by Sarah Cathey
Suddenly the male Drjeen was thrown across Shook’s path as if he’d been struck by his Daken. Following was Shakja and the two engaged in the darkness until finally, Shakja was against the stone face of the cliff running upward.
“Shakja!” Shook cried out, but his words must have been lost in the now circling winds. He raced forward, but midway the male had drawn his blade and was lifting it to swing toward an unarmed Shakja.
Shook could not lose her, not like this. He never gave into his fantasy of bonding with Shakja. Yes, it was a possibility, but also one which didn’t come without its problems. He would maintain his rank, but for Shakja she would not be accepted as the other high-ranking wives. She would forever hold the stigma of a low-caste wife. Would she accept that? He did not know. Is it better to remain in the low-caste settlement for life knowing your rank, or to be elevated in rank with the quiet and always constant notion that those around you would never accept you regardless of your new rank or even your abilities? Shook suspected this would be a more difficult decision for Shakja than for himself; that was a decision he could not make for her.
Shook lunged forward and as he had done thousands of times mid-battle, he unconsciously drew a spear from his sheath and grasping it tightly in his talon he threw with all the strength he could muster hoping his aim was a pure as his intent. The spear launched through the air and without the common bend and wobble that spears in flight naturally had, this one move with perfect precision, straight and it’s the only movement forward.
Shakja dropped her eyes knowing now that her life would come to an end. She fell to her knees as the attacker, Gradjn approached. He took hold of her horns, but those were not the target that he was going after. He wanted her neck and the sole source of soft tissue that his blade could cut through with a single swipe.
He drew back, then with a single stroke…
His blade fell from his talon and Gradjn looked down upon Shakja with disdain in his voice. “You can’t.” he sputtered, blood flowing from his mouth.
A spear then struck him from behind, completely running through him just above his hearts. In any other situation the spear strike, while threatening would not lead to his death. He was too strong for that. But he looked downward.
“You are nothing. You are disgusting, worthless. You are nothing but low-caste vermin, a rodent.” then he looked down at the two horns in Shakja’s hands and their sharp ends deep within his body each one penetrating their own heart. Blood spurted from his mouth as he gasped and choked with every shallow breath, he forced himself to take. “You. Are. Nothing…” He spouted as a gush of blood fell from his cracked lips and dripped onto Shakja’s skull plate.
She tore Salett’s horns from Gradjn’s body as the full weight of the dying foreman finally forced the spear to crack in two sending Gradjn to the ground.
Shakja fell back crying, holding Salett’s bloody horns in her talons.
She looked up at the dying Gradjn. She was once fond of him and his leadership. He was patient and generous with her, even kind at times. But something had changed, and it had come to this. She raised her chin higher and from behind Gradjn, she saw Shook standing and then she looked at the spear which had somehow escaped her thoughts. The spear deflected the Gradjn’s blade and stuck him to the stone wall giving Shakja the time to thrust Salett’s horns into Gradjn.
As Shook approached, Shakja finally saw the swirl of dust blowing and surrounding them. A smile came across her face. Then, from the cave, Shakja could hear the princess’s terrifying crying. Poor child, she thought to realize how scared she must be.
But it was all over now. Shook could take the princess back to the royal palace unharmed except for a little fear which was hopefully enough to keep her from escaping ever again. Though perhaps, when queen, she will have a better view of Shakja’s caste.
Shakja looked up at Shook and then without a word, Shook raised his blade and swung.
Chapter 12
Aput knew the inflection in the meaning of the king’s words. While he’d told him to merely leave, what he really meant was stay in your chambers until we summon you. But, Aput couldn’t sleep and he also couldn’t get the thought out of his mind about consequences. It was the queen who’d asked him, and his response was sound, but how sound was it? Yes, there would be changes to the atmosphere and climate, but had he downplayed their actual effects? Could the consequences be more severe, ghastlier? Could the effects of a near-miss be just as horrific as a full-on strike? Should the population be moved to the caverns as a precaution? Sitting up, Aput realized the only way he would know is if he monitored the asteroid and put together a report.
Aput stood up, “This shouldn’t take long. I will just spend a quarter moon in the observatory, take notes, put together a conclusion. That’s all I need to do. If it is good, I say nothing. If it is bad, I alert the king and accept the consequence. Either way. I need to do this.”
He repeated his statement over and over as he risked being caught on the way to the observatory. Despite his meeting with the king and queen it still looked like everyone was busy preparing for an evacuation. Could it be precautionary? Or, had the king and queen not made an announcement yet?
The observation deck was vacant as he’d expected. Since being back he’d realized that it hadn’t been used much in his absence. Sitting down at the telescope, he placed his eye to the lens and notched in the coordinates to swing the telescope’s view directly at the asteroid. He could see the object quite well which was unnerving that it had come so close in such a short period of time. But he saw something strange, as a haze was now surrounding the large object and the haze was not the expected melting of ice. It extended from the tail of the asteroid to Jeen’s surface.
Looking closer, he saw luminescent particles drifting downward and into the atmosphere.
“That can’t be. They are too small to move so heavily,” he muttered to himself as he adjusted the telescope again, this time observing at the point of atmosphere and space. “This can’t be,” he said, wondering what the luminescent dust actually was. He’d seen hundreds of asteroids over the years and none released any kind of dust or particles. As far back as he could recall he hadn’t read of any similar observations. “What does this mean?”
He pulled himself from the telescope and walked through the doors leading to the outer observation deck and a massive balcony looking out of the tower. He took a frightening look around.
Whatever the particles were, they were now falling on him like rain. He didn’t know what any of this meant, but he watched until the morning light and the telescope was no longer useful.
Aput was about to leave the room when a younger Drjeen jogged up to him, “I have been looking everywhere for you! The Royals are demanding your presence, NOW!” and grabbing his talon, the youngling tried pulling him out of the telescope room.
“Did they say what they wanted of me?” Aput asked nervously.
“No, they just demanded your presence. Please, let's go! They told me it was of the greatest importance,” replied the youngling.
With a nod, Aput allowed himself to be led to the royal palace, dreading what this meeting meant, though from his observations that night he had a pretty good idea of why he was being summoned.
This time, when he got to the waiting area, he did not have to wait, he was taken directly into the audience chamber. Once there, the youngling pushed him forward, in front of the royals, then darted off, not wanting to take part in any punishment Aput might face. Aput was certain that the youngling had most likely heard of Aput’s transgressions.
Once the youngling left the chamber, Aput nervously turned toward the king and queen, bowing as low as he could muster, though his joints were now beginning to feel as if they could crack at any moment.
“How may I help you this morning my king?” Asked Aput.
There was a pause while Horax gave Aput a hard glare, then, taking a deep breath, Horax stated, “There seems to be a change in the
climate. I am told you disobeyed my orders and were in the observatory.”
How could he have known? Am I being followed?
“Yes, my king. My queen had my mind thinking and I could not sleep.”
At this, the queen pursed her face eager to understand the scientist’s findings. “I have viewed the asteroid again and it appears to have seeded the atmosphere with unknown particles which are drifting to the surface of the planet. I do not know what this means.”
Aput lowered his head, waiting for the punishment he knew was coming. Horax had seemed startled by the news, but the queen was more curious.
Taking another breath, Horax went on, “Well, as you know, we said we would not call you before us until we were ready to issue punishment. I must say that you are lucky today. After speaking with my queen and a few of the other caste leaders it was decided that you will be lowered in rank to initiate scientist rather than a junior scientist. You will go back through training and you are not likely to ever be promoted above a junior.”
Aput started to protest, but he knew it was of no avail as the king continued.
“You will keep your caste and not be imprisoned which is more than you deserve. You can go back to your quarters and are to remain there until further notice. You will begin re-training after the asteroid has passed. During re-training, you are to remain in your quarters when you are not in training and you are not to come before us again unless summoned. Is this understood?”
Aput bowed his head and fell to a single knee, “Yes, my king, I understand and will follow these instructions implicitly.”
“You may leave our presence.” the queen chimed in, still curious as to the particles but saying nothing; not yet.
Bowing again, Aput left the royal palace and went straight to his quarters. Just before stepping inside, he looked to the sky hoping the particles meant nothing, though ominously his aching body he was aware told a different story.
Shakja had been through so much over the past few moons that nothing surprised her, except that of her secretly beloved flashing his war-blade which he was now thrusting down upon her. She didn’t waver and didn’t try to flee. Unlike Gradjn, Shook was battle-tested and still well armored. There was no way she could escape, nor defeat Shook in battle. Besides he stood above her while she cowered like a scared child at the base of the cliff.
Only moments ago, she thought her death would come at the hands of a resentful and vile creature, but now, as she saw the glisten from Shook’s blade slide closer to her, she knew that her place in this world was one which she did not belong. Did he find out she’d been banished? Was he charged with saving the princess and dispatching the abductor? Shook was a Drjeen of loyalty to his king. He would follow his direction as ordered even if that meant to assassinate Shakja.
The blade swept across the chest of Shakja, but instead of cutting her open it merely brushed her scales leaving minimal damage. Between her legs fell another blade, this one short, yet sharp and recently aimed at her own body. Gradjn’s head flew into the air and Shakja’s lap as if tossed at her in a child’s game. She grabbed the horn and tossed the head aside, quivering in surprise.
That’s when she realized that in his final death-throes, Gradjn was striking at her in the last burst with his blade.
Now dead, Shook stepped forward, tall, broad and strong. Shakja stood up.
“Do you have the princess?” He asked.
“I do.”
“Is she safe?” He asked.
“She is.”
“Are you safe?” was his final question.
“I am,” she was finally comforted.
The princess ran up to her from the cave and grabbed ahold of Shakja’s leg, holding her tight, “You’ve saved me.” she cried. Then the princess looked at Shook. She’d heard his name before when her father told of magnificent battles. This man before her was a favorite of her fathers, and as she stared in awe she could see why.
That is when Shook collapsed unconscious onto Shakja, nearly crushing the princess.
Shakja hovered over Shook feeding him warm broth that Princess Amanna had managed to procure from the lower settlement. In fact, when the population discovered who she was, it was difficult for her to leave with only the broth, healing herbs and vegetables. But she returned in speed and found Shook, still unconscious and Shakja near him as nervous as the princess had ever seen.
“I must go back.” Amanna blurted out, not exactly knowing where her words came from.
“I know,” replied Shakja trying to calm the subtle shaking that had recently overcome her warrior.
“I do not want to, but I know my parents will not understand what I have seen in the settlement.”
“Will they care?”
Princess Amanna did not answer so quickly. She festered within her mind, knowing Shakja’s statement to be true. Her parents likely would not care, but there was something they would care about. “If this is happening in the lower settlement, then it is likely that the same sickness will infect the palace.”
“I see. Then yes, you must go.”
The Drjeen were not known for their delayed farewells. Both knew what must be done and that to save the lower settlement and their inhabitants this was the only way. No one would have a chance of survival otherwise.
The princess left the cave and took to the sky, noting the strange particles falling thickly around her. She couldn’t help but note that there were no Drjeen flying as she approached the palace. Nor had she seen any below as she took several low swoops toward the terrain. How bad was this sickness?
When Amanna reached the palace and was quickly let through the front gate, armed guards shocked to see her, especially in her worn condition she spread a degree of confusion throughout the palace. The king and queen demanded an immediate audience, as well as her brother Agkhor. She was brief in what she said, stating that Shakja had indeed kidnapped her, yet upon hearing the word of the abduction Shook took to the sky and rescued her from a hidden cavern which Amanna was sure she could never find again. It was a ruse assembled by Shakja who knew as a banished Drjeen she would likely never see another free Drjeen again.
“Where is Shook?” Queen Neparon asked, sitting on the edge of her throne chair engulfed in her daughter’s story.
“I do not know. He fell from the sky, stricken by the plague that has fallen many in the lower settlement.”
Agkhor stood near his sister taking in her words, but he said nothing.
“How bad is this sickness?” The king asked, attempting gentility he rarely showed.
Princess Amanna relayed all she knew with a few minor embellishments to overstate the necessity of doing something.
The queen looked to her children, “You two will rule the continent in the future. What do you think we shall do?”
Neither answered immediately, but as Amanna debated her thoughts on medicines and providing support to the lower settlement, her brother eventually spoke up.
“They should not be allowed near the palace. We should quarantine the sick or else we will all fall victim.”
The king nodded. The queen peered at her daughter.”
“I think we should try to heal them. We need the lower caste. We need those who are falling—.”
“That is foolish,” stammered Agkhor. “We do not need them. We are the Royals. As long as we are on top, we are not affected. Surely not all of the lower caste will perish. Those who do can be replaced with others. It is the way of the Drjeen.”
“But…” Amanna had no rebuttal. It had been the way of the Drjeen, and her father was loyal to such traditions.
“It shall be so.” The king said. “We shall quarantine the sick, regardless of caste, to the Cavern of the Ancients. Agkhor, you will see that it is done.”
At that Agkhor quickly left. Amanna looked at her mother not knowing what to say, although knowing something must be said.
“Amanna?” Her mother soft spoke the name, “If you come down with the sickness, I want
you to say nothing. You will remain in your room.”
Amanna nodded and left the chamber.
The uproar was immediate as Agkhor ordered the generals to lay out the groundwork for an immediate evacuation starting in the lower settlement. The particle had since dissipated as the asteroid passed Jeen and as it was those who were affected were primarily the lower caste. Without strong walls, windows or doorways protected from the elements nearly all of the lower caste settlements were significantly affected. The war leaders reported back after only half-turn of the second moon that the sickness was at full capacity.
It was then that Agkhor ordered the evacuation to be enforced with haste and to be beyond the forest by the following day. Upon learning that the sickness prevented the Drjeen from flying, he pushed the timing out two additional days.
Since the princess left Shook’s strength began to grow as Shakja expected. He was a strong Drjeen and would not be as affected as others. Still, while caring for Shook she realized that her symptoms were only minor. With the princess gone, Shakja had to take on the responsibility of seeking food and broth to keep his strength growing. Due to the chaos in the settlement, she’d been able to sneak in and out without much detection. Or, if detected, most did not care, as their problems were growing.
By the second day, Shakja realized that what she pilfered was taking from those affected by the sickness. So, by Shook’s request, she would sneak into the forest and forage for mushrooms and herbs.