Balance of the 12

by Ania Bo

  “Soldiers spend most of their time here away from the main city. The creators of this base wanted these chosen Readers to see this place like home,” Violen replied. She looked at the place fondly. The base had been her home since she was four, and she didn’t even enjoy leaving to go to the city center anymore. As far as she was concerned, she was a citizen of Betame Goribak, not Atlantis.

  After a long walk through the corridors, they arrived at another building where Han opened one of the carved wooden doors leading to their sleeping quarters. There were four beds inside ready for them. Apart from that, there wasn’t much else. A pitcher and four glasses were placed by the massive window, and there was a fireplace and four cushions on the floor in front of it. This base was huge and like a maze with its unending corridors and doors opening to new worlds. Yet four of them stayed in the same room? Weird, Dwade thought.

  They went inside quietly. Han and Violen sat on the cushions while Shasta poured herself a glass of water. Dwade looked outside the window trying to figure out which part of the base they were in. This room didn’t have the transparent walls that most of Atlantis had, so it was difficult to tell where they were through the one window. It appeared this room faced toward the exterior, not inside toward the courtyard.

  As he gazed out the window, Dwade returned to his thoughts about the stark differences between the Readers and his own race. The way the Readers lived seemed like an impossible existence. How could there be millions of people who lived in complete harmony and without conflict? That was something that only happened at the end of fairy tales. There had to be something he was missing. He was sure they weren’t as peaceful and friendly as they told him. In a strange way, he began to fear them.

  He waited a moment for everyone to get settled before he asked, “Is there never any conflict in Atlantis? You know, murder, theft, things like that?”

  Han looked at Dwade with his brows raised. “No, why would there be?”

  Dwade shrugged. “Let’s say two men fall in love with a woman. What do they do?”

  Shasta gave him a curious look while Violen answered. “They accept the decision of the woman. The woman chooses whomever she wants, relying on which man she feels shares her same energy. If the woman cannot decide, she may seek advice from a public consultant. The consultant would check their energy levels, and her soul mate would be chosen. They can then have a baby. You see, there’s no reason for conflict to exist. The one who was not chosen simply moves on. I guess the point you don’t understand is this: Our instincts are related to the shapes of our energy. We fall in love with each other’s energy, not necessarily the individual. More so, our energy attracts that which is closer to itself. You just come together with the person you are naturally close to. For that reason, people from the same clan generally marry each other.”

  Violen talked fast, not in the mood to answer a hundred questions from him tonight. She thought he would be satisfied with the detailed answer, but Dwade continued.

  “And is the woman always with one man? I mean, can’t a woman be with another man? Couldn’t she cheat on him or just get bored of him?”

  Shasta was unable to understand his skepticism. “Cheating? If a being found its completing piece, it wouldn’t need another one. Let me tell you before you ask. No, there are no wrong decisions. Like Violen said, everything is calculated by energy in our world.”

  Dwade thought it was unnecessary to insist, so he shook his head. They would keep on saying the same energy level thing till morning and the conversation wouldn’t do anything except get on Dwade’s nerves.

  Han was surprised by how hard the Protector was so hard to convince. He was more annoyed Dwade seemed to be avoiding his gaze, even turned his body away as if he could block out Han’s presence. Feeling the need to assert himself, he took advantage of the moment of silence and said, “Readers sometimes—”

  A knock at the door cut him off. Without waiting for permission, it opened. Six soldiers and two members of the Anes tribe stood in the corridor. One of the soldiers stepped inside and said, “Protector and fellow travelers, you are needed by the Chancellor. Please, follow me.” All of them blinked in surprise at the request.

  “But the fertilization wind is blowing outside. We can’t leave,” Han said.

  The soldier bowed. “We’re aware, but we will take you through a safe road. Follow us,” he insisted. Han and Violen anxiously looked at each other. This wasn’t a regular request; something was wrong.

  “Then let’s go,” Dwade said and walked out the door. The others had no choice but to follow him.

  When they went into the hall, the guards surrounded them, and they moved as a single unit. Dwade couldn’t make sense of the circle of protection until they reached the halls that opened to the courtyard. The wind was relentless. The trees in the courtyard seemed to bend all the way to the ground. He was surprised the wind hadn’t ripped them up, roots and all. He thought the wind was too strong for fertilization. These Readers are weird. They don’t have anything normal.

  Right at that moment, the soldiers and two guards turned their backs on the guests, raised their arms up to their shoulders, and Dwade could no longer feel the wind whipping against his face. They had created an invisible shield. He had no time to be impressed when they were urging the group on again. Passing through a few halls, they reached the outside wall of the castle where one of the soldiers lifted a trap door near its base. Dwade peered down the dark stairs that led underground, and little lights embedded in the walls flickered on one by one. The soldier standing in the front made a gesture telling them to follow him.

  No one spoke as they walked down the steps. They seemed endless. Then they found themselves in a massive tunnel where horses awaited them. They rode till a narrow gate blocked their way and then walked on and on under the entire city until they reached a crossroads. There were eight paths, all leading in different directions. They took one which seemed at random to Dwade and carried on. Once they reached another junction, the soldiers led them again through a different tunnel. It was confusing and tiring. Dwade was bored with the games of the Readers. If she requested us, then why did she send us to the base in the first place? Immediately, he regretted thinking what he did in case Shasta heard him.

  But her focus was on something else.

  I’ve heard of these tunnels before, she thought and let Dwade hear her. They’re designed to be a maze to confuse enemies if the garrison came under attack.

  Dwade was certain the maze would do the trick since he was completely lost. Good job then. Even such a talented hunter like me could be lost in this maze, he responded. He couldn’t understand why Readers were always on alert and took such heavy precautions. They lived on an island, there weren’t any other races; still, they expected the enemy at their door every day. Granted a war was coming, but nobody who had a healthy state of mind would ever attack Atlantis.

  The tunnel they traveled down appeared to stop at a dead end, but the soldier pushed on the wall and opened it as if it were a door. Inside, there was a lift just like the one in the Glass Pyramid. The soldiers left them with two guards who scanned their fingers and eyes before the elevator door closed, and they ascended.

  As Dwade suspected, the underground tunnels had led all the way to the pyramid, and they now stood before the Chancellor’s quarters where she and her Vice-Chancellors waited for them. Everyone, besides the Chancellor, seemed to exude a sense of unease.

  “Welcome back,” she greeted them and pointed to the chairs around the table for them to sit.

  The gravity of the situation could be read from the Chancellor’s face despite her attempt at a calm smile. Four of them sat without saying anything. “As you can see, we had to call you in before we expected. You must leave immediately. There are reports that the Dvay has split into two factions. Cizan has called on all commanders for emergency defense. We will send units to the mainland, Utsuhapok, but you have no time to lose. Hoglem will go after the Regenerator as soon a
s he realizes we are sending our forces to aid Cizan. We’ve tried to find a secure route for you to travel. I talked with the leader of the Hikar, Raiju. You can easily go to the land of the Zaends from his territory. Once you find the Regenerator, please bring her back here. The baby will be safe here. Don’t worry about the war and focus solely on the safety of the child. We’ll do our best to stop any conflict if it is within our ability.”

  Han, Shasta, and Violen gave the Chancellor an approving nod. They believed in her plan and were confident they would succeed. Dwade, however, was not so easily convinced.

  “You think we will lose the war,” Dwade stated. The words coming out of the Chancellor’s mouth had little meaning, he felt it in his gut. She was trying to stir up false hope, and he wasn’t buying it. If a storm was about to hit, then there would be the rain. And the Chancellor’s attitude wasn’t really promising. On the contrary, it was nervous enough to make Dwade think negatively.

  Amel replied with a fake smile. It was too wide to the point where it hurt. “Everything is always possible, Protector, and we are confident that with the help of the Olym and the Hikar, we will succeed. Just make sure that you bring the Regenerator to Atlantis,” she reiterated.

  Dwade did not press the matter, not wanting to upset the others. There was no use in arguing with her anyway. “We will find her.”

  Amel gave him a wary look but let it go. “Let’s be on our way then. We can only stop the wind for a short moment. The entire universe’s fate depends on you four. Please try to come back before the war intensifies and may the power of the Balance be with you.” Everyone stood and saluted her. The door opened, and there were guards waiting just outside. It was time to say goodbye.

  Dwade, Shasta, Violen, and Han walked behind the guards. It was a mission full of the unknown. Dwade and Shasta knew very little about the outside world, what they had to do or how to survive, and none of them had any knowledge concerning the land of the Zaends. No one had entered their lands for thousands of years. So many years of prophecy lent them pride, horror, gloom, and apprehension all at the same time.

  The guards escorted them back to the aircraft that had taken Dwade from his home. When the wind died down, the ship rapidly took off. Amel and the Vice-Chancellors watched them leave from the Glass Pyramid while the Chancellor stroked her chin in deep thought. Then she quickly turned and exited the room. There was work to be done.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The aircraft, Ulhak, took off hastily, and Dwade strapped himself in his seat the same way he did before although everyone else remained standing. From the window, he saw the tiny figure of the Chancellor as she watched them depart. What are you up to? He scowled down at her. He was scared the war would be far more catastrophic than anyone anticipated. There were things he couldn’t really understand. Why did some races support a mad commander? If that commander only wanted depopulation of mankind, why were the Creators pregnant? Why were the Readers so afraid?

  While Dwade was burdened with thoughts about the situation, Shasta excitedly moved about the aircraft trying to keep Han’s attention—though she was unsuccessful.

  The captain, who they had no time to meet during the quick take off, approached to give them a proper greeting. Dwade stood carefully. He felt a little dizzy but ignored the disorienting feeling and walked over to the others. It was easy to understand which tribe the captain belonged to from his black dress and silver motifs. Two nights in Atlantis and Dwade already felt like an expert in distinguishing the tribes of the Readers. He looked closely at the man’s face. There is something strange about him. His sharp and pleasant lines and the beauty of his green eyes overcame the only physical flaw all Readers possessed—an enlarged head.

  The captain greeted Violen as if she were an old friend; it appeared they had worked together before, but he turned his attention to Dwade once he approached. “I am Commander Kajleh, the captain of the Ulhak. It’s an honor to meet you, Protector and Visionary Reader. May the Balance be with you.”

  “And with you,” Dwade replied. He thought he noticed a flash of suspicion in the captain’s eyes, but Dwade was uncertain. Maybe he had just read him wrong, or he was simply becoming paranoid.

  “Please follow me so we can talk a bit about your journey,” Kajleh said as he walked toward the front of the aircraft with long strides. With him on the move, the crew became more active. The walls of the large ship started opening like doors.

  It caught Dwade and Shasta off guard; it hadn’t occurred to them there might have been other rooms on the craft. It was far more massive than he’d realized when he first traveled inside it.

  They entered a smaller room with a round table and chairs at its center. They stood around the table waiting for Kajleh to begin speaking. “Because things developed so rapidly, it is up to me to brief and warn you. Due to the Founding Agreement, no aircraft can fly without permission over Utsuhapok. That is why I can only take you to where our land borders the land of the Hikar.” He touched a small button, and a hologram of the world appeared on the table. The map was labeled with the names of all the lands of the races, and everyone bent closer to have a look. “The most reasonable route you can take to reach the Zaends is to pass through the Hikar’s land and then sneak past the Tholen. The road will be more challenging this way, but it is the only way to go if one cannot fly. Once you reach the entrance to the land of the Zaends, hopefully, it will be easy for you to reach the Regenerator from there.”

  A curious look came over his face as he spoke, almost as if he didn’t even agree with what he was telling them. The hair on the back of Dwade’s neck stood on end. Kajleh hadn’t told them everything. He looked to the others to see if they had noticed, but they appeared to be oblivious as they concentrated on the captain’s words. Except for Violen. Her brow furrowed too as her eyes narrowed.

  “But aren’t the Tholen siding with the Dvay?” Dwade asked.

  “Yes, that is why I humbly advise you, no matter what happens, to stay away from the Jatuk, Dvay, and Tholen. These races you cannot trust.” He looked into the eyes of each of them to be sure they understood. “No matter what,” he reiterated. “I assure you they will not hesitate to eliminate you.”

  Fear squeezed Shasta’s chest like a vice. She wondered why she was even there. She hadn’t seen any visions in the last few days, not since the Protector arrived. Maybe her duty was over, and she was just walking to her death.

  Violen and Dwade nodded, appearing calm in the face of such danger.

  Han replied, “Of course we will be careful, no worries, I have been there before.”

  Shasta and Dwade looked at him with wide eyes. Maybe the Chancellor was right about sending him with us, Dwade thought, although he’d never admit it.

  Seeing that his warning had sunk in, Kajleh continued with their instructions. “Once you obtain the Regenerator, you can take the same route back. Do you have any questions?”

  There was silence. They all had many questions but weren’t sure how to ask them. From Kajleh’s briefing, everything seemed so easy. Follow the map, stay away from Dvay, Jatuk, Tholen, get the girl and come back. However, that was not reality. Dwade wanted to ask about their chances of surviving the journey but couldn’t figure out how to ask it in a proper way, so he finally just said, “Captain, from what we’ve been told, we were under the impression this mission would be difficult to achieve.”

  Kajleh countered with a serious look. “It is, Protector. Do not let my simplification of the situation fool you. This will by no means be an easy task. You will face mortal dangers. Even in the best-case scenario, none of us really know how you may enter the Zaend lands.”

  “Then we need weapons,” Violen intervened.

  Kajleh nodded. “You will be issued arms, and there are horses tacked and ready for you as soon as we land. Meanwhile, Protector, your Kama is ready.” He took out a small box from out of the pocket of his jacket and offered it to Dwade, bowing respectfully.

  Dwade took the box,
and as soon as he opened the lid, an unusual sensation came over him. Whatever the Chancellor had done to his bracelet, it emitted power as though it were charmed. He became unsettled knowing the Chancellor had something to do with this.

  Shasta came closer to Dwade and whispered, “They have reordered the atomic structure of the bracelet. The strange feeling will go away soon. Don’t be worried.”

  Dwade wasn’t sure if her words should make him relaxed or not. The feeling was odd but pleasant. He put on the bracelet, closed the lid of the box, and gave it back to Kajleh. So many unusual things were happening, and Dwade had already stopped being surprised by odd feelings or extraordinary situations. He was declared the Protector, what could be more extraordinary than that. A village boy was about to save his race.

  Kajleh softly said, “We are approaching our destination. Let’s return to the main chamber.” The group followed him single file out the door, leaving the hologram of the earth glowing behind them.

  As they reentered the chamber, Dwade took his seat and buckled himself in, this time watching Shasta as she hooked the two pieces of metal together and mimicked her. With the sun just setting, they descended through the clouds, landing softly on the water. They traveled over the ocean until they reached the shore where the aircraft finally stopped and released the ramp.

  Kajleh watched the Protector and the Visionary Reader anxiously as two soldiers brought a large rack of weapons toward them. “Please pick your weapons before you leave.”

  Dwade took a closer look and frowned. Half of these he had no knowledge how to use. He found it prudent to leave those weapons be. “I will take the sword, a knife, and the bow and arrows. I don’t know how to use anything else.” He stepped away from the rack.

  Violen took a flat metal plate, a piece of leather that she wore on her palm by inserting her fingers through a series of loops, and a sword. Han nearly took one of everything, and Dwade wondered how he was going to manage to carry it all as he began hooking the weapons to the belt wrapped around his robe.