Tyraxes Received an Unexpected Visitor
The boat anchored at the wharf of the Tower. Tyraxes walked out onto the quay, into the hissing of the wind. But as long as he held Kastigar’s Lamp, he had no fear, for it stripped the wind of its power over him. The sailor on the boat threw a rope around one of the posts, pulling the ship closer to the wharf. The sails of the ship were drawn back and tied up. The sailors, of whom there were very few, pulled the small ship towards the wharf. They opened a door on the hull of the ship and the people aboard the ship stepped onto the gangway.
Tyraxes helped them up to the quay.
“Guten Tag, Freunde”, Tyraxes greeted.
The sailors remained quiet, remaining aboard the ship. Instead it was two people dressed in fine red and golden robes who walked out. They seemed to be the real passengers, Tyraxes surmised.
One of them a tall elven man with skin that had patches of brown and peach, lively hazel eyes, and long perfectly combed silver hair, replied to him, “Guten Tag, Herr Tyraxes”.
The other, a lady who looked to be his sister because they seemed so similar except that she tied her hair in intricate braids and adorned her hair with flowers and pins ornamented with jewels like pearls and diamonds.
Tyraxes led them inside the Tower and closed the door behind them. They sat down at the table using their arms to awkwardly pull themselves up to the unusually large chairs — chairs suitable for a giant.
Tyraxes said, “Schade! Aber, ich habe keine Essen dass ich Ihnen bieten kann, aber ich habe Wein herunter”. (“My apologies but I don’t have any food to serve you, however I have wine underneath”)
The man replied, “No, fear not, the same strength and nourishment that Kastigar’s Lamp gives you, shall be given to us. It’s light gives life to all in its vicinity”.
Tyraxes nodded, set his jug down on the counter and sat at the table.
“Herr Tyraxes, I am Prince Akhtan of Spotania and this is my sister, Princess Ikhmaela”.
Tyraxes immediately stood up from the chair then genuflected.
He said, “I did not realise you were a Prince, sir”.
“Rise, Knight of the Order”, Princess Ikhmaela commanded, “Our jack must have fluttered so much that you did not see the royal arms upon it. It is no fault of yours”.
Tyraxes stood up and returned to his chair.
“What brings a Prince and Princess of the House of Madriana to the edge of the world?” Tyraxes asked.
“Hmm, a good question indeed”, Akhtan said, “Then I will not mince words. The Queen has decided that this tower is to be abandoned and her forces are to fall back to the Tower of Jügelmor, 40 nautical miles to the north east”.
“Mein Herr!” Tyraxes exclaimed, “If we give up this Tower, there is nothing stopping the wind and sea and whatever manner of darkness and dread that rides upon them, from getting closer to our realms”.
Impatient, Ikhmaela replied, “Herr Tyraxes, Look around you. This is the Last Tower at the Edge of the World! The seal keeping the enemies of Light out, has frayed, allowing tossing waves and dangerous winds to breach into our territory. Our Kingdom has long fought to rebuild some of the towers, but the wind and sea have been adamant and no other rocks or islets could be found between the Second Line and the First Line of the Towers, the latter of which this Tower is the last to stand. What happens when the cold gnawing at your bones and seeping into your flesh is too much, or the light of Kastigar’s Lamp grows weary and dim that it has no more strength to keep you?”
Akhtar replied, “You will fall. Look how the sea tosses even behind the tower. While some of the Tower’s strength keeps much of the Tumult away, the anger of the outer reaches has seeped through. 300 years ago, when you began your watch, Herr, Tyraxes, you recall that the Tumult of the Wind and Sea was faraway, on the horizon, and the area all about you had been tranquil and unperturbed”.
Ikhmaela interjected, “Yet now, we can barely moor because of how violent the waters have become. A strategic retreat to a reinforced barrier is a wise decision”.
Tyraxes replied, “What happens if in three hundred years, the second line falls? Shall we keep retreating until the sea and wind have flooded our country and drowned every man, woman and child under the sea and all that is left in the world is a deep and unrepentant darkness?”
“Sir, I command you, in the name of the Queen, to abandon this Tower”, Ikhmaela said sternly, the light of her eyes twinkling and air about her filling with a delicate light, her adamance radiating like a halo.
“Well, Your Highness”, Tyraxes replied, “The Crown has no authority here! The Order of St Nablus is beyond the Crown’s prerogatives here. You cannot command me and have no authority over me”.
Akhtan then said, “Then we have come to plead with you. You are among the last of your kind, and your strength will give strength to our men in the long war against the darkness”.
Ikhmaela said, “Be that as it may, Herr Tyraxes, if you continue to stay here, know that we cannot come back and realms of the First Born will forget about this Tower and Sir Tyraxes who alone stood defiant at the Edge of the World. You will be alone, forever”.
Tyraxes looked down and clasped his own hands tightly. He replied, “So be it”.
Unable to convince him, they simply left in silence. Just before they boarded their ship, Akhtan said, “May the light of the All Mother, our Goddess Noi, shine upon you and sustain your Lamp”.
With those departing words, it would be last time that Tyraxes spoke to another person ever again.