by N. I. Snow
The once-captive creature let out an arrogant growl and threw a fist towards the Tazalian's still bleeding snout. The Tazalian made no retaliatory movement when the creature's fist connected with side of his head, even though stars shot across his vision nearly causing him to go blind. Stumbling to one side, the unfortunate reptile came close to losing his footing on the thick tree limb..
Nearby one of the other creatures grabbed the Tazalian's attacker and launched him from the limb. The blue-furred aggressor wailed pitifully before landing in a broken heap on the ground. The Tazalian's savior gave him an icy look from its green cat eyes before speaking in a rough dialect, “Shof dek to.”
The Tazalian frowned, he couldn't understand the creature and his translator was being held hostage in a different tree, “I'm sorry I don't speak Ethnonian.”
The Ethnonian matched his disgruntled look. It motioned with its long fingers towards the north, “Shof dek to.”
The bronze Tazalian understood this time, “Come with you?” He also motioned with his clawed hand towards the North.
The Ethnonian nodded and began climbing down the tree. The bronze Tazalian followed the odd creature. All around him the other Ethnonians also climbed to the ground keeping their spears trained on him. The Tazalian looked around to see his fellow reptiles being herded down from other trees in the same manner. None of them had been armed. They had wanted this journey to be one of peace, not murder; but right then he wasn't sure that it was a good idea to travel without some form of weaponry as protection.
At the base of the tree, the Ethnonians gathered all of the Tazalians together. Spears pointed at the hapless reptiles, the Ethnonians ushered them to the north. The bronze Tazalian's golden eyes moved from one bedraggled reptile to another. He felt a pang of grief in his heart. They had lost four of the fifteen Tazalians who had started this journey. Tears again formed in his eyes. How many more would they lose before their journey ended.
A black-scaled Tazalian walked over to his side. Her blue eyes did nothing to hide her fear. “What's going to happen to us, Alekia?”
The bronze Tazalian shook his head. “Stay calm and hope Elemtor can get the Ethnonians to understand that we are not here to fight.”
Late in the day, the Ethnonians herded the group of Tazalians into a clearing several kilometers from where they had been attacked. All around the clearing were crudely built huts crafted from dead wood and leaves. Ethnonian women and children walked around the small village. Each creature went about its chores with not so much as a glance at the strange reptiles being marched into their hamlet.
The group stopped in front of a large hut built in the center of the village. At the entrance of the hut stood a grizzled male Ethnonian. Though Alekia stood a little over two meters tall, the apparently elderly Ethnonian was easily a head taller than he. His green eyes gazed heavily at the group of disheveled Tazalians with a mixture of curiosity and venom. Then he raised both of his long arms into the air drawing all eyes to him.
“Ume lute cluem mar?” The Ethnonian's voice was lined with years of hardship.
The grizzled Ethnonian turned his hard gaze on the thin-bodied Elemtor whose quiet voice spoke, “Tazalians.”
A puzzled look crossed the Ethnonian's muzzle. Alekia crossed over to the green-scaled Tazalian and spoke calmly to him, “Tell him we mean no harm. We only come looking for answers.”
Elemtor repeated Alekia's message in the Ethnonian's strange language. The green eyes turned toward Alekia as the Ethnonian spoke. Elemtor quickly translated, “He asks, who are you to speak?”
Alekia growled at the Ethnonian, ignoring the spear tips pointing towards him, “I am Alekia, leader of this mission of peace. We come only looking for answers.”
Once more Elemtor translated for both Alekia and the Ethnonian, “He says his name is Raktam, chieftain of the mumet people. He also asks what it is you are looking for answers to?”
As the dialog continued, the Ethnonian warriors relaxed their hold on their spears. Alekia also relaxed his tense muscles, “We are looking for an item known as the Light of the Galaxy.”
Raktam's hard green eyes became calm and sincere as Elemtor translated Alekia's words. The Ethnonian made several hand gestures as he spoke, “We too have heard of such an item. A being created of the most radiant of lights, whose very tears gave birth to every star.”
Raktam waved a long-fingered hand and the warriors dispersed. His green eyes remained on Alekia, “Tonight we will hold a ceremony in honor of your fallen comrades whom my warriors foolishly killed.”
Alekia bowed his head curtly, “Thank you Raktam. I wish we could only have known the dangers when we arrived.”
Raktam's green eyes frowned at him, “You should have been armed. You, too, acted foolishly.”
“Would your warriors not have killed all of us if we had shown signs of force?” Then Alekia gave the Ethnonian leader a curious look, “You are right, we should have at least been equipped with non-lethal weapons.” Alekia sighed. “It grieves me to know we must go about our journey armed; but perhaps when we do find this Light, it will grant us our wish.”
“And what is that?” Raktam's green eyes showed curiosity.
“A universal peace. That no creature should ever live in fear of another.” Alekia's eyes were strong yet solemn as he answered. This is all he ever wanted. What those who traversed the stars could ever want.
In the open study on Tazal, a tired, gray-eyed Emma looked over at Lutianist. The dark-scaled Tazalian had a dull clawed hand over his heart. The look that played on his snout was that of watching someone die before his eyes. When his eyes fluttered open he noticed Emma gazing at him, he quickly lowered his hand and his milky eyes returned to their usual calmness.
Emma gazed over at him with concern. “What's wrong?”
Lutianist shook his bearded snout. “Nothing to worry about, little one. Just an old pain bothering me.” He motioned a hand towards the relic. “Continue.”
Emma frowned with uncertainty and gave him a fleeting look before returning to the relic and reading, “The Ethnonians are an interesting race. They gave praise to their deity to aid the spirits of our fallen comrades. Though honorable of them, I find it odd they would aid a race not even from their planet. Perhaps I have been on the war-torn Tazal too long to understand the concept of comradeship.” Emma looked up at Lutianist with a puzzled look on her face, “War-torn? What does he mean by that?”
Lutianist nodded solemnly. “That was the reason the Ancients left Tazal to find the Light. Our planet was being torn apart by a rivalry between three different Tazalian clans. Five Tazalians from each faction left Tazal as the fifteen Ancients. They were disgusted with the horrors of war and hoped the Light would bring peace to the factions.” Lutianist shifted in his chair, “When they did not return, the three clans nearly destroyed each other.”
Emma frowned as she thought over what Lutianist had said. Then she looked back at the Elder's milky eyes. “How did you know?”
Lutianist tilted his head. “Know what?”
“You knew some of the Ancients were killed before I even read about it. That's why you became grief stricken.”
Lutianist gave her a puzzled look as though debating what to say, “Tigret,” his calm voice called out softly to the hidden seeker.
The cloaked Seeker appeared seemingly from nowhere to the ancient reptile's side. “Yes, Elder?”
“Leave us for a moment.”
The towering Seeker didn't move. “I was given orders to stay by your side at all times.”
Emma shivered as Lutianist normally calm voice turned to ice, “The High Elder is not here to give orders and, thus, you are to follow mine. Now you can either leave or you can be punished for insubordination.”
Emma thought she caught the sound of a low growl escaping the shrouds of Tigret's cloak. The Seeker bowed her head and disappeared out into the shadows of the hallway. Lutianist milky eyes turned back to Emma. The tension in his body
faded away as quickly as it had appeared.
He stared over at Emma for several silent seconds before speaking in his quiet calm voice, “Now that there are no prying ears, we can talk freely.”
Emma looked towards the doorway, “How do you know she's not listening in?”
Lutianist smiled gently. “The same way I knew about the Ancients,” Lutianist closed his eyes, “Not a single being alive knows my secret, but I know I can trust you.”
“How? I could tell one of the other Elders in exchange for a chance to escape,” Emma replied crossing her arms across her chest.
Lutianist opened his near-blind eyes and looked into Emma's mist-colored eyes. Emma stared wonderingly as his eyes revealed a look that was more than simple knowing. Those nearly white eyes seemed to pierce into her mind, reading every thought, every memory, every hope, and every fear.
“I know you will not. You know the other Elders will follow Salianos's will. They believe his lies. They believe he follows the Ancients' ways,” Lutianist snorted. “He twisted the Ancients' wish for universal peace into a reason for conquest.”
Lutianist sighed heavily, “I, on the other hand, am a prisoner just as you are.”
Emma looked over at the grief-stricken Tazalian with a new-found feeling of pity. As the ancient Lutianist continued she realized just how different he was from the other Elders. “There was a time I believed in Salianos. After all I was the youngest of the seven and he was the leader. None of us knew what the Ancients really wanted, and he did so well in acting as if he had spoken with their spirits. However, I had an odd feeling about him, that he was keeping secrets from us.”
Lutianist's body sunk further in his chair and a grievous look appeared in his murky eyes. “Ironic really, considering he had told me the secrets of his past. Of course, I had already known them, but to hear it from him was overwhelming. He had spoken about his heritage with such reverence.”
Emma opened her mouth to speak, but Lutianist interrupted her before she could. He spoke as if he had already known what she was going to ask, “He was not born to a rich and privileged family. No, in fact his family was the exact opposite. His parents were poor. They could hardly afford food for themselves let alone their cub. They starved themselves to insure that he survived. The day they died was the day he vowed to find a way to reward those who sacrificed all they had while those who did not work for what they did have were punished.”
“By the time I met him, he was already well known for his supposed prophesies including that he was chosen by the Ancients to do their bidding. I had trusted him.”
The sad gaze faded and the knowing look reappeared in Lutianist's eyes. “That was until the Ancients allowed me to learn a part of their history.” Lutianist leaned forward. “They showed me what their real intentions were and warned me to watch over the one who would be able to read their writings. I was given orders to protect you.”
Emma's mouth dropped slightly, but Lutianist stopped her from speaking. “I may look old, but I can still hold my ground.”
The young girl bit her lip as she looked over at the grizzled Tazalian. He could hardly walk, let alone fight. “How did you know about the Ancients being killed on Ethor One?”
Lutianist smiled, his eyes twinkled with mischief. “Did you know that every Tazalian is given a name that means something based on their personality?”
Emma shook her head.
Lutianist raised his arms to each side, presenting himself. “Lutianist, Bearer of Knowledge.”He lowered his claws. “They gave me that name due to my uncanny ability of knowing everything.”
“How?” Emma asked, trying to hold back her impatience.
Lutianist tapped a claw to the side of his head. “I can read the past. Anything that has happened finds its way to me. No matter what planet or creature. Whether near or far, I will know about events that have passed.”
Emma's mind reeled as she tried to comprehend what Lutianist was saying, “Like a psychic?”
“In a sense. However, unlike your false human psychics that say they can see the future, I can only see the past.” He leaned back in his chair. “I knew about Zaharak capturing you before you were taken before Salianos. I know your brother and Kahluna are on their way to rescue you. I even know about a young mamtel taking its first flight on a planet thousands of parallaxes from here.”
Emma frowned, “If you see the past. Why can't you read the Ancients' writings?”
Lutianist shook his head. “There is something the Ancients don't want even me to know, at least not yet.”
“Okay, then, did you know about…
Lutianist stopped her with an angry, yet grieved look in the depths of his foggy eyes, “Kahluna? From the moment Salianos laid eyes on Umelia, I knew of their courtship. I witnessed the High Elder murder her out of fear. I watched as Kahluna was forced to train under the lies of her father.”
Tears formed in the ancient Tazalian's eyes. “There isn't a moment that I don't think about that poor girl. I often wonder if I could have prevented her fate.”
A knot formed in Emma's stomach. She reached over and placed a gentle hand on Lutianist's four-clawed hand. “It is not your fault, Lutianist. From what I have seen and heard of Salianos, there was nothing you could have done, not without being killed either by him or the other Elders.”
Lutianist looked up into Emma's gray eyes and smiled sadly. “You are right. And how could I protect you, if I had been killed? You have a great amount of wisdom for one so young.”
Emma's face turned pink with embarrassment and she quickly changed the subject. “You said all Tazalians are given names that mean something.”
Lutianist nodded. “Indeed. Everyone of our names has a meaning.”
Emma bit her lip, hesitant to ask her question, “What does Zaharak's name mean?”
Lutianist gave her a look filled with both curiosity and grief, as if it pained him to hear Zaharak's name. “No One.”
Both Emma and Lutianist fell quiet. The grizzled Elder slowly stood up and reached over for the relic. His voice was barely audible as he spoke, “I believe we have done enough for one day. Tigret is growing restless from being unable to follow her orders.”
Slowly, the Elder walked to the pillar in the center of the room. When he reached it, he tapped a button on the pillar, “Tigret, you may return.”
“By your command, Elder,” came the Seeker's voice from the pillar.
Lutianist pressed another button on the pillar and spoke, “Elmarar would you bring Emma and me your finest full-course meal.”
A thick nasally voice sounded from the pillar, “I will have it ready soon, Elder Lutianist.”
Lutianist cut off the transmission. Keeping his back, to Emma he spoke calmly to the girl, “We have five months before Salianos and the other Elders return. That does not leave us much time to try and discover where the Light is located.”
Emma shivered. Five months before being watched by those cold violet eyes. The High Elder's hungry look still laid heavily in her mind. However, as the young girl looked over at Lutianist she couldn't help but feel a small form of hope. Despite the Tazalian's aging appearance, she had a feeling he would keep her safe from Salianos.
“For as long as I am alive, I shall,” Lutianist spoke. He turned slowly to face her, “Slowly, ever so slowly, I am dying.”
Emma gaped at him. “How? Why?”
Lutianist lowered his head. “My gift is also my curse. The more knowledge that fills my head, the closer my fate comes. I can slow the process by cutting off some of the knowledge that fills my mind, but the tactic will not work long.”
He gazed back to the opening doorway as Tigret entered. “There simply is not enough time.”
Lutianist could not have been more correct. For them the days on Tazal passed as a fleeting memory. Hours became seconds, weeks became days. Even the long months of Tazal seemed to shorten into simple moments. The five months passed far swifter then either could have imagined. Each day
that drew to an end brought the violet-eyed demon closer.
Fourteen
Strange how seemingly insignificant things can cause an enormous impact on one's being. Five lonely months left the mighty Seeker Zaharak in an annoyed mood. For five months his mind reeled over the wordless tune the human child had sung. It was interfering with his training. Every time it seemed he had solved the song's mystery, he knew he had been wrong. For Zaharak, this was unbelievable.
Standing in front of the holoscreen in the center of the study bay, his golden eyes stared emptily at a small image of Emma. The tip of his long tail flicked the air with annoyance. A single clawed finger of his right hand traced the edges of the scar along his chest. Perhaps the song was similar to the lullaby he had overheard the Alginonian queen sing to her child while he silently killed the king. No, it was hardly even the same melody. For five months his training had been overshadowed with uncertainty. Why was the song so important? He was mostly sure that never in his long life had he heard it.
The claw stopped tracing. What about in death? His mind returned to the memory of Tarline tearing out the young Seeker's heart. He could not recall hearing a song while floating in the endless pulse of the universe's life force. He would not have forgotten it if that were true.
There was only one way to find out. The tip of his claw plunged into the aged scar. Whether he returned was of little concern to him. All that mattered to the Seeker was that he found his answer.
Connell stood at the doorway of a large hangar at the Neapolthia base. Behind him in the half-collapsed room, the tailless Tazalian, Vemque, worked diligently to repair a Tazalian fighter jet. The dark-blue reptile kept quiet for the most part, though he had no fear of telling human soldiers how they would die if they bothered him. Vemque had been quick to pick up Earthnan, but Connell still couldn't figure out where the Tazalian had learned his foul language.
