by Derek Barton
Taihven continued to admire the Balshazra structures. The white rock was infused with glass-like crystal. The whole city floated like a gigantic lily pad on several connected circular platforms. No openings or doors were visible anywhere along its base. It was well-fortified and yet magnificent at the same time.
“Ready for Home?”
The prince nodded.
“Hold on strong. Take a deep breath.”
The beast’s body coiled behind them. Taihven could feel its powerful muscles tense and stiffen beneath his feet. Like a shot arrow, it leaped high into the air and plunged into the murky water. They rocketed through the water in a blur of bubbles. Akuem dove deeper and deeper. Taihven spotted a gigantic rock tube that went up into the Balshazra city. This was how they protected themselves. You could only enter the city from the water. The massive opening was lined inside with more lizards and patrols that circled the area in wide arcs.
Taihven’s breath was starting to run short. The length of the tube seemed to go on indefinitely. Akuem swam to an incline that ramped along the wall. When they broke the surface, the other Balshazra shot out of his mane and swam like tadpoles. He noticed that they grew in size as they slithered up the ramp. Akuem’s form, however, was shrinking. The weary Prince followed them to an immense room with a domed ceiling. In two opposite corners, grooved support poles came down from another floor above them. The white stone room was bright with natural sunlight from overhead skylights.
“We will have quarters prepared for you to nest and eat. Your memories and thoughts interest me and I would like to learn more when you are ready. Will you be in our realm long?”
“I am not sure; it is not in my control.” He answered aloud.
Coming down one of the grooved poles were another pair of Balshazra. They had ornate crystal work around their heads and bodies and one had a thick tome in its hands. The couple stopped about five or so paces in front of Akuem and bowed in obvious reverence to the Body. Akuem was now diminished in size, but remained at an impressive height of seven feet and as a thick as a barrel. Taihven noted that the other Balshazra were an average of five to six feet tall and thin-bodied.
After bowing, they advanced and held hands in a circle. Taihven could not hear their conversation, but several times the ornate lizards looked over at him, studied his features.
A Balshazra approached and extended its paw. Taihven grasped it and asked, “Yes, Tamdaam?”
“No, I am Two, Re’sha. Tamdaam is my mate.”
He hoped she did not read his amazement that she was a female.
“Come with me, Wolf. Tamdaam and I will be at your service and contact to rest of Home.”
Taihven bowed to Akuem, guessing it was the appropriate etiquette. Akuem smiled and nodded its head in reply.
She guided Taihven along a series of ramps, tubes and layered levels of platforms within the city. At this point, he was beyond lost. At one ramp intersection they came to a cavernous court yard. Hovering high in the air above a crystalline pyramid, a ball of blue lightning crackled. Random arcs cascaded down and charged a ring of six minor monoliths. The identical monoliths were built exactly like the city’s outside border ones Taihven had spotted before. Re’sha did not slow down enough for Taihven to ask her about the ball of lightning. He surmised it was some sort of power source. These lizards were beyond amazing to him. The Balshazra were a mix of primitive culture and fantastical magic all at the same time.
Finally, she came to a tower that had dozens of oval-shaped rooms. Each were furnished the same — no door but an open archway, a small circular indentation in the center of the room with that cottony fluff that he was shown before and a set of shelves built into an alcove along one wall. Next to the alcove was another shallow indentation with a slightly stained, wide hole.
Re’sha read Taihven’s confusion on his face and reached out, took his arm and thought, “You call it a… privy. I shall leave you now for rest. Tamdaam will bring food to you. Questions for me?”
“I am pretty chilled by the water and my clothes are soaked. Do you have any blankets?”
Her head tilted, “I… do not have blankets. You cannot shed these?” She plucked at his sleeve.
“Uh… yes, yes I guess I can, but I have nothing underneath.” He felt blush rising to his face. Re’sha was very confused and genuinely concerned. “It is alright. You may leave, Re’sha.” He followed it with a smile.
She hesitated, but released her paw and left the room. He removed his shirt, socks and boots and stacked them on the shelves. The grey fluff was sewn into a heavy lining of the indentation. At this point, his strength was gone and his mind numb with exhaustion. The accommodations were not perfect, but far better than his time within the cellar. He doubted he was in any real danger and he closed his eyes.
Sleep eluded him. His back and legs were sore from all the events of late causing him to toss and turn trying to find a comfortable spot. As he lay there, his mind started to recall what he had been through in the last day or so. The image of Taliah’s self-mutilation, the feverish race through the village to the barn, the acidic voice that threatened him (I will end all of your pain soon. Nothing will stop that!). Standing on top of a massive lizard-snake as it raced through marshlands. Could this all be real?
Father knew about the Soul Renders. And I saw them! That has to prove that this is a real world. It is not a delusion. Taihven’s inner dialogue came fast and furious. How am I getting here? Why am I seeing all of this? What was behind all of this? Was this related to the war and whoever was guiding the Viestrahl?
The prince rolled over onto his left shoulder, frustrated with having no answers. After another hour of questions and aggravation, he passed out.
Hours went by.
***
When a scaly hand gripped his shoulder, Taihven lurched forward. His vision was blurred and streaky. He was exhausted, ill and very confused as he could not make out who was in the room with him. Three grey blobs obscured by shadows stood in the archway and a larger form was next to him. The twin suns had set and Home was lit by glowing purple stones inset along the walls.
He tried to blink his eyes clear. “What? Who is there?”
“Sorry to disturb you. We did not want to break your rest, but it has been a long while and my Elders were so curious to know more of you, Wandering Wolf.” Akuem’s voice broadcasted aloud in his head.
“Please call me Taihven.”
He could see the three Balshazra in the archway better now. They had similar ornate stonework on them as Akuem. One standing in the middle of the three had been draped in exquisite maroon and red cloaks and had a medallion hanging around its neck.
“Prince Taihven, this is our Elders, Cossa Kenva and Cossa Yaxta. And this is my Two, Kayema Re’amal.” Taihven got to his bare feet, embarrassed that he was shirtless, but bowed none the less to each of the Balshazra.
“I am very grateful for your aide and your kindness. I hope one day I can repay you for your deeds.” He said out loud.
“Elders are concerned and question what your visit means for Home and all Balshazra. Do you wish to relay what your plan is for Us?” The three left the doorway and clasped hands with each other and Akuem.
“As I said to you before, Akuem, I have no plans. Before today I had no idea any of you existed. I could not imagine such a wonder like your Home. You see, I have come to your world all of my life, but not by my choice. I am somehow drawn here and almost every time I find myself in a new place. My people have told me that this reality is a part of a disease, a malady of my mind. I do not even know if my mind has created all of this somehow or you are telling me the truth and Aberrisc is another existence.”
“We do not participate in deception.” A stern voice came across from Cossa Yaxta.
Kayema Re’amal inquired with a more gentle tone. “We are very interested in your Tayneva, Wanderi—er, Taihven. Would you allow Us to see through your eyes where you come from?”
“You on
ly have to open your mind and remember Tayneva — smells, sounds, faces.” Akuem encouraged.
Taihven hesitated. He felt by instinct that he could trust the creatures yet what they were asking was to give them free access to his world and his memories. What if this was a trap or an elaborate way to gain an advantage against them? Was this paranoia warranted if this was not real as he was told? He questioned himself, but then decided to trust them as they had already opened their home for him.
He shrugged his shoulders, flopped back down cross-legged into the fluff and made himself comfortable and closed his eyes. Taihven felt their hands rest upon his shoulders and then they entered his consciousness. He relaxed as memories and experiences exploded before his mind’s eye on their own.
Kicking a leather ball around with his older sister in a field of white Caratooth flowers. Running along the banks of a small creek near the Clonden Fields. Sitting in a dim lit library, pouring over books and tomes in preparation for tests. Riding his mare alone along the sandy coast line of Eare Beach. Feeling the lightning pulse through his fingers for the first time after learning the Lightning Bolt spell. Smelling the fresh flower smell of young Jennila Barant’s hair during their first kiss.
They were exploring his life as it unfolded.
The Balshazra soon learned how his world had grown much darker and filled with danger in the last year.
Casting a Mending Spell as he tried to seal up wounds on Lieutenant Jesswick’s shins. Lying on the dirt floor of the dungeon cell. Ducking from stones and bottles as people screamed in anger at him during his father’s funeral. Fleeing from Taliah’s quarters after seeing her cut face and missing eyes.
Something struck Taihven as wrong. There were holes in the timeline. Gaps that did not make sense. He interrupted the slideshow in his mind.
“You cannot see my memories from here!” He exclaimed. “Why not? Does that mean after all that this is all a living dream?”
All of the Balshazra were alarmed and studied him with their heads tilted. They were confused, disturbed from what they had viewed. Their questions flooded him and were garbled together. Akuem released his hand from Taihven and turned to the others. They spoke together for a few moments in a private huddle.
Akuem bowed, double-backed to Taihven and replaced his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Your world is indeed in turmoil, young wolf. Many more things We wish to discuss, but my own personal interest lie in your father’s shedding. Perhaps if I understand why this upsets you so, I could understand your actions more. Why are Humans afraid of shedding?” A picture of his father’s pyre smoldering upon the castle catwalk flashed across his mind.
“Shedding. Do you mean dying?”
“When Body grows weary and old and One goes into a new Body. Shedding.”
“Yes, my father died. It is hard on me not being able to see him or talk to him.” Tears welled up in his eyes, the pain too fresh.
“But your father has new Body?”
Taihven shook his head and palmed away the tears on his cheeks.
“When Humans shed — die — they do not return?”
The prince could not speak and cleared his throat.
“And war threatens much sheddi— many more deaths of your family and kind.” Akuem bobbed its head. “Now I understand your pain and your fears for days ahead.”
Akuem turned to the Elders and his mate and once more formed a circle. After an extended talk, he waved to Taihven, inviting him to join them. The prince stood and walked over to the group.
“We wish to help you, Prince Taihven. But, first, We will share our world with you as you have shared your world with Us. Perhaps you will find a better meaning to your life.”
They guided him to the center of the room and back into the indentation. Akuem, Kayema Re’amal and the Elders surrounded him. Akuem sent one Elder away to bring someone known as Proafdes.
Several moments later, another, wildly decorated Balshazra entered his room and joined the circle. The lizard had multiple scarves of red and seven glowing orbs that spun circles in slow motion around its head and shoulders.
“This is Proafdes, she is our Light of Kereles’sho.” Akuem introduced her. The lizard raised her paws and drew with a single claw in the air a symbol. The sigil flickered with orange flames and puffed away in wispy ash trails. She then leaned down and rubbed her palm in the ash dust.
Akuem asked, “Can you show her your arms?”
Proafdes rubbed the ash in intricate designs on the prince’s forearms and hands. She dabbed a spot over his right eye.
“Adrsihda Caodifar Beas.” She chanted aloud. Her voice was gravely and wet. The sound of it had startled and made him jump.
She grinned and nodded to Taihven. Proafdes turned and bowed to Akuem before she took her place in the circle next to Cossa Kenva.
“He is ready, Body.”
Each of the circle members leaned out and placed their clawed paws on his body. He became more nervous, but closed his eyes and waited. Scenes from Aberrisc flooded his inner vision and a collage of experiences swept him up.
***
Taihven could see ahead of him a group of Balshazra huddled together on a patch of marshland. The prince sensed that this was a vision directly from Akuem. In red scarves, Proafdes stood about a dozen feet ahead of them as she waved her arms and hands. Her body weaved to an unheard song.
“Donsiam Donstoa Reas Vash-kekaa,” she crooned.
A brilliant white ring appeared between her hands. She lofted it ahead of her and watched as it expanded to a width of six feet. Inside the ring was a scene of a lush green forests overgrown with ferns. It was very similar to the jungles where the Green Ones hunted.
As one, the group of lizards slithered into the portal. The ring closed behind them and they found themselves transported into the jungle. High overhead in the tree canopy, flocks of varying parrots and tiny Johobres cawed out and chirped. Taihven could smell a lime-like bouquet drifting in the air. All along the forest floor grew a spongy amber moss. Sunlight broke passed the leaves and rays spotlighted parts of a trail beyond them.
A single Balshazra forged further down the path. The rest waited and formed a protection circle around Akuem. However, Taihven noted they carried no weapons. Akuem grunted a strange bark and all of the lizards shrank.
The tree tops grew distant as they were replaced in his view by the sprawling fern leaves. The lizards shrank to snake-size and then moved quietly under the plant shadows. A few moments later, they encountered the lone Balshazra scout who stood next to the mouth of a dugout tunnel. It was peering inside when the group came up from behind.
The scout advised, “Passage continues on for quite some distance and about five feet underground. We can avoid Eulocths.” An image of the Green Ones’ campsite came into Taihven’s head.
I was right! This is the same jungles! Taihven thought.
After the scout shrank to their size to join them, the party entered the tunnel.
In his mind’s eye, the vision went black.
Proafdes’ words rang out, “Donsiam Donstoa Reas Vash-kekaa.”
Another brilliant white ring appeared displaying a blacken rock and grey sand beach. Taihven felt himself being drawn through the new gate. The skies over them were blue, but tinged with purples and pinks as one of the suns fell below the horizon. Waves of emerald tide waters rushed up the shore and against their bodies. Except for the constant, rhythmic sound of crashing waves, the beach was quiet and empty of all signs of life. Taihven could not see Akuem or feel his presence in this vision.
Taihven looked down and in the claws of this vision’s owner, was a paper-like atlas. He spotted inked letters and glyphs marked on the tome’s pages. Attached to the binder’s spine was a string with a thin writing stylus. The group trekked along the coastline. The Balshazra Taihven was embodying made notes and drew out some landmarks in his atlas. Were they scouts or land explorers, he wondered.
Once more the images in his head ended and
all went dark.
“Donsiam Donstoa Reas Vash-kekaa.”
Another ring appeared. The view inside this gate remained pitch black. Taihven noted the moods of the Balshazra were apprehensive and serious. The prince was possessing another unknown Balshazra. His vision owner was one of the first few to enter the ring. Over a dozen more of the reptiles were with him and followed close behind him.
Their bodies splashed noisily as they hit a pool of water on the other side of the ring. Echoes rang out along stone tunnel walls. They regrouped in the dark by reaching out and joining hands.
“Stand still immediately. Hear them above Us.”
When their movements stopped, Taihven could pick up soft thud sounds. Pitchy voices could be made out coming from high over their heads. Nothing though appeared to be inside the tunnel with them and no one seemed to be aware of their presence. They sat shivering in the three feet of frigid water.
