Genesis (Legends of the Kilanor Book 1)

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Genesis (Legends of the Kilanor Book 1) Page 17

by Jared Stone


  Dareia shifted her vibrant green eyes to look at the boy. As she did so, the similar eyes of her feathered earrings also met his gaze. “Greece,” she stated shortly. She stopped, as if considering whether or not to continue any further. “In a kingdom known as Nemea, in the northeast.” Pausing again and briefly stealing a glance over at Gus before directing her attention back at Lucian, she added, “I lived there for many, many years as a High Priestess of the cult of the Great Goddess, Hera.” As she said this, her manner grew serious and firm, indicating that she still held tremendous reverence for her position.

  Lucian could swear he had heard of Nemea before, but he had no recollection of when or where. He thought he had perhaps learned about it in World History, but, with so many facts and names from all over the world, he figured there was no way he could be expected to know every tiny portion of ancient Greece. However, in an effort to not appear ignorant, Lucian smiled and nodded, as though he knew it so well he had been there himself.

  “Well, you certainly do have a lovely home here,” Lucian said, trying to sound complimentary enough to be polite, while at the same not too unfamiliar with such wealth and privilege. “So many gorgeous decorations and exquisite design.” This came out a bit haughtier than he expected, but Lucian found himself suddenly caught up in his role as a fictitious man of high society.

  Dareia smiled gently at him as one would a small child. Then, looking around her and gesturing in a sweeping motion, she said, “This is all nothing but material accumulation. In the end, it is all empty of inherent value. It is a prison built of ignorance and desire.”

  This was not the reaction Lucian had expected, so he sat there dumbfounded and at a loss for words. “Oh…,” was all he could think to say.

  Looking back toward him, her face filled with what appeared to be sympathy, Dareia reached over and laid her hand upon Lucian’s. Lucian jumped ever so slightly as her fingers unexpectedly made contact with his. He could feel her long nails resting upon his flesh, the ends of which were filed into points that were surprisingly sharp.

  Looking directly into his eyes, Dareia softly said, “I have seen empires rise and fall. I have watched as immortal stone obelisks crumbled to dust. I have witnessed the births and deaths of the richest and most powerful men on this earth. After all this time, I have realized that the things of this world are only fleeting – impermanent illusions which feed human desires and cause only the greatest of suffering.” With this, she patted Lucian’s hand and withdrew her own back to her place on the table.

  Lucian sat speechless as he digested what she had said and organized his thoughts. At last, he asked, “Then why not give all of this to charity?”

  Dareia had clearly contemplated this before, for she quickly countered with, “If I understand that all of this can only cause suffering and entrapment, why would I purposefully pass that on to others? The only escape from suffering would be the complete cessation of existence, not the deceptively fleeting accumulation of material goods.”

  Lucian remained silent after this as he mulled over her argument. It seemed so elliptically logical that it was too easy of an excuse, used to justify her own excessive accumulation of wealth. Yet, at the same time, it made perfect sense to him, and Lucian had to quietly admit defeat in this debate.

  “And everything you see here is not just Dareia’s,” added Gus, almost as if he suddenly felt the need to rush to her defense. “Her heightened understanding of impermanence and emptiness makes her an ideal protector of some of the most important artifacts we’ve gathered throughout the years. While others would be tempted to use these powerful items for their own gains, Dareia can be trusted implicitly.”

  As Gus turned his bright smile toward Dareia, she grinned back at him and said, “Well, that, and my superior fighting skills have proven to be quite the deterrent for would-be thieves.” Glancing back at Lucian, she added, “Argus might have a powerful strike, but I am a lot more… durable than he is.” At this, she and Gus began to laugh. Lucian joined in as well so he wouldn’t be left out.

  “Speaking of fighting…,” segued Gus, “we’ve got some important things we should discuss.”

  “Indeed,” replied Dareia dryly, as though she was disappointed by the need to talk business. “Do tell me what crisis has brought you gentlemen halfway around the world to visit me again after over half a century apart....” As she said this, she shot a look at the Kílán which conveyed her obvious displeasure.

  Taking a deep breath in, Gus let out a sigh and said, “Zagan’s back.”

  At this, Dareia released a sigh as well and shook her head. “Zagan…,” she muttered. Looking up with a flash of rage in her eyes, she angrily exclaimed, “That demon has been a real thorn in my paw! Do you know how many apologies I had to make after that little wine to blood incident?”

  Lucian almost laughed at this outburst, as it seemed that there were much graver matters at hand. But Dareia appeared deadly serious, and Lucian didn’t dare make a sound.

  “Yeah…. He hasn’t changed much…,” replied Gus with a slight smirk. He then paused momentarily, as if he was gathering the courage to utter his next words. “But I’m afraid that he successfully stole Carnwennan.”

  Dareia let out another dismayed sigh and closed her eyes solemnly. “Argus…,” she began, her tone now saturated with regret. “I told you, you should have kept it here with me.” She opened her resplendent eyes once again and kept them fixated on Gus.

  The Kílán looked down slightly and shook his head. “You know we can’t risk having more than one of these sorts of relics in the same location. We’re both aware of the dagger’s potential uses and the sort of beings who might be after it. The danger to you would be too great.” He looked back up and met her stare with genuine concern in his eyes.

  Unwavering in her gaze, Dareia responded, “You told me you would keep it hidden….” There was disappointment and accusation wrapped up in this assertion that even Lucian could sense from his outside perspective at the table.

  “I know…,” began Gus, hanging his head. “On the morning Lucian and I met, Zagan killed an innocent librarian in an effort to find out where the dagger was hidden. But his search for it didn't end there. He… he went and killed Wilhelm a few weeks ago, too….” Gus remained silent after this as he looked down at his plate.

  “I am so sorry…,” responded Dareia mournfully as she laid her hand upon Gus’. “I know that you and Wilhelm were very close. But I am sure that he understood the risks as well as you. It is not your fault.” Lucian had never heard of a Wilhelm before, but he remained silent, as it didn’t seem like an opportune time to pry.

  Gus looked back up at Dareia seriously. “Lucian and I tried to fight back when Zagan cornered us in the church, but Zagan was too strong, especially on Samhain.” Pausing again, as he had before, Gus inhaled and exhaled before saying, “I’ve come to ask you for The Spear.”

  Slowly pulling her hand back away from the Kílán, Dareia looked at Gus with what seemed to Lucian like pity. She shook her head. “Argus…,” she said softly. “You have tried this before. You know you do not have the power to use The Spear….”

  Gus suddenly sat up straight, the look on his face growing firm and resolute. “No, I don’t,” confirmed Gus. “But I believe that Lucian does.” He motioned toward the boy across the table.

  At that very moment, Lucian had been attempting to pick up some meat off his plate silently with two fingers so as not to disturb this clearly important discussion. At the mention of his name, Lucian looked up, dumbfounded. “Excuse me?” he asked in shock, his soiled fingers still hovering above his dish.

  “Argus, you cannot be serious!” remarked Dareia dismissively.

  “I’m completely serious,” asserted Gus as he met her disregard with a steely gaze.

  “What spear?” asked Lucian. He had felt somewhat complacently lost in the conversation for most of his time at Dareia’s residence, but now it seemed as though he should be more a
ctively involved in trying to understand.

  “The Spear of Longinus,” exclaimed Gus. “It’s the spear that’s said to have punctured the side of the man you all call Jesus Christ.”

  Lucian burst out in laughter at the ridiculousness of this, but Gus remained absolutely serious. Feeling uncomfortable as the only one finding it humorous, Lucian quickly stifled his incredulity.

  “Wait…,” Lucian said as he settled down. “Are you trying to tell me that all those Bible stories are real!?”

  “Oh, no; definitely not,” responded Gus brusquely. “And the factual story of ‘Jesus’ is much more complicated than we have time to go into now. But whatever the true power of The Spear originally, it’s been the focus of deference, aspiration, and prayers for thousands of years….” Gus stared at Lucian while he said this, and Lucian could feel the gravity of his meaning emanating from his eyes. “Intention – or the power of faith - is far more potent than you could ever imagine.”

  Adjusting herself in her seat, Dareia turned to face Lucian. “Lucian, dear,” she said condescendingly, “would you like to go take a tour of the estate?”

  This was clearly said as a cloaked command, not a suggestion. Before he had time to respond, Dareia called out, “Gino!” The dashing young man who had greeted them when they arrived appeared at the door of the dining room. “Gino, would you be so kind as to escort Lucian around the grounds?” their golden host asked him with a smile.

  “Certainly, My Lady,” Gino responded as he looked at Lucian and held out his arm to one side as a gesture of invitation for Lucian to accompany him. Lucian quickly shot a glance at Dareia, who still sat looking at him, then wiped off his fingers on his napkin, pushed out his chair, and strode from the room with slight indignation, Gino at his side. With a quick wave of her hand, Dareia also sent away the remaining breakfast servers so that the Kílán and she were alone.

  The two remained silent for a few seconds while Lucian traveled out of earshot. Then, turning back toward her guest, Dareia said, “Argus, are you mad!?”

  “Trust me, Dareia,” Gus pleaded, turning to direct his whole body toward his elegant host, “there’s something special about Lucian. I truly believe he’ll be able to wield The Spear’s power.”

  Shaking her head, Dareia pushed out her chair and stood up. She pivoted and crept over to the open window which cast midmorning light into the room around them. She stood there for a moment in silence, watching birds flit about in the expansive garden plot outside as Gus sat unmoving in his seat, his eyes locked on her sculpted form.

  “There are precious few things to which I ascribe value, Argus,” Dareia began suddenly, her position at the window unaltered. “You, above all people, should realize that memories are all we truly carry with us….” At this, she slowly turned and met the gaze of her long-time companion. “But I just cannot permit The Spear to be taken by an ignorant school-boy. Think of the liability! If The Spear were to fall into the hands of….”

  Her fears were suddenly cut short by Gus, who had approached her silently as she spoke and now stood in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to him. She closed her eyes and felt a wave of contentment rush over her as she sensed the presence of his familiar aura.

  “I need you to trust me,” said Gus earnestly, “as I once trusted you….”

  Following this plea, Gus leaned down and quietly whispered something almost inaudible into Dareia’s ear. As he did so, her eyes grew wide with shock. Pulling away slightly so that she could regain eye contact, she exclaimed, “But Argus! Can that be true? I thought that….”

  “There are many things Lucian still does not know,” said Gus seriously, looking into her eyes. “And I feel that it’s best if we keep it that way for now. All of this has the potential to be much worse than just an escaped demon. Going after Carnwennan is too calculated, too… sophisticated… for Zagan. He exists solely for wanton vengeance and carnage, not the collection of relics. He must be working for someone, and we need to find out who and why. All of this reminds me of something we dealt with once before, ages ago….”

  “Perhaps you are simply reading too deeply into the events of late,” the priestess countered. “The forces which once sought the necessary components for the ritual have not arisen again for centuries now. It is more likely entirely unrelated.”

  Gus shook his head somberly. “I’m afraid it’s more than just coincidental,” he admitted. “You once told me of a great prophecy that foretold a time when a savior will come to save all beings. When we were in Egypt. Do you remember that? Well, there have been several things which have occurred to suggest that the time spoken of might be now….”

  Following this conjecture, Dareia seemed to thicken her outer shell once again. “Fine,” she conceded forcefully. “I shall permit you to take The Spear with you. But know that I am not confident with this decision at all!” She made a swiping motion horizontally through the air with her finger.

  Gus pulled her back in toward him and gave her a big, sincere hug. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  Taking only a moment to enjoy the Kílán’s display of affection, Dareia slipped away once again and stood facing him. Composing herself briefly, she exclaimed, “Now, I know that you boys must fly back again early tomorrow morning. I am sure you are exhausted from your travels, and, as such, I have had two rooms prepared in which you may sleep this evening. I am afraid that my estate possesses no modern forms of entertainment that may amuse the boy, but you are welcome to walk the grounds or use the pool if you wish.”

  Smiling gratefully and nodding in appreciation, Gus said, “I’m sure we’ll be fine, Dareia. Thanks.”

  As his Dareia gracefully strode out of the room, she paused briefly in the doorway and turned back to Gus.

  “And Argus,” she added with a playful look in her eyes. “DO be careful! I still recall what occurred last time you stayed in one of my guest rooms here. It took me days to get all of the blood out of the carpet!”

  Gus couldn’t suppress a smile as it broke across his face. “The Inquisition has been over for a few years now, Dareia,” Gus responded jokingly. “I should be okay.”

  With one last smirk, Dareia slipped from the room to see to their accommodations.

  * * *

  Lucian followed along silently behind the well-dressed young man, perturbed that he could not stay in the dining room and listen to the juicy secrets which were undoubtedly being revealed by Gus and Dareia. He had spent the entire morning feeling cut off from the conversation, only to be cast out when it had finally begun to interest him. Additionally, he had not been given enough time to properly enjoy the vast assortment of food spread out for him. He was now in a foul mood and cared little about the things which were being shown to him on the tour.

  “And this is Lady Dareia’s fourth garden,” Gino explained, sliding his hand slowly through the air in an elegant gesture of display. This garden, like the others, was covered in flowers of all colors and shapes, as well as some miscellaneous plants that Lucian could not identify. He had to admit that it was nice to see flowers this late in the season, as the ones back home had already shriveled up and died with the coming of the cold. Rome’s temperature seemed a fair bit warmer than back in the states, and the flowers of the garden had not yet been subjected to the frigid air, though they likely would be soon. The garden was laid out in an intricate design, with a labyrinth of pathways through the flowers, upon which several peacocks strutted to and fro. Around the birds, a collection of statues stood like sentinels protecting the flora and fauna within.

  Fascinating! thought Lucian sarcastically. Another garden…. Why on earth does she need so many!? Looking around him, Lucian asked, “What’s with all the peacocks?”

  “The peacock is the beloved, sacred animal of the Queen Goddess, Hera,” replied Gino with a smile of admiration toward the birds. “The Goddess was also known as Juno to the Romans who lived here long ago. As the High Priestess of her order, Lady Dar
eia holds great affection for these holy creatures, and she therefore has many living on her estate.”

  Lucian nodded in comprehension as he approached one of the many statues around them. It was a grotesque, life-sized representation of what Lucian could only surmise from memories of childhood stories was the mythological monster Medusa, with her head full of snakes contorted and twisting in every direction. The monster’s mouth was opened and snarling, full of fangs and a forked tongue. Her eyes were open and glaring at Lucian so ferociously that the boy felt petrified to look into them too long, and so he quickly looked away. The statue’s clawed arms were reaching out, as if in mid-attack, and the serpent-like tail flowed out along behind her. There was no base to the statue, and it seemed as if it may spring to life at any moment. Lucian wondered what kind of twisted artist would have spent so long making such an intricately detailed replica of the hideous beast.

  “Who on Earth made this?” Lucian asked his guide with a disgusted tone. Gino walked up next to him and smiled.

  “A very famous Greek,” replied the dark haired boy. “It is one of the oldest pieces in Lady Dareia’s collection. Thankfully, it does not seem to succumb to the corroding forces of weather, and so the Lady is able to keep it out in the garden to frighten off misguided deer and rabbits who might otherwise eat her plants.” Gino then turned away and continued to walk off in the other direction. Lucian took one last look at the terrifying sculpture, then went to follow his guide and continue the tour.

  As they walked along the path, Lucian noticed a few more lion statues lining the walk. To their right, the countryside stretched out before them, green and lush. Low clouds hung in the sky, which sent a filtered light down upon the earth. When the path forked, Gino continued on to the left, neglecting to mention the ornate stone edifice off in the distance to their right. It looked like an ancient Greek temple Lucian had seen in history class, with a circular dome on top and thick marble columns all around to support the impressive structure. Out of the center of the dome, pure white smoke was rising to the heavens.

 

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