Azarath.” He offered.

“Just forget it.” Sydney sighed.

          When they had reached the iron gates set into the brick wall, the prince grabbed a hold of her elbow and steered her closer to his side. She was too exhausted to demand he unhand her, or even audibly complain. She shrugged tiredly and rolled her eyes as if to say “what now?” Then she noticed the gigantic golden creature that moved in front of the gates.

“Welcome, Prince Jameson. Who do we have here?” The golden creature stretched her paws delicately and licked her razor sharp teeth.

“You know well who it is Seranthias.” The prince chided.

“Do I indeed? Perhaps a riddle today, for the lady?” Seranthias inclined her head questioningly.

“None of your games, beast. Move aside.” He commanded.

          With a petulant roll of her shoulders, she sighed, and stood to showcase her full height. She was magnificent. Awe-inspiring, to be sure. Sydney stared dumbfounded at the lioness-woman. She was the same tawny gold color of the castle bricks, and large. Sydney had been eye-level to the beast when the sphinx has been sitting on her haunches, but once standing, she towered over Sydney. After a terrifying stare down, she finally ambled to the side and let them pass.

“What was that?” Sydney whispered after they had moved safely away from the beast.

“A sphinx, of course.”

“Of course.” Sydney repeated dumbly.

“Never approach that creature on your own. You are safe with me, of course, but she wouldn’t hesitate to kill you if you were alone.” He warned.

“Kill me?” Sydney stumbled over her own feet, and grabbed hold of his arm. “Why?” Even as she asked the question, she felt stupid, of course the thing would kill, it looked like a damn monster.

“She loves riddles. If you fail to answer a riddle correctly, she will tear you apart and eat you. That is why we installed her at the gate, to keep out our enemies.” He blithely informed her.

“Enemies? You have enemies?” She couldn’t seem to stop herself from asking stupid questions.

“Well of course, who doesn’t? Without evil, goodness could not exist. The Azaraths are our most formidable enemies, yet the Olympians do sometimes cause us the most hardship. Fool women.” He muttered, and then continued, “And of course, those in Eden are neutral to all others.”

“Oh, mm hmm, of course.”

          The prince grabbed her hand and dragged her into his castle. She dug her heels in, forcing him to slow his pace. She couldn’t imagine anyone could walk so nonchalantly through the grand entry. The brick walls may as well have extended into the heavens, the ceiling was so far out of her reach. The walls were hung with magnificent tapestries featuring depictions of battle, and what she’d always thought were mythological creatures, until now. She could have spent an entire day examining the entry hall.

“What do you think of the castle?”

“It’s beautiful.” She admitted, reluctantly.

“Something pleases the woman at last, had I but known you would enjoy this, I would have brought you directly to the castle.” He murmured, satisfied. “Shall I show you the rest?”

“May as well, right?” She rolled her hand, and gestured for him to proceed with the tour.

Jameson shook his head warily, and continued on in front of her. His woman was somewhat hard-headed, though so could be Nolan, her father, though Sydney didn’t accept him as such. Perhaps Jameson was too quick to supply information to her that she didn’t want to hear. She hadn’t brought up Nolan again, and that was probably all for the best, as he wasn’t sure what he could say to convince her. Again, he wasn’t sure of his approach, and he wasn’t used to not being sure of himself. Perhaps the old adage, “seeing is believing” would ring true in this. Maybe it was time for Sydney to meet her true father.