by S. S. Segran
Mariah and Aari snickered as they left the area to save their friend more humiliation. The so-called sasquatch who’d dropped Kody like a sack of potatoes was the last member of their group, Jag Sanchez, who’d gained substantial lean mass for his training in extreme speed, agility and strength. Though a huge eater, Kody was slim and no match for Jag.
The sun had begun its descent by the time they made it out of the grounds. They crossed a bridge over the river that split the valley in two and walked past clusters of neyra where the villagers lived. As they approached a lone cabin away from the others, Mariah rubbed her temples. “Think I’m gonna skip having dinner with you guys tonight.”
“Headache?” Aari guessed sympathetically.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll make sure Tegan brings you your dinner and rytèrni once it’s ready,” he said, referring to the sustenance drink the friends consumed every day that aided the growth of both their bodies and abilities, and healed any aches or injuries.
“Thanks, Aari. Tell Huyani I’m sorry I’ll miss her company.”
“Sure thing. Get to sleep early tonight, okay? You’ll feel better in the morning, especially after the rytèrni.” He gave her shoulder a warm squeeze and disappeared into the shelter.
Mariah continued her walk down the valley, not noticing her surroundings with her reemerging headache. Muscle memory guided her feet toward the neyra she shared with Tegan. Once inside the small shelter, she turned on a couple of lamps then removed her boots and jacket. She flopped onto her soft bed and burrowed under the blanket, her journal in hand. No matter what state her body or mind was in, she made it a point to record the events of each and every day.
When she’d finished, she flipped through her earlier entries and came across a particularly tense day in mid-July. It was the evening Elder Nageau, Kody’s mentor and the leading Elder of the village, arrived at the five’s hometown of Great Falls, Montana to meet their parents—who know nothing of Dema-Ki and the prophecy—and divulge the friends’ destined roles as the chosen ones. Needless to say, the following two weeks had been very stressful.
Mariah closed her journal and tucked it under her pillow. The pounding in her skull had grown in force and all she wanted to do was sleep it off. Teegs can wake me up when she comes back with the meal, she thought.
She pulled the blanket over her ears and was dead to the world within seconds.
2
A few days later, the five friends strolled side by side along a snowy path on the southern bank of Esroh Lègna, the river that divided the valley. As they headed toward the temple to meet the Elders, they passed the community square where the villagers would assemble for gatherings and special occasions. It was empty this evening, but the friends could clearly remember their first time there. Over a year ago, they’d stood nervously in the amphitheater facing a large crowd as the Elders introduced them to the people of Dema-Ki as the chosen ones.
Kody reached for the pendant hanging around his neck. The brushed metal was beautifully engraved with intricate detail. A pentagonal crystal of a striking green that matched his bright eyes rested in the center. The crystal had a five-pointed star engraved in its center. He clung onto his pendant, drawing strength from it. His friends had similar pendants, albeit in different colors and different designs; sacred gifts from the Elders, capable of enhancing their abilities.
A rectangular building with a translucent, pyramid-shaped roof soon came into sight on their left. It was three-quarters the size of a football field with blue-green glass walls. In such a remote village, a greenhouse like that would look out of place but the friends had learned long ago that Dema-Ki was not an ordinary village and neither were its people. Given all that had happened to them in the last year, Kody would have liked to gain even more insight, but time was short and they had more pressing matters at hand.
As the five passed by the stable and barn beside the greenhouse, a fair-skinned, doe-eyed little girl with a long ponytail ran up to Kody and tugged at his sleeve. He looked down at her and smiled. Using his limited knowledge of the language, he greeted her. “Hey, little one, what can I do for you today?”
She held her arms over her head and he knew exactly what she wanted. He picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. When he saw the grins his friends bore, he grunted good-naturedly. “Not one word from any of you.”
For some reason, upon the five’s return to Dema-Ki, the younger children had decided that Kody was a perfect steed for their travels up and down the valley. He didn’t mind, really, but with Jag’s strength and speed, he had to wonder why the kids preferred him over his tall Brazilian-Italian friend. Jag had offered to carry the children twice, but both times they’d just giggled and pushed his hands away.
“Hey, check it out,” Tegan said, indicating with her chin. “Up ahead. Isn’t that Magèo?”
“Can’t be,” Kody answered. “That old coot hates sunlight. He only comes out—oh, would you look at that. It is him. What in the world is he doing outside his lab?”
Straight ahead through the trees, a balding, chubby old man with a flowing white beard bent down to observe something in the snow. Beside him was a girl, perhaps in her late teens. Her shoulder-length hair looked strange; it was black on one side and ginger on the other.
“There’s a bad joke in there somewhere,” Kody said, observing them, “but I can’t find it yet. What’s going on?”
“Huyani mentioned that Magèo found an apprentice,” Jag told him. “That’s probably her.”
Not wanting to bother the pair, they gave them a wide berth. Soon the trees thinned out and an incline rose before them. Kody carefully placed the little girl on the ground. “Looks like this is where your ride ends.”
She pouted, then broke into a toothy grin and scurried back the way they’d come. Kody shook his head in amusement, then followed his friends up the incline. A magnificent five-sided temple crowned the top of a terrace. Polished wooden columns stretched thirty feet high, topped with statues of slender human figures holding up the dome of the building. From a marble cauldron at the center of the open foyer, an impressive stream of colorful fire rose; the iridescent flames danced all day and all night. It was impossible to walk into the temple without being dazzled by the display.
Four of the Elders were already seated inside the temple at their regular spot in a far corner of the grand hall. Elder Tayoka entered a minute later, his flaming red hair bright against his pasty complexion. He wore a sheepish grin and bowed apologetically to everyone gathered.
Kody laughed to himself. The fastest Elder is also the tardiest. Now that’s irony for you.
Greeting their mentors, the friends took their places facing the Elders on comfortable, curved benches. Kody listened to the quiet gurgling of the two small water fountains behind the benches and inhaled deeply. The temple was a place of meditation and tranquility where the villagers would come to find peace and spiritual healing, but was now empty as the people of Dema-Ki prepared for their evening meals, allowing the Elders and the friends to have the place to themselves.
Elder Nageau welcomed the five with a warm smile. Kody returned it but noticed the tension on his mentor’s face. He’d grown more attached to the Elder since the teenagers returned to Dema-Ki. Nageau was a source of guidance for him, a foundation of reason and contemplation. Though it was well concealed, Kody could detect stress bearing down on the man.
“How did you find training today?” Nageau asked in an accented baritone. In addition to extreme heightened sensory capabilities, the Elder was gifted with omni-linguism which made communication a breeze. He chuckled at the mumbled chorus of “Good” that had become a standard response, then turned his studious, bright blue gaze to Mariah. “Saiyu tells me that you have been having nosebleeds and headaches again, youngling.”
Mariah sighed. “It started when I tried moving a big boulder a few days ago. But it’s better now. The effects lessen as I get better. I guess it’s expected when we take it up a n
otch during training. No pain, no gain, right?”
“That may be so, but your wellbeing comes first. If it does not improve by tomorrow, Saiyu has said she will give you a couple of days to recuperate.”
Kody knew what Mariah’s response would be before it left her mouth. “No, thank you,” she said firmly.
He rubbed her shoulder and she returned his gesture with an appreciative pat on the hand.
Nageau dipped his head at Mariah, then addressed the friends. “The Elders and I are incredibly proud of each of you. We know the final stage of your training has been challenging but you have shown unyielding determination to master your abilities. We are astonished by your expanding capabilities with each passing day. We are indeed honored to have the opportunity to be your mentors, though it seems like you are well on your way to surpassing us with your abilities. In fact, some of you already have.”
Elder Tikina spoke up, adjusting her green blouse; like her mate, Nageau, she possessed the gift of omni-linguism. “I cannot agree more. This is unexplored territory for us, and just like Kody, you may find yourself unlocking different levels to your current abilities, or even attaining new ones together. But as we promised when you returned to Dema-Ki nearly three moon cycles ago, we will continue to help you learn and grow as much as we possibly can.”
“We appreciate that,” Aari said earnestly.
“What happens when we’re done with our training?” Jag asked, pushing his hair away from his amber eyes.
“We will wait,” Nageau responded. “The Sentries are on the lookout for disturbances.”
Kody blinked. “But aren’t the crop destructions disturbing enough? I mean, we’ve got riots and raids and a war going on.”
“There are Sentries who are doing all they can to minimize the effects of the fallout from these events, but there is an awareness of something far worse lurking just beyond the horizon.”
“And what about Reyor?” Aari asked. “Do we know what that monster’s up to?”
“We continue to probe the novasphere, but the harbinger’s presence is still masked.”
Jag scratched his ear, frowning. “Okay… How about Tony and his men? Are we getting anything out of the interrogation?”
On either side of Kody, Tegan and Mariah scowled. The girls harbored an intense loathing for the young man who’d kidnapped the pair after duping the group with his feigned friendship during their trip to California.
“All that we have managed to extract for now is that he works for the harbinger directly,” Nageau said. “His henchmen are not part of Reyor’s inner circle. They simply follow Tony’s instructions without question.”
Jag was exasperated. “That’s it? We haven’t gotten anything else out of them?”
Kody flinched at the sharpness in his friend’s tone. He still holds Tony accountable for his grandmother’s death. It’s Reyor you should be focused on, man. That’s the real culprit.
Nageau looked rueful. “Tony is remarkably resilient. He is loyal to Reyor, and it is not merely out of fear. He truly believes in their cause.”
“Oh, that we know,” Tegan muttered.
Tikina reached out and placed a hand on her apprentice’s knee “We remain confident that the Sentry conducting the interrogation will draw out the necessary information in due time.”
The friends glanced at one another with uncertainty. They lapsed into silence for a while, the quiet gurgling of the fountains soothing them. Kody rubbed his fingers idly, then said, “I have a question.”
Nageau raised his eyebrows slightly. “Yes?”
“That sphere in Reyor’s possession—I don’t remember what it’s called, but you talked about it briefly when you met our parents. You said there were more just like it. Where are they?”
“The lathe’ad,” Nageau said solemnly. “As I mentioned before, it is an ancient artifact of mysterious origin discovered by our ancestors. The other Elders and I possess four of the five. Elder Tayoka was meant to have the fifth, but Reyor stole it before being banished from Dema-Ki. It is a device of supreme force, and, in the wrong hands—”
A loud commotion outside the temple cut him off. A tanned, broad-shouldered young man with short-cropped black hair hurried inside, looking anxious and apologetic as he interrupted the meeting. The Elders rose to their feet at once. “What is it, Akol?” Nageau asked.
“You might want to see this, Grandfather,” the young man replied. He gave the teenagers a sharp nod and led the way out of the temple, then broke into a run. The Elders kept pace with him, and the friends followed closely. They wove through the trees, past the community hall, convalescence shelter and school. A small crowd had gathered around one of the bridges that connected the two sides of the village and more people were coming out of their homes to check out the commotion.
The group slowed down when Akol did. Kody heard shocked whispers amongst the villagers. A few of them looked livid. He was utterly confused. What’s going on?
Akol pushed his way through, parting the throng of people. He finally came to a stop, glaring at the sight ahead of them. The Elders and the five fanned out on either side of him and froze. Kody choked. Beside him, Jag’s hands balled into fists.
Two youths stood before them. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies gaunt and bruised, a vacant look in their eyes. It was as though they’d gone through hell and back. One of the young men swayed as if his legs were about to give out. A large predator’s incisor attached to a black string hung around his neck, swinging from side to side as he tried to remain upright.
The other one looked just as battered. Kody remembered the last time he’d seen those eyes; they’d been cold, calculating and manic. Now they were dull, clouded, almost remorseful.
A silence fell over them until Nageau took a step forward. “Hutar,” he said. “Aesròn.”
The young men flinched at the authority in his voice and looked up at him weakly.
“We searched for you. We thought you were dead. Where have you been?”
Tremors of fury coursed through Kody. Yes. Where did you run off to after your attempted mass murder, you filthy maggots?
Hutar wavered, then dipped his head until his chin touched his chest. “Elder Nageau.” His words came out feebly. “The world outside… it is not for us.”
Beside him, Aesròn attempted to dip his head as well. He faltered, and his eyes rolled to show their whites before he crumpled to the ground.
Tayoka surged forward. He lifted Aesròn and slung the youth over his shoulder with ease while two other villagers reluctantly half-carried Hutar, and together they rushed to the convalescence center.
Akol watched, jaw tight, then turned and strode away, the friends on his heels. “Akol!” Jag barked as they caught up to him. “What is all this?”
“I do not know,” he seethed. “But I was glad when they were gone, Hutar especially. Now they are back, just like that, out of nowhere?”
Kody could still feel the tremors in his body. “They should be rotting in a hole somewhere. They’re bad news.”
“What are the Elders going to do about this?” Tegan asked, brow pinched worriedly.
“I have no idea,” Akol answered, “but there is something very wrong with this picture.”
3
“We have been at this for two days, Nageau! This is the best option we have!”
“It is too drastic! They can still be rehabilitated, Ashack!”
Ashack leaned forward, a storm whirling in his dark blue eyes. In a quiet, clipped tone, he asked, “And just how well did rehabilitation work for them the last time we attempted it?”
The white-haired Elder sitting across from him averted his gaze to the fire. Ashack watched him, but when he received no answer, sat back and looked away, lips pressed together firmly.
The Elders were seated on low, hide-padded wooden benches around a small fire pit in their assembly neyra, a place they would gather to meet and discuss affairs of the community. Against every wall of the she
lter were long, polished pinewood shelves, they held a beautiful carving of a grizzly bear, Tiki-like statues with ancient Phoenician-style inscriptions, and a variety of small plants in terracotta pots. At the far end of the neyra, an exquisitely detailed representation of a beautiful island rested atop a marble table. Golden beaches and a glistening turquoise sea surrounded the island and a volcanic mountain rose majestically from the center as if watching over all. Numerous small houses and shops in a marketplace were positioned around the base of the mountain.
Ashack returned his attention to Nageau when the older man spoke; he sounded drained. “I do not wish to give up on them. They ran away during their rehabilitation, yes, but they have returned and we must look out for them. With our treatments, they are nearly back to full health. All they need now is more nourishment and they will be strong again, and we can then restart their rehabilitation.”
“They will indeed be strong,” Ashack growled, “but, once again, we must ask, is that a good thing? Especially in Hutar’s case. His lineage is one to question—”
“We do not, and will not judge anyone based on their bloodlines,” Nageau said sharply.
Ashack noted the agony in the other Elder’s eyes but refused to look away. “We cannot ignore it. What I suggest—”
“What you suggest is far too extreme. It will forever alter their personality.”
“It will help them and keep everyone safe!”
“We ought to find out what happened to them after they fled,” Saiyu interjected, gazing at Ashack. Her expression forced him to calm down. How his mate could give such a pointed yet loving and understanding look was outside the realm of his comprehension.
Tayoka swept his hands through his flame-colored hair. “Does it really matter? We know what they are capable of. What happened to them outside of Dema-Ki is of little consequence, in my opinion.”
Ashack nodded almost imperceptibly. Tayoka seemed to be the only one who was ready to side with him. Saiyu and Tikina were not indicating their preference, but he was certain that they would eventually agree with Nageau. Sighing, he tilted his head back to stare at the pointed ceiling of the neyra.
