Fire Eyes Awakened: The Senturians of Terraunum Series (Book 1)

by R. J. Batla

The executioner was pretty irate that the guards wouldn’t let him in, so we just smiled and waved back at him as we made our way to the second set of security doors. There were a lot of guards and we had to swipe badges, hands, faces, get checked off a list, and have someone vouch for us before we were allowed inside. We walked down to our seats amongst a cacophony of noise.

  “Is it true?”

  “Who was killed?”

  “How did they get in?”

  The councilmen were already there, talking just like the others were. Well, seven of them were anyway. Where were the other two?

  I realized that I was actually in the council chambers. Were all the major decisions for Terraunum were made. Massive columns ringed the entire room, supporting the ceiling of the circular room, each intricately carved. Tons of seats ringed the area, each ring slightly smaller and descending to the center of the room, where a huge square table sat with the aforementioned councilmen. People were everywhere, more or less divided up by their race; most were either dirty, hurt, upset, or some combination of all three. Finding the light blue of the Rekas, I easily picked out Aurora.

  Who was sobbing uncontrollably. What had happened? I mean, people had died, didn’t Royn say? But who would have—

  A gong sounded somewhere and Ames Talco immediately began. “Friends, it’s with a heavy heart that we meet at such an early hour.” What time was it anyway? “As I’m sure you know, twenty Ints infiltrated our city tonight, and we lost many of our fellows.”

  Angry and scared murmurs erupted from the crowd, punctuated with a lot of wailing.

  “How did they get in?” someone shouted from the Elf section. That whole area was in tears. But they weren’t the only ones. It was an odd mix of anger and sorrow throughout the whole complex. None of the sections went deeper than five or ten rows, so these must have been the most important people in the world, here in this one room. Which again begged the question, why was I here?

  “We’re not sure, unfortunately, how they were able to get so far onto the East Side, let alone inside the city walls. We have suffered tonight. Valuable and treasured friends and family were lost, and they need to be acknowledged. Prime Elf Allee Bertram; Councilman Seymour Winters and Queen Juniper Winters of the Helion; King Midcon Helotes and Queen Wesco Helotes of the Reka…”

  Oh no! Poor Aurora – no wonder she was distraught: she lost both her parents tonight. And if it weren’t for me, she’d be with them.

  I missed the rest of the names as I looked at Aurora again, and felt Leona grab my hand. I turned to her and she had tears in her eyes as well, so I squeezed her hand, then wrapped my arm around her shoulders as she started to cry harder.

  Below, Ames continued, “…along with five hundred brave soldiers and guards. Their lights were extinguished, and they have gone to be with the Lord. Please bow your head in a moment of silence.” Ames Talco bowed and everyone followed.

  You could have heard the proverbial pin drop. Other than an occasional sniffle, there wasn’t a sound for a full minute before Ames raised his head and said, “Amen.”

  An enormous outbreak of wailing, sobs, utter shock, anger, and about every other emotion you could imagine emanated from the crowd. Cries for justice were issued from those who lost friends and family, and a million different plans were shouted to no one in particular. Councilman Talco let the noise go on for a while, letting the crowd get their emotions out. Leona calmed down and I removed my arm, but still held her hand. She squeezed back and gave me a smile and a nod.

  In one night, many of the leaders of the world were taken out. Just like that. It was like someone wanted to demoralize, or at least set back, the East Side. Two guesses who that was.

  And poor Aurora. She’d lost both her parents. I couldn’t even imagine what she was going through. I didn’t know if there was anything I could do, but I would try next time I saw her. She chose that exact moment to stand, tears streaming down her face. “Councilmen, I appreciate the acknowledgement, but what is being done to bring this…this…this fiend to justice? I lost both of my parents tonight and now have to take on the responsibility of ruling my people. We need justice! We need action!”

  General Price Sterling stood up. “Princess, we’re all sorry for your loss. Our best men have been tracking the one responsible.” He froze and put his hand to his ear. “They’re actually bringing him in now,” he said, and a set of doors burst open on the floor of the chambers.

  Three men pushed a struggling, hooded and bound man in front of them, chains attached to his feet and hands.

  Councilman Talco called for silence as he walked forward, and without hesitation, pulled the hood from the man.

  “No!” came a shout from the Manu’s king as he rushed onto the floor. Several Rangers grabbed him, and fought hard to restrain him as he screamed, “Let him go; that’s my brother! I demand that you let him go!”

  The bound man just laughed. A very unnatural, loud, and unnerving laugh that stopped the king in his tracks, “HA! HA! HA! You are all fools! Fools! Malstrak will destroy you all! But to those who are loyal, he will give power. Oh yes, brother, and you will rue the day – you will all rue the day – you will all pay –” One of his captors knocked him in the back of the head with an axe handle.

  “Take him away,” Councilman Talco said.

  The Manu king sank to his knees and sobbed. “My own brother! Betrayed by my blood! How could he do this to his people? To his family?”

  “Hold steady, King Kress,” Ames said, pulling the distraught king to his feet. “This will pass and we will prevail. Your strength is needed, both now and in the future.” He gently handed the wrecked man to his countrymen. Then much louder, to everyone, Ames said, “This attack was meant to scatter us, to turn us against one another – we must not let that happen! We must persevere! If we are to survive this invasion, this war, we must come together; become one people against this common enemy. Are you with me?”

  There was some mild head nodding.

  “I said, ‘Are you with me’!” Councilman Talco shouted, command echoing in his voice as he banged his fist on the table.

  This time everyone said, louder, “Yes!”

  “Very well. Can we agree that we should begin amassing the armies?”

  Everyone responded yes.

  “Good. We’ll work those details out momentarily, but there is something else. In addition to all those already mentioned, all of our Oracles were slain.” Another loud gasp and Ames had to shout over the din. “But thankfully not before a decision was reached on the individual to represent us in the tournament.”

  “And who is it? Who is going to save us and avenge our families?” bellowed the Dwarf king.

  Ames looked at me. Good Lord, that why I was here.

  “Jayton Baird, will you please stand up?”

  Chapter 20

  “Jay?” someone said beside me. I didn’t really hear it. “Jay?” someone said again.

  Something poked my arm. My blood might have stopped somewhere around my throat. So they expect me to save the world? What did that mean? Where…what…why…

  “Jayton Baird!”

  I snapped back to reality – the whole room was looking at me. I was standing – when did I stand? I gulped. “Yes, sir, Councilman Talco?”

  “Do you accept?”

  “Sir?”

  Councilman Talco had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. “Do you accept the nomination, son?

  “What do you mean, sir?”

  Ames eyed him for a second. “My dear boy, this is not something we force on anyone. There’s always a choice. This isn’t something you enter into lightly – it may mean your death. But once you accept, you are in, and life as we know it will be counting on your success. So I ask again, do you accept? Are you willing to put the lives of everyone on the East Side ahead of your own?”

  Holy crap! I mean, the correct answer was “yes.” As a Ranger, I could be ordered to do it, and some would say it was my duty either way.
But still, here I was, less than a month into Ranger training and they were asking me if I would save the world? Some of these people were…no wait, are still trying to kill me without a second thought? What had they done except try to kill me because of my powers? Because of fear?

  Looking around, I wasn’t sure what I saw in the faces – hope, fear, concern. Beside me I saw Leona and Royn, both looking at me without expectation. Without judgment. Just waiting on my decision, what I wanted to do.

  If I couldn’t protect my friends, what good was I? Jesus himself said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Turning back to the front, I said, “I accept.”

  A burst of noise erupted, but I only felt the squeeze on my hand. Suddenly I was pelted with “good lucks" and praise and had to shake a lot of hands. Someone told me, “Wow, I can’t believe you’re going to do it! No one’s ever beaten The Uland – ever! And he’s been the champion for ten years!”

  Um. What? They failed to mention that part.

  The rest of the meeting was a blur – I wasn’t even sure what came out of it. I think it was finalizing where everyone was going and how the command structure was to be set up. Or something. I was too busy trying to figure out how the hell I was going to do this. Not only to survive, but beat “Uland” to win, uh…whatever I was supposed to win.

  There was a gong from somewhere, and I was busted out of my thoughts and ushered out of the room with the rest of the herd. I followed Royn up the stairs and out onto one of the landings, when from behind me I heard, “Portlandian!”

  I turned and saw Aurora hustling toward me, in light blue fatigues that still managed to show off her figure, several guards and soldiers running behind her. “Guards, please wait on me here.” They snapped to attention and stopped as she continued toward me, stopping a few feet away.

  I managed an awkward bow. “Hi, Aurora. I mean Your Highness. I’m truly sorry to hear about your parents. Though I didn’t know them, I’m sorry for your loss and the pain it has caused you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Tear streaks lined her cheeks, now such a dark blue they were almost purple, and bloodshot eyes stared back into mine. She grabbed my hand in hers, and several of her retainers gasped, which she ignored. “Jay,” she said, her voice shaking, “thank you, first off. You have been a welcome distraction during my time here. I appreciate your concern, but no, there’s nothing you can do. I now have to lead my people in my parents’ stead – I am the oldest of my siblings and the rightful heir to the throne of the Reka.”

  She took a deep breath and looked at my hand clasped in her two blue ones. “I must travel back to Sweetwater for a coronation ceremony and to ready our armies for everything you just heard. I’m...” Her voice broke and her lip quivered. “I’m sorry, Jay, but I can’t see you anymore.” Her followers gasped again, and this time she whipped her head around and gave them a scathing look, bringing them to instant silence. “My duties, and yours as well, will not allow it to be.” She paused to wipe a tear. “You are very brave, Jayton Baird, to take on such a task. Good luck. If our paths cross again, I will count myself lucky. Goodbye, Portlandian,” she said, and stepped forward and kissed me full on the lips. Not aggressive, like she had been, but soft, tender, almost longing. It was incredible. She broke away quickly, dropped my hand, looked behind me and nodded to someone, then turned around, leading her followers down a hall.

  Huh. I’ll be damned. A command to save the world and getting dumped the same day.

  I stood there another few seconds, trying to wrap my head around this now. Apparently the rest of Squad Four had arrived in the meantime, because as I turned, they were all standing there with confused looks on their faces.

  Leona’s arms were crossed. “What did my cousin want?”

  All our heads snapped to look at her, as she watched Aurora walking away. “Huh?” I managed to get out.

  BAM! There it was again: master of conversation, Jayton Baird.

  “My cousin. What did she want? It’s not enough that you just got yourself entered into a ten-round death match, but then she probably just made some kind of ridiculous demand on you as well. So I’ll ask, for the third time, what…did…my cousin…want?” Leona cocked her head at me, a determined look on her face.

  I’m such an idiot. No wonder they looked so much alike – cousins. I told everyone what Aurora had said and they all gasped.

  Leona chuckled. “I can’t believe it! She actually did the right thing for once.”

  “So how exactly are you related?” Good ol’ Gilmer. You could always count on him to dig the information out that everyone else wants to know but is too polite/embarrassed to ask.

  “Our great grandmothers were sisters. Mine married outside the Reka, so our family have been ‘outsiders’ for a while now.”

  “And what about this ‘ten-round death match’?” I asked. Maybe with a gulp.

  Leona blushed. “Well, uh…my dad is a fan. He and his friends have followed the tournament for years. They broadcast the audio through telestones. As long as you have the right link, you can hear the blow by blow from the commentators, even on our side of the Breaks.”

  “So you know what I’m up against?”

  She shook her head. “Not really – there’s only audio, so I only know what the commentators say – who knows how accurate they are. But I do know all the major contenders and their signature moves.” She paused, looking at her boots. “And I know about the Uland.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “It’s bad.”

  “Oh.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. Let’s go ahead and write out his death certificate now,” Royn said, causing us all to jump. I had forgotten he was there. He chuckled. “You five get back to your room, meet downstairs in the training room at o-six hundred tomorrow where you’ll have a different trainer. Jay and Leona, we have somewhere else to be.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Jayton, a quick word?” He pulled me off to the side. “Are you OK?”

  “As ok as I can be, sir. What with all the ‘save the world or die’ talk.”

  He grinned. “Don’t worry about all that. I’ll make sure you’re prepared and trained up. That was a very brave thing you did, accepting the nomination right there on the spot. A lot of men with ten times your experience wouldn’t have agreed.” He looked proud of me, I think.

  “It’s the least I can do – you know, save everyone, serve your country, protect your friends, whatever,” I said.

  “Someone once said courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s doing what is necessary despite the fear. I think that’s what you just did. If you need to talk or anything, let me know. Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The sun had once again completed its journey, painting the sky a beautiful rainbow of colors, inspiring artists everywhere and drawing stares from early risers.

  At least I assume that’s what happened. We were back in our room, and by now, everyone else had konked out and Leona and I were the last up again, as usual. The whole group had talked and talked, going over and over everything that happened. Well, they did. I was a bit overwhelmed.

  “How are you, Jay, really?” she asked, reaching out and touching my arm before pulling back.

  With a sigh, I said, “Meh. I’m OK. It’s not like I have to save the world or anything.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about that. You’ll do fine. My cousin – the breakup – you two were dating, right?”

  I shook my head. “Uh…oh. I don’t think I’d call it ‘dating.’ We, uh…kissed.” I cleared my throat. “I never thought it was, ya know, serious…” Good Lord.

  She cocked her head. “Why not?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Until the end, I didn’t even know if she really liked me or wanted to really get to know me.”

  Leona nodded, got up – pulling me with her – and gave me a hug. I co
uld rest my chin on her head as I breathed in the flowery smell. I didn’t know where the scent came from but it was nice. “Well, if you need to talk about it or anything, let me know. I’m here for you,” she said, pulling away and putting her hand on my cheek. “One thing my cousin was right about – it is very brave of you to do this.” She smiled. “You’ll win; don’t worry. I know it.” Leona stepped back and walked to her room, humming quietly, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

  Chapter 21

  Someone should punch the guy who invented the alarm clock. Right in the face. No, crotch. Definitely crotch.

  All five of us were dragging – even after two cups of coffee in the cafeteria, a cold shower, and jumping jacks. I was still nodding off while trying to move. One hour of sleep does not do a body good. We stumbled down to the training floor, meeting Royn in our usual spot.

  He didn’t look very rested either, eyes bloodshot and hair unkempt, but he was doing better than us. “All right, you three go train with Sargent Cline. I need to work with Leona and Jayton only today. You two – let’s go!”

  “Wait, sir,” Leona said, stopping in her tracks and holding her stomach. “Something…something’s telling me that the whole squad needs to go, not just me.”

  Royn’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean something?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know, just a feeling I got. Like it’s important we stay together.”

  His eyes narrowed even more and he stood there five seconds before he said, “All right, I’ll trust the Guide Power, Ranger. Squad Four, let’s move out.” Royn turned on his heel and led the way out through the door, then fell to the back. “Leona, guide us down the fastest route to the Center Tower Stairs. Then we’ll all go down, please. We’ll test these Guide Powers of yours.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, and immediately turned down a hallway I’d never been down. I checked that Royn was far enough back before I whispered, “Did you really get a feeling about the whole squad?”

  She shrugged with a sly grin. “Could be a feeling, could be my stomach growling, who knows with these Quantum Powers.”