by Lee Watts
Without the use of an amplifier, but as loud, Caedmon replied, "I answer to the Elder, and His commands alone do I obey! If I be a man of the Elder, then may He consume thee and thy fifty."
Immediately, an intense meteor shower began pummeling the troops. Burning while crashing to the ground, the meter-wide stones rained down on each group of frantic scattering soldiers. Their commander leaped from the transport vehicle as a massive, flaming stone crushed it. Scrambling to his feet, he rushed for the protection of a nearby building but was hammered into the pavement by a fury of burning rocks. Shaking the ground from their impacts, and sending resounding booms throughout the city, the storm of boulders caused everyone in the plaza to once more fall to their faces in fear. As suddenly as it began, the shower of stones ended. Looking up, the people saw piles of smoldering meteors mounded over each place where the soldiers had been. As the people stood, realizing not a person among them was injured, many shouted for joy and praise to the Elder as Caedmon resumed his call for repentance.
Though clear skies, Mara thought she heard rolling thunder and could have sworn she felt a tremor. Curious, she went to a balcony and noticed pillars of smoke rising in the distance. It seemed to be coming from the direction of the Religious Center. Hurrying to her desk, she called to find out what was happening?
"I'm sorry, Duchess, but we can't establish contact with our forces there," answered the man on the screen.
She boiled with frustration.
"What are you doing about it?"
"We are repeating the call. I'll let you know the minute-"
"That's not good enough; you need to send another unit there now!"
"Duchess, we're handling it. As soon-"
"Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but you'd better listen. I am calling you from the palace, and if you don't want a call to your superior direct from the Regent's office then I suggest you send some more security enforcers to the Center now! Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Right away."
Within minutes, the second set of fifty Ramillie security troops stormed the plaza, and as quickly, met the identical fate as the previous set.
CHAPTER 21
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." – Exodus 19:3
At last reaching the Morningstar encampment, the group discovered Aulani's bulky pet, Tooka, was the only resident. The camp, ransacked and marred with hatchet marks, teamed with evidence of Jago vengeance. Jaiden rushed into the charred remains of the only home he had ever known.
"No bodies," Marcus noted. "That… Tooka thing must have gotten here after this happened."
In an excited tone, Jaiden began shouting and waved everyone to the tree he was by. Pointing energetically at the carving in the trunk, he rambled to his sister.
"Aulani, what's he saying?" Alexander asked. "What's that carving?"
"It our language," she beamed with relief. "It say, Jago coming, gone to Omaz."
"Omaz? What's that?"
"Not what, who. Omaz is other tribe. Friendly."
"How far?" Merrick asked.
"Many days, but away from Jago. Others safe."
Relieved at the news, the group's spirits lifted, and they set out for the distant settlement. To ease the walk, Aulani offered to let the others ride Tooka, but neither the beast nor anyone else seemed keen on the idea. A week into their journey, the band stopped one late afternoon and began making camp for the night.
"Aulani says we should reach the Omaz village by tomorrow," Payton said.
Cale huffed.
"What do you mean by that?" Alexander asked Cale.
"Sire, I don't know how reliable her information really is. You've heard her talk. She's not that bright."
"She speaks better Theeran than you do Entauri," Alexander countered.
"Well, I think she's dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
"Yes. These people see you as their 'promised deliverer.' Things could get real ugly if that doesn't happen. I say when we get to the village, we leave her there."
"Why?"
"Cause she's going to slow us down, and I don't want to keep watching out for her the whole time."
"I take care of myself," Aulani inserted. Until she spoke, no one realized she was within earshot.
Cale looked over his shoulder at the irritated twenty-two-year-old who was holding a bundle of firewood.
"I know island more than any you. I good guide."
"We don't need a guide," Cale sneered. "We have the scanner; it already tells us where we're going. So really, you're useless to us."
"Oh, so you know when Ichik swarm and that Dalla tree fruit look good but poison?"
"We've made this far without you, and I don't have to take lip from some half-wit, island girl who's been here so long she's forgotten what civilization is!"
"You think cause I not speak good I stupid! I crash much longer you. You no idea what I go through or feel. Watch mother die when birth to Jaiden; grow up on island with nothing, see friends die, and fight animals to stay alive!" Her words came in a mix of anger and tears. "There no person my age to be with as child, to talk to. Father say a long time one come to rescue. Now, you here and you want go without me? You my chance, my hope escape. I dream for so long. I… want help you."
"You want to help?" Cale sneered, "Then go away and let us do our job. We don't need you. We don't want you."
"Cale!" Alexander barked the man's name, cutting him off.
Aulani stared at Cale without speaking then looked to the others. Her dark eyes welled then she tossed down her bundle of sticks and walked off into the dark.
"I don't care what you think, Cale," Alexander growled. "You went too far."
"Sire, look at this. One little argument and she goes off crying. You want to deal with that all the time?"
"We've got to deal with your attitude all the time."
"I know why you want her to come."
"What?"
"Oh please," Cale scoffed. "Who do you think you're fooling? I see the way you look and talk to her. We don't have time for that. We need to stay focused on getting to the signal, and some island romance will get in our way."
"You're out of line, Cale."
"Maybe, but you know I'm right."
"That's enough!"
"Why don't you-"
"I said that's enough!" the prince demanded.
Cale rose as Merrick approached the group with the night's food in tow.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing," Cale snarled while glaring at the prince. "We were discussing… priorities."
Cale swaggered off as Alexander took a seat on a log. He stared at the dirt, blowing out his frustrations as Merrick took a place beside him.
"It's Aulani isn't it?"
Alexander nodded.
"Maybe it's not such a good idea to have her along."
"You too?" Alexander groaned.
"It's not that I don't like her, Sire. She's intelligent and courageous, but it's pretty clear you're developing feelings for one another. It can… complicate things. Have you considered the consequences of such a relationship?"
"Consequences? Such as?"
"Such as Vivica."
"Vivica," he puffed thoughtfully.
"We've been here for months. She must think I'm dead by now. She's probably given every media outlet in the Realm an exclusive on her tragedy. Besides, what if we never get off this planet?"
"What if we do?"
"I think Aulani could help get us out of here; that's all."
Merrick looked at him doubtfully.
"She'll be one of the guys. A guide - a translator."
"She does know these islands better than any of us, but have you prayed about this?
"This isn't a spiritual matter, Merrick. It's not a moral decision. This is a command decision, and since I'm in command, I say she goes. I know what I'm doing."
"Pride, Alexander. You're relying on yourself and not the Elder; that's the mistake your
father made."
"My father was the greatest king the Realm's ever known!"
"Yes, and for a time I thought he was the one to fulfill the ancient promise about the king who will usher in the new age for the glory of his god, but Darius' god became himself, not the Elder, so he was removed."
"I'm the one who caused him to be removed, remember?"
"No, each of us is responsible for ourselves. We can't condemn another person's soul any more than we can save it. The Elder has given everyone a choice to either accept or reject Him. Rejecting the Elder, it's the same mistake the Dridmor made. They wanted their own way and rebelled. That's why they were cast out of Paradise. Their fate is sealed, and they know it; so, they're trying to deceive and destroy as much of humanity as they can. Some speak in silent voices, but others walk among you. That's why the Guardians were sent, to guide and protect mankind."
Staring off, he continued in monotone as if quoting some ancient manuscript. "And they will wrestle the Dridmor on the worlds and between the stars until the end of the last age in that great and final day."
Alexander regarded his family's long-time protector with puzzlement.
"Merrick, I learned all about Guardians and Dridmor from the Holy Codex, but I never read anything about what you're talking about. How do you know all this?"
Merrick turned to his young charge and smiled wryly. Then slowly, his eyes began to glow. Alexander watched in amazement as the eyes intensified until their radiance filled the entire opening of Merrick's sockets. Gradually fading, they returned to normal.
"Alexander, there are a great many things in this universe you have not seen or heard. That makes them no less real."
"Merrick…," he gasped. "You mean you're a…"
Merrick nodded.
"If you're a Guardian, then what if-"
"There will be time enough for questions," Merrick assured him. "For now, you have to decide about Aulani."
Alexander let out a long, vexed breath.
"So, you think she shouldn't come?"
"I'm not the one you should be asking. You need to seek the Elder on this, and until you learn that lesson, you're not ready to rule the Realm or be the one to fulfill the ancient promise."
"You're right, and I'm working on it. I'm going to go try and straighten things with Aulani."
Getting up, he exited the campsite and found Aulani sitting cross-legged on a large boulder overlooking the treetops in the expansive valley below them. Lines of dried tears streaked her face, but she wiped at them upon noticing him. He walked over and sat beside her.
"Aulani, I'm… I'm sorry for what Cale said back there. Sorry I didn't stop him. I don't think you're some half-wit, island girl. In fact, in some ways, you're the smartest person I've ever known. You have an amazing gift for languages."
Sniffling, she thanked him.
"How many languages do you speak anyway?"
"My Theeran not so good, so I not count it, but other… nine."
"Nine? That's amazing. I only speak two."
"Oh? What else you speak?"
"Tishbian."
Aulani was confused by this.
"But father say Tishbia in Realm."
"Yes, but they use such an old dialect that I count it as another language."
"You joking me," she said with a smile.
"Nay, Fair Lady. Didst not thou know a prince be honor bound to always speak the truth to one who doth save him? Well, didst?"
"Didst," she repeated, softly laughing.
Returning her gaze to the points of light in the night sky, she asked, "So, which star home?"
"I don't know," he answered. "From Acatus everything is in a different position. When I was a boy, I could name many of them. Every night I would stare out of my window at those stars of nearby systems and wonder what was happening there at that very moment." He huffed in sad irony. "Guess I'm back to doing the same thing."
"You… not home when boy?"
"No. Even when I was a baby people were trying to kill me. So, I was taken away. The first seventeen years of my life were spent in the mountains with a bunch of monks."
"Monks? Then how you learn speak?"
"Oh, they weren't a silent order, and it's a good thing too. My mentor was from Tishbia, and that's where I picked up the thee's, thou's, and didst. What about you? You've been here for a long time. Do you know which one is home?"
Aulani looked at the night sky, the tilt of her head causing the single thick braid of her dark mane to reach her mid-back. Alexander regarded her admiringly as light from the twin moons bathed her tanned face in shades of silver.
"Man crash with us named Quace, he study stars and think that Entauri," she said while pointing to one of the distant points of light. "Long ago it Enty colony, but break away before make Realm with Theera."
"That was five hundred years ago," Alexander marveled. "We have strong relations with the Entauri Cluster. Why were you leaving?"
"Morningstar was going new colony to escape."
"Escape?"
"Yes. Government not let us follow teaching of Elkanah. So, leave for new colony."
"When we get to the village I'd like to talk to this Quace person."
"He not there. Die two year ago."
"I'm sorry."
"Jaiden took very hard. They spend much time together; he very special to him."
"Aulani, do you have anybody… special to you?"
"I close to all from ship. We go through much together."
"That's not what I mean. I mean is there anyone… you know… you're committed to?"
"Oh," she giggled in understanding. "No, there no one for me. No others my age survive. What about you? You prince, can choose many girls I guess."
"Actually, no. I am… committed to someone, or was, but I didn't really have any choice in the matter. We were to be married. It was arranged by our parents."
"She love you?"
"She loved what I was, not who I was."
"Not love her?"
"At first, I thought so, but once I saw beyond the surface…" Trying to find the right words to express his feelings, he paused a moment. "Aulani… I-"
A terrifying screech from above cut him off. Looking up, they saw a leathery-winged Gralla bearing down. Immediately, they rolled in opposite directions, and a half heartbeat later the bird's large talons scrapped the rocks where they were sitting less than a second prior. Missing its prey, the creature turned its dive outward over the valley and began circling around for another strike.
"Back to trees! It no fly there!"
They started running toward the cover of the jungle, but the Gralla was gaining. Thwack, thwack, came the sound of its three-meter wings. It screeched again as it zoomed closer. Jaiden emerged from the trees carrying a three ended rope with a small stone tied to each end. Striking two rocks together he ignited each oil-soaked stone then began swinging the rope over his head. Alexander could feel the wind from the Gralla's flaps and thought it must be right behind him. Jaiden loosed the tri-ended cord and the burning stones rotated out toward the bird entangling around its legs. With each loop of the bola, the ropes tightened until the creature's talons were firmly bound together and the burning rocks caused flames to lick up to the panicked beast.
"DROP," Aulani yelled. They hit the ground as the flaming bird breezed past them. Frantic and preoccupied with the flames, the Gralla waited too long before pulling out of its dive and slammed hard into the forest. Its wings clipped the trees, and it screeched louder than before as it tumbled through the brush. With a mighty rolling crash, breaking its neck, the Gralla hit the ground, finally sliding to a halt.
CHAPTER 22
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." – Matthew 24:9
Three exhausting days passed since the incident at the Religious Center. The entire time, Caedmon worked virtually nonstop as multitudes were turning from their errors and back t
o the Elder. Eyes heavy, muscles aching, he thought sleep would come easy, but it didn't.
From the corner of the room, a light pierced the darkness. It started as a mere flicker then became bright as a candle, eventually growing so bright it forced Caedmon to raise an arm to shield his eyes. The light subsided and formed into the shape of a glowing, white-robed figure.
"Faithful Voice," began the visitor.
Caedmon fell to his feet before the figure from the spirit realm, but the being placed a hand on his shoulder gently tugging him upward.
"See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Elkanah."
Rising to his feet, Caedmon beheld the shining, semi-transparent form.
"Speak, for thy servant hears."
"I am sent to warn thee. Make haste. Go unto the land of thy fathers. Remain there till the Elder bids thee."
The being faded from existence, which returned the room to shadows of night. Caedmon wasted no time in heeding the warning. Taking only his walking staff, he hurriedly made his way away from his humble dwelling. Sixty seconds later, a precision-guided missile slammed into the structure sending skyward a high plume of fire and smoke. Saying a quick prayer of thanks for deliverance, he quickened his pace.
Reports of the strike filled the morning broadcasts claiming the 'terrorist' was eliminated, but Mara raged at the undisclosed news that no body was found.
"Incompetence!" she fumed to Tulin on the screen. "He wasn't there!"
"Maybe he was vaporized, or-"
"He's alive!"
"Duchess, I assure-"
"Keep looking, Tulin!"
She slammed her hand down on the console, cutting the transmission.
"Blasted woman," Tulin blared at the blank screen. "She acts like she's the Regent."
Angered, Tulin switched the speaker at his desk talking to his aide.
"Get me the chief of the medical corps."
"Yes, Sir. and Admiral Balin is holding on the other line."
Tulin knew this call was coming.
"Got it," he acknowledged while switching his communication panel. Balin's wide, angered face filled the screen. "What is it, Admiral?"