by S D Huss
“I'm… not sure what those are, but I’m confident you are correct in your comparison.”
It was then that the large wooden doors to the dining hall opened again, and Daniel was escorted through by the same guards as before.
The man had his green cloak on and looked as though he was prepared for a day in the village. Boros, Illya, and Katrina then took a few minutes to explain the theory they had to him, and he looked more surprised than she expected.
“You think it’s possible?” Daniel said.
Again, the large doors opened and Robert entered. Illya groaned openly as she realized they would have to explain the situation again. They did, and to Katrina’s surprise, he was not moved either way.
“Why does it matter?” He asked the group. “I don’t know about you guys, but my goal is to get the hell out of here. I don’t want to be involved in their magic or anything else. You all saw how dangerous that stuff is. I mean, we’ve almost been killed twice here! And that's without looking for trouble; why would you want to go on inviting this? Because you’re bored?”
Katrina felt a pit of anger grow in her chest. “So what?” She snapped. “You expect us to just sit here in this castle and not make any effort to learn about where we are? I didn’t ask for this shit either Robert, but Goddammit, we need to do something. We are all changing!”
Her words brought an eerie silence to the room. “You both know it, don’t pretend like you don’t. I have lost weight and gained muscle where, believe me, there was none before.” She slapped her abdomen to further her point. “But it isn’t just my body that’s changing. I feel like I’ve gotten quicker mentally, my sight is better too.” She looked to Robert again pointing at him accusingly. “And don’t think I haven’t seen you admiring your arms, I have, and those muscles weren’t there before. I would know.”
Robert looked away from her to the ground. “I just don’t see the reasoning behind your wanting to learn to fight. Back at home, you were against violence, we both were. Why the sudden change?”
“Because things change Robert.” She said gesturing her arms at their surroundings. “I never thought in a million years I’d be wished away into another fucking world. I had a pretty easy-going comfort zone at home, but here I’m vulnerable. And I don’t want that.”
There were several moments of silence as the two huffed in unspoken anger to one another.
“Well…” Boros said, now incredibly uncomfortable. “I will, uh… wait for you at the front gate. I’m sure you will need some time to get ready.” Boros stood and bowed to leave.
“Wait,” Daniel said causing the Dae prince to hold. “I’m ready, Boros. I’ll go with you.” He stood with him, not having touched any food on the table. Boros nodded and the two left the dining hall.
Katrina still fumed at Robert, but the man wouldn’t meet her gaze. She scoffed at his unwillingness to confront her and stood as well. She fought the urge to leave and again looked to him. He was a gentle person she now saw, not hard and unreadable like so many faces here. Not a stranger in a strange world, but a familiar presence. How many times had she cried on his shoulder, or laughed with him through the nights? Her face softened at the thought. Here was a man she had known for several years, who had been a modicum of strength for her in life. Now though, he seemed a ghost of what he once was to her.
She hardened her mind and started toward the door. “Illya, you’re coming with us, right?”
The Dae princess had remained and seemed less uncomfortable than her brother had been.
“Oh darling, I will be here when you return.” She looked at Robert, who still sat unmovingly.
“I would like to speak to Robert however.” Illya smiled at Katrina and looked at her expectantly as if politely asking for her to leave.
Katrina exhaled deeply and turned to stride out of the door past the guards who held them open, to join Boros and Daniel.
chapter 15
Katrina’s eyes lingered on the smooth stone streets of Vul De Rah. She and Daniel followed Boros, who walked ahead with several royal guards. She had had some time to think about her words to Robert, and all that was said. A pang of guilt harassed her, and she walked in silence.
“Don’t think too much,” Daniel said, walking beside her, his eyes still forward.
“There is so much here that we don’t understand, but as far as priorities in figuring this out? I’d say that their magic ranks pretty high. Robert is just scared, he wants to get back home in one piece.”
Katrina’s eyes glanced to Daniel, slightly irritated, but glad that he decided to talk to her. “What, and we don’t want to get home? I am glad you-”
Daniel waved his hand impatiently, cutting her off. “BUT… That doesn’t mean that what you said to him in front of these Dae was a good idea. It is important that from now on, we keep any disagreements with each other between us and only us.”
Katrina was shocked at the sudden dismissal and glared at him. “First of all, Daniel,” She said, emphasizing his name. “I don’t know you very well, and I don’t see how it's any of your damn business. Second, Boros has made every effort to help us, and I trust him.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Daniel said bluntly. The statement literally made Katrina choke on her next words. “We’re in a world with creatures and powers completely new to us. We already know that we didn’t come here alone and some humans have already died. One of them was burned at the damn stake.” He let his words linger for a moment as he turned to finally meet her gaze.
“We need to stay together as much as possible. This weird little fascination that Boros has with you has helped us a little in gaining their favor, but we need to have a united front. We need every advantage we can get and right now uncertainty and ignorance about us will keep us alive.”
Katrina could barely keep from screaming at him, but she knew there was some truth to what he was telling her. The thought of the unfortunate human that woke in this new and strange world only to be savagely killed; this stole most of her anger. So, she clenched her jaw and spoke. Her words didn’t come out as calmly as she’d intended, but Daniel didn’t seem to notice.
“Listen, I feel bad about what I said to Robert, ok? And you’re right… but he has not really contributed to improving our situation. You did something at least, you fought for us, and trust me I’m thankful for that. But I’ll be damned if I am going to sit around helpless while people try and-” She realized before she finished that Boros was slowing down his walk, just enough to eavesdrop. Her mind raced for a moment. -How much did he hear?- she thought to herself.
“And… uhh, well I don’t want to talk about that anymore. Tell me, Daniel, what did you do back at home? I barely know anything about you.” Katrina’s abrupt change in the subject came just as the Dae prince was within earshot, and Daniel continued the conversation without breaking stride.
“Well, I guess we should get to know each other a little bit better. I was in the Marine Corps for about eight years, got out about six months ago, and have been going to school trying to find my calling ever since.” Daniel didn’t say anything after the brief retelling of his life, he just walked on as though nothing else was necessary.
“Uhh… Is that it?” Katrina asked, laughing a bit.
“Oh, sorry, I forgot. What about you?” Daniel replied with a smirk.
Katrina started to laugh, the sound breaking the earlier tension like a sheet of glass. The two walked for almost a minute afterward in chuckling silence.
“Well…” She started. “I went to college after high school and got my degree in liberal arts not too long ago. Tried that for as long as I could on my own, but it turned out that particular degree is only useful if you happen to run out of toilet paper. My dad ended up hiring me as a consultant for his business, which as I’m sure you can imagine was boring as hell.” She looked up for a moment in contemplation. “Met Robert in my freshman year at UCSB.” She closed her eyes, lost in a memory. “How did this happen to us?
” she murmured.
“Anyway…” She continued. “My life was nice and boring before I decided to go to that stupid convention in San Diego. Now, look where I ended up.” She gestured her hands around lazily, having complained about the same thing for as long as she had been in Pelemont; even she was getting tired of her constantly bringing it up.
“I still don’t remember much about how we actually came here, just the bright flash. Robert and I held each other, and the next thing I remember is seeing him bleeding in that forest. And you coming out of the dark barefoot.” Katrina sighed, the laughter she just had a distant memory.
Boros had slowed his pace enough to be almost beside the two humans as they walked. He took this opportunity to speak for the first time during their trek through Vul De Rah.
“Your arrival here is not the end of days like the Espi-Dea have been saying. The intervention of Gro’ak is proof enough of that. It has been a thousand years since a spirit has taken the time to manifest itself in the throne room, and that was to stop a very large and bloody war. My father will protect you from any who wish to harm you. I will as well.”
The Dea prince looked to them and stopped at a large crossroads. Katrina saw that there were far fewer shops and peddlers on the side of the street. Those that were present were wearing robes of various colors and were selling what looked like religious trinkets. Boros pointed to a very large structure that, as they were now becoming accustomed to, looked as though it were grown out of the ground. Katrina looked up in amazement at what she figured was a Dae temple of some kind. It was surrounded on all sides by pillars that spiraled out of the ground and were as smooth as marble.
“This is the shrine to the great spirits in Vul De Rah. A holy site, where people from all of the surrounding villages come to pray and pay their respects.” Boros said as he climbed the steps to the large doors.
Before they could reach them, however, the doors slid open smoothly and several hooded and robed individuals came to greet them. The one in the middle had his hood pulled back, and wore a large and rectangular hat on his head. His skin glistened a pale yellow, and his face was longer than the Dae he had seen so far.
“Welcome, my lord Boros.” He said, without a smile. “It is so nice of you to come here and grace us with your presence.” The robed Dae did not seem threatening but made no attempt to move out of the way. The prince took notice of this but maintained his polite and cordial manner.
“Espi-Dae, it is an honor to come and pray in this most distinguished and divine place. We only wish to enter and pay our respects.”
The Espi-Dae looked at the prince, his bright yellow eyes unmoving. The moments ticked by in silence, and Katrina could feel the unease building between them.
“No.” He finally said. “I am sorry my lord, but I can not permit these creatures to enter this holy place. The High Espi-Dae and the King have given their commands on the matter.”
Boros’ Jaw tightened as the polite mask he wore faded away and revealed a will of iron.
“That is unfortunate, my friend because I’m bringing them in any way.” Boros gave a sinister smile and began to climb the rest of the stairs. The Espi-Dae stuttered and did his best to halt the young prince, but he was easily pushed aside. He began to shout in protest, but when Boros turned to him, his words stopped in his throat.
“Listen, you arrogant fool, I was there in the throne room when the spirit Gro’ak came to defend them. He asked my father if we would abide by the will of the spirits, and we agreed. Now, you can either stand aside and help us in our task, or I will skewer you on a spike as a heretic.”
The Dae was stunned at the sudden aggression, and moved his mouth to speak, but found that he couldn’t.
Boros waved his hand dismissively at him and turned to Katrina and Daniel.
“Please follow me, my friends.” He said, his friendly smile now once again dawned on his handsome face.
Katrina followed the Dae inside the massive shrine, and like the glade there were large balls of flame that floated in the air, lighting everything within. There was also a large dome ceiling that draped over them, with paintings and references to their religion. It reminded her of something similar to the Sistine Chapel in her world.
“Now…” Boros said standing before them. “This room is the main hall of the shrines; where all of the followers come to worship together.” His hands spread to either side of him. “And here, in the four corners of the main hall, are the individual shrines to the specific elements. Earth, fire, wind, and water... it is in each of these places that the spiritual energy is the most potent.” Each shrine was different in its own way, with large archway entrances carved with complicated designs specific to each element, but no doors.
Katrina listened as the prince explained where they were, and what he wanted them to do, but she found it hard to concentrate. The air was thick, she wasn’t sure if she was hot or cold, and a small pulse began to flutter within her. His words began to go silent in a muffled mass when she felt a slight pull in the core of her body. Not as though something was tugging on her, but a subtle force was directing her towards the shrine on the right. -What the hell?- she thought to herself.
Her sight became narrowed, and all else around her became insignificant to the moment she now had. Her legs began to carry her toward the shrine; and the closer she got, the more a light pulse began to beat in her chest. She stopped before a large bed of sand that surrounded an obsidian stone altar. All else was dark around her, there was nothing but the altar and her body. She removed her shoes, as she was compelled to do so, and touched her bare feet into the soft sand; it was cold but refreshing to her. She approached the altar and placed her hands on it, but she felt nothing. The light pulse was now stronger, she could feel it clearly. Her fingers were tingling, but she couldn’t find the source. She began to grow frustrated. There was an ebbing of power that called to her and she felt around the altar in an attempt to find it, but it wasn’t there; it eluded her like an itch that you just can’t find.
“Relax” She heard from around her, A Lyth and rasping voice. “There is nothing to fear… you’re shaking, my dear girl.”
“Who’s there?” She called into the darkened haze around her.
“Worry not girl… have a seat in the sand.” The voice called to her.
Katrina’s heart beat rapidly in her chest, and her fear grew with every moment, but there was this insatiable need she felt to find the power that tugged just out of her reach. She felt as though her body would not be complete unless she could find it and take it.
She obeyed the voice and sat in the soft, cool sand.
“There… now doesn’t that feel better?” It said. There was a stir in the sand before her at the base of the altar. A small head began to emerge from the ground, the head of a serpent with green stone-like eyes. The serpent itself looked as though it was made from sand, but still gleamed in a strange way. Katrina’s eyes widened at the sight of a snake, but she kept herself from her fright and held fast.
“We meet again…” The serpent said, coiling around itself comfortably.
“Again?” Katrina asked curiously.
“Oh yes… You touched me as I traveled in the Dallia plains… Sorry about the violent reaction, but we spirits tend to keep to ourselves, and the Dae are usually smart enough to let us be… usually.”
Katrina recalled the strange stream of sand that shocked her while they traveled to Vul De Rah after meeting with Oros and Boros.
“Oh… So, you’re a spirit? I’m sorry for that, I got curious, and…” Katrina did her best to sound sincere.
“Well… I almost killed you, girl… but then I realized that I had no idea what you were. So I watched… and followed you. Then I saw Gro’ak confront the Hego… and my my, what a scene that could have been. He is a very powerful spirit… and tends to keep to his forest.”
The Serpent began to extend itself and inched closer to Katrina’s face, it’s green eyes boring deep into he
r.
“But here we are… and now I can see your power… thrumming away like the beating of a new heart… it’s…” The serpent came closer, now inches from her face. “It’s so strong… this is highly unusual for a Dae… but you aren’t one are you… you said you were called a human.”
The serpent drew back and rested its head on its coiled body.
“Wait, I have the Dunamis? Or whatever you call it? I have this magic?” Katrina’s eyes lit up at the puzzling together of the serpent’s strange words.
“Why yes… I can see it in you… Can you not find it?” The serpent narrowed its green eyes.
Katrina shook her head innocently. “I didn’t feel it until I came here. Now it’s close, but I don’t even know where to look. I thought it might be in the altar or something, but-”
The serpent began to chuckle to itself. “You are looking in the wrong place, my dear... close your eyes…”
