“You take all the fun out of this job,” Armilla chided him as she wrapped bandaging around his joint while Brandeis treated his cousin.
“Yeah, but I keep it exciting,” Alec responded, hoping to cheer her up. Once his wounds were treated, he quickly removed an arrow from the flank of one of their horses, led a brief burial ceremony, then addressed their captor.
“We’re ready to proceed. Please take us to see Rosebay in Chanradala,” Alec reported.
“No one may ride on the animals. You all shall walk,” the lacertii officer said as he saw Patrick start to mount his horse.
“But why?” Alec protested.
“That’s the order,” the officer said curtly. With that, the entourage began walking.
Three days later, they stood in the late afternoon sun, looking out over a large city that rested in a spacious river valley among the low mountains. There had been virtually no conversation between the captives from the Dominion and their escort, and little conversation among the humans up to that point. “Your city is an impressive one,” Alec told the commander of their escort as they looked across the valley. Alec was actually thankful for the escort, as it had allowed them to travel through many villages and settled areas quickly.
“We will escort you to a facility where you will wait for orders to attend the court if the Regent so decrees,” their nameless officer told them.
“How long should we expect to wait?” Alec asked.
“I am not a courtier. I am a soldier. I do not know how long it will take,” the lacertii responded. “You have been well-behaved, and I will do my best to make sure the information about your request is passed along,” he hesitated, then spoke further.
“I will ask that you be allowed to keep your weapons while you are at Chrimsabbra,” he added.
As they rode down through the city, the lacertii in the streets stopped to stare at the humans being escorted through their neighborhoods, right up to the moment when they stopped before a massive set of gates in the foreboding walls of a hulking structure that appeared to take up several blocks in the city.
To Alec, Chrimsabbra appeared to be a prison. “We will all be housed together, with freedom of movement,” Alec said loudly, setting a condition. He feared the worst would happen, that they would be separated and betrayed, unsure of one another’s fate, unable to help each other.
Alec looked at Berlisle and Patrick. “Goldenfields cavalry formation one,” he said. “Everyone else, same stance as Berlisle,” he spoke louder to his other companions.
Berlisle immediately maneuvered to place her back to the wall, her horse in front of her as a shield, and notched an arrow in her bow. Patrick did the same, and moments later the rest of his squad also took the position to maximize their meager defense.
“We will fight it out here,” Alec told the lacerta. “I want your word we will not be separated.”
The lacertii soldiers likewise drew their weapons. “We came here in peace. Your actions now are going to decide how the lacertii nation’s future with our nation will be,” Alec said. “You can treat us honorably, or otherwise.”
“Lower your weapons,” the officer told his soldiers, as bystanders stared at the scene that was unfolding. “Follow me,” he instructed Alec. “Bring all your people,” he hesitated. “And your animals,” he referred to the horses.
“Where are we going?” Alec asked without moving.
“I will take you to my home. You will be my guests,” he said. “And you will be my responsibility. Your actions will reflect on me.”
Alec realized that the man had decided to behave honorably, in a way that would hold him accountable. “We will not let you down,” he pledged.
“That is my hope,” the officer said. “Escort form up. Are your people ready?” he asked Alec.
“Squad relax. We’re going to a new location,” Alec called to his people.
“What’s happening, Alec?” Armilla asked as she walked beside him.
“This officer is going to house us in his own home, rather than place us in this building,” he motioned to the fortress behind them.
“Do you trust him?” she asked.
“I think I do,” Alec answered. “We have to take some chances,” he thought about how long they had been on this journey, and how long the ingenairii had laid unconscious. “We need God’s help,” he whispered.
They maneuvered with difficultly through the narrow streets of the city, not built to accommodate horses, and the journey of the humans and their animals drew heavy attention as they tried to cross through the urban environment. After an hour’s journey, they emerged onto a broad avenue, where the humans felt much less claustrophobic, and better able to breathe. Their pleasure at the change was short-lived though, as they saw standards being carried in front of a military procession that was headed towards them, drums and whistles carrying a brisk tune that set their pace.
“That is a royal platoon,” Alec’s lacerta officer informed him. “We must stand aside.”
The other lacertii traffic on the road readily moved out of the way of both the approaching royal formation and the humans and horses. As Alec and Armilla stood side-by-side with their animals, the royal formation marched in a steady, regular cadence that indicated the high level of training and professionalism they held.
The standards arrived parallel with the location of the humans and stopped, the drums beating a flourish to emphasize their presence. Alec took a deep breath, and looked at his officer escort. A leader emerged from the royal platoon, and marched briskly towards Alec.
“You are, by invitation of the regent Marchioness Rosebay, requested and required to be escorted to the royal palace of Dorimibiladum, for presentation to his royal highness, King Frinungeard the Third, as a friend and an ally,” the man read loudly and emotionlessly from a scroll. “So written at the direction of the Regent,” he finished with a flourish, and the drums beat loudly.
Alec looked towards his own officer, then back at the messenger. “Will our own escort, who have treated us honorably and fairly, join us for the trip to the palace?” he asked. “I would wish that the regent and the king know of their behavior towards us, which reflects well on the lacertii army.”
The messenger hesitated, and the escort officer spoke. “We have our normal assignment to return to,” he said. “It is enough to know that we have carried out the best interests of our people.” He walked over to Alec, and held out his hand. “I took a chance on you, and I pray that it turns out well for you, and for my people. If you can help us fight our invaders, please do your best.”
Alec’s eyes and the officer’s locked for several seconds, and Alec nodded his head. “If I can help your nation while helping my people, I will do my best,” he promised. “Thank you for your honor.”
With that the lacertii escort moved away, and the responsibility for the humans was transferred to the royal guards. “We’ll return the direction we came from,” the messenger advised. “Please follow us.”
“May we ride our horses?” Alec asked, wanting to have the advantage of better vision from up above the crowd.
The messenger looked at him without blinking, before answering. “Yes you may,” he decided.
“Saddle up,” Alec told his group. “We’ll follow behind you,” he said to the royal messenger. “Lead on,” and he swung himself up into Walnut’s saddle, inexplicably happy to be astride his horse again.
Within a quarter of an hour they walked through a large, impressive gateway to enter the grounds of a beautiful, and heavily fortified, castle. Across a lawn they found a moat and drawbridge, which led to a plaza area where the humans dismounted.
“Your animals will not be able to go any further,” the messenger politely explained the obvious to Alec.
“Let us place them out on the lawn,” Alec asked, after looking in vain for some place that might substitute for a stable. He motioned for his people to follow, and they re-crossed the drawbridge to stand in an open green s
pace. “Hobble your horses,” he told his followers.
“What’s going to happen, Alec?” Brandeis asked.
“I am hopeful now,” Alec assured him.
Back inside the plaza, the humans stood together waiting for the messenger or someone else to reappear. The messenger himself opened a large door, and beckoned them forward. As Alec approached the door, he unconsciously noted that the top of the door was arched, as was the roofline above it. In fact, virtually every roof or door or window opening he could remember seeing in the city had been curved, and he wondered at the cultural origins of the pattern.
“You must leave your weapons at this gate,” the messenger stated as he stood by the door. Alec looked uneasily at his companion, and saw Armilla imperceptibly shake her head.
“We understand the precaution of leaving our bows and arrows,” Alec attempted to negotiate, “but we ask the courtesy of being allowed to bring our swords with us.”
The messenger disappeared inside again, and returned after a few minutes. “Your request is granted,” he told Alec, and held the door wide open.
Alec led the way, laying his bow and a bandolier of knives on the doorstep, then stepping into the entry hall. The messenger waited for all the guests to join him, then began to lead them along a wide passage that was manned by guards as it undulated towards a large set of elaborate doors. The messenger raised the staff he carried and pounded it against a metal plate in the center of the door, then pushed it open. “By the command of his highness, King Frinungeard the Third, the visitors from the western lands are presented to the court.”
“Please enter, and bow to the throne when you reach the end of the black carpet,” the messenger said.
Inside the large hall, a crowd of mostly military lacertii watched closely as Alec’s small group cautiously stepped forward. The long room led from their entrance to a highly elevated throne at the far end, sitting on a step above a wide semi-circle of lesser thrones, which looked down on a pit, where Alec concluded they must stand for their presentation. Murmurs rose along the way as the onlookers observed the march of the human entourage.
Alec led them to step down into the pit, and they stood at the very end of the black carpet. As instructed by the messenger, Alec began the bow to the throne above them, and when he raised his head, he saw that a figure had risen from one of the seven chairs below the crown, and was walking slowly and regally down the steps. He stood solemnly still, flanked by Armilla and Berlisle, as Rosebay stepped down into the pit and came to a stop directly in front of him.
“It is so good to see you again my friend,” she said calmly in her sing-song lilt that Alec realized must be peculiar to her; none of the other lacertii had spoken in the same manner. “If you need our help, our nation is ready to lend you any assistance we can.
“Let us carry out the ceremonies we must fulfill to show friendship; the court requires more ceremony than our last visit together in the wilderness. I want you to do to me what I am about to do you, and ask no questions, Alec. Will you?” Rosebay asked.
“Yes Rosebay,” Alec answered. And Rosebay slapped his face hard.
Alec’s head rocked back hard, and he felt blood welling in his mouth. He whipped his arm up in front of Armilla to hold back her protective instincts. He looked at Rosebay, whose strangely lidded eyes stared back. She imperceptibly nodded her head, and Alec swung his open palm from in front of Armilla in a wide, sweeping arc that loudly connected with Rosebay’s cheek, making her step back.
“Very good,” she said softly, then spit a mouthful of blood and saliva at his feet.
Alec looked down, then looked up at her, and deliberately spit out his own bloody froth.
Rosebay bared her pointed teeth, and lunged at Alec, sinking her teeth into his shoulder. The hard bite drew both blood from Alec and gasps from the crowd, and as his head swiveled, Alec saw that even the small figure on the throne half rose to watch what was happening below him. Rosebay quickly pulled her mouth off Alec, then licked her lips, as Alec gritted his teeth and heard someone nearby retch.
Taking a deep breath, Alec showed his own teeth and lunged at Rosebay’s shoulder, pulling her elaborate gown away from her neck so that he could place his mouth against her flesh, feeling the skin that appeared so different from his own – it was surprisingly soft and pliant he thought as he bit hard. He felt his incisors slip through the gray skin into the muscle below, and he instantly pulled back, then raised his head, and felt Rosebay place her hands on his cheeks and pull his face towards hers, for a full kiss on the lips, and then a release and a gentle shove away.
“The ceremony is done,” the lacerta noblewoman spoke loudly. “The human, Alec, prince of his people, is bound to me, as I am bound to him, in honor and friendship and trust.”
She turned and faced the throne above her. “Your majesty, may I present my companion, who is now your friend, Alec, prince of the Dominion, as the people of the west style themselves.”
The young monarch rose slowly, and began to descend the steps towards Alec and his companions. Alec tried to guess how old the boy might be, although he felt unsure about the growth patterns of the lacertii. If the boy had been human, Alec would have guessed him to be around eleven or twelve.
“Aunt Rosebay,” the young lacerta began, trying to maintain his regal bearing. “What was that like? Was it gross?” he asked, failing in his effort.
“It was different than with another of our own people,” Rosebay admitted as the boy came to stand beside her, and armed guards slowly filtered closer. “But you must remember how much love there is between the prince and me. He saved my life once, you know! Right in the middle of a battlefield, when his own companions thought I should be slain, he protected me, and helped me on my way back here to take care of you.”
“Are you going to marry him?” the boy asked in a confused voice.
“You haven’t proposed to me yet, have you companion?” Rosebay asked, looking at Alec.
“I wish that I could, but my heart has not been faithful, and I am engaged to a human woman back in my own land,” Alec replied with a grin.
“In fact, it is partly for her sake that my staunch companions and I have traveled to your land, your majesty,” Alec continued.
“A mysterious plague has struck the ingenairii of our lands, including my betrothed. I am told that the cure for the disease rests somewhere in your lands, in an ancient holy place,” Alec straight-forwardly explained. “I ask your permission to continue on our mission to find the sacred location that can let me help my beloved…my other beloved,” he stuttered with another slight grin.
“You have our permission and any assistance we can spare,” young King Frinungeard replied after a second, looking up at his aunt for confirmation.
Yes, certainly, you have our permission,” Rosebay agreed. “Do you know where you’re supposed to go?”
Alec recollected clearly the words of John Mark. “It is in a part of your land that is under attack by the invaders, the warriors from Michian.”
“You are welcome to go there, but those lands are dangerous, and the invaders are ruthless,” Rosebay warned.
“They have tried to attack our nation as well,” Alec replied. “We barely managed to defeat them.”
“You were victorious? How did you defeat the monsters they bring?” the king asked.
“We just barely did, thanks to help from our God,” Alec told the young monarch.
“Our armies could win if they did not have to face their monsters on the battlefield,” Frinungeard said. “We hold them back as long as we only fight regular soldiers.”
“The demons are overwhelming among soldiers,” agreed Alec.
“We will assign an escort to take you to the battlefront tomorrow. The journey will take several days,” Rosebay interjected. “You are welcome to stay in the palace tonight as guests of the king.”
The following morning Rosebay and the king were present on the lawn along with the officer and infantrym
en who would accompany them to the battlefront.
“This human, Alec the prince, is my companion by the customary ritual,” Rosebay told the military escort. “Treat him with respect and courtesy.”
The men in uniform looked at Rosebay and Alec with grave curiosity, and nodded. “Follow my lead again,” Rosebay told Alec, and she slapped his face vigorously. He returned the slap, and then they kissed again, and spat out their bloody saliva.
“Will we have to do this next time we meet?” Alec asked with a smile as they finished the ceremony.
“Not if you propose to me,” Rosebay said solemnly.
“Before we part, I have one request,” Alec added. He looked over at Delle and Brandeis. “These two riders have traveled through the hazardous part of our journey. Now that we have your friendship and support for the journey that is left, I would ask that you allow them to return the way we came, so that they may find their way back to their own city.”
“Alec? No, absolutely not,” Delle said. “We came along for the whole journey.”
“By the time you get back to Stronghold, the ingenairii will be saved, and Brandeis can be reunited with Noranda,” Alec explained. “The rest of us can float down the river back to Goldenfields and Oyster Bay when we’re done, but you can go more directly home over land, and you can take back word of our friendship with the king of the lacertii.
“I believe this is the best way to proceed. Please humor me,” Alec finished. “We know we are among friends now, and I would like for Noranda to wake up and see you two waiting for her, or arrive soon after she recovers.”
Alec saw the desire in Brandeis’s eyes, and the nod of submission from Delle.
“We will arrange an escort for them to return to your homelands,” Rosebay agreed as she saw the arrangements settled among the humans.
A hasty round of farewells among the Stronghold members and the others quickly followed, and the two groups split apart.
Preserving the Ingenairii Page 9
