Clouds of Tyranny (19 page)

Alex sat on a log several feet from her
hiding bush, smoking a cigarette and waiting for Franklin to show
up. She needed a smoke after that little capture, at first
awakening she had thought the Empire had once again captured her
and this time there would be no escape. She sat there thinking
about her fellow soldiers; Locke, Ray, Pearl, and the rest whom she
hadn’t yet spent much time with. She hoped that Locke was okay
without her and hoped that Terra would somehow get hurt on her
little vacation. “Where’s your blue?” asked Franklin approaching
her from the trees. “Left it at home, not a welcomed garment by the
Empire, you know,” retorted Alex. “Anyways, I can get you ten
shooters and ten rifles to go with them to Harmon, just tell me
when and where.”

“Mr. Locke?” whispered a voice. “Mr. Locke?”
said the voice louder. Locke’s eyes shuddered open to see a young
woman standing in the doorway; she was wearing the colors of
Velxeer. “His majesty summons you and your companions for
breakfast,” said the girl and walked away, shutting the door behind
her. Locke was still half asleep as he looked around the room he
had awoken in and remembered that he was in Velxeer. The room that
king Luther provided for him was fit for a king in its own right.
Locke stood and walked to the mirror next to the oak door and
looked back at his bed; the softest thing he had ever slept on. The
room itself was canvassed in lavender wallpaper, framed photos of
flowers, and carpeted floors; Locke thought it strange to walk on
clothed floors when the material could be used for garments,
What a waste.
Locke glared at himself in the mirror. It had
been so long since he had a shave, his stubble was now forming into
the start of a beard and he hadn’t been eating much lately so his
stomach was becoming smaller by the day, though he knew he would
never be skinny. Locke scoffed at his own image and turned to get
dressed. Locke threw on his clothes, bandana, grabbed his Damascus,
and headed out the door to head for the royal dining room.

Locke walked down the hall into the main
concourse and stopped before the two staircases leading to separate
areas of the castle; he couldn’t remember which way to go for it
had been a couple years since he had been here. “Sir?” asked a
young boy carrying several chain mails. “Its been awhile. Where
does the king have breakfast?” asked Locke. “Of course, take the
right staircase, eighth door on the right then go down that hall
and it’s the third door on the left,” smiled the boy before walking
past. Locke went up the correct stairs to the next floor and took
the eighth door on the right, then went into the third door on the
right. He swung open the door and saw a man in a shiny red robe
kneeling before a large cross on the wall. “Third door on the
LEFT,” muttered Locke. The man looked behind him and his eyes lit
up when he saw Locke standing there awkwardly. The man stood up
quickly and walked toward Locke, “Hello my child. Do you seek
guidance?” asked the priest bowing his head. “Yes I do, Father.
Where’s the dining room?” asked Locke nervously. The priest sank,
“Just across from this room, my child.” Locke nodded a thank you
and back out of the room quickly. He shut the door and exhaled, he
hadn’t been spiritual for close to a decade and he wasn’t about to
start now.

Locke walked into the dining room to see
king Luther, Smith, Ray, Chuck, and another man sitting at the
large oval table made of mahogany. Along the walls were several
armed guards standing stoic,
Hope they’re not gonna be looking
over my shoulder while I eat,
thought Locke. “Good timing,”
said Luther as Locke entered the door while simultaneously a few
servants entered the door on the opposite wall. Locke nodded and
went to sit next to Ray. “Been waiting long?” whispered Locke to
Ray. “No. You just missed about thirty minutes of Smith kissing
Luther’s butt and Luther commending himself on his genius plan, ya
lucky bastard,” murmured Ray. The servants put down a plate of food
in front of everyone at exactly the same time. Locke looked down at
his plate wondering what it was; it was a yellow, green, brown, and
gray ball with some kind of leaf sticking through the top like a
flag out of an anthill. “We don’t actually have to eat this do we?”
asked Ray quietly. “Yes. I promised I’d be respectful,” mumbled
Locke angrily. “Excuse me your majesty, but do your guards have to
be here for this?” asked Locke. “King Luther stood up and
announced, “Dismissed!” The guards standing along the walls saluted
their king and walked in single file out of the room. The king sat
down and nodded at Locke and Locke nodded back respectfully. Locke
was a little bewildered, W
hy is he being so nice to me this
time? Did he promise Smith the same? Or did he just grow up since a
couple years ago?
“Before we partake in the Florentine
Bormagino, let me introduce one of the men going back with you,”
announced the king.
So that’s what this crap is,
thought
Locke. “This is my number one; Captain Reuben Antleon,” continued
the king. Ray leaned over to Locke to make a sarcastic remark no
doubt, “Reuben? Like the sandwich?” Locke chuckled as did Ray at
his own remark. They laughed together and looked over to Smith who
somehow heard them and was glaring angrily at them. They
straightened up and quietly ate their food.

Terra was in their hut alone reading the
book Ruthie had given her. ‘Dr. Anersen confirmed the once
perceived notion that the
spellgene
may pass on either
chromosome. However, the X chromosome spawns a stronger strain than
the Y chromosome. In other words, when a woman passes her magical
abilities to her female spawn they have the potential to be more
severely stronger than a male from either parent.’ “Hmm, so if my
mother had it then I’m the most gifted spell caster?” said Terra
aloud. “Not quite,” said Pearl as she walked into Terra’s hut, “The
strongest spellcasters have a mother and father with the gift.”
“You read the book?” “Yeah, Smith made me and Locke read the book
when rumors of you surface about a month ago.” Terra nodded as she
closed the book. “Terra!” yelled Ruthie from outside the hut, “Get
out here.” Pearl smiled at Terra and left the room. Terra walked
out confused of what the fuss was about. “What’s the matter
Ruthie?” asked Terra. She pointed out to the ocean where it was
midday. Terra looked out to sea and saw what Ruthie was so excited
about; Leviathan. Leviathan was hundreds of years old and about
five hundred feet long with green and blue scaled skin. Leviathan
resembles the largest snake you’ve ever seen with winged fins every
hundred feet and a pointy beaked nose. Terra froze as she saw it
leap out of the water over a thousand feet into the air. “The
legend goes,” began Pearl, “Leviathan was once a threat to humans
but a group of brave warriors battled it for ten days and ten
nights without rest until Leviathan finally retreated back into the
ocean to circle the planet protecting us in repentance for its
malevolence. It comes here this time every year to dance for us.”
They all looked at the Leviathan as it jumped in and out of the
water wiggling and dancing for its audience. “Its so serene,”
smiled Terra hypnotically. “Yes, though some people fear it. Say it
will return for a second fight,” warned Ruthie.

It was getting to be late afternoon as Ray,
Locke, and Chuck went sightseeing in the town of Velxeer. “Whoa!
Did you see the size of these peaches?” yelled Chuck holding up a
peach almost as big as his own head, which was huge in its own
right. “That’s really something,” said Ray. Chuck paid for the
peach as he ate it then followed Ray and Locke as they were heading
into a weapon store. Locke gazed down at the glass case filled with
knives of all sizes, lengths, and widths. “See anything good?”
asked Ray looking at swords on the adjacent wall. “Nothing better
than what I already have. You?” “Maybe. Can I see that one?” asked
Ray to the clerk as he pointed to a sheathed dress dagger colored
emerald. The clerk handed it to him and Ray examined it. He
unsheathed the double-edged blade looked at its sharpness very
closely. “How much?” asked Ray. “It’s free, by word of the king.”
Ray dug into his pocket and dropped down a reasonable amount on the
counter, “You have a family, don’t you?” Locke raised his eyebrows
at the clerk as they both walked out. When they walked out they saw
a Velxeer guard running towards them waving his arms in the air.
“What do you suppose-?” asked Locke rhetorically. “Mraybe e wants
mah peesh,” mumbled Chuck with his mouth fool of dripping juice.
“Mr. Locke, please come quick. Trouble.” “What’s the matter?” asked
Ray. “He’s here. He’s here.” “Who? Spit it out, man,” ordered
Locke. “Krazz!” The four of them ran in the direction of the castle
side-by-side. “How many with him?” asked Locke. “He’s alone.”

They ran into the main entrance to see Smith
and Luther facing a tall man of about six and a half feet with a
large sword along his back wearing a black hooded cloak over a dark
red sleeveless body suit. The man’s face was dark skinned with a
long goatee, evil eyes, and a crooked smile of malcontent. “Leave
my home, Krazz! We have nothing to speak about,” ordered Luther.
“Give the empire what we desire or die.” Krazz’s voice was deep and
without emotion. “Nobody threatens the Returners!” yelled Locke
drawing his sword in unison with Ray drawing his newly purchased
blade. “Locke, no!” yelled Smith. “So, this is Locke,” said Krazz
turning towards Locke. “Yeah, you want some?” asked Locke. Krazz
smiled like he was hungry for a fight, “Where is she? Where is my
girl? The spellcaster, she belongs to me.” “She is not your
property, she’s a person,” interrupted Ray. “That’s right Krazz,
she’s one of us now,” said Smith with conviction. “I have vowed to
protect her,” said Locke walking closer to Krazz, “And if killing
you make her safer, so be it!” Locke rushed Krazz and swung his
sword down trying to split his face down the middle. Krazz wrapped
his fingers around Locke’s blade as it stopped in mid flight;
Krazz’s blood dripped down the blood droplets falling to the floor.
Locke struggled to move the blade down further but it refused to
travel onward. Locke was shocked that this demon could stop his
blade so easily. Krazz smiled maliciously before kicking Locke in
the chest with his humongous boot sending Locke flying twenty feet
back. Krazz threw Locke’s sword in the opposite direction as it
bounced and clanged around. Ray thought about attacking but quickly
realized that a predator to Locke would be his murderer, so he
sheathed his blade. “Now, give me the girl, give me the castle and
you won’t die!” yelled Krazz at Smith and Luther. Locke got to his
knees as Krazz’s back was turned and drew a throwing dagger. Smith
looked at Locke and nodded his head discouraging Locke’s idea.
Locke glared at Krazz wanting retribution more than anything.
Everyone was silent. Krazz wiped his bloody hand on his suit and
began making his way for the door, “Have it your own way.” Locke
stood up as Krazz left through the door. “How the hell did he get
in?” asked Ray remembering all the surveillance in and around the
town. “He’s Krazz,” answered king Luther. “Why the fuck did you
stop me!” yelled Locke so loud his own ears vibrated. “Because, you
can’t kill him,” said Captain Antleon walking down the stairs to
them. “Think about it Locke,” started Smith, “If that ‘thing’ can
stop your sword without even trying, then you don’t stand a chance.
Besides…I sensed something from him. The same feeling I get from
Terra.”

Smith wanted Locke to get checked out in the
infirmary but he rejected the request. Locke spent the rest of the
day thinking.
My girl? Who did he mean? Terra or Alex? The rest
of them assumed he meant Terra because they don’t know of Alex’s
past. But how would he know that I rescued Alex and that she didn’t
just escape? Does he know about our involvement with Harmon? Will
he be in Harmon? Smith senses Terra’s gift? Does he know about Alex
too?
Locke tried to come to some conclusions to his questions
but didn’t arrive at any. Locke, Ray, and Smith stayed in Velxeer
for four more days planning with Luther and his men the future
battle in Harmon as well as a location where messengers from both
sides could meet on a daily basis in case a war should break out in
Luther’s kingdom; Chuck stayed behind. With three days till they
had to position themselves within Harmon they boarded the train to
take them home along with twelve Velxeer archers and Captain Reuben
Antleon. On the trip back to Returner’s HQ the sixteen of them sat
in the same car. Locke and Ray had noticed that pretty much
everyone employed by the Velxeer army was a robot emotionally.
“So…” said Ray breaking the silence, “How long you been with the
military, Reuben?” “Captain Antleon,” corrected Reuben. “Excuse
me?” asked Ray confused. “My name is Captain Antleon and you will
address me as such. And in answer to your question: I have been
with the military since 2618 when I turned fourteen. Anything
else?” answered Reuben with debonair rudeness. Locke began
laughing. “What’s the joke?” asked Reuben. “Nothin’. But rest
assured, I don’t think ANYBODY will be asking YOU anymore
questions,” laughed Locke at Antleon’s expense. “Mmmm,” hummed
Chuck as he ate bread (an entire loaf in his hands with multiple
bites taken out of it.) Ray leaned to Locke’s ear, “You think the
archers are as much ‘fun’ as their captain?” Locke nodded.

It was Terra, Ruthie, and Pearl’s last day
in Sandria and they were determined to make the most of it. Terra
was awakened at sun up by Pearl followed by Ruthie, “Come on girls.
I have a surprise for you,” yelled Pearl running outside. “What’s
she so bubbly about?” asked Ruthie. “That’s the same question I’m
always asking you in the morning,” giggled Terra. “Leave me alone,
I had a rough night,” said Ruthie holding her head. “Yeah I know. I
was the one that carried to home remember?” “You didn’t carry
me…you just helped me walk.”