Identity Revealed: The Tue-Rah Chronicles

by Butler, J. M.

  "Yes," Naatos said. "This is AaQar."

  AaQar’s smile did not reach his eyes. "I suspect you have come to know me as ‘Hacker.’ But it's a little harder to say than that. Ha CAR. The ha is very soft."

  "Are you sad?" Inale tilted her head back to get a better look. There was a deep sadness about him that she felt but didn't understand.

  "That's his normal look these days," a familiar voice said.

  "WroOth!" Inale clapped her hands together, delighted to see him turn the corner of the hall. "You came back!" Running to him, she flung her arms about his waist. "That's your brother, isn't it? The one who knows all about the Neyeb? And you're a Para? Why didn't you tell me?"

  "Yes, those are both my brothers, and you're right. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to scare you. But now I wonder if anything could." WroOth hugged her tight. He gave wonderful hugs.

  Inale pulled back. "Was it you flying over the palace? I called. Did you hear me?"

  "I did hear you, but by the time I got back, you were already gone. You didn't wait.” WroOth tweaked her nose. “Next time you call me, you need to wait."

  "I would have, but then I heard the dolmaths. I had to see what was happening."

  "Of course you did. I knew you'd be awake. I just didn't know you'd be that fast." WroOth gave Naatos a knowing glance. "I bet you weren't even asleep."

  "Nope." Inale shook her head happily. "Do you know what this necklace means then?" She held it up. Her last few concerns disappeared into the night. Her new friend was back, and everything would be fine.

  "Yes! It means you're my sister. And do you know what? I always wanted a little sister." WroOth scooped her up and spun her around. "And aren't you just perfect for it?" When he set her down, he crouched in front of her. "Now how about we fly out of here on a winged horse?"

  Inale giggled. "Yes!" She pulled the note from her pocket and pressed it into Naatos's hand. "Can you make sure my parents get this? I want them to know where I'm going. I can't be gone too long or they'll worry."

  "I'll make sure they know." Naatos opened the letter and examined it. He gave an approving nod before glancing up. "WroOth, keep her safe."

  "Of course." WroOth took her by the hand. "Let's go, Inale. A beautiful winged horse awaits us."

  Inale walked alongside him, her thin-soled slippers scuffing on the cold floor. "So your name is WroOth, not Ruth."

  "Libyshans pronounce my name Ruth. But no. Never. In all of my days. My name will never be Ruth."

  "I like Ruth. I would name a horse Ruth."

  "Do I look like a horse?" WroOth gave her a playful, irritated look as she giggled even more. "If you call me Ruth, then I shall just have to call you something you don't like. What about Nanana Nale or Inny?"

  Inale grinned. "You can't call me that cause that's not my name."

  "All right then. There'll be no more talk of Ruth or Nanana Nale. Now give me your bag. I'll carry it."

  Inale pushed his hand away. "I can carry it." She adjusted the thick strap of her bag. It made a soft shushing sound with each step. "Why didn't you tell me you were a Para? Really? I wasn't afraid of you. You could have explained."

  WroOth shrugged. "You've been told we're monsters that you're supposed to kill. How could you not be frightened?"

  "I'd only be afraid if you were evil and real. I'm not afraid of monsters under my bed or in the bureau because there aren't any. They aren't real. You are real. And you aren't an evil monster. So if you're not an evil monster, I can't be afraid of you, can I?"

  Chuckling, WroOth smiled down at her. "I suppose not. Though you are a strange child."

  "You still like me though, don't you?" Inale hesitated, not certain if strange was good. She'd heard it said so many times but always in such an odd way that could be good or bad.

  "Of course I do." WroOth tugged her hair, still smiling. "I like you very much. Now then, I bet you could slide very well in those slippers. Just like this." He swung her out and up.

  Giggling, Inale clung to his arm. It was fun playing in the palace at night, and WroOth didn't even use a night voice. He spoke as loudly as if it were the middle of the afternoon. Their voices echoed up and down the halls, and no one came to silence them or tell her to go back to her room.

  Indeed, WroOth turned out to be an even more exciting companion than Inale expected. He told her jokes, twirled her in the air, laughed with her, and pointed out funny images in the tapestries and paintings. Inale couldn't remember when she’d had so much fun.

  "What all can you turn into?" she asked as they passed the Great Hall.

  "I'm a Keyr Vawtrian. I can turn into anything with wings."

  "Could you turn into a hummingbird?" Inale's eyes widened. She loved hummingbirds, but they never entered her garden. They hated the mesh over the top.

  "I could, but I'd rather turn into a dragon. Dragons are my favorite. Do you like dragons?"

  "Sometimes." Inale pushed her hair back behind her ears and skipped over a shadow. "But sometimes they're scary."

  "Those are the best kinds."

  "Why do you like dragons so much?"

  WroOth gave an exaggerated shrug. "What's not to like? They're strong. They're fast. They fly. And they eat camels."

  "Camels? What are camels?" Inale frowned.

  "They're big brown creatures with humps. Sometimes one. Sometimes two. They spit globs of gooey green and white venom on their victims to track them or trap them or spit in their eyes to blind them, and they eat little children. A camel nearly ate me when I was your age. Just grabbed me by the head and—" WroOth popped his mouth and pretended his hand was a camel, eating the top of her head. "If it hadn't been for Naatos and AaQar, I wouldn't have made it."

  "I don't think I'd like camels," Inale said.

  "That's a good girl." WroOth stopped as booted footsteps approached. A soldier with green and black armor and a scarf around his neck walked through the doorway. "Lord Para," he said, bowing his head. "We've executed—"

  WroOth brought his hand up sharply, nodding toward Inale. "Child present, soldier." He sounded perturbed.

  The soldier stepped back, looking from Inale to WroOth. "But, Lord Para, we have completed the first—"

  "A Neyeb child." WroOth picked Inale up, his voice becoming sterner. "They read minds."

  "Oh, I can't. That's why I wear these." Inale pointed to the coverings on her palms and forehead. "The note Joseph found with me said I always had to keep them covered. And no one's ever showed me how to read minds."

  The soldier shifted his weight. Sweat beaded his brow. "I see, Lord Para, but what—"

  "I have two brothers who are equally gifted in commanding. If you have any questions, then ask them." WroOth glared at him.

  "Very well, sir." The soldier started to turn but stopped, his heel squeaking on the floor. "You are headed to the stable, Lord Para? With the child?"

  "Yes." WroOth's expression changed briefly, a look of annoyance now on his face. "Are the plans you're executing being performed in the courtyard surrounding the stables?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Wonderful," WroOth said. It didn't sound like he meant it. "Well, then you had best go and report to my brothers."

  "Is something wrong with the stables?" Inale asked. The entire conversation confused her.

  "We're just going to go another way," WroOth said. "In fact, I think that it would be best if we played a game."

  "A game?" Inale asked. She wanted to be excited, but a small worry bit at her mind. She pushed it aside. Of course she could trust WroOth. "What kind of game?"

  "It's a game I used to play when I was your age. It's called 'trust the leader.'" WroOth set her on the ground and tore a large strip of fabric off the curtain. "I'm going to blindfold you, and you're going to go with me. But you have to do everything I say so you don't fall."

  That didn't sound like a fun game. Inale shook her head, unimpressed. "What plans are they executing?"

  "Nothing important," WroOth said
. "We're just getting ready for the Tue-Rah's restoration. That's going to be an exciting time, don't you think? Have you ever seen a picture of the Tue-Rah? When it's restored, it's one of the most incredible things you'll ever see. But you can't just see it. You have to feel it. The light it creates…well, it's something you have to experience to believe. Now I'm going to put this blindfold on you because I'm going to take you on a secret way, and I've been sworn to show it to no one. After we get out, I'll take the blindfold off so you can see your winged horse, all right?"

  "I don't want to be blindfolded. I promise I'll keep my eyes shut."

  WroOth laughed. "I remember trying that trick when I was your age, but it's not going to work, dearest. Just trust me, all right? You don't have to worry. I swear nothing is going to happen to you. On my honor. I would never hurt you, and neither will anyone here." WroOth held both her hands tight. "Everything is fine, little one. I promise. All right?"

  "All right." Inale closed her eyes and held still as he tied the blindfold. When he picked her up, she rested her head on his shoulder. That little fear still nibbled at her mind. "I trust you." Affirming her trust out loud soothed her a bit. Besides, his presence was warm and comforting. She didn't get many hugs, even though she liked them. So if he was hugging her, then surely that meant everything was really all right. "I trust you lots."

  "Good." WroOth carried her outside. The scent of sesame oil tinged with lavender had all but faded. A different smell filled the air as the cool night wind blew. Strange thuds and clanks sounded as liquid splattered. Inale straightened and turned her head this way and that, trying to figure out what was going on. She couldn't place the smell, but it made her stomach turn. When she began fidgeting with the blindfold, WroOth chided her. "We're almost there," he said. "Don't try to take it off."

  "But this isn't a secret way!" Inale protested. "We're just in the courtyard."

  "The secret is how I'm walking through it. Now just a few seconds more, and you'll see the winged horse."

  A door creaked open, and everything went darker. WroOth set Inale down and closed the door behind them before he removed the blindfold. Inale blinked, letting her eyes adjust. They stood at the north end of the stable near the mawnores, large kangaroo creatures with enormous golden wings. One leaned down and nuzzled her. Inale giggled and offered it some hay. "Where is the winged horse?" she asked.

  "Down at the other end." WroOth put his hands on her shoulders and guided her forward. "Let's go and find her."

  The long, wide stable had stalls for all of the beasts of burden, from the friendly mawnores to the thick-furred bruins. Inale loved coming out to the stables, especially when they let her play with the animals under close watch. She knew most of the beasts by name, but excitement was building again. There wasn't time to greet and pet the other animals as she usually did because there was the winged horse. Gasping, Inale covered her mouth.

  There it was in Snowmane's stall, though Snowmane, her favorite horse, was nowhere to be seen. Inale's heart raced. She had never seen a creature so stunning. Everyone insisted that winged horses were myths, but here it was, just as beautiful as she had always imagined.

  The winged horse had sleek silver-white fur with a brilliant blue mane and tail. Its wings had an iridescent color, changing from deep blue to deep green to lighter shades in between. Inale ran up to it. Whinnying, the winged horse lowered its soft muzzle to her head.

  "It's beautiful!" Inale exclaimed. "What's its name?"

  "That is entirely up to you." WroOth looked pleased as he rubbed the winged horse between the eyes. "You may name it whatever you wish."

  "I should think about that." Inale began walking slowly around the horse, studying it. "Names are important. Everyone has a real one, but we don't always know it. So the right one is finding the real one. Of course you can have more than one real name. You can have lots of names."

  WroOth pulled her back. "Don't walk behind it. Winged horses kick like regular horses."

  Inale hugged the winged horse, nestling her face in its velvet-soft fur. "What are you going to ride?" she asked.

  "I'm not going to ride anything. I'm going to fly alongside you as a cloud dragon," WroOth said. "Though you'll probably need a saddle, won't you? Now, where would a saddle be?" Turning to the wooden shelves, he began lifting compartment doors.

  Inale stroked the winged horse, contented and happy. Winged horses were real. She'd always known it deep inside. But as happy as she was, her thoughts drifted to what she had smelled and heard. It didn't make sense. And WroOth had lied to her. There hadn't been any secret way or entrance. And it made no sense for the way he walked to be the secret. Every so often there was an odd thunk and clank outside as well.

  That nasty fear continued to bite at her mind just as it did when she feared there were monsters under her bed. Inale tucked her hands together. There were never monsters under the bed, but she didn't feel safe until she checked. There probably wasn't anything wrong in the courtyard, but she would feel better if she took a peek.

  Slipping to the end of the winged horse's stall, Inale climbed up onto the window ledge. The thick wooden shutters were used to block out the palace lights, keeping the animals peaceful. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if she would be caught. A quick glance assured her that WroOth was still searching through the cupboards. He continued to speak, but his words were garbled by the wood.

  I have to look, Inale thought.

  Unlatching the shutter, she pulled it open.

  Moonlight streamed in, and she had a perfect view of the courtyard with its mosaic tiles. But the bright colors and intricate designs were covered in dark pools of blood. Inale couldn't believe what she saw. Piles of bodies lay on the ground, some stacked on one another, some thrown carelessly. Dozens of soldiers went about, carrying the bodies or beheading them. Each clank was an axe falling, severing a head. Ayamin, servants, stewards, dignitaries. It didn't seem to matter. More soldiers brought out additional bodies.

  Naatos and AaQar stood at the other end of the courtyard, speaking with one of the commanders. They didn't appear shocked, though Naatos looked frustrated. Not upset. Just frustrated. As if the soldiers had done something the wrong way rather than actually doing something wrong.

  Inale's stomach tightened and clenched, painful nausea cramping within her. It was so horrible she couldn't comprehend it. Her body trembled. She couldn't distinguish most of the faces, but one of the bodies closest to her was Eabar, his head severed from his neck. He still looked like he was sleeping, a peaceful expression on his face. A scream lodged in Inale's throat.

  "Now, what saddle would work best for a winged horse?" WroOth continued, the saddles and metal clanking together as he moved them around.

  Inale's hands felt cold. She wanted to throw up or cry, but she couldn't even move. It froze her. It was a nightmare!

  Naatos's conversation with the commander grew more intense. Then, all at once, he grabbed the commander. Light flowed out of his hand into the commander's arm. The man's face contorted with pain, but before he could cry out, he disintegrated into dust. Nothing remained of him but a pile of grey soot. Not even his clothing or weapons.

  Naatos shook some of the powder from his hand and barked an order to one of the other commanders who stood nearby. He wiped his hand on his cloak, but when he looked up, he looked directly at her.

  6

  Escape

  Terrified, Inale stared at Naatos, unable to move. His icy eyes sliced into her. Without breaking his gaze, he said something to AaQar. AaQar's eyebrows lifted, and his jaw tightened as if he did not like what he heard. He turned. Both Naatos and AaQar strode toward the stable.

  Inale dropped from the window, her heart pounding faster. She had to get out of there. But Naatos and AaQar were headed toward the entrance closest to her, the one by the horses. If she was going to escape through the other exit by the mawnores, she'd have to pass WroOth. He had his back to her still as he rummaged through the bins.
/>   Inale took a deep breath. She had to be quick and quiet. She slid along behind him as he pulled back with one of her small brown saddles.

  "This should work well, even with the wings…" WroOth paused. His voice changed. "Inale…did you open that window?"

  Inale stepped back to the stable partition, her hands clasped behind her back. "No." Her voice trembled. He had lied to her. They all had. They were evil, and they were monsters.

  "It wasn't open before now, was it?" Much of the laughter in WroOth's eyes had faded, leaving them as cold as his brother's. "You wouldn't lie to me, would you, Inale?" He crossed over to the window while watching her. Inale fidgeted, her apprehension growing. She was running out of time! The dull thunk and squish outside continued. As he reached the wood-cut window, WroOth at last looked away and reached for the window to close it.

  Inale bolted back toward the bears and mawnores.

  One of the large brown bears with a grey-tinged muzzle shook its head and roared. Inale dove behind it, scrambling under the scratchy straw.

  "Inale!" WroOth shouted. "Inale, where did you go? Come back here. It isn't how it looks."

  The stable doors burst open. "Where is she, WroOth?" Naatos demanded.

  "Somewhere in here," WroOth said. "She just—"

  "I know what she just did. She wasn't supposed to see that." Naatos grabbed WroOth by the arm, his fingers digging into his bicep as if WroOth were a wayward child. "You were supposed to look after her."

  "Stop yelling." AaQar motioned for both to be calm. He alone spoke in the same manner as he had when Inale met him. "This helps nothing, and if she is in this stable, she cannot get out without us seeing her. So let's not frighten her further. WroOth, which way did she go?"

  "Toward the bears."

  "Try talking to her. She has nothing to fear, but she is probably afraid. She is a child after all. It would be easy for a child to misunderstand what she saw," AaQar said as he glanced around the stable.

  Inale cringed beneath the straw. Her instincts warned her that he said that for her benefit. She absolutely had reason to be terrified. Naatos had turned a man into dust! And the soldiers were chopping off people's heads. Where were her parents? Where was Josiah? She choked back tears and clenched her hands in front of her mouth.