Mighty Hammer Down
Page 35
Two days had passed since Zidaoz met with his god in the world between worlds. His soul sang with joy when he thought back to the monumental event. It was exhilarating to finally have knowledge of his god, and not depend simply on the words carved into history. Faith was impressive, but knowledge was power. He stroked his long beard as he contemplated whether or not to tell the Medoran about meeting Rohni.
His pleasant thoughts were interrupted by an even more pleasant sight. He had finally returned to Zuhr, and sat in his throne room waiting patiently. Three soldiers came through the open doorway before him, each of them guiding a person in front of them. A light breeze blew softly and caused the detailed fabrics on the walls to flutter and flap. The soldiers had done exactly as he asked them to, and brought a father, a mother, and a young girl to his palace.
He looked to each of them in turn, unable to control his smile. "Hello and welcome to my palace. I am sure you are wondering why you have been given this great privilege and honor."
The father, obviously nervous, fell to the floor and bowed, pulling his wife down beside him. "We are honored, Zidaoz. We live only to serve you."
"And serve me you shall, my fellow Bhoor." He gestured to the little girl standing beside her kneeling mother. "Come here, little one."
The tiny child looked to her mother for guidance. She obviously was not old enough to understand the importance of them being in the presence of the Zidaoz. Most Bhoors would never see their ruler at all, let alone speak to him and see him smile. The mother nodded to her daughter nervously, and then put her head to the floor, locking herself in a bow of respect. The child approached the throne cautiously.
"Do not be afraid, little one. You are a very special child, did you know that?"
"Yes, mother tells me so," came the soft words from her tiny mouth.
The Zidaoz smiled down to her. "Come up here and sit on my lap." He helped to pull her up and turn her around, and with one arm hugged her tightly to his body. With his free hand he cupped her little chin and squeezed her cheeks lightly. He again found himself smiling and unable to stop himself. He nodded to one of the soldiers hovering behind the girl's kneeling parents.
In an instant, they grabbed the mother and held her. The father began to stand, but the blade of a sword pierced his back and struck him down. The mother screamed as the men hacked away at the body until it was nothing more than a gruesome mess of meat and bone on the floor. The little girl's screams echoed her mother's in a twisted sort of harmony.
When the soldiers turned to the mother, the little girl tried to turn away. The Zidaoz held her face tightly, keeping her from escaping the sight. When she closed her eyes, he squeezed as hard as his arm would allow, the pain making her open them. The soldiers laughed while they mangled the body of her mother, just as he had instructed them to do. He could feel the hot tears roll over his hand as he forced the little girl to watch the grisly event. His smile widened.
He put his mouth close to the little girl's ear. "This is only the beginning, little one. This is only the beginning."