Awakening: The Prince of Nabalar (The Princes of Uvieroein Book 1)

by Samuda, C. D.

  “Oracle!” she breathed.

  “Queen Heffun. Your actions have pleased us. Now the battle has truly begun.”

  Heffun was not as pleased by the compliment as might have been expected. She stared pointedly at the smiling face and gleaming eyes of the spiritual being.

  “Why haven’t you done anything before now? Why have you allowed this evil to reign over us?” she asked pointedly, while trying to rein in her temper.

  The calm silken tone of the Oracle replied back, “Why haven’t you?”

  Heffun was taken aback by the question. “Me?” she asked, confused.

  “Yes. Why have you not taken action all this time?”

  “What could I have done?”

  The Oracle smiled, its mouth barely moving. “Make allies and fight the true enemies.”

  She stood transfixed, her mind abuzz with thoughts of the past and the words which the Oracle spoke. If things were that easy, then why was it so difficult?

  “Peace!” the face said, then the channel zoomed out.

  She went back to the window to watch the battle. Volnomy was injured, but still fighting. Ariella was using the enemies’ weapons against them. Her heart lurched when a federation soldier aimed his diffuser at her son’s back. Her eyes widened and mouth dropped when Julkaz stepped in, blocking the shot with his Ysark.

  His energy flowing through the Ysark was not strong enough to filter the pellets allowing one to hit him in the chest. Blood oozed from the wound as he sank to the ground.

  At the same time, a Xygorian ship zapped into view. Xygorian soldiers exited the craft, instantly joining the battle. A girl, with long dreadlocks and smooth dark complexion, ran from among the soldiers to the side of the Xygorian Prince. Heffun’s feet also moved into action before her mind realized what she was doing.

  “Ubea!” she called out to her most trusted attendant.

  An attendant with crystalline eyes of royal blue appeared in the entryway. With her head held down, she quietly acknowledged her presence.

  “Bring the healing crystal, now!”

  Ubea disappeared into Heffun’s sanctuary returning with a small black box. Nestled on the center of the boxes’ lid was a square piece of transparent glass. Heffun pressed the pad of her index finger against the surface of the glass. The lid of the box opened with a click, revealing an octagonal piece of crystal.

  She quickly exited the castle, sprinting towards the battlefield. The girl she’d seen, along with a few Xygorian soldiers who were carrying Julkaz, was coming towards her. She motioned for them to place him on the ground closer to the palace.

  With eyes glazed over, Julkaz lay on the dusty ground groaning in pain. Heffun ripped open the top of his white robe, revealing a gash on the upper right of his chest. Placing the box on the ground, she pressed the crystal between her palms before passing it over his wound.

  Blue rays pulsed between the healing crystal and the prince. His body convulsed violently, then he was still. Seeing the crystal’s healing process complete, Heffun picked up the box and returned the crystal to it. The prince continued to remain completely still for several minutes; his eyes closed.

  “Prince Julkaz,” the human with the chocolate complexion said, gently nudging him. “Is he dead?” she asked, looking to Heffun for an answer.

  “He will awaken soon,” Heffun replied, admiring the gentleness she saw in the girl’s eyes. “What is your name?”

  The girl lifted her eyes to the queen and replied, “I am Bijou of Earth.”

  “Like a jewel,” Heffun murmured, nodding.

  As Julkaz’s eyes fluttered open, Bijou released a heavy sigh of relief. Heffun noticed sparks between the two as Julkaz’s eyes made contact with the human. With a pleased smile, she walked away.

  Chapter 25

  The number of Xygorian soldiers arriving on the planet more than doubled those of the Nabalarian forces. As they entered the melee, the fight intensified, especially since they were armed with Julkaz’s stash of secretly acquired cosmic diffusers.

  Julkaz was healed from his wounds and claimed a weapon from his own troops. Not far away was Bijou, the human girl, also carrying a weapon and joining the battle.

  From what Ariella had gathered during her brief stay on Xygor, the prince was preparing to fight the federation. Now seemed as good a time as any to begin that battle.

  Something strange happened when a new ship arrived. The soldiers Ariella and Gulk were fighting immediately withdrew upon hearing a horn blast from the ship. In fact, all the federation forces began to withdraw as a new army disembarked and began fighting against the princes and their armies.

  “What’s happening?” she asked with knitted brows.

  Gulk’s eyes narrowed as well. “The federation is withdrawing its troops,” he informed her. “And, I don’t know the new army.”

  The lead soldier wore a silver tunic with red trim and a bright multicolored crest on his right breast. As the troops drew closer, she made out long white hair and amethyst eyes.

  Recognizing the leader’s appearance, she gasped. “Heilfelst?”

  Gulk looked sharply at her. “The Overlord Premier?” he asked.

  “I spoke with him a while back. The captain looks exactly like him.”

  “That can mean only one thing,” Gulk mused.

  Ariella glanced at him with narrowed eyes. “What is that?”

  “This is the private army of the Al Qithoghuex.”

  The troops marched in horizontal fashion, making a wall, and coming straight towards them. The crunch… crunch… crunch rhythm of their advancement told Ariella this was no ordinary army. Certainly, this must be the army of which Heffun spoke, and the same that Gulk now mentioned.

  Why did the captain of the fleet bear an exact resemblance to the Overlord Premier? She pushed the question aside as laser weapons flashed past them. She noted the shields the Xygorian soldiers carried provided minimal protection against the lasers. If they were to successfully fight the federation, they would need armor that protected them against these advanced laser weapons.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when she overheard Julkaz say, “Let’s forget this hatred between us, Mirsux.”

  The two princes were standing side by side. Ariella glanced sideways to see Mirsux’s reaction. He lowered his head and then looked up at the advancing soldiers, then back at Julkaz.

  “I will never accept you as my brother. You will always be a koldolye to me,” he replied.

  “We make a formidable pair, you and I,” Julkaz said.

  The soldiers continued their advance. Anxiously Ariella wondered what would happen next. Then, she watched as a light beam from the oncoming troop hit Mirsux directly in the chest.

  He pivoted, trying to avoid it, though he soon realized it was harmless. The offending instrument was known as a laser detector, used for finding and targeting objects. His movements caused him to collide with Julkaz who grabbed him to keep them both from falling.

  As the soldiers advanced to about 50 feet, Julkaz and Mirsux tussled together trying to gain their balance. A tremor, larger than the one that earlier shook the land, caused even the walls of the castle to creak. All movement ceased. Ariella looked around in terror. What was this new catastrophe? Another three tremors shook Nabalar in succession. Even the federation soldiers looked around in fear, some even taking a few steps back.

  At that same moment, the atmosphere brightened as a bolt of lightning slashed down from the elements. Both brothers, who had not broken apart during all this, stared at each other in wonder.

  “What is this?” Julkaz asked, breathing heavily. “It only happens when we tangle.”

  “You’re right. It happened before when we wrestled,” Mirsux returned. “What is it?”

  “I don’t know. Is it good or bad?”

  Julkaz grinned. “Let’s test it and see.”

  They clasped each other’s hand and electricity arced through and between them. The blue hues from the electrical exchange
were almost blinding, forcing Ariella to close her eyes. In shock, they both stepped back, breaking their grasp on each other.

  “This is why they’re trying to keep you both part!” She blurted out at the realization. “You hold a great power when united.”

  They looked at her with knitted brows, then slowly nodded their agreement. Ariella looked at their Ysarks, totally amazed. The weapons had intensified tenfold in brilliance.

  “I think she is right,” Julkaz agreed. “I felt the power as it surged through us.”

  “Me too,” Mirsux said, nodding his agreement.

  “You must put your grievances aside!” she shouted.

  “To a new beginning,” Julkaz shouted, reaching his hand out to Mirsux.

  Mirsux hesitated. Ariella gave him a piercing stare. He turned to Julkaz and grabbed his hand.

  “A new beginning. We fight as brothers from this day forward,” he said.

  “We fight for our world, as brothers,” Julkaz agreed.

  The soldiers had stopped advancing during the brief bout of lightning from above. The earth gave another tremor and the troops took a few more steps back. However, the now combined troops of Nabalar and Xygor began their advance.

  Both sides advancing, the armies closed the distance and began firing at each other. Only a few rounds had been fired before a loud noise of what sounded like a bullhorn came from the federation ship.

  The federation captain shouted, raising his diffuser in surrender. The soldiers began to retreat, marching backwards until they were beamed up by a radiant beam of light.

  “That was strange,” she observed.

  Throughout the events of the day, the excitement kept her heart racing. She’d become accustomed to the heavy pounding brought on by the adrenalin rush of fighting. Additionally, there was some amount of fear, which she had channeled into rage.

  Now, as the soldiers retreated, her heart rate began to slow, and her body, which was on edge, began to return to normal. She turned to Mirsux who was looking on strangely at the ship as it beamed up the soldiers.

  “You must keep your promise to Julkaz,” she said, moving up beside him.

  Turning his eyes to her, they softened as he scanned her face. He reached a hand up, caressing her cheek, and answered, “I will keep my promise, so long as he keeps his.”

  “I will,” Julkaz replied behind her.

  “The puzzle is beginning to unravel,” she added thoughtfully.

  “What do you mean?”

  She walked towards the soldiers who watched the ship as it moved away from Nabalar. Her husband and his brother fell into step beside her.

  “Thirteen planets, princes missing, kings executed and brothers kept apart for senseless reasons.”

  “Go on,” Mirsux urged.

  “Did you notice what happened back there? Didn’t you feel something?” she looked at them both with questioning eyes.

  “I felt strong, like I could take on the army alone,” Julkaz replied with his usual grin. “And finally, the Ysark energized,” he howled, holding up his Ysark victoriously.

  Mirsux paused midstride. “Yes. I felt the same, like I was stronger.”

  For the balance of the short journey back to the palace, they walked together in silence, each pondering what they had just learned.

  Platoons from both planets were dispatched to keep guard around the palace while the others retreated to the barracks. The human girl joined the soldiers since she was neither guest nor royalty. Her status was currently unclassified, but since she had joined in the fight, she would stay with the soldiers for the time being.

  Chapter 26

  They entered the great hall together. All three stopped short at the spectacle on the telecaster monitor. Seeing a face in what appeared to be a large egg, Ariella’s mouth fell open. The face hovered in space without a body, its lips moving and its white eyes sparkling.

  “Please!” Heffun begged, going down on one knee.

  “The Oracles have never interfered in planetary matters, Queen Heffun.”

  Heopsie stepped forward to stand beside Heffun, facing the screen. “I too beseech you.”

  “What you ask we cannot fulfil. This battle is yours. We cannot interfere,” the face continued. The voice was melodic, smooth and pleasant to the ear.

  So, Ariella thought to herself, these are the Oracles. Julkaz and Mirsux stood next to her, observing the conversation while Volnomy stood to the side.

  “What we are asking is not beyond your control. You have protected your own planet from these evil forces that seek to destroy us. Now we beg you to cast a spell of protection on Nabalar, just as you have done for your own planet,” Heffun beseeched.

  “Queen Heffun, we make it a practice never to interfere. If we grant your wish, we will be breaking our own rules.”

  Ariella stepped forward, moving past Heffun and Heopsie to face the Oracle. Heffun rose to her feet and grabbed Ariella’s arm.

  “Ariella, no,” she whispered.

  “Let her speak,” the Oracle instructed.

  Ariella sighed, her eyes cruising the other floating heads behind the one in front. She figured that this was their way of masking their identities from the rest of the world.

  Taking a deep breath, she began her diatribe, “As the spiritual guides and seers of this sector, you have stood by and watched while Heilfelst and his league of devils ruin your own people. Are you not ashamed?”

  “Ariella!” Mirsux was beside her in a second, his eyes and tone scolding her.

  She ignored him and continued. “You have selfishly locked yourself away behind an invisible shield. Now you show only your faces, still hiding your true identities from the people you serve.” She paused to take a breath.

  The Oracle closed its eyes while everyone looked on in shock.

  Ariella grew impatient, her anger beginning to surface. She continued, “We need your help. If you can’t or won’t help us, then don’t appear in front of us with your parables and declarations of prophecies!”

  “Enough,” the face finally said. Though its voice did not alter, the command was evident. “What exactly do you seek?” Each word was weighted and spoken slowly.

  Heffun’s baffled stare locked onto Ariella. It took a few moments to tear her gaze away, before turning to respond to the oracle’s question. Mirsux pulled Ariella away from the screen allowing the queen to continue the discussion.

  “We need the protective shield to prevent retaliation from Heilfelst while we make the preparations needed to save our people,” Heffun replied.

  “Very well. The matter will be discussed. We will get back to you,” the spiritual being informed them before the channel went off.

  Silence fell on the group. Mirsux’s arms pulled her close in a reassuring hug. Both Heffun and Heopsie turned to face her, Heffun’s face was set; her eyes glinted furiously.

  “How dare you…,” Heffun spoke in a taut voice.

  Volnomy stepped in between the queen and Ariella. “Well done my child. With your no-nonsense attitude we will get things done.”

  He ignored the frigid look Heffun shot at him, walking away.

  “Things ripped from its rightful place will always return where it belongs. The battle has just begun,” a silvery voice got their attention.

  All eyes turned back to the screen to observe the floating head of an Oracle, everyone holding their breaths.

  “We have decided to grant your wish,” the being informed them.

  As the white oracle face faded out of focus, a new one appeared pale blue in color.

  “We have cast the shield. You cannot see it, but it protects both Nabalar and Xygor. Listen keenly. That which the evil one has searched for so desperately is among you. Guard it carefully.”

  The screen zoomed out.

  Ariella looked around at those in the chamber. Everyone seemed confused by the Oracle’s words. What did it mean when the oracle said that what Heilfelst searched for was among them. As far as she knew, he sear
ched for the blaerix. Was it on Nabalar?

  “Why do they always do that?” She blurted.

  Heffun spun to face her. Ignoring her question, she posed one of her own, “The blaerix is amongst us?”

  “Does Heilfelst know this?” Heopsie asked.

  Ariella shook her head. “No… I don’t think so. He would have done something about it by now if he knew where it was. And the oracle said that which he searched for… meaning he was still searching.”

  “I like you,” Heopsie said, smiling; her eyes sparkling. “You have spunk! Now I will take you to your father.”

  Ariella’s heart soared and her face broke into a smile. “Thank you!” she grabbed Heopsie’s hand, shaking it.

  “Why did you not bring him here?” Heffun asked, frowning.

  “From what I gathered, you had a falling out with Ariella and I was not certain it was a wise choice,” Heopsie replied.

  “Let the captain of the guard accompany him here and we shall prepare a meal. Let us all freshen up while we await our special guest,” Volnomy suggested.

  Everyone agreed to meet for the evening meal after freshening up. When Ariella’s father arrived they would dine. Heopsie and Heffun both left together, citing they had things to discuss.

  Mirsux took Ariella’s hand, sending its usual heatwave up her arm. As they left the great room, Julkaz and Volnomy eyed each other in awkward silence.

  She pulled away from her husband as soon as they were alone in the passageway. As they entered their private quarters, the sweet scent of Alzanuas filled her nostrils. She smiled, seeing crystal vases filled with the roses scattered about the large circular chamber.

  As soon as the door closed behind Mirsux, she twirled to face him, her eyes betraying the anger she’d buried for the last day or so. He stopped short upon seeing her expression.

  “Ariella,” he said her name in the alluring tone she loved so much.

  “Oh no you don’t!” she spat, fighting to resist the temptation.

  “I thought you forgave me,” he replied, surprised at her reaction.