by Cara Violet
“The Felrin are too good at what they do,” Kaianan defended.
Arlise scrunched his face-up. “You sound like you’ve met them all and know everything about them?”
“Well, my parents …” She stopped. Arlise had a point that made her shudder. All the positive points about the Felrin came from her family. They had feared so much, and they had adamantly told her the Felrin were the only ones who could protect them. But her parents were dead. The thought stung her. Pain creeped into her eyes in the form of tears.
“I know they are the reason we are here,” she said. “That Homo captiosus even exist. They were the ones that discovered the Siliou and aura.”
“And then had two opposing auras, the Kan’Ging and Silkri blow up a whole planet.”
“They didn’t have the rules then.” Kaianan felt herself getting worked up over Arlise’s causality.
“The great thing about the Universal Order, is, you don’t see the mayhem now. It’s controlled by the Felrin.”
“Good. I support the Felrin. They are protecting us accordingly. I mean you’re Felrin and you’ve helped me.”
He was silent.
Kaianan knew the Felrin were the only ones that could possibly stop the Necromancers from taking over Rivalex again. As much as she had faith in Xandou and the Giliou Shielders to fight against Sile, she knew the Silkri Drakes had returned and if they could control the Siliou as much as what she had read up about, the Insurgence would be no match for Sile. “I have faith in the Felrin Congress and I know you do too.”
Arlise exhaled. “Is it worth the ramifications of what they do?”
“Wait, why are you going back and forth with me on this topic? I’ve been trying to talk to you for almost three days and you’ve never been so outspoken unless it’s about Kan’Ging or Fel…”
Kaianan stopped. Arlise was quietened now. This must have been a sore point.
“What is it about the Felrin that upsets you?” she said.
He’d finished eating and scuffled out the fire under some dirt.
“Nothing about them upsets me,” he said confidently when he turned back to her, “I just know you can’t always believe what they tell you, or what they publish in history books … besides, coming from you, I’m surprised you’re so passionate about it. What happened to disregarding the Kan’Ging aura as elite?”
“It’s completely different. The Felrin are elected, the Kan’Ging is the aura, the belief system they follow, I argue why people assume its superior.”
“Because the Felrin are the ones who use the Kan’Ging and sit atop that hierarchy, perhaps?” He reached his hand toward her without waiting for her to answer. “Can you pass me that rag?”
Kaianan opened her mouth to advise him about her being a Gorgon and able to use Kan’Ging, then closed it. She looked down at the strips of rag falling out of the bag of supplies next to her. Her heart kicked in a beat quicker. The rags were split, some were clean, and some dirty.
“You prefer a clean rag or a dirty one?” Her eyes fixed on him waiting for an answer.
“Huh? Just a rag to clean up, preferably a clean one.”
Her eyes narrowed even further; Chituma’s explanation that Kaianan was a clean rag that didn’t associate with enough boys to be a dirty dish rag was the only thing on her mind.
“Are you feeling okay?” he said confused.
“Never mind, here.” She threw him a bunch of the broken bits of fabric, pulling herself away from her own stupidity.
He winked at her. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it?”
“No,” she said thoughtlessly.
After several minutes of tiding up and wiping his hands clean, he stood up in front of her. “I need a quick dip. Get yourself clean, we have a long way ahead of us,” he said, and just like that he dived into the water and splashed about under the waterfall.
He resurfaced closer to the bank and stood thigh-deep in the stream, washing his thin torso. It was like he needed at least fifty meals to fill him. But Kaianan could see he was back to full health. His pale upper body was still chiselled and it flexed in the Felrin sunlight. Kaianan watched him scrubbing himself clean. After that he made his way out of the water. She hadn’t realised she was still looking at him. She told herself to stop … But his wet tattooed body was sparkling against the rising light purple sun … and he likes clean rags …
But he’s a jerk? And doesn’t want to listen, does he?
Kaianan pinched herself and moved to the water’s edge, away from him, and sighed. She bent down to the water, and lifted her now dirty, white tunic up and off, exposing her green bra. She took her pants off and threw them aside, making sure Arlise wasn’t looking in her direction when she hopped in. When she was under, she took her bra off and sunk deeper in the water. She lathered her skin in the water and felt her muscles ache. On top of that her hair was completely matted. She stuck her fingers through to try and comb it out, which proved a lot harder to do than she first thought. She spent a good amount of time washing, when she heard Arlise’s voice.
“Do you need some help?”
She turned around, feeling stiff.
Arlise stood on the bank looking out toward her. His thin brown hair, stuck to his neck and chest, dripped small droplets of water down his eyes, cheeks and shoulders. For the love of holom.
“I’m fine, I just think we should get going.” Kaianan said. What was with him and offering help? He practically admitted the only reason he was doing anything for her was because his father asked him to and there was a set destiny involved. He’d given no other explanation, so why should she think otherwise?
And why, when he asked, did she go so rigid? She told herself to snap out of it.
“There are a few tunics in the bag, if you need to change,” he said, drying himself with a rag and putting the black tunic on top of his semi-dry, black slacks and black boots.
“Do you mind?” Kaianan said as he stood there staring at her.
“Oh, yes, sure.” He turned around and dropped the bag near her.
Kaianan got up out of the water, dried her body with a rag and put her pants back on. She searched the bag herself, after wringing out her hair and tying half of it in a top knot. She found a clean, thin black tunic.
When she had taken her purple chestplate off, before she got in the water, she noticed it was broken in three separate sections. She thought it was pointless to try and put it back on, so left it aside. Her leather boots were also holey, but she refused to go barefoot and tightened the straps against her black pants as best she could.
She observed the rear of Arlise in his blacks. Kaianan preferred white. Surprisingly, they looked almost identical in what they were wearing, except for Kaianan’s brown boots to his black, even their hair was knotted the same—half up, half down.
“I’m ready as I’ll ever be,” she said, finally tightening the scabbard that was currently strapped to her back, holding her most prized possession, the Silver Rapier.
“Okay,” he turned back around and smiled at her, “now … I need to get to the gatekeeper. Are you sure you are up for this?”
“Gatekeeper?” Her jaw dropped, “But you’re a Conductor? You can create Euclidean Vectors?”
“Yes, I can, but this is Felrin, a highly guarded and Kan’Ging-riddled world. They are ruthless when it comes to transportation. They maintain it, and they guard every single Euclidean Vector coming in and out so closely that they are able to close a Vector even if ascent has already been made … Hence the scouts.”
Kaianan didn’t know what overcame her but she went at him. “It’s time you listen to me. I don’t know what ploy you’re developing, or if you even give a damn about anyone else besides yourself. But I am onto you. Felrin or not, I do not trust you.”
“And this is what you think of me?” She couldn’t retreat as he advanced a step closer. “Untrustworthy? I’m guessing non-conforming also?”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” her voice ros
e. She was pacing now, angry. There was a thumping in her chest as he was following her, back and forth.
“I’ve given you nothing but my honesty, why do you not like facing the truth?” he said heatedly, “why do you rebuke it and get angry? Why do you see only your version of events?”
“I don’t! You don’t know what you’re talking about!” she was slamming her feet into the ground and he kept at her.
“You’re the one hiding yourself, and in the process, you keep painting everything with your ‘pretty’ brush, ignoring the truth. Stop assuming things are the way you see it. Life isn’t pretty, Kaianan, nor the way you expect it to look, the truth hurts, but wake up and pay attention, and don’t disprove things that don’t fit your picture.”
“I’m paying attention, I don’t trust you!” Her cheeks were burning.
“Is it so hard,” he said mockingly, “for you to see people beyond what you’ve decided they are, from your small lens on the universe?”
“What does that even mean?” she snapped.
“Shouldn’t you know? With all your life experience and worldly knowledge, I’m sure you can see your own narrow-mindedness.”
“How dare you!” she cried, turning to him.
“Yes, how dare I!”
She had completely stopped, and he was leaning into her face as his exhale lingered around her. Golden eyes, larger than life pierced her from above. Her breath was noisy out her mouth but his deadpan gaze did not move from her—from her eyes and then from her lips. He was staring. She glanced at his mouth and gulped. Her chest finally slowed and the adrenaline of the preceding seconds finally escaped her. He backed away the same time she did.
“The gatekeeper will get us out,” he said unbothered, “I expect a return favour to be met.”
Chapter Twelve: In Two Places
Xandou had said good-bye to Yasminx and had made the journey east through the Valley Woods and grasslands, entering the Giliou capital just before sun set. The rendered grey homes, wide stout street lanes and walkways were rather deserted. The Giliou marketplace was also quieter than usual, Xandou had noticed on his way further in to the middle of the city. The Giliou, a people normally garbed to the nines and ravished in gold accessories, usually loved to shop and barter. Even more so than the Gorgon he had observed at Diggers Gap Road. The Layos Market was overly shabby compared to the illustrious stalls of the Forsda marketplace. When people spoke of Forsda being the rich city, they weren’t being facetious. This was a grandiose city and it had come a far cry from what Giliou the Wise had established the people as: selfless protectors.
A little girl brushed past him, long blonde hair flowed over a white dress with a thick gold belt around her middle, hitting quick steps against the bluestone surface. Xandou frowned. Having not lived in Forsda for some years and even though he took time to visit the Fortress of Edification when he would return, seeing the people again made him realise he was slightly oblivious to the increase in their showy wealth. Besides the Shielders, who like all those who studied and developed their birth auras, became great fighters following in the footsteps of the Giliou the Wise dictum: Laro Thou Maiy, the people themselves seemed to have completely forgotten what that meant.
Although the Giliou language had fallen apart, Xandou had always believed the people would stay true to their motto of protecting others. But more and more he was recognising this generation of Giliou had been spoon-fed to the point of not wanting to share anymore.
Riches, like having a Gold mine to increase Felrin coin by, had gone to their heads.
He passed the taller inner-city buildings of shiny steel and innovative sharp-edged architecture. The Giliou sort to replicate the Felrin capital. Xandou never took to the overzealous design. He stopped in the paved courtyard that was full of Miry trees, standing out the front of the square building and domed roof Forsda Palace. Its white stone walls, and turquoise and teal trimmings, including the dome, represented the Giliou Shielder colours Giliou the Wise had selected when he resettled on Felderin.
Next to the Palace, the Giliou Shielders Fortress of Edification, a box looking, azure exterior building sitting on the highest point in the city, produced some of the greatest Giliou Shielders of all time. Xandou would know, he was one of them, even if he only attended training here once a summer.
Xandou walked toward the hundred white steps leading to the Forsda Palace. The Giliou guard, and several Giliou Shielders, in military amour and Giliou attire respectively, eyed him as he walked up to the Palace.
As he walked through the threshold, he felt the power of the building remove his aura. The perks of the Giliou, they believed that within dwellings no one should be able to access an aura. All the buildings, including the Fortress of Edification stripped people of it. He felt his scabbard at his side and remembered he had a small knife at his ankle.
Inside, the luscious interior of white high ceilings and azure suede walls behind gold-framed paintings of Giliou the Wise and his disciples cast a very different nostalgia over Xandou: one of old memories; smells of Giliou frangipari, perfectly cooked Seevaar meat at the multiple balls the Queen would hold all year round, music of raucous rhythm and what was it, warmth, warmth in his parent’s arms …
With an effort, he let the nostalgia go.
Four Giliou guards escorted him to the Common Room.
Xandou had been here before, many times. He was sworn to Metrix in this very room; the thought made him shudder. Around him were azure painted walls and heavy gold painted pillars lining the walls. A huge gold statue of Giliou the Wise was erected to his right and to the left, on a raised platform was a single vacant gold throne. High-ranking Giliou nobles behind him were chatting away and were then on their feet in silence.
Queen Maya Atronix waltzed in, between four Giliou Shielders and sat in her throne, stroking her graphic, large multi-coloured spotted dress, bunched over the top of her chair. She looked sideways to her personal Giliou Shielders who stood in twos on either side of her and then took her eyes to Xandou.
He examined the Queen’s colourfully shadowed eyes, framed by a waist-length brown wig and huge silver headpiece. He frowned at her, in her massacre of head attire; it was big enough to triple the size of her head, twisting the brown strands up and around and back down again. Her lips were painted black and against her long-sleeved coloured dress and eyes, she looked somewhat a clown. Xandou would not be fooled by her; he could see right through her circus façade. Everyone in Forsda knew Maya was defiant and never wanted to be Queen.
The only question remaining was: how much of a puppet had she become?
When two Felrin walked in, Xandou had to compose himself. One orchid plated Shiek, he assumed, and one white chest plated Liege who Xandou had met once before when he spied on Dersji with the Liege who had come to interrogate him over his bonding with Kaianan. Principal Ree and Ferak Jarryd had come. Xandou was eight then, and the Liege before him hadn’t changed as he watched the sleek dark haired and dark skinned Liege Ferak Jarryd pounce around like a hungry animal, while his orchid chestplate adorning comrade stood beside the Queen. Was this Liege Jarryd’s Menial? Surely not. She had long brown hair, green eyes, was very pretty in her Felrin whites. Xandou thought she even slightly looked like a slender version of Kaianan.
What the holom were they doing here?
“You haven’t been home in a while Xandou.” Maya’s husky voice reverberated around the room. “Did you enjoy your stroll through Forsda?” she asked.
Xandou had reluctantly bowed like the rest of the nobles although the anger at seeing two Felrin here was setting his blood to boil. “It was rousing, I dare say.”
She made a noise and pursed her lips.
What did they want? Why were they all standing there looking at him like the world was about to end?
“We are in a disconcerting time, Xandou,” she went on. “The people of Rivalex, and the people of the universe for that matter, want answers.” She paused. He noted a hint of dread in
her expression. What is she up to?
“I can assure you Maya, answers can be attained only when we adhere to our dictum, Laro thou Maiy.” Xandou said with as much restraint as he could, and not even bothering to look at the Felrin, he added, “we should not be working with traitors.”
The noise spun from the Giliou nobles at Xandou’s insinuations. He couldn’t care less. He needed to know why the Felrin were here.
“And the responsibility,” the Queen stated staring him down, “accountability and duty is in the Felrin’s hands alone, Xandou, we shadow this decree.” She breathed out with dragon fury.
The season had aged her authority. Xandou could see it. She was trying to act like a strong leader, one, for all the wrong reasons and two, it was well too late to even redeem yourself, Xandou thought.
“Giliou the Wise had not intended Forsda inherit a foreign mandate, Maya,” he said “Your very blood should recoil and disdain its administration. Although with that much paint on your face, I’m surprised you can even think at all.”
The murmuring grew again. The two Felrin regarded each other. Xandou did not blink: he was not inferior to the Giliou around him nor the Queen herself. This was his path just as much as hers, and he chose to speak his mind freely.
Maya gazed at Ferak who had begun hovering around her.
Something seemed off, Xandou thought. “Time is becoming scarce; what is the purpose of my presence?” he said. “You’ve asked for a friendly negotiation, well, here I am.”
Liege Jarryd cleared his throat, “Master Xandou, you are here as a visitor, a guest into Forsda, to be extended an offer of armistice.” The words slithered from his mouth.
Xandou’s eyes turned from Maya’s to Ferak’s. What was this? Was he really speaking on her behalf?
“If you will agree to keep your followers in Layos,” Ferak went on, smiling, “to habitat the Swamp Lands, we, the Felrin, will not pursue you … You’re free; safe to live in peace … we are only after the whereabouts of the Rivalex Mark. Your people can live a luxurious life when we have her.”