by Gloria Mur
- "Her Majesty and Highness can go to hell! They are state criminals! They stole a military machine! They want to go to the enemy's camp! They are to be caught and destroyed!" screamed the King, his lips turning white with rage. "Burn Lemuria to the ground! Spare no one! Give me armor! Now!"
- "But your Majesty... We're not quite ready," spoke the Minister.
- "Preparedness be damned! To the flügs!" Shouted Gorr, pulling on his golden plate armor and running into the courtyard.
Chapter 23. Uninvited Guests
Aleur and Tamil landed their boat next to the wall of the castle of Groix. Aleur pulled out the vimanas on the shore, and helped his friend climb on. They raised up into the air and slowly moved along the fortress. There were no guards on the walls. Having reached the Gray Tower, the friends went up even higher.
- Tamil!" Called out Aleur in a whisper, "I'll see what's in there, and you wait in here."
Aleur noiselessly jumped on to the fortress wall, leaned his vimana on the wall and ran toward the tower. After a few minutes, there came a soft whistle. Tamil flew to the signal. Aleur, alarmed and confused at the same time was standing at the open door of the dungeon. Next to him lay the dead bodies of two guards.
- "Someone beat us here, Tamil," said Aleur, looking around in confusion, "she's not here."
- "Wait up, friend," answered Tamil, "her guards were killed, right? That means she was freed not by sorcerers."
- “Who? Who would need Yuma in this barbaric... Hold on... It must be... Well of course! No one but her would ever think to free the prisoner of the Gray Tower. Only a mother could do something like that. But where are they, Tamil?! Maybe they've been caught by sorcerers?"
- "Not likely. These dead guards haven't even been discovered yet... Wait up. What is that?” Came Tamil, listening carefully.
They walked closer to the edge of the wall and looked over into the courtyard. Gorr and seven of his generals were giving the final orders before the offensive.
- "What does this mean, Tamil?!" Exclaimed Aleur.
- "This is war, Aleur. It looks like the sorcerers are getting ready to fight," answered Tamil, stroking his beard.
- "But with whom?" Said Aleur in shock.
- "Well, who do you think?" Called out Tamil. "Obviously, the sorcerers have come up with a way to protect against the Stone.”
- “We must warn our people!"
- "We won't make it," said Tamil, waving his hand.
- "So, what, we're just gonna sit here and watch? We have to do something!" Fumed Aleur.
- "I've thought of something. Let's fly. Faster!”
The friends rushed into the courtyard. In the confusion, no one looked up and saw the Lemurians, hovering in the sky.
Guria let go of the lever. The pink city could be seen out the flüg's window. She set the ship down gently in the palace garden. How strange! Just a few hours ago, she would have gone so far as to cut off her hand to become the Empress of Olmolungring. And now she was helping Lemuria!
- "Guria, open the door right now!" Said Yala, "we must hurry."
- "Yes, mama," said Guria, coming out of her dream and hitting the button. The flüg opened its iron gate, letting the passengers get out.
- "We must make it before the attack! Warn the townsfolk! I'll go to Shonith La," shouted Yala, running to the palace and clutching the box with the Stone.
Guria and Yuma exchanged sidelong glances.
- "It would be better for you not to show yourself in the city. You are a sorceress after all," said Yuma.
Guria curled her lip:
- "Yes. But only half. Just like you."
- “I am the Queen of Lemuria," pronounced Yuma, proudly raising her head. Guria chuckled to herself.
- "And where would you be now, if it weren't for me, your Majesty?"
- "Yala and I would've made it..."
- "You and Yala would have broken down during take off," interrupted Guria. "We're losing time.”
- “Let's go," frowned Yuma, "we must save Olmolungring."
Shonith La had told the Council the terrible news of war right after Yala's first visit in the morning. It was decided to leave out to sea, taking only the most necessary things with them. Stores of water and food had already been brought to the ark, and pretty large ones at that. The most important thing now was to make time! It had been decided to inform the people of Lemuria about the war as late as possible, so as not to cause a panic. Shonith La would tell the Lemurians that today would be a general evacuation drill. And the people would thus calmly board the ark.
The Keeper opened the door and slammed into Yala.
- Yala! You've returned! As it should be."
- "Shonith La! I have horrible news," exclaimed Yala.
- “What is that? Yala! Is that the Stone?!" Shouted Shonith La, pointing at the box.
- "Yes, Keeper. But it is lacking much power. It has lost the Divine light," sighed Yala.
- "Give it here," whispered Shonith La, opening the box. The Stone was barely glowing.
- “Keeper!" Gorr has changed the day of the beginning of the war. I think he'll be coming today even. You must leave right now, Shonith La!”
- “Run, Yala, call the Council! Begin the evacuation. I will attempt to return the Stone to full power..." and the Keeper ran into the Sanctuary.
The news of the evacuation flew around the whole city very quickly. The Council had taken the "drill" into its own hands. The refugees had lined up at the palace gate with their things and vimanas. A bit of time passed, and they took off into the air. They flew to the sea in a colorful column. The evacuation was neat and quick. Expecting the Flood, the people had honed their movements to perfection. Everyone knew exactly what to do. The Lemurians ran from their homes quickly and and in an organized fashion. Within less than an hour, half of the city was already on the ark.
Greta paced around her house, not knowing what to do. She grabbed up her things, threw them in a basket, and ran out to the street, looking up at the sky, then sat on a chair trying to calm down and get her thoughts in order. Aleur and Tamil did not return. And here there was another evacuation drill. But what did that mean? It could be that the Council wasn't telling them something... Maybe the Flood was already near?! Where was her husband? What had happened to him? Maybe he'd been captured by sorcerers and... no, she shouldn't even think about that. Greta dragged herself outside again, hoping to see a familiar figure above her on a vimana. But, before the house, in a dust-covered dress, with disheveled hair stood... the Queen of Lemuria. Greta lost the ability to speak because she was so surprised. Without a doubt the tall, defined figure, leading the evacuation from the neighboring houses belonged to Yuma! That means... Aleur and Tamil have freed the Queen! Greta threw herself out to meet the Queen.
- "Your Majesty! Yuma!" She exclaimed.
The Queen stared in disbelief at the pregnant blonde who had thrown herself into her arms.
- "You must immediately appear at the great fountain. Take only your most necessary things and your vimana. And don't forget to bring things for the little girl," said the Queen, looking at Greta's belly.
Greta looked at her friend, dumbfounded.
- "Yuma! Where are Aleur and Tamil?"
- "Tamil?"
Greta, looking into the confused eyes of the Queen remembered. "Gorr's curse!"
- "Your Majesty! I am Greta, we've been friends since childhood. And Tamil is my husband."
- "I'm sorry," answered Yuma. "I don't remember you."
- "But Aleur! Did Aleur set you free?"
- "Yala set me free."
- "Yala? That means... Aleur and Tamil are still in Groix? They wanted to break you out of the Gray Tower..."
- "The madmen! Greta, I'm telling you the truth. This is war. The sorcerers will attack any minute. The Chintamani isn't working. I beg you, run to the square. You must save your life and the life of your child. Run," said Yuma, looking in Greta's despairing eyes with pity.
- "
Yes," nodded Greta, sleepily taking the basket and vimana from the shelf. "I must. I must..." and slowly walked toward the square, looking straight forward.
Tamil flew higher above the roof of the hanger in which the flügs were standing. They would have to draw them out of the building, if only for a short time. The leaders of Groix got closer to the palace. The smell of food was in the air. The sorcerers hadn't even had time to eat before the war. Captain Timor stayed in charge of the hanger, looking with envy at the soldiers' kitchen. Tamil made the sign to Aleur. He came out of his hiding spot, and walked straight toward the captain. The officer was taken aback when he saw the Lemurian. Using the officer's confusion, Aleur spoke first:
- "Where can I find his Majesty King Gorr?" He asked, "I've come with a message from Lemuria..." continued Aleur, coming right up to the captain, and not giving him time to remember himself, grabbed the captain by the arms, slamming him into the wall. The captain gasped and hung lifelessly in the engineer's arms. Aleur dragged him quickly into the corner and dashed to the machines. Fortunately, there were only two soldiers there. They were standing by one of the ships, and were too busy fighting with each other to notice their uninvited guest. Aleur crept closer.
- "I'm telling you, they stole a flüg!" Burned a small, black-haired youth.
- "You've got to be lying! The Queen and Princess would never betray Groix!" Exclaimed the older soldier.
- "I saw it myself! The Black Princess, Queen Yala and that Lemurian fiancée of the heir kicked the captain out of a flüg and flew away! They should be in Lemuria by now! The King is in quite the rage!" Giggled the first.
- "I can hardly wait for the offensive! They say Lemurian girls are unbelievably pretty..."
Aleur jumped up and ran along the iron balls. Around twenty machines were standing at full military ready. The young Lemurian took a knife from his belt, opened the door of a flüg and cut a thin hose. Then a roar was heard from outside, and Aleur saw two flügs taking off through the hangar door.
Aleur finished his plan and ran out of the hangar. The captain was still laying on the ground, but was giving signs of life. Tamil grabbed Aleur's hand and dragged him to the hangar roof.
- "They flew to Olmolungring," he said, "we're too late, Aleur!"
- Tamil!" My friend! You've never lost spirit! Hold on! Two flügs isn't so scary!"
- "How do you know?" Snapped Tamil, "you've never gone to war.
- I've read about it in books," lied Aleur. "I've cut off the fuel supply of the other flügs. We've got some time yet before the sorcerers notice the problem, and then they've got to fix it. We'll make it."
Tamil motioned with his eyes at the fuel tank. - "While were here..."
- "Burn that too?" Guessed Aleur. "I don't have my flint and steel. However..."
Aleur remembered his promise to Shonith La. Never to use the vimana for evil, and never to reveal its secret! But anyway, Shonith La knew what was going on! A few years a go, the young engineer, going over the designs for the vimana, figured out that the flying board hid a terrible weapon. He made the vimanas exactly according to the ancient designs, but as Shonith La had demanded, he did not reveal their secret. Now the time had come that that secret could save Lemuria. Aleur grabbed the board by the crystal on its edge and turned it on its axis. A small, barely noticeable crack appeared in the center of the board. Taking a firm hold on both sides, Aleur broke the vimana in half. But it did not snap. A thin wire that had been connecting the two halves came out of the center of the board. There was a small red crystal hanging from the wires. Aleur took a deep breath. Tamil looked at him with eyes opened wide.
- “What is that?”
- "A weapon. A weapon of evil thoughts.
It should work!" But the fact of the matter was that he had never actually done it. He had only seen the designs... The engineer, holding the vimana by the edge, cast his glance at the red spot. His muscles tensed, and a vein bulged on his forehead. Nothing happened. He gathered up all his pain, all the suffering of the last days. "The red pebble is fed with negative energy!" The vimana shook. The crystal came to life and glowed with a ruby light. And, then a miracle! - a red ray of light ripped out of the stone! He hit it on the iron wall of hangar, and completely silently burned a hole through it, giving off bright sparks. It smelled of burning. It worked! Aleur jumped a bit out of joy. And ran toward the store with fuel and ammunition.
Behind the friends, a powerful explosion cracked into the heavens. The blast nearly knocked the friends from their boards. The store was destroyed.
Chapter 25. A Prophecy Fulfilled
Shonith La opened the box. The Chintamani's glow had dimmed from the sorcerer's enchanting, but all the same, the Protector was here in Lemuria. They would have to try to increase the glow of the Stone until the sorcerers reached the city. Only Shonith La knew how to strengthen the protective properties of the Chintamani. The secret had been passed from generation to generation of Keepers. Casting spells was used only in the case of deadly danger. Shonith La pressed on a small impression in the side of the box. A click came, and a small, secret chamber opened at the bottom of the box. A thin, gold plate, covered with symbols came out of it. The Keeper placed his hands on it. When his fingers had warmed the gold, the plate lit up and through the ancient letters, showed words Shonith La could understand.
"In order to strengthen the Chintamani, pronounce the magic words, written here four times and turn to face the east. The spells will bring a certain living being to you. When you see it, kill it, no matter what it is. And sprinkle the Stone with its blood. Afterward, pronounce "Chintamani," through fire and drizzle it with water. The power of the Stone will increase instantaneously."
The Keeper shivered when he remembered the murder. Because the law of protecting the lives of everything was very important in Lemuria.
The Keeper began the ritual with a heavy heart. He changed into a royal blue robe, embroidered with tiny mirrors, and took a small bag from the table. A thin sheet of silver, crushed into powder was sprinkled on the floor. Repeating his prayer to himself, the Keeper drew a circle around himself, then a large, equilateral triangle in the center. He lay a small, sharp knife with a silver handle at his feet, turned to the east and picked up the Chintamani.
- "Forgive me, o great Rigden-Djapo for using a magic ritual," exhaled Shonith La. "But I don't have any other way. I must save my people. The Great Prophecy of the death of Lemuria is becoming fulfilled. Today is the very day- the seventeenth day of the moon, the day of the Great Wave. Who could have known that the Great Flood of ancient manuscripts would be a flood of sorcerers! We prepared an ark in order to save ourselves from a flood, but that our sorrow would be coming from somewhere else entirely."
Shonith La raised up the Stone and read aloud:
- "La manu tavero dan, biset nero laroman... la manu tavero dan, biset nero laroman..."
The Stone began to glow brighter. Blue rays of light tore away from its center, blinding the Keeper. He continued reading the spell:
- "La manu tavero dan, biset nero laroman... la manu tavero dan, biset nero laroman..."
The Lemurians continued the evacuation. Almost all of them had set out for the ark, there were only a few dozen people left on the square- Council members, and royal servants. Among them, Prince Doro had hidden himself. Yala and Yuma were completely swallowed up in helping people, and didn't notice the little runaway. Also there was Greta, still waiting for her husband to appear.
- "Faster, faster," cried Yuma, hurrying along the people who were tarrying, "carry others on your own vimanas if they cannot take off!"
- "Look! Look!” called out a child's voice.
Yuma turned around and saw Doro.
- "Doro! What are you doing here?!" She cried, throwing up her hands.
- "The flügs have arrived!" Cried Doro, glancing up at the sky.
Everyone turned to look at where the Prince was pointing. Over the far away bay, two black dots appeared.
- "
Everyone on their vimanas! It's beginning!" Shouted Councilor Rasha. When they realized that the evacuation drill was a trick, the Lemurians began to panic. People darted around the square. Some tried to fly, but many of the vimanas wouldn't take off.
- "You won't manage," called out a voice drowning out the cries. Your vimanas move too slowly. The flügs will catch you in midair," came the voice again, belonging to the Black Princess, who had been not too far away, watching the commotion with a smile on her lips.
- "She's right," said Yala. - "Everyone in the Palace! The walls of the palace will save us from the fiery balls.”
The people, in a panic, threw their things and vimanas down and ran towards the castle. Yuma, grabbing Doro by the arm, dragged him behind her. Guria ran behind. Yala came last, supporting the pregnant Greta. The terrifying hum of the machines in the sky grew stronger. The flying ships of the sorcerers came closer.
Shonith La read the spell. The Stone became even brighter. Suddenly, the Keeper stopped, feeling someone's gaze on his back. There came a hiss. He looked around to see that a huge cobra had crawled into the room. Shonith La froze. The cobra flared its hood and came closer to the circle on the floor. "The blood of the first, who comes into the Sanctuary..." passed through Shonith La's head.
Overpowered by fear, he bent down to take the small knife from the floor. And suddenly, a terrifying explosion shook the Sanctuary. Sparks lit up the room. Shonith La threw himself to the window and saw flügs bombing the City of the Sun. Just then the cobra bit the Keeper. He clutched at his leg. He knew he didn't have much time left, so Shonith La threw himself at the snake with his knife. Blood spurted. Shonith La hurried, growing paler with every second. He ripped off a piece of his robe and raised his legs higher than the bite. He grabbed the dead cobra and dripped its brown blood on the Stone. The Chintamani held its shade.
Huge flaming balls were burning everything around. The fairy-tale houses of the Lemurians went ablaze. The gardens caught fire. Everything became shrouded in smoke. There came a deafening explosion, the fiery shells ripped through the castle walls. People fell, wounded by shards of stone. Others darted around the garden, trying to rip off their burning clothes, screaming piercingly. A few people were trapped in a ring of burning earth and trees. The flames got closer, and the five Lemurians helplessly waited for death. Yuma, Doro, Yala, Guria and Greta had hidden themselves not far from the garden pond, behind a hill covered with chis bushes.
