by Sarah Cathey
Chapter 11
“You?” Salett collapsed to her knees after Shakja and the princess left only moments ago. She wrapped her wings around her body trying to hide from the world, but it was of no avail. Within moments of her banished friend and one of the most powerful Drjeen on the continent left her the hard and well-known footsteps of Gradjn step into the hut. Salett unfurled her wings knowing that whether at the farm or her own home he had the privilege and she must obey his orders. There was no council who would sustain any action of her against him.
“Where is she?” He demanded. “I know she is your friend.”
Salett managed to compose herself enough to play innocent, “Whom are you talking about?”
“Oh, give up the Daken fodder. You know who I am talking about. Your friend Shakja. Half of the royal military is searching for her. She has abducted the princess.”
Salett roared in laughter, forcing an uncontrollable bellowing. “A princess? Escaped? Have you gone mad?”
Gradjn wasted no time, he grabbed the first item he could find, a small ceramic bowl, and raised it…
“No!” Salett screamed!
Without so much as a thought, he threw the ceramic bowl across the small living space forcing it to shatter into dozens of shards.
“That was a gift. How dare you!” Salett raised herself, pumping her chest out and revealing her intimidating height over her foreman.
What must she do? She could not attack him, nor could she defend herself. Her only thought was to intimidate and hope that he backed down. But, as her chest and legs rose, she immediately knew it was a mistake as the male ripped a whip from his side and in multiple quick snaps, he struck her, cracking and splitting scales.
Salett cried out! The burn forced her again to her knees.
“I cannot tell you anything,” she whelped. “I know nothing.”
Gradjn stepped up to her and grabbed a horn. “I will give you one chance to acquiesce.”
“I. Don’t.” She was crying at this point and barely able to speak, yet she did utter the last word, “know.”
She hadn’t seen the blade, but she could hear the foreman’s quick movement as he pulled it from a sheath hidden under his armor. Then she heard the high-pitched scream of the steel as it swung through the air. Her horn split as easily as a berry was crushed. She screamed, part in pain and part in fear not knowing how painful the act would actually be. She’d always wondered if a Drjeen felt anything at all if their horn were cut off, and as the sting of her loss penetrated her skull, she knew that it would hurt and more than she’d ever imagined.
She struggled to escape the grasp of her foreman, but as he took hold of her second horn, she found that she had little control to not only fight him off but also to move at all. She could only see blackness and the dizzy spell she’d once experienced when flying into a stone wall.
He pulled back the horn again, raised the blade, “I’m a generous man. I will give you a second chance.”
It was dark as Shook raced to meet up with the patrols. Had he not been on the mission with Aput he would have certainly been responsible for identifying the logistics of such a dominant force. He was keen to flying at night and as he caught up with the lingering patrols, he raced by measuring each Drjeen. There were no Daken riders following on the ground so he could surmise that whatever was happening required tactics of flight and speed.
Shook was at the lead of the patrol units just as they crashed down upon the planking of the low-caste settlement surrounding the lake. Immediately, he felt the unease flanking behind his chest scales as he curled his wings back and marched, head raised and shoulders broad past the patrols that were forming up as if preparing for battle.
What in the world is happening here? He thought but moved as if he were indifferent. It took only moments for Shook to identify the senior in command, a high-ranking junior Daken-rider tasked with duties far beyond his normal tasks. Still, Shook had always found him competent and likely able to handle whatever detail was at hand.
“Nithogg,” Shook called out as authoritatively as he could manage yet making sure not to usurp the junior commander’s chosen position.
Nithogg didn’t seem to mind and raised his head to his superior. They clasped talons as Shook stepped to him. “I’m happy to see you here with us, but I thought you were on a royal mission.”
“Greetings, yes. I arrived just as your patrols left the palace.” Shook wasn’t much for mincing his words and asked directly, “What is the fuss? And in the lower settlement. I’m curious.”
Nithogg quickly put together the seriousness and relation to Shook. “Here, my friend, come with me.” Nithogg directed his subordinates to pause as the two leaders stepped into an unoccupied hut. “Much has happened since you have gone. I do not know it all, and as always only know my tasked mission. But…” Nithogg, as most Daken-riders knew of Shook’s curiosity in Shakja and while not openly talked about the loyalty of riders came first, even beyond that of the royal palace. It was not uncommon therefore for a Daken rider to assist a colleague when the matter was as severe.
Shook took in the lengthy pause, “I see.” He snuffed in irritation. “What is she accused of?”
“Aiding the prey,” Nithogg referred to the Drjeen Shakja had illegally saved.
“Where is the prey now?”
Nithogg closed his deep opal eyes giving more answer than Shook could have requested.
“And Shakja?”
“She has escaped.”
“And you are to return her to the palace?”
“If she does not resist. If she does, then we are not to hesitate in dispatching her.” Before Shook could ask another question Nithogg quickly interjected, “I have given an additional order the palace is unaware of. “That she, nor any companions are not to be dispatched.”
“Appreciated. And is she here?”
“We can only assume this is where she has gone. Do you know of another place?”
Nithogg turned to glance out of the hut and as he did Shook looked above the junior commander’s horns and to the bluff which could be seen through the hut’s entry. Nithogg then turned back.
“I cannot. Like the others, she works, and she comes to the settlement. On occasion, she will go to the edge of the forest to pick berries, but after the Gramen, she has not had the courage.”
“Do you think we should send a patrol there?”
“Not now. Wait until light when the Daken-riders can enter safely. You do not want to risk valuable warriors for a low caster. The king will be furious.”
“I must go,” Nithogg said and turned to exit.
Shook nodded, “I must go rest. Keep me posted on your success.”
“I will.” Nithogg stopped and turned back to Shook. “You must know something else. Shakja has taken a hostage.”
“That does not make sense.”
“Maybe not, but that is how it is reported. It is Princess Amanna.”
Shook snarled in anger taking an errant swing into the air.
“I do not believe it either. The princess is pernicious and likely chose to escape with Shakja. She was never one for royal civility.”
Nithogg left with that and Shook left soon after. Unfurling his wings, he knocked over two warriors as he lifted off in a harsh leap and headed toward the royal palace. When he was beyond the sight of the patrols Shook turned his direction and sped to the overlook.
When Gradjn landed on the limestone bluff overlooking the settlement below he was cautious realizing that there had been a fire going not long ago.
Gradjn hadn’t actually thought through his plan, but the moment he heard there was a reward for the capture of the princess’s abductor and that that Drjeen was Shakja he knew exactly where to go. It was a shame she is involved, was his first thought while at the same time thinking of his curious interest in Shakja, but she was lowly and whatever interest he had in her could not happen, or at least no one could know it happened if he were to rise through the rank
s. This presented him the opportunity. Slaughter the abductor and save the princess. The Royals would have no choice but to promote him to a higher rank; a higher caste. He licked his parched lips, feeling the strange roughness that had taken on in the last few moons.
Stepping forward he realized the darkness would be both to his advantage and disadvantage. He did not have the ability of dark sight that some did, and his many turns away from military duty took from him the reflexes and skills he’d once honed as a warrior. What he did have was his brutality and the indistinguishable lack of care for any Drjeen who didn’t fit into his plans. So, with each step he allowed his rage to grow. The rage is what incited his senses and first alerted him to the soft-spoken sounds not far off, but yet hidden in darkness.
“Quiet princess, he is near.” The words were a mere whisper and incomplete at that, but they were enough to alert Gradjn to Shakja’s position. Her life was now non-existent, and her death would be of no consequence. Being banished she had no rights and no life. Yet, he could not strike from a distance, after all while saving the princess was important, should she succumb to any injury, the punishment would be severe.
A brisk wind whipped up behind him, but Gradjn put the harsh coolness aside. He’d spent his earlier time training to be a warrior deep in the mountains as an entry for the vast herds of wooly-beast which would eventually become a massive military fighting force. That time gave him a fondness for the cold extremes, a mere brushing as this would go unnoticed. He stepped in the direction of the whisper and even in the darkness the moonlight was enough to show him a darker silhouette in front of him. There was a small cave where the two were hiding.
He withdrew his blade and slashed it twice in front of him. Once to test his speed and a second time to terrify his soon-to-be prey.
There was no hiding the movement in front of him as he stopped, bracing his feet. “Shakja, come out and your death will be swift. I promise.”
There was no response.
“It will be much swifter than that of your friend.” He let his lips quiver in anger as a broken smile cracked those same lips. He reached into a small satchel tied around his waist and took out two horns. He tossed them in the direction of the cavern.
The speed and power that struck Gradjn was unexpected and he found himself collapsing in pain as Shakja burst from the cave and pummeled him against a stone wall. He recovered and while dizzy from the strike knew he was still holding his blade. He circled around catching a panting Shakja only a few lengths from him. She was curiously donned in the armor of an ancient royal guard. She held similar weapons in each talon, but did she know how to use them? He struck out with the blade first, but Shakja managed to dodge the thrust by only a hair. Gradjn raced forward, returning the hard-hit Shakja had administered a moment before. She fell back against a wall unable to move for the tears that flooded her face, an aching skull and the loss she felt in the horns that lay to her side.
Gradjn quickly flung out his blade only to force Shakja to drop the weapons in her hands. Then he swiped his blade back and forth as he stood in front of her Shakja. “It’s been fun,” He said, drawing the blade back and in a single thrust he aimed for her primary heart.
Within the hour, Aput had prepared himself to meet the royals and made his way to the waiting area to be called for an audience. He was sure that he would be positioned ahead of the others in line due to the importance of the occasion. The looks of others surrounding him did not go unnoticed as his tail repeatedly struck the floor in a quick and unfettered pounding.
“Sorry, sorry, so sorry,” he repeatedly apologized to those around him. “I just have...I need to…” ah, he didn’t dare share his information. Besides, as far as he knew a few Drjeen had any idea of the impending doom.
His nervousness switched from a thumping tail to twitching wings and wringing talons. What will my punishment be? Public killing? Assassination? Banishment? His mind ran through the possible punishments he could be subjected to; everything from death to imprisonment to banishment. By the time his name was called, he’d only compounded his confusion and his impending problems. At one moment he’d been the savior of Jeen and in the next, he was being punished for those same accurate calculations. He managed to pull himself up and walk toward the royal chamber.
Nervously stepping before the royals, he was greeted by Horax, “You again? What do you want!? We have already put plans in place for the asteroid strike, what else do you have for us now?”
Taking a nervous gulp, Aput responded, “Well, uh, I have new information on the asteroid's approach…”
The queen sat up in her throne taking note of the flapping tail and Aput quickly stopped, wrapping his tail around his waist and hoping that was enough to control the nervousness. It was not.
“Well!?” Horax responded, tiring of Aput’s stammering.
“Well, it seems... I mean it appears that the asteroid has uh… Well, the asteroid has changed course, it now appears that it will pass close to the planet but not actually strike it.” Aput finished with a rush.
There was a long pause, then Horax said, “The asteroid will what?”
But while the king’s face took on a new and elaborate reddening the queen eased back in her throne chair a seeming smile of comfort coming across her. Obviously, she’d realized the importance of this news, though she still looked back curiously intent and expecting something more.
“Pass us by your highness” replied Aput.
The king rose from his chair. The royal guards began to approach, but the queen waved them off.
“But you have been insisting for that it will strike the planet! You have the entire continent running around preparing for the worst and now you have the nerve to tell us that all this preparation has been for nothing!” Horax growled with a deadly edge to his voice.
“It may not be for nothing my king. We still do not know how close the asteroid will come or if there will be any consequences as it passes.”
“But it will not strike. That is my concern. I do not care if it…” The king collapsed in his chair, annoyed, irritated, yet strangely forcing back his anger.
“I understand my king. My calculations were correct. But—.”
Neparon had been silently observing the volatile conversation and noticed that her husband had been doing well to control his urge to temper. The poor scientist had little chance and she knew it was time to step in. She placed a grateful talon on the edge of the king’s wing.
“Tell us, Aput, is it? What has changed?”
Aput’s breath of relief could not be more obvious. “Yes, my queen. It appears that the asteroid has split in two. Each split piece is now moving in a slightly different course. The distance is great enough that both will disperse far enough from our planet.” He took another deep breath and continued. “The smaller of the two pieces will not have any effect on Jeen while the large still approaches and will miss us but coming between Jeen and the moons; very close.
“And are there any other preparations you feel we should waste our time on now?” Horax interrupted.
“No, your highness. Unless the asteroid changes its course again, it should pose little threat to the population.” Aput replied quietly.
Horax sat back with a deep breath, dropped his head to his chest briefly, then brought his head up, locking eyes with Aput. “This incompetence demands punishment, but I cannot think of what punishment fits this level of stupidity yet, so you will leave our presence until we call you back. We will wait until the asteroid passes to confirm you have not made another stupid mistake, then we will decide on your punishment. Until then, I recommend you stay out of sight, others may not have the patience or compassion that we are showing you. Now, LEAVE!” and Horax pointed toward the door.
But, before Aput could dismiss himself, the queen raised herself again. “Wait.!” She firmly spoke, “You mentioned unknown consequences. What might this be?”
Aput thoughtfully broached the question in his mind. He knew
there was a possibility of other consequences but hadn’t taken the time to consider what those consequences might be. “Well, my queen. I suppose we could see atmospheric changes, larger storms, unexpected volcanic eruptions, changes in animal behavior. Tides may change though I cannot say if they will be higher or lower. I can study the matter and give you a report if you desire.”
The queen thought on the response. “There is no need for a report. We will address the issue if it comes to fruition.”
Aput bowed his head in acknowledgment and left the chamber, following the guard through the hall, and out of the royal palace. King Horax recommended he stay out of sight and that was exactly what he was going to do.
Shook was near to the bluff when dust began falling on him. He’d been a warrior for as long as he could remember spanning decades. He traversed some of the most difficult climates and lands throughout Jeen, but curiously he couldn’t help but notice that this dusting was the most peculiar he’d ever seen. It did not burn as the luminescence would indicate and yet it was neither cool to touch, nor was it heavy enough to give even the sensation of contacting beyond his dermal plates.
He landed hard on the bluff, his powerful wings sending forward a hard gust of cool wind as he used his talons to grab hold of the stone below, easily cracking the ground below him. He realized he hit the ground too hard, but there was nothing he could do about that now. He strode toward the small cave that he knew Shakja would be holed up in. It was her refuge of sorts and one in which only he and a few others close to he and Shakja knew. Though with recent events, namely Shakja’s banishment he knew the others would allow her to hide here and give the appropriate space. If what he’d heard about the princess were accurate he could only surmise that the princess was here as well.
The dusting began to fall more sharply and Shook felt a sudden pang in his joints as if they were cracking. The past mission and injury must have taken bigger wear on him than he realized. Each step was exhausting, but he knew he had to find Shakja. He could not let her rot up here. He had to find her a safe haven that was not affected by the elements as much as a mountainside cliff. Could he run away with her into the banished forest? In theory, perhaps, but in reality, the military search party would be much greater in search of him as a defector than any sent to retrieve the princess. It was an unfortunate compromise to his rank. No, he would have to protect her, yet save himself. A tall feat he knew, but worth the consequence as his nostrils picked up her sent not far off...and that of another. a male.