***
The iron bars swung out with a screech. Javin was prodded inside the dank cell by the guard who still held a knife to his neck. On the way down, he'd pressed too hard a couple of times and Javin could feel the damp trickle on the side of his neck. He hadn't dared move his hand to try and staunch the flow of blood for fear the guard would use it as an excuse to push it deeper. Revenge, Javin decided. The guard was getting even for making him the fool in front of his new leader. That brought a smile as he visualized the memory of Saballa spinning into a crumpled heap on the floor.
Whatever happens now, I've made a good first impression.
A shove on the back, and a kick for good measure propelled him into the semi-darkness. The cells were barred on all sides. They saw little light from the strangely lit globes across the far side of the dungeon. The roof was of stone, which, after they cleared the cells, arched higher, vaulting to an immense open area, down which the stairs traveled.
It was the same dungeon they'd been in before, but he'd been relegated to a section far back, away from where anyone would have a chance to see him.
Right out of a Gothic Novel, Javin thought then mentally kicked himself. Gritting his teeth, trying to force his mind to remember something -- anything of substance -- he stalked to the back of his cell.
The floor was strewn with slimy patches of straw. On the back wall sat a bench that doubled for bed and seat. He took a seat staring out the door, rubbing the dark stubble on his chin.
A noise to his right caught his attention, and he turned to see the cell next to him was occupied. Sitting back in the dark gloom another being stared back. Something about the stare made him want to avert his eyes. Maybe it was the memory of the blue lizard.
He busied himself with examining his cell. The first duty of a prisoner: Escape. Javin didn't know where he got that from. By now, these little thoughts popping into his head were more irritating than wonderment. Maybe in the future he'd be able to unlock his memories. That's where these things were coming from he was sure.
He brushed his hands across the rough stone at the back wall then followed it around to examine the bars on to the barred entrance. One of the Lion men guards was watching him carefully from a distance. Javin smiled and waved, which brought a snort from the next cell over.
"I don't think he's very friendly," came the comment from his neighbor with the glaring eyes.
Javin turned as the being stood up from the shadows and moved closer. It was a lion man, but the biggest of the race he'd seen. The majestic figure came forward and rested his hands on the bars separating their two cells. He was dressed in tattered trousers of a sort that Javin was sure once belonged to a uniform. His feet were bare and the fur covering his legs skinned. His arms were similarly marked. A bruise purpled one whole side of his face. His immensely muscled chest was sliced in several places with scabs healing roughly. The rest of his pelt was dank and streaked with grime from the cell, his flowing mane matted. There was a wound on his side that looked like a stab wound had been hastily dressed, then ignored.
With all the injuries and grime, he was a handsome figure, powerful in bearing and regal in appearance. Here is a serious leader, Javin thought. No wonder Tranthra' Joh has him down here. Too much competition otherwise.
"It would seem they haven't been too friendly to you," Javin said, inclining his head at the injuries."
"Hazzards of my position, I'm afraid," the being responded, the quirkiness of a smile crossing his face. "They didn't want me to be around, for fear of what I might do."
"It seems they wanted you around for something," Javin noted. "They haven't killed you."
"True, but I'm afraid it's only a matter of time. As soon as I serve my purpose, then I'm going to be more trouble than they want."
"Why is that?" Javin pressed. It was funny that they were talking this way. He didn't know this man from anyone, yet somehow he felt instinctively he could trust him. In any case, talking wouldn't hurt. He may learn something.
"I'm to be used as a form of persuasion, I think," the man said, looking out at the guard who was still staring at them. His voice was pitched low so that none but Javin could hear. Then he looked back at Javin, and caught himself, somewhat surprised that he'd said as much as he'd said. Or at least that's what Javin took out of his expression.
The man shrugged his shoulders, and grinned, showing pointed canines. It was infectious and Javin grinned back.
"I'm Javin," he said holding out his hand. "Javin Cox."
The lion man looked at his outstretched hand curiously then put his own through the bars. "Sauros' Bho is my name."
Javin clasped the limp hand, and shook it. "Pleased to meet you," Javin could tell Sauros didn't know what shaking hands meant for he just looked at Javin and tilted his head to one side.
"That's called a handshake," Javin said. "Where I come from, it's a greeting among friends. Or at least a form of introduction between people who might become friends . . ."
"Ah," Sauros said, pulling his hand back to rest on the bars. "And where is it that you come from. I've never seen a . . . person like you before."
"That's a good question. I don't come from anywhere near these parts." He hesitated a moment. "At least I don't think I do."
Again the lion man tilted his head. "You don't think you come from near here? Don't you know?"
"Sounds pretty lame, I know, but believe me, it's the truth. I don't rightly know where I come from. Just a few weeks ago I awoke in the jungle, naked and alone, with no memory of where I came from, and who I am. All I know is what I told you just barely. My name, that's it . . . Oh, well, that's if you don't count the friendly people I've met along the way. Javin gestured to his surroundings.
"One thing I'm sure about, though," Javin continued, moving just a bit closer to the bars so they could speak in lower tones, "this isn't the planet I was born on. I think I was brought here for some reason I haven't figured out yet."
The lion man nodded, though it was clear he was confused by Javin's explanation. "What's a planet? Do you mean the country here? Is that a term in your language?"
"That's right," Javin agreed. "That's a term in my language, or at least what I remember of it. It means your world here. I guess with the mist covering your world, maybe you don't realize you're on a planet, or that there are other worlds."
"Other worlds?" Sauros asked. "You must mean other countries; those near and far to us."
"In a way," Javin said. "Look, you mind if I sit down? I'd like to talk with you a bit more and I think it would be good to make ourselves comfortable. Maybe there are some questions I can ask that might help me out."
Sauros' Bho gestured for Javin to sit and stiffly slid down to the floor near the bars. "There's nothing else to do."
"Thanks." Javin brushed aside the soiled straw and cleared a place to sit. "First, can you tell me about your city, here?"
Sauros opened his mouth to speak then closed it again, looking carefully at Javin. "I'm not from here. Didn't you know?"
"No," Javin said. "Should I have?"
"You really must be a stranger, then."
"So you're not from this city. How did you come to be here? Are you an enemy? Are they holding you for ransom or something?"
"I'm hardly an enemy -- at least to the legitimate government. You could say I'm an enemy of the usurper sitting on the throne. I suspect I'm being held for a sort of ransom." He fell silent again staring at Javin, then spoke. "I don't know how much I should tell you, but for some reason I think I can trust you. It’s strange. You must now tell me more about yourself. How were you captured? Why were you placed here?"
Now it was Javin's turn to pause. If this big man was an enemy of Tranthra' Joh then he might be on the same side as him.
"I think I've told you just about everything I can," He continued to hesitate, trying to choose his words car
efully, not wanting to jeopardize the security of the princess in any way. For all Javin knew this Sauros' Bho fellow really could be an enemy.
“One thing’s for sure, if you’re not a friend of Tranthra’ Joh then I think we’re on the same side. As for why I’m here . . .” Javin scrubbed his head, trying to think. “I told you about waking up naked in the jungle, right?” Sauros’ Bho nodded. “Then as I wandered around I finally came to this old city. It was hidden in a valley and it looked as if it’d been there a very long time.”
Javin watched Sauros closely hoping that maybe it’d strike a chord of recognition, but there was none. Continuing, Javin spoke of his walking down into the city, even to the point of where he explored the main pyramid. He was just about to start relating about finding the strange gateway, then falling asleep and waking up back out in the jungle, but he caught himself. It sounded impossible even to him. There was no reason to make his new friend think he was crazy as well as strange. Quickly glossing over and giving some explanation about being back outside the city without really learning anything, and then being captured and brought back here. At the last, he didn’t know whether he should say he’d been taken in front of Tranthra’ Joh, for then he’d ask questions about who he was with. That’d bring in the princess, and it wasn’t something he was ready to talk about. Being safe he left it out, instead focusing on the chameleon men. At the mention of them, Sauros definitely reacted.
“The Pontu’ Gi!” He growled. “They are people of legend who the Keepers have always preached would come from the hidden parts of the country to save us! Instead they are only another tool being used by Tranthra’ Joh to take power!”
Javin was silent for a time, looking at Sauros. He was breathing heavy with anger, his teeth clenched. Then it hit Javin.
“They attacked you too! You and a delegation coming here to help the princess! You’re the prince she was talking about!”
Sauros’ Bho hissed in surprise, jolting back.
“Don’t worry!” Javin held up his hands, looking back at the guard who was now standing over by another, talking, so they hadn’t noticed Sauros’ reaction. “I was captured with her. She’s been looking for you.”
A fur covered hand shot through the bars faster than his eyes could follow, grabbing him by the throat. His breath caught and he felt claws extracting from fingers starting to sink into the skin of his flesh.
Why do I keep making such good impressions? He thought, struggling a losing battle to loosen his new friend’s death grip.