by Cheree Alsop
Dathien patted the nose of one of the big beasts we passed.
I leaned toward him. “What are those?” I whispered.
“Lamak. Their horns are used to cure stomachaches, headaches, and reduce fevers.”
“You mean they’re killed for their horns?” I asked, horrified. One of the beasts nuzzled my shirt and I petted its soft brown nose.
“Oh, no,” Dathien shook his head. “Lamak are gentle creatures. The horns fall off twice a year, and when they’re not used to pull carts, they wander through the streets and eat whatever they want.” Small, fluffy creatures with red and black fur ran between the crowds and dodged the feet of the horned animals.
I tried to imagine how much food one of the beasts would eat, but my thoughts were interrupted when one of the small, fluffy creatures bumped into the back of Dathien’s leg. He turned and kicked at it. Before I could say anything, the creature’s fur slicked back and its mouth opened wide as though hinged. It let out a loud hiss, showing a green, curled tongue and tiny, needle-like teeth. The animal coughed repeatedly, then turned and ran away.
“What was that about?” I asked.
Dathien glared after it. “That was a foth.”
“Doesn’t look too dangerous.”
He snorted. “Don’t let its looks fool you. That cough it was doing would have spit acid on us potent enough to melt the skin from our bones.”
I stared at him in horror. “Why didn’t it?”
“The collar. It’s a pet. The ones with collars have had their poison glands removed. It’s the ones that don’t have collars you have to worry about.”
I couldn’t fathom turning a creature into a pet that could potentially kill a person if not surgically altered, but then I remembered the basbats of the Caves. They were like huge bats, big enough to carry away small children, but their claws and teeth were removed at birth, and the skin of their wings was clipped, turning them into needy creatures dependent upon their owners for feeding and care. I had only seen a couple of the hulking animals, but I felt sorry for them. Without their claws, they were unable to hang upside down where they were comfortable. Instead, they slept in tiny caves carved into the walls of their owners’ dwellings. It was a sad existence, and one I had felt a kinship to.
The buildings around us had all been created from the same red rock as the wall that surrounded the city. The rocks that formed the structures on either side of the path stood out in sharp spikes like the skewer slugs that lived in the lower levels of the caves and curled up into a ball when startled, their needle spines coated in black poison that caused instant numbness and lethargy if stepped on. The houses and shops followed the strange protrusions so that they loomed at odd angles over the path we traveled. Flags of different colors hung from the end of every spike and when a breeze blew there were so many flags that the buildings themselves appeared to move with the flapping.
“Those are the house crests,” Dathien explained, pointing to a contorted house covered in purple and blue flags. “The wife keeps her family color and joins it with her husband's when they get married. That way you can tell who belongs to what family.” He gestured down the road where hundreds of multi-colored flags flapped. “Although by now, there are so many colors it doesn't really matter. I think they just like the look of it.”
I smiled and touched one of the flags we passed, then dropped my hand when a Luminos going into the house gave me a strange look.
As I followed Axon's men through the city, something began to happen. Other Luminos along the streets began to take notice of our group. Several pointed at Axon, who had his hood set back on his shoulders and walked down the road as though he didn’t notice the commotion he caused. His men, his guards, I realized, positioned themselves around him so that he walked at their center. But it was their bearing that separated them from the peddlers of the city.
The warriors walked with straight shoulders, firm steps, and eyes straight ahead. Their swords, which were now strapped to their sides instead of on their packs, caught the fading light of the sun. Dathien was the only one who was not in formation. He walked back beside me but still held himself with the proud bearing of a soldier.
“Do you need to be with them?” I asked quietly.
Dathien looked ahead at the crowds now parting for our group. He smiled and shook his head. “No, little minx. We’re safe now that they’ve recognized the Prince.”
I followed his gaze and watched the people to each side of the street drop to their knees with their eyes on the ground as Axon passed. Word spread faster than I ever realized it could, and when we turned up the next street, the people were already kneeling. Axon glanced back at us once to make sure we were still following. His eyebrow lifted and a slight smile quirked the corner of his lips when our eyes met. I widened my own eyes to show my surprise and his smile tightened as though he held in a laugh before he turned back to the solemn procession.
We made our way through the red rock maze toward the two massive, multi-towered monstrosities at the center of the city. Spires rose at odd angles from all sides of both structures with no apparent order. Huge, iron-worked fences even taller than the wall around the city surrounded both castles and a massive flag flew from the top of each. One was black and bore a crescent moon with stars winking in the background, while the other was gold with an orange sun on one side, and the great red rock city on the other. Axon's men led us the castle with the sun flag.
“Who lives over there?” I asked Dathien quietly, pointing at the other red rock castle.
“The Nathos King.” At my raised eyebrows, he shrugged. “After the outbreak of the Sathen, the Luminos and Nathos had to reach an understanding. Here, they take care of their own people, but protect each other in the city. It's different in Lumini. Axon's father, King Adexo, rules over all, but he has both Luminos and Nathos advisors.”
Luminos soldiers guarded the front of both castles. They looked sharp in their red and gold finery, weapons glinting in the fading sunlight. “Why do the Luminos guard their castle, then?” I pressed.
“When night falls, the Nathos guard the Luminos castle, but neither people are allowed inside. A Luminos has never set foot in the Nathos castle, and vice versa. It's a pact they made long ago that protects them both.” His voice lowered, “But it also furthers the dividing lines between both races, keeping total peace at bay. I think the arrangements at Lumini make much more sense.”
“Is the peace complete in Lumini then?” I asked curiously. It was hard to imagine, since even at the caves where both people lived in such close proximity there were scuffles and both races kept mostly to themselves.
Dathien hesitated, then shook his head. “I wish I could say it was so. There's definitely more tolerance in Lumini, and the people work together with the same goals in mind, but I'm not sure if there will ever be complete and total peace because we are so different from each other.”
“Are you?” I asked before I could stop myself.
He glanced at me, but didn't answer.
The closed gates at the entrance to the Luminos castle resembled great bat wings tipped in spikes. Axon merely had to nod at the dozen Luminos soldiers that guarded the gates for them to be swiftly opened. The gates closed behind us, and the noise of the city silenced almost immediately. We walked up several steps and entered through towering, carved red-rock doors held open by weary-looking Luminos servants.
“I’m glad we made it before dusk, even if just barely,” Dathien whispered.
“Why?” I asked quietly, trying not to gawk at the grand, towering hall before us.
“Because the inns in the city aren’t trustworthy. I’ve never been able to rest well surrounded by Nathos and Duskies I don’t know,” he replied.
“Dathien!” Marken rebuked with a reproachful expression on his face.
Dathien shrugged, his gray cheeks touched with red. “I was just telling her the truth. She should know that she can’t trust everyone.”
Marken shook
his head. “Well, make sure she knows that includes Luminos as well. You’re quite biased,” he concluded before turning away.
Dathien lowered his voice so that only I could here. “Not biased, just practical. If we had spent the night at an inn, the Luminos who are untrustworthy would be sleeping along with the Luminos worth trusting. I left it out because it was a moot point.”
I smothered a laugh and followed him up the long hallway. Wool cloth dyed in green, yellow, brown, blue, orange, and red lined the red stone walls and gave the impression that we were walking through a rainbow. The cloth underfoot was made of soft, long woven strands of wool tied with thread. It kept the off-white color of wool, but the threads had been stained red and black, reminding me of the foth from the streets.
Chapter 8
A Luminos servant led us up a flight of stairs and down another long hallway. Axon’s voice was the only sound as he spoke to the man in a low, steady tone. I caught only a few shreds of the conversation which pertained to preparing our rooms before the sun set. Apparently, royal quarters had been set apart for Axon and several guests, but they had heard of the attack in the desert on the way to Firen Caves and no one had known if Axon’s party survived. The rooms were in a ‘state of disarray’, as the servant put it, his face flushed and hands wringing together.
Axon reassured him that any room at this point would be welcome. His voice was light, but there was no mistaking the dark circles under his eyes and the way our entire party dragged their feet along the woven carpet. The servants also seemed exhausted and I realized how inconvenient it must be for an entire castle to become unproductive when the sun set. I also realized that I hadn’t seen any Duskies since we entered the castle.
“Dathien?” It took him a second to notice I was speaking to him, then the giant Luminos smiled at me tiredly. “Where are the Duskies that protect the castle until nightfall?”
His eyebrows pulled together. “Well, no one is allowed in Lysus castle but the Luminos.”
A pit formed in my stomach and the hostile glances from the Luminos servants that followed us made sense. “I shouldn’t be here,” I whispered back.
Dathien’s brow dropped and his tone became certain. “You’re one of us, now, Nexa. Don’t forget it. No one can tell you that you don’t belong.”
I nodded because it felt like he expected me to, but I was all the more aware of the suspicious looks and whispers from the passing Luminos servants. At least at the Caves I had had a position, somewhere I belonged even if it was a barely tolerated role brought on by necessity instead of want.
I felt like an outcast under the gazes of the light blue, green, and golden eyes that watched me from alcoves and dark hallways. I realized, too, why they were worried. When all the Luminos were unable to defend themselves, I would be free to wander at will, kill them all, or even burn down the place if I wanted. I glanced at the stone walls, doubting they would burn, then laughed at myself. I could barely put one foot in front of the other, and every wound from the Sathen ached as if rubbed raw. The Luminos definitely wouldn’t have to worry about me tonight.
“Your rooms, my Prince,” the head servant said. He pushed open carved red rock doors tall enough for three men to walk through standing on each others’ heads. The doors pivoted on hinges and had to be propped over so that their massive size didn't push the steward over.
The doors revealed an immense stone chamber the size of the dining room at Firen Caves, the largest chamber in the cave system. The room had been painted a light gold offset by a red dyed carpet and red plush furnishings. The far wall held huge windows, the only windows I had ever seen up close. They showed the spires of Lysus city stretched out below. Lights flickered along the cobblestones as lamps were lit. A quick glance showed that no Luminos were left in the streets, only Duskies preparing their goods from the day to barter with the Nathos for their night’s hunt.
“Again, I apologize that King Raden has already retired for the night. He will be anxious to see you at first light if you are rested enough to have visitors after your challenging trip.” The servant then threw me a guarded, unfriendly look. “Are your accommodations as you would like, my prince?”
Axon either missed the look or chose to ignore it because he nodded. “Yes, thank you. Please leave us now to our rest.”
The servant bowed and walked backward to the door where he stopped again and looked at me anxiously without meeting my eyes. “You’re sure everything is as you would like it, my prince?”
This time Axon’s eyes tightened and I realized he knew exactly what the servant was talking about. “They are as I would prefer them, Steward” he replied in short, clipped words. “Thank you and goodnight.” There was a finality to his tone that left no room for argument.
The servant’s face paled and he bowed again, then left the room and pulled the door shut behind him.
Axon fell on one of the couches with a sigh. “Talk about pushing the matter.” He met my eyes and must have read the mixed emotions in them because he gave a soft smile. “They’re not trying to be rude, they’re just. . . used to certain protocols and procedures. The best way to create chaos in a household is to introduce an unknown factor.”
Dathien nudged me with an elbow. “You, little minx, are our unknown factor.”
I blushed. “I don’t mean to cause any trouble,” I protested.
Axon lifted an eyebrow. “No?” He laughed when my mouth fell open, then waved a hand. “Regardless, we are all exhausted and in need of a good night’s sleep. There should be more than enough chambers for everyone. Please pick your quarters and I will see you all at sunrise.”
He rose slowly and made his way toward the closest room where doors twice as big as the rest of the others lining the grand hall already stood partially open. When he opened the doors wider, they revealed a second chamber almost as big as the one in which we stood. A massive four poster bed sat in the middle surrounded by exotic fur rugs, fancy red couches, half a dozen dressers, and an assortment of other furniture I had never seen before.
I tore my gaze away to find that the rest of the Luminos had each chosen a room branching off from the main hall. I hesitated, uncertain as to whether I could sleep on one of the amazingly comfortable looking couches in the hall or if I should curl up in a corner. Either way was more than welcome.
“Nexa, one of those rooms is yours,” Axon said.
I looked back to find him watching me from the door of his room and shook my head. “I’ve already caused enough trouble. I’d be more than happy to sleep here or in the servants quarters or-“
He cut me off with a patient look. “Nexa, you’re with me and you will be treated like one of my companions. Now pick a room before I pick one for you.”
I grimaced at the challenge in his tone and turned away. I knew he watched as I stalked to the closest room, pulled open the door, then stepped inside to stop and stare at the beautiful chamber.
The walls had been painted the red hue of a sunset before a storm. Cream cloth covered two couches with carved cloven feet like the lamaks, a soft white rug woven from loose silky fur sat at my bare feet which felt dirtier for the whiteness in front of them, lacy cloth hung from the four poster bed in the middle of the room like soft cobwebs, and a cream colored blanket beckoned to me from the massive bed which could have fit twenty girls my size.
Then I saw the mirror on the far wall. I forgot about my dirty feet and the richness of my surroundings and walked toward it. The reflective glass was fit into a twisted metal frame of vines, thorns, and beautifully worked flowers of a species I had never seen before. The flowers themselves had been painted a shade darker than the soft red wall behind it, darkening to almost black at the edges of the petals. A table with an intricately carved wooden chair, complete with cream colored cushions and cloven hooves, was turned as though waiting for me. I put a hand on the arm of the chair and stared at my reflection.
The girl that stared back was a stranger I had never seen. Gray eyes
the color of the sky at midday before a rain peered into my own. My hair, a mix of the Luminos white and Nathos black, had been chopped short and uneven by my own hand with few strands longer than chin length because it always got in the way while I did my security duty at the Caves. I knew the color of my hair, but I had never known there was no pattern to the mix of black and white; in some places the white and black patches were as big as my palm, while in others they were mixed so finely it looked gray.
I stared from my hair to my face, which I had avoided looking at on purpose. Where other Duskies’ faces and bodies were swirled in beautiful patterns of gray and pale, my face looked as if someone had drawn a line down the middle and painted everything on the right side gray with white patterns, while a mirror image of white with gray patterns reflected it on the left.
I realized looking down at my hands that the patterns were the same, light on the right with dark skin underneath, while there were dark patterns on the left with white skin underneath. I don’t know why I had never noticed it before, but mirrors didn’t exist in the lower levels of the Caves, and the only times I had ever been to the underground pools, steam covered the hot water which had to be boiled and cooled before it could be used. What water there was in the upper floors was in cups and great vats, and then the lighting was so dim that barely any reflection could be seen; what little I had viewed of my features never promised much.
I stared at my reflection. I had never seen a Duskie that looked like me; I felt embarrassed to be so different. I felt strange in my own skin.