by A. M. True
Thorenel took a deep breath and stepped to the side, revealing what was in the center of the room. It was a huge quartz boulder glowing in a beautiful shade of blue-violet. It was rectangular, about four feet tall and eight feet wide. A large orb of light formed an encasement over the entire top of the quartz. Thorenel walked over to it.
Thorenel: And this is how it is done. This is how the orders are received.
He placed one hand inside the orb of light and with the other hand he motioned for me to come closer. The orb of light began to dim. As it dimmed, Thorenel turned his head to look at me. The light faded until it was clear like a bubble.
Thorenel: Only the touch of my or your hand can penetrate this orb of protection.
There, lying on his back, on top of the quartz stone, I saw the body of Emalickel. He appeared asleep with his hands folded at his waist. He was wearing his royal beige cloak with the golden trim. The hood of his cloak was on his head covering most of his forehead. His face glowed like a radiant angel. For a brief moment, I slipped away into the image of him, absorbing the aesthetic perfection of him and forgetting about my surroundings. Every look, every smile, every touch Emalickel had ever given to me flashed into image before my mind. Then, coming back to where I was, I became frightened. I looked up at Thorenel with a worried look.
Me: Is he okay?
Thorenel gave me a reassuring smile.
Thorenel: He is perfectly fine. He is unaware of anything happening here, though. That is why he is in such a protected place. When he receives the orders, he enters a trans-hypnotic state and travels to the realm of the Dominion. That is the only way to receive the orders of God. We would be lost without this.
Me: How often does he do it? How long is he like this?
Thorenel: He comes here when he is called. He says they whisper to him, and he knows it is time to receive. He then passes the crown and the kingdom to me during the time of his absence. It usually takes three settings of Auruclerum before it is complete, and he returns to us. He has been here for two settings, so tonight he will likely be returning.
Thorenel removed his hand from the bubble around Emalickel. It began to glow in white light again, and I could no longer see Emalickel through it.
Thorenel: There are only three of us who have the ability to open this cave and dissolve Emalickel’s light of protection—that is Emalickel himself; his closest brother, me…
He paused to shoot me a proud smirk.
Thorenel: …and you, Princess.
Artist: Kevin Ohlsson
Song: Returning Heroes
Thorenel began walking to the back of the room. The door of the room began to close.
Thorenel: This entire cave is protected with runes along the walls to keep anyone from teleporting in or out of the cave. On the floor here, where I stand, is the only way out of this cave.
He extended his arm out to me in motion for me to come to him. I went to stand next to him on a circular rune that was lit up on the floor. Thorenel stood behind me and wrapped his arms around me. I enjoyed the embrace.
Thorenel: Are you ready to travel back to the palace?
I shook my head slightly before taking a few steps to the quartz stone again. Slowly and very cautiously, I moved my hand to the protection dome around Emalickel. I wanted to see his face one more time. I knew Thorenel would tell me to stop if it wasn’t safe, but I looked at him anyway for reassurance. He offered it in a nod of his head.
I slipped my hand inside. It felt like I was sticking my arm in a thick bubble, like dough or something. My arm disappeared into the light as I continued in further to my elbow. After a few more seconds of holding it there, the light began to fade. Emalickel’s glowing body reappeared. I cupped his handsome face with my hand and absorbed the magnificent sight of him. I bent down to kiss his lips and then pressed my cheek to his. I missed him, but I knew I would see him soon enough. I kept my gaze on Emalickel as I slowly removed my hand.
I walked back over to Thorenel. He embraced me once again in his strong warm arms. He kissed the top of my head. Everything began fading to black for a few seconds. I could still feel Thorenel holding me. Then, when the light returned, we were looking at the front door of the palace.
Thorenel released his hold on me and took a few steps away. He looked to the sky and summoned for Seronimel and Dennoliel with his mind. I could hear his voice in my head as he allowed for me to hear his broadcast.
Thorenel: Seronimel and Dennoliel, meet me at the palace. Emalickel will be returning soon. His homecoming is to be coordinated.
I looked up at the sky in the direction Thorenel directed his sights. It was silent. Nothing was happening. No voices responded. I looked at Thorenel who appeared annoyed.
Me: Did they hear you?
Thorenel laughed.
Thorenel: All of the guards heard me. I transmitted to them all. They all play a part in Emalickel’s homecoming.
We continued waiting for a few more moments before finally seeing two light-forms begin to manifest in front of the palace door. The lights grew brighter and taller until fading into Seronimel and Dennoliel.
Seronimel: We are here brother.
Dennoliel looked at Seronimel in surprise with his eyes wide. He cleared his throat before returning his focus to Thorenel and bowing his head.
Dennoliel: Brother and Prince.
Thorenel was wearing the Lapoian crown. The bearer of the crown was to be addressed as Prince of Lapoi while wearing it.
Dennoliel looked down at the ground in embarrassment.
Seronimel: Most sincere apologies… my Prince.
Thorenel bowed his head acknowledging them both.
Thorenel: You have been summoned to the palace as Emalickel will make his return at the close of Auruclerum’s cycle. We have preparations to tend.
Dennoliel and Seronimel both seemed to understand what was expected. It was evident this wasn’t their first time preparing for Emalickel’s return.
Dennoliel: We will begin right away.
Artist: Hans Zimmer
Song: Time
The three brothers began walking towards the large arched front door of the palace. It opened on its own and loudly echoed the sound of heavy metal. The doors were white and gold, but they certainly sounded like they were made of some type of heavy dense steel.
I followed behind the brothers on the way inside. Seronimel and Dennoliel wore the guardian attire. They were wearing golden-colored armor which included a gold and white cape which hung at their shoulders. Being brothers of Princedoms, they both had the distinguished beige cloaks, lined with fur, which they wore over their guardian attire. I saw movement at the opposite end of the aisle down near the thrones. It was the two huge white lions. They had risen from a sideways lying position to sit upright at attention the moment we entered through the palace door. Thorenel was delegating the different jobs and duties to be done during the ceremony. Seronimel was recording everything on a golden tablet he had conjured.
Thorenel: Choose who you wish to serve, but we will need plenty to provide wine and mead and refreshments. We will need music and entertainment in the Entertainment Hall, in the Throne Hall, the Mead Hall, and the Ballroom. We will need twenty-five assistants to tend the kitchen, five in the Billiard Lounge, ten in the Mead Hall, ten in the Dining Hall, two in the Ballroom, and fifteen floaters dispersed throughout the palace to call upon if needed.
Thorenel was walking between his brothers. They were headed down the aisle of the Throne Hall. Thorenel turned around to me and motioned for me to continue following them. He continued instructing his brothers.
Thorenel: The rest are free to enjoy themselves this evening.
They continued talking among themselves as I became absorbed in the allure of the majestic palace. The black and gold velvet tapestries were blowing on the walls from the gentle breeze coming in through the open archways behind the throne. The aisle was incredibly long. The black runner rug in the middle of the aisle was perfectly
pressed and clean. Nothing here seemed to ever get dirty, tarnish, or lose its luster. Everything looked like new. Everything seemed to glow and glitter. The pinkish-white hue of Auruclerum beamed in through the eastern windows from the courtyard area and through the northern archways above the thrones. This provided a perfect balance of glow and contrast for a warm and peaceful atmosphere. Although we were about halfway down the aisle, the throne chairs were still 50 yards away.
As I looked up at the dome-shaped ceiling, I noticed how massive everything was. The archways that lined the aisle on both the ground level and on the upper level were huge with a peak arch at about 15 feet from the ground. This would make the ceiling of the Throne Hall, at least 40 or 50 feet high. I continued walking behind Thorenel as I looked up at the smooth white concrete archways, lining both sides of the aisle, towering above my head.
Suddenly, I bumped into the back of Thorenel. I had not been watching where I was going nor listening to anything they were saying. I gasped in startling surprise of the collision. Thorenel smiled trying not to laugh. The other two brothers tried to remain professional. They briefly looked at each other, then immediately down at the ground with their hands folded in front of them pressing their smiles between their lips.
Thorenel: Are you with us, or have you drifted elsewhere?
I chuckled to myself looking down in embarrassment. I had been caught. All I could do was admit defeat and smile.
Me: I drifted elsewhere.
Thorenel smirked at me. He had thought it was an amusing incident.
Thorenel: What we were talking about is you and your placement during the ceremony. Would you rather wear your crown upon Emalickel’s arrival, or would you rather receive your crown from Emalickel after his arrival?
The answer was so obvious to me.
Me: I’d like to receive it from Emalickel as I did the first time I ever wore it.
Thorenel: Consider it done then. We will leave your crown where it presently resides hanging on top of your throne chair. Upon making his way up the stairs, Emalickel will surely see that you are not wearing your crown, at which point he will know to provide it to you after he has received his own crown from me.
Artist: Audiomachine
Song: Rebirth
I looked up at the throne chairs to see my crown. Sure enough, it rested on the back of my throne chair waiting for my return. They hadn’t pushed it to the side or put it away. It sat right there for all to see. Emalickel had kept true to his word. Since the day I departed, my crown had been sitting there as a reminder that Lapoi had a Princess, and the throne chair on the right side was reserved for her return.
Thorenel was finishing up with Seronimel and Dennoliel.
Thorenel: Alright brothers, you may be dismissed. I am going to summon Romenciel and Xabiel to assign the warriors.
They each shook arms with Thorenel and bowed their heads respectfully. They then turned to me and bowed respectfully before walking away to the front door. Thorenel then turned to me and took my arm. He escorted me up the stairs to the throne chairs. The two white lions held their positions and kept their focus straight ahead. They briefly engaged eye contact with me as I smiled and acknowledged them.
Thorenel motioned for me to take a seat on my throne chair. Afterwards, he sat himself in the other.
Thorenel: How does it feel? To sit in your place again?
I looked out at the palace. From this angle it looked even larger. Everything seemed to be centered around us.
Me: It feels like a beautiful dream. Like a fairy tale.
Thorenel’s face grew of satisfaction. It was different sitting next to Thorenel on the thrones than Emalickel. With Emalickel everything felt so majestic and grand. It was magical and divine. I felt dignified and noble. With Thorenel, everything felt so relaxed and casual. It was informal and mellow. I felt easygoing and laid-back. Both atmospheres, with both brothers, felt comfortable to me. I would not be able to choose which I favored more. I liked the way I felt around each of them, in their own way.
Thorenel stroked the mane of the lion beside him. Then he started playing with him, roughing him up and laughing. The lion played back just as would a dog. I admired how lively and playful Thorenel always acted. He was full of life and personality.
Thorenel: After I speak with Romenciel and Xabiel, we will go to your favorite place.
I smiled knowing he was referring to the balcony behind us. He seemed content at that, exhibiting a proud demeanor for a few moments.
Artist: Mark Petrie
Song: Majestic
Then he made telepathic contact with Romenciel and Xabiel.
Thorenel: Romenciel and Xabiel, Emalickel will return this evening. We need to discuss the warriors and their positions for the ceremony. Please come to the thrones for further discussion.
After only a few moments, the palace doors opened with echoes. Romenciel, as usual, exhibited the persona of a true warrior, always riding in on a horse. Xabiel had followed suit this time. They both parked their horses outside in the front courtyard and walked in by foot. They were dressed in their shirtless sparring attire—black leather trousers with knee high combat boots and a flowing red cape at their shoulders. As they paced down the center aisle towards the thrones, their capes blew from underneath their royal cloaks, lined with white fur. They didn’t use teleportation and other magic skills leisurely; instead they preferred to be raw. They walked nobly as their capes blew behind them. It took them a minute to arrive at the thrones. I couldn’t get over how long this aisle was—how large this whole palace was.
Once they were there, Thorenel spoke. He remained in his seat while speaking, so I did as well.
Thorenel: Emalickel will be homecoming this evening. We need to make sure the warriors are covering the entire palace, especially since our Princess is present. We will need two warriors at each station.
Xabiel conjured a golden tablet and began recording what Thorenel was saying.
Thorenel: We will need them stationed at every doorway on both sides—the front entrance, the entrance to the Throne Hall, the base of the throne stairs, the Great Northern Arches…
Thorenel kept rambling off different places of the palace. I watched as Xabiel wrote this down and Romenciel stood at attention listening to Thorenel.
Thorenel: Upstairs we need them stationed at the top of both stairways—one warrior in the north and one in the south. Five are to be stationed at the entry arches of Emalickel’s Private Quarters, and five at the entry arches of my Private Quarters. They need to be at the Spa Quarters, the Education Quarters, and on the upper level of the Ballroom and the Great Library. Also, keep 32 on each level of the palace to line the Throne Hall arches.
Romenciel nodded in agreement.
Romenciel: So that would be 142 warriors on the ground level and 63 on the upper level. It will be done, my Prince. I will address the warriors now. They will be on post to take their places shortly.
Artist: Future World Music
Song: World of Dreams
Thorenel nodded to him and leaned back in his throne chair. Romenciel and Xabiel bowed to Thorenel and then to me before turning around to walk back to their horses outside the front door of the palace. Thorenel remained silent and seated while they exited. The lions resumed their laying down positions after Romenciel and Xabiel had left.
Then, Thorenel rose from his seat and held his hand out to me. I took his hand and stood up. He walked us to the stairs behind the throne chairs. We approached the Great Northern Archways and exited out to the grand balcony. We walked across the sidewalk which traveled directly over the great pool spa. The clouds were beginning to settle across the mountain range about 50 miles in the distance. The clouds appeared warm colors of pink, coral, and lavender due to the way Auruclerum shined upon them. The vast valley below was greener than the most luxurious golf course I’d ever seen. There were no flowers in bloom this time, only vast green grass for miles out.
We sat down on a bench to
wards the edge of the balcony. Thorenel was still holding my hand but moved it to his lap. I looked at him once again.
He was perfection. From the glow of his bronzed skin to the light of his golden locks of hair; from his large masculine physique adorned in the attire of a king to his wise, assertive, collected demeanor; from his glacier-blue eyes, which seemed to pierce right through me upon contact, to the power and strength radiating from him behind that shadow of perfectly trimmed facial hair.
I had placed him on a pedestal, and he knew it. Flattered, he smiled proudly and looked down shying away from eye contact.
Thorenel: Again, I am flattered by your thoughts, but you do give me more credit than of what I am worthy.
I shook my head at him.
Me: You deserve more.
We locked eyes for several moments. Thorenel leaned in and kissed my forehead. He sighed before speaking.
