Suddenly, the footsteps stopped directly in front of the bush where they were hiding. Jonas looked and saw that the new arrivals were Bostavs. Relieved, he came up from hiding and went towards them.
“I am very glad that you have arrived,” he said.
One of the Bostavs went towards him and said, “Where is the girl?” His spear was geared towards Jonas, and the pointed edge was uncomfortably close to his face.
“She is over there,” Jonas turned around slowly to point at Maria. Before he can say or do anything else however, the Bostav had taken a hold of his arms and is holding them over his back while another Bostav bound them together.
“Wait! What are you doing? What is the meaning of this?” he said, as he struggled to free himself. The Bostavs proved stronger though and managed to keep him in his place. It didn’t help him that their spears are incredibly deadly and are pointed at him. One of the Bostavs then approached the bush where Maria was hiding and saw her.
“Come out Maria,” he said. “We are here to escort you to the palace to meet our kingdom’s rulers, the Royals.”
Maria came out and felt less afraid. She didn’t say a word but went and stood near the Bostav who was speaking to her. “My name is Gadik,” the Bostav said. “I had been searching the kingdom far and wide for you, every since your friend Meeka told us that you were taken.”
“Meeka! Yes my friend!” Maria felt happy now and is looking forward to seeing the little twig.
Jonas spoke out. “You have to let me go,” he said. “What did I do to you?”
Gadik left Maria’s side for a moment and walked over to him. He looked the Meston in the eye and said, “Jonas, Meston of the South, you will be taken to the palace as our prisoner and face trial for the kidnapping of the human girl.” Before Jonas could protest, Gadik said to one of the other Bostavs, “Take him away.” He grabbed him and along with another Bostav, started to drag Jonas to the palace.
“Wait its true!” Maria said. “He helped me escape!”
Gadik turned back to Maria. “Do not worry little girl. If what you say and what he claims is true, then it will all be sorted out in the palace, in front of the Royals,” he re-assured her. He looked at the remaining Bostav with him. “Come, let us go,” he said, as the two of them escorted Maria along the woods, on their way to the palace.
***
Reeza opened her eyes. She is in some sort of dungeon. She tried to move her hands but they are bound together in shackles that are attached to the ceiling. Her legs are also shackled but to the wall. Reeza looked around, hoping for a sign of Ankar, but they must be holding him in another cell. She looked towards the door. There are two Bostavs posted there. I guess they are not taking their chances with just one this time, she thought. She tried to break her arms free but the shackles are holding on well. Even the ones holding her legs are just as strong. She needs to get to Ankar.
Ankar had always acted as a father to Reeza. Her own father perished in the Great War when Reeza was still in the womb of her mother. Ankar had made sure that they were well taken cared of and treated them as his own family. He thought Reeza the ways of the tribe, as he did all the other children. They learned the history of the kingdom from him. Reeza doesn’t remember Ankar bad-mouthing the kingdom or the Royals but she did remember his voice beaming with pride whenever the Unknowns were mentioned.
Reeza was a little awkward as a young child. She was smaller than the other children her age and had to work twice as hard as they did just to be able to accomplish the same things. But she was persistent and did not give up. She knew in her own little heart that she can do just as well as the others, if not better.
Ankar saw potential in young little Reeza. When the children were all performing their physical education exercises on the fields in the south, he noticed the young girl fail tests but kept coming back to try again. Her dedication was unwavering and Ankar knew that she has the makings of a great and loyal warrior. When Reeza was of age to choose her desired way of life, she did not disappoint Ankar when she chose to be a soldier. The Southerners trained the majority of their tribe’s members in security and self-defense.
She was sent off with the elite members of their tribe’s defense unit to be trained as a spy. This involves spending months in the woods, exploring parts of the kingdom in unknown territories and passing several combat and survival tests. As expected, Reeza came out on top, performing better than the rest of her fellow trainees and members of the advanced unit, except for the one called Jonas. She had never defeated him, but neither did he ever defeat her; in fact every time they would spar, it would last so long without either one coming out on top that their comrades would just break it off and tell them to stop.
Reeza thought about Jonas. She had sent the Bostavs after him under the false pretense that it was he who had kidnapped Maria. But Jonas can handle himself, if he chooses to fight them. If he don’t then Reeza was certain that she would see him here in the dungeons shortly.
She looked at the ceiling but it was made from the same wall material as the room where she was previously held. She looked at the surrounding walls but they were the same. The Royals have really upgraded the security of the palace since the Great War, to ensure that no other creature gain entry the same way the traitor did; the same traitor that they never caught.
Reeza doubts that the Bostavs would be visiting her in the cell anytime soon. After the trouble they went through with her earlier, she is positive that they would just be keeping an eye on her and not risking her near them. They now know how skilled and resourceful Reeza is.
She finally realized that there is nothing she could do but wait. Wait for Ankar to do something, to give her a sign. Wait for the Unknowns to infiltrate the palace walls. Wait for another one of her comrades to free her from the shackles. Wait for Jonas to be brought in so she can convince him to help her.
Reeza must wait.
***
Meeka came down from the tree slowly. Each step he took was given careful consideration. His arms were strategically placed on the climb down. He does not want to draw attention to himself, especially from the Unknowns. Those creatures appeared scary and do not seem to have any regard for life, as evident with all the animal carcasses lying about. He slowly made his way to the bush where he saw Jasper hiding. Careful not to step on anything that would produce any noise, he took his time to get there. Finally he reached it, and the two of them continued to observe the Unknowns silently.
After their long ritual, the potion that they were cooking is ready. Satisfied with their devious work, the Unknowns retired to their sleeping shelter. Performing the spell seemed to have taken all of their energy and it wasn’t long before they all drifted off to sleep.
Jasper turned to Meeka. “We should go now,” he said. Slowly, the two of them got up and started to make their way around the camp and to the other side where they originally came from. Meeka stopped, and stared at the cauldron in the middle. Jasper looked at him and shook his head, because he has a feeling of what Meeka wants to do. Meeka disregarded Jasper’s warning. He looked towards the shelter and counted five still figures. He then slowly made his way to the middle. He grabbed hold of the wooden spoon that they were using to stir the potion. It was taller than he was, so he took a nearby rock and stood on it. He stirred the pot, took some of the potion out and kept stirring until he got what he was looking for. The potion was still hot and so he tipped the item over out into the ground. He blew on it to help it cool down. He looked around and saw some discarded fabric under a nearby tree. He took a few pieces out and used it to touch the item. He wrapped it under the fabric and then he took his new prize and ran back towards Jasper. He unwrapped it and showed it to him.
“The Diamond of Astanfe!” Jasper exclaimed in an excited whisper. “But why would you take that?”
“Well you don’t want them to keep it, do you? I mean they can use it to kill the others,” the little twig replied. “But it’s much too big for me to c
arry. I have to use all four arms and it makes me awkward. Here, you hold on to it.” He handed Jasper the dagger. Jasper looked at it, then reluctantly took it from him and put it on his belt, inside a pouch that was meant to hold a knife. He then motioned for Meeka to follow him as they successfully made their way off the campsite.
Jasper took Meeka on his shoulders again. “Are you ready?” he asked. Meeka nodded and Jasper started to run. He is going back to his tribe, towards the north. Meeka pulled on his hair to stop him.
“Owww, that hurts! What did you do that for?” Jasper asked.
“Sorry I had to get your attention. Where are you headed?”
“Back to the north. The Elders would know what to do.”
“I think it would be better of we just head straight to the palace.”
“The palace?” Jasper asked. “But why?”
“Well we can give the dagger to the Bostavs. And we can tell them where the Unknowns are hiding.”
Jasper took a minute to consider. “You’re right,” he said, “to the palace it is. Hold on tight little one, I will be running faster than I ever did before!”
Meeka gulped and held on tight to Jasper’s hair, using all four of his arms. Within seconds, Jasper took off in a flash, this time headed west, towards the palace.
CHAPTER TEN
The Palace of the Royals is a majestic structure built by King Astanfe himself.
It is situated in the west side of the kingdom, the farthest point from the entrance to the Forbidden Area. The structure was made of stone and marble and consisted of seven floors. There is a system of empty unused caves in the very bottom level. Above it stood the dungeons, prisons and storage areas. There are prisoners kept there for crimes committed all over the kingdom. There are Omtars and Mestons, those who have stood trial and have failed to justify their deeds to the court. The punishment is simply life imprisonment. The only crime punishable by death is treason. This was imposed after the Great War, when the Unknowns have been exiled and the Southerners forgiven. There is a room on this level where the Bostavs would perform an execution if one were needed. It is very simple, just a wooden stump on the ground and an axe. Those who are deemed to be traitors would be beheaded in this very room.
The next two floors are the Bostavs’ quarters where the 100 soldiers took turns eating and sleeping. There are always a total of 90 on duty at all times; they require less sustenance and rest than when they did when they were humans. They have a dining hall where a select handful of volunteers from the Meston tribes dedicate their lives in servitude of the Royals. Here they prepare simple yet nutritious meals for the Bostavs consumption. The sleeping quarters are military style dormitories, with a general room full of bunk beds and allowing for little or no privacy. The Bostavs are careful to not leave one of their own alone, in case of an attack.
The floor above the Bostavs is the main floor of the palace, which visitors can use for a tour. Mestons from the north and the south as well as the Omtars were at one time allowed to come in and indulge in the beauty of the palace on certain times set by the Bostavs. This practice was abolished after the Great War when the Royals became stricter as to whom they allow inside. And now this beautiful floor and its magnificent architecture lie desolate and empty. When the threat of another war is gone after the prophecy is fulfilled, it is hoped by all that the palace will re-open once more.
The next three floors are all reserved for the Royals. The one above the main floor is where the Royals used to indulge in eating and drinking. They do not need to do this to survive, but mainly a social gesture especially when entertaining a citizen of the kingdom who had done some heroic deed. But like the main floor, it now lays empty.
The next floor up is the Royals’ chamber. Each one of them has their own private quarters as well as a main chamber. This is the one that the remaining five now use as their main room, where they sleep and hold trials. The private quarters are still there but mainly just for the sentimental value.
The floor above, the final floor, is where the light that beams upwards to the sky exists. This white light can be seen from all parts of the kingdom and the color signifies peace. When the attack occurred 50 years ago, the traitor changed the light to red using magic, signaling his troops to attack. But when peace was restored, the white light returned on its own.
King Astanfe had intended for the palace to be used by his children until the end of time. He wanted them to experience the joys in the kingdom such as the bountiful fruits and the delicious fish. There is also an impressive garden, filled with every plant that exists in the Kingdom of Hepoxia. The walls of the garden are covered in vines and in the middle stood a fountain made of stone, an oasis amongst the plants.
In the beginning of the kingdom, his children enjoyed the palace much like any person would. They played there and relaxed. The king also provided them with the knowledge of the outside world. Since the kingdom was a new creation he felt it important that his children know the history of the world where it is built within. Hence, the Royals, all ten of them, became proficient in human affairs and gained wisdom in how the empires of old where handled by their great kings. This was also how Prince Amir developed his ideas of trying to overthrow the kingdom and take over the world. It was not his father’s intention.
Maria Mercado now sat in the great dining hall. When she first entered it, the room was dark. But as soon as she set foot inside, it illuminated as if by magic. Gadik had brought her here and had instructed food and water to be brought to her. He then left to inform his superiors of the arrival of the human girl. Maria was left alone, sitting on a golden chair with the golden dining table in front of her. One by one, several Mestons brought her some food and encouraged her to eat. They did not speak much but they looked at her with an abundance of joy in their eyes. Maria felt like a popular girl from back home.
“Excuse me,” she said to one of them. It’s a young boy, around her age, with a vertical scar on his forehead. “Why is everyone looking at me and smiling?”
The boy smiled. “That is because we all want to see the girl that will be our salvation,” he said. He then turned around and left.
Me? Salvation? I am still not used to being held in a high regard. This is Jasmine’s sort of stuff.
Maria looked around. I wonder where Jonas is? I hope they’re not torturing him, she said to herself. At this time another Meston walked in, this time an older woman and she bore a horizontal scar on her forehead.
“Hello,” Maria said. “My name is Maria, what’s yours?” she asked.
“My name is Martha,” the old lady replied.
“Okay Martha, I don’t mean to bother you, but I just don’t want to be alone. This place is so nice and it’s a little bit intimidating for me.”
“I understand, child. When I first stepped foot in this palace, I felt the same thing. That was a very long time ago yet every time I look around this place, that old feeling still comes back to me.” She smiled fondly at Maria. “You must be around 16 years old?”
“I am 15,” Maria replied. “How can you guess?”
“I am an old lady dear. I raised two sons of my own. I am usually very good at guessing people’s ages.”
“Where are your sons now?”
“They are both at home, with the rest of the tribe in the north, raising their own families. I have several grandchildren,” she said.
“And how come you’re here? Do you live here?”
“Yes I live here. After my sons are both grown and have their own lives, I decided that the best way to use the remainder of my days is to be here in the palace and look after the Bostavs. They are so brave you know, leaving your world and coming here to defend ours.”
“Yes I had heard that they were humans. That is so cool,” she beamed with pride.
Just then, the door opened and Gadik walked in. Martha got up and waved goodbye to Maria and exited. Gadik came over to where Maria was sitting.
“Maria Mercado, get ready and
come with me,” he said. Maria got up and brushed food crumbs off her clothes. She then walked towards Gadik.
“I am taking you upstairs,” he said.
“Why? What’s upstairs?”
Gadik did not reply but kept walking with her. They went up a set of long winding stairs. They passed several Bostavs either walking on patrol or standing guard. Gadik stopped before a door and held his hand over the scanner. The door opened. He led Maria inside, where she was temporarily blinded by the brightness emanating from the room. She could see 5 thrones with 5 figures sitting on them, and each one appeared to be glowing. Gadik announced her arrival:
“Your Majesties, Princes and Princesses. Let me introduce to you all, the human girl, Maria Mercado.”
***
The Bostav dragged down Jonas to the palace with great speed and force. Once or twice along the way, he had the urge to break free from his grasp and to run. But then he thought of how unproductive that would be, and how that would really be in contrast to his claim for innocence. And so here he is, tied up like a common criminal, awaiting his trial or even just to have a few words with the Royals.
He wondered what they have done to Maria. He is guessing that they are treating her well; after all, they would want her to pick their side when the time comes. She’s a nice girl, that Maria, Jonas thought. She has no idea of how important she is and the gravity of the impact of her decision. She is of that age too that doesn’t really give too much consideration to others’ well being. Jonas knew because he was like that as well when he was growing up.
Jonas looked around his cell. He can’t see anyone else in the room, except for the Bostav guarding the door. He wonders if he is the only prisoner.
What was that?
Jonas heard a sound, like someone clanking chains together. It is the same kind of sound that he made earlier when he shook the shackles that are binding his hands together. So I’m not alone, he thought. By the sound of the clanking, it is being made by someone strong. So it can’t be an Omtar, more than likely a Meston, but which one? Jonas shook his shackles hard, but with rhythm, hoping that whoever was next door would hear. After a minute or so, he heard his neighbor shaking their shackles.
The Strange Adventure of Maria Mercado Page 9