by Andrew Gates
“They are just waiting for my signal. It is a formality in my culture,” Ikharus explained.
“I see,” Sullo replied.
“You have a translator chip installed in your brain, I see,” Ikharus said, motioning to Sullo.
“In fact, I do not. Few of us here are endowed with such technology. I speak your language the same way you speak to me now.”
Ikharus was impressed. There were few Kholvari who spoke Sorrevahni. Yet here was the first Sorrevahni he had met, already fluent in the Kholvari language. He wondered if this was common here.
The sound of footsteps clanging against metal came to a stop behind him. Ikharus turned around to find those aboard the ship frozen in place along the ramp. Both Kholvari and evolved-ones alike stood calmly and respectfully, waiting for the time to move.
“I have come to speak with the Empire. I have a message to share,” Ikharus said, turning to face the envoy again. “Is there somewhere we may meet?”
“You are to meet with Soh Sylus,” Sullo explained. “He is a representative for the Emperor himself. He is waiting for you down below, where it is warmer.”
“I would very much like to meet him,” Ikharus replied.
“He requests that you bring only three of your company with you,” Sullo continued.
“Of course. I will abide by his every wish,” Ikharus said, nodding. He turned around and assessed the group behind him. Saratti was an obvious choice to go, since he was one of the Sorrevahni. Ukhrani was the next most obvious choice, seeing as she was fluent in their language. But who would be the third?
Ikharus pointed to the members of his party one by one.
“Soh Saratti, Kal Ukhrani, Kal Flokh,” he said, “come with me.”
The shocked expression across Flokh’s face showed that she did not expect to have been chosen. Ikharus could understand her confusion. Flokh may not have been a high-ranking officer or a soldier, but for his own sake, Ikharus felt more comfortable with her by his side.
The three he had chosen moved their way forward, then stepped onto the cave floor and stood by Ikharus’s side.
Sullo nodded kindly to Saratti and Saratti nodded back. He said something to him in the Sorrevahni tongue, then they both smiled. Ikharus wondered what they must have said.
“Very well,” Sullo finally said in words Ikharus could understand. “Now, if you will follow me.”
Sullo held out his claw and the evolved-one promptly handed him the wooden stick she had been holding. The envoy spun around and walked forward, using the rod as a walking stick as he moved through the cave. Meanwhile the evolved-one stuck by his side.
Flokh gripped Ikharus’s arm as they began walking forward through the cave.
They passed by the half-circle of onlookers and continued onward as the cave began to narrow. They followed the line of lights connected to wires and cords that seemed to run down deeper and deeper into the cave. As the walls narrowed around them, the slope grew steeper. Ikharus realized he was bracing himself against Flokh a few times as he almost lost his footing as the ground angled down.
With each step, the air around him also grew warmer. After a few minutes, Ikharus no longer even saw his own breath as it left his mandibles.
As he examined the world around him, the cave seemed to be natural at times, artificial at others. Some passages seemed carved by years of erosion and natural decay, while others were perfectly rounded as if they had been cut with massive drills. It was clear which passage ways were natural and which were not.
All the while, Sorrevahni and evolved-one onlookers beheld their guests. No matter the rank or role, all seemed to be garbed in the same wool coats.
“Why are there evolved-ones here?” Flokh finally asked, breaking the silence. She leaned in toward Ikharus and kept her voice low.
“I do not know. I am just as surprised to see them here,” he replied.
“There are so many. We must have passed half a dozen already.”
“More,” Ikharus replied.
He had been counting. Including the envoy’s servant, they had already passed 10.
At last, after a few more winding turns, the envoy and his evolved-one servant stopped before a closed door. Sullo nodded to Ikharus and stepped aside.
“This is where we part ways,” he explained, reaching out his claw and handing the wooden rod back to the evolved-one, who promptly accepted it.
“Thank you, Soh Sullo,” Ikharus replied, bowing.
He then turned to face the door and stood before it as the door slowly began to rise. Ikharus took another deep breath, then stepped forward as the door opened fully.
The doorway led to a small circular room, illuminated by a bright blue ball overhead. A round table stood at the center, with seats of ice carved into the walls around the table.
Three Sorrevahni stood on the opposite end of the room, as if they had been waiting for Ikharus to arrive. The one in the center was more ornately dressed than the others. He still wore a coat of wool, but atop his head rested a crown of antlers, as if taken from a buck. Long eagle feathers decorated his claws and feet. On either side of this Sorrevahni were two females, each wielding swords adorned to their hips.
Ikharus and the others bowed as the door closed shut behind him.
“Please, you may rise,” ordered the ornately dressed Sorrevahni in the center.
Ikharus rose, as did the others.
The ornately dressed Sorrevahni caught Saratti’s eyes and smiled.
“Soh Saratti!” he greeted, smiling.
He said something to the old shell and Saratti walked around the circular table to meet him. He bowed before his host, then responded in heavy words of appreciation. By the way they spoke, it seemed as if they’d known each other for a long time. Ikharus wondered if they had been friends.
“Thank you for returning Soh Saratti to us. We believed him dead, but it brings me great pleasure to see him alive and well. His is a most-valued member of my people,” the ornately dressed Sorrevahni said.
“You are welcome,” Ikharus replied. He took a small step forward. “You speak our language too. You are not using a translator chip either.”
“Very astute,” the Sorrevahni replied.
“I am Kho Ikharus, Supreme Chieftain of the Kholvari Chiefdom. I was told you are a representative for the Emperor.”
“I am called many things, but you shall call me Soh Sylus.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Soh Sylus.” Ikharus turned and motioned to his company. “This is Kal Flokh and Kal Ukhrani.” They each bowed as he said their names. “We have come to discuss an alliance with the Empire.”
“An alliance? That is heavy talk,” Sylus said with an exhale. “If we are to discuss such matters, we should make ourselves comfortable.” He motioned to the seats of ice around the room. “Please, sit. I assure you, it is warmer than it appears.”
Ikharus nodded, then found a seat. He had to admit, it was not cold as he expected.
“Sahl Merroshi!” Sylus called out, still standing.
An evolved-one suddenly entered the room, carrying a tray full of horns of liquid. Ikharus could not tell what was inside the horns, but he could tell from the steam that emanated from them that it was hot.
The evolved-one walked around the room, distributing the horns to everyone seated. The Sorrevahni were served first, then the Kholvari. When the tray finally came to him, Ikharus placed his scepter down and accepted a portion. He kindly smiled back to the evolved-one. After that, she left the room and the door closed behind her.
11 evolved-ones now, he thought to himself, still keeping count.
The warm drink in his claw smelled like hard liquor. Ikharus brought his nose close, then tried his best not to grimace at the scent.
“Sooti,” Sylus said. “You will find that we are very fond of it here.” Then without wasting a second, Sylus knocked the horn back and gulped down the warm drink all at once.
Ikharus watched in shock, surprised that Sy
lus had not burned his mandibles in the process. He turned his gaze to the drink, then carefully sipped it. Sure enough, the alcohol was powerful. It already helped to warm him up in more ways than one.
“I can see you are not accustomed to this drink,” Sylus noted. “Even young Sorrevahni take time to learn. Know that in time, drinking sooti will come as naturally as drinking water.”
Flokh practically spat out her first sip but did her best to hide her disgust.
“I have never consumed sooti before,” Ikharus admitted. He lowered the horn. “But in time, I suppose I could learn to appreciate it.”
“If it is time you seek, then you may have it. Feel free to stay here as long as you would like,” Sylus responded.
“That is kind of you to say, Soh Sylus, and your offer is greatly appreciated, but as you likely know, time is something we can no longer afford to waste,” Ikharus replied, leaning forward.
“Already discussing business,” Sylus said, grinning. “I heard that Kholvari are prompt at getting to the point. Not ones for dialog, are you?”
“Perhaps another time, but in this dire hour, we cannot afford to delay.”
“Very well,” Sylus said, lowering the horn to the seat of ice. The warm horn quickly burned a hole in the ice, melting a perfect shape to hold it in place. He set it inside the seat and it remained in that position. “You want to talk, then let us talk.”
Ikharus took another small sip of the warm drink, then placed his own horn inside the ice, fascinated that it held in place without melting away anymore ice than needed.
“I am sure you know what I have come to talk about,” Ikharus said, looking back up to Sylus.
“You mentioned something earlier about an alliance.”
“Yes, an alliance,” Ikharus confirmed. He cleared his throat. “As you well know, the Hive has come to Earth and has overwhelmed our defenses. Space beyond our atmosphere is lost to us. In Kholvaria, entire metropolises have been destroyed in a matter of minutes. I am sure Sorreveous has sustained similar assaults.”
“My people are not city-dwellers like yours,” Sylus said, “but we have sustained losses.”
“Then you know how powerful the Hive is. You know that the best way to defeat this enemy is to work together. We need to pull our resources against this enemy.”
“Pulling resources? That is an amusing proposition. I find it strange that this request should come from the Chiefdom who destroyed its greatest weapon of all, Vigilant Behemoth. You talk of making use of resources, but meanwhile you squander your own. I fail to understand why, after destroying your greatest weapon, you wonder why the Hive defeated our orbital defenses so easily? I do not doubt that if Vigilant Behemoth had been present in the conflict, that the Hive’s victory in space would not have been so easily ensured.”
“My people did not destroy Vigilant Behemoth. We would never do that to ourselves. The Behemoth’s destruction is a long and complicated tale, one which I have not the time to go into, not while the Hive remains a threat.”
Sylus grinned again. He turned to the females on either side, prompting them to grin too. Then he faced Ikharus again and let out a laugh.
“You continue to mention the Hive as if you know them well. Ha! A Kholvari speaking of the Hive. By the Creator, I never thought I would see the day,” he laughed.
“I know my people have ignored the truth for too long,” Ikharus admitted, “but I see now that I was wrong to do so. The Hive is real. I know this now.”
“Indeed, the Hive is real,” Sylus replied, “and your people were fools for believing otherwise.”
“Yes, yes, I understand,” Ikharus said.
“And now you come begging for help like nymphs who neglected to listen to their parents,” Sylus responded.
“I suppose you could view it that way,” Ikharus admitted. “But that does not make our pleas for help any less significant.”
Sylus shifted across his seat.
“No, I suppose it does not. Still, this fact does not pose an answer to my most pertinent question.”
“And what is that?”
“Why should the Emperor help you?”
“Because I can beat the Hive. I have a plan, but this plan will not work without the Emperor’s help.”
“A plan!” Sylus opened his eyes sarcastically wide and leaned forward, faking interest. He turned to the females on either side again. “By the Creator, he has a plan.”
“This is no joke!” Ikharus bellowed. He slammed his claw against the ice, causing a chunk to break off. “I came here to have an honest discussion, not to be taunted!”
“And you have come to our domain! You are my visitor here, Kho Ikharus, Supreme Chieftain of the Kholvari. While here, you are bound to our laws, our customs, our principles, and if I wish to taunt you, then taunt you I may.”
Ikharus sighed and looked down to the floor. Sylus was right. He felt ashamed for his outburst. It was not like him to do that.
“I apologize,” he said.
Sylus was silent for a few moments, but then stood.
“I accept your apology, Kho Ikharus,” he said.
Ikharus looked back up to face his host.
“It was not right of me to say what I said.”
“No, it was,” Sylus debated.
“It was?”
“I am not upset at you, far from it. I simply jest. My behavior was uncharacteristic of me. You see, it was an act. It is cruel to trick you so, I know. In truth, I was merely testing your resolve. I was worried you were a leader in name only, that the crown atop your head was bigger than the heart in your chest, but your actions say otherwise. It is clear to me that your priorities are in order. I trust you, Kho Ikharus.”
A test. He was testing me this whole time.
“I am glad you see it that way,” Ikharus said. “Know that if I cared for my throne more than I cared for my people, I would not be here right now.”
Sylus nodded and sat back down.
“I can see you are still tense. I assure you, there is no need to be. Perhaps you should take another sip of sooti. It will calm your nerves.”
Ikharus nodded and did as his host suggested, taking another sip of the strong, warm beverage before placing it back down into its melted holster inside the seat. He had to admit, it was slightly more tolerable this time.
He watched as his companions Flokh and Ukhrani did the same, then melted their own horns into the seats.
“Does the Emperor know you toy with his guests the way you do?”
“He does,” Sylus confirmed.
“Then he must trust you.”
“He does.” Sylus nodded.
The representative sighed and removed the antlers from atop his head and placed the crown on the circular table before him. He ran his claws across his now exposed head and leaned back.
“You speak of your Chiefdom and the devastation that your people have endured,” Sylus began. There was a somber tone to his voice now. “I regret to say the Empire has not fared any better. The situation is just as bad here in Sorreveous. Few remain. Most of the population has been eradicated.”
“I am sorry to hear,” Ikharus said.
“If you have a plan to stop the Hive, I will hear it.”
“I do,” Ikharus confirmed, leaning forward in his seat. Whatever nerves he felt moments ago were quickly expunged as a sense of confidence coursed through him now. “There is an evolved-one among my company who carries with him a powerful weapon, a vial containing a chemical that has the power to transform an intelligent creature into a mindless savage. It is with this weapon with which that we can destroy the Hive once and for all. If we can infect the queen with this chemical, the Hive’s mind will crumble and the drones will exist aimlessly without orders.”
“A secret chemical that destroys minds? I must say, the concept sounds appealing, but I find all of this so very hard to believe,” Sylus responded.
“I understand that. I did not believe it at first either.”
<
br /> “But you have seen this chemical in action, I take it?” Sylus asked.
“No, actually, not yet. But I have seen the creatures this chemical was able to produce. This weapon turned evolved-ones into mindless mutants.”
Sylus looked to his two guards with a look of confusion across his face, then back to Ikharus.
“You have used that word twice now. Tell me, Kho Ikharus, what is an evolved-one?”
“The… the humans, sorry. I forget their proper name sometimes.”
“Humans? I do not know this word either.”
“You know of what I speak. The creatures that wander these very caverns and serve you drinks and carry your things.”
“Ah, you speak of the ren lei. That is what we call them here, for that is what they called themselves when they first appeared on our shores generations ago.”
Ikharus took a moment to process that information.
“The humans, or ren lei, appeared on your continent generations ago?” Ikharus asked in disbelief.
“They did,” Sylus responded, nodding. “I forget how long our people have been separate. There is still so much of our history that you do not know.”
“Where did they come from?”
“From their underwater world. I assume the same can be said of your ren lei,” Sylus responded.
“Yes, ours came from the ocean as well. But I never knew there were more of them. My people only learned of them months ago. The discovery of their kind set in motion a series of tragic events that have crippled our Chiefdom. It is the main reason Vigilant Behemoth was not there to protect us.”
“There are many here. At first the ren lei were isolated on a single remote island. It was planet-cycles before the Sorrevahni found them there. You can imagine, we were shocked to discover them. When our people finally did meet, the ren lei were quick to assimilate into our world. They had formed a colony, but had no technology, no medicine, no formal structure. We provided those things for them and we have lived together ever since.”
“Fascinating,” Ikharus said, imagining what that must have been like. In that moment, Ikharus suddenly recalled a conversation between him and Kal Khtallia months before her death. She had revealed similar information to him then about the evolved-ones settling in Sorreveous. The stories matched up. How could I have forgotten?
