The Sterling Prophecy Book 1 Part 6

When they settled down in what we would call the living room, what was actually a shabby room with four chairs, small table, and a ragged carpet.  Lydia started to speak, “Are you even from this world?”

Jason and Abraham were surprised by the bluntness of the question. Finally, Jason replied, “Actually, we don’t know anything about this world.  And we don’t know how we got here.  So the answer to your question is, no.  We aren’t.”

“Funny you should ask that, because the Captain dude of those pirates totally asked us the same thing.” Abraham quipped.

She sighed, ”I bet he didn’t give you much of a warm reception, huh?”

Abraham gapped, “How’d you know?”

Jason slapped the back of his friends head, “Dude.  Pirates never offer warm receptions.”

“Actually, there is a reason that they would give you a colder reception than normal.”

Abraham slapped the back of Jason’s head. “See?”

Jason glared at Abraham.  “What’s the reason?” Jason looked back at Lydia.

Lydia took a deep breath. “It’s a rather long explanation, and it will obviously take some time to tell it, so please give me patience.”

While Jason and Abraham re-situated, Lydia began her tale, “First you’ll need a history lesson to understand this world,” Abraham moaned, “and to understand the Sterling Prophecy.  It happened quite a few years ago.  Champions have died, young warriors have fallen before their elders grayed.  Cities that used to be proud and flourished, now languish and wallow in what they thought were going to be the golden days before the King of Alepp died.  Peter Bradford was one of the most powerful king in the world, and he fell by a traitors hand.

“This kingdom of Alepp has, for the past millennia, held back the tides of the Skull.  But now, it has fallen because of a brother’s willingness to trade sides.  And now that brother has been all over the place searching for a seer.  Finally he came across her, and now that he knows the prophecy he is out to kill the man who can stop him.”

At this pause, she directed her piercing stare at Jason. ““One day there will arise one who will drive all enemies from this country.  He is not of this world.  Yet he will, in time, free this whole world from the hand of the darkness that is swallowing it.  This young man will sacrifice much to save a world that was never his.  Beware pirates, sorcerers, and tyrants.  On this champion’s heel follows death.” And his name is Sterling.”

“But how is it me?  How could it be me?  I’ve never been here before?”

“The prophetess has never proven false, and why would she be wrong about this in Alepp’s greatest time of need?  She died because she was killed by the Skull’s men when she was trying to spread the news of the Prophecy.  She gave her life in order to give the people hope!  Now here is our hope.”

Lydia looked from Jason to Abraham and back.  Both were stunned.  But as the silence stretched, Abraham asked, “Who are the Skull?  What’s their business?”

“The Skull is actually the last name of the “ultimate” pirate king.  He had to conquer all the other pirate lords to enable his invasion of Alepp, even with the fall of the king, Alepp was still one of the strongest nations in this world.  It took enormous efforts on his part to conquer the other pirates and get a fleet of the size to begin his invasion.”

“Does anyone know his first name?”

“No one knows.  Obviously some have tried to guess at it, but those who finally do find it out, never are able to tell it.  They are always killed before they can reveal it.”

“Why do they go to so much trouble to conceal his name?” Abraham asked outraged.

“Because the name of the Skull is the key to his weakness.”