The Strange Adventure of Maria Mercado (12 page)

             
“I  - we – have important information to tell the Royals,” said Jasper.

             
“What is this information?”

             
“Please, sir. I need to talk to them directly.”

             
“What is the information pertaining to?”

             
“The Unknowns,” Jasper said.

             
“Wait here,” the Bostav said, as he retreated to the palace. Another Bostav immediately took his place and just stood guard in front of Jasper and Meeka.

             
“Do you think they will let us in?” said Meeka.

             
“They have to!” Jasper replied.

             
They waited a few more minutes for the Bostav to return. Presently, they saw him walking back towards them. The other guard left and went back to wherever he was stationed to earlier. The gate slowly opened, but just enough for Jasper and Meeka to get through. They entered.

             
“Follow me,” the Bostav said.

             
The two of them walked slowly behind him. Jasper was constantly in awe as he saw more and more of the palace.  The golden door and the golden columns along with the marble floors of the main area were luxuries that Jasper hadn’t seen before.  Meeka was also in awe as he thought that the place looked even grander than the last time he was there.

             
The Bostav led them upstairs and into a room. “Wait here,” he said. The door closed behind him and Jasper and Meeka sat down on the chairs that were placed by the table.

             
“Do you think they’re coming to talk to us?” asked Jasper eagerly.

             
“Maybe, or maybe just another Bostav to get the information,” Meeka replied.

             
“But I need to talk to the Royals themselves!”

             
“Well then you will have to convince the Bostav of that.”

             
It wasn’t too long before the door opened again and the Bostav entered. “Follow me,” he said again. The two got up and walked behind him.

             
“Are you taking us to see the Royals now?” Jasper inquired.

             
“They are occupied at the moment. I have been instructed to bring you to the dining hall for sustenance.”

             
“Oh good, I am starving!” Jasper said.

             
“Me too! Although I think my stomach needs to adjust a bit more before I can actually eat anything,” said Meeka, looking at Jasper.

             
“Haha sorry. I know I am fast and you’re probably not used to it. You stomach will settle down in time.”

             
The Bostav led them to the dining hall where they sat on the golden chairs in front of the huge golden table. One by one, Mestons brought them some food and the two, famished from their journey, started eating. Presently the old lady Martha who was previously talking to Maria walked in, carrying a tray of fruits. She saw the two eating at the table and she immediately dropped the tray on the floor and held her hands over her mouth.

             
The two at the table turned around to look at what was happening. Jasper’s eyes and mouth opened wide.

             
“Jasper?” the old lady said.

             
“Grandma?” replied Jasper.

The old lady nodded her head, smiling, as the boy ran to her and hugged her with all his might.

***

The five figures woke up in the dark. Slowly they got up and composed themselves. They need to feed before they can do anything else. One of them got up and went to the pile of animal carcasses nearby while two others moved the potion-filled cauldron from the pile of burnt wood and set it aside. Another one lit the fire while the last one put a new cauldron over it.

The five of them cooked the meat and turned it into a stew. They ate, and when they have finished what was in the cauldron they ate the last of the fruits from the trees nearby. It seems like everything they touch dies; the trees around withered and stopped bearing fruit.

The five quenched their thirst with water. They carried more water in little containers to take with them to their journey. The also scooped up the potion that they had concocted into potion jars. One of them noticed that the Diamond of Astanfe was missing from the bottom of the cauldron.

“It is gone! The dagger is gone!” he exclaimed.

“Impossible,” said another.

“Someone had taken it! It was one of you!” said another one. Even though they are all in the same group there is still general mistrust among them.

“Let us search one another then!” said another one.

              They did just so but there was no sign of the dagger amongst them. Prince Amir got up and spoke.

             
“Brothers and sisters, it seems that we have been robbed. But no matter, the potion should work just fine without it. Let us get ourselves ready and head on to the palace. Whoever took the dagger will most likely end up there as well. When we have the human girl’s support, it will be but a small matter to find the dagger again and destroy those who wished to destroy us. Come brother and sisters – we must work as one!”

             
The other four nodded in agreement. They gathered the rest of the things they needed and packed them up and carried them. Soon after, five figures in black robes can be seen making their way from the deep part of the forest westward, towards the palace.

CHAPTER
TWELVE

She is so beautiful,
Jonas thought to himself. His eyes were closely watching Reeza, fellow warrior of the southern Mestons and the only woman that Jonas had ever cared for.  She had long black hair like most women of the Meston tribe; her eyes gives off a sultry look and easily hides her true emotions. The other trainees don’t seem to notice his love-struck look towards her. Jonas was trained to hide his feelings, under the threat that it can be used against them. But due to the nature of his real feelings towards Reeza, he sometimes slips up but catches himself before he noticed anyone looking.

             
The first time he saw her in this light was a few months ago, when she proved that he couldn’t beat her in any form of combat. They would train against each other for hours and days on end and the fight would always end up in a stalemate. This whole time spent with her had made Jonas fall in love. But he knew that there could be no possible future for the two of them together, as they are being trained to be spies, in full servitude of their tribe. But still, he kept looking at her with eyes that clearly echo what he is feeling inside.

             
After their training is completed they would be sent off to different parts of the kingdom on various missions and assignments. It is possible that he would never be able to spend time with her again. But Jonas was in love and in his mind he would at least give it a chance before he gave up.

             
He approached her when nobody was looking. She turned around as she felt his eyes staring at her.

             
“Hey,” she said.

             
“Hey,” he replied.

             
“Is anything the matter Jonas?”

             
Without replying he came closer to her. She looked him the eyes as he approached, her body relaxed and wasn’t in a defensive position. He gently caressed her left arm, and she followed his touch with her eyes.

             
“You do feel… something for me as well,” he observed.

             
“Jonas… it can’t happen. We both know that it can’t,” she said, as she looked at him in the eyes. “We chose this life.”

             
“But I didn’t know… that it would be possible for me, to fall in love,” he said. “Reeza I can’t let this night go without at least telling you how I really feel.” His put his head forward, with his lips nearing hers. Her eyes shifted from his eyes down to his lips. She wants him to kiss her. Jonas sensed this and obliged. Their brief moment of passion was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps nearby, as the other trainees went about their business. Reeza pulled away from Jonas.

             
“I can’t,” she said. “We can’t do this. We both know that.”

             
“Reeza, there is a chance that we may never see each other after this night. Who knows what dangers we each have to face in our different assignments. You are really telling me that you don’t feel anything for me? That you don’t love me?”

             
Reeza started to walk away, her back already turned to Jonas.

             
“Reeza, I love you,” he said after her. “I will always love you…”

             
Reeza did not turn back.

             
That night, to his pleasant surprise, he got a visitor in his tent. Reeza came in and woke him up. That night, they enjoyed the one and only time they could express their love for one another. The love that was only forbidden because of the lives they chose to live. It was a love that was never meant to be. A way of life that was impossible for both of them.

             
Jonas had to let her go. He finally realized that there was no use to chase after her. Even if that were possible, if they could somehow manage to cheat the system and remain lovers, he knew that she could potentially be used against him and thus be his biggest weakness. The faster he gets over these feelings and gets her off his mind, the better. He needs to focus now on completely being a warrior.

Jonas and Reeza, as compatible as they might be, were bred to be in service of war and not to settle down as a family. Jonas knew this back then but the revelation of a possible child belonging to him had just complicated things. But of course the possibility remains that they could just be lying to him.  Ankar had proven himself treacherous of late while Reeza is extremely loyal to him and the tribe that she will have no problems doing his bidding. The again, Jonas considered himself loyal up until a few days ago, when he heard of the human girl’s kidnapping. There is yet hope to convince Reeza to do the right thing for the kingdom. But still, Jonas does not want to take any chances.

              “You don’t have a child,” he said to Reeza. “WE don’t have a child.”

             
“But she does, Jonas,” said Ankar. “I know the boy.”

             
“That is impossible! I would have seen you if you were pregnant. I would have noticed. And besides, where is the boy now?”

             
“He is being looked after,” Reeza said. “He is in good hands.”

             
“You were away when she was carrying the child, Jonas. And because you two did not go through the traditional wedding ceremony the others of our tribe would have seen to it that Reeza was disgraced for her pregnancy. Therefore I took steps to ensure that no one would ever know of the child, including you.”

             
“No, you two are lying.”

             
“Reeza would show you the mark if her hands aren’t tied up. It is true, Jonas dear boy, you have a son. This is why it is important for all of us to work together. You do want to see your child, don’t you?”

             
“Yes. I do.” He looked down to the floor. “What do we do then, Ankar?”

             
“We need to be patient just a little while longer,” the Elder said. “Help is on the way. In fact, I believe that help is already in the palace.”

             
Jonas was tormented inside. If it is true, if he really do have a son, then he must carefully consider his next steps.  He must now consider the possibility that harm night come to the boy if he didn’t do Ankar’s bidding. This changes everything.

***

              Jasper can’t remember the last time he saw his grandmother. It was definitely when he was still very little. He vaguely remembers watching his whole family tearfully saying goodbye to her. But he was a baby then, perhaps not even a year old. He will never forget when she took him to his arms and explained to him why she was leaving. He doesn’t remember the words she used at the time but he can remember feeling the love. That was the last time he set eyes on her.

             
His parents often talked about Grandma Martha. His father praised her for being a great mother to him and his brother. They talked about how lonely she must have been after her husband, Jasper’s grandfather, passed away. Jasper never met him; he died before he was born. His brothers, Cory and Caro remembered him though and said that he was just as gentle and caring as their grandmother. It was after he was laid to rest that Grandma Martha announced her plans to the family. And they all understood; even though they all begged her to stay and be with them, they knew that once she had gotten an idea on her head there was no convincing her to turn back. And so they said their goodbyes, knowing full well that there will be no visitors admitted to the palace until after the prophecy had been fulfilled and the kingdom is enjoying a lasting peace.

             
The reunion between grandmother and grandson was a sweet moment. Martha hasn’t seen her grandson since he was born. But she knew that this was he; she knew her own flesh and blood.  And now here he is, a grown boy, and he looks just like his father. Martha looked at him fondly as she stroked his hair.

             
“This was a nice surprise,” she said. “I never expected the new visitors to include you.”

             
“It is nice to see you too Grandma,” he smiled at her. “How is life in the palace? This is my first time here. It looks amazing!”

             
“This place treats me good,” she said. “I am at peace with myself, knowing that my actions contributes toward the good of the kingdom. How about yourself dear boy? Tell me about your life. I want to know all about you and your brothers. And how are your parents? Tell me all, we have time; the Royals are busy at the moment from what I’ve heard.” She took a seat next to him.

             
“Well I am good. Cory and Caro are good; they are in the advanced unit. They are so brave! They tell me about some of the things they get to see and do when they are on missions and I want to be just like them. I can run very fast! I still need practice in combat though but in time I will be good at it,” he paused. “Mother and Father are well also. Father still fishes and he said that the fish has been abundant and we are not in need of anything. Mother picks fruit with the other women and she also helps to take care of some of the older ones in the village. They talk about you sometimes, wondering how you are. But they know you are well because if anything happened to you they said the Bostavs would inform us.”

             
“Yes indeed that is true. They really are very kind to me here, and to all the others. Both Meston tribe members work here together in harmony, in peace. Soon this entire kingdom will permanently enjoy that.” She smiled at him fondly. “I am so glad to see you. I miss you all very much, and I am glad that you are doing well for yourself. And what about your friend? Who is the little guy?” She turned around to look at Meeka. Jasper turned too, but neither one of them can see the Omtar. They both got up and looked around the table, and towards the door, which remained shut and the Bostav standing guard outside.

             
“He was just here,” Jasper said. “Where could he have disappeared to?”

             
“He couldn’t have gotten out through the door; the Bostavs have a strict protocol regarding that and we would have noticed,” Martha said.

             
They continued to look for him within the room but it was in vain. The room itself was of an open concept and did not leave many areas to hide. Jasper and Martha looked at each other, bewildered. Meeka was nowhere to be found.

***

              Gadik felt instant relief when the girl had finally been brought to the Royals’ presence. Perhaps now they can ensure that she is informed correctly of the events of the past and thus contribute to her making the right decision. And now he must look for other ways he can contribute now that this mission was a success.

Gadik left the palace and went to the gate to report to the supervising Bostav.  When he arrived there a few others were being sent off with teams to different directions. The other Bostavs, along with some volunteer Mestons who live in the palace are preparing for the war, fortifying the walls and the gates to provide as little as access as possible.

Although magic is prohibited in most areas of the kingdom, there were some who were authorized to use it to brew potions and concoct spells. Their only objective is the well being of the kingdom and to protect the Royals. There was no dark magic allowed in the palace grounds. They can however, create potions that would enable the Bostavs to run faster. They were also working on other spells that can overall help with the defense of the kingdom. Gadik took some of the speed potion to allow him to run faster before asking for his assignment.

             
The man looked up and saw him approaching. “There is something you must do,” said the supervisor to him. “It is a delicate mission; and a dangerous one at that.  Not many are going to be able to pull it off but with your history of success in the field as well as your proven skills and abilities – I believe that you are the right one for the job.”

             
Gadik approached him closer. “I will do whatever is required of me.”

             
“You must take 5 others with you and go to the land of the Doxpats. It is time to wake them up.”

             
Gadik wanted to protest but considered the request for a moment. “I will leave as soon as my team is ready,” he said.

             
Ah, the Doxpats
, he thought to himself.
This will be something new.

             
Gadik had only one encounter with the Doxpats and that was years ago and it did not involve waking them up. The Doxpats are a giant species that spent a considerable amount of time sleeping. They wake up on their own, when their bodies tell them to out of hunger usually. But if they are woken up prematurely – well then that usually means the culprit would have to deal with the Doxpats’ wrath. They had been around since King Astanfe created them in the beginning of the kingdom.