Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #15 June 2015 | Page 34

galleries, theatres, and meeting venues. People hustled and bustled about their business. Large, colourful
signs proclaimed forthcoming shows and displays.
At the centre of everything were two human-built
mounds. The Life Stream flowed between the mounds
and an ornate stone bridge crossed the river and joined
the two mounds. On one stood the ancient palace of
the kings, now occupied and maintained by the Regent. As palaces go, it was an unprepossessing place.
Its one striking feature was its high tower, made of
local stone that stretched skywards in phallic symbolism. On the other mound stood one of the Seven
Wonders of the World – The Old Theatre.
Manfred found his eyes drawn to the Theatre Mound,
clearly the reason why the palace had such a plain

design. Manfred had seen it many times before, but
each renewed impression always generated a gasp of
surprise, even in an ancient wizard who thought he
had seen everything. The Old Theatre was a circular construction, or as near to circular as the original
carpenters could manage. It was perhaps two hundred
feet in diameter and one hundred feet high. It had been
constructed from timber originally, but over the years,

the rotting wood had been replaced with granite from
the mountains. From the outside, there was no visible
evidence of what artistic delights its interior held. Its
most striking feature was that by some feat of engineering or magic it appeared to hover, unsupported in
mid-air, one hundred feet above the mound. Viewed
from the correct angle, with the palace spire behind it,
the Old Theatre gave the impression of an enormous
child’s spinning top.
Under Gamying’s instruction, Aglaral guided the
wagon into the palace courtyard, where they were met
by a fussing crowd of retainers. One spoke urgently
to Gamying, who took Manfred aside. “I regret that
we cannot take time to rest and freshen up. My father
would speak with you urgently in the council chamber.

Aglaral and Kris will be shown their quarters. I have
ordered that a guard be placed on Kris’s door until
such time as we have got to the bottom of his actions.”
Gamying strode into the palace, with Manfred beside
him, hurrying to keep up. He led Manfred through
wide, carpeted corridors decorated with great works of
art, until they reached the double doors of the council

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