4Benyos the Wandererwritten by Angelica Riley
a.k.a. Jitterrue
Summer of 2003
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to my world. This story takes place on a planet known as Titania. On this planet are 32 kingdoms. Each royal family of every kingdom own a pair of what they call teleportation stones they are beautiful glowing jewels of sorts set on golden rings and when used properly may cause their namesake. They are incredibly valuable and just might be a source of conflict. (However in this particular story they will not, if rarely, be used.) Several of the kingdoms have only just begun to experience a sort of Renaissance, (some are farther along, some further behind). And a very few have started their Industrial Revolution. Now the special thing about Titania is its supply of special jewels. These jewels come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and are used for different things. They have a strong and mysterious power that no one really knows about. So imagine this small world, if you will, and have fun!
P.S. Have you any questions, feel free to email me and I will answer ASAP. Much more information will be included in my novel which I hope to officially finish and publish in a few years. This story is merely an offshoot of that one. Thanks.
-Jitterrue
Chapter 1
Prince Jenko gazed thoughtfully out of his window. It was barred. Of course, only to keep out burglars or perhaps unwanted animals... but for Prince Jenko, son of King Tokar III of Jenthamoon, of the vermilion stones (neither red nor orange) [all this, mind you was his official title, complete with heritage and nationality, such a title was customarily recited at every formal greeting]. For Prince Jenko, the bars, sculpted and shined in a most beautiful and luxurious fashion, were nothing more than fancied prison bars.
Jenko wanted free. Free of his heritage, free of his fate. For him, royalty was nothing but a trap, an endless wheel created only for an unlucky few who were fated to be born within it. Why no one else could see it that way, Jenko didn't know.
But the young prince's mind turned to other matters as his gaze averted from the bars of the window and the free clouds beyond...
An old godfather clock in the back of room rang deep and solemnly. It would be but a few more days when Jenko would turn 20, and his coronation would seal his fate forever, Jenko would be King of Jenthamoon.
Jenko rose from his lofty chair, shuffled down the hall, bowed to a few young ladies as he passed them by, and presented himself before his mother in the dining hall.
Look at you Jenko, my son, she cried in hurried dismay. You're clothes are wrinkled and your hair is in all the wrong places. What have you been doing?
was Jenko's curt reply, and he ran his fingers through his mass of disheveled hair.
Well then, clean you up now. And... please, for stone's sake, don't you be late. and with that, Jenko's mother bustled passed him and walked stiffly around the corner.
Jenko had been raised by the nurse, all his life. He had not seen more of his mother than a few scheduled meetings with her in the meeting hall. Perhaps now she was attempting to make up for lost time, for her son was about to be king after all.
So Jenko returned to his quarters to tidy himself up. And after no longer than half an hour, he inspected himself in a mirror.
And I should like to tell you of his looks, reader. Jenko had a strong, stern look about him. His hair was raven black, and it grew in shapes of flames back along his head. But his widow's peak was the most obvious feature about it. It grew to a point, just above his eyebrows and was long and pointed until it joined the rest of the hairline. His eyebrows were dark, heavy, and they split slightly at the back ends. His eyes were a deep brown, and his look, so stern and fiery. One might almost think they could see a speck of sorrow in them. His clothes were now clean and pristine. He wore a white suite, lined with vermillion and gold. His shoes were of the shiniest vermilion and he wore only one sword at his waist, as a sign of his high rank. He was very tall, 6 feet, 9 inches. A long scar ran from his chin up to his cheek bone, pointing to his left eye. A dark past enshrouds that scar... Trained in most methods of combat, trained in all ways of intellect, built to rule, this was the stern, proud, strong, King to be, Jenko.
Jenko walked stiffly from the room to fulfill his duties.
3 days later:
The Coronation ceremony had only recently ended. King Jenko was clad in a vermilion robe, white clothing, and the crown of his father. Power... Money... Fame. Jenko had it all... He watched the people in the throne room with a stoney heir. His parents standing proud behind him, his sister sitting in a chair before him...
No. He would not accept this. Royalty, it was nothing more to him than a prisoner in fancy clothing. Presently, he stood and stepped out of the room. He was followed by a throng of guards, but he waved them off. Jenko was going to fulfill his most secret of duties.
In an unused, blocked off section of the courtyard, Jenko met with Yinse the Great. This was a master of an ancient form of swordsmanship known as DuSais (two swords, in the ancient tongue). Such a form had been forgotten by nearly all, and Yinse himself was believed to be long dead.
Welcome, my Pr... King, Yinse said in a husky voice, bowing deeply towards his pupil. Yinse was nearly 110 years old now.
Thank you, Master, Jenko replied to this beloved old man. He honored Yinse as a father, for his own was foreign to him.
I have taught you since your childhood, have I naught? Yinse breathed uneasily, but his eyes were kind and peaceful.
Yes, Master, Jenko began to feel puzzled, for the old man never started off a lesson in such a fashion.
This shall be our last lesson together... For my last breath draws near. Forgive me, my young pupil.
Master Yinse?
This lesson, will not be of DuSais, as you have known it... but of last messages.
Jenko was silent.
I have little left to teach you... but learn it, you must from another.
Jenko felt his throat tighten, and his eyes begin to water. But he held back the tears, he must not cry in front of this great man. But Master, there is none other in this world-
But Master Yinse silenced him, My young king, please kneel. Jenko complied. The old man placed his withered hand on Jenko's forehead and said, In the custom of my Master before me, as I am Yinse, one who has strong wits, I name you: King Jenko, Son of Tokar III of Jenthamoon, of the vermillion stones... you are Benyos, one who seeks the rest.
Then the old man lifted his hand and Jenko rose shakily to his feet. He was still confused and unsure of what was occurring. Then Yinse the Great said, My son... I must leave you now. I have few days left of life. Do not follow me, for in our custom, you must not see me again. I will die alone.
And Yinse, leaning on his cane, turned from the courtyard and disappeared into the obscurity from which he had come so long ago.
Jenko never saw him again.
2 nights later:
Sleep refused to overcome the new king. (The first thing he saw every morning, were the bars on the windows...) Jenko yearned for freedom.
Silently, in the stillness of the night, Jenko, prepared himself for travel. He assumed the apparel of a wandering warrior: His green tunic, the sleeves connected by leather straps, two thick leather belts strapped across the chest, one belt at the waste, thick black pants, sturdy silver boots covered in a sturdy cloth, and a dark green cape. Finally he placed the the two sword of DuSais in their proper sheaths about his waist.
Jenko looked at his crown, his prison garb, and tossed onto the floor. Jenko was leaving, King or not.
No one saw him leave, no animals barked their warning. No one, except Jenko's little sister.
Brother? Why have you got on your travel cloak? small child stood at the exit hall, clad in her soft night gown. Her face was light, but sad.
Little Iana? Why are you up so late? The King stopped to look at the small girl.
I... I could not sleep. I heard something scary. Brother Jenko, please don't leave me! And tears streamed down her small face. Jenko was filled with compassion and for a short moment he wanted nothing more than to pick her up and tell her all was well...
But he didn't.
Iana... My name is no longer Jenko. It's Benyos. And with that he left the castle and disappeared into the darkness of the night.
This concludes Chapter 1 of Benyos the Wanderer.
Ok, this chapter was merely introducing you to who this guy is. But the real adventure hasn't begun yet, so please wait for chapter 2! When Benyos is out in the real world!
p.s. I know this font makes Iana's name look like Lana, but be wary, that's a capital not an . thx.