by Lake, Edward
But then, Juozas grabbed Adomas’s arm and held on. Adomas tried to yank his arm away but it was no use. Juozas pulled the arm down, trying to lower Adomas. After a vigorous struggle, he finally pulled him down to his level and delivered a vicious head-butt.
I jumped up and cheered. I took a huge breath and grabbed my chest. Juozas kept head-butting Adomas. They were both bleeding now. Juozas quickly let go of the arm and rocked Adomas with a stinging punch. He tumbled to the floor like a pile of bricks, and Juozas got back to his feet.
I threw my hands in the air and roared with the crowd. Dalia was still looking on calmly with her hands folded in her lap. Adomas staggered to his feet. Juozas ran at him and popped him with a flying knee. Adomas fell down again and covered up. Juozas wasted no time and bent down. He crushed Adomas with shot after shot. Adomas tried to get up but Juozas stayed on him. He looked exhausted after exerting all that energy to hold Juozas down.
By contrast, it seemed like Juozas had caught a second wind—a burst of energy—and he was moving better than before. He kicked Adomas hard, and the strike echoed throughout the arena. The sandstone floor was spotted with blood. Adomas crawled away and tried to get up again, but Juozas pushed him to the floor and kneed his back over and over.
As I watched the onslaught, I took a moment to reflect on Adomas. It was sad to see him like this, clearly just too old to keep up—but this was tradition, the passing of the torch, and it needed to be done. Juozas kicked him like a dog as he rolled around. Every kick made a loud thud sound, and they looked devastating. However, I knew Adomas wouldn’t give up. He would have to be knocked out cold to lose his title.
Juozas was taking his time now, and the crowd was cheering like the fight was already over, slowly settling down. Feeling a little relieved, I took a deep breath and sat back down.
Then, shockingly, somehow Adomas got back to his feet. The crowd gasped in amazement and rose as one. I jumped out of my seat and covered my mouth. Tears came down from my eyes as I watched Adomas wobble into the wall. He eagerly waved Juozas on and covered up, drawing his arms into his chest. Juozas came forward and kneed him hard. Adomas stood tall and took the punishment—and seconds later, he surprised Juozas with a solid punch.
The shot sent Juozas staggering backwards. My mouth dropped open. Adomas stumbled ahead and swung again, grazing Juozas’s chin. Juozas responded with a swift kick to Adomas’s ribs. They fell into each other and paused for a moment. It was utterly breathtaking to see them bloodied and battered, holding onto each other for support. My love. My son.
Adomas grappled with Juozas and tried to take him down, but Juozas held him off as they struggled for control. Finally, they pushed off at the same time and went at it with fury, blasting each other with punches. I watched from above in total awe. My Champion. My spawn.
Chapter 11: Juozas
Seeing Father get up took my breath away. I thought it was over. Still, I wasn’t going to let my moment slip away. I went at him with an array of combinations. Father came back at me with slow punches and kicks. The only thing keeping him on his feet was his undying will to win.
I love you, Father. But I have to end this.
I caught him with a resounding uppercut, and he crumbled to the floor. His arms spread out and his eyes rolled up. Without hesitation, I dropped down and blasted him with a crushing right hand. I saw his body go limp, and in the background, I heard the crowd explode into an uproar that shook the stadium.
Father was unconscious. I had won the fight. And now, I was the Champion of all Mamluks.
I stayed crouched over his lifeless body in disbelief as I listened to the pandemonium. Finally, I lowered to my knees and gently lifted Father into my arms. Giedre hurried onto the stadium floor with a team of caregivers. She quickly dropped down and poured medicine into Father’s mouth. I let go of him and stepped back.
The crowd went silent as we all looked on. Then, he opened his eyes.
“Can you hear me, Adomas?” Giedre said.
He did a slow nod and gradually rolled over. The crowd cheered loudly as he slowly rose to his feet. Giedre and the others stepped back. I stood tall as Father limped towards me.
He stopped in front of me and looked into my eyes. I looked back into his eyes, hoping I had made him proud. Then, he dropped to the ground and bowed at my feet, declaring me the winner.
The crowd cheered steadily as I looked around. I found Mother in the front row with Dalia, crying, looking down on me with her hands in a ball, firmly clasped over her heart.
Father rose to his feet and gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, My Champion.”
My eyes watered. “It was an honor, Father.”
He moved his hand down and looked away. Father carried on, dragging himself back to the tunnel. The inauguration on Marsden would be our last encounter before he faded away completely, but that moment was hard to take. It shouldn’t be like this. You’re still my father.
Nevertheless, I had to move on. It was now my responsibility to protect Mother.
Chapter 12: Emily
Dalia led me downstairs to the stadium floor. I was still crying, trying to clear my eyes, trying to calm my overwhelming excitement. When I saw Juozas, I ran to him with my arms open. He opened his arms and scooped me off the floor. We hugged hard and as he spun me around.
He set me down as Dalia approached. I fixed my hair and focused my eyes. Dalia stopped in front of me and smiled.
“Emily, Ruler of all Mamluks.”
Hearing her say that made me shudder, and I felt a stinging sensation throughout my body.
“I will now serve as a guide to the inauguration of your rule.” She kneeled and bowed her head. Following her lead, Juozas and everyone on the stadium floor dropped down and bowed before me.
The arena cheered and danced as they looked on. I took a deep breath and let the realization sink in. Thank you. I promise—I won’t let you down.
Shortly after, Dalia and Giedre took me and Juozas to a location far from our region. It was a small building with an open roof. As we walked inside, I saw a group of soldiers guarding the area.
On the floor, there were three large, oval-shaped machines hovering a few feet off the floor.
“What are these?” I asked Dalia.
“These are space pods, equipped to travel faster than the speed of light. They will take us to Marsden.”
Dalia pressed a button on her sija that opened the space pods. We each got inside a space pod and lay down. The inside was completely clear; no weird-looking controls or anything. However, underneath the metal, it sounded like there was a lot going on.
I couldn’t believe it. I was about to leave Earth and go to another planet. Giedre pressed a button on her sija that closed the space pods. A light came on, then metal straps popped out from underneath and locked me in place. Within seconds, I felt the space pod rise, and a moment later, it blasted away.
Part Two—A New Era
Chapter 13: Emily
Just like that, we arrived at our destination and the metal straps came down. The space pod opened and a Mamluk came forward. He was wearing a white cloak, flashing a pleasing smile. As he reached me, he dropped to a knee and bowed his head.
“Welcome to Marsden, My Ruler. I am Lukas, the central caregiver.”
I rose in shock, looking around in disbelief. I was in a small, roofless sandstone building like the one on Earth. I saw Dalia and Juozas standing by the entrance. I stepped out of the space pod, staring in amazement at the cloudy skies above. Wow.
Lukas led me to the entryway. My anticipation was sky-high. Finally, I looked outside and froze. The landscape was filled with mountains and enormous trees, and giant plants spread out across the terrain. There were huge, majestic birds flying through the air, gliding with the traffic in the sky.
Right then, something on the ground startled me. I jumped back and looked down. It was a furry little animal, rubbing at my ankles like a cat.
I giggl
ed. “What’s this?”
Dalia picked up the little creature. It had white fur, the cutest face, and a plump body. “This is a jqez.” She handed the creature to me. “Our homeland is filled with pleasant wildlife.”
I held the jqez in my arms and watched it nibble at its chubby fingers. “This is amazing.” I looked at Dalia. “Can I keep it?”
She smiled. “Certainly, My Ruler—this is your land.”
I returned a smile to her and cradled the jqez. “It is it a male or female?”
Lukas glanced at the creature. “It is a male.”
I studied him and pondered for a moment. “I’m going to call you...Mr. Buttons—Mr. B for short.”
I chuckled and carried on with the group. We boarded a ship and flew to a tall, pointed building that looked like an Egyptian pyramid. In fact, it appeared as if the building had been built from a mountain.
We landed and stepped outside. I eagerly checked the area like a kid in a candy store. The ground was very rocky and incredibly shiny. I bent down and looked closer. My eyes grew wide as I scanned the shiny parts.
“Oh my—is that...ozlon?”
Lukas kneeled and looked with me. “Yes, My Ruler. It is everywhere.”
I rose with him and looked into the distance. The ground and all the mountains were shining in the sunlight. I shook my head in astonishment. It truly felt like I was dreaming.
Lukas led us inside the building. First, he took Dalia and Juozas to their rooms. Then he took me to the top floor and brought me to a room. He stopped by the entry and held his hand out. “Here you are, Great Emily.”
I went in and looked around. The room was furnished beautifully, with wide windows on all sides, giving me a great view of the region.
Seconds later, I heard someone come inside. I turned around and saw a creature that resembled a human—but she surely wasn’t a Mamluk. Her hair was very long, going past her backside. She was about my height, and her ears went up past her head like a bat.
“This is your servant, My Ruler,” Lukas said from the hallway.
I put Mr. Buttons down and walked up to the creature, studying her face. “What species is she?”
Lukas stepped inside. “She is a Valcon, descendent of the planet NorVal. They were the first to fall to Dalia’s conquest.”
I put my hands behind my back and circled the Valcon, looking her up and down. I paused when I saw two lumps sticking out of her back. I reached out and touched them. Curious, I ripped her dress and took a look. The lumps looked like severed limbs.
“What happened to her?”
“The Valcons are born with wings, Great Emily. We must clip them at birth.”
I smiled and nodded, then moved back to her face. I was amazed at how inert she was.
“Are they all quiet like this?”
“Yes. We have disciplined them well over time. Now, they only speak when permitted.”
I nodded again as I looked into her eyes. “What is your name, Valcon?”
“Clio.”
I glanced at Lukas. “This is very impressive. I will use the same tactics on Earth.” I turned back to the window. “Clio, bring me some food for my jqez.” I heard her promptly leave the room.
“My Ruler, if you have any questions, or need assistance with anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Thank you, Lukas.”
Chapter 14: Juozas
At sundown, I took a shower and changed into something more comfortable. Now that I was the Champion, I could disregard the standard soldier’s outfit and wear anything I wanted. As I headed out toward the door, a Valcon walked into the room. I had learned about them during my time at the Soldiers Academy.
“Hello, I am Juozas. Champion of all Mamluks.”
She said nothing and looked on.
“You may speak.”
“I am Frea.”
I stepped closer and looked her over. Frea was a beautiful Valcon. She had long brown hair that was wavy and shiny, light blue eyes like the sky, and a calmness that I envied. Even as a slave, like the old man who sang ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’, she seemed more assured in her ways than me.
“I won’t be needing anything, Frea. Please, return to your room and relax.”
She quietly left.
I went into the hallway and found Mother’s room. She was sitting on a chair by the window, reading a hologram.
Mother smiled as I came forward. “Hello, My Champion.”
I got close and dropped to a knee, bowing my head. “Hello, My Ruler.”
“Rise.”
I stood up and felt something cuddling against my feet. I looked down, spotted Mr. Buttons, then burst into laughter as I reached down and rubbed his furry head.
Mother chuckled. “Isn’t he adorable?”
“Yes, he is.”
She turned off her hologram and stood up. “I’m so proud of you, Juozas.”
“Thank you, My Ruler.”
She firmly hugged me and let out a gentle sigh. “You must protect me, Dear. Keep me safe.”
I held on tight and kissed her head. “Always, Mother. That is my duty.”
At dawn, Mother and I walked down parallel lines of citizens and soldiers, on our way to The Mountain of Marsden. It is the grandest mountain on the small planet, overlooking The Meridian Sea.
Mother was wearing a beautiful green dress and stylish, shiny black boots. To match her, I wore black pants and an elegant green shirt. The soldiers and citizens were dancing and cheering, throwing flowers ahead of us as we walked. Mother smiled and waved at the crowd as we carried on.
After a long walk, we reached the mountain and headed up the Mamluk-made steps. Dalia and Father were waiting for us at the top. It took a while to get there, and when we arrived, Dalia and Father stepped aside, letting us take their place.
We turned and looked down at the crowd below. Dalia kneeled at Mother’s feet, and Father kneeled at mine.
The crowd fell into silence, and a soothing breeze came over us. “My Ruler, it has been an honor to guide you to your inauguration. Use the wisdom and courage that brought you to this mountain top to rule well, Great Emily. Now, I shall retire.”
Mother cried. “I love you, Dalia. Thank you, for everything.” She wiped her eyes and reached down. Dalia gently took Mother’s hand.
“Rise.”
She rose and shared a warm hug with Mother. Then they turned and watched Father and me.
“My Champion, my heart is filled with great pride as I kneel before you. Before I fade into obscurity, I must say this: To protect our Ruler is to protect our land, and to protect our land is to protect our people.”
I exhaled deeply. “Thank you, Father. I vow to you, and to my people: I will protect our Ruler.”
Father rose and looked into my eyes. Then he reached out and took Dalia’s hand. The crowd erupted into singing and dancing as they headed down the steps. Mother and I stood tall as we watched them leave, and finally, we turned and faced the sea.
Chapter 15: Emily
After the inauguration, Lukas found me and we flew back to the building I was staying in. It was time for my preliminary briefing. He led me to a room at the center of the building. It had a sandstone chair built into the floor and a control board along the far wall. I took a seat and waited.
Lukas pressed a button on his sija and a massive, holographic screen popped out of the control board. “Great Emily, as Ruler of all Mamluks, you are responsible for these five planets.”
I grinned as he gradually pressed through each one.
“Marsden—NorVal—Rumza—Eztu—and Earth.” Next, he clicked through some unfamiliar faces. “These are Dalia’s advocates. They will remain intact until you replace them. An advocate’s duty is to uphold the Ruler’s law when she is not present on a particular planet. Naturally, you will need to select five.”
I nodded.
Lukas pressed another button. “Lastly, My Ruler, you must make a vow to the founding mother of our society. Her name is Mar
ija, and she created the traditions that have allowed us to prosper for generations.” The lights dimmed, and a collection of bright, holographic stars emerged from the control board and floated around the room. Moments later, a vivid hologram of a beautiful Mamluk came into view. She had long, wavy blond hair, light green eyes, and a peaceful glow across her face. “This of course is a recording of her.”
I looked on with my mouth slightly open, staring in total amazement.
“Rise,” the recording of Marija said.
I stood up and walked closer.
Marija put her hand out and looked down. “Kneel.”
I lowered myself to one knee and carefully placed my hands over my other knee.
“As Ruler of all Mamluks, you must vow to carry on tradition.”
“Yes, Great Marija, mother of our society. I will carry on tradition.”
“If you fail, the caregivers will take over and remove you from power, and you will be imprisoned for the rest of your days.”
I promptly bowed my head. “I will not fail you, Great Marija.”
“Rise.”
I rose and looked on with spirited eyes.
“Rule well, and fly with the sea.” All at once, the hologram of Marija, along with the stars, faded away and the lights came back on.
“That was incredible.”
Lukas came over and stood beside me. “At last, the briefing is complete, My Ruler.”
I turned to him and kindly touched his side. “Thank you, Lukas.”
He kneeled and bowed to me. “I am honored, Great Emily.”
Chapter 16: Juozas
I arrived at the security center and went to the central control board. A soldier stepped forward and kneeled before me, bowing his head. “Welcome, My Champion.”
I watchfully moved toward the row of holographic screens. “Rise, Soldier.” He rose and followed me. “So, this is it.”