by N. J. Cooper
“Sorry for being late, your Majesty. We must have got the wrong time.” They excused themselves then stood and walked confidently over to the table. They were both dressed in brown shorts, a white shirt and a brown vest. They wore gold sandals and still wore their bows and quip’s. Orion stepped forward as they sat down. He walked over to them and held his hand out, Shemar mimicking.
“No weapons during Elder meetings.” Orion spoke gruffly, indicating the goblins should have known that. They had been purposely defiant. They both had long pointed ears that pulled out passed their thin ponytails. One had a thick, small gold earring in both ears. The other had a similar ring in the middle of his nose. They handed their weapons over, pulling athames and potions from multiple hidden pockets in their clothing, before grinning and sitting back casually.
“Elder Timmin. Elder Lorrin. Thank you for joining us. I was just discussing the recent trespassing that happened here. They seem to think it was not of their knowledge. What about yours?” Zarek asked, his tone clipped. Kyla begged silently for some kind of information to fall from the goblin’s lips.
“Of course not, your Majesty. Although it seems creatures have been trespassing all over the place lately doesn’t it? From what we’ve heard, it’s not just been our area compromised. We assumed King Carrick would have more protection against this sort of thing?” The goblin with the nose ring questioned squeakily. Zarek raised his eyebrows at the obvious dig.
“Careful Timmin. That kind of comment is dangerously close to being treason. King Carrick is doing everything he can, but some creatures are more difficult than others. I need to know how Byron Vexerin got into your area and why the building wasn’t guarded? The King provides the area with armour, and weapons to protect yourselves as centaurs can’t enter, under your stipulation. Tell me how, after all that, a sorcerer got into your midst?” Zarek demanded. The giants and goblins shared a side look before steeling their eyes towards them.
“Prince Zarek, everything we know about the incident is in these reports. We have no further information for you. Now how about some Gumbo?” Ulga pushed the small file report towards Zarek before leaning back with a grin. Kyla clenched her jaw; this was going to be harder than she thought.
~ 12 ~
The meal was filled with tense silence. Everyone avoided eye contact as they pretended to be too busy eating their food. If that’s what it was. Kyla had never seen gumbo in green before. She wasn’t even sure what was sticking out of the sludge, but it wasn’t appetizing. The taste bit into her tongue with its sour tang and she had to use all of her strength not to grimace at the stench. She swallowed heavily, slowly refilling the wooden spoon. Finally, Zarek finished his large wooden bowl, and pushed it aside. The Giants copied as the goblins, shovelled mouthful after mouthful into their wide grins with a rushed pace. Kyla pushed her own bowl aside as Wyatt did.
“Pogan! Our guests are finished!” Egen roared. Pogan, the chubby Giant who stood at the same height as the centaurs, rushed through the rock door in the side of the cave. His wide eyes looked nervous, darting over the empty plates before scuffing over.
“Yes, Papa. Shall I bring in the java?” He offered with a heavy lisp and childlike enthusiasm.
“Yes, clear these first.” Elder Egen ordered before his son set about clearing the bowls, placing them unsteadily on his thick arms, balancing each one on top of each other. Egen turned back to Zarek.
“While we wait for our coffee to be ready, shall we get started on these monthly reports?” Egen offered, pulling a thicker file from the side of the table. Zarek nodded, leaning forward.
“I want to see your trespassing reports first, then we’ll move on to the births and deaths for your territory. Elder Timmin, Elder Lorrin-do you have your reports ready?” Zarek questioned, turning to the goblins who were finally finished scoffing their faces, Timmin spinning the empty bowl on a pointed finger while Lorrin used her large tongue to lick the leftover splatters.
“Of course, your Majesty. It’s all in there with the giants.” he grinned suspiciously. Kyla got the feeling that was how they usually worked. She had been warned against their mischievous behaviour and she was assuming by the way they made her doubt everything they said, that was one of their specialities. Kyla handed her bowl to Pogan as he came to her. She wasn’t sure whose fault it was but as she passed the bowl over, he reached for it, losing his balance on the precariously stacked plates. They wobbled slightly before crashing to the ground, the clunks of wood against stone echoing throughout the cave, resting in another tense silence. His eyes shot up to his parents, with blushing red cheeks as he grimaced. Everyone’s eyes zeroed in on her and the child giant.
“Pick them up. Take them to the kitchen. Bring out the Java. Got it?” Ulga hissed through a clenched jaw. Pogan nodded quickly before bending to his knee before her and scooping the dropped bowls into his arm. Zarek looked over to Kyla.
“Help him.” He ordered with his authoritive Prince voice. She raised her eyebrows, her eyes glancing nervously over to Egen and Ulga, who looked as if they wanted to argue. Kyla nodded then bent down to pick up the last couple of bowls and spoons.
“I’m sure Pogan can handle things on his own Prince Zarek. Your assistance is unnecessary, thank you.” Ulga spoke stiffly.
“My witness will help. Now, the reports?” Zarek held his hand out expectantly, dismissing their comments. Kyla kept her head down to hide the slight smirk, Zarek knew she would be able to get information when not in the presence of the lying giants and goblins. Hopefully Pogan would be more helpful. Kyla followed Pogan through the stone door to the kitchen that boasted a large firepit in the middle of the room with a giant black cauldron over it, bubbling with more green gumbo. Kyla cringed away and followed Pogan to the stone bench with wooden cupboard doors that were crooked and stained. Pogan placed the bowls in the deep pit in the middle of the bench, indicating her to do the same with a point of his arm. She obliged then stepped back, watching as he began pumping a black iron handle next to the ‘sink’ releasing water over the dishes. Kyla bit her lip, there was a reason Zarek had told her to help Pogan-she just had to find out what it was.
“I’m sorry for making you drop everything earlier.” Kyla said quietly as Pogan hurried over to the cauldron to give it a stir before racing back to the sink. He hesitated when she spoke before blushing and looking back to the sink where he began washing the dishes.
“Oh. Ah. Well. It’s okay. It was probably ma fault. I’m clumsy. Mama and Papa think it was coz they dropped me on ma head when I was a babe.” He shrugged, his black curls bouncing on his shoulders, hanging the dishes on a rack of hooks attached to the wall. The water drained from the bowls down the stone wall. Kyla frowned, she had to keep him talking, see what he knew, what the giants were hiding.
“I’m clumsy too. Hey Pogan, do you know why I am here?” Kyla asked quietly, leaning against the stone. His hunched shoulders shrugged.
“Mama and Papa said the Prince gotta do his reports.”
“That’s why the Prince is here. But do you know why I am here? My name is Kyla, I’m the Oracle.” Kyla leaned in closer with a hushed voice. His eyes widened as he looked at her over and over again. His eyes narrowed,
“Mama said the Oracle was a evil one. With red eyes. You not evil. You got no red eyes. Why you lyin?” He turned with clenched fists. Kyla swallowed before taking a deep breath and a slight step back.
“I’m not lying, Pogan. And you’re right, I’m not evil but I am sick. And I need your help. Do you think you could help me?” She asked smiling, trying to hide the fear she held at being caught talking to Pogan.
“Well I could try, I spose. But what can I do? My mama says I no good for anything but java. Papa likes ma gumbo though.” He grinned proudly, wiping his hands on his white half apron. He waddled over to the hole in the wall where a smaller cauldron sat on an open fire. Kyla followed him over, peering into the cauldron where a thick, sludgy dark mush was being mixed around. Kyla swallo
wed tightly. So that was Java. Didn’t look anything like the coffee she craved.
“I just need you to remember something for me. Do you think you could do that?” Kyla asked tenderly. He nodded enthusiastically, pulling the cauldron off the heat and putting it on the stone bench.
“Papa doesn’t like it when I remember stuff though. Says I gotta keep secrets or I will be in big trouble.” Pogan winced before reaching into one of the cupboards pulling out 5 thick, wooden cups with no handles.
“Well maybe you and I could keep a secret then? You’re allowed to do that right? Just between us? Not even Mama and Papa-that would make us friends. You’re allowed to keep secrets with your friends.” Kyla tried. He paused to think about it, before grinning and nodding.
“Ok. What’s our secret?” Pogan asked eagerly, pouring the Java. Kyla cringed at the slopping sound it made as it plopped into the cups.
“I need to know if you remember a sorcerer coming here? Did you ever see your mama or papa with a young man, my age, with black hair and dark eyes?” Kyla asked, lowering her voice to a minute whisper. He smacked his hand against his thigh, making Kyla jump but his grin let her relax.
“Oh! You wana know about Uncle Byron? Well you shoulda just said that, silly. Papa said I not allowed ta talk about him.” Pogan shrugged, putting the mugs on a wooden tray. Kyla stepped in front of him.
“Wait, can you just tell me what he was doing here? Why he wanted to see your mama and papa? He might be able to help me get better.” Kyla said. Pogan pulled a thinking face that turned his mouth to the side before sighing.
“But…Papa said it would get Uncle Byron in trouble. I don’t wana make him mad.” Pogan stressed. Kyla thought quickly, she was so close to the information.
“He won’t get in trouble. He’s just going to help me get better. Remember, I’m sick and he’s going to help me. Please Pogan, can you tell me why Uncle Byron came to see you?” Kyla asked again. Pogan looked around then leaned down to her height, Kyla leaned in closer.
“Uncle Byron was visiting his friend.” Pogan whispered harshly. Kyla frowned.
“Your Mama and Papa? But…” Kyla started but Pogan shook his head.
“No, silly. His friend he left here. His friend needed a place to stay, so Mama and Papa said she could stay with us. She was sick too so they said I can’t go down there to see. Oh! Are you sick like Uncle Byron’s friend?” Pogan asked, straightening up.
“I don’t think so. What did his friend look like? Was she a sorcerer like me and your Uncle Byron?”
Pogan shook his head again. “No, she was pretty. Lots of swirls on her skin like my paintings I draw for Mama. Her eyes were white as well. I like them. I wish I could see them again.” Pogan sighed, looking off dreamily. Kyla frowned, processing the information before she realised what he was referring to and gasped.
“Thank you, Pogan. This could really help me get better. You said down there? She’s in the dungeons?” Kyla verified. Pogan nodded with a grin at his helpfulness.
“Yeah. Oh, I better get this Java out before Mama and Papa gets mad. They don’t like cold Java.” Pogan sighed. Kyla nodded.
“Neither do I. C’mon. Oh, and remember Pogan, this is our secret, okay? Our friends secret.” Kyla smiled. He nodded eagerly before leading her back out to the meeting. Everyone looked up at their entrance. Kyla looked down and took her seat as Pogan delivered the Java, but she could feel the Giants and Goblins glares.
“You took too long Pogan, what kept you?” Egen asked with an accusatory tone that had Kyla tensing.
“The miss had never seen a giant’s kitchen before Papa. She liked to help me wash the dishes and serve the Java. She never had that either.” Pogan replied, looking down. Kyla did the same as the silence stretched unbearably long.
“That is not her purpose here Pogan. Don’t keep our guests waiting next time, understood?” Egen growled. Pogan nodded and scurried off with an attempted wink in Kyla’s direction. She smiled lightly back before concentrating on her mind. The others went back to their meeting, inciting discussion on the statistics of border crossing, while Kyla tried to mind link with Shemar. Zarek was in Prince mode and unreachable but she had linked with Shemar before, making it easier to do with her weakened powers. She saw Shemar tense in the corner of her eye as she got to the front of his mind. She saw him discreetly nod to let her know it was okay to talk.
‘The Djinn is in the dungeons. Byron bought her here. Zarek needs to list it as an investigation place before they move her.’ Kyla sent to him. Unfortunately, centaurs’ minds didn’t allow the ability to converse and she could only talk to him, not the other way around. Moments later Shemar moved over to Orion, whispering something in his ear, Kyla assumed relaying her message. Orion’s eyes narrowed as he walked forward.
“Elders. Would you mind informing the Prince as to why there is an unreported power source coming from your dungeons?” Orion ordered gruffly, his hand on the sword in the side of his weapon holster. The Elders visibly stiffened. Lorrin cackled, breaking the tension.
“Our reports are very clear in the fact that our dungeons are empty. Maybe your feelers are a little off there, centaur.” She antagonized. Orion huffed angrily.
“Or the reports are falsified. We need to see the dungeons for confirmation. Now.” Orion demanded. Egen cleared his throat.
“Now, now. There’s no need to be so hasty. We have some Java here to get through, more reports and then we can head down to the dungeons to check these allegations out properly.” Egen tried to diffuse, or in Kyla’s opinion, stall. Zarek seemed to think the same as he stood abruptly from his chair.
“We will start the inspections. Take us to the dungeons, Elders.” Zarek stated firmly. Egen and Ulga looked less than impressed but sighed and stood anyway. The goblin Elders seemed to make it their personal mission to stall the group as long as possible. They all moved in a group, the giants, the goblins, Orion, Zarek, Kyla and Wyatt then Shemar, through the dim caves that felt huge to her but seemed a slight squeeze for their bigger company. The giants led them down multiple flights of stairs, corners and tunnels until they finally came to a stop outside a huge wooden door, locked with iron fixtures. One of the goblins came forward to unlock it but fumbled, dropping the keys to the ground.
“Oops. Clumsy me.” Elder Lorrin smirked then slowly tried each key before Orion huffed in her direction. A warning huff that had the goblin picking up the pace. Eventually, the heavy door was forced open with a screech along the hard-set dirt floors of the cave, opening into a long hall with similar wooden doors, and iron settings lining each side, right down to the very end where a glass wall lined the very last cell. It had iron settings all around it, holding it in place with a single glass front. On either side was more iron and a complete iron door. Or what she thought was iron until Orion spoke.
“You’re using onyx in your dungeons? On who’s authority? And what source?” He demanded as they all began moving down the hall.
“We found some deep in the caves. As per the laws, we were told our land is our own, whatever we find is ours.” Elder Timmin snapped.
“I remember your reports, Elders. There was no such mention of any onyx found. They state iron.” Zarek questioned. The Elders were growing antsy, their lies becoming harder to cover up, but Kyla was barely hearing their conversation. Her entire mind and being, was focused on the strong power pulling her to the end of the tunnel. She couldn’t yet see through the glass as it was completely dark with not even a wall torch to aid her, but she could feel it. A prickling awareness on her skin that told her they were being watched. Kyla reached out to Shemar.
‘Can you feel it? That power?’ Kyla asked. His slight nod in her direction confirmed it. They came to a stop in front of the glass wall. Kyla squinted through the darkness but could see nothing, only a strange fog that seemed to thicken the air behind the glass. A damp, boggy smell began to pull in through her nostrils. The Djinn was here.
~ 13 ~
“As you can see, Prince Zarek, there is nothing in the dungeons. Like we said.” Elder Ulga said indicating the empty cells and the darkness before them. Luckily Zarek wasn’t so easily fooled and clearly fed up with the façade.
“Alright, that’s enough. We both know what you are hiding in this cell. Ash it now and I’ll only sanction you for improper reports, instead of harbouring an outlaw and concealing its presence.” Zarek bargained. The giants and goblins glanced at each other before Elder Timmin spoke up.
“We have no centaur ash, that’s why we didn’t say anything. We couldn’t bring it to physical form so we didn’t think we would be believed about its presence here. We were going to inform the King once we had obtained the ash.” He lied with a mischievous smirk that naturally made him suspicious.
“Lucky for you, we have that ash. Turn the lights on for this cell, please. We need to interrogate it” Zarek said, stepping forward to Kyla with his hand out. Kyla looked over at Orion for permission. He nodded and Kyla handed the ash over to Zarek. Elder Timmin looked like he wanted to argue but stepped forward to flick the lights on. They clicked and pinged in the long tube, LED lighting strips that lined the top of the cell.
They all stepped back with a gasp at what they saw. Kyla had been expecting a strong being, something who looked as powerful as it felt, something that showed off his skills. But that’s not what they found. A tall, lanky teal body lay on the ground against the far wall. Bloody and bruised. Its gold patterned skin flickered, as its white eyes swirled slowly. Its ankle was shackled, connecting it to the wall, so it couldn’t move more than a few feet either side. On the left was a small bed, to the right was a half wall, that provided privacy for the toilet area. Kyla frowned; this did not look like something capable of killing her. The creature watched them, trying to sit up but collapsed back to the ground, her body covered in nothing more than the teal and gold colouring was barely moving with breath. Zarek pulled a scroll from beneath his coat and handed it to the giant.
