“Okay, okay. But that still doesn’t tell me where he went. Did you tell him the bad news?”
“There was no bad news to divulge. Kepler’s mind has been altered, just as every being’s mind has been who doesn’t possess godly memories. Kepler believes he has always existed on this world, and he also believes this world has always been called Hell. Further, he thinks he has traveled with you for many seasons, and you’re friends. The jaguar has no knowledge of the other worlds, nor does he remember George and the family he left behind.”
The ex-King of Brandor pondered for a moment. “I wonder if he thinks we’re nomads since we don’t have a place to call home.”
The sword’s blade pulsated as it responded. “I’m unsure, Sam. I was unable to clarify the demon’s mind. Perhaps you’ll need to investigate, but he did speak of a stronghold.”
“Stronghold? What kind of stronghold?”
“I don’t know. You’ll need to search for that answer.”
“So, where’s Kepler now?”
“The jaguar is searching for the containers you said were on the manifest inside the dock foreman’s office.”
“Jehonas’ office? You mean the containers filled with criminals? How did he remember that if his mind has been altered?”
“He didn’t. I spoke of it. I told him you wanted the documents found.”
“Ahhh. But doesn’t Kepler have questions as to why he’s suddenly searching for containers filled with criminals on the Merchant Island of Hell?”
“No. In his mind, a logical chain of events have transpired that brought the two of you to the island. Kepler knows the topography of the mainland. He speaks of it as if the two of you have explored every speck of dust.”
Sam ran his hands through his hair and then pulled on the beard he had grown while sitting in stasis. “Okay, okay. This has to be the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me.” He took a moment to look at the mess lying on the ground around him. “Does he also think that I just leave food lying on the ground, and that I sleep anywhere I want to?”
“I don’t know, Sam. I do know, he doesn’t know stasis has occurred.”
Sam took a moment to rub the back of his neck. “So in Kepler’s mind, no moments have been lost. He and I have known each other for how long?”
A short period of silence passed before Kael responded. “I don’t know. You’ll have to figure out a way to explore the length of your relationship without letting the cat know it never existed. Who knows how the demon would react if he were to discover the existence of a different reality.”
“Hmmm. Do you think he would become violent?”
“Perhaps. Considering the strength of Kepler’s magic, it wouldn’t be wise to make him angry or create distrust.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Wow! The gods really love to screw with things, don’t they?”
“Indeed. While you slept, I took the moments to instill fear in the jaguar. The cat believes it’s wise for you to surround yourselves with an army, no matter how depraved they might be. It is for this reason he searches for the containers.”
“Really? What did you say to him that made him feel like that?”
“I told him the truth. I told him that there are beings who are damned, and that they are migrating toward the mainland. I told him that you will need to prepare for their arrival. The demon knows a miserable existence is approaching, but the cat is also searching for the criminals for reasons of his own … reasons he believes he shares with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“That was unclear when we spoke. He said something about adding to the army that protects your stronghold.”
“What stronghold?”
“Again, I’m unsure about that. I didn’t want to dig for answers. I was concerned about Kepler’s state of mind.”
“How did Kepler respond to the concept of a bunch of damned souls migrating to the mainland?”
Kael searched for a response. “I suppose he responded just as you did after you awoke from the effects of Yaloom’s potion. It took Kepler a moment to accept that change was coming, but he doesn’t seem to fear it. He believes his magic, your strength, and the dejected you plan to command will be enough to protect you.”
Hearing Yaloom’s name, Sam lifted his hand and stared at his palm. “Something inside me is changing. I can feel it. I feel stronger ... like I have energy I’ve never had before.”
“That’s good, Sam. You’re much easier to talk to on this Peak than you were when last we spoke.”
Sam’s brow furrowed. “I don’t remember much of that conversation. I was out of it. I’ve never been knocked out like that before.”
Kael hesitated as he searched for a response. “Perhaps Yaloom’s potion caused your mind to cloud.”
Shrugging, Sam changed the subject. “Then Kepler just accepted that, all of a sudden, there’s a bunch of damned souls who are going to migrate toward the mainland.” The king paused. “Why would Lasidious tell you all of this while I was sleeping and not tell me himself? This sounds even more farfetched than when I showed up on Grayham.”
“How am I to know Lasidious’ reasons, Sam? Perhaps the gods are busy, and he did not have the moments to wait for you to wake.”
Sam stared at the blade. “How can I trust you after what you did to me?”
The pulse of Kael’s blade went from a soft white to a shallow red. “I’ve already apologized for my side of the argument, Sam. I have no desire to alienate you. Lasidious told me about the damned and that you need to prepare for their arrival. He also said to tell you that the moment is nearly upon us for you to know everything.”
Sam shook his head. “What does that mean?”
“It means, you will be a powerful being, but I can’t say more.”
“Hmpf!” the king grumbled. “Isn’t it bad enough that I know an archangel knocked my wife up? What else can Lasidious divulge?”
Kael laughed at Sam’s candor. The pulse of his blade matched the cadence of his chuckle. “Oh, Sam, as soon as I receive confirmation that your mind is capable of handling what you need to know, the power that’s going to fill your being will be enough to fuel this world twice over. I long for the Peak when I’ll be able to hang from the hip of your true self.”
Sam smirked. “I already am my true self, but you keep saying I’m not. I hate the fact that you won’t explain why.”
Kael changed the subject. “Kepler went north.”
Shaking his head, Sam looked to the sky and frowned. “How did he know which way was north? Do you think the sun…?” The king paused as he looked at one of the two visible moons. Its surface was blood red. “Do you think the sun still rises in the east?”
Kael’s blade pulsated as the weapon chuckled again. “I would assume the jaguar’s memories of this world are correct since the gods are the ones who molded them.” The blade rose in the air and pointed its tip in a direction that matched Kepler’s path of travel. “The cat went that way.”
Sam looked at the sun and then in the direction the blade was pointing. “Did the sun rise to my right?”
“Yes.”
“Then north it is. Let’s go find him.” Sam reached down and grabbed a few pieces of fruit that Lasidious had left behind when stasis began. After a fair series of moments, Sam found Kepler breaking into an extremely large container that had been stacked on top of three others that matched its size.
“Good afternoon, Kepler!” Sam shouted as he watched the cat reach over the side of the container to swipe at the first lock.
The hasp the lock was attached to broke with ease. “Good afternoon, Sam! Did you sleep well? I didn’t want to bother you.”
“I did, thank you.” Sam studied the length and sheer size of the containers. They were massive. “What’s inside them all?”
Kepler placed his back paw on top of four pieces of parchment that he had dropped on top of the container and then slid them over the side. “Take a look for yourself. They are filled with
undesirables. We should be able to add to our army.”
Sam lifted Kael to his mouth. “How should I respond? I don’t know what army he’s talking about.”
“Just go with it, Sam,” the blade responded. “Knowledge will come.”
The king reached down and snatched the papers off the ground. In each container, there was a large number of beings comprised of various races. The first container had 23 giant cats, 16 of Seth’s serpent subjects, 43 bears, 71 Minotaur, 96 humans, and 1 gray unicorn. Sam smiled. “This container must be from Grayham!” he shouted.
Before Kael could remind Sam to watch his words, Kepler looked over the side of the container. “What’s Grayham?”
An awkward period of moments passed before Sam shrugged. “I meant mayhem! This container looks like it’s from a place filled with mayhem!”
Kepler sat on his haunches, licked the back of his paw and started to clean his ears. “That’s was an odd thing to say!”
Sam returned a nervous grin. “You know me, Mr. Odd!” Walking around the side of the container, he looked up at the final lock that remained secure on the door of the top container. “Before you open it, we should figure out a plan. These other containers are filled with some pretty powerful beings.”
Kael lifted from his sheath and hovered to a position not far in front of Sam. The blade was about to give the king a word of warning, but before he could, someone began to pound on the walls inside the top container. The being’s shouts were muffled.
A moment later, pounding from the inside of the other containers could be heard. It was not long before all four sounded like a Hell of their own with fists, claws and horns bashing against the walls.
Sam looked down and scanned the manifests of the other containers. The second container had 17 elves, 6 halflings, 1 spirit, 2 sprites, and 11 kedgles. The third container had 86 dwarves, 133 trolls, and 67 lizardians while the fourth container had 72 browncoated centaurs, 63 blackcoated centaurs, 2 humans, 4 elves, 6 wood elves, 1 spirit, and 1 red demon.
Sam’s brows furrowed as he whispered to Kael, “Considering the races inside each, I’d wager the second crate came from Luvelles, the third from Trollcom, and the fourth must’ve come from Harvestom. But why would elves, wood elves, a spirit and a demon be shipped from that world? I wonder if they were students of the High Priestess and committed a crime? I wonder if the demon was returning home.”
Kael’s response was immediate. “Before you open the containers, you should protect yourself from the elements. Also, the trolls’ blood is acidic, and as you know, the snakes’ bites are venomous. Some of the beings in the containers wield powerful magic, so you should be ready.”
Lifting the blade to his mouth, Sam spoke the words of power necessary to receive these benefits. He further extended their protection to encompass an area 15 paces around him. He then looked up at Kepler. “Are you ready?”
Kepler scratched at the top of the container, his claws sounding as if they were scraping across a chalkboard. “They sound hungry! The container behind you is filled with slaughtered corgans! Perhaps you should scatter the meat across the ground and then let them out! You can establish order as they consume!”
The king pondered Kepler’s plan. “What if we can’t control them all?”
The demon-jaguar jumped down from the top of the crate. “Then you’ll challenge the strongest to a duel as you always do and then slay the being that accepts the challenge. Demonstrate your prowess, and the problem will be solved.”
Sam looked down at the manifests and did a quick calculation. “Holy garesh, there are 721 beings inside these containers.”
Walking toward the crate filled with corgan meat, Kepler looked over his shoulder. “On how many occasions have we slain more than that? Why are you acting so strangely? We’ve faced these odds on a thousand occasions.”
Without responding, Sam put Kael to his mouth and whispered, “Let me guess, Lasidious was the one who told him that. I must be a mighty being in the cat’s mind.” Sam smirked. “Just wait until he learns the truth. I’ll be screwed when that happens.”
The pulsating of Kael’s blade matched the weapon’s chuckle. “Have faith, Sam. Let the dejected out of their crates and feed them. Take control of your apparent army and dominate this world. Hell is your kingdom now. You’re about to go from the King of Nothing to the King of Everything. I admire the strength you’ll come to know as your Peaks pass.”
Sam grabbed the top of his head and pulled at his hair. “Ugh! The King of Hell. Kael, you make me sound like Lucifer himself. Believe me, I’m no Lucifer.”
As soon as Sam finished his declaration, the blade started laughing hysterically.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh ... nothing. Forget that I’m here, and go about your business.”
The new King of Hell frowned. “Perhaps you should answer some more of my questions. I think it’s best if we’re on the same page.”
“Yes, it would be best,” the blade responded. “But as I’ve already stated, your mind isn’t ready for the truth.”
The king returned Kael to his sheath. “That’s B.S.”
Kepler swiped at the final lock on the crate filled with corgans. The hasp fell to the ground, the doors popped open, and a rush of freezing cold air poured out. “Perhaps you should start a number of fires. Many of the beings are like you. Some of them will want to cook their meat.” The cat cringed. “I can’t stand the thought of that.”
The pounding on the upper three crates continued as Sam created 10 fires, but the container nearest the ground became silent. “They must have tired themselves out,” Sam said as he hung the meat above the first fire. Once a side of beef was cooking above every flame, the king set out 10 piles of raw meat for those who would eat like the jaguar.
“Kepler, jump onto the top crate and finish opening it. Let’s let them out and establish order.”
As the demon leapt skyward, he responded, “With pleasure.”
After busting the final lock, Kepler pushed the doors open and peered inside. Each criminal had been placed in separate cells, and most of them were sitting in their own waste.
The giant cats were the closest to the doors. Kepler was about to use his power to break the locks on their cages when a thought occurred. He walked back to the side of the crate and looked down at Sam. “Why would these beings be in captivity? We have roamed the territories of the mainland since you were a baby, and never have we run across anything like this!” The demon looked out across the docks. “Why are these crates here? They feel out of place. None of this makes sense! How can we dominate lands we don’t truly know?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Sam reasoned. “We’ll get to know them soon enough! I’m sure there’s an explanation for the mess around here!”
Kepler snorted. “How could this be our first encounter with this island?”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. But as our moments pass, the answer will be revealed, don’t you think?”
The king retrieved Kael from his sheath and lifted the blade to his mouth. “I need your help,” he whispered. “How should I respond to all these questions. Lasidious must have done some serious tweaking in his mind.”
“I don’t know what to say, Sam, but you should tread lightly. It appears the gods have failed to account for every question that could arise. Regarding the crates: on the other worlds, Kepler’s questions would’ve been easily answered. However, on Hell, this island shouldn’t exist. Nor should the crates be here since the Merchant Angels no longer service this world. Perhaps the gods didn’t feel the need to correct this oversight. After all, confusion can be its own version of Hell.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Leave it to the gods to screw with things … morons who torture their creations.” Sam shouted back up to Kepler, “Why don’t we ask the beings inside why they’re in the crates? This whole place seems strange to me as well!”
Seemingly pacified by Sam’s response, Kepler returned to the o
pening, peered back into the container and then addressed the beings inside after he cleared his throat. “May I have your attention? I am the Master of the Hunt…”
Sam put Kael to his mouth. “Well ... at least the gods left Kepler with his self-esteem.”
Kepler continued. “…my partner, who is standing on the ground, is your new king. We are your masters. You will do as you’re told, or you’ll perish. Are there any questions?”
For those beings who chose to challenge Kepler’s authority, the demon-jaguar used his magic against them. And since they were from Grayham, they did not possess the power to fight against him. Their bones broke beneath their skin, their bellies ripped open and they folded inside-out while Kepler allowed the others who had remained quiet to watch. As the blood flowed beyond the opening, it poured down the doors of the crates below and pooled at the bottom.
For the remaining 19 cats, 11 serpents, 30 bears, 51 Minotaur, 56 humans, and 1 gray unicorn, Kepler opened their doors and allowed them to make their way out.
In total, the blood of 81 beings had created the pool. It splashed beneath the criminals’ feet, coils, paws and hooves as they climbed down and landed on the ground.
Sam lifted Kael, commanded the blade’s flame and then pointed Kael’s tip toward the food. “Make yourselves at home. Eat until you’re full. You will address me as ... My King.”
After seeing the display of Kepler’s power, no one dared object.
Sam looked down at the manifests. He knew the demon-jaguar commanded power stronger than most every being on Luvelles. “Kepler! Open the second crate! Your power should work on them as well!”
When Kepler responded, he used telepathy to project his thoughts into Sam’s mind. “I’ve never heard of some of the beings on those manifests before. I look forward to seeing what they look like.”
As Sam stood in silence processing Kepler’s form of communication, the jaguar jumped to the ground. “Are you okay, Sam? You look confused.”
The king returned a halfhearted grin. “I’m okay. I was just thinking, that’s all. Let’s just get the locks off the next crate.”
The Tear of Gramal Page 41
