Chapter 21
Javin scratched the stubble from his face with the sharp edge of his knife. He looked in the mirror and nodded. Shaving wasn’t necessary, as Sauros thought he was hairless as it was, but anything he could do to make him look different than Nemesis he was all for. Shaving was the first thing he’d done when they’d finally been accepted by the Pontu’ Gi. They had been amazed once the beard had been cleaned off. His resemblance to the Pontu’ Gi’s Proving Stone was even closer than before. Javin couldn’t explain it and right now explaining things like that were pretty far down the list.
He’d been able to sleep, though not long. He’d lain awake thinking through all that had happened, and all that had yet to be done. Mouhra’ Lah was captive, Siri had been killed protecting him, Sauros might lose his father, and his kingdom. This whole world had been ripped from its normal course by something from outside. And he was involved because of Nemesis . . . and he looks just like me!
Javin splashed water on his face then took up a towel and dried himself off. It was late in the morning. He didn’t know what to do until night fell and they could finally be about their business.
He wandered from his room into the gathering area they’d met in the night before. The Elders were nowhere to be seen. Probably in their rooms feeling around or something. Javin shook his head and made his way into the adjoining room. An assortment of breads and fruits had been spread on a table. There was drink in the pitcher and goblets off to the side. Javin poured a drink then took up an empty plate and filled it. He sat down to eat and looked up as he heard footsteps coming from the larger room.
Sauros strode in.
“Morning,” Javin said. “Sleep well?”
Sauros looked only slightly more rested. He must have stayed up, worrying. That’s what Javin would have done.
“The food looks good,” Sauros said as he took up a plate and started filling it.
“Hits the spot with me.”
Sauros looked at Javin, his eyebrows furrowed in confusing.
“It’s really good,” Javin said. “Another stupid saying.”
“Oh,” Sauros said, smiling. The humor crossing his face seemed to make the rest of him relax as well.
“Dahken has gone out to start contacting the nobles. I don’t expect him back before we leave.”
“Think we’ll be able to pull it off?” Sauros gave Javin a blank stare.
“I mean, do you think we’ll be successful?”
“We have to be. There is nothing else that is acceptable.”
Javin smiled. “That’s the spirit!”
Sauros laughed. “Did your own people have as hard a time understanding you as I do?”
“I don’t know since I can’t remember. Remember? Chances are I’ll be equally confusing where ever I end up.”
“Of that I can believe.”
Silence fell between them for a time. Javin didn’t know what to say, but he knew what he felt. He was nervous. They were walking into this almost blind. The way the city was on alert they’d be extremely lucky to get into the palace, much less get all the way to Sauros’ father. After that, it was anybody’s guess.
“Come, the way is clear.” Sauros motioned for them to step out of the doorway of the house and move across the avenue. The shrubbery swallowed them quickly and they crouched through the path they’d traced only the night before, back to the passage. Javin gathered the cloak tight about him, keeping it from catching on the shrubbery as they moved through.
Javin had gone back to his room shortly after breakfast, as had Sauros. There wasn’t much to say. Sauros was too rapt in his concentration and worry, and Javin was thinking about his role in all this. One thing was certain, if they ran into Nemesis, Javin would handle him. That was his role, no matter what else he was supposed to do. Then maybe he’d get some answers.
The passageway swung open and the Pontu’ Gi Elders ducked inside, followed by Javin. Sauros came through and it clicked shut behind. “This way.”
They followed Sauros down. Javin left the cloak in a pile where he could find it later if necessary. They’d decided it would be better for Javin to be seen the way he was. It would cause confusion, especially to those who were following the man calling himself Yah’ Winn. Even a moment’s hesitation could swing the fight in their favor.
They traveled a distance down several branching corridors, going deeper into the hillside all the time then Sauros stopped.
“From here we move up under the palace.”
Javin was heartened that their way was more direct this time. One path led spiraling up on a steep angle and Sauros didn’t hesitate to stop and read any of the markings. He knew right where he was going.
A feeling of exhilaration filled Javin. For the first time since he’d been on this world he was doing something proactive rather than reactive. They were doing something. Starting to set things right. Offense was finally on the field. Javin stopped short. Offense? Defense? He knew the concepts but not where they came from. Javin shook his head and kept going. One of these days I’m going to figure out where all this is coming from!
“Here we are,” Sauros announced in a whisper. “Through that opening are the lower dungeons. There is only one way up through the palace. Preegha, send the Elders up through. They must gather your warriors. If they’re with any of the other guard, leave them for us. We can’t risk any alarm being raised until we’ve been able to secure the king. If they know we’re here, that’s the first thing our enemies will do.”
Sauros would have a hard decision if they held the king. Would he choose his city, or his father? They could still make the plan work just by virtue of the proof they could present. And if the Pontu’ Gi would switch sides. Sauros could call on the forces loyal to him in the city, and they would follow. But that would almost certainly mean death for the king, and possibly many of his own people.
Preegha silently touched the three who were with him and they each folded their arms across their chests, bowed their head, and faded from view as they turned and moved through the opening.
“It is done,” Preegha said. “Once they have contacted all they can in the palace, they will spread through the city with the same intent. Those whom they contact will not betray us until they know it is time.”
Javin was about to ask how they’d know it was time, then caught himself. They’d feel it, he thought with a wry grin.
Preegha was to stay with them, to call in his warriors if they came against some with the other guard. That’s when Javin and Sauros knew they’d have to fight. The guard should be confused with the Pontu’ Gi switching sides. Whatever happened, they’d have to keep it quiet or everything would fall apart.
“Let’s go,” Sauros said.
They moved to the opening and hesitated. They could hear some voices. Sauros stiffened then moved ahead. He didn’t stay to the wall like they’d planned. He moved directly into the large open room filled with empty cells moving faster than caution would dictate. What had he heard?
Javin followed closely, barely being able to make out the outline of Preegha as he moved beside. “Our warriors in here have been contacted. They’ve left with the Elders. There are no others except those in cells.”
Javin nodded, relieved. Sauros continued to move through the room, ignoring Preegha’s words. He went up a small flight of steps and down one aisle of cells. That’s where the voices had come from. They’d fallen silent. They must have heard Preegha, or maybe noticed their guards had disappeared.
“Sohorken?” Sauros said in a low voice. There was silence then a hissed whisper.
“Sauros!”
“I’m here. Where’s the key?” Sauros darted forward with Javin close on his heels. He stopped and shuddered, his eyes blurring with sudden moisture.
“Siri!” His mouth went dry. “You’re alive!”
“Javin?”
Javin
could see Siri standing up in the cell, hand over her mouth, eyes wide. “Is it really you?”
“How . . .”
“Not now,” Sauros snapped. “The keys, Sohorkon!”
“The guards had them. They’ve gone. I don’t know why.”
“These will open the door,” Preegha materialized right next to Sauros as he was looking at the lock. “My warriors left them so they wouldn’t make noise as they moved. They’ve gone to help bring back the rest.”
The reunion was short but sweet. Sohorkon quickly outlined the fact that there were few guards not Pontu’ Gi in the palace. He’d seen none of the regular palace retainers except for the Keeper.
Javin had carefully taken Siri in a hug, mindful of her bandages, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“I thought they’d killed you!”
Siri giggled with her relief at being rescued.
“Hshhh!” Sauros quieted them all. “We still have much to do.” He was still clasping wrists with his brother. Relief was plain on his face as he cautioned them. “At least we have more to help in the struggle.”
“Yes,” Sohorkon said. “But this time we stick together!”
Sauros nodded. “Together!
“We’ll go through the back ways as much as possible. Remember, anyone not Pontu’ Gi is an enemy,” Sohorkon nodded agreement and spoke.
“They follow Yah’ Winn. These men are not friends of any city. They are not loyal to anyone but their own ambition.”
Sauros looked at them all, and pointedly to Preegha. “If they resist then, don’t hold back! That simplifies things. Can you get that word to your people?”
“It is done, Mulda’ fi. All are close enough,” Preegha said.
I definitely need to learn how to do that, Javin thought to himself.
They started off again, this time getting back to moving quietly. The first hall off the dungeon was unoccupied. They reached a branching corridor and followed it. It too was vacant. They picked up the pace. The longer it took to secure the king, the less chance they’d be successful.
They came to another branch and Sauros slowed. He turned back to the group. Sohorkon stayed just off his shoulder. Javin was amazed at how much they looked alike, though Sauros was clearly older and larger but not by much.
“We have to go into the main palace corridor now. I’m certain we’ll run into guards here.” He pulled his long dagger out of its sheath. Javin did the same. Preegha merely nodded. Siri clasped Javin’s shoulder. He patted her hand. “Stay behind me,” he said as Sauros opened the door and they all stepped out, moving as quickly as Siri could move.
The corridor was long, wide and sloping up. It was filled with tapestries and small statuettes situated in alcoves and wide spaces as richly appointed palace should. Sauros and Sohorkon were sure footed, knowing exactly their destination. Javin kept flicking his eyes down the side corridors as they passed. It wouldn’t do for anyone to catch a glimpse of them off to the side and raise the alarm. If anyone saw them, they’d have to be subdued.
They neared a corner, and as they rounded it, came upon a small detachment of five guards. They looked stunned, but drew their blades. Javin barely glimpsed as Preegha faded from view and became a blur of movement.
Javin gently made sure Siri was behind him and moved forward. “What do you here?” he said in an authoritative tone.
The guards looked puzzled. They were dressed in a black uniform with a sunburst emblem on their breast. Two of them paused and put a fist to their breast in salute, the other three just stared. It was enough.
One at the back collapsed. That’s where Preegha went! Sauros and Sohorkon moved forward with him.
As one they lunged, each taking a guard. Sohorkon swung a heavy fist and caught his across the jaw. Sauros had turned the pommel of his dagger and drove it into the chin of another and he collapsed. Javin ducked under a slashing blade and came up with an uppercut blow that laid his guard out. The remaining guard opened his mouth to cry out, but was hit from behind, again by Preegha. All five guards lay on the floor.
Javin looked around. No one else was coming. Siri moved up. “I know these men. They are attached to Tranthra’ Joh.”
“I can see he’s keeping it in the family, then,” Javin said.
Sauros looked blankly at him, then reached down and grabbed two of the unconscious guards by the uniforms. He began dragging them off into a side corridor. “We need to hide them for as long as possible.”
“We don’t have anything to tie them up, or gag them,” Sohorkon said, as he grabbed two more and began following his brother. Preegha shrugged and grabbed the final guard and followed.
“We don’t have time anyway,” Sauros said. They should be out for a while. Long enough . . . I hope.
“Come!”
They started up the corridor again. As soon as another passage they could follow opened up, they took it. It was smaller, steeper, and completely vacant. “A servant’s way,” Siri guessed in Javin’s ear.
They went up two levels then slowed again.
“We’re almost there,” Sauros turned. “This is where they will have the most guards. We may have to use more than the blunt ends.”
Sohorkon hefted the long blade he’d acquired. Preegha stood passively. Javin nodded.
“Ready?”
He pushed the door open slightly and peered through. He turned back and nodded. The door swung open and again they were into the broad corridor. This one was more opulent with décor. Small stanchions held vases with flowers and ferns, most drooping from lack of care.
It’s amazing what you pick out, Javin thought. Looks like Yah’ Winn and his people aren’t much for nice and pretty.
They moved as quickly as they could up the broad corridor. The far end terminated in a smaller doorway guarded by a larger detachment of soldiers. Two, seeing them ducked immediately through the door and the rest, Javin made out about seven, drew their long blades.
“The entrance to our father’s private chambers,” Sauros said in low tones. “The Pontu’ Gi’s sudden departure must have alerted them. At least there’s no way for them to get past us to gather more soldiers.”
“What counts is what’s on the other side of that door,” Sohorkon said.
“And the only way to get there,” Sauros answered, “Is through them.” A mirthless smiled crossed his face as he drew his long dagger. Sohorkon followed suit and moved to stand beside his brother
Out of the corner of Javin’s eyes, he saw the blurred movement of Preegha as he again faded from sight. Then he drew his dagger from its scabbard in one hand and hefted a long blade he’d appropriated from one of the guards in his other hand. Siri, thankfully, hung back. She seemed to know the best way to help was to stay out of the way so they wouldn’t worry.
“Come,” Sohorkon taunted the guards, “let’s end this!”
They all moved forward, pressing to meet the advancing guard. A loud shout rang from one of the guards as he sprang forward toward Sohorkon, his blade arching in a powerful cut. Sohorkon ducked under and swung a left fist into the man’s gut. He bent low and Sohorkon followed through with the flat of the blade into the back of the guard’s head. He was down.
The rest became a blur of movement, blades clanging, gnarled curses, grunts of pain. Javin was surprised at his fighting ability.
Without any memory, his bodily instinct took over. Three attackers sprang toward him and his blades wove a web of defense. The attackers fanned out, trying to encircle him and rush him from different sides. Javin’s leg snapped out high, taking one man in the temple and he slumped to the floor. Javin’s senses seemed hyper-alert for any opening.
Another lunged forward, point ready to bury itself into Javin’s breast. At the last instant he deflected it with a flick of his shorter blade in his right hand then caught the guard’s extended arm in a vice, and snapped it with an
upthrust of the knee, followed with a head-butt to finish the second.
Behind him the final guard tried a mighty slash to Javin’s exposed back. With an instinct he didn’t know he had, Javin felt it coming, and ducked, swinging his left arm back and around as he pivoted, opening the guard up with his longer blade.
The guard’s eyes flashed wide in shock, as Javin followed through with his right hand driving the dagger hilt deep in the man’s chest. He would have been dead anyway from the first cut, Javin thought, watching with a numbness as the guard fell to the floor.
He looked around. Two guards were still pressing Sohorkon, who’d maneuvered to fight with his back to the wall. Javin leapt forward and Sohorkon, seeing his movement, shouted, fixing the guard’s attention. Javin struck one from behind with the pommel of his dagger. And Sohorkon pressed with a flurry of cuts ending with his blade buried in the guard’s neck.
Javin turned to find Sauros dispatching the only guard left standing. He paused a second to glance at Javin and Sohorkon, making sure they were okay, then both he and Sohorkon sprang for the door and were through.
Javin motioned Siri to follow then darted after.
They sprinted through what Javin thought must be a private audience room. It was vacant. Sauros and Sohorkon were already moving toward a smaller door on the far side, pulling it open.
I wish they’d wait, Javin thought. There’s no telling what’s on the other side of these doors. He glanced back. Siri had come into the room. He jerked his head to the smaller door then went through himself, blades at the ready. What he saw upon first entering made him pull up short.
Three lion-men were lying on the floor. Two were dressed in black uniforms, the third in what looked like ceremonial robes. “Their Keeper,” Siri murmured to him as she caught up.
Preegha was standing to one side of the downed men. So this is where he went. Javin thought. A good thing too.
Sauros was kneeling at his father’s bedside, Sohorkon standing over, a hand resting on his shoulder. Javin and Siri moved up. He nodded once at Preegha. “Well done.”
Preegha smiled and nodded back.
“Is he alright?” Siri asked, moving up to Sohorkon’s side.
“He’s not worse, but he’s still pretty weak.”
Javin came closer. He didn’t know what to say. He could see the pain in Sauros’ face. His father’s hand was clenched in his, his other covering it, talking in low tones.
“I’m here now, father. I’m here.”
“Sauros? My son, is that you?”
“It is, father. Sohorkon’s here too. We’re both here.”
“That’s good. My sons, you’re both here?”
“Yes, father. We’re both here,” Sauros consoled.
Javin turned back to the door. He didn’t want to rush them, but they needed to decide what they were going to do, or they’d have visitors with reinforcements.
“I . . . It’s so hard to think. To keep my thoughts straight,” the king said. “There’s something happening. It isn’t right. You have to help me.”
Javin could see the cloudy old eyes of the king gaze up at Sauros.
“There are people trying to take over the city,” Sauros said. He tried to keep his voice level. “We came to get you out of their control. They’ve been giving you something to make you sick. Can you remember what they’ve given you?”
“I don’t . . . remember . . . In my drink? My food?”
The king’s words were starting to get a little stronger. Javin could tell a bit of fire was returning behind his eyes, like he was struggling, fighting to bring himself back to where he could serve his people, fulfill his duty.
"What . . . is happening?" he struggled to rise, but Sauros pushed him back gently.
"Yah' Winn is false. He's not really Mulda’ fi," Sohorkon said. "The Pontu' Gi were duped too. And our Keeper . . . I don't know if he's been fooled, or a willing part." Sohorkon said the last to Sauros as well as his father. He glanced over to the man still lying in a heap on the floor.
"We had to fight our way in," Sauros continued the explanation. "It won't be long before they come back with more guards. It's almost daylight, we need to get you out of here and get you into hiding. Then Sohorkon and I can go out among the people in your name and have them cast these intruders out from within our walls."
Javin had watched as the king's eyes followed back and forth between Sohorkon and Sauros. His breathing grew more heavy and his eyes wider, the flame behind them growing, though it was obvious his body was still very weak.
"I'll not go into hiding," the king said, suppressing a cough. "I'll not leave to you my duty!"
"But father . . ." Sohorkon said. Sauros glanced at him and shook his head slightly.
"What can we do for you, father?" Sauros said. There was pain in his eyes. He helped him sit up.
"Bring my clothes. You must help me to the balcony, both of you. I must speak to the people. I will not leave anyone in my city that does not belong!"
Sohorkon sprang to get clothing. Sauros helped his father stand. It was plain he was supporting almost all his weight.
"We don't have much time," Javin said. "I'm surprised we haven't had visitors already."
"We must do this," Sauros said. "Father is right. As soon as the people see us all together, and my father tells them the Pontu' Gi should leave, they will believe. It will be best. The people need to hear it from him."
And for your father's sake, he needs to say it, Javin thought. You're a good son, Sauros.
Javin turned to Preegha. "Will your warriors lay down their arms? Will they listen to the king? Or will they fight?"
Preegha hesitated, his eyes closed. "The Elders have found them . . . They have listened . . . They will obey us. Not necessarily the king. I must be on the balcony, as should you, Jah'Vinn."
"He's right," Sauros said. He'd listened to the exchange while Sohorkon had come back and began helping his father dress. "You're the true Mulda’ fi. You must be there."
Javin was stunned. Sauros looked at him, his eyes intense. He knows something! Does everyone know who I am but me? He couldn't say anything, only nod. It was enough. Sauros went back to helping his father dress.
Then Javin's mind kicked back into gear. He didn't like the idea of playing Mulda’ fi, but there it was. He was stuck. If they needed him to stand there on the balcony, he'd do it. Anger started to well up inside. No one asked him if he wanted to be Mulda’ fi. No one asked him if he wanted a crystal put over his heart . . . maybe to control him.
He'd get to the bottom of it . . . later. What mattered now was his friends needed his help. Whatever he could do, he would. The anger began to subside.
"Preegha," he snapped. Preegha bolted upright. "Go and stand guard until they finish. I don't want any surprises." Preegha slammed a fist to his chest in salute and moved, fading from view at the same time. "Where is this balcony we need to stand on?"
"It is through the room we came from, back out into the corridor and down a short way. There is a curtained alcove with doors opening onto a balcony looking over the central square. It is used in festival times and for important announcements," Sohorkon answered. He turned to look at Sauros. Sauros smiled back and nodded. Javin looked at Siri. She was beaming.
Now what have I done? Javin thought.
The king was dressed now and stood upright, facing Javin.
"Who are you? You look like the other, but are different. You came with Sauros?" The king was now assuming his royal mantle. It was difficult, Javin could tell, but his sheer force of will pushed him through whatever haze had been there before, though he still needed physical support from his sons. Javin could tell why his sons loved him. He also could see where Sauros got his inner strength.
"Father, this is Javin Cox," his full name sounded odd coming from Sauros's mouth. "He is truly Mulda’ fi. I have seen it."
Javin didn't know whether he meant the Proving or another place. "He has saved me from our enemies once already, and his being here will help convince the Pontu' Gi, to leave us, to go back to a peaceful way."
The king stared at him a long time.
"Come, the light approaches." Sauros finally said. Only now did Javin realize how much time had passed.
They moved through the room. As they neared the door, Preegha faded back into sight. "There is no one coming. The palace feels empty of our enemies. I feel confusion. Our young ones turned on those they could isolate. I cannot feel any others." He spoke to Javin, not to Sauros. That made him uncomfortable. Sauros seemed to accept it.
"Do you feel the other?" Javin asked. He didn't say who he meant. He didn't need to.
"He is not here."
Javin didn't know whether to be glad or disappointed. Looks like our appointment has been delayed a bit. "What now of warriors?"
"They are ready to do whatever must be done."
Javin got the point. There was still a whole lot they didn't know. Could they risk the king standing out in the open? That wasn't his decision. He turned to the king, addressing him directly.
"If you stand out in the open there will be danger. We don't know where the other guards have gone. It worries me they haven't come after us. Nemesis certainly left better instructions to keep you under wraps."
The small group blanched at the name Javin had used. Nemesis. It means something to them! "That is the real name of your enemy . . . and mine." Now I'm adding to this myth thing. I should know better, being so dramatic.
"My people must hear from me," the king was adamant. "There is always danger, even walking down the hall."
Sauros snorted, remembering, no doubt, the string of bodies they'd left laying in that hall.
"My people must hear from me now." There was no arguing with the king's tone, nor did Javin really object. It was the right thing to do. The sooner the people knew, the better, and the king would be in even more danger the longer it went.
Preegha swung the door aside and moved through. Javin followed, leaving Siri to follow behind the brothers and their father. They moved quickly through the audience room and paused at the next door, the one leading out of the chambers into the hallway.
Javin glanced at Preegha.
"The way is clear." He opened the door and ghosted through, his outline fuzzy. Javin followed with his eyes and made the faint form of Preegha continuing down the hall to take up station and watch. Javin turned and gestured for Sauros to bring his father through.
"Down that way," Sauros pointed. "It's not far."
"Preegha says we're all clear. He'll keep in front togive warning. Can anyone get to us from behind?"
"There's only one cross corridor from where the balcony is. Nothing until then," Sohorkon said from the other side as they started helping their father down the hall. The king didn't speak. Javin could tell it was taking everything he had just to remain conscious.
"What about where we came in? The servant's way."
"That is beyond where the balcony lay."
"Good. No one can sneak up on us then until we get on the balcony. I still don't like that we all have to be out there. We need someone to keep watch. The bad guys have been silent far too long. They're going to make an appearance sooner or later. And I don't think I'm going to the like it when they do."
"I’ll watch," Siri blurted. "I don't have to be on the balcony."
Javin stared at her.
"Here we are," Sauros said. They moved to stand beside a curtained entryway. To Javin it looked like the opening onto an elaborate hallway, but as they moved through the curtains, it opened into a small room. At the far side was a set of double doors paned with glass to let light through. Beyond was a small flight of steps leading up on the balcony. The early morning light was streaming through the panes, glinting on the floor in kaleidoscope patterns. It was muted because of the ever present mist shrouding the source of light, but the water molecules also acted to amplify light in darker areas, giving the whole scene a muted glow Javin thought unnatural. It never failed to amaze, but also remind of the utter strangeness of the place he was in.
I'm the stranger here, he thought.
"There's no time to argue," Siri said. She moved aside for Preegha to get past and stand near the steps where they were all waiting.
"No one is in the palace, Mulda’ fi," Preegha said. "I still cannot feel those of Yah Winn." Javin looked at Siri, nodded then turned to the others. "Let's go."
They left Siri in the small room and went up the stairs, Javin and Preegha leading. On the balcony Javin looked down over the broad square. It was filled with people. How did they know?
He looked at Preegha, but he looked as confused as Javin felt.
The people below noticed them and there was a sudden hush as the king moved up to stand at the front of the balcony. Javin moved aside and let Sauros and Sohorkon take up station on either side of their father. He continued to scan the crowd, vigilant for any sign of danger . . . and wondering.
"It must have been Dahken," Sauros murmered to him. "If we did not return before light, he was going to scout around and see if he could learn what trouble we'd gotten into."
"I see he brought a crowd to help," Javin answered. Then his heart had a jolt. Directly below the balcony, but facing the crowd, a phalanx of Pontu' Gi materialized. The crowd started back in shock.
"My people," the king cried. His voice was weak, but it carried. "Be calm. You must hear me."
Javin stepped back and looked across to the other side of the balcony where Preegha stood. His eyes were closed in intense concentration. Javin looked back down off the balcony. The Pontu' Gi held still. One or two turned back, looking into the balcony, looking at Preegha.
"We . . ." the king faltered a bit. The people started to push forward, they could tell something was wrong.
"Dahken!" Sauros called. A man below waived, Javin finally recognized him. "What of the guards?"
"They fled the city," Dahken yelled back. "They are all gone. The gate was abandoned and the Pontu' Gi disappeared . . . until now." He looked pointedly at the gathering in front of him. "I brought as many as I could. I knew you’d need help."
Javin started to tense. The guards gone? Nemesis wouldn't give up without a fight. But Preegha had said he wasn't here. There is something else . . .
A sudden feeling of nervous determination, tinged with fear tickled at Javin's mind. He knew at once that feeling wasn’t coming from him. He was sensing it from someone else. The crystal over his heart grew warm. He looked for the source just as the emotion spiked. He tried to throw up a defensive shield praying it wasn't too late, not knowing how or where the threat was coming from.
It was too late. He heard a swish and thunk! Saw an arrow sprout from the middle of the king's chest.
Sauros screamed in anger and started looking around the gathering. Javin too, only he had the focus of the emotion. There! The shooter.
A man was sprinting down the avenue toward the gate, cross-bow discarded, no effort at all at stealth. Javin had never seen such a weapon here on this world, though he recognized it. Knew what it was. One of Nemesis' men for sure.
The people in the square shouted almost as one with horror. They started to move towards the Pontu' Gi.
It wasn’t them, Javin thought. The people don’t realize!
The Pontu’ Gi whipped their blades up in defense, they started to waiver and fade from view, and the people stopped, eyeing them, beginning an angry murmur.
"There he is!" Javin shouted and pointed. "Down the avenue!" Sauros didn't look. He was too wrapped up in lowering his father gently down, Sohorkon on the other side.
The crowd ignored Javin, they were still edging toward the Pontu' Gi. They didn't believe the Pontu' Gi weren't the cause. To them they were strangers, outlanders who c
ame in and took over the city, the palace, everything. If the king was killed, it must be the strangers!
"Dahken!" Javin called. "It's not them. It's not the Pontu' Gi!"
He couldn't see Dahken anywhere. Where had he gone?
The people continued to move forward, some drawing blades of their own. There were more than enough to overwhelm the Pontu’ Gi, but at what cost to both sides. This had to stop!
Javin looked to Preegha. His eyes were still closed, clenched in concentration. Javin moved over and shook him. His eyes snapped open.
"I cannot reach them, Mulda’ fi. Their minds are too set. They will defend themselves!”
"Can't you call to them? Use your voice?"
"If they won't make place for my touch, they will not make place for my words." Preegha turned an expectant stare at Javin.
"They won't listen to me! I'm a stranger to all of them. Even if I look like the Other, your warriors certainly don't trust him now after the way he abandoned them. And if the city people know I’m Mulda’ fi, they sure don't look like they care right now." He glanced again at Sauros. He paid no attention to anything but his father. Javin could tell he would have another fight on his hands if he tried to take him from his father’s side. Sohorkon too.
Javin's mind raced. How could he stop this bloodbath? The people were moving closer, gathering their courage to rush the Pontu' Gi. It would happen any second. Where had Dahken gone? He might have helped!