by Lyra Shanti
--
Pei could hear loud voices coming from The Holy Room, which caused him to quicken his pace. As he approached the door, he nodded to the guard, who recognized him, and immediately let him through.
“No, that is NOT what I said!” Atlar shouted.
“You are obviously implying that I am responsible for this crime,” Lod Enra contested, “and I do not appreciate such false accusations, especially when you have no proof!”
“Please, both of you,” said Amun-Lan, doing is best to calm their tempers, “your argument is completely unnecessary.”
Pei almost wished he had not entered the room, yet he felt more needed by Amun-Lan than by Ayn at the moment. Pei desperately needed to feel helpful so that his mind could be taken away from the loss of his Lan.
“The assassin was clearly from Ohr,” Atlar insisted, “and for the last few years, you, Lod Enra, have done nothing but speak against Deius and their religious beliefs! Do you dare deny your previous actions?”
“I deny nothing,” said Lod Enra in a stoic reply.
“Then I believe that is enough to at least put you under arrest until a trial may be set in motion!” Atlar said as he quickly turned to face Amun-Lan. “Please, my Lan, I implore you to arrest this man immediately.”
Lod Enra scoffed and folded his arms, enraged by Atlar’s request.
“I will do no such thing,” Amun-Lan calmly answered. The king of Kri was completely thrown by his statement, and for the moment, seemed speechless.
“Please, if I may,” said Pei, careful not to offend, “I suggest we do not arrest anyone as of right now, though I firmly believe an investigation is necessary. There is going to be a service for our fallen high priest within a few days, and I think it best if no one is allowed to leave the kingdom for at least a few weeks more - not until the investigation is over.”
Everyone looked at Pei with sad eyes. “He is dead?” Atlar asked with his brow knotted in pain.
“Yes,” Pei somberly replied. The king of Kri shook his head in disbelief, then threw himself in a chair, covering his face with his hands. Pei walked closer to Amun-Lan, then nodded to him, confirming his statement. “The healer-priests tried to seal his wounds, but he had lost too much blood,” Pei further explained in a soft, sympathetic voice.
There was a moment of silence as the priests bowed their heads, quietly chanting their prayer for Meddhi-Lan’s safe return to The Un. The two kings did the same in a show of respect, but soon after, they looked again at each other scornfully.
“Amun-Lan, I will stay for a little while longer,” said Lod Enra, “for the service only, out of respect for your loss. As for an investigation, I will not stand for such a thing when my family and I are guests of your planet. We have done nothing wrong, and being that all three of us were present during the attack, I would consider it a breach of trust if you were to hold us any longer for an investigation. If you attempt such a thing, I shall promptly leave and tell my Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as his constituents, that The Dei are indeed the nonsensical, backward thinking fools our planet has always believed them to be.” He then swiftly exited the room.
“Coward!” shouted Atlar, pointing toward the door. Turning to Amun-Lan, he added, “Such rudeness is obviously a weak defense for his guilt!”
Almost relieved by the Ohrian king’s departure, Amun-Lan shook his head, then gathered his wits. “King Atlar,” said Amun-Lan, “forget Lod Enra for now. I have more important things to discuss with you. I want to speak with you as well, Pei” he added while directing their attentions toward the small, silver-blue object in his hand. ”I want you both to take a look at this.”
“What is it?” asked Pei.
“I do not know,” replied Amun-Lan, “but I want you to keep an eye on it, and then find a way to understand how this strange device works.”
“That self righteous Ohrian wouldn’t tell us how to open it,” said Atlar as he walked closer to Amun-Lan. “but I will do my best to find out its secrets. You have my word.”
Pei nodded and said, “I too will do my best.” Pei didn’t know what he could do to help the Krian king in unraveling such a mystery, but he was dedicated in doing whatever it took to honor his beloved, fallen teacher.
--
Lod Enra marched through the halls of the palace, repressing his anger. He could not believe that all the work he had done to make peace between the three planets was now being so quickly dismantled.
Kurin Vax, his prime minister and closest friend, had assured him before they had left Ohr that everyone on their planet was behind the new alliance with Deius. If that was indeed the case, then Lod Enra was sure Ohr was being framed by an unknown enemy who desired revenge against The Dei. He didn’t know who that might be, but he almost didn’t care. It was all too confusing and dangerous for his liking!
“Get your things packed, my wife!” he said as he pushed the door to his room wide open.
“Why? Are they sending us away?” Loda La calmly questioned.
“No, it is quite the opposite,” he replied. “They are demanding that I stay and perhaps be brought to trial, which I will not allow to happen. I will stay for a few days, out of respect, but something feels wrong about it all, Loda. I promise, I will leave as soon as I am able.” His wife looked at him blankly, unable to think of what to say. “Now, I may have to stay,” he continued, “but they did not demand you must remain with me. Therefore, I wish for you to go with Zin back to our home and wait for me there until all this is finished.”
Loda La stared at Lod Enra in disbelief as her rather stressed husband sat on an ona-patterned chair located near two large windows, which overlooked the gardens. Trying his best to release his anxiety, Lod Enra shook his head and sighed.
Loda La called to her servants and began packing for the trip home. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly approached her husband, resting her hand on his shoulder. “This is not your fault, my king,” she whispered. “and they will come to see that truth soon.”
Lod Enra looked at his wife with saddened eyes, and for a moment, was calmed by her warmth. His rest was brief, however, as he suddenly realized something wasn’t quite right. He stood up, erect and rigid, as though his body had been transformed into wood.
“Where is Zin?” he asked.
His wife stood up and sighed. “I do not know,” she replied, “but I have already sent a guard to find him.” Lod Enra’s brow turned downward. “Why did you let him leave the room in the first place?” he nearly shouted.
His wife looked at him with disdain. “Perhaps I did not have any choice!” she defensively snapped. “You know very well that he is a willful child and barely controllable these days!” she added with a sneer.
She turned away as Lod Enra threw his hands in the air, heading toward the front door of the room. “Keep packing, and I will see you off at the loading area,” he commanded as he opened the door, “and do not worry, Loda,” he added before exiting the room, “I will find our son!”
--
Ayn nervously licked his bottom lip, then slowly approached the ornately crafted, yet somewhat faded, gold and blue coffin. He had an unrelenting urge to unhinge the sides, pull the lid, and take a good look at the decayed flesh that once was The Great Adin. Instead, out of fear, he stared at the coffin with wide eyes and breathed at a quickening pace.
The painting on the top of the sarcophagus was painted in fine detail, and Ayn was astonished at how much it resembled Adin’s likeness, described in books and paintings throughout the kingdom. Specifically, Adin’s eyes were painted deep blue, and his mouth was depicted as full, yet masculine. As Ayn focused on the image, he felt that Adin had the look of a young king who died before his time.
Could this man who lay inside really have been me in a previous life? Ayn asked himself. He felt his heart beat faster as his lips became dry and chapped. Curiosity overpowered his mind while his hand slowly reached toward the lid of the coffin.
“What do you
think you’ll find in there?” came an unexpected voice behind him. Ayn whirled around and saw a figure in the dim light holding a small plasma-light in his hand.
“Zin?!” shouted Ayn, surprised, yet somewhat relieved. “What are you doing here?”
“I am here because you are here,” the Ohrian prince replied. He then walked over and stood next to Ayn while raising a brow.
“So… this was The Great Adin?”
“Yes, I… suppose,” said Ayn, unsure.
Zin nodded, then shrugged. “Do you want to know what I think?” he asked.
“Not really…” Ayn sarcastically replied, distrustful and wary.
Smiling and unfazed, the Ohrian prince put his arm around Ayn’s shoulder, leading him toward the stairs. “I think, my friend,” said Zin, “that you spend too much of your time dwelling in the realm of death. Instead, you need to walk in the land of the living.”
Ayn was annoyed, yet slightly grateful that he was being taken away from the coffin of Adin. Because of his conflicted feelings, he allowed the prince to lead him by the hand as they head up the winding stairs and away from the hidden tomb.
“Yes, perhaps you are right,” Ayn said as he took one last look at the beautifully painted blue eyes on the coffin.
“Of course I am,” said Zin as he led him back to the upper levels of the tomb, “and now, I want you to leave all of it behind.”
Ayn stopped in his tracks and said, “What?”
“You heard me well enough, Great Bodanya,” said Zin with a hint of mockery.
“What do you mean by leave all of it behind?”
“Exactly as I said. Leave this rotting palace, this overbearing prophecy! Get out now, my friend, and come with me - to freedom!”
“Come with you... where?” asked Ayn, backing away from the Ohrian prince. Zin shook his head and looked at Ayn with sympathetic eyes.
“Don't distrust me,” he said as he gently reached again for Ayn's hand. “I know you are scared and hurting, but I am the one person in this world who truly cares for your soul. You know it to be true!”
Ayn was a little offended by the idea that this strange boy would dare assume to know who cared for his soul! After just losing Meddhi-Lan, Ayn was tempted to slap the Ohrian prince’s pale face! However, as Ayn looked deeper into Zin’s eyes, he felt the familiarity from their first encounter, and it forced him to listen to Zin’s proposition.
Smiling, Zin put both of his hands on Ayn’s shoulders. “Listen, my friend,” he explained, “I have a ship that is ready to fly. It’s one of my father’s cargo ships. All we need to do is board it, and we will both be free! You, from this trap of prophecy and selflessness… and me, from the cage of my father’s limited scope of reality.” Zin released an emotional exhale, then looked at Ayn with pleading eyes. “So… what do you say?”
Ayn looked to the side where the walls of the catacombs seemed almost prison-like, and he began thinking over the idea of running away. What would happen if I left? he asked himself. Would Pei hate me? Would Amun-Lan and the rest of the priests be lost without their Bodanya? Ayn rubbed his forehead, worried and confused, and unable to make a decision.
“No,” said Ayn after a few moments. “I cannot leave.”
“But!”
“No, Zin, I will not leave my kingdom.”
“But it’s not safe here, Ayn. I can’t let you stay!”
“I will not go! They are my people! I am their Bodanya!”
“You are just a boy, Ayn! And someone is obviously out to kill you! That plasma-shot was meant for you, not your teacher! Don’t you realize that?! I have only just found you, Ayn! No… I will not let anyone harm you, and that is final!”
Then, without warning, Zin swiftly grabbed Ayn, throwing his new friend over his left shoulder. He looked around to make sure that no one had seen them, then hastily made his way down the other side of the stairs to where it led back out to the loading docks of the palace. Ayn struggled, but not hard enough to stop Zin’s determined mind.
Unbeknownst to Ayn, Zin had planned his escape for a very long time, and with or without his new soul-friend, he was going to be free.
Chapter 10: The Coming of Yol Notama
The healer-priests were extremely careful with the holy jars that held the vital organs of Meddhi-Lan. They slowly walked to The Holy Room with their heads held low and did not even acknowledge him when Atlar passed them by. Unaware of the objects they carried, he still sensed an ominous aura about them as they went by.
Atlar walked briskly through the halls until he found his daughter by the loading area near the outer gate of the palace. He greeted her with a short embrace.
“Now,” he said to her, “you know what to do?”
“Yes, Father - I will go home to organize the army while you act as diplomat here on Deius.”
“Yes, exactly,” he said, nodding nervously. “Now, remember that you are my only heir, and when I am gone, the people will look to you for guidance and leadership.”
“Yes, Father, I know,” she replied with a hint of worry on her face. She was not worried for herself, but her father who seemed thoroughly shaken by his friend’s sudden death.
“And right now,” the Krian king added, “I need you to be firm with the men of The Council – don’t let them bully you. Tell them your words are my direct orders and that we cannot wait while they have their endless conferences!”
“Yes, Father,” she softly replied, “I’ll try my best to convince them to take action.” Ona then smiled at him and brushed back the stray lock of golden hair that fell over his brow. “Do not worry, I will be strong.”
The king sighed and looked at his proud, loving daughter. “I am the one who isn’t feeling very strong at the moment,” he admitted. “To be honest, I am more upset than I am able to put into words.”
“Oh, Father…” said Ona. She put her arms around Atlar and held him tight. “You and the high priest were close friends as young men, weren’t you?”
Atlar silently nodded, holding back his tears. “We once were, yes,” he replied, clearly affected. Breaking out of it, he wiped his tearful eyes, then pulled back from his daughter’s arms. “But we will discuss that at a later time. Right now, I am going to make sure whoever did this is properly punished.” Ona nodded in agreement.
“Now, wait a few moments before taking off. I will confirm that your departure is legally authorized by Amun-Lan, and I will contact you soon, my sweet, brave daughter.” He kissed her cheek, then watched as his only child walked onto their large, envoy-class ship. He briefly closed his eyes and prayed to the Gods, hoping they would protect his only daughter.
--
Pei could not find the opening anywhere. No matter which side he viewed the blue sphere from, there didn’t seem to be any creases or latches - nothing obviously visible that a person could pull or twist. “The object appears to be completely impenetrable, my Lan,” said Pei with a perplexed frown.
Amun-Lan came closer and inspected the sphere that Pei held in his palm. After he looked at it for a moment, he stroked his chin and said, “Perhaps it is a new device that only an Ohrian scientist may operate correctly?”
Amun-Lan sighed and sat on a pillow on the floor of The Holy Room. With his head held low, he meditated and hummed in a deep drone. It seemed to Pei, for the first time since Meddhi-Lan had been struck down, Amun-Lan was finally displaying his grief. Pei was about to go to him and share in his pain when Atlar hastily entered the room.
“Amun-Lan!” the Krian king exclaimed, “I am sending my daughter back to Kri to gather military aid. We shall have justice!”
The old priest got up from the floor with Pei’s help, then went over to Atlar, resting a hand on his shoulder. “My dear boy,” he quietly replied, “you do not need to gather an army so soon. We have not even found who our enemy is, and yet you wish to attack someone?”
Atlar looked at Amun-Lan, confused and slightly angered. “But, my Lan,” Atlar protested, “we must be
prepared!”
The old priest and the Krian king looked at each other with their eyes locked in a mental game of will. After a few moments of gridlock, Atlar released a grunt and threw his hands upward. “Talk some sense into him!” he demanded as he looked at Pei and sat on a chair, folding his arms tightly.
Pei had never met Atlar previously and was a little taken aback by his commanding, blunt style of speech. He looked at Amun-Lan, who was looking away, as if lost in a dream. Pei realized he was now on his own to communicate with the very emotional Krian. “I believe Amun-Lan is right to say that it is perhaps too soon to think of war,” said Pei, cautiously, “for the path of war is very destructive, and it cannot be good for any of our planets.”
A strange, grimacing smile crept across Atlar’s face – it was an expression Pei had never seen before. The Krian king got up and laughed. “Oh, I see,“ he said as he approached Pei. “You are perfectly fine with what they did to Meddhi?” Pei felt his stomach turn as Atlar continued. “Wasn’t he your Lan? Aren’t you the slightest bit angry that he was shot down like a dog today, and all we have left to show for it is THIS GODSFORSAKEN… THING?!” Atlar then grabbed the sphere from Pei and threw it across the room.
Pei stood frozen as Atlar took a deep breath, holding himself back from yelling at Pei any further. “Fine,” the king concluded, “ignore what has happened, if you wish, but don’t expect me to sit idly by and-“
Atlar was suddenly interrupted by a bright blue light that had burst across the room. The light was coming from the center of the floor where the sphere had landed. It quickly caught the attention of all three men.
“What is that?” asked Pei.
Amun-Lan went over to the object and tried to touch the light. “It is not real. It is a holographic image,” said Amun-Lan as he waved his hands through the light.
“What did I do?” Atlar asked, confused.
The old priest nodded his head while thinking. “I believe you must have somehow opened the device,” Amun-Lan replied.