The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix

by Ava D. Dohn

  ~ToloheNahosetSodasonie~

  Oros, a small city nestled at the eastern base of the ObebBailSoar Mountains on a broad, well-watered plain, was one of EdenEsonbar’s oldest cities. Built as a way station for sojourners crossing the ‘Great Divide’ as the ObebBailSoar Mountain range was then known, it was either the last stop for provisions before entering the wilder lands, or the first oasis of civilization for tired souls on their return. Old it was, built in the days when knives of flint and capes of fur were common attire, and when even the horse was still an untamed beast of the plain.

  Legend spoke of Oros in mystical and magical ways, saying that the Tower of Oros, a rock-hewn fortress carved in a mountainous outcropping high above the city, was built by the Ones Who Came Before. Whether it be true or not, neither Chrusion nor Tolohe lay claim to its building. Even the name, Oros, rendered in runes carved on stones at the base of the tower, was shrouded in mystery.

  After her returning from the Jahouk Mountains on MueoPoros, Tolohe took for her home the ancient tower, incorporating it into the palace she eventually built there. In time the name, Oros, came to mean, the ‘City of the Lady’, or the ‘City of the Lady’s Love’. It was there, in Tolohe’s palace, that many of Lowenah’s sons came of age, serving in the Lady’s house during their eight virgin years. Soon after the Rebellion, Tolohe disappeared behind the sealed doors of her estate, never to be seen again throughout that evil age. There were those who supposed, a few who even knew the truth of matters, but none spoke it aloud. For all others, Tolohe was gone, never to return to this world turned evil and dark, the curse her final words had cast upon the city proof of that.

  Since that time, the city of Oros had changed into a bustling metropolis filled with factories, spaceports, depots, and military encampments staring up at Tolohe’s forebodingly silent palace. A few brave souls might journey up the path to the locked gate of her palace, it and the surrounding walls now nearly entombed in tangles of thorny ivy. They would stare up at the weathered tower, its sightless windows glaring back down menacingly. There was a feel of unwelcome that hung upon the place that was so powerful that none attempted entry beyond.

  So, in time, the name Oros eventually acquired the meaning ‘Valley of Lost Souls, the Motherless Child,’ as it is still known down to this day. To this city came the patriotic and loyal, marching off to the endless wars that so many did not return from, other than be gathered to their rest in the Silent Tombs. For countless a new recruit staring out upon the city’s vast expanse below, the descent down the eastern mountains on the ObebBailSoar rail stage was the beginning of their journey into Hell.

  (Author’s note: The periodical, Ottawa, recently published an article describing Oros during the days leading up to the King’s War. The following, taken from its pages, adds interesting details concerning the military’s deep interest in the city in those days.

  “Oros was a small city, nestled in the lower mountains about thirty leagues east of Palace City. It had been chosen by the new field marshal and her party to be the nerve center of Army operations, and it was not by mere coincidence that it was selected.

  Early on, Trisha’s team had decided to keep the center of operations on the home planet. Although Lowenah promised Asotos that she would not use her power to directly influence the outcome of events, she still would provide guiding counsel at appropriate times. Being only minutes away by air ship made gaining a ‘face to face’ audience with her much easier than if they were located on another planet, or even a nearby moon.

  Oros was also near the Teleohodos jump portal. It was one of four strategic portals located within the Children’s Empire. Teleohodos opened upon many hundreds of exit points, Eden’s Gate being the only other portal having greater capabilities. These two jump locations connected to seventy percent of all known exit points. If, by chance, Eden’s Gate became inaccessible, a ship could still reach the Second Realm, albeit by a much more circuitous route. This happened once, long before, when Mihai attempted to send support troops to Gabrielle’s forces, waylaid by the prince of Persia, Legion, just outside the Second Realm. It took Mihai nearly three weeks to bring aid by the Teleohodos portal, nine days more than Eden’s Gate would have required.

  Oros’ location also afforded the Army great protection by a powerful, unseen defense. Trisha and her officers believed that Asotos would need to be desperate before he would attempt an attack on Lowenah’s home planet. To do such a thing might risk her wrath. If that happened, she might call the negotiations at the Prisoner Exchange invalid, and rescind her agreement to abstain from active military involvement. No force could ever withstand Lowenah’s private military sentinels. They were indestructible and unstoppable. For this reason, Oros could be garrisoned by a relatively small military, thus permitting those forces to be used elsewhere.

  The idea that Lowenah might do such a thing was not unfounded. During the Great War, a small armada of Asotos’ warships came upon one of Lowenah’s trading ships en route to a nearby opposing colony. They attacked it in an attempt to capture the ship and whatever contents might be aboard. The story was told that the little vessel suddenly lit up in a blinding ball of white, static fire, erupting into a wall of searing flame that enveloped the armada, dissolving it in seconds. Only a distant outrider scout craft survived to relate the story. To this day, those burned and twisted hulks have remained as a warning sign of Lowenah’s hidden powers.

  This was not the first time the city of Oros was used for military purposes. During the Great War, it was a center hub for industry. The original city was built on a series of narrow valleys and steep bluffs at the eastern base of the mountain range separating it from Palace City. These valleys collected together south of the city to form a plain that gradually spread out to several miles in width. The rich, black soil once produced outstanding crops of grain and vegetables. The farms were replaced with factories and warehouses, the waters of the Oros River and feeder streams used to power the wheels of production. After the Great War ended, the vast fields of buildings were abandoned to the elements and now lay in various states of disrepair.

  The Navy’s old headquarters were located about five miles south of the city proper. It was a complex of landing fields and hangars, some large enough to hide a ship the size of the DusmeAstron inside, with the hangar doors closed. Scattered around the grounds were old ships in various stages of repair. When news came of the Armistice, the maintenance crews put down their tools and walked away from them as if going on break, never to return. Storerooms, barracks, machine shops, mess halls and all the other odd buildings necessary to maintain such an operation were silent reminders of the struggle, most of them surrendered up to the elements the same as the ships had been.”)

  Tiny pieces of gravel crunched beneath the field marshal’s feet as she slowly paced the tarmac of the ancient Navy depot in Oros. The late evening showers had moved off to the east, leaving behind a refreshing summer chill on a light breeze. Few were the people busying themselves about this night, a happy couple exiting the ramp of the Dogie and hurrying off together, and the pleasant chatter of some men far up the street. The night was quiet, the mood peaceful, but the harmonics hidden beneath filled with agitation.

  Trisha grew nervous as she anxiously awaited Zadar’s arrival. She lifted her head as if sniffing the breeze. Yes, the pungent smell of evil lingered heavy upon the night air, growing stronger by the moment. What kind of abomination must be lurking out there amid the ruins of the abandoned depot, capable of cloaking itself from all save a few? Or was it possibly just her? There was no indication others felt its wrathful hatred...only she did. And now it was calling to her to seek it out.

  Wrapping her arms about her, Trisha silently contemplated the demon hiding somewhere out there in the darkness. She first had noticed it that night at the last council, but disregarded it, thinking it possibly to be coming from Darla. Twice more, its open malice was revealed: during her argume
nt with Mihai and later, during the Prisoner Exchange. Was this one of Asotos’ new, demented creations unleashed, a weapon secreted in living flesh that harbored no soul or heart?

  Zadar finally arrived, hurrying down the Dogie’s ramp with the items Trisha requested he deliver from her cabin. “Found ‘em tucked away where you said they’d be.”

  Trisha thanked Zadar as she reached first for the belted, scabbarded sword. Fastening it about her waist, she made casual conversation. “I see a lot has been accomplished since our return. This is a good place to set up headquarters. That old command center is perfect for us.”

  She reached for her cape, draping it about her shoulders and tying it fast to her uniformed shirt. “Offices and wardrooms should be ready to move into within a day or two. The technicians have been more than busy to set them up for us. Then we can surrender the Dogie back to the Navy, or possibly convert it into our command ship.”

  Zadar laughed. “Doubt the Navy will want it except for a target tug, or a target. Maybe we can use it to train recruits, you know, for landing operations and such. There are so many new ones arriving every day, most who’ve never seen combat, let alone what we’re planning.”

  Trisha looked about her surroundings as shaky fingers tied the last of the cape’s strings to her shirt loop. Through pale lips, she remarked, “It was so stuffy in the mess tonight. I needed to get some fresh air, clear my head a bit. Yes, you’re right of course, about the Dogie, I mean. Contact fleet in the morning requesting our extended use of it. Tell them it will be returned, little less for wear.”

  Zadar could feel something was amiss and asked, concerned, “Tr… Commander, is everything alright?”

  “Leftenant, when I need council I’ll ask for it...” Trisha answered curtly.

  “I’m… I’m sorry…”

  Trisha quickly took Zadar’s hands, apologizing. “Please! Please forgive me.” She begged. “Troubled is the heart of this lost child, and I must go find who I am.”

  Squeezing her hands, Zadar recommended, “Then allow me to go with you so that we will find your soul together.”

  A chill swept down across Trisha’s shoulders. She lowered her head, staring at her feet. So much she wanted this man to go with her, but it could not be. Whatever evil awaited her in the darkness was deadly powerful. Few, other than possibly herself or Gabrielle, had the strength to best this fearsome beast. Zadar, along with a company of her best troopers, would not survive this demon’s assault...nor might she, but try she must.

  Trisha looked up into Zadar’s face, softly rubbing his cheek with her fingers. “You’re a wonderful man. No one have I loved more than you. Our souls are one are they not?” She gave him a gentle kiss on his lips then turned away, staring off into the night. “I will journey alone this eve, for the ache in my bones tells me it is the way it must be.”

  Zadar protested, “If there is danger at your door, then you should permit your servant to accompany you into it!”

  Trisha looked back at Zadar, he seeing the glint of tears in her eyes. She smiled, sadly. “I go to prevent danger, my love. If I do not return, then danger may find you. So prepare yourself and put the night watch on alert. Pray that it is nothing more than bad wine in my head that has given me these visions.”

  This was not at all to Zadar’s liking. He began to argue.

  Trisha raised her hand, frowning. “Leftenant, I have given you a direct order. See that it is carried out.” Waiting for no reply, she spun about and hurried away into the night.