Chapter 14

"Ok you two that's quite enough," Markus said as he came through the portal a few minutes after Rex. "You'll be fine, just breathe." Putting a hand on Rex's shoulder.

"Just a little fun Lord Markus, meant no harm by it" said one of the men, Rex looked up after his eyes had adjusted a little better and the nausea was waning, that's weird, did I just hear them call Markus 'Lord'?, that's curious Rex thought, he then noticed that standing not far away from Rex was 2 men who were eyeing Rex off eagerly.

On closer inspection those 2 men looked exactly alike! Both men looked to be about 5 and a half foot tall, both had long hair tied back into a pony tail, except one had black hair at the base which greyed at the tips, while the other had brown which also greyed at the tips, they also shared the same eye colour, both men seem to have orange pupils.

"Yes prince Rex, we are twins, except I'm the good looking one" chuckled one of the men after seeing the look on Rex's face as he gazed from one man to the other comparing them.

"My name is Kal and this is my brother Raz, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Said the man named Kal.

"You don't happen to feel like vomiting do you? Just a little one would be sufficient." Said Raz, getting close to Rex's face as if he was looking for something.

"No, not anymore, I'm feeling a lot better thank you." Rex said stepping back a little.

"Yes master Rex, he is FINE, I do believe that'll be 5 my way, pay up old man" Kal said putting his hand out.

He called his brother 'old man' and yet they didn't look a day over 30, that's not old Rex pondered.

"Do not be fooled by appearances young master" Markus said from beside him smiling while watching the twins squabbling, "those 2 have been trying my patience for over 100 years."

"THAT'S ENOUGH" Markus commanded and both men instantly stopped and stood facing Markus shoulder to shoulder.

"That's a neat trick I hope you'll teach me one day" Rex said in amazement, Rex sensed Markus had an aura of leadership about him so it was no wonder they were calling him by the title 'Lord.'

Hearing this Markus have Rex a wink before saying to the twins, "well now that's out of the way, let us get everything packed and we can leave, I do believe Sharman is expecting us."

"Sharman?" Rex whispered to Raz after Markus starting walking out the door.

"He is the gatekeeper." Raz replied, "quite a mean fellow if you ask me." 

"That's because he knows you're the weak one" Kal said, slapping his brothers back as he walked past carrying a large rucksack on his back.

Grabbing the other rucksack, Raz threw it into his back and took off after Kal, Rex could hear them starting up again about who was weak.

Stopping and turning to face Rex, Markus said, "it's time for you to come home and take your place young prince, I know a few people who are quite excited to see you."

Markus then opened the door and beckoned for Rex to leave first.

When Rex stepped outside it definitely didn't look like he was still in Oak, there was a large main path that ran past the house, and passed by many more houses and archways it seemed! Rex couldn't do anything but look on, stunned how this sort of place could even be here. 

It didn't take Rex long to notice where the road had ended, for at the end was an incredible large stone circle, inside of the circle, it had the exact same waves on the centre of it, just like the one Markus had drawn back at his grandmothers, except this huge one was grey in colour compared to the one Markus made which was purple.

"That up there is the way to Dracoterrum and all of these doorways and arches you see lead to other places on earth" Markus said standing beside Rex.

As they walked off towards the gateway, Rex noticed there wasn't many people coming and going, "who gives permission for people to come and go?" He asked.

"In the northern and western kingdoms it's your father, and in the southern and eastern kingdoms, it's your uncle, Ean." Markus said.

"I thought my father was the emperor?" Rex said a little confused. 

"He is, your father merely shares the burden of running the whole continent with your uncle is all." Markus said.

"You seem close to him" Rex said being able to see Markus's face light up while talking about him.

"Yes, your father and I have been close for a very long time indeed, one could almost hint that we are 'friends'" he said, "that's is if you can be friends with the most powerful person in Dracoterrum!" He said beginning to laugh.

"What do you mean by that?" Rex asked, clearly not understanding the joke.

"It's easier if we start at the beginning" Markus said putting an arm around Rex's shoulder, "almost 5000 years ago dragons were being hunted by man and were brought to the brink of extinction. So their leader at the time, an elder dragon called Lokmar and his son Fafnir, called all dragons to council and told them of his plan of creating a safe place they could avoid further death and persecution. Back then magic in this place was a lot simpler and easier, but men are superstitious, and blamed dragons for everything from bad weather, dying crops, livestock death from disease and famine and so they would be slain to appease gods and prove their might to kings. So after arguing for 10 years they agreed to create Dracoterrum, at great cost to themselves, and created this gate to make the pass there possible. To prevent humans following, they appointed the strongest warrior of their time to guard the entrance."

"WOW dragons did this?" Rex exclaimed.

"Yes after all they are incredible ancient creatures who's origins run deeper than that of men" Markus said, "without them the world becomes out of balance and would eventually lead to the destruction of man through war, plague and all sorts of disaster, that is why they made Dracoterrum, even after all that death they suffered, they still care for what happens to the world and take care of it, that takes great wisdom and patience."

Star stuck at this all Rex could do was run his fingers through his hair. This was the most incredible thing he had ever heard, straight out of the fairytale books he grew up with.

Once the group had gotten closer to the gate, Rex noticed what looked like stalls for vendors to trade and bargain, so he enquired about them.

"About 50 years ago this used to be a bustling area of trade and goods" Markus said, " that was until your uncle started the Blood War, then all travel from the gate was forbidden, your father shut the gate off to prevent the armies of your uncle coming through to exact revenge on man for what became of the dragons."

"If my father is emperor, why don't they listen to him?" He asked shocked.

"Your uncle only has the true allegiance of one area, that's is from the fae of Valen, they consider the dragons choosing what was once humans to become the rulers as an ultimate insult, for the fae were once the only caretakers of dragons, but because Lokmar knew the people of the town he presided over were pure of heart and followed the old ways, they were allowed to follow him to the new land, the fae became jealous and would hunt humans for sport. Fafnir, Lokmar's son banished them to the eastern land for disoboence, and in the next cycle, he allowed the first human to take part in 'The Choosing' and he became the first ever human to lead us, and so it has been every cycle since."

"The choosing?" Rex said, a bit ashamed he knew so little.

"Yes, anyone who wishes to have their name brought forward to lead must pass through "The Dreaming", it is said dragons use this place to test your strength, wisdom, courage and ability to lead, but no one really knows what happens once you enter, all that is known is that if you fail their test, you do not awake."

"What happens?" Rex said.

"I think you already know the answer, you perish." Markus said solemnly.

After Markus had said this Rex noticed it had gone quiet, so he look for the twins, soon realising they had gotten ahead of them and were standing next to a man near the gateway.

Rex had never seen such an imposing figure before, he was tall, very muscular, wore pants that seemed to be woven with chain mail with only a leather vest on over his large chest. He stood there with his 2 hands pressing onto the bottom of the hilt to his huge sword he had sitting tip down into the ground at his feet. No wonder someone like that guards the gate! Rex thought, not an enemy he wanted to make. 

It seemed Kal held his hand out to the gatekeeper, said a few words and threw what looked to be dice onto the ground near their the mans feet. Once the dice stopped moving, Kal threw his hands onto his head and yelled "un..bloody..believable" which was quickly followed by Raz bursting out laughing and Ponting at Kal.

Passing the twins on their way to speak with the gatekeeper, Rex heard Kal day, "I loaded the dice, how did I lose?" To which Raz said, "he is a seer you idiot, how do you think he looks into your soul and reads your mind to determine if your intentions are good or not?" 

Hearing that made the impression of definite power in Rex's mind, so when they stopped in front of the gatekeeper, Rex felt incredible nervous.

"You're a day early Lord Markus" he said, wow he has a deep voice Rex noticed, "Yes there was unforseen circumstances" Markus replied nodding at Rex.

When the gatekeeper looked at Rex he noticed that he had the most incredible eyes! They were gloss black and when he looked at Rex, he swore he saw stars zooming around in there!

"Ah yes, most unfortunate" he said after a few seconds of staring at Rex. "Very well, you may pass." Picking up his sword, as he touched the tip of it into the grey waves inside of the portal came alive and within a few seconds he could hear a faint splashing noise.

Here we go again Rex said to himself, bracing for the sick feeling he had experienced last time he went through a portal, looking up at Markus, as if asking if it was ok, to which he said, "we will be right behind you."

Rex took a deep breath, and stepped in...