Atakala is a beautiful and varied land, tucked between two swamp-lined rivers in what is modern day northern Benin. It is a tiny kingdom, protected by the vast, uncharted Dala Swamp in the south and the high snow-capped Kor Mountains in the north, filled with hills and rivers and jungles, yellow steppes and azure swamps. One is tempted to describe in detail the turns of each stream as it winds from the interior highlands to the two great rivers, or the name and location of each of the towns dotting the land like lighthouses, but they are all shown so clearly on the map included with this history that further text on the subject can add little more, except to the cost of this volume.

  It was morning. Not three hours ago, the sun had forced its way through the thick Oueme Marshlands to take its daily place above Atakala, and already King Narnuk was uncomfortable. Mighty beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he gazed into a mirror. He was admiring the golden crown, two sizes too large, that rested on his pointed ears for support. Three gems were set in the front of the royal headpiece, one for each of the three kings.

  The second crown, of Jaw's line, had not been worn for some time, for his descendants cared little for matters of state. They shared the crown amongst themselves: carpenters, soldiers, scientists… all but their innermost circle had lost track of which family was the true First Heir of Jaw, which happened to be that of Mr. Agana, the highest ranking corporal of the Atakalan army.

  As to Zartro’s line, all had called themselves Zartro, and the latest, Zartro XV, seemed crazier than the rest.

  Narnuk reached for his golden comb, his prized comb that matched his crown, and inspected it carefully, lifting it to the light of a narrow window. He then held the comb under his pointed nose and took a cautious whiff. Satisfied that it appeared unaltered, he placed it in a small, wooden box he’d purchased that morning. He shut the lid and inserted a silver key into a shiny keyhole on the front of the chest. With a ‘click’, he locked the box, just as his son burst into the room. Narnuk realized that he needed a duplicate lock for the door.

  “Narnuk, Sir!”

  Narnuk picked up a silk cloth and wiped his brow. “Jarib! Why are you running on a day so hot?”

  “Father, something is amiss!”

  Narnuk frowned. “And what is that?”

  “The redbricks Kiri found yesterday, on the island... they’ve been stolen!”

  “What? Were they not in the Royal Library?”

  “I mean, two of them have been stolen. Five were safely in the library, but two were in the Scribes’ Room to be copied to paper. The palace was broken into last night, and both stones taken!”

  “Were they copied, then?”

  “No, they were to be copied today! I don’t understand… no one outside the palace knew about these bricks. To be stolen so quickly!”

  “Likely, they will be returned for ransom.”

  “No note was left.”

  “Then we will make do without them. Surely someone remembers what was written on them?”

  “The scribes and I saw them yesterday, but only briefly as they were quickly taken away for copying. I fear I only skimmed them. They were very difficult to read, covered in dirt and quite worn.”

  “What was their subject? Was there something of value that might have led a scribe to steal them?”

  “The seven describe an ambitious project – overly ambitious I might warn. Even with all seven stones, I am fearful that Umanion has finally given us a mission we cannot accomplish.”

  “A mission? Of what sort? Why should we not carry it out?”

  “I dare not describe the task we are offered, for fear I will mock Umanion with my disbelief. If you accompany me to the library, I can show you firsthand. It is summarized well on the remaining bricks.”

  “Have the soldiers been notified of the theft?”

  “Yes, Corporal Agana has taken personal charge of the case.”

  “Very well, then. Let’s see these bricks.”

  “What about King Zartro? Should he be present?”

  Narnuk chuckled. “No, I’m afraid he’s out of town at the moment, climbing Mount Sped. It seems he has far more pressing matters of state to deal with.”

  The walk to the royal library took only a minute. King Narnuk hunched down over the set of red bricks, eagerly skimming the carved text. The discovery of a redbrick was a rare event, full of wonder and mystery. Narnuk held some power by the traditional lineage stemming from his ancestors, but he knew that the real source of instruction and prosperity for the land was in the red stones. Who was that ancient author who left these words of wisdom? He called himself Umanion, The Great One, but what was his purpose? What would he teach us now? All these thoughts raced through his head as he scanned the writing.

  In the Atakalan language, the stones held a great amount of information. The scientists nearby were busy reading them as well, copying the text down into their notebooks for later study at home. Even with two missing, there was much to digest. Corporal Agana, heir to Jaw, was peering over their shoulders.

  “Mr. Agana.”

  The Corporal looked up, startled, and stood quickly. “I rise, Sire! It is good that you have come.”

  “Is there any word on the missing bricks?”

  “No word up or down, Sir.”

  “No others were found? Did you search the entire island?”

  “Yes, top to bottom late into the night of Kiri’s discovery.”

  “All of the rocks came from the same location?”

  “Underneath an ancient tree near the center of the isle. They look beautiful, do they not? Erosion and time have worn them, but we’re sighting clear writing all right. What do you think?”

  “I think it’s nuts, dude.”

  Jarib and Narnuk swirled around. “Hi Zartro.”

  “What’s happening? I heard some bricks got found!”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Indeed,” said Narnuk, silently excusing the co-ruler’s grammar. The nation of Atakala had a long line of Zartros at the helm (or more accurately, sharing the helm with the descendants of Neb), and each one bordered on insane. Many Atakalans wondered if it ran in the bloodline, or if it was a result of the father-son relationship between each ruler and his children. Their wives had been asked on occasion about their husband’s strange behavior, and they’d always responded similarly: “I don’t know. Sometimes I just wonder.”

  “King Narnuk said you were out of town,” noted Jarib.

  “Well, Tern,” said Zartro, using the nickname Jarib hated, “Your dad said a new ice cream stand opened atop Mount Sped.”

  “You didn’t believe him…” began Jarib.

  “It’s no matter,” retorted Zartro. “I had a lovely trip, saw magnificent vistas and such. Yet it seems a lot happened while I was out.”

  “These bricks, Sire,” said Corporal Agana. “Seven were found on the Ferns by Miss Kiri. Now, two are lost. Stolen, we fear.”

  Zartro began to read the first stone, wondering already about the massive amount of work it was suggesting. Jarib and Narnuk waited for him to catch up, relishing the fact that labor necessarily fell to the laborers, not the rulers.

  Dear Atakalans who live under the Great One, it began.

  Every moon, your land will grow, becoming more abundant with riches, blessings, and life. However, your land will quickly fill, for the nation of Atakala is small, and its resources few. Perhaps even now you are beginning to feel the wear from overcrowding… even your neighbors with whom you trade cannot keep up with the supply of resources you need.

  But do not be afraid. For, there is a task that you must complete, which will provide you with endless resources and wealth to continue your destiny. On these stones, you will find the plans to build a structure of great size that will fill these needs. You must complete this structure as soon as possible, for there is no reason to delay. The proportions are immense, the measurements great. Yet, do not fear. For, help can be found to complete this project.

  In the great swamp that forms your southern border, you must search for the dragons. Lives will be lost, and dangers encountered. Yet, I assure you that if you follow the maps, and obey these instructions, you will bring the dragons back to your land. You must find as many as possible, and treat them with the respect they deserve. They will obey your orders and seek to please you. With their strength and power, you will complete this monument, and the Land of Atakala will flourish. If you do not do these things, you will be in grave danger.

  Now, concerning the structure…

  The scientists copied the text, line for line, but a murmur revealed their wonderings. The structure depicted in the next few stones was simply colossal. Nothing like it had ever been conceived, to the best of their knowledge; it would take centuries to build. And dragons? They had heard of the mythical creatures only in fairy tales and children’s stories. But now, their hero, the Great One was speaking as if they were another lion or giraffe!

  “Tern,” asked Zartro. “Do you believe in dragons?”

  “Dragons? Of course not!”

  “Not even huge, ferocious ones with great rotten teeth and gnarled claws, as are rumored to be found in the lands south of us, in the heart of the Dala Swamp?”

  Jarib crossed his arms uneasily. “It sounds like nonsense.”

  “Like the ice cream stand on Mount Sped? Pure hogwash, I suppose.”

  “Of course.”

  “Everything Umanion has said has come to pass. Yet he must be exaggerating the dangers of this task. Dragons indeed!”

  “Exactly,” said Jarib uneasily.

  “Then you wouldn’t mind leading the expedition, I assume. There are many who would quake at the thought of venturing into the Dala, so we’ll need a strong, young lad like you to lead the charge.”

  “Zartro!” interrupted Narnuk. “You may not nominate my own son for such a distasteful mission.”

  But Zartro was feeling vengeful. “Someone must lead the group, and I know of no one else as qualified. Unless you mean to disregard Umanion’s orders and forget the whole thing.”

  Jarib looked helplessly at his father, with eyes that screamed: I don’t want to go, but am ashamed to say so.

  “I will go along,” said Agana, clenching his war spear tightly. “I fear no dragon fangs.” He looked down at Jarib. “We will return with Umanion’s treasure.”

  Jarib stared at the red bricks uneasily. “You don’t think there could actually be dragons, do you?”

  “There are no dragons,” said Narnuk.

  “Anyone who went looking for them never came back,” said Zartro.

  “It is true that no one has ever survived an expedition into the Dala swamp,” said Agana. “Swamps are terribly dangerous… that one, in particular, is rarely reached and never breached.”

  “Maybe we should ignore this message. It might be wrong…”

  Zartro frowned. “You don’t want to go? Even if the Great One orders it?”

  “No! I mean, yes! I mean…” Jarib thought for a moment. “What about the dwellers of the Free Lands? They love swamps. We could recruit a legion of them to go with Mr. Agana.”

  “They would sooner sink into a swamp than deal with us. We are already on the verge of war. The Free Landers will have nothing to do with us, and even the Aman and Khand would join them were it not for the wonderful diplomacy of dear Dor-buk.”

  “Speaking of him, what about my sister’s wedding? I can’t miss that!”

  “A week ago you were begging to get out of it,” chided Narnuk. “But it is no matter. Dor-buk and I just set the date. The wedding shall take place early, one week from today. That will give you plenty of time to assemble your team. You can begin after the wedding.”

  “Kiri agreed to this?”

  “Of course not. But she has no choice. Dor-buk is eager to be married and she has put it off for long enough.”

  “You haven’t told her yet, have you.”

  Narnuk reddened a shade. “Lili is on it as we speak. The matter is settled.”

  “So one day I get to be dressed up in stifling zebra skins and stand for three hours before a throng of bored dignitaries, and the next I get sent off into the Dala, battling tsetse flies and searching for mythical beasts?”

  Narnuk sighed. “Jarib, you will take my place someday. Even though Zartro means to jest, I think he is right. If you complete this task, Atakala will have a stronger king when the time comes. Now, you have six days before the wedding to get a team ready. I strongly advise you and Mr. Agana to take a trip to Sentinel City and find the best and brightest soldiers you can round up.”

  “What about cousin Nejab? He should come along, don’t you think?” asked Zartro slyly. He knew that Jarib cared little for his younger cousin.

  “Nejab? He couldn’t defend a crop of yams from dingoes! He won’t be any help!”

  “Perhaps not, but he is family. Zartro is right; the lad could use some experience,” said Narnuk. “From his letters, it sounds like they’re not giving him much to do in Sentinel City. Bring him back with you as well.”

  Jarib sighed. “Fine. I’ll be back in a week. Then I’m off to search for dragons.” Jarib turned and strode out in anger. They both think they’re so funny. Well I’m sure to come back dead, and Nejab too. That’ll make them think twice the next time they play their silly games.

  * * * * * * * *

  Queen Lili sighed as she studied the glare on her daughter’s face.

  “But I don’t want to get married!” protested Kiri.

  “Of course you do. Would you rather be alone your entire life?”

  “I’m not alone. I’ve got you and dad and Jarib and all my friends… and anyway, I mean I don’t want to get married to Tylar.” She crossed her arms as tight as she could.

  “What’s wrong with Tylar? He’s quite well off. And dashing too.”

  “He’s a terrible author. And there’s something shady about him. I don’t think he even writes his books; I think he steals them.”

  “Now who would he steal books from? And how?”

  “I don’t know. But have you ever tried talking with him? He’s as creative and entertaining as a puddle.”

  “But his books are hilarious. And selling like mad,” argued her mother. “How do you explain that?”

  “I don’t know. They’re probably written by his ai.”

  Lili stared blankly at her daughter. “His ai? What are you talking about? An ai can’t write. It doesn’t have hands. It can’t talk. It’s not even sentient.”

  “Well the way the stories read, that makes total sense, because they don’t sound like any human wrote them.”

  “Now Kiri, you know that’s not true.”

  “Well I think he’s disgusting, and his pet ai is disgusting. They both stink and are hairy and if either actually could write stories, they’d be awful. I’m not marrying either of them.”

  Lili put her arm around Kiri's shoulder. “No one is asking you to marry his sloth. To be honest I don’t like it either. Heaven knows where he found the thing, they aren’t native to Africa as far as I know.”

  “Merchant ship from the southern coast. They had cargo from some place called Atlantis. He told me all about it.”

  “See? You two are getting along swimmingly! So much to talk about.”

  “I’m not marrying him, mom. At least push the date out another year.”

  “I’m sorry Kiri. That’s actually what I was sent here to discuss. Um, the wedding date has been moved.”

  Kiri stood in excitement, joy flashing in her eyes like sparkles on a raindrop. “That’s wonderful.”

  “It’s one week from today. And I’m afraid that’s final. Again, I’m sorry. Your father would not be budged. The invitations have already gone out.”

  The raindrops fell from Kiri’s eyes as her mother hugged her.

  That is, the Island of the Ferns in the center of Lake Yaro.