by Owen Black
Like most land dwellers, he was a poor swimmer and was quite alarmed by the prospect of being forced to test his ability if somehow the mysterious barriers that shielded him from the ocean depths gave in. He noted just a single exit to the room but for now he was more interested in the mysterious creatures that floated around him.
Guderian winced as he slowly stood up when a shooting pain extended from his neck down his spine. In addition to this lingering sting, his throat was dreadfully sore and a horrible salty taste enveloped his mouth. With a groan he shook off these unpleasant maladies and slowly approached one of the transparent walls. When he drew close he slowly reached out a hand and touched the quivering substance. It proved to be cold and somewhat malleable to the touch. Most surprisingly, however, was that the tiny glowing shapes darted away from the area of his contact, further proof that indeed living creatures did inhabit the curious barrier, a fact that only added to his steadily growing concern.
He was startled when a small fish - or what he believed to be a fish - that was colored with a combination of golden and blue scales swam up to him and gazed through the wall with large black eyes. It hovered in place, balancing effortlessly in the water on tiny appendages as it studied him, making no movement other than its tiny round mouth that opened and closed continuously as if speaking a silent language beyond his capacity to hear.
Within seconds other sea creatures arrived, many similar to the first but a few even more bizarre. One grey-colored being had an elongated body and a number of thin, tube-like arms while another resembled a strangely flattened snake.
Guderian grew restless as the creatures continued to converge upon his location. He backed away from the transparent barrier and was lost in awe when he looked over the now hundreds of creatures that had lined the outer edge his unusual cell. His heart nearly ceased to function when a giant shadowy shape slowly moved into view, forcing an exodus of the smaller creatures.
The gigantic specimen dwarfed all others yet somehow moved through the water with a graceful glide. The beast was mostly black with white splotches dotting its long, rounded face and gigantic body. It had no arms or legs, only small, flat appendages were visible, save for the large fan-like tail that followed behind. Amazed by its size, Guderian shivered as he wondered what such a massive creature could possibly eat.
He remained silent as he stared upon the hundreds of curious eyes that had come to inspect the latest inhabitant of their world. It was a world that was both beautiful and frightening and Guderian wondered if he would live to tell others about the strange life that dwelled beneath the sea. The answer to that question approached when footsteps sounded and pulled his focus from the aquatic display to the tunnel-like opening into the room.
To his surprise the woman that he had met on the shore walked in, followed closely by three brutish man-like creatures that he assumed to be guards. Like the woman, their skin was thick and shiny, although theirs was gray while hers was blue. They lacked hair atop their neck-less heads that were somewhat conical in shape and they stared at him with small, round pitch black eyes that would have forced a shiver from the most courageous of men. Although they wielded no weapons, they were incredibly muscular, with well-defined chests and arms and huge hands that could likely tear most men in two. Even more disturbing were their broad mouths that seemed to naturally hang ajar and were lined with large sharp teeth that could chomp through bone in an instant. Like the woman, the guards wore greenish colored wraps fashioned from a plant-like substance that he then recognized to be the same as his makeshift bedding.
The slap of toeless feet against the rock floor sounded as the group approached. Guderian took a deep breath and prepared to learn his fate.
The woman scowled and looked past him as she pointed to the creatures that lined the walls of his unusual habitat. Her lipless mouth opened and a loud high-pitched shrill spilled forth and forced Guderian to cover his ears. He turned and watched as the swarm of onlookers scattered in all directions as if they fled an impending doom.
Satisfied with their exit, the shriek ended and the woman turned her attention to Guderian. “I’m sorry,” she said. “You have to forgive them. Most haven’t seen a man like you…with hair and all…before.” She then turned to one of the sentries and added, “Remind the whales that they are not allowed this close to the capsules unless they want to spend another month siphoning the water out.”
The brute made no response that Guderian could detect but the woman seemed confident that her message would be delivered. She then looked at Guderian and bowed slightly.
“My name is Tursia and as you have likely guessed, you have been brought into the world beneath the Sea of Life. There are many things we need to discuss but first I need to explain your…situation.”
“I’m listening,” he replied. His voice was strangely hoarse so he cleared his throat.
“First, do not consider attempting to escape. Even if you were to make it past the guards and into the water you are too deep to reach the surface on your own. You will most certainly drown. It took a good deal of effort to get you down here alive.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a terrible swimmer.”
The woman stared at him blankly, unmoved by his attempt at humor, then continued, “Second, it has been a few years since we last allowed a land dweller into our world and the last…ended badly. Your life hangs in a delicate balance. Do not push on the perimeter of any of the rooms of air. The creatures living within the walls are easily frightened and any rupture will drown you in seconds.”
He quivered when he remembered touching the wall minutes before.
“Lastly,” she continued, “your future will be decided by our Realmlord. I explained what I knew, but he has some questions. Follow me and I will take you to him.”
Guderian watched anxiously as she turned to leave the chamber, leaving behind the sturdy guards that waited for his move, peering into his soul with disturbingly empty eyes. He sighed and followed the woman, pausing only briefly when the enormous figures fell into place around him.
He was then led through a series of dome-shaped tunnels with damp rock floors and walls and ceilings made of the same luminous material as the chamber where he had awakened. As he moved through the amazing passageways he spotted faint movements in the gloomy depths while the occasional drip of water echoed through the tunnel, reminding him with each step how close he was to a watery death.
Although Guderian was surrounded by certain danger, to his surprise he felt strangely refreshed, as if renewed by an unknown strength that flowed through his veins, a semblance of a long-lost confidence he once had. Uncertain of its origin, he shook off the curious feeling without another thought.
After a lengthy walk through a maze of chambers and passages, Guderian detected the familiar murmur of a boisterous crowd. Moments later he was led past a ghastly pair of black figures with featureless faces that stood watch at the entrance to another part of the underwater realm - a gigantic domed area that seemed impossible to exist.
Likely a thousand feet or more in width, the structure was rounded but unlike the other rooms that he had observed, the walls were embedded with a finely shaped lattice of rock that was connected by the transparent gelatinous material that also shed an eerie pale light on the enormous chamber. Thousands of people filled the room and additional spectators hovered in the watery abyss. Their voices became disturbingly quiet when he was led through a parting in their mass.
Guderian passed by a variety of nightmarish figures, some that were mostly human in appearance while others were clearly more influenced by their animal forms and had horrific features that made him cringe. He fought to keep his focus down as he walked, an attempt to avoid gazing into the throng of hideous faces that promised to haunt his sleep if he lived another day.
He was eventually led to a raised platform that stood in the center of the dome and atop the platform were two ornate thrones made of a polished white material that he could not identify. Althoug
h one was notably empty, the other seat was occupied by a tall, hairless grey-skinned man with mostly human features apart from his flattened nose and round, pitch black eyes. The figure somewhat resembled his sturdy escorts in that his body was lined with muscles seemingly chiseled from stone. Guderian could not discern his age and although he did not look old, he was slumped in the throne as if weakened by an unknown ailment or perhaps a deeper sadness that dwelled within.
Somewhat to his surprise there were no additional guards or confidants, women or attendants to serve his needs. In the center of the largest structure Guderian had ever seen the man he assumed to be their king sat before him, strangely alone.
Tursia stopped at the base of a rising of steps that led to the platform and the guards that surrounded Guderian abruptly did the same. The crowd fell completely still when the man seated in the throne raised an arm.
“Realmlord Arodon I give you Guderian of the land dwellers,” Tursia announced for all to hear. “Guderian, I present to you Realmlord Arodon, leader of the Aquan realm and Master of the Hunt.”
Guderian swallowed hard when he heard the last word. Hunt was not a word that his kind liked to hear.
He tried to focus his attention on the man seated on the throne, but his eyes continued to be drawn to the curious sights around him. He momentarily gazed out one of the openings in the domed chamber as another enormous sea creature, or perhaps the one he had spotted before, swam by.
The Realmlord leaned forward in his seat and said with a deep, dry voice, “Welcome to our world land dweller. I say welcome out of courtesy not because you truly are.”
Guderian was not sure how to respond. He cleared his throat and then replied, “Thank you for seeing me. I sincerely apologize if I have come unwelcome.”
“We brought you here because you were intent on meeting with us,” Arodon said. “That was obvious when you arrived on our shores.”
“And I take it you heard why I have come?”
“Tursia explained what she knew,” the Realmlord said as he sat back in the throne. He paused a moment while he glanced into the crowd and then continued, “Land dweller, I have allowed you this time before me, before us all, so that you might describe the faults of your kind. War is no longer a trouble we endure and my hope is that you can serve as an example of the consequences of a society shaped by the thirst of blood.”
A soft murmur flowed through the audience when they at last understood why the outsider had been paraded before them for all to see.
“Realmlord I am of the Herbic realm,” Guderian replied, clearly shaken. “We are a peaceful kind and war is not something we seek. I come from a village a few days west of here where my people had fled for safety. Our location was recently discovered and a vicious leader of the carnivores is forming an army to destroy us. This monster seeks to kill a boy who lives among us while the rest he will either capture or slaughter. I come today seeking your help. We are desperate.”
Shock spread through the crowd in the form of whispered voices and gasps.
“Quiet!” Arodon yelled as he glared into the crowd. He lowered his voice and returned his attention to his guest. “Forgive them. Violence is not something most present have ever endured.”
“How is that possible?” Guderian asked, confused.
“Ah of course, how can you know our ways? I will allow you a brief lesson on our history so that you might better understand your fate.” Arodon considered his thoughts then said, “Although we are almost all carnivores as you call them, unlike your kind, we peacefully resolved the problems you endure hundreds of years ago. Long before my time, before my father and his father sat atop this throne, a great Realmlord, far greater than myself, conquered the warring species of the sea. This great man, known as the Realmlord Dolias, was an incredible warrior. His skill in battle was legendary yet was matched by his ability to lead. After years of demonstrating the depth of his greatness, his next act proved to be his most important.”
Guderian noticed that the Aquan leader paused and briefly glanced to the empty throne next to him as if a flicker of some distant memory broke his train of thought.
Quickly regaining his focus, the Realmlord continued, “Dolias crafted a law for all to live by, something we refer to as the ‘Dolian Decree’. This law forced our people to realize that the survival of others must come before the individual. You wonder why we have no war, no bloodshed or struggles for peace and the reason is quite simply that we willingly sacrifice of ourselves to feed others.”
Perplexed, Guderian stood silent. A movement in the distance pulled his eyes to one of the giant windows to the sea where an enormous large grey tentacled beast with numerous arms and a thick barrel-shaped torso swam by. He took a deep breath and then turned his attention back to the throne.
Noting Guderian’s distraction, the Realmlord turned and spotted the creature passing by. He then continued, “A giant octopus - remarkable specimens indeed.”
“I apologize, this is all quite overwhelming,” Guderian replied. “You were saying something about sacrifice? How does this work?” He knew the answers to his questions could be disturbing and although he had intended to say as little as possible a nagging curiosity begged for answers.
Guderian was startled when Tursia abruptly grabbed his arm and whispered something he could not decipher. By the look on her face, she was agitated by his words.
The Realmlord waved her off. “It’s fine, he can ask.” He then returned his attention to Guderian and said, “The laws that we live by have kept us at peace for hundreds of years now. You see, the main problem with the underworld is that we lack edible plant-life, and what we do have is more suitable for attire and bedding. I can promise you it lacks in taste.” Arodon paused while a wave of laughter began then quieted. He then continued, “Because of this we rely on each other for food. Barbaric as that is to your kind, to us it is simply a requirement for survival. The Dolian Decree, among other things, designated…certain members of our population to give themselves to the others willingly. They are the food that maintains our world and in the end we are all part of this circle of life.”
Noting the confusion on Guderian’s face, the Realmlord turned an icy stare toward Tursia, “Watcher, perhaps you can explain to your new…friend…the various groups that sacrifice.”
Guderian noted the humility as it appeared on the blue-skinned woman standing next to him. Although they were far different he could tell she was uncomfortable. Perhaps she was being punished for having spoken to him on the shore.
“As you wish my Lord,” the woman replied, shifting her eyes to her toeless feet and then into the crowd while she grasped for words. Although likely thousands were present in the massive area an absolute silence had encased them all.
Tursia took a breath and then said, “What the Realmlord refers to is that if a member of our society falls into one of several categories they willingly give their life to feed the others. In this way even in death we sustain life to the others and as such we are forever grateful to those who passed before us. No species are spared from this sacrifice nor are children…or outsiders.”
Her last word struck Guderian like a lightning bolt fired down from the sky. He grew numb.
Tursia continued, “To this end, when any member of our society attains the age of forty years they give their life to the others. This group makes up the largest portion of our diet and to them we owe our survival. There are however others, mainly those born afflicted or that become afflicted with an incurable malady, whether it be sickness, disfigurement or other abnormal condition, they too give of their life. For those born with a, complication, the sacrifice is made on the second anniversary of birth.”
Guderian’s jaw dropped. He was appalled by the notion of sacrificing children and without thought he mumbled, “Children? Two?”
Tursia jabbed his arm but it was too late.
Arodon suddenly became animated and leaned forward in the throne. His voice boomed across the room, �
�How dare you judge us while your kind struggles to survive the brutality of the land!”
Guderian stammered. “No, no…it’s just…children?”
Arodon’s face was ablaze with anger. “I tell you how uncaring we are,” he roared. “What you don’t know…what you don’t realize…is that when the time comes for one to give their life, another can elect to take the place of the chosen. Anyone can do this for another, except for the Realmlord of course and you can be sure I would have done so had they allowed me!”
His scowl lessened as he looked around the room at the shocked faces staring back at him. He collected his thoughts and then explained, “My daughter Land Dweller, my sweet daughter Lynna was born blind, completely and utterly blind. Thus, by our laws, she was to give her life on her second birthday, which just so happens was a few days ago. You see, even I am not spared from our laws.”
Arodon closed his eyes briefly then continued, “This was something we knew when she was born but you see my beloved wife, my deepest love, she would not let her die. She took her place and now my daughter lives because of her sacrifice and I appear before you today next to an empty throne. You see the consequences of our peace? The extent we go to for our survival? Are we so heartless now land dweller?”
It was then that Guderian spotted a hint of dampness appear in the Realmlord’s eyes. Concealed by anger, the sadness that flowed through his veins was now obvious. Although he had no children of his own, Guderian could not imagine the loss of Joli or the pain this man must have endured while his wife’s corpse was feasted upon by the others. In that moment when he reflected, Guderian longed to see his wife again, to hold her and say how he loved her and that he was at last ready to have children. It was time to put aside his own self pity and the loss of his sister and enjoy the life he had.
“Realmlord, about his request?” Tursia asked softly in an attempt to end the awkward confrontation.
Arodon’s stare remained fixed on Guderian a moment longer before he leaned back in his seat. He scanned the faces of the crowd as if searching for an answer and then said, “Ah yes, an interesting predicament indeed. Unfortunately, buried within our code is a strict understanding that we will not interfere with,” his eyes then darted to Tursia, “or make contact with, those of the other realms. Apparently, some of us forget this from time to time.”
