With all the days that he had spent in the canoe Ra was beginning to
change. His skin darkened since there was no escape from the ever vigilant
sun, the constant rowing made him stronger and his stamina better, he was
forced to eat much healthier than he was used to, and by listening to the
waves his hearing seemed to grow more selective, almost better even.
"Where am I going? I have no knowledge of the world. Will I even be able to find land again amidst all this vast water? Did my father even know what he was talking about?"
"Many years ago during the time of my grandfather a gigantic ship from afar cashed into the island. The ship was damaged beyond repair and apparently no one aboard survived the trip. The King's grandfather went aboard and chose to take some circles as shiny as the sun. Then he allowed his advisors to go aboard and they took strange garments. However as an unexpected act of kindness towards my grandfather, for leading the defense of the village against the Southerners, he allowed him to go aboard and select what he wanted as well." Rommenik began to explain.
"My grandfather decided to take a box which came with a shiny unbreakable twig stuck in a little hole in the box. After learning that the twig could be used to open the box he found that inside were magnificent weapons that reflected images like the waters. However he never had to use them because of the years of peace that lasted the rest of that King's reign. When I finally became leader of the village army there was never a battle large enough to prompt the use of the 'good weapons' So throughout the years the remained inside the box except when I would take them out to polish them."
"But the time to use them may come during your life time because as I have told you it is the Southerner's belief although false, that the island can only support their population so they must destroy our people. We know for sure that the reason that the Southerners have been less aggressive these past three generations was to build up their army for large scale war against us. The advisors have told the King it would just be best to wait until you take the throne to go on the offensive. Since I won't be commanding the army when that happens, I think you should have the chest of weapons. While I know that you will be taking the throne I am also aware of the fact that you hate to be passive and always get directly involved in anything that remotely concerns you."
"Why won't the King just go there and attack now?" Ra asked.
"Because army participation is at an all time low and a good number of the men have not been properly trained. It would be stupid of us to try and go on the offensive now. We can only hope that we have enough time to prepare before South village is ready to strike."
"So where did the box come from?"
"I'm not sure but the priests speak of many far away lands that are both larger and tinier than our own."
"How can they be sure?"
"The gods would not have created a world so empty: with only this single land and the vast waters, it would make no sense because the ship had to come from somewhere and probably originated from a land much larger and full of even stranger things than what was found on the ship."
"Well I guess if the priests could predict my coming, then they could be right about this too."
"Where am I going? I have no knowledge of the world. Will I even be able to find land again amidst all this vast water? Did my father even know what he was talking about?"
"Many years ago during the time of my grandfather a gigantic ship from afar cashed into the island. The ship was damaged beyond repair and apparently no one aboard survived the trip. The King's grandfather went aboard and chose to take some circles as shiny as the sun. Then he allowed his advisors to go aboard and they took strange garments. However as an unexpected act of kindness towards my grandfather, for leading the defense of the village against the Southerners, he allowed him to go aboard and select what he wanted as well." Rommenik began to explain.
"My grandfather decided to take a box which came with a shiny unbreakable twig stuck in a little hole in the box. After learning that the twig could be used to open the box he found that inside were magnificent weapons that reflected images like the waters. However he never had to use them because of the years of peace that lasted the rest of that King's reign. When I finally became leader of the village army there was never a battle large enough to prompt the use of the 'good weapons' So throughout the years the remained inside the box except when I would take them out to polish them."
"But the time to use them may come during your life time because as I have told you it is the Southerner's belief although false, that the island can only support their population so they must destroy our people. We know for sure that the reason that the Southerners have been less aggressive these past three generations was to build up their army for large scale war against us. The advisors have told the King it would just be best to wait until you take the throne to go on the offensive. Since I won't be commanding the army when that happens, I think you should have the chest of weapons. While I know that you will be taking the throne I am also aware of the fact that you hate to be passive and always get directly involved in anything that remotely concerns you."
"Why won't the King just go there and attack now?" Ra asked.
"Because army participation is at an all time low and a good number of the men have not been properly trained. It would be stupid of us to try and go on the offensive now. We can only hope that we have enough time to prepare before South village is ready to strike."
"So where did the box come from?"
"I'm not sure but the priests speak of many far away lands that are both larger and tinier than our own."
"How can they be sure?"
"The gods would not have created a world so empty: with only this single land and the vast waters, it would make no sense because the ship had to come from somewhere and probably originated from a land much larger and full of even stranger things than what was found on the ship."
"Well I guess if the priests could predict my coming, then they could be right about this too."