MaFang's Past Part 1(Long)
Today was MaFang’s 15th birthday. He was so elated. In two days he would be on his first cruise on board a ship not as a trainee, but as a warrior. He would be one of the greatest the Blood Sea Minotaur Warriors of all time. Just like his father. Just like every single member of his family.
MaFang came to the huge double doors that would lead to his father’s outer royal chamber. The door was decorated in great detail. It was not, however, in the detail ‘riches’ that other races might put on such doors, such as jewelry or gold. It was instead painted with hundreds of small but artistic pictures of Minotaurs slaying their foes and outlining the Minotaur race’s history. One or two pictures did show a Minotaur being killed in a cowardly fashion, such as an assassin with a dagger from the back or by the alley from the side. There was even a picture of Minotaurs in chains; the dark period of the Minotaur Race’s history. There was also a picture which for one reason or another, was darken out.
MaFang took a long thought about his race’s slave as he open the grand doors and could see his father, Ka’Mar ap Greentooth, the Emperor of the Blood Sea Minotaur Empire, Holder of The Crown of Blood, inside. MaFang smiled as he thought about that. Holder of The Crown of Blood was always the ‘Honorary’ title given to the Minotaur who defeated the current Emperor in the Circle of Challenge.
There was, of course, no blood on the crown. It was a symbol and title after all. A symbol and title to remind all Minotaurs of where they came from: Slavery. How they had to fight with their fists, horns, wits, and blood to win their freedom and their own home: Miatros. Named so after the first Emperor and the Minotaur who had lead them to their freedom.
Miatro had taught the Minotaurs honor. He had taught them courage. Most importantly he made sure no Minotaur, no matter what his birth or place, always could achieve greatness. He had created the Circle of Challenge. The Circle was where Minotaurs challenged another to gain rank and honor in personal combat. Two Minotaurs fighting, using their wits, skills and strength to determine who would be a captain of a ship, a general of an army, and even the Emperor of their whole race. Any Minotaur could issue the Challenge. Any Minotaur could always become Emperor. That was why the Minotaur was the greatest race of them all.
MaFang saw that his father was wearing his old leather armor and his long red cape. He had his old battle axe at his side and the Crown of Blood, which was made of steel and not gold, was resting on his head.
MaFang saw three others with his father. Two of them were Minotaurs. Both of the Minotaurs wore the blue Councilor Robes and which one was lined with green marking it as Grand Councilor Robes. While any Minotaur could challenge to become a member of the Council of Nine, a Grand Councilor was often offered to those Minotaurs that had done the most for his race, bleed the most blood in combat, and had shown great wisdom in battle. The position could be Challenged but was often not in respect to those that had done so much for the race as a whole.
The third person was a human. He wore presentable clothing, but from a good glance, one could tell that the clothes were not made for the man. He was a pirate after all, and had most likely stolen them. The human had come to try and make a pact with the Minotaur Empire, but didn’t know how wrong he was in even trying. While the Minotaurs took what they wanted, or in most cases, needed, the human pirates took more then what was needed or even wanted in any reasonable frame of thought. They were below the Minotaurs in every way. The only reason MaFang’s father was even allowing him in his sight was that he held a soft spot for the human race, which MaFang could never understand why.
MaFang walked up a respectable distance away from his father, the Councilors, and the human were standing, and listen to what was being said.
“… and my Captain would be willingly to sell the goods that we take for a third of what they are worth.” The human, whose name was Jalen, said.
“And again I say no. The Minotaur race is on the verge of becoming something new, something better, more honorable, and I will not let dealings with cutthroats and thieves dirty our Honor. You are wasting my time and yours. Tell your Captain no and leave me.” Ka’Mar said with a wave of his hand, telling Jalen to leave.
Jalen at first looked like he might retake up the failed attempt at diplomacy with the great Minotaur Emperor, but a look to the two Councilors and he simply bowed and walked out. On passing MaFang, he didn’t even try to hide his competent which pleased MaFang greatly.
Tuce ap GreyEye, who really had grey eyes and who was one of the largest Minotaurs at nine feet tall, waited till Jalen was out of the room, and a slight look to MaFang before turning to Ka’Mar to speak. “Sir, I think that is a very poor choice. We could use most of the goods the pirates that Jalen work for. All he was asking for was for one hundred of our warriors.”
Danour Foontor, whose fur was trimmed with silver of age, the Grand Councilor was nodding his head. “Yes. One hundred of our warriors for first choice of all their goods and at the third of the price asked for on the open market. The fact that we could have our warriors out and testing their metal against others would have been worth it. With us pulling back most of our ‘military’ ships for this… ‘New Thing’ is hurting our supply lines and income.” He said the last part almost as an after thought.
Ka’Mar shook his head and stared at Danour and Tuce. “The day I would have thought I would hear another Minotaur say ‘income’ was the day I thought we end back up as slaves that we once were! What have we done to end back up where we were so long ago. What honor is it to simply fight for ‘income’!”
“We have to do more then just fight for honor. We are destined to rule the world, but we cannot do that with honorable warriors alone. We need to build up a great army with the best weapons, the best equipment, and the best ships. We are already known as the best ship builders in the whole world, but we need the best tools and materials to build them and ‘They’ cost almost as much as a castle!” Tuce bite out.
“And too often on a campaign, I have seen a fellow warrior’s axe or sword break simply from being made from poor material. With the money that we would save, the supplies we could buy so cheap, and the training we could give to hundreds of our warriors would be a great boon to our effort-“ Danour broke off as a huge booming voice interrupted him.
“OUR EFFORT!” Ka’Mar shouted. “Our effort that you speak so ‘highly’ of is a false dream. We are the greatest race in the world. But we have a destiny other then ruling the world to fulfill. I will hear no more of this.” With that, Ka’Mar simply turned his back on the councilors and looked out a window that overlooked the harbor.
Both Councilors were taken back, and didn’t even know what to think of this. They stared at their Emperor’s back for a long five count, then turned and walked out of the room. They didn’t even bother to look at MaFang, who felt really small compared to them. At 7 feet and 6 inches, he was taller then most of the other creatures in the world, but was short compared to his brethren. He wasn’t the only one through… his whole family was short by Minotaur standards. But what the Greentooths lacked in size, they made up in fury on the battlefield.
MaFang waited a few moments before going to his father. His father was a proud and honorable Minotaur, which also meant he was very easy to anger. As he reached the window his father was staring out, he smiled. He loved this window.
Outside, one could see the whole harbor. All the great ships that the Minotaurs were constantly building. From rankers to huge warships to small man-o-wars. They were all built here. No other race could build a sea-faring ship as well as the Minotaurs. It was said that the sea was in the blood of Minotaurs even before there were Minotaurs. But it came at a great cost to build such great ships. Tuce did not lie that such ships cost almost as much as a castle. The only benefit was that other races were willingly to pay the high price for such ships, for a Minotaur build ship would last ten years longer on the sea then any other, and could withstand the most, the harsh and loving waters and winds could dish out.
“I stand here like you do now, when my father was Emperor. I thought the same thoughts you do. We are the greatest. Not only in sea-ship building, or fighting, but in so much more. In many ways I still think that, but I have lived for a very long time. I have seen much. As you will also my son. I only hope that you will be able to come back and challenge me one day for the Blood Crown, unlike me. Our family has produced eight out of the last 15 Emperors. Only once did a son challenge his father for the crown. That day, I know the father couldn’t have been more proud.” Ka’Mar said as he rested his hand on his son.
“I want you to be proud of me father.” MaFang said as he turned to look into his father’s eyes. “I will make you proud, and I will continue the honor that this family has.” MaFang began to smile, but soon that smile slipped as a thought came to him.
His father knew right away what it was. “Times change MaFang. I do not think our God Dur’Lonng wishes us to rule as we once thought. I think he wants us to do something else…” Ka’Mar trailed off. His eyes were in deep thought, but soon a twinkle came to them. “But that is in the future and not needed now. Now, I need to toast my son on his 15th birthday, for in two days he will soon be traveling the world.”
Ka’Mar turned and walked over to an oak cabinet. It wasn’t highly decorated or as ‘richly’ looking as others, but like the grand doors in the outer royal chamber, they were more artistic. MaFang thought it funny. The arts were the one thing Minotaurs were never thought of having, but it was something they exceed at. If only among themselves, for they were poets, artists, and even dancers. Well, others were, but not MaFang. He could never stand right-up on his own hooves when he tried to dance.
“I really hate to do this,” MaFang snapped out of his thought as his father spoke. “But I have to give Jalen one thing. He knew that I liked Spiced Elven Wine. I don’t even know if I should drink it or not.” Ka’Mar looked over to his son. “And of course you don’t like wine. Only ale huh!?” MaFang brushed as only a Minotaur could.
“Father, if you really want to drink wine, go ahead. I do not like it, but you do, and you are after all, the Emperor.”
Ka’Mar thought for a moment on this, and then looked at his son. He almost seemed like he was battling something in his mind, then he gave in to whatever it was. MaFang could tell by the look on face. He poured himself a glass of the wine, and a mug for his son, full of Imported Dwarven Sprit Ale.
“I will hate myself later for this, but I know I will hate myself even more if I don’t. I really do love Elven wine.” Ka’Mar smirked at as he said that. “My friend introduced me to it. He was a great man. A wise man. He taught me much and shown me much.” He handed his son the Dwarven Ale.
“I would really like to meet him one day father.” MaFang said. He could remember almost every story that his father had told of his old friend. But for some reason, MaFang didn’t think he was Minotaur. Not from the way his father went on about him. His father never would say… almost as if he was holding something back as a surprise. How his father could have a friend that wasn’t Minotaur was beyond MaFang’s reasoning. But if a non-Minotaur could be friends with his father, then the person in question must be even more wise and great then his father said. He tapped his mug lightly against his father’s wine glass.
“Don’t worry you will.” Ka’Mar said so softly under his breath as he sipped his wine that MaFang didn’t even hear it. Clearing his throat, he said in a louder voice, “So in two days times you will be out in the world. My son a fully grown Minotaur. I hope these past eight years at the Academy haven’t dulled you any.”
MaFang smiled as he thought about the Academy. Every Minotaur, male, female, from any family regardless of honor, went to the Academy to learn their future trade. They were all taught combat, but depending on how they were tested, and what they chose, they either learn how to be great fighters, great ship builders, or even the artists so many out in the world didn’t know the Minotaurs had. Those artists though were more bard-like in nature, regardless of what art they had chosen. Every Minotaur was a fighter first, then whatever else second. MaFang remembered that he had almost chosen to become an artist, but he knew that he wasn’t as skilled-….
MaFang stopped his thought so fast he forever forgot that he even thought them. For his father was on the floor, gasping for air. The strength that was always a trademark in his eyes fading fast.
In one final breath, MaFang’s father said “I have been poisoned…” as the life in his eyes died………………………