Annarita held her thumb up to him and then took a step to the side.
“Now you can look in the mirror,” she said.
“That’s the man, the father, who Tiegal can come back to.”
34. Players
What happened at a Jarm Match was never revealed to those outside it. Only those who attended knew what occurred. During Tiegal’s teaching days she had lost count of the times the kimberlings had asked her what kind of competitions took place. It was one of those Tandro secrets that had everyone fascinated and intrigued from their earliest memory. In her role as a teacher she had answered them then, as she would still do now. She had no idea.
Today was different. Today, she would find out what happened at a Jarm Match, because today she was taking part in one.
Last night, two hydro-cities had arrived at the main harbours on Kimberrago Island – one at the North end and one at the South – both depositing the selected Jarm Match competitors before setting off again to their designated Island stops.
Tiegal had watched the competitors arrive on Atla’s Estate from her bedroom window, each eager and determined. They wore silk jumpsuits and swinging cloaks in the colour of their energy. They also wore their Derados, each adorned with their allocated coloured diamond to match.
Much to her relief, her own pink jumpsuit and cloak had arrived this morning. To her disappointment, her Derado had not. She was not too worried about this, not yet. She had faith in Rinzal’s instincts. He had always been adept at tuning into someone’s next move and he had assured her that Atla would let her wear her Derado, when the time was right.
“You can do this!” she muttered, fastening her cloak to the shoulder clips on her jumpsuit.
A bell chime rang out from the atrium of the Estate Hall.
It was time.
Turning to face the mirror she gave her Tandroan reflection a nod and a final wave goodbye and then made for the door. Rinzal was already standing on the other side of it, waiting.
“You look beautiful Tiegal!” Rinzal enthused.
“Well, thank you! It is the most luxurious piece of clothing I’ve ever worn. It’s almost a shame I won’t transport over wearing it. I would love for Johannes to see me looking like this,” she whispered. She was about to add that Johannes would probably be just as happy to see her naked, but she thought better of it at the last minute. She had seen how Rizal enjoyed the Tandroan method of release, exchanging his energy colour via his Derado with others around him, when, and as he liked. It was difficult to gauge if he truly understood her preference for the human style of intimate exchange.
“I can hear you Tiegal. I thought you were going to work on hiding these thoughts of yours for today. None of this will work unless you do!”
Rinzal pushed her gently back into her bedroom and closed the door behind them.
“First of all, I can very much appreciate the human ways of connecting with each other. You should know that more than anyone! We were the ones who used to talk about the possibility of it together. But I take what exchange I can get here…and it’s not so bad. It’s easy, and simple at least.”
“It’s not so difficult the human way, believe me!” she chuckled.
“Well, that’s not something I will ever find out.” He scratched his chin and coughed, unable to look her in the eyes.
“By easy, I meant in an emotional sense. You can’t deny you are more emotionally intense since you experienced human life. But that’s you Tiegal! That’s your destiny, and we are going to help you get back on that journey, okay?” he rushed.
“Thank you Rinzal. I can’t even begin to say how grateful I am for all…”
“I know you are grateful, but we haven’t got time for this chat now. Look, you need to hide your thoughts. If Atla hears what you are planning then it will just end in disaster for you, for all of us. So, quickly, put your fingers on my chest and find my beats like you did all that time ago. Can you still create some sparks? Without your Derado?” he urged.
“Yes, I can! I have been working on this to make sure I have some control over it,” she answered, placing her hand near to his heart. One cue, her pink energy sparks jolted out of her fingertips, following the beat of his rhythm. Her mind instantly filled with blissful memories of all the comfort he had given her. It surprised her how easily she had forgotten it.
“Okay, good! Now, think of something you don’t want me to hear,” Rinzal demanded. His chest burned under her touch and she knew she couldn’t risk pushing him any further. Removing her hands from his skin, she concentrated on thinking about how she was feeling:
I love you Johannes. I’m coming back for you baby Cezanne! And…I love you too Rinzal, for all you have done for me. For being my friend.
“Good! I didn’t catch any of that. Now don’t forget. Keep your mind, your island and all its thoughts and desires, barricaded off from everyone, just for today, until you get back to your family.”
Although his voice sounded gruff, she could sense his excitement for her – and how much he believed they could all pull this off. Just feeling this positivity from him gave her the boost she needed.
“Let’s do this!”
She clapped her hands and pointed in the direction of the door.
The Atlatheatre was an impressive, open-air, circular-shaped stadium that she had only ever seen from a distance. But now that she was standing in the centre of the stage she couldn’t help thinking about how absurd the design was.
Why would they build an exposed theatre in such a tropical climate? And even more ridiculous, to dress us all up in silk suits.
Her under arms were already itching from where the thin material had stuck to her sweat. The oppressive heat bounced off the thin layer of gritty sand beneath her feet. It created an illusion of colourless, ethereal waves that shimmered and danced around her. An impression that was enhanced by the circular flashing of over a thousand pairs of Tandroan eyes that beamed out at her from the stadium benches.
As if the skies had heard her complaints, a welcoming breeze greeted her, simultaneously billowing the material of her silk shirt. It wafted the alarming scent of expectation that permeated the humid air. It was this smell, seeping out from the spectators who had already filled the stadium, that caused her breathing to become ragged and further agitated Tiegal’s already fretful state of mind.
It didn’t help that the other participants in today’s Jarm Match appeared to be studying her with great amusement. There were thirty of them in total, including her, each of them standing by their respective elephants, waiting for their next instructions.
Never before had she been so grateful for Namnum’s calming presence at her side. And for Rinzal’s company too, particularly as he seemed much more composed than her.
“Tell me again how this Jarm Match works. I still don’t understand how they assess the winners. And please don’t look so exasperated with me Rinzal. It just seems really um…” she stammered.
“Really what? Really Atla?” Rinzal guessed.
“Well, yes! If by that, you mean, frustrating, nonsensical, and downright disappointing, then yes! All these years that we dreamed up ideas of exciting adventures in this theatre and now we’re finally here, it turns out to be a painting competition! Seriously! Of all the great competition they could have designed to determine whose energies should contribute to the next generation!
“And look at this crowd! Hundreds of them! What do they think they are coming to see, really?”
With her right hand outstretched, palm-faced upwards, she swung it out in front of her and made a 360 degree turn on her heel to demonstrate the crowd of Tandroans dotted around the entire circumference of the Atlatheatre. The spectator benches were already nearing maximum capacity. There was a palpable excitement in the atmosphere.
“I mean, why are they so excited about watching such a ridiculous event? It’s not like we are being asked to race or anything remotely physical, competitive, or entertaining. No! They have committed themselves
to sitting in exposed sunlight for hours on end whilst foolish participants like me manipulate our poor elephants into painting pictures from our thoughts!”
With too much force, she jutted her blush pink sandals into the sandy flooring. “Ouch!” She cried out, realizing, too late, that the thin layer of sand provided little protection for her toe against the hard travertine flooring underneath.
Rinzal tugged on the elbow of her sleeve reminding her that she was allowing her fear and anger to override her rational thinking.
“Tiegal! Try and find some calm, please. I told you last night that it works in your favour that Atla has chosen this type of challenge. The matches are normally much more thrilling, in a physical sense, but I am convinced he has deliberately avoided going down that route this time…because of you! And that’s where he has completely misunderstood you. Designing a match in which the emphasis is on emotional energy is exactly what we wanted. It’s quite shocking that he has made such a misguided decision. You have got this! All you need to do is channel your thoughts on what you most desire and Namnum will do the rest. Atla is judging the winners of the match based on how the crowds interpret the paintings the elephants produce as a result.”
Rinzals’ voice was a confident hush, like a pleasant flutter in her ear, reminding her that everything was going to be okay, that she had the upper hand.
With an agile movement, he then reached his arm behind him so that he could give Namnum a pat and turned to face Tiegal, treating her to one of his most charming of smiles.
“There are no complicated rules here. Even if there were… you…Tiegal Eureka, will not be around by the time any judgments are passed!”
Atla looked surprisingly handsome in his purple Jarm Match outfit. He always stood out from a crowd, not only because of his old-world features – eyes with strikingly blue irises and circular black pupils, and a short side-parted hair-style – today he stood tall amongst his Tandroans as both their ruler and as one of them. It helped that he was also wearing the uniform today; a silk jumpsuit and cloak, like the rest of the participants and trainers in the Atlatheatre, and that his non-diamond eyes were covered by dark, silver-rimmed sunglasses. But, even so, there was something very un-Tandroan about him.
From her position, sitting on Namnum’s back, Tiegal watched him as he strolled around the circular enclosure, stopping to greet each of the elephant riders on his way. He wore his Derado fitted firmly around his neck. The violet-coloured diamond in the pendant gleamed in the sunlight. The Tandroan ruler appeared relaxed, strong, and full of conviction. And yet, Tiegal sensed he was missing something. She could smell it on him, a longing.
Her own voice, from somewhere deep inside of her, sent her a warning.
He wants to live forever! That’s why he is so obsessed with harvesting my energy. He may not have my sensory abilities, but he does have power around him.
It was this instinctual caution that made her entire body shiver with trepidation. For just as Atla turned and made his way towards her, she saw the female her friends and sisters had warned her about. The one who posed the greatest threat to their plans, Parador.
“Ah, Tiegal Eureka. What a pleasure to see you looking so radiant today. And your first Jarm Match too. You must be excited to see how this all works?” Atla clicked his fingers in front of her and then smoothed the longer side of his parted, slick-backed hair. Tiegal growled inwardly. The sound of fingers clicking together was one of the most grating traits anyone could adopt. Atla always did it when he approached her. He must know that it set her nerves on edge. A piece of information about herself that she had no doubt revealed in the past, back when she had been unable to hide her secret thoughts.
“I am most honoured to be here Atla. Thank you for inviting me to participate. I only hope I can prove a worthy competitor.”
Atla seemed amused by her choice of words.
“Very good! And of course, you must wear your Derado. We all have high expectations of the surge of energy you may release today! Just no disappearing this time of course.”
His laughter sang out with a nervous tremor.
Parador stepped forward then, holding a black box in her arms.
“Your Derado is in here! You have permission to wear it for now, but it will be taken from you as soon as the first painting is completed.”
Parador’s voice was brisk, her expression hard, almost vacant. She raised her arms up to allow Tiegal to reach for the neckpiece from the opened box.
Caught off guard, Tiegal leaned down towards her, much further than was necessary.
Namnum’s reaction was immediate. The elephant’s body rumbled underneath her, a vibration that so startled her she almost flew off the saddle.
“Woah, there, now do we need to change your elephant? I was told you work well with this one?” Atla looked amused now. He smoothed his hair again.
Tiegal straightened herself upright, shook her head at him and then flashed him her best forced smile.
“Not at all! Namnum is just excited to get started that’s all.”
She patted the covered section of her elephant’s skin under the saddle, silently thanking her for the warning. Parador shot her a slightly mocking, amused look.
Stay focused Tiegal!
She scolded herself.
There was something powerful and dangerous emanating from Parador, a magnetism she sensed was designed to pull Tiegal in so that she could assume control.
Careful not to make eye contact with Parador again, she managed to reach down and extract her Derado from the box without further interruption. There was an awkward silence as Atla and Parador waited for her to attach the neckpiece around her throat. Atla looked as though he were about to say something else but the appearance of another figure approaching from behind made him swing himself around in a dramatic turn.
“Is everything in order?” Atla boomed to the male. Tiegal craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the male, but the absurd ruffled white collar that was attached to the neckline of Atla’s cloak obscured her view of him.
“Atla, sorry to interrupt but we need to make a start before the animals become too hungry. And I have checked the colour energies from amongst the participants, as you requested, and the mix is ideal. We should create an excellent batch of creation pods from the donations of the winners here today,” the male stated firmly.
“Jovil!” she cried out.
Atla raised his eyebrows in an overly dramatic expression of amusement.
“Ah yes, you may have encountered the lagoon master on your pre-release day! Interesting to hear you are on first name terms,” he mused, rubbing his chin with the back of his hand. Atla’s excitement was palpable.
Jovil turned his back to Tiegal, addressing only Atla. It was a clear rebuke, one that made her shudder with rage.
Why are you working with Atla? I thought of you as a father.
Even as she channeled her anger towards him, she sensed a conflict in her own reasoning. Jovil had barely crossed her mind since she had returned to Tandro. Her focus had been steadfast in its direction towards Johannes, and yet now she felt a deep disappointment that he had not even acknowledged her presence.
Almost as soon as the thoughts entered her head, she brushed them aside. Rinzal had explained Jovil was deliberately keeping Atla close by. She had to believe that Jovil was ignoring her to protect her.
She sat back on the saddle, to observe how Atla and Jovil conversed. Parador was still close by, boring her steely eyes into her. The sense of her, so near, made her feel strange. When a gust of wind wafted Parador’s scent in her direction, the distinct mint odour, she pinched her nose to prevent it from overwhelming her.
Tiegal clenched her hands over the lip of the saddle. Something was very wrong. The air around her reeked of danger that she now feared her allies had failed to anticipate.
Biting down on her bottom lip, she deliberately made it bleed. For once, she relished the metallic taste in her mouth. It was a welcome, albeit
distasteful, distraction. Or perhaps a punishment to herself for not assessing the players in the game more carefully.
It had been stupid of her to shut off her abilities. If ever there was a time to use her powers to dig deeper into the minds of others, it was today!
Clarity was the key. She focused on a bunch of bananas on the table ahead of her, clearing her mind from all the distractions around her, and then mentally tallied the abilities of those around her.
The obvious opponent was Atla, the puppet master in this operation. What did he really want? What was his true motivation? Her every instinct screamed at her.
Your superior energy! He wants immortality. He thinks you can give him this.
This made sense. Atla was more like a human in origin than Tandroan. There was only so much power he could derive from his Derado. He needed her. This was a good starting point. At least she had pinpointed his desire. But what was his flaw? She paused for a few seconds and then felt a smile return to her face as the answer came to her. Atla wanted to play games with her emotions, to extract what he could from her.
But this posed a great threat to his hold on the situation. It was what he didn’t know that gave her an advantage, because he had no idea how to control her emotional release. There was no cage he could place around her to stop her from transporting away from him again, if things went too far. That was a big risk for him to take, particularly when he was testing her in such a public domain, which had to mean, someone had fed his ego, made him believe he was capable of winning the game.
Without moving her head, she darted her eyes to the side to glance at Parador again. What was her strategy?
From the way she had spoken to her, just now, with what sounded like utter hatred in her voice, there was no chance of finding an ally in her. She was more enemy and the most likely candidate for convincing Atla that she was the one who could control Tiegal.
Just as the thought entered her mind Jovil made a strange noise. The sound made Tiegal smile. To anyone else, it would sound like an innocent clearing of the back of his throat, but to her the sound echoed of an encouragement.
Release Page 34