by Arlin Fehr
Not quite real yet. Still doesn’t feel right, Jahnyz thought.
Close examination reminded Jahnyz that she wasn’t quite home yet. The manner of dress of the people here was different from what she was used to, favouring lighter clothes, and a different matching of colours. There were also some non-Humans mixed in with the Human population. Jahnyz knew of course that there were other worlds in the Anciantos Empire and beyond, but they were so far from the core, it was rare to see them... Shakla himself had been an oddity. Especially with traffic being so heavily restricted from the Hyper-Worm-Hole-Cannon.
Despite having seen few non-Humans in her time, Jahnyz was well versed with many of them, from her studies. The Ilorians were fair, tall, with silky hair – blonde or white – and they had pointed ears. Some were talking with a bearded merchant, haggling over some colourful silks. There were some tall, hairy, three-eyed Joff, guiding a strange, flat-faced creature with six legs, pulling a cart, across the square, toward the main trading area. The Joff were shaggy, humanoids, covered in dark hair, except for their pale, faces. Much of their hair was braided, and decorated with silver and shells. Pointed ears, as naked as their faces stuck out and up from the side of their heads.
‘We’ve got a kingdom to get back to,’ Jahnyz said, slightly distracted, as a pair of short, fuzzy, mouse-like Jibz, walked in front of her, wearing grey robes, and wide-brimmed hats, talking in a warbling language she didn’t understand, 'We can’t afford to stay waiting for too long. We have to get back.’
‘Captain Phips is working on it,’ John assured, ‘we should see if he managed anything.’
‘Right, let’s go see if anyone knows where he is,’ Jahnyz agreed.
*
SALLOCK – BAZRA DESERT – HALLI
Shakla lay on the meagre bed within his cell, staring at the wall. No one else had visited him since Ahaki had left.
I can afford to play a waiting game, he thought to himself.
A small smile formed at the corner of his pebbly lips, as he contemplated that thought.
The sound of a door being unlocked roused him from his thoughts. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat upright. A young man walked in, dressed in robes, carrying a wooden tray. The youth was staring at Shakla with solid red eyes, as he stood in the doorway to the cell block. He was tall, and fair this one, with bluish scales diving down from the bottom of his eyes in a triangle shape.
Shakla caught sight of masked guards over the youth’s shoulder.
‘Boy, it’sss not polite to ssstare,’ Shakla said, turning his attention back to the non-Human
‘I’ve brought you something to eat,’ the youth said.
‘The Council hasss decided I may yet live another day?’ Shakla said, aloof.
‘They’re still in deliberations. We have certain rules regarding prisoners... we’re not... animals.’
That last bit was pointed, directed at Shakla.
The boy was keen... with a sharp tongue.
Shakla leaned forward. ‘Sssurely there isss sssome one of lessser ssstation to deal with prisssoners.’
The young man’s face hardened.
Yes, he had recognized Shakla’s subtle parry.
‘I wanted to see you myself,’ the young alien growled.
Shakla relaxed and leaned back. ‘I sssee. Tell me, boy, what have you brought me to eat?’
‘Porridge. I hear it’s quite palatable and nutritious.’
Shakla smiled, baring his teeth. ‘Tell me... boy, do thessse look like the teeth of a porridge eater?'
‘No. I suppose not,’ the young man smirked. ‘Nevertheless, this is what you get.’ The youth placed the tray on the ground and slid it through the bars, via a small opening near the bottom. Shakla watched the tray, but didn’t move.
The young man didn’t move either.
‘Aren’t you going to eat it?’
‘No,’ Shakla said calmly, ‘it dissspleasssesss me.’
‘You’re going to have to get used to it. You don’t have much choice here.’
‘Don’t I?’ Shakla leaned forward, tucking his legs under the lip of the bed and tensing.
The young man leaned closer to the bars. ‘No, you don’t. You’re a prisoner here, and I recommend that you tell the council what they want to hear.’
Keeping his voice low, Shakla looked down at the floor of his cell. ‘And... if I don’t?’
‘Maybe I’ll just have to volunteer for some extra duty,’ the young man said with a sneer.
Shakla leaned forward and kicked out with his powerful legs. He launched himself across the room, and slammed against the bars of the cell, his arms shooting through them. He grabbed the boy and held him tight. The young man struggled, solid red eyes wide in fear. The guards stared, dumbfounded.
‘You think you have power? I will teach you of power... boy,’ Shakla hissed, his hot breath causing the youth to squirm.
The guards snapped out of their shock and leapt forward, arms out, hands open. Shakla was hit with a blast of force. He felt it hit him, and his grip on the youth was forcefully torn away. He tore a chunk of his robe off as he was thrown back into the wall of the cell behind him.
The guards kept their hands up, and Shakla didn’t move. He looked at the youth.
‘You thought you were in control... boy. You thought you had the power over me, but,’ Shakla opened his hand, revealing a chunk of robe with a red stain, ‘I got something you thought was safe. I got one thing I shouldn’t have been able to get.’
Wincing, the youth stumbled back. ‘A piece of robe means nothing. You’ll rot in this cell, you piece of shi’kee!’
‘What’s your name, boy?’
‘I am, Prince Dykyn Rahva of Paltia!’
‘And now I have two things,’ Shakla chuckled. ‘You are sloppy Dykyn... and it will get you killed one day.’
Shakla leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.
‘We’ll see what the council says when they hear of this!’ Dykyn hissed.
Shakla smiled, but said nothing.
‘You think this is over? I’ll show you power!’ Dykyn growled.
Shakla let out a long hissing laugh.
He heard Dykyn storm away, followed by the guards, and smiled as the door was locked behind them.
Shakla lifted himself back up onto his bed, and tied the tattered piece of robe around one of his fingers. He lay back and smiled as he stared at the roof.
Maybe thisss waiting game will be more interesssting than I thought, he grinned to himself.
*
COUNCIL CHAMBERS – SALLOCK – BAZRA WASTES
‘Councillors, we’ve deliberated over this situation and been back and forth many times now. We know the Sorcerer is a threat, but I don’t think you’ve all grasped how much of a threat he is!’ Ahaki said from her seat. She was sitting in a room within the central tower of Sallock. It was dominated by ring of curved tables all arranged to leave an open space in the middle. Ahaki was standing, and nine fellow Wyzard council members sat at their seats listening to her speak.
‘The Sorcerer, known as Shakla, in his short time on our world, has already started a war, caused direct threat of harm to come upon a member of a royal family, and subjugated a group of desert nomads to do his bidding, which included having them launch an attack on a sovereign nation of this world.’
‘Desert Nomads? Is that what you call a group of brigands that have preyed on the Kingdom of Hallon for generations?’ said an older man across from Ahaki.
‘If representative Nael of Hallon would care to deny the threat presented by Shakla, I would love to hear it... otherwise that’s just splitting hairs,’ Ahaki countered.
‘Fine, thus far, all of this seems to be targeting the Kingdom of Minna. I fail to see how this is the Council's problem, or for that matter, the problem of anyone except King Hadrian Minna the Third,’ Nael said.
A pretty woman in yellow and blue robes, with golden hair and green eyes, spoke. ‘If this Sorcer
er really did start the war, then I think it is very well all our problems.’
‘Thank you, Lamil. An external force becoming involved in the affairs of this world is a problem,’ Ahaki agreed.
‘The war was started by the aggression of the Kingdom of Minna, and their assassination of Prince Azam,’ Nael said testily.
The representative from Minna, an older man with a long white moustache, named Eldron, stood from his seat and pointed accusingly at Nael, growling, ‘The Prince marched a force of armed men into our lands. He did so by crossing the east of Bazra Desert and passing through the Raghal Pass! That is not something someone does accidentally.’
Nael shot from his seat at this and roared, ‘He was killed on sight! Was that an accident?’
‘Your Kingdom has always wanted to take back the Bazra Desert, after they lost them when the Zharin broke free of your tyrannical grip. The reason why the Raiders have always targeted your Kingdom is because they hate you,’ Eldron barked, 'And furthermore Prince Azam was warned to depart from our lands before we forced your army away.
Nael made a face of mock agreement. ‘Oh that’s right, but it seems to me they also hated your Kingdom for not coming to their aid. Seems to me you were all too busy stealing the desert from us. Seems they’ve remembered that. And furthermore, consider yourself warned. We will not forget who our enemies are. ’
Ahaki bit down a vile retort, and took a moment to breathe, calming a flash of rage that had passed through her.
‘We can debate that as an internal matter after the issue of the Sorcerer has been dealt with,’ Ahaki said, struggling for patience. ‘Our world’s stance of neutrality in the Grand War is being threatened by an outside force.’
The Councillors stopped for a moment, as the door to the room opened and the figure of Nid – Ahaki’s aide – came shuffling in.
He moved up next to Ahaki and leaned in to whisper in her ear, ‘Ahaki, there is a young man outside who is adamant he need to speak with the council. He seems injured.’
Ahaki looked at the councillors. ‘I motion we recess, and return with calmer heads.’
The other Councillors agreed in a smattering of acknowledgements.
A Wyzard in silver robes hammered a gavel on his table and said in a booming voice, ‘We will reconvene in one urrh.’
*
Ahaki and the other Councillors exited the chamber, and she spotted Dykyn Rahva standing off to the side, watching them leave. His robes were tattered in places. He seemed flushed. Ahaki walked over to him.
‘What happened, Dykyn?’ she asked, concerned.
‘That thing attacked me!’ the boy said with malice, his red eyes flaring.
‘Is he contained?’ Ahaki queried.
‘What?’ Dykyn asked, confused for a moment. Then, ‘Yes, the guards kept him in his cell. But he should be punished. He doesn’t know his place.’
‘How did he attack you?’
‘He grabbed me through the bars, tore off a piece of my robe, and part of my hide by the feel of it.’
Ahaki motioned Dykyn to turn around and examined the wound. Four bleeding cuts sat on his back, exposed to view by the missing chunk of torn robe. The Wyzard touched around one of the wounds, gently, and Dykyn hissed in pain. He pulled away and turned around to face Ahaki.
‘Sorry,’ she said.
‘It’s still quite tender,’ Dykyn winced.
‘You’ll have to be more careful around him,’ Ahaki offered.
‘Are... Are we not going to deal with him?’ Dykyn asked, with a flash of anger.
‘What would you have us do?’ Ahaki asked. ‘He’s in a cell.’
‘I have some ideas,’ Dykyn responded.
‘You are very worked up about this,’ Ahaki said, gently placing a hand on Dykyn’s shoulder. ‘I don’t want to do anything rash. Why has this attack startled you so?’
Dykyn winced and then turned away, running a hand through his dark hair. He turned back to Ahaki a moment later and then said, ‘Back home... when I was much younger, my Father’s Kingdom was invaded by horrible creatures called... Rodnok... they were snake men too.’
‘I didn’t know,’ Ahaki said softly. ‘Are you all right?’
‘My mother and I were kidnapped by their leader... Sarhash... he hurt us, told us every day, he would kill us... or eat us.’ Darkness filled Dykyn’s face and he snarled, ‘He was so... arrogant... he made me feel so helpless.’ Dykyn’s face softened. ‘Father eventually saved us... Sarhash escaped... he never paid for his crimes.’
‘Shakla is not him.’
‘No,’ Dykyn agreed. ‘I don’t even think they’re of the same species... I don’t know what Shakla is, except that he is evil and dangerous... and I will be damned if I let another lizard escape justice for their crimes.’
Ahaki gave Dykyn a tender look. ‘You may have him... secured, Dykyn...’ she said, and then squeezed his shoulder. ‘Shakla will not escape his justice... I promise you this.’
Dykyn nodded.
Searchers
‘You rarely find what you are not looking for...’
-Azra, teaching Jahnyz
NAMA OCEAN – OFF THE WEST SHORE OF MILLA
Azra held fast to the side of great sea beast of the Nehhom. Gentle Current had called it a Graath. The Speaking Stone hadn’t bothered to translate that word. Azra was considering it simply unpleasant.
The beast was as long as three caravan wagons end to end, and covered in scales. From between the scales there were fine wispy hairs sticking out. Normally, they would wave freely in the water as it swam, acting as feelers as it went along, but the ones closest to Azra had wrapped around him and were holding him against the beast’s side. Gentle Current rode behind him, and another Nehhom was clinging to the beast’s topside, guiding it through the murky sea.
The Nehhom had agreed to help Azra search for Kia. He still didn’t have any idea where to look, but had suggested that they start along the coast where the ship had been sunk.
He wasn’t sure he wanted to see, but he had nowhere else to go.
Ahead, he noticed something jutting up from, the ocean floor.
The Graath slowed as they approached.
The hair like tendrils holding Azra against the beast let go. The other Nehhom swam around, moving toward the object. As they got closer, they pulled stones from pouches along their side. The stones began to glow. Azra swam toward them awkwardly, glad that he was beginning to learn how to move through the water. As the light from the stones increased, Azra realized they were in front of the wreck of the ship. It sat in two halves, sitting some distance apart from each other. They were on their sides. Azra stopped swimming and stepped down on the ocean floor. There were bits of debris and detritus scattered around the area. He bent down and picked something up. Gentle Current stopped next to him, and handed Azra a glowing stone.
Using the stone, Azra looked at what he had picked up. It was a container bearing the crest of his Kingdom, containing some kind of supplies.
‘What now, Child of Sky?’ Gentle Current asked.
‘Look for bodies,’ Azra said.
Gentle current nodded, and said something to the other Nehhom. They began to dart into the cavities of the ship. Azra continued to walk around the area, picking things up and looking at them. He was looking for some sign of Kia, but also hoping he didn’t find anything.
He found tools, equipment, and belongings of the crew and passengers, but nothing that would point him in any kind of direction.
The Nehhom had found a few bodies, pinned in the wreckage. Azra had looked at them. They were some of the sailors and soldiers that had been on the voyage, but none of his companions.
Gentle Current swam up to Azra again. ‘These are all who perished here,’ he said.
‘Kia wasn’t one of them. She must have got away,’ Azra responded, hope in his voice.
‘What now, Child of the Sky?’
‘We go ashore. We’ll try to see who managed to escape,’ Azra said
.
‘Return to the Graath. We will go.’
Azra nodded and began to swim towards the waiting creature. Gentle Current helped him up, and held him against its side while the tendrils got their grip. The other Nehhom got into their position easily, and the handler got on top.
Everyone ready, the Graath began to move again, its body cutting through the water quickly.
*
NOLMI – MILLA CONTINENT
Jahnyz, John, and the people travelling with them, were waiting in a four level Inn that was painted yellow and smelled of fish. Captain Phips had called in some of his favours, and apparently one of them had owed him considerably. As such, the man, the owner of the Inn, was allowing them to stay there for the night, while Phips went to meet with one of his other contacts.
The owner of the Inn, an older gentleman with a large portly form and grey hair, was sitting at Jahnyz and John’s table on the main floor, and had introduced himself as Seth Mird.
The dining area of his Inn was broad, with windows that looked out on a busy, cobblestone, street. People were coming and going. Wagons went by, some of them pulled by horses or camels, while others were pulled by large lizards, or those flat-faced, six-legged things.
There were many round tables situated around the grand dining hall, and everything was done in dark, polished wood, accented here and there with bright, yellow, panelling. The tables and chairs were of the dark, polished wood. The floorboards were too. There was a grand bar across from the windows, where people ordered drinks and food from a pretty looking woman with long, curly, red hair.