Читать книгу Conquest of Noomas - Charles Nuetzel - Страница 8

CHAPTER ONE

THE MESSENGER

Observe the moveable lines that bind us. Leap not over restraints, for they provide safe boundaries. Beyond them great danger garners death and destruction.

—Mighty words of the Eemel

I was shocked out of my deep sleep.

A warrior stood in the shadows of our bedroom staring down at me.

Torlo, this is Adt.

I glanced over at Youi lying there in the bed next to me, unaware in her tranquil sleep. I hadn’t disturbed her.

Once again my eyes sought the place where I thought I’d seen the dim apparition of the man.

Nothing’s there now except darkness. It’s just another annoying disruption, like so many nights of late.

I decided I’d merely had a dream about my lost friend.

The last time I had seen Adt Dorta was when we were both fighting against the Dianos and he’d been chained among the prisoners. I had cut him loose with instructions to raise an immediate revolt. Then I was lucky to have found Youi. She and I managed to steal a grav-disk and flee as Adt led the charge against the Diano enemy. That same night a ferocious storm had blown us off-course, sending Youi and me on a perilous journey, into the Noomasian deserts of the nomadic Raiders.

Lately, vivid dreams plagued me. Perhaps, recollections still surfacing from my career steeped in a violent history of warfare.

I reached for Youi.

Her warm flesh was comforting.

The dream was not.

She stirred as I stepped to the window and looked out over the palace gardens. Our spacious suite provided a broad view of Bel-loniea beyond the walls of the Proctor’s palace. I tried to clear my head. Fresh memories of Adt had been stirred up and they refused to leave me in peace.

Determined to redirect my thoughts, I stared down upon the lush pathways, and studied their intricate patterns which had been carefully laid out to form a complex labyrinth. One could become lost among those tall thickets for hours. As I considered the puzzle below, my mind expanded until I found myself pondering on the outer limits of the realm.

Two of the moons of Noomas, Silkenialikaliou and Toolianoscinsi, were high in the night sky and Clinsolnosn, the third and largest moon, was just beginning to crest over the horizon. Its cratered surface resembled a woman’s ancient face watching over our world. It dominated the heavens whenever it appeared in its full phase. According to legend, Clinsolnosn represented two great lovers who had ruled over the world of Noomas. And when it filled the morning sky it was believed that the goddess Clinsol was happy, for her lover Nosn had just proven to be a most satisfying mate.

I smiled to myself, for the tales of Noomas were amusing, ancient myths, handed down from generation to generation. I had studied the astronomical charts following their paths, as well as their lore; when time allowed.

Clinsolnosn appeared most often alone. Rarely would all the moons align together; and when they did, so legend claimed, they created the most potent and magical of moments. From then on, the two great lovers reigned over Noomas, thereafter to continue their magnificent sovereignty for eternity.

I had long ago reached the limits of my tolerance for symbolism; although the sight of Clinsol alone is breathtaking.

Yes, beautiful, but we have other things to attend to, a softly feminine voice spoke into my mind.

The brazen tone stirred memories of the uncanny practice of Mutis who have all too frequently touched my forehead and pierced my thoughts with a solid telepathic directive. Yet there was no Muti present!

I turned to discover two shadowy figures flickering into solidity at the foot of the bed.

Torlo Hannis, this is Sarleni. You don’t know me, yet. I am with Adt Dorta. We wish to meet with you and Youi.

A startled gasp turned my attention toward Youi who had bolted upright, wide awake, staring at the warrior and the dark-haired willowy woman now facing her.

The man, of course, I knew; the woman was a stranger—unfamiliar to us!

“Adt Dorta!” I lamely greeted, still quite confused about this visualization of a person whom I’d been convinced was long dead.

“I survived,” he announced. “I am real enough.”

Overcome with irrepressible joy and relief seeing Adt alive, I rushed forward to greet my friend.

The woman at his side smiled and bluntly stated: “We have seen your Proctor. You’ll soon understand the details of our haste. We need to meet with you in person before everything changes.”

“Changes?” I echoed, stepping back in stunned surprise. “What are you talking about?”

Adt awkwardly began to explain.

“After I escaped the Diano camp she connected mentally with me. Then we were thrown off by the storm.” He stopped abruptly, hurriedly adding: “Never mind that…will explain later, enough to say we connected. We’ve been to the far side of Noomas and brought back an important message, a warning, and…I can tell you more in person.

“It’s a long story.”

Youi was shaking her head and rubbing her eyes. “Am I dreaming?”

“No,” Adt assured her.

“If not, how did you gain entrance to our private chambers? Where are the guards?”

She sounded more alarmed than hostile; concerned over palace security.

Adt replied: “Not to worry. We’re not in this room, Torlo. We’re projections from my father’s home.”

Then Adt’s words shifted distinctly into my mind: Tonight, come to the Dorta Estates.

We made plans to meet for dinner that evening and then, without further comment, they faded away, leaving us to puzzle over these strange events.

My friend’s survival raised endless questions. And the answers to them would begin a chain of events destined to cause drastic changes in the lives of everybody on Noomas.

* * * *

News of Adt Dorta’s unexpected return rippled through Bel-loniea. The whole nation pulsed with festivities, attracting an unusual number of outlanders in honor of Clinsol, Nosn, Slke, Tions, and all such celestial monarchs. Banners, crafts, music filled the streets. The people had made preparations for celebration in advance.

I noticed an odd tension among the throngs of foreigners milling about, especially the visiting officials throughout the palace grounds.

Tonight’s opening ceremonies in the public park were among the primary events we had hoped to attend. But now we were forced to set aside our plans due to Adt and Sarleni’s sudden arrival.

Rumors filtered down through the social ranks that the son of Kigor Dorta had returned and had brought a mysterious Helandian with him to the city-state of Bel-loniea. Her unusual appearance created dramatic waves of admiring and critical remarks.

Stories quickly spread about this colorful woman from the Northern Territories which caused a great number of distrustful suspicions to arise among the commoners because very few facts concerning the polar region ever reached the populace.

Officials representing our political allies began making their scheduled public appearances in honor of the Three Moons Celebration. A great number of Mutis were also circulating throughout the palace and parliament grounds.

A serious chill crept along my spine upon noting this.

It was customary to occasionally see one Muti. Only recently had I spotted groups of four or more moving along the corridors of the palace. It was a rare occurrence to see more than one or two Mutis in close proximity to one another. Highly solitary by nature, these silent mystics of the Noomasian landscape roamed freely beneath their distinguishable hooded cloaks, passing all barriers; unfettered by any local authority. But this day, I had seen several clusters of the tall Muti shapes gathering near remote corners of shaded corridors.

Mutis were appearing everywhere, gliding tacitly in and out of the shadows with an air of somber secrecy. I imagined that a universal call might have been raised to bring them to the Proctor’s palace.

* * * *

By early evening the sun cast its last crimson hues across the horizon. Two of the moons graced the heavens and the third would soon complete the spectacular nocturnal trio.

When we arrived at the Dorta Estates Adt and Sarleni greeted us in the gardens beneath the leafy Chilso trees bordering a low lawn. They led the way to the Dorta Manor House through the sprawling complex of single level buildings surrounded by lovely gardened grounds.

A savory dinner awaited us in a comfortably furnished setting, complete with a crackling fire on the hearth.

Sarleni wandered to the fireside gazing into its warmth while Adt poured drinks for us. I studied this lovely young woman while sipping my chalice of Porshi. Her oval face, sparked by high cheek bones and soft full lips was delicately framed with flowing dark hair. She appeared physically fragile, yet gracefully strong, secure, and very much in love. Periodically, she’d favor Adt with gentle smiles and they would touch in a kind of private communication while they took turns telling their story.

We talked over the hearty feast; alternating between our adventures, eager to catch up on lost time. Adt told us about his experience on that fateful day in the Diano camp.

“After you cut me free, we attacked our captors. Chaos broke loose as you threw Kay-bombs down on their camp from the grav-disk flyer you had somehow stolen.”

“I was battling my bloody way through nasty Diano warriors when I heard my name called…in my head! I learned later that it had come from Sarleni—like we communicated this morning.

“The storm caused tremendous disturbances and when our craft was blown off course, we crashed and waited through the night. In the morning after the rains had stopped we were lost and forced to travel on foot. We’d finally reached the sea and headed north. While making our way along the coast we were yanked up into the sky by flying creatures they called Gatherers; half beasts and half machines.”

“Horrors!” I exclaimed.

Adt continued, more forthright than I had expected.

“They were actually stationed as sentinels on board the Haknord slaver ship where we spent a long period alone, in a cell, chained to the floor.”

“Ocean slavers?” Youi asked, leaning forward, intently.

“Yes. You know about them?”

“Just remotely,” Youi stated. “Some say the coastline hamlets have been raided from time to time by callous pirating slavers.”

“You are well informed.”

“As a woman,” she coolly smiled, “or a Proctoress?”

“Sorry.”

Sarleni smirked. “Adt can be crudely blunt at times!”

“Not at all!” he protested, “…just had not expected her—”

Sarleni chopped her right hand through the air, clearly intent on cutting off his words. “Go ahead. Tell them more about our horrid captivity on that slaver ship!”

Adt picked up the story, telling of their imprisonment. “We could not estimate how long the Haknords held us below deck—a nasty business. I don’t think I have ever seen uglier creatures in my life, than those pirates.

“They were creepy, for sure,” Sarleni agreed. “Almost human; they were somehow bird-like, with large hooked noses and thin lips hanging over jagged, yellow brown teeth. And their lidless eyes were big bright orange circles.”

“The leader looked even worse than the crew,” Adt grimaced as he remembered their nightmarish encounter. “The near humanness of its shape was more perverse than its distortion. His grey-blue skin coloration was indicative of a mutation.

“His nose was bulbous; the purplish lips grossly thick and pouty like some kind of ugly fish mouth. The green tinted eyes were large, narrow slits but his weird ears were floppy fat. It makes my skin crawl even now just thinking of it.” He shuddered; but more importantly told us what he’d discovered about their business at sea.

“We found out that they worked for the Kaminaeans, mapping parts of our world under some kind of contract with the Kaminaean Empire. They planned on selling us into slavery, of course.”

Sarleni cut in.

“Moyi and Ju-bilee became our guides and advisers.”

“Guides…advisers?” was my immediate inquiry. “Who are these people?”

“They are notable leaders of great influence in the Northern Territories.” Adt replied.

“Moyi is a vital teacher of the Zygo,” Sarleni added. “But Ju-bilee is a major force to deal with.”

“Some force!” Adt challenged with a mischievous grin.

“A motherly lady,” Sarleni blandly warned. “Don’t you forget!”

“Yes, yes. Of course!” Adt seemed to sulk while Sarleni picked up the narrative. “They first made appearances while we were on board ship; tending to flash in unannounced and then disappear abruptly, like dream makers. They’d come from nowhere and do wonderful things.”

Adt tenderly touched her hand. “I’ll admit, Moyi and Ju-bilee are remarkable, and what they had to teach us was incredible! Merging our mind in one accord…well…it saved our lives!”

He hesitated; glancing at the Helandian woman who said: “Basic Zygo, really.”

Which explained nothing.

“Hardly so basic,” Adt inserted, grinning. “It requires a massive change of attitude before it can be understood.”

Noting our confusion, he resumed his explanation with Sarleni filling in details about this amazing Helandian practice of the mind powers.

“Sarleni was already an advanced student of Zygo and anxious to share her knowledge once my reluctance to believe was shattered.”

“Her people had sent Sarleni down to Bel-loniea to find me.”

“Why?”

“They had their reasons, believe me! They were determined to team us together and send us to meet an important agent…the Proctor, I am certain, will fill in the details later.

“I know this is confusing. Accept, for now, that Moyi and Ju-bilee were instrumental in helping us escape the slavers. We were far out to sea and eventually landed on an island near Kamina.”

“By then,” Sarleni inserted, “we learned about our own mission. We were expected to meet somebody on the continent.”

As they spoke, Youi and I had poured challises of Porshi for our friends.

“I know our experience is hardly believable,” Adt was saying.

We sat on the edge of our seats listening intently, enthralled with their extraordinary discoveries as they continued telling of their amazing journey through unexplored territory.

“Sarleni and I grew immensely during this difficult period. I now know that Ju-bilee was invisibly watching, silently giving us strength and courage to stay on course.”

“When we finally met the Messenger he barely had enough life left in him to give us a few instructions. Talni was his name. His body held the precious chip which we needed to retrieve and bring back to the Free Lands, as they called this side of Noomas.

“Ju-bilee and Moyi, I think, were proud of what we accomplished. However, they never said as much. They most severely demanded secrecy and warned us to trust nobody unless we could probe deep into their minds and know that no Kaminaean spy lurked within.”

We learned, with fascination, how they had developed an ability taught in Helandi. Something about a link of energy we did not quite comprehend. They called this the Zygo.

I noticed Sarleni’s serious face and intense concentration in Adt’s eyes as their voices again blended.

He had as many questions of me as did I of him. We exchanged summaries of our ventures since the Diano War.

I told about rescuing Youi from the Diano camp and of our journey after that same terrible storm had also blown us off course into the deserts. There we encountered nomads who dragged us into captivity with Baji-Ney’s tribe.

Adt responded with sincere admiration: “You, too, were lucky to avoid slavery. I’m familiar with the desert people; nomadic tribes roaming freely up there where life is harsh and demanding. Wild survivors in a bleak desert are bound by a severe moral ethic that strongly supports their culture. Their fierce loyalty to friends grants no room for leniency towards enemies.”

I agreed, having experienced the desert breed.

“Those ruthless barterers trade heavily within our markets.”

Then I summarized events ending the Diano War and our return to Bel-loniea.

That particular squall, which tore across our planet, had been unusually treacherous compared to others. In fact, it had baffled the scientists enough to keep them busy sorting out the effects and damages long afterwards. Our farmlands and towns were heavily crippled. The bonding of many communities turned out to be one positive result of the catastrophe. The repair work had brought neighbors together, sharing expertise and resources in joint efforts to fix the damage.

The Diano fell under our military and political supervision. Their Proctor wisely decided to cooperate with our government.

Since then our countries have been at peace. I had settled into a very happy life with the woman I loved; Proctoress of Bel-loniea, granddaughter of its ruler, Romos.

My greatest victory was that of bringing Youi home safely.

Adt quickly speculated before I finished my story, “I’m sure you arranged a speedy meeting with a Muti!”

I nodded heartily.

“Yes, we were married.”

“I assume” he snickered in good humor, “it wasn’t a union imposed at sword point?”

“Sword point?” I mocked his insinuation.

After all, Adt, the son of Bel-loniea’s finest fencing master, Kigor Dorta, was an expert swordsman. He’d mastered and surpassed his father’s skill with the blade. He had taught me how to brandish weapons of Noomas during our training as officers for the war.

His quick smile responded to my words, but his solemn voice, bluntly changed the mood of the topic.

“What you must understand, my friends, is that the world faces great danger. Incredible as that seems we know this to be true. We were warned to limit communication with only those who could be trusted: especially the Mutis.”

Youi, who had been quiet, objected: “Surely they are aware of everything! They see the future and guide us! Without trust what is left?”

Sarleni’s rebuke was firm.

“Ju-bilee told us to be careful. Moyi warned us. We listen!”

“And they are worried the Kaminaean Mutis might have spies on the continent.”

After dinner Adt was eager to tell us about his audience with the Proctor. Their meeting in Romos’ garret had been brief.

“He listened to my report and promised to deliver the pouch to Andon Janis’ research facilities.”

All this time the women had been scrutinizing one another, politely reserved. I had been feeling the sharp bite of Sarleni’s commanding personality all evening. As she and Adt told of their adventures she had gradually relaxed and smiled tenderly at him.

“The Helandian contacts had sent a special force to retrieve us from the castle on the Kaminaean coast. They were responsible for arranging the meeting with your Proctor when we arrived in Bel-loniea.”

Sarleni turned towards me.

“My brother, Mahzit, was part of that team.”

She paused, keeping her eyes focused, unwavering on mine.

“I wish you to make use of him. He’s been to Kamina. He’s young and gifted.”

“Make use of him, for what?” I was annoyed by her bluntly commanding pronouncement.

She took a long breath; then continued, stubbornly ignoring my question.

“I believe you’ll be heavily involved with coming events, on a very high level. He will prove to be a valuable resource to your troops. I recommend you grant him a position under your command. Mahzit will be a beneficial addition to your staff.”

The smile on her face was generous enough to negate further objection. The process of assigning a Helandian warrior to my staff was a simple enough request to honor. Still I found her insistent tone to be quite puzzling.

“I’ll see what can be done.”

“Once our present duties and responsibilities are completed here, we’ll be leaving for Helandi. Adt must meet my family—and his own.”

Adt swallowed hard, adding: “It is incredible how my family ties are attached to those northern lands.”

Reminiscing and sharing family anecdotes filled the evening with lighthearted laughter. Though, we carefully avoided the churning unrest which was soon to be enveloping the world. But before we parted, we once again lapsed into the serious business at hand, silently recognizing the gray mood overshadowing us all. Only in the good-byes did we return to a more relaxed mood.

* * * *

Our flight back to the palace estate soared high above the city lights. Youi and I basked in the splendor of the triple moonbeams, happily enjoying this friendly view of the world. The potential uprising could not prevent the promise of the Three Moon Celebration, long anticipated by so many people who had come to Bel-loniea.

We wanted to absorb the beauty of this magical time. Even stripping the myth from the solar alignment of the moons did not diminish the glorious sight before us.

Youi leaned on me, her soft flesh soothing my troubled worries over the events we’d learned about that evening. Neither of us wanted to think about possible problems.

We snuggled for a long, deeply intimate moment, unmoving, just being close. Since knowing her I had learned the wonderful joy that comes when you’ve bonded with somebody special. Nothing can compare to the fulfilling contentment of physically connecting to your dearest love. I felt complete with Youi. Everything since my arrival on Noomas faded in comparison.

“The gods must be happy up there,” she mused. Youi was not enthralled with any particular religious cult, for she was strongly influenced by her father. Andon Janis had come to this world as a citizen of the Galactic Federation. He was a scientist. Youi’s grandfather, Proctor Romos, had educated her in religions and cultures common to Noomas, in order to prepare her for the position of royal Proctoress. She would bear the responsibility of providing sound wisdom and leadership, resolving any conflicts that might arise between citizens of their realm. Therefore, she was required to refrain from favoring any particular religious view.

The Proctoress was a product of mixed parents from two differing civilizations: one galactic; the other local. She had admirably cultivated a healthy respect for all belief systems, of which there were many.

My thoughts drifted away from gods, the Galactic Federation and interstellar leaps between solar systems. Youi’s presence, alone, enthralled me. Captivated by her nearness, I gazed dreamily into the night sky.

The moons illuminated the world and the heavens. Nobody could possibly deny the magical spell cast by the tri-lunar spectacle, a phenomenon occurring only once in many generations when the moons align in perfect symmetry. And then, for the remainder of the season, they will continually dominate the heavens, before their orbits spin away from one another once again.

Could there be some omen, some link, or some stellar significance to all of this coming together now? Fleeting questions quickly arose and faded for I had never given weight to prophetic nonsense.

“The legend is alive, some would say,” Youi was musing.

“Do you think it could be true?”

“Is there any reason not to believe?”

Our occasional talks about theories never achieved resolution concerning the folklore. I had always believed that legends were based on heroic deeds of human leaders retold over the generations, until they were gradually elevated to mythological gods.

Youi, knowing my bias, stroked my cheek gently in silent understanding.

“It is the way of our culture, and the duty of our royal position to sustain the ancient customs for our children.”

I frowned, half wondering if she might be saying something new. “What children?”

“Those yet to come, of course,” she giggled. “The rising of the three moons marks the most fertile of all seasons: a time when an especially gifted generation will begin.”

After a long sigh, Youi lifted her head and smiled mysteriously.

“Torlo, can you imagine the wonders that the world will experience from this day forward? All tri-lunar seedings will bring great rewards to those whose birth soon follows.”

One thing was for certain: the future would not come easy.

The light of the sky outlined her delicate features.

“Tonight we must honor the gods.”

“Right here?”

The idea of praying to some invisible beings of this or any world did not appeal to me. I had more selfish agendas nagging my brain involving male and female unions of a most intimate nature.

“It is enough to be together and happy, no matter what the gods of Noomas might favor. Assuming, of course, they actually exist. I know nothing of gods real or imagined. I only believe in the magic of our love. You have made me complete; for without you, life seems empty.”

She drew closer to me. “Thank the gods and all those women who were your teachers in the art of love!”

“Do you think I have no imagination? Need I be taught how to love a woman like you?”

“Am I so different from all those others?” she teased, lips touching my check as they softly spoke those words.

I still only vaguely remembered things concerning my life previous to arriving on Noomas, so avoided a direct answer to her question.

“Dearest Youi, somebody certainly must have given you a few lessons in the arts.”

“In many arts: yes,” leaning in closer to me.

“Well,” she whispered, looking up into my eyes. “It is a lovely place, don’t you think?”

“Yes.” I said, noticing only her moonlit face. “You are lovely.”

And desirable, I thought, beyond anything else in the universe.

I pulled her closer; and we were both captured by the sheer magic of that embrace.

As our lips met the world around us simply vanished.

Royal Proctoress or not, she was deeply endowed with vibrant passion that made all else blandly meaningless.

Time splintered and we were momentarily enveloped in a mutually shared singularity. We were one living thing, completely unified. It was but an instant; yet contained a sense of eternity.

Only after we broke the embrace did either of us speak.

I nodded towards the distant tip of the Proctor’s palace rising from the depths of the city.

“Yes,” she decided, with a deep, contented sigh. “A perfect setting and a perfect place to begin.…”

Her words faded. Nothing more needed to be said.

In practical terms, the Celebration of the Three Moons phenomena symbolically promoted the birthing of the next generation. It all came from ancient traditions involving fertility rites. My basic male ego decidedly trumped any mythological saga and wanted only to indulge in the promise of physical pleasures with the woman I loved. Youi was the very living force that drove me. Passion and love blended, as it always did for us, into a lovely flow of pure ecstasy.

Soon we succumbed to our pulsing urges, and honored the Clinsolnosn ideal. In Youi’s arms I had discovered a place which completed myself and made the universe whole.

* * * *

The next morning everything, as Adt Dorta had said, drastically changed.

I discovered a small envelope under the door with the Proctor’s seal.

Memories flashed through me. Vague sparks of distant conflicts on other worlds burst briefly into focus. I felt charged with both anticipation and resistance about facing so grave a situation during the most festive days on Noomas.

The Proctor’s message was a formal order to meet with Romos that very morning in his private offices.

And so it had begun.