Billy was stunned by this announcement as he looked at the golden staff. “Oh my god.” as he looked at the jewel glowing slightly from within.
People came running from every side shouting. There was torches lit, and in a very short time, a crowd had gathered. But they were definitely not Chinese! So where am I now? He thought as the crowd approached.
A throng of these people gathered around him and in minutes he could hear running feet as the news was shouted across the valley. Then there was an odd sound, maybe like…well the sound of stormtroopers came to mind. A troop of what might have been Roman centurions came tromping into the firelight. A man in shining leather armor contoured to fit his form ran and fell to his knee in front of Billy.
"Awe crap!?" he said, surprised and somewhat confused "What now?" as the man extended his arms and said, "My Lord how can I serve you?"
Billy thought for a moment “Well I could sure use some good food and something to drink. Don’t have a hamburger and a Cola do you? God! I miss hamburgers and coke, and then I guess take me to your leader?” That last he threw in because he was pretty sure he was going to meet the leaders anyway.
“Oh! And no rice!”
“As my lord wishes,” the man said. “But I am unfamiliar with this hamburger and …Cola?
Perhaps some roast lamb and wine my lord?”
The man almost sounded fearful.
“Sure,” Billy said, hesitantly. This attitude was certainly unexpected. He looked around and realized the whole field of people was bowed in reverence. “Oh my god!” He said under his breath. “What am I into now?”
It was a strange procession that began to walk with him toward this city of the dawn everyone was talking about. There were soldiers and Sheppard's and beggars dancing and laughing along the road. They all spoke English… Well, he thought it was English, since geezer's disappearance back into his?? Skin..? Which he found very unsettling, to be honest. It was very odd to have a creature going in and out of your own body.
Anyway, he wasn't really sure if it was the Geezer effect making it seem like they were all speaking the same language, or perhaps they were. It bothered him also that geezer was gone and he had half hoped that the rest of his friends were going to be here. But he didn't even know where here was, so chances were slim.
He was having trouble figuring out what time he was in as well. Obviously, it was some time in the distant past from the clothing the people around him wore.
He guessed it might be near Roman times. The armor they wore appeared to be mostly hardened leather with bits of metal attached. Maybe before Rome? Still, they were all sporting big noses and long robes mostly. Arabic? But there were beautiful trees and shrubbery he had always thought of Arabia as a desert country. Continent? He really wished he had paid more attention in history class. Or maybe Bible class would have been better; somehow it all had a biblical feel to it.
They were all chattering about the city of flowers and temple of the dawn or some such nonsense and the coming of some big event. They came near the top of a hill and everyone stopped, apparently waiting for something. There was a commotion just out of eyesight. The distinctive sound of horses could be heard, which became thundering of hooves, and carts? or something. At any rate, the sound of what could be a stampede coming over the hill scared the pants off of him. He stepped back, prepared to run. Then some trick of sound there was a hush. He felt the captain's hand on his arm.
“Be not concerned young master, you will not be harmed.” He cracked an immense grin. As if he anticipated some great thing... Billy noticed the man had exceptionally good teeth
Just then a huge golden chariot came charging over the hill, a blast of noise dirt followed. Almost immediately maybe a hundred chariots all decked in flags and painted bright colors came flying over the hill. Then horsemen in red with capes flying in the wind came charging over the hill. It was like a scene out of Spartacus or some Roman movie. It was all so breath-taking as they charged toward him. He had never seen such an awe inspiring site…well except when they had released the dragons on him back in China. That had been impressive, he wanted to run. Had the captain not had a firm grip on his elbow he might have.
The whole company came to stop just yards away from him in a cloud of dust. There was silence then everyone went on one knee as a handsome man in crimson and gold armor stepped from the golden chariot and walked toward him. He was even more shocked as the man walked up to him and bowed deeply.
There was a hush as if everyone held their breath.
“You...you don't need to bow in front of me,” he said in a hushed whisper. “Aren’t you a king or something? Don't bow to me. I am just a... a... nobody.” This whole thing was just crazy and he didn't know what to do. He started to return the bow when the Kingly kind of guy raised his eyes and said
"But my lord you carry the staff of time, the Jewel! You are the emperor of the Tower. Are you not the King of all you perceive? Surely I give fealty to you as is prophesied. And a boy will come from the wilderness dressed in golden robes of a foreign land bearing the rod and sword of time and he will set things aright. In his final sacrifice does he come to free all who shall bow before him. And they who prepare the mighty tower shall prove their reward. I am but the lowly Nabopolassar, King of Babylon and Mesopotamia. May I ask your honorable name, my lord?"
“What? I don't know what you just said…My Name is …well its William but everyone calls me Billy. What tower what are you talking about?”
“May I stand?” King Nabopolassar said.
Billy was not liking the sound of any of this. The whole thing made him uncomfortable. People bowing. And there seemed to be thousands of them.
"Of course you can stand everyone stand. Everyone!" Billy said loudly. And to his amazement, they all stood up although they looked very nervous about it and quite a few didn't quite make it all the way up, half genuflecting every few seconds as if they were afraid of some reprimand. King Nabopolassar got to his feet. "Come, my Lord, if you will. I have something of moment to show you. You will be ever so pleased I promise." With that, the man led him to the golden chariot and motioned Billy to get on. Billy hesitated, he really didn't like this.
Finally, he got on and Nabopolassar stepped up behind and they slowly road to the top of the hill as the hundreds there parted and bowed.
"Wow," Billy said under his breath.
They came to the top of the hill and looked down at a city like nothing young Billy had ever seen. There were castles and towers and a great massive gate as you see in the movies. A huge portcullis was half raised and people were running in and out like insects, it looked so big hanging above them. The beauty that took his breath away was in the very center of this Grande city there was a tower. It was unbelievably huge made of massive rock and stone towering up into the sky. He couldn't guess how high it went but it pierced the very clouds. For a moment he thought he could see lightning up there and hear the distant rumble of thunder.
“Oh my god!” he said.
"It is the tower, my lord. The tower of infamy it is to be your throne tower and from it, you will rule for all eternity as God of all."
Billy was stunned. "What? King of…of all? I can't believe this, this isn't right I am no king or god or anything like that it's crazy I am just a kid."
"My lord! You must not say such things. At least not in this company. Come we will to the city and there we will bring all to fruition." With that, he whipped the horses and they were off at a breathtaking speed. It took Billy by surprise and he would have toppled out of the chariot if the king hadn't caught him.
The ride to the city was unbelievable, to say the least. He had never dreamed he would be in a real chariot with charging white horses. Well they weren’t charging really, but with all the excitement, they were certainly dancing in their harnesses, had the King not had a firm grip he was sure they would run, they were spooked.
He kept glancing up at the angry clouds, however, swirling around the huge tower. Was that re
al lightning flashing around it? Was it really so high? He had read about the tower of course. But from what he read it was only 300 feet tall. This was not three hundred feet. Maybe a mile high. And from this view he could see that the length of this thing went for many city blocks, blocks, and blocks. It was huge! They entered the giant gates of the city, banners were waving people were cheering. "Hail the KING of Kings."
“Oh! I don’t like that!” he said quite loudly, but no one heard him.
"See My Lord," the man said, "The prophecy comes alive." Billy was fumbling for something to say.
Just then they passed a shop window and Billy for the first time in weeks saw his reflection. It was a shock. There before him was a tall young man in crimson silk robes with golden dragons sewn into the fabric. He realized he hadn't really had a chance to look at the clothes he had stolen from that line in the dungeon in China as he escaped his imprisonment. He had had no idea they were so resplendent.
Now, standing in a golden chariot, long hair blowing in the breeze holding a shining golden staff, he barely recognized himself.
It was just a glimpse and he raised the staff to look at it and the people cheered. It was kind of funny to see so he raised the staff again, and again the people cheered. It was so cool! He did it several more times before the man said to him.
“My lord surely the people love you.”
Billy forgot all he had gone through, he was thrilled with the cheering crowd. He smiled and waved.
Finally, they reached the tower. It was like a humongous black castle the turrets reaching up to the very sky. He heard the thunder so high above him as he climbed down from the chariot. A mist was swirling all around the tower…or was it clouds? Someone lead him into the tower, people bowing as he passed. He was smiling so much his face was beginning to hurt.
“My lord.” someone said and they walked through a curtained door into the most opulent room Billy had ever entered. Everywhere was gold and marble beautifully carved and molded around each other. Statues and pillars abundant. There was a huge chair in lavender and gold at the end of the room and he was led to it and made to sit.
A man in long robes stepped forward and gave Billy a glass of wine then stepped back facing the throng in the room
"My ladies and lords from all the world," he said "the time has come! We are about to concur the very heavens themselves. As the prophecy of Agdoman said. So shall come a young man dressed in robes of the finest silk and dragons. Carrying the staff of Agdoman. He shall come after the heralds from another time. The evil ones with them a demon of the most foul, to confuse us. But fear not! The demon; the speaking dog for he shall not prevail over the young man of power, no he shall fall to the ground and be smitten! So said Agdoman the great prophet.
Bring forward the foul creature and his pack!" There was a disturbance in the doorway and the crowd parted. To Billy's shock, Brother Dog, Zhoulin, and Uncle were shoved to the floor in front of him. They were all shackled and they looked like they had been beaten very badly. Even Zhoulin was sporting a broken lip and a black eye.
He didn’t know how to react and sat there stunned for a moment.
“And such shall be the fate of this demon and his helpers!” said the man who had given Billy the drink. Swords came out as men advanced on the trio. One of them grabbed Brother Dog by a steel collar that was around his neck. Billy could see blood coming from where it was gouging into Brother Dogs neck. They threw him to the ground, one kicked him viciously in the ribs. Brother Dog yipped and lay there moaning. One of them raised their sword over their head ominously.
“Stop!” Billy shouted.
The room was still for a moment “But my young lord!” King Nabopolassar said “they must be killed they are unclean, they are demons and witches. They must be killed before the final ceremony. Why should we hesitate?” Uncle shook his head at Billy, staring at him. He shook it again before he was shoved roughly to the floor.
“I…I am unfamiliar with your customs,” Billy began hesitantly, not understanding what Uncle wanted. Actually, he didn't understand any of this but he had to do something and fast.
"Is shedding blood on this day necessary? You say they are evil…?" he dug desperately in his mind for a good argument, then his over religious grandfather came to mind. "Is this not holy ground?" he said jumping to his feet. "Would you put evil blood on this ground?" He had no idea what was going on really, but it always seemed to him over-religious people were easier to manipulate. His grandfather on his dad's side was so religious it was ridiculous always saying everything was evil. For some reason, the harsher the words the more gullible people seemed to get and this looked to be that kind of crowd. "If they must be killed let us not do it here my Lord and King," he bowed deeply. "It would be far better if they are sacrificed at the ceremony itself. Here it has no meaning…am I right?" He searched in his mind for more but he was drawing a blank. Luckily the crowd cheered in agreement.
“Perhaps my lord is correct,” the King said bowing deeply.
“Let them up,” Billy said, stepping down from the throne. The guards stepped back.
Zhoulin and Uncle helped each other up. Brother Dog slowly got to his feet as the crowd gasped.
“DEMON!” was whispered.
He stepped closer to his friends not sure what to do.
"My lord stay back!" the man said. "He is a demon! We know not what powers he has, but they say he appeared from nowhere with these two strange people, they have the look of Satan about them! Look the slanted black eyes. Do not go too close, I beg you.”
Billy looked at Brother Dog for a moment. “Does it speak? I thought I heard someone say it speaks. Can this be true?”
“Yes my lord it speaks our very language, as do these two.”
“Really?” Billy responded, a bit shocked to learn they all understood each other.
“Well then,” Billy said, trying to sound authoritative. “Speak foul demon.”
“What would my lord have me say?” Brother Dog replied, to the gasps and mutterings of the crowd.
Billy pretended to be surprised “Well, well, then. From what demon hell do you come, foul creature.” He wasn’t enjoying this acting but he knew their lives were on the line and he had to find a way out of this. He was hoping Brother Dog might give him a clue as to what he should do. “What is your purpose here? These fellows wish to kill you, what reason could you give that they should not?”
"MY Lord." Brother Dog said "I am merely a servant from a distant land that you have not heard of. From across the vast expanse another continent on the other side of the planet."
“He speaks lies!” someone said “the world is flat how could he be from the other side except he be from hell itself? See he has condemned himself.”
“The world is round you sycophant.” someone yelled from the crowd. For a moment Billy hoped this would distract them.
But alas the King was having none of it.
"This is neither the time nor place," he said loudly. "Yes, we should kill them! The hour of the transition is ending soon, we will all be in heaven itself, and we cannot allow these creatures to exist there!"
Billy was at a loss as what to say as the guards shoved past him grabbing his friends and people shouted, "Kill them!"
He slammed the end of the staff on the floor and yelled “No! I will not have this on the day of our ascension, to kill any!” He was desperate, “and if they are demons from another place they must have friends and information. They cannot be the only ones. If you kill them you will lose the information they have. I myself will torture them and we will find the answers. Where they are from and how many are there waiting in the wings. Once this is accomplished then you can do what you want with them.”
The king stared at him for a moment "As my lord wishes" he said "But I think it is unwise to have my Lordship torture them? And as I said. Remember the time draws near." With that, he turned to the guards. "Take them to the dungeons!"
Billy watched as his f
riends were grabbed roughly and dragged out of the room. Oh my
God, he thought, what can I do? But he failed to notice the strange look the King gave him.
He had little time for regret as he was immediately whisked away to another room.
Apparently, there would be a ceremony of enlightenment of some kind. He was asked to wait in a very elaborate bedroom with a huge soft looking bed. He was tempted to go and try to sleep but he paced instead. He was afraid what they might do to his friends. He felt terrible about his command to torture them, but what else could he have said? Well, maybe he could have said they are my friends but he didn't know what authority he really had. Would they still revere him if they thought he was friends with demons?
He went to the door and listened. Nothing. He wished Geezer was there. He felt his side and realized he missed the little guy which was odd considering what Geezer was. He pushed the heavy door open a bit, there were two guards there. Now here was the thing. Were they there to protect him, serve him? Or were they there to keep him in?
He took a deep breath opened the door and stepped out. The guards snapped to attention. "My Lord!" They said in surprise, one said "my Lord what is your wish we will fetch anything you need. You needn't leave your room."
"Well I never did get that Cola," Billy quipped.
“My lord?”
"Never mind I want to see how the torture preparation is going with those demons" he had, of course, no idea where to go. "Take me there." The two looked at each other, panic obvious on their faces.
“But my lord!”
“Are you not to serve me?”
“Yes my lord!”
“Then let’s be off. No arguments.”
“Yes my lord,” one said, looking at the other.
“Come!” Billy said impatiently. “Show me the way” He was terrified they would be caught. The guards were obviously at some risk to do this.
“Perhaps my lord only needs one of us
I will stay here and guard the room,” one said hesitantly, “then I can inform the lord king where you have gone should he come looking for you.”
The Jewel of Nirune (The Sword of Time Book 1) Page 29