Thellis dipped his glowing green head in her direction. “Rhen won’t be hurt by his jetbike,” he said, confirming Ceceta’s assumption.
Ceceta waved her hand at Thellis as proof then added, “Rhen’s always been terrible at controlling anything that’s mortal made. You should’ve seen him flying a spacejet. When he was younger, he crashed Andres’ spacejets so many times that he was banned from flying. I can’t even count the number of times we saw him crash. We would stand there, watching the spacejet explode, thinking he was dead, only to see him walking away from the blast, dusting off his tunic like some sort of… God.” She laughed at her joke as Rhen appeared on the University’s lawn.
“No mortal toy will kill Rhen,” Thellis said. “And Themrock will make sure that he doesn’t hurt anyone else in the process.”
Charlie didn’t agree, but he wasn’t in a position to say so. Pointing towards the hilltop by the Wood Elf forest, he said, “What’s Rhen doing?”
Rhen was running alongside his jetbike as it flew four feet off the ground. He jumped back onto it, causing it to jerk forward, then lost his grip and fell to the ground. The jetbike hovered nearby as Rhen stood up. He climbed back onto it and flew another twenty feet before leaning too far forward, which caused the front tip of the jetbike’s nose to catch the ground. The contact sent him flying over the top of the bike. He tumbled down the hill towards the Great Lawn, laughing.
When Rhen stood up, they could see his arm was broken. By the time he’d walked back up the hill to his jetbike, his body had healed. He mounted the bike again, made it down the hill, then swerved left and right dangerously as he lost his balance. “Oh, no,” Latsoh said, but Rhen was able to steady himself and ride the rest of the way up to their group. Just as Rhen arrived beside them, he fell off his jetbike headfirst, tumbling over the right wing.
Reed walked over to lower the bike’s landing gear and turn it off as Rhen stood up and removed his helmet. “Thanks,” he said, as Reed shook the bike to make sure it was secure.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Plos ran over to Rhen. If Ceceta was right, Rhen would finally accept his invitation. With anticipation, he reached out and put his hand on Rhen’s arm. When Rhen turned around to face him, he said, “Visit our castle this weekend.” To make up for his directness, he added, “I’m inviting the Thestran royal family, your mother, Bosternd, Nk and the other elfin royals over for dinner. Would you please join us?”
“What?” Rhen asked. He squinted at Plos then wobbled sideways.
Plos grabbed him to steady him. “Come to dinner at our castle.”
Rhen cleared his throat and scratched his head. He laughed for no apparent reason then said, “Uh… when?”
Plos felt a tingling sensation in his arms. He had him. He finally had him. Joy filled his chest and he found he was smiling so much it was hard to talk. “When can you make it?”
Rhen laughed and looked at the ground. “Uh, okay.” He bent over to rub at some dirt on his tunic, which interested him more than his conversation. When he stood up, he noticed Plos was still standing in front of him. Hadn’t Plos asked him something? he thought. “When?” he asked, thinking he had remembered where they’d left off.
“In two days.”
Rhen reached out to put his helmet onto the back of his jetbike. “Yeah, okay,” he said, nodding his head when he successfully placed his helmet onto the seat of his jetbike. “Two days,” he repeated, thinking he was fooling everyone into believing he was sober.
Plos almost peed in his pants. Themrock! Themrock was coming. They had all been trying to get him to visit their castles and now he was finally coming. Plos bowed to Rhen. “It will be an honor to have you with us. What time is good for you?”
Rhen appeared confused. His mind had wandered and he’d found himself studying the intricate patterns the grains of dirt had made on his tunic. When he lifted his head, he found that Plos was standing in front of him, waiting for something. What had they been discussing? He smiled to himself as he remembered. “Uh… when?” he asked, feeling proud of his ability to fool everyone. There were a few snickers as everyone watched the interchange.
Ceceta stood up to address Plos. “When would you like us?”
Plos glanced over at her and realized she had taken charge. “Let’s say cocktails at sunset? We’ll give a quick tour of the castle then have dinner?” Ceceta agreed and Plos ran off with Neka. Sarah laughed as she watched them go. They were practically skipping.
***
The next morning at breakfast, everyone sat quietly as they listened to Lilly broadcasting telepathically Mary’s translation of Rhen and Ceceta’s sign argument. It was the first time in a long time that Mary had had any work to do. She was pleased to be of service.
Rhen and Ceceta’s argument stemmed from the fact that Rhen couldn’t remember telling Plos that he would have dinner at his castle that weekend. Trying not to sound nagging, Ceceta kept reminding him that he wouldn’t be in his predicament if he had limited himself to one Tgarian cigarette. Eventually, Rhen admitted to Ceceta that he had gotten a little carried away last night and he wouldn’t let it happen again. As they finished their breakfast, Bosternd and Nk appeared to talk business.
Rhen didn’t return until dinner. “Hey,” he said, kissing Ceceta before sitting down on the bench at their usual table. “How was class today?”
“It was good.” She reached out to take his hand, worried about the amount of time he’d spent working. “Is everything alright?”
“Everything’s fine,” Rhen said, although he’d spent all day worrying about Solar System 12. Several wars had now broken out in that System and both he and Bosternd smelled Loreth’s involvement. It seemed his father’s advisor had found a new set of pawns in his never-ending game.
“We have a big test coming up,” Ceceta said, “so we need to spend a lot of time studying, tonight since we won’t be able to study tomorrow night while we’re at the Water Elf castle or–”
Rhen was about to take a bite, but he lowered his fork. “About that. I think we should come up with an excuse not to go,” he whispered.
Ceceta shook her head. “No. You said you’d go. We’re going.”
Rhen glared at her. He hadn’t wanted the others to hear. Quietly, he said, “Ceceta, I’m sure they don’t really want us to visit. I thought I’d help them out by pretending to be sick. I’ve been sick a lot over the last few years. They’ll believe me.”
Ceceta’s eyes narrowed. She was not going to let him get out of it. “You’re going or I’ll make you sleep on the couch for three weeks.”
Rhen suddenly sat up straight. “Three weeks? I think I can do three weeks.” He laughed when Ceceta poked him in the ribs. “Okay, okay. We’ll go.”
The elves breathed a sigh of relief.
Chapter 25
Rhen and Ceceta’s Apartment – Elfin University
Rhen grumbled to himself as he dressed in his formal Surpen military uniform. He didn’t want to go to tonight’s gathering at the Water Elf castle. He wished he could cancel, but he knew he couldn’t. Ceceta and Jet had assured him that he had agreed to attend this evening’s dinner.
Rhen pulled down on his white tunic to straighten it. The red and gold piping along his sleeves and at the base of his tunic, right above his knees, complimented the picture of the Surpen Beast of War, which had been stitched in gold across his chest. He swung his red cape behind his back and caught a whiff of Surpen. Nk had just dropped off his uniform and it still smelled like home. Rhen felt homesick. He couldn’t wait for Ceceta to finish her studies. Once she graduated, they could finally return to Surpen for good.
He hitched his weapons belt around his waist and slid two different three-foot long swords into the empty scabbards. Ceceta had left earlier to help Crystam with her outfit. He was supposed to meet her and the others in the student common area. Stepping out of his bedroom, he noticed Jet and Lilly were waiting for him in their apartment. “Ready, boss,” Jet asked,
walking across the divider into Rhen’s apartment. Jet and Lilly couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen to the Water Elf castle once Themrock went inside.
“Yes.” Rhen walked towards the door. “Where’s the baby tonight?”
“She’s with James’ babysitter at the palace,” Lilly told him, while squeezing Jet’s hand. She and Jet had arranged to have the entire weekend to themselves. Tonight’s dinner was just the beginning.
There was a crowd of elves in the common room when they arrived. Everyone knew where Rhen was going tonight and most of the students had already asked for, and received, passes to visit the Water Elf castle tomorrow.
“Wow,” Ceceta said as Rhen approached. Except for the scowl on his face, he was gorgeous. “Really, Rhen, I can’t remember a time when you’ve looked more… handsome.” As if confirming her sentiment, a female student passed out when Rhen passed by her. Rhen shook his head, while Aaron caught the poor girl and placed her on the sofa behind Ceceta.
Rhen stuck out his elbow for Ceceta to take so they could go but she hesitated. “Love, I hear there will be dancing tonight. Could we leave your swords at home?”
“An Emperor must have his swords. What if we’re attacked tonight?”
Ceceta gave him a look. “Who wants to attack you at the Water Elf kingdom?”
Rhen leaned over to whisper. “The Water Elves.”
Ceceta was dumbfounded and couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Are you kidding?” When Rhen narrowed his eyes, she leaned in to whisper, “That’s right. Invite the Emperor to dinner, so we can cook him up and eat him. What a tasty treat!” She laughed as she leaned back.
Rhen glanced over at Sarah, saw she was watching him, and lifted his hands to sign, Go ahead and laugh. I know the elves don’t like me. Who knows why they really invited me to dinner tonight? Maybe they want to kill me so they can have their children back. If you ask me, it’s all very fishy.
Mary quickly translated Rhen’s signs for Lilly to broadcast then stepped to the left to see around Charlie for Ceceta’s reply.
Fishy? They’re fishy? Ceceta signed back. They’re Water Elves, one step up from being fish, right? Maybe they’ll suck you to death?
Rhen grunted. “Bad joke.”
“The swords stay,” Ceceta insisted.
Sighing, Rhen unbuckled his weapons belt. He didn’t want to argue with Ceceta. “I feel naked,” he grumbled under his breath before tossing his belt to Jet. “Keep that handy for me.” Turning back to Ceceta, he said, “Okay, are you ready?” She nodded and instantly they were standing on the bottom docking platform that led up to the main entrance of the Water Elf castle.
The Water Elf castle was its own island. It floated on top of the ocean’s surface in the middle of the great Thestran sea. It wasn’t an ordinary castle, as one would expect. There was one large stone structure with towering peaks, where the royal family lived and the Water Elf temple was located, but the rest of the castle was spread out, in what could best be described as one-story-high pods. The pods varied in size from large, which could fit a family of twenty, to small, single occupancy pods. They were round in shape and resembled opaque bubbles. The pods were connected on top of the ocean’s surface by wooden walkways, which formed numerous open rectangles. During storms, the elves had to be careful when they walked on the pathways between the pods, because the ocean would splash up violently against them. Parents had to carry their children so they wouldn’t be swept out to sea. Fountains that were no longer working, decorated the castle’s grounds, and four-foot-wide, clear, hollow glass tubes crisscrossed back and forth, up and down around the entire castle and its grounds, connecting the highest peaks to the lowest pods. The tubes were empty and the Water Elves had no idea why they were a part of the castle.
The Water Elves stood in a large group at the top of the stairs in front of their castle’s main doors. They had all turned out to meet Rhen. Most of them had never seen him before, except in pictures. They craned their necks to see what he looked like in person as they waited excitedly so see what would happen to their home. They didn’t have to wait long, because the instant Rhen appeared on the boat-docking platform below them, the castle shook and everyone stumbled. The four enormous fountains located to the right and left of the castle’s main staircase burst into life, sending jets of water over two hundred feet into the air while the smaller fountains, near Rhen and his group, shot six jets of water over their heads into fountains located on the opposite side of the steps.
The elves turned around when they heard a thundering sound behind them. The top peaks of their castle had morphed into enormous waterfalls. Water cascaded down the castle’s walls, creating a work of art. The water landed in large troughs that were located at the bottom of each peak. Glancing down at the troughs that ran around their castle, the elves were surprised to see fish swimming by them.
“I’d always wondered what those troughs were for,” Neka whispered to Plos. He didn’t respond, so she looked up to see what had caught his attention and gasped at the sight of the tubes. The glass tubes were now filled with water. Fish, turtles, eels and dolphins zipped past them as they rode the currents within the tubes. “That’s better than a movie,” Neka mumbled to herself. She heard Lilly’s voice in her mind. Rhen was speaking to Ceceta in sign language and Lilly was transmitting Mary’s translations telepathically to everyone, except for Rhen and Ceceta.
I didn’t realize everyone would be here. Is there anyone he didn’t invite?
Ceceta smacked Rhen’s arm. He hasn’t invited anyone he didn’t tell you about. Plos told you exactly who was going to be here. If you hadn’t of been so high, you would have known. It’s your own fault.
Rhen stuck out his tongue at Ceceta then laughed when she crossed her eyes at him.
Neka was going to move down the steps towards them, but hesitated when she heard Plos whimper. She glanced towards him then laughed with relief when she saw plants growing within the rectangular openings between their wooden pathways. “Oh, Plos,” she whispered with joy. Every rectangular section had a different species of plant growing within it. From where she was standing, she could see rice, tomatoes, apple trees, rosemary, corn, carrots, squash, figs, wheat, peppers, beans and strawberries. On and on it went, a never-ending cornucopia of food.
The Water Elves had never been self-sufficient before. They’d always been forced to purchase their food from outsiders. Now, they’d be able to grow their own food.
The fountains are pretty, Neka heard Rhen sign to Ceceta.
Pretty? They’re outstanding. I wonder how they built them?
Damned if I know, Rhen signed in reply, causing several of the elves to chuckle, since thousands of years ago Themrock had built their castle. Rhen glanced up the stairs at Plos. He was staring at something behind Rhen. Curious, Rhen turned around to see what he was looking at. Behind him, in the ocean, were thousands of water creatures: water dragons, dolphins, whales, sharks, rays, octopuses, squid, walruses, penguins, fish, eels, otters, birds and more. It was as if every sea creature in existence was peering out of the water looking at the Water Elf kingdom. “Wow,” Rhen said. He stepped over towards Sarah. “How does your father get them to do that?”
Sarah didn’t know what to say. The animals had never come up like that before. They were clearly there to see Themrock. Laughing nervously, she said, “Well, you know Dad, he loves a show.”
Rhen’s eyebrow raised. What did that mean? He returned to Ceceta’s side and glanced back up the stairs at Plos, who still hadn’t moved. Proper Surpen etiquette dictated that he wait for Plos to invite him into his castle. After a few minutes had passed, during which nothing happened, Rhen became agitated. Signing to Ceceta so Sarah wouldn’t hear, he said, Maybe, this was a bad idea. I can still pretend that I’m sick and go home. In fact, I think I’m getting sick right now. Don’t I look pale to you? Let’s go. Rhen put out his elbow for Ceceta to take, but she didn’t move. She knew the Water Elves were counting on Rhen to
enter their castle. If she took Rhen’s arm, they’d be back at the University and the elves would miss out.
After hearing Lilly’s transmission, Plos realized he was about to lose Themrock. Quickly, he shifted into action. He ran down the steps and lunged himself into Rhen, knocking him back a few steps.
Rhen chuckled uncomfortably as Plos hugged him. He patted Plos awkwardly on the back twice.
Sarah giggle at his discomfort and Rhen stared over at her, begging for help. When Sarah cleared her throat, Plos stepped back. “Welcome!” Tears of joy shone in his eyes. “Thank you for joining us tonight, Emperor.”
Emperor? He was friends with Plos. Why wasn’t Plos calling him Rhen? Perhaps tonight was a political event? That would explain the presence of the others on the steps. “Thank you for inviting us, your majesty.”
Plos stepped aside and waved his hand towards the people waiting on the stairs. “Everyone’s here. Shall we go in?”
As the Water Elves walked from room to room, showing Rhen their castle, they noticed that Rhen’s presence made the lights in the castle brighter. The faded pictures that adorned the castle’s walls were vibrant once again and the tubes that crisscrossed throughout the castle made a pleasing, melodic sound. There were now waterfalls inside the castle that the elves hadn’t even realized existed before. When Plos was finished with his tour, he brought Rhen to a large hall, where the cocktail reception was taking place. There were several fountains in the room that bubbled with life and a gorgeous waterfall made of green sea stones and shells cascaded down the entire side of the left wall. “So,” Plos said to Rhen. “What do you think of our castle?”
“It’s spectacular. It certainly lives up to your tribe’s name. I had no idea that it was so vast.”
“Like the ocean,” Ceceta added, reaching for Rhen’s hand.
The Surpen King - Part 2 - Rise of the Elves Page 30