The Doom of Mount Halbred

Derick sat upon his horse looking up at Mount Halbred. His stomach tensed and he rode for the Kingdom of Ethenar. He neared the old hut where Nerem the Old lived.

Derick’s body again tensed as Nerem came out of his hut.

“Greetings, Derick.”

“How does your health fare, prophet?”

Nerem smiled. “You are the only one who regards me as such. I have been praying that Ethenar would regard my words.”

“As you know, few people believe in the Way. What will I do! All the kingdoms in the realm will be wasted!”

“If King Darvy does not heed my warning, the inevitable doom God has purposed on the pagans will ensue.”

“I must get through to my father. How can I convince him and the people in two short weeks?”

Nerem sighed. “There is a chance. With God, all things are possible.”

Derick hung his head. “I will give it another week, then I will seek refuge in the Cave of Mirrors with the few who have faith as I do. Please keep praying for the people of Ethenar.”

“I will.”

Derick flicked the straps of the horse and made for Ethenar. His gullet writhed at the sight of the Statue gods of the kingdom.

“So many people deceived into worshiping idols of wood, metal and stone! How abominable!”

Derick rode up the cobblestone path going to the castle. The guard on the wall recognized him and the gate opened. He went in then swung off his mount onto the courtyard and walked through the main castle entrance.

Even within the castle were the false gods. Derick sneered. He passed by the several royal family members conversing along with chosen nobility in flowing robes and capes.

Derick saw his sister, Princess Valia, and she turned away. He approached her and stood.

“I will tell you again, I have no interest in your… invisible God,” said Valia. “Or that mad man who calls himself a prophet.”

“Peer into my eyes! Do I look mad or deceptive!”

Valia veered into his eyes and her adamant gaze softened. For a moment she seemed to take his words upon her heart. She broke off eye contact. “I…just…”

“A good morning is it not!” said King Darvy. He studied her daughter. “Yous seem a bit misty eyed, my daughter.”

“It’s nothing.” She wiped her eyes.

“Father, may we speak privately?” said Derick.

His jubilant face fell. “I see. May I ask what it is about?”

“It’s…about…the Way.”

Darvy frowned and folded his arms. “You would be wasting your words, son.”

“Father, perhaps we should hear him out.”

“Are you siding with him?”

“No father, I simply…I think we should hear what he has to say.”

Was Valia starting to believe? But why now? If she did, it could help to convert and save others from the fiery destruction of Mount Halbred.

Darvy rolled his eyes. “Very well. We will speak in my chambers.”

Darvy led them across the antechamber to a broad hallway. They followed him inside Darvy’s room.

“Get straight to the point, son.”

Derick paused. “The God Nerem worships is the one who made the earth and even the very soul you have. I plead with you father! Turn from these dumb idols!”

“You speak blasphemy! If you were not my son, I would jail you!”

“Father, please!” said Valia.

“He speaks madness! I will hear no more!” Darvy said as he stormed out of the chamber.

“What about you, sister? Do you believe me?”

“It is hard to worship something you can’t see. But...I now feel like there is some truth in your words.”

“I have been praying specifically for you for the last week. This must be the fruit of it.”

Valia neared Derick. “Then all you have to do is pray for him.”

“I have. His heart is very hard.”

“If Mount Halbred will erupt and decimate the whole realm, what can be done?”

“God will relent if people repent.”

Valia shook her head. “But how will…your God save those who have faith in Him?”

“There is a deep cavern very remote to the east called the Cave of Mirrors. It leads under the sea into another continent where we can begin anew.”

“I believe.”

“What?”

“I accept your God!”

“Truly!”

“I do.”

Derick led Valia into brief prayer of allegiance and her countenance permanently altered as did her heart.

“As I told people, the mountain will erupt in two weeks.”

A noblemen ran up to the two. “My highnesses! That old man who calls himself a prophet is speaking in the open square!”

Derick and Valia ran outside to the town square and Nerem was speaking on a wooden platform in front of the crowd. “This is the last warning. In two weeks, Mount Halbred will erupt and destroy the realm. I bid you to turn from your idols and embrace the living God!”

The people jeered and threatened him.

A man in a blue tunic yelled. “He deserves to die!”

“Stone him!” cried another.

The crowd stopped their ears and began to stone him. Rocks pelted him, bruising him and causing bleeding.

“Nooo!” yelled Derick.

Nerem collapsed off the platform onto the dirt, motionless. Derick ran to Nerem’s body and wept over him. A gentle voice resonated in his spirit-“Go your way to the sanctuary with the few who have believed.”

“It’s time to go, Valia. I will inform the rest for the faithful and prepare wagons to go to the cave.”

Derick took Valia along with the fourteen souls to begin the trek to the new future where a new kingdom would bud.

On the fifth day, when they reached the cave, Valia looked behind her and saw smoke coming from the immense volcano.

“Soon it will erupt, condemning the pagan world,” said Derick.

Valia cried then entered the cavern with the remaining deserters where a new day would dawn for them and the people they would meet on the new continent.