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Chapter 61 – Ambitions

Young me was doing fine. I made sure that no harm may come to my young self after Ricat was officially appointed as Halim’s aide. It took time but Halim’s changed his mind about me after Ricat insisted that he will deal with young me without use of force. He was still going to work daily and living in a unit near Ministry of Defense.

Ricat and me had long talks after midnights, especially brainstorming ideas about what we could do and how. Kirk and Rychyld were informed weekly about thoughts and decisions regarding our plans and they were sending replies to our messages using pigeons to send and recieve messages. After long discussions and Ricat’s lobbying our cause in palace, we decided to build temples. Temples that we were going to build were not meant to brainwash or indoctrinate any religion. They were going to protect them when the time comes.

Architects throughout the kingdom were welcomed in Mehn to come up with plans and designs for a building that could be used to protect citizens of Kingdom of Kali from dragon’s attack. Ricat brought together warriors, mages and me who were involved in Iron Tree quest to meet architects who were involved in planning to meet us for questioning about the dragon. Productivity of their work would increase if they knew what kind of building was needed to protect masses from single but vicious dragon. I gave them hints about dragon’s possible size, and its fire breathing possibility and so on. I have to underline that neither public nor government was aware of this project.

In a month time, more than few hundred plans and models were brought in front of the commision consisting of Ricat, me and Kirk. We selected few models to consider

During this time number of members increased and “The Guard” became more and more influential as time passed. We had amirs of different provinces, wealthy merchants, courtesans from palace and different regions who pledged their alliance to our cause. As a result, I was moving from one city to another, from one village to another to meet those in person and talk to them about our plans. Members were joining new ones to our cause. Rules were written to make sure secrecy of our cause and organization.

1. Existence of “The Guard” was to be kept secret.

2. “The Guard” consisted of small groups of 4 and local meetings were to be made one on one and arranged so that 1 member knew only the other 2.

In almost every other group except the first four, everyone knew me as the fourth member. After month and half of travel I stopped going to meetings as one selected member was coming to meet me in capital once a fortnight.

First prototype of Temple of Guardians was build in Nanwei. In papers my name was shown as the funder of construction. At the south side of village looking towards in direction of Ark City a small pyramid was built. It was two and half meters in height and had a wooden gate to enter. Inside there was nothing but the statue of late King Dar. Trick was that if turned a full 360 degrees and pushed down a door would open to underground bunker which could hold up to 6000 people. It was not a grand palace but a hidden shelter to house up to 6000 villagers for few days in case dragon attacked.

It was 5th of Elaisis. My younger self would be celebrating his 18th birthday while I was twenty and two years old. Wind was blowing slowly, creating a cool breeze that refreshed everyone. Jamelia and Ricat were besides me while villagers of Nanwei were looking at awe to us from distance. King’s guard was keeping them off as assasination attempt may occur. Few hundred knighted warriors were standing side-by-side creating a wall of meat to make sure that no human passed by them. There were mages who had casted spells to identify any possible physical or magical attack in advance.

Halim was standing in front of us while there was a hill behind us made from soil and dirt when space for underground shelter was dugged. It was covered with green lawn and flowers that blossomed most of time except cold winters. In between hill and us Temple of Dar was located.

With slow but witty steps Halim walked towards us to stop a step away.

[Halim]: Ricat, you told me alot and wanted me to attend this so-called Temple’s opening.

[Ricat]: Yes, Your Grace!

[Halim]: But my father was no divine man.

[Me]: A visionary my king. He was a visionary!

[Halim]: So who I am then?

[Me]: Chosen one who continues legacy of the great one!

[Halim]: You must be Bartholomew. Ricat told me about you.

[Me]: Your grace has honored me more than any wealth or fame that could by remembering my name.

[Halim]: You are flattering me.

[Me]: Its truth my lord, as God is our sun and shield.

[Halim]: Tell me what purpose this temple aims at?

[Me]: It’s to honor the great emperor who brought together most of humanity under same roof. Protected and prospered us. We shall pray to him to be in peace in other world, so a place needs to be made for common folk to remember him. I volunteered for this mission and Lord Ricat accepted my good intentions promising to tell you about our deeds.

[Halim]: Hahaa.. What do you want? Power? Title? Lands?

[Me]: Nothing of sort my lord. I want your blessings.

[Halim]: Blessings for what?

[Me]: Blessings to build Temple’s of Dar all over the kingdom to honor late King Dar.

[Halim]: You have my blessings though do you have enough gold?

[Me]: I do not, but this is not just I who was involved in it. Most of the village contributed.

[Halim]: Do people love me as much as they loved my father?

[Me]: If they didn’t they would not be here to see your grace’s face, illuminating the village by your presence.

[Halim]: Ricat add Bartholomew to guest list for my 100th day celebrations.

[Ricat]: Yes, Your Grace!

[Me]: You honored me again my lord.

He laughed and went away, Ricat following him by his side. Guards made way for them to pass through. Two mages went ahead of them while another two behind them casting some kind of invisible shield.

Next: Chapter 62 - Keep the change!