by Selva, SK
“Any word from the dragons?” asked Balaraj.
“Only the usual,” said Hemadri. “They will be arriving in time for their opening performance, as per tradition, the king among them. The rest have remained in Marutam.”
It was not the information Balaraj wanted.
“Come now,” said Hemadri. “You have been worrying too much. Our army is stronger than that of the demon tragedy, and we won that battle. You get to sit in the council box to watch the opening ceremonies. Never been one for dance myself, but it could be a show.”
Balaraj did not especially care, but it would be good to see the king again for the first time since the meeting. Perhaps they could talk more about his plans for Marutam and the unicorn tribe.
He began to tense as he suddenly grew elated. He had never before felt such desire.
I can feel something. Get me to the battlegrounds. I need more magic.
“Let’s go!” he shouted.
*
Karnan gave a few words of instructions to his most trusted centaurs and watched as they set off. They had not been able to gather as much support as they needed. Balaraj’s fear had been contagious and spread through the village like wildfire. It was impossible to rally those to his cause without risk of word getting back to Balaraj’s army.
The only option he could think of was to wait until the king arrived and try to make him see sense. His scales had never been wrong before, and if they said the magic was unbalanced, then he believed them. Something had to be tampering with the king’s scales. He did not want to imagine just how powerful that creature could be.
“Karnan!”
The centaur leader snapped back into focus and saw the last two creatures he wished to see at that moment.
Hemadri’s stubby legs were working hard to keep up with Balaraj’s brisk pace. The unicorn warrior did not break eye contact as he surveyed his former war mate.
“You have not responded to any of my messages,” said Hemadri indignantly. “Is everything all right?”
“Apologies,” said Karnan. “I have been busy.”
“Being a traitor to the land,” said Balaraj.
Hemadri could feel Balaraj’s words deep in his very bones as his two old friends glared at each other.
“I have been called worse things by better creatures,” said Karnan.
“Come now, gentlemen,” said Hemadri. “Let us go back to how it was years ago. The demon tragedy brought us together then, and I do not see why that cannot happen again.”
His words fell on deaf ears as Karnan and Balaraj were standing as close to each other as they had been just a few days earlier.
“How brave are you now without your centaur army here?” taunted Balaraj.
“You still do not understand, do you? I am a soldier for the land.”
“As are we.”
“Caught Veeran yet?” Karnan asked.
“We will, soon. And the king will know that the centaurs were of no help,” said Balaraj.
“And how sure are you of that?”
“I have my sources.”
Strangely, Karnan’s eyes seemed to lost focus momentarily. Nothing but pure darkness had stared back at Karnan. He blinked, and Balaraj’s eyes had returned to normal.
What was that? thought Karnan.
“We do not have time for this,” said Hemadri. “Come, let’s go to the council box. The opening ceremonies are about to start. Karnan, we will see you there. I just hope you know which side to fight for.”
Balaraj had already begun walking away as Hemadri gave the centaur one last hopeful look. Karnan shook his head, his disappointment causing the troll to slightly pause before he departed.
The centaur gazed at the guarded entrances to the arena and the fear on all the creatures’ faces as they entered. He thought of the king and his recklessness. Most of all, he thought of Balaraj, once his close friend.
He just hoped all of Samara’s instructions were worth it.
*
“Thank god you were able to release that arrow,” said Veeran.
“That kid still can’t control his magic,” whispered Aaryav. Several banners had decorated the shop walls. “They have wanted posters of you everywhere. Pretty bad drawing, though. You don’t look that good.”
Not wanting to look up even in the slightest, Veeran kept close to Aaryav. “What else is happening?”
“It’s rather quiet,” said Aaryav, doing his best to look around through his hood. “Looks like they’ve all gone to Vattapi Arena. I think the opening ceremonies are starting.”
“Roshna and Karnan are going to be there.”
Veeran could hear Aaryav’s gulp through his cloak.
“Do you think we should wait for them to come back?” he asked.
Aaryav did not answer right away. Veeran could tell he was deep in thought.
“We can’t,” he finally said. “If we wait for them to get back, that means the king will have arrived. We can’t hide from him. Only Roshna can keep us safe then.”
But we’re here to keep her safe, thought Veeran.
Realizing they had no other choice, they began what felt like a fool’s march.
“We’ve already snuck into the village, but how could we get into Vattapi Arena? Even if we get in, how would we find them?” asked Veeran.
“Let’s worry about finding them after we get in. This one won’t be a problem.”
With every part of their journey having been so difficult so far, Veeran was happy to finally hear that their next task would not be too hard, but how was Aaryav so sure?
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Remember your first day here?”
For the first time in days, Veeran smiled. “You never did tell me how you knew about that passage.”
Aaryav let out a long sigh. “Long story short, it was during my first return. I had caused my mentor so much trouble that he decided he didn’t want anything to do with me before we even got to Marutam. It’s part of the reason why I wanted to become one myself, to make up for it. I was just so excited that I ran everywhere in the square, not caring that I would get lost.”
It never really occurred to Veeran that every creature that came to Ilemuria had at one point been there for the first time. He could certainly imagine how someone as excitable as Aaryav would be.
“Anyways, I was just wandering around Vattapi Arena. I wanted to get in so bad, but the trolls were guarding every entrance, and I didn’t have any gold. I tried sneaking around, but nothing. I was dejected until Roshna appeared. She asked me where my mentor was, and I just couldn’t say anything. I felt so ashamed, couldn’t even look at her. She then asked me if I was trying to get into the battlegrounds, and I said yes.”
Veeran quickly stepped out of the way of a dragon idol that seemed to be guarding an entrance to some sort of lodging creatures could stay at. He kept close to Aaryav, following the sound of his voice.
“Instead of getting me in trouble like I should have, she took me to a random part of the wall outside and showed me the stone to get in and even how it led to another tunnel that took me right down to the battlegrounds itself.”
“Roshna has always been there for you, hasn’t she?” said Veeran.
“Yeah,” said Aaryav. “It’s part of why I didn’t want to tell you at the time. I ran away from my mentor, and I didn’t want you to do the same. Nobody wanted to give me a second chance after that, so I just sort of learned things on my own. Guess that’s why I made sure to guide you as best as I could.”
“You did more than that,” said Veeran.
“Thanks, but you helped me too. I tried to make it up to my mentor, but he kind of shoved me away. I worked hard and eventually thought we were friends as we trained in the battle classes together, but after how easily they turned on me, they were never my friends. You helped me realize that.”
Unable to find the right words, Veeran tried to stay quiet, but his curiosity got the better of him. “Who was it?”
he finally asked.
“Maran.”
Veeran quickly covered his mouth with his hands to stop from gasping. He could faintly make out several heads glance toward them. Staying silent, he patiently waited until they looked away again.
“Guards ahead,” said Aaryav. “This way.”
Aaryav and Veeran ducked behind a closed shop. It was so crowded that no one gave them a glance. The setting sun cast long shadows over the land, giving them much needed darkness to hide.
Aaryav raced through the back alley, taking all too familiar turns as Veeran kept pace. This was not the time to slow down. Not when they were so close.
They burst out of the passage and into a small grove with trees stretching as tall as the arena itself. Trying to avoid making too much noise, Aaryav halted at a particular point in the wall. Veeran could feel the sweat drip from his forehead as his breathing grew faster, matching the pounding of his heart. They were so close.
“Okay, now to find Roshna,” he said.
Aaryav touched one stone in the wall of thousands, the only one that they would need.
They had done it. They had travelled across Ilemuria to get the information Karnan so desperately needed. That had returned, never stopping. Now was the time to save Roshna. Now they could clear his name.
The wall began to pull away, opening up the passage to their leaders.
Standing there waiting were several guards.
“Got you!” shouted Maran.
A powerful arm wrapped around Veeran’s neck as his lungs struggled for air. His legs thrashed out, only to find emptiness. He was thrown to the ground, and a boot the size of his back stopping him from moving.
“We got them!” shouted Jagan. “Balaraj was right.”
“Let’s get them to him,” said Maran. “I can’t wait for this.”
Veeran could feel himself being lifted, seeing stars. Aaryav needed two creatures to subdue him as he fought back against his captors.
“Try to fight more, and it’s a club you’re getting,” snarled one of the trolls.
Aaryav went limp as he looked at Veeran. They both knew what had happened.
They got caught.
CHAPTER 3 2
***
V attapi Arena had not seen a crowd this excited in years. Not a single empty seat was left. The fear of the demon was temporarily erased from everyone’s minds as their excitement from the games took over. An empty battleground did not nothing but raise expectations as the opening ceremonies were soon to start.
Karnan had caught up to Roshna, Thalia, and Yachana, who were waiting patiently outside the council box.
“Hemadri and Balaraj are sure that Veeran is on his way here,” said Karnan. “We don’t have much more time until the games begin. We’ll just have to hope they’re wrong.”
“It has to be a bluff,” said Yachana.
“Regardless,” said Roshna, “we need to be prepared.”
“Their army is guarding every entrance,” said Thalia.
Their conversation was quickly quelled as several trolls walked by, eyeing them with distrust.
“We need to be on the lookout for anything,” said Roshna.
“I think those trolls were thinking the same thing,” Yachana responded.
Karnan looked inside the empty council box. It was customary for the dragons to fly in and begin the opening ceremonies with their own performance. Raja would be expecting them all to be seated when he arrived.
“We don’t have the numbers,” said Roshna sadly.
“Maybe not,” said Thalia, “but strength comes from belief.”
She strolled away to the spectator seats as the three council leaders sat on their own, praying that nothing would happen.
*
“I just need a few guards, Balaraj,” Maran had pleaded. “There’s a way in I think we should watch.”
Get this incompetent fool away.
Balaraj remembered how Maran had allowed the demon to escape in the first place. He had been hesitant in assigning him or Jagan to any important tasks. Perhaps he could allow this one.
“All right, take those trolls and ogres over there with you,” he agreed, pointing.
“Those are my soldiers,” said Hemadri indignantly. “I will command them.”
He turned and saw several of his least trustworthy men as they clumsily let their clubs slip. A loud knock followed as they both reached for the same weapon, bumping heads.
“On second thought, follow the unicorn.”
Balaraj gratefully watched Maran get out of his sight.
“The guards have their instructions, correct? If the demon is caught, he is to be brought directly to me immediately. Even if it’s in the middle of the games?” asked Balaraj.
This cannot wait any longer.
“Yes,” said Hemadri. “Come now, let me show you to the council box. You’ll have a seat there soon, after all.”
Balaraj let Hemadri lead him to a part of the coliseum he had never been before. The council box held the seat he had always wanted.
However, Roshna still sat upon it, ignoring Balaraj with the greatest dignity. He did not rest upon the guest seat. It was not enough. His shoulder against a stone pillar, he looked out into the arena, the site of his many battles. Patience would get him what he wanted. The council system needed to be abolished and replaced with those who had proven loyal to the land. There could not be any traitors in their government.
The sun had set, but that did not dampen the mood in the coliseum. All the creatures in the surrounding seats looked to the skies, anticipating the upcoming spectacle. The minutes passed slowly as the giant torch in the middle of the battlegrounds suddenly sprang to life, its flame dancing wondrously. Hundreds of creatures from all over the land were on their feet cheering. This could only mean one thing.
The dragons were coming.
I feel strange.
A curious sensation began to creep through Balaraj’s blood as the presence yearned within him. What was happening?
I feel power.
“Stop the ceremony!”
Several curious creatures looked down to try to locate the yell, their eyes focusing on a small crowd storming onto the battlegrounds. Balaraj muscled his way to the edge of the box, his hands gripping the railing as Maran’s unicorn mirakum flew toward him.
His face told Balaraj all he needed to know.
“We got them!”
Hemadri’s astonished face travelled downward, unable to tear his look away. Several of his trolls were holding two creatures, barely able to stand.
Bring him to me. I have waited too long!
Karnan had reacted faster than anyone else in the council box and had sprung high into the air, landing on all fours in his centaur mirakum. His gallop was brought to a stop just feet away from Balaraj’s army, Roshna and Yachana by his side barely seconds later.
Quickly!
Balaraj leapt from the council box, shoving a helpless Maran out of the way.
“Do not come any closer!” shouted one of the trolls.
Karnan, Roshna, and Yachana halted, not risking another inch as the trolls and ogres formed a formidable line in front of their prisoners.
The bruises on Aaryav and Veeran were recent as they struggled to hold their heads up, arms hanging limply at their sides. The trolls had them in a tight grip, but they didn’t need to bother. Neither had the energy to struggle.
“Let them go,” commanded Karnan.
The ogres sneered as they threw their hostages to the ground, landing a heavy foot on their backs when they tried to stand.
We have him. Finally, after all these years!
Balaraj’s face was pure jubilation as he passed the three council leaders that were frozen in fear and disgust.
After all these years, this was the moment he had been waiting for ever, since Sonia left him. His heart pounded in anticipation as he eyed the demon boy at his mercy.
Hemadri had finally caught up to them.
&nbs
p; “My god, men,” he shouted, seeing the battered victims pinned to the ground. “Your orders were to capture only.”
“It does not matter,” spat Balaraj. “We have them.”
“Please, Balaraj, don’t do this.”
The weakness in Roshna’s plea revolted Balaraj. Even after all these years, she still showed sympathy for those that took Sonia away from him.
At long last! We can take him to the pit.
“We will be banning them from the land,” said Balaraj aloud. “Never again will another demon enter Ilemuria.”
No, we will need them at the pit for us to survive and keep Ilemuria eternal.
“I will ensure the king decides to ban them,” said Balaraj. “The law of the land makes his decision absolute.”
We have made this decision already! Do not disobey!
“No, the king’s word is law,” he said aloud.
Balaraj tried to stop his march toward the helpless demon, but something kept moving him forward.
“Hemadri,” said Karnan silently. “You know this is wrong.”
His ears could not take the moans from Veeran and Aaryav, barely audible but filled with pain.
The audience attempted to get a better view. Was this part of the opening show?
“We need to protect the land, old friend,” said Hemadri. “These two will be taken to Tirakan when the dragons arrive shortly.”
“We’ve fought alongside one another for many years, but that is not something I can support,” whispered Karnan.
“You cannot support protecting the land?”
“I will not support blind hate.”
Hemadri had no answer to Karnan’s words.
“Unicorns,” commanded Roshna. “Stand down!”
Jagan turned to Maran, who had just returned to their side.
“Please, Roshna,” they pleaded. “Listen to reason.”
“We taught you better than that.”
As the many gates into the battlegrounds swung open, Roshna knew defeat was moments away as the rest of Balaraj’s army had abandoned their posts to join in their victory. Eternal glory was within their reach.