Zykeiah reached out and gently played with Sarah’s hair.
“What are you doing?” Sarah slapped Zykeiah’s hand away.
“I wanted to share this place with you.” Zykeiah drew back a little and kissed the stinging spot on her hand. “A beautiful place for a beautiful lady.”
“That is the second time you have mentioned your interest in my appearance.” Sarah said as she rolled up the sleeves. “Keep your hands to yourself.”
Zykeiah frowned then said, “When Marion mentions it, it bothers you not. So why can’t I?”
“Marion is a gentleman and one whom I owe my life. What he says to me is no concern of yours,” Sarah snapped back. Her temper was growing. She was tired of Zykeiah’s games and she wanted to know what the woman wanted from her.
“No?” Zykeiah said softly. “Then you are as naïve as I would have hoped.” She searched the dirt in front of her as Sarah balled her hands into fists.
Sarah had expected something deviant from Zykeiah or else why would she demand she come here? The woman must have thought Sarah a fool. “Do not come near me or I will think you are attacking me.”
“Attack you?” Zykeiah smirked. “You thought I was going to hurt you?”
“Yes. What was that in the Great Hall last night but an attack?” Sarah placed both fists in front of her, ready to strike.
“I was not going to attack you,” Zykeiah said as she looked out across the plateau.
“No?” Sarah gradually put down her fists.
“No.” Zykeiah shook her head and said, “Come let us go down into the oasis.”
Zykeiah started off without waiting for Sarah. As quickly as the fight erupted, she had simply dropped it. Sarah wondered what was going on.
She removed her coat and followed Zykeiah down the narrow trail to the Stocklah oasis.
* * *
“Sarah?” Marion knocked again on the door. He turned the knob and poked his head into her room. “Sarah?”
No response and he did not find her in the room. He wondered where she could be. He had searched in the East Wing Hall, the central baths and now her room without success.
He made his way back down the stairs and back to the East Wing Hall. Deserted except for those that cleaned the kitchen, Marion noted that Sarah still had not returned.
A servant woman scrubbing the tin plates by the open hearth said, “Sir, you are searching for something?”
Beside the woman sat a young boy who was playing with two wooden spoons, clanking them together over and over again in glee.
“I am searching for the woman called Sarah,” Marion said.
“She left early morning with the knight Zykeiah,” the servant woman said, her eyes cast downward.
“Thank you, woman for your observation.” Marion smiled at the servant woman who blushed in return, but did not meet his gaze.
Marion left the East Wing Hall for his room. He knew the way to Stocklah, but thought it would be best to allow the two to be alone. He had made up his mind that if it was Zykeiah Sarah chose, then he must respect her choice.
He had not offered himself to her. Zykeiah beat him to it.
Does the kowlata complain when the wrangler bird swoops in and steals his meal? No, the kowlata continues on searching for other prey. Marion resolved himself to do the same.
Chapter Eleven
“This place was once considered holy by the people before,” Zykeiah explained. Tiny handprints painted along the mountain’s shiny orange rock were the only remaining indication of their existence. They walked single file along the thin path to the Stocklah oasis. Zykeiah added, “the people had vanished by the time Queen Zoe’s people arrived.”
“Vanished?” Sarah asked as she looked over and saw how far down the drop remained despite their extensive trek. One false step and she and Zykeiah could plummet to their deaths.
“Queen Zoë said that once her people arrived, there were no others here.”
“Why are there so few Minister Knights?” Sarah asked. “I expected an army of knights…”
“The Minister Knights are relatively new. Queen Zoe’s father was the first, and he had used the royal army to prepare to fight Valek. But he died before he ever found a way to stop Valek.”
“So, the Minister Knights have never seen battle?” Sarah stopped abruptly. “There has never been any contact with Valek?” She could not believe it. There were stories and rumors of the furious battles between Valek and the knights.
Zykeiah looked back at Sarah and smiled. “Marion has been in many battles against Valek’s henchmen. He has always been in disguise.”
“Disguise? Why?” Sarah answered. “There were rumors in the cages about how the Minister Knights defeated Valek before and…”
“Slow down, Sarah,” Zykeiah said calmly over her shoulder. “Let me explain.”
She stopped talking and cautiously turned around to face Sarah. “When King William died, his wife took up the task of developing a group to stop Valek. An uneducated woman when it came to fighting, she journeyed to the Antiqk Oracle to learn what she must do. She never returned from the Oracle, leaving a young three year-old, Zoë, to sit on the throne of Veloris.”
“But…” Sarah interjected.
“Wait,” Zykeiah continued, “the advisors raised Queen Zoë and when she reached adulthood, she journeyed to the Antiqk Oracle to find her mother. Search parties had been sent years earlier but no trace was ever found of the woman.”
“So,” Zykeiah returned to walking the trail. “When Queen Zoë came back some time later, she had the scrolls. She spent many extended rotations reading them, translating them, etc. Her mother, under the direction of the Antiqk Oracle, wrote the scrolls in the ancient tongue. They foretell of a savior coming from another planet that will defeat Valek.”
“What had become of Queen Zoe’s mother?” Sarah asked.
“After she wrote the scrolls, she died. Her body was found deep inside the cavern at Antiqk. She was not found before because the search parties were too afraid to enter the Oracle.”
“And the army of Minister Knights?” Sarah asked. She could smell the floral scents of the blooming flowers of the oasis. They were close to the bottom and she grew hotter the closer they got to the oasis.
“The original group of knights had died off over time. By the time Queen Zoë was ready to assimilate the knights, there were only boys or married men left on Veloris. The few single men did not constitute an army.”
“So where did Queen Zoë find Marion and Kalah?” Sarah asked as she followed Zykeiah into the plush opening mouth of the Stocklah oasis. A rich canopy of vegetation hid the thriving ground from the sun’s brilliant light. The waterfalls thundered, making it difficult for Sarah to hear Zykeiah’s response.
The birds’ screeches were louder and the waterfalls drowned out just about any other sounds that were not louder or shriller.
Zykeiah gestured to a cavern just to the right of the end of the trail and Sarah followed her in. It was remarkably quieter inside and the walls of the cave were lined with more pictures and handprints of the people before.
“Queen Zoë did not find Marion and Kalah; she gave birth to them.” Zykeiah pushed her glasses up and smiled at Sarah.
“She’s their mother?” Sarah’s mouth dropped and she could not believe it. Yet it explained much.
“Yes.” Zykeiah glanced around then added, “I am not sure you are suppose to know it; so do not disclose it to anyone.”
Sarah stuck out her hand and said, “Deal.”
Zykeiah’s eyes grew wide as she leapt back from Sarah, making sure to whip her dagger from her thigh-holster. “What is that on your hands?”
Groaning Sarah lifted her hands up and noticed that the marking still had not faded. Laughing nervously, she said, “I have discovered I have powers.”
Zykeiah slipped out of her sack, letting the heavy pack smack to the ground. She was not laughing and she still had her dagger drawn. She moved deliberate
ly crouched as if ready to strike. “Powers?”
“Yes, powers,” Sarah answered slowly, her eyes staring at the dagger.
Sarah cupped her hands together and focused on the image of a sphere, like the sun, and fire combined.
Gradually an orange pale bubble-like sphere grew from her hands. Sarah spread out her hands and shaped the orange glowing substance into a circular sphere and pushed it toward Zykeiah. Sarah could feel the markings on her hands throb the more brilliant the sphere became.
Zykeiah’s face was covered with sweat and fear as she leapt toward the large sphere and sliced it with her dagger. The sphere did not falter, nor did it burst when Sarah un-cupped her hands. The sphere was not as large as she and twice as wide. It threatened to outgrow the cavern.
The sphere pressed Zykeiah back against the hard cavern wall, threatening to suffocate her. Zykeiah swung the dagger with thrashing cuts and slices, but it did not falter.
Sarah closed her eyes and whispered, “Stop.”
The sphere burst and disappeared leaving not a trace of the gummy like substance.
“Powers,” Sarah said as Zykeiah wiped her face and replaced her dagger.
* * *
Amana had been trying to loosen this one section of rock for what seemed like eternity, but the rock would not budge. The drums had started again as Katelin worked along beside her with less enthusiasm.
“Katelin, if MaxMion finds you working like that, your number may be called soon,” Amana warned.
“Tell me again about your sister’s rescue,” Katelin said. “It inspires me and takes my mind off this boring task.”
Amana did not know why Katelin loved hearing of Sarah’s escape. It was the same story over and over again.
“My sister and I had just arrived at the Allerton Circle when Orono stepped from the shadows…”
As Amana talked, Katelin’s appearance slowly melted off and in her place Manola stood with a smirk.
“But I do not know who the rescuer was and there is much I do not remember.” Amana concluded then turned back to look at Katelin.
“Perhaps I know someone who could help you remember?” She hissed.
“Who?” Amana asked as she turned back around to the spot where Katelin had been. “Who are you?”
Amana’s tool fell loudly to the ground as she floated back from Manola and panicked. The stranger blocked her path.
Manola pulled a green sphere from her bosom and opened it.
“Come!” she called as Amana’s soul was swept into the jade colored sphere.
“Thank you,” Manola said, chuckling at her cleverness.
“What are you doing?” MaxMion grunted from the spot where Amana was moments before.
“Little man, I do not report to you,” Manola spat as she placed the shiny sphere in between her ripe, full bosom. She started walking through the pitch-black tunnels that led from the caverns to Valek’s castle, leaving MaxMion to ponder.
MaxMion watched the back and forth swish of her ample butt-cheeks and thought of how delicious they would taste sautéed with fresh berries.
Laughing as he shuffled down the western cavern and making a left at the fork, he continued on towards the underground entranceway to Valek’s castle.
Up ahead, he could just make out Manola’s paleness in the bleak tunnel. His eyes squinted as he checked behind him to make sure he was not being followed. Manola could be tricking him with her excellent use of deception and disguise. If she found out Orono’s plans, she would surely tell Valek. He knew he would pay with his life. Orono’s death would follow his, for Valek’s temper knew no limits.
Shivering at the thought, he waited until he could no longer see Manola’s red hair and white reflection on the mirroring surface of the rock, before hurrying to the castle’s underground entranceway.
* * *
Orono was busy making Solance when MaxMion burst through the warehouse’s door.
“What are you doing here?” Orono demanded as the last soul was compressed and deposited into the final batch of Solance.
MaxMion attempted to lick his stretched lips around his teeth but failed. “Manola kidnapped the soul, Amana, and brought her to the castle.”
“What!” Orono barked. “Why?”
“I am not sure,” he replied and braced himself for a whack from Orono. Valek forbade him to be in the Solance warehouse. The smell of flesh and death might be too much for him, Valek warned, and MaxMion might tamper with the inventory.
“Come, let us see what is going on.” Orono pulled his cloak snuggly around his lumpy body as they made their way to Valek’s office.
* * *
“Tell me who he is!” Valek roared spraying spittle and venom onto Amana who cowered into a tight ball on the floor of his office.
Manola chuckled. “She does not know.”
Ignoring her, Valek demanded, “Now or you will be a part of the latest batch!”
Smashing his fist to the desk, Valek clinched his teeth in an open growl. Much time had passed since Manola released Amana from the green sphere and still the girl had no information, just the same tired response of ignorance.
“There were rumors of one called Marion,” Manola offered. “A Minister Knight.”
“Yes, Orono had mentioned that!” Valek snapped.
“My Lord, the souls say it was Marion who rescued the soul Sarah,” Manola said unabashed by his anger. What else could he do to her; he had already killed her.
“How would they know?” Valek reached into his desk and removed the orange box.
“It is only rumor, but some of the older ones speak of an Oracle and one named Marion.” She uncrossed her legs and walked behind Valek.
He stroked his dried mushrooms and herbs. She massaged his rail-thin shoulders as she shook her illustrious red hair free from the tangles of being braided.
“Amana,” Valek called sweetly.
“Yes.” Amana timidly uncoiled from her spot on the floor and peeked through the hands she held over her face.
“Stand up, dear child,” he cooed as he, too, stood up from his desk.
Amana rose from her spot and glanced around her before cautiously turning her empty eyes to Valek.
It was a good thing that she could not feel for the temperature of the office fell steadily until the breath from Valek’s mouth curled into thin whispers as it escaped his mouth.
Manola stepped back hesitantly from him until she was pinned against the wall for she knew from experience that a sweet, nice Valek was more terrifying than an enraged one. Sure he had killed her once, but why die twice?
“May I be dismissed?” Manola stuttered as she inched along the wall as far from him as possible, in her attempt to leave.
“No.” Valek’s eyes were glued to the frightened Amana, who, too, had inched further away from his desk.
Silence as his eyes penetrated hers, gauging her fear, feeding upon it, and reveling in it. Amana could not turn away and she dare not run; for where would she go that Valek would not be able to find her?
* * *
Evening approached and there was still no sight of Sarah and Zykeiah. Marion walked up the stairs and past the royal guards to Queen Zoë’s quarters.
As he entered he called, “Mother.”
“Marion?” Queen Zoë’s call was barely above a whisper and her breathing was raspy and ragged. “Come, son.”
He smiled weakly as his mother moved her legs from the lower section of her bed. She was propped up against her favorite pillows and was surrounded by rolled scrolls and the floral scents of rosemary and jasmine.
“What troubles you my son?” She put down the scroll she was reading and gently placed it on the floor beside her bed. “Marion?”
“She is with Zykeiah. Stocklah,” he mumbled as he plopped down on the bed. “Not here with me learning the history of Veloris or tossing balled snow at one another.”
“Would you like for her to be here with you?” she asked gently. He had been in love
before, but this time it felt different.
“Yes.” Marion glanced at his mother, then back at the coverings on her bed, his finger tracing the thread lines in circles.
“Why?”
“Because –” he started then stopped as he observed the smile that tugged at the corners of his mother’s mouth. “Mother.”
Queen Zoë patted her eldest son’s head and said, “Did you tell her, Marion, how you feel about her?”
“I cannot; she is with Zykeiah,” he said.
Queen Zoë sighed and repeated, “Have you not told her?”
“No!”
“You need to declare your love, Marion.” Queen Zoë’s voice had grown weaker and more faint. “Soon.”
Standing he kissed his mother’s cheek. “Good evening, Mother.”
“Things are not always what they seem, son.” Queen Zoë patted his hand before closing her eyes to rest.
“Yes, Mother.” He left his mother to rest.
* * *
“How did you discover this power?” Zykeiah inquired.
“I was born with this gift,” Sarah answered, “according to the Antiqk Oracle.”
“You have been to the Oracle?” Zykeiah asked, angrily. “No one but knights are allowed there.”
“I had a knight with me,” she said sharply.
Sarah left the cavern and began feeling the soft plush petals of purplish flowers that sprouted next to the cavern’s open mouth. “Tell me more about the knights.”
Zykeiah swaggered out of the cavern and yelled, “What is it you want to know?”
“Anything, everything. They are so mysterious,” Sarah said.
“The two brothers do not feel anything.” Zykeiah hesitated before saying, “They are drones, nothing more.”
That would explain Marion’s standoffishness, Sarah thought.
Zykeiah smirked as Sarah continued on the trail toward the waterfalls. She put the sack on her back and followed behind Sarah.
Sarah, lost in her thoughts of Marion, made her way to the mouth of a large lake that received the volume of water that dumped from the Stocklah mountain’s waterfall. A drone, an unfeeling creature made without emotions was very much like a soul. How do you get close to someone who felt nothing at all? Sarah asked herself as the crystal clear water of Stocklah’s waterfall fed into the lake of Stocklah.
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