Legends Of Zyconia Part 17
Nightfall.
The camp was completely set up. At the center of the camp lay numerous cook fires, surrounding the fires were the wagons. and beyond the wagons the various tents of the army were positioned. Guards marched about the camp performing the nightwatch. Around the cook fires sat many groups of individuals sampling small cooked animals they had captured in snares and traps during the day.
Around one fire sat Hemoth, Zachary, Adam. and Jason. Nearby, Perrin leaned on a wagon wheel carving a small figurine.
"So Zachary, how long have you known Terrek," asked Hemoth.
"About three years. The first time I saw him was in a small Inn at Batera. Terrek and Perrin were on a small errand for the counsel's elite army while I was on a separate errand. We were all at the Inn eating, when an old man burst into the Inn screaming and yelling. Apparently four boys had been playing in an old subterranean dungeon close to his home and had locked themselves in one of the old cells. When the thunderstorm started the dungeon began to flood. When the old man heard their cries he hurried and tried to free them but he couldn't budge the lock."
"Quickly Terrek. Perrin and I were on our feet and out the door followed by a handful of other men. As we descended the dungeon steps we could see the water rising as it swallowed each step. When we found the cell the water was hip deep. All the men heaved and pushed at the door but to no avail."
"Finally one man brought an axe into the dungeon and all stood back. The axe struck the huge bronze lock several times but did no damage. Suddenly a huge rush of water came through one of the barred windows knocking the axe from the man's grasp. After a futile search in the muddy waters all the men returned to their physical struggle with the door."
"Soon the water was above our heads and most of the men retreated to the dungeon entrance. The young boys climbed the bars to try to keep their faces out of the water but it had practically reached the ceiling. Perrin and I couldn't hold our breath any longer."
"Perrin tried to pry Terrek from the metal door but he couldn't. Terrek held the door with an iron grip. Perrin and I reluctantly returned to the entrance and came out beside the other men. A huge crowd had gathered around the dungeon."
"The moments dragged on and we didn't think he would survive. Suddenly and unexpectedly he emerged. He had one boy over each shoulder and one in each arm. Terrek fell to the ground sputtering and coughing," Zachary paused. "A few days later, when the water went down I returned to the dungeon. The cell door that the boys had been trapped behind was completely torn off the hinges. I've never really confronted him about it but Terrek had to have ripped that door off with his bare hands."
Hemoth smiled.
"When I met Terrek it was during very dire circumstances as well. Only at that time he was the one who needed help. Had I not found him he might not be alive today. At the time Terrek was still part of the regular army at Victory city. He had been hunting and ran into some bad weather. By the time I found him he was pinned beneath the trunk of a huge oak. As I tirst spotted him I thought he was dead. But when he suddenly cried out deliriously for help I knew I was mistaken."
"I tried to wake him from this state of delirium, as best I could. Then straining my muscles I attempted to lift the trunk. It barely moved. I knew that if I didn't get him out soon he would surely die. The nearest village was one day's walk away. So I redoubled my efforts on the trunk. Pain conquered my body as Terrek pulled himself from beneath the tree. For a long time after that I had pains in my arms."
Hemoth concluded the story as he rubbed his right bleep. Everyone around Hemoth looked on. Although he may have had his strength disabled once, he was the strongest man they had ever seen.
TO BE CONTINUED...
TO READ FROM THE BEGINNING GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 1
TO READ THE PREVIOUS PART GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 16
TO READ THE NEXT PART GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 18
