Danielle relaxed her grip on the dagger, Darnash released his clasp on her hands, and she returned the dagger to its sheath. “You are well reasoned. My blood lust does weaken. We must capture the beast soon.”
“Yes, my Lady. My men have assembled in the outer courtyard where they await your orders.”
“How many Antarians will accompany us on the hunt?”
“Twenty elite guard, my Lady.”
Danielle buckled her sword around her waist. She reached for her armor, the wings of swords, but Darnash caught her arm before she grasped it.
“Darnash? Why?”
“Forgive me, my Lady. You will not need the wings of swords for defense. Not with the army we have assembled today. We cannot risk harming the adolescent Boreshog.”
“Harm him? No, the creature will...must...remain unharmed to provide the blood spirit. Then my reign will continue for ages to come,” Danielle stared into Darnash’s eyes, “I must be prepared for all contingencies. I will take care not to harm the beast, but I must protect myself.”
“I shall protect you, my Lady. That is my calling, the task of your first commander which you have chosen for me.”
“That is true, I have no doubt. But I shall take the wings of sword today.”
Darnash released his grip on her arm, and she pulled the armor from the wall hanging.
“If you would, Darnash,” Danielle asked, holding the armor before Darnash.
“My Lady, I...”
“Darnash! I shall not tolerate insubordination.”
“Forgive me, my Lady, I mean no disrespect.”
“I can forgive you refusing to share of my blood spirit. Two transgressions I cannot tolerate!”
“Yes, my Lady,” Darnash helped his Empress done the armor.
“That is much better!” Danielle smiled and then deployed the wings in a defensive stance. The sound of metal swords clanged as the wings unfolded. She reveled in the full display of the wing’s defensive glory.
“I will never tire of this.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Danielle relaxed her stance, folding the wings of swords along her back, “Come. It is time we began the hunt.”
“Yes, my Lady,” Darnash said, bowing before Danielle.
The two made their way to the outer court. Darnash preceded her through the large door and stepped into the open air of Serintin.
The red sky glistened under the morning sun. She felt the warmth from the Antarian sun bathe her face. Puffy red clouds defined the horizon as the sun’s rays lit the ground before the hunting party. A mist rose, clinging low to the ground.
Danielle took in a deep breath, reveling in the scent of the aromatic flowers blooming along the courtyard perimeter.
“I shall never tire of the wonders of Serintin.”
“My Lady,” Darnash said, waving his hand before the assembled hunting party, “I present to you the twenty finest from the Antarian Elite Guard. Handpicked by me for this task. You can trust each of them, as I do, with your life.”
“Warlords of Serintin, of the Rising Star of Antares!” Danielle addressed the kneeled assembly, “I come before you today to assign you an important task. You shall accompany Darnash and I in the capture of an adolescent Boreshog from the Valley of Trenches! Take to your feet and make ready for our quest!”
The Antarian guards stood as Danielle continued, “Today is a monumental day in the history of the Rising Star of Antares. Today, I tell you we will be fulfilling more of the ancient prophecies. I shall capture an adolescent Boreshog and continue my blood spirit as the ancient scrolls have foretold.”
A buzz rose from the elite guard.
“Darnash!” Danielle commanded, “After you have reviewed and approved the plan we shall begin our trek to the Valley of Trenches.”
“Yes, Empress of the Rising Star of Antares.”
Darnash clasped his huge hand over Danielle’s as he knelt on one knee. He bent low and kissed the back of her hand. He looked up into her eyes, then rose to address the assembly.
“Each of you have been specifically selected for this task. You have been chosen for one reason; your loyalty to the House of the Empress. You have demonstrated your boundless devotion in serving the Empress’ House. You stand before her today because you are the elite, the best of the best. You will give your all to serve our Empress well. There is no possibility of disobedience.”
The elite guard clapped their hands at Darnash’s words, causing him to pause his address. Then he raised a huge, hairy hand to quiet the assembly.
“Today, we venture to the edge of the Valley of Trenches. We have already identified our target adolescent Boreshog. To attract the beast, two of the guard will venture deeper into the forest and take a Howler. The fresh kill will be brought to the trenches and placed at the bottom of the ravine. The remaining hunting party will prepare to net the creature and then stun it for transport back to the Empress’ palace. Five of the party will remain after the creature has been captured to protect the transport. You can be assured that the mother of the adolescent shall do everything in her power to protect her offspring. We do not wish to harm any of these creatures, but we will use deadly force if the need arises. The safety of our Empress is paramount. No harm shall befall her!”
The members of the hunting party cheered at Darnash’s words, and then he took Danielle’s hand and raised it high in the air, “Danielle, of the House of Rising star of Antares! Her triumph is written in the ancient scrolls!”
More cheers erupted as the hunting party rallied around Danielle.
“Now, let us begin our quest. We have an hour’s journey before we reach the Valley of Trenches. We must not delay as the moon of Serintin will soon be delivering to us the rains of early winter. Beware of the trenches should the rains join our party. We all know the trenches have the potential to flood during this cycle. Now, to the Trenches!” Darnash said with a thrust of his fist.
________________________
Serintin
Empress’ Palace - Prison Cell
________________________
Dumakas sat in the cold dark cell, shacked by his hands and feet to the floor, the heavy chain weighted his arms. A tray of cold, fly infested food had been shoved under the giant cell door. Though he could barely reach the edge of the tray, he managed to slide it close enough to eat.
The food was barely edible, but it was nourishment. Three weeks he had gone without, his body feeding upon itself. Now his body was demanding food.
It took him but a few minutes to consume the rotting meat. He smacked his lips together and ran his thick tongue across his crooked teeth to pick any last bits of scraps stuck between.
The door to his cell creaked open. The silhouette of a short Antarian was all he could see through the glare.
Dumakas raised his hand as high as the shackles would afford in a weak attempt to block the light.
“Who are you?” he leaned one way, and then another, still unable to recognize his visitor, “Identify yourself!” he demanded.
Dumakas’ eyes were so used to the darkness of his cell that the only detail he could make out was that his silent visitor stood with hands upon hips.
“Have you come to gloat, or to view me as a caged gorech? I have not the strength to defend myself, even if these shackles did not bind me.”
The shadowy outline remained still.
“I ask you to kill me now, so that I may be spared any further agony of this abominable pit I have been cast into. I beg you, have mercy upon my soul and send me to Revein’sev.”
Before Dumakas finished his words, the Antarian visitor struck him on the head. The former Emperor, weak from the circumstances of his confinement, crumpled to the floor.
Dumakas awoke sometime later. He moved his hand to rub the sore, swollen lump on his head. He stretched his legs, the weight of the shackles no longer limiting the movement of his arms or legs. A glance found them piled in a corner of the cell. He squinted at the cell door.
Could it really be ajar?
“W-what’s this?” he struggled to speak. “I remember now,” he whispered, saving as much strength as possible, “Who was that which came to free me? I know not, but I do thank them.”
His nose forced his eyes to a new tray next to him, this one holding prime cuts of well-prepared meats. He consumed these quickly. When finished, he rolled over to his knees and rose to his feet, lifting his arms in a stretch behind his head.
“My escape seems at hand. I shall flee this palace, find followers, and overthrow this gorech of an Empress.”
His hands pressed his weight onto the cell door. He grunted through clenched teeth as the door began to move. The rusted metal creaked until it had opened enough for him to pass through. Dumakas eased his head out of the cell and looked each way down the eerily quiet passage. He gathered enough courage to make his choice and departed the palace unnoticed. Being unnoticed is a feat not common to the large beings.
CHAPTER SIX
________________________
The Rock
En-Route to Epsilon
________________________
“We’ve cleared the moon’s gravitational field, and can start our jumps to Epsilon any time now, Sir. Post-jump ETA to station is thirty minutes,” the helmswoman reported.
“Start the clock. Two minutes until Jump sequence.”
On the Captain’s command the ship’s auto-restraint system kicked in, securing the bridge crew to their stations.
“Aye, Sir,” the helmswoman nodded, “Spooling FTL drives, jump clock running.”
The whine of the engines nearly drowned out their voices, so the crew had to shout their jump sequence reports. “Sub light is go!” ... “NAV station ready!” ... “Tactical is a go!” ... “Jump resolution confirmed. We’re a go for jump, Captain!”
“Generate negative energy densities!” Jamison ordered from his station.
“Generating negative energy densities,” Lieutenant Foster reported.
“FTL is a go, jump drive is spooled, Sir!” Erica reported.
“The board is green, Admiral!” Commander Jameson said, turning toward Jed.
“Initiate jump!” Jed ordered, grabbing the handholds of his restraint system.
An uneven vibration pulsated along the ship as they crossed the jump field. The engines spun down an instant after the ship moved to the designated coordinates. The random quivering ceased as space returned to normalcy.
“Report!” Jamison barked.
Erica reported first, “Yes, Sir! We are at our programmed jump coordinates. The jump was good.”
“Navigation,” Jed instructed, “Prepare for our next jump sequence. Lieutenant Collins, run the jump drive diagnostics and prep, next jump is in thirty minutes.”
“Aye, Sir!”
Malcom slipped out of his restraints and moved to the outside of the command center’s pit. He stopped in front of Race.
“I need to examine you, Race. Please come with me. We must be isolated from this activity for me to probe into your mind.”
“You mind if I tag along?” Jed smiled, “I think I need to know what you find out.”
“No problem, Jedidiah. In fact, I require the presence of the Antarian as well.”
Thelix turned in his seat, “What could I possibly offer you in this matter?”
“Sometimes, a three-way connection is required. Using your brain power with mine, I have a better chance at reading everything that is necessary.”
“Why not, me?” Jed protested, “This big guy’s got it bad enough on my ship. Walking through the corridors must be a laborious challenge, having to stoop when he walks anywhere he goes.”
Malcom turned to Jed, “No offence, Jedidiah, but at your brain’s state of development you can be of no assistance in this matter. Besides, Thelix knows Serintin, and the familiarity will help facilitate the events within my mind.”
Thelix was already making his way to the exit, “It is not too great a problem for me to handle.”
Malcom gave the Antarian a nod, and then followed the others out from the command center, “Thank you, Thelix.”
“Commander,” Jed said, pausing through the exit, “You have the con.”
“Yes, Sir!” Jameson saluted. “You heard the man! Get to your stations! Begin FTL prep for the next jump!”
Jedidiah followed Race and Malcom through the corridor and into a briefing room. Thelix, nearly crawling, managed his way into the room and sat on the floor near the center table.
“Sorry about this, Thelix,” Jed offered, “You don’t look very comfortable.”
“My comfort is not a problem, Admiral Fitz. I am used to cramped quarters. Just these are a tad tighter. I will be fine.”
“Good,” Malcom said, and then turned to Race and motioned to a chair, “Please, have a seat, Race. Make yourself as comfortable as you can.”
“Will this hurt?”
Malcom chuckled, “I assure you it will not.”
“Well, that’s good,” Race said, looking around the room at the others, “We should get this over with.” Race shut his eyes tight and pursed his lips.
Malcom took a step back, “Race, please relax. Contorting your face does nothing to enhance the process. It will, however, impede the completion of my task.”
Race opened his eyes and relaxed, “Oh, sorry. Just tryin’ to help.”
“Take some deep breaths. Calm your mind...forget all your troubles...that’s good...more deep breaths...tell me what you remember about being on Serintin...then Thelix and I will join your mind so I may unlock any memories that were blocked.”
Race took another deep breath, and described his time on Serintin, “I remember being taken to the moon’s surface where I first met a short Antarian. Well, short by Antarian standards anyway. I think his name was Laboolaron...yeah, that was it.”
“Good, good. This is what I remember as well. What else do you remember?”
“I remember a cold dark cell...then we were taken before the Emperor.”
“Dumakas,” Thelix added, “He was the Emperor. Off worlders who stand before him seldom live to tell about it.”
“We stood before Dumakas several times. I still live.”
“Interesting,” Thelix added, “Perhaps you’re not the gorech I thought you were after all.”
“You were under the influence of your ‘blood lust’ then.”
“Shhh,” Malcom insisted, “Let’s get back to our task, shall we? Now, where were you?”
“Right, the Emperor. He explained the games to us.”
“Yes, yes. I was there for all of that. How about picking it up when Darnash and I departed the palace?”
“After you left with Darnash, Danielle and I made our way back upstairs and turned ourselves in. That’s when Danielle fought Skatie in the arena and won. She spared Skatie’s life and convinced Dumakas to let us fight the Boreshog. Once we fashioned our weapons, we were instructed to head to the Valley of Trenches. Instead, we followed the tree line from the palace to the south. The last thing I remember is that the forest was getting very thick. We were going to head back to the tree line. The next thing I remember is Skatie and I reaching the rescue shuttle.”
Malcom lightly stroked his spindly fingers over Race’s temples, “Thelix, please place a hand on the back of my head and concentrate on Serintin.”
Thelix did so and closed his eyes to concentrate.
Images flashed through Race’s mind, and Malcom funneled his memories into his own.
Thelix raised his eyebrows while continuing to keep his eyes closed, “I’m seeing some images...it’s Race, Skatie, and Danielle walking through the forest.”
“Yes,” Race nodded, “Who is the old Antarian woman?”
“Shhh,” Malcom insisted, “Keep quiet. We’re about to find out.”
“This old woman,” Thelix began, “It is Tumaleka. She is Dumakas’ grandmother. However, no one thought she was still alive.”
“She said it wasn�
��t safe in the forest. She begged us to follow her. Then she took us inside a small hut...to an old book set on a table. She blew dust in our faces...I remember now. Danielle wasn’t affected. We were sent away. That’s all I remember.”
“Yes,” Thelix opened his eyes and looked at Race, “She used Dimeatarian Dust on you.”
“Dimeatarian?”
“Yes, this is extracted from a plant found only on Delema. Exposure leaves one extremely susceptible to suggestion. Seers use this dust when they are interpreting the books or meditating on prophecy.”
“Why wasn’t Danielle affected by the dust?”
“Most likely,” Malcom offered, “it’s the same reason Thelix and Darnash got sick.”
“If this is true, then we have new problems.”
“Thelix?” Jed asked.
“Tumaleka thinks Danielle is the warrior that comes from an unknown house. This is why she thinks she is the Empress.”
“Danielle?” Race’s eyebrows shot up.
“It all fits. I know very little about these ancient scrolls. However, I do know that what has been prophesied in our ancient writings, the events that led to a member of your crew becoming Empress of Serintin. I can bet that Tumaleka has convinced the Delema council that Danielle is this person.”
Malcom shot backward at Thelix’s words with a start, “Yes, yes, I thought she was. This confirms it. Thelix is right; Danielle has become the Empress.”
“What are we supposed to do now?”
“That’s a great question,” Jed stood to pace, “Thelix? Do you know what happens in your people’s writings next?”
“No one knows for sure. Many cycles ago, pages were removed from the scrolls. No one knows what was on them, nor where they are or if they still exist.”
“How can Danielle become the Empress? How is that even possible?” Race argued.
“Tumaleka is not of right mind. Even if Danielle is not the warrior that our writings describe, Tumaleka believes she is...and she’ll stop at nothing to convince others that she is.”
“Okay, I get that. I just don’t understand how she convinced an entire society. Surely there are those who would argue the point.”
Warlords Saga Page 30