by Jenn Nixon
Her jaw dropped. She fell to her knees. No!
Litru and Zaynus almost crashed into Tiva in their pursuit, but slowed in time and stood beside her. They followed her stare to the gates. Legionnaires and guardians carried a few dozen bloodied bodies of their comrades down the tree lined main path leading to the main doors of the palace.
“By the spirits…” Litru began and Zaynus finished, “…a massacre.”
Chapter Five
The air inside the gates of the palace turned sour with death. Hundreds of protectors staggered toward the palace. Seconds passed, bringing more guardians, legionnaires, and other occupants of the palace outside to view the horror for themselves.
King Delos stood in front of the doors waiting for the procession of his soldiers. Dressed in the traditional robes and headdress, he glistened like a statue in the suns' light. Tiva gawked at him as her body resisted every command she attempted. He ran his hand through his hair exposing the markings on his forehead. They were black. She knew then, he was the one she sensed in the study. His anger, his trepidation, his panic, flowed through her.
She turned from the king and observed the line of legionnaires. Some she recognized from her induction ceremony, others she had never seen before. A couple of guardians from the Finto and Ispek families were present, but none from her own. She tried to remain strong in front of the twins, but as the droves of people passed with the bodies of the dead, tears streamed down her face. She wiped her cheek and jumped to her feet. Zaynus gripped her arm before she moved.
“Do not interfere, this is tradition,” he said
“My father might be among them,” she said and fought against his hold. “Let me go!”
Litru knelt in front of her, and wiped a tear away. “Tiva, we must wait. I know your fears and confusion. If your father is among them, nothing will change if you go to him now. You must trust us.”
Tiva looked into Litru’s eyes, her markings turned darker, but she yielded and stopped struggling.
A loud siren screamed out from the top of the Palace of Kinchar. The piercing high-pitched ringing reverberated through the air. Tiva shivered, but did not understand the significance of the siren.
“We must head to the Great Hall and gather for the mourning.” Litru put his hand on her shoulder.
Tiva obeyed and followed the Truda twins. The siren dissipated as legionnaires and guardians filed into the palace from all areas of the grounds. As the three neared the palace doors, a voice echoed in her ears.
“Tiva?”
She turned upon hearing her name and saw her mother running toward them.
“Mother!” she said.
They ran to each other. D’laja dropped and gathered her in her arms.
Tiva cried again. “I was with Zenid…I felt the panic from everywhere. Where is Father?”
“Your father is safe, precious one, but there was a confrontation; he was injured and could not make the journey back.” D’laja held her tight, kissed her cheek and forehead. “You should not be here to see this.”
“I looked for you, cousin Towt was not at his post. The Truda twins stayed with me.” She searched for the twins, but they had vanished inside the palace.
D’laja stood and took Tiva’s hand. “Let us go home now, we need not be here for the mourning.”
“But, Mother, they lost their lives while in service of the king, we should remember them.” Tiva sniffled, tears spilling down her cheek.
D’laja began to sob and picked Tiva up in her arms. They held each other.
“Speak of what you are hiding, Mother.”
“Your cousin, Towt, is one that we must mourn, precious one.” D’laja sighed and wiped the tears from both their eyes. She tucked a strand of hair behind Tiva’s ear and carried her up the palace stairs. “He went this morning with other guardians and legionnaires to thwart the threat in Hentor Province, and he was killed along with many others.”
D’laja entered the palace and put Tiva down. Her mother’s words sank in. Towt was gone.
She tried to move. Her legs shook and she grabbed her mother’s hand for support. Tiva had read of death, knew stories of wars and battles, both victories and defeats. She knew many of her kin had perished early on in their lives, the crests on her home were proof, but nothing prepared her for what she sensed when she entered the Great Hall.
The dead lay on the floor of the hall, a silk shroud of white and gold covered each body. The Vicars circled the group chanting the death rites. Royals, guardians, legionnaires, and other nobles stood silently praying. Towt Narja was the smallest, and most likely youngest of those who had perished.
Tiva could not look away. Only hours before he had smiled at her. A few days earlier, he had shared stories with her. Her cousin was dead. Now, his body was an empty shell. His voice would not call her name. His laugh would no longer resound in her head. His spirit ascended to the Eternal Lands to watch over the family, as had the spirits of all others who had gone before.
Anger, more than sadness, filled the room. The emotions were so strong she had trouble concentrating. Tiva tried to block them, or suppress what they were feeling, but it became too overwhelming. An attempt to control her feelings was futile. The deep sadness filled her, and the tears she shed did little to alleviate the weight she carried.
The bellow of the king’s voice shattered the peace of the hall. Tiva forced herself to listen.
“Today we have witnessed an atrocity against those who protect this great land of ours. Those who do not wish to follow the laws set forth by our ancestors, and those who wish to seek other means of leadership have sent their message.” Delos pulled off the band around his head and stripped the robes from his back. “I speak to you now, not as king, not as your leader, but as a man who breathes the same air as you. We have seen many cycles of peace. The last battle among the provinces of Abennelp brought death and poverty to every family. Every effort must be taken to avert another war. Each man, woman, and child has the ability to keep peace alive, but it is our job…our responsibility to protect those outside these gates.”
A clamor of chatter agreeing with the king’s words echoed through the hall.
“These fine men and women did not die in vain. They performed their duties and died honorably fighting to protect the people. Yet, their deaths are tragic and pointless. No one suffers needlessly any more. No one goes hungry. No one has cause for want. Whatever the reason for this attack, it will be uncovered, and those responsible will be brought to justice. My faithful army…my Royal Guardians, keep your senses sharp, your eyes open, and your swords at the ready. Serve with pride, honesty, and love. Serve with honor as was, as is, and as will be.”
“By guardian light, I will protect you in times of darkness until the bitter end,” the collective group of legionnaires and guardians responded and saluted. The king saluted back and the group began to disperse.
The king.
She was unsure how or why she sensed him as strongly as she did. Tiva stood next to her mother waiting for the others to leave, saw a guardian approach and whisper in the king’s ear. King Delos’ eyes went cold and still. His markings grew blacker than any others she had ever seen. She shuddered at the emotions flooding her mind. The king was furious, and she felt everything he wished to do to those who killed his men.
She grew dizzy, turned cold. Her mother spoke, but the words were lost in the air. Tiva’s legs buckled and she fell to the ground.
“Tiva!” D’laja screeched.
Litru rushed to her mother’s side immediately. Several other guardians and legionnaires scurried to help. King Delos parted the crowd, pulling High Healer Riin toward her. Riin took Tiva’s hand and checked her pulse.
“I’m sorry…” King Delos said to her mother.
“Stop your thoughts,” Tiva mumbled.
“What is happening?” D’laja said.
“She is overloaded,” Riin said.
“What does that mean?” D’laja said frantically.
>
King Delos picked Tiva up in his arms and carried her through the crowd. A line of people followed. The king entered his private chambers and gently placed Tiva on the couch. The twins hovered behind D’laja, the king and healer.
“I want my father…” Tiva said.
Healer Riin moved beside her and pulled out a hand held scanning device.
“What are you doing?” D’laja said.
“D, calm down please,” Delos said.
“Harer, what does he mean, overloaded?”
“Tiva is very gifted, you know this. Zenid sent me a report during their session that Tiva was picking up far too many emotions. The exercise opened her mind further than she can cope with at such a young age. I believe her empathic abilities require quick training, she’s been exposed to an extraordinary amount of suffering and anger today.”
“What can we do?”
“First,” Riin spoke, “we need to give her a neural suppressant.”
“Medication? No, she is too young, there must be another way,” D’laja said.
“Have you taught her the Calming?” Delos asked and she nodded. “Good…Tiva, can you hear me?”
“Yes, sire.” she said.
“I need you to clear you mind. Try and stop all the thoughts from entering your mind.”
“There are too many.”
“You must try. Your mother and I will help relax you.” He took her hand in his and glanced to D’laja. She stroked her daughter’s forehead.
Tiva did as ordered and attempted to clear her mind. The rage and horror from all in the hall floated through her thoughts. She tried to quiet them, tried to force them away. The strength of her mother and the king filled her. As they cleared their minds, Tiva felt the mental whispers of the others weaken. She gripped the king’s hand tight.
You are doing well. His words entered her mind.
She jumped up from the sleep couch, terrified, and backed away from the group.
“Tiva, speak of what is wrong...” D’laja said, eyes wide with fear.
“I, he…no…I don’t understand.”
“You must relax, child. You must trust me.” Delos stood and moved toward her then whispered, “Your mind is very open and susceptible, that is why you heard me. Do not be alarmed or scared, just try to close yourself to the invading thoughts.”
It is your thoughts that are invading me.
I know Tiva, I am sorry. I was unaware you were so in tune with your abilities. I didn’t mean for you to sense what I was feeling or thinking. I will be more careful in the future.
Tiva clasped her hands together and hung her head. She didn’t move. A tear slid down her cheek and D’laja rushed to her side pulling her tight against her body.
“We will Calm. I will teach you to shield emotions and thoughts. I will let no harm come to you, precious one.”
“Yes, mother,” she said.
“D’laja, take her home. I will send word of your kin’s ceremony after I speak with the Vicars. Spend time with your family until Kevler returns. I shall inform you if anything is needed.”
“Yes, sire. Thank you.”
*
Tiva sat alone in her room staring out her window. Her mind felt clearer, but her spirit carried a burden she did not wish to bear. She begged her mother to allow her to stay home when the families attended the mourning for Towt. Her mother agreed under the condition that she watched her siblings.
She spent the day with Remock and Bintu, but played very little. The twins tried to cheer her up with pranks and games, nothing worked. They were unaware of the seriousness of what had happened.
She was not as fortunate.
When D’laja returned from the ministry house, Tiva hid in her room until evening meal. Once through with the meal and clean up, she went back to her room.
The wind shifted during the day, yet it felt the same as it blew through her room. The moon shone with the same beautiful silver light as the nights before. The grass danced and the leaves on the trees swayed the way they always did. However, not all was the same. She felt a change inside herself— both familiar and unnatural. She understood neither.
The death of her cousin struck her in a manner she was unprepared to handle. She saw death and the scars of battle on the floor of the great hall. She felt the lifeless bodies, the fear of the others, and the anger of the king. Tiva attempted to understand what her spirit was feeling, loss, sadness, guilt, among others. As she thought back to the king’s speech, she realized she was the youngest witness to the event. Zenid did not appear in the hall with the other trainees. Perhaps that was good for the others, but she would not forget what she had seen. Death. Though she was too young to understand completely, she had no other choice but to learn to deal with what the Great Spirits had thrust upon her.
She should have heeded her mother’s advice to leave the Great Hall. Yet something kept her there, something that pulled at every cell in her body. Something close, something familiar, something special.
The king had the ability to mind-speak. She too possessed the gift. The shock at first filled her with panic, but the warmth emanating from the king calmed her. She kept the fact hidden from her mother, unsure what to say. Her father knew the king as a brother, she would wait until he returned and then confess.
Her mother kept her word to the king and allowed Tiva time to perform the Calming when they returned home. Nervously, she had walked through the forest searching for the lake. Approaching the bright blue-green water, she examined her surroundings carefully. She stripped off her clothing and jumped in quickly. She understood the need to perform the Calming with no clothing—so one was closer to nature, but did not like the idea of being nude out in the open. She preferred the water as opposed to the forest for the ritual as it provided more cover.
The ambiance lifted her spirit as soon as she got into the lake. She swam through the cool clear water and meditated as her mother had instructed. All thoughts and feelings that cluttered her mind slipped away. She dove down into the pond and chanted the words of the Calming. She prayed for the spirits to calm and heal her mind. Upon reaching the bottom, she had scooped up a handful of dirt and finished reciting the chant. She pushed off, and as her body rose through the water, she let the dirt slip through her fingers as all the thoughts and emotions vanished from her mind.
Admittedly, the Calming made her feel better, but returning home without her father saddened her. She couldn’t sleep, and knew Tespor wouldn’t come to visit her. The last she saw him, he was still angry.
Her mood was so sour that she stared blankly into the field for a while, paying no attention to Te or anything else, until a large shadow caught her eye.
She perked up and peered out. Again, she saw the shadow lumbering through the forest. As the form exited the cover of the trees, Tiva watched a cloaked figure enter the field. Instinct took over; she reached back to her bed and collected her sword. She jumped into the windowsill, flipped off the ledge, landed, and ran toward the figure in the field.
She slowed near Te. Tiva unsheathed her sword, took a fighting stance, and waited. The figure ambled closer. Tiva suppressed the feelings flowing through her, and stood strong, prepared to protect her family.
“Guardian Boon…” the wheezing voice rose through the air.
“Speak your name,” Tiva said in response.
“It is I…” The figure pushed back the cloak shielding his face, then fell to his knees.
“Guardian Ispek!” Tiva sheathed her sword and rushed to his side. She helped him to lie down and bit her lip seeing his condition. Lety Ispek’s face and torso dripped red with blood. His normally bright white hair was saturated and appeared orange. He had several gashes on his side, stomach, and legs. She immediately ripped his cloak off and tore it in pieces. She wrapped his leg and waist in the cloth, hoping to stop the bleeding. The markings on his forehead were dark neon purple. He was frightened and angry, the feelings she held were mutual.
“Must protect…” h
e said.
“Save your strength. I will wake my mother and we shall find a healer,” Tiva said, pulling on one of her braids nervously.
She felt his tight grip suddenly around her wrist. Horror rose though her as she felt his pain, thoughts, and emotions in her mind.
“No time.” He struggled for air. “You…must…protect.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“What must I protect?”
“King.” His fingers eased their restraint. He was starting to slip away.
“From who?”
“Them all.” He choked and spit blood.
“Who?” she said. She wiped the corners of his mouth, waiting for his response. He continued fading, his life slipping away. She shivered and tried to think of happier thoughts. “Please, tell me who!”
“She knows…” Ispek spoke his last words and went still.
“Guardian Ispek?” she said while shaking him. “Wake up!” Tiva stared at his lifeless body. Who harmed him? Why did he bring a message for her to protect the king? She was just a trainee.
Tiva gazed back to the house, saw lights flickering inside. She jumped up and ran home. She forced the door open and darted up the stairs, entered her parent’s room, and stopped short seeing Kevler sitting next to her mother on the bed.
“Father!”
“Oh, my dearest one.” Kevler stretched out his hand to her. Tiva froze. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she fell into her father’s arms. She held him and took comfort against him. Kevler smoothed her hair along her back and kissed her forehead. Suddenly he stiffened, nudged her back, and glanced into her eyes.
“What has happened?”
“Guardian Lety Ispek, he is…” she said.
“Speak of what you know, Tiva.”
