Storytelling, Week 4: The Blood Ruby

          In the majestic land of Remora, there are mountains that fall and peak all the way to the horizon. Within each mountainside fall dozens of waterfalls, both big and small, that run to rivers full of crystal clear water. These rivers contain the most copious amount of trout that actually glow purple in the full moon. When these winding rivers turn into streams they trickle upon massive lakes. Most of the lakes within Remora are still as glass on the surface, but nearly four hundred feet deep. On the edge of Lake Winniepeak sits a castle. This is the only castle in Remora, but it is said to be the largest castle in the world. Its sides are lined with large blocks of limestone and the peaks are made with gold.

          One morning the King of Remora, King Sheftfield, sat atop the castle walls and listened to the songs of his top servant Peter. Every morning the King listened to Peter sing songs and tell tales of creatures within their land. Today the servant saw that the King was not interested in his singing like normal so he said: "Your majesty, we should take the largest windseeker in Remora and boat in the wonderful waters of Lake Winniepeak. We shall round up the prettiest girls in all the land and set sail by noon!"

          The King was delighted by this suggestion and immediately sent for twenty of the prettiest girls in Remora. At noon twenty of the land's most beautiful, King Sheftfield, and Peter set sail on the wondrous waters of Lake Winniepeak. The windseeker was nearly one hundred feet long and thirty feet wide. Its sails seem to pierce the sky. The group sings songs and laughs as Buckerfish flip and glide out of the water. The girls row the King and his servant to all edges of Lake Winniepeak. A blonde with golden hair steers the windseeker from the back. Suddenly, an oar brushes the blonde girl's hair causing a red jewel to fall into the water. Immediately, she stops singing and steering. The rest of the girls stop rowing and the windseeker comes to an abrupt halt.

          King Sheftfield: "Why have we stopped rowing? Let's continue to see the Cliffs of Manner!"

          The girls exclaim: "The one who steers has lifted her oar from the water!"

          King Sheftfield: "Why have you lifted your oar?" 

          "I have lost my red ruby," the blonde said. "It fell from my hair into the water and someone must get it! It is a blood ruby given to me by my grandma. The jewel was found within the Mountain of Tollison and dyed with the blood of a dragon. It means the world to me." 

          The King laughed boastfully, "I have millions and will give you another when we arrive back at the castle. I will give you five in fact!"

          The blonde girl pleaded, "I would rather have my own because it means so much to me. I appreciate the offer, but that blood ruby is mine."

          King Sheftfield glances at Peter and gives him a nod. Now Peter is not an ordinary servant. He was born into a family of sorcerers that live within a cave only accessible through the largest waterfall in Remora. The King adores Peter's magical powers. Peter steps to the edge of the windseeker and glances at the clear water. Peter whispers a spell and suddenly the water begins to part. Now the jewel is visible from the edge of the windseeker! The girls cheer as they can see the blood ruby from nearly four hundred feet above. Peter summons a Golden Nighthawk and flies to the bottom of Lake Winniepeak. He grabs the blood ruby and rides the Nighthawk back to the windseeker. He gives the King the blood ruby and the King gives it to the pretty blonde girl. The girls continue to row across the far edges of the lake until they returned to the giant castle.

          Twenty years later, both King Sheftfield and Peter passed. The tale of King Sheftfield, the sorcerous servant Peter, and the blood ruby was told for centuries and offerings were placed at the base of their tombs. 

Windseeker

Author's Note:

     I based this story on the Ancient Egyptian story "The Green Jewel." The adaption follows the same premise, but I took the story to a more fantasy setting than an Egyptian setting. I enjoyed the content of the original story in that it was basic, but the ending pulls together the entire tale. It shows that the magical acts of the original scribe brought great respect to both him and the King at the time. 

Egyptian Myth and Legend

"The Green Jewel"

Donald Mackenzie

1907