Billy really didn't want to attract any attention. So far they were alone in the hallway and this was taking way too much time.
“How far is the… torture room…umm… dungeon?” He said not being sure what the proper name was.
"Not far," my Lord one said
"Ok. Ok," he said, "let's go."
So they set off. He was so full of misgivings he could barely stop himself from shaking as they went down the hall. He would have preferred a back alley or something but the halls were surprisingly empty. And he was already regretting leaving the other guard behind. God knows what he was going to do. Probably run to get someone to stop Him.
“Where is everyone?” he asked the guard.
“We are all preparing for the ceremony my lord.”
“Tell me a little about it.”
“Perhaps my lord should wait for the lord king to return I am ill-fitted to explain.”
“Explain anyway,” Billy said, “just give me the highlights.”
“Highlights?”
"Yeah, just the overview, not the details."
"I only know my Lord there will be a sacrifice to the gods and there is a secret ceremony to do with yourself and the staff you bare and it will hail the new age of Agdoman."
“ I keep hearing that name who is Agdoman?”
"He is a great wizard, my lord."
Just then they came to a stairway and a small wooden door made of metal and planks of what appeared to be oak. Very hard to get through and it had a dungeoney look to it.
“This is it?” he said.
“Yes my lord.”
“You stay here and guard it I will go inside and deal with these creatures.”
“But my lord.”
Billy gave him his best dirty look.
The guard stood straight.
Billy shoved the door open and stepped into what was obviously a dungeon. There were racks hanging everywhere and chains there was defecation and the rats ran around liked they owned the place.
“Billy.” someone said in a tone of relief.
They were all there tied to the walls except Brother Dog “Where’s Brother Dog?” he said as he untied Zhoulin. “He is here,” she said, looking at a box in the corner. Billy hurriedly finished and as she went to untie Uncle who looked like he had been beaten pretty badly. Billy went to the box.
Sure enough, Brother Dog was there, and he growled as Billy approached.
“What you growling at me for?”
"I hate humans," was the reply. "I hate this filthy planet! I swear to Assis when this is all over I will bring our fleet and blast this cursed planet into dust particles!"
Billy found a metal bar and used it to pry a board from the box Brother Dog was trapped in.
“I am sorry. Really I didn’t know what else to do,” He said, as Brother Dog pulled himself out of the box he was filthy, his fur coat matted and bloody.
“We have to hurry,” Billy said. He went over to help Zhoulin and they lowered Uncle to the floor they found water near the door and though it was tepid and dirty they all drank deeply
“We have no time,” he said. “There is a ceremony and I think I am the main guy so we gotta move. Really.”
“We need weapons,” Brother Dog said tacitly, and a plan.
“A plan for what?” A voice said from the doorway as Nabopolassar stepped through, with guards and a familiar looking wizard.
“Damn it!” Billy said under his breath “I knew it was too easy.” Then he looked at the wizard. “And you! I know you!”
“Indeed.” said the wizard “but I have learned much. The legend said the boy travels with demons. You came at different times, we needed to find if this was truly you or not. We could get nothing out of these …creatures,” he said, with a note of disgust, “but here you are coming to the rescue. You are very predictable my young friend.”
“But the people out there think I am a God!” Billy said. “How will you explain to them if you hurt me?”
"It matters not, truly the event will take place, and it is unstoppable. And that crowd knows what they are told. At best they are already deep in their cups. They will believe what I tell them, It is being announced even now that you were secretly conspiring with this lot and were caught freeing them. You will be lucky if they don't tear you to pieces. Aha,ha,ha. I do love humanity," he laughed. "So inherently evil all of you really. In any event, soon it will matter little what any of you puny people know. Soon this world will end and a new begin."
"What are you speaking of?" Uncle blurted out "what are you all talking about? This great event. How can this boy be part of it, if he doesn't even know what it is? Whatever you are doing things always go back to the way they were. Perhaps you can change things for a little while but in the end. The sun will shine birds will sing it is all pointless! Not this time my old friend and know it or not you have still a role to play in this event oh you will be so surprised. And I assure you. This time nothing will go back as it was…ever and as to birds and flowers, you have heard and smelled your last old man they will be no more. but I digress our young friend does know more than he thinks he does." the wizard laughed, "because I explained it to him in another time and place."
“Oh my god! It’s you!” Billy blurted out. “You're the same damn wizard from China! How the hell did you get here?” Guards had surrounded them and were busily tying all of their hands apparently they were going somewhere. A guard stepped up and grabbed the staff from his hand unceremoniously and handed it to the king. He hefted it a moment.
“Do you truly not know where you are? My young friend this is the city of Babylon! The king laughed.
"Yeah I got that," Billy said sarcastically. "So what? The Tower of Babel. Its ancient history we know what happens here. I don't understand, what have I got to do with this? You people are crazy. I won't help you."
“But you already have,” the king laughed. “You have brought the lost staff of Agdoman and your friends brought the Jade staff. Bringing these things together, the impossible and the impossible.”
“What are you talking about?” Billy protested. “I didn't do any such thing!”
“Indeed you did. Here is a tale, once many millennia ago there was a battle between Lord Satan who wielded the Jade Scepter with which he ruled. He and hell walked on the lands and millions perished in pain and suffering with his passing. He and your God did battle and the battle was so intense millions died your God created a stone of such power to fight the power of the Scepter. It was called the Jewel of Nirune with it, he sucked the very power from the elements and defeated the Jade Scepter and cast the demons into the void. The Jade Scepter was empty and lost. The Jewel of Nirune was banished to another time and land and none could enter from that time and place none could touch it or wield it. Except, the story that some guileless soul would come in innocence and take up the staff of the very jewel and with it he would rule with an iron fist, and even Satan would tremble at his coming. The boy emperor would be wounded by a demon and very nearly die but a friendly demon would save him. It is said the boy would carry a wound of great power. And the boy would, the lost jewel through the rift and defeat the one and powerful God!"
Billy stood there in shock “I won’t!” he said. “You’re all nuts you think I am going to help you fight God?”
“Will or won’t, you have no choice. If you refuse your friends will die. And it does not really require you to agree just need you to stand still. As to defeating your god, it isn't really my intention.”
"I don't understand," Billy said. "Why are you doing this what can you gain it’s crazy! You can't beat God! I mean he is God and why would you anyway? And this is the Tower of Babbal?
Well God already brought it down. The Bible said it. So this is just crazy. It’s already been written. You think he couldn’t bring it down again?”
"You are correct, young man, but the first time we didn't have you did we? It appears that that which could not be changed has already been chan
ged. We have brought you here and the stones that were lost are found. Come! The time is near and we will need all our strength in the final battle."
“I won’t fight for you!”
“Ah, we will see.”
With that they were shoved out into the hall by the guards, Brother Dog was shoved to the ground and forced to walk on all fours. He was kicked several times Billy just wanted to kill someone.
King Nabopolassar was now carrying the staff he had inadvertently rescued from Sanxingdui. Uncle’s staff was being carried ceremoniously by the wizard. Zhoulin and Uncle were close enough to him as they were shoved along the dim hall.
“I don't understand what is going on.” she said in a whisper “what is this place? What god are they talking about?”
“Well,” Billy. “Have you heard of the bible? Well, it is the book of our God and it tells us many stories about how he made the world. Well according to it these people built a tower to reach heaven. It’s kind of unclear on exactly why they were building this tower. But whatever reason it made god angry, no end! So he destroyed the tower and scattered the people. I always thought it was kind of odd because how could anyone build a tower high enough to reach heaven. Seemed ridiculous that God would even bother with such a silly thing. But I guess they were up to more than just trying to pay God a visit.”
“So how does that involve us?”
“Well apparently God and Satan had a bit of a battle and God cast him to the earth and he has been trying to get back ever since. And I guess that explains the tower.”
"So this Satan character is very powerful. You said he challenged your God and he still lives. Why would that be" Zhoulin said, "Why wouldn't your god just kill him?"
Billy thought a moment "Yeah I have been hearing the stories all my life so it never really occurred to me to question any of it but yeah. Well, I think Satan got jealous of Adam or something as Adam was the first man. God had a special bond with Adam. Anyway, Satan was God's, right-hand man. Until Adam came along anyway. He was the most powerful angel in heaven and controlled all the millions of angels and servants of God. In the end, God cast Satan to the earth. But to answer your question. Satan challenged God. So God then had to prove Satan wrong so he couldn't just kill him coz all the angels were watching he had to accept the challenge I guess. But I just don't know where these Jewels come in though. I never heard of them."
“Ah, that was an interesting interpretation,” The king who had been listening said. “Most people don't have any understanding of the dynamics of heaven and hell. Yes and your bible only skitters across the surface of a long unending story! It conveniently leaves out such things as the how and why. But I can enlighten you a little. The jewels are focus stones used to enhance magic strength.
The green one that your magician won in his battle with the wizard Lijiang was created in the very beginning of time as you know it. It is the essence of the very nature itself and carries the power that it holds. In the long battle for the domination, it is a very powerful weapon indeed and the other, in the infancy of time itself. From the very air itself when used properly it exudes pure power that can even challenge your God."
“Which one is this Jewel of Nirune then?” Billy said as they stepped out into the great Hall. People began to cheer and shout Billy was thrust out into the middle and the priests with the staffs.
Which one? The king laughed. "You will see. Ha-ha, you will see."
23 The Ceremony
B
illy and his friends were shoved unceremoniously into the room. The crowd of people was smaller, now they stepped back as he and his friends passed. There was a different feeling in the room. Now was gone the cheering and joy. Someone hissed as they passed by something was thrown from the crowd and barely missed Billy’s head. They reached the center where a monk was waiting he wore a white robe as another began to chant something about cleanliness being a need for the search for enlightenment.
Finally, they came to a door that let them out onto a sort of balcony or stairwell. All the splendor of the other rooms left behind, and in front a stark cold gray wall, leading upward a set of stairs into the bowels of the tower. They gasped at the sight of it.
Billy said, "I ain't going up that no way in hell!"
The stairs were constructed of squared logs set into the wall of the tower like pegs stuck into a board, each a little higher than the next making a series of steps from the rough-hewn logs. It wouldn't have been frightening except there was no balustrade or rail of any kind and there were big gaps between the logs.
The steps curled and spiraled upward along the walls as far up as the eye could see. Up into the dimly lit tower.
They were shoved and bullied, toward this unlikely stairway by the guards. It seemed there was a party going on now from the room they had just left. They could hear cheering and laughter as the door closed shut.
“What are they all so happy about?” Billy said.
“Why they are celebrating my good young man.” The wizard laughed “they think they will be having breakfast with the gods in the morning.” He laughed again. “Little do they know they will soon be slaves and concubines?"
They were shoved unceremoniously onto the stairs. Billy wasn't usually afraid of heights, but this was ridiculous. He tried to hug the wall as they began their ascent.
“Damn. Are you as scared as I am?” He asked Zhoulin, but the look on her face was answer enough. Before long they were at a dizzying height, the almost invisible floor far below.
You could see the floor getting farther away, disappearing into the darkness between the log steps. The higher they went the more fearful he became.
He tried to think of something else.
“Do you really think they are going to try to make us fight God?” he asked no one in particular, just to take his mind off.
“To which god do you refer?” An answer came from Uncle.
"What do you mean which God?" He said perplexed "there is only one."
“Really?” Brother Dog said “Are you certain of that. I have been to many worlds even this world has dozens of gods. Who is to say which is which?”
"Well according to my dear old granddaddy there is only one and if you don't believe exactly that, you are already well on your road to hell." I am from a Christian family and we only acknowledge one God.
“Interesting,” Uncle replied, I am not certain it matters anymore, but I am certain we will face some god shortly, and it will be very unpleasant, of this, I have no doubt."
“I don't know,” Billy said. “Something weird is going on here I never heard of any jewels being used in the Bible. Never!”
“So?” Brother Dog responded
“Well, you’d think if there was a battle between some kid in the future and GOD, someone would have noticed. And in the Tower of Babble? The most famous incident in history! Someone would have said something somewhere.”
"He might have a point." Brother Dogs voice came out of the now semi-darkness.
There was a sudden crash like someone had dropped several tons of something really heavy on the ground. The walls shook, there was a blinding flash.
Billy fell down on the step he was on and held onto the wall there was a dim rumbling above. He almost slipped through the gap in the stairs he scratched and clawed at the step until a guard reached down and pulled him to safety.
“God damn that was close!” he said shaking. “I’m not going another god damn step he shouted.” The guard stepped to within inches of his face. “Walk or I will carry you!” Just then there was another tremor. And there was a scream from the upper level. A man tumbled over the side and was lost into the abyss. The shaking was more constant now like some beast awakening from a long slumber shaking the very stone and mortar of the tower.
“Thunder,” someone said. They looked up and could see flashes above.
“I think we are getting close to the epicenter.” Brother Dog said “look.” Above them clouds were seeping in and out of w
hat could only be windows, lightning crawled across the sky like a living thing.
“Move!” a voice shouted at Billy. Rough hands pried him lose and shoved him up the stair his foot slipped and he almost went between the steps again, the hands dragged him up again and shoved him on his way.
"I am inclined to agree with you," Brother Dog said after a bit carrying on the conversation, "I think this event is out of its time. As you say there is no record of these crystals in your history. The King said it was a legend. From whom I wonder did this legend come?"
There was another crash and again the walls shook like... like someone striking a bell. They continued at a snail’s pace everyone intent on the unstable steps ahead. Another crash then there was some kind of dispute above them some yelling and a scream as someone tumbled off the upper stairs.
It was a bizarre scene as a man flashed past Billy screaming and clawing at the air. He was so close, as he fell that he almost caught Billy’s robe, a look of horror on his face.
Everything was silent for a moment then there was a thud as the man hit the floor below. Billy could see people above straining over the edge for a look. He didn't want to see and silently prayed those idiots above would move back from the edge. It was giving him the willies. "Stupid idiots." he thought "here one guy falls over and the others are all hanging over the same edge gawking at him, would serve them all right If they fell after him." That last he said out loud. He clumsily got to his feet again as the guard urged him higher.
“I don't think he fell,” Brother Dog said quietly.
“What do you mean? I saw him fall?”
“Yes, but I think he was pushed.”
There was a whisper in the air and something flew past.
There was an odd flicker from the group ahead. He could see them all pressed against the wall, the spiral was getting smaller as they neared the top. It seemed to be leaning into the center of the long shaft. It would so easy to just slide off.
"What was that?" Uncle said. Again something passed through the air above them as a greenish glow appeared for a moment and was gone..."Oh God, I've seen this before!" Billy said.
The Jewel of Nirune (The Sword of Time Book 1) Page 30
