Chapter 11
Javin grasped hold of the great hand encircling his throat. He could feel the claws extracting and starting to pierce the skin. There was nothing he could do, the grip continued to tighten cutting off his wind, but he continued to pry with all his strength, turning to look directly into the eyes of the giant lion man. He saw something there. Rage and hurt burned, but then they started to soften, as did the grip, and his eyes grew wider, realizing what he was doing. Finally the grip was released, and Javin gasped a large lung-full of air.
"I'm sorry," Sauros gasped. "I did not realize what I was doing. When you mentioned the Princess, I thought you might have had something to do with harming her. When I realized you were here in the cells with me, I knew I was wrong."
Javin could tell he still wasn't sure. Massaging his bruised neck, he decided that trust breeds trust. This, after all, was the man the princess had risked everything to find. He needed to know as much as Javin could tell.
"Look, let me tell you how I know of her. I'll warn you right now you're going to think this is really crazy."
He started from waking up in the middle of the tall grass, to the giant lizard, to the chameleon man, to the temple, almost all of it. He didn't mention anything about the crystal residing above his breast, nor the fact that they'd dubbed him one of the legendary Mulda’ fi. He wasn't sure he believed any of that himself.
Javin watched Sauros closely. Only his eyes widened slightly as the tale progressed. Javin saw his jaw clench when he told of the fight and capture of the Princess, and anger again flared in his eyes with the mention of the audience with Tranthra' Joh.
"So the Princess is here and safe . . . at least for the moment." It was a statement filled with resolve. Sauros looked around the cell, as if willing some way to escape.
There was silence between them for a time. Finally Sauros spoke.
"Your story is truly amazing. I'm not sure I understand it, much less can I say I truly believe. But, for some reason, I have a feeling you have spoken true.
“That the Princess is here, I have no doubt. There's been a subtle change in the guards, as if anticipating something, and now I know the reason."
Javin nodded.
Standing, Javin walked around his small cell again, looking it over then peering out through the bars at the posted guards. They still ignored them knowing there was no escape. But there had to be a way!
He sat back down near Sauros. "You sure we can't find a way to bust out of here?"
"Believe me, I've tried. You're welcome to see for yourself."
"Not right now," Javin said, again glancing at the guards. They could talk freely as long as they kept it low.
"Look. Maybe you can help me out a little. I’d like to know a little something about your planet here . . . I mean, your world."
"What do you wish to know?"
"That's a good question. Since I don't really know anything, start off with telling me about the cities, and the people. Are all the people like yourself, or are there different races?"
"Races?"
"Yes. Different, like . . . like the Chameleon men." Javin could tell Sauros didn't understand the term. It must not translate well. "You know, the people who attacked you, the 'Pontu’ Gi.'" He remembered the name given them by the Keeper.
"Oh, I see. Till now, I had known of no other types of people other than us -- Including the 'Pontu’ Gi.'” There was a slight sneer to his voice. "Until attacked, I had only heard the legends regarding the Pontu’ Gi, never seen them. I just figured them as myths, and didn't worry about it."
"I see," Javin rubbed his chin. "Tell me about your cities. How many are there? Where are they located? I figure that with the armies and guards all around, you must have trouble between them."
Sauros hesitated a moment as if gathering his thoughts. "You ask quite a bit, but I'll try to answer what you ask if you'll slow down your questions enough for me to answer."
"Okay," Javin said. He made himself comfortable.
"First," Sauros started, keeping his voice low, but taking on a tone of voice that said he was deep in thought, trying to make sure of what he was saying. "For as long as anyone can remember there have been seven cities of the Miernah’ foh, my 'race' as you put it. Our cities have been evenly spread across our world to occupy all the space we know of. Each city spaced within 20 days of travel to the next closest. Those closer are more known to us. Still, over the years, there have been disagreements and disputes. There have also been times when the ruler of one city would think he or she knew best, and take more than her own city under rule through intrigue or force of arms.
“Sometimes they have been successful for a time then it would always work out somehow that the rule would eventually return to the native people of the city.
"So yes, we've had wars between cities. Rarely does it involve more than two cities fighting back and forth. The other cities keep out of their way, not wanting to get involved and leave them to their own ends. At the same time, there has never been a time when the cities were truly united in peace. That had been a hope of my father. A hope I'd shared. Part of that hope was going to be realized with the wedding of the Princess and me." Sauros' Bho grew quiet for a time before continuing.
"We had hoped that we could unite our two cities, if not politically, then at least make an alliance that would foster trade and exchange of culture and ideas. And then we could reach out in the same way to other cities. Start to make it so each city would become familiar with the other. Open trade and travel between all the Seven Cities.
"Now, a person can't easily travel between cities without fear of being set upon by strangers from another city. Each constantly has roving patrols out for defense. It has been senseless!
"Don't get me wrong. We are not constantly at war with one another, but we are not at peace either. We cannot travel freely from one city to another without an official purpose or envoy." Sauros smiled, his canine teeth showing. Javin hoped it was in humor.
"These questions should be directed to my younger brother. It is he that has the lust for travel and has visited all the seven cities."
"You have a brother?" Javin asked.
"Yes," Sauros breathed a deep sigh. "At least I hope I still have a brother."
Javin was silent.
Sauros continued.
"He was with me on our expedition to come help the Princess while her mother was sick. When the attack began, I could quickly see we were so outnumbered, it was hopeless, and I ordered him to leave immediately to get help. He argued, but I gave him a direct order he couldn't refuse. Sohorkon set off just as the battle became most dire. I can only hope he made it.
"Just as he departed, I saw two of the Pontu' Gi, chasing after. He is a good fighter, but with those tracking, I don't know."
Javin let things sit between them for a time before asking another question.
"What about your cities. There are only seven? Don't they grow? What about increases in population? Do they all stay within the city, or do the cities just increase their boundaries?"
Sauros tilted his head in apparent confusion. "Our cities always have stayed the same. The population varies but little. I don't think I understand. Why would we want to increase our borders or make more cities? They are as they always have been. We have known nothing else."
"You mean there are no records of fewer or more cities than just the seven?"
"That's all there has ever been. It’s part of our tradition that there be no fewer nor more than the Seven Cities of the Miernah’ foh. As far as the number of people? That varies, but not much."
"Do you limit the number of children then?" Javin asked.
"No! We would never dream of doing such a thing -- at least in my city."
"You mean to tell me that the population just is steady in and of itself?"
"I don't know what you mean, but we do noth
ing to limit births."
Javin thought over that for a moment, before asking his next question.
"How far back do your records go?"
"Our histories go back for a thousand years." Sauros replied, a touch of pride in his voice. There is a group of Keepers in every city, grouped under the Chief Keeper who maintains all the records. We have lost nothing of our history.
"In fact, that is the only group, the Keepers that is, that actually correspond between the cities. They can freely travel back and forth. Their role is a sacred duty, and they share back and forth between cities freely. We all have copies of the histories of the other cities."
"Why?" Javin was starting to wonder about this world. Perhaps it is artificial after all.
"That is our way. I don't question it," was Sauros' reply.
"Is there a history, or evidence of people here before the Seven Cities? What about the ancient city I told you about?"
"I know nothing of other cities. Perhaps they are in the areas that are forbidden to us."
Javin was really starting to get interested now. "Haven't your people ever explored those 'forbidden areas'? Why are they forbidden?"
"They are forbidden! Why would we go where we should not?" Sauros replied, his eyes wide in surprise.
“As to why they are forbidden, I don’t know. Nor have I ever wondered. It is foretold that someday those areas will be opened, and they will reveal marvels beyond our comprehension.
Javin was puzzled. “That’s a strange legend. Usually those types of legends guarantee people will wander into those lands.”
“That is all I know,” Sauros said.
Sauros paused a moment. Then looked at Javin closely. “We are told that if we go into those areas before they are opened. It could spell the end of our world. Nothing more is said and my people do not want to risk it.
“You say that you have been to one of these cities of which I know nothing. Perhaps you have been into one of the forbidden areas and you have found one of those marvels. This ‘gateway’ you have spoken of. Perhaps that is one of these. And maybe the time is rapidly approaching where it will be opened. What think you?”
Javin shook his head. “I wish I knew. I wish I knew half of what I think I need to know, but right now, I don’t have a clue as to what is going on. Maybe more importantly why all this is happening.”
Sauros’ Bho shook his head in agreement. Then they both lapsed into silence.