“Vandegar,” interjected Rejji.
“Yes, Vandegar,” confirmed Yltar. “He declared himself a god and demanded his people worship him. Then he began issuing proclamations and prophecies. One of the prophecies he wrote prophesized an invasion of the land by our allies the elves. As he sent his followers throughout the land to spread these proclamations and prophecies, people laughed and ridiculed them. This continued for some years. During this time, Vand was secretly building a navy away from the prying eyes of the people. When the time was right, Vand raised the flag of Angragar on his ships and sent the fleet to attack the elves.”
“He attacked the elves for no reason?” asked Bakhai. “I hope he was soundly defeated.”
“Oh his navy was indeed destroyed,” frowned Yltar, “but his goal was achieved. His navy raided and destroyed many elven towns and villages. What was left behind was meant to incense the elves. It worked. The elves were so incensed by the merciless attacks that they sent their armies to Angragar. Much of Angragar and the surrounding villages were destroyed. King Regis called a truce and when he sat down with the elves and compared stories, it became clear to all what Vand had done, but it was too late. The people saw the devastation and believed in Vand’s supernatural powers. They fled Angragar and rallied to Vandegar. Only a few families remained true to King Regis.”
“The Qubari?” questioned Bakhai.
“In a sense,” answered Yltar. “King Regis was of the Qubari family. Over the ages, all of the families lost their identities and all are considered Qubari now. Vand relished the power he had obtained, but he lusted for more. Word came that he was gathering an army to come and finish the conquest the elves had begun. In desperation, the elves used their magic to hide Angragar. They created a great jungle around it and populated it with fierce beasts. They bestowed upon the Qubari the ability to talk to the animals and use the creatures as allies. Vand’s forces expended much effort to crush Angragar, but eventually they gave up and returned to Vandegar.”
“What happened to Vandegar?” asked Bakhai.
“Vand grew in strength and power,” replied Yltar. “He appeared to gain power from the strength of his following. Some say he went crazy, others that he had always been mad. Whichever is true, in the end, Vand truly believed himself to be a god. He gathered the masses of his realm to the temple and openly declared the other gods dead. Legend says that he so offended the gods that they struck him down by renting the ground and having the sea swallow it. Most of his following died at once. The survivors spread all over the land.”
“So that is why you consider everyone from outside the jungle an invader?” asked Rejji. “Because they tried to conquer Angragar?”
“No,” explained Yltar. “The invaders came centuries later and annihilated those that remained of Vand’s people. Little is known of the invaders except they sought to kill every living person in the land. They arrived by ships and promptly burned the ships so they could not return to where they came from. Massive armies descended on the people and slew them all. They brought mages and laid waste to the land. Only the Qubari Jungle survived their slaughter. They tried to invade the jungle and failed. Then their army turned around and left. Some of the invaders stayed in the lands outside the jungle and tried to settle down but the land was poor. Those are the people you call Fakarans.”
“So the elves hid Angragar and promised that it would awaken in the future,” surmised Mistake. “Why has it gone so long without happening?”
“The elves hid Angragar to protect it from Vand,” corrected Yltar. “They did not lock it. God did that at the time that Vand’s people were destroyed. He was angry with King Regis for allowing Vand to prosper. He said we would be able to enter Angragar when we were ready to stand up for what is holy and right. I guess that time is now.”
“God locked Angragar?” echoed Mistake. “Which god?”
“The Qubari only believe in one god,” explained Yltar. “Vand is the one who created multiple gods. I assume he did so to facilitate people believing that he was one. We have always believed in only one god.”
“So Rejji wanting to unite the tribes is what your god has been waiting for?” queried Mistake.
“I do not know the reasons,” admitted Yltar. “I only know that if Rejji is indeed the Astor, the Qubari are his to command. We have done our job faithfully since the fall of Angragar. We will not falter now.”
“Why is it that Rejji is not a talker?” asked Bakhai. “I would expect his abilities to be as good as mine.”
“There is no reason to believe that, Bakhai,” responded Yltar. “Rejji may possess some skill as a talker, or he may not. We can host a ceremony for him to find out, but he does not require talking skills to be the Astor. Not all of the Qubari have the skill.”
“Let us go to the temple,” suggested Dumo who had remained silent since finding out that Rejji was the Astor and his grandson. “I will have living quarters prepared for the three of you while we show you the ancient scrolls and histories of our people. There is much for you to learn.”
***
Rejji sat on the grass in the park-like square between the temple and the large stone building. He tried to pull all of his thoughts together with the information he had learned over the weeks of study in the temple.
“Taking a day off?” chirped Mistake as she entered the park and sat beside him.
“Hi, Mistake,” smiled Rejji. “Actually I am wondering why we are here. There are more questions than answers.”
“What kind of questions?” prodded Mistake.
“Haven’t you ever wondered why the three of us are in this jungle learning about things that happened thousands of years ago?” replied Rejji. “It makes no sense to me. We are just ordinary people and yet Lord Marak treated us like visiting royalty. The Sage acted like we are the saviors of the world and the Qubari think we are gods. Why is this happening to us?”
Mistake pressed her lips together and studied Rejji’s face before answering. “Actually it is you that is treated that way,” she finally said. “Bakhai and I just happened to be with you when this all happened, but that doesn’t really answer your question. I would assume that you are someone special and that these people can sense it somehow. Why does it bother you so? When Lord Marak presented the opportunity, you were certainly glad to take it. You really sounded like rebuilding Fakara was what you wanted to do with your life. Now you do not seem sure.”
“It is something I would like to do,” admitted Rejji, “but I have never felt that it was something I could really accomplish. Everyone seems to have more faith in me than I have in myself.”
“Do not discount their faith, Rejji,” smiled Mistake. “You speak of men that are powerful and wise. They do not heap confidence upon you as a reward. They must see something in you that you do not see yourself. There is another way that you should be looking at this.”
“How should I be looking at it?” questioned Rejji.
“You are about to embark on a course that pleases you,” explained Mistake. “You feel your skills are not up to the task, but you really want to succeed. Consider Lord Marak and Dumo as friends that want you to succeed and are willing to help you. Surely their help will make up for any deficiencies you think you might have.”
“Lord Marak is far away,” objected Rejji, “and Dumo will never leave this jungle. When we leave, we will be on our own. I don’t even think Marak and Dumo would get along if they did try to help.”
“Well you are wrong on that,” grinned Mistake. “Lord Marak and Chief Dumo get along just fine.”
“How do you know that?” quizzed Rejji.
“Because I have heard them talk,” answered Mistake. “I have taught the Air Tunnel to Yltar with Lord Marak’s blessing. They seem to have developed a friendship over the weeks. Both are very excited about your prospects for bringing peace and prosperity to Fakara.”