A Quest

A Story by Mark Powell

Prologue

His name is Maxillius Morticus, the first son of Mortian Morticus the Brave, and the great grand son of the only knight of the old round table never to be slain in battle. One spring morning, when roses of all colors were in full bloom, Maxillius ventured outside of his village, Carmarthen, to the seaside for a brief fishing trip. On his walk home through the Carmarthen battle grounds he noticed something awry within the village. In the horizon he saw a giant plume of smoke hovering above the village, losing itself in the cold winds from the north. At this sight his immediate assumption was battle he pulled his short sword from its sheath and began to run onward into Carmarthen. Running faster and faster to the edge of the village Maxillius was confused by the silence dwelling all around him. He came to his come and was halted immediately in his tracks. The flames had come from his home, and they had turned all he had known and loved into ash. Standing there he watched his entire life turn to ash and meld itself with the ashes of the falling ruins before him.

Three days following a seaside funeral was held for his family. During the entire service Maxillius stared into the bright green eyes of a stranger whom had no right to be at his families’ burial. After the services the stout, well-fed, bearded man walked over towards Maxillius. At first Maxillius had felt a brief moment of resentment for allowing the man to stay, but staring into those green eyes he knew this man was of some grave importance.

“Who are you?” Asked Maxillius as the man reached his side and turned him towards the ocean, allowing the smell of salty water to reach Maxillius’ nostrils.

“My name is Leptus. Your father and I both fought together long ago… you can call me an old family friend.” Said the man named Leptus.

“Okay. Why are you here”? Asked Maxillius as he was staring out into the water.

“I am here to deliver a message. Many years from now you will want to leave here on a quest. This quest will lead you into the heart of the desert and the depths of your soul. But you must first venture into the mighty bog of the forgotten time to find me. Remember this: When you see the blood-star venture into the woods of Carmarthen. There you will find me”. After saying this Leptus turned and walked away.

This was little over fifteen years ago. Maxillius had been raised by the people of Carmarthen into a mighty but modest warrior. Now at the age of twenty-two he had decided it was time for him to venture on his quest. Ever since that day when he was fishing a coldness had grown inside of him towards the god he was told brought him here. His faith diminished, Maxillius decided he would venture to Jerusalem to find the burial grounds of Christ, he wanted needed something to reestablish his faith. For fifteen years now every morning after he awoke and every night before he slept he would look to the edge of the Carmarthen wood in hopes to see this star he had been told of. Now on one spring night when roses of all colors were in bloom Maxillius woke in a cold sweat. A sense of necessity made him leave his bed to stand in his doorway. Staring out towards the wood he saw a flaming star fall into the woods. After dressing, grabbing his shield, and sword he ran towards the woods. Enter the brush, pushing his way through thorn bushes, he saw a golden wolf. He felt this strange wolf was here for a purpose, but as he approached the beast it turned away from him and ran further into the wood, leaving but only an illuminated path behind it. Maxillius chased after this wolf until he came upon a giant empty valley where the remains of the smoldering star lay. Approaching the star he did not see the crevasse that was hiding in the grass and he fell straight in. Right before he fell he saw the wolf disappear into a cloud of smoke. He fell for what seemed like hours until he eventually blacked out, only awaking after he had landed in a giant colorless bog.

The colors of everything around him fleeted after the first moment in the bog. All Maxillius could see in this bog encircled in trees were two men standing overtop of the water with their backs turned. As Maxillius noticed he was knee deep in water, yet not wet, one of the men turned towards him, this one being the fully armored man.

“ I am Arthur, former king of Camelot and long ago the land above. Long ago I was almost completely forgotten. All that now remains of my memory is the myths set in the above world.”. After speaking the armor clad man named Arthur turned his back to Maxillius, then the robed man turned to Maxillius talking. Strange enough though, Maxillius could see the greens of this mans eyes.

“ I am Merlin. I am here to help you view what you might have never known. Let you see what has been robbed of you. I will show you the darkness at the end of the tunnel, the light to guide you further into your quest. This is what was lost in the fire”. As Merlin said this he raised his arms and a silver fountain encircled by cobblestone began to rise in front of the men in the bog. A pathway leading to the fountain also rose from the bog. This also made from cobblestones. Merlin then spoke in a more serious tone.

“ Come and look into the fountain, see what you have wanted to learn in the back of your mind for fifteen years. Learn what happened that day you went fishing on the seaside”.

Courage never wavering, Maxillius walked up to the fountain and gazed within. At first he saw nothing but a blurry image began to form. He saw his father, Mortian the Brave pull his sword out… Then his mother and two sisters entered the room. After a heated argument Mortian stabbed Maxillius’ mother and stabbed her in the chest. He then slit his two daughter’s throats as they screamed and cried. A tear ran down Maxillius’ face as he watched his father set flame to their home and fled out of Carmarthen on foot. Maxillius then knew his father was still alive. A new hatred was born.

Merlin and Arthur then spoke in chilling unison.

“When you return to the above Leptus will be waiting. Travel with him to Jerusalem, there you will find your father along with something to return your faith. Heed this warning: Leave the desert too soon and lose all faith, stay too long and forever be lost within the sands. Also heed to this advice: All that may challenge fire is water!” Arthur and Merlin then both sank into the bog and Maxillius then blacked out.

III

“Wake up now you ignorant fool. We are short on time… your father may very well be out of Jerusalem by time you get up!”

Maxillius hear this as he lulled his head back and forth returning the vision back to his eyes. Standing up he heard this voice again.

“Turn around boy! It’s me Leptus!”

Turning around Maxillius was face to face with a giant green-eyed Komodo dragon.

“Don’t be worried. Merlin changed me into this creature for safe travel!”

“Well why a wingless dragon?” asked Maxillius

Leptus then answered “As I was told by Merlin, I am a Komodo dragon. The reason I was turned into this beast was so we can safely get across the English Channel and then cross the desert. So hop onto my back. Like I said your father may be gone before we can even reach him.”

Maxillius then leap onto Leptus’ newly gained scale-back and they rode out of the woods.

The first half of ocean travel had been quite easy. Leptus’ newly gained body had provided him the ability to float and swim long distances without even tiring. Maxillius was beginning to believe that Leptus was going to make it across the whole Channel to France without being challenged or stopping until the storm began. At first the Maxillius’ just noticed that the waves were getting larger and more distant, but then thunderclouds began to form overhead. As the thunderclouds began to let loose lighting bolts a whirlpool began to start whirling up in the distance and what looked like a mountain began to rise out of the ocean.

Leptus then let out a gargled scream “This is the thing that Merlin had warned me about. This is the Leviathan! The beast of the ocean! He also warned me of a beast of land! If I can get close to the Leviathan I can bite it which will poison it and kill it! If you can get me close I can at least wound it to get rid of it!”

What had seemed like a mountain to Maxillius was just the tail end of the Leviathan. As it rose the whirlpool completely dissipated and giant waves crashed outwards from it. The Leviathan was a giant sea-snake with fins in the shapes of wings, and the teeth of a lion. Its eyes were those of a cat and its tongue forked like a snakes. As Maxillius jumped off of Leptus into the water the Leviathan dipped nostrils into the water and breathed fire into it causing the water to slowly get hotter and hotter. Maxillius’ skin began to sting from the intense heat but luckily for him when he was young the town butcher had taught him a way of swimming which leads to a speedy trip and he reached the Leviathan quite quickly. All the while Leptus had dove underwater and was heading towards the Leviathan as quickly as he could. Maxillius climbed to the Leviathans back and began to carve its back up with his sword. As he did this he looked out to Leptus and saw he was almost to the Leviathan. The Leviathan then started to buck his head back and forth… Maxillius almost lost his balance and fell to the sea, but he stabbed his sword into the back of the Leviathan and held on for dear life. As the Leviathan was bucking up and down it didn’t notice as Leptus began readying himself for biting the beast. Then Leptus bit down as hard as he could, removing a large chunk of scale from the Leviathans throat. The Leviathan began to slunk down and sink into the ocean. Maxillius then unsheathed his sword from the Leviathans spinal cord and jumped down onto Leptus’ back.

“Well that was close!” said Leptus.

“You think that was close? Ha. There was no doubt in my mind that I can destroy anything in my path. Ha. Don’t worry so much Leptus.” said Maxillius as they began to swim on to France.

The rest of the trip to France oversea had gone unhitched. In two days they had traveled through France, this was because unlike most Komodo dragons Leptus was quite a fast runner. That and he was also a giant Komodo dragon. From France they had made their way through various townships and provinces until they had reached Greece. Reaching the Greek seaside they swam across the Mediterranean Sea to Israel. Facing no challenges in this long journey Maxillius’ and Leptus’ were beginning to feel comfortable with the thought that the Leviathan was the only hardship they would face on their quest. When they finally did arrive in Israel they arrived at the port city of Tel-Aviv.

“When we travel through the cities of this old world we must trek quickly and as secretly as possible. Long now the people have believed all reptiles are creatures that cast death and sin on all things around them”. Said Leptus as he climbed out of the water, shaking water off of his scales.

“I say we completely avoid cities after this one then… Leptus go back into the water and swim 3 miles further up the coast. I will meet you there, but if I am not there in an hour swim away and don’t search for me”. Said Maxillius before he jumped off of Leptus’ back and walked into the city.

Maxillius, walking deeper and deeper into the port city, started to think how strange this new place was. No one wore armor or carried shields. Their swords were even bent at the end… Everything was so brightly colored and exotic. The women that walked through the streets and hung out of their windows wore fewer clothes than any woman Maxillius had ever seen. If he had been a weaker man he would have perhaps waited there and watched them… perhaps he would have even tried to go further with these women. The buildings here were built of sand and stone, another new thing in the eyes of Maxillius. As he got near the center of town he passed a man selling all sorts of exotic animals, there was a large bird which stood on one leg and feathers of all colors, and there was a horse with skin striped with gold and black.

Noticing the sun was beginning to sink down over a ridge Maxillius began to run, his heart beating ever faster and faster he could see Leptus lying off the beach in the distance. Finally reaching him, Maxillius leap onto his back and they began to ride off into the sunset over that ridge in the distance. They rode all night and only stopped to rest when Leptus was near fainting. Maxillius stood keeping look out while Leptus slept alongside the nearby fire. As the sun began to rise from the East Leptus awoke and they started to ride again. After two more days of solid riding they reached a hill overlooking Jerusalem. After burying nearly all of Leptus’ body under the sand Maxillius started to walk down the sands to the city containing all of his fate.

Jerusalem was even weirder than all of Tel-Aviv… without an ounce of Western influence; Jerusalem was noticeably a town of the Middle East. Strange tendencies for some of the strangest of people so supposed Maxillius as he walked further and further into the largest city he had seen in all of his life. On every other street there were at least one to two brothels of some sort with women culling Maxillius to “come on in and have some fun white man!”

Every time Maxillius’ response was exactly the same “No thank you ladies. I am looking for an old friend.”

Occasionally the woman would ask “Well who is this man? Perhaps he is one of our clients...”

To these women Maxillius would answer “His name is Mortian Morticus the Brave… Have you seen him?”

The general response amongst the women was “no.” but nearing the middle of the city a woman named Lebasa gave him a tad more information.

“Ah young stranger… have you seen the highest tower nearer to the eastern edge of this town? Mid-day when the sun is highest in the sky you will see this Mortian man performing magic outside of this tower” Said Lebasa.

“Thank you Madame. What is it that you want for your services?” Asked Maxillius, pondering what this question could lead to.

“For now I just want a kiss… but if you return may I ask you of further services?” Asked Lebasa.

Taken aback at first by this blunt response Maxillius soon agreed and they both kissed for a short while.

“What will you ask of me when I return?” asked Maxillius, quite curious after that enjoyable kiss.

“That is for me to know and you to find out” said Lebasa as she shut the doors of the brothel. Leaving Maxillius blushing in the middle of Jerusalem.

After a few moments Maxillius started to walk towards the eastern edge of Jerusalem; He could see this tower in the distance. The sun was reflecting behind the tower and left it looking as if flames were forming from all sides of it. That night Maxillius had found shelter in the home of some villagers for a cheap fee. The next morning when he awoke he went out and bought some fresh fruit for this family and left all but an apple on their table. Eating the apple he walked two streets further to the edge of Jerusalem nearer the tower. Once in front of it he hid in the shadows of a side alley with the perfect view of the tower. Maxillius stood all day in those shadows. Every once and again a child would stop and stare at him but other than that most people simply ignored that he was there. At mid-day a crowd began to form around a man in thin robes. This man was dressed up in the robes of a gypsy, hiding his identity under cloth overtop of his face, but seeing the cold eyes of Mortian under the cloth and anger began to bubble deep in Maxillius. Maxillius got the anger under control though… his aim cannot be off. As Mortian did magic tricks involving the element of fire Maxillius slowly moved to the other side of the alley all the while remaining in the shadows. Then he slowly unsheathed a dagger from the underside of his boot and aimed towards Mortian’s face. Maxillius threw the dagger and it stabbed right through Mortian’s veil causing it to fly off and be stabbed into the stone of the church that the tower was attached to. A stunned Mortian stood up and rushed into the church, not knowing that his own son was the man who threw the dagger. Maxillius rushed in after him and locked shut the doors of the church with two large pieces of wood.

“Who are you?!” screamed Mortian, still not knowing who his pursuer was.

Maxillius stepping out of the shadows said his family’s motto “Edrych I’ Fynw! Looking up father! It is I, Maxillius, your only son. How dare you fake your death and leave me to be raised by the town drunks! Prepare yourself for battle father!”

“I am so sorry my boy… my baby boy, but if you want to battle son then you will die in flames like your mother!” screamed Mortian as he unsheathed his sword and flames shot up from its blade. “Maxillius, this is the magic blade I used to set out house to fire. It gives me the ability to control fire to a certain extent, but of course it work better when it’s in my hand.

Rushing at his father Maxillius screamed with tears in his eyes and allowed his blade to make contact with Mortian’s left arm cutting it off and leaving it lying on the ground. Using one arm Mortian began to sword fight with Maxillius, losing consciousness with all the blood flowing out of his arm. Swords clashing harder and harder, Maxillius eventually knocked Mortian’s blade from his hand and slashed off his right hand. Before Mortian could bleed to death Maxillius picked up his fathers sword and used the flames to cauterize his fathers wounds shut.

Screaming in agony Mortian asked “Why don’t you kill me now?”

As he opened the doors of the church and readied to leave Maxillius answered “I am letting you live for two reasons. The first being that I believe in mercy for mine enemy… The second being that I believe you should have to live through the torture you put me through for fifteen years. Perhaps you will hold your faith longer than I, Perhaps not, but for now I leave you in the hands of this church.”

Maxillius then climbed up the outside of the tower and jumped onto a nearby building… running from building top to building top, hoping with all his heart the guardian monks would not find his father until he was long disguised inside of Lebasa’s brothel. Eventually he did notice that a swordsman was chasing him along the buildings and Maxillius took a leap into the crowds below… running in and out of buildings and shops. Eventually he lost the mysterious swordsman and entered Lebasa’s brothel.

“Ah I am happy to see you have returned young friend. Would you like to know what I ask of you before you leave this town?” asked Lebasa as Maxillius entered through the top-left window.

“Yes… but first may I get a rest?” answered Maxillius as he sat on her bed.

“Well believe me young man… you will enjoy this much more than rest, and you may rest later.” Said Lebasa seductively as she sat alongside Maxillius on the bed.

VII

Maxillius awoke when the moon was still high in the sky. The spirits were calling him towards his destiny and he felt he needed to get a move on. He kissed Lebasa on the cheek and then jumped out of the window, rolling as he hit the sand. Maxillius ran faster and faster, his endurance had much increased since the beginning of this journey and he ran all the way out of Jerusalem and up the ridge to Leptus. Leptus was snoring under the sand and all that was visible under the sands was his giant nostrils and his chest heaving inward and out. Maxillius woke him up and Leptus groggily started to shake the sand off of his body.

Looking up towards the sky still shaking his body Leptus asked “So?”

“I couldn’t kill him… I nearly mortally wounded him but I did not kill him. I know not why I could not.” Said Maxillius

“Don’t worry boy. You have the courage and mercy of your great grandfather… I had the luck of knowing him once. You are an image of him. I ‘spose you want to get a move on. Well hop on my back and tell me where to go.” Replied Leptus

“We are nearing the end of our journey Leptus. Now we are going to search all the stones and mighty mountainsides around this place for the burial place of Jesus. I need something to return my faith. Something to re-root me to humanity.” Spoke Maxillius quietly

“Maxillius, you may never find exactly what your looking for, and even if you do you may not be as happy with it as your hoping… when you are finished searching tell me. I will travel with you as long as you may want, just tell me when you are finished once and for all.” Replied Leptus just as quietly as Maxillius had spoken previously.

At first the treks through the desert had been easy and they always kept Jerusalem in their eyesight for safety, but eventually Maxillius’ hunger for proof led them deeper and deeper into the desert. They would always find their way back to Jerusalem by time the sun would set. After four weeks of this Maxillius decided they would trek all the way out to the mountain farthest from Jerusalem and from there they would hopefully find Christ.

The morning of this venture Maxillius deeply ignored the churning of the sands. They seemed almost angry that he was travelling west towards the mountain. Both Maxillius and surprisingly Leptus had their faces covered in veils to prevent loss of sight, but nearing a tree the winds changed and the sand began to strongly blow them back to Jerusalem. Maxillius fought through this until he came to the foot of the mountain… that was when the sands became almost a tornado of a sandstorm and lifted Maxillius and Leptus into the air. The rapid spinning of the sands eventually led to Maxillius blacking out, all the while Leptus kept his eyes vigilant until he saw Maxillius fly from his back and land in deeper parts of the sand. The sands continued to churn and flung Leptus miles away from Maxillius.

VIII

Maxillius awoke, choking on sand and alone. This time the sands were calmly blowing… Maxillius felt he should follow the currents of the sand. For some strange reason he got the feeling they were guiding him. Maxillius, in a daze, traveled through the desert for twenty days. Occasionally he would think of Leptus, but he believed Leptus could find his way home or to Maxillius if he truly wanted. The sands continued for those twenty days to blow in the same direction and guide Maxillius. Finally one day he came over a large hill and came upon a giant crater. At the bottom of the giant crater there was a huge lake. This lake reflected the clouds and all that was above it, but Maxillius knew if he were to go to the lake it could reflect all his hopes and dreams. So Maxillius walked down the sand hill and as he walked towards this lake grass began to grow around its borders. Reaching the lake Maxillius grabbed a cup from his bag and reached down to receive a drink of water… but as he leaned half way down a giant red almost elephant like beast floated out of the water. It had giant golden tusks, the ears of a man, and the tail of serpent. This beast was almost comparable to an elephant, but it was at least three times their size. As the reflecting water dripped off his back, this “Behemoth” let out a giant angered roar. After roaming the desert for so long Maxillius was severely angered by this creature stopping him from getting water. Maxillius unsheathed his new sword and the flames of his anger began to flow out of it. These flames shot out of his hand and hit the sands on the hill turning them to hard glass. Then an idea hit Maxillius…. He ran up the hill with the beast hazily following him. He then cast flames onto all of the crater turning all of the sands to glass. As the beast got to the middle of the glass, Maxillius stabbed his sword into the glass. Cracks began to form in the glass and the beast turned to run, but as its weight shifted the glass cracked even worse and the beast was cut. Moving its leg in retreat from pain it fell on its side and was impaled on the large shards of glass that were sticking out of the sand. As the beast bled to death Maxillius sat down on the sand and stared over the hill into the lake, but it was gone along with the grass that had grown around it. The beast was gone too… it had all been a mirage. Maxillius decided to go to sleep, using the enchanted sword had taken a lot out of him and he knew he need some rest if he was seeing things.

Night had fallen. Maxillius was in a haze, and could not see clearly. At first all Maxillius could see was a bearded man on a large reptile, but as his vision cleared he could see this was Merlin riding Leptus. Merlin lifted Maxillius up onto Leptus and they rode deeper into the desert. Maxillius’ didn’t have a veil on anymore and the sands were churning hard, this prevented him from seeing anything around him. After riding Leptus for what seemed like hours Merlin began to speak.

“Sleep my child. When you awaken you will be where you want to be… You will be happy. Walk deep into this tomb. Go home.”

Maxillius then fell into a deep sleep.

As Maxillius awoke, he found himself in the entrance of a large tomb on the mountain west of Jerusalem. He did as he was told by Merlin and walked deeper into the tomb. As he walked to what he thought was the end of the tomb a bright light began to shine. Maxillius walked deeper and deeper until he walked out onto a beach. The sun was bright. Maxillius looked out to the ocean and saw people riding on planks of wood called “surf boards”. As he turned and saw the city Maxillius could see a bright yellow sign reading “Welcome to San Buenaventura!” Turning back towards the sea, a white bearded man with glowing green eyes approached Maxillius and handed him a poorly wrapped strange smelling cigarette.

This man said “Welcome to the sixties maannn.”