Heir of the Elements

by Cesar Gonzalez

  “Of course.” Kaidoz bowed again. “Grandmaster Zoen is a respected wielder, but these…” He rolled his eyes as he cast a sidelong glance over at Falcon’s group. “These children do not represent him. They no doubt claim they do, but they are here on their own accord with no knowledge of the grandmaster.”

  Empress Latiha acknowledged Kaidoz’s information with a slight blink of the eyes. “I don’t know how you do things over in Suteckh, and honestly do not care to know. In my throne room, however, you wait until I call on you.”

  Despite his calm demeanor, Falcon noticed the slight tremor on Kaidoz’ cruel lips. Obviously he wasn’t much too pleased with Latiha’s choice of words. Nonetheless, he remained silent as the empress spoke.

  She turned to Falcon. “I have a deep respect and admiration for Rohads, as you can see.” She motioned to the Rohads besides her, protecting her. “However, I cannot overlook the points that the general has brought up. You come to me seeking my aid, Falcon Hyatt, but I’m afraid you have no proof to your claims.”

  Falcon countered. “Send a messenger to Ladria or Sandoria. I’m certain that they will verify what I’ve told you.”

  “We have tried that already. Every messenger we’ve sent has failed to return.”

  “No doubt you’re behind it!” said Falcon, pointing an accusing finger at Kaidoz. “You didn’t have your fill attacking innocent villages, huh? You have to go for messengers as well?”

  Kaidoz flashed a confident grin. “Your highness, unlike these children, I have a witness that can corroborate what I have already told you. I present to you…” There was a long pause. “Councilman Nakatomi, the leader of the Ladrian council.”

  Quiet footsteps reverberated through the grand hall. Falcon did not have to turn around to see who it was. Aya’s sudden heavy breaths and trembling frame were enough to tell him that indeed, her father had entered the room.

  He stood beside the general. “Your most serene highness. I come from afar to end these blasphemous lies. These people would have you take military action against the Suteckh, but the truth of the matter is that Ladria is as safe as ever. There has been no attack.”

  “Why would you, a councilman, travel all the way here to tell me this?” asked Latiha. “A man of your status surely has dozens of messengers at your disposal.”

  “That is true. However, being that my own daughter is involved in these blasphemies, I felt that I had to personally shed light in this situation. I cannot stand idly by as my own family disrupts the honor of my name.”

  Now it was Aya’s turn to shout. “Honor! How dare you speak about honor?”

  Latiha held her hand up at Aya, and she stopped screaming.

  The councilman continued. “I have served as a leader of Ladria for many years. Trust me when I say that life in my city flows with the same normalcy it has grown accustomed to after many years of peace and prosperity.”

  In his anger, Falcon would have made some type of reply, but Aya had already done so for him.

  “He lies!” she snapped. She took a step forward, and Latiha’s guards, including Laars and Relis, grew rigid. “Empress, I know you don’t know me, but I speak the truth. This man is a Suteckh spy. He was planted there many years ago to gain the confidence of the Ladrian people. His daughter is the Blood Empress.” She staggered for a second as her voice threatened to crack. “If he sold out his own daughter, imagine what he will do to the people of Missea once the Suteckh invade?”

  Kaidoz chuckled, which only made Falcon want to tackle him to the ground and beat him until that sick smirk came off his face. “Spies? Abductions? These are the product of a troubled teenage mind. Are we to believe her claims that the Blood Empress is her sister?”

  “Don’t speak of my sister!” Falcon didn’t think he had ever seen Aya so enraged. Her cheeks huffed loudly. Her chest rose and fell at an accelerated rate. She faced Kaidoz as her voice drowned to a hush whisper. “I killed one Suteckh general, trust me. I have no problem killing you too.”

  For the first time, Kaidoz’ eyes gave away the slightest hint of fear.

  “Stop this at once!”

  At Latiha’s command, Aya stepped back, trying to collect her breath.

  Faith reached out and took her hand. “Calm down, Aya. This won’t help our cause.” His words seemed to take effect. Aya’s rapid breaths slowed, and her eyes returned to her regular sharp blue.

  “That is quite a story,” said Empress Latiha in a monotone voice that didn’t betray her feelings. “I will need some time to ponder on what I heard here today. Come to me tomorrow. I will have an answer.”

  Without saying another word, the Empress waved her hand, and the guards escorted her visitors out.

  ~~~

  “What be the meaning of this?” demanded Melousa. The tall woman stood, the top of her head almost slamming into the roof of the cave. “Yer assured me that yer would get Latiha’s confidence. Did yer not? Yer were supposed to draw her out of the castle so I be killing her!”

  Kaidoz glanced around. He and Councilman Nakatomi stood inside a cold cave on the outskirts of the Missea prairie lands, surrounded by enraged Orian warriors. The councilman played with his fingers, fear etched in his trembling face.

  “Why should I not be killing yer here where yer stand for yer failure?”

  “Great queen,” said Kaidoz as the warriors continued hissing and mumbling threats. “There is no need to fret. The empress requires a day to make her choice. Believe me, she will side with us. And once she does, I will draw her out, and you shall have the revenge you’ve been seeking.”

  “Yer best be right. If yer not I will find yer and cut yer down.” She stomped her foot before the councilman, raising a mushroom of dust and sending him to the ground. “And my warriors shall tear this city dweller limb by limb.”

  “Get up!” ordered Kaidoz to the flinching man on the ground. He was a Suteckh citizen. How dare he cower before a wild creature?

  Kaidoz waited until they had left the cave and were clear across the prairie before he spoke. “You should really develop more of a backbone, councilman. If you possessed half the nerve your daughters carry, you wouldn’t allow yourself to be intimidated by such trivial threats.”

  “Do not speak to me that way, Kaidoz!” With the peace of mind that Kaidoz would not harm him, the councilman had apparently found his courage. “I was a decorated fighter many years ago. You would do well to remember that I outrank you in every way. You answer to me, and I demand to know what you’re doing with those women.”

  “In times of war I outrank you. As for the Orian warriors, it was the Blood Empress who thought of enlisting them. Are you suggesting I follow your orders instead of hers?”

  The councilman said nothing, which Kaidoz took as an opening to continue questioning him. “Is there a reason you didn’t tell me your other daughter was as strong as she claims to be? She killed Draknorr. A wielder of her caliber can cause a lot of problems for us.”

  “I told you she was strong did—”

  “What is the meaning of this?” The loud hiss silenced even the nearby birds.

  The pit in Kaidoz’ stomach settled as he took notice of the cloud of smoke that had formed beside them. He hated when the Blood Empress appeared to him unannounced.

  “Tell me what happened,” demanded the empress.

  Kaidoz relayed the information. Behind her mask, he found it impossible to gauge how his superior was taking the news.

  “Keep me updated on tomorrow’s hearing,” said the Blood Empress once the General had informed her how the meeting went. “I’d much rather have Missea unprepared when we launch an attack, but if they do not fall for our ploy, so be it. They shall still fall. As for this water wielder…” She stopped, waiting for someone to forfeit a name.

  “Aya Nakatomi, your grace,” said the councilman.

  The Empresses’ head jerked from side to side, and for a moment Kaidoz thought she was having a seizure.

  “Empress?” calle
d the General, unsure of how to react to the strange reaction.

  “I…I…” She clutched her head. A soft moan echoed from behind her mask. “I shall kill this Aya myself!” The dark smoke dissolved, taking away the image of the empress.

  Kaidoz waved away the burning stench that had been left behind as he cast a questioning glance at the councilman. “Is it possible that she remembers?”

  “No,” answered Nakatomi, too quick for Kaidoz’ liking. His answer sounded fake, as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times. “I was there when she was brainwashed. There is nothing left of Selene.”

  “For all our sakes, I hope you’re right, councilman.”

  ~~~

  Falcon entered the room of the inn with the bag of vegetables in hand. He handed them to Faith, who quickly cut them into pieces and added them to the steaming pot that boiled on the iron stove.

  “I’m making your favorite, Falcon,” she said, stirring the broth.

  The aroma of the pichion drumsticks drifted out of the pot and into Falcon’s nostrils. He knew what she was doing. Making his favorite meal was a way for her to make him feel better, to make him forget about what had transpired in the Empress’ court. But despite the promise of a good meal, he could not get the morning’s events out of his head.

  “I still can’t believe that Empress Latiha actually listened to what the Suteckh had to say.” Sheridan threw himself on one of the four beds spread along the long room, causing the mattress to creak under his weight. “I thought she was supposed to be some kind of wise ruler. Doesn’t she know what’s been going on for the past few months?”

  “Apparently not,” said Aya. She sat quietly, looking out the third story window. She seemed to be lost in her own world, and Falcon was certain she was thinking of her father, sister, and her role as a Suteckh. Part of Falcon wanted to console her and tell her that everything would be fine, but how could he when he himself did not know how this would turn out?

  “I’m going out,” said Falcon.

  “Where are you going?” asked Faith.

  “Out.”

  “Where?”

  “Just for a walk.”

  “Don’t you want to eat?”

  “I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

  She looked at him with her sad emerald eyes, and he had to force himself out the door before he changed his mind. He did not wish to hurt her, but he needed to get away for a while and clear his head. The room, despite its large size, was suffocating him.

  He walked across the moonlit city. Unlike the night before, it did not seem magical in the slightest. The brown walls seemed boorish. The people, with their rambunctious conversations, bothered him. Even the river, with the loud seagulls flying overhead, proved an annoyance.

  When he finally got back to the room, his friends were all deep in sleep. On the small table in the corner rested a small bowl of pichion soup. He took sip after sip of the cold broth until all the contents were gone. Then, without thinking much, he threw himself on the floor and fell asleep.

  ~~~

  The next morning, when they walked into the throne room, the Empress was already sitting on her throne, waiting for them. Her usual guards were already there. Again Lenka, who this time wore a dark grey suit, waved at him. Falcon returned the greeting. He was so glad he hadn’t been assigned to a job like hers. Standing stiff all day would drive him nuts.

  Falcon noticed that the councilman was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Kaidoz was being accompanied by two male guards wearing simple dark robes. The insignia of the Suteckh raven was stitched on their chests.

  The general spoke. “I’m certain that with the time you had, you no doubt found that the Suteckh are indeed innocent of the crimes raised against them.”

  Latiha looked down as a slight smirk formed in her lips. “I have been empress for many years, general. Do you think I would have lasted as ruler if I couldn’t see through lies?”

  “Of course not, your highness.” He regarded her quizzically. “Are you insinuating I’m a liar, Empress?”

  “Not insinuating. I know you are. I can read it all over you. It is in the tone of your voice. In your malicious eyes. In your pathetic attempts to flatter me.”

  Now it was Kaidoz’ turn to smirk. “Am I to believe that I bring forth a witness to corroborate my story, while these children do not, and you would still take their word over mine?”

  “Unlike you, general, the Rohads, do not have the eyes of one who has been tainted with malicious intent.”

  “If you were so sure of my guilt, why wait to tell me today? I was here yesterday, was I not? Why not arrest me then and there?”

  “My senses are just one thing I use. I also rely on good people to aid me. I was fortunate enough to have two very good eyewitnesses confirm the stories the young Rohads told me. Since many of my messengers had gone missing, no doubt by your hands, I had to find out by other means.”

  Falcon found himself taking an immediate liking to the empress. He had been so sure that the cold empress was going to side with Kaidoz that this sudden outburst by her had caught him by pleasant surprise. Now he understood why the empress had been so stone-faced the day before. It had been her way of not giving away any sign of what she felt.

  Kaidoz shrugged. “Whoever these witnesses that you have are, can they possibly be a more reliable witness than the respected councilman I provided?”

  “Will an Empress suffice as a reliable witness?”

  There was an immediate murmur throughout the hall. No, not murmurs. More like exhales of fear and admiration.

  Falcon turned behind him to see what the buzz was about. His jaw practically dropped. A man, who stood even higher than Cidralic had stood, entered the room. His face was painted with red streaks, and he had bulging muscles coming out of his tunic. His neck alone had to be over twenty-five inches and his arms over twenty-six. He wore a leather skirt. Amazingly, the man was not what Falcon or most people in the hall were looking at. Instead they looked past that, their eyes settling on the two massive bears that had just entered. One was black, the other brown. A young girl with snowy white eyes stood between the animals. At her heels followed a much smaller white bear.

  “Hello,” said the blonde-haired girl. “I’m Keira. Empress of Sugiko.”

  Chapter 21

  Keira did not look in the slightest the way Falcon expected an empress to look like. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and braided with countless pigtails. Her brown tunic ended a little under her chest, exposing her slim waist. Unlike every other empress he had ever seen who wore robes, Keira donned brown leather pants.

  The bears stopped moving, and the young empress came behind them and patted them both. “Draiven, Aykori, stay here.” Falcon half-expected the savage animals to turn on Keira at any moment, but amazingly, both bears stood still as they had been instructed.

  “She uses the bears to see,” said Aya, noticing his confused look. “Don’t think too hard on it. It will just make your head hurt.”

  Aya? How does she know about this Empress? His curiosity was now piqued.

  “Empress Keira,” said Latiha politely. She stood and, as if greeting an old friend, embraced the younger empress in a hug. “I welcome you to my city. I’m greatly honored that you would make the journey to Missea in person.”

  Keira look flustered, in an I can’t believe I talking to my childhood idol kind of way. “The honor is all mine, great empress.”

  By the time Empress Latiha had returned to her throne room, Keira seemed to have recovered.

  “I made a promise to a friend that my people would rise against the tyranny of the Suteckh if they had to.” She looked over at Aya. A knowing glance passed between them, leaving no doubt in Falcon’s mind that the girls knew each other. “When I heard of the Suteckh’s claims, I just had to come here myself and shed light on their lies. The truth is that my people have confirmed the attacks on both Ladria and Sandoria.”

  Kaidoz, who usually had a retort to any claim
against the Suteckh, had gone unusually quiet. His eyes suddenly widened. “Get her!” He yelled as he pounced at Latiha. The Rohads beside her immediately formed a protective barrier around the ruler of Missea.

  Kaidoz reached them before anyone else had a chance to get there. Five of the wielders, including Relis, Laars, Lenka, and two other Rohads Falcon didn’t know, stood before Kaidoz, trying their best to deflect the earth attacks he had been firing. Even outnumbered five to one, Falcon could see that the Rohads would soon be outmatched.

  The two Suteckh guards who had accompanied the general battled the remaining Rohads. One of them, the taller one, flipped under the young guards and moved toward Latiha, dagger in hand.

  Falcon wielded a protective layer of wind, but even with the enhanced speed, he knew it wouldn’t get there in time.

  He quickly realized that his wielding was moot. The empress apparently was no damsel in distress. Still sitting, she blocked the incoming attack with ease. She twisted her attacker’s arm, and the blade clattered to the floor. Before the would-be assassin could recover, the empress kneed him in the face. His body crumpled down, where he remained unmoving.

  The other Suteckh guard was winning his battle. He was so busy, however, that he did not notice as the gargantuan man came behind him. Massive arms wrapped around the short man. He kicked and flailed, but he might as well have been kicking a stone wall. The giant man picked up the man high in the air and, without any sign of emotion, brought him down onto his knee. There was a bone-crunching sound as the guard’s body seemed to bend almost in half. His eyes rolled back, and like his counterpart, he dropped to the ground, where he remained still.

  By now, General Kaidoz had floored all of his opponents. Having done so, he turned his attention to Latiha. He ran full-speed with a deadly sharp earth spear in his hand.

  A fire whip latched on to his foot, and in his haste, the general tripped to the ground. Kaidoz flipped and was up on his feet in a second. Laars wrapped another fire whip around Kaidoz. In the moment it had taken him to break free, the two bears had closed their distance on him. With hungry fangs, the two beasts pounced on the wielder.