by Alia Johnson
Let's move a piece of this game I'm playing to see his reaction.
The floor she stood on was rock, but in the middle was clay. She knelt by the clay, bringing a sliver of ice to carve it from the floor. The ice melted fast with the stifling heat from the hot springs. She kneaded the water with the clay, forming it to what she wanted. This used to be one of her favorite pastimes during the time she spent with Rainey in their room. It helped calm her and Rainey seemed to like the figurines Vashti made for her.
Stretching the clay out, she molded it together to give it shape. A lone jagged shard of rock sitting along the passageway was perfect for carve scales and the face. She didn't have time to make teeth, but she could stretch some pointy horns. The dragon she created was well crafted for the time it had taken. She heated the palm of her hand to harden the clay. It fits in the palm of her hand, and a nickname flitted through her mind for the King.
Mar.
So, what if the figurine she was crafting had the same points along the ridges of its face as Mar did? She thought it handsome. But how to get it to him without the others seeing? This princess needs a diversion.
Baklan seemed to answer her silent plea.
A fight broke out between the younger demons sparring and the general training them. Gorius turned to Mar to receive orders. The King just nodded in their direction, sending his entire team of generals to calm the group before chaos erupted and caused the beehive to become distressed. Out of earshot, sitting by himself, Mar let out a large sigh, releasing the tension in his shoulders when he was alone.
Vashti couldn't hold it in any longer. She snort-laughed at the way he sighed like he was entirely fed up with the men around him.
He heard of course, but she didn't care when he squinted at the wall because she had placed the long dragon she had just made in the fissure of the rock. Backing away to not be seen, she hid at the end of the hall and waited for him to investigate.
She didn't have to wait long.
Large, bony fingers reached through the hole to pull the dragon free. Vashti couldn't go back to look and see what he did with it; someone might see her peeking and order “off goes her head,” so she left. She followed the arrows she had burnt into the wall, making it back to her room she shared with Medorah without listening through more walls. There was enough betrayal here to keep her busy all night, but she had to get some sleep before the next trial.
When they warned her walls could talk in Romule, they obviously hadn't been to Baklan because every wall within the volcano held a secret.
Vashti pushed open the doorway to her room after checking to make sure it was her own. Medorah was waiting on the other side, patiently, to hear what was in the secret passages.
“What did you find?” Medorah asked, lounging in her bed. She had put her piercings back in, and they made a tinkling noise when she talked.
Vashti described the beehive and the sparring grounds held underneath, leaving the part out about Gorius and Uruti’s plot.
There was no way she would let her friend be distracted during these trials. If it was meant to be, it would be. She had Saphira to worry about right now, even if she wanted to stay, and the game she was playing with the King was dangerous enough.
“It makes sense why they would put the families separate from us. We could endanger them. They do not know us. They keep the males below to guard them, but they are far away to not cause harm. A perfect strategy.”
“Perhaps,” Vashti grudgingly acknowledged. Her hands were coated with clay, but Medorah didn't comment on the mess as Vashti washed off in the water basin.
Medorah slithered to Vashti's bed, removing the friendly snake from atop the pillow before Vashti could spot him.
The snake had chosen Vashti’s bed to lay in while she was gone, and Medorah knew her friend wouldn’t appreciate that no matter how much she tried to hide it.
Yet.
“Do you have everything ready for tomorrow's challenge, Vashti?” inquired Medorah. The trial of sorcery was tomorrow.
Vashti glanced down to her weapon of choice, grasping it gently, hardening her emotions.
She whispered roughly, “Yes. It’s ready.”
I hope.
“Let’s get some rest. Many will be gone tomorrow. This is an unexpected test, and I don't think the majority will pass. We could be the only two left for the Horde.” What she said was in jest, but there was a serious undertone to her words. The odds were not good. If there were only the two of them, they would have less chance of escape.
Vashti nodded, heading for bed with the secrets she held, twisting her heart. It was her burden to bear now.
The fate of Baklan rested on Vashti’s shoulders.
Chapter 9
A knock on the door awakened both women.
Cassira strolled in carrying food for Medorah and a chalice of blood for Vashti.
I knew I liked that guardian.
They sat up and reached for the trays. Cassira handed them over, saying, “Good moon time, Medorah, Vashti. Today is the second trial, the sorcery trial. The elders will be attending today to judge like we announced yesterday. If they approve of the talent you bring to Baklan, then you move on to the next trial tomorrow.” Her excitement was contagious. The bald demon talked about the day with them, keeping their mood light and worry-free. It seemed her reservations that they would not make it through were gone in the light of the new day.
“You do embody a guardian well, Cassira,” Vashti noted out loud.
Medorah nodded her head. “My last guardian was not so pleasant.”
“What was her name?” inquired Cassira, curiosity plain on her face.
“Uruti,” Medorah spat out, her tail rattling.
Vashti choked on a sip of blood, splashing Medorah’s hand lightly with the spray. Medorah flicked her wrist, sending the spray to the ground, and hissed gently at Vashti for getting blood on her. Vashti was embarrassed. It wasn’t a secret that Uruti had been Medorah’s guardian, but once she heard her name, Vashti had reacted without thought.
Cassira nodded sadly. “A bad seed, that one. She wasn’t born here and wishes to return home.” Vashti had heard Uruti’s story, but Medorah had not.
“But guardians can’t go back home, right?” Vashti asked, knowing the answer already, taking another sip from her chalice.
“Right. We remain here. Some are happy. Others are not.”
“Why do they make them stay if they aren't happy?” Vashti wondered aloud.
Cassira answered, “Because they could release the secrets of Baklan to other kingdoms, leaving us vulnerable. The King that ruled before King Magnamar ordered the women to stay after he was attacked and targeted. It was too risky for our people, and he had made the decision to keep us safe.”
Medorah argued, “You are obviously a superb fighting race. There isn’t an army you should be afraid of.”
Cassira looked away guiltily, hiding something.
Vashti had to know what it was.
“Tell us! Please Cassira, if I am chosen, I will sing of your generosity to my future husband.” Vashti batted her eyelashes to look more innocent. It was exactly what Cassira needed to hear.
Cassira blurted out, “King Magnamar is from the magma of Baklan.”
Vashti and Medorah were both confused. They glanced at each other to make sure they heard her right.
“What does that mean? Baklan was foreign to me before I came here,” reminded Vashti.
Cassira blushed, nodding at the gentle reprimand. “I apologize, I forgot. No one knows who the King's parents are. Some say Baklan herself birthed him. Others say a guardian became pregnant with him and left him in the magma to end his life to hide her secret. But the magma made him into something... more. He is able to sense when Baklan erupts. He helps to curb her anger. Without King Magnamar, the rest of the land would be burnt in the lava of Baklan's fury. You owe your life to him, and you don't even know it, but without him, we would all be lost.”
&nbs
p; No wonder he had so much tension on his shoulders. Not only does he have to concern himself with his people, but the entire surrounding land.
Vashti looked down, hiding her expression. Cassira was growing on her. She was young and innocent, and Baklan would fall during Uruti’s treachery, and it made her insides shrivel. It was another point she had added to the growing reasons she wished to stay.
Along with Mar.
A light gong sounded in the distance, perking up Cassira’s smile.
Vashti and Medorah groaned together.
The guardian ushered them out to the stadium, their cloaks, and masks in place to join their competitors.
The congregation of women waiting were silent. Cassira pushed through them to announce the rules after following her usual path up the dais.
Medorah and Vashti blended in among the masked and caped throng, making it impossible to tell them apart.
“Welcome to the Baklan for day two of the trials!” Cassira began. “The trial we begin today is sorcery. You must prove your worth to the Horde. You may not use any tricks used in yesterday’s trial that the elders witnessed. All competitors are to wait in the hall for their turn. The order has been chosen in which you will compete. May the trial find the ones we seek.” Cassira hopped down from her perch, rushing to her two charges to help them prepare in the hall. No heads were rolling this day, making Vashti pout. Medorah rolled her eyes.
Vashti hadn’t always been this hardened in her emotions. She remembered the time that had really opened her eyes to the world and its cruelty.
“Mother, I fear she won't last much longer,” Vashti whispered. She had her arms wrapped around Odesha’s thin shoulders to comfort her through the pains of her transition. Odesha’s pale face dripped with sweat, the bed already soaked through from hours earlier when the first symptoms had started. Vashti saw through her tears; their mother had her hair in a formal coronation weaving. She was wearing large diamonds that swung in the moonlight while she readied to leave them with the guardsman that stood nearby.
Queen Bera turned to Vashti, sneering, “Impudent girl, your father and I have been signing the treaty to free the blood slaves in Romule. This is historic for our people. I will get to Odesha’s Reawakening when the celebrations are over.” Waving her hand in the air, she dismissed them. Bera whipped around in her red gown, leaving Vashti to care for her ailing sister, alone. Vashti wrapped her arms around her twin and whispered, “It’s going to be alright, Odesha. I’ll stay with you.”
The gates opened at the top of the stadium to let the elders in to judge the trial interrupting the horrid memory. The designated area for the elders was in front for them to see better. The stooped demons moved forward to enter their seats. Some were bald, and some sported gray hair. Wings were on many of the elder’s back. They were formidable even in their older age.
Rowdy demons followed the elders in, carrying their mugs of drink to view the spectacle and possibly choose their future mate. The generals entered last to flank their King. Vashti took a final peek at him before entering the shadows of the hall. He was wearing his armor with his large broadsword at his side. His hair had been braided away from his face giving her a better look at the points and high cheekbones he sported.
He was terrifying. A Horde King made for destruction. If men saw the horned King on the battlefield, Vashti knew they would run the other way to escape his might.
She was going to have to be crafty and sell her sorcery to make it through this trial. Then she would get far away from this place where temptation lurked around every corner. Even if she wanted to stay, she had responsibilities that she had to take care of first.
Cassira met them in the hall to inform them, “They have already drawn names before the competition. Vashti will enter before Medorah, who is last this time.”
Vashti snickered, “We always seem to draw the last straw, Medorah. Is it to give us an advantage or something else?”
“I’m not sure yet. We will wait and see,” Medorah hissed in return, unconcerned. Adjusting her mask across her eyes hid her piercings better. She had decided to wear them today since there wasn’t going to be a fight.
The second trial proved to be just as long of a wait as the first even though there were fewer competitors. They waited together outside their room, talking about mundane things until they became tired of standing, then they remained in their room. There wasn’t much action to watch in the halls, and they were bored watching the silly tricks the women came up with.
When Medorah tried speaking of Gorius, Vashti changed the subject. Medorah would sense her lies, and Vashti didn’t want to tell her the entire story yet.
Medorah quickly caught on something was amiss.
“Your skill is not in trickery, my friend. What is on your mind,” Medorah inquired, her pet snake slithering through her fingers.
Vashti coughed loudly. “Me? Trickery? No. No trickery.” She pondered what to say without hurting Medorah’s feelings. “I found something in the tunnels. But I will wait to explain until after the second trial.”
Medorah nodded sagely. “That would be acceptable. I felt in my scales something had been bothering you since you went exploring through those halls, but I didn’t want to pry. It is wise to wait. We will have more time afterward to talk.” Vashti let out a sigh of relief.
A loud knock on the door interrupted them from discussing the topic further.
Cassira poked her head through the open door calling, “Vashti, you are up next.”
“I’m coming.” Vashti hopped up from her perch on the bed to straighten her clothing. Medorah slithered beside her, her dewy moss scent becoming clearer as she came closer. “Here. For good luck.”
Medorah’s thin, scaled arms slipped around Vashti’s shoulder in a hug. Her skin wasn’t as rough as Vashti had expected and fear didn’t come thundering through Vashti’s mind clouding her thoughts like usual. Maybe she was truly free of it all. Medorah still held the pet snake, gently hissing in Vashti’s ear. Vashti didn’t shiver when she looked in his face and felt oddly soothed by the cold reptile. The gentle hug from the snake lady had caught Vashti off guard.
Vashti returned her hug, whispering, “For luck.”
Chanting to herself to be tough, she held her tears, to be the strong woman she tried to be and make it through.
For both of them to make it through.
The competitor that performed before Vashti ran by their small group with a river of tears dripping from her eyes muttering to herself, “For shame! My trick was far better than the last. Father will be furious with me.”
Before they could inquire what her choice of sorcery was, the gong rang out, signaling the next competitor to approach. Vashti turned an angry gaze toward the gong guardian who smirked down at her. She bared her teeth in retaliation. That gong will disappear soon.
Cassira indicated where Vashti should stand, giving her a nod of encouragement. The mild cheers from the group in the stands rang out, clearly distracted from the gong by their food and drink offered by the guardians walking around the top part of the stadium. Vashti kept her eyes down to not alert the crowd who she was yet, hoping they hadn’t recognized her.
She had earned her nickname of “Golden eyes” from the first trial and would be watched closer once they realized who she was. Vashti felt him watching closely though, waiting for her grand reveal and the color of her gaze, but this was just a game.
And she would win this round.
Hunching down slowly, the heavy black cloak enveloped her in darkness.
She snickered, knowing it looked like she was preparing, but the cloak was a great place to hide for the moment.
The bold move caused a stir of movement from the crowd. A shout of surprise drew attention that she wasn’t ready for. The last bloodstone dangled between her breasts. She felt the cool stone in the palm of her hand and felt the power pulse through it, aching to be released. Raising it to her lips, she whispered the words needed to activate th
e blood inside. The gem pulsed with a life of its own, drawing the owner of the blood to her.
A sinister smile began to spread across her lips. If this didn’t work, so help me. I will follow her to Freyja’s gate and beat her with the guardian’s gong.
Vashti stood, fluffing her cloak back to normal, watching the body materialize before her.
Odesha comes.
Gallons of blood fell through the stadium, raining down on demons. They yelled out in shock and fear, trying to escape the sticky liquid.
Vashti frowned as she attempted to look composed.
I certainly didn’t mean to do that.
Odesha’s body finished its travel. The now whole body was soaked through to the bone with the dark blood. She blinked her eyes at Vashti in disbelief, her jaw falling open with shock.
Vashti realized where the blood came from and snorted with laughter.
She must have been performing a Reawakening when she was called.
“Good day, sister,” Vashti announced softly.
Odesha choked on her reply, looking around at the demons still trying to remove the blood from their tunics. The two sisters weren’t identical even though they were twins. Vashti was curvier with yellow golden hair, while Odesha sported a willowy frame and white hair that was drenched with sticky dark blood.
“Good day? Good day, she says? What mess have you gotten yourself into this time, Vashti?”
Vashti chortled, “You look to be the mess.” Pointing out Odesha’s bloody gown and messy hair.
Odesha asked, “A child was sick, what was I to do? Where are you? I thought you were on your way to Antiqua? And why do you wear a cloak and mask in here? It’s hot as hellfire in this place.” Odesha refocused on Vashti, trying to sort out the puzzle as sweat began to form on her face. Vashti thought it was rather mild in the stadium. The tunnels, on the other hand, were hot.
But Odesha had never trained with heat, so Vashti wasn't about to argue with her.