by N. I. Snow
A small part of her had hoped the crazed violet eyes had been only a part of her imagination. Having them gaze into her gray eyes once more reminded her very well that they were as real as her own. The High Elder's eyes had a friendly gleam to them despite his cold smile, almost as though he were greeting an old comrade. So focused on Salianos, she didn't even notice the other two Elders behind Salianos.
When the three stopped in front of Emma and Lutianist, the High Elder's cruel eyes examined the dress Emma was wearing. His raspy voice was lined with annoyance, “Why does the human cub wear our colors?” He gazed at Lutianist's bearded snout. “Is this your idea of a jukoa, Lutianist?”
Lutianist shook his head. “This is no jest, Salianos. I believed it to be important that our people and the Seekers understood just how important Emma is. An amazing being, she is with the knowledge of our Ancients’ language. Do you truly believe she should be treated as a normal prisoner for such a gift?”
Salianos fell silent as he pondered Lutianist's words. It was sometime before the High Elder shook his head, “Once again Lutianist your wisdom surpasses my own.”
The cold, violet eyes pierced down once again into Emma's gray eyes. She held his gaze, trying desperately to appear unafraid. The girl would not give the cruel High Elder the benefit of seeing her frightened of him. It took the burly Elder behind Salianos to tear their gaze apart.
“Where are Shadonel, Soforin, and Abilasso? Was our return not that important to them?” Yahrik’s deep voice echoed around the hangar.
Emma had not encountered the Elders Yahrik and Tarline before now, but their appearances made it easy for her to tell them apart. Muscle bound and standing in his accustomed military stance, the red-scaled Tazalian nearly shouted power to her. The small, bronze- scaled Tazalian was more horrific in appearance. She had no doubt that he was indeed Tarline the torturer. From the remaining stub of his tail to the long jagged scars crisscrossing his body and even his face, he was a mural of pain. Emma did well to try not to think about the tortures the Elder had put himself through.
Lutianist gazed emptily at the three Tazalians before him, “Abilasso is on his way now; as for Shadonel, she does not care.”
“And Soforin?” Yahrik's deep voice boomed out, “How is his condition?”
Lutianist shook his head, “Growing worse I'm afraid. There is hardly anything left of our once proud brother lost as he is in his poor diluted mind.”
Without thinking Emma shivered at the memory of Soforin. To her misfortune, Tarline noticed. The scarred Elder let out a cruel chuckle, “The little one is afraid of Soforin, is she?” He knelt down on one knee making it easier to face Emma eye to eye. Even though Emma was fully grown, the disparity between the Tazalian’s height and hers would have required her to look up at him for him to intimidate her, and she had not been doing that. As he spoke she caught glimpses of broken or even missing fangs. “Then, you do not know me well enough.”
With a better view of Tarline's snout, Emma was able to see more scars across it, even a large chunk of flesh was missing near his jaw line. Emma tried to keep her body from trembling, but the longer he remained in her face, the harder it became. Luckily the sound of the hangar doors opening saved her from revealing her true terror.
Never was she more happy to see the faded green-scaled Elder then at that moment. Abilasso's calm collected eyes focused on the three newly arrived Elders. Tarline stood up as the Elder neared them.
Abilasso bowed his head to the High Elder, “ Mylïna Salianos. I trust your journey went well.”
Mild interest crept into the High Elder's eyes as he looked at Abilasso. “Is there something you wish to tell me, Abilasso. I can see some annoyance in your eyes.”
Abilasso retained his calm voice as he spoke, “Indeed there is.” He motioned to the shadows with a wave of a hand. “Tell the Seekers they may return to their normal duties.” The Elder puffed out his chest in a show of anger. “What is the meaning of assigning guards to us in the first place? Have you forgotten, brother, that we once fought alongside you as the first Seekers? I will not tolerate being watched over like some vulnerable cub!”
Emma nearly drew back behind Lutianist as Salianos’s violet eyes darkened with rage. It seemed the High Elder was about to strike out at Abilasso. However, in a moment his eyes reverted to their normal cold gaze as he spoke coolly to the clear-minded Elder, “I was only concerned with your own safety, Abilasso. After all, Kahluna was once a great Seeker such as yourself.”
Abilasso snorted. “If you believe I cannot protect myself from that traitorous cub, then you have forgotten how well a focused warrior fights in battle.”
“Lutianist,” the calm, but now icy, voice of Salianos spoke to the grizzled Elder. “Do you believe that the Seekers should return to their duties? Or am I not correct in having them guard you?”
Lutianist closed his milky eyes as he thought through Salianos’s and Abilasso’s words, “Guard duty was never really a part of Seeker training. After all, what is there for them to guard?” The Elder opened his eyes and trained them on Salianos, “Abilasso is right, High Elder. Though we are old, are we not the proud warriors we once were? We have hundredsof years of experience compared to Kahluna’s own. Are we not more of a threat to her?”
Salianos shook his head as Lutianist's words sunk into his head, “Once again my old friend you make me sound so much like a cub that I forget that I am your senior.”
Lutianist tugged at the beard on his snout as he spoke, “I am sure my decrepit appearance does not help the matter.”
Salianos never replied to Lutianist. Turning his cold gaze to the shadows, he spoke to the hidden Seekers, “Jentra, Tigret, tell the other Seekers that their services are no longer needed.”
Jentra's deep, booming voice and Tigret's steely voice echoed from the shadows, “As you wish. High Elder.”
As the hidden Seekers left, Lutianist turned slowly to the hangar’s doorway pulling Emma alongside him. “Well, now that the introductions are finished, Emma and I have work to do.”
Salianos’s cold, raspy voice rang out as the pair departed, “Have you not found anything of value towards the whereabouts of the Light?”
“Nothing of interest so far, High Elder, but don't get yourself in an uproar just yet. We still have hundreds of relics to sort through. I will keep you informed should we find anything crucial.”
“I shall be checking in on your progress. I want to see firsthand how the girl fares with the Ancients' language.”
“So be it,” Lutianist replied as he ushered Emma through the doorway.
Emma was more than grateful to be in the nearly dark caverns of Xempor, away from the cold, violet eyes of Salianos she was able to relax a little. Yet, as they passed through the hallway and the open circular cavern, she couldn't help but feel claustrophobic. The whole cavern seemed to be collapsing around her. She tried not to show her fear, but she couldn't help it. On Earth she was not afraid of the fires burning through Neapolthia. She was unafraid of the emotionless Zaharak in his frozen shuttle. Yet here on Tazal, knowing that Salianos and his lackeys were just around the corner frightened her to no end. She wished desperately that it was all just a bad dream, that she would just wake up and find herself in her bedroom back on Earth or even still in the cruel prison aboard Zaharak's ship. Anywhere would be better than being stuck on a planet with a power-hungry tyrant.
Lutianist grabbed hold of her hand. She looked up into his milky eyes knowing very well he was reading her every anguish. She was glad to have him around. The elderly lizard might be her only friend within Xempor's caverns, but he was like an army. Even so, deep down she had to wonder just how long he could play with Salianos's patience. How long would it be before the jackal was set loose from its cage and she found herself in Tarline's hold?
Lutianist's grip grew tighter and his snout grew grim. Even if it took his last breath, he would not allow anything to happen to the girl. Either she would be set free or he w
ould die trying.
Blurry eyed, Jonah Sholtal stared blankly at the low-roofed room. The rocky floor he lay on with his arms locked behind his head was warm to his back thanks to a heating system built into the ground. A few meters away the tall Kahluna stood talking to a smaller, gold-scaled Tazalian. He tried concentrating on their words; but knowing only the few words of the language he had picked up, he grew frustrated and turned his attention to the past several months.
He could hardly believe that only six months ago he was just a normal young man finishing his training at the Academy. He was going to get married and his life seemed to be going well. Now on an alien planet millions of parallaxes away from home, he couldn't help but think how natural it all felt. He did not go to the Academy to train as a soldier, yet it felt normal being here at the edge of the unknown. Kahluna had told him he had the natural ability of a warrior, but if that were true than his little sister wouldn't have been captured in the first place. That was then, however, and now in the present he felt more confident about his chances of rescuing Emma.
The Tazalian whom Kahluna was speaking to, appeared unhappy with what the former Seeker was telling her. The thin-bodied reptile let out an angry shout before turning around quickly and storming out of the room. Jonah gave the blue-green-scaled Tazalian an odd, questioning look as she walked over and sat down beside him.
“What was that about?” he asked her quietly.
Kahluna gazed emptily at the doorway the Tazalian had disappeared through, “Feltef does not want us risking our lives even if it is to rescue your sister. Our plan may seem quick and simple, but one mistake and the entire thing will unravel before us. She is concerned that we will be killed and Emma will be no safer than before.”
Jonah sat up, a stony scowl played on his face “That isn't going to stop us, is it? We didn't travel all this way not to try.”
Kahluna placed a gentle claw on his shoulder. “That is what I told Feltef. It does not matter what happens to us. What matters is what happens with Emma.” The former Seeker fell quiet. A deep reflective look played in her red eyes. “If things do go wrong, promise me one thing, Jonah Sholtal.”
Jonah drew back. Kahluna never used his full name. “What is that?”
Kahluna looked over at him, red eyes piercing green. “Don't wait for me.”
What was the point of going through all of these stories? It was the day after Salianos's arrival and Emma was going through her fifth relic since he had landed on Tazal. Each one she translated was nearly the same as the last. They were only told differently. Not one of them gave Emma the answers she needed to keep Salianos at bay. Interrupted by her own thoughts, she glanced up and saw Lutianist gazing dreamy eyed at the holomap hovering above the central pillar. The Elder and then Emma viewed a glowing image of the galaxy. Each galactic arm flowed around another and each aligned to a single luminous axis within the galaxy's center.
“Hel Ta Almania. The eye of the galaxy,” came a calm, deep voice next to Emma.”
The girl jumped and looked over to see a ghostly figure of a Tazalian. The room around her faded away into a thick, white light. There was no Lutianist, no Salianos, no Tazal. Only Emma and the figure facing each other.
“Time is running short. We had hoped for you to have discovered the secret sooner and under safer conditions. However, nothing hardly works as planned.”
“You are Alekia?” Emma questioned the figure.
The Tazalian nodded, “I was at one time.”
“Then tell me why I am going through each of your journals only to find nonsense while having to worry about whether or not Salianos will lose his temper and have me sent to Tarline. Why don't you tell me where to find the Light?”
“Nonsense?” Alekia asked coolly. “Is it truly nonsense to learn about another species and their lifestyles? Were you to use the Gaia's power to bring peace what would happen to that life? Would they not be altered completely?”
Emma frowned as she listened to the Tazalian, unable to answer, barely able to understand.
Alekia continued, “But, on the other hand, do we all have to worry about war or corruption? Do we not have the right to live without fear of never seeing the sun rise?” Alekia pointed a claw at her. “What would you do with the Gaia's power?”
Emma frowned. “I never wanted to use it. I just want to make sure Salianos doesn't get his grubby claws on it. Why are you asking me?”
“You will be asked again; and regardless of wanting to or not, you will be forced to answer.”
Emma lowered her head, “Fine. What is out in the galaxy's center?”
“The research station we used to find the Gaia. It is there you will find the Light's location.”
Before Emma could reply, the specter disappeared as a calm voice called to her, “Emma.”
Emma bolted upright in her chair. She had fallen asleep at the table with the journal still flicking through its different runes. Next to her stood Lutianist who called to wake her, “Emma time to rise, little one. The High Elder is on his way.”
Emma rubbed her eyes, “Thanks for the heads up. After he leaves, I need to talk to you about something important.” She glared at the elderly reptile as his milky eyes took on a far away look. “Hey! I said after!”
Lutianist's gaze returned to normal. “My apologies, but indeed we will discuss that matter once Salianos leaves.”
Emma wished the High Elder would never appear. When Lutianist's study doors opened, her body tensed as the pale-blue Tazalian entered. His violet eyes peered through the foggy runes like a viper ready to strike. Emma wanted nothing more than to vanish into her seat.
“What are you reading, little cub?” Salianos asked almost as sweet as a loving father to a child. Emma tried hard to bite back the irony.
The High Elder walked around the table to Emma's side as she told him about the journal's story. Her voice tightened as he stopped right behind her. With his cruel breath beating down against her raven hair, she spoke, “The Ancients arrived on the planet Latoral nearly one hundred and twenty three years after they left Tazal. They came into contact with a species that believed they were bound body and soul to their deity.”
Emma froze as Salianos placed a heavy clawed hand upon her head. “And was it true?”
Emma took in a deep breath before replying, “Though the Ancients wanted it be true, they could not find any evidence.”
Salianos scoffed, “What useless information.”
“It isn't useless. They still tell us which planet the Ancients traveled to after,” Emma protested.
Salianos removed his clawed hand from Emma's head. The High Elder walked around to the other side of the table. He sat down quietly. Folding his hands beneath his muzzle, he gazed silently at the pale-faced girl. The hungry look in his violet eyes burned like a wildfire in a forest.
Emma took in a deep breath and asked, “Why do you want the Gaia?” She knew the answer from Lutianist, but now she had to hear it from the puppet master himself.
Salianos gave her a cold smile. “For such a timid little cub, you waste no time in asking such an interesting question.”
“Well?” Emma gritted her teeth. She cursed inwardly at herself for questioning the malicious Tazalian. She should leave well enough alone.
Salianos leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. His voice was oddly reserved as he spoke, “When I was a cub like yourself, I struggled alongside my people in order to survive. I watched my own parents starve themselves to keep me alive, even to this day their thin skeletal forms still haunt my mind. Despite our poor life, they filled my head with dreams of becoming something more than some beggar. They promised that I would become mighty. When finally they did pass on, I followed their advice. I swore to myself I would not die as they had. Instead of begging for my meals, I discovered I had a talent of getting others to do what I willed.”
“You manipulated them.” Emma blurted out.
Salianos let out a cold chuckle. “Such a harsh te
rm, but you are correct. I could get crowds of Tazalians to throw me money by making them believe that I would give them what they wanted. They wanted schools, I promised them schools. They wanted better forms of technology, I promised it. Through their gullibility, I was able to provide for myself. I gave them their schools, their technology, their hope I became a hero to the mewling masses.” Although in the company of others, Salianos smiled to himself. Of course, food and shelter were not enough.
Suddenly, Salianos’s mood turned. Venom filled his voice as he continued, “Such pitifully weak creatures. They want everything given to them while the strong worked hard and received nothing in return.”
Salianos smiled darkly at the girl and he began speaking in his reserved tone once more, “Then I learned of the Ancients and their mission to find the Gaia. I became certain that by finding the Light I could eliminate the factors that held our society down. The strong would thrive while the weak would be pushed back. Those who did not deserve riches would become poor and be forced to watch those they had once mocked rise in power.”
“But couldn't you do that without the Gaia's power? Why invade innocent planets?” Emma frowned at the violet-eyed High Elder.
Salianos’s voice became sincere as he replied, “Why should I be selfish and only allow my race to have a perfect society? Under my control I can ensure all sentient creatures the same future that I have promised my people.”
Unable to contain her anger, Emma pounded her fists on the table and shouted at the High Elder, “Future? What right have you to decide another's life? What justifies you sending armies onto planets and slaughtering countless innocent people?”
The tip of Salianos's tail flicked the air and his violet eyes gave her a heavy look. “You forget your place, cub.”
Emma ignored his warning as she continued to yell uncontrollably at him, “And what of Kahluna?”
Salianos froze with shock. The look on his face was of disbelief that the cub would have known about Kahluna. He gave Lutianist a quick glance to see if the ancient Tazalian had overheard. The old one, however, was fast asleep in his chair. Salianos looked back at Emma and his cold voice was thin with rage, “How did you know?”
