White Angel

by R A Oakes

  “Will they serve their king, yes or no?”

  “I’ll ask them.”

  After gathering the tigers around him, Chaktar explained the situation and was blunt about the risks involved and then added, “But the king won’t force you to participate.”

  Having a choice confused them, and many wanted to know what trick the humans were trying to play on them. Chaktar assured them that there was no deception involved. They could risk death for their king or not. The choice was theirs.

  “You must think we’re fools,” one of the man-eaters said, speaking for himself and the others with human blood staining their fur. “If we don’t help and this king of theirs dies, those personal guards of his will slay us all.”

  “That’s probably true,” Chaktar admitted, personally indifferent to the fate of these big cats who had preyed on enslaved villagers.

  “So, helping the king might kill us but not helping will kill us for sure.”

  “You have a good grasp of the situation,” Chaktar said coldly.

  “I don’t care for our options.”

  “Sass me once and you won’t live to attempt the incantation,” Chaktar said eager to rid the compound of these cowardly vermin. Taunting them, he smiled and added, “Go ahead, complain to the big warrior over there. His name’s Polaris.” However, after studying the look on Captain Polaris’ face, the man-eater said, “He won’t wait to see if the incantation fails before killing us. If we refuse to help, he’ll kill us right now.”

  “You’re not as dumb as you look.”

  “Okay, tell them we’re in.”

  Chaktar walked back over to Captain Polaris and said, “They couldn’t wait to volunteer to help their king.”

  “I’ll bet,” the captain of the king’s personal guard said. “What did you have to do to win their cooperation?”

  “I tried being nice at first, but then they discerned that refusing would mean certain death.”

  “Did they catch on to the fact that Swarenth frequently tortures animals to death, whereas if I lost patience with them, their death would at least be a clean one?”

  “I fear the nuances of the negotiation were lost on them.”

  Eyeing the big cats doubtfully, Marcheto asked, “From a practical standpoint, can we trust this group of 0 motley tigers to behave themselves while surrounding the king, the captain and their 20 warriors?”

  “Under certain conditions, yes,” Chaktar said. “Chen has 100 warrior women and Tenacity has 100 more who have at least some weapons training. If four women stand behind each tiger ready to kill it if it so much as moves a muscle without permission, then I’d say you should all be safe.”

  “That’s not very encouraging.”

  “They’re tigers, Marcheto. That makes them unpredictable.”

  “I thought you and Chen took control of the pack.”

  “If you’re looking for noble animals filled with virtue, this group isn’t it. I’d suggest taking precautions.”

  “I suppose that’s a good idea, especially since I’ll be in the center of the circle next to the king.”

  “As will I,” the giant big cat said matter-of-factly.

  Marcheto was taken aback. “But you can’t participate in this, Chaktar. You and King Tarlen are all that’s left of the Kardimont line of kings. What if you die?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Yes it does,” King Tarlen said. “You’re my brother by virtue of my father’s spirit having intermingled with your ancestor’s life energy, forging an unbreakable bond. The family resemblance is obvious when you’re in human form. We look almost identical.”

  “Maybe, but I always thought I was better looking than you.”

  King Tarlen smiled, not knowing whether to punch his brother or hug him. But he quickly got serious saying, “If you stay alive, then whenever you are in human form, you could help conceive an heir. However, if neither of us survives, the Kardimont line will end.”

  “Listen, brother, if we can’t get you back into the physical world permanently, then having an heir won’t matter. There won’t be anything to inherit.”

  “But until I met you, Chaktar, I didn’t know anyone who was actually related to me, and I can’t stand the thought of seeing you die.”

  “Then close your eyes because I’m getting involved whether you like it or not.”

  When Captain Polaris heard Chaktar talking back to the king, he almost went for his sword. However, since the argument was between a king and a prince, he decided to let them settle it themselves.

  “If I command you, not as your brother but as your king, to go over and stand with Chen and the others, will you obey me?”

  “Of course, but I’d never forgive you. And if your father were here, he’d be the first to lay his life on the line for the success of this mission. As a Kardimont, how can I do any less?”

  King Tarlen felt himself choking up over his brother’s love, devotion and courage. Placing his forehead against his brother’s huge tiger forehead, he said, “I’m proud of you, but sometimes I wish you weren’t so headstrong.”

  “Well, you know where that comes from.”

  “Our shared Kardimont bloodline?”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of our shared tiger bloodline,” Chaktar said smiling.

  “Oh, were you now?” King Tarlen laughed.

  “Well, maybe it comes from both,” Chaktar conceded.

  When the brothers were finished sparring, there was silence. After a few moments and seeing no reason for delaying further, Captain Polaris said, “Sire, perhaps we should get started.”

  With Chaktar at his side, Marcheto headed towards the center of the courtyard followed by King Tarlen, Captain Polaris and their warriors. After gathering together with Marcheto in the middle, Chaktar commanded the other tigers to form a circle around them, being careful to position himself next to the king. Chaktar wanted to be sure his energy flowed directly into his brother. Prophet, the invisible tiger warrior angel, was hovering right above the king.

  Marcheto was still feeling apprehensive and somewhat shaky about this experimental incantation but collected himself when Captain Polaris gave him a stern look. Then, after taking a deep breath, the young mystic spread his arms wide and shouted, “Quazar cretera nebular celtuine richatorum.”

  Immediately, Marcheto felt like he was being stretched and almost pulled apart. However, looking around, the young mystic saw that some of the warriors were in far worse condition, their arms and legs already having separated from their bodies. Captain Polaris seemed unconcerned for himself but was keeping a close watch on Tarlen. Pressing on, Marcheto shouted, “Oasiah qulor ranzic tumosis deneric humanjus.”

  Now people’s bodies began fracturing into pieces no bigger than the palm of one’s hand, and the tigers seemed to be evaporating, their life energy turning into a mist which started drifting towards the human warriors. But before it reached them, the apprentice wizard looked around again and became greatly alarmed. Pieces of his body were bumping up against pieces of the other men’s bodies. They hadn’t as yet intermingled, but if the fractured bits kept subdividing and getting smaller and smaller, they might easily do so, mixing himself and the others into one convoluted mass.

  Then, with a sinking feeling, Marcheto noticed something else. Even after being changed into a mist, the big cats’ energy seemed stagnant, exuding little force. Years of captivity under gargoyle rule had definitely turned these downtrodden tigers into a ravaged shadow of their forbearers’ greatness.

  Looking over at Captain Polaris, who hadn’t disintegrated as quickly as the others, Marcheto shouted, “When Eldwyn saved King Ulray, only the king was involved. But we might end up in one big melting pot if this keeps up. Who knows how many eyes each of us will have once we resolidify. We could end up with parts all mixed together.”

  As always, Captain Polaris’ main concern was for the king. When he saw pieces of Tarlen’s body drifting over towards him, getting ready
to intermingle and merge, Captain Polaris realized the incantation had gone badly awry. “Can you stop the process, Marcheto?”

  “Yes,” was all the young mystic said before shouting, “Rejuvina requias dilermo sajataris.”

  As quickly as the whole experiment had begun, it ended, with the tigers returning from mist back into physical form and the humans congealing into their individual selves as before.

  “What’s your plan of action now?” Captain Polaris demanded, refusing to give up. Marcheto thought hard, knowing that the captain’s inquiry was no idle question. This powerful warrior expected a solution.

  “In order to bring you, the king and all your men back into this world, we’d have to place each person off by himself and then surround him with tigers. But not the ones we have here. Not only do we need more big cats, we need ones with a majestic presence. Ones exuding life, vitality and the will to live.”

  “King Tarlen, you must see the hopelessness of our situation. Please allow us to put you in the center of the circle alone with all the big cats surrounding you,” Captain Polaris pleaded.

  “That’s out of the question. We all return permanently to the physical world or none of us will.”

  “Solve the problem, Marcheto,” Captain Polaris demanded. “You’re the wizard, find an answer.”

  “I might have one,” Aerylln said walking past the tigers and facing the captain who gave her his undivided attention. She was petite, but he’d learned never to underestimate her. After all, this young woman was also White Angel.

  “I agree with Marcheto, we need more tigers. A lot more. And we need ones who are fresh, vibrant and vigorous.”

  “But such tigers don’t exist.”

  “Oh, yes they do,” Aerylln insisted. Then, walking over to King Tarlen, the young woman added, “I need to see your father. He’s the only one who can help us now.”

  “My father’s dead, Aerylln.”

  “Maybe and maybe not,” she replied unsheathing Baelfire, leaping up onto Zorya’s saddle and lifting the magic sword high above her head as purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red shafts of light shot out in all directions.

  “For the king!” Aerylln shouted as she, the horse and the sword disappeared.

  Chapter 19

  Dominion Castle. 40 years earlier.

  Upon rematerializing, Aerylln, Baelfire and Zorya found themselves in the tiger compound as it was decades ago. The vast walled courtyard hadn’t changed, but the big cats prowling its confines certainly had. Energized and regal, each was a powerful symbol of the Kardimont line of kings, and they knew it.

  Yet even among these 100 proud, confident tigers there were the elite, the favored few who had risked their lives to save King Ulray years ago by willingly, even eagerly, participating in Eldwyn’s dangerous and experimental incantation. But there was one big cat, the greatest of all, whose spirit had delved most deeply into King Ulray’s inner-self dragging him back from death’s door. The other tigers began stepping aside for him, allowing their leader to come forward and investigate the intruders.

  Aerylln watched the magnificent animal approaching her with a mixture of wonder and awe. His eyes were blazing with intelligence. His willpower was pressing against her so forcefully that she feared being crushed. Slowly, cautiously, Aerylln dismounted and knelt before this king of beasts.

  “Lord Grenitar, I’m Aerylln, and I’ve been sent here on a mission by your great-great-grandson, Chaktar.”

  “How is it you know my name?”

  “My lord, you’re a legend. Everyone in the future knows and reveres your name.”

  “You’re from the future?” Grenitar smiled, not quite believing her but not dismissing her claim as unimportant.

  “Yes, Lord Grenitar, and people going back in time normally lose their memory of future events,” Aerylln said thinking of the Council of Aeryllns. “But my being White Angel has helped me in that regard.”

  “You look a little young to be an angel. But do you remember the future?”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “If that’s so, you might have remembered not to appear here in our courtyard uninvited,” Grenitar said as a deep growl rumbled in his throat and chest.

  “I beg of you, my lord, hear my plea. We’re in desperate straits.”

  “Yes, I can see that,” Grenitar smiled looking around at the 100 giant big cats encircling Aerylln, Baelfire and Zorya. The tigers were showing their teeth and growling, yet Aerylln remained unafraid.

  “I believe you are a man of honor. You will not allow those under your command to harm us.”

  “Sadly for you, young lady, I’m a tiger not a man.”

  “You are both, my lord.”

  Immediately, Grenitar was on guard. The big cat’s ability to transform into a man was a carefully guarded secret, just as knowledge of King Ulray’s ability to change into a tiger was a secret kept in the strictest of confidence being known only to a few. In fact, the king’s wife, Queen Loren, and Carplorthian, the king’s most trusted friend and advisor, were the only ones who knew for certain about this phenomenon. Other than Eldwyn, that is.

  “And how would you know that? If you’re from the future, you wouldn’t even know me.”

  Slowly, Aerylln reached inside her coat pocket and grasped something that was so big she could hardly get her hand around it. After pulling it out, she stood up and faced Grenitar who was so huge that she came up only to his shoulder and found herself looking right into the big cat’s eyes.

  Opening her hand, she revealed a massive golden ring with the face of a roaring tiger upon it. When he saw the tiger ring, Grenitar gasped for he knew it well. In the entire kingdom, there was only supposed to be one like it. Looking down at his left front paw, there it was, a giant golden ring which he wore on one of his toes.

  “This ring gives me the right to speak in the name of the king. You will listen to me and treat me like an equal,” Aerylln said firmly.

  Grenitar continued looking at the young woman though he was speechless and almost in a state of shock.

  “As you know, this ring is a much larger version of the one King Ulray himself wears. It serves as a symbol of your own authority and identifies the wearer as the king’s tiger- brother,” Aerylln said.

  “How can you possibly know all this?”

  Ignoring the question, Aerylln invoked her rights as the one possessing the much revered golden tiger ring. “You will now take everything I say with the utmost seriousness. My reason for saying we are in dire straits is this, King Ulray’s son Tarlen is in great danger.”

  “King Ulray doesn’t have a son named Tarlen.”

  “He will in a few more years.”

  “Again, I ask you, how do you know all this?”

  “Because 40 years into the future, I have the privilege of serving King Tarlen just as you serve King Ulray. And it was your great-great-grandson, Chaktar, who gave this ring to me before I came here.”

  “Let me see the ring.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Aerylln said cautiously, not wanting to offend Grenitar but unwilling to surrender this potent symbol of authority. “Chaktar taught me how to use the ring properly. Your great-great-grandson told me that all I need do is show the ring to you and say the secret words.”

  “Then do so.”

  “On the souls of my ancestors, I pledge eternal loyalty to the Kardimont kings. I will face any danger, bear any burden and suffer any cost, but I will serve my master with all my strength.”

  Grenitar remained silent, waiting to hear the final words.

  “Nothing, not even death can absolve me of the bond I forge this day. My choice goes beyond the grave and echoes throughout eternity.”

  In her heart, Aerylln prayed that this was true, for unless the dead could help the living, all hope for the future would be lost.

  As for Grenitar, he was almost moved to tears. This was the very pledge he’d used to swear his loyalty to Ulray.

  “Up until now, I
alone have sworn that oath of allegiance.”

  “In the future, your son, grandson, great-grandson and great-great-grandson will all take this vow when the golden tiger ring is passed down from generation to generation.”

  “But you’ve come from 40 years into the future. Didn’t you say that?”

  “Yes.”

  “How could the ring have gone through that many generations so quickly?”

  “Before I answer that, I must impress upon you the importance of these big cats all coming back with me into the future. Also, it’s imperative that King Ulray return with us. King Tarlen needs his father’s experience to help guide him. As I said, our situation is quite precarious.”

  “But King Ulray only recently returned from a prolonged journey. He won’t be eager to leave his castle again so soon. Many affairs of state require his attention.”

  “We won’t be going anywhere. We’ll be staying right here.”

  Grenitar smiled and said, “Your problems can’t possibly be as serious as you claim. Dominion Castle’s impregnable. In 500 years, no one has ever breached these walls.”

  “But that’s the crux of the matter. We’re not in control of the castle. It has fallen into enemy hands.”

  All the tigers cut loose with enormous growls that were both savage and frightening in their strength and power. As loyal subjects of the king, this castle was their home, and the big cats were very protective of their territory.

  Grenitar was filled with rage over this news, and the other big cats, equally furious, were whipping themselves into a frenzy. Feeling the enormous waves of energy surging through the courtyard, Aerylln realized that these tigers were exactly the ones Marcheto needed to save King Tarlen.

  “In the future, Dominion Castle is under gargoyle control,” Aerylln informed them. “A savage warlord has captured King Ulray’s tigers and makes them fight to the death in a gladiator arena solely for his own personal sadistic pleasure. That’s why the ring has passed through so many generations.”

  “How could this happen? What you’re saying is madness.”