The Fall of Saar (Once Upon a Saturn Moon Book 2)

by Edward Antrobus

  The Fall of Saar

  Book 1.5 of

  Once Upon a Saturn Moon

  Edward Antrobus

  Copyright 2015: All Rights Reserved

  Edited by: Samantha Ann Marie Achaia

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  10 B.W. (Before the War)

  Vaamick paced in the cavern on his long, spindly legs. Lorinth was late. He wasn't sure she would risk sneaking out to see him. He pulled his communicator from a pocket in his cleric's robes. Only five minutes had passed since he checked it last, but now she was half an hour late. Glancing at the picnic basket on the ground, he hoped the food wouldn’t spoil before she arrived.

  If she even comes, Vaamick reminded himself. The note was a bold move. Meeting here was a definite escalation of their relationship from their long conversations and stolen kisses at the temple. He knew she felt the same way about him as he did for her. She had to, and if he was sure of that—which he was—this was her chance to show it.

  He looked up when he heard footsteps in the distance, holding his breath within his barrel chest, as he listened to the tap of shoes across the hard rock. The sound stopped. He felt torn between chasing after the sound's owner and waiting. The steps began again; Vaamick waited.

  An orange-haired head popped around the corner and he could see the delicate tiara holding a large Peridotite gem that sat atop perfectly braided hair. Vaamick was finally able to breathe again. She came. The princess of Bara chose me.

  Heavy clothes covered most of Lorinth’s long arms and legs, and her broad torso. Vaamick grinned; she was going to be out of those soon enough.

  When Lorinth noticed Vaamick standing there, she smiled. "Oh, thank Bara. I thought I was going to get lost in these tunnels."

  Vaamick bowed as she approached, closing the distance between them. As she held out her hand, he kissed the back of her glove. She nodded, and he rose.

  With the formalities completed, they shed their public roles and were simply two young lovers together. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming," he admitted.

  "I debated it. But the prim and proper girl that everybody expects to see doesn't really exist, and I couldn't pretend any longer," Lorinth responded. "But why so far?"

  “I knew I had to find somewhere secluded, so it wouldn't get back to your parents. I know they don't approve of me." Vaamick sighed.

  Lorinth's smiled faded. "They think I should be mated to somebody powerful. Mated? I'm only eighteen. And I don't want someone powerful; I want the handsome cleric that's been wooing me at the temple the last few months." Her smile returned as she winked at him.

  Vaamick's brow furrowed. "I'll be important and powerful. Just wait and see. I've got big plans."

  She gave him a half smile. Vaamick shifted his weight from foot to foot, unsure of what to do with his hands. "Erm, well anyway, I thought I would invite you to a picnic. Everything is ready. But first, would you like to remove you coat? I'm sure you are quite warm."

  Lorinth cocked her head. "You know what, I am rather warm. Much warmer than I should be at this level, in fact."

  He took her coat and folded it neatly on a rock. She pulled off her long gloves and placed them on top. Tiny diamonds woven into the fabric of her blouse reflected the phosphorescent light of the cave. To Vaamick, she was as beautiful as Bara herself; she shone like a million tiny suns.

  He held her hand as she lowered herself onto the blanket he had spread out on the ground. Sitting across from her, he began to pull containers of food from the basket.

  Lorinth dabbed a bead of sweat from her forehead. "Wow, it is really warm in here." She paused as the realization sunk in. "Vaamick, how did you do it?"

  Vaamick beamed. "I found the hot spring. I knew it was real."

  Lorinth gasped. "The hot spring from the Book of Siinil? Isn't that where Koorg was banished after Bara defeated him and unified the people?"

  Vaamick nodded. "Yes, but Bara buried him deep in her crust. The heat of his wrath boils the spring and Bara seeps it away from him, denying his strength. He can't get out; we are quite safe."

  Lorinth shivered despite the heat. "I don't know. I thought Bara taught us to avoid Koorg. That his evil would divide us again."

  He leaned forward, putting his hands on her shoulders, and looked into her eyes. "Bara is getting weaker. We need this warmth. Even those heathen scientists agree about that." He spat the last few words, letting his hands fall to his lap.

  "Why do you hate scientists so much?" Lorinth asked, as she surveyed the containers and found her favorite pastry. Her eyes lit up, and she tried to open the container but the lid wouldn’t budge. Lorinth gave Vaamick a small pout and handed it to him. "Father says they work for the good of Bara to make our lives better."

  Vaamick pressed the tab on the side of the container, and the lid popped free. She stuck her tongue out at him. Smiling at her, he pulled out a pastry and handed it over. "Those atheists try to explain the universe with rules and math. They ignore the teachings of Bara."

  "Like the one that says we should avoid this hot spring?" she teased as she popped the pastry in her mouth.

  "We need this. I can bring the people of Bara together. I'll build a temple here and people will flock to it from all over Bara. Worshipers will come, not just from Saar but also Porsys and even Biimp. Together, our worship will make Bara stronger and Koorg will never break free."

  "But what if you are wrong?"

  "Trust in Bara, Lorinth. In Bara's name all things are possible." She looked him in the eyes, but his gaze was far away. "When this temple reaches its potential, I'll be the most powerful priest on all of Bara. Your parents won't deny me then."

  7 B.W.

  Vaamick paced in the construction area around the temple. Lorinth's note hinted that she was ready to come out of mourning after her mother's death three months earlier. She'd requested a private audience with the priest in the opulent shrine he'd built around the spring.

  Lorinth was cutting it pretty close. A wealthy donor wanted to pray at the shrine in a few hours. Donoon was traveling all the way from Biimp to see the attraction Vaamick had built. He couldn't risk angering him and losing the thousands of credits he was putting towards the construction.

  Vaamick shuddered at the thought of having to choose between his patron and his love. He adjusted the dust cover protecting one of the paintings that had been donated from private collections across the frozen moon. Maybe, Vaamick paused, his hand still grasping the delicate, silk-like material. If Donoon sees Lorinth leaving, I could make him believe that the royal family is also contributing and wheedle some more credits from him. He let his hand fall.

  It was a risk. Donoon could use the royal patronage as an excuse to reduce his own contributions. Or worse, he could tell somebody else, and it could get back to the king.

  "Vaamick, I'm here." Lorinth's voice rang out behind him. He turned as she shed her coat at the door. She wore a simple grey outfit expected of someone recently out of mourning, devoid of jewelry except for a large diamond pendant, her mother's.

  "Late as usual," Vaamick joked as he met her halfway across the room, drawing her into a hug. They had long passed the need to observe formalities in the secret meetings. "I missed you."

  She kissed him hungrily as if trying to suck his insides through his mouth. "I missed you as well, my love. I wanted to come earlier, but it would have been unse
emly to be in public so soon after mother's death."

  He stroked her arm. "I understand. I'm just glad the mourning period is over so things can get back to normal." He slid his hand inside the sleeve of her blouse to touch her skin.

  Lorinth's smile fell. "Actually, they aren't."

  Vaamick stopped mid-motion. "What do you mean?"

  "Lord Biim met with my father this morning. I was required to attend." Lorinth expression darkened. "Even though I haven't met him yet, I am to be mated to Biim's son, Jeef."

  "What?" Vaamick shouted. He stepped back in shock, pulling his hand free of her shirt. "That can't be. I'm due to have an audience with him next revolution. I was going to ask him for your hand."

  Lorinth's eyes welled up with tears. "I don't think you ever had a chance," she sobbed. "Father has been after Biim's mines for a while."

  "It isn't right. You shouldn't be traded away like so many credits," Vaamick complained. "Let’s run away. I have many friends. We can get married right here in the temple."

  Lorinth shook her head. "Father would never allow it. He'd burn this temple down with you inside it."

  He shot her an indignant look. "He wouldn't dare. The people would revolt against him."

  "There are fewer Bara followers than you think, my dear," Lorinth responded. She put her hand on his.

  "Maybe," he bristled at the comment. "But I'm not the powerless cleric I was a couple years ago. The temple isn't even finished and it's already the most popular in the world. In a few more years, I'll have even more influence than your father."

  "Don't say that," she gasped, bringing a delicate hand to his mouth. "That's treason."

  Vaamick glared at her, removing her hand from his mouth. "It's true, though. Admit it."

  Lorinth shook her head. "I will do no such thing. Let's drop it. I don't want to argue with you. It's been so long since we've seen each other. Let's not spoil it." She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the inner shrine room.

  "What are you doing? You are due to be mated."

  "I'm not mated yet," she said with a grin.

  Vaamick followed her, all thoughts of Donoon forgotten.

  Later, they relaxed in post-coital bliss on the cushions surrounding the altar when they heard a voice outside. "Vaamick." Donoon's voice came muffled through the door. "Are you in there? I've been waiting for half an hour and can't find you anywhere." The lock on the door rattled.

  Vaamick and Lorinth raced to put on their clothes. "I'll be with you in just a minute, Donoon." I guess letting him believe the royal family is funding the temple is the plan, then.

  Vaamick heard a rip and turned. Lorinth held her shirt in two pieces. Small fibers dangled from the edges of a tear down the back of the garment.

  "What am I going to do?" Her eyes watered. "I can't let anyone see me like this."

  Vaamick scooped up the rest of her clothing and pushed them towards her. "There's a false panel behind the altar. You can hide in there." He moved past her and pressed a hidden latch in the wall. The wall slid open, and a small room appeared.

  "It's too small. I won't fit." She held the clothing tighter to her chest. Vaamick grimaced; she hated small spaces. It was a ludicrous fear for someone who'd spent their entire life underground.

  "You must. Donoon is Biim's competitor and wouldn't hesitate to gloat over him."

  She glared at him. “I don’t care about Biimp’s stupid politics,” she shouted.

  He shushed her. “Biim would tell your father.” He nudged her towards the space. "You are right next to Bara. How much safer can you be?"

  She pouted and made a small whimpering sound.

  "I will be no farther than the front door the whole time," he continued. "As soon as Donoon leaves, I will get you. Please, Lorinth. This is your only chance to avoid detection."

  "You promise?" She looked up at him, trembling.

  "Of course. Now, please?" He nudged her again. She took a small step towards the closet. She looked again, and he nodded. She made the last steps into the hidden chamber. Vaamick closed the door behind her. Lorinth let out a squeak as the light extinguished around her.

  Vaamick shushed her and pulled his robe on over his clothing, not bothering to do the buttons. He crossed the room and opened the door for Donoon who stood there tapping his foot.

  "Who's in there with you? I heard voices." The fat man looked around Vaamick into the room.

  Vaamick stepped aside to let him have a better view. "You can see I'm by myself. I was praying and lost track of the time."

  "No, there was definitely another voice. It sounded like a girl." Donoon leered at the priest.

  "Why, Bara speaks to me in here, as I'm sure she will speak to you."

  "Hmmph," Donoon grunted as he dabbed at the sweat beading on his forehead. He looked around the room, inspecting it for other exits. Vaamick kept his gaze averted from the spot where the princess hid.

  Donoon appeared satisfied that they were indeed alone. "Must've been an echo from another tunnel. Well, I desire my privacy while praying." He dismissed Vaamick with a wave of the hand.

  Vaamick left and closed the door behind him. Keeping his promise to Lorinth, he waited outside the door. Two hours later, Donoon opened the door to find Vaamick pacing outside. Vaamick looked up. "I trust you are satisfied with your session?"

  Sweat rolled down Donoon face. "Why yes," he huffed. "The prayers were very fulfilling indeed. At times, I could almost believe that Bara was there, sobbing at my lament."

  Vaamick's eyes widened, a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. Vaamick forced himself to remain calm. "Yes, I believe the goddess is closer here in this holy spot than anywhere else on the moon. Now, I have some things to attend to, but there is a cleric in my office who can help you schedule your next appointment and collect any donation you wish to give."

  A meaty hand clapped Vaamick on the back. "Why, yes. My donation. I can see my credits are being put to good use. Well, Vaamick, I'll leave you to your goddess then, wherever it is that you have her stashed." He winked and turned towards the offices at the front of the temple.

  Donoon lumbered away with heaving breaths. Once he had turned the corner, Vaamick rushed towards the shrine and opened Lorinth's hidden nook.

  She burst out of the room and latched onto Vaamick, taking short, rapid breaths as he held onto her. "It was awful in there," she choked. "It was so dark and I couldn't move. And the things Donoon said. He's a pig. He asked Bara to deliver his wife's sister to his bed and then proceeded to describe all the ways he would have her. I felt dirty just listening to him."

  Vaamick shuddered. "I know Lig. She's not even done with her schooling."

  "You need to tell somebody."

  He shook his head. "I need his credits to finish the temple. Besides, I shouldn't even know what he said in there."

  She gasped. "So you are just going to let him do it?"

  "Do what?" he replied. "All he did was pray. Bara doesn't grant those kinds of prayers."

  "So there's nothing than can be done?"

  "I'll place some hints to some people I know in Biimp, but you needn't worry.”

  6 B.W.

  The sound of an urn shattering rang throughout the room as Vaamick threw it at the messenger. Though Kaarg protected his face with his arm, he otherwise stood and took the abuse. “What do you mean, she’s pregnant?” Vaamick roared. “Your job was to make sure that didn’t happen.”

  “Donoon must have been on to us,” Kaarg explained. “He gave us the slip a few weeks ago. I noted that in my report. But Lig was in school, so we weren’t concerned. I don’t know who he bribed to falsify her attendance and have her delivered. But she’s been sick in her room for a while now, so I bribed her doctor.”

  “And Donoon is definitely the father?” Vaamick asked, sinking into his chair.

  “If he isn’t, then some local boy is a lot better at sneaking around than we are.”

  “Considering that you lost a fat old man, I’d believe th
at possible,” Vaamick responded. “Has she said anything?”

  Kaarg shook his head. “She’s going to raise the baby as a Lun instead of revealing the father. Donoon holds a lot of power in Biimp. It’s an awfully strong accusation to make if you want your family to eat.”

  “And he is closely allied with this temple. If this got out, it would be very bad for me. But I made a promise to keep her safe. A promise you cost me,” Vaamick spat.

  “It won’t happen again.”

  “It only had to happen once, you idiot.” Vaamick glared at him. “I can salvage this, but it won’t be pretty.”

  “What do you want me to do, boss?”

  “Bring Lig to the temple. I can protect her and come up with a father for the baby. Give it a better future than the harsh life of unknown parentage,” Vaamick said. “Love forbidden to you is a fate I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”

  “Donoon isn’t going to let us just walk off with his new plaything.” Kaarg frowned.

  “No he isn’t,” Vaamick replied. “So Donoon is going to need a new will bequeathing most of his fortune to her. After that happens, make sure he has an unfortunate accident.”

  “You want me to kill him?” Kaarg blanched. “I didn’t sign up for that.”

  “Either Donoon has an accident…or you both will,” Vaamick threatened.

  Vaamick didn’t hear anything from Kaarg for nearly two of the moon’s long days. He wondered if his spy lost his nerve. Donoon had another appointment coming soon; if Kaarg couldn’t do it, Vaamick would kill his patron himself.

  A knock interrupted his thoughts. Kaarg entered the office. A young woman stood in the hallway with a bag slung over her shoulder. She fidgeted and crossed her arms. The barest of swells protruded from her slim frame. Her condition wasn’t obvious yet, but it would be soon.

  “I would like to introduce you to Lig of Biimp.” Kaarg bowed formally. Vaamick rolled his eyes at the pomp. “She is coming to stay at the temple after the untimely death of her only remaining relative, Donoon of Biimp.”