by S D Huss
“Daniel has really improved…” Illya said, looking at the human whirl his blade skillfully.
“Yeah…” Katrina narrowed her eyes, studying the movements. “He didn’t move like that when we fought.”
“Think you can beat him now?” The princess smiled.
“Of course she can,” Avria said, walking beside Katrina, who promptly bowed her head and saluted.
“Lady Avria, it is good to see you again.” She said.
“I trust you enjoyed your time away from me,” Avria said, placing her hands on the small stone barricade. “Have you been keeping up with your forms?”
“Yes, my Lady, of course I have.” Katrina had spent much of her time training with Boros, who was a fine warrior but had a completely different style than Avria. She could use some refreshers.
Katrina heard the fight intensifying and turned to see Oros go on the offensive. The Dae prince whirled his blade with a speed she had never seen before. The man was a blur of bone and crimson. To Daniel’s credit, he blocked a few of them, but was soundly hit and tumbled to the sand below, grunting and cursing. Oros stood over him, breathing heavily, and seemed to beam with that infectious grin he always wore. He extended his hand, and Daniel took it, groaning as he stood.
Katrina heard Illya chuckle as the Doulos girl ran to Daniel, giving him a large canteen of water. He took it, thanked her, and began to drink from it.
Illya hissed something under her breath, something Katrina couldn’t quite make out. It was no doubt directed toward the slave.
“We must meet with the Hego,” Avria said, watching Oros intently as he patted Daniel on the back, and they laughed back and forth. “Let’s go.”
◆◆◆
Daniel found himself once again standing beside Oros at the flank of the Hego. The throne room was in the process of being filled with nobles and military leaders, invited to hear the Hego’s grand plan on how to deal with the Rexunii threat to the south. It wasn’t so long ago that Daniel found himself here, afraid and fighting for his life against Delmos. He glanced to his right, seeing Oros, a man who had stood to defend him even against his own father, the Hego.
“My Lords and Ladies…” Agron began, standing from his throne to address all present. “It is with great pride that I see you all here, the future of Lokkon, the leaders of our court, and prominent houses all. Your loyalty and your faith in the house of Ignos will be rewarded!”
This brought cheers and applause from the crowd.
“High King Phobos has asked me to lead a coalition of honor-bound clans, to march south and eradicate the treacherous Rexunii. They are a stain on all of Eleutheros! They, who corrupt with disingenuous words, and murder honorable sons of Lokkon.” He turned to face his sons, who still stood to either side of his throne.
“Oros.” He said, putting his hands behind his back. “You will lead this force.”
Oros bowed his head, and Daniel knew, having spoken to him at length about the monotonous affairs here at court, this was an answer to the Prince’s prayers.
“I will not fail you, father. The Rexunii will tremble at the sight of our army.” He said.
Agron turned back to the crowd of nobles. “With the support of the Torre’ financing and unparalleled warriors of Lokkon, this will be a short and swift engagement.”
◆◆◆
After the grand announcement, a much smaller group of high lords and generals remained for strategy and council. Daniel was dismissed and found himself sitting on a comfortable stone chair, padded with feathers of some kind, sitting outside the throne room.
Beside him stood Rin, who held several things for him. Daniel didn’t like the idea of having her stand or hold anything for him, but she had insisted that it would look strange to the other nobles and might invoke a complicated situation.
“How’s it going, Dan?” Katrina asked, walking up to him. “A little strange that they leave us out now, huh?” She looked to Rin, who bowed her head.
“Spirit-Sent.” She said, “You are a blessing to us all.”
“Uh… huh…” Katrina replied, her eyebrow raised. “So, when were you going to tell me you got a… an assistant?”
Daniel shrugged. “I really didn’t have a choice, Kat. It was either that or let her old master pull her fingers off.”
“Holy shit,” Katrina said, disgusted at the words. “I think Lokkadonia is great and all, but this business with slaves… is just ugly. I don’t like it.”
“Yeah.” He agreed. “We can’t do much about it though, Kat, we aren’t in a position to help much. Hell, we’ve been here all of five minutes, we can’t expect to change hundreds of years of Lokkadonian culture.”
“Doesn’t mean we have to contribute.” She said, looking to Rin.
“What? Her?” Daniel asked. “I told you already, it wasn’t my choice, and If I treat her differently, the other Lokkadonians will make a big ass stink out of everything. I am treating her well though.” He looked over to Rin who seemed to be blushing. “Right? I’m not mistreating you, right?”
She shook her head. “No, my Lord. You’re very generous to me.”
“People have been talking, Dan,” Katrina said, putting her hands on her hips. “There’s a rumor that you took her to your bed a few days ago.”
“Good God…” he said, letting out a heavy breath. “No, I didn’t do anything inappropriate with her. And you can tell these gossipers, or gossipER, to mind her own damn business.”
“Awwww, come on Dan. She’s just a bit jealous, that's all. Maybe if you paid a bit more attention to her it would be better.” Katrina teased.
“Why are you so interested in it?” Daniel leaned back in the stone seat. “I don’t see you on the arm of Boros right now, why are you holding back?”
The amusement left her face, and she stared at him warningly. “You know why.”
“Exactly, you have your reasons. I have mine as well.” Daniel said. “You think I don’t find them attractive? Every single Dae woman here is nearly a solid ten on earth, but seriously, do I look like Captain Kirk?”
Katrina laughed heartily, then sat down next to Daniel. “Oh Dan, to think it’s taken almost a year to get your dry sense of humor out of hiding.”
The man grumbled, yet couldn’t help but let a smile crack his demeanor.
Katrina looked up at the ceiling above them. Vaulted, and colored with a strange Dae style of artistic masonry. The melding of different colors of stone, swirled together to create images and patterns, was intriguing. “We’ve come a long way… haven’t we?” She said, lost in the designs.
“Yeah…” Daniel said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “I just hope this rebellion business doesn’t cause too much of a problem… the last thing we need is another upheaval.”
“We won't be anywhere near this.” She said, still looking up. “Avria said that Oros will take care of this pretty easily. He’s probably the most powerful warrior in Vul De Rah, aside from Agron and Telmos.” She closed her eyes, resting her head against the stone wall. “She told me that Oros will do everything in his power to bring Robert back… I hope he can… having him back here would lift a weight off my shoulders.”
“Guilt?” Daniel asked.
She looked at him, her head canted. “Yeah…” She said. “I want a chance to tell him I’m sorry. For everything that happened. Everything I said to him.”
“Well,” Daniel said, standing and stretching. “I hope it works out. Robert didn’t deserve anything like that.”
“Where are you going? I wanted to ask you what you found on your little excursion into Baa’Yega? You got back last night, right?” Katrina said, standing as well.
Daniel’s face darkened. “It turned out to be nothing worth our time. I did learn something though; we have enemies everywhere.”
Katrina nodded. “So, what will you do now?”
“I don’t know. There won't be much to do now that Oros is going to be off killing rebels.”
Daniel chuckled. “We’ll see about that. She may decide to slip and chop my head off.”
“She’s really not that bad Daniel. She may be tough on the outside, but she has a tender side.”
“I’m not really interested in seeing her tender side,” Daniel said.
“Are you sure?” Katrina prodded again. “She is one of the full tens you were talking about, right?”
“Geez, give it up Kat.”
chapter 39
Robert sat in silence at his royal table, while the festivities erupted around him. Drum beats and singing played chorus to a turmoil in his heart that could not be numbed by the company he now kept. He reflected, seeing the changes in his mind and body as if for the first time. He looked at his wretched hand again, a constant reminder of what he had endured, and perhaps what he was now becoming.
“Fret not, human…” Dio’Mar said in his mind, sitting elegantly on his shoulder, invisible to everyone except Robert. “We have accomplished a great task… something that has not been done in thousands of years…”
By the time Turak and Robert had arrived back in Thule, word of their exploits in Visgo had made its way back to the ears of Alektor. They had apparently accomplished what they wished, in ensuring not only the guarantee that the Visgo would not attack them in the coming conflict, but that they would join them as well. Queen Mundiri had been forced to step down, and thanks to Alektor’s swift response, she still lived. Honor had been restored to the crown of Visgo, under the watchful eye of the Queen's cousin, Athica, a younger Dae woman who was more of a warrior than her predecessor.
Robert’s thoughts were interrupted by Richoro, who sat before him, offering a bowl of wine. “My Prince?” He said, nodding to it.
“No, thank you,” Robert said, instinctively pulling his monstrous hand under the table.
“My Prince, I wished to apologize to you… my behavior during our time in Visgo was… unacceptable.” He said, placing the bowl in front of him. “I just wanted to come to you and say this…”
Robert hesitated, still feeling the effects of his internal dilemma. He nodded, trying his best not to portray any insincerity. “I appreciate it.”
“Those people…” He continued. “Should pray to you every night, Spirit-Sent. For saving their lives. I may not understand it… but I can respect it.”
Robert nodded but said nothing. Noticing he was not in the mood to talk further, Richoro stood, bowed, and found his way back to the party.
“You should be… happier?” Dio’Mar spoke again. “Is that the word you would use for this?”
“I can’t do it.” He said, hesitantly taking the bowl of wine in his hand. Why did they use bowls instead of cups? The thought perturbed him. “I don’t want to go to war with Lokkadonia… I mean, what about Katrina? And Daniel?” He paused, thinking of his time in the spirit forest. “And Amynta…” He looked into the crowd of Dae. They danced together, laughed and drank. It was almost primal, the way they moved about. The music was fitting for what he saw in the dancing Dae. A loud beating of drums, and other strange instruments, made from bone and animal skins. He was reminded of the primitive tribal music he had heard on his homeworld. His focus landed on a beautiful Dae girl, who, in the midst of an elaborate dance, whirled to meet his eyes. -Demessa- He thought. The woman’s piercing green eyes captured him as she smiled and bowed her head, turning to resume her dance. She moved with grace, but with a ferocity that could humble any man. He swallowed hard, trying to find the strength to pry his gaze from her.
“I like her…” Dio’Mar whispered. “But not ‘that’ much… do not get any strange thoughts… Robert…”
He looked away, scanning more faces in the crowd. “What, you can read my mind now?” He huffed. “It’s nothing, humans have needs, that's all.”
“Needs…” She hummed, curiously.
Robert hung his head, trying to hide the fact that he was talking to an invisible spirit. “Yes… you know, desires for… physical contact with another.” he choked the words out, embarrassed to be speaking with a being that most likely had no idea what he was talking about.
“Interesting…” She said. “If it is important to your… mental stability… then perhaps you should try it…”
“I can’t.” He looked back to Demessa. “It seems a bit… strange.”
“Strange? You seem to have the same reproductive organs as a male Dae… I think it would be interesting to see if it was, in fact… possible.”
Robert grabbed the bowl of wine that Richoro left for him, downing half of it in one gulp. “I didn’t take the ancient spirit Dio’Mar for a pervert.” He said under his breath.
“Even Turak seems to be indulging himself…” She pointed out, ignoring his comment.
Robert glanced to see Turak, on the other side of the large hall, laughing at some unheard joke with a Dae girl on either arm.
“Is it perhaps… that you are unable to dance…?” Dio’Mar asked.
“No,” Robert said defensively. “Hey, back on my world, I was a pretty good dancer.”
“Then perhaps… apprehension about speaking with females…?
-Is she just messing with me now?- He thought.
“No,” Robert said. “I am fine with girls too, I just…” He looked at Demessa again, her hips swaying back and forth to the beat of the Rexunii music, her pearl white hair a chaotic, but beautiful mess. “Fuck it.” He said, standing and removing his cloak. -Katrina’s probably moved on, anyway.- he thought to himself, then pushed her memory from his mind.
Dae warriors parted as he walked toward her, bowing to him and speaking words of respect. The gestures were still new to him, but he did notice that he walked a bit straighter when it happened.
Demessa turned to see him, and again smiled, showing her canines. “My Prince, I was wondering when you would join us. This celebration is for you! The savior of Rexun!”
“Yeah, uh… great.” He said, licking his lips.
“Comfortable around females… of course,” Dio’Mar whispered in his ear.
“So, I was wondering if you could teach me some Rexunii dances,” Robert said, ignoring the spirit. “I’ll be here for a while, and need to know this sort of thing, right?”
She grabbed his hands and pulled him closer. “It is not like the dances of the Lokkadonians my Prince. They prefer the civilized ways of the Torre’, wearing fancy dresses and dancing like stone statues. We like the feel of passion in our celebrations, to feel the heat of our movements in every step.” She started to move her hips from side to side, like waves of water going back and forth. The motion was mesmerizing, and Robert caught himself staring.
◆◆◆
Alektor drank from his bowl of wine, tasting the fermented liquid in his mouth. He wasn’t a big advocate for the sweeter wines, but this particular blend had a kick to it. He scanned the vast hall’s occupants, sipping again.
“Your majesty.” A servant said from behind him. “The emissaries from Clan Sabree have arrived.
Alektor nodded, “Send them through the back. I want no announcement, not until they leave.”
“Yes, your majesty.” The servant pulled back and walked into a small door, stationed behind the king.
He began to watch his subjects again, enjoying their victory, a small one, but more than enough to embolden their passion for a conflict. He looked then to Reku, who was locked in one of the more simple dances of the Rexunii people. The sight impressed him, he had always thought of the human as a solemn creature. He was actually smiling now, and dancing with… his eyes focused on his partner. -Spirits…- He thought to himself. Demessa whirled around him, in no way hiding the provocative nature of her dance. -That was quick…- he thought. They had been gone for several weeks. Apparently, over that time, the two had made up, and even developed an attraction for one another. How strangely the great spirits
worked. Suddenly he saw a blur over Reku’s shoulder. A small thing, more of a feeling than something physical. Could it be? The faint outline of a woman ebbed into existence, and with it, the sense of boundless power. It was her again, the patron spirit of his clan, Dio’Mar. The sight of her unnerved him but also gave him encouragement. She seemed to have attached herself to Reku, and in doing so, blessed him with unknown powers.
“Your majesty.” The servant said behind him again. “I present to you, Princess Ambrosia of house Akio, and Lord Nasus of house Karo”
“Princess?” Alektor asked, turning to the two hooded Dae standing behind him. Feminine amber eyes glowed from underneath the concealing cowl and stared resiliently at him. The two figures approached, and almost in unison drew back their hoods to reveal the light violet skin of the Sabree clans.
